CityJet extends seasonal route to Brive, Dordogne due to popular demand.

CityJet, announced today that they are extending their summer season route from London City to Brive, Dordogne until the end of October 2010.

CityJet will operate a return flight out of City Airport on Fridays and Sundays from 17 September to 31 October giving Londoners an extra six weeks to enjoy the convenient service that has opened up direct access to the Dordogne region for the first time.

The CityJet route to Brive, which was started on 25 June 2010, was initially planned to operate until 12 September 2010. In its fifth week of operation, however, CityJet was achieving a load factor of 75% proving there is a high demand for flights to this holiday destination.

In addition to leisure travellers, the route has become an ideal link for the many Londoners who own a second home in the scenic region.

Says Geoffrey O’Byrne White, CEO of CityJet:
“For a brand new route to be operating at a 75% load factor in its fifth week of operations is extremely impressive. Given this unprecedented demand, we’ve taken the decision to extend the route until 31 October. This is the last day of school’s half-term break, when a lot of Londoners will be returning from a short break in the Dordogne region.

We received a mass of requests from our passengers asking for a longer season and after careful consideration we have put the plans in place to allow us to give our passengers what they want and offer another six weeks of operation.”

Prices start from £59 one way, including taxes.
The route will continue to operate using an Avro RJ85.

Schedule from Friday, September 17 until Sunday, October 31:
London City to Brive Valley of the Dordogne
Friday AF5261 14.35-17.10
Sunday AF5265 16.20-18.55

From Brive Valley of the Dordogne to London City
Friday AF5260 17.40-18.15
Sunday AF5264 19.25-20.00

CityJet press release 28th July 2010

Air Berlin is to join oneworld®, adding Europe’s fifth largest airline and Germany’s second biggest carrier to the world’s leading quality airline alliance.

Air Berlin group member Austria’s NIKI will become an affiliate member of the alliance.

A memorandum of understanding between Air Berlin and oneworld was completed in the airline’s Berlin home city last night, with a formal alliance membership agreement to be signed soon.

Air Berlin is expected to start flying as part of oneworld in early 2012 – just weeks before the opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, which is being built as a major new hub for Europe.

As a major player in the European air travel market, Air Berlin served in 2009 a total of 160 destinations in some 40 countries, operating almost 600 daily departures. It carried 28 million passengers, generating revenues of EUR3.2 billion (US$4.5 billion). As of July 2010, Air Berlin operates a fleet of 165 aircraft, including Austria’s NIKI, serving 168 destinations.

When it becomes part of oneworld, its customers will gain access to an unrivalled global network. It will add almost 75 gateways to the oneworld map, expand the alliance’s coverage to almost 900 destinations in nearly 150 countries, served by a combined fleet of 2,500 aircraft operating some 9,500 flights a day and carrying 340 million passengers a year.

Members of Air Berlin’s topbonus frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem rewards on any of oneworld’s 13 other top-class carriers, with top tier members able to use any of the group’s 550 plus airport lounges, and its network will be covered by oneworld’s full range of alliance fares. Frequent flyer cardholders of oneworld’s established airlines will be able to earn and redeem rewards when flying Air Berlin.

As a starting point in its oneworld implementation, Air Berlin will develop one-on-one co-operative agreements with key established members of the alliance American Airlines and Finnair, to take effect this coming winter season. (See separate news releases.) Bilateral agreements with British Airways and Iberia are planned to follow.

British Airways will support Air Berlin through its oneworld implementation programme as its alliance sponsor.

The addition of Air Berlin as a member elect is the latest significant step in what is turning into a breakthrough year for oneworld as it builds further on its position as the world’s premier airline alliance, expanding its unrivalled route network still further and enabling it to offer even more services and benefits to customers.

All but one of the alliance’s existing carriers (with Mexicana the exception) already serve Air Berlin’s German homeland – the most populous country and the biggest economy in the European Union. They will also be looking to expand their own services to its key hubs Berlin and Dusseldorf as the new alliance recruit prepares to join the group.

Air Berlin Chief Executive Joachim Hunold said: “Joining a global alliance is the logical next step in Air Berlin’s development. We are very pleased and proud to be lining up to join what is clearly the world’s top quality airline grouping. Becoming part of oneworld would be one of the most significant departures so far for our airline, enabling us to offer our customers a truly global network served by partners who include some of the best and biggest airlines in the world. We look forward to completing all joining requirements as soon as possible.”

Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of British Airways, oneworld’s sponsor of Air Berlin, said: “Air Berlin will make an ideal oneworld partner. It has an excellent reputation for customer service – right in line with oneworld’s focus on quality above quantity in terms of membership. Its network is one of the best in Central Europe, expanding the alliance’s coverage of this region markedly. British Airways is delighted to be supporting Air Berlin’s addition to oneworld by acting as its sponsor into the alliance – and we look forward to establishing our bilateral co-operation.”

American Airlines’ Chairman and Chief Executive, and oneworld Governing Board Chairman, Gerard Arpey added: “oneworld already features four of Europe’s best airlines. Adding the continent’s fifth biggest carrier will greatly enhance our coverage throughout this region. With all the other significant steps we are taking in this breakthrough year for our alliance, this represents a great leap forward in our journey to establish oneworld firmly as the world’s premier airline alliance with members unmatched in brand and service quality.”

Already in oneworld’s “breakthrough year”:

• Russia’s leading domestic carrier S7 Airlines is on track to join in the coming months.
• India’s leading carrier Kingfisher Airlines became a oneworld member elect in June.
• Japan Airlines has been expanding its co-operation with its oneworld partners since reaffirming its membership of the alliance in February, filing days later with American Airlines for anti-trust immunity for a joint business across the Pacific and more than doubling its code-sharing with British Airways.
• American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian this month received long-awaited final approval for their application for anti-trust immunity across the Atlantic and the proposed transatlantic joint business between American, BA and Iberia.
• British Airways and Iberia are on track to complete their merger by the end of the year.
• LAN Airlines celebrated its 10th anniversary as a oneworld member on 1 June. Since joining, it has added to the grouping its affiliates in Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. With Mexico and Central America’s leading airline Mexicana joining oneworld in November 2009, this extended oneworld’s position still further as the leading Latin American alliance.
• oneworld added the World Airline Awards’ World’s Best Alliance title to the World Travel Awards’ World’s Leading Airline Alliance trophies it has won for the past seven years, as the only winner of that award since it was introduced in 2003.

About Air Berlin

Since its launch in 1979, Air Berlin has grown into Germany’s second largest airline – and the fifth biggest in Europe in terms of passengers boarded – after taking over Deutsche BA and LTU and gaining a 49.9 per cent stake in Austria’s NIKI and a 49 per cent holding in Switzerland’s Belair.

It has developed from its origins in the shorthaul leisure market to cater also for business travellers with its Euro Shuttle service providing high frequency connections between many of the continent’s key destinations and now also flies longhaul.

It is one of Europe’s most frequent winners in the various airline industry award schemes.
On its shorthaul services, it offers a single-class cabin. On its longhaul routes, it offers two-classes, with a premium business cabin and individual in-flight entertainment screens for each passenger.

While it has been named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline seven years running in the World Airline Awards run by the Skytrax airline quality organisation, it now offers the full-range of services associated with a full-service network carrier, including its frequent flyer programme topbonus, and, for premium passengers, lounges, priority check-in and, for all passengers, free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and meals or snacks on every departure.

It will move in June 2012 into the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport, which will have capacity eventually for 45 million passengers a year.

Air Berlin holds major market shares in its home city and also at Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Palma de Majorca. Among its international destinations, it serves oneworld hubs Helsinki, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Moscow Domodedovo, New York JFK and Bangkok.

Its current fleet (including NIKI) comprises 165 aircraft, with an average age of five years, including 13 Airbus A330s, 75 A321s/A320s/A319s, 63 Boeing 737s, four Embraer E190s and 10 Bombardier Q400s. It employs 8,500 staff.

During its latest financial year, to end December 2009, it generated revenues totalling EUR3.2 billion (US$4.5 billion), achieving an operating profit of EUR28.5 million (US$36 million).

