Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at Volaris’ plans to expand its US footprint, Qatar Airways resuming flights to London Gatwick, and Vistara launching its first long-haul route.
This week: WOW to open third route to Canada as it cuts US destinations; Delta Air Lines plans new Scotland route; and British Airways to provide Charleston's first transatlantic link.
This week: Norwegian trims transatlantic services from the UK; KLM adds Vegas but cuts African routes; Ryanair's new French bases; Air France unveils new A330 economy cabins and more.
Airports could be open to the possibility of being tied to one airline alliance so long as there was a sound business case, according to Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport.
The shortlists for the prestigious Routes Europe 2018 Marketing Awards have been revealed, with 17 airports and six destinations in the running for an award.
Low-cost carrier Ryanair is to further expand its capacity from Manchester Airport this summer with the launch of ten new routes. It comes as new research reveals the UK airports which have enjoyed the largest passenger growth over the past year, with Manchester among the front-runners.
As widely expected, European low-cost carrier Norwegian will introduce its new Boeing 737MAX fleet into operation on flights between the UK and Ireland and the United States of America. The budget airline will offer 38 new weekly transatlantic flights this summer from Edinburgh, Belfast, Cork, Shannon and Dublin serving ten routes.
The flights from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to London Heathrow will be Flybe’s first ever scheduled flights into the UK’s largest airport and the world’s second largest international gateway, and will complement the carrier’s well-established London City flights from the two Scottish airports.
European low-cost carrier Norwegian is set to open four new operational bases – two in the US and two in Europe – in 2017 to support the growth of its long-haul transatlantic network. The internal go-ahead for the expansion follows the final approval late last week by the US Department of Transportation for a foreign carrier permit for the airline’s Norwegian Air International business.
Under the new Air Service Agreement passenger flights can now increase from the current maximum of 40 per week for each nation to up to 100. There will be no limit on the number of all-cargo services, creating new opportunities for trade and businesses. A restriction on the number of destinations that airlines can serve has also been lifted, meaning services can be operated between any point in the UK and any point in China. Up until now, airlines could only serve six destinations in each country.
Attending this year's World Routes in Chengdu, China with a five strong team, Edinburgh Airport are at the 22nd World Route Development Forum with the aim of attracting new airlines and selling Scotland to the world. But, above all they plan to use the event to reinforce a strategy to secure future direct connectivity between Scotland's capital city and China's growing gateways.
European budget carrier Norwegian has revealed that it is considering launching transatlantic flights from Edinburgh as well as potentially introducing UK domestic services as part of its backing to the case for Gatwick Airport’s expansion.
