Malaysia Airlines outlines fleet restructuring plans

Malaysia Airlines has finally revealed initial details of its restructuring plan as part of its radical down sizing initiative after the terrible twin crashes it incurred in 2014. 

The main highlights are as follows:

• 6 A380s for sale or dry lease
• 2 B744Fs for dry lease only
• 4 B772ERs for sale only
• 4 A332Fs for sale or dry lease

Media in Malaysia is reporting that according to their sources, the next European long haul route to be cut shall be CDG-Paris !

Kenya Airways to retire its entire Boeing 777 fleet

Kenya Airways has officially announced that as part of its on going cost cutting measures attributed to a large loss it incurred in 2014 and also to reduce its current debt of US$ 6 billion, its entire B777-200ER + B777-300ER fleet shall be grounded from September 2015 onwards. 

It acknowledged that it over estimated the usefulness of the Boeing 777-300ER in its fleet as the aircraft has proven to be way too big (from a capacity stand point) to be deployed on any of its long haul routes such as Amsterdam, Guangzhou, London and Mumbai. The carrier is keen to dispose of these assets as soon as possible as it’s a big financial drain on its balance sheet.

Currently, KQ has 3 B77Ws (400 seats) + 4 B772ERs (322 seats) in its fleet and all 7 aircraft will be retired at the conclusion of the summer peak season. Flights flown presently with the B777s will be replaced by KQ's B787-800s which seat 234 pax in a dual class layout i.e. 30J + 204Y. 

KQ has at present 6 B788s operating with 3 more units held as optional purchases. The airline is very happy with the performance economics of its B787 fleet and shall be basing its long haul operations for the next three years around the B788 fleet exclusively. 

27APR news edition

Vietnam Airlines has revealed the configuration of its soon to be delivered Boeing 787-900 and Airbus A 350-900 that will be entering service with the carrier in June. The breakdown is as follows:

·         A total of 19 B789s have been ordered with those dedicated to long haul flights having a 3 class layout i.e. 274 seats (28J + 35W + 211Y). The regional configured B789s meant exclusively for intra-ASEAN and possible future flights to Middle East has a dual class layout seating 311 pax i.e. 28J + 283Y!

·         As far as the A359 goes, a total of 14 units have been ordered with all having a 3 class layout seating 305 pax i.e. 29J + 36W + 240Y. 

Comments:

It is quite silly having two different types of configurations for the B789 fleet as operationally it is not easy to handle from an aircraft rotation stand point. Since all the A359s have the long haul 3 class layout hence being given a particular set of routes, the same policy should have been implemented for the B789 i.e. have only a dual class configuration and fly it exclusively on regional routes + those long haul that do not require premium economy (W) class demand. FYI all of VN’s B789 + A359 business class seats will be flat beds.

Etihad Airways has officially announced that it will be major capacity changes across its network for the remaining part of the on-going IATA S15 season. The main highlights are as follows:

COK - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 double daily + A320 daily effective 15MAY

HYD - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 double daily + A320 daily effective 15JUN

DME - frequencies reduced from double daily to daily nonstop only using an A321 effective 15JUN

CCJ - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 daily + A320 double daily effective 01MAY

MCT – frequencies increased from three to four daily flights effective 15JUN

Malaysia Airlines has officially announced that as part of its on-going cost saving measures, it will be suspending its heavily loss making flights to Frankfurt effective 29MAY15. Currently, MAS operates 5 times per week nonstop using a B777-200ER. The top ten markets that MH has out of FRA are KUL, DPS, HKT, USM, SYD, AKL, MNL, MEL, CGK and PER.

Comments:

This is not unexpected one bit and one can place a bet that the next long haul route to be targeted by MH will be IST ! Who stands to gain most with this suspension announcement are both EK and QR especially as they are adding capacity to DPS, CGK and HKT in particular from June onwards so with MH pulling out of FRA, this in turn will definitely further boost their own S/F on these routes. FYI in 2014, MH carried 11,000 pax to DPS + HKT combined to/from FRA!

