Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesMay 24, 2009
The number of air passengers travelling business class fell by 19.2 percent in March compared to the same month in 2008, according to new figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Association in its premium traffic figures said the March fall was slightly less than the 21.1 percent decline for February. IATA said economy had slowed marginally year on year from 8.3 percent in 2008 to 8.2 percent this year. It said the weakest premium market was in Asia Pacific. Premium traffic on flights from the region across the Pacific fell by 29.3 percent, to and from Europe by 20.1 percent and within the region by 29.2 percent. www.iata.org May 19, 2009
Air France KLM, Delta Air Lines
For customers, the Air France KLM-Delta joint venture should result in more choices, frequencies, competitive fares and harmonized services on all trans-Atlantic flights operated by the partners. The joint venture represents approximately 25 percent of total trans-Atlantic capacity with annual revenues estimated at more than USD 12 billion (approximately 9.3 billion euros, reference year 2008/09). Global passengers will benefit from access to a vast network offering over 200 flights and approximately 50,000 seats daily. That network is structured around six main hubs: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York-JFK and Paris-CDG, together with Cincinnati, Lyon, Memphis and Salt Lake City. The airline partners will provide their corporate clients with a broad, global offering that best meets their expectations for the most convenient airline system, while providing efficient account management as well as ease of travel for their clients. Going forward, this structure will represent a major strength for the SkyTeam alliance, of which all three airlines are members. May 19, 2009
Air France KLM, Delta Air Lines
A transatlantic joint venture between Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines, covering a quarter of all transatlantic capacity, will ultimately be extended to include Alitalia. Air France chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon says: "It wasn't possible to transfer the anti-trust immunity obtained by the old Alitalia to the new Alitalia. We have to apply for anti-trust, but as soon as it is sorted out the new Alitalia will be able to join the new joint venture." May 19, 2009
AirBerlin
AirBerlin will launch twice-weekly Berlin Tegel-Tel Aviv flights on July 7. May 21, 2009
AirBerlin
AirBerlin is expanding its route network and will be flying from Israel to Berlin for the first time this summer. From 7th July 2009 onwards, AirBerlin passengers will have a choice of two non-stop flights a week from Tel Aviv to Berlin. There will be connecting flights to various German cities. The Air Berlin jets will be taking off from Tel Aviv early on Wednesdays and Fridays and touch down in Berlin before noon. Air Berlin flights from Tel Aviv to Berlin can now be booked online and are available from 99 euros, including taxes and charges. May 20, 2009
Alitialia
Italian flag-carrier Alitalia has identified a series of new routes which the airline intends to open, starting next year. The expansion will include intercontinental links to Los Angeles, Shanghai, Seoul and Rio de Janeiro. It will also feature European connections to Berlin, Zurich, Vienna, Prague and Malaga. SkyTeam partner Alitalia has detailed the increased network at a briefing in Rome Fiumicino to illustrate its future plans. May 18, 2009
Bmi
Bmibaby will introduce service to Grenoble from Nottingham East Midlands, Birmingham, Cardiff (all twice-weekly) and Manchester (weekly) for its 2009-10 winter schedule. May 22, 2009
Bmi, Lufthansa
Lufthansa's takeover of BMI seems to be turning sour, after a company owned by BMI's major shareholder Sir Michael Bishop launched High Court action against the German Star Alliance carrier. In October last year BMI chairman Bishop exercised a put option, forcing Lufthansa to acquire his full shareholding of 50 percent plus one share in BMI, under a deal which was agreed in 1999. Bishop holds his stake through an investment vehicle called the BBW partnership. The acquisition will give existing shareholder Lufthansa 80 percent control of the UK carrier. SAS owns the remaining 20 percent. May 20, 2009
British Airways
British Airways has followed up its recent 2-for-1 business class and free cab offers with another sale, with up to 40 per cent off business fares. The airilne has suffered a 20 percent drop snice last year in the number of passengers using its premium cabins. The sale runs until June 30 and is valid for selected flights between 1 June and 31 October. Fares range from GBP 1,099 return for New York to GBP 2,899 return for Sydney, including all taxes and charges. Richard Tams, BA's head of UK & Ireland sales, said: "These are amazing savings. Our customers can travel in real style and luxury, pampering themselves with a spa treatment in our lounges at Terminal 5 before enjoying a fully flat bed on long haul flights - all for a fraction of the normal price." Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, is continuing its 25th anniversary sale. It has filghts over the same period to New York for GBP 1,098 return and to Sydney for GBP 2,699 return. It is also offering higher sale fares for the period from 1 November to 13 December. May 22, 2009
