The Virgin Blue Group has announced a major revamp of its network including withdrawing from New Zealand domestic flying to cut losses. It will increase services to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands using 737s and its long-haul focus will be on the US and South Africa, which it plans to serve with 777-300ERs. It will additionally increase Australian domestic capacity by 490,000 seats.
Emirates announced it is doubling services to Los Angeles and Houston Intercontinental from Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 respectively to twice daily aboard a 777.
LOT Polish Airlines announced that Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport will be closed Sept. 4, 5, 11 and 18 for runway work. The carrier said selected short-haul flights could be operated by ATR 42/72 turboprops. Long-haul flights to Chicago, New York and Toronto, operated by 767-300ERs, will be diverted to Gdansk, Rzeszow, and Katowice as well to Krakow. European flights operated by Embraer Regional Jets and 737 Classics will be diverted to several airports throughout the country.
AirAsia claims to have set a new world record of selling over 538,000 seats in one day with its “Mind Blowing Fare” campaign, which offers fares from just MYR1 ($0.31) for both domestic and international flights. The airline’s previous best record was 390,000 seats sold in a day, achieved when it ran its “Free Seats” campaign across the entire AirAsia Group of AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia and Thai AirAsia last November.
Hanjin Group, the parent of Korean Air, announced the opening of a new cargo terminal at Navoi International Airport in Uzbekistan, enabling KE to expand its cargo network by adding routes from Navoi this year. “The new Navoi Cargo Terminal has been designed based on Korean Air’s state-of-the-art cargo terminals at Incheon International Airport,” said KE President and COO Chang Hoon Chi. The Navoi Cargo Terminal is set to become the center of the modern day “Silk Road” with its advanced airport infrastructure.”
