Delta Airlines to Continue Flight Service Pierre-Minneapolis Route

Delta Airlines had planned to cut its Pierre-Minneapolis route Nov. 20 because of a drop in passengers, but the Department of Transportation issued an order requiring the airline to continue the route through Jan. 15 of next year, that Delta Airlines to continue flight services Pierre-Minneapolis Route.

U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson says Delta Airlines will continue its Pierre-Minneapolis route into the new year.

The South Dakota Democrat said Wednesday that the Department of Transportation issued an order requiring the airline to continue the route through Jan. 15 of next year. DOT approved the move, but the city of Pierre appealed the decision, saying the airlines flight is important to businesses and residents, as well as state government.

Johnson says the 60-day extension will give air travelers a flight option while DOT reviews the appeal and allows the city time to line up a new carrier.

Delta Air Lines Traffic Fell 3.8 percent as Airlines Reduce Capacity

Delta Air Lines traffic fell 3.8 percent in October at the sharpest pace since the beginning of last year as the airline reduced capacity.

Traffic fell 3.8%, the sharpest drop since the company reported a 5% decline in January 2010. Legacy carriers have encountered more difficulty in sustaining traffic gains recently. The carriers have kept fares up as they face higher fuel prices.

In addition, the traffic figures are going up against tougher comparisons to last year’s revival in travel demand. In the year-ago month, Delta reported 8.6% higher traffic, its strongest gain since the recession.

Delta also it decreased capacity 3.1% in October. As fuel prices climb, airlines are tightly managing their capacity to keep costs in check.

Load factor–a measure of plane fullness–fell to 82.8% from 83.4%, as worse occupancy on international flights outweighed better domestic travel.

Last month, Delta reported its third-quarter profit jumped 51% despite pressure for higher fuel costs as it improved the top line. However, fuel hedging effects kept core earnings lower than expected.

Shares were down 0.2% at $8.24 in recent trading, while the wider market was up broadly.

Qatar Airways Announce Flight Services to Entebbe

An Asian airline that stopped flying to Entebbe eight years ago has returned, weeks after Qatar Airways announced its entry in the country.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the kingdom of Bahrain, and one of the largest network operators in the Middle East, will re-launch direct flights between Bahrain and Entebbe on December 5, 2011, a month before Qatar flags off its daily flights between Doha and Entebbe. This sets the road for tight competition as the number of Asian airlines climbs to four after Turkish Airways joined last year.

The other is Emirates, owned by the United Arab Emirates government; it has been flying Entebbe since the late 90s. Speaking during a media conference at Sheraton Kampala hotel, Karim Makhlouf, Gulf Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted that the airline has come in with new products to ensure they re-establish their market niche.

Operating an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration of 16 executive seats and 120 economy seats, the airline has what it calls “full connectivity” which allows phoning and smsing on the aircraft, provides broadband internet and allows watching live television with exclusive channels where passengers can watch live football Premiership games.

The airline also has what it calls ’sky nannies’, a unique and dedicated service where trained flight attendants are on board to care for children -letting you relax with your children under safe hands.

“Although there is competition, we are confident that with our services, we can convince a customer to fly with us,” Makhlouf said.

He added: “Gulf Air has made considerable changes to its service portfolio and I believe this new route will be a success to both our passengers and cargo operations.”

The airline has also set its fares so low compared to other airlines. The introductory fares are $200 to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Indian sub-continent, and $350 to the Middle East, Asia and Europe. This comes with a baggage allowance of 40kg. Qatar airways has put its fares at $434 to Dubai, $449 to Bengalore and $680 to London, while Emirates charges $870 to Dubai, $960 to Mumbai (Bombay), and $1,023 to Bangkok, Copenhagen and Geneva.

This leaves Gulf Air as the cheapest airline in terms of fees. Founded in 1950 as an air taxi service to Doha and Dhahran from Bahrain by a British pilot, Freddie Bosworth, Gulf has over the years grown its portfolio. This year alone, Entebbe becomes the ninth destination to be added to its list. The airline already flies to Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Geneva, and Copenhagen, among others.

Given its success in Nairobi where it started early this year with three flights a week which have now grown to nine flights a week, Makhlouf is optimistic the airline will give the other competitors a ride for their money. Gulf Air kicks off with four flights a week connecting Entebbe to Bahrain.

According to Makhlouf, the comeback of Gulf Air is because of the growing business at Entebbe airport which has seen its passenger numbers grow from 400,000 annually eight years ago to more than 1.2 million today. Makhlouf is optimistic that once they fly off, the carrier will grow Entebbe’s passenger numbers by 60,000 in the first year.

The entry of more airlines from the Middle East is an indication of the growing trade between East Africa and the far East. Dubai, Instanbul are already seen as a good gateway to places such as China, India and Singapore. Currently, Uganda alone is estimated to have over 45,000 people living in United Arab Emirates.

Qatar Airways Increases Weekly Flights to Iran, More Than Double Frequencies

Qatar Airways will add 31 weekly flights to Iran, more than doubling frequencies, as the second-biggest Arab carrier taps demand that the Islamic republic’s own operators are struggling to meet because of Western sanctions.

