Emirates increases services to India

Emirates airline will expand its A380 network to 28 destinations, when it launches a daily A380 service to Mumbai International Airport on July 21.

EK 500 and EK 501 between Dubai and Mumbai will be up-scaled to a three-class A380 aircraft, representing with a capacity increase of 2,127 seats per week in each direction. This offers passengers flying to India from key destinations in North America and Europe the chance to experience Emirates’ hugely popular flagship aircraft on this route.

In addition, Emirates will deploy larger Boeing 777 aircraft to Delhi and Hyderabad to serve growing demand. Delhi will have 980 additional one-way weekly seats while Hyderabad will increase its capacity to add 672 one-way weekly seats.

A combined total of 3,779 one-way weekly seats will be deployed on Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad through these aircraft upgrades. This follows the recent bilateral discussions between the governments of Dubai and India, which provided a phased increase of 11,000 seats for Dubai carriers.

“Air transport is an important economic driver. It facilitates trade and tourism, and has a multiplier effect through direct and indirect job creation. Emirates has been serving India since our founding year in 1985, and it is our largest market today which we serve with 185 flights each week. We look forward to working with the new Government in India to grow India’s economy through enhanced aviation connectivity and to realize India’s ambition to grow its international aviation market to 85 million passengers by 2020,” said Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations- West Asia & Indian Ocean.

India's National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) recently modelled the impact of Emirates up-gauging daily services to Mumbai from Boeing 777s to an Airbus A380. The annual incremental economic benefit from up-gauging one service is $8.3 million in additional GDP per return flight and the creation and support of over 1,000 jobs.

The Emirates A380 operating on the Mumbai route will feature 14 private First Class suites, 76 Business Class lie-flat seats and a spacious cabin for 399 Economy Class passengers.

On board, passengers can experience a range of unique facilities in all cabins - from the Shower Spas in First Class, to the A380 Onboard Lounge where passengers in the premium cabins can relax in a social environment during the flight; as well as 11.4” touch screen LED personal TVs.

Passengers across all cabins can enjoy up to 1,800 channels of the latest movies, TV shows and music from around the world alongside a range of games on the award-winning ice inflight entertainment system. The latest technology allows passengers to stay connected throughout the flight with high-speed Wi-Fi access and mobile phone and data services.

“Many customers specifically book their flights to our destinations knowing that they will have the chance to fly on the A380. Now that Mumbai is being added to our global network of A380 destinations, I’m sure this will come as welcome news to many of our passengers across Europe and North America who can now fly all the way from their origin point of departure to Mumbai exclusively on the A380,” said Ahmed Khoory.

Emirates currently has 48 A380s in service, more than any other airline globally. Emirates received 12 of the giant double decker aircraft over the last year. More than 25 million passengers have travelled on the Emirates A380 since it was first launched in 2008.

Emirates operates 185 flights per week to 10 gateways in India. This offers travelers on Emirates global network, which includes 85 cities in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Middle East, a range of convenient flight options to one of Asia’s most exciting leisure and business destinations.

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Wizz Air maintains strong EX-YU presence

Wizz Air will maintain a strong presence throughout the former Yugoslavia during the 2014/15 winter season, which begins on October 26. The low cost airline recently revealed its schedule and put tickets on sale until late March 2015. From Skopje, its busiest base in the former Yugoslavia, Wizz Air will maintain a similar schedule to that of this summer. The airline will operate two weekly flights to Charleroi, Cologne, Bergamo, Hahn, Beauvais and Treviso, as was the case this summer season. Instead of the current three weekly services to Gothenburg and Dortmund, the airline will maintain two weekly flights over the winter. Eindhoven will be boosted from two to three flights per week while Basel and London Luton will see a reduction of one weekly flight. Services to Memmingen will be operated three times per week. During the New Year and Christmas holidays, Wizz Air will run additional services to select cities. The airline’s upcoming winter schedule from the Macedonian capital sees a significant increase in operations compared to last winter.

