Qatar Airways has signed a one-way codeshare agreement with low-cost carrier IndiGo designed to provide feed from the fast-growing Indian market to the Oneworld member’s network, as well offering more seats to India.
Kazakhstan has introduced an open skies policy at 11 airports in the country as part of efforts to open up new international routes, raise competitiveness and reduce ticket prices.
Virgin Australia is cutting two international and two domestic routes from its network, including the suspension of flights between Melbourne and Hong Kong.
A resurgent airport in Egypt has topped the list of fastest-growing major airports in Africa by departure seats, research by Routesonline has revealed, helped by strong traffic growth from Italy, Turkey and Ukraine.
With seven new routes and an additional three aircraft arriving in the fourth quarter of 2019, Kuwaiti airline Jazeera Airways is gearing up to further grow its operations.
Hong Kong Airlines is ending service to Los Angeles and further reducing its network as it responds to strong competition and overcapacity in the market, as well as weaker travel demand caused by the recurring protests in Hong Kong.
After being denied in its quest to form a joint venture with LATAM Airlines Group and American Airlines – and then seeing rival Delta Air Lines take a stake in LATAM – International Airlines Group is strengthening its position on transatlantic services to South America with the acquisition of Air Europa. Routesonline looks at the current state of play on Europe – Latin America routes.
Iberia owner International Airlines Group has agreed to pay €1bn for Spanish airline Air Europa as it seeks to make Madrid a hub that will challenge rivals such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London Heathrow.
International Airlines Group has admitted that Airbus A321neo delivery delays have forced it to reshape its network, particularly on transatlantic routes. Chief executive Willie Walsh has also confirmed that the group has expressed an interest in some London Gatwick slots vacated by the demise of leisure carrier Thomas Cook.
This week: Air Premia to become South Korea’s second Dreamliner operator; Vietjet to expand with A321XLR; investigation opened into Air Nostrum fleet renewal; Ryaniar increases London Southend presence; Iberia and Spring Airlines to codeshare and more.
Vienna Airport has signed a cooperation agreement with representatives from Xi’an as part of efforts to secure a direct flight between Austria’s capital and the Chinese city.
Canada Jetlines, the ultra-low-cost carrier which planned to operate from Vancouver International Airport, has postponed its planned entry into the market and is laying off most of its employees.
American Airlines is expanding service to New Zealand from next year, becoming the only carrier to fly non-stop from the US to the country’s South Island.
Indian carrier SpiceJet is creating a hub at Ras Al-Khaimah, increasing its connectivity to the United Arab Emirates and providing a base from which to open routes to destinations in Western Europe.
This week: VietJet is launching its first direct service to Australia; Ethiopian Airlines is returning to Athens after 18 years; and Ural Airlines to enter Moscow - London market.
This week: Spirit orders up to 150 Airbus A320neos; Qantas and Virgin secure one Haneda slot each; Aeroflot to open Krasnoyarsk hub; Etihad and Saudia extend codeshare partnership and more.
JetBlue has increased capacity on US - Mexico City services by more than 20 percent this year, but is withdrawing from the crowded market in early 2020 to focus on more profitable routes in its network. The airline’s decision means it is the third US carrier to withdraw from Mexico's capital in the past 12 months.