State-owned Qatar Air will increase services to 52 a week in a four-month ramp up starting December 1 while adding a fourth destination, Isfahan, to the network, it said in a statement.

The Gulf company may also offer domestic services under a code-sharing agreement with Iranian carriers.

“We have been working with the authorities in Iran for increased capacity across the country,” CEO Akbar Al Baker said in the statement.

The new services will aim to meet the travel demands of the Iranian expatriate community via Qatar Air’s international network based on Doha, he said.

Iran’s own ability to add and upgrade planes has been stymied by United Nations sanctions imposed over its nuclear program that block purchases from Boeing and Airbus.

Qatar Airways already has orders for more than 200 jets worth in excess of $40bn and will announce a further contract at the Dubai air show next month, Al Baker said October 6 in Oslo.

Qatar Air began serving Iran in 2004 with flights to Tehran, followed by Mashhad and then Shiraz. New services will be operated by Airbus A320 jets with business and economy seats.

A further accord has been struck allowing Qatar to operate domestic trips, according to the state-run Iranian Students News Agency, which cited comments from Shahriar Afandizadeh, the country’s deputy minister for roads and urban development.

Under the deal, Qatar Air would operate code-share flights with Iranian operators in order to comply with laws excluding foreign companies from domestic routes, Iran Air CEO Farhad Parvaresh told the news agency.

Philippine Airlines Increases Domestic and International Flights

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is increasing the number of flights to 11 domestic destinations as well as to Hong Kong and Singapore in anticipation of an influx of travelers during the two long weekends ahead. More flights will be bound for Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Ozamiz, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga.

PAL expects thousands of travelers starting Oct. 28 to enjoy the long weekends on Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 5 to 7.

Malacanang has declared Oct. 31 a special non-working holiday to enable travel for All Saints’ Day On Nov. 1, during which Filipinos visit the burial places of their loved ones.

Nov. 7 was also declared a regular holiday in celebration of the Islamic holiday Eid’l Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice.

For more information, travelers are advised to refer to PAL’s website www.philippineairlines.com; log on to PAL’s Facebook and Twitter accounts; or call the PAL Reservations Hotline at 855-8888.

The flag carrier covers 20 domestic and 26 international routes.

PAL also advises the public to book their flights early in anticipation of increased flight reservations for the two long weekends.

PAL assures passengers that it is prepared to handle the increased travel demand for the forthcoming holidays.

PAL is closely coordinating with the Manila International Airport Authority, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Philippine National Police’s Aviation Security Group to ensure the safety of passengers.

Its internal security measures are also in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PAL’s airport and in-flight operations remain normal as third party service providers have taken over in-flight and ground services.

The maintenance of PAL aircraft is now being done by Lufthansa Teknik Philippines.

Starting Oct. 28, the flag carrier will have an average of 125 flights daily covering international and domestic routes (inbound/outbound).

This represents close to 90 percent of PAL’s 140 average flights per day prior to Sept. 27, when it transitioned to third party service providers from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3.

During the transition period, flight capacity went down to 40 percent.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said safety and service remain the cornerstone of PAL operations.

He appealed to the public for understanding and patience as its service providers complete the manpower requirements.

Thai Airways Operates Special Flights Between Bangkok and Phitsanulok

Thai Airways International is operating special flights between Bangkok and Phitsanulok to assist government officials and people who need to travel to the lower northern and upper central regions of Thailand that are no longer accessible by vehicles through local roads.

Thai’s special flight to and from Phitsanulok will also help transport donated food and medical supplies from the Government’s Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) to flood victims.

Several provinces in the lower northern and upper central regions of Thailand are severely flooded and some areas are not accessible by vehicles.

The special flights will operate until 23 October 2011 using Boeing 737-400 aircraft with 149 seats, at 1,250 baht per trip (one-way fare).

Thai will operate two flights per day. On 18-23 October 2011, flight TG8706 departs from Bangkok at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11:20 and arrives in Phitsanulok at 12:10. Flight TG8707 departs from Phitsanulok at 12:50 and arrives at Suvarnabhumi at 13:40 on the same day.

Thai is also providing free cargo shipments for food donated to the Government’s Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC), as well as blood donations and medical supplies made through the Thai Red Cross Society that will be transported to Phitsanulok and sent to Nakhonsawan. Nakhonsawan has also been affected by flooding and is in need of immediate assistance.

Etihad Airways Plans to Buy 25 percent hold Ireland Flag Airlines, Aer Lingus

Etihad Airways, a quickly growing Middle Eastern carrier, has contacted the Irish government about buying its 25% hold in Aer Lingus, Ireland’s flag airline. This follows the debt-burdened Irish administration saying last month that it’s going to sell its stake in the airline. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said that he wouldn’t take less than €1 per share for the carrier, which would value Aer Lingus at €529.6 million and the 25% stake at €132.4 million. However, at market close on Friday, the airline’s shares valued the company at €338.94 million and the stake at €84.7 million.