United Airlines has officially announced that it has placed an order with Boeing for 10 new Boeing 777-300ERs to be delivered from 2016 onwards in exchange for options it currently holds on its Boeing 787-900 order book. It ordered the B77W in order to be a capacity bridge aircraft for its aging fleet of 24 B747-400s which are slated to be retired by 2017-18. The original aircraft ordered by UA to replace the B744 was the Airbus A 350-1000 but that wont be available for many years. In addition, UA also revealed the below mentioned changes to its fleet strategy:

• 10 B777-200s currently being used on trans-atlantic services will be re-deployed exclusively on domestic/Hawaii flights along with it being reconfigured to suit the USA market segment
• All B757 flying on trans-atlantic routes into mainland Europe (excluding Ireland/UK) shall be discontinued
• 21 Boeing 767-300ERs will get winglets installed and as a result shall get their lifespan in the UA fleet extended for a few more years

 

Air France has officially announced that due to high demand for its San Francisco bound flights, it will be increasing its presence in that marketplace accordingly. Effective 15JUN, its current 12 weekly flights will be increased to double daily nonstop operated with an A380 + B772ER.

Lufthansa has officially announced that due to high seasonal demand to Cape Town from Europe in the winter season, it will be increasing its flights accordingly. Currently, LH operates a 5 weekly nonstop service from Munich to Cape Town using an A340-600. These will be boosted to daily nonstop flights effective 25OCT.

A new Oman-Philippines bilateral accord has been signed of which the main highlights are as follows:

• Bilateral frequencies allocation increased from 4 to 7 for each side with WY being allowed daily services exclusively from Oman's side
• From Philippines side, Cebu Pacific got 4 slots and PAL 3 into MCT
• Oman Air secured fifth freedom rights on BKK-MNL, KUL-MNL and JKT-MNL
• Philippine based carriers secured 5th freedom rights in turn on India (any one city only)-MCT + Europe-MCT (any one city only)

WY is expected to boost MNL flights to daily in W15 season (NOV onwards) upon delivery of  additional A333s this year. Currently, their flights have 62% point to point traffic and 38% transit beyond MCT of which Paris (CDG) has been cited as the top feeder market for them in Europe on this route.

Air New Zealand has officially announced that it will be launching new 5 weekly nonstop flights to IAH-Houston, USA effective Dec 2015. All flights will be operated using a B777-200ER in code share with its fellow Star Alliance partner i.e. United 

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it will be significantly increasing capacity on its Larnaca and Athens bound routes effective 01JUN onwards as the carrier looks to take advantage of the peak summer travel season. 

The main highlights are as follows:

LCA - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily using an A320

ATH - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop using an A333 + A321 + A320 each on a daily basis respectively. The new ATH service is scheduled in the below mentioned manner

QR 207 Dep DOH 1930 Arr ATH 0010+1
QR 208 Dep ATH 0110 Arr DOH 0540

Above schedule of QR 207 only connects GCC destinations along with NBO, DAR, EBL and KTM.

 

Emirates has officially announced that it will be increasing its presence in the Dhaka market segment by increasing frequencies effective immediately. Current double daily nonstop services are being raised to triple daily nonstop using a two class 430 seater B777-300ER exclusively. The airline has the highest market share out of Bangladesh to USA and Europe as well as a cult like following with Bangladeshi freight forwarders. Flights depart DXB at 0200/1030/1315 and arrive back at 0025/1305/2210 local time respectively. 

In addition, EK also surprisingly announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to MCO-Orlando, USA effective 01SEP. The airline will operate the Boeing 777-200LR on this new service in code share with its U.S. partner i.e. B6-Jetblue. 

The flight schedule is as follows:

EK 219 Dep DXB 0350 Arr MCO 1140

EK 220 Dep MCO 1420 Arr DXB 1230+1 

Turkish Airlines has revealed that as part of its seasonal capacity adjustments across its long haul network, it will be reducing its flights to NRT-Tokyo Narita airport from the on set of the IATA W15 season i.e. 25OCT. Currently, the airline operates a double daily nonstop flight using a B773ER + A333 on a daily basis each respectively. Effective 25OCT, TK will be reducing NRT-IST to 11 weekly nonstop using an A333 exclusively!

