One of the factors that secured Chengdu’s successful bid for World Routes 2016 is its excellent international air connections. Chengdu’s booming economy has led to the rapid growth of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport’s route network – over 40 airlines operate more than 2,000 flights a week.
Dubbed the ‘Capital Express’ route, Singapore Airlines will introduce a four times weekly schedule on Singapore – Canberra – Wellington, subject to final regulatory approval and will be operated with a 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200 fitted with 38 Business Class and 228 Economy seats.
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The oneworld alliance member will introduce a three times weekly service between Madrid and Tokyo from October 18, 2016. The Madrid – Shanghai route, also expected to be flown three times weekly, will commence from a similar time, but Iberia is still awaiting final approval from Chinese authorities and slots at Pudong International Airport before opening reservations.
The route, which departs from Dubai, will see an increased capacity due to a replacement of aircraft. This increase will help to meet the growing demand on the route into the African countries.
Scoot, a subsidiary of Asian full-service carrier, Singapore Airlines will be expanding its network over the next four years as it introduces additional 787s – both -8s and -9s – into its fleet. These are due to arrive at a rate of two aircraft per year over this period and the airline is exploring expansion opportunities across Asia-Pacific as well into Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer highlights that growth in advanced economy destinations (up five per cent) exceeded that of emerging economies (up four per cent) in 2015, boosted by the solid results of Europe (up five per cent). By region, Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific all recorded around five per cent growth in international arrivals in 2015, while the Middle East increased by three per cent while Africa saw an estimated three per cent decrease, mostly due to weak results in North Africa, which accounts for over one third of arrivals in the region.
Hong Kong-based HK Express is taking a leading role in the formation of the new U-FLY low-cost carrier grouping, which it describes as a game-changer for the airline industry and which will work to make travel more affordable and accessible than ever before. It will be joined by Kunming-based Lucky Air, Urumqi-based Urumqi Air and Chongqing-based West Air and others could follow in the future.
South America’s LATAM Airlines Group is applying for regulatory approval to enter into joint business arrangements with US major, American Airlines and IAG members, British Airways and Iberia to offer a coordinated network between markets in South America and North America and Europe, respectively.
In a deal to complete a long-awaited fleet renewal at PGA Portugália, which has been delayed for a number of years due to investment limitations, TAP will replace its current fleet of ATR turboprops, Embraer ERJ145s and Fokker 100s on a like-for-like basis with eight ATR 72s and nine Embraer 190s.
Ryanair has more than quadrupled its capacity offering from Central and Eastern Europe over the past ten years with an average annual rise of 38.9 per cent between 2006 and 2015, according to schedule data from OAG. This has been to combat the emergence of Wizz Air, which over the same period has established itself as the largest carrier in these emerging markets.
The A350 will primarily be deployed on the airline's long-haul routes to Europe, Australia and the United States, enabling China Airlines to offer its passengers non-stop service on ultra-long routes. However, it will initially operate in local markets for crew familiarisation.
Have you wondered what enticed an airline to a certain destination? What the data says about demand on the city pair and connecting markets? What external factors may have influenced the airline in selecting a specific city pair? How this business case differs from others? Our new ‘Route Case’ offering will seek to provide the answers all within a single 20 minute meeting slot at our events.
According to OAG schedule data, ANA has accounted for more than a quarter (25.1 per cent) of all 787 flights since the aircraft’s debut offering almost 30 million Dreamliner seats (29,435,351 as of January 13, 2016).
Whilst its aircraft may be repainted in Flybe livery, Blue Islands will still remain an independent locally Channel Islands-owned air operator continuing to fly all its own aircraft under the Blue Islands AOC (Air Operator’s Certificate).
US major, United Airlines will introduce a daily service on the route from April 5, 2016 using a 76-seat Embraer E175 configured with United First, Economy Plus, and Economy seating options. This will be the longest route (1,482 miles) and most westerly flight originating from Richmond International Airport, the busiest airport in central Virginia.
Emirates launched operations between its Dubai International Airport hub and Washington’s Dulles International Airport in September 2012 initially utilising a 777-200LR, but switching to the larger 777-300ER from February 2013. Analysis of MIDT data shows just 16.1 per cent of demand during this six month period was local traffic, with transfer traffic via Dubai accounting for a massive 81.9 per cent of passengers (including 1.2 per cent in bridge traffic also connecting via Washington).
AirAsia X is planning to add Auckland, the largest and most populous urban area in New Zealand, as a tag on its existing daily Kuala Lumpur – Gold Coast service and is expected to open reservations this week. It previously served Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand but closed the route after just 15 months of operation.
The new routes will commence from the start of the summer schedules in late March 2016 with the introduction of twice weekly flights to both John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and Keflavik International Airport, serving Reykjavik from March 27, 2016 and a weekly flight to Ibiza from June 18, 2016 to September 17, 2016.
NewLeaf will offer an unbundled travel service for leisure travellers with low base fares and numerous add-ons for passengers to tailor their itineraries depending upon what extras such as checked baggage allowance, inflight meals etc, that they require.
The airline will introduce an additional two weekly flights, growing its offering to 21 return services per week. However, notably the two services will result in a Virgin Australia Embraer 190 night-stopping in Newcastle for two nights each week and the introduction of a later evening departure from Brisbane and new early morning flight from Newcastle.