About oneworld

oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Mexicana, Qantas and Royal Jordanian, and around 20 affiliates including American Eagle, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru. Russia’s S7 Airlines will join the alliance in 2010 with India’s Kingfisher Airlines also a member elect and Air Berlin now lining up to join. Between them, these airlines:

• Serve almost 900 airports in nearly 150 countries, with some 9,500 daily departures.
• Offer more than 550 airport lounges for premium customers.
• Carry 340 million passengers a year.
• Operate a combined fleet of almost 2,500 aircraft.
• Generate around US$90 billion annual revenues in total.

oneworld enables its members to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges. oneworld also offers more alliance fares than any of its competitors.

oneworld was named the World’s Best Alliance two weeks ago in the 2010 World Airline Awards and has been voted the World’s Leading Airline Alliance for the past seven years in the World Travel Awards. It is the only winner of this award since it was introduced in 2003.

British Airways press release, Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Finnair will acquire two 270-seat Airbus A340 wide-bodied aircraft to meet its growing long-haul traffic needs. The aircraft will be acquired on lease agreements of around four years from the leasing company ILFC. The aircraft will join the Finnair fleet in late 2010 and early 2011.

"We have recently announced an increase in Asian traffic and we need additional capacity. This decision will enable us to satisfy growth needs until we take delivery of the new generation Airbus A350 aircraft," says Finnair President & CEO Mika Vehviläinen.

Finnair currently has 12 Airbus long-haul aircraft, which fly to nine destinations in Asia as well as to New York in North America. At the end of this year, one further new Airbus A330 aircraft, ordered earlier, will join the fleet. With the coming additions, Finnair's long-haul fleet will grow to a total 15 Airbus aircraft by the beginning of next year.

"All of our Airbus long-haul aircraft have an excellent business class with lie-flat or full-flat seats. Moreover, we can use the long-haul aircraft flexibly on long scheduled traffic and leisure flights, depending on the season. This ensures the most efficient possible use of the aircraft at different times of the year."

Next May, Finnair will open a daily direct route to Singapore. The Finnair flight, which will be the only direct connection between Northern Europe and Singapore, will provide excellent service to business passengers. For Asian passengers, the Singapore route will offer excellent onward connections via Finnair's route network to 50 European destinations.

"Finnair's Asian strategy has worked extremely well. Demand has continually strengthened and now is the right time to increase capacity and boost our market share in Asia's growing market."

Finnair will also increase direct flights to Hong Kong. Instead of the earlier seven flights, Finnair will fly to Hong Kong with a frequency of 12 flights per week from June next year. During spring 2011, more frequencies will be added to the other current Asian destinations.

“Our Asian routes are also important in terms of cargo. The A340 aircraft, moreover, will bring additional capacity to meet the needs of Asia's rapidly strengthening cargo demand,” says Vehviläinen.

Out of Finnair's 61 aircraft 34 are owned and 27 leased, ten from ILFC. "ILFC is pleased to be able to support Finnair's growth as it implements its Asia strategy and other strategic initiatives and we look forward to delivering these A340 aircraft in the months ahead and continuing the expansion of our relationship with Finnair," said Philip G. Scruggs, ILFC's Chief Marketing Officer.

Finnair Plc Communications 29.7.2010

Deutsche Lufthansa AG has posted an operating profit of 159 million euros for the second quarter of 2010, more than tripling the figure for the second quarter in 2009. The recovery in demand, particularly in cargo and intercontinental traffic, and the efforts to reduce costs in all areas of the Group during the past months played decisive roles in recording the positive result. However, the severe winter, the strike by the pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit, the airspace lockdown after the volcano eruption on Iceland and the continued slump in prices all took their toll and had negative effects during the first six months of the year. The Lufthansa Group therefore posted an operating loss of 171 million euros for the first half of the year; the figure is 179 million euros less than during the same period of the previous year. Speaking at the presentation of the first-half results, Lufthansa Executive Board member and CFO Stephan Gemkow commented: “There is a noticeable recovery in First and Business Class bookings in the passenger business and the revenue from long-haul traffic. A good example of this is our A380 with the new First Class, which has had an excellent load factor in all classes since entering scheduled service on the Frankfurt–Tokyo route. Nevertheless, despite our delight with the very good second quarter, we have not yet succeeded in matching the results of earlier years.”

