Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has finally revealed details of its new IAH-Houston bound flights which will be flown nonstop from Doha. Flights will be launched from Nov 10th 2008 with an initial frequency of 3 times a week using a 2 class configured (J + Y) Boeing 777-200LR. However, from Dec 1st, the service will increase to daily nonstop. The flight timings are as follows :

QR 77 Dep DOH 0120 Arr IAH 0915
QR 78 Dep IAH 1215 Arr DOH 1210+1

Flights are timed to mainly connect with QR's Saudi Arabia and GCC bound flights where as all of its Indian subcontinent flights misconnect with IAH in both directions.

Emirates

Emirates has officially confirmed that it will be launching 2 new flights this year i.e. CCJ-Calicut, India and CAN-Guangzhou, China. These 2 new cities are part of 8 new routes that EK will be launching this year after CPT was the first one announced. According to various media outlets, the remaining 5 new cities expected to be launched by EK this year are ORD, MAD, GIG, BCN and DUR. As far as CCJ and CAN are concerned, the main highlights concerning their respective operations are as follows :

CAN - will be launched from July 1st 08 four times a week nonstop using a 2 class A 332. However, from Dec 1st 08, frequencies will be increased to daily using an A 343 6 times a week + a weekly A 332.

CCJ - will be launched from July 1st 08 six times a week nonstop using a 2 class B 772A five times a week + weekly A 332. However, from Oct 26th 08, capacity will be increased to 6 weekly B 772As.

EK are also extremely pleased at how their new route to IAH-Houston is performing and are now examining the possibility of launching additional nonstop frequencies to the route from the on set of the Winter 08-09 timetable.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways CEO Mr James Hogan has informed the media that his airline will be definitely launching 2 new routes this year i.e. DME-Moscow and ALA-Almaty, Kazakhistan later on this year. Both cities will be flown nonstop from the airline's AUH hub. DME will be flown using the A 332 where as ALA is expected to be launched with the A 320.

Gulf Air

Gulf Air has confirmed that it will be launching a new long haul route to PVG-Shanghai, China effective June 16th 08. The route will be flown 4 times a week nonstop using an A 343. These new PVG flights are mainly targeting pax bound for LON and the GCC markets. The flight details are as follows:

GF 286 Dep BAH 1010 Arr PVG 0020+1
GF 287 Dep PVG 0315 Arr BAH 0810

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has announced that it will be increasing its flights to YVR-Vancouver flown nonstop from its main AKL-Auckland hub from Nov 28th 08 onwards. An extra weekly flight will be flown thus making the service 4 times a week nonstop using a B 777-200ER. Besides YVR, the airline will also be launching new twice a week nonstop flights to PEK-Beijing, China effective November 2008 using a B 772ER flown from AKL.

Uzbekistan Airways

Uzbekistan Airways has released details of its Summer 2008 international timetable which see many changes being implemented to Europe and Asian routes in terms of capacity and frequency. The main highlights are as follows :

JFK - frequencies increased to twice a week using a B 763ER from June 1st.

LHE - frequencies increased to 4 weekly B 752s + weekly AR8.

ATQ - capacity reduced to 5 weekly AR8s.

DEL - frequencies reduced from 3 to 2 weekly A 310-300s.

CDG - capacity increased to twice weekly B 763ERs eff April 1st.

FRA - frequencies increased to three times a week using an A 310-300.

MXP - frequencies increased to twice a week using an A 310-300.

FCO - frequencies increased to twice weekly B 763ERs.

PEK - frequencies increased to 3 weekly B 763ERs.

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines of South Korea has confirmed that it will be starting new nonstop flights from its ICN-Seoul hub to CDG-Paris effective 31st March 08. Flights will be flown 3 times a week on MON/WED/FRI using a B 772ER.

In addition to this, OZ will also be increasing its 4 weekly flights flown nonstop to JFK from 4 weekly to daily effective August 23rd 2008. All ICN-JFK bound flights will be flown using the B 772ER.

Air Mauritius

Air Mauritius has revealed that it will be inaugurating new flights to BLR-Bangalore, India from April 28th 2008.

Flights will be flown only once a week initially nonstop from MRU using an A 330-200.

Iran Air

Iran Air has announced details of its Summer 2008 timetable which sees many capacity changes especially in regards to its European bound flights. The main highlights are as follows :

LHR - increased to 4 weekly B 747s from 4 weekly AB6s.

AMS - frequencies increased to 4 weekly AB6s.

ORY - frequencies increased to 3 weekly AB6s from June 17th.

ARN - capacity increased to 2 weekly B 747s from 2 weekly AB6s.

FRA - frequencies increased to weekly A 310-300 + 4 weekly AB6s.

DAM - capacity increased to 2 weekly B 747s + weekly AB6.

BKK - 2 weekly B 747-100s will be flown.

DXB - capacity reduced to 13 weekly A 310-300s.

