An additional ten airports worldwide have been added to the approved list of airports to offer preclearance facilities to passengers travelling to the US.
Under the agreement, Etihad and Tourism Malaysia will put into effect a range of joint marketing activities targeting Malaysia’s leading inbound visitor markets – the UK, US, Europe (Germany, France and Italy), and the Middle East region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait).
Following the success of its flights between St John’s and Dublin last summer, the carrier is offering a daily operation between Halifax and Glasgow from May 29, 2015 until October 23, 2015 using a Boeing 737-700. Like the St John’s – Dublin operation, the link will provide a same-aircraft connection to and from Toronto with other connections available to Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and 16 other cities in WestJet's Canadian network.
The study, commissioned by the Gulf hub carrier, projects that by 2020 the airline’s operating expenditure and capital investments will almost double to support 46,200 American jobs and deliver US$6.2 billion a year. These are among the key conclusions of the Oxford Economics Report to quantify the economic contribution which the airline makes to the US.
Air China and Air Canada signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2014 setting out the principles for an integrated revenue sharing joint venture. The MoU provides for an enhanced partnership on routes between China and Canada which is expected to stimulate traffic growth between the two countries.
In its formal application, Delta plans to introduce a four times weekly service on the route, with its strategic alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes extending the reach of this service to 20 interior Brazil destinations via Guarulhos International Airport. The flight is due to commence from December 19, 2015 and will be operated by a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with 35 seats in Delta One, 32 seats in Delta Comfort+ and 143 seats in the Main Cabin.
From October 23, 2015, the Irish carrier will commence 16 weekly flights between Liverpool and Dublin on a 174 seat Airbus A320, offering ideal connections onto Aer Lingus flights to North America via Dublin.
Air France began serving Havana in 1998, and has since become the leading airline between Cuba and Europe, supporting tourism development on the island.
Etihad Airways has issued a report claiming that the three largest US airlines have received over $70 billion in government and court-sanctioned benefits.
The new flight, operated by a 280-seat Boeing 767-300ER will fly on a twice weekly basis through to October 11, 2015, complementing the airline’s existing link to Venice from Toronto’s Lester B Pearson International Airport for summer 2015, meaning it now offers more seats between Canada and Venice during the peak summer season than any other airline.
The group has disputed the evidence and conclusions that unfair subsidies are being provided by the Gulf States to Gulf carriers contained in the White Paper which has been prepared by American Airlines, Delta and United.
Al Baker used the briefing to clarify Qatar Airways' position, debunk accusations of subsidy and demonstrate the broad public benefits of the existing Open Skies Agreements. He also noted that Open Skies agreements go well beyond the interests of the Big Three citing numerous American companies and groups, which support Open Skies, including US airports, travel and trade groups, consumer groups and other US airlines.
The Emirates boss spoke forcefully about the open skies row, in which the American carriers have claimed that Emirates, Etihad and Qatar have all received $44 billion in subsidies from their governments, and are planning to seek US government action against them.
After taking delivery of its first Airbus A321 from the Air Lease Corporation, Mexican carrier Volaris has announced plans for a number of domestic routes operated with the new aircraft.
The new flight, which will commence from March 16, 2016, will provide further connectivity options between Chicago and Europe with more than 20 destinations across the Continent conveniently served by Icelandair from Keflavik. The Windy City will be the 15th North American destination in the Icelandair network and adds to the airline’s new flights this summer to Portland.
US major United Airlines is to switch its remaining transatlantic flights to Scandinavia to a seasonal offering after dropping winter services from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub to both Oslo and Stockholm from the start of September this year through to May 2016. The two routes are flown using Boeing 757-200 equipment on an up to daily basis.
Subject to the required economic competition authority’s approvals, the airlines expect to offer an expanded network, enhancing routes and schedules, concurrently increasing opportunities to co-locate and invest in airport facilities by improving gates, lounges and the overall connecting experience. Additionally the airlines will increase joint sales and marketing initiatives.
The airline revealed plans to introduce the UK’s first non-stop air service to the popular US entertainment and ski destination of Reno-Tahoe in November 2014 but it was always contingent upon approval of landing rights and facilitation of passengers by US CBP personnel.
The airline will offer eight weekly flights into Costa Rica with four flights per week to each destination from Los Angeles International Airport. The link to San José will operate on Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from October 31, 2015, while the Liberia service will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 1, 2015.
