LH aggressively promotes Africa

[sn-remember]

Thank you sdbelgium ... april then ...

You see, as everybody on this forum I suppose, I took notice of LH/LX 's recent order for new Airbus a/c (320 family and 330 family).
http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-da ... llion-0922
"Airbus announced the LH orders comprised of 20 A320s and three A330-300s for Lufthansa; four A320s and five A330-300s for Swiss; and eight A319s for Germanwings"

Ok SN are not a full subsidiary of LH ... yet... but in 6 mths they will/might be one (in all probability) .. What is their agenda regarding SN .. ?
LX (it is told) enjoy some latitude as to the way they manage their business ...
What's the way of interacting concerning SN ? would anybody know for real ? (pls no "small talk" ?)
.. just curious ...

[sn-remember]

I don't think it's so easy to take over an airline for 100% in once

LX also was integrated in a 2 steps process (if I remember well ...)

However it seems the mergers on the other side of the pond tend to be implemented more quickly ... (and always in one step it seems)
See DL-NW and the now ongoing UA-CO, WN-FL ...
The formers being so huge players, indeed it takes several months to have them fully integrated.

[LJ]

BTW, what will be the effect on Air France/KLM of Delta starting more and more non-stop flights to AFI? Pax wich flew trough CDG or AMS previously can fly non-stop now. Has this a big effect on AF/KLM or is that very limitted?

Not much. AF/KL and DL have full revenue sharing over the Atlantic. Furthermore, Skyteam pax from the US now have 5 weekly options to go to Luanda and already multiple options to get to Dakar. Finally, AF once mentioned that the demand for CDG-LAD outweighs capacity. Thus the Delta flight alleviates the pressure on CDG-LAD.

BTW the press release also hints at a codeshare agreement between Delta and TAAG on ATL-LAD in future.

1. I don't see the point for LH having waited sooooo long for a complete take over of SN
In this bitter competition context, waiting means lots of time lost and opportunities lost ... since it's a well sad fact that SN on their own are NOT developing in any ways (as LX or OS could do for instance)
Anyways lets positively look forward to 2011 since january is the date for complete take over as I understand ? (can pls someone confirm ?)

Though LH has the cash, financing a take over like this at once isn't easy these days. Moreover as some of the airlines in the LH Group need some "special attention". An Airline like LH do it all at once.

[sn-remember]

Finally, AF once mentioned that the demand for CDG-LAD outweighs capacity. Thus the Delta flight alleviates the pressure on CDG-LAD.
BTW the press release also hints at a codeshare agreement between Delta and TAAG on ATL-LAD in future

Yah ...
LAD is typically underserved .. due to rights limitations forced upon carriers from the angolan authorities ...
LIS being "the exception" ... the historical ties and trafic demand require several daily connections (DT daily 777 and TP daily some days twice daily A343)
Also LIS was until recently the only EU destination DT was allowed to serve under EU restrictions ..
Today those restrictions are conditionally lifted
http://www.eturbonews.com/8100/angolan- ... ts-eu-june
"The carrier has suffered record losses since it was banned from the EU two years ago, the same year one of its planes crashed in Angola, killing six people on board."

I am sure SN could easily fill their 2 wkly A333 with non stop operation to LAD (iof stopping at FIH)
But it's typically SN problem to cope with much too limited equipment ...

Mentioning FIH , I am equally sure it could be operated on a daily schedule..
possible routing : BRU-LBV-FIH .....
(LBV used to be a Sabena destination)

[RoMax]

Air France is making more announcements about their "Léopard" plan (to defend themself and attack the competition, especially LH/Star):

- 6% capacity increase to AFI in winter 2010-2011 and another 4% in summer 2011
- Kigali (5 weekly by KLM) and Bata (2 weekly by AF) were already announced
- Freetown (2 weekly), Monrovia (3 weekly) and Tripoli (5 weekly) will come in summer 2011

See full press release: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43153&start=0

[sn26567]

Strange move: SAS expands Ethiopian Airlines codeshare in Africa!

According to airlineroute.net, starting today (01OCT10) SAS begins expanding its codeshare agreement with Ethiopian Airlines service beyond Addis Ababa. Initially “SK” code is appearing on ET service to Johannesburg, Mombasa and Nairobi.

