Short Takes
January 20th 2015
AIRLINES: Guangzhou-based budget carrier 9 Air has started operations, initially with a daily Guangzhou – Wenzhou – Harbin rotation using B737-800 aircraft. The private carrier owned by Juneyao Airlines has 50 B737 aircraft worth $6 billion at list prices on order. Read More » Singapore Airlines will stop offering re-employment to pilots when they turn 62, while those on existing re-employment contracts already 62 will be let go March 30. The surprise move is in reaction to a challenging operating environment and a surplus of pilots, the airline said. From August 18, UNITED is removing first class from all B747-400 aircraft deployed on the Tokyo (NRT) – Honolulu route.
AIRPORTS: Dubai International Airport is projected to overtake London Heathrow Airport as the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. Heathrow has reported 68.1 million passengers in 2014; Dubai predicts it has achieved 71 million. Official year-end figured will be released January 27.
MANUFACTURERS: Airbus said it delivered 629 aircraft in 2014. The deliveries, which went to 89 customers, comprised 490 A320 family aircraft, 108 A330s, 30 A380s and its first A350 XWB. Boeing delivered 723 commercial aircraft in 2014 and Embraer delivered 92. Embraer further announced that two E195s will start operations with Kalstar Aviation, a regional operator based in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan, though no date was specified. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. has completed the first engine run of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).
ROUTES: Air India has launched a daily Delhi – Vijayawada A319 service. From June 11, Cathay Pacific Airways will increase frequency on the Hong Kong – San Francisco B777-300ER route from 14- to 17-weekly. China Airlines will add a fourth-weekly Taipei – New York (JFK) B777-300ER service from September 4, and from July 1, it will replace the B747-400 with the B777-300ER on the daily Taipei – San Francisco rotation. China Eastern Airlines is postponing service introduction of the B777-300ER (replacing the A340-600) on the thrice-weekly Shanghai (PVG) – Toronto route from April 15 to June 17. Subject to regulatory approval, DELTA will launch a daily Shanghai (PVG) – Los Angeles B777-200LR service from July 9. Emirates will replace the A330-200 with the B777-300ER on one of its two daily Dubai – Nairobi frequencies starting May 1. From February 1 to March 28, Etihad will replace the A330-200 with the B777-300ER on the Abu Dhabi – Phuket route. Subject to government approval, Garuda Indonesia will launch a daily Denpasar – Manado B737-800 service from March 29. Hainan Airlines will launch a thrice-weekly Beijing – Tel Aviv flight from September 1, subject to government approval. Indonesia AirAsia X will launch a four-weekly Denpasar – Taipei A330-300 service starting March 29. From February 1 to March 28, Qatar Airways will replace the A330-200 with the B777-300ER on the daily Doha – Phuket route. Shenzhen Airlines will add a weekly A320 service between Nanchang and Taipei from February 1. Vietnam Airlines will replace the A321 with the A350 on the daily Hanoi – Seoul route from October 1.
TECHNOLOGY: China Eastern Airlines says it has recorded a 16% drop in staffing hours and a 60% drop in overtime for ground operations resulting from a new hub control centre using SITA’s resource management technology. The improved efficiencies are expected to deliver the airline savings of more than $4 million in 2015. Mobile Travel Technologies Ltd. (MTT) has been selected by Singapore Airlines as its strategic mobile partner to re-launch the airline's mobile apps, to bring fresh, cutting-edge mobile services to customers and to collaborate on a dynamic mobile strategy. MTT will re-launch Singapore Airlines' smartphone apps to be followed quickly by a new tablet app.
