Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the JAL photo gallery.

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo-Haneda) is proposing to cut its pension payments by 40 percent in order to survive. However there is much opposition to the plan.

 

News link:

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCNT30017420091123?rpc=44

Copyright Photo: Harri Koskinen.

Finnair Technical Services (Helsinki) has completed the installation of Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets to the first Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) Boeing 757-300. 757-330 D-ABOE (msn 29012) is pictured being towed today (November 22) to engine run-up area at Helsinki.

The scheduled departure will be tomorrow afternoon. Finnair Technical Services will install the winglets on all 13 Condor Boeing 757-330s. A second aircraft arrived at HEL on Friday evening (November 20) and a third will arrive tomorrow (November 23).

 

Copyright Photo: Axel J. Ex-Aircomet Airbus A340-311 YA-TTB (msn 015) at Frankfurt is the first A340 registered in Afghanistan. The wide-body airliner still retains the Aircomet livery.

Safi Airways (Kabul) is adding its first Airbus A340-300 to replace its Boeing 767-200.

 

 

Copyright Photo: Klaus Ecker. Boeing 737-3K9 LN-KKW (msn 24213) is seen on the tarmac at Munich. The inscription on the fuselage reads "Every child deserves a childhood".

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.no) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) is again supporting the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), this time with this logojet. UNICEF was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and health care to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II.

 

 

Copyright Photo: Klaus Ecker. D-BDTM is pictured fully-painted at Munich.

Nouvelle Air Affairs Gabon (Libreville) is getting ready to acquire this Bombardier DHC-8-314 registered D-BDTM (msn 545) from Augsburg Airways.

 

British Airways (London) may be forced to move its Concorde 102 G-BOAB (msn 208) away from London’s Heathrow Airport due to the lack of available space according to this article.

News link:

business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/

article6926923.ece

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) stated the SkyTeam Alliance could offer more for JAL-Japan Airlines according to this published report.

News link:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Delta-says-SkyTeam-could-rb-914827086.html?x=0&.v=1

News link:

www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/mumbai/Plane-changes-altitude-almost-hits-another/Article1-478615.aspx

News link including a video:

Air France Airbus A380-861 F-WWSB (F-HPJA) (msn 033) XFW, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air France (Paris) brought the new Airbus A380 to New York (JFK) yesterday (November 20, 2009). Operating as flight AF 380 it carried 380 winning bidders on the auction flight. The proceeds will go to humanitarian projects. Regular CDG-JFK service commences on November 23.

Here is the official AF press release:

This morning (November 20), at 11:39 am, Air France’s A380 took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, operating flight AF 380, the first transatlantic flight between Europe and the United States by A380. Among the passengers were the 380 winning bidders for seats on the inaugural Paris-New York – Paris flights. This auction raised proceeds of 300,000 euros which will finance five different humanitarian projects by charities chosen by the Air France Foundation.

The aircraft, registration F-GHJA, landed at New York-Kennedy airport at 1:20 local time, 7:20 Paris time.

The proceeds of this auction of seats on the two inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights finally reached 300,000 euros, more than expected. The amount will thus finance 5 humanitarian projects for children in need instead of the three initially planned.

The benefits of the auction for the inaugural Paris-New York-Paris flights will go to several projects in aid of humanitarian associations for children in need all over the world. The Air France Foundation supports these projects.

Starting on Monday November 23, the A380 will operate daily scheduled flights:

• AF 006 Paris-New York leaving at 1:30, arriving at 3:45 pm;
• and AF 007 New York-Paris leaving at 7:15 pm, arriving at 8:35 the following day.

From Paris, Air France will operate the A380 on its Johannesburg route as from February 3, 2010 and will therefore be the first airline to operate the A380 to Africa.

www.euronews.net/2009/11/21/first-transatlantic-flight-for-superjumbo-jet/

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss.

NYC Aviation (Phil Derner) was also there to record the event:

http://nycaviation.com/2009/11/20/air-france-a380-completes-first-flight/

 

Copyright Photo: Diego Ruiz de Vargas. CP-2603 arrives at MAD in a new yellow version of the distinctive "Super Torismo" color scheme.

AeroSur (Bolivia) (Santa Cruz) added its first Boeing 747-400 on November 4, 2009 when ex-Virgin Atlantic Airways 747-443 G-VROM (msn 32339) was acquired as CP-2603. The type is now flying the Madrid route.

