Singapore Airlines unveils A359LR configuration

Singapore Airlines has had its Airbus A350 ULR configuration disclosed to the media. SQ has on order 7 variants of this type on order which shall be used to operate nonstop from SIN to Newark (EWR) and LAX (Los Angeles) on a daily basis each respectively.

In total these 7 planes will have 162 seats only with 68 flat bed business class seats + 94 premium economy (2-4-2). 

Round trip business class fares for this new service is expected to be priced at US$8000 + taxes. 

Source: https://twitter.com/A350_Production/status/863016113877155840

Emirates increases Brisbane to triple daily

Emirates has officially announced that it will be boosting its presence in the Brisbane market place by adding a second daily nonstop service from its Dubai hub effective 01DEC17.

Currently, EK operates a daily A380 as DXB-BNE-AKL v.v. + a daily B77W as DXB SIN BNE 

The new second daily nonstop flight will be flown using a B772LR using the below schedule:

EK 430 Dep DXB 2200 Arr BNE 1815+1
EK 431 Dep BNE 2225 Arr DXB 0700+1

P2P Market demand in 2016 between EU/GCC to/from BNE was as follows:

LON (LGW + LHR combined) - 185,000
DXB - 67,000
MAN - 42,000
BHX - 11,000
DUB - 29,000
GLA - 11,000
EDI - 6,000
CDG - 38,000
BRU - 4,000
MAD - 9,000
BCN - 11,000
FRA - 22,000
MUC - 12,000
DUS - 8,000
AMS - 27,000
CPH - 12,000
ZRH - 17,000
MXP - 12,000
ATH - 10,000
FCO - 26,000
DME - 3,000
WAW - 4,000
IKA - 4,000
AUH - 16,000
SIN - 195,000
BKK - 88,000

Delta orders 30 more A321s

Delta Airlines has officially announced that it has placed another incremental order worth over US$3 billion with Airbus for 30 Airbus A321-200s. This makes DL one of the largest A321 customers with a total of 112 aircraft on order.

In addition to the above, DL also revealed that it will be taking delivery on schedule its first 5 A359s however the remaining initial batch of 10 aircraft are being deferred for 3 years. 

The configuration disclosed for DL's A359s are as follows:

306 seats in total i.e. 32J + 48W + 226Y

Emirates announces $340 million net profit

The Emirates Group has announced its 2016-2017 Full Year financial results today of which the main highlights are as follows:

1. EK made a net profit of $340M

2. DNATA made a net profit of $330M

3. Total Emirates Group net profit was $670M i.e. -70% versus previous year

The full detailed financial report and press release can be read via these 2 links

https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/ek-newsroom-emirates-group-announces-2016-17-results#

https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/annual_report_2017.pdf

Air India announces Dallas, Stockholm and Los Angeles

Air India's CEO today officially announced major plans concerning its long haul expansion strategy for 2017 of which the main highlights are as follows:

• ​DEL-LAX 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 01SEP17 using a B77L
• DEL-ARN 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched effective 15AUG using a B788
• Dallas will be launched in Q4 2017 along with Tel Aviv and Nairobi
• DEL-IAD confirmed to start as 3 weekly nonstop effective 07JUL17 using a B77W

News link: 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/air-india-to-fly-to-los-angeles-stockholm-nairobi-this-year/story-fMEK9hMPP3QYmaSSs5JA1O.html

PAL suspends Abu Dhabi-Manila services

Philippine Airlines has officially confirmed that as part of a broader code share arrangement with Etihad Airways, it shall be suspending its own MNL-AUH services effective 07JUL17.



Currently, PAL operates 3 times per week on the MNL-AUH-MNL sector using an A333. Over the past 12 months, over 200,000 pax flew P2P between AUH and MNL.


Etihad will continue to operate its own 17 weekly flights between AUH and MNL using a 412 seater B77W for all the services. 

What markets are viable if Alitalia fails?

