Page 36 - AAA MAY-JUNE 2012 Online Magazine

AIRLINES

WHAT’S IN THE AIR?

ANZ goes Shanghai
A new bilateral air services deal will
triple the number of flights between
New Zealand and China, but cut flights to
Beijing. It will suspend the twice-weekly
Auckland - Beijing service from end June
and will serve Beijing as a code-share with
partner Air China. “We’re confident of the
potential for long-term growth from one of
China’s most modern and populous cities,”
said ANZ’s Christopher Luxon, Group
General Manager International. Although
ANZ has been operating to mainland
China for more than five years, it is aware
the business bulk is to Shanghai, rather
Virgin for Taiwan than blue-chip Beijing. “We will focus
our marketing and sales resources on
US-based Virgin America has signed a cross-passenger deal with Taiwan-based the Shanghai region of around 14 million
China Airlines, offering shared aircraft travel on both carriers’ networks. This is the people as we seek to provide customers
11th interline partner for Virgin America, which has set it sights on increasing Asian a daily service to and from this important
penetration. It adds to regional agreements with Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, gateway in China,” added Luxon.
Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. “We’re pleased to sign an
interline agreement with China Airlines that will allow us to provide both our airlines
more connection options between Taiwan and US cities,” said Adam Green, Virgin
America’s Director of Network Planning. The link-up will allow through-ticket travel
for passengers from Taipei to LAX, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, New York
and Washington DC.

JAL flies 787 to Delhi
Delhi International Airport’s Terminal
3 has become the first in India to Qantas JetLink
get a Boeing 787 commercial flight QantasLink, Australia’s largest regional
started by Japan Airlines (JAL) from airline, is expanding services between
Narita, Tokyo. JAL will enhance its Brisbane and Emerald from June.
flight operations to India from its QantasLink operates to 56 metropolitan
present five to seven flights a week and country destinations across regional
Etihad Reaps More from October. Of the five flights a Australia and to Port Moresby, Papua New
week between New Delhi and Tokyo
Guinea. The new services will use Fokker
Awards it currently flies with a Boeing 777, F100 jets, operated by Alliance Airlines.
The carrier was named the Middle JAL will start the 787 service on four The new services will support Q400
East’s Leading Airline for the sixth year out of the five weekly flights between services on the route whilst providing
in a row, as well as the best Middle New Delhi and Narita, Tokyo. Yasushi “cascaded growth” across key Queensland
East’s First Class offering, IFE facilities Isomura, Country Manager, JAL, said: markets including Roma and Bundaberg.
and cabin crew. “It is rewarding to see “With the launch of the Dreamliner, The airline has a current fleet of 58 aircraft
our investment in crew training and India will become the second country set to grow to 62 over the next 12 months.
product development paying off. Being in JAL’s operations to get this special The airline use a mix of Bombardier and
the airline of choice for our customers high end craft. This reiterates our Boeing 717 aircraft and also operates in
is our focus,” said Etihad Airways commitment to the Indian market and the lucrative Western Australian based
President and Chief Executive Officer, also talks about the importance of resources business, through charter
James Hogan. this market in India.” airline Network Aviation.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MAY / JUNE 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM