Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Posted (8 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1702 times:
Due to an increase in demand, Syrian Arab Airline have been increasing flights to Cairo since July. Flights have increased from 6x weekly to 10 weekly, but will become 12x weekly in October with a mix of A320s, B727s and the odd 747SPs. Flights will operate double daily (except Mondays).
Jran225 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 308 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (8 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1670 times:
Hey Horus,
I loved spotting at CAI this summer, although I was too afraid to pull out my camera. Guys carrying AK-47s make me a bit nervous! Anyway, do you know whether Syrian is going to keep this up until next summer? I would really love to see some more SPs at CAI! Next year I might even try to take some photos...after I get some more life insurance that is!!!
Regards,
-Omar S.
Never tell your girlfriend about all the 'action' you're getting at the airport - only photogs understand that.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 2, posted (8 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1613 times:
Izzayak Omar!
Great to hear you had a great time in Egypt. Waiting for an email from you telling me about the highlights. My brother came back from CAI a few days ago and said that people were taking pictures from the new T1 resturants. They give you a fantastic view over the entire apron. But I can understand your hesitation....life insurance...lol
As for Syrian Air, they'll continue to operate 12x weekly flights till next summer. I hope they add 2 extra flights it make it a double daily service. For some reason they have no flights Mondays, which is abit odd.....come to think about it, their scheduling is a complete mess (no consistancy whatsoever).
Vimanav From India, joined Jul 2003, 1470 posts, RR: 20 Reply 3, posted (8 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1599 times:
From what I've observed, practically all Gulf / M.E. carriers tend to massively increase capacity to CAI during this period. KU on somedays has even operated 6 flights I believe. Come Winter and they are looking at increasing one more frequency on the regular schedule.
Horus...
What will be the best time to visit SSH? And where to stay (4-5 star accommodation)? Is the Ramadan period good or will there be restrictions on during the period?
Your expert advise is welcome.
rgds//Vimanav
Sarfaroshi kii tamannaa ab hamaare dil mein hai, Dekhnaa hai zor kitnaa baazu-e-qaatil mein hai
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 4, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1539 times:
From what I've observed, practically all Gulf / M.E. carriers tend to massively increase capacity to CAI during this period. KU on somedays has even operated 6 flights I believe
Vimanav, this increase by RB is not an increase to cope with the extra demand at the end of the summer, but a permanent increase. Indeed KU add many extra flights to cope with the huge increase, with upto 7 flights a day (B777/A340/A300) during the end of August/start of September. They will increase flights to CAI this winter by 2 extra weekly flights.
What will be the best time to visit SSH? And where to stay (4-5 star accommodation)? Is the Ramadan period good or will there be restrictions on during the period?
About the best time to visit Sharm...even though it is a year round destination, the peak period is from September-May, when the weather is perfect (but prices are higher). About accommodation, I would advice you stay in at least a 4 star hotel (they have no hotels less than 3 stars), so you can get the most out of your experience. If you go to one of the major hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriot, Hilton then I can almost guarantee that your stay will be like heaven. The best place to stay is Na'ama Bay which is the main area of the resort where the main hotels, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, clubs and activities are.
As for visiting during Ramadan (this year it should be from mid October to mid-November), you should have no problems/restrictions in Sharm El Sheikh. The reason being is because Sharm is a tourist resort so you don't have many people actually residing there (The Sharm El Sheikh village itself is around 10km away). So this means you'll find all shops/resturants/cafes open as usual and you'll be able to eat/drink as normal. If you decide to visit any cities like Cairo, Alexandria or Luxor, you're still allowed to eat in public, but out of respect for those fasting one is advised to be as discreet as possible, though you have to remember some shops will be closed. But as Egypt is a huge tourist hotspot don't worry too much (besides considering that 10% of the population is Christian, you'll find many Egyptians not fasting and eating normally).
Anyway I hope this helps and please do not hesitate to ask any questions. You are also more than welcome to email me.
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1524 times:
Hey Vimanav, Horus
Hope y'all are fine.
If you go to one of the major hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriot, Hilton then I can almost guarantee that your stay will be like heaven
Couldn't resist but to add my favourite at SSH - The Four Seasons, Sharm. An absolute heaven on earth! And good prices too. They have great promotions online for certain parts of the year, should your trip be a flexi one.
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (8 years 8 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
Horus, yeah I have. Wonderful town and great seafood! Was there summer of 03 and what was I up to there? Beach cocktails - daytime; and Bar cocktails - nighttime
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (8 years 8 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 1414 times:
Sleak76, I was just looking at the KU's flights to SSH and they seemed to have dropped capacity quite a bit for the winter, which is the traditional peak period for the Red Sea (and Egypt as a whole). During the May-August period, they had 4x weekly flights, which has dropped to only 2. Do you know why this has happened?
