News between 24-30OCT

Transaero Airlines of Russia has officially announced that it has signed a deal with Airbus to purchase 4 Airbus A 380s to initially replace its fleet of Boeing 747-400s within the next 2 years as the carrier has an ambitious long haul growth plan set in stone. These A380s will be configured with the highest density i.e. 700 seats in a 3 class configuration containing a small business class, premium economy cabin and a dense economy class cabin. Its initial route will be on Moscow-Bangkok where the carrier has a strong following.


Air France has officially announced that it will be placing the Airbus A 380 on its popular LAX-Los Angeles route from 28MAY 2012 onwards as the carrier looks to further increase its premium brand awareness in the local market place. AF will be operating the A380 on a daily basis on the CDG-LAX sector however in turn to cater for the capacity increase, the route's total frequencies will drop from 20 weekly B777s to 15 weekly flights i.e. 8 weekly B 772ERs + a daily A 380. AF too confirmed for the IATA S12, its capacity to YYZ-Toronto shall also fall as the carrier will no longer be operating a daily B 747-400 on this route, instead a daily B 772ER will be used which will come as a sigh of relief for its business class passengers in particular due to the better on board seat product features.


Air Berlin of Germany has officially announced that it will be expanding its long haul network to USA out of its Berlin hub as the carrier looks to strengthen One World's presence in the German market with the cooperation of American Airlines. As a result, it will be launching new 3 weekly nonstop flights to LAX-Los Angeles effective 11MAY 2012 using an Airbus A 330-200. AB too revealed that it shall be implementing further capacity increases which are as follows:

TXL/JFK - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily flights using an A332.

DUS/MIA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly flights using an A332.

DUS/JFK - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights using an A332.

DUS/YVR - frequencies reduced from 3 to 2 weekly nonstop flights using an A332.

DUS/LAX - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 weekly nonstop flights using an A332.


Ethiopian Airlines has officially announced major capacity changes to its IATA W11 schedule of which the main highlights are as follows: BAH - all flights suspended effective 30OCT

DXB - frequencies reduced from triple daily to 15 weekly flights using a B 777

DEL - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights

KWI - capacity increased from daily nonstop B 737-700s to daily nonstop B 737-800 terminator flights with no extension to BAH.


Air Pacific of the Fiji Islands has officially announced that it has canceled its entire order of eight Boeing 787-900s as it could not accept further delays to the delivery of these aircraft by Boeing. In turn, FJ has placed an order for 3 Airbus A 330-200s which shall be used to replace its entire long haul fleet of 2 B 744s and 1 B 763ER. FJ has confirmed that these A332s will be used to operate to HKG, SYD, LAX and HNL.


Qatar Airways has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Kuala Lumpur and Phuket effective 25MAR 2012. The main highlights are as follows:

KUL - capacity increased from 13 weekly A 332s to 13 weekly B 773ERs i.e. an increase of approximately 2000 r/t seats per week.

HKT - capacity increased from daily A332 via KUL to daily B 773ER.


United Airlines has officially announced many capacity changes to its long haul network for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

SFO/LHR - capacity increased from daily B772ER to daily B744.

SFO/KIX - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B772ERs.

SFO/PVG - capacity reduced from daily B744 to daily B772ER.

IAD/GVA - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B763ERs.

IAD/FCO - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B763ERs.

IAH/FRA - capacity increased from daily B762ER to daily B764ER.

IAH/CDG - capacity reduced from daily B764ER to daily B762ER.

EWR/CPH - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B757s.

EWR/DUB - frequencies reduced from double daily to daily B757s.

EWR/FRA - frequencies increased from daily to double daily.

EWR/ARN - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly.

EWR/GRU - capacity increased from daily B762ER to daily B764ER.

News between 23-30JUL

Singapore Airlines has officially revealed changes to its Middle East flying schedule for the IATA W11 season which sees major capacity adjustments across the board. The main highlights are as follows:

AUH - frequencies increased from daily to 9 times per week.

KWI - all flights suspended.

CAI - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 times per week via Dubai

DXB - frequencies reduced from double daily to 11 weekly.

RUH - capacity reduced from 4 weekly B 773 to 4 weekly A 333s.


Swiss has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to PEK-Beijing, China effective 11FEB 2012 to capitalize on the growing business and tourism traffic that is being witnessed out of Western and Central Europe bound to/from China. LX shall be using an Airbus A 340-300 to operate this service on a daily basis. LX also confirmed that it will be increasing capacity on its ZRH-EWR (Newark) route from the on set of the IATA S12 season by replacing its daily nonstop service operated a B 737BBJ with a larger Airbus A 340-300.


Thai Airways and China Southern Airlines have officially revealed the cabin configuration of their soon to be delivered Airbus A 380s. The main highlights are as follows:

TG - total of 507 seats in a 3 class configuration i.e. 12F/60J/435Y.

CZ - total of 506 seats in a 3 class configuration i.e. 8F/70J/428Y.


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to DMM-Dammam, Saudi Arabia effective 12SEP 2011. TK will be operating the new service 3 times per week using an Airbus A 319. It will be targeting the high volume KSA-IST market along with oil/gas traffic bound to Central Asia, Western Europe, Russia and USA. TK's President also officially announced that his airline plans on launching a new African route in Summer 2012 i.e. Kigali, Rwanda which would be operated 4 times per week using a Boeing 737-800. Flight schedules will be revealed at a later date. Lastly, TK too revealed initial capacity changes for its long haul route network for the IATA S12 season which are as follows:

GRU - frequencies to be increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using a B 773ER.

HKG - frequencies to be increased from 6 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a B 773ER.

CAN - frequencies to be increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using a B 773ER.


Emirates has officially announced that it will be implementing capacity + frequency increases across its network during the course of the IATA W11 season. The main highlights are as follows:

KUL - capacity increased from triple daily B 773s to daily A 380 + double daily B 773s.

CAI - frequencies increased from 12 to 13 times per week using B 777s.

MXP - capacity increased from daily A343 + daily B773 to double daily flights using a 3 class configured B 773 only.

TUN - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week.

FCO - capacity increased from daily A 332 + daily B 773 to daily A 380 + daily B 773.

KRT - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 times per wee using A332s only.


Air France has officially announced that it shall be reducing its frequencies to MIA-Miami, USA for the IATA W11 season. Currently, AF operates a daily nonstop flight out of its CDG-Paris hub using a Boeing 747-400, however this shall be reduced to 6 times per week using the same aircraft type for the entire W11 season.


