Thai suspends Rome and Los Angeles

Thai Airways has officially announced that as part of its continued long haul routes restructuring, it shall be suspending indefinitely its heavily loss making services to both Rome (FCO) and Los Angeles (LAX) effective 25OCT15.

FCO-BKK is currently operated 4 times per week nonstop using a B747-400 where as LAX-BKK is operated via Seoul (ICN) using a B777-300ER also four times per week. 

Emirates announces Bamako, Mali

Emirates has officially announced a new long haul route to Africa as part of its route network effective 25OCT15. 

EK will be launching services to BKO-Bamako, Mali in North Africa using an A340-300 operated 4 times per week with the flight extending onwards to DKR-Dakar, Senegal. The flight will depart DXB at 0720 and land back at 0730 the following date. The routing is triangular i.e. DXB-BKO-DKR-DXB !

Cathay Pacific increases Colombo to daily nonstop

Cathay Pacific has officially announced that due to heavy demand for its Colombo bound flights, it shall be increasing capacity on the route from the on set of the IATA W15 season by operating a daily nonstop service to/from HKG. Currently, CX flies 4 times per week nonstop + 3 times per week via BKK with 5th freedom traffic rights. CX will be deploying a two class A330-300 on the daily nonstop flights using the below mentioned schedule:

CX 611 Dep HKG 2010 Arr CMB 2325  
CX 610 Dep CMB 0040 Arr HKG 0825

Top markets for CX feeding CMB via HKG are Japan, China and U.S. West Coast.

Thai increases LHR and FRA in W15 season

Thai Airways has officially announced that it will be increasing its frequencies to Frankfurt and London Heathrow for the IATA W15 season as the carrier looks to take advantage of the peak season movement when Europeans fly to SE Asia to beat the cold weather on their own continent. 

TG will be operating double daily LHR-BKK services using an A380 + B773ER on a daily basis each respectively where as FRA-BKK will be flown 13 times per week using an A380 daily and B773ER six times per week.

Austrian Airlines suspends Dubai

Austrian Airlines has officially announced that due to poor performance, it shall be suspending all of its services to/from DXB effective 14SEP. 

Currently, OS flies 5 times per week VIE-DXB-VIE using a B767-300ER where as Emirates offers a double daily flight using a 3 class B777-300ER.

BA reveals Boeing 787-900 routes + cabin details

British Airways has officially released details of its upcoming Boeing 787-900 routes plus cabin configuration as the carrier will be putting this latest aircraft into their operational schedule effective 25OCT15. 

The cabin layout initially will consist of 216 seats in a four class configuration with 8 first class + 42 business class + 39 premium economy and 127 economy. The 8 first class seats will be debuting BA's new F class seat product. 

The first route for BA's B789 shall be Delhi (one of two daily flights) followed by Kuala Lumpur, Muscat and Abu Dhabi. 

New first class product pictures:

http://www.ausbt.com.au/british-airw...s-new-first-class-for-boeing-787-9

Air China announces Newark-Beijing nonstop

Air China has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights from its Beijing hub (PEK) into Newark (EWR) airport in USA (New York's second major international gateway) as well as fellow Star Alliance member United Airlines major hub on the East coast.

CA will operate 4 times per week nonstop using a B777-300ER effective 25OCT with the below mentioned schedule:

Days: 1/2/4/6

CA 819 Dep PEK 0935 Arr EWR 1005
CA 820 Dep EWR 1225 Arr PEK 1455+1

SWISS reveals Boeing 777 configuration and pics

SWISS has officially revealed data of its upcoming Boeing 777-300ER cabin configuration as well as pictures of the new first + business class product that it plans to install on board. 

The aircraft will be laid out in 3 classes seating 8 first class + 62 business class + 270 in economy. It shall be delivered to the airline in JAN 2016 with the first route being New York JFK.

The initial 6 B77Ws will directly replace 6 A343s on daily JFK + daily YUL (Montreal) + daily Hong Kong + daily LAX flights. Following this, the other routes getting the B77W from Q316 are BKK, GRU (Sao Paulo), SFO and TLV. 

Press release: 
http://www.swiss.com/corporate/EN/media/newsroom/press-releases/media-release-20150709

Cabin pics:
http://thedesignair.net/2015/07/09/swiss-delight-with-beautiful-new-cabins-on-their-777s/

Istanbul suspended by Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines has officially announced that it shall be suspending (as previously correctly predicted by me) its loss making service to IST-Istanbul, Turkey effective 25AUG15.

Currently, MH operates 3 times per week KUL-IST nonstop using a B777-200ER. In turn, it will continue to code share on TK's daily IST-KUL service which is operated by an A332. 

Fed Ex looking to order 60 new Boeing freighters

Industry insiders are reporting that Fed Ex is reportedly in final stages on placing a massive order with Boeing for 60 brand new freighter aircraft. These comprise of 50 B767-300ERFs + 10 B777-200LRFs. 

The airline is looking to rapidly phase out its aging wide body freighter fleet which comprises of 71 AB6Fs + 61 DC10Fs + 60 MD11Fs. 

Source: 

http://leehamnews.com/2015/07/08/boeing-in-line-for-large-freighter-order

TAM and LAN CHILE reveal A359 and B789 cabin layouts

The LATAM group of airlines consisting of LAN CHILE and TAM of Brazil have officially revealed details of the configuration of their upcoming B787-900s and A350-900s. The details are as follows:

• TAM has ordered 27 A359s which will seat 348 pax in a dual class layout i.e. 30J (flat beds) + 318Y
• LA has ordered 16 B789s which will seat 292 pax in a dual class layout i.e. 36J (flat beds) + 256Y

TAM also announced that the first two routes for its A359s shall be GRU-MIA followed by GRU-MAD both operated on a daily basis from JAN 2016 onwards.

