AirBridgeCargo Airlines-ABC (Volga-Dnepr Group) (Moscow) on April 2 launched an around-the-world route with twice-weekly cargo service on the Moscow (Sheremetyevo) โ Shanghai (Pudong) โ Anchorage โ Los Angeles โ Chicago (O’Hare) โ Amsterdam route per Airline Route.
In other news, AirBridgeCargoย reported a 20% increase in tonnage for the first quarter of 2015, continuing the trend set by previous years.
According to the airline, “In the January 1-March 31 period this year, ABC carried 103,816 tons across its international route network connecting customers in Europe, the United States and Asia Pacific through its hub in Moscow.
At present the airline operates scheduled flights to 26 destinations in 14 countries using its enlarged fleet of 14 Boeing 747 family aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-867F VQ-BVR (msn 60687) passes through Amsterdam on the special long-range route.
Air France (Paris) and its subsidiary French carriers continue to deal with a strike by several French air traffic controller unions. The strike started yesterday and continues today.
Here is the forecast by Air France for today:
The call for strike action by several French air traffic controllersโ unions is disrupting air traffic on Wednesday and Thursday April 8-9, 2015. The DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) has requested airlines to adapt their flight schedule to and from certain French airports.
On Thursday April 9,
LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS
โข Air France expects to operate all its long-haul flights to and from Paris.
SHORT AND MEDIUM-HAUL FLIGHTS
โข Air France expects to operate half its medium-haul flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle
โข HOP ! Air France expects to operate 25% of its flights to and from Paris-Orly
โข HOP ! Air France expects to operate approximately 40% of its flights to and from French provincial airports
For customers with connections to or from a long-haul flight, whose medium-haul flight is cancelled, Air France is doing all it can to offer rerouting solutions.
There may be long delays on all flights.
On the short-haul and medium-haul network, there may be last-minute delays and cancellations. The Company recommends customers to postpone their trip to after 10 April, at no extra cost.
Airport teams and commercial staff remain mobilized to inform customers and minimize the inconvenience this strike action may cause.
Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. The Airbus A340-300s will be phased out in 2016 along with the Boeing 747-400s. Airbus A340-313 F-GLZL (msn 210) taxies at the Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) hub.
Emirates (Dubai) continues to add more Airbus A380 services. The fast-growing carrier has announced a second daily Airbus A380 service to Zurich.
Commencing on Thursday October 1, 2015, Emirates flights EK 85/86, currently operated by a Boeing 777-300 ER, will be upgraded to an A380. The first A380 was introduced on the route in January 2014.
Emirates flight EK 85 departs Dubai International Airport at 15.45 and arrives in Zurich at 20:20. The outbound flight EK 86 departs from Zurich at 22:15 and arrives in Dubai at 06:25 the following day.
Emirates also announced the launch of a daily Airbus A380 service to Copenhagen. As of December 1, 2015, the Danish capital will be the first in Scandinavia to boast a scheduled A380 service.
Emirates flight EK 151 will leave Dubai at 0820 and arrive in Copenhagen at 1220 the same day. The return flight EK 152 will depart Copenhagen at 1420 and arrive in Dubai at 2335 the same day.
Emirates is also adding a second daily A380 flight on the Dubai โ London Gatwick route with the introduction of second daily A380 service on permanent basis.
In other news, Emirates willย increase its capacity to the Indian Ocean Island of Seychelles, when it switches from the current Airbus A330-200 used on one of the two daily services to a larger Boeing 777-300 ER from ย June 1, 2015.
The introduction of the Emirates Boeing 777-300 ER, which operates as flight EK 705 from Dubai and as EK 706 on the return flight, will increase overall capacity on the route by 1722 seats per week and will make the route an all-Boeing 777 operation.
On the cargo side,ย Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, will soon be adding the Indonesian Island of Bali to its Asia Pacific network, opening up a new trade lane between the island and the cargo carrierโs network of more than 140 destinations.
Bali will become Emirates SkyCargoโ s 2nd gateway in Indonesia and 24th Asia Pacific point in its global network.
With the launch of its daily service to Bali, Emirates SkyCargo will offer 294 tons of cargo capacity per week both ways in the belly hold of a Boeing 777-300 ER which will be used on the route. The new Bali service will bring to four the number of daily flights Emirates SkyCargo has to Indonesia – three of which are to the countryโs capital Jakarta.
