Aug 15-22 Airline News

Etihad Airways has officially revealed major capacity changes across its entire network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

MNL - capacity increased to 12 weekly B 773ERs nonstop from daily B 773ER + 5 weekly A 332. This means an extra 1624 seats offered on a round trip basis i.e. 19% increase in weekly capacity.

ISB - capacity increased to 3 weekly B 773ERs + 4 weekly A 320s from 6 weekly A 320s + weekly A 332. A further capacity increase takes place from Dec 19th onwards when a 4th weekly B 773ER gets added in alongside 3 weekly A 320s. This means an extra 1860 seats offered on a round trip basis i.e. 84% increase in weekly capacity.

FRA - capacity increased from double daily A 332 to daily A 333 + daily A 332 effective Dec 1st.

LHE - capacity increased to daily flights operated exclusively by an A 340-600. Currently, EY operates 2 weekly A 332s + 3 weekly A 346s + a weekly A 320 and a weekly B 773ER so the capacity increase is 204 seats on a round trip basis i.e. 11%.

MEL - capacity increased from 6 weekly A 345s + weekly A 346 to 3 weekly A 346s + 4 weekly A 345s.

ORD - capacity reduced from daily A 346 to weekly A 345 + 6 weekly A 346.

EBL - frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly flights operated by an A 320 exclusively.

SYD - capacity reduced from 11 weekly A 346s to 2 weekly A 345s + 9 weekly A 346s.

CDG - capacity increased to 8 weekly A 333s + 2 weekly A 332s.

GVA - capacity increased from Dec 1st from 5 weekly A 332s to 5 weekly A 333s.

Emirates has officially announced major capacity changes across its entire medium and long haul network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SYD - frequencies reduced from triple daily to double daily flights i.e. daily A 380 nonstop + daily B 773ER via BKK.

AMS - capacity increased to daily nonstop flights operated by a B 773ER exclusively.

HKG - capacity increased from double daily B 773 to daily A 380 via BKK plus daily B 773ER nonstop.

PER - capacity increased to 13 weekly B 773ERs + weekly B 772LR.

MAD - capacity increased from daily A 332 to daily A 343.

ISB - capacity increased to 4 weekly B 773ERs + weekly B 772A.

LHE - capacity increased to 4 weekly B 773ERs.

TUN - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly flights operated by an A 332.

LAX - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using a B 777-200LR for all services.

MXP - capacity adjusted to double daily A 343s.

IAH - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using a B 777-200LR for 13 flights + weekly B 773ER (payload restricted).


Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it is increasing capacity to SFO-San Francisco from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season. It was planned to serve HKG-SFO with a daily B 744 + daily B 773ER, however that has been changed to 10 weekly B 744s + 4 weekly B 773ERs. In addition, other changes revealed are as follows:

SYD - frequencies increased from 25 to 28 weekly flights all operated with an A 333.
AKL - frequencies reduced from double daily nonstop flights to 12 weekly i.e. daily B 744 + 5 weekly A 343.

KIX - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop using an A 333 for all flights.

BNE - frequencies increased to 11 weekly flights.

CNS - frequencies increased to daily flights.

Qatar and Sri Lanka have officially announced signing of a new air bilateral accord which has the following highlights:

a) Frequencies can be increased from 21 to 28 weekly flights.

b) Out of these flights, 14 must be operated using narrow body equipment.

c) Fares to be common rated with UL on DOH-CMB-DOH sector.


Gulf Air has revealed on the GDS system that it shall be increasing capacity to Karachi, Pakistan for the entire IATA Winter 2010 season. Planned daily A 320 services are being increased to a daily A 321 which offers an extra 34 seats per flight. This change is effective Oct 11th 2010.


GMG Airlines has officially announced that it has been granted the authority by the Saudi and Bangladeshi Governments to operate 10 weekly nonstop flights from Dhaka to Saudi Arabia effective immediately. The allocation is 6 weekly JED + 4 weekly RUH flights. As a result, GMG has commenced operations on the DAC-JED sector 4 times per week using a Boeing 767-300ER along side RUH-DAC 3 times per week using the same aircraft type. Z5 has stated on its website that its B 763ERs are configured to hold 264 passengers.

