Long-haul budget carrier Oasis Hong Kong Airlines in the next five years is looking to grow its fleet with more Boeing 747s, and introduce Boeing 777 aircraft to its operation.
Oasis currently owns and operates five 747-400s, three of which were recently purchased from Japan’s All Nippon Airways. The other two 747s are ex-Singapore Airlines aircraft.
It serves London Gatwick and Vancouver from its Hong Kong base.
Senior VP for North America Fritz Blayney tells Air Transport Intelligence (ATI), flightglobal.com's sister premium title, that Oasis will expand its fleet to a total of about 20 aircraft, a mixture of 747-400s and 777s.
The company’s preference is to acquire used aircraft says Blayney. He notes, however, that he cannot predict if the carrier will place an order for new widebodies.
The carrier is requesting permission from the DOT to serve more destinations in the USA even though its previously announced plans to launch flights to Chicago and Oakland, California have not yet come to fruition.
Plans for serving the USA were postponed to focus on Canada because “Canada moved on this very quickly”, says Blayney. “[We] made the decision to start service to Vancouver prior to the USA. Canada was tired of the duopoly with Cathay Pacific Airways and Air Canada.”
Blayney says service to Oakland is now set to launch in December, after the carrier postponed a June launch.
The airline is also eyeing east coast destinations including Florida, New York and Washington DC.
It will likely fly to Chicago and New York before Washington DC and Florida, but no start dates have been set, says Blayney.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
