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United Airlines is issued a single operating certificate, goodbye Continental Airlines
November 30, 2011 — 3 Comments
United Airlines Boeing 737-824 WL N76516 (msn 37096) LAX (Brandon Farris) “Eco-Skies”, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (Chicago) announced today (November 30) that it received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for a single operating certificate (SOC), marking another significant achievement in the integration of United Airlines (Chicago) and Continental Airlines (Houston).
This regulatory milestone, while significant from an operational policies and procedures perspective, does not change how customers interact with the airline. Customers of United and Continental will continue to shop for flights, obtain seat assignments and check flight status on each carrier’s respective website until the company migrates to a single passenger service system in the first quarter of 2012. At that point, from a customer’s perspective, the two carriers will function as one airline.
The Continental Airlines website is still being maintained although all flights are now operated as United Airlines.
The two carriers went through a rigorous 18-month process of aligning operating policies and procedures to obtain a single operating certificate from the FAA. A team of more than 500 employees from both carriers worked together to evaluate closely each pre-integration program, process and operating specification from both airlines to determine the best choice for the new United. The team streamlined more than 440 operational manuals, programs and procedures down to approximately 260 manuals for the new United – a process that involved roughly 2,000 changes.
Effective today, air traffic control communications will refer to all United and Continental flights as “United.” United and Continental announced their merger in May 2010 and closed the transaction on October 1, 2010.
From this point onwards, technically “Continental Airlines” is no longer an airline. Ironically, as mentioned previously, the Continental Part 121 Air Operating Certificate (AOC) is the surviving AOC for the new United Airlines. The old United AOC was officially retired today. The CO AOC will live on (as well as the 1991 color scheme) as the operating AOC of the new United Airlines.
Copyright Photo: Brandon Farris. Please click on the photo for additional information on this special color scheme.
Continental Slide Show: CLICK HERE
United Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Czech Airlines celebrates the jet era with this 1957 retrojet
November 30, 2011
Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie (CSA-Czech Airlines) Boeing 737-55S OK-XGB (msn 26540) ARN (Stefan Sjogren) (1957 retrojet), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has introduced this 1957 Soviet-era retrojet color scheme on this Boeing 737-500. In 1957 CSA introduced the Tupolev Tu-104A jetliner and was one of the first airlines in the world to operate a jet aircraft on scheduled airline service.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren. Please click on the photo for additional information.
CSA Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Lufthansa to fly to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow
November 30, 2011
Lufthansa Airbus A320-211 D-AIQM (msn 268) (soccer nose) LHR (Antony J. Best), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will add new service to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. The twice-daily flights from Frankfurt will supplement the airline’s existing services to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. The new route will be added on March 25, 2012 and will be operated with Airbus A320s.
In other news, Lufthansa is reportedly ending its Lufthansa Regional contract with Contact Air (Stuttgart) in October 2012. Contact Air currently operates six Fokker 100s for Lufthansa and a pair for Swiss International Air Lines.
Contact Air became the first partner airline in the Team Lufthansa regional group in April 1996. On October 16, 2003 Contact Air introduced the Lufthansa Regional brand and began operating as Lufthansa Regional in early 2004.
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best.
Lufthansa Slide Show: CLICK HERE
British Airways to introduce the Boeing 777-300 ER on the Los Angeles route
November 30, 2011
British Airways Boeing 777-36N ER G-STBB (msn 38286) LHR (Wingnut), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
British Airways (London) will introduce the new Boeing 777-300 ER on the London (Heathrow)-Los Angeles route on March 25, 2012 according to Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Wingnut.
British Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Vieques Air Link adds two additional Britten-Norman Islanders
November 30, 2011
Vieques Air Link-VAL (San Juan) has added two additional Britten-Norman Islanders (N907VL and N908VL) for its expanding network. The small airline from Vieques to Culebra, José Aponte de la Torre Airport (JAT) (the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base), and San Juan (Isla Grande and Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport-SJU).
Vieques (Isla de Vieques) is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island group sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Like the rest of Puerto Rico, a United States Commonwealth, Vieques retains strong influences from 400 years of Spanish ownership.
Vieques lies about 8 miles (13 km) east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures about 21 miles (34 km) long by 4 miles (6 km) wide. Its two main towns are Isabel Segunda (sometimes written “Isabel II”), the administrative center on the northern side of the island, and Esperanza on the southern side. At peak, the population of Vieques is around 10,000.