I know that ET will soon join the Star Alliance, but why would SAS (which has no African routes) codeshare with ET rather than with fellow Star Alliance members like LH, LX or SN? It seems that within Star, SK is more a competitior than a colleague for LH, SN and LX!

[fretn]

Strange move: SAS expands Ethiopian Airlines codeshare in Africa!

According to airlineroute.net, starting today (01OCT10) SAS begins expanding its codeshare agreement with Ethiopian Airlines service beyond Addis Ababa. Initially “SK” code is appearing on ET service to Johannesburg, Mombasa and Nairobi.

I know that ET will soon join the Star Alliance, but why would SAS (which has no African routes) codeshare with ET rather than with fellow Star Alliance members like LH, LX or SN? It seems that within Star, SK is more a competitior than a colleague for LH, SN and LX!

SAS is finished, I give them a couple of years at most. Their model doesn't work anymore.
They are really the sick airliner of europe atm.

[LJ]

Air France is making more announcements about their "Léopard" plan (to defend themself and attack the competition, especially LH/Star):

- 6% capacity increase to AFI in winter 2010-2011 and another 4% in summer 2011
- Kigali (5 weekly by KLM) and Bata (2 weekly by AF) were already announced
- Freetown (2 weekly), Monrovia (3 weekly) and Tripoli (5 weekly) will come in summer 2011

See full press release: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43153&start=0

In addition Luchtvaartnieuws.nl reports the following increases in KL's Africa network (no dates given but I expect as of Summer 2011):
- Entebbe/Kigali from 5 to 6 weekly
- 6 weekly to daily Kilimanjaro/Dar es Salaam
- from 3 to 4 weekly Abuja/Kano

According to the same article AF will increase Pointe Noire and Libreville (from 4 to 5 weekly) and daily flight to Malabo (though this is the result of the new flights to Bata as they'll fly CDG-Malabo-Bata-Malabo-CDG).

[sn-remember]

Strange move: SAS expands Ethiopian Airlines codeshare in Africa!

According to airlineroute.net, starting today (01OCT10) SAS begins expanding its codeshare agreement with Ethiopian Airlines service beyond Addis Ababa. Initially “SK” code is appearing on ET service to Johannesburg, Mombasa and Nairobi.

I know that ET will soon join the Star Alliance, but why would SAS (which has no African routes) codeshare with ET rather than with fellow Star Alliance members like LH, LX or SN? It seems that within Star, SK is more a competitior than a colleague for LH, SN and LX!

You make a VERY good point !

I find ET to be VERY assertive in their way of promoting codeshares with *A operators ...
Isn't it time for SN to fight back ?
One thing seems to me sure ... there is a global mgt issue here ...

Already some may find LH 's straytegy questionable regarding sn (up to now)
1. developing AFI from FRA
2. cooperating with ET in ADD (for EA) while acknowledging SN's weakness there
3. now this SK/ET deal coming as a blow ...

(EA is not mentioned as a SN target in the afore mentioned LH's business note for AFI)

Another thing seems sure : SN should take the initiative NOW to setup new long hauls in AFI and make themselves ubiquitous inside the group.

It is been reported LH along with ET are pushing up a new carrier in Cameroon and countries around ..
Why wouldn't SN be involved in this promising project ...

[Air Key West]

Indeed, one wonders what LH's real intentions are regarding AFI and SN.
On the other hand, b.air is so passive that they can only expect to become a marginal player in AFI although SN (sabena and b.air) used to be No. 2 in AFI behing AF.
In addition to AF-KL's expansion to AFi mentioned earlier by LJ, ET has announced it intends to buy a considerable number of (long haul) aircraft.
It's hard to believe b.air's management when they say they are acting now as if b.air would not be fully taken over by LH next year. They are too slow in reacting to what's happening. In addition, they have shareholders only waiting for LH to buy the airline and not willing to invest. So, I can understand that the management's position is not easy, but the way they are acting (or practically not acting) might very well have disastrous consequences for SN (much worse than acting quickly = expanding quickly mainly to AFI to counter the competition's decisions, competition coming also from inside *A).

[sn26567]

A new destination in Africa for the LH Group: bmi launches new service to Tripoli from Dec 2010

Starting 01DEC10, bmi is launching Daily London Heathrow – Tripoli service. Flight to the Libyan capital operates with Airbus A319 aircraft.

