Aug 15-22 Airline News

Etihad Airways has officially revealed major capacity changes across its entire network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

MNL - capacity increased to 12 weekly B 773ERs nonstop from daily B 773ER + 5 weekly A 332. This means an extra 1624 seats offered on a round trip basis i.e. 19% increase in weekly capacity.

ISB - capacity increased to 3 weekly B 773ERs + 4 weekly A 320s from 6 weekly A 320s + weekly A 332. A further capacity increase takes place from Dec 19th onwards when a 4th weekly B 773ER gets added in alongside 3 weekly A 320s. This means an extra 1860 seats offered on a round trip basis i.e. 84% increase in weekly capacity.

FRA - capacity increased from double daily A 332 to daily A 333 + daily A 332 effective Dec 1st.

LHE - capacity increased to daily flights operated exclusively by an A 340-600. Currently, EY operates 2 weekly A 332s + 3 weekly A 346s + a weekly A 320 and a weekly B 773ER so the capacity increase is 204 seats on a round trip basis i.e. 11%.

MEL - capacity increased from 6 weekly A 345s + weekly A 346 to 3 weekly A 346s + 4 weekly A 345s.

ORD - capacity reduced from daily A 346 to weekly A 345 + 6 weekly A 346.

EBL - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly flights operated by an A 320 exclusively.

SYD - capacity reduced from 11 weekly A 346s to 2 weekly A 345s + 9 weekly A 346s.

CDG - capacity increased to 8 weekly A 333s + 2 weekly A 332s.

GVA - capacity increased from Dec 1st from 5 weekly A 332s to 5 weekly A 333s.

Emirates has officially announced major capacity changes across its entire medium and long haul network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SYD - frequencies reduced from triple daily to double daily flights i.e. daily A 380 nonstop + daily B 773ER via BKK.

AMS - capacity increased to daily nonstop flights operated by a B 773ER exclusively.

HKG - capacity increased from double daily B 773 to daily A 380 via BKK plus daily B 773ER nonstop.

PER - capacity increased to 13 weekly B 773ERs + weekly B 772LR.

MAD - capacity increased from daily A 332 to daily A 343.

ISB - capacity increased to 4 weekly B 773ERs + weekly B 772A.

LHE - capacity increased to 4 weekly B 773ERs.

TUN - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly flights operated by an A 332.

LAX - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using a B 777-200LR for all services.

MXP - capacity adjusted to double daily A 343s.

IAH - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using a B 777-200LR for 13 flights + weekly B 773ER (payload restricted).


Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it is increasing capacity to SFO-San Francisco from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season. It was planned to serve HKG-SFO with a daily B 744 + daily B 773ER, however that has been changed to 10 weekly B 744s + 4 weekly B 773ERs. In addition, other changes revealed are as follows:

SYD - frequencies increased from 25 to 28 weekly flights all operated with an A 333.
AKL - frequencies reduced from double daily nonstop flights to 12 weekly i.e. daily B 744 + 5 weekly A 343.

KIX - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop using an A 333 for all flights.

BNE - frequencies increased to 11 weekly flights.

CNS - frequencies increased to daily flights.

Qatar and Sri Lanka have officially announced signing of a new air bilateral accord which has the following highlights:

a) Frequencies can be increased from 21 to 28 weekly flights.

b) Out of these flights, 14 must be operated using narrow body equipment.

c) Fares to be common rated with UL on DOH-CMB-DOH sector.


Gulf Air has revealed on the GDS system that it shall be increasing capacity to Karachi, Pakistan for the entire IATA Winter 2010 season. Planned daily A 320 services are being increased to a daily A 321 which offers an extra 34 seats per flight. This change is effective Oct 11th 2010.


GMG Airlines has officially announced that it has been granted the authority by the Saudi and Bangladeshi Governments to operate 10 weekly nonstop flights from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia effective immediately. The allocation is 6 weekly JED + 4 weekly RUH flights. As a result, GMG has commenced operations on the DAC-JED sector 4 times per week using a Boeing 767-300ER along side RUH-DAC 3 times per week using the same aircraft type. Z5 has stated on its website that its B 763ERs are configured to hold 264 passengers.

Air China has officially announced that it shall be increasing frequencies on its flights to Dubai from Beijing from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season. Flights are to be increased to 5 times per week nonstop using an Airbus A 330-200 for all services.


China Airlines of Taiwan has officially announced few capacity changes to its long haul route network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

JFK - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 weekly flights using an A 343.

DEL/FCO - frequencies reduced from 3 to 2 weekly flights using an A 343.

LAX - frequencies reduced from double daily B 744s to 12 weekly B 744s.


Air Canada has officially confirmed that it is reducing frequencies to Geneva for the IATA Winter 2010 season. AC planned to serve Montreal-Geneva 5 times per week using a B 763ER, however that is being reduced to 4 times per week now using the same aircraft type.

Air India has officially announced major capacity increases to its domestic operations from its new Delhi hub from the onset of the IATA Winter 2010 season. This has been done in order to better feed its long haul and regional international flights from the DEL gateway point. The main highlights are as follows:

DEL/ATQ – frequencies increased from double daily to 5 daily flights with all services using an A 321.

DEL/BOM – frequencies increased from 11 to 14 daily flights.

DEL/AMD – frequencies increased from double to triple daily flights with all services using an A 319.

DEL/HYD – frequencies increased from double daily to 4 daily flights with all services using an A 320.

DEL/COK – frequencies increased from daily to double daily using an A 321 and A 320 each respectively.

DEL/CCU – frequencies increased to five daily flights using a mixture of A 319s/320s/321s.

EVA Air of Taiwan has officially announced that it shall be adjusting capacity on its flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for the entire IATA Winter 2010 season. Services to SIN are being increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using a B 773ER. On the other hand, KUL flights are being reduced from 5 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.


Egypt Air has officially announced few capacity changes for its medium haul network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

KWI - frequencies increased to double daily nonstop flights.

AUH - frequencies increased to 10 weekly nonstop flights.

CDG - frequencies increased to 9 weekly nonstop flights i.e. daily A 333 + 2 weekly A 320.

DXB - capacity increased from Jan 4th to daily A 333 + daily A 332.