UK airline bmi has agreed to form a code share agreement with TAM, Brazil’s largest airline.
The initial phase of this agreement will allow both airlines to expand services for customers travelling between Brazil and the UK. This will result in a wider range of destination options for passengers with an easier connection process within the two countries. For example bmi passengers will be able to check in at Manchester for a flight to Sao Paulo Brazil. The flight will operate via Heathrow and Rio de Janeiro but you will not need to check in your luggage again for the TAM flight within Brazil.
Bmi has revealed that the partnership will be expanded to include flights into Europe and destinations in South America, such as Argentina and Chile.
Passengers travelling within the USA will not have failed to note the progress made by Delta Air Lines in its re-branding operation of Northwest Airlines, following their recent merger.
As March drew to a close all Northwest airlines crew and ground staff wore their old uniforms for the last time and are now visible in their Delta Air Lines clothing.
The merger is moving rapidly as both airlines strive to combine their strengths to bring quality and value to passengers.
Not only have the uniforms changed, but also the following:
- Increased First Class offerings, such as improved meal choice on flights over 900 miles and a wider variety of snacks on flights over 250 miles.
- Economy passengers travelling on Northwest operated routes of more than 250 miles will benefit from the return of free snacks. On flights over 600 miles food will be made available for purchase.
- In addition to the return of in-flight food, passengers in Northwest economy seats will once again benefit from free, in-flight entertainment on all flights within the USA (but the safety video shown will be a Delta Air Lines video).
- Passengers on both Delta and Northwest operated routes will benefit from a single in-flight magazine, “Sky”.
Delta Air Lines offers a number of cheap flights from a number of regional UK airports to several destinations throughout the USA.
Ryanair, Europe’s leading low cost airline is to reduce the number of aircraft based at its Irish hub Dublin from 22 to 17.
As a direct consequence of this, flights to Doncaster/Sheffield and Durham Tees Valley will be withdrawn from as early as July 09.
Flights to Aberdeen, Bournemouth and East Midlands will also be affected, as the frequency of the Dublin flights to these airports will be reduced.
Ryanair has blamed airport charges and taxes for these cuts, some of which have increased by as much as 12%.
Dublin Airport itself will see Ryanair flight numbers reduced from around 700 per week to around 600. This is a reduction of around 13% in passenger numbers travelling through the airport.
Ryanair’s Chairman Michael O’Leary has stated that such increases in taxation were impossible to justify in a year when inflation will be negative.
Ryanair will make further cuts from Dublin when its winter schedule comes into force.
Monarch Airlines recently commenced a new route from Birmingham International to the popular tourist destination of Larnaca, Cyprus. This twice-weekly route has sold incredibly well, in fact, it has been the fastest selling route in the airline’s history!
For the summer season Monarch Airlines made 22,000 seats available on this route. Unbelievably over half the seats were sold before the first flight had even taken off.
Monarch Airlines offers cheap flights to 42 destinations around the world, from a variety of UK airports. Its sister company Cosmos Holidays, which has been re-branded as Monarch Holidays offers great value package holidays to these destinations.
Offers currently start at £173 for a European package holiday with Monarch Holidays.
Air Canada is continuing its fight for survival but the outlook currently appears bleak.
Despite the resignation of its Chief Executive and the appointment of a new one in April, business and finance analysts believe the carrier is getting closer to its second filing for creditor protection in 6 years. Air Canada’s chances of surviving without bankruptcy protection stand at no better than 50%.
The new management team have been given 6 months to try and find a solution to some of the problems which are currently crippling the company, such as Union matters, a pension black hole which stands at C$3 billion, other debt obligations, weak demand for travel and increasing competition from other rivals such as WestJet who offer low cost flights throughout the region.
Air Canada will need to make fleet reductions and seek to cuts its cost base substantially to stand any chance of survival in the future.
