AIR JAMAICA RESUMES KINGSTON – ORLANDO LINK
Air Jamaica has resumed direct flights between Kingston and Orlando International in Central Florida after previously suspending the route two years ago. The airline launched the first of a twice weekly service on September 15, adding to the existing US links of Ft Lauderdale and New York JFK, served by the carrier and its partner Caribbean Airlines. Speaking at the official inauguration of the flight, Will Rodgers, acting General Manager, Air Jamaica highlighted the target markets for the new service. "Reintroducing our non-stop service to Orlando — the fifth largest metropolitan area in the south-east US — is an important milestone in our strategy to strengthen operations. The flights, which originate in Port of Spain, will serve Orlando's growing Caribbean diaspora, as well as seasonal leisure travellers from the Caribbean," he said. The route is being operated using a 154-seat Boeing 737-800 with a 16-seat Business Class cabin and increases the Air Jamaica network to six destinations across North America, serving the US, Canada and the Caribbean with over 130 weekly flights. In the past year an estimated 7,000 O&D passenger used the route, the majority flying with American Airlines via New York, but the potential market is considerably larger. In 2008 when Air Jamaica offered a direct service more than 22,000 O&D passengers are believed to have travelled between Kingston and Orlando International.
JETBLUE BRINGS FORWARD CARIBBEAN EXPANSION
US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways is to bring forward the launch of its new flights from San Juan to St Croix and St Thomas, its first ever link to Cyril E King Airport on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The airline revealed in June that it would introduce the flights on December 15 but has now confirmed it will inaugurate them three days earlier on December 12. JetBlue will offer a twice daily rotation to St Thomas from San Juan, a route already served by American Eagle Airlines, Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines and United Airlines, with Sun Country Airlines also offering charter links. An estimated 73,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year. The airline will offer a daily flight to St Croix, also in the US Virgin Islands. This route is also served by American Airlines, Cape Air and Seaborne Airlines, which together offer around 1,500 weekly seats on over 65 weekly flights. An estimated 58,000 O&D passengers flew between the two destinations in the past year. JetBlue is already the second largest operator at San Juan behind American Airlines and this latest expansion will help it expand its activities in the Puerto Rican market. It currently offers flights to seven destinations in the mainland US from San Juan as well as services to New York JFK and Orlando International from Aguadilla and Ponce. Over the past year, JetBlue has grown 38 per cent in Puerto Rico and now offers more than 30 daily departures. The carrier has started new services from San Juan to Tampa and Jacksonville, announced a link to St Maarten, and increased Boston flights from two daily to four daily, bringing 35 daily flights to the island this summer. Later in the year the airline will increase service on the popular route between San Juan and Santo Domingo from three to five daily flights and will also link Boston to St Thomas from December 15 with the flights routing via San Juan on the northbound leg to Boston. "It is only thanks to the tremendous support we've received from the Puerto Rican community that we have been able to grow at this pace, by adding more options and more destinations for visitors and residents of the Puerto Rico alike," said Dave Barger, President and CEO, JetBlue.
ETIHAD INCREASES FLIGHTS TO RIYADH
Etihad Airways is to increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh this winter, almost doubling capacity as it moves from a daily schedule to 13 flights per week from October 30. The additional flights will be operated by a mix of Airbus 320 and A330 equipment and will boost the travel options for the increasing number of passengers flying on the route and boost connectivity to a number of key destinations across the airline's global network, including the Indian Subcontinent, Indonesia and the Philippines. “Saudi Arabia is a key market for Etihad, and Riyadh has always been an important strategic destination for the airline. These changes allow us to strengthen our position within the GCC network,” said James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways. The airline first launched flights to Riyadh in December 2004 and already offers 13 flights per week to both Dammam and Jeddah, also in Saudi Arabia. In the past year it carried an estimated 17,000 O&D passengers on the Abu Dhabi – Riyadh route, a 40 per cent share of the total 43,000 O&D passengers that flew between the two destinations during the period. Etihad has actually seen its share of the market fall from 53 per cent in the previous 12 year period as its passenger numbers have slipped. However, its yield has strengthened as average one-way fares have increased from $267 to $276. Saudi Arabian Airlines, which also serves the route, currently dominates the market with a 54 per cent share of the traffic, having increased from 42 per cent in the previous 12 month period.
