This week’s BIG FAT AIRLINE WRAP
Emirates to Launch Daily Flights to Croatia
Emirates announced that it introduce daily flight from Dubai to Zagreb (ZAG), the capital of Croatia from June 1, 2017. The new southeast European destination will be served by an Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft, the only wide-body service operating from Zagreb. This will allow for a seamless connection for Australian travellers.
The new Zagreb flight opens a whole new exciting region for Emirates’ passengers to explore. The city itself is steeped in culture and history, with an abundance of charming pavement cafes and restaurants to be enjoyed during the spring and summer months. On Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, the picturesque resort of Split and the exclusive islands of Hvar and Brac can be found.
Business travellers into Zagreb will appreciate the convenient early afternoon landing into Franjo Tuđman (Pleso) International Airport from Dubai. Scheduled flight times for EK129 (departing Dubai at 08:15 and arriving in Zagreb at 12:20 local time) and the return flight EK130 (departing Zagreb at 15:35 and arriving in Dubai at 23:05).
Finnair adds capacity to popular European destinations for 2017
Due to the popular demand of the new Reykjavik route which begins on 11 April, Finnair will be adding a fifth weekly frequency on Wednesdays between 31 May and 11 August.
The route to Reykjavik will also become a year-round destination with three weekly frequencies during the winter season. These services are complemented by flights operated by Icelandair where Finnair has a code-share.
Finnair will increase capacity in Denmark with an additional daily frequency on weekdays to Copenhagen and a larger aircraft on the Billund route. From 14 May, five weekly frequencies will be added year-round to the Copenhagen route. i
Finnair will also be adding frequencies to: 1) Vilnius on weekdays from 15 May to open additional European and long haul connections from Lithuania’s capital, 2) Warsaw for the peak summer season between 5 June and 4 August, 3) Dublin route for the European Winter 2017 season, 4) Saturday flight to Alanya-Gazipasa, Turkey, will be extended until the middle of December 2017.
Munich Airport sets new record of over 42 million passengers in 2016
The number of passengers increased by 1.3 million, or 3 percent, over the previous year to a new all-time high of 42.3 million, and the number of aircraft movements was up by almost 4 percent. The total of 394,430 take-offs and landings represented an increase of 14,500. Last year’s strike-related disruptions affected approximately 330,000 travellers. The airfreight segment posted the strongest growth with more than 334,000 tons of freight handled at the airport represented a 5 percent year-on-year increase.
Continental traffic, with a total of 25.8 million passengers in 2016, remained the strongest segment at Munich Airport. This was a 4 percent increase over 2015. Domestic routes within Germany experienced a slight 0.5 percent increase to approximately 10 million passengers.
Once again last year, there were substantial additions to the global route network served from Munich: The 257 destinations – 10 more than in the previous year – was the most extensive range of destinations ever offered to passengers at the Bavarian hub. The number of airlines offering scheduled services in Munich increased by three to 100.
Cathay Pacific to launch new seasonal service to Barcelona in Summer 2017
Cathay Pacific announced the introducion of a new four-times weekly seasonal service between Hong Kong and Barcelona from 2 July 2017 (subject to government approval), offering travellers an exciting getaway destination and directly linking two of the world’s most dynamic cities for the very first time.
The seasonal operation, scheduled to operate throughout the peak travel months until 27 October, complements the airline’s existing four-times weekly service to Madrid, meaning Cathay Pacific will soon provide more non-stop flights to Spain from Asia than any other airline.To be operated by Cathay Pacific’s state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the new service gives both business and leisure passengers the fastest, most direct option to Spain’s second most populous city, while also providing passengers from the Iberian Peninsula easier access to key destinations in Asia and Southwest Pacific through the airline’s hub in Hong Kong.
In addition to the latest seats and an enhanced inflight entertainment system, the aircraft is Wi-Fi equipped, meaning passengers can stay connected throughout their journey.
Cathay Pacific moves New York JFK operations to Terminal 8
Relocation of services to Terminal 8 will increase connectivity and enrich the travel experience for the airline’s passengers at the busiest international air gateway in the United States. The move commencing 15 January will benefit its customers through added convenience and enhanced connectivity.
Flight CX845, with a scheduled departure of 00.45 local time on 15 January, will be Cathay Pacific’s final departure from Terminal 7. All subsequent flights to Hong Kong will depart from Terminal 8.
“The first-rate facilities and amenities available, in addition to the significant connectivity advantages that the move brings, will further enhance the delivery of our brand promise of a Life Well Travelled,” Cathay Pacific Director Service Delivery, James Ginns said.
Cathay Dragon hosts ‘Marriage in the Air’ at 35,000 feet
Winning couple of online travel competition say “I do” onboard flight KA877 from Shanghai to Hong Kong and celebrate in style with friends and family. Mr Ha and Ms Zhen, whose respective popular travel blogs on the Sina Weibo social media network have close to 1 million followers combined, were voted winners of the competition through a public online ballot, thereby earning them the title of “China’s favourite online travel couple”.
