Etihad Airways has officially announced that it shall be further increasing frequencies to MAN-Manchester, UK to keep in line with the serious increase in competition hailing from Emirates and Qatar Airways in particular to its market share out of the Northern UK. Originally, plans called for EY to increase from daily to 10 weekly effective Aug 1st 2011. However, another round of increase sees the AUH-MAN route being planned to operate on a double daily basis nonstop using a 2 class configured A 330-200 effective Aug 1st. In addition, EY too confirmed that its flights to PEK-Beijing, China will be increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop services using an A 332 effective July 2nd 2011.
With regards to its fleet options, EY has also announced that it has canceled an already existing order for 4 Boeing 787-900s (out of an order for 35 jets of this model type) and in return ordered 3 Boeing 777-300ERs in order to rapidly fuel its international long haul expansion plans which are being hindered with the frequent delays of the B 787 program.
Aeroflot has officially announced that it has placed a billion dollar order with Boeing this week for 8 new Boeing 777s. The break down of this order is 6 B 777-300ERs + 2 B 777-200ERs. SU claimed that with Russia hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2018 FIFA World Cup, growth opportunities exist that can be tapped especially as external tourism ex Russia grows along with the fact that SU can better feed its Sky Team member hubs in the distant future.
Cathay Pacific has officially confirmed that it has placed a multi billion order with both Boeing and Airbus earlier on this week for 27 wide bodied aircraft. These include 2 A 359s + 15 A 333s + 10 B 777-300ERs. The latter are expected to be fitted in a 2 class configuration designed to replace the aging Boeing 777-300As from 2013 onwards.
Emirates has unveiled another major round of worldwide restructuring of its entire route network for the entire 2011 calendar year keeping mind high rise of oil prices + political unrest in the MENA region. There have been major frequency and capacity increased too announced in Europe and Asia in particular. The main highlights are as follows:
CPT - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using an A 345 + B 773ER each daily.
VIE - frequencies increased from daily to 13 times per week i.e. daily B 773ER + 6 weekly A 345.
MXP - capacity increased from double daily A 343s to double daily B 773ERs i.e. additional capacity of 2492 r/t seats per week!
ZRH - capacity increased to double daily flights using a B 773ER.
MAN - frequencies increased from double daily to triple daily nonstop flights i.e. daily A 380 + daily A 332 + daily B 773ER. The new 3rd daily flight arrives into MAN at 0730 and departs back at 0940 MAN time respectively.
SYD - third daily flight reinstated i.e. double daily nonstop + daily via BKK.
PVG - capacity increased from daily A 343 + daily B 773ER to double daily B 773ERs.
FCO - capacity increased from daily A 332 + daily B 773 to double daily B 773s.
SAH - frequencies reduced from daily to 6 weekly A 332s.
TUN - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly A 332s.
DAM - frequencies reduced from double daily to 13 weekly.
DKR - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A 332.
Qatar Airways has officially announced another round of major expansion of its worldwide route network effective June 2011 with new flights being launched to Sofia, Calcutta, Oslo ad Manchester. The main highlights are as follows:
MAN - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using a 2 class configured A 332.
OSL - new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be launched from 05OCT using a 2 class A 332.
FRA - frequencies increased from 10 to 13 weekly flights using a daily B 772LR + 6 weekly A 332 effective 01JUN.
CCU - new 5 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using an A 320 effective July 27th.
SOF - new 4 weekly flights to be launched with an A 320 effective 14SEP.
LGW - all flights suspended effective 01JUN 2011.
STR - an additional 4th weekly flight to be added using an A 319 effective early June.
Air China has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to DUS-Dusseldorf, Germany effective March 27th 2011. CA will be operating the route from its main Beijing hub using an Airbus A 330-200. Frequencies will be 3 times per week which shall be increased to 4 weekly from June 21stMUC-Munich will too be increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using an A 332 effective May 11th 2011. Lastly, CA officially announced that it has placed an order for 5 new Boeing 747-800 passenger models. These birds will be used as an immediate replacement aircraft for its fleet of 5 B 747-400s. CA becomes the third passenger airline after Lufthansa and Korean Air to order this 747 variant. onwards. The Chinese flagship carrier too confirmed that its services to
China Southern Airlines has officially announced few changes to its route network for the IATA Summer 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows out of its Guangzhou hub airport base:
DEL – frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily nonstop flights using a B 757.
KTM – frequencies reduced from 6 to 3 weekly flights using an A 319.
NRT – capacity reduced from daily B 772A to daily A 332.
Air India has officially confirmed that it will be increasing its services to DMM-Dammam, Saudi Arabiath 2011 onwards. The main highlights are as follows: from March 27
DEL/DMM – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using an A 320.
BOM/DMM – frequencies increased from 2 to 3 weekly nonstop flights using an A 320.
Vietnam Airlines has officially announced that it will be significantly increasing its presence in the Australian market from June 13th 2011. The main highlights are as follows:
SGN/SYD – frequencies increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using a B 772ER.
SGN/MEL - frequencies increased from 5 weekly A 332s to daily nonstop flights using the same aircraft type.
British Airways has officially announced that it shall be increasing its flights to PVG-Shanghai, Chinath 2011 onwards. Currently, BA operates 5 times per week nonstop from London Heathrow to PVG, however an additional 6th weekly flight will be launched from late April using a Boeing 777-200ER. effective April 28
Hong Kong Airlines officially announced that it has placed a mega order with Boeing earlier on this week for6 Boeing 777-200LR freighters + 32 Boeing 787-900s. The B 789s will be used in the long run as a full time replacement aircraft of its current A 332 fleet. 38 aero planes. The breakdown of the order is
Iberia of Spain has officially announced that it has placed a huge order with Airbus this week designed to primarily replace its entire fleet of Airbus A 340-300s from 2014 onwards. This order includes 8 A 333s + 8 options. Currently, IB has in its fleet 18 A 343s that can 260 pax in a two class configuration.
