18.10.2023 - 09:50 UTC
Heathrow Airport Holdings and three major airlines have lost an appeal against the UK Civil Aviation Authority's decision to implement a price cap at London Heathrow for 2022-2026.
This follows the publication on October 17 of the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) final decision on a price control decision by the CAA, which details how much the airport operator can charge airlines, per passenger, for using its services. Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and Delta Air Lines appealed a March 9, 2023, decision by the regulator, wanting a steeper cut in levies, while the airport said this would stymie infrastructure improvements to the detriment of consumers.
Having considered the airlines' appeals, the CMA found that the CAA's Heathrow price control "struck broadly the right balance between ensuring prices for passengers are not too high and encouraging investors to maintain and improve the airport over time," commented CMA chairwoman Kirstin Baker. "There are a handful of smaller issues we have ordered the CAA to look at again, and it has agreed to do this swiftly,"...
Editorial Comment: Added comment from IAG CEO Luis Gallego. - 18.10.2023 - 10:11 UTC
29.09.2023 - 19:07 UTC
Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) plans to use Barbados as a hub for expanding its services to other Caribbean destinations, according to Chief Commercial Officer Juha Jarvinen.
Speaking at an event marking the carrier's 25th anniversary of flying to Bridgetown, he said Virgin Atlantic has been rebuilding its Barbados network following the pandemic, currently offering up to 15x weekly services to the island - 11 from London Heathrow and four from Manchester International, Barbados Today Travel reported.
"We believe that Bridgetown can act as a regional hub for us. That's the reason why we are now selling these local sectors between Barbados and Grenada, and Barbados and St. Vincent Argyle International as a first step. It's to really build that local connectivity option. We believe that Barbados has, step by step, developed its position in the region and is the strongest island to build that regional hub on, and we are committed to continuing growing that together with the Barbados government and the people of Barbados," he declared.
On...
27.09.2023 - 00:14 UTC
Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) has accepted most of the conditions imposed by European Commission regulators to secure approval for its proposed merger with Asiana Airlines (OZ, Seoul Incheon), and it will formally submit an amended application to Brussels on September 27 accepting those conditions, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The conditions include selling Asiana's profitable cargo arm, exiting certain routes between South Korea and the European Union, and giving up slots at some EU airports. The routes that Korean Air or Asiana have proposed dropping include Seoul Incheon - Rome Fiumicino; Seoul Incheon - Paris CDG; Seoul Incheon - Frankfurt International; and Seoul Incheon - Barcelona El Prat.
ch-aviation capacities data reveals Korean Air and Asiana have a combined 60.06% market share (measured by seat capacity) on the Frankfurt route, which they share with Air Premia (YP, Seoul Incheon) and Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International). They have a combined 67.01% market share on the Paris route with Air France (AF, Paris CDG) taking...
21.09.2023 - 17:20 UTC
Having recently secured its UK Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation, Air Peace (P4, Lagos) has demanded access to London Heathrow, citing the reciprocity principle in the bilateral air services agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
"It took seven years for them [the UK] to come and do the audit. Now we have got the approval. The next thing is slots, and they are telling us to go to London Stansted or take London Gatwick. I'm not going to Stansted or Gatwick. You come to the primary airport in Nigeria, and by BASA, you enjoy the two primary airports. So, you will give me your own primary airport. It must be Heathrow or nothing," Chairman Allen Onyema told The Whistler newspaper.
The 1988 agreement authorises designated Nigerian carriers to fly to London - without specifying an airport - and Manchester International while designated British carriers are allowed to fly to Abuja and Lagos. Currently, British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) flies daily to each of the Nigerian airports...