Montreal-based Air Canada and Brisbane-based Virgin Australia will implement the first stage of a codeshare agreement in early 2017, the two carriers announced Dec. 14.
China Southern Airlines has opened new service from Guangzhou to Adelaide, Australia, to better position itself in the fast-growing Sino-Australia market after the two countries reached an Open Skies agreement earlier this month that removed all capacity limits from the China-Australia market.
The airline has selected the Canadian-built airliner for its exclusive future short-haul fleet and will replace all its existing Boeing aircraft with 20 factory new CS300s by 2020. The aircraft will not just modernise the fleet and boost efficiency, but will also enhance the airline’s range of services, expanding into medium-haul markets from Riga such as Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Astana, Casablanca, Dubai, Marrakech and Tenerife thanks to its operating performance.
When British Airways first announced its plans to serve Leeds Bradford many observers so the decision as little more than as an avenue to protect the carrier’s pool of slots at the heavily-congested Heathrow Airport. However, the London Heathrow - Leeds Bradford route is currently among its best performing domestic markets with traffic up 18.4 per cent over the first ten months of 2016.
Melbourne was the original home for Qatar Airways in Australia, with the airline subsequently adding services to Perth, Sydney and Adelaide. With the growth from the original 777-200LR to the A380, the airline has actually doubled its daily capacity since the start of the route while retaining just the single flight rotation.
The President of the Gabonese Republic, Ali Bongo Ondimba has completed a state visit to the People's Republic of China, from 6 to 9 December 2016, at the invitation of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.
The airline, based in the French territory of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, is understood to be considering the launch of low-cost charter services via the European mainland into at least three US destinations. In its formal application the airline says these services will be operated using Boeing 777 and 787-8 equipment.
Southwest Airlines began inaugural flights to Havana, Cuba Dec. 12 from two Florida gateway airports, Tampa International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International.
London's Heathrow Airport will submit a planning application for its controversial third runway in 2019, after the project secured government backing in October.
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.
Abu Dhabi International Airport achieved record traffic figures last year, further strengthening its position as a hub in the region. Keith Mwanalushi reports that successes also come with challenges.
The remote British South Atlantic territory of St Helena is pushing ahead with plans to start regular air services to the island, despite windshear problems discovered on the northerly approach to its new airport’s sole runway.
US industry trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) forecast 45.2 million passengers—a 3.5% year-over-year increase—will fly globally on US airlines during the upcoming holiday season.
The UAE's Information Systems Associates (ISA), which provides advanced travel and aviation technology solutions, has taken two top awards at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2016, one of the travel industry's premier honours programmes.
Hainan Airlines' landmark Beijing - Las Vegas service has its roots in the US city hosting the World Routes air service development forum back in October 2013 and has been helped subsequently by regular meetings at Routes regional and world events. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) estimates the flights will account for $33.5 million in annual economic impact.
SunExpress, a joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, plans to reduce its 2017 summer schedule to 620 weekly flights, down from 700 flights for summer 2016.
