News between 24-30OCT

Transaero Airlines of Russia has officially announced that it has signed a deal with Airbus to purchase 4 Airbus A 380s to initially replace its fleet of Boeing 747-400s within the next 2 years as the carrier has an ambitious long haul growth plan set in stone. These A380s will be configured with the highest density i.e. 700 seats in a 3 class configuration containing a small business class, premium economy cabin and a dense economy class cabin. Its initial route will be on Moscow-Bangkok where the carrier has a strong following.


Air France has officially announced that it will be placing the Airbus A 380 on its popular LAX-Los Angeles route from 28MAY 2012 onwards as the carrier looks to further increase its premium brand awareness in the local market place. AF will be operating the A380 on a daily basis on the CDG-LAX sector however in turn to cater for the capacity increase, the route's total frequencies will drop from 20 weekly B777s to 15 weekly flights i.e. 8 weekly B 772ERs + a daily A 380. AF too confirmed for the IATA S12, its capacity to YYZ-Toronto shall also fall as the carrier will no longer be operating a daily B 747-400 on this route, instead a daily B 772ER will be used which will come as a sigh of relief for its business class passengers in particular due to the better on board seat product features.


Air Berlin of Germany has officially announced that it will be expanding its long haul network to USA out of its Berlin hub as the carrier looks to strengthen One World's presence in the German market with the cooperation of American Airlines. As a result, it will be launching new 3 weekly nonstop flights to LAX-Los Angeles effective 11MAY 2012 using an Airbus A 330-200. AB too revealed that it shall be implementing further capacity increases which are as follows:

TXL/JFK - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily flights using an A332.

DUS/MIA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly flights using an A332.

DUS/JFK - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights using an A332.

DUS/YVR - frequencies reduced from 3 to 2 weekly nonstop flights using an A332.

DUS/LAX - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 weekly nonstop flights using an A332.


Ethiopian Airlines has officially announced major capacity changes to its IATA W11 schedule of which the main highlights are as follows: BAH - all flights suspended effective 30OCT

DXB - frequencies reduced from triple daily to 15 weekly flights using a B 777

DEL - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights

KWI - capacity increased from daily nonstop B 737-700s to daily nonstop B 737-800 terminator flights with no extension to BAH.


Air Pacific of the Fiji Islands has officially announced that it has canceled its entire order of eight Boeing 787-900s as it could not accept further delays to the delivery of these aircraft by Boeing. In turn, FJ has placed an order for 3 Airbus A 330-200s which shall be used to replace its entire long haul fleet of 2 B 744s and 1 B 763ER. FJ has confirmed that these A332s will be used to operate to HKG, SYD, LAX and HNL.


Qatar Airways has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Kuala Lumpur and Phuket effective 25MAR 2012. The main highlights are as follows:

KUL - capacity increased from 13 weekly A 332s to 13 weekly B 773ERs i.e. an increase of approximately 2000 r/t seats per week.

HKT - capacity increased from daily A332 via KUL to daily B 773ER.


United Airlines has officially announced many capacity changes to its long haul network for the IATA W11 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

SFO/LHR - capacity increased from daily B772ER to daily B744.

SFO/KIX - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B772ERs.

SFO/PVG - capacity reduced from daily B744 to daily B772ER.

IAD/GVA - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B763ERs.

IAD/FCO - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B763ERs.

IAH/FRA - capacity increased from daily B762ER to daily B764ER.

IAH/CDG - capacity reduced from daily B764ER to daily B762ER.

EWR/CPH - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly B757s.

EWR/DUB - frequencies reduced from double daily to daily B757s.

EWR/FRA - frequencies increased from daily to double daily.

EWR/ARN - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly.

EWR/GRU - capacity increased from daily B762ER to daily B764ER.