Thursday's Route Development Briefs
Emirates Lands in Russia’s Second City
Emirates Airline launched flights between Dubai and St Petersburg on November 1, its second route into Russia. The carrier is offering a daily rotation on the route using a mix of Airbus A330-200s and A340-300s on the flights to the most northerly destination in its entire network. Emirates already offers two flight per day to Moscow, a route it launched in 2003 and which carried an estimated 224,000 O&D passengers in the past year. An estimated 20,000 O&D passengers travelled between Dubai and St Petersburg in the past year, a route already served by Rossiya Airlines three times weekly during the winter season. “We have been considering launching a non-stop service to St Petersburg for some time and we believe that the conditions are now right to do so,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, earlier this year at the unveiling of the route.
Cebu Pacific to Open Manila – Hanoi Service
Independent Filipino carrier Cebu Pacific is to expand its international network with the launch of a twice weekly Manila – Hanoi service from March 17, 2012. The airline will be the sole operator on this route and will complement its existing daily schedule from the Philippines’ capital to Ho Chi Minh City. An estimated 153,000 O&D passengers travelled between the Philippines and Vietnam last year, up 24.2 per cent on the previous 12 months. Cebu Pacific is the dominant carrier in this market with a 45.2 per cent share, while Philippine Airlines has a 39.8 per cent share, offering a weekly flight between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. "This announcement is very timely given the visit of Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang to the Philippines last week. He wished then for more direct flights between Manila and Hanoi. Cebu Pacific is more than happy to oblige, to further promote trade and tourism between our two countries," said Candice Iyog VP for Marketing and Distribution, Cebu Pacific. “In 2010, Hanoi celebrated its 1000 year-old anniversary, making it among the most ancient capitals in the world and a rich source of Vietnamese culture." This new route is the 78th in the Cebu Pacific network and 17th to an international destination.
Estonian Air Increases Baltic Connections
Estonian Air is increasing its flights between its Tallinn base and the Lithuanian capital Vilnius offering a new lunchtime flight every weekday. The carrier will be serving the route up to three times daily, following the introduction of a second weekday rotation at the start of September. Estonian Air is the sole carrier on the route after airBaltic terminated its own flights, and uses a 33-seat Saab 340 turboprop between the two cities. An estimated 60,000 O&D passengers flew between the two Baltic capitals in the past year, up 7.4 per cent on the previous 12 months. “The decision to add more flights on the Tallinn-Vilnius route is due to the increased demand and improved connecting flight opportunities in Tallinn,” said Rauno Parras, Commercial Vice President, Estonian Air. The airline expects to enhance its yield on the route by offering more flexibility to business travellers and better connection opportunities from Tallinn.
Etihad Launches Links to Maldives and Seychelles
Etihad Airways inaugurated flights between Abu Dhabi and the Republic of the Maldives of November 1, with its flight receiving a ‘colourful’ welcome in Malé with a traditional water cannon salute and local Bodu beru (big drum) dancers and singers performing on the tarmac. The airline is offering a daily service on the route and reveals that advanced bookings since its launch earlier this year indicate the route is already becoming one of the most popular in the airline’s global network. This was followed one day later on November 2 by the launch of a four times daily service between Abu Dhabi and Mahé, the capital of the Seychelles. “We look forward to developing strong ties between the UAE and the Maldives and the Seychelles and take our responsibility to bring more people to this part of the world very seriously,” said James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways. “They are such highly desirable destinations for our customers, not only from Abu Dhabi but also from Europe.”
JetBlue and Jet Airways Launch Interline Agreement
US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways and India’s Jet Airways have launched a new interline agreement that will offer customers new travel options between US destinations, Brussels, and onward to India. Making use of Jet Airways’ European hub in the Belgian capital, the agreement will open up enhanced links between the three continents and customers will be able to book a single combined ticket for JetBlue and Jet Airways-operated flights with one stop check-in and baggage transfer between the two airlines. According to Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, the carrier’s transatlantic services from Newark Liberty International and JFK International in New York to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, via Brussels, have proved extremely popular, consistently registering very high loads. “This partnership will enable us to tap into JetBlue's impressive network into New York, thus offering guests an unmatched, seamless travel experience between several additional destinations in the USA and India," he added.
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