Etihad announces major South India expansion

Etihad Airways has officially announced that it will be majorly increasing its presence in South India with the expansion of flights into Calicut, Hyderabad and Kochi in the below mentioned manner:

COK - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 double daily + A320 daily effective 15MAY

HYD - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 double daily + A320 daily effective 15JUN

CCJ - frequencies increased from double to triple daily using an A321 daily + A320 double daily effective 01MAY

  

Etihad reduces Moscow but adds Muscat flights

Etihad Airways has officially announced that due to a slow down of the Russian economy and its people travelling abroad both for business + leisure, it shall be halving its operations into DME-Moscow airport effective 15JUN onwards. Current double daily services using an A321 shall be reduced to a daily frequency only, arriving into DME at 0710 and departing back by 1255. EY's A321s seat 174 pax in a two class configuration i.e. 16J + 158Y!

In addition to the above, the airline confirmed increasing its frequencies to MCT-Muscat by adding a new 4th daily service using an A320 effective 15JUN.

United Airlines orders 10 Boeing 777-300ERs

United Airlines has officially announced that it has placed an order with Boeing for 10 new Boeing 777-300ERs to be delivered from 2016 onwards in exchange for options it currently holds on its Boeing 787-900 order book. It ordered the B77W in order to be a capacity bridge aircraft for its aging fleet of 24 B747-400s which are slated to be retired by 2017-18. The original aircraft ordered by UA to replace the B744 was the Airbus A 350-1000 but that wont be available for many years. In addition, UA also revealed the below mentioned changes to its fleet strategy:

• 10 B777-200s currently being used on trans-atlantic services will be re-deployed exclusively on domestic/Hawaii flights along with it being reconfigured to suit the USA market segment
• All B757 flying on trans-atlantic routes into mainland Europe (excluding Ireland/UK) shall be discontinued
• 21 Boeing 767-300ERs will get winglets installed and as a result shall get their lifespan in the UA fleet extended for a few more years

Turkish reduces Tokyo flights

Turkish Airlines has revealed that as part of its seasonal capacity adjustments across its long haul network, it will be reducing its flights to NRT-Tokyo Narita airport from the on set of the IATA W15 season i.e. 25OCT.

Currently, the airline operates a double daily nonstop flight using a B773ER + A333 on a daily basis each respectively. Effective 25OCT, TK will be reducing NRT-IST to 11 weekly nonstop using an A333 exclusively !

Air France increases San Francisco

Air France has officially announced that due to high demand for its San Francisco bound flights, it will be increasing its presence in that marketplace accordingly. Effective 15JUN, its current 12 weekly flights will be increased to double daily nonstop operated with an A380 + B772ER.

Lufthansa increases Cape Town flights

Lufthansa has officially announced that due to high seasonal demand to Cape Town from Europe in the winter season, it will be increasing its flights accordingly. Currently, LH operates a 5 weekly nonstop service from Munich to Cape Town using an A340-600. These will be boosted to daily nonstop flights effective 25OCT.

Malaysia Airlines suspends Frankfurt

Malaysia Airlines has officially announced that as part of its on going cost saving measures, it will be suspending its heavily loss making flights to Frankfurt effective 29MAY15. Currently, MAS operates 5 times per week nonstop using a B777-200ER. 

The top ten markets that MH has out of FRA are KUL, DPS, HKT, USM, SYD, AKL, MNL, MEL, CGK and PER.

Comments:

This is not unexpected one bit and one can place a bet that the next long haul route to be targeted by MH will be IST !

Who stands to gain most with this suspension announcement are both EK and QR especially as they are adding capacity to DPS, CGK and HKT in particular from June onwards so with MH pulling out of FRA, this in turn will definitely further boost their own S/F on these routes. FYI in 2014, MH carried 11,000 pax to DPS + HKT combined.

new Oman-Philippines bilateral signed

A new Oman-Philippines bilateral accord has been signed of which the main highlights are as follows:

• Bilateral frequencies allocation increased from 4 to 7 for each side with WY being allowed daily services exclusively from Oman's side
• From Philippines side, Cebu Pacific got 4 slots and PAL 3 into MCT
• Oman Air secured fifth freedom rights on BKK-MNL, KUL-MNL and JKT-MNL
• Philippine based carriers secured 5th freedom rights in turn on India (any one city only)-MCT + Europe-MCT (any one city only)

WY is expected to boost MNL flights to daily in W15 season (NOV onwards) upon delivery of additional A333s this year. Currently, their flights have 62% point to point traffic and 38% transit beyond MCT of which Paris (CDG) has been cited as the top feeder market for them in Europe on this route.