Oman Air has officially announced that it will be majorly increasing its presence in Bahrain and Doha from the on set of the IATA W11 season. Frequencies to BAH shall be increased from triple daily to 31 weekly with flights being operated using E75s. DOH on the other hand also gets a frequency increase from triple daily to 5 times daily with flights being flown using a mixture of E75s and B 738s.


Jetblue has officially announced that it has struck a deal to sell 11 of its yet to be delivered factory fresh Embraer E190 aircraft in 2013. B6 ordered 46 E90s few years ago and took delivery of 35 of them. With the carrier recently also ordering many more A320NEOs and converting existing A320 orders to A321s, the carrier does not seem to require additional E90s for its long term growth.


Egypt Air has officially announced that it shall be increasing frequencies to CAN-Guangzhou, China effective 01OCT 2011. Frequencies shall be raised from the current 4 to 5 times per week nonstop using a Boeing 777-300ER for all the flights.


Air Canada has officially announced numerous capacity changes to its long haul route network for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

YOW/FRA - frequencies increased to 6 times per week using a B 763ER.

YYZ/CPH - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 times per week using a B 763ER.

YYZ/PVG - capacity reduced from daily B 773ER to daily B 772LR.

YYZ/TLV - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 times per week using a B 763ER.

YYZ/NRT - capacity increased from daily B 772LR to daily B 773ER.

YUL/BRU - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using a B 763ER.

YUL/FRA - capacity reduced from daily B 773ER to daily A 333.

YUL/GVA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using a B 763ER.

Airline News 07JUL-22JUL

British Airways has officially announced that due to increasing demand for its Riyadh bound flights from London Heathrow especially in the premium cabins, it shall be increasing its flights to the city for the IATA W11 season. Currently, BA operates 5 times per week using a Boeing 777-200ER, however from Oct 30th onwards, these shall be increased to daily services using the same aircraft type.


Etihad Airways has officially announced that it shall be launching its 3rd new route in Germany i.e. Dusseldorf from 16DEC 2011 onwards. EY will be initially operating the service 4 times per week using an Airbus A 330-300, however from the on set of the IATA S12 season, flights shall be further increased to daily using the same aircraft type. Its main target market in DUS are pax bound to BKK, MNL, UAE, Iraq, IKA, China and Indian Sub-continent region. EY also announced that it will be increasing flights to EBL-Erbil, Iraq effective 30SEP from the current 2 weekly to 4 weekly flights all using an Airbus A 320.


American Airlines has officially announced that it has placed the world's largest aircraft order in history by signing a deal with both Boeing and Airbus for a combined total of 460 aircraft + 625 options. The break down of the order is as follows:

1. 100 Boeing 737-800s
2. 100 Boeing 737RE family (newly launched product similar to A320NEO)
3. 130 Airbus A 320 family (combination of A320s and A321s)
4. 130 Airbus A 320NEO family (combination of A320NEOs and A321NEOs)

Analysis:

Quite a "coup de tat" for Airbus as this is a huge win for them. Boeing only managed to salvage approximately 40% of this order by hurriedly launching their own B737NG NEO variant otherwise it would have been a huge embarrassment for them seeing one of their top 5 customers jump ship. Make no mistake about it, these A320s bought by AA must have been massively discounted, so much so that if AA were smart, by the time they take delivery of these A320NEOs 6 years later, they can easily sell them off at a 30-40% profit margin.

Now as far as what will AA do with these planes, it is evident that they shall be used to fully replace its aging MD80 and B 757 fleet which it has officially stated. However what is quite interesting to read is that also this order is also meant to fully replace AA's old B 767-200s. Taking all of this into consideration, it is quite evident that out of the A320 family that is on order, the only variants that AA will be ordering are the A320 and A321s; both normal and NEO versions. The A321s will be used to replace their B 757s and B 762s on all domestic and intra-America flights.

As far as the B 737s are concerned, AA currently has only one type of B 737 in its fleet i.e. B 737-800s and that is most likely going to change slightly with Boeing 737-900ERs also going to be ordered as part of this mega order. The reason why one feels that B 739ER will be ordered by AA is because like the A321 it has the same on board capacity of the B 757 + B 762 but it has a greater flying range than the A 321!

Concluding, due to the current seating configuration of its MD80s, B 737s, B 757s/762s, one can rule out AA ordering the A319s and B 737-700s!


Singapore Airlines has officially announced few changes to its IATA W11 schedule which will see many frequency increases particularly in Asia of which the main highlights are as follows:

IST - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 times per week using a B 772ER.

BOM - frequencies increased from double daily to triple daily.

CAN - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights using A333s only.

AMD - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly.


Royal Jordanian has officially unveiled massive changes to its IATA W11 flying schedule with capacity increases and decreased across its entire network. The main highlights are as follows:

BAH - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week.

AUH - frequencies increased from daily to 9 weekly.

ORD - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week.

RUH - frequencies increased from 6 to 8 times per week.

HBE - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week.

SAH - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 times per week.

KRT - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily.

ADE - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly flights.


Turkish Airlines has officially revealed major changes to its IATA W11 flying schedule as it adjusts capacity based on seasonal demand. The main highlights are as follows:

DXB - capacity increased from daily A 333 + daily A 321 to 11 weekly A 333 + 3 weekly A 321.

JNB/CPT - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights using an A 333.

JFK - frequencies versus W10 increased from daily to 11 weekly flights i.e. 4 weekly A 333s + daily B 773ER.

DEL - capacity reduced from daily A 333 to daily A 332.

BOM - capacity increased from daily A 332 to daily A 333.
GYD - frequencies reduced from 4 daily to 24 weekly.

SGN - capacity increased from 3 weekly A343s to 3 weekly B 773ERs all operated via BKK.

NBO/DAR - capacity increased from 3 weekly A 332s to 3 weekly A 333s.


KLM has officially revealed highlights of its Summer 2012 (S12) flying schedule which sees few capacity and frequency changes across its long haul network. The main highlights are as follows:

LOS - capacity increased from daily A 332s to daily A 333s.

CTU - 4 weekly flights to be operated with a B 744 Combi to take advantage of the booming air cargo market.

MIA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using a MD11

DMM - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 times per week using an A332.

DOH - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 times per week using an A332.

GRU - capacity increased from 4 weekly B 773ERs + 3 weekly B 772ERs to daily flights using a B 773ER only.


Thai Airways has officially announced that due to stiff competition for its Sydney flights, it will be reducing frequencies to the city effective 01AUG 2011. From the currently flown 18 times per week nonstop from BKK, TG will reduce the service to double daily only using an A 340-600 for both the flights.


Lufthansa has officially announced major changes to its long haul network out of its Munich hub for the IATA W11 season. The main highlights are as follows:

HKG - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily A 346s.