The island’s name is a Spanish spelling of a Native American word said to mean “small island”. It also has the nickname “Isla Nena”, usually translated from the Spanish as “Little Girl Island”, alluding to its perception as Puerto Rico’s little sister. During the colonial period, the British name was “Crab Island”.
Vieques is best known internationally as the site of a series of protests against the United States Navy’s use of the island as a bombing range and testing ground, which led to the Navy’s departure in 2003. Today the former Navy land is a national wildlife refuge, with numerous beaches that still retain the names given by the Navy, including Red Beach, Blue Beach, Green Beach and others. The beaches are commonly listed among the top beaches in the Caribbean for their azure-colored waters and white sands.
VAL started operations in 1965 when owner Osvaldo “Val” Gonzalez-Duriex piloted a flight with three passengers from Vieques to Humacao. Today it operates the Islander, Trislander and the Cessna Grand Caravan.
Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda. BN-2B-26 N908VL (msn 2187) is pictured at San Juan (SJU).
Interisland Airways of Hawaii files for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
November 30, 2011
Interisland Airways (Hawaii) (Honolulu) (Trans Executive Airlines of Hawaii, Inc. dba Transair dba) has filed with the Department of Transport (DOT) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in order to operate interstate air transportation in Hawaii. The carrier is currently a charter and sightseeing airline operating seven Shorts SD3-60s.
Photo: Interisland Airways.
In the wake of the AMR bankruptcy, Spirit announces four new routes from Dallas/Fort Worth
November 30, 2011
Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-132 N504NK (msn 2473) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) on the same day AMR Corporation, the parent of American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization, announced four new routes from AMR’s home airport of Dallas/Fort Worth.
Starting on February 9, 2012, Spirit will offer daily nonstop service from DFW to New York (LaGuardia) and Atlanta. Daily nonstop service from DFW to Orlando and Boston will begin on March 22, 2012.
Spirit is offering $11 introductory fares on a limited number of seats (just what a bankrupt carrier needs for competition!).
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for additional information.
Spirit Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Route Map:
The AMR bankruptcy clouds the potential American Boeing 737 orders
November 30, 2011
American Airlines Boeing 737-823 WL N814NN (msn 29562) LAX (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AMR Corporation’s (Dallas/Fort Worth) Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization filing yesterday is clouding American Airlines’ large aircraft orders with both Airbus and especially Boeing which is still not firm.
The bankruptcy court can approve or reject any contracts that involve spending AMR’s money during the up to 18-month Chapter 11 reorganization period.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
In other news, AMR and American Airlines announced today Judge Sean H. Lane of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York yesterday granted approval of a series of first day motions filed by the Company to help facilitate American’s and American Eagle’s continued normal business operations throughout the reorganization process.
The Company also reported that, as expected, American and American Eagle continued normal operations yesterday, with flights, reservations, baggage handling, customer service and other functions operating as usual.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional information.
American Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Norwegian to add the Copenhagen-Milan route
November 29, 2011
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) Boeing 737-8JP WL LN-NOW (msn 37817) (Oda Krohg) LGW (Terry Wade), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) will add the Copenhagen-Milan (Malpensa) route on June 29, 2012 according to Airline Route. The new route will be operated twice a week with Boeing 737-800s.
Copyright Photo: Terry Wade.
Norwegian Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Avianca Brazil to expand its fleet to 26 aircraft, likely to add the 15 LAN A318s
November 29, 2011
Avianca (Brazil) (OceanAir Linhas Aereas) Airbus A318-121 PR-AVH (msn 3001) GRU (Marcelo F. De Biasi) (1st A318), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Avianca Brazil (OceanAir Linhas Aereas dba) (Sao Paulo) is expanding its fleet to 26 aircraft from 17 by the end of this year according to this report by CAPA.
The fast-growing airline is also the likely buyer of the 15 former Airbus A318s being remarketed by Airbus. LAN Airlines (Santiago) is replacing its A318 fleet with larger A320s.
Avianca Brazil is phasing out its older Fokker 100s. The company also added its first Airbus A320 this month.
Avianca Brazil is the operating name of Oceanair Linhas Aéreas. Even though the legal name of the airline remains OceanAir, Avianca (Colombia) authorized OceanAir to use its name as a brand name. Avianca (Colombia) and Avianca (Brazil) remain separate legal entities although they are closely linked and belong to the same holding group.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi.