Air China has officially announced that it shall be increasing frequencies on its flights to Dubai from Beijing from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season. Flights are to be increased to 5 times per week nonstop using an Airbus A 330-200 for all services.


China Airlines of Taiwan has officially announced few capacity changes to its long haul route network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

JFK - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 weekly flights using an A 343.

DEL/FCO - frequencies reduced from 3 to 2 weekly flights using an A 343.

LAX - frequencies reduced from double daily B 744s to 12 weekly B 744s.


Air Canada has officially confirmed that it is reducing frequencies to Geneva for the IATA Winter 2010 season. AC planned to serve Montreal-Geneva 5 times per week using a B 763ER, however that is being reduced to 4 times per week now using the same aircraft type.

Air India has officially announced major capacity increases to its domestic operations from its new Delhi hub from the onset of the IATA Winter 2010 season. This has been done in order to better feed its long haul and regional international flights from the DEL gateway point. The main highlights are as follows:

DEL/ATQ – frequencies increased from double daily to 5 daily flights with all services using an A 321.

DEL/BOM – frequencies increased from 11 to 14 daily flights.

DEL/AMD – frequencies increased from double to triple daily flights with all services using an A 319.

DEL/HYD – frequencies increased from double daily to 4 daily flights with all services using an A 320.

DEL/COK – frequencies increased from daily to double daily using an A 321 and A 320 each respectively.

DEL/CCU – frequencies increased to five daily flights using a mixture of A 319s/320s/321s.

EVA Air of Taiwan has officially announced that it shall be adjusting capacity on its flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for the entire IATA Winter 2010 season. Services to SIN are being increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using a B 773ER. On the other hand, KUL flights are being reduced from 5 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.


Egypt Air has officially announced few capacity changes for its medium haul network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

KWI - frequencies increased to double daily nonstop flights.

AUH - frequencies increased to 10 weekly nonstop flights.

CDG - frequencies increased to 9 weekly nonstop flights i.e. daily A 333 + 2 weekly A 320.

DXB - capacity increased from Jan 4th to daily A 333 + daily A 332.

Airline News Aug 7-14

Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it shall be increasing its flights to YYZ-Toronto and PER-Perth from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season i.e. Oct 31st. Operations to YYZ are being increased from the current 10 weekly to 12 weekly nonstop with all flights being flown using a Boeing 777-300ER. On the other hand, services to PER are being increased from daily A 333s to 10 weekly nonstop flights using an A 333 nine times per week + an A 343 once a week. CX too confirmed that has signed a LOI with Airbus for 30 A 350-900s and shall be exercising options to convert 6 Boeing 777-300ERs into firm orders as the carrier continues to implement its on going fleet replacement strategy. These A 359s are meant to replace CX's oldest A 333s and its entire A 343 + B 772A fleet. When the order is officially on announced on Airbus's order books, it is expected to consist for many more A 359s as the number of planes it will be replacing total 60+ in the A 359 size category.


Gulf Air has officially announced that it will be launching 3 new destinations and increasing frequencies to Kuala Lumpur + Kathmandu for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The three new cities are Addis Ababa, Basra and Isfahan. The main highlights are as follows:

ADD - new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective Dec 6th using an A 320.

IFN - new 3 weekly flights to be operated using an E70.

BSR - new 4 weekly flights to be operated using an E70.

KTM - frequencies increased from 9 to 11 weekly nonstop flights using an A 320.

KUL - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a mixture of A 332s and A 343s.

Ethiopian Airlines has officially confirmed that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to IAD-Washington DC from Dec 15th 2010 onwards as well as increasing frequencies on this flagship route of theirs. ET will be utilizing its brand new Boeing 777-200LR for this flight which will accommodate 321 passengers in a 2 class configuration i.e. 34 business class + 287 economy class. Services to IAD are being increased from 6 weekly to daily flights with the outbound flight from ADD making a technical stopover in FCO-Rome but IAD-ADD will be operates nonstop. The flying time between IAD and ADD is 12 hours 30 minutes.


