Wednesday's Route Development Briefs
ASKY Flies Under Own Code
Lomé-based ASKY Airlines, which was established in June 2008 by Ethiopian Airlines to enhance its presence in West Africa, has started flying under its own code after securing its own Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). The airline, which is 40 per cent controlled by Ethiopian Airlines, launched operations in January 2010 and up until now has been flying under its shareholder’s ‘ET’ flight code. However, with immediate effect its flights are now operating under the ‘KP’ prefix. ASKY is also modifying its schedule in some markets, increasing frequencies to Abidjan (from daily to ten a week) and Accra (from six to nine a week) but reducing services to Bamako (from three to two a week) and Ouagadougou (from four to three a week). The airline has also added a twice weekly service to Abuja; the Nigerian city becoming a stop on its existing link between Lomé and Niamey.
AirAsia Reduces Taipei Frequencies From Kota Kinabalu
Low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to reduce its flights from Kota Kinabalu to the Taiwanese capital Taipei from the first quarter of next year. The budget operator currently provides a daily service on the route but will cut this to four flights per week from February 20, 2012 according to the latest update of its GDS inventory. AirAsia competes with Malaysia Airlines on the route, the latter with a daily offering. An estimated 170,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year with AirAsia accounting for around 64 per cent of this traffic and Malaysia Airlines the remaining 36 per cent. This represents a 30.3 per cent increase in traffic compared to the previous 12 month period, with AirAsia seeing the most notable growth. As the two airlines offer very different products it is no surprise that one-way average fares on the route differ significantly – Malaysia Airlines’ average ticket price is $254 while the budget carrier’s is just $149.
Kam Air Upgrades with an A320
Afghanistan operator Kam Air has launched operations with its first Airbus A320. The aircraft was purchased earlier this year for a reported $10 million and was delivered last month. It is configured in a two-class layout with 12 Business Class and 138 Economy seats and will be used on flights from Kabul to Dubai and destinations in India, according to Kam Air executive Zamarai Kamgar. The aircraft was originally delivered to specialist leasing company ORIX Aviation in August 1994 and spent much of its service with UK carrier British Mediterranean Airways, a former franchisee of British Airways that was eventually acquired by bmi British Midland International. Since May 2006, the short-haul model has been flying in India with Indian Airlines, now part of Air India.
Norwegian Wins Armed Forces Contract
Budget carrier Norwegian has won a major new contract with the Norwegian Armed Forces for domestic and international travel. The contract will take effect as of January 31, 2012 and is valid for three years with an option for a one year extension. The Armed Forces is Norwegian's single largest customer today and the Defence Contract is the largest contract airlines compete for in Norway with approximately 300,000 trips per annum. The low-cost carrier says it won on all criteria: price, environment and quality of delivery in a direct competition with SAS Scandinavian Airlines. “It means a lot to us that our customers are satisfied with our product,” said Bjørn Kjos, Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian. “We take the new agreement with the Armed Forces as a sign that we have lived up to their expectations… we know that they have reduced their travel costs with a three-digit million figure after they started to fly with us.”
CityJet’s Seasonal French Flights
CityJet has confirmed that it is extending its seasonal operations from London City to Brive and Deauville to operate during the Northern Winter 2011/2012 schedule. The two routes were launched in summer 2010 and due to strong demand during the past year their schedules have been revised and extended. According to the airline, the destinations have consistently been two of its most popular summer routes with load factors in excess of 75 per cent. They will both be served twice weekly between January 6, 2012 and March 23, 2012 although special festive flights will also operate between December 23 and January 2, 2012. “Due to exceptional demand, we’ve taken the decision to extend these routes enabling the many Londoners who visit family in the Dordogne and Normandy region or have a second home there to enjoy a festive break and frequent services into the New Year,” said Christine Ourmières, Chief Executive Officer, CityJet. “We enjoy communicating with our valued customers about their travel demands. We received a mass of requests from our passengers asking for a longer season and so we have put the plans in place to allow us to give our passengers what they want.”
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