Avianca Brazil Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Route Map:
Mesa sells off the Mokulele Hawaiian operation
November 29, 2011
Mesa Air Group (Phoenix) has sold its Mokulele Flight Services, Inc. (Mokulele Airlines) (Honolulu) inter-island Hawaiian turboprop service operating four, nine seat, Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft to Transpac Aviation, Inc. (Scottsdale).
Mesa will continue to operate its jet inter-island service as go! Mokulele with Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets. Under the terms of the sale Transpac Aviation, operating as Mokulele Flight Services, Inc, will also continue to offer feeder service under the go! Mokulele brand and serve it’s current routes as a code-share partner with Mesa.
Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura. Bombardier CRJ200 N77278 (msn 7278) of Mesa Airlines taxies at the Honolulu base under the go! Mokulele brand. Mesa operates the main routes in Hawaii while Mokulele Airlines operates the smaller feeder routes also under the go! Mokulele brand.
Route Map:
AMR and American Airlines file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization
November 29, 2011 — 1 Comment
American Airlines Boeing 767-323 N395AN (msn 29432) (Oneworld) MIA (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AMR Corporation (Dallas/Fort Worth), the parent company of American Airlines, Inc. (Dallas/Fort Worth) and AMR Eagle Holding Corporation (American Eagle Airlines) (Dallas/Fort Worth) today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization.
The corporation issued the following statement:
“In order to achieve a cost and debt structure that is industry competitive and thereby assure its long-term viability and ability to continue delivering a world-class travel experience for its customers, the Company and certain of its U.S.-based subsidiaries (including American and American Eagle), today filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
AMR’s Board of Directors determined that a Chapter 11 reorganization is in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders. Just as with the Company’s major airline competitors in recent years, the Chapter 11 process enables American Airlines and American Eagle to continue conducting normal business operations while they restructure their debt, costs and other obligations.
American Airlines and American Eagle are operating normal flight schedules today, and their reservations, customer service, AAdvantage® program, Admirals Clubs and all other operations are conducting business as usual. Likewise, throughout the Chapter 11 process, American and American Eagle expect to continue to:
1. Provide safe and reliable service;
2. Fly normal schedules;
3. Honor tickets and reservations, and make exchanges and refunds as usual;
4. Fully maintain AAdvantage frequent flyer and other customer service programs, and ensure all AAdvantage miles and elites status earned by members remain secure and intact;
5. Provide Admirals Club access and similar amenities to members and eligible customers;
6. Remain an integral member of the oneworld® alliance, of which American is a founding member, and continue its codeshare partnerships;
7. Provide employee wages, healthcare coverage, vacation, and other benefits, without interruption; and
8. Pay suppliers for goods and services received during the reorganization process.
The Company has approximately $4.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments. This cash, as well as cash generated from operations, is anticipated to be more than sufficient to assure that its vendors, suppliers and other business partners will be paid timely and in full for goods and services provided during the Chapter 11 process in accordance with customary terms. Because of the Company’s current cash position, the need for debtor-in-possession financing is neither considered necessary nor anticipated.”
In addition, the Board of Directors of AMR Corporation, the parent of American Airlines, Inc., has named Thomas W. Horton chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Company, succeeding Gerard Arpey , who yesterday informed the Board of his decision to retire. Horton will also succeed Arpey as chairman and chief executive officer of American. Horton will continue to serve as President of AMR and American.
The filing is not a surprise to many given the corporation’s continued losses. Most of AA’s competitors domestically have already gone through a Chapter 11 reorganization process and many will see this as a mechanism to lower AA’s high costs including its labor agreements.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Will the Oneworld Alliance be weakened with this filing?
American Slide Show: CLICK HERE
QANTAS shelves any plans for an Asian premium airline
November 28, 2011
QANTAS Airways Boeing 747-438 VH-OJS (msn 25564) (Socceroos) LHR (Michael Stappen), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has shelved any plans for a new premium airline in Asia due to the current market conditions according to this article by Reuters.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael Stappen. Please click on the photo for additional information.
QANTAS Slide Show: CLICK HERE
UTair Aviation to launch a new route to Yerevan
November 28, 2011
UTair Aviation (Russia) Boeing 737-524 WL VP-BYK (msn 28918) DME (OSDU), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
UTair (Russia) (Khanty Mansiysk) will launch the Mineralyne Vody-Yerevan (Armenia) route on November 30 according to Airline Route. The new route will be operated three times a week with Boeing 737-500s.
Copyright Photo: OSDU.