Gemkow went on to add: “We shall continue with the sustained implementation of our cost-cutting measures, particularly in the face of the current slump in prices and altered demand in short-haul traffic. The pay settlements concluded with the pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit, and ver.di mean that ground staff and cockpit crews made an essential contribution.” Although the Passenger Airline Group posted an operating profit for the second quarter, the business segment ended the first six months with a significant operating loss of 342 million euros, of which -203 million euros were accounted for by Lufthansa Passenger Airlines. The Climb 2011 programme to safeguard earnings at Lufthansa Passenger Airlines will therefore continue to be consistently implemented and the same applies for the restructuring measures that are progressing according to plan at the new airlines. Austrian Airlines contributed a loss of 70 million euros to the operating result of the Passenger Airline Group; bmi and Germanwings contributed losses of 93 million and 39 million euros respectively; while SWISS made a positive contribution of 54 million euros.

Referring to the logistics business segment, Gemkow stated: “The freight business shows that consistent cost management also pays off during market recovery phases. After implementing intensive measures to improve its result, Lufthansa Cargo went on to record the best first-half result in its history - a truly remarkable performance!” The business segment earned an operating profit of 144 million euros for the first half of the year; the figure is 278 million euros higher than during the same period of the previous year. MRO and IT Services also ended the first six months successfully posting operating profits slightly above the previous year’s figure; MRO posted operating profit of 145 million and IT Services recorded a figure of eight million euros. And the Catering business segment also benefited from the recovery in demand and posted a distinctly positive operating result of 13 million euros.

Gemkow added that for the coming months, the risks would lie as usual in the volatility surrounding the demand situation, the development of fuel prices and the susceptibility of the industry to external factors. He pointed out however, that the dynamic trend in the development of business during the past months had strengthened the Group’s confidence in achieving its profitability targets. Gemkow added that for the current business year, the Executive Board therefore continued to anticipate a rise in revenue and year-on-year increase in operating profit in line with current market expectations; and that he expected all of the business segments to contribute with positive operating results. In the interim report for the first six months, the Group’s Executive Board stressed that: “Airlines are not only an engine of the economy, but also convert and multiply an economic recovery into their own growth. However, the market conditions for this have changed and only those that adapt to the new conditions will be able to benefit from the opportunity of above-average growth. We are convinced that the Lufthansa Group and its Group companies shall succeed in doing so!”

First-half figures 2010
During the first six months of 2010, the Lufthansa Group generated revenues totalling 12.6 billion euros; equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 23.5 per cent. The traffic revenue rose by 30 per cent to 10.2 billion euros. During the reporting period, the Group’s operating income increased by altogether 22.2 per cent to 14.2 billion euros.

Operating expenses rose by 22.9 per cent to 14.2 billion euros during the first half of the year. This was mainly due to the higher fuel costs which rose by 874 million euros; this was equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 56.1 per cent, which was both price and volume related. The fees and charges were 29 per cent above the previous year’s figure.

The Group recorded an operating loss of 171 million euros for the first half of the year, 179 million euros less than during the same period of the previous year. The decline can mainly be attributed to the negative result in the Passenger Airline Group business segment. The Group posted a result of -104 million euros; during the same period last year, it stood at -178 million euros.

Lufthansa's capital expenditure during the reporting period totalled 974 million euros, of which 850 million euros were spent on the expansion and modernization of the fleet. Operating cash flow totalled 1.4 billion euros, the free cash flow (operating cash flow minus net investments) stood at one billion euros. At the close of the first half, the Group's net indebtedness stood at 1.8 billion euros. In comparison to the figure at the end of 2009, portfolio measures saw the Group’s equity ratio increase to 24.3 per cent.

http://investor-relations.lufthansa.com/en/meldungen/financial-news/investor-relations-financial-news/datum/2010/07/29/lufthansa-gruppe-profitiert-von-nachfrageerholung-und-kostendisziplin.html

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic statistics for June which showed continued strong demand growth as the industry recovers from the impact of the global financial crisis. Compared to June 2009, international passenger demand was up 11.9% while international scheduled freight traffic showed a 26.5% improvement.

Capacity increased only slightly above demand improvements during the month, keeping load factors in line with historical highs at 79.8% for passenger traffic and 53.8% for freight.

“The industry continues to recover faster than expected, but with sharp regional differences. Europe is recovering at half the speed of Asia with passenger growth of 7.8% compared to the 15.5% growth in Asia-Pacific,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Outside of Europe, all regions reported double-digit growth in passenger traffic. “The question is how long can the industry maintain the double-digit momentum. Business confidence remains high and there is no indication that the recovery will stall any time soon. But, with government stimulus packages tailing off and restocking largely completed, we do expect some slowing over the months ahead,” said Bisignani.

