AIR JAMAICA RETURNS TO LONDON
Air Jamaica's colourful airliners were a regular sight at London Heathrow Airport, but the carrier took the decision to discontinue its flights to the UK in May 2007. Four years on and following its merger with Caribbean Airlines, Air Jamaica is now set to return to London, inaugurating a three-times weekly service from Kingston and Montego Bay in July. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both operate between London and Kingston (a market of around 117,000 O&D passengers) and Montego Bay (approximately 113,000 travellers) but fly from London Gatwick. When Air Jamaica vacated the route it agreed a codeshare arrangement with Virgin Atlantic Airways, but this was terminated in June last year as the company geared-up for the resumption of its own long-haul services. By flying into London Heathrow, Air Jamaica is likely to secure additional onward traffic while it will also generate loyal Jamaican passengers due to its relaxed baggage allowance. Air Jamaica is expected to utilise a Boeing 777 on the route.
LOW-COST CARRIER RAISES ITS SPIRITS WITH EL SALVADOR LINK
Independent US carrier Spirit Airlines is to launch a three-times weekly flight to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador from June 13. The link to the Central American country from its Fort Lauderdale base remains subject to approval from the Government. There are no current links between the two destinations, according to Flightbase, and Spirit is confident it can build a large market of leisure travellers and replicate the success of its existing Central American flights from Fort Lauderdale to Cancun, Guatemala City, Managua, Panama City, San Pedro Sula and San José.
MORE EUROPEAN LINKS INTO LOS ANGELES
Italian national carrier Alitalia is to introduce a sixth weekly rotation on its Rome - Los Angeles route between June 3 and October 2, in an attempt to increase its share of the market. It is currently the market leader on the route, carrying 23 per cent of all O&D passengers for the year ending November 2010, but faces strong competition from oneworld alliance partners British Airways and American Airlines which offer connections via London and New York.
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS TO INCREASE FLYING FOR DELTA AIR LINES
Republic Airways Holdings is amending its existing capacity purchase agreement with Delta Air Lines to add a further eight Embraer 170s to its feet dedicated to the US major’s regional division Delta Connection. The aircraft, currently flying for Frontier Airlines, will be transferred to Delta between May and September and brings the number of Republic aircraft (including subsidiaries) now flying for Delta to 48, comprising 24 ERJ 145s, eight E170s and 16 E175s. To fulfill its flying schedules for Frontier, a mix of ERJ 145s that are being removed from fixed-fee service with Continental Airlines and Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s that are currently held for sale, will be made available.
JETBLUE SWITCHES FT LAUDERDALE FLIGHT TO LOS ANGELES
US budget carrier JetBlue Airways has confirmed that it will move its daily Ft Lauderdale flight from Long Beach to Los Angeles from May 11. The airline will continue to utilise an Airbus A320 on the route, which will operate on a slightly later schedule. The Ft Lauderdale – Los Angeles market is already served by Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and Virgin America. In the year-ending November 2010 approximately 289,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route, significantly more than the 89,000 that flew between Ft Lauderdale and Long Beach, where JetBlue had been the sole operator. This will be the low-cost carrier’s third route at Los Angeles, adding to its existing flights to Boston and New York.
TACA STRENGTHENS ITS CENTRAL AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
TACA Peru, part of the TACA group of airlines, is to double flights on the Lima - Mexico City route from March 2. The carrier is to offer six flights per week with new services operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, providing a daily except Saturday service. Over 80,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the year ending November 2010, with Aeromexico (46 per cent) and LAN Peru (27 per cent) dominating the market. Aeromexico offers a more than daily schedule, while LAN Peru utilises a widebody on its six-times weekly service.
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NOTE: Schedule data extracted from Flightbase for week commencing January 14, 2011; Traffic data extracted from IATA BSP system for the year ending November 2010.
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