Routes Asia kicked-off in style yesterday with an engaging and thought-provoking Strategy Summit that debated some of the key topics impacting the aviation business across the region.
Routes Asia has opened in Manila, Philippines with renewed calls for regulators and airports to address infrastructure issues in the region with senior executives of some of the region’s fastest-growing airlines highlighting it as one of the biggest issues still impacting growth and development in the region.
Having seen the golden age of travel of the 1950s to 1970s develop into the age of mass travel from the late 1970s as more liberal agreements led to intense competition, fare-cutting, affordable ‘class’ options and the arrival of low-cost airlines, we are now entering the age of traveller power, according to Amadeus IT Group.
The resumption of the non-stop seasonal service between Auckland and Osaka by Air New Zealand between November 2016 and March 2017 will contribute an estimated $24 million to the New Zealand economy, during the operation, according to Auckland Airport.
Routes Asia 2016 host, the Philippine Department of Tourism, promotes the country using its “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” campaign to highlight the main destinations, including Boracay, Davao, Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Albay, Palawan, Banaue, Vigan, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and Siargao.
The return of the Hong Kong – Phnom Penh operation will place Hong Kong Airlines in competition with Dragonair, which will soon be renamed Cathay Dragon to emphasise its relationship with Hong Kong’s largest air carrier, Cathay Pacific. It also offers flights between Hong Kong and Siem Reap in Cambodia, a market that HK Express introduced in September 2015.
The relocation of domestic operations to T2 is part of Jet Airways' strategic commitment to develop Indian airports as hubs, providing greater connectivity on its domestic and international networks. Jet Airways operates over 135 daily flights out of Mumbai to destinations in India and around the world.
The airline has already announced numerous new routes for 2016 and additional capacity in some of its existing markets, but is attending Routes Asia in Manila, Philippines to seek alternative growth destinations. This will mainly cover the North and South East Asia markets, which it has earmarked as offering the best opportunities for sustainable development.
The introduction of the sub-brand will enable AZAL to compete with both full-service and the developing low-cost market in the country. Turkish Airlines’ affiliate Anadolu Jet already operates flights to the regions of Azerbaijan and from the end of this month Wizz Air will resume flights between Budapest and Baku.
Emirates already operates three daily A380 flights into Auckland but up until March 1, 2016 these all operated on a direct, one-stop basis via Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. In late January this year it revealed plans to introduce this fourth rotation, the first to operate non-stop between Dubai and Auckland, providing more efficient connectivity between New Zealand and markets across the Middle East, Africa and in to Europe.
In a drive to improve the passenger experience and deliver increased flexibility to its airlines, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) will this year introduce SITA's self-service check-in kiosks across Bahrain International Airport.
The new service will provide 245,000 additional seats per year and is expected to generate an estimated 3,000 jobs in New South Wales and contribute more than AUD$240 million to the local economy. The new service will also provide 84 tonnes of cargo capacity per week in and out of the New South Wales (NSW) capital.
The surge in passengers has been driven by improving yields with seat load factor reaching a high of 86 per cent. This was particularly evident in the airline’s growing international network but was also buoyed by strong domestic sales.
Under the current agreement, US airlines have a total of four slot pairs (four arrivals and four departures) for service to and from Haneda, which are now restricted to use during nighttime hours. Under the proposed amendment, these four slot pairs would be transferred to daytime hours. In addition, a fifth daytime slot pair for scheduled service to and from Haneda would be added and US airlines would be able to continue operating one nighttime slot pair.
Philippine Airlines will configure its A350-900s with a premium three class layout and plans to operate the aircraft on non-stop flights from Manila to the US west coast and New York, as well as on services to new destinations in Europe. The aircraft will enable the carrier to operate non-stop service on the 8,000 nautical mile Manila – New York route all year round with a full passenger load.
The air service development team at Dublin Airport have identified a number of unserved markets in Asia that can sustain regular scheduled flights to the Republic of Ireland’s capital city and are attending Routes Asia in Manila, Philippines to fill these network gaps. It particularly sees a notable role for Asia’s Star Alliance members at Dublin Airport having grown the number of airline members using the airport from this summer.
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.
Sunrise Airways began Port-au-Prince-Camaguey, Cuba, service with a new leased ATR 42-320. The 46-seat aircraft will also serve Port-au-Prince-Santiago de Cuba. The Haitian airline hopes to add a second ATR this year through an ACMI contract with Danish Air Transport.
Unions representing pilots from American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have added their support to the proposal by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) to separate US air traffic control (ATC) from FAA.
The Philippines is set to become the centre of the Asian aviation industry on Sunday when top decision makers arrive for Routes Asia 2016 (6-8 March), the largest route development forum in the region.
Alan Polivnick, Partner, Watson Farley & Williams (Thailand) Ltd will be holding two ‘Routes Talks’ sessions on March 7, 2016 at this year’s Routes Asia air service development forum at the SMX Convention Centre in Manila, Philippines to explain what ASEAN Open Skies really means for airlines and for airports.
On the eve of this year’s Routes Asia air service development forum it was revealed in Australia that the 2018 event will take place in Brisbane. The news was announced as delegates were arriving in Manila, Philippines for this year’s event. The 2017 Routes Asia will take place in Okinawa, Japan.
There was unprecedented pessimism at the European Aviation Summit in Amsterdam on whether any real progress would be achieved on implementing the Single European Sky (SES) any time soon.
