Airline briefs 22/05/12
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See our round-up of airline news here for the UK market, plus an update from Routes Europe.
Qantas separates domestic and international businesses
Qantas has announced a major restructuring of its airline business, including the separation of its domestic and international units. As part of its controversial five-year transformation plan, which it launched in August 2011, Qantas International and Qantas Domestic – which are currently combined as ‘Qantas Airlines’ – will be formally separated and managed as two businesses. From 1 July 2012, each will have its own CEO and its own operational and commercial functions.Full story here.
Swedish carrier Skyways collapses
Swedish regional airline Skyways has filed for bankruptcy following the collapse of sister airline Cimber Sterling. The regional carrier, which includes subsidiary City Airlines, cancelled all flights after its owner said it can no longer finance the airlines. Around 12,000 SAS passengers are said to be affected by the cancellations.
Virgin Atlantic adds Montego Bay flight
Virgin Atlantic has announced it will add an extra weekly flight between Gatwick and Montego Bay in November. The airline will add a new Friday departure to the Jamaican airport on 3 November alongside its Wednesday and Sunday services. Full story here
Flybe extends Finnair partnership
Flybe and Finnair have extended their partnership by signing a MoU to transfer aircraft to the former airline. In the extension, Finnair will transfers 12 100-seat Embraer aircraft to Flybe, which will be used on Finnair routes from October this year. The move is part of Finnair’s plans to improve profits on its European network, as well as grow Flybe Nordic AB, which was created last year with Flybe owning 60% of the venture. “The MoU covers approximately one third of our European flights. Flybe offers a cost efficient platform for operating this traffic, and enables us to continue to offer a wide network and multiple frequencies to both our Finnish customers and our customers flying between Europe and Finnair’s Asian destinations,” said Mika Vehviläinen, CEO of Finnair. Customers will notice no change.
Routes Europe hands to Budapest as 2014 host announced
Routes Europe has been handed over to 2013 hosts Budapest Airport after this year’s event came to a close yesterday. Next year’s conference will take place in Hungary, with the airport hosting alongside the Hungarian National Tourism Office and Budapest Tourism Office.
Meanwhile, it has been announced the ninth Routes Europe will be held in Marseille in April 2014. Marseille-Provence Airport is expected to set a traffic record this year with more than eight million passengers and double digit growth. “Our ambition today is to open up to new international markets; hosting Routes Europe in Marseille will definitely contribute to fulfilling this ambition,” said the airport’s general manager Pierre Régis.
