A digest of the event and industry news from The HUB Daily publications at Routes Americas at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas this week...
EVENT NEWS
Cartagena de Indias to Host Routes Americas 2013
As formally announced at last year’s World Routes in Berlin, Germany, Rafael Nuñez International Airport in Cartagena de Indias, supported by their stakeholders Cartagena Tourist Board and PROEXPORT Colombia, will host next year’s Routes Americas, the sixth edition of the only network development event for the entire Americas region. The event will take place in the Colombian city between 10th and 12th February, 2013.
Dallas/Fort Worth Secures Airport Marketing Award
Expanding US gateway Dallas/Fort Worth International has retained its crown as the leading airport in the Americas region after it was once again voted overall winner in the regional Routes Airport Marketing Awards. The facility will now automatically go forward into the final shortlist for the World Routes Awards, which will take place in Abu Dhabi later this year.
Networking Evening and Awards Dinner
At the formal Networking Evening and Routes Airport Marketing Awards, Routes Americas delegates were able to discuss industry developments with colleagues before they were entertained with a Junkanoo performance; a traditional street parade that takes place in amny towns across The Bahamas every December 26th. Images of the event are included here.
Brazil Airport Privatisation Winners Could be Real 'Losers'
The winners of bids to operate three of Brazil’s main airports may actually turn out to be the real ‘losers’ as hidden costs begin to bite, the head of a leading Latin American airport investor has warned. Jaime Daly, CEO of Latin American Airports Holding, said the three consortia which won bids to operate Brazil’s privatised São Paulo–Guarulhos, Campinas–Viracopos and Brasilia airports are likely to be stung by a range of unexpected costs as they face the task of upgrading the gateways in time for the 2014 World Cup, which is being hosted by Brazil.
St Vincent Airport Privatisation Decision Expected Within Two Months
The decision as to whether the first international airport in St Vincent & the Grenadines will be state-run or privatised is expected to be made within the next two months, it has been revealed. Speaking during the Routes Americas conference in The Bahamas, Glen Beache, CEO of the St Vincents & the Grenadine’s Tourism Authority, said the government was mulling whether to put operation of the new airport out to tender or to run it directly.
Inside the Strategy Forum – The Key Quotes
Routes Americas Strategy Forum attempted to highlight some of the key issues that are impacting the commercial aviation business across the entire Americas region. With a high profile list of speakers the content was specially developed to provide a unique insight into the business with informed moderators ensuring the key issues were not glossed over.
Nassau Airport Boss Opens 5th Routes Americas
The 5th Routes Americas opened to an interesting and serious debate on some of the key topics impacting the aviation business in the Americas region in the amazing surroundings of the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas yesterday. Despite the stunning weather and numerous activities available to guests at the resort as a potential distraction visitors enjoyed an insightful and at times humorous discussion at the Routes Americas Strategy Forum. Exploring the areas of Taxation - the real cost to the economy and the impact on the aviation industry; Airport Privatisation – short-term expectations, long-term lessons learnt from across the globe and the general state of the Americas market, delegates were provided with informed views from a distinguished panel of speakers.
Networking at the Welcome Reception
At the informal Welcome Reception, Routes Americas delegates were able to sample some Bahamian hospitality. Here we provide some photographs from the event.
Latin America Drives Aviation Growth in the Americas
The growing economies of the Latin American market continue to drive aviation growth in the Americas region as investment improves both domestically and internationally. This is the conclusion reached by the latest OAG Routes Americas Analysis which has been published at Routes Americas, the largest commercial aviation event for the entire Americas region.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Southwest Airline Confirms Additional Network Growth
US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has confirmed additional network development for its own operation and that of its sister carrier AirTran Airways as part of an extension of its flights schedules until November 2, 2012. The changes mainly represent the reintroduction of a number of routes previously served by the carriers and the switch of some flying between AirTran and Southwest.
Avianca Adds Havana
Colombian national carrier Avianca is to inaugurate a new link between Bogota and the Caribbean island of Cuba with a twice weekly connection to Havana. The service is due to commence on March 30, 2012 and will be operated using an Airbus A319.
