Vueling will launch thrice-weekly flights between Barcelona and Edinburgh and a four-times-weekly service between Ibiza and Amsterdam from June 24. It also will operate a new seasonal thrice- weekly service between Valencia and Munich from June 24 to Oct. 30. American Eagle launched seasonal daily Asheville-Dallas/Fort Worth service, to run through Oct. 31, aboard an ERJ-140. AirAsia will launch daily Penang-Langkawi service May 13.
China Eastern Airlines signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Taipei-based China Airlines to explore jointly the fast-growing cross-strait market. Under the accord, both carriers would deepen cooperation in ground handling, cabin service, MRO and cargo. "We expect to enhance our service level and boost our international competitiveness to better serve passengers across Taiwan Strait through cooperation with China Airlines," CEA Chairman Liu Shaoyong said.
Lufthansa will commence thrice-weekly Munich-Riyadh service April 26. The route will be flown with a 737-800 that currently is operated by PrivatAir on behalf of LH. It is fitted with 24 seats in business and 84 in economy. All seats have individual in-seat video screens and feature ergonomically designed backrests and additional legroom. Hawaiian Airlines will operate daily Maui-Oakland service June 5-Sept.6 aboard a 767-300. HA said it previously announced the start date as June 17 but will begin earlier due to high demand.
TAM and Continental Airlines yesterday signed a reciprocal frequent-flyer program agreement that was described by TAM VP-Commercial and Planning Paulo Castello Branco as "another important step for our integration with Star Alliance." Members of TAM's Fidelidade and Continental's OnePass programs now can earn and redeem miles on flights operated by both airlines.
Air France and Vietnam Airlines signed a codeshare agreement under which AF will add its code on VN's thrice-weekly flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from July 3. Within the terms of the agreement, AF will start operating its own seven-times-weekly 777-300ER flights between CDG and Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from November.
Virgin Blue Airlines and its long-haul affiliate V Australia will join Virgin America in allowing each carrier's loyalty program members to earn points when taking flights on the sister-branded airlines. Passengers also will be able to redeem points on each carrier's frequent-flyer programs.
AirAsia X complained that the Malaysian government has "protected" Malaysia Airlines on routes from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney and Seoul Incheon, creating uncertainty over whether the former can launch services to the Australian and South Korean capitals by June as planned.
Gulf Air will launch service from Bahrain to Alexandria (four-times-weekly on June 2) and Aleppo (thrice-weekly on June 17). Air Canada launched daily Montreal-Ottawa-Iqaluit service aboard a Jazz Air CRJ700 and thrice-weekly Calgary-Tokyo Narita service aboard a 767-300. Midwest Airlines launched flights from Milwaukee to Raleigh-Durham (13-times-weekly aboard an E-170) and St. Louis (13-times-weekly aboard an E-135).
Singapore Airlines will launch twice-daily Singapore-Tokyo Haneda flights on Oct. 31 aboard a 777-300ER. SIA already operates twice-daily to Narita. Gol will launch weekly Rio de Janeiro Galeao-Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Caracas-Punta Cana service on April 3 aboard a Varig 737-800. Midwest Airlines will launch 13-times-weekly Milwaukee-St. Louis service April 1 aboard EMB-135s.
Emirates Airlines has revealed that a 517 seat version of the superjumbo will serve Manchester from Sept 1, as the airline marks 20 years of service to the city.
