Air Canada Pictures

Air Canada has announced that it will be suspending its summer seasonal flights to Manchester, UK from Summer 2008 onwards. Currently, AC flies a daily seasonal service between YYZ & MAN using an old Boeing 767.

UAE Spain open skies

UAE and Spain have signed an open skies agreement over the weekend which includes 5th freedom rights beyond Spain to the Americas for UAE based airlines. The designated airlines of both countries will be able to operate unlimited weekly passenger frequencies and capacity in each direction with any type of aircraft, as well as operate all cargo services.

Analysis :

For many months prior to this agreement being signed, EK was conducting a feasibility study on launching new DXB-BCN nonstop flights as well as future flights to Mexico City which would be routed via Spain as UAE too has an open skies agreement in place with Mexico. This became more serious in the summer when EK was conducting negotiations with few upscale Barcelona hotels for its cabin crew to stay in as well as for the EK Holidays division. With the open skies treaty being signed between UAE & Spain now, all options are available on the table for EK to pursue.

Currently QR only fly to Spain (Madrid) nonstop from the GCC and according to many, their flights are doing pretty ok. In Spain, MAD is the higher yielding market than BCN as its the political and financial capital of Spain hence there exists a bigger J & F class sized market segment here than in BCN. In Barcelona, the cargo potential for EK is huge as the city has a huge manufacturing and services industry which are booming.

In both Spanish cities, the main target market for EK would be transit traffic bound for the Far East (BKK/KUL/SIN), China, Japan, Australia and India. In the summer months, it shall definitely see high volume & high yielding traffic consisting of rich Arab families visiting their mansions on the Spanish peninsula.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific has officially announced that it will be increasing its flights to ICN-Seoul, South Korea from May 2nd from 4 to 5 daily flights. CX will operate a mixture of A 333s and B 777s on this new flight where as with regards to terminated BOM-DXB flight, it has decided to have a daily terminator flight to the Indian financial capital city with the following flight schedule:

CX684 Dep BOM 0240 Arr HKG 1110
CX685 Dep HKG 2150 Arr BOM 0130

Aircraft to be operated for the above mentioned flight schedule is an A 333.

Emirates airline

Emirates has officially revealed major changes to its Summer and Winter 2010 schedule especially with regards to realigning capacity on various routes across its medium haul and long haul network. The main highlights are as follows:

PER - capacity increased to double daily nonstop flights using a B 772LR effective Nov 1st.

DXB / KUL / MEL - capacity increased from daily A 345 to daily B 773ER effective July 1st.

MUC - capacity reduced from daily B 773ER + daily A 332 to daily A 345 + daily A 332 effective July 1st.

CMN - in flight product upgraded from daily A 343 to daily A 345 effective Aug 1st.

MEL - capacity increased to triple daily flights all using a B 773ER instead of 2 daily B 773ERs + daily A 345 effective Aug 1st.

LOS - in flight product upgraded with the 2nd daily flight being flight being operated by an A 345 along side the B 773ER which operates the other daily flight.

Air Canada information

Air Canada has officially revealed on the GDS major changes to its South America schedule for the IATA Summer 2010 season with increase in frequencies to 3 key destinations. The main highlights are as follows:

BOG - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using a B 767-300ER effective May 31st.

CCS - frequencies increased from 4 weekly to daily nonstop flights using an A 319 effective June 22nd.

LIM - frequencies increased from 3 to 4 weekly nonstop flights using a B 767-300ER effective June 3rd.

Etihad Airways

has announced that it will be launching new 4 weekly flights to Beijing, China from February 25th 2008 nonstop from its AUH hub using an Airbus A 330-200. The flight timings are as follows :

Days : MON / WED /FRI / SUN

Dep AUH 2225 Arr PEK 1005+1
Dep PEK 1750 Arr AUH 2320

KLM Airline

KLM has announced that it will launch a new daily nonstop service between AMS and Detroit (DTW) using an Airbus A 330-200 effective Summer 2008.

Thus, the AMS-DTW route will see 5 daily NWA flights along with this KLM one.