In June, an Irish government report recommended that Aer Lingus and its ports and power stations be sold as part of plans to ease the nation’s debt by €5 billion. The carrier’s large pension deficit, which is estimated to be €400 million, has proven to be a stumbling block for the sale of the stake, but a new actuarial valuation is due by the end of the year. Chief executive Christoph Mueller has welcomed a change in ownership for the airline.

Etihad Airways was founded in 2003 and is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The carrier has close ties to Manchester City, as chairman Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s half-brother, Sheikh Mansour, is the owner of the football club.

It hasn’t been made clear how far Etihad Airways and the Irish government have progressed in their talks, which may not even turn out a deal. Etihad chief executive James Hogan met Irish prime minister Enda Kenny at a Dublin-based investment event – the global Irish Economic Forum – last week. Hogan has announced that they will add 100 new jobs in Ireland for cabin crew. The two sides have declined to comment on the matter as well.

Meanwhile, experts think that International Airlines Group (IAG), which is the parent of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, would be the most likely buyer for Aer Lingus. This comes despite Ryanair having tried twice to take over the carrier, which failed due to objections by the Irish government and European competition regulators. The airline has now ruled itself out of the bidding war.

At the same time, Etihad Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been in talks about a possible partnership to bid for bmi, an unprofitable subsidiary of German carrier Lufthansa. IAG has launched a preliminary offer for bmi, which has valuable takeoff and landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport. Since British Airways already has a dominant share of the airport’s slots, other carriers want to get in on the action. Etihad wants to use the slots to expand its own long-haul network.

Buenos Aires International and Domestic Flights Cancellation as Volcanic Ash Cloud in Southern Chile

International and domestic flights out of Buenos Aires were canceled for a second day as volcanic ash from an eruption in southern Chile returned to the region.

Flights between Argentina and Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay were canceled until at least 11 a.m. New York-time today after an ash cloud settled over Buenos Aires yesterday, according to airports operator Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000 SA.

Lan Airlines SA, Latin America’s biggest airline by market value, canceled flights from Buenos Aires to Lima, Santiago and Montevideo, it said in a statement on its website. British Airways Plc. halted a flight to London, while Brazil’s Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA said routes to Sao Paulo were interrupted, according to Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000.

Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic complex began to erupt on June 4, generating ash clouds that led to flight cancellations because of concerns that they may clog jet engines.

Damage to livestock and crops led Argentina to declare an agriculture emergency earlier this year in the southern provinces of Rio Negro, Chubut and Neuquen.

Emirate Airlines Expected to Grow Capacity up to 12 percent Each Year

Dubai based Emirates Airlines is expected to grow in terms of capacity by up to 12 percent each year to the middle of the decade according to a new report compiled by analysts. The airline is currently the largest in the world when it comes to international traffic, and by 2015 is also expected to have the largest fleet of wide-body planes.

The study of Middle Eastern Megacarriers has been put together by Boston Consulting Group. In just five years, the airline has managed to introduce 32 new destinations to its itinerary, triple revenues and capacity and improve operations in terms of load factors, utilisation of aircraft and yields.

Among the 157 aircraft it has in its fleet is the largest number of Airbus A380s of any carrier and presently Emirates boasts 114 destinations around the world in some 67 countries. Boston Consulting said that other Middle Eastern airlines were likely to put in a similarly strong performance by the middle of the decade with passenger capacity predicted to triple over the coming two decades.

Middle East Partner and Managing Director for the Group, Rend Stephan, explained that the region was important for carriers travelling on long-haul journeys and that the carriers’ based there were able to tap into cost advantages which enabled them to compete aggressively with other international rivals.

According to the International Air Transport Association, Middle Eastern airlines increased capacity by 8.9 per cent in July, which was still not enough to keep up with a growth of 9.7 per cent in demand.

easyJet to increase flights to Netherlands as New Partnership Low-cost Airline With NBTC

easyJet has revealed that it is to increase the number of flights it operates to the Netherlands in a new tourism drive.

The announcement is part of a new partnership between the low-cost airline and the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) “going Dutch” to market city breaks.

The three-year deal is part of easyJet’s strategy to build up marketing partnerships with tourist authorities across Europe. The airline currently operates flights to Amsterdam from Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester airports.

The airline has been flying to Amsterdam since 1996 and is forecasted to fly 3.1 million passengers to and from the Netherlands this year.

“easyJet is already a major force in tourism and commerce within the Netherlands. We have been flying to Amsterdam since 1996 and have carried a total of 23 million passengers to and from the city over that time,” said Paul Simmons, easyJet’s UK Director.

“Working closely in partnership with the NBTC will only help to strengthen our commitment to making travel easy and affordable for passengers travelling to Holland from all over Europe and boost tourism to the country.”

In spring 2012 the airline will also be adding flights to Amsterdam from Glasgow, and their “new” airport – London Southend.

easyJet has announced plans to fly 70 flights per week from the Essex airport from 2 April 2012. Apart from Amsterdam, the list of destinations includes Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Malaga and Mallorca.

easyJet claims that more than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

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