Malaysia Airlines has officially announced another update for its restructuring plans concerning its wide body fleet in particular of which the main highlights are as follows:
- 6 new A350-900s to be dry leased from ALC which will replace the B772ERs
- All B772ERs to be retired in 2016 before 01JUN
- 2 A330-900s to be dry leased from ALC and used exclusively on Auckland services
- New business class seats on all A333s to be introduced from W16 season which will be the widest in the industry
Source: http://airleasecorp.com/2015/09/10/malaysia-airlines-berhad-and-air-lease-corporation-sign-lease-agreements-for-four-airbus-a350s/
Air Canada has officially announced a major expansion of its long haul program operated exclusively by the B767-300ER for the next IATA S16 season. The main highlights are as follows:
YUL/CMN - new 4 weekly nonstop flights to be operated effective 03JUN
YYZ-PRG - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be operated effective 29MAY
YYZ-WAW - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be operated effective 16JUN
YYZ-BUD - new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be operated effective 10JUN
Source: http://aircanada.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=919
Ethiopian Airlines has revealed many incremental capacity increases to its IATA W15 medium and long haul operational program as the carrier looks to take advantage of its superior competitive position in the African marketplace especially with its main rival KQ's weakening state of affairs. The main highlights are as follows:
ABJ - to be operated as a nonstop terminator service five times per week using a B787
GRU - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop using a B772LR
MBA - frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly
COO - all flights to be operated as nonstop terminator services using a B738 three times per week. This means that the 5th freedom sector COO-ABJ is henceforth suspended!
KRT - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 daily nonstop
MPO - capacity increased from daily B738 to daily B787
EBB - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using a B738
LFW - all
flights to be operated as nonstop terminator services using a B738 six times per week. This means that the 5th freedom sector LFW-ABJ is
henceforth suspended!
CPT - frequencies increased to a daily service using a B738
Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it will be launching new flights to Madrid, Spain effective 02JUN16 as the carrier looks to increase its presence in Europe via an extensive code share pact with fellow One World partner Iberia of Spain.
CX will operate 4 times per week nonstop from HKG to MAD using a B777-300ER using the below mentioned schedule:
Days - 2/4/6/7
CX 315 Dep HKG 0045 Arr MAD 0845
CX 320 Dep MAD 1225 Arr HKG 0705
In addition with travel from SE Asia especially Japan, Seoul and China booming to Spain, CX hopes to take advantage of this movement via its HKG hub .
Austrian Airlines has officially announced that it will be launching new nonstop flights from its main VIE hub to PVG-Shanghai, China effective 04APR16. The route will be operated on a daily basis nonstop using a B777-200ER exclusively.
The schedule is as follows:
OS 75 Dep VIE 1320 Arr PVG 0540+1
OS 76 Dep PVG 1050 Arr VIE 1610
The airline is also in advanced talks with HKG airport officials into relaunching service in S16 season with a new nonstop flight between VIE & HKG!
Qatar Airways has announced many changes to its medium haul route network for the IATA W15 season of which the main highlights are as follows:
CPH - frequencies increased from 11 weekly to double daily nonstop using a B788 exclusively effective 02DEC
DAC - frequencies increased from 10 weekly to double daily nonstop using an A333 exclusively effective 01DEC
ARN - frequencies increased from 10 to 13 weekly nonstop using a B788 exclusively effective 15DEC
CCU - capacity increased from daily A320 to daily B788 effective 01DEC15
BRU - frequencies increased from 6 to 8 weekly nonstop flights using a B788 exclusively effective 01DEC
ASM - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using an A320
NAG - services relaunched on a daily basis using an A320 effective 01DEC15
SWISS has officially announced that due to increasing demand for its Boston bound flights during the IATA Summer season, it shall be increasing its presence on the ZRH-BOS sector by upgrading it to a double daily nonstop operation using an A330-300 exclusively. The schedule is as follows:
LX 054 Dep ZRH 1255 Arr BOS 1520
LX 052 Dep ZRH 1730 Arr BOS 1955
LX 055 Dep BOS 1700 Arr ZRH 0615+1
LX 053 Dep BOS 2140 Arr ZRH 1055+1
In 2014, the number of O&D pax between Switzerland and BOS was as follows:
ZRH-BOS 59,000
GVA-BOS 28,000
Other top markets for LX that feeds this flight originate from FCO, MXP, Germany, DXB, DEL and BOM.
Royal Jordanian has officially announced that it will be launching two new long haul destinations effective 02DEC15 as the carrier looks to take advantage of low fuel costs and efficient aircraft in its fleet such as the B788 to drive up revenues.
The 2 new routes are Guangzhou and Jakarta and they shall be each operated in the below mentioned manner:
3 weekly B788s AMM-BKK-CAN
3 weekly A332s AMM-KUL-CAN
This results in AMM-BKK-KUL being exchanged for AMM-BKK-CAN where as KUL becomes a nonstop service from KUL connecting the two One World carriers effectively. Bangkok remains a daily nonstop service with the remaining 4 weekly flights extending onwards to HKG using a B788 too.
