News From The Americas

FRONTIER EXPANDS MEXICAN SERVICES

Denver-based Frontier Airlines has announced expansion into Mexico with a new seasonal service to Puerto Vallarta from St Louis (STL). The new route will be operated on a once weekly basis and will operate from December 16 through to April 16. Frontier already serves Puerto Vallarta from its Denver base.

ALLEGIANT: LONG BEACH-IDAHO FALLS

Allegiant Air has announced a new non-stop twice-weekly service from Long Beach, California to Idaho Falls. The new service will begin on October 8 and will replace the existing Idaho Falls to Los Angeles flight. Allegiant's network strategy is based on serving secondary airports - a strategy that the move to Long Beach fits into. Allegiant also serves Las Vegas from Idaho Falls on a twice-weekly basis.

WESTJET RAMPS UP MIAMI CAPACITY

Canadian low-cost operator WestJet has announced an increase in its existing service from Toronto to Miami, which it currently operates on a daily basis. From November 2, it will serve Miami from Toronto on a 10-times weekly basis. WestJet competes on the route with Air Canada, which operates a daily service and American Airlines, which operates a 21-times weekly service. IATA BSP data shows that WestJet currently has just 12% of this market.

LUFTHANSA GOES DAILY ON SEATTLE

Lufthansa has revealed that it will increase its current six-times weekly service from Frankfurt to Seattle to a daily service from this winter.

Lufthansa is currently the only non-stop operator on the route, so it will see potential for the planned increase, as currently just 58% of all O&D passengers fly on the non-stop service.

DELTA RESUMES HARTFORD AND BOSTON FROM VEGAS

SkyTeam member Delta will resume non-stop services from Las Vegas to Boston on a twice-weekly basis and Hartford on a once-weekly basis effective from September 10 and 11 respectively.

In terms of seat capacity, Delta is the second largest operator in Las Vegas and currently serves 10 destinations from the leisure capital.

Southwest Airlines is the largest incumbent carrier operating 44% of all scheduled seat capacity.