This week: Iberia plans to return to Washington Dulles after a decade; Qantas to end Beijing service; and Turkish Airlines increases service to the New York area.
After being denied in its quest to form a joint venture with LATAM Airlines Group and American Airlines – and then seeing rival Delta Air Lines take a stake in LATAM – International Airlines Group is strengthening its position on transatlantic services to South America with the acquisition of Air Europa. Routesonline looks at the current state of play on Europe – Latin America routes.
As China Eastern schedules its latest new route to Western Europe, Routesonline looks at the growth of the market and the new services set to start in the coming months.
As 1,200 delegates gather in Hannover for the 14th annual Routes Europe, Routesonline reveals the continent’s top ten busiest international passenger routes and looks at the services which have grown at the fastest rate over the last 12 months.
This week: Quito has secured another new service to Europe; Indian low-cost carrier GoAir is adding a fourth international destination; and Alitalia is to relaunch a connection between Milan and St Petersburg.
China Southern has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to open four new international routes, including services to Madrid and Vienna. Juneyao Airlines is also seeking to launch a seven-weekly service to Helsinki from Shanghai.
Europe’s aviation industry is poised for a record period over the coming months as demand for air transport continues to outstrip economic growth and defy geopolitical challenges. Routesonline analyses the continent’s growing market - at the same time as a new report has warned that the sector is heading for a capacity crunch unless urgent action is taken.
Route rundown: GOL adds routes to Miami and Orlando, Hainan Airlines launches its first direct service between China and Spain, and Thai Air Asia X resumes Bangkok to Sapporo.
Routesonline's latest analysis of the European aviation industry, examining the top routes, airlines, airports and aircraft that are leading the market.
This week: Air France returns to the Nairobi market; the first service by a Chinese carrier from Qingdao to Western Europe; and Interjet’s first Canadian services from the famous Mexican leisure destination Cancun.
As first revealed by our Airlineroute news stream in the middle of last month, Qatar Airways is deploying the first LATAM aircraft on one of its two daily flights between Doha and Munich. It debuted on the QR059/060 rotation from March 2, 2017 and another of the LATAM airframes will be used on the second QR057/058 service from April 1, 2017. The additional two LATAM A350-900s will be used on Qatar Airways’ Doha – Madrid route.
In the latest update of its 2017 flight inventory, Korean Air will introduce the 787-9 on its Seoul Gimpo – Jeju route between March 7, 2017 and March 25, 2017. The aircraft will serve the domestic link on a three times daily basis to ensure crew can secure required flight hours on the airframe ahead of its international debut.
The point-to-point business model of the start-up will be supported with a simple organisational structure to maintain low operating costs and deliver low fares and a customised offering to consumers with ancillary charges for hold baggage, seating selection and boarding as well as food and drinks.
