ANA will boost flights to resorts mainly in Asian countries and Hawaii from next year, ANA Holdings president Shinya Katanozaka said. ANA has to date expanded operations by focusing on routes that cater to business demand, as these routes generate higher sales per passenger. However, Katanozaka said his company will implement a strategy focusing on resorts. “Japan is changing and there are calls for people to enjoy themselves, mainly because of the improved work-life balance,” Katanozaka said. “There are many regions in Asia that can cater to strong demand for resorts,” he said, adding that the company will conduct market research from 2017 to launch new routes. “We’ll consider investing in other airlines if necessary,” the president said. ANA is planning to utilise 3 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets for routes to Hawaii from 2019. <br/>
star
Austrian Airlines will expand European services with 46 additional frequencies in the 2017 summer flight schedule, effective March 26, 2017, using 5 wet-leased Airberlin Airbus A320s. Lufthansa Group and Etihad Aviation Group finalised a codeshare deal and wet-lease agreement Dec 16 for 38 Airberlin Airbus A319/A320 aircraft operating for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines. “The 5 aircraft from Airberlin enable us to clearly expand our European flight offering. We made a conscious decision to increase frequencies to established routes,” Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto said. Austrian Airlines will offer 46 extra flights each week from Vienna to Hamburg, Milan Malpensa, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Stockholm Arlanda and Zurich. <br/>
Air Canada and Cathay Pacific have agreed to codeshare, the airlines announced Dec 22. The arrangement will go into effect when tickets go on sale Jan 12, 2017 for flights beginning Jan 19. Air Canada will offer codeshare services on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights connecting with Air Canada’s service to Hong Kong from Vancouver and Toronto. Air Canada will place its code on Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights to Manila and Cebu in the Philippines; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam; and Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailand. Cathay Pacific passengers flying from Hong Kong to Vancouver and Toronto will be able to fly onward on Cathay Pacific-coded Air Canada flights to “all major cities across Canada,” Air Canada said. <br/>