Only three airports out of all the UK’s airports with more than 150,000 yearly passengers actually experienced traffic growth in 2009, according to the latest UK CAA passenger statistics.
By April, debt-ridden Air Jamaica will turn away from six key markets between the Caribbean and US, and lose three A320s –the latest restructuring since the Jamaican government put the carrier’s ‘for sale’ sign up in 2008. Routes News reports on its misfortunes and assesses the impact of the route cuts on its main Caribbean base in Kingston.
As a key leisure destination in Mexico, Cancun Airport continues to expand its infrastructure and network, having opened a second runway and a new control tower in October. The airport is actively targeting airlines to feed further growth, as well as add capacity on existing services.
Monarch Airlines is also a newcomer to Routes event and is attending Routes Americas in Lima this week. Among its wish list of new long-haul charter and scheduled destinations, Monarch is sizing up the Canadian market and more Caribbean routes with a view to securing new services for its summer 2010 schedule.
Turkish Airlines is increasing its fleet and is targeting the huge Europe to Asia traffic flows. TK is now larger in terms of weekly frequency than the Middle East carriers with a clear focus on its Atatürk hub. Routes News assesses its strategy to establish a leading hub, neatly aligned to its fast-evolving fleet mix.
It’s an unusual move, but the niche Swedish carrier, City Airline - which operates a small domestic and European network mainly for the business market - has formed a strategic partnership with Göteborg Landvetter (GOT) (its operational base) to help establish the airport as a key hub. Routes News evaluates the opportunity for Gothenburg as a future hub airport.
Limited competition in Serbia for low-cost traffic has prompted Wizz Air to test its market potential. It will serve scheduled flights to Belgrade from 24th July.
