Weekly Updates on Transportation and Connectivity (Commencing March 11, 2024)
Expanding Horizons: A Global Look at Airline Expansion and Routes
In the ever-evolving world of aviation, airlines continue to expand their reach and offer new destinations to travellers. Here's a roundup of some of the latest developments:
Asia-Pacific
- China Airlines is set to increase its presence in North America with five roundtrips per week between Taipei and Seattle, using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
- AirAsia has launched daily flights to Perth Airport, Australia, using Airbus A321neo aircraft. AirAsia X has also started nonstop service to Almaty, Kazakhstan from Kuala Lumpur, operating 4X-weekly using A330 equipment.
- AirAsia X has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kazakhstan Tourism for greater commercial collaboration and partnerships.
Europe
- Delta Air Lines will resume daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport on June 7, using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The airline will also restart daily Atlanta-Venice service later this month, increasing to 10X-weekly during the peak summer 2024 season.
- Vietnam Airlines is launching flights to Munich for the first time with two new routes to the German city, one from Hanoi and the other from Ho Chi Minh City.
- Eurowings is adding the Tunisian city of Sfax to its 2024 summer flight schedule, with a 1X-weekly service from Cologne/Bonn Airport every Monday. A second route from Stuttgart Airport to Sfax will launch on July 24, also operating once a week.
- EasyJet is adding Reykjavik Keflavík Airport (KEF) to its list of destinations from Paris Orly Airport (ORY), operating twice a week starting September 3.
- Eurowings has scheduled a new route between Düsseldorf, Germany, and Kajaani Airport, Finland, next winter, operating once a week on Saturdays from Jan. 18, 2025, through March 22 using Airbus A319 aircraft.
Middle East
- Omani LCC SalamAir is restarting flights from Muscat to Baku in Azerbaijan and Almaty in Kazakhstan in response to travel demand.
Africa
- Uzbekistan Airways has confirmed plans to operate service between capital city Tashkent and London Gatwick Airport (LGW), offering three times per week from April 7.
- South Africa's Airlink has suspended services from Johannesburg to Richards Bay due to the downgrading of Richards Bay Airport's fire-and-rescue service capability.
Americas
- JetBlue Airways has expanded its transatlantic network with the inauguration of flights to Dublin Airport, Ireland, operating daily from Boston Logan International Airport and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- Frontier Airlines has opened a new crew base at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, expected to employ up to 110 pilots, 250 flight attendants, and 50 aircraft maintenance personnel within its first year of operation.
- JetSmart has started domestic operations in Colombia with flights between Bogota and Medellin, Medellin to Cartagena, and Cartagena to Pereira and Cali. The airline aims to serve 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028.
Europe to Europe
- Qatar Airways and Aer Lingus have launched a new codeshare partnership, allowing passengers to travel between Irish and UK destinations including Aberdeen, Belfast, Cork, and Glasgow.
Island Hopping
- Jersey-based regional airline Blue Islands is opening a new route to the Isle of Man, operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays on alternate weeks, specifically aimed at business travelers.
Expansion in Colombia
- IndiGo has announced new domestic flights between Chandigarh and Dharamshala from April 2, with 3X-weekly frequencies. JetSmart will initially operate eight routes in Colombia and aims to serve 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028.
Interline Agreements
- Australian domestic carrier Rex has signed an interline agreement with Etihad Airways, allowing passengers to connect to 72 destinations across the globe.
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