UTair Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Lufthansa to launch two new routes from Dusseldorf on March 25
November 28, 2011
Lufthansa Boeing 737-530 D-ABIP (msn 24940) ZRH (Rolf Wallner), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will launch two new routes from Dusseldorf on March 25, 2012 according to Airline Route. A new Dusseldorf-Helsinki route will be operated with Boeing 737-500s and a Dusseldorf-Krakow route will be operated with CityLine Bombardier CRJ900s.
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner.
Lufthansa Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Air France to implement a two-part recovery plan
November 28, 2011
Air France Airbus A380-861 F-HPJE (msn 052) IAD (Brian McDonough) (new delivery, Dulles inaugural), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air France (Paris) is preparing to issue details in January or February 2012 concerning its recovery plan to return to profitability according to this report by Reuters. A second part will be issued in May or June 2012.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.
Air France Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Thomas Cook fights to regain the confidence of UK passengers
November 28, 2011
Thomas Cook Airlines (Thomas Cook.com) (UK) Airbus A330-243 G-TCXA (msn 795) YYZ (TMK Photography), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) is fighting to regain its package tour and charter market share after experiencing a 30 percent drop in bookings during the recent headlines concerning its financial problems and subsequent refinancing. Now that the carrier has lined up new financing it will have to win back the confidence of the UK market according to this report by Reuters.
Meanwhile rival TUI Travel in taking out advertisements in the UK pointing out the financial problems at Thomas Cook are not the same at its Thomson Airways subsidiary.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: TMK Photography.
Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) Slide Show: CLICK HERE
TAM reports a weak third quarter, goes into the red
November 28, 2011
TAM Brasil (TAM Linhas Aereas) Boeing 777-32W ER PT-MUD (msn 37667) PAE (Nick Dean), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
TAM Airlines (TAM Linhas Aereas) (Sao Paulo) reported a net loss of $380.2 million in the third quarter, down from a profit of $421.6 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Copyright Photo: Nick Dean.
TAM Slide Show: CLICK HERE
The final days of Continental Airlines
November 28, 2011 — 2 Comments
Continental Airlines Boeing 737-924 ER WL N75436 (msn 33531) FLL (1947 “Blue Skyway” Retrojet) (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Continental Airlines (Houston) will reach the end of a very colorful history since July 15, 1934 this week. On November 30, 2011 at 1200Z (GMT) (0600 CST) the Continental Airlines name will slip into aviation history. On this date, United Airlines and Continental will complete their merger when a single operating certificate (SOC) will become a reality. Ironically, due to operational reasons, the CO certificate (AOC) will survive operating as United Airlines. The United AOC is the certificate being retired. All flights will use the “United” call sign and UA/UAL codes after this date. The CO 1991 color scheme will also survive as the “new” livery of United Airlines.
The final COA flight to land is planned to be flight COA 86 Shanghai (Pudong) (PVG)-Newark (EWR) on November 30. A Tampa (TPA)-Newark (EWR) flight COA 1612 is due to depart at 0659 (EST) (1159Z) on November 30 and will be the final dispatched COA flight if not delayed.
CLICK HERE for the history of Continental Air Lines and Continental Airlines (company website)
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for information on the “Blue Skyway” retrojet.
Editorial Note: As a special salute to CO, we will be adding many new and historical photos this week to our growing AG library, specifically the CO Slide Show.
CLICK HERE for the Continental Slide Show (check back often this week).
Singapore Airlines Cargo adds Chongqing in China
November 27, 2011
Singapore Airlines Cargo Boeing 747-412F 9V-SFK (msn 28030) ANC (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Singapore Airlines Cargo (Singapore) added Chongqing in China on November 24 with twice-weekly cargo service.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.
Singapore Airlines Cargo Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Jet Airways to bail out subsidiary Jetlite
November 27, 2011
Jetlite Boeing 737-8Q8 WL VT-SJH (msn 30695) BOM (Ton Jochems), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Jet AIrways (Mumbai) intends to loan its Jetlite (Mumbai) subsidiary $9.6 million by the end of March 2012 to keep the loss-making airline flying according to this report by the WSJ.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Jetlite Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Jet Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Airberlin introduces a special “Santa Claus Tour 2011″ livery on D-ABMC
November 27, 2011
Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin) took delivery of newly-built Boeing 737-86J registered D-ABMC (msn 37752) on November 14. The carrier has decorated the new airliner in this special “Flying home for Christmas” and “Santa Claus Tour 2011″ livery for the holidays.
Here is the flying schedule for D-ABMC: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf.
