British Airways will start flying a 787-9 to Austin next winter. (Image: British Airways)
In international route news, American is adding several Latin America and Caribbean services; British Airways sets 787-9 schedules; a Mexican carrier begins New York flights; Qantas will trim LAX runs; Delta extends a Paris route; United cuts back to Panama; and Air Canada eyes India.
- American has announced some new, mostly low-frequency services to Latin America and the Caribbean. Exceptions to the low frequencies include Los Angeles-Mexico City, which begins September 3 with twice-daily 737 flights; and Dallas/Ft. Worth-Quito, Ecuador, with five weekly roundtrips beginning December 18. Also on December 18, AA will start twice-weekly LAX-Montego Bay, Jamaica service, and on December 19 it will add once-a-week flights from Charlotte to Curacao and to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic as well as DFW-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
- British Airways will start flying new 787-9s this fall, and it has targeted its London Heathrow-Austin route for an equipment upgrade from a 777-200ER to a 787-9 as of February 1, 2016. Other BA 787-9 routes include LHR-Delhi, starting October 15; LHR-Abu Dhabi/Muscat as of October 16, and LHR-Kuala Lumpur effective December 5. Unlike most of the new 787-9s that are coming into service on several airlines, British Airways’ version will offer a first class cabin in addition to business, premium economy and economy.
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- Mexican carrier Volaris has added new service out of New York’s JFK International, operating three flights a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) to Guadalajara.
- With American’s new Los Angeles-Sydney service due to begin December 17, joint venture partner Qantas will trim its LAX-Sydney schedule the next day, reducing frequencies from 14 a week to 12, and then cutting them again from 12 to 10 starting January 23. Meanwhile, Qantas has set the schedule for its new San Francisco-Sydney flights. They’ll start December 18 with five 747-400 flights a week, increasing to six a week February 2; SFO departure time is 11:25 p.m. SEE UPDATE BELOW
- Delta said that effective October 25, its Boston-Paris Charles de Gaulle route will no longer be seasonal but will operate year-round, flown with a 757-200 as part of its joint venture operation with Air France.
- United is scaling back its Denver-Panama City, Panama service. The daily service will end September 7, resuming as seasonal service December 18, but with just two flights a week.
- On November 1, Air Canada will kick off a new very-long-haul route, from Toronto to Delhi, India. The Canadian carrier will fly the route four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) with a new 787-9, fitted with business class, premium economy and regular economy seating. It will increase frequencies to daily at the end of October 2016.
UPDATE from Qantas regarding SFO service:
- December – Qantas will have 8 services operating on December 18, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and 30
- January – Qantas will have 5 flights per week operating on Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sun
- Late January/February onwards – Qantas will have 6 flight per week operating on Mon, Tues, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sun
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