BOM - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily A 343s.

JFK - capacity reduced from daily A346 to daily A333.

GRU - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily A 346s.

SIN - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily A 346s.


Oman Air has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to both Colombo and Male for the IATA W11 season effective 30OCT onwards. Both routes will be getting dedicated terminator flights rather than tag on flights and as a result MLE will be increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 333 5 times per week + weekly B 738. In contrast, CMB will be reduced from daily to 6 weekly but due to it being a terminator flight, capacity will be increased with 2 weekly A 332s + 3 weekly A 333s + weekly B 738.

News from 17JUN till 06JUL

EVA AIR of Taiwan has officially announced that it has placed a multi billion dollar order with Boeing and Airbus combined as part of its network expansion and fleet replacement strategy for the next 3 years. BR confirmed that it has ordered 15 Airbus A 321s + 10 new Boeing 777-300ERs. These 2 aircraft types are expected to gradually fully replace its aging B 744 and MD90 fleet.


Turkish Airlines has officially revealed that it will be increasing frequencies to Los Angeles and Washington DC from the on set of the IATA W11 season and then will be implementing a further increase to both these 2 routes from S12 season as well. The main highlights are as follows:

LAX - frequencies to be increased from 3 to 5 flights per week effective 31AUG and then further increased to daily using B 773ERs from 02APR 2012.

IAD - frequencies to be increased from 5 to 6 flights per week effective 30OCT and then further increased to daily using A 332s from 02APR 2012.

In addition, TK has also revealed expansion plans for other areas in its ever increasing flight network which are as follows:

ISB - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 21JUL using a B 738.

TBZ (Tabriz, Iran) - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights effective 18JUL.

ISU (Sulaimaniya, Iraq) - will be operated eff 18JUL 4 times per week nonstop using a 186 seater Airbus A 321-200 with the following schedule: Days: 1/3/5/7 TK 806 Dep IST 2315 Arr ISU 0145+1 TK 807 Dep ISU 0310 Arr IST 0600 (The above mentioned schedule connects beautifully with every single European and North American city in the TK network in both directions via its IST hub)
NJF - will be operated 3 times per week eff 05JUL using a B 737-800 as a triangular routing combining it with Basra-BSR. The schedule is as follows:

Days: 2/4/6

TK 798 Dep IST 0310 Arr NJF 0605

TK 798 Dep NJF 0705 Arr BSR 0750

TK 798 Dep BSR 0850 Arr IST 1215

(The above mentioned schedule connects nicely in both directions in both directions to TK's entire European network + JFK only via its IST hub)

Airbus has officially announced that it has secured 2 important orders from Far East Asia this week for its Airbus A 330-300 model. It announced that Garuda Indonesia signed up officially for 4 additional A 333s and Singapore Airlines signed to lease 15 additional A 333s primarily as a stop gap capacity measure due to the delay of its A 359 delivery schedule.

Thai Airways has officially announced that they are increasing capacity to Europe in a significant manner for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

BRU - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 17NOV using a B 772ER.

CPH - frequencies to be increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop flights using a B 744.

MXP - capacity to be increased effective 01JAN 2012, with all flights being operated with A346s instead of A345s.

Oman Air has officially revealed a major expansion of its long haul service to Europe and Far East Asia for the upcoming IATA Winter 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

ZRH - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using an A 332 effective 30OCT.

FRA - frequencies increased from 7 to 9 weekly flights using an A 332 six times per week and an A 333 three times per week.

BKK - frequencies increased from 8 to 12 times per week using an A 332 only.

CDG - capacity increased with all flights being operated with A 333s rather than A 332s.


Etihad Airways today revealed a blockbuster announcement concerning an aggressive major push into mainland China from the on set of the IATA W11 season. The main highlights are as follows:

CTU (Chengdu) - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be flown using an A 332 effective 15DEC 2011. Flight schedule is as follows:

EY 818 Dep AUH 0825 Arr CTU 1845
EY 811 Dep CTU 2015 Arr AUH 0040+1

PVG (Shanghai) - new daily nonstop flights to be launched effective 16APR 2012 using an A 332 with the following schedule:

EY 862 Dep AUH 1010 Arr PVG 2145
EY 867 Dep PVG 0020 Arr AUH 0630


Finnair has officially announced that it will be launching a new long haul route to China to a city called Chongqing in southwestern China effective 09MAY 2012. Services will be operated nonstop 4 times per week using an A340-300.


Alitalia has officially revealed many changes to its long haul route network for the IATA W11 season. The main highlights are as follows:

MXP/JFK - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using an A 332.

FCO/GIG - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using an A 332.

FCO/YYZ - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an B 763ER.


Virgin Atlantic has officially revealed few changes to its long haul route network for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MIA - capacity increased from daily A346s to daily B744s.

LAX - frequencies reduced from double daily to 12 weekly.

HAV - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly flights using a B744.


Egypt Air has officially revealed major changes to its international route network for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

NBO - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily.

KUL - services restored with a daily flight operated via BKK using a B 773ER.
ACC - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 times per week.

AMM - frequencies increased from 17 weekly to triple daily.

DOH - frequencies increased from daily to 10 times per week.

JED - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times daily.

JNB - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.

LOS - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly.

DMM - frequencies increased from 10 to 11 times per week.


Royal Jordanian has officially announced major increases in capacity and frequency across its international route network for the IATA W11 season. The main highlights are as follows:

KWI - frequencies increased from 10 to 11 weekly nonstop flights.

JFK - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 times per week versus W10. All flights to be operated in W11 using an A342.

MCT - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 times per week.

CMB - frequencies increased from 3 weekly A 310-300s to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A342.

DEL - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 weekly flights using an A319.

KRT - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 weekly flights.


