p22 Air june19 16/6/09 16:57 Page 22
Air
Chris Gray
020 7921 8003
cgray@ttglive.com
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OAG: Airlines see
Continental to keep
glimmer of hope
Edinburgh-NY link
THE RATE of decline in worldwide airline seat
capacity has slowed to its lowest rate for eight
months, sparking a “glimmer of confidence” for
Chris Gray.
the industry. CONTINENTAL Airlines has promised it has no
June is the 11th consecutive month of falling intention of following Delta Air Lines by suspend-
seat capacity for the industry, but the rate of ing services between Scotland and New York.
decrease is the lowest since last October, Last week, Delta announced it was suspending
according to aviation information company OAG. its Edinburgh-New York service in September –
The world’s airlines have scheduled 4% on the same day as Continental marked five
(104,216) fewer flights for June 2009 compared years of flights from the city to the Big Apple.
with the same month last year, with a 2% drop in Both Delta and Continental have been under
seat capacity, or 6.7 million fewer seats. pressure from a collapse in business-class travel
Last month, the year-on-year global seat between the two cities, and falling yields on econ-
capacity figures were down by 3%, which had omy seats, as they cut prices to stimulate demand.
been the same monthly rate for each month But Bob Schumacher, Continental’s UK senior
since November 2008, apart from a 7% decline director, said overall load factors on the route
in February this year. were holding at 80%, and the airline remained
David Beckerman, vice-president of OAG committed to the route.
Market Intelligence, said: “We shouldn’t assume Continental operates a daily flight year-round Celebrating Continental’s five years of Edinburgh-New York
that this is the start of recovery and growth; and goes twice-daily during the summer. flights are, from left, the carrier’s Kenny Donnelly, sales
the outlook remains uncertain and figures are He admitted that yields were “weak” and said manager for Scotland, Bob Schumacher and Victoria Fulton
still down year-on-year, but it does indicate a Continental had been considering stopping the
glimmer of economic confidence.” second summer service a week or two earlier to secure a transatlantic link, but Schumacher
than last year, but he said Delta’s withdrawal had said the first two were too close to Manchester
made that less likely. airport. Newcastle had more potential but was
In brief
Schumacher added Continental was considering also relatively close to Edinburgh.
operating from another UK airport once the He added that Continental’s Edinburgh-New
economy revived, but any new route would be at York and Glasgow-New York routes were being
■ Alitalia appoints new UK general manager least 18 months away. helped by US travellers taking advantage of the
Alitalia has appointed Maria Sacconi as country Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle are all hoping weak pound to visit the UK.
manager for the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and
Baltics. She will be based in London and replaces
Maurizio Dello Monaco who has been posted to
Greece. Sacconi previously covered the role of UK
Glasgow airport targets north England
general manager six years ago.
GLASGOW airport is planning to contact agents She quoted prices on holidayhyper-
■ Singapore Airlines unveils new fares for June in Cumbria to persuade them to book customers
market.co.uk of £1,759 for a family of four
Singapore Airlines has launched a June promotion on flights leaving from Scotland rather than flying from Glasgow airport and staying in the
with return fares to the city state starting from Manchester or Newcastle. Optimist Apartments in Tenerife for a week
£295 return if booked by the end of the month. The airport claims customers in the Carlisle in August, but of £2,108 when departing from
Other fares include £399 return to Sydney and area can save hundreds of pounds on a family Manchester.
£329 return to Bangkok. Fares are available from holiday because school holidays end earlier in McMillan added that car parking at Glasgow
Heathrow or Manchester and are valid for travel Scotland than England, so prices in August and airport was also cheaper, with a seven-day
from September 1 to December 9 or January 16 September are lower. booking starting on August 21 costing £36.70
to March 31. Managing director Amanda McMillan said compared with £49 in Manchester.
thousands of people travelled to Manchester The airport has also produced a summer flight
ttglive.com
For the very latest flights, airline and
from Carlisle without realising Glasgow was 15 guide highlighting the destinations available
airport news, go to
ttglive.com/air miles closer and offered cheaper package holidays. from Glasgow airport.
22 19.06.2009
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