This week: Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines adds second UK destination; Air New Zealand to serve Seoul; and IndiGo moves in on Jet Airways' routes.
This week: Kenya Airways is returning to Rome after seven years away; Air New Zealand is set to add Christchurch – Singapore; and Swoop is upping trans-border capacity from Edmonton.
As 2018 draws to a close, Routesonline looks at some of the biggest stories making the headlines this year. Part one of our review features the attempted takeover of Norwegian; an interview with British Airways boss Alex Cruz; the first non-stop link between the UK and Australia; and the fastest-growing airports in the world. Plus we were in Quito, Brisbane and Bilbao for the regional Americas, Asia and Europe route development forums.
Air New Zealand is boosting capacity on its Auckland - Gold Coast route by almost 60 percent from early next year at the same time as AirAsia X ends its service.
The flag carriers of New Zealand and Singapore have been given the green light to extend their alliance as capacity on routes between the two countries continues to grow.
This week: Ryanair to close two bases; United orders more Dreamliners; Airbus secures A321LR safety approval; American increases Dallas Fort Worth network and more.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the new service will operate for a three month period between December 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 and will complement Cathay Pacific’s current seasonal double daily flights to Auckland as well as strategic partner Air New Zealand’s daily service between Hong Kong and Auckland.
Air New Zealand is continuing to use its expanding Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet to grow its presence in long-haul markets. The airline confirmed this week that it will introduce the type on its new route between Auckland and Buenos Aires, Argentina as it also debuted the type on a scheduled exclusive basis in the North America market on its Auckland - Honolulu route.
The new year-round service will operate three times a week using Boeing 767-300 equipment with a flight time of around 10 and a half hours in each direction, subject to government and regulatory approvals. Flights are due to commence from December 2016 and full schedules will be confirmed when reservations are opened around mid-year.
Airlines and airports are always happy to get involved on April Fool’s Day, and this year it has been no different. Now the clock has struck twelve, and the pranks are no longer, we’ve drilled down the top April Fool’s jokes in the aviation industry this year.
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.
The new flight will be an eleven hour sector and will be operated using a Boeing 767-300ER. The Vietnamese market will initially be served on a seasonal schedule with flights planned between June and October 2016, but the carrier said there is the potential to expand the season in subsequent years.
The additional 15 new aircraft will begin arriving from late 2016 with eleven directly replacing older ATR 72-500 variants, but four earmarked for further growth on regional New Zealand routes.