 

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) yesterday (November 21) broke ground on its new second final assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner located at Charleston International Airport (CHS) located in North Charleston, SC.

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Boeing-Breaks-Ground-on-prnews-4227616984.html?x=0&.v=1

CHS airport history:

www.chs-airport.com/aphist.htm

CHS Aerial View:

www.mapquest.com/maps/CHS#a/maps/l:Charleston+International+Airport

+(CHS):5500+International+Blvd+&35;+101:Charleston:SC:29418-6919:US:32.88371:-80.03609:address::1/m:hyb:10:32.883681:-80.036045:0:::::1:1:1::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e

Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation-CAA’s (Kinshasa) McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) 9Q-CAB (msn 49702) overran the runway at Goma yesterday (November 19) after arriving from Kinshasa. The airliner crashed into a lava field. At least 20 people were injured in the accident.

News link:

ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091119/world/af_congo_plane_in_lava

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Arik Air photo library.

Arik Air (Arik Wings of Nigeria) (Lagos) will launch a new route on November 26 connecting London’s Heathrow Airport with Abuja. The new route will be operated five times a week with Boeing 737-800s.

 

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Ryanair photo gallery.

Ryanair (Dublin) is again demanding lower prices from Boeing or it will go elsewhere (Airbus?).

 

News link:

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCNLJ11073520091119?rpc=44

Copyright Photo: Graham Weatherby. Boeing 737-3U3 ZK-FRE (msn 28742) climbs away from Christchurch in full Webjet colors on a test flight. It will become PR-WJQ.

Webjet Linhas Aereas (Rio de Janeiro) is getting ready to add ex-Air New Zealand.Freedom Air Boeing 737-3U3 ZK-FRE (msn 28742).

Surinam Airways Boeing 747-306 PZ-TCM (msn 23508) AMS, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Surinam Airways (Paramaribo) will retire its only Boeing 747-300 on November 26. Ex-KLM 747-306 PZ-TCM (msn 23508) will not be replaced right away by new acquisition and ex-Air France Airbus A340-311 F-GLZG (msn 049). F-GLZG still needs approval for operations in Surinam.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing.

Please click on photo or link below for full view, information, prints for sale and other photos:

http://airlinersgallery.com/2/1c46060/#/gallery/surinam-airways/surinam-airways-747-300-pz-tcm-nc-apr-ams-m0-lr-902825/

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Air Canada photo gallery.

Air Canada (Montreal) has begun customer trials of its new on-board Gogo Internet system for its Montreal-Los Angeles and Toronto-Los Angeles flights.

 

News link:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Air-Canada-begins-customer-prnews-4020637013.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo. N781VA sits on the ramp at Miami.

Vision Airlines (North Las Vegas) has added Aviation Partners Blended Winglets to its first Boeing 737-800. Ex-Sterling 737-8Q8 N781VA (msn 28214, ex OY-SEB) was leased on March 25, 2009. It is now based at Miami for the Cuban charter program.

 

 

Copyright Photo: Wade DeNero. Virgin America's Airbus A319-112 N524VA (msn 3204), named "Dark Horse", climbs away from runway 9L at FLL.

Virgin America (San Francisco) on November 18 added nonstop service from both San Francisco and Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

 

Press release:

multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/virginamerica/41211/

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the United Airlines photo gallery.

United Airlines (Chicago) has not yet made a decision. However the company is now considering both the Boeing 787 and the A350 XWB as a replacement aircraft.

 

News link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-united-planeorder-nov19-,0,867224.story

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (Washington) late yesterday fixed its computer problems which caused major delay problems, especially at the world’s largest hub at Atlanta.

News link:

www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/11/19/travel.glitch/?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=

feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+(RSS%3A+Top+Stories)

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Continental Airlines photo gallery.

Continental Airlines (Houston) announced it will start Newark-Munich daily service with Boeing 767-200 ER equipment starting on March 27, 2010.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Continental-Airlines-prnews-3861191615.html?x=0&.v=1

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) is targeting December 22 as the date of the 787 Dreamliner first flight according to WSJ.

News link:

www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200911190219dowjonesdjonline000323&title=boeing-787-likely-to-make-first-flight-around-dec-22–source

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the American Eagle photo gallery.

