News From The Americas

Richard Maslen April 28, 2011

UNITED AIRLINES TO FLY GUAM SCHEDULES

As part of its merger with Continental Airlines under the United Continental Holdings umbrella, United Airlines is to take over some of its sister carrier’s flights from Guam. Continental Airlines has historically dominated traffic from the United States territory in the western Pacific Ocean and this summer accounted for more than 55 per cent of the weekly capacity. These flights were formally flown by Continental Micronesia, but from December last year were absorbed into the Continental mainline operation. Now, from the Winter 2011/2012 schedules, some flights will also be operated by United Airlines using Boeing 777-200ERs. According to latest GDS information, from October 29, United will take over responsibility for the Guam – Honolulu service which extends to Chicago. This is currently flown using a Continental 767-200ER. United will also operate two of the three daily rotations between Guam and Tokyo Narita, again replacing Continental 767s, albeit a mix of -200ER and larger -400ER variants.

DELTA TO FLY TO OAKLAND FROM LOS ANGELES

Delta Air Lines is to offer a five times daily link from Los Angeles to Oakland International as it looks to strengthen its position in the Californian market. The airline already offers eleven flights between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, as well as placing its code on a further three daily services of Alaska Airlines into San Jose. The new flight will be operated in partnership with Delta Connection partner SkyWest Airlines using a Bombardier CRJ200. In the past year an estimated 665,000 O&D passengers travelled between Los Angeles and Oakland International using the low-cost flights of Southwest Airlines. The budget carrier is the largest operator in California with an approximate 68.6 per cent share of the traffic within the state. It offers over 90 weekly frequencies on the Los Angeles – Oakland International link, its fourth busiest route in California after Burbank – Oakland International, San Diego – Sacramento and Oakland International – San Diego.

AIR CANADA BRINGS 777-300ER TO MUNICH

Air Canada is to boost capacity on the Toronto – Munich link this summer, replacing the usual Airbus A330-300 that serves the route with a Boeing 777-300ER for a ten week period. The airline offers a daily schedule into the German city, a hub for its Star Alliance partner Lufthansa, which codeshares on the flight alongside Austrian Airlines, Continental Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and United Airlines. An estimated 50,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year, up 28.6 per cent on the previous 12 month period. The 777-300ER is currently scheduled to operate between June 22 and September 4 but these operational dates are subject to change. Air Canada will also operate a mix of one- and two-class Boeing 767s on its daily Toronto – Madrid route this summer. The airline’s schedule shows that four flights will operate with one of its all-Economy configured aircraft as well as some selected flights on other days of the week. In the past year Air Canada handled around 9,100 O&D passengers, but there has only been a small demand for premium customers. The seasonal route will operate between June 8 and September 29.

LANCHILE ENDS HAVANA LINK

LANChile is to suspend its weekly service from Santiago de Chile to the Cuban capital, Havana, from May 7, however, it intends to maintain links to the Caribbean island through its sister carrier LANPeru from its Lima base. LANChile has operated a Boeing 767-300ER on the flight, carrying an estimated 3,600 O&D passengers during the past year. The route is dominated by COPA Airlines which carried around 6,800 passengers directly between the two destinations and a further 18,000 via its Tocumen International Airport hub in Panama City. The new LANPeru link between Lima and Havana has no confirmed start date at the current stage, although sources confirm that the flight will begin towards the end of this year. TACA International already operates three flights per week between the destinations using a mix of A319s and A320s.

AIR CARAIBES AND CORSAIRFLY BEGIN CODESHARE

Air Caraibes and Corsairfly are offering a reciprocal codeshare arrangement on selected flights between Paris and St Maarten. This covers Corsairfly’s twice weekly flights from Paris Orly via Fort-de-France and Pointe-a-Pitre and Air Caraibes weekly flight via Fort-de-France, although neither carrier has local traffic rights between the Caribbean destinations. An estimated 123,000 O&D passengers travelled between Paris and St Maarten in the last year, the majority (57.7 per cent) using the direct services of Air France from Paris CDG. However, around 51,000 flew from Paris Orly, of these 64 per cent using the services of Corsairfly and 36 per cent Air Caraibes. There is an interesting divide in the average fares on the routes with Corsairfly passengers paying an average of $922 each way, with Air France and Air Caraibes passengers just $664 and $641.