The Paris Air Show recently concluded a couple of weeks ago and many large orders were placed by airlines and leasing companies respectively. To summarize, the main highlights were as follows for each respective manufacturer:

Boeing

Aeroflot ordered 8 B 777-300ERs
Qatar Airways ordered 6 B 777-300ERs
Hong Kong Airlines ordered 15 B 748s (my personal favorite order of the show)
Air Lease Corp ordered 4 B 789s + 24 B 738s + 5 B 773ERs
Malaysia Airlines ordered 10 B 737-800s
GECAS ordered 2 B 748Fs + 8 B 777-300ERs
Norwegian ordered 15 B 738s + 3 B 788s
UTAir of Russia ordered 7 B 739ERs + 33 B 738s

Airbus

Air Asia of Malaysia ordered 200 A320NEOs
LAN Chile ordered 20 A320NEOs
Saudia Airlines ordered 4 A 333s
Transasia of Taiwan ordered 6 A 321NEOs
Garuda Indonesia ordered 25 A 320NEOs
Jetblue ordered 30 A321s + 40 A320NEOs
Indigo of India ordered 180 A320NEOs
SAS ordered 30 A320NEOs
Air Lease Corp ordered 11 A330s + 1 A321 + 64 A320NEOs
GECAS ordred 60 A320NEOs

Bombardier

Korean Air ordered 30 Bombardier CS300s

News till 16JUN

Thai Airways has officially announced that it has placed a mega order with both Boeing and Airbus for 37 new aircraft that will be delivered to the carrier from 2014 onwards for to meet both its short haul and long haul requirements. The break down of the order is 6 B 787-800s + 2 B 787-900s + 6 B 777-300ERs + 11 A 320-200s + 12 A 350-900s. The B 787s will be used to entirely replace its AB6s on short/medium haul services within the Asian continent where as the A 320s will be used to fully replace its B 737-400s and lastly, the A 359s shall be used to gradually replace its A 333 and B 772A fleet. It is expected down the road, that many more B 773ERs will be ordered by TG to replace a part of their B 744 fleet.


Egypt Air has officially announced that it will be launching new services to Iraq effective 16JUL 2011. MS will be operating to both Erbil and Baghdad with 3 and 4 weekly flights respectively using an Airbus A 320. The timings for EBL are meant specifically to connect its European flights in particular via its main CAI hub in both directions.


Etihad Airways has officially revealed many changes to its long haul route schedule for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MNL - frequencies increased from 12 weekly to double daily nonstop flights using a 412 seater B 773ER.

FRA - capacity increased to double daily A 333s from double daily A 332s.

ORD - capacity increased from daily A 346 to daily B 773ER i.e. a daily increase of 240 seats round trip.

ICN - capacity increased with all flights operating with A 333s rather than A 332s.

JKT - capacity increased with all flights operating with 412 seater B 773ERs rather than 262 seater A 332s.


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to KBL-Kabul, Afghanistan effective 09JUL 2011. TK will be operating 3 flights per week on WED/SAT/SUN using a Boeing 737-800. Flights will depart IST at 2350 and arrive back by 1135 which is ideally suited to connect JFK and its entire European network in both directions via IST conveniently.


Emirates has officially announced that it will be launching new nonstop daily flights to LED-St Petersburg, Russia effective 01NOV 2011. LED is Russia's second largest and most prosperous city with huge demand primarily for Far East Asia and O&D to UAE itself. For this route, EK will be utilizing 6 times a week an A 332 and once a week an A 343. In addition, EK has also confirmed that it will be launching new 4 weekly nonstop flights to BGW-Baghdad, Iraq effective 13NOV 2011. EK will be deploying a 3 class A 332 for this new service.


KLM has officially announced that it will be launching new nonstop flights to GIG-Rio De Janerio, Brazil effective 01NOV 2011. Services will be flown 3 times per week using a Boeing 777-200ER. Other major changes announced by KLM for its long haul route network for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season are as follows:

DMM - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 332.

YYZ - frequencies reduced from 10 weekly to daily nonstop flights.

DFW - all flights suspended.

DOH - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 332.

CTU - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly flights using a B 744 Combi.

DEL - capacity increased from daily B 773ER to daily B 744.

IKA - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 times per week using a MD 11.


British Airways has officially announced major changes to its long haul route network for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows:

BAH - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to daily B 744.

HKG - capacity reduced from double daily B 744s to daily B 773ER + daily B 744.

CPT - capacity increased from daily B 744 + daily B 772ERs to double daily B 744s.

DEL - capacity increased from daily B 773ER + daily B 744 to double daily B 744s.

DOH - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to daily B 744 operated via BAH.

JFK - capacity increased with all 7 daily flights operated with B 744s rather than a mixture of B 773ERs and B 744s.


Kuwait Airways has officially announced that due to sliding demand for its DAM-Damascus route, it shall be reducing frequencies effective immediately. Flights will be cut from daily nonstop services to 4 weekly nonstop only using a mixture of A 320s (2 weekly) and A 310-300s (2 weekly). This downgrade is due to the ongoing civil unrest in Syria which has caused a major dip in travel to the country.


Sri Lankan Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new services to ZRH-Zurich, Switzerland effective 23DEC. UL will be operating the flights via MLE-Maldives from its Colombo home base twice a week. An A 340-300 has been designated for this new route.


Continental Airlines has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to MUC-Munich and GVA-Geneva for the IATA Summer 2012 season in the following manner:

GVA - capacity increased from daily B 764ER to daily B 772ER.

MUC - capacity increased from daily B 764ER to daily B 772ER.


In a move that shocked the entire aviation fraternity, Malaysia Airlines officially announced last week that it will be joining the ONE WORLD alliance led by BA-AA. Due to its extremely close relationship with KL-NW-DL for many years, it was expected to lean more so towards SKY TEAM but that seems to have changed. With its neighbors i.e. SQ in STAR and GA in SKY TEAM, MH seemed to have no choice but to accept the offer of ONE WORLD to further its global brand positioning and sales distribution.


Korean Air has officially announced all the routes that its initial batch of 5 Airbus A 380s will be operating on out of its ICN-Seoul hub base airport effective 17JUN 2011. They are New York JFK, Bangkok, Paris and Tokyo Narita. KE however has not disclosed how many frequencies operated by the A380 each route shall receive.


Bahrain Air has officially announced that in order to generate cash and minimize losses, it has sub leased out two A 320s to interested airlines and suspended routes for the on going IATA Summer 2011 season until its very end. As a result, BN announced that they are suspending all flights to Riyadh, Dammam, Damascus, Kathmandu and Dhaka effective immediately.

Other main highlights of its S11 schedule are as follows:

IST - frequencies reduced from the planned 5 to 4 weekly flights.

AMM - has been increased to 4 weekly versus 3 earlier.

BEY - frequencies reduced from planned daily to 5 weekly flights.

News till May 21st

Lufthansa has officially announced that it will be increasing its frequencies to BAH-Bahrain and capacity to AUH-Abu Dhabi for the upcoming IATA Winter 2011 season as it looks to reshape its GCC network structure. Frequencies from FRA to BAH will be increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A343 operated via DOH where as AUH will be receiving daily nonstop terminator flights with an A333 rather than having a tag on to MCT-Muscat. Other changes made to LH's Winter 2011 schedule, but this time out of its MUC-Munich hub are as follows:

BOM - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.

SIN - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.

GRU - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.

NRT - capacity increased from daily A343 to daily A346.

ORD - capacity reduced from daily A346 to daily A343.