International Passenger Demand

• After a dip in April due to the volcanic ash crisis centered in Europe, international passenger demand has returned to its upward growth trend. Passenger volumes are now 1-2% above the pre-recession peak in the first quarter of 2008.
• Middle Eastern carriers continue to post the fastest growth—up 18.0% compared to June 2009. This is based on a strong regional economy and the ability to attract long-haul traffic through the region’s hubs.
• Asia-Pacific carriers recorded the most significant demand improvement at 15.5%. China continues to be the region’s growth engine.
• North American carriers posted growth of 10.8%, comparable to the 10.9% recorded for May 2010. Strong growth and the industry-leading load factor of 86.6% are contributing to strong second quarter financial results being announced by the region’s carriers.
• European carriers reported 7.8% growth, down slightly from the 8.3% recorded in May. While annualized growth of 6.2% is in line with the industry average, it is clear that the recovery in Europe is lagging behind the rest of the world.
• Latin American carriers showed a 14.7% increase in passenger traffic compared to June 2009. This reflects a more normal growth rate than the 23.6% recorded in May when results were heavily skewed by the Influenza A(H1N1) crisis which centered on the region in May last year.
• African carriers posted a 21.3% increase in traffic in June, positively impacted by activities surrounding the FIFA World Cup.

International Freight Demand

• International freight demand grew 26.5% in June 2010, down from the 34.0% recorded in May 2010. May was exceptionally high as some interrupted traffic from April’s ash crisis shifted to May. Volumes remain 6% above the pre-recession peak in early 2008.
• Freight demand continues to follow economic recovery and trade patterns with airlines in Asia-Pacific (+29.8%), Middle East (+39.6%), Latin America (+44.9%) and Africa (+54.0%) growing the fastest.
• Carriers in North America (+24.2%) occupy the middle ground.
• Europe (15.3%) is growing at half the rate of the fastest growing regions based on slower economic growth. This trend is particularly evident in Europe which is the only region still 5-6% below the pre-recession peak. The low value of the Euro will be a help to the region’s exporters and eventually drive up freight volumes.

“We remain cautiously optimistic. A clear indication of the growing confidence is the over 400 aircraft orders announced at the Farnborough Air Show. This is good news that will bring environmental benefits through improved fuel efficiency. But it will also make the challenge of matching capacity to demand much more difficult,” said Bisignani.

View full June traffic results

IATA press release No. 33, Geneva, 28 July 2010

NEW DENMARK FLIGHTS DIRECT FROM THE DOCKLANDS

British Airways is opening up its route network from London City Airport with the launch of its first route to Scandinavia.

The airline has announced plans to start a new double daily weekday service from the Docklands Airport to Copenhagen in Denmark, providing a direct air link between the two capital cities.

There will also be one flight a day from London City on Sundays and one flight from Copenhagen on Saturdays.

The new flights will start on September 12, and will be operated by British Airways wholly owned subsidiary BA CityFlyer with their fleet of brand new Embraer 190 aircraft.

Luke Hayhoe, BA CityFlyer commercial manager said: “This has been a year of firsts for us at London City Airport, with new leisure focused flights to the Balearic Islands launched earlier in the year and now our first ever venture into Scandinavia.

“Once again we are responding to demand from our customers for both business and leisure travel to Denmark and we are delighted to be launching another exciting new route using our new aircraft.”

Fares are available from £65 and are available to book on www.ba.com.

London City Airport press release 28/07/2010

TAM Airlines, Airbus’ biggest customer in the Southern Hemisphere and Brazil’s largest airline, signed a firm order for 25 eco-efficient Airbus aircraft, bringing the Brazilian airline’s total Airbus order book to 176. This order for 20 A320 Family and five A350-900s follows the Memorandum of Understanding announced at ILA Berlin Air Show in June.

TAM’s new A320 Family aircraft will replace existing A320 Family aircraft as part of the airline’s commitment to keep an average fleet age of six years. Both the A320 Family and A350 XWB fleet will serve the carrier’s existing routes and boost eco-efficiency. “We have the commitment to offer our customers one of the youngest fleets in the world of aviation,” said Líbano Barroso, CEO of TAM Airlines.

As of today, TAM's total Airbus orders have increased to 134 A320 Family aircraft, 15 A330-200s and 27 A350 XWB. 65 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, two A330-200s and 27 A350 XWB are still in the backlog.

