Scoot Confirms Gold Coast as Second Destination
Long-haul, low-cost carrier Scoot has confirmed that Australia will be the destination for its second route after revealing that just weeks after it inaugurates commercial passenger services between Singapore and Sydney, it will introduce a link from its Singapore base to Gold Coast. The five times weekly rotation is due to commence on June 12, 2012 and will be operated using a second Boeing 777-200. Scoot will be the sole airline to offer links from Singapore to the city, Queensland's tourism capital and famous for its iconic beaches, however fellow long-haul, low-cost carrier AirAsia X has successfully served the destination from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur for a number of years. Scoot, the new medium and long-haul, low-cost division of Singapore Airlines (SIA), was formally launched on November 1, 2011 and plans to inaugurate operations mid-year initially using four Boeing 777-200s purchased from its parent company. Alongside its plans to launch services to Australia the carrier is also looking at other markets for development and the first phase of its development is likely to see destinations in China also added to its network. For the next stage of its development Scoot has selected Routesonline’s Route Exchange, the online trading zone for network development, to support its plans for growth. The airline is targeting potential destinations in North Asia, the Indian sub-Continent, the Middle East and Europe and launched a formal Request For Proposals last month that focused specifically on China, the wider Asian market and Europe. Scoot is due to take delivery of two additional 777-200s during the first quarter of 2013 and is looking at potential destinations within these target areas for a proposed April 2013 launch.
Korean Air Modifies European Operations
South Korea’s national airline Korean Air is to make some notable adjustments to its European network this summer including the introduction of Airbus A380 services into the Continent. The carrier will split its existing link from Seoul Incheon to Amsterdam and Madrid, while its Frankfurt route will be its second European destination to be served by its SuperJumbos. Korean Air currently offers a three times weekly service on the Seoul Incheon – Madrid – Amsterdam – Seoul Incheon route but will eliminate the stop from May 3, 2012 and introduce individual three times weekly flights to each European capital - Madrid will continue to be served by a Boeing 777-200ER, while the new direct Amsterdam link will be flown by an A330-300. In the past year an estimated 76,000 O&D passengers travelled between Seoul Incheon and Madrid and approximately 59,499 between Seoul Incheon and Amsterdam. Both markets have witnessed growth with traffic levels up 24.5 per cent and 14.5 per cent, respectively. Korean Air is the sole carrier to currently offer links to the South Korean capital from Madrid, but it competes with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam and has seen its share of traffic slip significantly over the past 12 months. The selection of Frankfurt as the second European destination for the A380 has been a slight surprise as many analysts where believing the slot constrained London Heathrow would be the likely first city. However, Korean Air has developed a dual-airport strategy in the UK capital and will instead offer additional flights between Seoul Incheon and London Gatwick, complementing its existing Seoul Incheon – London Heathrow route. The A380 is scheduled to make its debut on the Seoul Incheon - Frankfurt route from March 25, 2012 replacing 777-200 and -300 equipment. The airline currently has a 27 per cent share of the estimated 314,000 O&D passengers that travelled on the route and the A380 will enable Korean Air to offer differentiate the product it offers in a market where it competes with Asiana Airlines and Lufthansa. Elsewhere in Europe, Korean Air will also increase frequencies between Seoul Incheon and Paris CDG from a daily schedule to nine rotations per week; will increase capacity between the South Korean capital and Prague by switching its four times weekly Prague service from a 777 to a 747-400 and will add a fifth flight to Moscow Sheremetyevo during the peak season.
AirAsia Japan Receives AOC
Air Asia Japan, the latest low-cost joint venture from the Malaysian carrier, has received the green light for its planned launch later this year after the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism awarded the start-up its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The carrier, a joint venture with All Nippon Airways, will now continue preparations for its launch including training flight crew, flight attendants, engineers and ground staff ahead of its proposed domestic launch on August 1, 2012. AirAsia Japan will initially offer flights from Tokyo Narita to Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo Chitose, commencing international services from October 1, 2012 to the Korean cities of Busan and Seoul. The new company will follow the traditional ‘AirAsia’ business model that has already been successful in the Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Alongside these initial destinations the venture is expected to offer further non-stop flights into North East Asia and in particular the Taiwanese and Chinese markets. It aims to bring the Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) model successful throughout the region into Japan and in the process making it more affordable for the average Japanese national to travel both domestically and regionally. “We announced the establishment of AirAsia Japan in July last year, and it is great to see the progress of preparations that are in place for our operations in just a few months,” said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia. “I strongly believe in the Japanese market, where low-cost travel is still a new concept to many and the potential of this new market excites me. We are doing good progress and hopefully come this August, the Japanese will have a brand new experience to talk about in both the aviation and travel industry.”
Air New Zealand Opens Link to Bali
Air New Zealand (Air NZ) is to improve access for leisure passengers to the popular holiday destination of Bali with the introduction of a twice weekly service between Auckland and Denpasar. The flight will initially operate on a seasonal basis during the peak demand period between June and October, but Air NZ has not ruled out a year-round service, subject to demand. Bali is already a popular destination for Kiwi travellers and in the past year an estimated 35,000 O&D passengers travelled between New Zealand and Denpasar Airport, the main gateway to this region of Indonesia. Air NZ’s main competitor in this market is Virgin Australia which currently dominates traffic. Air NZ plans to use a 228-seat Boeing 767-300 on the new route with capacity for 24 Business Class and 204 Economy passengers. The first flight is scheduled to operate on June 20, 2012. Although it is a relatively long sector length, the direct flight is a tremendous benefit over existing connection services. “Our flight time of eight and a half hours is a significant improvement on the indirect services offered by competitors that can involve long layovers and a total journey time of at least 14 and sometimes more than 24 hours,” said Rob Fyfe, Chief Executive Officer, Air New Zealand. Air NZ last served Bali back in the 1990s using smaller 767-200 equipment. “Bali has a stable tropical climate and great value food and accommodation, making it a really affordable way for New Zealanders to enjoy a resort style holiday in Asia at a fraction of the price of other destinations,” added Rob Fyfe.
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