Airports & Networks

This week: Ukraine International targets the outbound leisure market from Kiev and Air Canada continues to build Montreal routes.

Ireland’s flag carrier Aer Lingus has responded to growing low-cost competition on transatlantic routes by launching new budget fare offering.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will add Cairo to its route network in Spring 2018.

UK LCC easyJet is rolling out a new “Hands Free” service, where passengers can pay £4 ($5) to leave their hand luggage at check-in and receive priority boarding.

Dubai-based Emirates and Australian carrier Qantas are seeking clearance to extend their partnership for another five years, with Qantas switching its London flights to operate via Singapore rather than Dubai.

For the first time a new award at the World Routes Marketing Awards will recognise the contribution of top-performing individuals.

Dublin has secured its first direct route to the Asia-Pacific region with Cathay Pacific.

Air transport in Iceland has been transformed over the past decade, with national flag carrier Icelandair leading the charge. The airline’s chief executive Birkir Holm Gudnason spoke to Routesonline about the growth of the transatlantic market via Reykjavík.

The aviation industry’s most senior leaders will take part in the World Routes 2017 conference programme, including Willie Walsh, CEO of IAG.

Helsinki-based Finnair plans to increase capacity by 14% on popular European and Asian routes from summer 2018, according to CCO Juha Järvinen.

Singapore Airlines has reached an agreement with Alaska Air Group to extend a codeshare agreement it had with Virgin America and expand it to include Alaska Airlines.

The ten largest airlines by passengers and RPK are all confirmed to attend World Routes 2017.

China Eastern Airlines, the second-largest airline in China by passenger numbers, is preparing to significantly expand its fleet over the next five years.

Ethiopian Airlines Group has finalised preparations to start nonstop direct services to Sao Paulo, Brazil, currently operated via Lome, Togo, effective September 16, 2017.

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport began operations from a newly built third terminal and third runway Aug. 29.

Airberlin—which filed for bankruptcy earlier this month—will reduce long-haul routes from Berlin Tegel as bookings have dropped dramatically.

American Airlines is responding to transatlantic LCCs with an unbundled “basic economy” product, an executive for the carrier told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily in an interview.

NextJet, the largest regional airline in Sweden, will continue to operate beyond November after its owners agreed to provide a cash injection.

“EgyptAir has coordinated and cooperated with the concerned authorities in Algeria and Kuwait to conduct airlifts from both countries to a number of Egyptian cities in Eid Al-Adha," said Safwat Musallam, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding company.

AirAsia is to increase the size of its fleet before the end of the year, with chief executive Tony Fernandes explaining the expansion underlines the airline’s confidence in the Asian market.

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) will become the first airport in the US since 9/11 to allow non-ticketed members of the public access to the secure, airside area of the airport on a regular basis starting next week.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Buenos Aires-based Aerolíneas Argentinas have started implementing their codeshare agreement, which was originally signed in 2014.

Airline Routes-Aug. 28, 2017

Dutch airports operator Royal Schiphol Group’s interim net profit has fallen 2.9% to €117 million ($140 million), driven by a 7.1% reduction in airport charges at Amsterdam Schiphol which took effect April 1.

[UPDATED] Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) are closed because of severe flooding in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, significantly affecting United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.