Airberlin Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Is Caribbean Airlines making money?
November 27, 2011
Caribbean Airlines-Air Jamaica Boeing 737-83N WL 9Y-SLU (msn 28246) MIA (Arnd Wolf) (joint titles), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) is becoming a center point in a developing political storm in Trinidad and Tobago as to whether the expanded flag carrier is actually making a profit as declared.
According to this article by Stabroek News, the Ministry of Finance has requested Caribbean Airlines submit its latest financial statements following CAL chairman George Nicholas’ recent announcement that the airline made a TT$200 million profit.
Critics charge the statement does included losses due to fuel hedges which is included, would put the state airline into the red.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf.
Caribbean Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Airbus rolls out its new A320 Sharklets
November 26, 2011 — 2 Comments
Airbus (Toulouse) has rolled out at Toulouse this original Airbus A320-211 F-WWBA (msn 001) with this new Sharklets design. The manufacturer has also issued this new “Sharklets – hunting down fuel burn” livery complete with shark teeth at the nose!
Copyright Photo: Airbus.
Emirates to fly to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires
November 26, 2011
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-31H ER N5017V (A6-EGA) (msn 38984) PAE (Nick Dean), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Emirates Airline (Dubai) continues to rapidly expand. The United Arab Emirates-based carrier will begin flying the Dubai-Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires route starting on January 3, 2012.
Flight EK 247 will leave Dubai daily at 0705 and arrive at Rio’s Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport at 1537. It will depart Rio at 1723, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) at 1930. From Buenos Aires, flight EK 248 departs at 2130, arriving in Rio at 0120 the next day. The aircraft will depart Rio at 0310, arriving in Dubai at 2253.
One of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, Emirates has a fleet of 162 aircraft and has become the world’s largest Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 operator.
With an order for 50 new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft placed at the Dubai Airshow earlier this month, Emirates now has 243 aircraft on order, worth over $84 billion at list prices.
Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires will be the airline’s 116th and 117th global destinations respectively. They will also become the second and third points to be added to Emirates’ South American network.
The new route will be served with Boeing 777-300 ERs.
In other news, Emirates added the Airbus A380 on the Munich route starting on November 25.
Copyright Photo: Nick Dean.
Emirates Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Airberlin seeks out new partners in the Gulf and China
November 26, 2011
Airberlin (Airberlin.com) Airbus A330-223 D-ALPJ (msn 911) YVR (Tony Storck), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Airberlin (Berlin) is exploring possible partner and investor relationships with airlines from the Arabian Gulf region and China.
Airberlin’s new CEO Hartmut Mehdorn has already held talks with Etihad Airways and the HNA Group according to Sueddeutsche Zeitung and this report by AFP.
Airberlin’s founder Joachim Hunold had always opposed the option of seeking foreign investors but Mehdorn appears to be pursuing a different strategy.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck.
Airberlin Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas is born in Spain
November 26, 2011
Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas (Madrid) has been established in Spain by former Air Madrid (Madrid) director Julio Martinez. The new start-up is planning to launch long-range flights to Latin America (like Air Madrid) in 2012 with Airbus A340-300s.
Air France’ Airbus A340 flew with 30 screws missing after a China maintenance visit
November 26, 2011
Air France Airbus A340-313X F-GLZK (msn 207) ORY (revised 2009 livery – first A340) (Pepscl), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air France (Paris) grounded an Airbus A340 at Boston after 30 screws were found missing from a protective panel.
The A340 had previously undergone maintenance at Taeco-Taikoo Aircraft Engineering in Xiamen and departed on November 10 for Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris for three days. The missing parts were not discovered until it was ready to depart from Boston’s Logan International Airport.
Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Pepscl.
Air France Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Thomas Cook Group secures $154 million in new financing
November 26, 2011 — 1 Comment
Thomas Cook Group (London) has secured another $154 million in financing from a group of European banks, allaying fears of a collapse of the travel group.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
BAA warns of 12-hour delays at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday
November 26, 2011
BAA Limited (London) is asking airlines serving London’s Heathrow Airport to cut back on the number of passengers for next Wednesday (November 30) due to a planned Public Sector strike which is expected to produce up to 12-hour delays at LHR.
BAA Ltd. is the Spanish-owned operator of six British airports (including Heathrow Airport) and Naples Airport in Italy, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. BAA stems from British Airports Authority and it is owned by a consortium led by Grupo Ferrovial, a Spanish firm specializing in infrastructure.
