Al Baker used the briefing to clarify Qatar Airways' position, debunk accusations of subsidy and demonstrate the broad public benefits of the existing Open Skies Agreements. He also noted that Open Skies agreements go well beyond the interests of the Big Three citing numerous American companies and groups, which support Open Skies, including US airports, travel and trade groups, consumer groups and other US airlines.
The Emirates boss spoke forcefully about the open skies row, in which the American carriers have claimed that Emirates, Etihad and Qatar have all received $44 billion in subsidies from their governments, and are planning to seek US government action against them.
The carrier describes the fleet additions as an important boost for the country’s civilian aviation industry, which has struggled for many years because of ageing fleets and American-imposed restrictions on access to replacement aircraft, parts, technology and service.
Air France has announced the resumption of its service to Freetown in Sierra Leone, following a period of cancellation after the airline took a recommendation from the French government over concern about the outbreak of Ebola in the country.
The Independently-owned full-service carrier currently operates five flights per week to Blagoveshchensk but from Moscow Domodedovo, but from May 26, 2015 it will increase to a daily schedule. It will further boost capacity between the Russian capital and the destination from June 22, 2015 with the launch of a new twice weekly offering from Moscow Vnukovo.
After taking delivery of its first Airbus A321 from the Air Lease Corporation, Mexican carrier Volaris has announced plans for a number of domestic routes operated with the new aircraft.
The new flight, which will commence from March 16, 2016, will provide further connectivity options between Chicago and Europe with more than 20 destinations across the Continent conveniently served by Icelandair from Keflavik. The Windy City will be the 15th North American destination in the Icelandair network and adds to the airline’s new flights this summer to Portland.
Vueling’s latest uploaded schedules show the Airbus A321 entering scheduled service on July 3, 2015 operating a morning return rotation on the Barcelona – Nantes route. The same day the aircraft will operate from Barcelona to Brussels and back and then in the evening to Granada and back before operating an overnight flight to Moscow.
During her time as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Rosemarie Andolino prioritised air service development, environmental sustainability and revived the organisation’s focus on customer service. In addition, she implemented an $8 billion reconfiguration of O’Hare’s complicated intersecting runways, including adding the CDA’s first new runway in 37 years.
The British low-cost carrier has confirmed that the timing of Easter boosted its revenue and profits as it fell inside the reporting period, which marks the first time the airline has made a profit in its first half since 2002.
Visa facilitation, open skies and the need to adapt the market requirements in the promotion of intra-regional tourism in the MENA region were all discussed at the 2015 UNWTO and ATM Ministerial Forum on Intra-Arab tourism.
US major United Airlines is to switch its remaining transatlantic flights to Scandinavia to a seasonal offering after dropping winter services from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub to both Oslo and Stockholm from the start of September this year through to May 2016. The two routes are flown using Boeing 757-200 equipment on an up to daily basis.
Qatar Airways is the launch customer for the A350XWB, and currently remains the only airline to fly the world’s newest widebody aircraft. Following its introduction to service to Frankfurt in Germany, Singapore is only the second route for the type which is configured in a two-class arrangement seating 26 passengers in Business Class and 247 in Economy.
The four-times-weekly link will commence on May 17, 2015 and will be the only direct service between the two cities, taking over from the current Delhi – Sydney – Melbourne triangular flight, which the airline currently operates.
Subject to the required economic competition authority’s approvals, the airlines expect to offer an expanded network, enhancing routes and schedules, concurrently increasing opportunities to co-locate and invest in airport facilities by improving gates, lounges and the overall connecting experience. Additionally the airlines will increase joint sales and marketing initiatives.
Etihad Airways first commenced flights to Singapore’s Changi International Airport on September 28, 2007 on a three times weekly basis, growing to a daily schedule from February 1, 2013. The route is currently served using an Airbus A330-200 but from June 1, 2015 the airline is using a three-class A330-300, supporting the debut of the First Class offering on the route.
The airline revealed plans to introduce the UK’s first non-stop air service to the popular US entertainment and ski destination of Reno-Tahoe in November 2014 but it was always contingent upon approval of landing rights and facilitation of passengers by US CBP personnel.
Italian national airline, Alitalia presented a new non-stop service between Milan and Shanghai earlier this week, marking a further stage in the development of the airline’s Asian connections.
