by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 6, 2012 | Airlines, Industry News |
The Star alliance member launched twice a week service this week between Istanbul and Mogadishu via Khartoum.
After 20 years of isolation from the commericial aviation world, Somalia will have Turkish provide both international and intra-Somali flights. Turkish confirmed that all repairs and precautions have been completed to allow safe transit.
According to Turkish Airlines, the logic is to use Somalia as a springboard to improving Turkey’s presence in Africa. After overtures from China, Brazil and India (your basic BRIC nations) seeking to expanding their presence in Africa, Turkey decided to join the race.
My question though is why Somalia? Aside from the obvious security and safety issues for airline operations, would Turkey not be concerned about the impression that would make on the US and EU, especially since it is awaiting to join the EU? With Somalia having little to no diplomatic relations with most countries this decision baffles me. I would think there would be better African conduits to accomplish it’s goal as a presence on the continent.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 6, 2012 | Airlines, Industry News |
Singapore Airlines:
Singapore-Athens effective March 25 will start 2x/week service.
Singapore-Athens effective July 8 to September 30 will increase from 2x/week to 3x/week.
Singapore-Istanbul effective March 25 will be reduced from 6x/week to 5x/week.
Singapore-Munich-Manchester effective March 25-June 5 is being reduced from 1x/day to 6x/WEEK.
ANA:
Osaka-Hangzhou effective March 25 is increasing from 3x/week to 1x/DAY.
Osaka-Qingdao effective March 25 is increasing from 4x/week to 1x/DAY.
South African:
Johannesburg-Pointe Noire effective May 17 will be extended to Johannesburg-Pointe Noire-COTONOU and will operate 2x/week.
Aegean:
Athen-Munich effective March 25 will be reduced from 2x/day to 1x/day.
Athens-Venice effective March 25 will be reduced from 4x/week to 2x/week.
Athens-Vienna effective March 24 will increase from 5x/week to 1x/DAY.
Irakleion-Larnaca effective June 29-September 2 is CANCELED.
Thessaloniki-Larnaca effective March 25 will be reduced from 11x/week to 1x/DAY.
PREVIOUS STAR ALLIANCE UPDATES: ONE TWO THREE
Source: Airlineroute.net
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 6, 2012 | Airlines, Industry News |
In news from Frankfurt, it appears that Japan carrier ANA is negotiating a deepening of it’s relationship with Lufthansa. In October of 2011, ANA initiated a tie-up with Lufthansa Airlines and now seeks to expand the relationship to include tie-ups with Lufthansa Group members Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines.
The relationship that currently exists between Lufthansa and ANA creates coordinated timetables and revenue sharing opportunities for both carriers. ANA claims that this relationship has led to a 170 percent increase in transfer traffic in Narita as passengers from Europe use Narita as their gateway to China.
According to Lufthansa an agreement can be in place as soon as April 1.
I like the move for both sides. Lufthansa gains a marketing advantage over its European competitors by increasing their reach within Asia without using substantial resources, and ANA in return can continue to evolve as a premier airline by being able to reach more European destinations for its Asia based clientel.
As far as Star Alliance (of which both are members) is concerned, this move helps them compete better against oneworld, who seems to have a stronghold on the Asian markets with American Airlines, JAL, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
It looks like we’ll see more new ANA 787 Dreamliners at airports throughout Europe in the near future!