The main impact area will be in Immigration where the Immigration Services Union will be striking. Immigration staffing levels will be “at a maximum of 30-50%, and that most of those checking passports would have no experience and little training” according to this report by the BBC.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton.
Wow Air to start operations from Iceland on June 1, 2012
November 26, 2011 — 3 Comments
Wow Air (Reykjavik) is a new airline in Iceland which is planning to operate Airbus A320s to European destinations. The planned destinations from Keflavik include Alicante, Basel/Mulhouse, Berlin (Brandenburg), Cologne/Bonn, Copenhagen, Krakow, London (Stansted), Lyon, Paris (CDG), Stuttgart, Warsaw and Zurich.
The planned start-up date is June 1, 2012.
According to the website, “Majority holder of WOW air is the investment company Titan, owned by Skúli Mogensen. Other shareholders are Baldur Baldursson and Matthías Imsland. Baldur Baldursson is the company’s CEO.
Directors of the Board are Skúli Mogensen, Baldur Baldursson, David Másson Director and Partner Avion Capital Partners SA and Björn Ingi Knútsson former Airport Director of Keflavik Airport & Alternate representative for the Nordic Countries at ICAO in Montreal, Canada.
Skúli Mogensen is also Chairman of the Board of WOW air.”
Wow Air owners:
Planned Route Map:
Jetstar Asia starts nonstop Singapore-Beijing service
November 25, 2011 — 1 Comment
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar.com) (Australia) Airbus A330-202 VH-EBB (msn 522) SYD (John Adlard), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Jetstar Asia Airways (Singapore), the low-fare offshoot of Jetstar Airways, yesterday (November 24) challenged Singapore Airlines and Air China by launching daily low-fare nonstop service on the lucrative Singapore-Beijing route.
Jetstar will operate an Airbus A330 on its Singapore-Beijing service, configured for 303 passengers across business and economy classes. Jetstar will be the first low-cost carrier to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will gradually replace its A330s from mid-2013.
Jetstar’s Singapore hub now connects to 27 destinations, including 14 in South East Asia, 10 in China and three in Australia.
Copyright Photo: John Adlard. Jetstar Asia’s aircraft also operate with just Jetstar.com titles like this Airbus A330-202 of Jetstar Airways of Australia.
BOC Aviation signs a contract for 15 Embraer 190s
November 25, 2011
BOC Aviation (formerly Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise-SALE) (Singapore) has signed a firm contract for 15 Embraer ERJ 190 aircraft (E190). Deliveries are scheduled from the fourth quarter of 2012 through 2014 for the leasing company.
Singapore Airlines owns 35.5 percent of the shares.
Image: Embraer.
Boeing delivers Ethiopian Airlines’ first 737 with the new Boeing Sky Interior
November 25, 2011
Boeing Delivers Ethiopian Airlines’ First 737 Boeing Sky Interior, originally uploaded by The Boeing Company.
Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa) on November 22, 2011 accepted brand new Boeing 737-860 ET-APF (msn 40961). For the company, it is the first Boeing 737 with the new Boeing Sky Interior.
Copyright Photo: Boeing. An interior photo of ET-APF with the attractive new interior.
Air Nippon to be merged into ANA
November 25, 2011
ANA-Air Nippon Boeing 737-781 WL JA09AN (msn 33878) (Kung Fu Panda 2) NRT (Nobuhiro Horimoto), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air Nippon (Tokyo), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ANA, will be merged onto ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) based on the decision of both board of directors today (November 25).
Air Nippon was founded by ANA, Japan Airlines-JAL and TOA Domestic as Nippon Kinkyori Airways-NKK in March 1974 and commenced operations on October 10,1974. The name Air Nippon was adopted in 1987 and the abbreviation ANK comes from the full, somewhat redundant name Air Nippon Kabushiki kaisha.
In April 2004 Air Nippon adopted ANA’s livery and currently uses ANA flight numbers.
Copyright Photo: Nobuhiro Horimoto.
Air Nippon Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Final assembly of the first Thai Airbus A380 begins at Toulouse
November 24, 2011
Thai Airways International (Bangkok) has six Airbus A380-800s on order. The first (msn 087) has begun its final assembly process at Toulouse.
At the first assembly station (pictured), the front, central, and aft fuselages, wings, and horizontal and vertical stabilizers are assembled and attached.
Copyright Photo: Airbus.
