UNITED Ends Service to Accra from July 2012; Copenhagen from late-Sep 2012

As per 03APR12 GDS inventory display, UNITED is closing 2 Trans-Atlantic routes, with Accra service cancelled from 03JUL12 and Copenhagen terminated from 26SEP12.Reservation for these routes has been zero’d out on Tuesday night Eastern time.Existing schedules:Newark – Copenhagen Service cancelled from 26SEP12UA122
EWR1735 – 0735+1CPH 752 x12UA123
CPH0905 – 12000EWR 752 x23
Washington Dulles – Accra Service cancelled from 03JUL12UA990 IAD2243 – 1330+1ACC 763 x13
UA991 ACC2215 – 0505+1IAD 763 x24

Engine explosion at Kastrup/EKCH

A SK MD81 operating flight 1469 to Oslo´s Gardemoens airport had to abort takeoff at 09:30 today due to an engine failure. Onboard the flight was some members of the Norwegian royal family. It was crownprince Haakon and Mette Marit. All the passengers had to leave the aircraft through the slides.

Star Alliance is growing. Ethiopian Airlines yesterday became the 28 member and thus the third African airline in the alliance. Ethiopian currently has a line from London to Addis Ababa via Rome and there are plans to expand it to a direct connection.

At a ceremony yesterday on Ethiopian Airlines home base, Bole Airport in Addis Ababa, welcomed the aircraft in as the 28th member of Star Alliance. With the Star consolidates its position as the largest airline alliance in SkyTeam and Oneworld. With the entry covering the airlines within Star 1290 destinations in 189 countries with 21 000 daily flights. With Ethiopian as a member also formed a third African hub outside of Cairo and Johannesburg and a route network that is now connected to the earth-round tickets Star Alliance sell. Ethiopian Airlines, will start in 1946, is one of the fastest growing airlines in Africa. The fleet currently consists of 48 aircraft, with Boeing 777-200LR, 767-300ER and Boeing 757-200ER for long-haul services, while the Boeing 737 and Q400 aircraft used for short liner in Africa and Ethiopia. The company also flies cargo with two Boeing 747-200F and MD-11F. Ethiopian is a frequent customer of Boeing and Airbus and has ordered 35 new aircraft including 12 Airbus 350-900 and 10 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner-8 to the future long-haul services. Dreamlinern is scheduled to be delivered as early as next year. Currently flying Ethiopian daily route from Addis Ababa to the airport, via Rome with a Boeing 757-200. The flights take place in the code-share with SAS. According to news website Travel News can be considered in next summer increase traffic to a direct link between the Stockholm and Addis Ababa and thus avoid the stopover in Rome.

Malaysia Airlines Revises A380 Operation to London due July 2012 & Configuration Change

As per 05JAN12 GDS inventory display, Malaysia Airlines has adjusted initial Airbus A380 operation on Kuala Lumpur – London Heathrow service.
The launch date is now moved by 1 day earlier to 01JUL12, as a result of operational day changes. Planned Daily A380 service is postponed from 15AUG12 to 25AUG12.
In addition to the operational change, the airline has REVISED Airbus A380 Configuration, which overall capacity is reduced from 503 to 487.
Latest operational schedule and Revised A380 Configuration as follows:

MH002 KUL2340 – 0550+1LHR 388 257

MH003 LHR1200 – 0725+1KUL 388 136
Daily A380 service on MH002/003 eff 25AUG12 from KUL, 26AUG12 from LHR.

Finnair to Start Codeshare with Malmö Aviation from mid-Jan 2012

Finnair from 19JAN12 will begin codeshare with Malmö Aviation, covering service on Stockholm Bromma – Malmö route.
Codeshare flight numbers as follows:
Route
AY Codeshare
TF Operating
Stockholm Bromma – Malmö
AY6101AY6107AY6103AY6105
TF107
TF145
TF119TF123
Malmö – Stockholm Bromma
AY6104
AY6102
AY6108
AY6106
TF142TF148TF164TF168

Air Seychelles is terminating service to Europe

Due to severe competition from Gulf carriers offering more connections to European airports, Air Seychelles board of directors have decided to terminate flights to London and Milan. Flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle will stop this spring.

The question is on what destinations Air Seychelles will put their 767s. The number of flights to Jo´burg will also be decreased.

Emirates Moves Forward Copenhagen & Hamburg Aircraft Change to Jan 2012

As per 23NOV11 GDS timetable and inventory display, Emirates is moving forward the effective date for aircraft change on Dubai – Copenhagen and Dubai – Hamburg.
Both are slated for operational aircraft change from 01FEB12, but has been moved forward to 01JAN12.
Details:
Dubai – Copenhagen Boeing 777-200 replaces A330-200. Note from 17JAN12 to 29JAN12, Boeing 777-300 operates on Day 237EK151
DXB0830 – 1225CPH 772 DEK152
CPH1400 – 2315DXB 772 D

Dubai – Hamburg EK061/062 operates with Boeing 777-300ER, replaces -200EK061
DXB1500 – 1850HAM 77W DEK062
HAM2030 – 0545+1DXB 77W DEK059/060 currently operates with 777-300ER on Daily basis.