South African Announces Washington – Accra Service

by: Siva Vayali - May 28th, 2015   Filed under: Airlines Add Comment

South African Airways (SAA) today announced a new routing for its daily flights between Washington (IAD) and Johannesburg (JNB): Accra’s Kotoka International Airport (ACC) will be the stopover for four times a week. South African will reduce Washington to Dakar, (DKR) flights to three times a week. Currently SAA serves the IAD-JNB route with a stopover at Dakar for all seven days. The new schedule takes effect starting August 3, 2015. South African also flies a daily nonstop service between New York JFK and Johannesburg.

It should be noted that Accra was the original stopover when South African started its service to Washington. But it could not secure the fifth freedom rights to pick up passengers between Washington and Accra and hence shifted its operational base to Dakar, Senegal. The router is now being reinstated with rights to carry passengers between Washington and Accra. Washington, DC area is home to the second largest expatriate African population in the United States. Ethiopian Airlines (ET) serves a daily nonstop between Washington and Addis Ababa (ADD).

Both South African and Ethiopian flights arrive early in the morning at Dulles to take advantage of the connections offered by fellow Star Alliance member United Airlines (UA).

 

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Air China Expands its U.S. Network – Services to Washington Starts in June; Houston becomes daily

by: Siva Vayali - March 26th, 2014   Filed under: Airlines, Airports 2 Comments

Air China (CA) has announced firm dates for its Beijing (PEK) – Washington Dulles (IAD) service. The airlines application has been approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation recently. The four-times weekly service will start on June 10, 2014 with Boeing 777-300 ER. In addition to the large O&D market offered by the Washington-Baltimore area, Air China would get ample connection opportunities using the route operated by its Star Alliance partner United Airlines (UA). A mid afternoon arrival at Washington is timed to connect passengers to destinations throughout the East Coast on United’s extensive route network from Dulles. United Airlines already operates a daily IAD-PEK service.

Houston service goes daily

Staring March 30, 2014, Air China will also increase its frequency on the Beijing – Houston (IAH) route from four times a week to daily. The expansion comes within eight months of launching the service to Houston, indicating strong demand.

Covering all bases

With these new and additional flights to Beijing, Air China will serve all Star Alliance hubs in North America, except Denver, either using its own metal or through an alliance partner.

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Together, Air China, United Airlines and Air Canada will command a 75% share in the important North America to Beijing market. With extensive route network from their hubs, the alliance can connect any two destinations between China and North America.

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Turkish Airlines Announces flights to Houston

by: Siva Vayali - June 19th, 2012   Filed under: Airlines, Airports Add Comment

Turkish Airlines (THY), one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, yesterday announced flights to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) from its hub in Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport (IST). Starting in April 2013, the airline will operate four services per week using Boeing 777 – 300 ER aircraft.

Houston is a logical expansion point for Turkish Airlines. The airlines is a member of Star Alliance and Houston is a major Star hub. Houston, being the energy capital of the United States, has strong business traffic and Turkish can tap that using its excellent connections to oil producing regions of Asia and the Gulf. It will compete head-to-head with other airlines operating in the region: Emirates and Qatar Airways (Turkish bills itself as more of an European carrier than a Middle Eastern one as its main base Istanbul is in Europe though the rest of the country lies in Asia).

Turkish Airlines already operates daily services to New York JFK (JFK), Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Los Angeles International (LAX) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), the last four being major star hubs. By operating flights to all major Star hubs, Turkish can provide onward connections to almost all points in North America. By the way, United Airlines (UA) starts its Istanbul flight from Newark (EWR) hub on July 1, 2012. United will use a B767 – 300 on this route.

One thing is clear: US Flyers will have more options to travel to one of the fast growing economies in the world and beyond.

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