Their 2x weekly flights currently route KWI-SSH-LXR-KWI with A310s.
Crugs1 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 8 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1400 times:
Have to agree with Sleak76 about the Four Seasons- it
is awesome! Also, it's positioned close to the runway so you
can often see departing/arriving aircraft.
Got a great deal staying there back in May.
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1355 times:
Horus,
During the May-August period, they had 4x weekly flights, which has dropped to only 2. Do you know why this has happened?
Though KU is going through a restructuring program, as BA noted, this isn't the case with SSH flight reductions.
The demand for SSH for KWI pax peaks in Summer when ppl flee the heat here. In winter, the tables turn the other way round and Europeans flock to SSH to escape the winters of the North.
So it's basically KU cutting back on flights for winter due to lower demand ex-KWI, and reinstates them again the following summer.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1325 times:
Thanks for the reply Sleak76. I suppose that makes sence but last winter KU had 2 direct (A320) flights and 1 one-stop A310 flight to SSH, and that was during/just after the Iraq War. So to have flights on the route cutback to 2 'triangle' flights is quite a significant drop. Also for a passenger in SSH to route via LXR to get back home (KWI) would add a few hours onto the journey.
Would it not make more sence to operate flights to LXR and SSH seperately but on A320s?
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1298 times:
Horus,
Would it not make more sence to operate flights to LXR and SSH seperately but on A320s?
It Would. However, utilization of aircraft on other more profitable routes would make the 320 less 'available' to do two seperate Egypt routes. Hence devoting one 320 aircraft to do two cities in Egypt, rather than have two aircraft do those two cities seperately.
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1239 times:
My mistake. The double weekly route SSH-LXR route is the 310 and continues to be the 310 throughout the winter schedule.
Though KWI-LXR-KWI (the 3rd flight) is currently (in October) operating with an A320, operating weekly on Mondays. Reverts back to 310 for the Winter schedule.
PS.. heard the 744 was supposed to be doing the KU541/542 today (KWI/CAI).
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 16, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1232 times:
Yes indeed the 3rd flight to LXR will be with A320 (not A310-my fault).
Anyway I read in Al-Ahram newspaper the other day that MS finally got the larger share of the KWI-Egypt market. Apparently for the last few years KU had around 63% of the market, but since MS increased services/capacity on the route in March this year, they have been able to capture 58% of the market (KU have the remaining 42%). Unfortunately the report did not provide any specific numbers or the period which was taken into account.
And it's nice to see KU still bringing their 744 to CAI. They seem to use every aircraft type in their fleet with the exception of the A310s.
Deviating again, remember Shorouk Airline that was 51% owned by MS and 49% by KU. They were a charter airline based in CAI, and during their peak period they had 4 A320s and 1 B752. Anyway both MS and KU dissolved the airline 2 years ago, due ro mounting losses after 9/11. Anyway when they folded they had 4 A320s and apparentely the fleet was to be split between MS and KU, but that never happened. Do you know which airline(s) operates the aircraft?
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1188 times:
Hiya Horus
True - Neither carrier got to keep any of the fleet.
As far as the Net says, the fate of the aircraft were as follows:
SU-RAA in storage
SU-RAB stored with Debis Aircraft Leasing (http://www.debisair.nl)
SU-RAC flying for Indian Airlines as VT-EYI
SU-RAD stored with Airbus Industrie
Finally, the 757, as the picture above says, is with the Far Eastern Air Transport since 94, and is still flying for that carrier.
Sleak76 From Kuwait, joined Nov 2000, 345 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1144 times:
Horus
SU-RAA is most probably stored somewhere in Egypt.
Definately not in Kuwait though, as:
1) Haven't seen it anywhere around the airfield and,
2) lack of space at KWI. Seeing KU wanted to store their two 742s till they found a buyer, KWI hasnt allowed them to store these two 742s at the airport citing lack of spcae. Eventually, KU stored them at RUH's massive airfield.
With regards to when those 4 A320s were manufactured: couldnt find that info easily. What I have is 'first flight' and i'll assume the time frame between manufacturing date and first flight won't be much anyway.
SU-RAA (first took to the skies in) April 1992
SU-RAB April 1992
SU-RAC April 1994
SU-RAD June 1992
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 20, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1108 times:
Thanks for the info Sleak, it's much appreciated.
Moving back to my previous point about KU in CAI (reply 16), why does the airline use all their fleet types (except A310s) to CAI on the KWI-CAI-KWI route?
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