Cathay Pacific Airline

According to HKG Airport Authorities, Cathay Pacific has officially informed them that it is upgrading capacity on its Toronto bound flights from December 1st 2007. This upgrade will be carried out in stages which are as follows :

a) From Dec 1st onwards, CX will fly 3 times a week (Wed, Fri, Sun) nonstop HKG-YYZ-HKG flights using an Airbus A 340-600 with new flight numbers i.e. CX 826/827 where as 4 weekly A 343 operated HKG-ANC-YYZ flights remain on other days of the week.

b) From January 1st 2008, all YYZ bound flights will be numbered CX 826/27 and be flown nonstop daily with an A 346.

c) From Feb 1st 2008, a further capacity increase will take place with 3 weekly flights being flown by the Boeing 777-300ER nonstop + 4 weekly A 346s. B 773ERs will operate CX 826/27 on Tue/Thu/Sat.

d) From March 30th 2008, all HKG-YYZ flights will become permament daily nonstops flown by the Boeing 777-300ER.

Direct Flights To Myrtle Beach

Several airlines offer direct flights to and from Myrtle Beach.

Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is beginning nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach from Huntington, W.Va., and Allentown, Pa., marking its first entry into the Myrtle Beach market.

Flights to both destinations will depart and arrive on Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations can be made at www.allegiantair.com, or by calling 702-505-8888.

Travelers between Myrtle Beach and Chicago have an easier way to get back and forth starting today with the launch of a daily, nonstop flight on Spirit Airlines.

Grand Strand tourism leaders herald the new flight to Chicago O'Hare International Airport as an opportunity to lure more visitors to the beach, especially golfers from the Chicago area.

Nonstop daily service to the Windy City has been off and on since 2001. United Airlines used to fly the route, but ditched it in 2006, though it kept nonstop weekend service intermittently through September. Spirit Airlines ran nonstop service between Myrtle Beach and Chicago in 2001 and 2002 but ended the service when demand fell after Sept. 11, 2001.

Spirit officials say Myrtle Beach's affordability makes it a likely candidate to do well as travelers search for bargains.

These airlines offer direct flights to and from Myrtle Beach:

• Allegiant Air: Huntington, W.Va., and Allentown, Pa.
• ASA (Delta Connection): Atlanta
• ComAir: (Delta Connection): LaGuardia, Boston
• Continental: Newark
• Direct Air: Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, Fla.; Allentown, Pa.; Columbus, Ohio; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Newark, N.J.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Rockford, Ill.; Sanford, Fla.; Toledo, Ohio; Worcester, Mass.
• Delta/Northwest: Detroit, Minneapolis
• Spirit: Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, LaGuardia
• United Express: Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
• US Airways: Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington National, LaGuardia, Boston

Spirit Airlines Announces Direct Service From Chicago To Myrtle Beach

Snow is falling and temperatures are plummeting, but the sun was shining on Chicago area golfers this week.

Spirit Airlines announced on December 17 that the ultra low-cost carrier will begin seasonal service between Chicago and Myrtle Beach on March 1, 2009.

The daily non-stop service will run through November 11. The flights will originate out of O’Hare Airport and provide a low-cost link between America’s favorite golf destination and one of its most golf-crazed cities.

The Spirit flight will leave O’Hare at 2:15 CST each day. The return flight from Myrtle Beach will depart the Grand Strand at 11 a.m. EST. In May the flight from Chicago will leave earlier and the departure from Myrtle Beach will be pushed into the afternoon, more beneficial times for golfers.

One of the nation’s premier low-cost air carriers, Spirit has a host of introductory rates to lure golfers from Chicago to Myrtle Beach this spring.

Direct Air will also be shuttling golfers from Rockford, Ill., just outside of Chicago, to Myrtle Beach, meaning it will be easier than ever for Windy City golfers to flock to the Grand Strand.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has come up with a new way of generating more revenue. Letting people buy 3 seats for 1 or 2 passengers on long haul flights. These seats are called “Skycouch” and the seats fold out to fill the space between the next to make a nice and comfy couch. Check the pictures below -

The ‘Skycouch‘, a specially designed row of three seats, has been engineered to create a lie-flat, flexible space all the way to the seat-back in front, providing a place for the kids to play, or the holy grail of economy travel - a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep.

