SENEGAL AIRLINES TO ACQUIRE ATR 42S FOR REGIONAL ROUTES
Senegal Airlines has revised its operational plans for its routes to Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and the Gambia, boosting frequencies through the use of smaller capacity aircraft. The carrier currently operates just Airbus A320 models, but from the end of this month will introduce two ATR 42 turboprops to take over its existing flights from Dakar to Banjul, Bissau and new link to Praia. The two existing destinations are currently served up to four times per week from the Senegalese capital, but from the first week of August will all have a daily connection. The arrival of the regional turboprops will free up an Airbus A320 to boost capacity on other routes. A third weekly flight between Dakar and Ouagadougou will be introduced from August 2, while new links to Cotonou, Douala, Libreville via Abidjan will begin between July 30 and August 17, around one to three weeks later than previously planned.
TURKISH AIRLINES TO USE B737-900ERS ON AFRICAN ROUTES
Turkish Airlines (THY) will use its new Boeing 737-900ERs on its flights to Kenya and Tanzania during the Northern Summer 2012, according to the latest update of its operational schedule. The fast-expanding carrier is already a major operator of the Next-Generation Boeing 737 family, but will introduce the first of its -900ER variants, the largest version of the single-aisle airliner, into its fleet during the first quarter of next year. The airline has yet to formally confirm the entry into service plans for the new aircraft, but has revealed in the latest update to the GDS that the type will be utilised on its flights from Istanbul Ataturk to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam from March 25, 2012. These two destinations are currently served on a joint flight with a daily schedule to Nairobi and a three weekly onward connection to Dar es Salaam. At present THY uses a mix of Airbus A330-300 and 737-800 equipment on the route. However, from the start of next year’s Northern Summer schedules THY will now serve the markets as individual destinations. A weekly flight will be offered to Nairobi, while a new non-stop connection to Dar es Salaam will operate four times weekly. According to Boeing, THY currently has 34 737s on order including 15 -900ERs from a February 2010 order for ten aircraft and a March 2011 commitment for five more. The -900ER can seat up to 215 passengers in a single-class configuration, although THY is likely to configure its aircraft in a two class arrangement, especially if they are going to be used on long-sector flights.
THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL BRINGS FORWARD 777-300ER INTRODUCTION
Asian flag carrier Thai Airways International confirmed it is to accelerate the introduction of two leased Boeing 777-300ERs into its fleet as it revealed its long-term fleet renewal strategy this week. The airline’s board agreed in April this year to lease an additional two 777-300ERs from Jet Airways for a two-year period, adding to the three aircraft it acquired from the Indian airline last year. These are configured in the exact same 312-seat layout - 312 seats – eight seats in Royal First Class, 30 seats in Royal Silk Class, and 274 seats in Economy Class – and have the same in-flight product to the existing aircraft. Under the terms of the original deal Thai had planned to introduce the aircraft from October 25 but it confirms that it has now modified this agreement and to “improve its competiveness” will now receive the aircraft on July 26 and will use them to operate its three times weekly flights between Bangkok and Madrid from August 1, a route currently flown using a 747-400. Alongside the three leased 777-300ERs, Thai currently operates six 777-300s on flights from Bangkok to Athens, Dhaka, Melbourne, Moscow Domodedovo, Paris CDG, Phuket, Seoul Incheon, Singapore and Tokyo Narita. Thai has also outlined plans to retire 50 aircraft from service over the next six years. In a formal statement it confirmed that it will remove four 747-400s from service in 2012-2013; 13 A330-600s between 2011 and 2015; nine 737-400s (including four aircraft from Nok Air) in 2014-2015; the five leased 777-300ERs in 2015; two 777-200s and three A330-300s in 2017 and two ATR 72 turboprops the same year. It will also retire its four A340-500s between 2012 and 2013 and six A340-600s between 2015 and 2017 and has dropped its immediate plans to retrofit these jets with its revised onboard product.
ISRAIR INTRODUCES FIRST ATR 72
Israeli carrier Israir has taken delivery of its first of two ATR 72-500 turboprops that it has on order. The airline, already an operator of three of the smaller ATR 42-320 variant, will use the aircraft to enhance its domestic offering. The second ATR 72-500 is due for delivery later this month. Israir, part of IDB Tourism group, the tourism branch of the Israeli holding company IDB Holdings, will use the two 72-seat aircraft to increase capacity and frequencies on its main route from Tel Aviv Sde Dov (City Airport) to Eilat (Red Sea Resort). The airline also plans to increase its charter activities to other Mediterranean tourist destinations using the turboprops. “The entry into service of our new ATR 72-500 aircraft marks a new development phase for Israir and IDB Tourism. With these new aircraft, we will be able to offer a greater quality of service to our passengers, providing them with more choice and improved comfort. In addition, these 72-seat planes will enable us to reduce operating costs per seat,” said David Kaminitz, Chairman, Israir. Israir currently has a 37.3 per cent share of the estimated 643,000 O&D passenger Israeli domestic market this past year. It currently offers up to 40 flights per week between Tel Aviv Sde Dov and Eilat, complemented by its at least daily links to the Red Sea destination from Tel Aviv’s main airport Ben Gurion International.
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