Copa Airlines Builds in the Americas
Less than a month before this Routes Americas conference Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines revealed plans to further expand its network from its Panama City Tocumen International Airport hub. The addition of services in June 2012 to Recife, Brazil; Liberia (Guanacaste) Costa Rica; Las Vegas, Nev.; and the island of Curacao will expand its network to 63 destinations in 29 countries in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
WestJet Expands into Chicago Market
Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines is to launch flights to Chicago, a market that up until now it has only served through partner carriers. The company will offer, subject to Government approval, its own daily flights to the US city from Calgary and Vancouver from May 14, 2012, but will continue to market the Canadian operations of American Airlines from Chicago to Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
US Airways Increases Reagan National Connections
US Airways is to introduce new services from Cincinnati, Ohio and Des Moines, Iowa to Washington, DC's Reagan National Airport on May 2, 2012 enhancing links for business, government and leisure travellers into the nation’s capital and connections to other destinations throughout the East Coast.
United Introduces New Domestic Links from its US Hubs
United Continental Holdings plans to launch new year-round and seasonal service on several new routes during summer 2012 as it continues to capitalise on the combined resources of United and Continental to redefine its network. “The flexibility of our fleet allows us to put the right aircraft in the right markets to serve new communities and to add additional flights to communities we already serve,” said James Starnes, Director of Domestic Planning, United Continental.
In the Spotlight - Chris Mangos, Miami International Airport
Ahead of this year’s event we grabbed a few quick words with Chris Mangos, Director, Marketing Division of Miami International Airport…
AeroMexico to Start Atlanta Service from July 2012
AeroMexico is to launch a daily link between Mexico City and Atlanta this summer adding to the current flights of its SkyTeam alliance partner Delta Air Lines. The new service will be launched on July 1, 2012 and will be operated using a Boeing 737-700. Together, the two alliance members will offer up to six daily rotations on the international route during peak season.
Canadian Airlines Fight for Slice of Big Apple
Three of Canada’s leading international carriers are to increase capacity between Toronto and New York this year as they intensify their battle for air passengers in this key established market. Air Canada and Porter Airlines will both increase capacity on existing routes, Air Canada will also introduce a new city pair between the two destinations, while WestJet Airlines will enter the marketplace following its successful purchase of slots at New York LaGuardia Airport late last year.
The US Matchmaker
It’s an age-old romantic adage that opposites attract, but perhaps that same expression can be used to describe the merger of two of the US’s biggest airlines – United and Continental. Not only did the tie-up in 2010 create the world’s largest airline by passenger traffic, it also brought two different global route networks together which afforded so many potential synergies that CEO, Jeff Smisek, described it as a “match made in heaven”.
JetBlue Expands in New York and Washington
US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways is to significantly expand its operations from New York's LaGuardia Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), increasing flights at both convenient airports by eight round-trips daily to at least 16 round-trips by this summer. The growth has been made possible by the airline's acquisition of slots through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) slot auction as part of the Delta Air Lines and US Airways slot swap.
New Revision to Canada-China Air Transport Agreement
The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening its important trade and investment relationship with China, according to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This week the Government announced an expansion of the Canada-China Air Transport Agreement, which will benefit travellers and businesses in various sectors of the Canadian economy, including the tourism industry.
REDJet Expands to St Maarten
Caribbean low-cost carrier REDJet is set to launch a twice weekly link between Barbados and St Maarten as it expands its budget airline model into new markets across the region. The airline has confirmed it has received approval from the authorities to launch a twice weekly service on the route and is expected to formalise its launch schedule over the coming two weeks with a tentative March launch.
Boom Time in The Bahamas
With a massive resort complex soon to open and the upgrade of its main airport in full swing, The Bahamas looks set for a bright future. Almost exactly a year on from breaking ground, Baha Mar, the new 1,000 acre mega resort on The Bahamas island of New Providence, is now clearly taking shape, and that’s good news for Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and its boss, Stewart Steeves.
Start-up Brings PEOPLExpress Back to US Domestic Skies
A new carrier plans to launch operations this summer from Newport News / Williamsburg International Airport under the PEOPLExpress Airlines brand serving many of the markets previously flown by the carrier of the same name back in the 1980s prior to it becoming absorbed into Continental Airlines. The start-up is expected to initially operate as a virtual airline on the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of an established venture and is currently formalizing its planned route network.
Denver in High Spirits as LCC Returns
Spirit Airlines has announced its return to the Denver market after an eight year absence with new daily links to be offered from Denver International Airport to its four largest bases, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas from May 3, 2012. The airline is taking advantage of a contraction from the city’s largest carrier United Airlines to provide new low-cost flight options for travellers in a market that is also served by Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
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