Air India announces Washington DC-Delhi nonstop

Air India has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights between Delhi and Washington DC nonstop effective 07JUL17.

Services will be operated 3 times per week nonstop using a B777-200LR with the below mentioned timings:

Days - 3/5/7

AI 103 Dep DEL 0115 Arr IAD 0715

AI 104 Dep IAD 1100 Arr DEL 1030+1 

P2P demand between IAD and DEL in 2016 was 74,000 passengers and for other Indian cities it was as follows:

BOM - 49,000

MAA - 35,000

BLR - 29,000

HYD - 66,000

CCU - 7,000

AMD - 16,000

COK - 9,000

AI also previously announced that it is in the market looking to dry lease into its fleet 6 additional wide body aircraft i.e. either B77Ws or B789s. If B789s can be obtained and one aircraft dedicated to flying DEL-IAD nonstop, the total operational cost savings per round trip flight is approximately US$ 80,000 so on an annual basis is almost US$ 12.5 million !

Oman Air reduces Guangzhou flights

Due to lower than anticipated demand for its recently launched Guangzhou-Muscat daily service (since Dec 2017), Oman Air has officially confirmed that in order to stem losses, it shall be reducing frequencies on this sector effective 10APR17.

Its current daily service using an A330 will be cut to 4 weekly nonstop using a combination of A332s and A333s. Flights will operate on MON/WED/FRI/SUN only out of MCT.

Demand between CAN and the Middle East region in 2016 (round trip) was as follows:

DXB - 150,000
JED - 44,000
RUH - 40,000
CAI - 112,000
AMM - 28,000
BEY - 20,000
IKA - 60,000
IST - 55,000

DOH - 11,000MCT - 8,000
BAH - 5,000
DMM - 6,000

British Airways increases Los Angeles and Johannesburg capacity

British Airways has officially announced that it shall be significantly increasing its capacity offering on two popular routes from the on set of the IATA W17 season as the carrier looks to compete more aggressively against its closest rivals.

JNB - capacity increased from daily B744 + daily A380 to double daily A380

LAX - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop i.e. daily B789 + daily A380 + daily B744 each respectively

MSY (New Orleans, USA) - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly using a B787

Lahore capacity increased by Oman Air

Due to rising demand from Lahore to the Middle East region, Oman Air has announced that it shall be significantly increasing capacity on its MCT-LHE service effective 08MAY17.

On 05FEB17, WY expanded initially MCT-LHE from daily to 10 weekly flights using a B738 offering 1,620 seats per week. However effective 08MAY, both pax + cargo capacity shall be boosted with the sector seeing 4 weekly A332s + 2 weekly A333s + 4 B738s. This in turn results in a 41% increase in capacity offered per week i.e from 1,620 to 2,290.  

Air France increases Cape Town

Air France has disclosed that due to higher demand during the IATA winter season for travel from both North America and Europe/UK especially to South Africa, it shall be significantly boosting its presence on both its Cape Town and Johannesburg flights.

With regards to CPT, frequencies are to be increased from 5 to daily nonstop using a B772ER. As far as JNB is concerned, capacity is to be boosted to daily A380.

Ethiopian reduces Guangzhou and Newark

Ethiopian Airlines has officially announced due to declining demand and over capacity deployed by its competitors, it shall be reducing its services to both Guangzhou (CAN) and Newark (EWR) from the on set of the IATA Summer 2017 season.

Guangzhou's current 10 weekly nonstop service operated by a B77W shall be reduced back to a daily nonstop service whilst the 5 weekly ADD-LFW-EWR flight will be cut back to 4 weekly only using a B788.

In addition, the airline confirmed launching a new 4 weekly B738 operated flight between JNB-LFW v.v. which will connect conveniently in both directions to its EWR flight as well as a majority of ASKY's West African services.

Lufthansa increases Bangkok capacity

Lufthansa has officially announced that due to high demand for Bangkok from both Germany and the EU during the IATA Winter season, it shall be boosting capacity on its FRA-BKK service effective 29OCT17.

Currently, LH operates a daily B744 on this sector offering 393 seats per direction. From the on set of the IATA W17 season, this shall be increased to a daily 509 seater Airbus A380.  

In 2016, the P2P demand between FRA and BKK round trip was 398,000 passengers.

Etihad increases Paris capacity

Etihad Airways has officially announced that due to rising demand for its CDG-Paris bound services, it shall be increasing capacity on the route effective 01JUL17.

