Air Koryo Set to Offer Charter Link to Berlin
North Korean carrier Air Koryo is set to offer a series of four weekly charter flights between Pyongyang and the German capital Berlin as part of a tourism package for a Swedish tour operator. The airline is set to operate a two-class Tupolev Tu-204 with 12 Business Class and 164 Economy seats on the route on April 12, April 19, April 26 and May 3, subject to final confirmation. The airline will serve Schonefeld Airport in the German city.
MIAT Mongolian Airlines Plans Ulaanbaatar – Munich Service
MIAT Mongolian Airlines is planning to launch a four times weekly service between Ulaanbaatar and Munich next summer, according to the latest update of the carrier’s GDS inventory. The display shows flights operating between June 25, 2012 and September 11, 2012 using a Boeing 767-300ER. MIAT has been serving the German market for a number of years and while it has suspended services to a range of locations in Europe, including the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey, it has continued to serve the country, as well as offer links to the Russian capital Moscow. In the past few years it has been serving Berlin (having also previously flown to Frankfurt), so the introduction of flights to the Bavarian city will represent an interesting development. An estimated 18,000 O&D passengers travelled between Germany and Mongolia last year.
Christchurch Welcomes New Japanese Link
Air New Zealand today (October 31) inaugurated flights between Christchurch and Tokyo, marking the return of scheduled flights from the New Zealand city to Japan. The three times weekly rotation marks the relaunch of a service that was terminated earlier this year following the earthquakes that struck both countries. According to Matthew Findlay, General Manager of Aeronautical Business Development, Christchurch International Airport Limited, the flights illustrate the strong demand from Japanese travellers to visit the South Island. “Many international travellers book their trip to New Zealand with the expectation of seeing our stunning scenery – mountains and lakes. They get the promise of that as they fly in to Christchurch and know it’s only a short drive from this city to see more of what they want. Travellers arriving here tell us they love flying in over the mountains they came to see,” he said.
Jet Airways Boosts Bangkok and Riyadh Routes from Mumbai
Indian carrier Jet Airways is to introduce an additional daily rotation on its routes from Mumbai to the Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh and the Thai capital Bangkok before the end of this year. The airline will introduce a second daily flight on the Riyadh route and a third daily rotation to Bangkok from December 14, each operated by a Boeing 737-800. The Mumbai – Bangkok route is already served more than eight times daily with Air India, Bangkok Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, IndiGo Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines and Thai Airways International also providing service. An estimated 411,000 O&D passengers flew between these two cities in the past year, up 26.5 per cent on the previous year. Jet Airways has seen its own share of the market reduce as new entrants and increased frequencies from its rivals have eaten away at its marketshare. The airline now holds a 20 per cent share of the O&D traffic between the two cities, down from 24 per cent one year earlier. However, its yield has strengthened with its average one-way fares increasing by 6.2 per cent during the period, versus the 4.6 per cent market average. The second daily flight on the Mumbai – Riyadh route will place Jet Airways as the lead operator in this market from December. Air India also serves the route on a daily basis while Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) offers five flights per week. An estimated 314,000 passengers flew between the two cities in the past year and Jet Airways has just a five per cent share of this traffic, carrying an estimated 14,000 O&D passengers. Although the Indian carrier is offering more frequencies, its rivals both operate widebodied equipment on their own flights: Air India using a 747-400 and Saudia a 777-200ER.
Cebu Pacific to Open Manila – Hanoi Service
Independent Filipino carrier Cebu Pacific is to expand its international network with the launch of a twice weekly Manila – Hanoi service from March 17, 2012. The airline will be the sole operator on this route and will complement its existing daily schedule from the Philippines’ capital to Ho Chi Minh City. An estimated 153,000 O&D passengers travelled between the Philippines and Vietnam last year, up 24.2 per cent on the previous 12 months. Cebu Pacific is the dominant carrier in this market with a 45.2 per cent share, while Philippine Airlines has a 39.8 per cent share, offering a weekly flight between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. "This announcement is very timely given the visit of Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang to the Philippines last week. He wished then for more direct flights between Manila and Hanoi. Cebu Pacific is more than happy to oblige, to further promote trade and tourism between our two countries," said Candice Iyog VP for Marketing and Distribution, Cebu Pacific. “In 2010, Hanoi celebrated its 1000 year-old anniversary, making it among the most ancient capitals in the world and a rich source of Vietnamese culture." This new route is the 78th in the Cebu Pacific network and 17th to an international destination.
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