News from Asia 亚洲新闻

Richard Maslen January 13, 2011

SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES TO ADD GUANGZHOU

Saudi Arabian Airlines will launch a new thrice-weekly service to Guangzhou from Riyadh, effective March 27^th. The route will be operated on a thrice-weekly basis with B777 equipment. The route will be operated as a triangle originating in Jeddah. There is no current non-stop service between China and Saudi Arabia.

IATA BSP data shows that over 117,000 O+D passengers flew between China and Saudi Arabia between October 2009 and October 2010.

GULF AIR INCREASES CAPACITY ON MUMBAI

Effective March 27^th, Gulf Air will boost capacity on its scheduled service to Mumbai. It currently operates a double daily service with A320 equipment, but will add widebody equipment on selected flights with A330 and A340 aircraft. Gulf Air currently has a 23% share of the O+D market of over 120,000 annual O+D passengers. It competes with Jet Airways which operates a daily service and Bahrain Air which operates a thrice-weekly route.

QATAR AIRWAYS RAMPS UP BANGALORE CAPACITY

Doha based Qatar Airways will increase existing capacity on its daily service to Bangalore. It currently operates the route with a mix of narrowbody aircraft A320 and A321 but will increase capacity with A330 aircraft set to be operated on the route four-times weekly. There is clear demand for increased capacity on the sector as Emirates is the market leader with a 39% share of traffic via Dubai.

XIAMEN AIRLINES TO INCREASE SINGAPORE FLIGHTS

Xiamen Airlines has announced that it will add a second daily service from Xiamen to Singapore. The new service will originate in Zhengzhou, effective January 24^th and will be operated with B737-800 equipment. Xiamen Airlines competes with a four-times weekly service operated by Silk Air and a daily service operated by Air China. IATA BSP data shows that over 198,000 O+D passengers flew the route between October 2009 and October 2010 with Air China having a 45% market share.

AIR CHINA TO BEGIN NEW PHUKET SERVICE

Star Alliance member Air China has revealed that it will add new scheduled service from Chongqing to Phuket from January 17^th. The route will be operated with B737-700 on a twice-weekly basis and will be the only non-stop link between the city pairs.