Air India has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to CDG-Paris from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season i.e. Oct 31st. Currently, AI operates 3 weekly nonstop flights from its new DEL hub using a 238 seater Boeing 777-200LR. However from Oct 31st, capacity shall be increased by 44% as a 342 seater Boeing 777-300ER will be used to operate this service. The reason for the capacity increase AI confirmed is to aggressively target 6th freedom transit traffic bound to Bangkok and Kathmandu via DEL for which good connections are on offer in both directions. AI too confirmed via an earlier press release, that it does have clear cut intentions of increasing CDG-DEL to a daily service within the next year.


Singapore Airlines has revealed on the GDS that it shall be implementing few changes to its medium haul network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

IST - capacity increased to 4 weekly nonstop terminator services using a Boeing 777-200 instead of operating via Dubai.

DXB - frequencies reduced from double daily to 11 weekly.

PVG - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 times daily.


EVA Air has officially confirmed that it shall be increasing capacity across its international network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SFO - frequencies increased from 10 to 12 weekly nonstop flights using a B 773ER.

SEA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using a B 744.

HND - new double daily nonstop flights to be launched using an A 332.

NRT - capacity increased to daily B 773ER + daily A 332.

JKT - capacity increased to 6 weekly nonstop flights using a B 744 Combi.


Air Asia X has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to IKA-Tehran, Iran from Dec 1st 2010 onwards. D7 will be operating twice weekly nonstop services from its Kuala Lumpur hub using an Airbus A 330-300 with the following flight schedule:

Days of operation: MON/WED

D7 2904 Dep KUL1610 Arr IKA 2040 D7 2905 Dep IKA 2155 Arr KUL 1055
Etihad Airways has officially announced that it will be changing its business model on many low yielding regional routes that are within a 5 hour flying radius of its Abu Dhabi home base. It has revealed that it will be changing the configuration of 10 of its 15 Airbus A 320-200s to an all economy class layout seating 162 passengers offering a seat pitch of 32 inches. Initially 2 aircraft by October 31st will be reconfigured and shall be used on flights to Damascus, Colombo, Calicut and Trivandrum where as in the future services to Cochin, Chennai, Peshawar, Amman, Athens and Beirut too will see this product. EY's CEO Mr Hogan stated that this is a direct response to Fly Dubai who has poached a lot of market share to many cities which has caused some concern not only amongst EY but also amongst all GCC carriers. In total, EY has ordered 20 A 320s hence half of this fleet will get the all economy configuration.


Emirates has officially confirmed that it shall be increasing capacity on its route to LAD-Luanda, Angola from Nov 1st 2010. Currently, EK operates 3 times per week nonstop from Dubai using a 3 class A 330-200, however from November it shall be using the larger Boeing 777-200ER to operate this route due to the huge cargo and premium class demand that it has been experiencing on this sector.
Lufthansa has officially announced that it will be increasing frequencies to EWR-Newark, USA for the IATA Winter 2010 season by adding a second daily nonstop service. Currently, LH only operate a daily flight on the FRA-EWR route using an A 346 but ever since it has grown in stature as a major Star Alliance hub due to Continental Airlines being based there. Both of LH's FRA-EWR daily flights shall be operated using an A 340-300.


Qatar Airways has officially confirmed that it will be increasing its flights to DAR-Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania from January 2nd 2011. Currently, QR operate a daily nonstop flight from DOH to DAR, however from January frequencies are being increased to 11 weekly services using an A 320.


Japan Airlines has officially announced that it will be increasing its flights to Delhi, India from the on set of the IATA Winter 2010 season. Currently JAL operates a 3 weekly nonstop service using a Boeing 777-200ER however, from Nov 1st an additional 4th weekly nonstop service will be initiated using the same aircraft type.

July 30-Aug 06 Airline News

British Airways has officially revealed that it shall be reducing capacity on its London-Delhi route from Feb 1st onwards as the carrier takes delivery of more B 773ERs. For the IATA Winter 2010 season, it is operating a double daily B 744 service to DEL, however from Feb 1st, it gets reduced to a daily B 773ER + daily B 744. In addition, BA too confirmed that its flights to North America will see capacity changes for the Winter 2010 season in the following manner:

LAX- frequencies reduced from triple daily B 744s to double daily services using the same aircraft type.