Emirates increases Dhaka to triple daily

Emirates has officially announced that it will be increasing its presence in the Dhaka market segment by increasing frequencies effective immediately. Current double daily nonstop services are being raised to triple daily nonstop using a two class 430 seater B777-300ER exclusively. 

The airline has the highest market share out of Bangladesh to USA and Europe as well as a cult like following with Bangladeshi freight forwarders.

Flights depart DXB at 0200/1030/1315 and arrive back at 0025/1305/2210 local time respectively. 

Air New Zealand announces Houston-Auckland nonstop

Air New Zealand has officially announced that it will be launching new 5 weekly nonstop flights to IAH-Houston, USA effective Dec 2015. All flights will be operated using a B777-200ER in code share with its fellow Star Alliance partner i.e. United 

Qatar Airways increases Athens and Larnaca flights

Qatar Airways has officially announced that it will be significantly increasing capacity on its Larnaca and Athens bound routes effective 01JUN onwards as the carrier looks to take advantage of the peak summer travel season. The main highlights are as follows:

LCA - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily using an A320

ATH - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop using an A333 + A321 + A320 each on a daily basis respectively. The new ATH service is scheduled in the below mentioned manner

QR 207 Dep DOH 1930 Arr ATH 0010+1
QR 208 Dep ATH 0110 Arr DOH 0540

Above schedule of QR 207 only connects GCC destinations along with NBO, DAR, EBL and KTM.

13APR news edition

Sri Lankan Airlines has revealed significant capacity expansion plans across its medium haul Asian network from 15JUN onwards of which the main highlights are as follows:

LHE – frequencies increased from 3 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using an A320

DAC – frequencies increased from 6 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A320

CCU – new 3 weekly nonstop flights to be launched

SHJ - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop flights using an A320

  

China Eastern Airlines based out of Shanghai has revealed expansion plans for its North America bound services for the IATA W15 season of which the main highlights are as follows:

LAX – frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop flights using a B77W exclusively

YYZ – frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using a B77W

YVR - frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly nonstop flights using an A332 exclusively

Oman Air’s CEO has revealed the configurations of their upcoming B788s and B789s which are due to be delivered to the airline in 2015-16. A total of 2 B788s + 6 B789s were originally ordered by WY and their outlined configuration is as follows:

• Two B788s will have 267 seats in a dual class layout i.e. 18J + 249Y
• Out of the six B789s, three will have a three class layout seating 242 pax i.e. 8F + 30J + 204Y where as the remaining 3 will have 288 seats in a dual class configuration i.e. 30J + 258Y.
• The 3 class B789s will be used on LHR-MCT which is going to be increased to double daily by W15 season.
• It has ordered 20 new B737s out of which the breakdown is for 10 B737NGs + 10 B737MAXs. However the breakdown of whether its for the -700/800/900MAX version has not yet been revealed!
• Fleet strength to be increased to 70 units by 2020 i.e. 25 wide bodies + 45 narrow bodies with all E75s + ATRs to be phased out by 2017 as the airline sees no value having regional aircraft in its fleet.

It was also revealed that their next new long haul route is going to be a city in China (most likely Beijing) which is expected to come online in 2016 and to be operated with a B788. 

Analysis:

There is no commercial justification for WY to have a first class cabin and three different cabin configurations for its B787 fleet which only causes further confusion internally for their scheduling and operations personnel. WY has built an excellent reputation offering a high end premium product in all of its cabin classes but in the past due to its low density configuration of its A330 fleet, it has in turn resulted in major revenue loss. All of their B787s should have a standardized two class layout because if an airline with a much higher premium client base such as Qatar Airways can afford + see the commercial sense of not having a first class cabin on board its B787 and B777 fleet, Oman Air should accordingly take notice!

With regards to its future wide body fleet, WY's CEO has officially announced that the airline is looking at the A330NEO family as well as ordering more B787s as by 2020, it aims to operate at least 25 wide body aircraft alongside 45 B737NGs/MAXs. The current wide body fleet numbers 4 A332s + 6 A333s + 2 B788s + 6 B789s totaling 18 aircraft. This means that WY aims to grow its WB fleet by adding a further 7 units.