Thai Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Emirates celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates with a special A380 logo
November 24, 2011
Emirates Airline (Dubai) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the formation of the United Arab Emirates by carrying a special anniversary logo, emblazoned on its Airbus A380 aircraft.
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (equivalent to principalities), each governed by a hereditary emir, with a single national president. The constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman,Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. The capital is Abu Dhabi, which is also the state’s center of political, industrial and cultural activities.
Prior to independence in 1971 from Britain, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th-century truce between the local sheikhs, hereditary rulers of the territories and the United Kingdom. The term Pirate Coast was also used by some to refer to the emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century, owing to the preponderance of pirates operating from emirati ports.
Copyright Photo: Emirates.
Emirates Slide Show: CLICK HERE
AeroSvit to launch the Odessa-Berlin route on March 25 with new Embraer ERJ 190s
November 24, 2011
AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines (Kiev) is planning to launch the Odessa-Berlin (Tegel) route on March 25, 2012 according to Airline Route. The new route will be operated four times a week with the new Embraer ERJ 190. The company has 10 ERJ 190s on order.
AeroSvit Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Estonian Air to launch two new routes from Tallinn
November 24, 2011
Estonian Air Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) ES-ACB (msn 15261) ARN (Stefan Sjogren) (first CRJ900), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Estonian Air (Tallinn) on March 25, 2012 will launch flights from Tallinn to Vienna with six flights a week and on April 2, 2012 from Tallinn to Hannover with six flights a week.
Estonian Air will serve the routes with 88-seater Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft. Tallinn-Vienna flight duration is 2 hour and 10 minutes and Tallinn-Hanover 1 hour 55 minutes.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren.
Estonian Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Lufthansa to add four weekly flights from Munich
November 24, 2011
Lufthansa Regional-CityLine Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) D-ACKE (msn 15081) NUE (Gunter Mayer), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is set to expand its European network from its Munich hub and has identified Routes’ events as a major factor in it achieving this latest stage of its network growth. The airline will introduce routes from Munich to the Croatian city of Pula and the southern French city of Montpellier during the summer of 2012.
The two routes will be served on a weekly basis with Saturday flights and will mainly target leisure travellers. The flight to Montpellier is due to launch in April 2012, while Pula will be added on May 5, 2012. Additionally Lufthansa will add routes to Jersey, Bastia, Odessa and Valencia in the summer of 2012.
Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer.
Lufthansa Regional-CityLine Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Vueling Airlines records a $54.8 million net profit in the third quarter
November 24, 2011
Vueling Airlines (vueling.com) Airbus A320-214 EC-KDG (msn 3095) (2011 MTV logojet-Fly Me I’m Famous!-Cathy and David Guetta) AMS (Ton Jochems), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Vueling Airlines (vueling.com) (Barcelona) reported a net profit of $54.8 million in the third quarter.
Read the full report from CNA: CLICK HERE
Vueling Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems.
Routes from Barcelona:
Sky Airline has signed a code share agreement with TACA
November 24, 2011
Sky Airline (Chile) Airbus A320-232 CC-ABV (msn 1400) SCL (Alvaro Romero) (new type), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Sky Airline (Santiago) has signed a new code share agreement with TACA (San Salvador). The Chilean airline is also expected to sign another code share agreement with Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) next year.
Read the full report from Travel Agent Central: CLICK HERE
Sky Airline Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero.
JetBlue and WestJet win slots
November 24, 2011
JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N569JB (msn 2075) (10th Anniversary) FLL (Dave Campbell), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
JetBlue Airways (New York) has won an auction for eight new takeoff and landing slots at both New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Washington Reagan National Airport according to this report by Reuters and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Additionally WestJet Airlines won eight takeoff and landing slots at LaGuardia.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell.
JetBlue Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Boeing announces a world 787 “Dream Tour”
November 24, 2011
A new look for ZA003, originally uploaded by The Boeing Company.
Boeing (Chicago) will begin a six-month “Dream Tour” with a 787 Dreamliner. According to Boeing, “customers and partners around the world will experience the revolutionary technology and passenger innovation offered on the first new airplane of the 21st century.”
The December schedule for the 787 Dream Tour includes six stops in Asia , Africa and the Middle East :
December 4-11 : China with stops in Beijing , Guangzhou and Haikou to visit customers, partners, and government officials including representatives from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Co. (CAC).
December 11-16 : Africa with stops in Addis Ababba, Ethiopia and Nairobi, Kenya to visit Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.
December 16-19 : Middle East stop in Doha to visit Qatar Airways.