HKG - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.

LAX - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly.


Bahrain Air has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtained more flights to Saudi Arabia from 21JUN 2011 as it unveiled its new S11 schedule on its website.

The main highlights are as follows and are valid from 21JUN onwards only:

DMM - frequencies increased from daily to double daily.

ALY - frequencies increased from 2 to 4 weekly flights.

BEY - daily nonstop flights to resume 21JUN departing BAH at 1150.

KTM - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly nonstop flights.

AMM - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights effective 21JUN departing BAH at 1200.

DAC - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly nonstop flights.

DOH - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights.


Air France has officially revealed few changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

BOM - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to 6 weekly B 773ER + weekly B 772ER.

CPT - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 772ER.

SGN - frequencies increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights using a B 772ER operated as a nonstop terminator service.

MEX - frequencies reduced from double daily B 772ERs to daily nonstop flights using a B 744 only.


Nas Air of Saudi Arabia has officially announced that it will be launching new 14 weekly flights to Karachi, Pakistan as part of its strategy to expand into less competitive nonstop markets from its KSA home base that offer better returns versus its recently suspended lower yielding services to India. It will be operating a daily nonstop 180 seater Airbus A320 from JED and RUH each respectively to Karachi with a daylight schedule i.e. flights departing KSA at 0740 and departing from KHI at 1400 hrs (local time).


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Bangkok and Osaka for the upcoming IATA Winter 2011 season in anticipation of high volume movement. Capacity to BKK will be increased from 10 weekly A343s to 3 weekly B 777-300ERs + daily A343s which means a total of 468 seats on a round trip basis per week it shall be adding to BKK. In addition, frequencies to KIX-Osaka shall also be increased from 4 to 5 times using an A332.


Virgin Atlantic has officially announced that due to peak summer season demand to NBO-Nairobi, Kenya it shall be increasing capacity marginally on this route to cater for the high demand. Effective 24JUN, daily nonstop flights operated with a smaller A343 will be upgraded to an A346 twice a week where as the remaining 5 weekly's will remain with an A343.


Emirates has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining more bilateral traffic rights into Cairo airport from the Egyptian Govt and as result will be immediately increasing frequencies on the route to take advantage of the anticipated peak summer movement. EK confirmed that frequencies will be increased on the DXB-CAI route from 10 to 12 times per week nonstop using a combination of B 777s and A 332s.


Jazeera Airways of Kuwait (low cost carrier) has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining 10 additional weekly flights to Cairo airport from the Egyptian authorities this week and as a result will be increasing its presence on the ever so popular yet fiercely competitive KWI-CAI segment. Currently, it operates 11 times per week using an A 320 but shall increased from 16JUN to triple daily nonstop.


Singapore Airlines has officially announced that due to surging demand of its business class cabin on A380 operated flights in particular, it will be increasing the size of this cabin capacity by having a sub-fleet of A380s which will see having the entire upper deck with 84 business class seats. Currently on its upper deck, SQ seats 60J + 88Y class pax but that will change to 84J and the entire A380 capacity will be reduced from 471 to 409 seats only. The launch route for this modified cabin is Sydney.


Fly Dubai has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining more bilateral access into the Indian market as it announces new services to AMD-Ahmedabad and Hyderabad respectively. Both routes will be operated using a B 738 but at a different frequency level. HYD will be flown 3 times per week from 11JUN where as AMD will be initially operated once a week only from 11JUL until more access is granted.

News till May 14th

Singapore Airlines has officially announced that it made a net profit of US$ 1.09 billion for the past financial year amidst excellent loads and yields generated in both its cargo and passenger cabins + fuel prices being at stable levels in 2010. As part of its business plan in 2012, SQ will be retiring its remaining 7 B 744s + 5 B 772As that it has in its fleet which will be replaced with 8 more A 380s that are due to be delivered next year.


Lufthansa has officially announced many major changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows and relevant from FRA hub only:

ATL - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily flights using an A333.

ACC - capacity adjusted from 5 weekly A333s to daily nonstop terminator flights using a B737BBJ.

DFW - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly flights.

EWR - capacity increased from double daily A343s to daily A346 + daily A343.

ICN - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A346.

KRT - capacity increased from 4 weekly BBJs to 4 weekly A343s operated via JED.

MCO - capacity reduced from daily B 744 to daily A 346.

PHL - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 weekly flights using an A343.

SFO - capacity reduced from daily A380 to daily B744.


DHL has officially announced that it has purchased 13 used Airbus A 300-600Rs (AB6s) that will be converted into full fledged freighter aircraft next year. These jets will be used to replace its aging fleet of AB4s that over 25 years old and have a higher fuel burn rate of over 20% versus the AB6s. These newer AB6s will have a 49 tonne payload carrying capability.


SAS has officially revealed many changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows:

CPH/NRT - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A343.

CPH/DXB - all flights suspended

CPH/IAD - capacity reduced from 5 weekly A333s to 5 weekly A343s.

CPH/ORD - capacity increased from daily A343s to daily A333s.

CPH/EWR - capacity increased to daily A333s.

ARN/ORD - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 weekly flights using an A333.

ARN/EWR - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 weekly flights using an A333.


Condor Airlines has officially announced that it will not be operating its flights to Asia via Bahrain this winter and instead will be operating via Dubai airport instead. These includes services to Phuket, Bangkok, Colombo and Goa. In addition, it has confirmed that it will be increasing flights on the following routes:

DXB - frequencies increased from 3 weekly to daily using a mixture of B757s and B763ERs.

CMB - frequencies increased from 1 to 2 weekly flights.

NBO - new twice weekly services to be operated using a B763ER.

MBA (Mombasa) - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights using a B763ER.


Egypt Air has officially announced many changes to its route network schedule for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows:

CDG - frequencies reduced to daily A333s compared to 10 weekly flights i.e. daily A333 + 3 weekly A320.

NRT- frequencies reduced from 5 weekly to 3 weekly flights using a B 773ER.

ADD - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 weekly flights using an A320.

AMS - capacity increased from 6 weekly B 738s to 6 weekly A321s.

ALG - frequencies reduced from 6 to 5 weekly flights using an A320.

BKK - capacity increased to daily B 773ERs.

ATH - frequencies reduced from 9 weekly to daily flights.

DME - frequencies reduced from daily to 4 weekly flights using a B 738.


