26MAR edition

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it shall be launching 2 new destinations in Iraq from June 2013 as the carrier looks to take advantage of the rapid growth of business and immigrant traffic that is flowing to/from the country. The two new destinations are Basra and Sulaimaniyah which shall be flown 4 times per week each respectively using A320s. The flight schedules are as follows:

BSR - effective 03JUN on MON/WED/FRI/SUN

QR 448 Dep DOH 0725 Arr BSR 0905
QR 449 Dep BSR 1005 Arr DOH 1145

*Above schedule offers excellent 2 way connections to all of QR's European and GCC network in particular

ISU - effective 20AUG on MON/TUE/FRI/SAT

QR 438 Dep DOH 1335 Arr ISU 1600
QR 439 Dep ISU 1700 Arr DOH 1915

*Above schedule connects both ways to SE Asia, GCC and ISC only

In addition, QR too revealed that it shall be increasing flights to CDG-Paris effective 30MAY13 from the current 18 weekly to triple daily nonstop using a 310 seater A340-600. Flights shall be departing DOH at 0145/0825/1355 and departing CDG at 1120/1600/2225 respectively.

Comments:

QR's entry into BSR will hurt EY the most because of its ability to offer convenient 2 way connections to/from Europe which EY cant since it does not have a 1300-1400 EU departure hub wave bank out of AUH which QR has out of DOH. 


Turkish Airlines has announced many changes to its medium and long haul route network for the IATA Summer and Winter 2013 seasons of which the main highlights are as follows:

MLE/CMB - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily using an A332

LOS - capacity increased from daily B739s to daily A332s

IAH - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 weekly nonstop flights using a B773ER

GRU/EZE - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily using a B773ER

ICN - capacity increased from daily A343s to daily B77Ws

DAR - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily

In addition to the above, TK also confirmed that it has placed its largest ever order in history with Airbus for 117 new Airbus planes to be delivered over the next decade. The order breakdown consists of 4 A320s + 25 A321s + 53 A321NEOs + 25 options on the latter.


PIA of Pakistan has officially announced that due to increasing demand for its direct flights into Milan, Italy in particular from North Pakistan, it shall be increasing frequencies to the city along with its tagged on destination CDG-Paris effective 09JUN13. From this date onwards, frequencies will rise to 3 times per week operated with Boeing 777-300ERs in the following manner:

Twice a week ISB-MXP-CDG-ISB and once a week LHE-MXP-CDG-LHE

In 2012, a total of 81,000 passengers flew combined between MXP and LHE/ISB compared to 68,000 in 2010 !


Lufthansa has officially announced that it has placed the largest ever combined order (worth US$ 11.6 billion) in its company history with Boeing and Airbus recently with the firm purchase of 100+ aircraft from both manufacturers. The breakdown of the order is as follows:

6 Boeing 777-300ERs for SWISS
2 Airbus A 380-800s
35 Airbus A 321NEOs
35 Airbus A320NEOs
30 Airbus A320CEOs

The 6 B77Ws ordered for LX will be in time increased to a minimum order of 15 aircraft as they shall be replacing in due course LX's entire A343 fleet. 

Malaysia Airlines has officially announced due to booming passenger and cargo demand for its Dhaka bound services, it shall be launching an additional second daily nonstop service on this route effective 01APR13. In total, all 14 weekly services will be flown with a mixture of Boeing 777-200ERs (11 weekly) and Airbus A 330-300s (3 weekly). In 2012, a total of 285,000 passengers flew between KUL and DAC. Flights will depart KUL at 0940 and 1850 daily and arrive back by 0335 and 1825.


Eva Air of Taiwan has revealed that due to increasing demand for its Vienna bound services operated currently via Bangkok, it will be increasing its frequencies on this sector effective 02SEP13. Currently, 3 weekly flights are operated on the TPE-BKK-VIE sector with an A330-200 with 5th freedom traffic rights available on the BKK-VIE-BKK portion. These shall in turn be increased to 4 times per week from September using the same aircraft type.


Cathay Pacific has officially disclosed that will be increasing its services to LAX-Los Angeles, USA during the IATA W13 season by maintaining its S13 frequency level of 20 weekly nonstop flights using a Boeing 777-300ER. Traditionally in winter due to seasonal demand patterns, CX reduces LAX from 20 to 17 times per week but this year due to the rapid retirement of their B744 passenger fleet as well as the need to remain competitive from a seats capacity stand point across this vital trans-pacific sector, it will not be undertaking the reduced frequency approach. 


Asiana Airlines of South Korea has officially announced many changes to its route network for the IATA S13 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

ORD - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily effective 22JUL using a B772ER

SEA - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily effective 22MAY using an A333

HKT - frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily using a B763ER

CGK - new daily nonstop services to be launched with an A333 effective 21JUL

DPS - new 2 weekly nonstop services to be launched with a B763ER effective 25JUL


Lion Air of Indonesia officially announced last week that it has placed Asia's largest ever aircraft order totaling over US$24 billion for the purchase of 234 Airbus family aircraft in a remarkable shift of loyalty as the airline currently has a fleet of over 100+ Boeing 737-900ERs on order and in service. Lion also has another 200 + B739MAXs on order with Boeing and must have received a heavily discounted offer from Airbus that could not have been passed up. The breakdown of the new order is as follows:

65 A321NEOs
109 A320NEOs
60 A320CEOs