Specific dates for the subsequent segments of the tour will be announced about one month prior to the events. Additional tour stops are being planned for January through April 2012 and will be detailed in future announcements.
Many of the stops will include opportunities for local media to tour the airplane and talk with Boeing executives and pilots.
Aviation enthusiasts can follow the progress of the 787 tour at www.newairplane.com. Videos, photos and reports from the tour stops as well as an inside look at the airplane, will be featured beginning with the first stop next week.
The Dream Tour airplane, ZA003, (N787EX) has been retrofitted with special interior features designed to highlight the unique cabin features and performance capabilities of the Dreamliner. The flight test equipment on board ZA003, the third 787 to be built, has been removed and a stunning new interior has been installed (see above). The airplane also has received a refreshed Boeing livery.
Visitors will be greeted by the spacious signature 787 entryway sky light and gathering area. The LED lighting, standard on all 787s, will be demonstrated throughout the tour airplane. Visitors will experience the dynamic affect of this new technology to make meal time more enjoyable, sooth passengers during restful periods and gently wake them following a long flight.
Visitors also will find a luxurious business-class cabin with a dozen lay-flat seats, an overhead crew rest compartment and an economy class section. A large open space between the two economy class sections allows Boeing to spotlight the features of the 787 with displays and demonstrations. The exterior of the airplane has been repainted in the standard Boeing livery.
Copyright Photo: Boeing.
Boeing delivers the 100th Next-Generation 737-900 ER
November 24, 2011
Boeing Delivers 100th Next-Generation 737-900ER, originally uploaded by The Boeing Company.
Boeing’s (Chicago) Next-Generation 737-900 ER (extended range) reached 100 deliveries with a delivery this week to Somon Air (Dushanbe) of Tajikstan.
To date, the 737-900 ER has logged 414 orders from 16 customers. The Next-Generation 737 family (all models) has won orders for more than 6,000 airplanes and Boeing has delivered more than 3,800.
Copyright Photo: Boeing. 737-93Y P4-SOM (msn 40889) was officially handed over on November 21.
Safi Airways to add the Kabul-Abu Dhabi route on January 5
November 23, 2011
Safi Airways Airbus A320-212 YA-TTC (msn 671) HAM (Gerd Beifuss) (first A320, new version of the new livery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Safi Airways (Kabul) will add the Kabul-Abu Dhabi route on January 5, 2012. The new route will be operated four days a week with Airbus A320s.
Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. Please click on the photo for additional information.
Safi Airways Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Air Austral to fill the void with new Seychelles-Paris flights
November 23, 2011
Air Austral Boeing 777-3Q8 ER F-ONOU (msn 35783) CDG (Christian Volpati), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air Austral (St. Denis, Reunion Island) is filling the void created with the recent announcement of Air Seychelles that it was dropping all long-distance flights to Paris and London. Air Austral will add a new twice-weekly St. Denis-Seychelles-Paris (CDG) route per Airline Route on March 27, 2012.
The new route will be operated with Boeing 777-300 ERs.
Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati.
Air Austral Slide Show: CLICK HERE
South African Airways to launch nonstop Johannesburg-Beijing flights
November 23, 2011
South African Airways Airbus A340-642 ZS-SNI (msn 630) LHR (Wingnut), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
South African Airways (Johannesburg) is planning to launch new nonstop service linking its Johannesburg hub with Beijing starting on February 3, 2012 according to Airline Route. The new route will be operated three times a week with Airbus A340-600 equipment.
Copyright Photo: Wingnut.
South African Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Turkish Airlines swings to a third profit of $43.1 million
November 23, 2011
Turkish Airlines Airbus A319-132 TC-JLU (msn 4695) NUE (Gunter Mayer), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) which was expected to report a loss for the third quarter, produced an operating profit of $43.1 million for the 3Q.
Read the full report from the airline: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer.
Turkish Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Lufthansa to fly to Qingdao, China
November 23, 2011
Lufthansa Airbus A340-313X D-AIFF (msn 447) CLT (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will launch the Frankfurt-Shenyang-Qingdao route on March 26, 2012. The new route will be operated with Airbus A340-300s three times a week. The Frankfurt-Guangzhou route will be dropped at the same time.
Qingdao, also known in the West by its postal map spelling of Tsingtao, is a major port city with a population of over 8.7 million (2010 census) in eastern Shandong province in eastern China.
LH will be the first European carrier to serve the city.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.
Lufthansa Slide Show: CLICK HERE