Safi Airways of Afghanistan has officially announced that it will be launching new services to DEL-Delhi, India effective 16JUN 2011 onwards. 4Q has revealed that it shall be operating 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A320 with the below mentioned schedule:

Days - 1/3/4/7
4Q 247 Dep KBL 1100 Arr DEL 1350
4Q 248 Dep DEL 1450 Arr KBL 1540


Emirates has officially announced that it JNB-Johannesburg, South Africa will be its newest A380 destination effective 11OCT 2011. The A380 will be used on the most popular EK 761/762 rotation which departs DXB at 0440 daily and arrives back by 0010 the next day.


Sri Lankan Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new services to DME-Moscow, Russia effective 15SEP 2011. UL will be operating a twice weekly frequency via Dubai with 5th freedom rights using an A320. Previously the plan was to start DME in December via Abu Dhabi 3 times a week using an A332 but those plans have been scrapped. Ever since Oct 2010, tourism from Russia to Sri Lanka has sky rocketed to unprecedented levels which has prompted UL to try and tap this high volume yet low yielding market segment.

Airline News till May 7th 2011

Kuwait Airways has officially announced that it has been granted additional access to Saudi Arabia with 5 extra weekly frequencies allocated to Jeddah and new 3 weekly frequencies designated for Medinah.

As a result, KU has revealed officially in the GDS system the following increases:

JED - frequencies will be increased immediately from daily A340s to 12 weekly flights using a mixture of A340s and AB6s.

MED - 3 weekly nonstop flights to be operated with an A 320 effective 16JUN 2011. In addition, KU too confirmed that it will be relaunching services to IST-Istanbul effective 16JUN three times per week using an A320.


The Turkish Govt has officially announced that it's flag carrier i.e. Turkish Airlines has been granted approval from the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authorities to launch new flights to Islamabad operated nonstop from its Istanbul hub. TK will be using Airbus A 330s on the IST-ISB route which is expected to be operated 4 times per week from the later part of this summer season. With TK being a fellow STAR ALLIANCE member, it is expected that Lufthansa, BMI and United Airlines will be interlining to tap into his important market segment. TK too announced many changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season with the main highlights being as follows:

BOM - capacity increased from daily A 332s to daily A 333s.

JNB - frequencies and capacity increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily A 333s.

JFK - capacity reduced from 11 weekly B 773ERs to daily B 773ERs + 4 weekly A 332s.

ICN - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A 332.

CPT - frequencies and capacity increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily A 333s.


Qatar Airways has officially announced that it will be increasing frequencies to FCO-Rome and CAI-Cairo from July 2011 onwards. Currently, QR operates a daily A 330 service on the DOH-FCO sector, but these shall be increased to 11 times per week with the additional 4 weekly services being operated with an A 320. As far as CAI is concerned, frequencies will be raised from daily to 9 times per week with the 2 additional weekly flights operated with an A 320. QR too confirmed it has purchased a 33% stake in Cargolux and thus aims to become one of the top 5 leading cargo airlines of the world by 2015. The arrangement with Cargolux has made QR decide to convert 15 of its current A 330s into freighters gradually once its new Boeing 787s start getting delivered. Lastly, at the upcoming Paris Air Show, QR is expected to finalize an order for 20 additional A 380s (10 firm + 10 options) + 50 A 320NEOs + 20 Bombardier C 300 Series to fuel its 'regional strategy' to Iran, Iraq and Central
Asia.


EVA Air has officially revealed many changes to its USA long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011 season with the main highlights being as follows:

LAX - frequencies increased from double daily to 18 times per week.

SFO - frequencies increased from 10 to 12 times per week.

SEA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week.


Air Berlin of Germany has officially announced major increases to its long haul network for the IATA Winter 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

TXL(Berlin)/DXB - frequencies increased from 3 to 6 times per week using an A332.

TXL/BKK - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 times per week using an A332.

TXL/HKT (Phuket) - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 times per week using an A332.

TXL/MIA - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 times per week using an A332.

DUS/BKK - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 times per week using an A332.

DUS/YYZ - summer seasonal service goes year round with 3 weekly A 332s in winter.

DUS/JFK - summer seasonal service goes year round with 4 weekly A 332s in winter.


Korean Air has officially announced that it has placed a big order for 7 additional long haul aircraft to supplement its rapid worldwide expansion strategy focusing on USA and Sky Team hub airports in Europe. KE announced that it has purchased 5 additional A 332HGWs and 2 Boeing 777-300ERs.

Qatar Airways has officially revealed another round of massive expansion focusing on Saudi Arabia, Central Asia and Africa to further fuel its regional strategy growth. The main highlights are as follows:

JED - frequencies increased from daily to double daily using a combination of B 777s and A 330s effective 01JUN.

DMM - frequencies increased from triple daily to four daily using A 320s effective 01JUN.

RUH - frequencies increased from daily to double daily using a mixture of A 330s and A 320s effective 01JUN.

MED - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using an A 320 effective 14JUN.

EBB (Entebbe, Uganda) - new daily nonstop flights to be launched using an A320 effective 02NOV.

GYD (Baku, Azerbaijan) - new daily nonstop flights to be launched using an A320 effective 02NOV.


Jet Airways of India has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels and Newark effective 28JUL due to rising demand in both the passenger and cargo departments on these three important routes. The main highlights are as follows:

BOM/HKG - capacity increased from daily A 332 to daily B 773ER.

BOM/BRU/EWR - capacity increased from daily A 332 to 2 weekly B 773ER + 5 weekly A 332.

DEL/SIN - capacity increased from daily B 738s to daily A 332.


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it will be increasing its flights to SGN-Ho Chi Minch City, Vietnam effective 30JUN 2011. Currently, TK operates 4 weekly services via Bangkok using an A 340-300. These shall be increased to daily flights via BKK using the same aircraft type with 5th freedom traffic rights. TK too confirmed that it will be increasing frequencies to GYD-Baku to four times daily effective 31MAY using a mixture of B 737s and A 320s.


Lufthansa has officially revealed few changes to its DUS-Dusseldorf hub for its long haul winter 2011 schedule. The main highlights are as follows:

YYZ - frequencies to be maintained year round at 3 weekly.

ORD - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 weekly.

MIA - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly.

In addition, LH too confirmed that it will be reducing flights to BAH-Bahrain effective 09MAY until the end of October due to crippling demand on their services to the Gulf state. Frequencies will be reduced from daily A 333s to 5 weekly with all of them operating via DMM in both directions.


Gulf Air has revealed on the GDS that it will be increasing its services to Istanbul effective 15MAY 2011 by adding an additional 5th weekly flight to the route as well as increasing capacity from 4 weekly E70s to 5 weekly A320s. The schedule will be a split one which would allow all the key high volume markets to get connected with IST in both directions via its BAH hub.

