Alitalia Outlines Revised Libyan Plans
Alitalia is to relaunch services between Rome Fiumicino and Tripoli before the end of the year, joining the growing number of European airlines offering links to the Libyan capital. The Italian flag carrier plans to offer five flights per week on the route from November 2 using an Airbus A320. An estimated 97,000 O&D passengers travelled between Libya in the past year with around 24,000 using the Alitalia flight prior to its suspension earlier this year due to the political instability in the country.
SAS Adds Baltic Link to Palanga
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is to launch a three times weekly service to the Lithuanian seaside resort town of Palanga from its Oslo hub. The carrier will introduce the flight at the start of the Northern Winter schedules on October 31 and will use a Boeing 737-600 on the route. SAS already offers a twice daily Bombardier CRJ900 service to Palanga from Copenhagen, also serving Vilnius three times daily from the Danish capital. An estimated 18,000 O&D passengers travelled between Oslo and Palanga in the past year, a route also flown by low-cost carrier Norwegian twice a week.
Sichuan Airlines Boosts Links to Saipan
Sichuan Airlines is to increase the number of flights it offers to Saipan, the largest of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. The Chinese carrier is to double frequencies on the Chengdu – Shanghai Pu Dong – Saipan route from two to four flights per week from October 30, increasing its Saipan schedule between Chengdu and Saipan to six flights a week – it also offers a twice weekly flight via Guangzhou. An estimated 32,000 O&D passengers travelled between China and Saipan in the past year.
airberlin and Malév Launch Codeshare
Eastern European flag carrier Malév Hungarian Airlines has launched a codeshare partnership with future oneworld alliance member airberlin to enhance network coverage across Europe. The arrangement came into force at the end of last week and will start from the beginning of the Northern Winter schedules on October 30. Under the terms of the deal, Malév’s flights between Budapest and the German cities of Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Stuttgart and services to the Swiss city of Zurich will now be bookable via airberlin as well as directly with the carrier. This will enhance the offering to the Hungarian capital from Germany and will enable passengers to more easily purchase connecting flights across Europe.
Flybe Cuts UK Domestic Routes
UK low-fare carrier Flybe is to cancel its services from Belfast City to Doncaster Sheffield and Liverpool John Lennon this winter and has closed reservations for the two routes from October 30. The airline had offered four flights per week to Doncaster Sheffield and up to three a day to Liverpool, handling 23,000 and 75,000 O&D passengers in the past year. Flybe was the sole carrier on the Doncaster Sheffield route, but faced strong competition to Liverpool from Ryanair, although the Irish budget carrier has also dropped its flights on this route. easyJet also provides services between Belfast and Liverpool with up to six flights per day from Belfast International Airport.
Eritrean Airlines Considers Karachi Service
Eritrean Airlines is planning to introduce flights to Karachi this winter, the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan. The African carrier currently serves Lahore four times weekly from Asmara, via Dubai, and it is thought it will simply switch destinations in Pakistan from November 27, rather than adding a second route. Other network changes highlighted in its GDS inventory is the addition of a third weekly flight to Cairo, although the route will now be served via Khartoum, resulting in a doubling of capacity to the Egyptian capital with six flights per week now planned rather than just three. The airline will also add a fourth weekly frequency on the Asmara – Jeddah route this winter, while its sole European link to Rome will be served once weekly on a non-stop basis, rather than twice weekly via Cairo.
Czech Airlines Modifies Bratislava Network
Czech Airlines is to increase capacity to two destinations from its new Bratislava base this winter, although three other routes face the axe. The carrier will increase links to Amsterdam from four to six a week and to Paris CDG from five to eight a week from October 30, but flights to Barcelona, Brussels and Rome, the latter route actually closing earlier this week.
Ryanair Celebrates Six Million Passenger Milestone at Manchester
Irish budget carrier Ryanair celebrated carrying its six millionth passenger through Manchester Airport yesterday. The lucky passenger travelled on the airline’s evening flight to Dublin. The Irish budget carrier first launched flights from Manchester in 1994. The airline is opening a two aircraft base at Manchester Airport this winter, expanding its winter network to 17 destinations. An additional two aircraft are due to be stationed at the airport for summer 2012 for flights to eight further European destinations.
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