Continental Airlines to launch Los Angeles-Leon/Guanajuanto flights
Continental Airlines Boeing 737-524 WL N17640 (msn 28901) BWI (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Continental Airlines (United Continental Holdings, Inc.) (Houston) will launch daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico (BJX), subject to Mexican government approval, beginning on November 1. The daily service will be operated with a Boeing 737-500 aircraft, with seating for 114 customers (eight in first class and 106 in economy).
In addition, Continental Airlines today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin once-weekly nonstop service to Cancun, Mexico, from three new cities: Austin and San Antonio, TX, and Raleigh-Durham, NC. These Saturday services, which are subject to government approval, would begin February 19, 2011. In addition, United Airlines applied for authority to place its UA code on Continental-operated flights between these cities, further enhancing service options for customers traveling to Cancun.
Continental plans to operate the service with Boeing 737-700 aircraft, with seating for 124 customers (12 in first class and 112 in economy). Continental serves 30 destinations in Mexico, more than any other airline from the U.S. Continental currently serves Cancun 76 times weekly from its hubs in Houston, Newark and Cleveland. United currently serves Cancun 31 times weekly from Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-524 N17640 (msn 28901) completes the final approach at Baltimore/Washington.
SAS Group to downsize its share in Estonian Air
Estonian Air Boeing 737-5L9 ES-ABI (msn 29234) CDG (Christian Volpati), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
SAS Group (Stockholm) has reached an agreement with the Estonian Government that will result in SAS divesting its 49% stake in Estonian Air (Tallinn). The Estonian Government will provide approximately MSEK 200 in a new rights issue and SAS will convert approximately MSEK 20 in loans into equity. After the rights issue the Estonian State will hold 90% and SAS 10% of Estonian Air. SAS will remain lender of approximately MSEK 70 in loans with a maturity in 2014.
Estonian Air has an option to buy SAS remaining stake and SAS has the option to sell its stake at Fair Market Value after 4 years. The transaction is conditional upon parliamentary approval in Estonia. The transaction is neutral to profit and liquidity of the SAS Group.
SAS will continue its commercial cooperation with Estonian Air.
Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati. Estonian Air’s smart-looking Boeing 737-5L9 ES-ABI (msn 29234) taxies across the ramp at Paris (CDG).
Mat Airways commences operations under the Kon Tiki Sky brand
Kon Tiki Sky-Mat Airways (2nd) (Aviogenex) Boeing 737-529 Z3-AAM (msn 25249) ZRH (Andi Hiltl) (new airline), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Mat Airways (2nd) (Skopje) has launched charter operations for its part owner Kon Tiki Travel under the Kon Tiki Sky brand from Belgrade. Flights are operated under the Aviogenex AOC.
Please click on link below for further details:
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl. Previously operated by defunct MAT-Macedonian Airlines (1st), Boeing 737-529 Z3-AAM (msn 25249) visits Zurich with the new look.
ANA to merge Air Central and Air Next into Air Nippon
ANA (All Nippon Airways)-Air Next Boeing 737-5L9 JA355K (msn 28129) FUK (John Adlard) (to be merged into Air Nippon/ANA Wings), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) has decided to move ahead with the merger of its subsidiaries. Air Central and Air Next will be merged into Air Nippon (Air Nippon Network Company) on October 1, 2010. Air Nippon in turn will be renamed ANA Wings (ANA Wings Company Limited) on October 1.
Copyright Photo: John Adlard. Air Next’s Boeing 737-5L9 JA355K (msn 28129) is pictured on final approach at Fukuoka.
Air Midwest (Nigeria) receives AOC, will start operations this month
Air Midwest (Nigeria) Boeing 737-5H6 G-GFFH (5N-PVA) (msn 27354) QLA (Antony J. Best) (ready to start operations), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air Midwest (Lagos) received its AOC on June 21. The new airline is planning to commence scheduled operations this month in Nigeria.