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-861 A6-EDL (msn 046) lands in Zurich.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) yesterday (April 8)ย began operating more daily itineraries between Dallas Love Field and nine additional cities around the United States (Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Panama City Beach, Florida; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; San Jose, California; and Seattle/Tacoma, Washington) and will launch Saturday-only flights between Dallas and Charleston, South Carolina, on April 11, 2015.
In addition, Southwest began additional flights between Dallas Love Field and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, Oakland (San Francisco Bay Area), and Santa Ana/Orange County. The carrier also initiated daily service between San Antonio and Cancun, and between Kansas City International Airport and New York LaGuardia.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8H4 N8646B (msn 36935) in the now old 2001 livery and also with Split Scimitar Winglets completes the river approach to Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (historic liveries):ย
Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (new livery only):ย
Finnair (Helsinki) will formally introduced its new Airbus A350-900 on October 25, 2015. However the airline will operate a number of introductory routes and flights in Europe during October before the new type goes into regular service to Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore.ย Finnairโs first ever commercial A350 flight will be on October 5 from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland.
According to the airline:
Finnair is the European launch customer, and only the third worldwide, of the completely new aircraft type, which substantially raises the bar for passenger comfort, environmental performance and operational efficiency.
Finnair is also the first airline in the world to operate the A350 on scheduled services to China, where Shanghai will be served with daily A350 service from October 25, 2015. Beijing follows with daily A350 service on November 21, 2015.
Finnairโs peak-season frequencies to Bangkok will be served with a combination of A350 and modern, comfortable A330 aircraft from December 4, 2015. Daily services to Hong Kong from ย February 1, 2016 and to Singapore from May 5, 2016 will also be operated with a combination of A350 and A330 aircraft.
Customers can determine the planned aircraft type of their flight by clicking on the flight number during the online booking process at Finnair.com, or by consulting with their travel agent. Changes in aircraft type are possible for operational reasons.
Finnair has 19 A350 aircraft on order, and expects to receive the first four by the end of this year. Another seven will be delivered in 2016 and 2017, with the remaining eight to be delivered between 2018 and 2023. Finnair plans to phase out its A340 aircraft by the end of 2017, leaving the entire widebody fleet comprised only of top-of-the-range Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft.
Crew familiarization flights planned in Europe
Before long-haul A350 operations begin, Finnair will conduct crew familiarization flights throughout Europe during October. These regularly scheduled commercial services will be operated as usual within the Finnair network, just with an A350 rather than the usual narrowbody aircraft. As part of this crew familiarisation, Finnairโs first ever commercial A350 flight will be on October 5 to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, followed in the next two weeks by other European cities such as Brussels, Hamburg, London, Stockholm and Vienna.
October Flights in Europe:
CLICK HERE for the full list of Airbus A350 flights.
Finnairโs A350 XWB: New standards in passenger comfort
The A350โs bright and spacious cabin features large panoramic view windows and comfortable seating arrangements in both cabin classes. Gradual changes in dynamic ambient LED lighting ease customers into new time zones and help create a calming and fresh atmosphere. All Finnair A350s will also be equipped with Wi-Fi for greater passenger enjoyment and connectivity.
The eco-smart design of the A350 brings more than 25 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and operating cost over the previous generation of aircraft in its class, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of Finnair and its passengers.
The A350 also features an advanced pure air filtration system that changes the air in the cabin every two to three minutes. Draft-free air management, adjustable multiple temperature zones and a higher cabin pressurization also enhance the well-being and reduce the fatigue of passengers and crew.
The 297-seat configuration includes 46 seats in Business Class (above) in a 1+2+1 layout, ensuring direct aisle access for all Business Class passengers. The Zodiac Cirrus III seats convert to fully flat beds, while a 16-inch touch-screen inflight entertainment system comes programmed with films, TV shows, music and other digital content on demand in numerous languages. Seats in Business Class also come equipped with AC and USB power outlets.
The Economy Class cabin features comfortable Zodiac Z300 slim-line seats with a 31-inch seat pitch in a 3+3+3 layout. At the front of the Economy Class cabin are 43 Economy Comfort seats, which come with four extra inches of leg room as well as noise-cancelling headphones and an amenity kit. All seats in Economy include an 11-inch touch screen inflight entertainment system and USB power outlets.
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