U.S. Airlines Plans to Increase Flights to Cuba

More airlines are preparing to fly to Cuba, according to the Wall Street Journal.

With restrictions on travel to the Communist-ruled island loosened earlier this year, four large U.S. airlines – American Airlines, JetBlue, United Continental and Delta Air Lines – will operate about 25 weekly flights to Cuba for charter companies by the end of the year, the report says.

Charter companies estimate about 400,000 Americans will fly to Cuba this year vs. 250,000 last year, the report says. In January, President Obama liberalized travel rules to Cuba for students and religious and cultural groups.

American has been flying to Cuba for two decades. JetBlue arrived last month. United Continental and Delta are resuming weekly service to Cuba after a seven-year hiatus, the report says.

All Nippon Airways Adds New Flight Route to European

With the airline set to receive the first Boeing 787 in September, All Nippon Airways may augment its operations by adding as many as three European routes. In an interview conducted in Tokyo on August 1st, President and CEO of ANA, Shinichiro Ito remarked, “The 787 presents us with a big opportunity.” He hinted at the possibility of the carrier starting Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Europe from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in February. However, Mr. Shinichiro Ito refused to elaborate on the likely destinations.

Boeing 787 indeed offers ANA an opportunity to expand its operations in Europe and North America as 787 Dreamliners are approximately 20 percent more fuel efficient than planes of a similar size and can cover a longer journey. International travellers who look for cheap flight tickets will surely have better alternatives if and when ANA begins its new European services.

Tokyo-based All Nippon Airways started its operations to Munich last year, which was its fourth destination in Europe after London, Paris and Frankfurt. The carrier is also due to initiate a venture on the European routes with Deutsche Lufthansa AG in October.

Qantas Airways to Promote Premium Economy Class Flight to Tokyo and Frankfurt Route

Australia’s leading airlines, Qantas Airways has confirmed that it will introduce a premium economy class on its Tokyo and Frankfurt services.

Qantas Airways confirmed plans to upgrade six two existing Boeing 747s to offer passengers premium economy seats on the Tokyo route from October 2010 and the Frankfurt service by February 2011.

Chief executive officer, Alan Joyce, said “Qantas first introduced Premium Economy in 2008 and customer feedback for the product has been extremely positive.”

He added customers welcome the increased baggage allowance as well as priority boarding options.

However, anyone looking for a cheap flight to Australia could still be tempted by other Qantas services that link the country with London, Los Angles, Singapore and Bangkok.

Qantas Airways was recently named as the world’s leading provider of premium economy class in the 2010 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

The airline has also revealed that it plans to add 65 domestic routes within Australia, including adding more cheap flights to Cairns.

AirAsia Plans To Extend Flights to India from May 2010

AirAsia, one of the leading no-frills airlines, plans to expand flight route in India. It plans to add four direct flights connecting Bangkok with Kolkata, New Delhi, Amritsar and Mumbai from May this year.

“New Delhi and Mumbai sectors will be serviced by Air Asia X, low cost long haul carrier via new Airbus A330, while Amritsar and Kolkata will be serviced by AirAsia, low cost short haul airline by Airbus A320 aircrafts,” Kathleen Tan, head, (regional head – commercial), AirAsia, told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.
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