Hainan Airlines will operate a daily direct service from Belgium to China beginning 28 May. The airline already flies four times a week from Brussels to Beijing and in May it will start operating direct flights three times a week between Brussels Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. All flights will be operated with Airbus 330 aircraft. … [Read more...] about CHINA: Hainan boosts China-Belgium services

Airbus delivered to Sichuan Airlines the very first widebody aircraft, an A330-200, to add capacity to its existing all-Airbus single aisle fleet. The A330 is the first of three brand new Airbus A330- 200s that Sichuan Airlines has leased from the Netherland’s-based AerCap Aviation Solutions. While expanding its regional and international network, Sichuan Airlines intends to compete on high density routes with a fleet of A330s to be deployed on domestic trunk routes from the … [Read more...] about CHINA: Sichuan Airlines takes deliver of first A330

Global airline alliance, Oneworld and its member airlines have all collectively breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the recent reaffirmation by Japan Airlines (JAL) of its membership in the alliance – and its intention to deepen working relationships with its partners in the grouping. “We respect this was an important decision for Japan Airlines and the government of Japan, and we believe they have made the right choice for JAL’s many stakeholders, for … [Read more...] about JAPAN: A sigh of relief from Oneworld as JAL stays put

The Japan Airlines (JAL) Group has announced its new route, flight frequency and fleet plan for international and domestic passenger operations as well as international cargo operations for the first half of FY2010, the period ending 30 September 2010. The changes reflect the ongoing Reorganisation Plan with a sharp focus on improving profitability as the ailing carrier undergoes restructuring. JAL said it will closely evaluate market situations and “effectively capitalise on the … [Read more...] about JAPAN: JAL tinkers with its freighter services

Japan’s two largest carriers – Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) – are seeing a return to cargo growth since November/December last year, but domestic volumes have yet tomove into positive growth. During the first nine months of fiscal 2009, which started in April, JAL transported a total of 454,585 tonnes of cargo on international routes, down 12.6 per cent from the same period of the previous fiscal year. December saw volumes rise 29.9 per … [Read more...] about JAPAN: Int’l cargo improving for Japanese carriers

Five US carriers including the country’s four largest have applied for coveted slots at Tokyo’s downtown Haneda airport, two months after a landmark agreement was reached between the US and Japan to relax restrictions on flights between the two countries. Among the carriers seeking slots are: Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Delta and United are the two biggest US carriers serving Japan. Several US … [Read more...] about JAPAN: 5 US carriers salivating over Haneda slots