31.10.2022 - 03:32 UTC
Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad Int'l) has detailed the operational adjustments it will make to its network in order to cope with a surge in demand for travel to and from Qatar for the duration of the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, due to run between November 20 and December 18.
“Due to unprecedented demand and a greater focus on bringing football fans to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East, Qatar Airways is temporarily adapting its operations to a more point-to-point model," a spokesman told ch-aviation. "Throughout the course of the tournament, we will be reducing frequencies and provisionally scaling back flights to several destinations across our network.”
Destinations that will see their current frequencies cut for the duration of the tournament or until otherwise stated:
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reduced from 3x to 2x weekly;
- Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya, to operate between 7x and 14x weekly, instead of 14x weekly;
- Maputo, Mozambique, reduced from 4x to 3x weekly;
- Abuja, Nigeria, reduced from...
25.10.2022 - 02:37 UTC
Just days after receiving its air operator's certificate and operating license, Fly Jinnah (9P, Karachi Int'l) has confirmed its initial domestic network and rolled out its launch plans. Starting November 1, the airline will commence scheduled passenger services from its Karachi base to each of Lahore Int'l, Quetta, Peshawar, and Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l.
The startup, a joint venture between the Lakson Group and Air Arabia (G9, Sharjah), is using three A320-200s sourced from Air Arabia. According to a statement issued by Fly Jinnah, twice-daily flights between Karachi and Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, and daily flights between Karachi and Peshawar will commence on November 1, while four times a week roundtrip flights between Karachi and Quetta will start on November 2.
According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, Fly Jinnah will battle for market share with multiple Pakistan-based active scheduled passenger carriers, including PIA - Pakistan International Airlines, AirBlue, AirSial, and Serene Air. The module also reveals a further 10 prospective passenger airlines are...
20.10.2022 - 04:04 UTC
PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) has tendered for a new operator for its flights to the European Union and the United Kingdom from December 2022 until May 2023. It currently charters an A330-200 from Jordan Aviation (R5, Amman Queen Alia).
The airline seeks an EASA-certified carrier authorised to serve both the EU and the UK with an aircraft seating at least 250 passengers. While PIA did not specify the aircraft type, the unit has to be of 2004 vintage or younger. It also must not be due for major maintenance checks during the expected duration of the charter contract, unless the operator can provide an equivalent backup aircraft.
The specifications clarify that the bidders must have operated at least five passenger charter flights in the last two years, must have IOSA certification, and must have a fleet of at least five passenger aircraft, including at least two 250 or more seat widebody jets. While the airline would consider single-class aircraft, units equipped with lie-flat or full-flat business-class seats...
04.10.2022 - 03:28 UTC
PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) has leased out eight of its London Heathrow slot pairs for the Winter 2022/23 season to avoid losing them due to underutilisation.
Slot trade records show the Pakistani flag carrier has leased seven slot pairs (allowing daily operations) to Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul New) starting on November 13, 2022, and another pair for Saturday flights to Kuwait Airways (KU, Kuwait) starting on November 5. Turkish Airlines will use the additional slots for daily services from Istanbul New using A321-200neo, while Kuwait Airways plans to operate an additional rotation from Kuwait using a B777-300(ER).
The leases have been signed through March 25, 2023.
"We have given them [the slots] under the babysitting concept for six months and will get them back once the flight operation starts," the carrier told Geo.tv.
According to data, PIA held a total of ten slot pairs per week at Heathrow for the Winter 2022/23 season, including five for services from Islamabad...