Despite suspending flights from Belgrade to Charleroi earlier this month and reducing frequencies on several other destinations, the low cost airline will maintain all of its services from its Belgrade base this winter. Furthermore, Wizz Air will continue operating flights to Larnaca in Cyprus, which were launched at the start of the summer season and were originally planned as a seasonal service. Flights to London Luton, Dortmund, Basel, Memmingen, Stockholm and Eindhoven will run twice per week, while services to Beauvais, Malmo and Gothenburg will be maintained with three weekly flights.

This summer will also see the launch of new flights from Dortmund and Eindhoven to Tuzla, both of which will be maintained during the winter. The airline will operate two weekly flights from Basel and Eindhoven, same as this summer, while services from Dortmund and Gothenburg will be reduced from three to two flights per week. Malmo will continue to run with three weekly flights. Finally, the no frills airline will maintain its services from Charleroi and London Luton to Ljubljana, which will operate two and three times per week respectively. Wizz Air is in talks with Ljubljana Airport to launch new routes to the Slovenian capital at the end of the year, primarily from Scandinavia.

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Aeroflot expands fleet with new A320 and its ninth full-specification Sukhoi Superjet 100

Aeroflot has taken delivery of its new A320 fitted with state-of-the-art aerodynamic Sharklets wing-tips. The aircraft has been named in honour of Soviet military commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Georgy Zhukov.

Today, Aeroflot’s fleet includes 99 A319/320/321 family aircraft with an average age of 4.7 years. All A320 aircraft are delivered to Aeroflot directly from the manufacturer. The new A320 Georgy Zhukov is equipped with CFM56 engines and can accommodate 158 passengers in a spacious two-class configuration (8 seats in business and 150 in economy). These aircraft provide services primarily on European and domestic routes. Aeroflot is one of the world’s leading airlines in terms of operational reliability and actual hours flown per A320 aircraft.

A320 airplanes meet the highest reliability, safety and comfort standards and are considered one of the best aircraft available for medium-range flights.

Aeroflot Expands Fleet with New SSJ-100

Also, Aeroflot has taken delivery of its ninth full-specification Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100). The plane has been named in honour of Georgy Benkunsky, a Soviet pilot and veteran of World War II.

The new SSJ-100 (registration number RA-89025) has been transferred to Aeroflot under a financial lease from VEB Leasing. The aircraft can accommodate 87 passengers in a spacious dual-class configuration (12 seats in business and 75 in economy), and has a range of 2,400 km.

The SSJ-100 is a next-generation regional jet developed and produced by Sukhoi Company in collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica. The SSJ-100 made its first flight on 19 May 2008, and received certification from the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC AR) in January 2011.

New aircraft form part of Aeroflot’s strategy to expand its route network and strengthen its leadership in the domestic air transport market. SSJ-100 jets are an important part of Aeroflot’s fleet, which is among Europe’s most modern and technologically advanced. The total order for SSJ-100 stands at 30 aircraft. - See more at: http://www.traveldailynews.com/news/article/60530#sthash.iOeXzjrv.dpuf

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Delta Air Lines to expand Europe service from U.S. hubs

Delta Air Lines will strengthen its leading position in the New York market by offering new year-round daily service from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Zurich Airport and expanded service to Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport. Zurich and Rome are two important business markets in Europe and provide a valuable link to the financial center of the U.S.

"As the primary business market on the trans-Atlantic, demand continues to increase for more nonstop flights from New York to European destinations," said Gail Grimmett, Delta's senior vice president - New York. "Zurich ranks fourth in terms of business traffic from New York, and our additional service will build on the commercial, tourism and community links between these two cities."

The Zurich flight will be operated using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in the BusinessElite cabin. Daily Zurich service will begin effective June 16, 2014 and during the summer will complement the airline's existing service from Atlanta. Rome service will operate daily from April to October on an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, and then five times per week in November, December and March on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in conjunction with Delta joint venture partner Alitalia. 

