► SEYCHELLES: Air Seychelles inks codeshare with CSA Czech Airlines; Etihad codeshare now includes Australia

Air Seychelles has announced two new codesharing developments. Firstly, it has extended its codeshare agreement with equity alliance partner Etihad Airways (EY) to include new connections to Australia on Etihad flights operated via Abu Dhabi. Secondly, a new codeshare deal has been reached Czech carrier, CSA Czech Airlines (OK), in which passengers of the two airlines will be able to book and travel between Prague and the Seychelles on one ticket, while connecting via Abu Dhabi.

► CHINA: Kenya Airways, China Southern expand codeshare to encompass more routes.

Kenya Airways (KQ) has expanded the scope of its code share agreement with fellow SkyTeam member, China Southern Airlines (CZ). Under the expanded agreement, Kenya Airways will code share on China Southern Airlines services from Bangkok to Wuhan, one of the busiest cities in Central China that is an important centre for trade, finance and transportation.

► KENYA: Etihad Airways, Kenya Airways announce further destinations in their codeshare deal.

As a continuation to its already announced tie up with Etihad (EY), Kenya Airways (KQ) is expanding its codeshare operations with the Gulf carrier, which will now see Etihad's “EY” code appearing on Kenya Airways’ selected service to Gaborone, Botswana as well as various East African cities. In return, Kenya’s “KQ” code is now appearing on selected ETIHAD’s Middle East Service.

► MALAYSIA: Air Mauritius modifies codeshare with Malaysia Airlines; launches interline with Virgin Australia.

Air Mauritius (MK) has since October 28, been operating a modified codeshare agreement with Malaysian Airlines (MH).

► SOUTH AFRICA: Qantas drops First Class from Johannesburg flights effective October.

Australian carrier, Qantas (QF), will from 1 October 2012 no longer offer First Class on its daily Boeing 747-400 flights between Sydney, Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa, with the last flight to have the service to operate on 30 September 2012.

► RÉUNION: Air Austral quits Sydney, Nouméa; starts Bangkok via Chennai.

Reunion-based carrier Air Austral (UU), has decided to cancel its two weekly flights to Nouméa, New Caledonia, via Sydney, Australia with effect from 28 October 2012, in what is seen as a knock on effect of the continuing Euro-zone crisis that has been affecting airlines the world over.

Air Austral Boeing 777

The French Overseas Territory carrier had initially planned to axe the route, along with several others to the French mainland beginning summer of this year, but later reconsidered.

"An Air Austral Boeing 777 has been linking Noumea with Paris, flying via Sydney and La Reunion since early 2009.

In December, the airline said the high cost of jet fuel forced the suspension of the flights but in February it decided to keep flying the route. The latest change has been due to ongoing losses.

New Caledonia’s daily paper says the end of the service has caused concern among travellers whose route to France is now likely to be almost exclusively via Japan."

Read More Here [Radio New Zealand]

In other Air Austral related news, the carrier has announced via Twitter, a new service to Bangkok via Chennai, India to be operated with a Boeing 737-800. No schedule has yet been released.

► MAURITIUS: Air Mauritius increases seats despite rumours of serious trouble ahead.

Following in the footsteps of Air Seychelles who dropped London, Paris, Milan and Rome before entering into a strategic alliance with Etihad Airways, Air Mauritius has axed 7 International destinations with effect from May 2012 (From 31st May 12: Milan, Sydney, Melbourne and Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva and Durban.from 31 October 2012), whilst increasing seating capacity on its remaining flights by 3% to 1,943,946 seats from 01 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, in an attempt to consolidate its market base.

In a statement on its Facebook, Air Mauritius stated:

The following destinations have been retained: Paris, London, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, St Denis, St Pierre, Antananarivo, Rodrigues, Perth, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

The following additional weekly flights have been added:
With effect from April 2012:

• Mumbai + 1 frequency to reach 4 frequencies

With effect from beginning of June 2012:

• Perth + 1 frequency to reach 2 frequencies

With effect from end of October 2012:

• Nairobi + 1 frequency to reach 3 frequencies
• Johannesburg + up to 7 frequencies to reach up to 14 frequencies
• Cape Town + 1 frequency to reach 3 frequencies Antananarivo + 2 frequencies to reach 6 frequencies
• Kuala Lumpur 3 nonstop frequencies

However, rumours still abound that the Mauritian carrier, Air Mauritius (MK), is in for rough next few months. Recently, the Mauritius Ministry of Tourism signed a major strategic partnership with Emirates to bring traffic via Dubai on its 11x-weekly services to the island in a move that will put even greater pressure on the airline. This comes at a time when even the larger European carriers have cut frequencies to Port Louis, given the economic slowdown seen in Europe.

Sources claim that recently the airline sold its headquarters building, its hotel interests as well as its helicopter division in order to remain buoyant for the short term, though for how much longer is uncertain.

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