From a commercial business stand point across all board, it is advisable that WY standardize their wide body fleet around the B787 family and not a combination of both as the former overall would be cheaper to maintain + operate + can fly any route nonstop even up to JFK if need be which the A330NEO cannot do. Its 10 A330s are in very good shape hence would fetch a decent resale value in the used aircraft market place by the end of the decade. Since the requirement is to fly 25 wide body aircraft, the split should be 15 B789s + 10 B788s configured in the below mentioned manner:

B788 - maintain existing dual class configuration of 18J + 249Y

B789 - two options to be considered here

Option 1 - standardize all B789s to 30J + 258Y

Option 2 - have two dual class configurations i.e. for its normal long/medium haul routes with the already stated configuration i.e. 30J + 258Y alongside a high density configuration that is required for many leisure/labor market routes. The high density B789 should be configured to seat 18J (same number of J class seats that the B788 has) + 294Y totaling 312 seats. Such a configuration is ideal from a flight economics point of view to operate on high density labor/leisure routes such as Jakarta, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Colombo, Jeddah, Lahore and Kochi. 

As far as its narrow body fleet is concerned, it currently numbers 2 B737s + 26 B738s + 5 B739ERs + 4 E75s totaling 37 units. This is stated to be increased to 45 by 2020 as part of the recent order for 20 B737s is to replace by 2022 its oldest B737-700s + B737-800s. For the Indian subcontinent routes + Cairo + selected flights to Saudi Arabia, the B739ER/MAX is the best aircraft for WY from an economic performance point of view as it offers 20% more seating capacity than the B738 operating with only 7% higher costs hence a no brainer. The B739MAX has the capability to also fly up to Thailand nonstop from MCT should the need arise in the future.  

Thai Airways has officially announced that in order to rapidly accelerate cost saving measures as part of its 3 year turn around plan, it shall speed up the process by phasing out 22 wide bodied aircraft in 2015 alone which are as follows:

8 B744s + 2 B744Fs + 6 A346s + 6 of its oldest A333s

As a result of the 2 B744 freighters (744Fs) being retired, it will mark the end of Thai Cargo operating as a seperate entity as the airline looks to use the belly space of its B777, A330 and B787 for the uplift of commercial cargo.

FYI in 2013, TG lost $392 million versus $482 million in 2014 operating with 102 aircraft (82 of which were wide bodies)!

Analysis:

A well thought out move by TG's management concerning the fleet in addition to suspending JNB, DME and MAD flights this year as well. However, there are few additional items that need to be considered and implemented:

LAX flights need to be suspended in 2015 too as they utilize 1.5 aircraft for only a 4 weekly service hence an inefficient way of utilizing an asset. In addition, this route is a major loss maker i.e. even bigger than MAD/DME hence just like its fellow rival Malaysia Airlines also swallowed its pride and suspended LAX, Thai too needs to bite the bullet by following suit. 

TG needs to also to maintain its brand and image reputation by continuing to operate as a legacy carrier and not confuse itself + its passengers with a dual brand strategy with its Thai Smile LCC. It just needs to look at other major legacy carriers who have experimented with the same strategy and failed i.e. UA, DL, 9W, AC and JAL to name a few.

The 20 A320s of Thai Smile should all be leased out to interested airlines in Asia or TG should instead dry lease in 10 A321-200s with one ACT. These A321s can fly easily up to 6 hours nonstop from BKK airport and help reduce operational costs significantly on ASEAN + Indian subcontinent routes where mutiple daily frequencies using a B777/A330 is not always required + some routes that are operated on a daily basis using a wide body would do better with an A321. 

The A321 to begin with should be configured to seat 12J + 168Y in a dual class (180 seats total) layout easily. Its total cost of operations is $5000 less per hour on average (50% less) than an A333/B772 and can also in its belly carry 3.5 tons of cargo. It would be more commercially viable for TG using this aircraft type on routes such as CMB, HYD, ISB, CCU, BLR and secondary cities in China rather than the wide body aircraft. In addition, this aircraft is also ideal in fine tuning capacity, for example its current BKK-SIN service is flown 5 times daily but at least 3 of these flights can be easily operated at full S/F using an A321 rather than a 50-60% A333/B772! A route such as DPS + MNL which is only operated once daily, can be instead flown twice daily comfortably with an A321 thus in turn providing more schedule flexibility for P2P pax + better network feed especially for EU/DXB bound flights. SGN + HAN currently flown double daily with a wide body, can easily support a triple daily flights on their own using an A321 due to the massive O&D demand to Thailand and East Asia itself + EU! On the domestic front, in order to increase market share and operate in a more efficient manner on the popular BKK-HKT sector in particular where it currently flies 8 times daily with B777/A330s, it can do so 10-12 times daily using an A321 with peak time flights operating as a shuttle service for both business + leisure pax.      

