JETBLUE BOOSTS FORT LAUDERDALE TO NASSAU CAPACITY
JetBlue Airways has confirmed it will introduce a third daily rotation on its flight from Ft Lauderdale to Nassau, in the Bahamas, from June 23. An estimated 278,000 O&D passengers travelled between the two cities in the past year with JetBlue carrying around 21 per cent of these passengers. Bahamasair is currently the largest operator on the route with four daily flights, while Spirit Airlines also offers a twice daily service. "This additional flight would not be possible without the steadfast support of the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotions Board; we're very happy with the tremendous support we've received from customers in both South Florida and The Bahamas," said Scott Laurence, Vice President of Network Planning, JetBlue "Whether it's business or pleasure, an hour-long trip and three daily JetBlue flights make it very easy to reach the Bahamas; a shiny new terminal doesn't hurt, either!” he added, highlighting the new passenger building that opened at Lynden Pindling International Airport earlier this year. Alongside this route, JetBlue also offers links to Nassau from Boston, New York and Orlando. It accounted for 11.4 per cent of the 3.1 million O&D passenger traffic in and out of Nassau during the past year.
AVIANCA TO FLY TO ORLANDO
Colombian national carrier Avianca is to inaugurate flights to Orlando International from its base at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport. The airline plans to offer a four times weekly service from July 12 using an Airbus A319. This will bring the number of US cities served by the airline to five with existing links offered to Ft Lauderdale, Miami, New York and Washington. There was an estimated demand of around 57,000 O&D passengers on the route in the past year, up 5.5 per cent on the previous 12 month period, with JetBlue Airways dominating the traffic with a 76 per cent share. The US low-cost carrier offers a daily service on the route but Avianca offers the opportunity for better connections to Central and South American markets including Buenos Aires, Cali, Caracas, Cartagena, Guayaquil, Lima, Medellin, Quito, Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo. Colombians make up the third largest Hispanic group in metro Orlando, according to official documentation.
AMERICAN AIRLINES TO DROP SAN FRANCISCO – HONOLULU
After more than 20 years serving the route, American Airlines is to suspend operations between San Francisco and Honolulu in September, according to its latest schedule data. The carrier currently operates a Boeing 757-200ER on a daily rotation between the two cities, but no availability is now being shown beyond September 7. American Airlines carried an estimated 51,000 O&D passengers on the route in the past year, a 10 per cent share of the total 528,000 traffic. United Airlines dominates the market with a 50 per cent share, while Hawaiian Airlines also has a notable presence.
ASIANA TO BOOST US SCHEDULES
Asiana Airlines has confirmed that it is to increase frequencies on flights from Incheon International to San Francisco and Seattle later this month. As first reported by The HUB in January, the carrier is to add two further weekly flights to San Francisco from May 25, all operated using a Boeing 777-200ER, while a daily schedule will also be offered to Seattle, albeit on a seasonal basis from May 25 to September 17 to cater to the peak summer season in the US. At the same time Asiana will reschedule its existing three times weekly link to Chicago with the outbound leg leaving South Korea at 11:00 rather than 18:50, arriving in Chicago at 09:40. The return will then leave Chicago at 12:00 rather than 01:00, arriving in Incheon at 16:00 rather than 05:00. An estimated 3.8 million O&D passengers travelled between South Korea and the US in the past year, up 16.8 per cent on the previous 12 months. Asiana holds a 29.4 per cent share of this market, positioning it as the second largest carrier between the two countries behind Korean Air, which holds a 43.0 per cent share.
BEARSKIN AIRLINES LAUNCHES WATERLOO – MONTREAL CONNECTION
Canadian regional carrier Bearskin Airlines launched flights on May 1 between Waterloo International Airport and Montreal with the ambitious goal of building frequency on the route. It is initially offering five flights every weekday and reduced schedule at weekends, with three of the flights operating directly and two via Ottawa. It already operates 56 flights per week from Waterloo to Ottawa having served the route since October 2007 and it plans to replicate this in the Montreal market with flights arranged for the business community. "The demand for a convenient non-stop service between Montreal and Waterloo Region is clear," said Harvey Friesen, President, Bearskin Airlines. "We'll save you up to four hours on a round trip flight as compared to a flight via Toronto and associated drive to Waterloo Region." The new connection will significantly improve accessibility for the community in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Alongside Bearskin’s links to Montreal and Ottawa, WestJet offers the only other direct scheduled service with a daily connection to Calgary. Weekly charter flights are also provided by Sunwing Airlines to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic between December and March.
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