Low Cost Carrier Expansion : Spirit Airlines Add 11 New Flight Routes
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) is introducing 11 new non-stop routes in the next phase of the ultra low cost carrier’s expansion along with new service to five new cities.
Spirit’s Fort Lauderdale expansion includes non-stop service to the following five new markets:
Plattsburgh, NY (serves Montreal, Canada) — four weekly non-stops starting January 14, 2011.
Niagara Falls, NY (serves Buffalo, NY and Toronto, Canada) — three weekly non-stops starting January 27, 2011.
Latrobe, PA (serves greater Pittsburgh area) — four weekly non-stops starting February 12, 2011.
Charleston, WV — three weekly non-stops starting March 3, 2011.
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX — twice daily non-stops starting May 5, 2011.
Spirit’s Myrtle Beach expansion includes non-stop service the following five new markets:
Washington, DC (Reagan National/DCA, Washington’s close-in airport) — daily non-stop starting May 5, 2011.
Plattsburgh, NY — four weekly non-stops May 5, 2011.
Niagara Falls, NY — three weekly non-stops starting May 5, 2011.
Latrobe, PA — four weekly non-stops starting May 5, 2011.
Charleston, WV — three weekly non-stops starting May 5, 2011.
Spirit started regular scheduled Myrtle Beach service in 1996 and currently offers on average 11 daily non-stop flights from Myrtle Beach to seven major destinations in peak season, including: Atlanta, Atlantic City, Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Detroit, New York LaGuardia and Fort Lauderdale, as well as connections to more than 25 additional cities in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America.
In addition to the today’s new route announcements, Spirit begins new service between Chicago and Las Vegas on November 11, 2010, and new service between Chicago and Atlantic City begins March 3, 2011.
Kingfisher Airlines to Cut Fares in New Year
The country’s leading private air-carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has said that it would effect fare cut across its network from January 1.
“Kingfisher Airlines will begin the New Year on an aggressive note by slashing fares on its network,” Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijaya Mallya said in a statement here today. He, however, did not specify the quantum by which fares would come down.
The current low prices of Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) allows Kingfisher to pursue an opportunity to significantly increase market share by offering the fine five star flying experience at reduced fares, he said.
Earlier, Kingfisher had said that it would effect fare cut only after the government classifies ATF in the Declared Goods category. Another private airline, Jet Airways, had also taken a similar decision on the issue.
The airlines across the board are demanding from the government to classify ATF in the declared goods category. Under the declared goods category, there will be a uniform four per cent sales tax on air fuel across the country.
The proposal is now before Parliament. However, several state governments are likely to oppose the uniform taxation as it would cause revenue loss to them. Now, the sales tax varies from four per cent to 32 per cent, and accounts for over 35 per cent of airlines’ operational cost.
Over the last four months, there has been a sharp decline in ATF prices. While some air carriers earlier this month reduced the fuel surcharge between Rs 200 and Rs 400, they did not touch the basic fare.
Airlines Market Investment, China eyes greater global market share in airline industry
The Chinese airline industry is hoping to sign some profitable deals at Tuesday’s 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.
Jin Zhuanglong, general manager of the newly-founded Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), said on Monday that he wished to sell short-haul passenger planes, ARJ21, to overseas clients at the forthcoming air show.
“One of our goals is to serialize and mass produce ARJ21 products for further growth,” said Jin. “We will do our best to expand business overseas, break into the international market for the first time and occupy a certain proportion of the global market share as early as possible.”
Li Yuhai, deputy general manager of China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC), also expressed his conglomerate’s determination to explore overseas markets and turn China-made planes into brand names.
AVIC was reorganized in October. The country’s two aviation industry conglomerates, AVIC-I (China Aviation Industry Corporation I) and AVIC-II (China Aviation Industry Corporation II) were merged in an effort to make a bigger impact internationally.
Miao Wei, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology, said on Monday that the Chinese government encourages development of export-oriented aviation products of civilian use either independently or through cooperative manner.
“The government will also encourage efforts designed to enlarge the size of production of civilian aviation components via subcontracts,” said Miao.
The 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, will take place in Zhuhai, a port city in the Guangdong Province. It runs from Tuesday to Sunday. It is the largest air show of the kind, according to Zhou Lewei, deputy secretary-general for the Organizing Committee for Airshow China.
Some 600 business people from 35 countries and regions are expected to attend. Aviation giants Boeing of the United States, Airbus of France, Bombardier of Canada, and Embraer of Brazil included. More than 60 aircraft will be exhibited including China-made Jian10 strike fighter plane and Airbus 380.
Source: Xinhua
American Airlines delays the start of Chicago O’Hare-Beijing to May 4
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) was unable to launch its daily, nonstop flight service from Chicago (O’Hare) to Beijing yesterday (April 26) as planned and will delay the start-up tentatively until Tuesday, May 4 (Chicago-Beijing) and Wednesday, May 5 (Beijing-Chicago).
