Airline News

Airguide Online, April 16, 2004

Air France signed a new code share agreement with Air Europa for flights between France and Spain that strengthens their existing code sharing

Air India will launch direct service from Los Angeles to Mumbai (Bombay) on June 11 2004. The only direct flights available from the West Coast to India, the new thrice-weekly Boeing 747-400 service will reduce flying time to India by several hours. To celebrate the new service, Air-India is offering special roundtrip Introductory Fares (Price depends on departure date):

* $6,499 in First Class

* $3,870-$4,410, Executive Class

* $1,099-$1,590, Economy Class

These special fares are available June 11 to Sept. 30 and are valid for stays of up to six months. Tickets must be purchased by April 30 2004; other restrictions apply. Air-India flight 136 will depart from LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal B at 7:20 p.m. PST every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and arrive in Mumbai at 3:45 a.m. (two days later, local time). Return flight 137 departs Mumbai at 7 a.m. and arrives at LAX at 4:20 the same day. Both eastbound and westbound flights include a brief stopover in Frankfurt to disembark and board passengers. The carrier will continue to offer code-share flights daily from Los Angeles and San Francisco via Singapore Airlines, and from Los Angeles via Malaysian Airlines.

Air Polonia launched twice-weekly flights between Brussels South Charleroi and Katowice. On April 26 2004 the Polish LCC will introduce a thrice-weekly service to Warsaw.

Air Service will start a thrice-weekly service between Brussels South Charleroi and Pescara tomorrow.

AirTran Airways launched a two-day fare sale April 6 for flights to or from Atlanta and Philadelphia. The reduced fares are available for purchase through April 7 and are good for travel through June 16 2004. They require a 14-day advance purchase. Examples of some of the one-way fares are Philadelphia to Boston for $34, to Denver for $119 and to Los Angeles for $99. From Atlanta, the fares range from $69 to Miami and $109 to Las Vegas. Fares are not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel is not permitted on May 31 (Memorial Day).

Aloha Airlines has named its First Class Navigator Class and will now refer to coach as Voyager Class. Glenn Zander, president and CEO, said that as other airlines continue to cut back on food and other amenities, "branding our in-flight service as Navigator Class and Voyager Class differentiates what we do and how well we do it." The names reflect Polynesian voyaging canoes. When it takes delivery of new 737-700s, it will name them after stars that guided the navigators to and from Hawaii. Aloha uses all-leather seats in both classes, offers a complimentary Mai Tai and macadamia nuts, and a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.

American Eagle will start new seasonal service to Nassau, Bahamas, from Dallas-Fort Worth. The carriers will operate one flight daily with a 70 seater CRJ-700 regional jet from June 10 to Sept. 7 and then starting up again on Dec. 15 2004.

In a similar decision to one made by United to terminate its United Connection contract with Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA), Delta has informed the regional carrier it also will be terminating its Delta Connection contract. The decisions come as ACA prepares to morph into a large, low-fare carrier at Washington Dulles Airport, called Independence Air. It will no longer fly as the regional arm of these major airlines. To prepare for the transition, Delta will be moving 10 regional jets flown by ACA out of Boston to Cincinnati in July, and will discontinue ACA flights from New York. Independence Air intends to operate more than 300 daily departures this summer. The inaugural flight is scheduled for June 16 2004.

British Airways will launch wireless Internet connections in 80 of its main lounges around the world. BA said it anticipates having the technology in the lounges by the end of May 2004.

Cathay Pacific Airways will start daily nonstop service from New York (JFK) to Hong Kong starting July 1, 2004. It will be the only daily nonstop between the two cities and, with the continuation of the airline's existing one-stop service via Vancouver, Cathay will be the only airline operating double daily service between New York and Hong Kong. The airline serves 24 cities in the United States, either direct or through code share passenger services. Cathay Pacific will operate the new service with Airbus A340-600 and follow a route over the North Pole. Passengers will save approximately three hours journey time and avoid the inconvenience of an intermediary stop. Currently from the U.S., Cathay Pacific offers double daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, daily nonstop service from San Francisco to Hong Kong, daily direct service from New York to Hong Kong (increasing to double daily frequency with nonstop service July 1) and daily nonstop service from New York to Vancouver.

Delta is now planning hourly flights to Philadelphia from Atlanta starting June 1 2004. Delta said the increase is a response to increasing demand for business and leisure travel to the city. Its flights from Atlanta will begin at 6:40 a.m. and end at 9:40 p.m. From Philadelphia they begin at 5:40 a.m. and end at 7:40 p.m. Separately, Delta announced that CFO Michele Burns is leaving at the end of April to work for Mirant Corp. in Atlanta. The airline has not yet named a replacement.