Twenty-two sets of Skycouch seats will be available, being the first 11 window rows in the Economy Class cabin.

For two adults travelling, purchasing the Skycouch will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Full airfare details will be announced when it goes on sale from late April.

Airplans Pictures

Airplans Picture
Airplans Picture
Airplans Picture
Airplans Picture
Airplans Picture

Luxury Air Jets at the NBTA Boston Pictures

Luxury Air Jets exhibited in the annual National Business Travel Association (NBTA) which took place in the Boston’s famed Convention & Exhibition Center two weeks ago. This is the world’s largest gathering of international business travel buyers. This was the largest and most successful in the 39-year history of the event with more than 6,200 attendees, including 1,400 travel managers, nearly 100 reporters, and more than 435 exhibitors. The keynote speaker at this year was General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.) (in the picture). Mr. Powell shared his experience as a Former Secretary of State alluding to the travel industry, especially to private aviation. General Powell said he doesn’t normally miss anything in his past. He does, however, really miss having his own private jet!

Luxury Air Jets at the Millionaire Fair

The way between New York and Moscow just got shorter - Luxury Air Jets at the Millionaire Fair.

‘Luxury’ was the name of the game in Moscow’s Millionaire Fair last week. Where else can you stop and shop for a Swarovsky crystal-covered Mercedes, a Gulfstream G550 airplane with a Rolls-Royce engine, an island, and a diamond-covered cell phone on the side - all under the same roof? “After an ‘arduous’ shopping day like this, who wouldn’t want a private jet to take them home?” says Igor Kotlyar - Luxury Air Jets’ CEO. However, this was not the only reason the team of Luxury Air Jets felt right at home. Igor along with Rodney Kadymir – the founders of the company, left Russia as children when it was still very much Communist. Last week they came back ‘to Russia with love’ to participate among 200 other prestigious companies in what is considered the crown jewel of all luxury exhibitions, in the city that Forbes magazine recently recorded as having more millionaires than any other city in the world.

According to a recent research conducted by Merrill Lynch there are 88,000 millionaires living in Russia today – a lot of them are recent millionaires. This is an impressive number; and what is more impressive is when talking number of billionaires, Russia is ranked second after the US. Everybody was at The Crocus Expo: from Bentley, Cartier, and Remy Martin, to Mercedes, Rolex, and Mont Blanc. The event that was covered by all major media networks and which was perfectly timed at the start of the holiday and shopping season, attracted 45,000 visitors – many of them are so-called “new Russians” who could easily afford the luxury items. They made the show very successful for the exhibitors, Luxury Air Jets included. In fact, it was so successful that some visitors were reported to have a “luxury shock”. “This is a perfect market for us”, says Rodney, “It prompt us to open our new office here on Beskudnikovskiy Boulevard.”
See you next year in Shanghai!

Korean Air jets

International passenger flights have been diverted around North Korean airspace after the rogue state threatened military action against South Korean airliners.

North Korea, which is preparing to test its longest-range missile, said it could not guarantee the safety of the South's commercial flights off the east coast of the peninsula where the missile base is located.

It linked the warning to next week's joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, which it has routinely attacked as an attempt to provoke nuclear war.

Caution: Korean Air jets have been rerouted following the threat from Pyongyang

South Korea's Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have rerouted their flights.

Pyongyang is 'compelled to declare that security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean civil airplanes flying through the territorial air of our side and its vicinity ... while the military exercises are under way,' a statement said.

The U.S. called the statement 'distinctly unhelpful' while South Korea demanded it be withdrawn.

A government spokesman in Seoul warned: 'Threatening civilian airliners' normal operations under international aviation regulations is not only against the international rules but is an act against humanity.'

Observers said the threat by Kim Jong-Il's hardline regime was aimed at escalating tensions and that planes were actually in little danger.

