Air Seychelles to Drop Singapore Service
Air Seychelles has announced that it will be suspending its Singapore services as from November 24 and is looking to refocus its activities in the Far East in co-operation with other airlines, through codeshare and interline partnerships. The airline says the route withdrawal is mainly due to “heavy losses in revenue” due to high operating costs and low passenger and freight demand, also highlighting the increased competition and low flows of inbound tourists from Singapore. Our new business strategy focuses on maximising revenue by ensuring we have the appropriate capacity on all routes and flights and that we are making adequate use of our fleet,” explained Bram Stellar, the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Air Seychelles. The airline has been serving Singapore for over 20 years having launched flights to the destination in July 1989. However, it did temporarily suspend its services in April 2005 for three months due to the SARS epidemic. Air Seychelles officials, in partnership with the Seychelles Tourist Board and Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, are now in discussions with potential partners across Asia. China is a key market and informal discussions have already taken place with four airlines in the country about flying to Seychelles in collaboration with the national airline and opening up the islands as a holiday destination to Chinese nationals.
Qantas Extends A380 Network to Hong Kong
Australian flag carrier Qantas has confirmed that it will introduce its Airbus A380s on to its flights to Hong Kong from January 2012. The airline will use the ‘Super Jumbos’ on four flights per week between Sydney and Hong Kong from January 15, 2012, describing the Asian city as a key market for both the business and leisure market. The network change will be made possible by the arrival of two additional A380s over the final two months of this year, the airline’s 11th and 12th examples. These deliveries will also mean A380 services between Melbourne and London (via Singapore) will increase from six flights per week to daily and services between Melbourne and Los Angeles will increase from four flights per week to daily. An estimated 566,000 O&D passengers travelled between Sydney and Hong Kong in the past year, (up 4.7 per cent on the previous 12 months), a route also served by Cathay Pacific Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Qantas currently has a 34 per cent share of the market.
T’Way Airlines to Serve Fukuoka
South Korean low-cost carrier T’Way Airlines is planning to launch regular links between Seoul Incheon and Fukuoka, subject to Government approval. The route will be only its second international service following the recent launch of flights between Seoul Incheon and Thai capital Bangkok. T’Way Airlines plans to provide a twice daily offering on the route using a Boeing 737-800 with the inaugural flight scheduled for December 20. Fellow South Korean carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines already serve the route on a three times daily basis using a mix of narrow and widebody aircraft. An estimated 635,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year, up 3.1 per cent over the previous 12 month period. During this period average one-way air fares also increased from $193 to $221, although the arrival of a low-cost competitor could see these fall once again when T’Way Airlines enters the market as it seeks to gain market share from its rivals and stimulate demand further.
Thai Confirms Likely A380 Destinations
Thai Airways International will launch scheduled operations with the Airbus A380 during the second half of next year and a senior executive at the carrier confirmed to The HUB at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London last week, that Europe would be a key market for the aircraft. The airline has six A380s on order and expects to receive its first three in 2012 and the balance in 2013. According to Krittaphon Chantalitanon, Vice President Product & Service Development, Thai Airways International, the airline is currently working on the soft launch of the aircraft and is currently finalising the internal configuration and product development. The aircraft will be configured with 505-seats in a three class configuration with 12 in first, 60 in Business and 435 in Economy. “We are not in a position to confirm the type’s proposed entry into service,” said Krittaphon Chantalitanon. “However, our routes to major European destinations such as Frankfurt, London and Paris, as well as the Japanese and Australia markets are certainly likely to be among the first to see the A380.”
Airnorth to Add New Domestic Link
Australian regional carrier Airnorth is to launch a new service between Darwin and Townsville, the only direct scheduled link between the two cities. The twice weekly flight will operate every Monday and Friday from February next year using one of its Embraer or Fairchild commuter turboprops. The new route represents a continued expansion by the airline into the North Territory, following the announcement of additional services to Mount Isa and will help boost international connections from Townsville. “This service will also benefit the Townsville Convention Bureau in marketing Townsville to Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) as ‘easily accessible’ and will help attract events and conferences from the Darwin region to the Townsville region,” added Matt Morris, Manager of Economic Development, Townsville Enterprise.
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