New and cancelled destinations, major schedule and operational changes
#376
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,059
Then later in JAN 2007 KUL was cancelled for HKG nonstop and BOM 5 per week. SIN was axed in May 2007.
Last edited by OH-LGG; Oct 14, 2016 at 12:27 pm
#377
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,177
With MH joining OW in 2013, KUL makes a lot more sense now than back then, IMHO. The AY press release tried to sell it as a second Thailand:
http://www.finnairgroup.com/mediaen/...144219618.html
But they decided to go with SIN in may 2011, I guess KUL is off the list.
Sight-seeing and climate-wise, Malaysia is equivalent to neighbouring Thailand as a travel destination. Kuala Lumpur is a modern city with almost a million and a half inhabitants and offers excellent shopping opportunities both in modern shopping centres and on smaller shopping alleys and streets. The city also offers top-rate hotel accommodation.
But they decided to go with SIN in may 2011, I guess KUL is off the list.
#379
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Helsinki-Vantaa APT, Finland
Programs: AY LUMO
Posts: 6,059
#380
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
I wonder if there really is no destination to which AY could profitably fly from HKG with the plane that stands idle there for 9 hours. Since they have HKG-based crew, there wouldn't even be any accommodation costs.
#381
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
Of course it was, and not HEL-KUL-SIN. I don't know what made me make such a mistake! AY even had a crew base in BKK, out of which Finnish FAs could spend weeks flying to SIN and back (and later also HKG). Some even brought their families to BKK.
I wonder if there really is no destination to which AY could profitably fly from HKG with the plane that stands idle there for 9 hours. Since they have HKG-based crew, there wouldn't even be any accommodation costs.
I wonder if there really is no destination to which AY could profitably fly from HKG with the plane that stands idle there for 9 hours. Since they have HKG-based crew, there wouldn't even be any accommodation costs.
And HK-TW is probably reserved for Greater Chinese carriers.
#382
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
At the "meet the loyalty team" DO I specifically asked Pekka V about KUL and he said it won't happen.
#383
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
(hardly any direct flights from Europe, a few CI and a KL from AMS)
#384
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,177
A HEL-TPE direct would be nice but I think what people here are suggesting is a connection service from HKG. And that seems pretty pointless. What could AY possibly offer on HKG-TPE that the 17 daily CX/KA flights can't?
In 9 hours turnaround ex HKG I can't really see a viable new destination.
In 9 hours turnaround ex HKG I can't really see a viable new destination.
#385
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
A HEL-TPE direct would be nice but I think what people here are suggesting is a connection service from HKG. And that seems pretty pointless. What could AY possibly offer on HKG-TPE that the 17 daily CX/KA flights can't?
In 9 hours turnaround ex HKG I can't really see a viable new destination.
In 9 hours turnaround ex HKG I can't really see a viable new destination.
KUL won't either be featuring in any AY plans since SIN opened. OW connections to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are available through HKG on CX/KA and the rest of AY pax to that region flies via SIN.
What I do wonder about if AY would be able to strike a deal with local tourist authorities on large enough subsidies for holiday flights (and the few business pax) from Europe to Hainan in China, Okinawa in Japan and/or Jeju in Korea?
Those are really interesting destinations on their own and well worth a trip from Europe, even.
#386
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
Quite similar situation to those flights that continue from BKK. Currently e.g. AI - BKK-SIN, ET- BKK-KUL but I flew LH, RJ and TK as well from BKK intra-Asia.
#387
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,177
...
What I do wonder about if AY would be able to strike a deal with local tourist authorities on large enough subsidies for holiday flights (and the few business pax) from Europe to Hainan in China, Okinawa in Japan and/or Jeju in Korea?
Those are really interesting destinations on their own and well worth a trip from Europe, even.
What I do wonder about if AY would be able to strike a deal with local tourist authorities on large enough subsidies for holiday flights (and the few business pax) from Europe to Hainan in China, Okinawa in Japan and/or Jeju in Korea?
Those are really interesting destinations on their own and well worth a trip from Europe, even.
What would the pros of a non-transit be? I mean, pax will still forced to leave the plane, right?
#388
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,753
#389
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
Quite the contrary. Though I've flown only a few such flights - e.g. KUL-BKK-AMM or LHR-DBX-MCT On these you couldn't leave the plane at the transit airport if it wasn't your destination.
#390
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Asia/Europe
Programs: CX, OZ, MU (+AY, DL), Shangri-La, Hilton
Posts: 7,236
I have no insight in Hainan, but the to others are indeed good choices and serviceable from HKG in the spare hours. There are some competition already on the routes, HK airlines. Aren't they owned by Hainan airlines? Assuming there will be competition on Hainan too then.
So, the flights would need to be targeted at ex-Euro passengers and probably also be sold more or less as package (flight & hotel) tours in those markets.
In Winter, wonder if Sapporo is doable from Hong Kong in the available time? That is a very attractive skiing and outdoor destination unfortunately not yet well known in Europe.