Emirates has officially announced major capacity increases across its long haul route network from 01OCT15 onwards as the carrier looks to aggressively cement its market share position in key high yielding segments that are seen to have long term growth potential. The main highlights are as follows:

BOS – frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop using a B77W

ZRH - capacity increase to double daily A380s effective 01OCT due to strong demand especially for its premium cabin classes on this sector.

CPH - capacity increased from daily B77W to daily A380. The A380 to be used for CPH will be in the new two class configuration seating 615 pax i.e. 58J + 557Y !

Comments:

EK will be receiving 4 dual class A380s this winter and CPH has been the first destination announced for the whale jet. This configuration makes it the largest passenger airplane in service today (seats wise) beating the 560 pax B747-400 previously in service with JAL/ANA. The other destinations that one would expect EK sending the dual class A380 on are Mauritius, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta.  

Copa Airlines based out of Panama in South America has officially announced that it has placed its largest ever order for aircraft with Boeing worth $6.6 billion. The aircraft ordered is for a combination of both B738MAX and B739MAX with the breakdown per aircraft type not mentioned though! Currently, CM's fleet consists of 17 B737-700s + 26 E90s + 56 B738s. The B737s are being replaced with B738s in a phased manner from this summer onwards. The B739MAXs ordered will be used to replace the B738s on the most popular medium haul routes such as those to JFK, MIA, EZE, GRU and GIG.

China Southern Airlines based out of Guangzhou, China has officially announced that it will be significantly increasing its presence in the LAX market place effective 19JUN onwards. Frequencies will be raised from daily to 11 weekly nonstop flights operated by an A380 daily + 4 weekly B77W. The carrier looks to tap into the ever increasing CAN/HKG/Shenzen corridor traffic segment as well as further aggressively poach away traffic from other airlines that is bound to SIN, MNL, PEK, PVG, BKK, DEL and KUL.

Turkish Airlines has officially announced to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, that it has secured on a long term dry lease 5 additional A330s of which the main highlights are as follows:

• Three A330-200s (22J+228Y config) will be leased from Wells Fargo Bank which will bring the total A332 fleet to number 20 units.
• Two brand new A330-300s (ex Afriqiyah Airways of Libya) will be leased for 8 years. These will be configured in TK's standard 28J+261Y configuration and will result in the A333 fleet number to rise to 21 units currently!

With regards to its route network, TK too revealed significant capacity upgrades which are as follows:

NRT – capacity increased to double daily nonstop flights using an A333 exclusively

ADD – capacity increased from daily B739 to daily A332

FIH/LBV – frequencies increased from 3 to 5 weekly flights using an A332

Comments:

With the lifting of Iran sanctions imminent, one should not be surprised to see TK rapidly ramping up its flights to the various destinations it serves there as well as possibly launch new 3-4 weekly nonstop flights to DTW-Detroit, USA to cater for the large number of Lebanese, Iranian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Egyptians residing in Michigan state.  

Qatar Airways has officially announced that they will be significantly increasing its services to Indonesia from July 2015 onwards in the below mentioned manner:

CGK - frequencies increased to triple daily nonstop flights using an A332 double daily + B77W daily

DPS - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop flights using a B788 for all flights

Comments:

The increase of services to DPS-Bali will definitely help increase S/F on its European bound services as that is the main target market along with Dubai and Jeddah. In addition, it also gives a competitive edge to QR by operating double daily to the island city as Emirates has announced that they are launching new DPS-DXB services on a daily basis using a B77W from June too. With regards to the Indonesia country itself, if QR is given more bilateral access, it should seriously look at serving SUB-Surbaya airport nonstop from DOH at least four times per week using an A332 initially as it is nice little niche market having the second largest urban population (9 million) along with high labor demand to GCC/KSA in particular.