News From The Americas

Richard Maslen March 24, 2011

VOLARIS TO LAUNCH OAKLAND – MEXICO CITY SERVICE

Mexican low-cost operator Volaris is to inaugurate its first international flight from Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport with a daily rotation to Oakland International from May 6. This will be its second link to the US airport as it already has a double daily operation from Guadalajara, a route launched in July 2008. Over 6,000 O&D passengers flew between the two destinations on indirect services in the year ending January 2011 and Volaris will hope to stimulate the market with its low-fares and partnership with Southwest Airlines, which will allow passengers to make onward connections in the US and Mexico.

INSELAIR TO OFFER REGIONAL FLIGHTS FOR KLM

Caribbean operator InselAir International has entered into an interline partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, providing the European carrier with additional network options in the region. The partnership will come into effect on March 27 with connections being offered from InselAir’s hubs at Curacao and St Maarten. As part of the deal InselAir is acquiring three former KLM Cityhopper Fokker 50 turboprops to boost frequencies on regional flights and to introduce new destinations.

AIR JAMAICA DELAYS LONDON LAUNCH

Caribbean carrier Air Jamaica is to delay the proposed relaunch of flights to London Heathrow from July 2011 to early 2012, according to a senior executive. The timetable for the airline’s return to the long-haul market was always ambitious, but it appears that problems securing slots at the UK airport and sourcing a Boeing 777 to operate the route are understood to be the reason for the delay. Air Jamaica had previously held slots at the London airport but sold them to Virgin Atlantic when it withdrew from the UK market. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both operate between London and Kingston (a market of around 116,000 O&D passengers) and Montego Bay (approximately 109,000 travellers) but fly from London Gatwick. When Air Jamaica vacated the route it agreed a codeshare arrangement with Virgin Atlantic Airways, but this was terminated in June last year as the company geared-up for the resumption of its own long-haul services.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ADDS FLIGHTS FROM KANSAS CITY

US no-frills carrier Southwest Airlines is to boost frequencies on its existing flights from Kansas City to Baltimore and Nashville with a third daily rotation on each route. The budget operator carried approximately 129,000 and 135,000 O&D passengers on these flights in the year ending January 2011 and is the sole airline on each route. Next month, Southwest will offer over 400 weekly flights from Kansas City, providing over 57,000 weekly seats to 19 destinations.

SUMMER EXPANSION TO BILLINGS AND MISSOULA FOR ALASKA AIRLINES

Alaska Airlines has confirmed the launch of seasonal flights from Portland International, Oregon to Billings Logan International and Missoula Johnson-Bell Field International, both in Montana. These will be its second links to these airports as it already serves both from Seattle Tacoma International with a twice daily connection to Billings and a three times daily service to Missoula. The new flights will operate for an eleven week period between June 5 and August 27 and will be flown by a Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 of sister carrier Horizon Air. "These non-stop flights between Portland and two of Montana's largest cities will provide customers with convenient connections to Alaska Airlines' hubs and easy access to our route network," said Joe Sprague, Vice President of Marketing, Alaska Airlines.

PORTER DOUBLES SUMMER CAPACITY TO MONT TREMBLANT

Canadian regional carrier Porter Airlines is to double capacity this summer between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Mont Tremblant International with up to four weekly flights between June 16 and September 18. Long known as a winter playground, summer is now becoming an equally popular time for travel with canoeing, camping, cycling, golfing and hiking just some of the activities on offer to passengers in an area that boasts Quebec’s largest protected park. “Our passengers got to know Tremblant as a summer destination for the first time last year,” said Robert Deluce, President and Chief Executive Officer, Porter Airlines. “The response was excellent and we anticipate the extra flights will fill up quickly.” Porter current winter schedule to Mont Tremblant comprises up to 12 weekly flights and will come to an end on April 3. In the year ending January 2011 it had carried more than 4,000 O&D passengers on the route with average fares of $300 each way.

LANECUADOR’S NEW SERVICE TO ARGENTINA

LANEcuador is to launch flights to Buenos Aires from Quito with a three times weekly service from May 2. This will be increased to five flights per week from July, but bookings are currently only available until December 29. From Quito, the outbound departure will operate via Guayaquil but will return directly from the Argentine capital. There are currently no direct links from the Ecuadorian cities to Buenos Aires Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini although around 35,000 and 23,000 O&D passengers flew into Argentina from Quito and Guayaquil in the year ending January 2011, respectively.

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