The airline is now accepting reservation starting today (23SEP10). Schedule below:

Code: Select all

BD469 LHR0855 – 1430TIP 319 D
BD470 TIP1515 – 1645LHR 319 D

Source: airlineroute.net

bmi delays the launch of its Tripoli routeto 11 February 2011. The airline says the delay is necessary “to complete the necessary regulatory procedures and other operational preparations”.

Over recent years Star Alliance airline bmi has focused on developing its network in the Middle East, and already flies to Jeddah, Cairo, Damascus, Tehran and Beirut.

[JOVAN]

To put the LH aggressiveness a little bit in perspective, I checked some figures on aea.be and found interesting stuff re Sub-Sahara flights:

PAX per Airlines 2009
AF 2,5mio
BA 1,5mio
KL 1,3mio
LH 0,644mio
VS 0,560mio
TP 0,516mio
SN 0,478mio
LX 0,219mio
TK 0,207mio

Clearly JNB is what makes big numbers: (1,650mio 2ways) no SN, KL and BA very strong
LOS 0,863mio no SN
CPT 0,665mio no SN
NBO 0,601mio
DKR 0,474mio (strong SN !!)
ACC 0,397
LAD 0,284
...
FIH 0,137

AF has of course its ex-colonies, Mauritius etc as big destinations.

SN clearly needs a few A330 extra if they want to compete with KL/AF

[RoMax]

I would like to see the numbers for this year. With SN upgrading KGL, ABJ and NBO and introducing COO, LFW, ACC and OUA this year. I'm quite sure they are above TP for 2010. But indeed, to beat AF/KLM they have to introduce some more A330's. But we have to see the fight against AF/KLM not as SN vs. AF/KLM but as LH group vs. AF/KLM. The expansion to AFI will be shared between LH, SN and LX.

[Duke]

If Ethiopian Airlines effectively becomes a Star Alliance member (as is mentioned in the last edition of Airliner World), then it will be a direct competitor to Brussels Airlines.
What will then remain of the scenario of Brussels Airlines acting as the Africa-specialised operator of the Alliance?
If one compares the Brussels Airlines fleet with the Ehiopian Airlines fleet, it doesn't look too good for Brussels Airlines...

[cnc]

SN is not acting as the africa specialist for star alliance but for the LH group, ET isn't a part of that group and as we have seen in the past airlines can change sides so i doubt LH would rely too much on ET.
fact is ET and MS are becoming a treat to SN, star alliance members or not

[sn26567]

In other news, Delta Airlines will start 3 weekly Atlanta-Luanda via Dakar. Seems to me that Skyteam doesn't want Star to get too much of the Western African market.

DELTA cancels Atlanta – Dakar – Luanda launch

DELTA is canceling planned service launch to Luanda in Angola. The Skyteam carrier originally planned 3 weekly Atlanta – Dakar – Luanda route from 20JAN11 with Airbus A330-200 aircraft, and switching to Boeing 767-300ER from June 2011.

DELTA has closed reservation for this route, with all class of service are showing 0 in GDS availability display. Reason for cancellation is due to weak customer demand.

Source: airlineroute.net

This is strange. Everybody claims that demand to Luanda exceeds capacity. And now Delta cancels a route to Luanda that would have helped Air France to alleviate the capacity problem...

[BrightCedars]

Didn't SN recently have issues with operating via DKR? I'm afraid DL was giving a tough time as well.

[sn26567]

bmi delays the launch of its Tripoli route to 11 February 2011. The airline says the delay is necessary “to complete the necessary regulatory procedures and other operational preparations”.

Over recent years Star Alliance airline bmi has focused on developing its network in the Middle East, and already flies to Jeddah, Cairo, Damascus, Tehran and Beirut.

bmi today (22FEB11) cancels Tripoli flight, just a day after it inaugurated the service!

[EBKT]

And:
AIRFRANCE from 28FEB11 to 26MAR11 is reducing service to Tunis.

Paris CDG – Tunis is reducing from 5 Daily to 3. Lyon – Tunis is reduced from 6 to 4 weekly and Marseille – Tunis operates 4 instead of 5 weekly.
bron: Airlineroute.net

From 46 weekly flight to 29 weekly is however a big decrease!

[DeltaWiskey]

Canceling Tripoli and Tunis, doesn't have that more to do with the political instability in those countries?