Suci Perwira Negara’s Post

Virgin Atlantic today officially announced that it will be adding two new medium haul destinations to its network effective May 2025 with flights to Riyadh and Accra being launched. Both cities shall be served on a daily nonstop basis using an A330-900Neo on RUH where as ACC will be flown using a B789. The p2p market demand between RUH and LON in 2023 was 440K round trip at an average fare of US$ 1200 one way with YQ included. Though LON-JED was a slightly bigger p2p market with 469K round trip pax last year, its yield was less than half of RUH-LON largely due to less premium cabin traffic demand on board. LON-JED average one way fare was US$ 520 one way only with YQ included. The schedule for LHR-RUH-LHR connects very well with VS/DL USA/YYZ network via LHR in both directions as the flight departs LHR at 1445 and returns back at 0700. The competition on LHR-RUH is quite intense with BA flying daily + Saudia 3 daily + RX (Riyadh Air) launching next year too so it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. The biggest advantages for VS in RUH are two fold i.e. SV code share support along with DL on the TATL front. On the other hand, VS's Accra return though having merit with only BA as the nonstop threat (10 weekly) along with a large p2p market size demand of 277K round trip pax last year (average fare was US$750 one way with YQ included), the planned schedule is the same as 2012-13 i.e. Dep LHR 2230 with the return flight arriving back at 1725. This means that VS is playing a delicate game by primarily targeting p2p LON bound traffic + NYC (JFK) only. The only difference between 2025 and 2013 for VS is that it is deploying a much better fuel efficient airplane on the route i.e. B789 versus the A343 being used previously. If the ACC schedule was similar to RUH, then it would have been a slam dunk for me but due to its limited connectivity options via LHR, it will take some real effort and patience on VS's behalf. What it will succeed in doing is poaching away majority of RAM, SN, TK, ET and AZ's one stop market share on the LON-ACC-LON O&D for sure as pax shall prefer the nonstop convenient option + I wont be surprised at seeing BA reducing ACC back to daily from Summer 2025 onwards. Press Release: https://lnkd.in/dfqQvVCW #virginatlantic #skyteam #delta #lhr #heathrow #lgw #gatwick #accra #riyadh #saudia #saudiaairlines #b787 #a330 #a330neo #ghana #britishairways #ba #oneworld #staralliance #jfk #ecowas #westafrica

With increased flights, more frequent connections and new entrants in the aviation industry, there is a significant shift of passengers opting for direct flights to international destinations over stopver flights. This signifies passengers opting for more convenience, faster commute and reducing reliance on indirect connections, unless chosen for specific reasons. There has been a noticeable decrease in in traffic through traditional hubs, particularly in the Middle East, which saw a reduction of 10 lakh indirect passengers from 2019 to 2023. Over the same years, airlines in India have introduced 52 new international routes including Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Georgia to name a few. These changes signal a broader trend towards efficiency and convenience in air travel, as more passengers seek faster, hassle-free journeys. With India’s aviation industry continuing to grow and adapt to passenger needs, the future looks promising for further increases in direct flights and streamlined travel experiences. #TravelTrends #IndianAviation #IndianTravellers

Preparation is Key: Planning ahead can make a huge difference in holiday travel. Add a buffer day between your flight and key events to handle delays or cancellations with ease. Longer layovers can also reduce the risk of missed connections, especially on international routes. Smart Booking Strategies: Choosing midweek flights and early morning departures helps avoid crowds and delays. Flight-tracking apps like FlightAware give real-time updates, ensuring you stay informed if plans change. Tips for Traveling with Kids: Schedule flights around children’s nap times, bring familiar comfort items, and maintain a positive outlook. The cabin crew is there to help, so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. Flight Attendants' Advice: Book flights directly with airlines to simplify ticket changes, and ensure passports are valid well in advance for international trips. Engaging with cabin crew, even by listening to safety briefings, shows respect and enhances everyone’s experience. 🌐 Read the full travel guide on our website for more tips. https://lnkd.in/gcg_eERw #swifteradio 

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Surge in #leisuretravel during the Lunar New Year festive period showed strong growth in international #passengertraffic as per the latest data from Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, #AAPA. In aggregate, 27.0 million international #passengers were carried by Asia Pacific airlines in February 2024, a 56.7% increase from the 17.3 million recorded in the same month last year. Traffic reached 89.2% of 2019 levels. In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, #demand rose by 54.4% year-on-year, reflecting relative strength of regional routes. Available seat capacity expanded by 53.1%, leading to a marginal 0.7 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to 81.6% for the month. During the first two months of the year, Asian carriers saw continued #robustgrowth in international #passengermarkets, with 54 million passengers carried, an increase of 53% compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. The #strongdemand came on the back of ongoing #networkexpansion by carriers, with #loadfactors at levels seen before the #pandemic. As per #AAPA forecast, the #demandoutlook for #internationaltravel is positive based on forward #bookingtrends. The region’s carriers remain nimble and proactive in exploring new avenues of growth, whilst at the same time tackling numerous challenges including rising #operationalcosts and #stiffcompetition. Info Source - Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Anthony Phillips Subhas Menon Rohit Tomar Seemaa S Vedaak Veena Chawla Rinaldo Rhine #airtravel #safetravel #COVID19pandemic #aviationrecovery #aftermarketrecovery #APACregion #travelhub #travelandtourism #leisuretravel #holidayseason #familyvacation #holidaydestination

