American Airlines to commence Dallas-Fort Worth to Hong Kong and to Shanghai daily services

By BA Staff

American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.

American Airlines will launch new international services from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG) and to Shanghai Pudong (PVG) in the summer of 2014, the first flights between the cities.

American will operate its Boeing 777-300ER (B77W) aircraft on the Hong Kong route and a Boeing 777-200ER on the Shanghai route, both with a daily frequency.

The service will be American's first-ever service into Hong Kong, and will connect two of the busiest and largest hubs of two of the original oneworld® alliance members American and Cathay Pacific.

Robert Hsueh, Chair, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors explained:

"American's new flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai will begin an exciting era for DFW and are among the most significant air service development announcements in DFW Airport's history. These direct routes connect DFW to major destinations in Asia and will play a key role in further strengthening ties between our region and Asia."

Tom Horton, Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, said:

"Today's news underscores our commitment to strengthen American's global network in the most important markets around the world. This is just another example of how we're taking a fresh look at everything we do to provide what our customers value most -- from new planes, products and services, to new destinations around the world. Simply put, we're building an even stronger foundation to succeed in our pending merger with US Airways."

The new American flights to Hong Kong and Shanghai extend the most prolific period of international air service expansion in DFW Airport history.  DFW has now added 17 new international destinations to its flight portfolio over the past three years, giving the airport a total of 204 destinations, including 56 international markets and 148 domestic airports.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price mentioned:

 "We've been working hard on building our international relationships, and our work continues to pay off for North Texas. Today's news is great for the Metroplex and a landmark development for the state of Texas, whose residents will have direct access to Hong Kong and Shanghai for the first time in our history. The Asian market is ripe for Texas business and tourists alike."

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said:

"DFW Airport, Mayor Price and I have been advocating for more direct access to the Asian market because it's critical for businesses here and across the state. These new routes will represent more than $360 million in annual economic impact for our region and launch Dallas and Fort Worth into a new dimension of international business and cultural engagement."

Image courtesy American Airlines

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China Eastern increases Kunming - Kolkata and Kunming - Dhaka

by Vinay Bhaskara

Chinese full service carrier China Eastern Airlines is increasing its service to the Indian subcontinent from its Southwestern Chinese hub of Kunming. From 27th October 2013, its offering on each of Kunming - Kolkata and Kunming - Dhaka will increase from daily to 10x weekly, using Boeing 737-700 aircraft configured in a 134 seat, two class configuration (8J / 126Y). Flight schedules for the new and existing flights to Dhaka are as follow:

Flight Number	Route	Depart	Arrive	Frequency
MU 2589	KMG-DAC	0810	0820	246
MU 2035	KMG-DAC	1255	1310	Daily
MU 2590	DAC-KMG	0910	1320	246
MU 2036	DAC-KMG	1410	1815	Daily
MU 2599	KMG-CCU	1425	1420	246
MU 555	KMG-CCU	2355	2345	Daily
MU 556	CCU-KMG	0030	0510	246
MU 2600	CCU-KMG	1510	1935	Daily

Kunming is China Eastern's third largest hub after Hongqiao and Pudong, Shanghai's two airports, with more than 180 daily departures. China Eastern will be able to offer passengers from Kolkata and Dhaka onwards connections to 67 domestic destinations within China, as well as to 16 international destinations around Asia (though these connections require a transit visa). It serves as China Eastern's primary gateway to the Indian subcontinent, with  services to Colombo, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Kolkata, and Male. The airline also serves Delhi from its largest hub at Shanghai.

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Air France launches A380 flights to Shanghai

by BA Staff

European SkyTeam member Air France has launched Airbus A380 flights to Shanghai's Pudong International Airport today (2nd September 2013), beating Star Alliance rival Lufthansa as the first European carrier to offer A380 services from Shanghai by 24 days. The flight is currently (as of 8:00 am Bangalore time) in the air as the following screen cap from Flight Aware shows.

Air France plans to operate its A380s, configured with 516 seats in a 4-class configuration (9F / 80J / 38Y+ / 389Y), on three of its fourteen flights per week to Shanghai. Flight schedules for the two daily flights are as follow:

AF 116: Leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 23:20, arrives in Shanghai-Pudong at 16:20 the following day AF 111: Leaves Shanghai-Pudong at 23:20, arrives in Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 5:35 the following day

Flight 116, the red-eye, will have A380 services on three of seven days each week.

Frédéric Gagey, Chairman and CEO of Air France, had this to say about the launch:

The arrival of our superjumbo in Shanghai illustrates Air France’s intention to continue its expansion in China, a strategic and fast-growing region. With the A380, our customers can enjoy an optimum travel experience in all cabin classes, as well as services specially adapted to the Chinese culture

Air France-KLM group has the largest European presence in China amongst European carriers, with 93 flights per week from its two European hubs at Paris and Amsterdam to nine Greater Chinese destinations: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong,Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen and Taipei.

Shanghai becomes the sixth A380 destination for Air France, after New York JFK, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles in the US, Johannesburg in Africa, and Tokyo Narita in Asia. Air France operates a fleet of 8 Airbus A380-800s as part of its passenger fleet of 245 aircraft, used to serve 199 destinations around the globe. 

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Air India has a one week low air fares sale to international destinations

Following in the footsteps of most international airlines, offering special fares ex-India, national carrier Air India, today announced, it is offering low fares for the lean season which commences from the middle of January.

The scheme is valid for immediate out-bound travel to the Far East and Near East, and from 21 January 2013 onwards for the USA, UK, Europe and UAE sectors.

The sale is open for one week from December 10 through 16, 2012.

Some of the fares under the scheme are:

• USA - New York JFK, Newark, and Chicago : Rs 51,999
• UK - London Heathrow : Rs 40,999
• Europe - Frankfurt and Paris CDG : Rs 35,999
• UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah : Rs 15,999
• Far East Seoul Incheon, Osaka Kansai and Tokyo Narita : 34,999
• Near East Hong Kong, Shanghai Pudong and Singapore : 17,999

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