ARIK AIR ADDS LINKS TO IBADAN
Independent Nigerian carrier Arik Air has inaugurated flights between the country’s federal capital Abuja and Ibadan, the largest city in the Oyo State metropolitan area and the most populous city in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa up until the 1970s. The airline launched the four times weekly service on September 19, using a 72-seat Bombardier Dash 8-Q400. Ibadan is located in south-western Nigeria and is a prominent transit point between the coastal region and areas to the north. Ibadan had been the centre of administration of the old Western Region since the days of the British colonial rule, and parts of the city's ancient protective walls still stand to this day. It is already linked to Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by Overland Airways, with an estimated 4,000 O&D passengers making the journey in the past year. “By linking Ibadan with Abuja, Arik Air offers air travellers more convenient connections between Ibadan and Abuja than what was previously offered with many travellers having to utilise the ever- busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” explained Chris Ndulue, Managing Director, Arik Air. “The Ibadan Airport has remained underserviced in spite of the fact that it is located in the third largest city in Nigeria by population and the largest in geographical area. We owe it a duty as a truly Nigerian airline to help in the infrastructural development of the country. This explains our resolve to connect all airports across the country”. During the second half of this year Arik Air has been on a mission to enhance domestic connectivity within Nigeria. The carrier has recently opened new Lagos - Asaba and Abuja - Asaba routes and more domestic and international routes are set to be launched. In fact, we can reveal that Arik Air will shortly announce details of a partnership with Routesonline to use its Route Exchange online trading platform for a proposed network expansion into Europe. The formal Request for Proposals (RFP) is due to be launched at World Routes in Berlin on the afternoon of October 3.
EMIRATES SKYCARGO ADDS SERVICES TO FAR EAST AND AUSTRALASIA
Emirates SkyCargo, the dedicated freight subsidiary of United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier Emirates Airline, last week inaugurated a new link to the Far East and Australasia. The weekly service, operated by its new Boeing 777F freighter started on September 12 and is flying the Dubai – Singapore – Sydney – Hong Kong – Dubai route, providing the key trading points with additional connectivity to Emirates’ wider cargo network from its Dubai hub. “This new route not only bolsters capacity, it provides our customers with more options and increased trade opportunities,” said Hiran Perera, SVP Cargo Planning & Freighters, Emirates Airline. “We currently transport cargo in the belly-hold of 126 passenger flights a week between Dubai and Australia, as well 28 Hong Kong flights and 42 Singapore flights, and the freighter – with a wide main deck door – will increase our ability to carry oversized shipments.” “This takes our import capacity to Australia to 1370 tonnes per week and, in these uncertain economic conditions, is further testament of our commitment to facilitating international trade for businesses in the region,” he added.
DELTA AND VIRGIN AUSTRALIA TRANS-PACIFIC CODESHARE TO LAUNCH IN NOVEMBER
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia Airlines have announced another major milestone of their recently approved joint venture: an expanded codesharing agreement on flights between the US and Australia. From November 6, Delta will add its code to all flights between Los Angeles and the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, operated by V Australia, Virgin Australia's long-haul international carrier. V Australia will also add its code to Delta's service between Los Angeles and Sydney. To further improve the customer experience, from November, flights operated by V Australia will arrive at Delta's Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport to allow for easier and faster connections within the same terminal to the rest of Delta's network. "The start of trans-Pacific codesharing and arrival co-location at T5 in Los Angeles mark the first major steps toward establishing our joint venture, which will provide significant benefits for our customers," said Charlie Pappas, Vice President – Alliances, Delta Air Lines. "Together, Delta and Virgin Australia will offer a leading network and a superior travel experience for our customers flying between the U.S. and Australia." Since receiving US government approval in June, Delta and Virgin Australia have moved quickly to enhance the joint venture. They ate now working on expanding the existing codeshare arrangement on each airline's domestic network and opening up new opportunities in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the US.
CZECH AIRLINES INAUGURATES FLIGHT TO ABU DHABI
Czech Airlines and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) celebrated the launch of the airline’s new service from Prague on the evening of September 21. The four times weekly flight is being operated by Airbus A320 Family equipment through a codeshare with Etihad Airways and will offer travellers more convenient connections between the Middle East and the Czech Republic and connection beyond Prague to Central and Eastern Europe. “ADAC is pleased to welcome Czech Airlines into Abu Dhabi International Airport airlines’ portfolio. We applaud this partnership between Etihad Airways and Czech Airlines as it paves the way for further development, improving the offer of choice and convenience to our clients, not only to Europe, but to our whole network," said James E Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, ADAC. “Thanks to the perfect harmonisation of departure and arrival times at Abu Dhabi, destinations in the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia have never been as accessible from Prague as they are now. We look forward to working with Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) on further developing our services to travellers from Abu Dhabi International Airport," added Miroslav Dvořák, President, Czech Airlines.
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