Air Canada

Air Canada will be increasing its flights to Edmonton from London Heathrow but at the same time reducing its Calgary-Heathrow frequency for Summer 2009. According to the latest information available, YEG-LHR will be increased from daily to 9 times a week nonstop using a B 767-300ER where as YYC-LHR will be reduced from double daily to 12 weekly nonstop flights using an A 333 daily + 5 weekly B 763ER.

In addition, AC has announced capacity changes on its Montreal-Frankfurt route which will come into effect from Feb 1st. From that date onwards, AC will operate YUL-FRA using a B 777-200LR 4 times a week along side a B 777-300ER 3 times a week where as currently operates this sector using an A 333 daily.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has announced major changes to a few medium haul destinations in its network for the Summer 2009 season. The main highlights are as follows:

LOS - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a mixture of A 332s and A 333s.

ALG - frequencies increased from 4 to 6 weekly flights using an A 332 and A 333 three times a week each respectively.

GVA - capacity adjusted from 3 weekly A 332s to 5 weekly A 319s.

Emirates-Etihad

Emirates and Etihad Airways have both applied to the Italian Government to seek an amendment in the Italy-UAE bilateral agreement that would permit both airline to increase their presence in the Italian market in the face of a possible Alitalia collapse which they hope to exploit. EK has asked for permission to operate to Venice double daily and triple daily to both Rome and Milan respectively. On the other hand, Etihad Airways has asked to for daily flight rights to both Milan and Rome. Both carriers are aiming to largely attract passengers bound to the Far East and Australia via their respective UAE airport hubs.

British Airways

British Airways has disclosed that it will be reducing capacity on its key Heathrow-Hong Kong nonstop from June 2009. Effective that month onwards, BA's triple daily B 744 operated flights will be switched to double daily B 744s + daily B 777-200ERs.

BA also officially confirmed that it shall be resuming flights to Saudi Arabia after a gap of 6 years. Its flights will start from March 29th 09 and will fly 5 times a week to Riyadh using a 4 class configured B 772ER where as JED will be served also 5 times a week but using a 3 class B 763ER.

KLM

KLM has announced that it will be increasing its flights between Amsterdam and Hong Kong from 18th July 09 onwards with the addition of a 11th weekly frequency flown nonstop. KL will be utilizing Boeing 747-400 Combis for all the 11 weekly flights.

Air Asia X

Air Asia X, the long haul low cost airline of Malaysia has officially revealed that it has secured the acquisition of 2 used Airbus A 340-300s and will be using them to launch new long haul nonstop flights to London's Stansted Airport from its Kuala Lumpur hub. The airline will be flying this route 5 times a week from March 11th 09 onwards and its aircraft will be configured to seat 30 in business class and 286 in economy.

South African Airways

South African Airways has confirmed that it will be launching new services twice a week to EZE-Buenos Aires flown nonstop from its Johannesburg hub. SAA will be using an Airbus A 340-200 for this route on WED & SUN.

Korean Air

Korean Air will be launching new flights to MXP-Milan, Italy twice a week flown nonstop from its Seoul (ICN) hub effective Dec 10th 2008. KE will be using a B 777-200ER for this route and the flight will continue onwards to FCO-Rome. The latter will maintain 3 weekly flights with one of them being a turn around terminator service.

Egypt Air

Egypt Air has officially confirmed that it will be doubling its capacity on offer on its high demand Cairo-Doha route from the on set of the Summer 2009 IATA season. Currently, it flies a daily A 320 on this sector but that will be replaced by the larger Airbus A 340-200.