For more details, please read this report by the Daily Independent:
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Boeing 737-5H6 G-GFFH (msn 27354) at Lasham after painting became 5N-PVA on delivery.
RwandAir leases two Boeing 737-500s from GECAS
RwandAir (Kigali) has leased two Boeing 737-500s from GECAS as a stop-gap measure until its two new Boeing 737-800s are delivered in 2011. The first, ext-LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737-55D 9XR-WD (msn 27416, ex SP-LKA), was delivered on June 7.
For further details read this published report from AllAfrica.com:
Air Zimbabwe considers a partnership with Zambezi Airlines
Zambezi Airways Boeing 737-5Y0 9J-ZJB (msn 26100) JNB (Christian Volpati), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Air Zimbabwe (Harare) is considering a new code-sharing partnership partnership with Zambezi Airlines (Lusaka).
Read the full report from The Standard:
Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati. Zambezi’s Boeing 737-5Y0 9J-ZJB (msn 26100) visits Johannesburg.
Continental Airlines loses $146 million in the first quarter
Continental Airlines Boeing 737-524 WL N13624 (msn 27528) ATL (Jay Selman) (next type to be retired), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Continental Airlines (Houston) reported a first quarter 2010 net loss of $146 million ($1.05 diluted loss per share). Excluding $10 million of severance and aircraft-related special charges, Continental recorded a first quarter net loss of $136 million ($0.98 diluted loss per share).
During the quarter, Continental continued to install new flat-bed BusinessFirst seats, with installation now complete on 13 aircraft: eight Boeing 777s and five 757-200s. The company will install flat-bed seats on its entire fleet of Boeing 777, 757-200 and substantially all of its 767 aircraft, and on its Boeing 787 fleet as the aircraft are delivered.
Continental continued to install DIRECTV® on its aircraft during the quarter, with the new service now offered on 83 aircraft. The company has completed installation of DIRECTV® on its Boeing 737-900ER fleet and will install DIRECTV® on substantially all of its Boeing 737 Next-Generation and 757-300 aircraft.
In the first quarter of 2010, Continental recorded $6 million of aircraft-related charges related to grounded Boeing 737-300 aircraft, net of gains on two 737-500 aircraft sold to a foreign buyer, and a $4 million charge for severance in connection with previously announced reductions in force.
During the quarter, the company took delivery of one Boeing 757-300 aircraft, which will be placed in service in April 2010. In addition, Continental removed from service its three remaining Boeing 737-300 aircraft.
Continental continued to install winglets on its fleet of Boeing 757-300 aircraft. All of the company’s 737-500s, 700s, 800s, 900s and 757-200s have winglets. The company expects to complete installation of winglets on its entire narrowbody fleet by the end of the second quarter of 2010.
Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. The Boeing 737-500 fleet is expected to be phased out by the end of this year. 737-524 N13624 (msn 27528) climbs away from Atlanta. All of 737-524s now have Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets.
The nose gear of Boeing 737-524 VQ-BAC of UTair collapses at Moscow
UTair’s (Russia) (Khanty Mansysk) Boeing 737-524 VQ-BAC (msn 27321) nose gear collapsed while parked at the General Aviation terminal at Moscow (Vnukovo) on January 15. The airliner had been delayed in departing as flight UT 367 to Rostov. There were no reported injuries.
bmibaby introduces a new “Tiny” color scheme on 737-59D G-BVKB
Copyright Photo: Gordon Stretch. G-BVKB arrived at Birmingham on December 24 after repainting.
Bmibaby (bmibaby.com) (East Midlands) has modified its color scheme with the first aircraft being this Boeing 737-59D G-BVKB (msn 27268). The former “Children in Need” special color scheme (with balloons) has now been repainted. A new red “Tiny” emblem now adorns a light blue tail. G-BVKB has also been renamed “Jelly Bean”. The use of “Tiny” now matches the use of the figurine on its website.
Link:
SAT Airlines adds its first Boeing 737-500
Copyright Photo: Ex-Sterling Airlines Boeing 737-5L9 RA-73013 (msn 28721, ex OY-APH) arrives at Khabarovsk (Novy) still painted in Sterling's colors.
