No:95 MAY/JUNE'07 - S&M Publication ltd

Swiss Raises Seat Load FactorSlightly in First QuarterSwiss increased capacity utilisation inthe first quarter of 2007 by 2.5 percentagepoints over the same period lastyear, achieving an average systemwideseat load factor (SLF) of 76.9% accordingto figures released by the carrier.On intercontinental routes the SLF was81.9% (previous year: 80.6%). The SLFon European routes increased by 5.1percentage points to 66.2%. Some 2.6million passengers travelled with Swissduring the January-March period (previousyear: 2.2 million). March saw Swissachieve a seat load factor of 80.3%,which was 2.4 percentage points higherthan a year ago (77.9%). The SLFon intercontinental routes for the monthstood at 84.9%, a slight increase overthe 82.7% figure for the same montha year ago. On European routes, theSLF for March climbed by 2.9 percentagepoints to 70.7%. Swiss transported989,066 passengers on scheduledservices (previous year: 852,133).The number of flights operated also increasedin March, by 4.8% in Europeand 8% in the intercontinental sector.In total, Swiss operated 11,004 flightsin March, 5.2% more than a year ago.This increase is a direct reflection of theexpansion of the Swiss fleet. Key figuresfor Swiss scheduled services January- March 2007 Q1 2007 - Q1 2006 -Diff.2 649 665 - 2 212 191 - +19.4%31,624 - 30,032 - +5.3%7,393 - 6,386 - +15.8%5,686 - 4,749 - +19.7%76.9% - 74.4% - +2.5 pts.CSA Signs Contract with SITAAircraft equipped with satellite systemsalso use the air-ground voice service.Thenumber of European airlines using SITAAIRCOM air-ground data link communicationsservices in Central and EasternEurope now stands at 24. Other SITAcustomers include SR Technics and theair navigation service providers, DFSand Skyguide. Recognising the growingdemand for datalink services in thisregion, as airlines update their fleets,SITA is deploying three new AIRCOMground stations in the Czech Republic.These will expand coverage in the region,bringing the total number of VHFground stations east of Germany andAustria to 40, allowing other airlines togain benefits from expanded coveragein Central and Eastern Europe.CSA Czech Airlines is introducing airgrounddatalink communications ontheir growing fleet of new Airbus aircraftafter signing a contract for SITA’sAIRCOM Datalink services. SITA is alsodeploying three new VHF ground stationsin the Czech Republic. The CSAdecision continues the trend for Centraland Eastern European airlines to adoptthis technology including other recentrecruits, Malev and WizzAir. LongstandingSITA AIRCOM users in the region,Lufthansa and Austrian use SITAdatalink services to support flight andground operations, maintenance, andflight-following and ATC messages.Malev Hungarian Airlines implements“0” commission system as of May 1st,2007. Gross price (7% commissionincluded), will be set as net price andservice charge implementation will bestarted.The service charges that will beimplemented by Malev Elmadag andMalev Airport Offices and suggestedfor other offices are below: Servicecharges are also valid at children andinternet tickets. Service charges do notimplemented at baby tickets.SunExpress is to begin a new service fromLondon Stansted Airport to the Aegeancity of Izmir and then on to Ercan Airportin Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.The low-cost carrier will operate flightson Tuesdays and Saturdays, with theservice set to begin on April 28, said theFly North America by Special Fares of DeltaDelta announced special fares To NorthAmerica. The round-trip fares are below:Flights are from Ankara/Istanbul/Izmir.New York - JFK 289,Boston - BOS* 315,Chicago - CHI 299,Atlanta - ATL 299,0 Commission from MalevSunExpress Starts London Stansted – Izmir – Ercan Flightsreports. One-way tickets start from £49(including taxes and charges) and includecomplimentary drinks and snacks.“With summer just around the cornerwe feel it is the right time to expandour activities in the U.K. and launchthese two additional routes from LondonStansted to Izmir and Ercan,”Michael Buck, commercial director ofSunExpress, was quoted as saying.Philadelphia - PHL 329,Washington - WAS * 328,Dallas - DFW 329,Miami - MIA 329,Orlando - MCO 329,Phoenix - PHX 349,San Francisco - SGO 319,Los Angeles - LAX 349,San Diego - SAN 349,Las Vegas - LAS 419.Travel period is until 31 May 2007.