Lufthansa has officially announced that it will be increasing its frequencies to BAH-Bahrain and capacity to AUH-Abu Dhabi for the upcoming IATA Winter 2011 season as it looks to reshape its GCC network structure. Frequencies from FRA to BAH will be increased from 5 to 6 times per week using an A343 operated via DOH where as AUH will be receiving daily nonstop terminator flights with an A333 rather than having a tag on to MCT-Muscat. Other changes made to LH's Winter 2011 schedule, but this time out of its MUC-Munich hub are as follows:
BOM - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.
SIN - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.
GRU - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.
NRT - capacity increased from daily A343 to daily A346.
ORD - capacity reduced from daily A346 to daily A343.
HKG - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily.
LAX - frequencies reduced from daily to 5 weekly.
Bahrain Air has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtained more flights to Saudi Arabia from 21JUN 2011 as it unveiled its new S11 schedule on its website.
The main highlights are as follows and are valid from 21JUN onwards only:
DMM - frequencies increased from daily to double daily.
ALY - frequencies increased from 2 to 4 weekly flights.
BEY - daily nonstop flights to resume 21JUN departing BAH at 1150.
KTM - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly nonstop flights.
AMM - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly flights effective 21JUN departing BAH at 1200.
DAC - frequencies reduced from 5 to 3 weekly nonstop flights.
DOH - frequencies increased from daily to double daily flights.
Air France has officially revealed few changes to its long haul schedule for the IATA Winter 2011 season. The main highlights are as follows:
BOM - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to 6 weekly B 773ER + weekly B 772ER.
CPT - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched using a B 772ER.
SGN - frequencies increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights using a B 772ER operated as a nonstop terminator service.
MEX - frequencies reduced from double daily B 772ERs to daily nonstop flights using a B 744 only.
Nas Air of Saudi Arabia has officially announced that it will be launching new 14 weekly flights to Karachi, Pakistan as part of its strategy to expand into less competitive nonstop markets from its KSA home base that offer better returns versus its recently suspended lower yielding services to India. It will be operating a daily nonstop 180 seater Airbus A320 from JED and RUH each respectively to Karachi with a daylight schedule i.e. flights departing KSA at 0740 and departing from KHI at 1400 hrs (local time).
Turkish Airlines has officially announced that it will be increasing capacity to Bangkok and Osaka for the upcoming IATA Winter 2011 season in anticipation of high volume movement. Capacity to BKK will be increased from 10 weekly A343s to 3 weekly B 777-300ERs + daily A343s which means a total of 468 seats on a round trip basis per week it shall be adding to BKK. In addition, frequencies to KIX-Osaka shall also be increased from 4 to 5 times using an A332.
Virgin Atlantic has officially announced that due to peak summer season demand to NBO-Nairobi, Kenya it shall be increasing capacity marginally on this route to cater for the high demand. Effective 24JUN, daily nonstop flights operated with a smaller A343 will be upgraded to an A346 twice a week where as the remaining 5 weekly's will remain with an A343.
Emirates has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining more bilateral traffic rights into Cairo airport from the Egyptian Govt and as result will be immediately increasing frequencies on the route to take advantage of the anticipated peak summer movement. EK confirmed that frequencies will be increased on the DXB-CAI route from 10 to 12 times per week nonstop using a combination of B 777s and A 332s.
Jazeera Airways of Kuwait (low cost carrier) has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining 10 additional weekly flights to Cairo airport from the Egyptian authorities this week and as a result will be increasing its presence on the ever so popular yet fiercely competitive KWI-CAI segment. Currently, it operates 11 times per week using an A 320 but shall increased from 16JUN to triple daily nonstop.
Singapore Airlines has officially announced that due to surging demand of its business class cabin on A380 operated flights in particular, it will be increasing the size of this cabin capacity by having a sub-fleet of A380s which will see having the entire upper deck with 84 business class seats. Currently on its upper deck, SQ seats 60J + 88Y class pax but that will change to 84J and the entire A380 capacity will be reduced from 471 to 409 seats only. The launch route for this modified cabin is Sydney.
Fly Dubai has officially announced that it has succeeded in obtaining more bilateral access into the Indian market as it announces new services to AMD-Ahmedabad and Hyderabad respectively. Both routes will be operated using a B 738 but at a different frequency level. HYD will be flown 3 times per week from 11JUN where as AMD will be initially operated once a week only from 11JUL until more access is granted.
