Thursday's Route Development Briefs
Oman Air Drops Moscow Launch for Second Time
Oman Air has confirmed that it will not launch flights between Muscat and Moscow Domodedovo in November as had been previously planned, the second time it has delayed the start of its proposed services to the Russian capital. The Gulf airline was originally due to inaugurate its four times weekly flight in May 2011 but the start date was pushed back until November 16. The airline now says the launch “has been delayed for operational reasons” and that a new launch date “will be communicated in due course".
Hainan Airlines Plans Maldives Adventure
Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is set to introduce flights between Beijing and the Maldives, attempting to take advantage of the growing demand from Chinese citizens for holidays in the luxury Indian Ocean archipelago. It plans to launch a twice weekly flight on November 1, adding a third weekly frequency from January 10, 2012. The demand for flights between Beijing and the Maldives has more than doubled in the past year, up from approximately 19,000 O&D passengers to 33,000 in the past 12 months. Visitor numbers from China are growing faster than Europe, one of the traditional markets for traffic to the Maldives. Official statistics show that round 120,000 Chinese tourists travelled to the Maldives last year, making China the largest individual source market and this resulted in the introduction of a first charter service from Beijing earlier this year. Singapore Airlines (75 per cent) currently dominates the traffic between Beijing and Malé, the capital and most populous city in the Maldives but passengers are also currently flying with Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur; Qatar Airways via Doha; Emirates Airline via Dubai and SriLankan Airlines via Colombo.
Asky Airlines Launches Winter Link to Abuja
African carrier Asky Airlines is to open a link from its base in the Togo capital, Lomé, to the Nigerian city of Abuja this winter. This will be the carrier’s second link into the country as already serves Lagos. The new twice weekly service will be launched on November 20 and will continue on from Abuja to Niamey, boosting links to the Niger capital from five to six a week (four direct flights and two via Abuja). Asky Airlines, which is minority controlled by Ethiopian Airlines and operates under the carrier’s AOC, will also suspend its flights to Bangui and Banjul, while frequencies to Abdijan will decrease from seven to six per week.
Cargolux Adds New Around the World Cargo Links
Luxembourg freight carrier Cargolux launched one of its longest flights yesterday (October 19) a ten sector, 75 block hour service covering three continents and offering the airline’s first ever USA – Australia - USA link. The flight is scheduled to depart Luxembourg every Wednesday evening, arriving in Hong Kong and then New York the following day. The aircraft then flies on to Chicago in the early hours of Friday morning before continuing on to Sydney, where it is scheduled to land on Saturday afternoon. It then returns to the US and the city of Los Angeles, arriving earlier the same day, then continues onto Chicago before returning to Luxembourg for a mid-afternoon Sunday arrival. A second new weekly route is scheduled be launched from October 22 providing a direct link between North America and Africa. This departs Luxembourg every Saturday and operates to Singapore, Hong Kong, Chicago, New York, Houston, Lagos and Accra returning to Luxembourg on Tuesday evenings.
Far Eastern Air Transport to Increase Cross-Strait options
Taiwanese carrier Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) is planning to offer flights on ten routes between Tawian and China this winter, although it has yet to formally announce its plans or open reservations for the services. According to its planned operational schedule it intends to provide twice weekly links between Kaohsiung and Chengdu, Haikou and Hefei, alongside a single weekly rotation to Nanning. From Taipei Taoyuan it plans flights to Guiyang (twice weekly), Lanzhou (three times weekly), Sanya (five times weekly) and Shijiazhuang (three times weekly); while from the downtown Taipei Sung Shan it intends to provide weekly flights to Nanning and operate three times weekly to Taiyuan. Half these routes are already served with GE offering weekly flights between Kaohsiung and Hefei and Nanning; China Southern Airlines a five times weekly Taipei Taoyuan – Guiyang link; China Eastern Airlines a weekly Taipei Taoyuan – Shijiazhuang and China Airlines a twice weekly Taipei Taoyuan – Sanya service.
RwandAir to Enhance Connectivity with Second 737-800
RwandAir has confirmed it will take delivery of its second Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 on October 26 and expects the aircraft to arrive at its Kigali International Airport base two days later on October 28. The aircraft has already undergone flight tests and was due to return to the hangars this week for painting in the airline’s full corporate livery. The aircraft will be used to enhance RwandAir’s schedules from November 21 with the introduction of a fourth weekly frequency and it plans to grow to a daily service in the future. It will also be used to boost capacity on the Kigali – Brazzaville – Libreville route, with full fifth freedom rights.
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