EWR - capacity increased to triple daily B 772ERs.

JFK - frequencies increased to 48 times per week from LHR using a B 744 36 times per week + 12 weekly B 772ERs.


Virgin Atlantic has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Delhi, India from its London Heathrow base from the on set of the Summer 2011 season i.e. March 27th. Currently, it operates a daily nonstop service using an Airbus a 340-300 however from March 27th, a larger Airbus A 340-600 shall be used by the carrier to fly the route on a daily basis.


Air India has officially announced that it will be rescheduling its operations to Toronto with the much anticipated daily nonstop flight being announced from Delhi from Nov 1st 2010. AI will be using a Boeing 777-300ER for this dedicated flight with a same flight number to ATQ-Amritsar. However, the DEL-ATQ sector will be operated using an A 320/321. The flight schedule is as follows: Days of operation - DAILY AI 187 Dep DEL 0125 Arr YYZ 0645 AI 188 Dep YYZ 1035 Arr DEL 1125+1

Other long haul changes announced by the airline to take effect from Nov 1st are as follows:

DEL/LHR – frequencies increased from 10 weekly B 77Ws to double daily nonstop using a B 77W + B 77L each daily. Flights shall arrive into LHR at 1330 and 1855 with departures being at 1330 and 2130 respectively.

BOM/FRA/ORD – canceled

AMD/FRA/EWR – canceled

DEL/LHR/YYZ – canceled

ATQ/LHR/YYZ – canceled

DEL/ORD – daily nonstop flights to be operated using a B 77L.

BOM/EWR - daily nonstop flights to be operated using a B 77L.

DEL/FRA – daily ‘day light’ terminator flight to be operated using a B 77L. This will be the only India-FRA service operated by the carrier as it is abolishing its scissors hub at FRA airport from Oct 31^st.

Singapore Airlines has officially revealed many capacity changes to its medium and long haul route network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SYD - capacity increased to double daily A 380s + double daily B 772ERs.

KIX - frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop flights using an A 333 for all flights.

DAC - capacity increased from daily B 772As to daily A 333s.

BKK - capacity increased from 4 daily B 772As to 4 daily A 333s which seat 19 more passengers per flight.

AMD - capacity increased from 2 weekly B 772As to 2 weekly A 333s.

LAX - all business class A 345 operated flight sees frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop.

DME/IAH - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights using a B 773ER.


Qatar Airways has officially revealed that it will be reducing capacity on its Singapore-Bali route from Jan 1st 2011 onwards. Currently, QR operates this service on a daily basis using a 335 seater B 777-300ER, however from the new year it will be using a smaller 259 seater B 777-200LR three times per week along side the B 773ER four times per week. This translates into a 24% reduction by QR on this sector.


KLM has confirmed that it shall be implementing few capacity changes for its long haul network for the Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

LIM - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to 3 weekly B 773ER + 4 weekly B 772ER.

SFO - capacity increased from daily B 773ER to daily B 744 from June 26th.


Oman Air has officially announced few changes to its Indian subcontinent network for the IATA Winter 2010 season. Services to Bangalore are being increased from 5 to 6 weekly nonstop flights where as flights to Chittagong are also being increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights. BLR will be served with a B 737-700 where as CGP is operated with a B 738.


Fly Dubai has officially announced that it will be increasing its flights to Bahrain and Muscat from Nov 1st 2010 onwards. Both cities will see frequencies lifted from double daily to triple daily flights using a 189 seater B 738X.


Spice Jet under a new management team has confirmed to the Indian media that it shall be ordering 30 new Boeing 737-800s which shall be delivered to the carrier from 2014 onwards. This will make the total B 738 fleet number 58 aircraft.


Finnair has officially announced that it shall be leasing into its fleet 2 used Airbus A 340-300s from April 2011 as the carrier looks to further expand its highly successful long haul services to Southeast Asia from its HEL hub. The aircraft will come from ILFC and are expected to be ex Virgin Atlantic aircraft as the latter is receiving few A 333s from next summer which are replacing the A 343s on trans-atlantic services.