Airline News Mar 01-12

Etihad Airways has officially announced that it shall be further increasing frequencies to MAN-Manchester, UK to keep in line with the serious increase in competition hailing from Emirates and Qatar Airways in particular to its market share out of the Northern UK. Originally, plans called for EY to increase from daily to 10 weekly effective Aug 1^st 2011. However, another round of increase sees the AUH-MAN route being planned to operate on a double daily basis nonstop using a 2 class configured A 330-200 effective Aug 1^st. In addition, EY too confirmed that its flights to PEK-Beijing, China will be increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop services using an A 332 effective July 2^nd 2011.

With regards to its fleet options, EY has also announced that it has canceled an already existing order for 4 Boeing 787-900s (out of an order for 35 jets of this model type) and in return ordered 3 Boeing 777-300ERs in order to rapidly fuel its international long haul expansion plans which are being hindered with the frequent delays of the B 787 program.

Aeroflot has officially announced that it has placed a billion dollar order with Boeing this week for 8 new Boeing 777s. The break down of this order is 6 B 777-300ERs + 2 B 777-200ERs. SU claimed that with Russia hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup, growth opportunities exist that can be tapped especially as external tourism ex Russia grows along with the fact that SU can better feed its Sky Team member hubs in the distant future.

Cathay Pacific has officially confirmed that it has placed a multi billion order with both Boeing and Airbus earlier on this week for 27 wide bodied aircraft. These include 2 A 359s + 15 A 333s + 10 B 777-300ERs. The latter are expected to be fitted in a 2 class configuration designed to replace the aging Boeing 777-300As from 2013 onwards.

Emirates has unveiled another major round of worldwide restructuring of its entire route network for the entire 2011 calendar year keeping mind high rise of oil prices + political unrest in the MENA region. There have been major frequency and capacity increased too announced in Europe and Asia in particular. The main highlights are as follows:

CPT - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using an A 345 + B 773ER each daily.

VIE - frequencies increased from daily to 13 times per week i.e. daily B 773ER + 6 weekly A 345.

MXP - capacity increased from double daily A 343s to double daily B 773ERs i.e. additional capacity of 2492 r/t seats per week!

ZRH - capacity increased to double daily flights using a B 773ER.

MAN - frequencies increased from double daily to triple daily nonstop flights i.e. daily A 380 + daily A 332 + daily B 773ER. The new 3rd daily flight arrives into MAN at 0730 and departs back at 0940 MAN time respectively.

SYD - third daily flight reinstated i.e. double daily nonstop + daily via BKK.

PVG - capacity increased from daily A 343 + daily B 773ER to double daily B 773ERs.

FCO - capacity increased from daily A 332 + daily B 773 to double daily B 773s.

SAH - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly A 332s.

TUN - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly A 332s.

DAM - frequencies reduced from double daily to 13 weekly.

DKR - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 332.

Qatar Airways has officially announced another round of major expansion of its worldwide route network effective June 2011 with new flights being launched to Sofia, Calcutta, Oslo ad Manchester. The main highlights are as follows:

MAN - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using a 2 class configured A 332.

OSL - new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be launched from 05OCT using a 2 class A 332.

FRA - frequencies increased from 10 to 13 weekly flights using a daily B 772LR + 6 weekly A 332 effective 01JUN.

CCU - new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using an A 320 effective July 27th.

SOF - new 4 weekly flights to be launched with an A 320 effective 14SEP.

LGW - all flights suspended effective 01JUN 2011.

STR - an additional 4th weekly flight to be added using an A 319 effective early June.

Air China has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to DUS-Dusseldorf, Germany effective March 27^th 2011. CA will be operating the route from its main Beijing hub using an Airbus A 330-200. Frequencies will be 3 times per week which shall be increased to 4 weekly from June 21^stMUC-Munich will too be increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332 effective May 11^th 2011. Lastly, CA officially announced that it has placed an order for 5 new Boeing 747-800 passenger models. These birds will be used as an immediate replacement aircraft for its fleet of 5 B 747-400s. CA becomes the third passenger airline after Lufthansa and Korean Air to order this 747 variant. onwards. The Chinese flagship carrier too confirmed that its services to

China Southern Airlines has officially announced few changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows out of its Guangzhou hub airport base:

DEL – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a B 757.

KTM – frequencies reduced from 6 to 3 weekly flights using an A 319.

NRT – capacity reduced from daily B 772A to daily A 332.

Air India has officially confirmed that it will be increasing its services to DMM-Dammam, Saudi Arabia^th 2011 onwards. The main highlights are as follows: from March 27

DEL/DMM – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 320.

BOM/DMM – frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly nonstop flights using an A 320.

Vietnam Airlines has officially announced that it will be significantly increasing its presence in the Australian market from June 13^th 2011. The main highlights are as follows:

SGN/SYD – frequencies increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using a B 772ER.

SGN/MEL - frequencies increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using the same aircraft type.

British Airways has officially announced that it shall be increasing its flights to PVG-Shanghai, China^th 2011 onwards. Currently, BA operates 5 times per week nonstop from London Heathrow to PVG, however an additional 6^th weekly flight will be launched from late April using a Boeing 777-200ER. effective April 28

Hong Kong Airlines officially announced that it has placed a mega order with Boeing earlier on this week for6 Boeing 777-200LR freighters + 32 Boeing 787-900s. The B 789s will be used in the long run as a full time replacement aircraft of its current A 332 fleet. 38 aero planes. The breakdown of the order is

Iberia of Spain has officially announced that it has placed a huge order with Airbus this week designed to primarily replace its entire fleet of Airbus A 340-300s from 2014 onwards. This order includes 8 A 333s + 8 options. Currently, IB has in its fleet 18 A 343s that can 260 pax in a two class configuration.

Airline News Feb 19-25

Qatar Airways has officially revealed further changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SYZ - new twice weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective June 5th using an A 321. These services shall be gradually increased to 5 times per week.

MAN - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using an A 332.

KHI - capacity increased from daily A 320 to daily A 332 effective May 1st.

FRA - capacity increased from 10 weekly A 332s to 6 weekly B 772LRs + 4 weekly A 332s.

TUN - capacity reduced from 5 weekly A 332s to 5 weekly A 320s.

SEZ - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A 320.


Etihad Airways has revealed on the GDS that it shall be increasing its flights to PEK-Beijing, China from July 2nd 2011 onwards. Currently EY operate 5 weekly nonstop flights on the AUH-PEK sector using an A 332, however from July these shall be increased to daily services using the same aircraft type.


Oman Air has officially announced further changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season as the carrier continues to receive more aircraft to fuel its rapid expansion. The main highlights are as follows:

CMB - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 333.

