News From Around The World

Southwest Airlines Launches Flights from Atlanta

US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines this week inaugurated its own branded flights from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, joining its sister carrier AirTran Airways at the world’s busiest commercial airport. The airline is initially offering 15 flights across a network of five destinations - Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver, and Houston (Hobby) – but has already revealed plans to ramp-up its operations with flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix starting March 10, to Los Angeles from June 10 and to Louisville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Seattle from August 12. “We're opening Southwest service to Atlanta with more flights than our traditional start, and we have big plans for the city,” said Gary Kelly, Chairman, President and CEO, Southwest Airlines at an event to celebrate its new flights. “Our service from Atlanta brings greatly reduced fares with new flexibility and value for both leisure and business customers.” Although Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran Airways in May 2010 the two companies continue to operate as separate carriers. They are now working towards obtaining a single Air Operators Certificate (AOC) during the first quarter of this year and have already coordinated their networks to maximise synergies ahead of the completion of the deal and ultimately the retirement of the AirTran brand. With the addition of Atlanta, Southwest Airlines adds Georgia, as its 38th State, to a network map now totaling 73 US airports. As of today, AirTran also serves 52 cities non-stop from Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, including international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean. AirTran Airways is currently the second largest operator from Atlanta with a 14.4 per cent share of the available seat capacity. This position will be further strengthened when its own flights are integrated into the expanded 2012 offering of Southwest Airlines. Delta Air Lines is the market leader with a 77.3 per cent share of capacity, while AirTran’s closest competitor is American Airlines which has just a 1.9 per cent share.

airphil Express to Launch Flights from Clark

airphil Express is to launch flights from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) from next month as it attempts to better compete with low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific and new entrant AirAsia Philippines in the domestic Filipino market. The airline, formerly known as Air Philippines and PAL Express, currently operates a mix of domestic and international services, complementing the activities of national carrier Philippine Airlines, with whom it shares common ownership. The budget airline’s main focus has been serving destinations from Cebu, Davao, Manila and Zamboanga and it currently has a 21.2 per cent share of the available seats in the domestic Filipino market. However, from March 29, 2012 it will launch four routes to DMIA, also known as Clark International Airport, from Cebu, Davao, Kalibo and Puerto Princesa using a single based Airbus A320. The Cebu route, already served by Cebu Pacific, will be operated on a four times weekly basis, as will Kalibo; while Davao and Puerto Princesa will see three flights every week. There is currently no direct competition on these three routes, although start-up AirAsia Philippines is expected to offer flights between DMIA and Davao and Kalibo when it inaugurates operations in mid-March.

South African Airways Reveals Schedule Enhancements

South African Airways (SAA) has announced significant schedule and route enhancements to its African network, including added frequencies to several destinations, new or upgraded aircraft on certain routes, and product developments that will enhance its service levels. The network expansion will take effect from February 25, 2012 with additional flights being introduced from Johannesburg to Lusaka, Zambia; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Accra, Ghana - Lusaka will see a further two flights a week, while Kinshasa and Accra will both see six additional rotations per week. “These additions are part of SAA’s strategy to optimise its schedule throughout the African continent, resulting in expanded services and more convenient schedules and connections for our customers,” said Theunis Potgieter, General Manager of Commercial, South African Airways. SAA is due to take delivery of 22 new Airbus A320 aircraft as part of its fleet renewal process and according to Potgieter the airline is in the process of optimising flight schedules for these aircraft. “These changes and enhancements will further solidify SAA’s position as the leading and most awarded airline in Africa,” he added. According to SAA, the first Airbus A320 will enter service on the Johannesburg – Durban route from February 24, 2012, with the second aircraft joining it between the same city pairs from March 18, 2012. The arrival of the new aircraft will free capacity to enable SAA to improve the schedules of some of its regional flights and the departure and arrival times for flights between Johannesburg and Mauritius (from March 1, 2012), Nairobi (from March 18, 2012) and Accra (from March 25, 2012) will be adjusted to resulted in more convenient connection opportunities to and from SAA’s international flights. SAA is also planning to increase capacity in some markets by replacing narrowbodied equipment with larger A330 widebodied jets. The type will be introduced on flights between Johannesburg and Harare, Zimbabwe every Friday to cater for the typically higher demand that day, while upgrades will also be implemented on certain flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town from March 18, 2012.

SilkAir and Bangkok Airways Begin Regional Codeshare

SilkAir and Bangkok Airways have jointly announced that with effect from February 15, 2012, they have opened a codeshare arrangement on certain flights between Singapore, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai, significantly enhancing the opportunities for travellers between Singapore and Thailand. The two airlines will cooperate on the flights between the two countries, expanding their own networks in the process. Silk Air currently offers flights from Singapore Changi to Chiang Mai and Phuket, while both carriers offer services between Singapore and Koh Samui. Bangkok Airways offers regular flights between Koh Samui and both Chiang Mai and Phuket as part of its domestic Thai route network. “We are pleased to announce this codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways. With the enhanced connectivity, customers now have the freedom to embark on a multiple-destination holiday within Thailand,” said Marvin Tan, Chief Executive Officer, SilkAir. “Travelers can, for example, choose to fly into Chiang Mai for a trekking adventure through its hills, followed by a weekend of pure relaxation on the beaches of Koh Samui,” added Mr Tan. “This codeshare agreement allows passengers of both airlines to benefit from greater connectivity and flexibility when making their travel plans. From a business perspective, the agreement enables both SilkAir and Bangkok Airways to expand their respective networks and grow both inbound and outbound passenger flows,” added Capt.Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President, Bangkok Airways.