Thursday's Route Development Briefs
Singapore Airlines Boosts Capacity to Beijing
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to boost the frequency of its flights between Singapore and Beijing Capital International Airport during the winter schedules. The airline will add a fourth daily rotation on the route between December 16 and March 24, 2012 using an Airbus A330-300s; its existing three daily flights are operated using Boeing 777 equipment. SIA competes with Air China on the route with the latter offering two flights every day. An estimated 536,000 O&D passengers travelled between the two cities in the past year, up 1.7 per cent on the previous 12 month period. SIA has seen its share of the traffic slip during this period from 58 to 54 per cent due to the competition from Air China, although its yield has strengthened as average one-way fares have increased 6.4 per cent to $614.
Czech Connect Airlines Increases Russian Links
Czech Connect Airlines is to introduce two new routes this winter further expanding its network between the Czech Republic and Russia. The carrier will launch a weekly flight between Karlovy Vary and Rostov from October 13, adding to its existing link to Ekaterinburg from the spa city, situated in western Bohemia on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately 80 miles west of Prague. A new flight will also be introduced between Pardubice, around 65 miles east of the capital, to Moscow Domodedovo from November 5, a destination it already serves from Brno. An estimated 814,000 O&D passengers now fly between the Czech Republic and Russia each year and Czech Connect’s niche services have seen it generate a 3.6 per cent share of this traffic already.
Liege and Chongqing Airports Agree Cargo Partnership
Liege Airport in Belgium has signed an agreement with China's Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, in a bid to expand cargo operations. The two gateways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage cooperation and “strengthen exchanges” between them. The airports are already linked by the air services of TNT Express Worldwide, whose European hub is at Liege. Both airports have been expanding their presence in the cargo market over recent years. Liege Airport is an international airport “with a full focus on cargo operations” which it hopes to expand across Europe, Africa and the Americas. Meanwhile, Chongqing Airport has been growing rapidly in line with the economic growth of the region, and the gateway has also been developing its route network to strengthen its position as an air hub. “The partnership between Liege Airport and Chongqing Airport Group can offer much more than just another link between Europe and China,” said Luc Partoune, Chief Executive Officer, Liege Airport. “Via the existing customers in Liege, every remote corner of Europe can be reached. Daily cargo flights into Africa, as well as scheduled connections with the Americas, link all Liege Airport operators to the rest of the world.”
Aeroflot Set to Fly to Bologna
Aeroflot Russian Airlines is set to introduce the first scheduled link between Moscow and the Italian city of Bologna. The carrier is looking to launch a daily service between the two cities from June 1, 2012, subject to final approval from authorities. The Russian flag carrier already serves three destinations in Italy with twice daily links to Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Venice Marco Polo. An estimated 978,000 O&D passengers travelled between Moscow and Italy in the past year. Aeroflot dominates this market with a 31.0 per cent share of the traffic, followed by Alitalia (24.6 per cent) and Lufthansa (11.4 per cent); the latter’s figure due to the operations of its Lufthansa Italia venture which closes this month.
New Caribbean – Florida Freight Link
Jamaican-owned and operated air freight company Exec Direct Aviation (EDA) is set to launch flights to the US after receiving approval from authorities to commence flights to Fort Lauderdale. The airline which offers links within the Caribbean, Central America and the northern countries of South America, plans to introduce the new link from November 1. "Having access to the Fort Lauderdale gateway in the US opens EDA cargo service to the world, assisting with commerce between the Caribbean and the large markets of North America, Central and South America and Europe,” Kamal Clarke, Chief Operations Officer, Exec Direct Aviation told the Jamaica Observer. “We are excited about being able to service the airfreight market in the Caribbean for the upcoming busy holiday season by providing additional options for customers.” The airline plans to offer links to Fort Lauderdale from both Kingston and Curacao using its cargo-configured Saab 340A turboprops.
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