Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at the resumption of flights between Malaysia and Singapore, and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s latest network additions.
Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at the resumption of Finnair flights to China, OWG's debut services and KLM's adjustments in the Persian Gulf.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will begin operations in October with an initial network of six routes, one of which will compete directly with Etihad and Air Arabia’s newly launched rival.
This week: Etihad Airways is launching a new service to Vienna; leisure carrier Condor is introducing long-haul flights from Dusseldorf; and Eastern Airways is once again operating its own scheduled network of routes.
Wizz Air is further expanding from its Central and Eastern Europe heartlands with plans to enter the Armenian market and establish an airline based in Abu Dhabi.
This week: Quito has secured another new service to Europe; Indian low-cost carrier GoAir is adding a fourth international destination; and Alitalia is to relaunch a connection between Milan and St Petersburg.
Routesonline provides an update on the operations of the Airbus A380. We also reveal the network size of each operator and the top destinations served by the aircraft type.
Etihad Airways will introduce the Airbus A380 on its route between Abu Dhabi and Paris this summer. The deployment is part of seasonal adjustments to the airline’s fleet plan and will result in a notable capacity growth in the market as the A380 substitutes for a smaller Boeing 777-300ER.
airBaltic will inaugurate the Riga – Abu Dhabi service from the start of the winter schedules on October 29, 2017 and will operate four weekly return flights using its CS300. The Etihad Airways ‘EY’ code will also be displayed on the flight under a full codeshare partnership.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Etihad Airways is to reduce the frequency of its flights between Abu Dhabi and San Francisco from early next year in a move that will help facilitate the growth of its flights into Dallas.
The new Virgin Australia service between Perth and Abu Dhabi will also open additional connection options for passengers travelling to and from the capital of Western Australia, with direct connections to 23 European, 15 Middle East and 10 African destinations.
With effect from June 23, 2016, flynas will add a second daily service between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, increasing its combined offer with Etihad to four daily services. At the same time it will enter the Jeddah – Abu Dhabi market with a daily flight which will complement Etihad’s existing thrice daily services.
From the start of the forthcoming winter schedule, British Airways is to introduce new non-stop flights from London Heathrow to both Doha, Qatar and Muscat, Oman. Both destinations are already part of the airline’s network but are currently served with one-stop direct flight routings via Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
The airline is seeing an increase in demand for flights into Istanbul and this market demand has created an opportunity to deploy additional capacity into Sabiha Gokcen. Airlines do not generally like to split operations in a city due to the need to offer support resources in each location. However, capacity constraints at Ataturk Airport and the location of Sabiha Gokcen mean this is an easier decision to take.
The route will increase capacity by adding another daily flight from the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi. Founded in 2004, the route has now carried over two million passengers.
