Tuesday's Route Development Briefs
Senegal and Belgium Agree Air Traffic Deal
A new air services arrangement has been reached between Senegal and Belgium and could, according to newswire reports, help close a bilateral dispute that led Belgium to recall its ambassador to the West African nation in January. The Belgium Government had recalled its envoy after Senegal withdrew the rights for Brussels Airlines to operate flights via Dakar to other African points following the launch of its new flag carrier, Senegal Airlines. The revised deal was formalised by Senegalese Transport Minister Karim Wade and Belgian counterpart Etienne Schouppe this week and provides for eight flights per week between the countries - four for each national carrier. However, Brussels Airlines is reported to have signed a deal with Senegal Airlines allowing the Belgian carrier to operate more than the agreed four flights against a payment of royalties. “We are hopeful that this agreement will lead to a political will that will enable more air links and promote social and economic development between Dakar and Brussels," said Etienne Schouppe during a news conference to announce the new agreement.
easyJet to Drop Gothenburg Flights
UK low-cost carrier easyJet is to suspend its only two links to the western Swedish city of Gothenburg. The airline currently offers a daily service from London Gatwick and a twice weekly link from Manchester but will drop the two routes from January 8, 2012 and January 9, 2012, respectively. The airline has not disclosed the reason for the cancellations, but it is taking a much harder view on under-performing routes and this is thought to be the reason behind the closure. easyJet is the sole carrier operating between Gothenburg and London Gatwick, although British Airways and SAS Scandinavian Airlines both offer flights from London Heathrow. At Manchester easyJet has competed directly with Swedish regional carrier City Airlines, which operates up to twice daily flights using Embraer ERJ145 regional jets. easyJet carried an estimated 98,000 O&D passengers on the London route this past year and 34,000 on the Manchester service; the latter a 44 per cent share of the total market.
Korean Air Cancels Frankfurt A380 Introduction
Korean Air will not introduce the Airbus A380 on its flights between Seoul Incheon and Frankfurt as it had previously planned and will instead ramp up its flights to the US with the Superjumbo. The South Korean flag carrier was due to introduce the A380 on its daily route to the German city on December 1, replacing a Boeing 777-300ER, but the latest changes to its GDS inventory show the route will continue to be flown with the twin-engined aircraft until spring next year. The A380 previously allocated to this route will instead be used to boost capacity to New York JFK, where the type will be used on ten weekly flights from December 4 (up from seven currently) and to a double-daily schedule from February 14, 2012. The type will also continue to operate to Los Angeles and the trunk Asian routes to Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita.
Iberia to End Argentine Link
Spanish national carrier Iberia is to cancel its Madrid – Córdoba service from January 20, 2012 ending the only link from Europe to the second largest city in Argentina. In fact Iberia is the only carrier from outside of the Central and South American region to currently offer flights to Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio L V Taravella International Airport in the city, located in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, approximately 700 km (435 mi) northwest of Buenos Aires. The airline currently offers a three times weekly non-stop connection from Madrid but will reduce this to a twice weekly link via Montevideo in January 2012 before dropping the route altogether later the same month. Around 14,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year, just 46 per cent of the estimated traffic between the two cities.
SAS to Launch Bergen – Manchester Connection
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is to introduce a twice weekly link between Bergen and Manchester, although it is to close its existing route from the Norwegian city to London Gatwick. The Scandinavian carrier will launch the flights on January 6, 2012 with departures on Mondays and Fridays to support week-long and weekend travel options. “Norway is proving popular for passengers looking to travel to and from Manchester and we are pleased to have Bergen served by SAS. The city itself is well known for being the gateway to the famous fjords and has become one of Europe’s largest ports for cruise ships. We expect passengers travelling from the North will be keen to access unique travel experiences like the ones offered in Norway,” said Andrew Harrison, Managing Director, Manchester Airport. SAS already offers flights from Manchester to the Norwegian capital Oslo, a route that low-cost carrier Norwegian will also serve from October 30.
Copa Airlines to Upgrade Guatemala City and Montego Bay to Boeing
Panama City-based Copa Airlines is set to upgrade its routes from Tocumen International Airport to Guatemala City and Montego Bay from Embraer E-Jet equipment to Next-Generation Boeing 737s from next spring. In the latest update to the airline’s GDS inventory its five times weekly service to Guatemala City will be switched from an E190 to a 737-700 from April 1, 2012 while its twice weekly Montego Bay route will see a similar aircraft change from April 22, 2012. The airline will also make some capacity amendments on its new routes to Asuncion and Toronto, which start in December. These were planned to be flown using 737-700s, but at least half of the four times weekly flights will now be operated by larger 737-800s.
Related Content