Currently, EY operates a daily B77W + daily A346 on the AUH-CDG sector offering 656 seats per direction everyday. However effective 01JUL17, capacity is being increased by +27% as it will upgrade the daily B77W service to an A380 (496 seater).

In 2016, the total P2P demand between AUH and CDG round trip was 90,000 passengers.

Oman Air suspends Singapore and Beirut services

Oman Air has officially published across all GDS systems major updates concerning its route network for the upcoming IATA S17 season which includes flight suspensions, frequency increases and reductions. The main highlights are as follows:

SIN - all 4 weekly flights suspended effective 14JUN. These 4 also continued on wards to Guangzhou therefore an announcement is expected soon regarding capacity adjustment for that sector as well.

BEY - all flights suspended effective 26MAR

BKK - frequencies increased to triple daily nonstop exclusively using the B787

CMB - frequencies increased to double daily nonstop using a mix of B738s and B739s

HYD - frequencies increased from double to triple daily nonstop

KTM - frequencies increased to 15 weekly nonstop using a B738 exclusively (3 flights operated on SAT)

KUL - frequencies increased from daily to double daily nonstop

MHD - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly nonstop

CGK - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly using an A332

CAI - frequencies reduced from 10 weekly to 6 weekly nonstop

Cathay Pacific increases San Francisco and Europe flights

Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it will be embarking on an expansion on key long haul routes from the on set of the IATA W17 season as it looks to consolidate its market share appropriately. 

The main highlights are as follows:

SFO - frequencies increased from 17 weekly to triple daily nonstop i.e. double daily B77W + daily A359

MAD - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly nonstop 

BNE - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly nonstop

LAX - frequencies reduced from 4 to 3 daily nonstop flights using a B77W exclusively

MAN - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 weekly 

CDG - frequencies increased from 10 to 11 weekly nonstop

Press release: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/about-us/press-room/press-release/2017/Cathay-Pacific-increases-frequencies-to-key-destinations-across-three-continents.html

Oman Air increases Hyderabad frequencies

Last month, Oman Air announced that it was allocated an additional 6,000 weekly seats to India by the latter's DGCA and hence announced expansion of services to DEL, BOM, CCJ and LKO respectively.
 
Today, WY officially published that effective 27MAR, it shall be increasing flights to HYD-Hyderabad, India from the current double daily to triple daily nonstop using a combination of B739s and B738s each respectively to take advantage of the growing demand out of this city to the GCC region in particular.
 
 

 

China Southern increases Dhaka capacity

China Southern (based out of Guangzhou)has officially announced that due to rising passenger and cargo demand for its services on the Dhaka route, it shall be increasing capacity effective 27MAR17.

Currently, CZ operates a daily B738 on the CAN-DAC sector, however from 27MAR onwards all flights shall be upgraded to the A330-200. CZ's B738s seat 164 pax versus 257 on their A332.

Demand between Dhaka and the 3 main metro China cities has boomed over the past year for both passenger and cargo. With regards to passenger demand comparison, it is as follows:

PEK - 32,000 in 2016 versus 20,000 in 2015
PVG - 21,000 in 2016 versus 13,000 in 2015
CAN - 96,000 in 2016 versus 71,000 in 2015

Qatar Airways increases Europe and Africa capacity

Qatar Airways has revealed another round of capacity increases for the upcoming IATA S17 season as the carrier now also has in its fleet few ex LATAM A350-900s which seat 348 passengers in a dual class configuration i.e. 30J + 318Y.

The main highlights are as follows:

WDH - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily flights using an A332

NBO - capacity increased from triple daily A320 to daily A332 + double daily A320

ADD - capacity increased to 2 weekly B77W + weekly A320

BCN - capacity increased from double daily B788 to daily A359 + daily B788

MAD - capacity increased to double daily A359

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

 

Malindo announces Chittagong nonstop

Malaysia's Malindo Air has officially announced that it shall be launching new nonstop flights to Bangladesh's second largest city i.e. CGP-Chittagong effective 30MAR17. This expansion into the country follows on its previous announcement of increasing Dhaka flights too from double to triple daily as the Malaysian Government continues to welcome large labor, tourist and business movement from the country.

