Hong Kong Express Airways, which added 4 new destinations to its routes in September, is set to release a new timetable for all flights around about now, departing from Hong Kong Airport.
The new routes were Osaka, Japan; Phuket, Thailand; Denpasar, Indonesia and Manila, Philippines.
Bangkok Airways is aiming for increased passenger satisfaction and convenience by launching web check-in for all domestic customers travelling within Thailand.
It enables passengers to check in online and select their preferred seat as early as 24 hours prior to departure.
Passengers then simply bring their printed boarding pass to the designated counter for quick verification of their identification and baggage.
Air Asia X, the long haul arm of Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia is currently awaiting delivery of 25 new fuel-efficient Airbus A330-300 aircraft and has plans for rapid expansion. But in today’s economic climate just how low can a budget carrier go?
Azran Osman Rani, CEO of Air Asia X was asked this very question at a recent press conference and he answered as follows:
“As a low cost carrier how much lower can our fares go? We are a low fare carrier. There is big demand for travel at the prices we offer”. Mentioning the order of the new Airbus aircraft he says, “three will be delivered in 2009 and we are fast-forwarding an aircraft originally scheduled for 2011. We need the aircraft to cater for strong passenger demand on existing routes and for our new ones.”
The airline currently operates with a single Airbus A330-300 and flies to the Gold Coat in Australia and Hangzhou in China. This is set to be followed by 6 return flights per week from Kuala Lumpur to Perth and Melbourne. Azran expects the Perth route to be operating with 80% minimum seats sold based on current demand.
Referring to the demise of Oasis Hong Kong and Zoom, who both ceased operating due to increased fuel costs, Azran said such carriers used old aircraft, some over 20 years old. Such aircraft are not fuel-efficient and in today’s environment are simply not viable.
The ACI (Airports Council International) has released its annual figures on the top rated Airports in the world.
Based on Passenger Data the top 10 Airports in the Word, are, according to the ACI:
1. Atlanta (1)
2. Chicago / O’Hare (2)
3. London / Heathrow (3)
4. Tokyo / Haneda (4)
5. Los Angeles (5)
6. Paris CDG (7)
7. Dallas Fort Worth (6)
8. Frankfurt (8)
9. Beijing (9)
10. Madrid (13)
Figures in brackets show 2006 ranking.
Denver has slipped out of the top 10, ranking at 10 in 2006 it now ranks at 11. Madrid has managed to break in to the top 10, after its previous ranking of 13.
The top 10 fastest growing airports are ranked as follows:
1. Whuan 37% growth
2. Sayan 36% growth
3. Denpasar Bali 35.7% growth
4. Bangalore 33.8% growth
5. Moscow 32.5% growth
6. Chonquing 28.6% growth
7. Nanjing 28.2% growth
8. Calcutta 28.2% growth
9. Sharm El Sheikh 27% growth
10. Hyderabab 26.1% growth.
The ACI have sounded a cautious note with regard to growth, noting that although the 2007 expansion was a positive sign, preliminary data from 2008 indicated the rate of growth was slowing.
Charlotte / Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, USA, is to benefit from a $400 million overhaul during 2009, which is intended to improve the airport’s competitiveness over other airports in the region.
Improvements include:
Construction of 2 new taxiway bridges
Installing better storm drains
Expansion of the terminal entrance
Expansion of the road system and car parks
Extra security checkpoints
Improved baggage facilities.
Since 1997 passenger numbers at the airport have increased steadily by 59% and last year totalled 33.2 million.
Passengers who stand to benefit from the improvements are ultimately being asked to pay for them – each passenger now pays a $3 facility charge per flight.
In Flight News