DAR - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a B 738.

MLE - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 333.


Vietnam Airlines has officially announced many capacity and frequency increases to its Far East Asian network for the IATA Summer 2011 season from its secondary HANOI hub. The main highlights are as follows:

PEK - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 321.

BKK - frequencies increased from daily from double daily nonstop flights using an A 321.

SIN - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly nonstop flights using an A 321.


According to the media in Sri Lanka, the national carrier i.e. Sri Lankan Airlines is reportedly in discussions with Boeing to purchase at least a 8-10 Boeing 777s to replace its fleet of Airbus A 340-300s as well to cater for future growth. Though Boeing has been pitching its largest B 773ER to UL, this aircraft type is deemed to be a bit too big for any of UL's worldwide routes hence it is expected that the carrier might opt for the Boeing 777-200ER which would seat approximately 330 passengers in a comfortable 2 class configuration.


Egypt Air has officially announced that in order to cut back on costs for 2011 due to a heavy toll that the on going Egyptian political crisis is having on its current flights and for the foreseeable future, it will be leasing out nearly 40% of its fleet to interested airlines for up to a year. The planes it is keen to dry or wet lease out are A 333s, A 332s and B 773ERs along with few A 321s, E170s and B 738s.


Lufthansa has officially disclosed the configuration details of its new Boeing 747-800s that are scheduled to be delivered soon to the carrier. It will seat a total of 386 passengers only with the layout being 8 first class + 80 business class and 298 in economy class. No initial long haul routes have been mentioned by LH but it is expected that JFK, Tokyo and Singapore would be the first recipients.


United Airlines has officially disclosed many capacity adjustments to its European service from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

IAD/CDG - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights using a B 772ER + B 757 each daily respectively.

IAD/AMS - capacity reduced from daily B 772ER to daily B 757.

EWR/ZRH - capacity increased from daily B 762ER to daily B 763ER.

Airline News Feb 12-18

Alitalia has officially announced that it will be embarking on a major long haul expansion out of its FCO-Rome hub in 2012-13 as the carrier takes more delivery of new Airbus A 330-200s already on order with Airbus. AZ has disclosed that the new routes it shall be launching are Delhi, Seoul, Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi. With regards to AUH, it is expected to be a code share with Etihad Airways as part of a broader partnership where by EY flies MXP-AUH and AZ does FCO-AUH. Beyond AUH, AZ will code share on EY's services to Australia, Far East and Indian Subcontinent where as EY would code share beyond FCO/MXP to domestic Italian points + to key offline EU points.


Malaysia Airlines has officially announced that it shall be increasing its presence in JED-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 season. Currently, MH offers 4 weekly nonstop flights between KUL and JED using a Boeing 777-200ER. However from March 27th, frequencies are increased to 6 times per week using a Boeing 747-400 four times per week + twice a week B 772ERs. In total, the capacity increase on offer is from 1128 one way weekly seats to 2000 i.e. 872 more aka 77% increase in capacity.


Jet Airways of India has officially confirmed that it has been granted rights to fly nonstop to Amsterdam, Holland from Delhi from the on set of the IATA Winter 2011 season. In addition, in a move that has generated a lot of interest within the aviation fraternity, 9W too has applied to start nonstop flights to New York City from either BOM or DEL from IATA W11. This is in response to the positive feedback that Air India's nonstop services to USA have been receiving from the Indian travelers which has also in turn hurt 9W's performance over the past few months on the BOM/DEL-NYC route. For the nonstop NYC route, 9W would be using a Boeing 777-300ER which can operate without payload issues out of DEL but not out of BOM. It hasn't yet disclosed which airport in NYC it would prefer flying to nonstop but since its current international expansion is more on the lines of flying to Sky Team hubs, JFK would likely get the nod. However, DEL-JFK is already flown nonstop by AI but from BOM its EWR so in order to differentiate itself, one would reckon BOM-JFK being chosen as it has more higher yielding premium passengers flying F & J versus DEL-JFK.


Oman Air has officially revealed a massive expansion plan for its entire network for the IATA Summer 2011 with capacity and frequency increases to Europe, Middle East and Far East. The main highlights are as follows:

BAH - frequencies increased from double to triple daily flights.

DOH - capacity increased to triple daily nonstop terminator flights.

MXP - capacity increased to 4 weekly A 330s having terminator nonstop flights in both directions i.e. no longer linked with MUC eff June 1st.
DXB - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times daily.

BKK - frequencies increased to 10 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.

KUL - frequencies increased from 5 to 7 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.

AUH - frequencies increased from triple daily to 4 times daily.

MUC - capacity increased to 4 weekly A 333s having terminator nonstop flights in both directions i.e. no longer linked with MXP eff June 1st

DME - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 738.

KRT - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 738.

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to VCE-Venice, Italy effective June 15th 2011. QR will be operating this new route using an Airbus A 320. In addition, QR too has confirmed that it shall be increasing frequencies to SEZ-Seychelles effective June 1st from 4 times per week to daily nonstop service using an A 320.


Cathay Pacific has officially announced many changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MXP - frequencies to be increased from 4 weekly B 773ERs to daily nonstop flights using the same aircraft type effective July 02.

TPE - frequencies increased from 101 to 108 weekly flights.

JKT - frequencies increased from 18 weekly to triple daily nonstop.

SUB - frequencies increased to daily nonstop flights

In addition at the currently on going Routes America conference, CX has disclosed that it is interested in launching new flights to Dammam, Kuwait and Madrid in the near future as it sees a lot of potential in these markets.


American Airlines has officially confirmed that it will be reducing frequencies to DEL-Delhi, India effective May 1st 2011. Currently, AA offers a daily nonstop service using a B 772ER, however from May, it shall be reduced to 6 times per week only using the same aircraft type.


KLM has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to EZE-Buenos Aires, Argentina effective Oct 21st 2011. KL will be operating the new services nonstop using a B 772ER.


Lufthansa has officially announced that it shall be launching new flights to GIG-Rio De Janerio, Brazil effective Oct 30th 2011. LH will be operating the new service nonstop from its FRA hub using an A 340-300 on a daily basis.


Hawaiian Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to KIX-Osaka, Japan effective July 12th 2011. HA will be operating the service using a Boeing 767-300ER on a daily basis.


Korean Air has officially revealed many changes to its route network for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows:

DXB - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 weekly nonstop flights.

JKT - frequencies increased to 10 times per week nonstop.

MNL - capacity reduced from double daily B 773s to double daily B 772s.

TLV - capacity increased from 3 weekly A 332s to 3 weekly B 772ERs.

GUAM - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly i.e. daily B 773 + 4 weekly A 333s.