19OCT edition

Thai Airways has announced significant capacity changes to its route network for the IATA W14 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

KHI – frequencies increased from 5 to 6 weekly effective 01NOV14 using A333s

JNB – all flights suspended effective 15JAN; currently operated 3 times per week nonstop using a B772ER

CCU – frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop using A333s exclusively

HYD – frequencies increased from 5 to 6 weekly using an A320

Oman Air has announced a major expansion of long haul network during the upcoming IATA W14 season with 2 new destinations, frequency increases across Europe as well as a standardization of its Bangkok flight schedule which was most required.  The main highlights are as follows:

New A332 high density configuration announced for labor market routes i.e. 289 seats (24J + 265Y)

MNL – new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 02DEC14 using an A332

CGK – new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 12DEC14 using an A332

BKK – schedule standardized with departures out of BKK daily at 0855 and 2030 local time each respectively

ZRH – frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop using an A332

MLE – frequencies increased from 5 to 10 weekly using a B738 exclusively

FRA – frequencies increased to daily using an A333

MUC – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop using an A332

KHI – frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly using a B738

MXP – frequencies increased from 4 to 6 weekly nonstop using an A333

Kenya Airways has been cited that it over estimated the usefulness of the Boeing 777-300ER in its fleet as the aircraft has proven to be way too big (from a capacity stand point) to be deployed on any of its long haul routes such as Amsterdam, Guangzhou, London and Mumbai. The carrier is keen to dispose of these assets as soon as possible as it’s a big financial drain on its balance sheet.

Comments:

KQ's current 3 B77W frames seat 400 pax i.e. 28J + 372Y where as their B772ERs seat 322 pax i.e. 28J + 294Y. On the other hand, their B788s seat 234 pax i.e. 30J + 234Y.

In order to standardize and reduce costs, they should seriously consider phasing out both their B772ER + B77W fleet and standardizing the wide body around the B788 and B789 only. The latter would seat 291 pax in KQ's two class configuration with 30J + 261Y which is fine for any of its currently served high demand routes.

According to this article http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/kenya-airways-adds-787-routes and KQ's current fleet order backlog, it has options on 4 B787s which I feel should be converted to the larger -900 version so that the various fleet types in their fleet get reduced by 2016-17 to three types only i.e.  B787 + B737NG and E90 !

KLM has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to YEG-Edmonton, Canada as the carrier looks to operate to under served niche long haul markets where minimal competition currently exists. It will fly 4 times per week nonstop from its AMS hub using an A332 effective 03MAY15 with below mentioned schedule:

Days – 2/4/5/7

KL 675 Dep AMS 1435 Arr YEG 1535

KL 676 Dep YEG 1810 Arr AMS 1045+1

Other capacity changes revealed by the Dutch carrier for IATA S15 season are as follows:

YVR – capacity increased from daily A332 to daily A333

ACC – capacity increased from daily A332 to daily B772ER

GIG – frequencies increased from 5 to 6 weekly nonstop using a B772ER

YYC – capacity increased from daily A332 to 4 weekly B772ER + 3 weekly A332

EZE/SCL – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly using a B772ER

JFK – frequencies reduced from 19 weekly to double daily

IAH – frequencies reduced from 10 to 9 weekly

Emirates has disclosed many frequency + capacity upgrades to its long haul network for the upcoming W14 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MXP – new A380 destination with one of 3 daily flights i.e. EK 91/92 upgraded from a B773ER

DAR – frequencies increased from daily to double daily effective 01JAN15 i.e. daily B773ER + daily A345

FCO – frequencies increased from double daily to triple daily i.e. daily B773 + double daily A380.

Qatar Airways has revealed expansion plans for its route network for the upcoming IATA W14 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MIA – frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using a B772LR

ADD – capacity increased from 3 weekly A320s to 2 weekly A333s + weekly A320

ASM – new destination launched with twice weekly frequencies using an A320 effective 04DEC

CPT – capacity increased as flights are to be operated as nonstop terminator services using a B788 5 times per week with a 0125am departure out of DOH and returning back by 1130pm local time. As a result of which CPT will lose two way connectivity with India, China, Tokyo, Pakistan and Seoul.

SAW – frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily using an A320

LHR – capacity being increased with 2 out of 5 daily flights being upgraded to an A380 which depart

MED – frequencies increased from daily to double daily using an A320

OTP/SOF – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily

DXB – frequencies increased to 14 daily + nearby DWC airport flights also increased to 4 daily thus making the carrier serve the Dubai city market a total of 18 times daily

HKT – capacity increased as flights are to be operated as nonstop terminator services using an A332 on a daily basis

Ethiopia and Philippines have concluded signing a new bilateral accord paving the way for ET to launch expected new flights to Manila. The agreement allows 7 weekly flights between the two countries that can be operated either nonstop or via Bangkok or Singapore with 5^th freedom traffic rights. ET is expected to launch MNL via SIN from April 2015 using a B787-800. In other ET related news, the carrier has announced many capacity changes for its long haul route network of which the main highlights are as follows:

DUB/LAX – new 3 weekly flights to be launched effective 03JUN15 using a B788

SIN – new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 31MAR15 using a B788. This flight is on the ground in SIN for 12 hours and is expected to continue onwards to Manila (another new route).

JED – capacity increased from daily B738 to daily B763ER effective 27OCT14

TLV – frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using a B738 effective 27OCT14

VIE/ARN – capacity increased to 4 weekly flights using a B763ER

As far as fleet news is concerned, ET has officially finalized a deal to replace their current B737-700 + B737-800 fleet with 20 B738MAXs + an option of 10 more units.

Virgin Atlantic has unveiled a massive restructuring of its long haul route network as the carrier looks to focus on its core trans-atlantic services and alliance with share holder Delta Airlines to boost revenues. The main highlights are as follows:

BOM – all flights suspended effective 01FEB15

CPT – all flights suspended effective 27APR15

YVR – all flights suspended effective immediately

NRT – all flights suspended effective 01FEB15. Service to Tokyo will be to HND airport only!

DTW – new daily nonstop flights to be operated using an A333 effective 29MAR15

SFO – frequencies increased from daily to 12 weekly i.e. daily B744 + 5 weekly A346 effective 29MAR15

DEL – capacity adjusted from daily A333 to daily B789 effective 29MAR15

ATL – frequencies increased from daily to double daily effective 29MAR15

LAX - frequencies increased from daily to double daily i.e. daily B744 + daily A346 effective 29MAR15

JFK – frequencies increased from 4 to 5 daily flights effective 29MAR15

In addition, the carrier is in the finalization process of converting 5 B789s into firm orders which will bring the total VS fleet of B789s to number 21 units.

Etihad Airways has revealed few capacity changes across its route network for the IATA W14 and S15 seasons of which the main highlights are as follows:

LHR – all three daily flights to be operated by the A380 effective 01MAY15

SYD – capacity increased to daily A380 + 3 weekly B773ER effective 01JUN15

DEL – capacity increased to daily B773ER + daily B772LR effective 18NOV14

KHI – frequencies increased from daily to double daily A320s effective W14 season

KWI – frequencies increased from 4 to 5 daily flights effective W14 season

British Airways has outlined significant capacity changes across its long haul route network for the IATA S15 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

KUL – new daily nonstop flights to be launched using a B772ER effective 27MAY15

ACC – frequencies reduced from 10 weekly to daily using a B744 only

SFO – capacity increased from double daily B744 to daily A380 + daily B744

CPT – frequencies reduced from 10 to 9 weekly nonstop flights

TLV – frequencies increased from double daily to 17 weekly i.e. daily B772ER + 10 weekly A321s

DEN – capacity increased from daily B772ER to daily B744

YUL – capacity reduced from daily B772ER to daily B788

EZE – frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly nonstop using a B772ER

ICN - capacity reduced from daily B772ER to daily B788

Air Canada has outlined significant expansion for its long haul route network for the IATA S15 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

YYZ/CDG – frequencies increased from daily to double daily

YYZ/AMS – new 6 weekly nonstop flights to be operated using a B763ER

YYZ/NRT – capacity reduced from daily B773ER to daily B788

YYZ/ZRH – capacity adjusted from daily A333 to daily B788

YYZ/VCE – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly

YYZ/ATH – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily

YYZ/BCN – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily

YUL/CDG - frequencies increased from daily to double daily

YUL/ATH – frequencies increased from 2 to 4 weekly

YUL/BCN – frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly

YUL/VCE – new 2 weekly nonstop service announced

YVR/KIX – new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be operated