Effective this winter, Delta and its joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia are also expanding service to key European hubs at Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. From Atlanta, the joint venture will offer additional daily nonstop service for a total of four daily flights to both Amsterdam and Paris, timed to provide customers with more connecting opportunities to destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"With the most established joint venture across the Atlantic, we are in a unique position to collaborate with our joint venture partners to make full use of our combined fleet and networks to best serve our customers," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president and chief revenue officer. "Delivering more hub-to-hub flying provides a network with higher frequencies and tailored schedules for our trans-Atlantic travelers."

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Qatar Airways to receive its first A380 by early June

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker announced the airline’s expansion plans on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) – the Middle East’s premier travel show held in Dubai every year.

During a packed press conference at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Al Baker gave Middle East and international media an update on the newly opened Hamad International Airport and the airline’s highly anticipated arrival of its first Airbus A380-800 in early June, the first of 13 such aircraft on order.

The airline’s new A380 luxury First Class seats are a key feature on its exhibition stand at ATM this week providing travel professionals from around the world with an opportunity to sample the seats and amenities.

Featuring a tri-class configuration of seating in First, Business and Economy, over two decks, the A380 is the largest passenger jet in the world and will provide a superior traveller experience to the airline’s customers.

“Qatar Airways is making news yet again with the newly opened Hamad International Airport and the anticipated arrival of the airline’s first A380 early next month.

“This is indeed an exciting year and a new chapter for Qatar Airways as we will move our entire hub operations to Hamad International Airport on 27 May.

“We also eagerly await the delivery of the world’s largest passenger jet and have no doubts that our new A380s will play a key role in our strategic expansion plans, and will help expand the onboard capacity – in the full comfort and luxury that our passengers expect,” said Mr. Al Baker. 

During ATM, the airline’s CEO introduced the A380’s new First Class seat to the Middle East for the first time. The product offers a seat pitch just over 2.2 meters long and can be converted into a fully flat bed. In addition, the seat unit, the widest in the industry, allows for access to a 26-inch screen with a variety of entertainment options. There is also a privacy screen, increased personal storage as well as the ability for two passengers to sit across from each other while dining.

Mr. Al Baker also showed glimpses of its amazingly designed A380 First and Business Class lounge and bathroom interiors to the Middle East media audience.

It is the “Year of the Fleet” for Qatar Airways as the airline has plans to significantly expand its fleet with 300 additional aircraft, worth more than USD $60 billion, on order including, 80 Airbus A350s, 13 Airbus A330 Freighters, 60 Boeing 787s, 13 Boeing 777s (including freighters), 50 Boeing 777x, 80 Airbus A320s Neos and 13 Airbus A380-800s.

Qatar Airways is also the first Airbus customer to receive the newly-launched Airbus A350 long-range, twin-engine, wide-bodied jet. This new airliner represents the latest generation of passenger aircraft, designed for optimized fuel consumption, lower operating costs, and increased environmental efficiencies. Qatar Airways’ first A350 was showcased at the Singapore Air Show after a high-profile delivery event at the Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar, earlier this year.

The airline is also introducing a new daily all premium Business Class service from its hub in Doha to London Heathrow. The new service will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, commencing from 15 May, with an Airbus A319 aircraft fitted with an all Business Class, single aisle, 2–2 seating configuration offering 40 seats.

Qatar Airways, the national carrier for the State of Qatar, has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 134 aircraft to 138 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Over the next few months, the network will grow further with Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia (May 15), Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Turkey (May 22, 2014), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, USA (June 10, 2014), Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014), Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1, 2014) and Djibouti (July 27, 2014).

Complementing its global expansion, Qatar Airways is also commencing its domestic operations within Saudi Arabia, and is on track to launch its new airline, Al Maha, in November. Al Maha Airways plans to have 10 A320 aircraft in service within the first 12 months of operations.

