IBEX BOOSTS LINKS FOR ANA

Japanese regional carrier IBEX Airlines plans to launch its first flights to Nagoya, launching double daily services From Chubu Airport to Oita and Sendai routes from July 1 under a codeshare arrangement with its operational partner All Nippon Airways (ANA). The new flights will be operated by Bombardier CRJ700s.

QANTAS UPGRADES WESTERN AUSTRALIAN NETWORK

Australian flag carrier Qantas is to expand its activities in Western Australia, basing an additional Boeing 737-800 in Perth for services to Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland as well as adding Exmouth to its network from March 31. The airline is also considering launching flights to Geraldton should the regional government proceed with its proposal to deregulate air traffic on the route. The new flight to Exmouth will be flown three-times per week using a Boeing 717.

HANGZHOU ON A BUDGET

The Singapore-based arm of Australian low-cost carrier JetStar is to fly to the Chinese city of Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta region and Zhejiang province of the People's Republic of China. The route, which remains subject to government approval, will be operated four-times weekly with an Airbus A320. According to IATA BSP data more than 37,000 O+D passengers travelled between the two cities between November 2009 and November 2010, with Xiamen Airlines the market leader.

CHINA SOUTHERN SETS COURSE FOR VANCOUVER

China Southern Airlines will inaugurate flights to the Canadian city of Vancouver. The three-times weekly Guangzhou – Vancouver service will be launched on June 15 and will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER. The market between China and Canada has grown by a quarter in the past year from 726,000 passengers (IATA BSP, November 2008 – November 2009) to 911,000 (IATA BSP, November 2009 – November 2010). China Southern is also to add three non-stop weekly rotations on the Guangzhou – Amsterdam route from June 7, complementing its existing daily Guangzhou – Beijing – Amsterdam schedule. The flights, operated by A330-200s, will increase its 64 per cent share of the O+D market of over 21,000 annual O+D passengers.

ANA'S CHENGDU CHALLENGE

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has outlined its operational plans for the forthcoming fiscal year, announcing significant increases in capacity to China. From June 19, the airline will introduce a new daily Tokyo Narita – Chengdu link operated by Boeing 737-700 equipment. The route is not currently served direct, according to Flightbase (January 14-20), but Air China has a dominant position with over 70% of the 56,000 annual passengers connecting via its Beijing and Shanghai hubs (IATA BSP, November 2009 – November 2010).

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