Pacific

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Air Force Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach has been tapped to be the next commander of the service’s Air Combat Command.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
The U.S. Pacific Fleet has “recently” tracked balloons across the Pacific and can down them if required, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Richard Maslen
Long-haul arrivals in Western Europe are on the increase – showing its resilience in the face of last year’s terror attacks. It has taken over a year to recover, but long-haul arrivals are starting to surge again, reaching visitor numbers higher than those seen before the Paris attack in November 2015, reports ForwardKeys.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
In one of the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, Crystal Cruises is not only introducing new ships to its fleet effectively establishing three brand new classes of cruising, but also inducting two commercial airliners to launch Crystal Luxury Air in 2017.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
February international passenger demand rose 5.8 per cent compared to February 2016, which was down compared to the 9.1 per cent yearly increase recorded in January. Adjusting for the leap year, however, growth actually accelerated slightly compared to January. Total capacity climbed 3.4 per cent, and load factor rose 1.8 percentage points to 78.4 per cent.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
There are differing views over the value of alliances to the world’s airlines and an increasing view that traditional global airline groupings are no longer the best fit for the changing structure of the sector.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Etihad Airways will introduce the Airbus A380 on its route between Abu Dhabi and Paris this summer. The deployment is part of seasonal adjustments to the airline’s fleet plan and will result in a notable capacity growth in the market as the A380 substitutes for a smaller Boeing 777-300ER.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
For a consecutive year, more than a third of airline industry profits in 2016 are expected to come from the carriers of North America, says ICAO. Last year the
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Around two million passengers a year fly between Australia and the UK (O&D demand for 12 months to October 2016) and the famous Kangaroo Route has been one of the most competitive air corridors in aviation history with tens of airlines competing for traffic via various points across Asia and more recently the Middle East.
Airports & Networks

By Laura Hamill
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) began operations of the Dreamliner on October 26, 2011. The airline currently has the largest 787 fleet with 52 aircraft, receiving their 50th in mid-August.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The latest update to the association’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast suggests that the developing Asia-Pacific region will be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next 20 years. China will displace the US as the world’s largest aviation market (defined by traffic to, from and within the country) around 2029, while rapid growth in India will see it displace the UK for third place in 2026, while Indonesia will enter the top ten at the expense of Italy.
Airports & Networks

By Karen O'Neill
Routes Asia will be held in Japan for the first time in its 15-year history when it takes place in Okinawa next year.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Scoot said the commencement of the service to Europe is part of the Singapore Airlines Group’s strategic move to “stimulate passenger traffic between Asia Pacific and Europe, as well as to boost connectivity through the Singapore hub”. It will be the only non-stop connection into the Asia Pacific region from Athens.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Have you wondered what enticed an airline to a certain destination? What the data says about demand on the city pair and connecting markets? What external factors may have influenced the airline in selecting a specific city pair? How this business case differs from others? Our new ‘Route Case’ offering will seek to provide the answers all within a single 20 minute meeting slot at our events.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The latest issue of the air service development magazine, Routes News, is now available to view.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Find out the expert views on key topics currently impacting the global aviation industry. Our ‘Ask the Expert’ stories allow you to choose the subjects that the Routesonline digital content team will discuss with respected industry professionals.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The grouping brings together many of the smaller low-cost operators across the Asia Pacific region and the partnership will allow them to better compete with some of the largest budget carriers like IndiGo in India, AirAsia across multiple countries and Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways across both the Asia and Pacific markets.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
There has been a steady increase year-on-year in the number of Hong Kong and China travellers visiting New Zealand. According to official figures from Statistics New Zealand, as of March 2016, the total number of visitors from Hong Kong and China were up 19.1 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The link will be operated using a 180-seat Airbus A320 and is being launched to meet growing demand for holidays to the region. It marks the carrier’s return to a market it previously served between March 2006 and July 2008, according to schedules data from OAG.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The new year-round service will operate three times a week using Boeing 767-300 equipment with a flight time of around 10 and a half hours in each direction, subject to government and regulatory approvals. Flights are due to commence from December 2016 and full schedules will be confirmed when reservations are opened around mid-year.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Last night’s Networking Evening at this year’s Routes Asia forum certainly supported the Department of Tourism's marketing message that "it is more fun in the Philippines". Our host and its partners have made tremendous efforts to showcase the hospitality and variety of the Philippines archipelago.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The value of air service as an economic generator is particular obvious in island locations. Routesonline spoke to Matthew Findlay ahead of his recent move to Australia about his experiences in New Zealand, where geography means most international connections involve a long-haul flight.
Airports & Networks

By Laura Hamill
The Gulf carrier is both the world’s strongest and most valuable brand, with an increase of 17 percent from 2015. Emirates brand value is weighted at $7,743 million.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
Aviation has changed beyond recognition over the past 20 years, a period which the Routes events brand has helped facilitate air service development across the world. The company grew out of a need in a more open landscape for airports to market themselves to airlines. Over time, tourist boards joined the dialogue as the benefits of aviation connectivity became clear.
Airports & Networks

By Richard Maslen
The latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer highlights that growth in advanced economy destinations (up five per cent) exceeded that of emerging economies (up four per cent) in 2015, boosted by the solid results of Europe (up five per cent). By region, Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific all recorded around five per cent growth in international arrivals in 2015, while the Middle East increased by three per cent while Africa saw an estimated three per cent decrease, mostly due to weak results in North Africa, which accounts for over one third of arrivals in the region.
Airports & Networks