British Airways
British Airways has announced plans to fly non-stop to Las Vegas from Heathrow this Autumn. The new daily service will start October 25, and will be served by a three class 777. Richard Tams, BA's head of sales for UK and Ireland, described the new route as an "ace" in BA's pack. Tickets starting at GBP 467 go on sale this week through BA.com and by phone. Transatlantic rival Virgin Atlantic also flies to Las Vegas but from Gatwick rather than Heathrow. UK hub airport Heathrow, where BA is the dominant carrier, already serves a number of key US routes. www.ba.com May 18, 2009
Clickair
Spanish budget airline clickair has announced plans to move all UK routes to London Heathrow. It hopes to boost passenger volumes to 400,000 this year as a result of the move. Routes to Vigo and Seville will move to the UK hub airport from London Gatwick effective from June 1. clickair already flies to Bilbao and La Coruna from Heathrow, and carried around 316,000 passengers last year. www.clickair.com May 20, 2009
Eastern Airways
Eastern Airways will launch thrice-daily weekday service from Liverpool to Aberdeen and Southampton on July 6. Aberdeen-Southampton flights will increase to five each weekday from two on the same day. May 19, 2009
London City Airport
London City Airport will lose its air link with Manchester from the end of the month. VLM, who plies the route up to three times a day, has announced it will discontinue the route after May 31. Air service on this route has been in decline for the past few years as Virgin Trains, the London-Manchester rail operator, has gradually made its services more attractive. Two years ago VLM was fielding seven flights a day between the two cities. That's now been cut to just three flights a day with timings geared more to the needs of Mancunian than London executives. VLM says it is committed to its other services from Manchester. These operate to Antwerp and Rotterdam. www.flyvlm.com May 21, 2009
Niki, Embraer
Niki took delivery of the first of five Embraer E-190s on firm order. President Niki Lauda said that the jets will be used initially on flights from Vienna to Innsbruck and Munich and eventually to open new routes. Niki also holds five E-190 options. May 20, 2009
Rapiscan Systems
Rapiscan Systems, a leading supplier of security inspection systems, has announced that the European Commission has handed over the first of 12 Eagle M4500 series mobile X-ray systems to be deployed at different crossing points between the Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Russia and European Union (EU) countries. The deployment is part of an EU project to enhance border and customs controls in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The new Eagle Mobile high-energy X-ray systems will help the State Customs Services of Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine combat arms and drug smuggling, counterfeiting, revenue fraud and other cross border criminal activities. The multi-year European Commission contract, which was awarded following a global competitive tender, funds the deployment of twelve Rapiscan Eagle M4500 series mobile systems as well as training and on-going technical support. The EU Border Assistance Mission has a mandate to provide the best available border and customs control and security scanning equipment to participating countries. In this case, the Eagle M4500 series mobile X-ray systems will enable Border Guards and Customs Departments in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine to better fight criminal cross-border activities. The EU economy and the economies of its neighbours can be put at risk by the smuggling of high-taxed goods and counterfeit products. Criminal organisations target and exploit the EUOs external borders which raise significant security concerns for all concerned governments. May 19, 2009
Spain
Spanish government is eliminating airport taxes for all carriers that increase or maintain the level of traffic at the country's "largest airports" during the second half of 2009 compared to the year-ago period, Ryanair said. The LCC again called upon the Irish government to end its U10 (USD 13.49) air passenger duty, citing recent efforts by Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain to reduce charges "to reverse recent traffic and tourism declines." May 19, 2009
VLM Airlines
VLM Airlines suspended Manchester-London City service last week, stating the route has been "heavily loss-making" and was "impeded by unfair competition from a subsidized rail network and airline ticket taxes that often make up over 50 percent of the overall fare." May 19, 2009
FEED