After being denied in its quest to form a joint venture with LATAM Airlines Group and American Airlines – and then seeing rival Delta Air Lines take a stake in LATAM – International Airlines Group is strengthening its position on transatlantic services to South America with the acquisition of Air Europa. Routesonline looks at the current state of play on Europe – Latin America routes.
Iberia owner International Airlines Group has agreed to pay €1bn for Spanish airline Air Europa as it seeks to make Madrid a hub that will challenge rivals such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London Heathrow.
International Airlines Group has admitted that Airbus A321neo delivery delays have forced it to reshape its network, particularly on transatlantic routes. Chief executive Willie Walsh has also confirmed that the group has expressed an interest in some London Gatwick slots vacated by the demise of leisure carrier Thomas Cook.
This week: Air Premia to become South Korea’s second Dreamliner operator; Vietjet to expand with A321XLR; investigation opened into Air Nostrum fleet renewal; Ryaniar increases London Southend presence; Iberia and Spring Airlines to codeshare and more.
Vienna Airport has signed a cooperation agreement with representatives from Xi’an as part of efforts to secure a direct flight between Austria’s capital and the Chinese city.
Canada Jetlines, the ultra-low-cost carrier which planned to operate from Vancouver International Airport, has postponed its planned entry into the market and is laying off most of its employees.
American Airlines is expanding service to New Zealand from next year, becoming the only carrier to fly non-stop from the US to the country’s South Island.
Indian carrier SpiceJet is creating a hub at Ras Al-Khaimah, increasing its connectivity to the United Arab Emirates and providing a base from which to open routes to destinations in Western Europe.
This week: VietJet is launching its first direct service to Australia; Ethiopian Airlines is returning to Athens after 18 years; and Ural Airlines to enter Moscow - London market.
This week: Spirit orders up to 150 Airbus A320neos; Qantas and Virgin secure one Haneda slot each; Aeroflot to open Krasnoyarsk hub; Etihad and Saudia extend codeshare partnership and more.
JetBlue has increased capacity on US - Mexico City services by more than 20 percent this year, but is withdrawing from the crowded market in early 2020 to focus on more profitable routes in its network. The airline’s decision means it is the third US carrier to withdraw from Mexico's capital in the past 12 months.
Hawaiian Airlines' chief executive Peter Ingram remains hopeful its proposed joint venture with Japan Airlines will secure antitrust immunity, but says its new route to Fukuoka can be a success even without it.
After almost 40 years linking Auckland with London via Los Angeles, Air New Zealand is ending the route in favour of launching a non-stop service between its home hub and New York. Routesonline looks at the airline’s long-haul changes.
Restrictions on flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh have been lifted after almost four years, paving the way for airlines to relaunch routes to the Egyptian holiday resort.
The market between Vietnam and South Korea has grown at a phenomenal rate in recent years, with fledgling carrier Bamboo Airways the latest airline to enter the fray. Routesonline looks at the rising competition on routes between the two countries.
Budget carrier Fastjet is suspending operations in Mozambique because of rising competition and overcapacity on the routes it operates. However, it plans to return to the market “once demand for air travel in the country increases”.
