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The briefing on the busiest passenger air routes in the world
The news, views and numbers you need to know this month
The briefing on connected aviation
The news, views and numbers you need to know this month
News in numbers
36%
Increase in two-way passenger numbers on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi - Chiang Mai route, fastest growing in the world
100
Air services in the Asia-Pacific region dominate the top 100 busiest routes by passenger numbers
$642.41
The cost of the most expensive route in the world, New York JFK to London Heathrow
802km
The distance of the busiest international route, Hong Kong to Taipei
1 in 8
Hong Kong–Taipei has 180 flights per day, one every eight minutes
13.4 m
The number of passengers on Seoul–Jeju route, the busiest in the world
In quotes
Steven Small, brand director of Routes:
This research backs up forecasts that the Asia-Pacific region will be the biggest driver of passenger demand over the next 20 years. Such staggering aviation growth means it is the perfect time for World Routes to return to China.
Frederik van Essen, senior vice president, market and business development, Inmarsat Aviation:
The connected aircraft is a shrewd commercial decision; unrivalled access to real-time data is reducing airlines’ bottom-line operating costs while reducing emissions and improving safety.
Kristin Slyker, vice president, Connected Aircraft Honeywell Aerospace:
The airline industry is beginning to seriously invest in connected aircraft technology to proactively improve daily operations. The result is airline employees performing their daily roles more effectively, while also delivering the kind of service that passengers expect…
Top stories
Private equity firm Indigo Partners is set to invest in low-cost carrier WOW air following the collapse of Icelandair’s proposed takeover of its Icelandic counterpart. A deal has been agreed in principle and the two parties hope to close the transaction “as soon as practicable”. Skúli Mogensen, WOW’s chief executive and founder, will remain a principal investor following completion.
Source: Routes Online
The UK’s London Gatwick has been ranked as the least popular airport in the world for passenger sentiment, scoring 0.6 out of ten, according to a report by web meeting provider PowWowNow. The research was carried out using data provided by AirHelp and LoungeBuddy, and considered on-time performance, quality of service, passenger service, Wi-Fi score, as well as the number of passengers and available lounges.
Source: Airport Technology
Air New Zealand's has launched its longest non-stop flight, with a new Auckland-Chicago route taking off on Friday. Flight NZ26 departed Auckland International Airport at 4:55pm on Friday and landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at 1:00pm local time. The route takes about 15 hours northbound and 16 hours southbound. It covers a distance of more than 13,500km.
Source: Traveller
The Phuket Tourist Association is expecting more visitors from India after an Indian budget airline yesterday began direct flights to the resort island. Indigo Airlines is operating the new service between Delhi and Phuket six times a week, using an Airbus A320. Phuket is the second Thai destination for the low-cost carrier, which already flies the Kolkata–Suvarnabhumi airport route.
Source: Bangkok Post
In-flight mobile phone service provider AeroMobile has partnered with telecommunications operator Etisalat to reduce the cost of using mobile phones during flights. AeroMobile’s service allows subscribers to stay online, make and receive calls, and listen to voicemail on connected aircraft at no extra cost.
Source: Aircraft Interiors International
Singapore Technologies Engineering and SatixFy have established a new joint venture targeting the in-flight connectivity market. The new subsidiary, Jet-Talk, has been established in the UK with a share capital of $20m. JetTalk will develop a satellite antenna system for the delivery of in-flight connectivity for the commercial aviation sector.
Source: Telecom Asia
20
February
2018
Emirates to introduce service between Auckland and Bali
Dubai-based airline Emirates is planning to launch a new daily service from Dubai to Auckland, New Zealand, through the island of Bali in Indonesia.
Starting from June 2018, the new service complements Emirates’ existing non-stop daily service between Dubai and Auckland and its daily A380 service between Dubai and Christchurch through Sydney. Emirates will offer a total of three daily services to New Zealand to global travellers.
The airline’s two existing daily services are currently operated by a Boeing 777 300-ER in a two-class configuration.
Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark said: “We are confident that our year-round service between Auckland and Bali will be well-received by our customers, not only in New Zealand and Indonesia, but also from our global network particularly from markets like the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.”
The new service is expected to provide better connections for London and other major European cities.
Welcoming Emirates’ announcement, Auckland Airport aeronautical commercial general manager Scott Tasker said that the new service will add more than 250,000 seats to the route.
Tasker added: “Bali continues to grow as a popular holiday destination for Kiwis, who can now fly there non-stop, year-round. Additionally, this new service provides an option for European travellers to stopover in Bali when flying to and from New Zealand.”
The new service is also set to provide 20t of cargo capacity between New Zealand, Bali and Dubai.