OD will operate a B738 on this new service with the below mentioned schedule:

Days - 2/4/7

OD 168 Dep KUL 2020 Arr CGP 2150
OD 169 Dep CGP 2250 Arr KUL 0420+1

Kuwait Airways increases Mumbai frequencies

Kuwait Airways has confirmed that it will be increasing its frequencies to Mumbai, India effective 10MAY17 as per filing on major GDS systems.

Currently, KU operates a daily B777-300ER on the KWI-BOM route, however effective 10MAY these shall be raised to double daily with the new service being operated by an A320. The schedule of the new flight is as follows:

Days - Daily
Aircraft - A320 (with Wifi and IFE in every seat)

KU 303 Dep KWI 0550 Arr BOM 1220
KU 304 Dep BOM 1325 Arr KWI 1455

Air France exchanges two A380s for 3 A359s

Air France has disclosed that due to changing business conditions keeping in line with its core strategic focus, it will be exchanging 2 previously ordered A380 super jumbos for 3 smaller Airbus A350-900s. 

In total, AF will therefore maintain a fleet of 10 A380s and increase its A359 unit count to 24 aircraft. 

It is seriously contemplating launching a new long haul LCC unit based out of CDG airport with a fleet of either A332s or A359s only to better serve high density lower yielding routes especially those in Southeast Asia.  

WestJet orders 10 B739MAXs

WestJet has disclosed that it has placed an order for 10 Boeing 737-900MAXs as part of an upgrade option that it already had on a previously announced purchase for 30 B738MAXs.

WS's B739s are expected to seat 185 passengers approximately in a 2 class layout (W+Y only) and would be used on high density routes from YYZ to YVR, YYC, Caribbean and Florida. This aircraft can fly 6.5 hours nonstop hence can cover all of their current routes.

Link: https://www.westjet.com/assets/wj-web/documents/en/about-us/financialReports/WestJet2016Q4-MDA.pdf go to page 28

Finnair announces major Asia expansion

Finnair has officially announced that it will be re-configuring some of its Airbus A350-900s into a high density configuration which will be better suited to its long haul Asian destinations that primarily see greater leisure demand versus premium.

Currently, AY's A359s seat 297 pax in a 2 class layout i.e. 46J + 251Y. However, the new high density configuration will have 32J (flat beds) + 304Y giving a total of 336 seats i.e. +13% on board capacity. The initial routes destined for these HD aircraft are Bangkok, Seoul and Beijing. 

In addition to the above, AY also revealed the below mentioned changes to long haul route network:

HKG - frequencies increased from daily to 10 weekly

NRT - frequencies increased from daily to 11 weekly during S17 season only

SIN - frequencies increased from 5 weekly to daily flights using an A359

KIX - capacity increased from daily A333 to daily A359

GOI (Goa, India) - new 2 weekly seasonal flights using an A333 effective 29NOV operated nonstop from HEL

BKK - frequencies increased from double daily to 16 weekly

DEL - frequencies increased from 5 to 6 weekly using an A333

ICN - capacity increased from daily A333 to daily A359

  

Emirates announces new services to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Emirates has officially announced a new long haul destination in Southeast Asia namely Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The new service shall be launched effective 01JUL17 on a daily basis using a Boeing 777-300ER operated via RGN-Rangoon with full 5th freedom traffic rights.

As a result of the above, its current Hanoi (Vietnam) flights operated via RGN shall become a daily nonstop terminator service using a 2 class 427 seater Boeing 777-300ER offering excellent 2 way connections to Europe via Dubai. 

Air Canada increases Tel Aviv

Air Canada has officially announced that it will be increasing its presence in Tel Aviv, Israel as the carrier looks to ward off any momentum its competitor Air Transat can gain in this market segment.

AC will first boost YYZ-TLV capacity from a daily B788 (251 seats) to a daily B789 (298 seats) effective 27MAR17. Secondly, it will launch new twice weekly Montreal (YUL) - Tel Aviv nonstop flights effective 22JUN17 using a 292 seater A330-300.

P2P demand between Canada and TLV has indeed increased in 2016 versus 2015 which was as follows:

YYZ - 133,000 versus 121,000
YUL - 47,000 versus 40,000
YVR - 20,000 versus 15,000
YYC - 10,000 versus 6,000
YOW - 6,000 versus 4,000

AC also gets useful feed from the U.S. East Coast (BOS NYC PHL IAD) via YYZ for its TLV bound service for which it will also get on its new YUL service along with ORD too as the two way connections are very convenient.