euroZone

Richard Maslen December 16, 2010

SMARTWINGS SWOOPS INTO TURKEY

Prague based operator SmartWings has announced that it will commence scheduled services to Antalya, Turkey effective March 19^th. The route will be operated with B737 aircraft on a weekly basis. However from May 24^th, 2011 this will become a six-weekly rotation. The route currently has no year round non-stop service. IATA BSP data shows that the majority of indirect traffic currently transits via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

AIR BERLIN STEPS UP FREQUENCY ON BARCELONA AND ROME

Oneworld member to be, Air Berlin, will increase existing capacity on routes to Barcelona and Rome, effective March 27^th, 2011. It will add a second daily service to Barcelona where it is the only carrier operating the route, however easyJet does offer a double daily from Schonefeld. It is the only carrier currently operating non-stop scheduled service from Berlin to Rome (FCO).

AIR FRANCE BOOST FOR BILBAO

Air France will introduce a new fifth-daily service from Paris CDG to Bilbao effective March 27^th, 2011. The additional frequency will be operated with CRJ700 aircraft on a route that has seen over 70,000 O+D passengers fly between September 2009 and September 2010.

TURKISH DELIGHT WITH NEW ROUTE TO IRAN

Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines will launch its fourth scheduled route to Iran from March 14^th, 2011 with a new four-times weekly service from Istanbul to Shiraz. The route will be operated with B737-800 aircraft and will follow existing services into Tehran, Mashid and Tabriz. There is no carrier currently flying this route.

WIZZ OUTLINES SUMMER 2011 ROUTE ADDITIONS

Geneva based Wizz Air has announced a number of new routes for Summer 2011 outlining routes from its planned bases in Belgrade and Vilnius, stories covered earlier this year in the hub. Routes that will be operated from March 27th next year include;