American Eagle Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) yesterday (November 19) launched five new destinations from the Miami hub.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Eagle-Airlines-prnews-3496815033.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter. Airbus A320-232 ZK-OJA (msn 2085) begins to rotate at AKL minus the Pacific Wave fuselage stripes.

Air New Zealand (Auckland) has finished removing the “Pacific Wave” fuselage stripes from its Airbus A320s, simplifying the 1996 livery.

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Philippines photo gallery.

Philippines (Philippine Airlines) (Manila) took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300 ER yesterday (November 18), leased from GECAS.

Press release:

boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=945

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Midex Airlines photo gallery.

Midex Airlines (Abu Dhabi) has created a $500 million fund to use to purchase equity stakes in struggling companies.

 

News link:

www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NDE1MTY3OA==

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Airberlin (Air-Berlin) photo gallery.

Airberlin (Berlin) doubled its third quarter net profit to $141.4 million compared with the same quarter a year ago.

 

News link:

uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20091117/tbs-air-berlin-reports-doubled-profits-5268574_1.html

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Air France photo gallery.

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines photo gallery.

Air France (Paris) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) reported a net loss of $220 million in the first half of the fiscal year.

News link:

uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20091118/tbs-europe-s-top-airline-air-france-klm-5268574_1.html

 

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Virgin Atlantic Airways photo gallery.

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) has formally responded to the European Commission about the proposed British Airways/American Airlines relationship, which Virgin Atlantic terms a “merger”.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Virgin-Atlantic-Responds-to-prnews-4196557340.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Air Jamaica photo gallery.

Air Jamaica (Kingston) is being courted by Spirit Airlines as a possible takeover target. However the group Mayday Air Jamaica opposes the takeover and is threatening to picket Air Jamaica at Miami on December 15.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Mayday-Air-Jamaica-Takes-prnews-2630406290.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Air Canada photo gallery.

Air Canada (Montreal) will launch nonstop Calgary-Tokyo (Narita) flights (three times weekly) starting on March 27, 2010.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Air-Canada-to-launch-cnw-3350225399.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the Virgin America photo gallery.

Virgin America (San Francisco) is bringing in new U.S. investors that will shift its ownership factor by 10 percent.

 

News link:

www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aEmUxiV46474

 

N395AN, originally uploaded by Peter Spence.

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has painted and introduced the first Boeing 767-300 painted in the Oneworld Alliance color scheme.

Copyright Photo: Peter Spence. Boeing 767-323 ER N395AN (msn 29432) taxies with the new look at Los Angeles.

N946AT, originally uploaded by bwione.

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) has introduced seat back advertising to generate additional revenue.

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/AirTran-Airways-Unveils-Seat-prnews-1561426338.html?x=0&.v=1

Copyright Photo: bwione.

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the ABX Air photo gallery.

ABX Air (Wilmington, OH) pilots have ratified the new contract.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/ABX-Air-Pilots-Ratify-bw-1062131570.html?x=0&.v=1

 

Copyright Photo: Wade DeNero.

ConViasa (Caracas) recently added two Bombardier CRJ700s (CL-600-2C10s). N230CP (msn 10275) arrived on July 30, 2009 and N259CP (msn 10274) arrived on August 1, 2009. Both were recently seen at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

 

 

Photo: Boeing. Boeing 747-8R7F N747EX (msn 35808) is rolled out of the paint shop late on November 17, 2009 in the new colors.

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) last night (November 17) rolled out the first Boeing 747-800 dressed in a new livery featuring a large “8″ on the tail and “747-8″ on the lower fuselage. The first delivery customer is Cargolux. The new type will make its first flight in early 2010.

 

Press release:

boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=942

 

Please click on AG icon for a direct link to the QANTAS Airways photo gallery.

QANTAS Airways’ (Sydney) flight QF 72 operated by an Airbus A330-300 from Singapore to Brisbane quickly plunged over Western Australia on October 20. Investigators still are mystified as to what caused this sudden drop and are now looking at neutrons from cosmic radiation as a possible cause.

 

News link:

news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/neutron-may-have-caused-qantas-fall-20091118-ilcl.html

VietJet Air (Hanoi), Vietnam’s first private airline, has delayed its start-up launch date once again from December 2009 to May 2010. The new airline is planning to launch domestic flights with two Airbus A320s.

