New airline routes launched (10 – 16 July 2012)

Route of the Week, 18 July issue:
Copa’s Panama to Iquitos

Copa’s CEO, Pedro Heilbron and Ollanta Humala, President of Peru, cut the ribbon for the airline’s inaugural service linking Iquitos and Panama. The world’s most remote large city, Iquitos has no access roads and huge tourist appeal.

• On 14 July, Copa inaugurated flights to the second after Lima Peruvian destination from its hub in Panama (PTY). The largest city in the Peruvian rainforest and the capital of Loreto Region, Iquitos (IQT) is also the world’s largest city that cannot be reached by road. Copa’s new service, which is the airport’s only international link, is offered with twice-weekly frequencies and operated using E190s. Norma Córdova, Regional Director for Foreign Trade, Tourism and Handicrafts, said: “Expectations are high: a comprehensive strategic plan is in place to boost the region’s tourist and commercial appeal in Panama”. This includes a workshop session ‘Río Amazonas’ to be held in Panama in August in cooperation with Copa and Promperú, the country’s agency for tourism and foreign trade promotion.

Cake of the Week, 18 July issue:
Ethiopian Airlines’ Addis Ababa to Toronto

This spectacular cake was baked in Toronto to celebrate the arrival of new Ethiopian Airlines service from Addis Ababa. Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Airlines’ CEO, and Howard Eng, CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, helped launch the route.

Ethiopian Airlines team led by its CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam, is set for more long-haul travel, as the airline is soon to receive its first 787. In Toronto, they were greeted with a traditional water cannon salute.

• On 16 July, Ethiopian Airlines launched a new route from its Addis Ababa (ADD) hub, making Toronto (YYZ) the first destination it serves in Canada. The airline, whose first 787 aircraft is scheduled to arrive in late August, will operate the 11,500-kilometre route using 777-200LRs. Its CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “Although Ethiopian is scheduled to fly to Toronto just twice weekly, we are ready to immediately add more flights, once the bilateral agreement between the two countries is enhanced”.

The rest of this week’s new routes

We are publishing a shorter anna.aero this week because most of our hard working staff have flown away on holiday. All of this week's new routes will be featured in a combined major analysis next week.