News for The Americas

United Airlines scheduled to increase San Francisco-Sydney frequency from 10 times weekly to twice daily from 28-Oct-2023, as per a 16-Jan-2023 GDS inventory and timetable display. The additional frequencies will also be operated using Boeing 777-300ER equipment. 

VINCI Airports reported (12-Jan-2023) the following traffic highlights:

• Three months ended Dec-2022:
  • Passengers: 56.2 million, -15.0% compared to 2019;
    • Portugal (ANA): 13.7 million, +3.6% ;
    • UK: 9.2 million, -21%;
    • Japan (Kansai Airports): 7.9 million -38%;
    • Mexico (OMA): 6.5 million, +8.7%;
    • Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel): 5.3 million, -10%;
    • France: 4.0 million, -17%;
    • Brazil (Salvador): 2.9 million, -13%;
    • US: 2.4 million, -9.5%;
    • Dominican Republic (Aerodom): 1.6 million, +11%;
    • Serbia (Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport): 1.4 million, +1.7%;
    • Cambodia (Cambodia Airports): 974,000, -65%;
    • Costa Rica: 346,000, +32;
  • Aircraft movements: 493,055, -13.7%;
• 2022:
  • Passengers: 209.7 million, -25.2% compared to 2019;
    • Portugal (ANA): 55.7 million, -5.8%;
    • UK: 37.7 million, -29%;
    • Mexico (OMA): 23.2 million, +0.1%;
    • Japan (Kansai Airports): 22.2 million, -57%;
    • Chile (Nuevo Pudahuel): 18.7 million, -24%;
    • France: 16.0 million, -25%;
    • Brazil (Salvador): 11.2 million, -10%;
    • US: 9.7 million, -7.0%;
    • Dominican Republic (Aerodom): 6.0 million, +5.8%;
    • Serbia (Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport): 5.6 million, -8.9%;
    • Cambodia: 2.4 million, -80%;
    • Costa Rica: 1.4 million, +18%;
  • Aircraft movements: 1.9 million, -18.3%. [more - original PR]

PLAY announced (10-Jan-2023) plans to launch services from Toronto John C Munro Hamilton International Airport to 15 European destinations from 22-Jun-2023. The carrier stated destinations will include Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Brussels Airport, Copenhagen Kastrup Airport, Dublin Airport, Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, London Stansted Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport and Stockholm. Toronto is the carrier's fifth destination in North America, with PLAY labelling Toronto's addition to the route network "a logical step" after the company's destinations in North America have exceeded expectations. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Icelandic]

China Southern Airlines filed (09-Jan-2023) its China-US schedules with the US Department of Transportation, as follows:

• Guangzhou-Los Angeles: Daily with Boeing 787 from 30-Jan-2023;
• Guangzhou-New York JFK: Daily with a combination of 777-300ER and 787 from 02-Feb-2023;
• Guangzhou-San Francisco: Daily with 787 from 10-Feb-2023. [more - original PR]

United Airlines scheduled to reduce San Francisco-Auckland frequency from daily to three times weekly from 26-Mar-2023 through 21-Jun-2023, as per a 09-Jan-2023 GDS inventory and timetable display. According to OAG, Air New Zealand also operates the route.

JetBlue Airways announced (05-Jan-2023) plans to increase New York JFK-London Heathrow frequency from daily to twice daily from 25-Mar-2023. According to OAG, the service is operated using A321neo equipment. American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways are also scheduled to operate the route. [more - original PR]

Air China filed (04-Jan-2023) its latest US flight schedules to the US Department of Transportation for services commencing 08-Jan-2023: 

• Beijing Capital-Los Angeles: 6-7 times weekly with Boeing 777-300ER;
• Shenzhen-Los Angeles: Weekly from 10-Jan-2023 to 21-Mar-2023 with 777-300ER;
• Beijing Capital-New York JFK: Daily from 17-Jan-2023;
• Beijing Capital-San Francisco: Four times weekly from 01-Mar-2023;
• Beijing Capital-Washington Dulles: Three times weekly from 02-Mar-2023. [more - original PR]

China Eastern Airlines plans to resume weekly Shanghai Pudong-Vancouver service with A350-900 equipment from 23-Jan-2023, as per a 03-Jan-2023 GDS display and inventory. 

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced (28-Dec-2022) inbound passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong and Macau must present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery upon arrival, effective 05-Jan-2023. All passengers aged two or older must present a negative test result taken no more than 48 hours prior to departure, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. The requirement also applies to passengers travelling from China via third country transit and to passengers connecting through the US onward to further destinations. CDC also announced passengers transiting through the following airports to the US will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in Peoples Republic of China in the last 10 days:

• Seoul Incheon International Airport;
• Toronto Pearson International Airport;
• Vancouver International Airport.

CDC noted the three transit hubs cover the overwhelming majority of passengers with travel originating from China and its special administrative regions. [more - original PR]

American Airlines announced (15-Dec-2022) changes to the AAdvantage loyalty programme from Mar-2023, as follows:

• Members will unlock their first Loyalty Point Reward (formerly called Loyalty Choice Rewards) after earning 15,000 loyalty points and before reaching AAdvantage Gold status. These members will receive Group 5 boarding for the duration of the membership year and the choice between the following Loyalty Point Rewards:
  • Priority check-in, security and Group 4 boarding for one trip;
  • Five preferred seat coupons;
• As members reach higher status levels, they will receive new benefits including loyalty points bonuses for shopping with some of American's partners and status with the carrier's preferred car partner;
• The carrier is removing the previous 75,000 limit on miles a member could earn on a single ticket, increasing reward opportunities;
• AAdvantage members will earn two miles per dollar spent on basic economy fares for all tickets on American and eligible partner flights issued on or after 01-Jan-2023 for travel starting 01-Mar-2023. [more - original PR]