Air France to End Newark Link
Air France is suspend its route between Paris CDG and Newark Liberty International, but will continue to serve New York by its four times daily link to John F Kennedy International; one of the rotations being flown by an Airbus A380. The French flag carrier currently serves the route on a five times weekly basis using an A330-200 but it is unclear if one of its SkyTeam partners will take over the service when it closes at the end of the Northern Winter 2011/2012 schedule. An estimated 277,000 O&D passengers travelled between Paris CDG and Newark in the past year, up 19.9 per cent on the previous 12 months. Air France has a 19 per cent share of this traffic, but the market is dominated by Continental Airlines, which offers up to two daily flights to its hub at the US gateway. Meanwhile, Air France is to introduce an Airbus A380 on its route from Paris CDG to Los Angeles in May 2012 but is reducing frequency on the route in preparation for the arrival of the aircraft, according to its latest GDS inventory. The French national carrier will start to use the Super Jumbo on a daily basis from May 28, 2012 but will reduce weekly frequencies on the route from 20 to 15 a week from March 25, 2012 to cater for the larger capacity airliner. Air France currently utilises Boeing 777-300ERs on its flights between Paris CDG and Los Angeles and will continue to use the type on its other eight weekly rotations. An estimated 371,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year, up 5.0 per cent on the previous 12 months. Air Tahiti Nui also provides a three times weekly service between the two destinations, while Alitalia and Delta Air Lines offer a codeshare option on Air France’s flights.
Avianca Confirms New La Paz Connection for US Passengers
Colombian national carrier Avianca has confirmed it will introduce flights from its primary base at El Dorado International Airport in the country’s capital Bogotá to La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia; its first link into the country. It will offer a five times weekly service from November 16 as an extension of its existing flight from Washington DC, providing an alternative travel option for the large Bolivian community resident in the US city. The airline will utilise an Airbus A319 on the service configured for 120 passengers - 12 in Clase Ejecutiva (Business Class) and 108 in economy. There are currently no direct air services from Washington to La Paz.
Air Canada and WestJet Commence Flights from New Winnipeg Airport Terminal
Air Canada and low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines helped usher in a new era for Manitoban travellers yesterday (October 30) by being the first carriers to operate from the newly opened terminal at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. The first flight out of the terminal following its official opening was flight ‘AC256’, an early morning departure from the national carrier to Toronto. "Air Canada is very proud to have operated the first flight out of the new terminal and we congratulate the Winnipeg Airports Authority on its completion. Airport users will experience better passenger and baggage flow within a brighter, more spacious terminal that also offers enhanced travel amenities, including expanded retail and dining options," said Nick Careen, Vice President Airports at Air Canada.
Interjet Selects San Antonio as First US Destination
Mexican low-cost carrier Interjet is to launch flights between Mexico City and San Antonio from December 1, its first US destination. The airline is to fill the gap left by the demise of Mexicana and take up one of the two licences available to Mexican operators on the route, flying alongside Aeromexico. An estimated 116,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route during the past year, a market that has only declined 3.5 per cent in the past 12 months despite the loss of the former market leader. Interjet will operate 12 flights per week using an Airbus A320, with a double daily service during weekdays and a single rotation at the weekends. The low-cost carrier has been flying for six years and now has a fleet of more than 30 aircraft, although up until now its focus has been on its home Mexican market. It does offer flights to Guatemala and Havana but this latest route expansion could mark a change in business direction for the company.
Alaska Airlines to Serve Honolulu from Oakland and San Jose
US carrier Alaska Airlines has announced plans to further expand its network to the Hawaiian Islands with the addition of daily non-stop flights to Honolulu from Oakland and San Jose. The carrier will introduce the flights on April 10, 2012 and which complement its existing daily non-stop flights from Oakland and San Jose to Hawaii's other three major destinations: Kona, on the Big Island; Lihue, on the island of Kauai; and Kahului, Maui. Alaska Airlines is one of the principal players in the Hawaiian market. It will now offer nine daily flights to Hawaii from Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento, while during the peak winter travel season, it will offer 24 flights a day to Hawaii from Anchorage and seven West Coast cities, including Bellingham, Seattle, Portland, San Diego as well as Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento. "These new flights provide customers in the Bay Area with convenient daily service to all four of the major Hawaiian Islands, including the Big Island, Maui, Kauai and now Oahu," said Joe Sprague, Vice President of Marketing, Alaska Airlines.
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