South African Airways [SA/SAA] [South Africa] and Alaska Airlines
(US) have established a new interline partnership.
The airline is in talks with its existing banks, new lenders and the
government, as it hopes to resolve US$842 million of imminently
maturing debt. It says it needs US$265 million from the government
to survive the current financial year.
South African Airways was due to have a new turnaround strategy
developed for approval by 08Jul19, according to the government,
which is preparing the airline for a partnership with a strategic equity
partner.Southwest Airlines [WN/SWA] [US] announced that the company’s
mechanics and related employees have voted to ratify a new tentative
agreement, following six years(!) of talks.
Southwest Airlines is adding services from Austin and San Antonio
to Cancun, as well as Houston to Aruba, effective in the autumn of
2019.
Southwest Airlines’ pilots’ union plans to seek compensation from
Boeing for “every dollar” of money spent cooperating with the US
Justice Department’s criminal probe into two B737 MAX crashes.
The carrier says it is extending the cancellation of B737 MAX
aircraft from its flying schedule until 01Oct19.SpiceJet [OS/MOD] [India] chairman and Managing Director Ajay
Singh was elected to the board of IATA, less than three months after
the airline joined the global grouping.
SpiceJet has received many proposals to buy into the company, but
will only evaluate an offer if it’s strategic.
The carrier was examining the prospect of taking over ex-Jet
Airways widebodies, but initial studies showed they would need
significant maintenance work.
SpiceJet plans to aggressively augment capacity by 80% during the
current fiscal year with the induction of 60 aircraft, including 30 from
Jet Airways (India).
The airline plans to hire up to 2,000 staff, including pilots and cabin
crew, from the defunct Jet Airways (India) as the no-frills carrier
continues to expand its operations.
05Jul19 onwards Mumbai BOM Jeddah JED Daily 737T’Way Air [TW/TWB] [South Korea]
03May19 onwards Daegu TAE Cam Ranh/Nha Trang CXR M,W,F,Sa 737TAP Air Portugal [TP/TAP] [Portugal] aims to be larger than rival
Iberia (Spain) by 2023, as it ramps up it fleet, increases flights to the
US and looks to make Lisbon a large international hub. It also plans to
add at least five new destinations in the US by 2024 with a decision
due in 4Q19. Potential cities Houston, Los Angeles and Providence. The
carrier also plans to operate routes to Asia in the medium term and
establish Lisbon as a gateway to the eastern continent.
TAP Air Portugal has taken delivery of another A330neo, serial
1908, its 100th aircraft in its fleet. The carrier is mulling converting
orders to take the A321XLR.
TAP Air Portugal has wet-leased an A330-200 from Wamos Air
(Spain) for the short-term due to the delay in the delivery of one A330-
900neo. It will begin an A330-900neo service to Africa in late December
2019, with flights from Lisbon to Luanda and Maputo.
The airline will launch Lisbon – Banjul flights from 26Oct19, using
an A320.TAROM [RO/ROT] [Romania] will buy nine ATR72s in order to replace
seven old ATR42-500s.Thai Airways International [TG/THA] [Thailand] is blaming lower-
than-expected revenue on a drop in Chinese tourism, further
exacerbated by Chinese trade tensions with the US.
The carrier is close to final government approval to order 38
aircraft, which are expected to deliver from 4Q21 for “minor growth”
as most are replacements for older aircraft.Thomas Cook [MT/TCX] [UK] has received a takeover approach for its
Nordic operations from private equity group Triton (Germany), adding
that it was considering the unsolicited offer but talks were at aThe airline began a new Hangzhou – Mandalay route from 13Jun19,
with an A320.
Sichuan Airlines will place its first A330-200F into commercial
service by September 2019, a delay of six months. The ex-Qatar
Airways aircraft is on lease from BOC Aviation (Singapore), and two
more will follow.
Sichuan Airlines resumed A350 flights from Chengdu to Auckland
on 28Jun19, replacing the A330-200.
Singapore Airlines [SQ/SIA] [Singapore] and Malaysia Airlines have
signed a preliminary agreement to explore a wide-ranging strategic
partnership that could include more codeshares as well as cargo and
aircraft maintenance.
Singapore Airlines resumed seasonal services on its Singapore –
Phuket route from 01Jul19 with B777-200ER.
Singapore Airlines has reported fiscal 2018/19 revenue up 3.3% to
US$11.9 billion for the year ended 31Mar19, as the number of
passengers it carried rose 7.2%. Net profit fell to $498.8 million.
Forecasted 2019/20 group passenger capacity growth is 6%.
The airline says an order for 31 B737 MAX jets from Boeing remains
“intact”, despite crashes involving the aircraft.
28Oct19 onwards Singapore SIN Copenhagen CPH Daily xTu,Su (*) 359 (x773)
03Jun19 onwards Singapore SIN Kolkata CCU M,F,Sa 359 (x333)
Smartwings [QS/TVS] [Czech Republic]
04Jun19 onwards Lille LIL Varna VAR Tu 738
04Jun19 onwards Prague PRG Mytilene MJT Tu 738
Smartwings is adding new routes from Poland, including Katowice
and Warsaw during the summer. Planned operations include the
following:
- Katowice – Dubrovnik 06Jun19 – 26Sep19: 1 weekly 737-800
- Katowice – Faro 03Jun19 – 30Sep19: 1 weekly 737-800
Warsaw – Dubrovnik 25Apr19 – 03Oct19: 1 weekly 737-800 - Warsaw – Faro 29Apr19 – 07Oct19: 1 weekly 737-800
Smartwings has updated its service changes for summer 2019 season,
as it includes leased aircraft operations, while suspending selected
routes.
Service Suspensions in summer 2019:
- Pardubice – Antalya
- Pardubice – Bourgas
- Pardubice – Irakleion
- Pardubice – Rhodes
- Prague – Corvera/Murcia
- Prague – Thira
The following routes will be operated by Airbus A319/320 or Boeing
737-400:
- Ostrava – Antalya 01Jun19 – 28Sep19: A320 operates selected
service - Ostrava – Bourgas 10Jun19 – 16Sep19: A320 operates selected
service - Ostrava – Corfu 03Jun19 – 30Sep19: A320 operates selected
service - Ostrava – Irakleion 01Jun19 – 29Sep19: A320 operates selected
service - Ostrava – Palma Mallorca 02Jun19 – 29Sep19: A320 operates
selected service - Ostrava – Rhodes 03Jun19 – 30Sep19: A320
- Ostrava – Varna 11Jun19 – 17Sep19: A320
- Ostrava – Zakynthos eff 07Jun19 :A320 operates selected service
- Prague – Cagliari 16Jun19 – 29Sep19: A319
- Prague – Dubrovnik 01Jun19 – 30Sep19: 737-400
- Prague – Kos 16Jun19 – 13Oct19: A319 operates selected service
- Prague – Malaga: One-time A319 service on 19Jun19
- Prague – Palma Mallorca 18Jun19 – 24Jun19: A319 operates
selected service - Prague – Valencia: 16Jun19 – 25Oct19 A319
Separately, on its Prague – Moscow Sheremetyevo route, CSA Czech
Airlines is operating two daily flights, instead of one daily each by CSA
and Smartwings.