The Brief: New air routes, 23-27 March

Qatar Airways to fly to Zanzibar

Qatar Airways will launch flights to Zanzibar on 1 July, the airline’s third gateway in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro.

The new five-times-a-week flight to Zanzibar will operate via Kilimanjaro. The current Kilimanjaro flights which today are served by Qatar Airways via Dar es Salaam will be made non-stop from Doha to Kilimanjaro commencing 1 July, with return flights from Kilimanjaro to Doha served via Zanzibar.

Qatar Airways has been operating in Tanzania ever since the airline launched flights to Dar es Salaam in 2007. The Tanzanian operation was expanded in 2012 when the airline launched flights to Kilimanjaro.

The Doha – Kilimanjaro – Zanzibar route will be operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy.

The Doha – Kilimanjaro – Zanzibar schedules starting from 1 July are:

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Depart Doha QR1355 at 08:50, arrive Kilimanjaro at 14:20
Depart Kilimanjaro QR1355 at 15:20, arrive Zanzibar at 16:20
Depart Zanzibar QR1355 at 17:20, arrive Doha at 22:35

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AA boosts frequencies from Heathrow to LA and Philadelphia

American Airlines will launch daily, direct services from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on 29 March and 30 March respectively.

Second daily LHR-LAX service schedule

AA 109             Boeing 777-300ER

         Departs LHR at 12.15 p.m. (local time)

         Arrives LAX at 3.30 p.m. (local time)

AA 108             Boeing 777-300ER

         Departs LAX at 5.50 p.m. (local time)

         Arrives LHR at 12.25 p.m. (local time) – the following day

Second Daily LHR-PHL Service Schedule

AA 774             Boeing 757-200

         Departs LHR at 8.20 a.m. (local time)

         Arrives PHL at 11.40 a.m. (local time)

AA 789             Boeing 757-200

         Departs PHL at 9.45 a.m. (local time)

         Arrives LHR at 10.10 p.m. (local time)

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Emirates to commence daily service to Bali

Emirates will launch a new daily service from Dubai to Bali on 3 June. 

Bali will be Emirates’ 148th global destination, adding to the airline’s route network in the Asia-Pacific region, which currently spans 23 destinations in 13 countries. The non-stop service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a two-class configuration.

The daily flight will depart Dubai as EK398 at 0820hrs and arrive at Bali’s Denpasar International Airport at 2140hrs the same day. The return flight, EK399, will depart at 2340hrs and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 0500 the next day.

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 Air New Zealand and Air China unveil proposed alliance

Air New Zealand and Air China have released details of a proposed alliance on services between China and New Zealand.

The alliance, subject to regulatory approvals, would see Air China introduce a daily direct service between Beijing and Auckland. The Chinese flag carrier would also continue to codeshare on Air New Zealand’s daily Shanghai – Auckland service which will be operated exclusively by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from late August.

The proposed alliance would further open up Beijing as a new market to and from New Zealand and the airlines aim to almost double their sustainable capacity between China and New Zealand while delivering a range of other benefits to travellers including greater frequency and network connections.