Long-haul budget carrier Norse Atlantic Airways is aiming for full-year profitability, having trimmed first-quarter operating losses by around 15%. CE Bjorn Tore Larsen says the quarter has demonstrated “major improvement on all metrics” since last year. It doubled revenues to $78.2m, as passenger numbers increased by more than 80% to over 200,000, and average fares and ancillary revenues rose. While it hiked capacity by 72%, the corresponding passenger traffic rise pushed load factor up 19 points to 73%. Norse says its ex-fuel unit cost has fallen 28%. Operating losses reduced by 15% to $53.4m while net losses were down 11% to $62.8m. “This winter we have developed seasonal strategies, with more emphasis on holiday destinations and charters,” says Larsen, adding that it carried out 107 charter flights during the quarter. “We will refine this strategy further for next winter, with several longer-term contracts secured or under negotiation.” Norse also expects to have a strong summer, for which it will operate 12 Boeing 787s compared with the previous 10.<br/>
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Indian start-up Akasa Air has announced new flights to Jeddah, as it looks to “rapidly” expand its international network in the coming months. The low-cost operator will begin operations between Mumbai and Jeddah on 15 July, before commencing operations from Ahmedabad to the Saudi city on 20 July. The airline adds: “[The] launch of direct flights connecting Jeddah with Ahmedabad and Mumbai will support business and leisure tourism as well as bilateral trade between the two countries.” Jeddah is the airline’s second international point: in late-March it marked its international foray with flights from Mumbai to Doha. Akasa has also clinched traffic rights to Kuwait and Riyadh, and will be launching these flights soon. Airline senior vice president (international) Neelu Khatri says: “We are thrilled to expand our presence in the Middle East with the addition of Jeddah to our growing network. We are extremely proud to witness our global footprint grow alongside our domestic services, with the addition of our second global destination within a short time.”<br/>
Administrators for grounded Australian carrier Bonza have extended the cancellation of flights for a further two weeks as they continue to evaluate options for saving the company. Bonza entered administration after grounding flights when it was served with aircraft lease terminations on 29 April, leaving it with no operational fleet. Administrators from Hall Chadwick had earlier extended the grounding until 14 May after judging it was unlikely to get its seized Boeing 737 Max 8 jets back from the lessor. It has now extended that grounding until 29 May. ”The administrators have continued to be in discussions and meetings with various investors‚ other airlines and companies from the travel industry over the weekend and early this week,” Hall Chadwick says in an update on 14 May. It had previously told creditors during a meeting on 10 May that it has liaised with over 20 parties without providing specific details. ”The administrators advised creditors…. that a timeframe for interested parties would be set. To that end‚ we have set and communicated that timeframe to interested parties,” it says. ”To finalise those negotiations‚ the administrators have cancelled flights up to and including 29 May 2024.”<br/>