Korean Air jets

International passenger flights have been diverted around North Korean airspace after the rogue state threatened military action against South Korean airliners.

North Korea, which is preparing to test its longest-range missile, said it could not guarantee the safety of the South's commercial flights off the east coast of the peninsula where the missile base is located.

It linked the warning to next week's joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, which it has routinely attacked as an attempt to provoke nuclear war.

Caution: Korean Air jets have been rerouted following the threat from Pyongyang

South Korea's Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have rerouted their flights.

Pyongyang is 'compelled to declare that security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean civil airplanes flying through the territorial air of our side and its vicinity ... while the military exercises are under way,' a statement said.

The U.S. called the statement 'distinctly unhelpful' while South Korea demanded it be withdrawn.

A government spokesman in Seoul warned: 'Threatening civilian airliners' normal operations under international aviation regulations is not only against the international rules but is an act against humanity.'

Observers said the threat by Kim Jong-Il's hardline regime was aimed at escalating tensions and that planes were actually in little danger.

EMBRAER DELIVERS FIRST EMBRAER 195 JET TO AIR DOLOMITI

Aircraft is part of the order for 30 E-Jets by Lufthansa for its regional subsidiaries

Embraer will deliver the first EMBRAER 195 jet, today, to Air Dolomiti, the Lufthansaowned Northern Italy regional carrier, during a ceremony held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The deal with Lufthansa was announced in June 2007, covering 30 firm orders for the EMBRAER 190 jet, with the option to take any aircraft of the E-Jets family.

Air Dolomiti’s EMBRAER 195 is configured for 116 seats in a single-class layout, with a moveable partition. It will be used to link Air Dolomiti’s Italian network to Lufthansa’s Munich hub, in Germany.

Air Asia Pictures

The Associated Press is reporting a new alliance between Air Asia and Jetstar, two of Asia’s biggest budget airlines.

The alliance includes cooperation on passenger handling and the potential to purchase aircraft together.

Jetstar is a unit of Australia’s Qantas Airways and AirAsia is based in Malaysia.The airlines hope the alliance helps cut costs, although AP reports that AirAsia profited in the third quarter of 2009 and Qantas reports profit in the second half of 2009.

“Jetstar and AirAsia offer unmatched reach in the Asia-Pacific region … and this new alliance will enable them to maximize that scale,” Qantas Airways CEO Joyce said in a statement.

The CEOs of both companies said the move is a logical one that will create a natural advantage for the airlines as travelers turn to budget carriers.

“AirAsia strongly believes the strategic tie-up will help the airline maintain its position as the lowest-cost airline in the world despite rising costs associated with the fledgling global economic recovery,” AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said in the statement.

Analysts attribute this alliance to the tough aviation industry, AP writes. The alliance will allow an increase in bargaining power over competitors.

Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard and Poor’s in Singapore, stressed the importance of industry consolidation and cooperation to AP.

Japan Airlines

Delta Air Lines is unlikely to take a majority stake in Japan Airlines if the ongoing talks, reported by various news organisations, come to fruition.

There is likely to be opposition from the Japanese government to such a move, especially since it has spent trillions of yen helping to prop up a carrier still seen as a national institution. A stake that does not give it a majority stake in JAL would be more palatable within Japan.

Regardless, the move would serve both JAL and Delta very well. JAL needs a cash infusion to keep it going and greater access to the US market, while Delta would gain from the opening up of Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports.

JAL, in particular, needs to look into the possibility seriously as this could help to to refine its operations and compete more effectively against domestic rival All Nippon Airways.

They have to sort out various details, including JAL's oneworld alliance and Delta's SkyTeam alliance membership. There could also be opposition from other airlines, who might say that the tie-up is anti-competitive. But these are not insurmountable.

There is an added element to this issue - Delta's strategic plans. The carrier's management, buoyed by a strong cash balance, have obviously decided that trans-Pacific routes are a priority. Look at the airline's plans to form a joint venture with Virgin Blue in Australia.

