Harmony expansion

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RB211
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Harmony expansion

Post by RB211 »

Pilfered this from another forum as I don't subscribe to the Vancouver Sun:

From today's The Vancouver Sun


Vancouver-based Harmony Airways is increasing the size of its aircraft fleet and expanding its service to Hawaii as part of overall growth plans that will also involve selling seats on flights into China beginning this year.

Harmony CEO Gary Collins, in a telephone interview Monday, said Harmony will be launching into service a fourth, leased, Boeing 757 within the next month, which will help the company add direct flights from Calgary and Kelowna to destinations in Hawaii this winter.

Harmony, in December, will start flying three times a week from Calgary to Honolulu and Maui, and one flight a week from Kelowna to Honolulu. Collins added that the airline can increase the number of flights if market demand warrants.

Collins said Hawaii is a "good market" for the company where he feels the airline is dominant. He added that Harmony jumped into the Calgary-Hawaii route on the assumption that Westjet would also get into the Hawaii market.

"We'll have a significant advantage," Collins said. "[Hawaii] can be a great little profit centre as we expand into the Asia-Pacific market and as our fleet grows," Collins said.

The airline will officially announce the new flights today when it unveils the amenities that will go along with its new business-class service.

Harmony already flies from Vancouver to Honolulu and Maui and Victoria to Honolulu.

Harmony also expects to conclude a "code-sharing agreement" with a major Chinese airline within the next couple of months to begin selling tickets for passage to China under its designation as one of Canada's airlines allowed to serve the Chinese market.

Code-sharing means Harmony will be able to sell seats under its own name from Toronto to points in China on flights of an airline already in the Chinese market.

Collins wouldn't name Harmony's partner because the companies have not signed an agreement, but he added that a conclusion to the deal was "imminent."

Collins added that Harmony already carries passengers routed from Asian airlines on its Vancouver to Toronto flights.

On May 19, Harmony was granted designation to operate scheduled flights to China after the two countries announced on April 20 they would triple the number of weekly flights, to 45, that each country will be allowed to send to the other country.

Collins said starting with a code-sharing agreement, which will allow his airline to start selling tickets immediately, will give the company a chance to build its sales and operations team prior to starting flights with its own planes.

"It's a fairly big step to start flying long-haul into Asia," he added. "Code sharing is a about a half-step, so it allows us to ramp up our expertise inside the company."

Collins said Harmony is negotiations with both Boeing Co. and and the European plane manufacturer, Airbus SAS, about lease or purchase arrangements for its own aircraft.

He added that setting a date for Harmony to begin flying its own planes to and from China will depend on the availability of the aircraft it chooses and when it could be put into service.
"We're not looking at this fall, but 2006 is not out of the question," he added.

Harmony is looking to tap part of Canada's share of China's foreign tourism market, which is expected to explode after the two countries conclude a deal giving Canada approved-destination status for tourists from China.
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Snow Monkey
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Post by Snow Monkey »

Good to see things are moving ahead. Any news on HMY looking into 737NG'S? They did have an add for NG pilots on their web site however that has dissappered.
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Canus Chinookus
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Post by Canus Chinookus »

that code-share wouldn't be with cathay would it?
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Sage
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Post by Sage »

http://www.canada.com/travel/story.html ... 3705fa6bba


"It has already signed agreements with China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Eva Air."
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