Airline News Feb 19-25

Qatar Airways has officially revealed further changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

SYZ - new twice weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective June 5th using an A 321. These services shall be gradually increased to 5 times per week.

MAN - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using an A 332.

KHI - capacity increased from daily A 320 to daily A 332 effective May 1st.

FRA - capacity increased from 10 weekly A 332s to 6 weekly B 772LRs + 4 weekly A 332s.

TUN - capacity reduced from 5 weekly A 332s to 5 weekly A 320s.

SEZ - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A 320.


Etihad Airways has revealed on the GDS that it shall be increasing its flights to PEK-Beijing, China from July 2nd 2011 onwards. Currently EY operate 5 weekly nonstop flights on the AUH-PEK sector using an A 332, however from July these shall be increased to daily services using the same aircraft type.


Oman Air has officially announced further changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season as the carrier continues to receive more aircraft to fuel its rapid expansion. The main highlights are as follows:

CMB - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 333.

DAR - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a B 738.

MLE - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 333.


Vietnam Airlines has officially announced many capacity and frequency increases to its Far East Asian network for the IATA Summer 2011 season from its secondary HANOI hub. The main highlights are as follows:

PEK - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 321.

BKK - frequencies increased from daily from double daily nonstop flights using an A 321.

SIN - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly nonstop flights using an A 321.


According to the media in Sri Lanka, the national carrier i.e. Sri Lankan Airlines is reportedly in discussions with Boeing to purchase at least a 8-10 Boeing 777s to replace its fleet of Airbus A 340-300s as well to cater for future growth. Though Boeing has been pitching its largest B 773ER to UL, this aircraft type is deemed to be a bit too big for any of UL's worldwide routes hence it is expected that the carrier might opt for the Boeing 777-200ER which would seat approximately 330 passengers in a comfortable 2 class configuration.


Egypt Air has officially announced that in order to cut back on costs for 2011 due to a heavy toll that the on going Egyptian political crisis is having on its current flights and for the foreseeable future, it will be leasing out nearly 40% of its fleet to interested airlines for up to a year. The planes it is keen to dry or wet lease out are A 333s, A 332s and B 773ERs along with few A 321s, E170s and B 738s.


Lufthansa has officially disclosed the configuration details of its new Boeing 747-800s that are scheduled to be delivered soon to the carrier. It will seat a total of 386 passengers only with the layout being 8 first class + 80 business class and 298 in economy class. No initial long haul routes have been mentioned by LH but it is expected that JFK, Tokyo and Singapore would be the first recipients.


United Airlines has officially disclosed many capacity adjustments to its European service from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

IAD/CDG - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights using a B 772ER + B 757 each daily respectively.

IAD/AMS - capacity reduced from daily B 772ER to daily B 757.

EWR/ZRH - capacity increased from daily B 762ER to daily B 763ER.

Airline News Feb 12-18

Alitalia has officially announced that it will be embarking on a major long haul expansion out of its FCO-Rome hub in 2012-13 as the carrier takes more delivery of new Airbus A 330-200s already on order with Airbus. AZ has disclosed that the new routes it shall be launching are Delhi, Seoul, Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi. With regards to AUH, it is expected to be a code share with Etihad Airways as part of a broader partnership where by EY flies MXP-AUH and AZ does FCO-AUH. Beyond AUH, AZ will code share on EY's services to Australia, Far East and Indian Subcontinent where as EY would code share beyond FCO/MXP to domestic Italian points + to key offline EU points.


Malaysia Airlines has officially announced that it shall be increasing its presence in JED-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 season. Currently, MH offers 4 weekly nonstop flights between KUL and JED using a Boeing 777-200ER. However from March 27th, frequencies are increased to 6 times per week using a Boeing 747-400 four times per week + twice a week B 772ERs. In total, the capacity increase on offer is from 1128 one way weekly seats to 2000 i.e. 872 more aka 77% increase in capacity.


Jet Airways of India has officially confirmed that it has been granted rights to fly nonstop to Amsterdam, Holland from Delhi from the on set of the IATA Winter 2011 season. In addition, in a move that has generated a lot of interest within the aviation fraternity, 9W too has applied to start nonstop flights to New York City from either BOM or DEL from IATA W11. This is in response to the positive feedback that Air India's nonstop services to USA have been receiving from the Indian travelers which has also in turn hurt 9W's performance over the past few months on the BOM/DEL-NYC route. For the nonstop NYC route, 9W would be using a Boeing 777-300ER which can operate without payload issues out of DEL but not out of BOM. It hasn't yet disclosed which airport in NYC it would prefer flying to nonstop but since its current international expansion is more on the lines of flying to Sky Team hubs, JFK would likely get the nod. However, DEL-JFK is already flown nonstop by AI but from BOM its EWR so in order to differentiate itself, one would reckon BOM-JFK being chosen as it has more higher yielding premium passengers flying F & J versus DEL-JFK.


