Friday, February 1, 2008

Turkish Airlines


Turkish Airlines has officially announced that they will be launching new long haul flights in 2008 to Lahore, Toronto, Washington DC, Sao Paulo and Birmingham (UK). YYZ and IAD are expected to be flown 3 times a week nonstop from IST using their new A 332s where as LHE and BHX will be flown too nonstop using a B 737-800. In addition, other major changes were announced to TK's route network for the peak summer season. The main highlights are as follows :

AMS - increased to triple daily

BRU - increased to 17 times weekly

DAM - increased to 11 times weekly

FRA - increased to 26 times weekly

DXB - increased to double daily

MXP - increased to triple daily

TLV - increased to 25 times weekly

CPH - increased to 10 times weekly

GVA - increased to 9 times weekly

Air France



Air France has released details of its Winter 2008/09 network which sees changes in particular to its long haul destinations. The main highlights are as follows :

MAA - frequencies increased from 4 to 5 weekly A 343s.

IAD - capacity increased to 2 daily B 772ERs (currently daily A 332 + daily B 772ER)

EZE - capacity increased from daily B 772ER to daily B 773ER.

NRT - capacity increased to double daily B 773ERs + 6 weekly A 332.

PEK - capacity increased to 10 weekly B 773ERs.

PVG - frequencies increased to daily B 773ER + daily B 772ER.

Royal Jordanian


Royal Jordanian will be taking delivery of 2 newly ordered Airbus A 319s which will be used on the following routes :

DEL - previously flown 3 times a week with an A 342, however effective April 2nd, the service will increase to 6 weekly A 319s.

BAH & DMM - both routes to be increased from 4 weekly to daily effective May.

KLM


KLM will be making capacity adjustments with regards to its India operations for the upcoming summer 2008 season. Flights to HYD-Hyderabad will increase from 4 to 5 weekly MD 11s and DEL-Delhi will see a daily B 772ER operation until June 15th. From that date onwards, it will switch to a daily MD 11.

Apart from India, KLM has also announced that it will be upgrading capacity to MNL-Manila by deploying a Boeing 777-300ER on the route flown nonstop from AMS as it seeks to cash in by being the only European airline to offer nonstop flights from the continent to MNL because of Lufthansa withdrawing their MNL service shortly. KL will fly to MNL 3 times a week nonstop from AMS with the B 773ER on WED/FRI/SUN.

Singapore Airlines


Singapore Airlines has announced that due to high load factors being witnessed on its Mumbai bound flights, it will be upgrading the in-flight product on this key route by deploying the Boeing 777-300ER which has their new business class product on board for SQ 423/24.

The J class product on this aircraft type has a seat width of 30 inches (the biggest in the world) and a seat pitch of 51 inches. Besides upgrading the in-flight product, it will be upgrading capacity too by sending a B 773A on its second daily SQ 421/22 flight instead of a B 772A.

Etihad Airways


Etihad Airways will be increasing its flights to Dublin-DUB by adding an additional weekly flight thus making the service a daily operation using an Airbus A 330-200. This will come into effect from 30th March 08. EY's reported loads on their DUB flight are 80% in economy and 73% in business.

TAM


TAM of Brazil has officially signed a contract with Airbus for an order worth US$ 6.9 billion. The order comprises of 46 aircraft i.e. 22 A 358 / A 359s + 4 A 332s + 4 A 320s.

Air Europa


Spanish airline i.e. Air Europa pulled off a major coup by cancelling its original order for 10 Airbus A 350-800s and instead sealing a deal with Boeing for 16 Boeing 787-800s (8 firm + 8 options) earlier on in the week. The airline will use the jets on nonstop flights to Argentina, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

China Airlines


China Airlines of Taiwan has officially confirmed placing a multi billion dollar order with Airbus for 20 Airbus A 350-900s (14 firm + 6 options). These aircraft will be used to entirely replace its A 343 fleet on long haul flights to USA and Europe + to cater for further expansion in North America in particular. CI also revealed that its B 744 fleet will be undergoing extensive interior refurbishment hence it will not be seeking to replace them for at least another 4 years.