KUL - frequencies increased to 4 weekly B 747s.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has announced 2 new route changes to its wide spread network in India. The main highlights are as follows:

MUC/BOM - a new route Munich-Mumbai nonstop flown 3 times a week using an A 343 effective 5th May 08. The new MUC-BOM-MUC flights connect to LAX & SFO with a transit of less than 3 hours in both directions at MUC which is excellent.

CCU - due to high demand, it will be increasing its flights to CCU-Calcutta, India from 1st June 08. Currently, 3 weekly flights are flown nonstop from FRA using an A 333. However, from June 1st, this route will be increased to 5 times a week using an A 333.

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has unveiled a large scale expansion of its long haul flights to Europe, USA and Asia for the upcoming summer 2008 peak season. The main highlights are as follows :

IAD - increased from 4 to 5 weekly flights flown via FCO-Rome using a B 763ER effective March 30th.DEL/PEK - increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights using a B 763ER. ET has 5th freedom rights on the DEL-PEK-DEL sector. This will come into effect from March 3rd.

CAN - increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights using a B 763ER flown via BKK. ET has 5th freedom rights on the BKK-CAN-BKK sector.

BKK - increased from 6 to 9 weekly flights i.e. 3 nonstop terminator flights + 6 weekly flights which continue onwards to CAN. All BKK operated flights will be flown using a B 763ER.

Comments:

Seems like ET is following in its main rival's KQs footsteps in expanding its presence in key Asian markets such as BKK & CAN.

PIA

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines has officially confirmed the launch of its first ever nonstop Pakistan-USA flight as the carrier introduces a weekly nonstop flight flown from LHE-Lahore to JFK-New York City. A Boeing 777-200LR will be used for this flight which will be operated on Wednesday. As a result, PIA's JFK flights will be increased to 3 weekly i.e. weekly B 772LR + 2 weekly B 773ER flown from KHI via MAN.

Besides increasing JFK, PIA will also be reinstating its Moscow and Glasgow bound flights from March 30th 08. GLA will be flown nonstop from LHE twice a week using an A 310-300, however one of the flights i.e. on Wednesday will be flying to LYP-Faisalabad from GLA via LHE. As far as SVO-Moscow is concerned, it will also be flown twice a week using an A 310-300 but from KHI via DXB. PIA has full 5th freedom rights on the DXB-SVO-DXB sector.

Middle East Airlines (MEA)

MEA-Middle East Airlines of Lebanon has confirmed that it will be increasing frequency and adjusting capacity on its medium haul flights to London Heathrow for the upcoming summer season.

Currently, MEA operates 4 weekly A 321s + a weekly A 332 on this route. However, from June 1st 08, LHR will be increased to a daily operation with all flights being flown using an A 330-200.

Swiss

Swiss has announced that it will be increasing its nonstop flights to JNB-Johannesburg, South Africa for the summer peak season only. All daily flights will be operated by the A 340-300 and will last from 30th June to Sept 3rd only.

Air Canada

Air Canada will be increasing capacity on 3 long haul international routes for the upcoming summer peak season.

YVR/ICN - to be increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop flights subject to government approval.

YYZ/TLV - to be increased from 5 weekly to daily B 763ERs. All flights are flown nonstop.

YYZ/EZE/SCL - to be increased from 5 weekly to daily B 763ERs.

Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines has confirmed that it has placed a multi billion dollar order with Boeing for 8 new Boeing 777s + 19 unspecified variants of the Boeing 737NGs. Insiders within CO, reveal 2 versions of the B 777 order. One side says all 8 are B 772ERs where as the other says that 2 B 772ERs are confirmed as part of the order but the remaining 6 are listed as unspecified options meaning that CO can exercise the remaining 6 as either B 773ERs or B 772LRs.

Analysis:

CO's B 772ERs suffer payload restrictions on their nonstop flights from EWR to HKG, BOM & DEL especially in the cargo belly. One would hope that CO's tradition of making "sensible" fleet decisions is implemented here and that all 8 B 777s are not of the -200ER version as CO would benefit greatly if B 777-200LRs are ordered as they can fly from its IAH & EWR hubs nonstop to DXB, Far East Asia (EWR-HKG), Africa (EWR-JNB) and India which the -200ER is incapable of doing and the -300ER is incapable of flying IAH-DXB/India nonstop.

CO also doesnt need the extra capacity of 50-70 more seats that the B 773ER offers as the B 772LR is the perfect aircraft for its ultra long haul routes for all seasons as it can fly 280 pax in a 2 class configuration + carry 16 tons of cargo in its belly without any problems what so ever.

Insiders have said that 2 B 772ERs have been ordered for sure which leaves 6 remaining. If 6 B 772LRs are ordered, then 2 can be used effectively for EWR-BOM + 2 for EWR-HKG + 2 for EWR-DEL. The B 772ERs that would be replaced on these routes can be used to launch one stop flights to South/Eastern Africa, increase capacity to Brazil + replace some EU routes operated by the B 764ER as the performance economics of the B 772ER on trans-atlantic flights is superior to the B 764ER!

Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways will be reducing its capacity to Mumbai, India for the upcoming summer peak season. Currently, 3 weekly B 772ERs + 4 weekly B 763ERs are flown nonstop from NBO to BOM. However from July 1st 08, the service will become a daily Boeing 767-300ER operation.

In addition, KQ has announced that it will be increasing its flights to Far East Asia from July 2008. The main highlights are as follows :

CAN - increased from 4 to 6 weekly B 763ER flights i.e. 4 via DXB and 2 via BKK. KQ can carry 5th freedom traffic from DXB & BKK to Guangzhou (CAN).

HKG - increased from 3 to 4 weekly B 763ERs flights all flown via BKK with 5th freedom traffic rights.BKK - increased from 3 to 6 weekly B 763ERs all flown nonstop from NBO.

Analysis :

It seems evident that KQ and ET are making good money with their CAN bound flights which is not surprising at all as this city has more "direct trade" with Eastern/Southern Africa than any other region in China! Since they offer a vastly superior business class product compared to CZ on the popular DXB-CAN route, their J class loads on this route might also be bringing in good yield. Overall, its very pleasing to see KQ taking the initiative at expanding in the Far East as the demand for Africa-Far East Asia travel is growing rapidly year by year due various large scale investments made by Chinese and Japanese state enterprises in different African states.

Garuda

Garuda of Indonesia is in final talks to place a multi billion dollar order at next week's Singapore Air show and the announcement includes purchasing 10 B 777-200ERs + 25 B 737-800s + 10 B 787-800s. In the mid 1990s, GA originally placed an order for 6 B 772ERs but then the Asian financial crisis hit which ended up in the order being defered. As far as the B 738s are concerned, GA has already ordered 25 previously and these additional 25 are part of the "options" plan it had with Boeing. Lastly, the B 788 deal is basically a firm signing of an earlier MOU which was signed in 2005 between GA and Boeing.

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/13/221505/garuda-to-order-more-737-800s-and-firm-order-for-787s.html

Analysis :

Personally speaking, I'm not totally in favor GA's management ordering 10 B 772ERs exclusively as this aircraft type will be a detrimental factor for their long term growth. GA's board should instead seriously consider ordering a mixture of 7 B 772LRs and 3 B 773ERs. The reasons being that the latter will prove to be an ideal replacement for their entire fleet of B 744s four to five years down the road as its a more "cost effective" aircraft to use on high density flights to Japan, Europe & Middle East. You cannot replace a 410 seater B 744 with a 310 seater B 772ER as that is a huge capacity decrease particularly on routes to the Middle East which see high density demand year round. If GA want to increase the life span of their B 744s, they can later be converted into freighters as the country desperately needs a strong all cargo airline.

As far as why the B 772LR should have been ordered instead of the B 772ER is because of payload issues. The full capacity uplift of the B 77L would come in handy on long haul nonstop flights to LGW, FRA & AMS as there would be no payload problems year round. With the B 772ER, GA would suffer seasonal payload restrictions on nonstop flights bound to LGW & AMS especially. LGW would work well if GA flew DPS-CGK-LGW due to the high volume of DPS bound traffic year round from the Greater London Area. If GA fly daily into LGW from CGK, they should time their flights to connect with SYD/MEL/PER so that they can grab a small piece of the "Kangaroo route" market share with their one stop flights.

Thai Airways

Thai Airways has announced that it will be increasing its flights to Southern India from the onset of the Summer 2008 timetable. Both Chennai and Bangalore will each get 3 additional weekly flights flown by an A 300-600R (AB6). This will result in MAA being increased from 4 weekly to daily flights with the 3 additional flights being terminator flights as the remaining 4 continue onwards to DXB-Dubai with 5th freedom traffic. With regards to BLR, it will result in the city being upgraded from daily flights to 10 weekly i.e. daily A 333 + 3 weekly AB6s.

In addition, TG has also revealed additional major aircraft and frequency changes for Summer 2008. The main highlights are as follows :

NGO - increased from daily to 10 weekly B 772A operated flights.

AKL - frequencies reduced from daily A 346 to 5 weekly B 772ERs.

ATH - capacity reduced from 3 weekly B 773As to 3 weekly B 772ERs.

MUC - capacity reduced to daily A 346s from 4 weekly A 346s + 3 weekly B 744s effective mid May.

CAN - capacity increased to double daily A 333s effective Aug 1st.

MXP - capacity reduced from 4 weekly B 772ERs to 4 weekly A 346s (fyi...TG's A 346s seat 267 pax where as their B 772ERs seat 292 pax).

Lufthansa

Lufthansa announced today that it will be increasing capacity to Charlotte, USA from June 10th onwards by replacing the daily A 343 operated flight with a larger 3 class configured A 340-600 which seats 306 pax. LH currently codeshares with US Airways on this route which sees a high volume of premium traffic in the summer months especially as CLT and its surrounding areas are home to a size able number of various pharmacutical companies + famous doctors who fly J & F class on LH consistently.