Oman Air has officially revealed a massive expansion plan for its entire network for the IATA Summer 2011 with capacity and frequency increases to Europe, Middle East and Far East. The main highlights are as follows:

BAH - frequencies increased from double to triple daily flights.

DOH - capacity increased to triple daily nonstop terminator flights.

MXP - capacity increased to 4 weekly A 330s having terminator nonstop flights in both directions i.e. no longer linked with MUC eff June 1st.
DXB - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times daily.

BKK - frequencies increased to 10 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.

KUL - frequencies increased from 5 to 7 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332.

AUH - frequencies increased from triple daily to 4 times daily.

MUC - capacity increased to 4 weekly A 333s having terminator nonstop flights in both directions i.e. no longer linked with MXP eff June 1st

DME - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 738.

KRT - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 738.

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to VCE-Venice, Italy effective June 15th 2011. QR will be operating this new route using an Airbus A 320. In addition, QR too has confirmed that it shall be increasing frequencies to SEZ-Seychelles effective June 1st from 4 times per week to daily nonstop service using an A 320.


Cathay Pacific has officially announced many changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

MXP - frequencies to be increased from 4 weekly B 773ERs to daily nonstop flights using the same aircraft type effective July 02.

TPE - frequencies increased from 101 to 108 weekly flights.

JKT - frequencies increased from 18 weekly to triple daily nonstop.

SUB - frequencies increased to daily nonstop flights

In addition at the currently on going Routes America conference, CX has disclosed that it is interested in launching new flights to Dammam, Kuwait and Madrid in the near future as it sees a lot of potential in these markets.


American Airlines has officially confirmed that it will be reducing frequencies to DEL-Delhi, India effective May 1st 2011. Currently, AA offers a daily nonstop service using a B 772ER, however from May, it shall be reduced to 6 times per week only using the same aircraft type.


KLM has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to EZE-Buenos Aires, Argentina effective Oct 21st 2011. KL will be operating the new services nonstop using a B 772ER.


Lufthansa has officially announced that it shall be launching new flights to GIG-Rio De Janerio, Brazil effective Oct 30th 2011. LH will be operating the new service nonstop from its FRA hub using an A 340-300 on a daily basis.


Hawaiian Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to KIX-Osaka, Japan effective July 12th 2011. HA will be operating the service using a Boeing 767-300ER on a daily basis.


Korean Air has officially revealed many changes to its route network for the IATA Winter 2011-12 season. The main highlights are as follows:

DXB - frequencies reduced from 5 to 4 weekly nonstop flights.

JKT - frequencies increased to 10 times per week nonstop.

MNL - capacity reduced from double daily B 773s to double daily B 772s.

TLV - capacity increased from 3 weekly A 332s to 3 weekly B 772ERs.

GUAM - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly i.e. daily B 773 + 4 weekly A 333s.

Airline News till Feb 11th

The CEO of Turkish Airlines has officially announced the carrier's USA long haul expansion plans that shall be taking place in 2012. He revealed that new flights to Houston, Miami, Detroit and Boston have been planned with IAH and MIA being on the top priority list. MIA is expected to be launched nonstop from the on set of the IATA Winter 2011 season using an A 330-200 operated 3 times per week from IST. Houston on the other hand would initially be receiving an Airbus A 340-300 until more B 777-300ERs arrive into the TK fleet. From MIA, TK's main target market is Africa, Southeast Asia and Southern Europe where as from IAH, the emphasis will be on high yielding oil traffic bound to TK's niche Central Asian network as well as the oil cities of the Middle East, North Africa, Iraq and Levant. In 2011 and 2012, TK will be taking delivery of an additional 6 A 333s + 5 B 773ERs + 2 A 332s + 6 A 319s + 14 A 321s + 10 B 738s and 10 B 739s.


Qatar Airways has officially confirmed that it will be increasing its frequencies to Singapore effective May 2011. It will be done in stages in the following manner: a) From May, frequencies increased to 10 weekly. b) From Oct, another 3 more to be added. c) From Nov 3rd, an additional weekly flight to make it double daily. The aircraft to be used for the double daily flights are a B 773ER and A 332.


Thai Airways has officially announced further changes to its medium and long haul route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows: MXP - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using a B 772ER. DXB - capacity reduced from daily B 772 to daily A 333.
JNB - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 weekly nonstop flights. BOM - frequencies reduced from double daily to 12 weekly. CAN - capacity increased to double daily A 333s. JKT - frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly flights i.e. daily B 744 + 3 weekly A 333. DPS - capacity increased to daily B 744 from daily A 333. MAA - capacity increased from daily AB6 to daily A 333. DAC - capacity increased to daily B 773 from daily A 333.

