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Airline News
Airguide Online, June, 2004
Low-frills airlines in Europe currently hold 18 percent of the market share, and that could go to 32 percent in just the next few years, according to Kark Garnadt, senior vice president-Network for Lufthansa. Speaking at the 13th annual Phoenix Aviation Symposium, Garnadt said that how quickly they grow depends on the response of the legacy carriers, which have been complacent in responding to the new competition. Michael Whitacker, vice president of alliances, international and regulatory affairs for United, said airlines no longer fit neatly into buckets of domestic and international and low-cost and point-to-point carriers. Most experts agreed that global aviation would eventually evolve into a system of three global alliances with many partners, and then many smaller operators.
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Air Berlin's Stansted operation is to be joined by Manchester and Southampton as UK departure points on 1 November. Manchester will again be daily services Berlin-Tegel (in competition with BA) and Dusseldorf (which also has Lufthansa on the route) plus a four times a weekly route to Paderborn. Southampton to Paderborn will be served three times weekly. The successful Stansted operation continues Berlin-Tegel, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Munster-Osnabruck, Nuremberg, Paderborn and Palma de Mallorca. www.airberlin.com
Air France has confirmed that it will stick to its summer flight schedule even though it cannot use Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2E, part of which collapsed last month at Paris's largest airport. However there will changes of schedules for some long-haul flights, including Boston, Miami, Toronto and Rio de Janeiro. The idea of moving some flights to Orly seems to have been dropped after heavy local lobbying. Whilst in many ways better located than CDG Orly is only supported from the UK with London City operations and does not have the interline connections of Roissy. www.airfrance.com
Air New Zealand unveiled plans to transform the long-haul flying experience for both its economy and its premium customers. From mid- 2005, Air New Zealand will offer its long-haul customers new cabin interiors, seats, in-flight entertainment system and food and beverage service. ANZ's fleet of Boeing 747s will be refitted at a cost of around $100 million, beginning in the middle of next year and work on the last aircraft should be completed by early 2006. Eight new Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft, which will start arriving in September 2005, will have the same interiors and product.
Air New Zealand has signed agreements to acquire eight new Boeing 777- 200ER aircraft and two Boeing 7E7 aircraft, as well as the rights to buy an additional 42 long-haul airplanes, pending shareholder approval. The aircraft will enable the carrier to stretch its wings in the long-haul marketplace. " These aircraft will allow us to develop new routes and increase frequency on existing routes, as well as provide an overall increase in both passenger and cargo capacity," says Ralph Norris, managing director and chief executive. Norris adds that putting a new fleet in place will mean lower operating costs and better financial performance than the carrier would realize by expanding its existing fleet of 10 Boeing 767s.
AirTran Airways announced on June 29 2004 enhancements to its existing frequent traveler rewards program, A+ Rewards. The enhancements come amidst the reduction of benefits on other airlines and offer members the unique opportunity to gain a free(a) ticket to anywhere in the world, whether the airline flies there or not. "AirTran Airways is known throughout the industry not just for low fares, but exemplary customer service and the most-friendly Crew Members in the business," said Bob Fornaro, president and chief operating officer. "We chose to enhance our rewards program to expand upon the existing benefits to passengers, and reward our most loyal customers. We, in large part, owe our success to their business, and this is our thank you."
AirTran Airways launched on June 22 2004 a four-day sale featuring four fare tiers on four travel periods for flights to all 45 destinations with fares starting as low as $34 each way. These special fares are available for purchase June 22 through June 25, 2004, are good for travel through November 2, 2004, and are not valid for travel on Fridays and Sundays. Like all AirTran Airways fares, prices included in this sale are one-way tickets and do not require a roundtrip purchase or a Saturday night stay. Travelers may purchase these sale fares at http://www.airtran.com, through travel agents or via AirTran Airways' reservations system at 1-800-AIR-TRAN. For Spanish, call 1-877-581-9842.
AirTran Airways reports that its first Boeing 737-700 aircraft flew its first revenue flight on June 17 2004. Flight 303 took off at 9:30 am (EDT) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in route to Denver International Airport. AirTran Airways just took delivery of the aircraft a week ago when the aircraft made its inaugural flight from Seattle to Atlanta following a celebration at Boeing Field. This aircraft is the first of 100 ordered by AirTran Airways in July, 2003. "Not only do the Boeing 737s boast remarkable fuel efficiency, they will also allow us to serve longer-haul markets. Combined with the dependability of our Boeing 717 fleet, the increased flexibility and greater range of the 737s enables AirTran Airways to solidify our position as an industry leader well into the future," said Robert L. Fornaro, AirTran Airways' president and chief operating officer.
