US AIRWAYS CANCELS OSLO
Star Alliance member US Airways has announced that it will discontinue scheduled flights to the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The seasonal service was due to recommence in May 2011 but has been cancelled due to poor performance. Fellow Star member, Continental Airlines will continue to operate its daily schedule from Newark, which it operates on a daily basis with B757 aircraft.
KOREAN EXPANDS IN NORTH AMERICA
SkyTeam member Korean Air has announced scheduled increases on existing routes within North America. From June 28th, 2011 it will increase its existing five-times weekly service from Incheon to San Francisco to a daily service. The carrier competes on this sector with Seoul based, Asiana, which operates a four-times weekly service and Singapore Airlines and United Airlines which both operate a daily service. IATA BSP data shows that over 300,000 O+D passengers fly the route annually with Singapore Airlines currently having a 36% market share.
Korean Air will also increase its five-times weekly service to Vancouver, to a six-times weekly service effective March 27th. The route is also operated five-times weekly by Air Canada.
SUPERJUMBO BOUND FOR NEW YORK
Effective Febraury 18th, 2011 Lufthansa will introduce twice-weekly A380 service on its Frankfurt to New York service which it operates double daily with a mix of B747-400 and A330-300 aircraft. Delta Air Lines and Singapore Airlines also operate the route on a daily basis. From April the A380 will be operated on a daily basis. IATA BSP data shows that between September 2009 and September 2010 over 400,000 O+D passengers flew the route with Lufthansa currently having a 34% share.
CONTINENTAL TO LAUNCH HILO
Star Alliance member, Continental Airlines will launch a daily service to Hilo, Hawaii, effective June 9th, 2011. It will serve Hilo from both Los Angeles and San Francisco, both routes that are currently not served. IATA BSP data shows that over 18,000 O+D passengers flew between Los Angeles and Hilo from September 2009-2010, whilst just over 8,000 O+D passengers flew from San Francisco.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ADDS NEWARK ROUTES
The world’s largest low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has announced new destinations from Newark where it recently acquired slots. From June 2011, new non-stop services will be launched to Baltimore, Denver, Houston Hobby and Phoenix. Denver and Baltimore will be operated thrice-daily competing with Continental on Baltimore and United and Continental on Denver. To Phoenix it will compete with US Airways and Continental, whilst Continental offers high intra hub frequency from Newark to Houston.