Qantas looking to expand the network and keep the Roo soaring! ✈ "...adopting a nimble and “agile” approach to extending the Qantas network: studying destinations and ‘city pairs’, crunching the numbers, and if those numbers stack up, moving fast to take advantage of it – but if demand later softens, being prepared to move on." #qantas #businesstravel #aviation https://lnkd.in/g2Ed96VE

#AirKerala is set to #launch operations from #KannurInternationalAirport in June 2025, focusing initially on #domestic routes within a one and a half-hour range. The #airline plans to later expand to #international #flights, leveraging #KannurAirport's #infrastructure to become a key travel hub. https://lnkd.in/gFTkSNrq

Stranded European holidaymakers finally depart HKIA: Niël Terblanché Hundreds of Belgian, Dutch, and German tourists have been stranded at Namibia’s Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) for four days due to repeated flight cancellations by Eurowings Discover, a subsidiary of Germany’s national airline, Lufthansa. The ordeal started when a defective part grounded the scheduled Airbus A330-300 operating flight 4Y139 to Frankfurt last Thursday. Since then, passengers were informed of a new departure time, only to face further delays. This cycle has left many travellers in a state of frustration and uncertainty, particularly during the peak travel season when rebooking options are limited. According to Bisey Uirab, the chief executive officer of the Namibia Airports Company, the technical problem with the aircraft was eventually resolved after the airline sent technicians with the correct part to HKIA over the weekend. “The aircraft was repaired and the stranded passengers started to depart Namibia on Sunday,” he confirmed. According to the Aviation24 website, passengers have expressed significant dissatisfaction with Lufthansa’s handling of the situation, citing poor communication and inadequate support. “With only one flight departing daily from Namibia to Europe, many are left in limbo, unsure when they will return home,” the report states. In response, Lufthansa has assured that efforts are underway to resolve the situation safely but acknowledged the logistical challenges involved. According to flight records found on the Flightera website, flight 4Y139, operated by Eurowings Discover, was scheduled to depart Windhoek at 19:55 on 1 January, arriving in Frankfurt early on 2 January. However, due to technical issues, the flight did not depart as planned. For nearly a week after people had to start departing Namibia, Eurowings Discover advised passengers to stay in close contact with the airline for updates and to explore alternative travel arrangements where possible. https://lnkd.in/driHN7WW #Travel #Airport #Eurowings #FlightDelay #TravelNews

Non-Stop vs Connecting Flights: Which Itinerary Type Is Best For Long-Distance Journeys?

CityLife COMMUNITY NEWS - Airport Flying High for Festive Season ✈️ International passenger numbers at Cairns Airport are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, positioning 2025 as a bumper year with Cathay Pacific’s return just around the corner, the launch of a new domestic service this week and further historic airline arrivals in the pipeline. In early December Jetstar operated its first ever direct flight from Cairns to the Sunshine Coast, connecting two of Queensland’s most sought-after destinations in a welcome development for regional travellers who frequented the popular route under Bonza. Read the full article online now, page 75 📖: https://lnkd.in/gAEhXscD #CityLife #CityLifeMagazine #KIDSLife #KIDSLifeMagazine #Cairns #PortDouglas #AthertonTablelands #Summer #WhatsOn #Events #CairnsBeaches

Exciting News for Travelers: Finnair Expansion in the U.S. for Summer 2025! I’m thrilled to see Finnair announcing its largest-ever U.S. schedule for summer 2025. This move reflects the airline’s resilience and adaptability post-pandemic and its commitment to enhancing connectivity between Europe and North America. In a landscape where travel demand is recovering rapidly, airlines that can effectively expand their routes stand to gain a competitive advantage. By increasing flight frequencies and introducing new destinations, Finnair is positioning itself as a significant player in transatlantic travel. This expansion also raises interesting questions about the evolving nature of air travel. As more airlines look to enhance their U.S. presence, it will be intriguing to observe how this impacts pricing, customer service, and overall travel experience. I’m looking forward to seeing how Finnair continues to innovate and serve its passengers. #Finnair #AviationNews #TravelIndustry #AirlineExpansion #TransatlanticTravel #CustomerExperience #BusinessTravel #Aviation https://lnkd.in/emMCEccs