Short Takes
June 10th 2014
MANUFACTURERS:
Airbus is completing the final assembly of its fifth A350, MSN005, which will then join its sister aircraft in the flight-test programme. MSN006 is on the final assembly line. It will be part of the fleet of launch customer, Qatar Airways. Read More »
Boeing’s 787 has received ETOPS approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administraton.The Dreamliner can now be flown for up 330 minutes from the nearest landing field.
AIRLINES:
Air France is operating the A380 on the Paris-Hong Kong route during the peak season, from June to the last week of October.
American Airlines will start its inaugural B777-300ER service connecting Hong Kong with Dallas/Fort Worth on June 13.
Asiana Airlines has become the 11th operator of the A380. The airline’s superjumbo is configured in a three-class layout, seating 495 passengers (12 in first, 66 in business and 417 in economy class). Asiana has five additional A380s on order, with plans to fly the airliner to Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo for crew familiarization before starting scheduled services to Los Angeles later this year.
Bangkok Airways signed a code share with Qantas Airways in June.
Chengdu Airlines is to restructure as as an LCC following the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) policy shift that gave support to establishment of more Mainland budget airlines.
China Airlines will introduce its new “Family Couch” concept – borrowed from Air New Zealand’s much-lauded “SkyCouch” – when it receives its first B777-300ER in September.
Emirates Airline is increasing capacity to India with a daily superjumbo service to Mumbai’s newly opened Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2 in September. Emirates also will increase capacity on its Delhi and Hyderahad services by flying B777-300ERs on the routes.
Etihad Airways and Fiji Airways have agreed to a code share.
Fiji Link – a subsidiary of Fiji Airways – received its first 68-seat ATR72-600 to be employed on domestic and regional routes.
Jetstar Asia will launch a paid loyalty programme in Singapore, Club Jetstar, for an annual fee of US$30. .
Lufthansa Airlines will fly aircraft fitted with its premium economy cabin to Beijing, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Seoul from December.
Royal Brunei resumes flights to Bali from July, after axing the route in 2009, with a four times a week nA319 service scheduled to link to the carrier’s Dubai, London and Melbourne flights.
Singapore Airlines has surprised the industry with its announcement that it will introduce new premium economy class cabin in 2015.
SilkAir has commenced three times-a-week services to Kalibo in the Philippines, the gateway to leisure holiday hotspot, Boracay, with A319/320 aircraft.
Thai Airways International (THAI) has confirmed the details of its B787 configuration - 24 seats in the business cabin and 240 in economy - with flights commencing in July.
United will suspend its Washington-Doha service in November.
