RAK Airways to Add Three More Routes
United Arab Emirates-based carrier RAK Airways has revealed plans to expand its international network by a further three destinations over the course of the next two months. This is in addition to the four new destinations that the carrier has already announced - Khartoum, Kuwait City, Lahore and Peshawar. The airline is planning to introduce one route in December, subject to Government approval, and two others in January 2012, but currently does not want these publicised while it works to finalise arrangements. It is also in discussions to lease an additional Airbus A320 to facilitate this expansion. "We are really trying to put RAK Airways on the map," John Brayford, Vice President Commercial, RAK Airways, told The HUB during this week's World Travel Market (WTM) in London, where the carrier was exhibiting alongside other tourism business from Ras Al Khaimah. "We have seen strong growth over the past year and alongside the new routes for winter 201/2012 we have also increased frequencies on existing routes." One such route is Doha, the capital of Qatar, and it is where the airline will debut its newest aircraft. RAK Airways currently operates a fleet of Airbus A320s, but after recently returning one example back to its owner Air Moldova it has subsequently sourced a single Embraer 190 from the same source. This jet was delivered on an ACMI lease this week and will be used on the Ras Al Khaimah - Doha route. "The E190 is the right-sized aircraft for many of of our planned routes and this aircraft will certainly enable us to look at serving more destinations in the wider Gulf Cooperation Council States," added John Brayford.
S7 Airlines to Launch Italian Links
Russian carrier S7 Airlines is to launch flights between Moscow and the Italian cities of Turin and Bergamo. The weekly rotations will be operated by a two-class, 128-seat Airbus A319 and will begin from December 30 (Turin) and January 2, 2012 (Bergamo). An estimated 1,395,818 O&D passengers travelled between Italy and the Russian Federation in the past year, up 25.8 per cent on the previous 12 month period. Both destinations are already served from the Russian capital with low-cost carrier WindJet offering four flights a week to Bergamo from Moscow Domedovo and Alitalia a three times weekly service to Turin from Moscow Sheremetyevo.
Petroleum Air Services Adds Regional Jet
Cairo-based regional carrier Petroleum Air Services has signed a contract to become the launch customer for the Bombardier CRJ series in Egypt with a firm order for one CRJ900 NextGen and an option for a second aircraft. The airline mainly operates helicopter and fixed wing charter and air-taxi services for the petroleum industry, as its name suggests, but surplus hours are used by tour operators within Egypt and to international destinations within the region. It currently operates four de Havilland Dash 7 and five Dash 8-Q300 turboprops, but the arrival of the jet aircraft will enable it to enhance its offering. “We require a proven jet aircraft to enhance services to our oil company customers and for our touristic destinations,” said General Gamil Morad Ismail, Chairman and Managing Director, Petroleum Air Services. “The Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft has the performance we require in our harsh Middle Eastern operating environment; it has a comparatively low fuel burn; and based on our experience with our de Havilland and Bombardier turboprops, it will have the technical reliability we require.”
Vim Airlines’ Aircraft Reportedly Banned from Europe
Russian safety officials have reportedly banned local carrier Vim Airlines from operating flights in and out of Europe, according to local media reports. The report follows a ramp inspection of one of the airline’s Boeing 757-200s in Paris earlier this year and alleged altercation between members of the airline and the safety inspectors. It is understood that the Russian state transport agency Rosaviatsia has amended the carrier’s AOC banning flights in and out of Europe, although it is still permitted to fly within Russia and other areas of the world.
Bombardier Increases Middle East Focus
Bombardier Aerospace has announced it will establish a Bombardier Commercial Aircraft regional sales and marketing office in Dubai to serve the Middle East and Africa. The facility is to be located in the Dubai Free Zone near Dubai International Airport. The Canadian manufacturer revealed at the Dubai Air Show that the new facility will enable it to “further extend our global presence and provide closer proximity to current customers and prospects in the Middle East and Africa.” Including aircraft on firm order, the fleet in the region includes more than 180 Dash-8/Q-Series and CRJ aircraft and is forecast to play a key role in the transformation of the aviation industry, according to Bombardier’s 2011-2030 market forecast. This predicts that while starting from a small base, the Middle East and Africa will capture seven per cent, or 980 of the 13,100 worldwide deliveries expected in the 20- to 149-seat market segment.
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