"We are extremely pleased with TAM’s continued confidence in Airbus, and appreciate the great partnership we have established over the past decade,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A320 Family is recognized as being the most modern and efficient single-aisle aircraft around, and through continuous investments the best keeps getting better. TAM’s repeat order underlines this aircraft’s leadership position in the market.”

Today more than 370 Airbus aircraft are flying with 23 Latin American airline customers and operators, representing more than 40 percent of the fleet in service. With TAM being the biggest customer, more than 500 Airbus aircraft have been sold in the region, which enjoys a record backlog of more than 200 aircraft.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. With over 6,500 aircraft sold, and more than 4,300 aircraft delivered to some 310 customers and operators worldwide, the A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7 per cent reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system.

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. After today’s announcement, orders for the aircraft stand at 535 from 34 customers.

Airbus press release 28 July 2010

Finnair has sold the last two Boeing MD-11 aircraft still owned by Finnair to Neff Air, Jim Neff's aircraft leasing company based in the USA. The aircraft will be delivered in January 2011 to the buyer. The sale is estimated to have no substantial impact on Finnair's result.

Both aircraft served Finnair's passenger traffic since the early 1990's. Currently one of the aircraft is flying, as converted to a freighter, cargo flights between Helsinki Hong Kong and Soul and the other one will be converted later this year. Finnair is currently studying of dedicated MD-11 freighter operations also beyond the end of the year and one option is to continue the operations by leasing one or two of these aircraft.

Finnair Plc Communications 28.7.2010

Morning flight broadens transfer possibilities

The Lebanese carrier Middle East Airlines announces the continuation of its direct services between Brussels Airport and Beirut during the coming winter season. The airline restarted direct evening flights to and from Brussels Airport three times weekly on June 22nd. At first, these flights were scheduled to continue until the middle of September, but this summer schedule is now prolonged to a year-round operation.

The restart of the Brussels-Beirut route proved to be an instant hit, and this success is not only related to the Lebanese diaspora. Both business and leisure travelers rediscover the way to Beirut that has fully recaptured its title as “Paris of the Middle East”.

As from the middle of September, the current evening operation will be replaced by a morning flight, operated three times per week by Middle East Airlines. At Brussels Airport, this new schedule allows excellent transfer connections to and from North America and a wide choice of destinations in Europe and Africa that are offered by Brussels Airlines.

Flight Schedule:

Middle East Airlines ME 215
Beirut International (BEY), 06:30
Brussels Airport (BRU) 10:00
Non-stop 320 Monday Thursday Saturday

Middle East Airlines ME 216
Brussels Airport (BRU), 11:00
Beirut International (BEY) 16:10
Non-stop 320 Monday Thursday Saturday

Brussels Airport Press Release, July 27th, 2010

Seville becomes 44th base with 29 routes
2 aircraft, 29 routes and 1.5M passengers P.A.

Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (21st July) announced it would open its 44th base at Seville in November 2010 with two based aircraft and 29 routes (including 10 new routes, which go on sale tomorrow). Ryanair will offer over 250 weekly return flights to/from Seville in an investment worth over $140 million in the airport.

Ryanair’s 10 new routes from Bari, Eindhoven, London Gatwick, Marseille, Palma, Paris, Santiago, Valencia, Venice Treviso, and Zaragoza will increase Ryanair’s traffic at Seville to 1.5m passengers p.a. which will create and sustain 1,500 well paid local jobs.

Ryanair celebrated its new Seville base, two new aircraft, 29 routes and 1.5m passengers p.a. by releasing 500,000 €3 seats for travel across its European network for travel in September and October which are available for booking on www.ryanair.com from midnight tonight until midnight Monday (26th July).

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“Ryanair is delighted to announce Seville as our 44th base and our 8th Spanish base airport with 10 new routes going on sale tomorrow. With a total of 29 low fare routes from Seville next winter passengers can beat the recession by choosing Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and no fuel surcharge to exciting destinations all over Europe including France, Italy and Germany among others. Ryanair’s 1.5 million passengers will create and sustain 1,500 jobs locally in Seville.”

10 New Seville Routes: Bari, Eindhoven, London (Gatwick), Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Santiago, Valencia, Venice, Zaragoza

Ryanair press release, 23.07.10