Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and adapt to changing market conditions. Initially managing the weekly newsletter for respected aviation insurance loss adjuster Airclaims Limited, he later joined aviation media company Key Publishing where he spent almost nine years interviewing many of the industry’s senior players producing content for renowned titles such as Airliner World and Airports of the World. In 2011, he joined air service development specialist Routes (latterly part of UBM) where he developed a complete digital editorial content strategy for the business and has become well respected by the aviation community for his knowledge and insight. In April 2017, he left to establish his own business, Maslen Aviation Consultancy, providing storytelling content production, delivery and promotion support as well as consultancy services on aviation topics. He has already started working independently for a number of clients providing online content, event coverage, conference speaking, media appearances, advice on marketing and live event experience as well as project management on an exciting new content platform.
The new route has not only gained the attention of the travelling public, but also the wider industry with network planners across Europe and even further afield voting this new service ahead of other routes such as Hainan Airlines’ Beijing – Manchester, Wizz Air’s Kutaisi – Berlin, Norwegian’s Oslo – Las Vegas and British Airways’ London – Tehran for a Routes Case presentation at Routes Europe in an exclusive Routesonline poll.
Alitalia will offer a four times weekly service between Rome and Beijing from July 18, 2016 using a three-class, 250-seat Airbus A330-200. The Rome – Beijing city pair market has grown over the past ten years from around 50,000 O&D passengers to over 130,000 passengers last year.
The island remains one of the most popular summer destinations from the UK and Northern Europe and so basing aircraft there better matches customer demand, which is higher from early spring to late summer. The move is likely to open new network opportunities in the future and will help easyJet connect the island with more airports across Europe not currently served by the airline.