Air India looking at San Francisco and Toronto

Air India officials have confirmed via leaks to the media, that the carrier is looking at the following proposals for its long haul route network effective 25OCT15:

1. Reconfigure its 3 B777-200LRs into a dual class aircraft carrying 300-310 seats with business class having 18-24 seats maximum.

2. Fly 3 times per week each from DEL to SFO + DEL to YYZ (Toronto)

3. Plan to exchange 6 B787-800s to the larger -900 version have been cancelled

Source: 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-mulls-direct-flights-to-san-francisco-toronto/articleshow/47944576.cms

Vietnam Airlines signs MOU for 8 B778s + 8 B787-1000Xs

Vietnam Airlines has officially announced that it has signed a MOU with Boeing for the future purchase of 8 B777-800Xs + 8 B787-1000Xs as part of its future fleet expansion program. 

Source:

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2015-07-...st-787-Dreamliner-for-Flag-Carrier

Comments:

What does VN need the B778 for? As the A359 can easily fly to California nonstop from SGN + Europe too but with 25-30 less seats only. Even the B781 is not required as the A359 has more or less the same pax capacity but greater flying range capability.

The new VN wide body fleet is perfect for the next ten years i.e. A359s + B789s so if they really want a bigger aircraft (pax wise) then the A351 should be ordered instead to maintain fleet commonality rather than introduce a totally new type into the mix i.e. B778X !  

 

Emirates announces Mashad, Iran

Emirates has officially announced the launch of a new Iranian destination into its route network i.e. MHD-Mashad, Iran effective 01SEP15. 

EK will be operating the flight 5 times per week nonstop using an A332 with the below mentioned schedule:

Days: 1/2/3/5/7

EK 967 Dep DXB 0410 Arr MHD 0700
EK 968 Dep MHD 0845 Arr DXB 1045

The above schedule connects very well to key feeder markets such as UK, Germany, JED, DMM, BAH, KWI, KHI, BOM, DEL and HYD for both VFR + Shia pilgrim traffic.

Oman Air increases Manila to daily nonstop

Oman Air has officially announced that it will be increasing its Manila-Muscat flights as a result of the new bilateral signed between Oman and the Philippines over the spring season.

Currently, WY operates 3 times per week but that shall increase to daily nonstop using an A332 (high density 289 seater version) effective 01AUG15.

Emirates looking at Philadelphia as next USA destination

Emirates CEO, Mr Tim Clarke gave a clear cut hint to the U.S. media yesterday whilst presenting his rebuttal to the on going "subsidy claims" that the American carriers have lodged against the top 3 Arab carriers (EK/QR/EY). 

Mr Clarke, mentioned specifically that EK is looking to make Philadelphia its 11th U.S. destination as currently it flies to 10 (LAX/SFO/MCO/JFK/IAD/BOS/DFW/IAH/IAD/BOS). 

Source (read last paragraph): http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/positive-us-reception-for-emirates-tim-clark-as-he-states-his-case-in-open-skies-dispute

Malaysia terminates A380 flights to Paris

Malaysia Airlines has announced another round of cost cutting measures of its medium and long haul route network effective August 2015. 

The main highlights are as follows:

CDG - capacity decreased from daily A380 to daily B772ER effective 04AUG

PVG - frequencies reduced from double daily to daily nonstop flights only using an A333

DPS - capacity downgraded to triple daily flights operated exclusively by the B738

Qatar Airways increases Colombo capacity

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it shall be increasing its capacity on its triple daily DOH-CMB route from the on set of the IATA W15 season as the carrier looks to take advantage of peak demand during this period which originates from EU, USA and GCC. 

Currently, QR operates double daily B773ERs + a daily B788 but from 25OCT, this becomes a standardized triple daily A340-600 flown service with a high density configuration of 372 seats (24J + 348Y).

Korean Air announces A380s to Sydney

Korean Air has officially announced that due to peak demand being witnessed on its Sydney bound flights, it shall be increasing capacity on the route effective 01DEC15 onwards to daily Airbus A380 operated nonstop from ICN-Seoul.

The flight is also popular with EU pax taking KE via ICN on this Kangaroo route. Last year (2014), a total of 280,000 passengers flew point to point ICN-SYD-ICN versus only 45,000 for ICN-MEL-ICN !

Air China announces Mumbai-Beijing

Air China has officially announced that it shall be launching new 4 weekly nonstop flights from its Beijing hub to Mumbai, India effective 25OCT15. All flights shall be flown using their new A333s with the below mentioned schedule:

Days: TUE/THU/SAT/SUN

CA 889 Dep PEK 1940 Arr BOM 0100+1
CA 890 Dep BOM 0230 Arr PEK 1120

CA's A333s seat 301 pax in a 3 class configuration i.e. 30J + 16W + 255Y.

Comments:

FYI in 2014, the O&D demand between PEK and BOM was 18,000 pax only hence this means the flight will be very reliant on connecting traffic to other East Asian cities via PEK along with USA/CAN (West Coast).

Major India-China markets in 2014 were as follows:

CAN-DEL-CAN...115,000 pax
PVG-DEL-PVG...89,000 pax
PEK-DEL-PEK...70,000 pax
PVG-BOM-PVG...65,000 pax
PVG-BLR-PVG...30,000 pax
PVG-MAA-PVG...19,000 pax
PEK-BOM-PEK...18,000 pax
CAN-BOM-CAN...18,000 pax