Bahrain Air has officially announced its network expansion plan for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

BEY – frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily using a 160 seater A 320.

DAC – frequencies increased from 3 to 5 weekly using a 160 seater A 320.

BOM – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly using a 160 seater A 320.

DXB – frequencies increased from double to triple daily using a mixture of A 320s and A 319s.

Jet Airways of India has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to the Middle East from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 timetable i.e. March 27th. The main highlights are as follows:

BOM/DMM - new daily nonstop flights using a B 738.

BOM/DXB - a new third daily flight using a B 738.

Yemenia has officially confirmed that it will be increasing flights to CAN-Guangzhou, China from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 season. An additional weekly flight shall be operated via Dubai with 5th freedom traffic rights using an A 330-200. This will raise the total operation to 3 times per week using the same aircraft type.


Sri Lankan Airlines has officially confirmed that they are dry leasing an additional Airbus A 340-300 which is an ex Cathay Pacific aircraft configured in a 3 class layout with F/J/Y. The airline will not be retrofitting the aircraft and is most likely going to be using it on its highest yielding long haul route which has considerable premium demand i.e. CMB-LON.


Qatar Airways has officially announced that they shall be launching new nonstop flights to YUL-Montreal, Canada from this summer onwards. Mr Al Baker (CEO) confirmed this at a press conference held at Brussels airport earlier this week. Services would be operated 3 times per week using a Boeing 777-200LR. Main target markets out of Montreal would be the Indian Subcontinent, GCC, Iran and tour operator business bound to BKK, SIN, KUL and DPS. QR also announced that it will be placing a massive order for Boeing and Airbus A 380 planes at this summer's Paris Air Show which is also expected to see the airline announcing a much anticipated order for at least 20+ Bombardier C300 Series to fund its 'regional expansion' into Iran, Iraq and Central Asia.


Emirates has officially announced further changes to its medium haul schedule for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

KRT - frequencies reduced from daily A 345s to 3 weekly A 332s.

HAM - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights.


Oman Air has officially announced that it will be launching new nonstop flights to DME-Moscow, Russia effective June 9th 2011 onwards. WY will be using a Boeing 737-800 to operate the flight nonstop from its Muscat hub 4 times per week. The main target markets for WY on this route is Far East, Colombo, Maldives and Dubai. In addition, WY too officially announced that it shall be launching new 4 weekly nonstop flights to KRT-Khartoum, Sudan which will be operated effective May 5th using a Boeing 737-800.


Air India has officially announced that it shall be increasing capacity to Toronto from the on set of the IATA Summer 2011 schedule by deploying a 342 seater Boeing 777-300ER on the nonstop India-YYZ-India route on a daily basis. The routing structure will be a same plane service ATQ-DEL-YYZ-DEL-ATQ. The total capacity increase is 104 seats daily one way i.e. 44% increase in capacity.


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it has obtained approval from its Board of Directors to launch new nonstop flights to KBL-Kabul from this summer onwards. Flights are expected to be operated 4 times per week nonstop using a Boeing 737-800.


Philippine Airlines has officially confirmed that it shall be suspending all of its flights to RUH-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia effective March 31st 2011. PAL currently operates 4 weekly nonstop flights from Manila using a B 747-400. The airline sees high loads on this sector but due to losing close to US$ 200,000 per flight, the high level losses have forced it to abandon RUH flights once again.


Korean Air has officially confirmed that it shall be increasing flights to ORD-Chicago, USA from July 25th 2011. KE currently operates a daily nonstop flight from its ICN-Seoul hub using a B 747-400, however from late July, these will be increased to 10 times per week nonstop using a B 744 for all flights.


Air Canada has announced further capacity and frequency changes for its long haul network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:

YVR/NRT - capacity increased from daily B 763ER to daily B 773ER.

YUL/CDG - frequencies increased to double daily using a B 763ER.

YYZ/SCL/EZE - frequencies increased to daily using a B 763ER.


Lufthansa has officially announced many changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Summer 2011 season out of its FRA hub. The main highlights are as follows:

YYC - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly.

PVG - frequencies increased from 10 weekly to double daily using a B 744 and A 346 daily each respectively.

IAD - frequencies reduced from double daily to 13 weekly.

DFW - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly.

PHL - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly.


KLM has officially announced that it shall be increasing flights to Dubai, UAE from the on set of the IATA S11 timetable. Services shall be lifted from 13 weekly to double daily nonstop using an Airbus A 330-200 for all flights. This is expected to be a direct response against Emirates who has negatively effected KLM's loads on the O&D sector plus KL's market share to India and Far East Asia in particular.


Alitalia has officially confirmed that it shall be increasing services to LAX-Los Angeles, USA from June 5th 2011. AZ will be adding an additional weekly nonstop flight from Rome to LAX using a B 772ER which will bring its total frequencies to 6 weekly.