This growth strategy would be a major challenge to the likes of American and United Airlines, as well as the carriers on this part of the world, on these highly lucrative routes. They are not likely to give up without a fight.

Jetstar and Air New Zealand

A SLANGING match has broken out between Jetstar and Air New Zealand after the Australian airline claimed its troubled Kiwi launch had been sabotaged by dirty tricks.The Qantas subsidiary has had a bumpy ride since the launch of its New Zealand schedule last month, with complaints of late and cancelled flights, rude staff and dozens of New Zealanders turned away for failing to check in early enough.The airlines started trading barbs after Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan accused Air New Zealand of attempting to sabotage his airline, which has replaced Qantas in New Zealand with 84 domestic return flights a week.

Mr Buchanan told the Herald on Sunday newspaper the Kiwi airline had circulated nasty rumours about the planes being old and unserviced, the pilots poorly trained and the flights overbooked, because it was worried it would lose its monopoly on the domestic market.”We’ve experienced some tough competition before but we’ve never experienced someone trying to sabotage our business, or specifically go after us to try and discredit us,” Mr Buchanan said.He said the overbooking rumour was “a complete fallacy that our competitors are spreading throughout the media”.

‘It wasn’t something we were prepared for and we are surprised at the dirty tricks they are playing,” the Jetstar chief said.”They have a dedicated team of individuals running a campaign to try and ruin our launch.”But Air New Zealand wasn’t taking the claims lying down, hitting back with calls that Kiwis would “see through (Jetstar’s) conspiracy theories”.Shorthaul airline group general manager Bruce Parton said Mr Buchanan’s words were the “actions of a desperate man”.

“Surely, Mr Buchanan doesn’t expect Kiwis to believe that we are responsible for his Aussie airline’s woes?” he told AAP.”We didn’t dream up his draconian check-in rules, his schedule that often cannot be met, his endless schedule changes and his decision to operate ill-equipped aircraft to Queenstown that cannot achieve the same punctuality as Air NZ’s fleet.”Throwing it back, he said Jetstar “only has itself to blame for its own bad PR and the ‘one star airline’ tag some have given it”.

Jetstar and Air New Zealand

A SLANGING match has broken out between Jetstar and Air New Zealand after the Australian airline claimed its troubled Kiwi launch had been sabotaged by dirty tricks.The Qantas subsidiary has had a bumpy ride since the launch of its New Zealand schedule last month, with complaints of late and cancelled flights, rude staff and dozens of New Zealanders turned away for failing to check in early enough.The airlines started trading barbs after Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan accused Air New Zealand of attempting to sabotage his airline, which has replaced Qantas in New Zealand with 84 domestic return flights a week.

Mr Buchanan told the Herald on Sunday newspaper the Kiwi airline had circulated nasty rumours about the planes being old and unserviced, the pilots poorly trained and the flights overbooked, because it was worried it would lose its monopoly on the domestic market.”We’ve experienced some tough competition before but we’ve never experienced someone trying to sabotage our business, or specifically go after us to try and discredit us,” Mr Buchanan said.He said the overbooking rumour was “a complete fallacy that our competitors are spreading throughout the media”.

‘It wasn’t something we were prepared for and we are surprised at the dirty tricks they are playing,” the Jetstar chief said.”They have a dedicated team of individuals running a campaign to try and ruin our launch.”But Air New Zealand wasn’t taking the claims lying down, hitting back with calls that Kiwis would “see through (Jetstar’s) conspiracy theories”.Shorthaul airline group general manager Bruce Parton said Mr Buchanan’s words were the “actions of a desperate man”.

“Surely, Mr Buchanan doesn’t expect Kiwis to believe that we are responsible for his Aussie airline’s woes?” he told AAP.”We didn’t dream up his draconian check-in rules, his schedule that often cannot be met, his endless schedule changes and his decision to operate ill-equipped aircraft to Queenstown that cannot achieve the same punctuality as Air NZ’s fleet.”Throwing it back, he said Jetstar “only has itself to blame for its own bad PR and the ‘one star airline’ tag some have given it”.