Air-Britain News – August 2019

Azur Air Ukraine [Ukraine] has obtained approval to fly to Antalya,

Izmir, Dalaman, Bodrum, La‑Romana, Varadero, and Bangkok.

BA City Flyer [UK] is to replace its present E170/190s with either

E190E2s or A220‑100s in near future.

Bahamasair [Bahamas] will be allocated US$22.4 million from the

government in the 2019/20 budget, with $9.3 million to be spent on

heavy maintenance of its five ATRs.

Bamboo Airways’ [QH] [Vietnam] fleet expansion plan has been

approved. The carrier will expand its fleet to 30 aircraft by 2023, up

from its current fleet of 10 aircraft.

The carrier plans to launch Vietnam’s first direct flights to the US

by early 2020 using a leased A380, pending approval by US regulators.

The route will be to San Francisco or Los Angeles from either Hanoi or

Ho Chi Minh City.

29Jun19 onwards Taipei TPE Ha Long Bay VDO Every 5 days 320

Bamboo Airways introduced services at Hai Phong in mid June

2019, with the launch of three new routes. The new services are as

follows:

• Hai Phong – Cam Ranh/Nha Trang eff 18Jun19: 1 daily A320


• Hai Phong – Ho Chi Minh City eff 18Jun19: 1 daily A320


• Hai Phong – Quy Nhon eff 18Jun19: 1 daily A320

Bangkok Airways [PG/BKP] [Thailand] plans to focus on optimising

performance and increase the frequency of existing routes for 2019,

instead of opening new routes.

The carrier is blocked from beginning direct flights between

Bangkok and Bagan as the Bagan Nyaung‑U airport is not an

international airport.

Batik Air [Indonesia] has made the first flight of the Jakarta

Tangerang to Penang route, with B737‑800.

Beijing Capital [JD/CBJ] [China]

09Jul19 onwards Xi’An XIY Vladivostok VVO Tu,Th,Sa 320

30Aug19 onwards Beijing PEK‑Xi’An XIY Lisbon LIS W,F,Su 330

11Nov19‑01Dec19 Qingdao TAO London LHR M,F Suspended

Belavia Belorussian Airlines [Belarus], together with lessors, are

looking at compensation for losses suffered due to the disruption of

the delivery of two B737 MAX.

15Jul19 onwards Minsk MSQ Munich MUC M,Th,F,Su E75

27Oct19 Minsk MSQBudapest BUD‑Belgrade BEGM,Th,F,Su Cancelled

28Oct19 onwards Minsk MSQ Belgrade BEG M,Th,Sa CR2

28Oct19 onwards Minsk MSQ Budapest BUD Tu,W,F,Su CR2/E75

AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines [J2/AHY] [Azerbaijan]

10Jun19‑02Sep19 Baku GYD Qassim ELQ M E90
21Jun19‑09Aug19 Baku GYD London LHR 4× Weekly (+1 flight) 787
25Jun19 onwards Baku GYD Delhi DEL Tu,F 752
10Aug19‑08Sep19Baku GYD London LHR Daily xM,W (+1 flight) 787
05Oct19 Baku GYD New York JFK M,Sa Cancelled

Azores Airlines [Portugal] has taken delivery of its first of three
A321LRs to be leased from Air Lease (US).
The carrier has commenced a codeshare partnership with WestJet,
covering the latter’s domestic routes in Canada. Approximately from
10Jun19 or earlier, the new codeshare routes cover the following:

Azores Airlines operated by WestJet:

• Toronto – Calgary, Toronto – Edmonton, Toronto – Halifax, Toronto
  
  
  • Montreal, Toronto – Ottawa, Toronto – Quebec City, Toronto –
    Vancouver, Toronto – Winnipeg
  
  
  
  

Azul [AD/AZU] [Brazil] has been blocked by a judge from acquiring
the assets of Avianca Brasil as the proposal runs into “insurmountable
barriers.” The measure, however, is far from the end of the legal battle
between Avianca Brasil and its creditors.
Azul has no interest in participating in the auction of slots by the
administrators of Avianca Brasil.
The carrier offered new seasonal routes for Juazeiro do Norte from
June 2019, scheduled until early August 2019. The planned new routes
include the following:

• Fortaleza – Juazeiro do Norte 01Jun19 – 04Aug19: 4 weekly A320
  (1 daily from 01Jul19)


• Sao Paulo Guarulhos – Juazeiro do Norte: 02Jun19 – 02Aug19 6
  weekly A320 (Embraer E195 from 01Jul19)

01Jul19‑02Aug19 Salvador da Bahia SSA Aracaju AJU Daily xSa E95
06Jul19 onwardsPalmas PMW Recife REC Sa E95
15Jul19 onwardsSao Paulo VCP Buenos Aires EZE 2× Daily (xSa) 320

In 3Q19 Azul plans to expand services from Sao Paulo, with the
addition of four domestic routes. Planned operations are as follows:

• Sao Paulo Guarulhos – Belem eff 01Sep19: 1 daily A320


• Sao Paulo Guarulhos – Iguazu Falls eff 01Sep19: 2 daily A320


• Sao Paulo Guarulhos – Manaus eff 01Jul19: 6 weekly A320


• Sao Paulo Viracopos/Campinas – Vitoria da Conquista eff 05Aug19:
  6 weekly Embraer E195 (Selected dates in August 2019 operated
  by Embraer E190)

Azur Air [Russia] has lost rights to fly to over 100 international
destinations, mainly in China and Turkey, for under‑utilisation of the
routes.

Airbus 320-214 9H-AMA (1005) of Avion Express Malta operating for Norwegian Air Shuttle at Gardermoen on 17th July 2019. [Jan Buisman]