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Aeroflot launches new budget carrier Dobrolet with flights to Moscow

By Budget Airline News

Aeroflot’s new budget low cost carrier, Dobrolet, launched flights between Moscow and Crimea with two additional routes slated to begin in next month. Moscow to Perm and Moscow to Vologorad are estimated to begin in August with flights starting at 999 rubles to 3499 rubles (approximately $29-$102). Fares will include one piece of carry-on luggage up to 10kg/ 22lbs while any additional baggage, meals and seat selection requiring additional fees.

By the end ofthe year routes will be extended to 10 destinations with Russia and beginning 2016 the first international destinations will be launched. While no specific international destinations have been announced, it is anticipated that the airline will fly to to Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Barcelona.

Dobrolet is the third attempt at a low cost carrier within Russia. Two previous airlines went bankrupt in 2011 due to high costs and strigent Russian Air Code regulations that made it difficult for airlines to turn a profit utlizing the classic discount airline business model. With recent changes in regulations, Dobrolet has improved chances for success.

Air France introduces new regional budget airline HOP!

By Budget Airline News

Air France announced the launch of a regional budget airline HOP! The new entity merges Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional into one short-to-medium haul carrier. The new airline will operate most of its flights from Paris Orly airport.

From the summer 2013, HOP! will operate point-to-point flights from Paris-Orly and the domestic network, as well as flights to the hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle on behalf of Air France. The airline’s dense flight schedule with 530 daily flights to 136 destinations will operate with a modern fleet of 98 aircraft with between 48 and 100 seats and fares starting at €55 including tax one way.

Ryanair to open base in Eindhoven

By Budget Airline News

Ryanair has announced it will open a new base in Eindhoven in April 2013. This will be the budget airline’s 52nd base in Europe and the 2nd in the Netherlands.

The new base in Eindhoven will result in new routes to Agadir, Bordeaux, Chania and Fez as well as increased frequencies to Alicante, Faro, Ibiza, Malaga, Marrakech and Pisa.

At the announcement, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “Ryanair is delighted to announce Eindhoven as our 52nd base and unveil 4 new routes (31 in total) to/from Agadir, Bordeaux, Chania and Fez beginning in April, and the extension of our Warsaw Modlin route, which started in October, as part of our summer schedule, which go on sale on www.ryanair.com tomorrow.”

Norwegian announces long-haul flights to USA, Thailand

By Budget Airline News

Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle has announced it will offer long-haul routes from Scandinavia to the New York, USA and Bangkok, Thailand. The new routes will begin in 2013 and will be operated using new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

“Long-haul prices in Europe are very high. Operators are simply milking the market,” said Norwegian Chief Executive Bjoern Kjos. “We have to do something about the market so everyone can afford to fly.”

The new long-haul, low-cost flights will depart from Norwegian Air’s bases at Oslo and Stockholm-Arlanda airports. Online sales are currently available with dates from May 30, 2013.

 

EasyJet adds routes to Marrakech, Sharm el Sheikh, Sofia

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline EasyJet has announced it will offer routes from its base in Stansted to Marrakech, Morocco, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt and Sofia, Bulgaria.

The new route to Marrakech will launch on February 15 with three flights per week. Flights to Sofia will be available twice per week starting from February 16. Flights to Sharm el Sheikh will be available from February 17 with two flights per week.

The new routes will be served by larger A320 aircraft with capacity up to 180 passengers.

Regarding the new routes, Stansted managing director Nick Barton said: “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for both easyJet and Stansted Airport and will provide passengers with even greater choice and more exciting destinations.

We’re delighted to add Sharm el-Sheikh and Sofia to our scheduled route network for the first time as well as seeing a welcome return of Marrakesh as we believe there is a real and significant demand for flights to these destinations.”

EasyJet will fly to Moscow in 2013

By Budget Airline News

Low-cost airline EasyJet has been granted the rights to fly from London (Gatwick) to Moscow, Russia.  The airline plans to launch the new route in spring 2013.

According to an EasyJet spokesperson, the airline will offer round-trip flights per day on the London – Moscow route. One-way fares are expected to start from £65.

“We believe that our flights will be popular with both business and leisure travellers alike.” sais EasyJet Chief Executive Carolyn McCall.

 

Ryanair aims to fly to Russia

By Budget Airline News

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, is seeking permission to fly to Russia.

According to officials, Russia’s Transportation Ministry has received a request to allow Ryanair to fly between Ireland and Russia. The document did not specify routes or flight frequencies.

Russia has proved to be a challenging market for low-cost airlines, with Russian low-cost carriers like SkyExpress and Avianova failing in recent years.

A number of low-cost airlines currently fly between Europe/Middle East and Russia, including Air Berlin, Germanwings, Niki, Norwegian, Pegasus, Flydubai, and Air Arabia.

 

Flybe to take over 12 Finnair routes

By Budget Airline News

Budget airline Flybe has struck a deal with Finnair to take over 12 short-haul routes in northern Europe

The routes will be flown by Embraer E190 aircraft bearing the Finnair livery, but will  be flown under Flybe Finland’s certificate and served by Flybe crew.

Flybe Finland is scheduled to take over 30% of Finnair routes in an effort to help the airline become more profitable.

Lufthansa will expand Germanwings as its low-cost airline

By Budget Airline News

German flag carrier Lufthansa has announced that its new low-cost subdivision will be branded under the Germanwings name.

With effect from January 1, 2013, point-to-point routes between Germany and other European cities will be operated under the Germanwings brand.  Currently, Germanwings offers all-economy seating and additional fees apply for luggage and meals.

In a statement, Lufthansa Chief Executive Christoph Franz said that flights to and from Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, which connect with long-haul services, will continue to be operated by Lufthansa, but all other European routes will be operated by Germanwings.

Lufthansa has been hard hit by competition from budget airlines like EasyJet and RyanAir, and these changes are designed to make the airline more profitable.

EasyJet to launch 6 new routes from Edinburgh

By Budget Airline News

Low-cost European airline EasyJet has announced it will increase the number of planes based at Edinburgh Airport from 5 to 7.  The expansion will result in 160 new jobs and 6 new routes.

The new routes available from Edinburgh International Airport will be Berlin, Hamburg, Prague, Copenhagen, Reykjavik, and Dubrovnik. One-way fares start from £28.99 including taxes.

Hugh Aitken, EasyJet’s Head of Scotland, commented: “EasyJet’s new routes have been selected to boost both inbound and outbound business and leisure travellers. The two new aircraft mean that we, along with our ground handler, are able to create 160 jobs in Scotland as well as hundreds more which will be created through increased tourism. We will also be increasing our frequencies and the number of routes we are able to operate.

I’m confident our new 2013 schedule will really appeal to people travelling to and from Scotland both on business and for leisure and will further bolster Edinburgh’s world-famous appeal for tourists.”