This week: THAI Smile to become Star Alliance connecting partner; Wizz to base sixth aircraft in Vienna; IATA downgrades airline profit forecast and more.
Europe’s strong airlines will get stronger and the weak will get weaker as consolidation in the region continues and small carriers see pressure on yields intensifying.
This week: Qatar Airways converts ten A321neos; AirAsia commits to new Lombok hub; Cebu Pacific to add 12 aircraft; Norwegian to cut routes after fundraising and more.
Austrian leisure airline Laudamotion will increase its fleet to 25 aircraft this summer across its four European bases as it continues to expand its route network.
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.
Vienna Airport lost its second-largest customer a year ago when Air Berlin collapsed, but has since experienced a surge in traffic. Joint CEO and COO Julian Jäger tells Routesonline about the airport's new-found status as a battleground for low-cost carriers.
Our exhibitors will host a number of unique and exciting activities on their stands including; food, drinks, entertainment, giveaways, prizes and much more. Make the most of your World Routes experience by visiting as many stands as possible.
The 24th World Route Development Forum will see the largest ever exhibition for a Routes event. From traditional food and drink to entertainment and prize draws, exhibitors will be putting on a host of activities to attract decision makers to their stand at the world’s leading route development event.
Our top five stories on Routes Weekly: Vienna calling for LEVEL; A380 update; Vietnam's growth market; Bulletin board industry briefs; Wizz Air in focus and more.
International Airlines Group is seeking to gain a foothold on Austrian soil by using LEVEL, its low-cost weapon on transatlantic routes, to enter the crowded European short-haul leisure market.
Wizz Air, the Hungarian low-cost carrier focussed on the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) market, is continuing its advance west with the launch of its second base in Western Europe as it targets former Niki leisure passengers.
Star Alliance member, Austrian Airlines is to debut on the US west coast next year with the launch of a new service between Vienna and Los Angeles. The seasonal flight will operate on an up to six times weekly schedule from April 10, 2017 and will be flown using a Boeing 777.
The Dutch flag carrier is understood to have already held discussions with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Developments in Iran and is closely liaising with sister carrier Air France ahead of its own return to Tehran.
The new flight will be operated by an Airbus A319 and its introduction follows a recent revision to the previously heavily restrictive bilateral between Austria and Iran following the official state visit of Austria’s President Heinz Fischer to Iran in September this year. A link to Shiraz is also understood to be under consideration by Austrian Airlines.
The Supervisory Board of Austrian Airlines first approved the purchase of 17 Embraer aircraft in June 2015 with the first example being transferred across to Austrian Airlines in mid-August this year and redelivered to the carrier at the end of last month following modification work and repainting into the Austrian livery. The aircraft was originally delivered to Lufthansa CityLine in March 2011.
Lufthansa is to launch a new three times weekly link between its Munich hub and Tehran from April 14, 2016 using an Airbus A330-300, while also boosting capacity on its existing Frankfurt – Tehran service by switching from an A340-600 to a Boeing 747-400. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines is to introduce a second daily rotation on its Vienna – Tehran route from March 11, 2016 with a new day flight complementing its existing night operation.
