Routesonline provides an update on the operations of the Airbus A380. We also reveal the network size of each operator and the top destinations served by the aircraft type.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the world’s busiest airport, according to preliminary traffic figures, but Beijing Capital is closing the gap. The statistics - which reveal the top 20 airports by passenger numbers - also show there is no stopping China’s rapid growth, with 12 new airports beginning commercial air service during 2017.
A new direct flight from Frankfurt to Quito in Ecuador, the host city for Routes Americas 2018, is being launched by German leisure carrier Condor. The service follows successful meetings at this year’s World Routes in Barcelona.
Routesonline's latest analysis of the European aviation industry, examining the top routes, airlines, airports and aircraft that are leading the market.
For a long time Ryanair has served the greater Frankfurt market via its operations from Hahn Airport, a secondary facility around about 120 km (75 mi) from the city. However, as part of its business maturity and to boost premium traffic the carrier is now serving more major airports and its arrival into Frankfurt is a major part of this network project.
Air Canada has their sights set on the European market with their latest route announcements, which will mean connections from Vancouver to some of the most important airports in the continent.
Condor, part of Thomas Cook Group Airlines, will inaugurate a twice weekly link between its home base at Frankfurt Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport from June 23, 2017, growing its long-haul. The new route will complement new flights to San Diego and New Orleans in an expanded summer 2017 schedule and will operate through to September 1, 2017, a total of 21 return rotations.
One of Ireland’s three primary airports, Shannon Airport, will see a new Lufthansa service that will give passengers a whole heap of connecting options. The German carrier will serve Shannon once a week next summer.
New flights from WOW air and Condor will boost connectivity between Europe and Pittsburgh next summer adding to Delta Air Lines seasonal flight to Paris which has operated each summer since 2009. The flights to Reykjavik and Frankfurt will commence in June 2017 and will allow Pittsburgh International Airport to continue its recent international growth.
Air Berlin’s loss is the Irish carrier’s gain as their expansion in Germany reaches the business hub of Frankfurt. This follows Ryanair opening a base at Hamburg, stationing two aircraft at the airport.
The new winter schedule will see Condor offer 52 flights per week into the Caribbean from the German markets of Frankfurt and Munich, as well as from Vienna in Austria.
Lufthansa is to launch a new three times weekly link between its Munich hub and Tehran from April 14, 2016 using an Airbus A330-300, while also boosting capacity on its existing Frankfurt – Tehran service by switching from an A340-600 to a Boeing 747-400. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines is to introduce a second daily rotation on its Vienna – Tehran route from March 11, 2016 with a new day flight complementing its existing night operation.
Flight schedules for a new five times weekly link from Frankfurt have already been loaded into the GDS for launch in late April 2016, just a week before British Airways launches its new London - San José operation.
The Gulf carrier received its first aircraft from the US manufacturer on October 7, 2015 and the aircraft entered service in the early hours of October 11, 2015 on the WY901 rotation between Muscat and Salalah. It operated three return flights on the route that day and is scheduled to repeat that schedule today (October 12, 2015) and through to the end of the month.
The type is debuting from this month on the Incheon – Frankfurt route with a three times weekly rotation on the KE905/906 flight from September 2, 2015, replacing a 777-300ER. This will increase to a daily deployment from October 1, 2015.
Emirates currently operate three daily flights to the German city, two of which are currently operated by a Boeing 777-300ER while the other is serviced by the Airbus A380 jumbo jet.
Every month Routesonline provides an update on the current schedules of five latest aircraft programmes, highlighting the routes the types are being deployed upon.
The arrival of the first A330-200 marks the latest stage of a fleet-renewal programme which will eventually include the arrival of new A350s and Boeing 777-300ERs. In February 2014, Kuwait Airways announced the lease of 12 Airbus aircraft including seven A320ceo (with first deliveries commencing late last year) and five A330-200s in addition to the purchase of 25 aircraft including 10 A350-900 and 15 A320neo Family aircraft.
Now in its sixth year of operations, Air Arabia Maroc has increased the breadth of its operations from Morocco having grown to a fleet of four Airbus A320s. In the past five months the carrier has launched six new destinations between Morocco and Europe.
The Star Alliance member will initially introduce a four times weekly service between Frankfurt and Nairobi from October 27, 2015, growing to a five times weekly service from December 11, 2015 through to the end of January 2016 flown by an Airbus A340-300.