News link:

vietnewsonline.vn/News/Business/Companies-Finance/9469/Private-airline-looks-to-delay-launch-again.htm

 

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the JAL photo gallery.

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo-Haneda) is facing a tough decision that will affect its future. Delta is reportedly now offering JAL to cover some, if not most, of the costs of switching from OneWorld to the SkyTeam Alliance as part of its $1 billion pledge. American meanwhile believes its bid is worth the most to JAL. On November 13, JAL CEO Mr. Nishimatsu told the media “it is natural to continue the partnership with American”. Which way will JAL turn?

 

Meanwhile the value of JAL’s stock has slid to a new all-time low.

News link:

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCNT19964020091118?rpc=44

Jetlite (Delhi) aircraft hit a bird on takeoff at Kolkata yesterday (November 17) and it safely returned to the airport.

News link:

www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/kolkata/Jet-Lite-plane-makes-emergency-landing-all-passengers-safe/Article1-477595.aspx

Senegal Airlines (Dakar) is planning to launch scheduled operations in early 2010 as the replacement for defunct flag carrier Air Senegal International.

At the Dubai Air Show the new airline has signed a Letter of Intent for four Airbus A320s and two A330s.

News link:

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCNLI54048920091118?rpc=44

 

 

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo. Ex-Chautauqua Airlines Embraer ERJ 135LR N839RP (msn 145724) passed through Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood on delivery in full SEAA colors.

SEAA-Serviços Executivos Aéreos de Angola (Luanda) has acquired two Embraer ERJ 135s and one ERJ 145 pre-owned regional jets from ECC Leasing Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Embraer. The African start-up scheduled carrier intends to initially operate the aircraft on domestic routes in Angola.

 

 

Press release:

www.przoom.com/news/58834/

Bellview Airlines Boeing 767-3P6 ER 5N-BVA (msn 24496) SNN, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Bellview Airlines (Lagos) will restore the Lagos-London (Heathrow) route with this newly-acquired (first) Boeing 767-300.

Please click on photo or link below for full view, information, prints for sale and other photos:

http://airlinersgallery.com/2/262a799/#/gallery/bellview-airlines/bellview-767-300-5n-bva-09-grd-snn-tv-lr-904189/

BoraJet (Istanbul) is a new Turkish airline that will soon receive three 66-seat ATR 72-500s (the first is due in mid December). The company intends to operate to smaller airports in the country starting in 2010.

News link:

www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=borajet-prepares-to-take-off-2009-11-17

British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-BNLO (msn 24057) (Face to Face) SFO, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

British Airways (London) is promoting the importance of “face to face” meetings rather than electronic communications. It recently added “Face to Face” sub-titles to its Boeing 747-436 G-BNLO (msn 24057).

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/British-Airways-FacetoFace-prnews-1188231913.html?x=0&.v=1

Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin.

Please click on photo or link below for full view, information, prints for sale and other photos:

http://airlinersgallery.com/2/2516a35/#/gallery/british-airways/british-airways-747-400-g-bnlo-97-union-flag-tko-sfo-db-lr-903921/

Locair (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) today (November 18) launches scheduled Swearingen (Fairchild) Metro flights to the Bahamas from Florida. The first route links FLL with Stella Maris on Long Island. The company started operations on December 27, 2008 as Air Azul between Nashville and Somerset, KY (however it ended on March 20, 2009). The company has changed its operating name to Locair to avoid any confusion with jetBlue Airways.

Press release:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cleared-for-Takeoff-Locair-prnews-2404301105.html?x=0&.v=1

Photo link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwi2muc/4040078333/

 

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the JetBlue Airways photo gallery.

JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) yesterday (November 17) inaugurated the first-ever San Francisco-Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood nonstop flights.

 

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/JetBlue-Begins-the-First-prnews-4051743180.html?x=0&.v=1

Photo: Horizon Air. DHC-8-402 N439QX (msn 4246) is pictured at Portland (PDX) after the special markings were added to the green fuselage.

Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma) has introduced the first (of two) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) painted in a special green “Q400 comfortably greener” color scheme to extoll the environmental friendliness of the turboprop (like Flybe).

Press release:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Horizon-Air-Unveils-bw-368015454.html?x=0&.v=1