Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Kuwait Airways deputy CEO Kamil Al-Awadhi said the airline suspended fifth freedom services, including Kuwait-Bangkok-Manila and Kuwait-London-New York as it is "not a profitable way to operate a flight" (Arabian Aerospace, 12-Sep-2017). Mr Al-Awadhi said such services are no longer viable due to lower yields, commenting: "There was a time, when yield was a lot higher, when you could dilute the cost of landing and parking".

Pegasus Airlines plans to base a "considerable fleet" at Istanbul New Airport from 2020, according to CCO Güliz Öztürk (Bloomberg/Daily Sabah, 12-Sep-2017). Ms Öztürk said: "We plan to fly both domestically and internationally out of the new airport if we can get the slots and infrastructure" Ms Öztürk added it is unlikely Pegasus Airlines would be able to establish a full base until the third runway is built. The carrier is also interested in adding Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen frequencies and developing transit traffic.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Pobeda: an indispensable part of the Aeroflot Group, even as the LCC's growth slows' stated (11-Sep-2017) the carrier's fleet plans suggest Pobeda expects strong growth beyond 2017, in spite of the pause in capacity expansion in 1H2017 and the expected growth rate of only 5% in passenger numbers in 2017. Aeroflot sees the potential market for Pobeda growing at a compound average rate of 9.7% p/a from 2016 to 2021. [more - CAPA Analysis]

airberlin's creditors committee chief representative Frank Kebekus stated (12-Sep-2017) cancellation of more than 100 services on 12-Sep-2017 due to 200 pilots calling in sick "seriously endanger the entire insolvency proceedings under self-administration". Mr Kebekus stated: "If the situation does not change quickly, we will have to cease operations and thus any restructuring efforts". The creditors committee is aiming to make "concrete decisions" on 21-Sep-2017. As previously reported by CAPA, bids for airberlin close on 15-Sep-2017. [more - original PR - English/German]

Air Europa Lineas Aereas plans to launch twice weekly Madrid-Recife service from 20-Dec-2017, with service to operate with A330-200 aircraft, as per a 12-Sep-2017 GDS and inventory timetable display. According to OAG, Recife Guararapes International Airport is connected to Europe via Frankfurt, Milan and Lisbon.

Emirates announced (12-Sep-2017) plans to increase Dubai-Sydney frequency to four times daily, effective 25-Mar-2018. The airline will operate all four frequencies with A380 equipment. The additional frequency will increase capacity on the service by 6846 seats per week and increase the airline's overall Australia capacity by 7.3%. The service will enable greater connectivity from Europe and North Africa to Australia and will complement the rerouting of Qantas' services between Sydney and London to operate via Singapore instead of Dubai. Emirates will also increase Dubai-Brisbane frequency to three times daily on 01-Dec-2017 and operate Dubai-Melbourne service three times daily with A380 aircraft from 25-Mar-2018. [more - original PR]

Ryanair plans to launch the following Malta services as per a 11-Sep-2017 GDS and inventory timetable display:

• Malta-Aberdeen: Twice weekly, effective 25-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Bratislava: Twice weekly, effective 25-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Gothenburg: Weekly, effective 31-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Paris Beauvais: Twice weekly, effective 27-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Pescara: Twice weekly, effective 27-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Porto: Twice weekly, effective 26-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Seville: Twice weekly, effective 28-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Tallinn: Weekly, effective 29-Mar-2018.

All services operate with Boeing 737-800 equipment. Ryanair also plans to offer connecting services with Air Malta to African onward destinations. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III - Slovak] [more - original PR - IV]

Zambia's Minister of Transport Brian Mushimba said the country's new national carrier is expected to commence operations in 2018 under the name Zambia Airways (ZNBC, 11-Sep-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Mr Mushimba said the new airline is necessary to take full advantage of investment in aviation infrastructure.

London Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate called (11-Sep-2017) on the UK Government to support a second runway following the airport's record 4.9 million passengers handled in Aug-2017. Mr Wingate added: "Later this year, we'll be further adding to our more than 60 long haul connections with routes to Denver, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, Taipei and Singapore starting... As Gatwick continues to grow beyond 45 million annual passengers, we remain ready and willing to build our financeable and deliverable second runway". [more - original PR]