SAT Airlines (Sakhalin Airlines) (Sakhalinskie Aviatrassy) (Sakhalin) added its first Boeing 737-500 on October 29, 2009. The company was established as a result of the reorganisation of the Sakhalin United Detachment. The Asian airline started operations on April 20, 1992. It is owned totally by the Government of the Russian Federation. The 737-500 joins two other 737-200s.
SWAPA sends Southwest contract for vote
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on photo for more photos.
Southwest Airlines’ (Dallas) pilots, represented by SWAPA, have sent the new contract to its members for ratification.
Press release:
finance.yahoo.com/news/Tentative-Agreement-Between-prnews-1170102594.html?x=0&.v=1
UTair adds an ex-Continental Boeing 737-524
VP-BXV (msn 27322, ex N14609) prepares to land at Moscow (Vnukovo). Copyright Photo: Eurospot.
UTair Aviation (Khanyty Mansiysk, Russia) on August 17, 2009 added this ex-Continental Airlines Boeing 737-524 with Blended Winglets.
Southwest reduces flights on 92 routes
Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has reduced flights on 92 routes (service will be increased on 42 routes) and WN will suspend three routes this winter as it adjusts its schedule to meet the seasonal drop in demand.
News link:
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/
ALeqM5hPspoWsfXwgUbuQ43p3lTgHQGUvAD9AEKORG0
Southwest has also provided details on how it will replace the flap gate assemblies on 82 Boeing 737-300s and 737-500s which was approved by the FAA.
Press release:
Continental to start Houston-Edmonton Nov. 1
Please click on photo for full view, information and other Continental photos.
Continental Airlines (Houston) will add its 11th Canadian destination on November 1 when it adds the daily Houston (Bush Intercontinental)-Edmonton route served by 114-seat Boeing 737-500s. The company will also join the Star Alliance on October 27, 2009.
Belavia adds ex-FlyLAL 737-5Q8 N381LF
737-5Q8 N381LF (msn 27629) taxies at Miami after repainting. Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo.
Belavia Belarusian Airlines (Minsk) is getting ready to add ex-FlyLAL Boeing 737-5Q8 (msn 27629, ex LY-AZW). The new addition is being leased from ILFC. With this addition the Belavia fleet is now four Boeing 737-500s along with three 737-300s, three CRJ100/200s, four Tupolev Tu-154Ms and a single Tu-134.
Ukraine International to add Abu Dhabi
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Ukraine International Airlines (Kiev) will add Abu Dhabi and the Kiev-Abu Dhabi route on September 25.
Belavia to start Minsk-Amsterdam flights
Belavia Belarusian Airlines
Please click on photo for full view, information and other Belavia photos.
(Minsk) on August 10 will start a new route from Minsk to Amsterdam, mostly via Boeing 737-500s. The new route will operate three times a week.
SkyEurope wins creditor protection
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SkyEurope Airlines (Slovakia) (Bratislava) yesterday (June 22) received bankruptcy court approval for creditor protection as it reorganizes and restructures its debts. Under Slovak law, companies have nine and a half months to reorganize.
airBaltic to start Riga-Tromso on March 31
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airBaltic (Riga) will launch a new route tomorrow (March 31) between Riga and Tromso in northern Norway. The new route will be operated four times a week.
Aeroflot submits tender offer for Czech Airlines
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Aeroflot (Moscow) has submitted a tender offer to the Ministry of Finance with the intent to buy the Czech government’s 91.5 percent share of the state airline.
In other news, Czech Airlines will start serving Novosibirsk and Tashkent at the end of March for the summer season.
SAS Group to invest $9.24 million in Estonian
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The SAS Group (Stockholm) is planning to pump in $9.24 million for Estonian Air (Tallinn) to improve the liquidity of the flag carrier. This comes as SAS has previously stated it would like to divest its 49 percent share of the company.