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JetBlue adds new Orlando-to-Salt Lake City flight

JetBlue Airways Corp. announced plans Friday to launch a new daily nonstop route between Salt Lake City and Orlando beginning Nov. 12, marking JetBlue’s 24th nonstop destination from Orlando International Airport.

The third-busiest carrier at Orlando International will offer low fares for the new route starting at $89 one way for travel between Nov. 12 and Dec. 16 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with blackout dates Nov. 25 and Dec. 1. Tickets also must be purchased by May 15.

The additional flights bring more options for business travelers and also may bring more visitors to Central Florida, boosting the region's $50 billion tourism industry.

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BA launches two Greek flights this weekend

The two services from Heathrow will both operate twice a week, with the Mykonos flight starting on Saturday (May 3) and Santorini on Sunday (May 4).

BA will be using an Airbus A320 aircraft on both routes, offering a total of 162 seats in economy and Club Europe.

Richard Tams, BA’s head of marketing, said: “Mykonos and Santorini are great short-haul holiday destinations and we think they’ll prove really popular with customers and sun-seekers.”

Mykonos flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturday, while the service to Santorini flies on Wednesday and Sunday.

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Budget flights on the rise, prices too

Budget airlines are expanding their range of routes from Germany but ticket prices are climbing along with them, a report from the German Aeronautics Centre (DLR) revealed on Thursday

Airlines in the industry's low-cost segment flew 466 routes from Germany last winter - an increase of 43 connections over the same period the previous year. Budget flights between Germany and Spain were up 28 percent, while connections to Britain increased by 14 percent and to Austria by ten percent, the DLR's "Low Cost Monitor" study found.

While low-cost airlines launched new connections to destinations such as Estonia from Germany, the number of German domestic routes fell by ten percent. Meanwhile ticket prices have taken a hike, with journeys costing between €70 and €160 in comparison to a range of €60 to €120 the previous year.

"Flying on a budget has got a good deal more expensive," said the DLR report's authors.

Air travel expert and consultant Heinrich Großbongardt told the Rheinische Post newspaper on Thursday that flights cost around five percent more than in spring 2013 and 30 percent more than five years ago.

"The reason is that the budget airlines are no longer coming into contact on the same routes. That has loosened the competition,” he said.

Despite creeping fares, over 65 million passengers flew with low-cost airlines from German airports in 2013, giving the cheap providers a 32 percent share of the total 203 million passengers. Air Berlin remains Germany's top budget airline, with its 1,700 flights a week taking up around 42 percent of the country's low-cost market, but Lufthansa's daughter company Germanwings is closing the gap.

Taking over a chunk of Lufthansa's flight plan, Germanwings flew 60 percent more routes over the winter than in the previous year and now run around 1,200 flights per week, the DLR report found.

As a result of Germanwings' expansion, Berlin's Tegel airport, from where Lufthansa runs many of its European flights, has boosted its roster of low-cost flights to 800 a week.

But London Gatwick airport remains Europe's capital for budget flights, launching 7,000 of them a week.

And across Europe Irish firm Ryanair is the biggest budget airline, running 7,500 flights each week and holding a 22 percent stake in the European low-cost market.

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Qatar Airways expands Melbourne flights

Doha-based Qatar Airways has confirmed it will upgrade its capacity on its Melbourne-Doha route, with the introduction of a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The use of the new long-range wide-body aircraft will result in a 30 per cent capacity increase on the daily flights to Melbourne, which translates to 76 more seats per day. Qatar Airways also flies daily to Perth in Western Australia.

“Along with our daily flights to both Melbourne and Perth, the increase in overall capacity on our Melbourne route is further testament to our commitment to the Australian market,” said Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker.

“We are pleased that we are able to meet the needs of our passengers and build on our current offerings by providing extra capacity along with our five-star service.

“The short connection times, along with our award-winning on-board service, makes Qatar Airways a favourite with our Australian passengers who are loo

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