Over the past week, there have been numerous media reports of Alitalia entering into "administration" or "bankruptcy protection" in Italy whilst the local Government looks to supply it with a $600 million loan to keep it afloat until November 2016 only. The Italian Government has categorically stated that it has already invested nearly $8 billion into the ailing carrier since the past decade and the public appetite for another bailout is totally non-favorable.

Mentioned below are the top medium/long haul markets to/from Rome + Milan in 2016 that AZ's competitors can take advantage of (by operating higher or year round frequencies) if the carrier goes bust. The route segments highlighted in green especially are the ones to be considered.

ITALY-NORTH AMERICA 2016 DEMAND
Route	FCO	MXP/LIN	Difference
BOS	94,000	40,000	54,000
DFW	38,000	17,000	21,000
EWR	93,000	90,000	3,000
IAD	81,000	20,000	61,000
JFK	274,000	550,000	(276,000)
LAS	20,000	23,000	(3,000)
LAX	150,000	91,000	59,000
MCO	29,000	15,000	14,000
MIA	100,000	118,000	(18,000)
ORD	124,000	52,000	72,000
PHL	70,000	11,000	59,000
SEA	27,000	12,000	15,000
SFO	101,000	72,000	29,000
YUL	108,000	22,000	86,000
YYZ	155,000	40,000	115,000
TOTAL	1,464,000	1,173,000	291,000

ITALY-MAIN WORLD CITIES 2016 DEMAND
Route	FCO	MXP/LIN	Difference
BKK	126,000	160,000	(34,000)
IKA	55,000	83,000	(28,000)
CMB	69,000	75,000	(6,000)
DEL	84,000	146,000	(62,000)
DXB	239,000	210,000	29,000
EZE	175,000	60,000	115,000
GIG	55,000	35,000	20,000
GRU	110,000	105,000	5,000
HKG	93,000	120,000	(27,000)
ICN	316,000	101,000	215,000
MNL	77,000	85,000	(8,000)
NRT/HND	195,000	208,000	(13,000)
PEK	99,000	115,000	(16,000)
PVG	91,000	160,000	(69,000)
TLV	311,000	275,000	36,000
TOTAL	2,095,000	1,938,000	157,000

With regards to the USA-Italy market segment:

1. American Airlines or United should consider making ORD-FCO a year round service with at least a 4 weekly B763ER operated service during the winter season

2. LAX-Italy I have not highlighted as its a ultra long haul service totaling 13 hours each way hence extremely high risk since the yields are not that great. It could however sustain a summer seasonal service only.

3. MIA-Italy should be operated year round by AA with a B787. Currently AA only flies a daily year round B763ER between MIA and MXP but with such a large MIA hub operation already in place, it can be able to sustain along side with MIA-MXP a 4 weekly year round MIA-FCO service.

As far as the other worldwide markets are concerned:

1. It is really surprising to note that ICN-FCO demand is higher than FCO-JFK considering the huge Italian emigrant community residing in NYC

2. TG can increase BKK-MXP from the current 3 to 5 weekly using an A359 along with BKK-FCO too from 4 to 5 weekly

3. AI can sustain a 5th weekly DEL-MXP nonstop service using a B788

4. With AZ out their daily nonstop MXP-NRT + FCO-NRT service would leave a huge void which JAL or ANA can fulfil by operating a 4 weekly service of their own using a B787.

PIA suspends all India flights

PIA has officially confirmed that due to poor performance, it shall be suspending its services to Mumbai and Delhi in the following manner:

KHI/BOM - all flights suspended effective 11MAY

KHI/DEL - all flights suspended effective 15MAY

LHE/DEL - all flights suspended effective 07JUN

This means that the fastest way for Karachi passengers to fly to BOM and DEL is on Oman Air via Muscat followed by Emirates via Dubai. Oman Air though offers the shortest flight time (including transit at MCT) in both directions. In 2016 the market demand was as follows:

KHI-BOM 19,000 pax
KHI-DEL 11,000 pax

With Oman Air from KHI, you depart KHI at 2330 and land into BOM at 0600 with a 1 hour transit at MCT. On the return sector, you depart BOM at 1615 and land into KHI at 2245 with a 2 hour transit in MCT only.