American did not receive the commercially-viable landing and take-off slots for Beijing Capital International Airport from the Chinese aviation authorities.
American stated “In line with established International Air Transport Association (IATA) and industry guidelines and procedures which give preferential treatment to new-entrant carriers to a market, American applied for commercially reasonable — and industry accepted — slots at Beijing in October 2009.”
In other news, American Airlines, American Eagle and their employees have continued their long-standing support of veterans and active military service members through a variety of special activities in recent weeks.
During the first quarter of 2010, American, American Eagle and employee volunteers supported a number of initiatives related to the military and veterans, including:
Medal of Honor charter flight: On March 25, National Medal of Honor Day, American Airlines flew 40 of the remaining 91 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from New York to Washington, D.C., aboard its special Flagship Liberty yellow-ribbon aircraft. The trip included a visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony.
WASP event: March 6-8, American Airlines flew 382 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and their family members from various points throughout the United States to Washington, D.C. President Obama presented the WASPs with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The first women in U.S. history who were trained to fly military aircraft, the WASPs served heroically during World War II.
Gary Sinise concerts: Award-winning actor Gary Sinise (“Forrest Gump,” “Apollo 13,” “CSI: NY”) and his band, the Lt. Dan Band, partner with American Airlines to present concerts to benefit the troops, veterans and their families. On March 18, Sinise and his band gave a performance to welcome home more than 700 soldiers of Task Force Phoenix VII during a day-long celebration for the soldiers and their families at the home of the “Fighting 69th,” the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Sinise’s tribute concert also benefited the SSG Chris Engledrum Foundation, established in memory of a member of the Fighting 69th who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004.
Medal of Honor Portrait presentations: American Airlines assists artist Phil Taylor and the American Fallen Soldiers Project (AFSP) in his mission to deliver original hand-painted Medal of Honor Portraits of fallen heroes to their families. On March 17, American Airlines transported a portrait to New York City for presentation to the family of SFC Jared Monti of Raynham, Mass., who was killed in action on June 21, 2006, in Afghanistan.
Honor Flights: On March 10-11, American Airlines, along with HBO®, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and The Honor Flight Network, flew 250 World War II veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., for the first time. These veterans were honored with send-off ceremonies as they embarked on “Honor Flights” at various airports across the country aboard American’s Flagship Liberty aircraft. The flights were held in conjunction with the premiere of The Pacific, HBO’s epic 10-part miniseries based on the true stories of World War II Marines who fought in the Pacific Theater.
Legends of Aerospace Tour: American Airlines joined with Armed Forces Entertainment and the Morale Entertainment Foundation to transport a group of famed aviators and astronauts on a “Legends of Aerospace Tour” to visit U.S. troops stationed in Germany and Southwest Asia. On March 4, the group, including Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, and Captain Jim Lovell, Commander of Apollo 13, traveled aboard a special yellow-ribbon aircraft from American’s hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany, where the men continued their journey, meeting with more than 10,000 troops, giving motivational speeches and joining in panel discussions.
United States Honor Flag (USHF): American Airlines is a proud supporter of the United States Honor Flag, a non-profit organization dedicated to memorializing fallen heroes and to educating the public about the heroes of yesterday and today. The first Honor Flag was given to the USHF’s founder, Chris Heisler, by the Texas House of Representatives following Sept. 11. The flag had flown over Ground Zero, and the USHF was established to ensure that it continues to fly in support of America’s heroes.
Veteran/Military Employee Resource Group (VMERG): American’s VMERG, the first of its type in the U.S. airline industry, is composed of employee volunteers whose purpose is to promote the roles and contributions of veterans and active-duty military employees, and to serve as a liaison between American Airlines, American Eagle, and the veteran and military communities. Among its many activities, in March, members of the VMERG, along with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Air Transport Division Veterans Committee, visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to distribute donated items, such as toothbrushes and other common personal items, to the patients. With the help of the USO and the VMERG, the TWU Air Transport Division Veterans Committee donated more than $9,000 and dozens of needed items, helping more than 100 wounded warriors and their families.
Frontier Airlines Reports $9M Operating Loss
Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has reported a third-quarter operating loss of $9 million, according to data from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
The results, released Monday, show the loss for the Denver-based airline amounted to 2.6 percent of its total operating revenue. That marks an improvement from 12.2 percent in the second quarter, but is still the second-highest operating loss among the discount carriers.
Only AirTran reported a higher operating loss at $46 million. Southwest Airlines had an operating profit of $86 million.
Among larger carriers, United Airlines posted an operating loss of $469 million.
United, Frontier and Southwest are the top three carriers at Denver International Airport.
