Tag Archives: Airbus A319

Tibet Airlines Airbus A319 B-6425 veers off the runway at Chongqing, catches on fire, 36 people injured

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Tibet AIrlines flight VT9833 from Chongqing to Nyingchi in China on May 11 aborted its takeoff with 113 passengers and nine crew members on board.

The Airbus A319 (B-6425) aborted its takeoff roll and veered off the runway and was destroyed by fire.

More from Reuters:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/chinese-airliner-veers-off-runway-take-off-chongqing-causes-fire-state-media-2022-05-12/

Chinese authorities stated 36 people suffered bruises and sprains and were sent to a local hospital.

Video:

Tibet Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Top Copyright Photo: Tibet Airlines Airbus A319-115 B-6425 (msn 5157) PEK (Michael B. Ing). Image: 957590.

Crashed and destroyed aircraft photo gallery:

Brussels Airlines introduces a new brand and livery on Airbus A319 OO-SSO

As planned, today, Brussels Airlines made this announcement:

Today, Brussels Airlines presents a new brand identity, confirming its position in the market as Belgium’s home carrier. Updated colors, a new logo and aircraft livery are the visual token of the airline’s new chapter, stating its readiness for future challenges and re-emphasizing on the importance of the Belgian brand. A chapter with a strong focus on customer experience, reliability and sustainability while keeping a competitive cost-structure.

As a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis, Brussels Airlines accelerated and intensified in 2020 its transformation plan Reboot Plus, in order to pave the way for a future-proof company that is able to face the competition, with a sound and healthy cost structure.

After the restructuring, the company started the second phase of its Reboot Plus plan: the build-up and improvement phase. Brussels Airlines now turns its attention to the future with strategic investments in an improved customer experience, new technologies, digitization, new ways of working, and the development of its employees.

The Belgian company is transforming to become a healthy, profitable airline that offers perspectives to its customers, partners and employees; an airline with a constant focus on the environment and the reduction of its ecological footprint. A New Brussels Airlines.

“We want to clearly mark the start of the New Brussels Airlines. For our customers, who deserve the best, but also for our employees, who are committed to the transformation that we’re pushing forward and to which they contribute every day. That is why today we present the visual translation of our new start. With this new brand identity, we are ready to show our customers, our employees, our partners and all other stakeholders that we are turning a page. As one of the four Lufthansa Group network airlines, we are building the way towards a promising future.  We see this new brand identity as a symbol of confidence in our company, re-emphasizing our identity as Belgium’s home carrier.”

– Peter Gerber, CEO of Brussels Airlines

Story image

The new brand identity includes a new version of the Brussels Airlines signature red and blue colors, now a deeper red and a darker shade of blue. The dotted “b”, which today adorns the tails of its fleet, makes way for 9 dots of different sizes in the form of a square, to represent the diversity of its customers, its destinations and its employees. No dot is alike. The updated logo also makes use of a new, more modern type font. The two words of the brand name are now stacked, with the word “brussels” gaining more importance with its larger size to emphasize the airline’s Belgian identity. The new aircraft livery, shows a zoom on the dotted logo on the tails, a fresh white body and a continuation of dots in different shades of blue and grey.

Next to the new visual identity, the new brand identity also translates into a new tagline: “You’re in good company”.“We have chosen for a tagline that underlines our most valuable asset; the hospitality brought to our passengers by our incredible staff. Their way of working, on and behind the scenes, ensures that our passengers are in good hands. By committing to transparency, by investing in a greener and more comfortable fleet, by being 24/7 available and by making sure that our passengers sit together without an extra charge, we want to offer our customers what really matters to them. No small print, just common sense.”

– Michel Moriaux, Head of Marketing at Brussels Airlines

“I wish to sincerely thank all the Brussels Airlines colleagues who have contributed in any way to today’s important milestone in our history. While going for a New Brussels Airlines, our focus on cost and sustainability remains of utmost importance to us. To avoid creating waste and high production costs, our new brand identity will be implemented in a phased approach. Our aircraft will for instance not be repainted before their painting due date, as to not waste money, resources, nor paint. As a consequence, the repainting of the fleet will take several years. This also means that you will still bump into our “old” branding, as we commit ourselves to using resources until they are depleted or have reached their expiry date.”

– Wencke Lemmes, Head of Customer Experience, Product and Marketing at Brussels Airlines

Video:

 

Frontier Airlines retires the last Airbus A319

Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A319-112 N949FR (msn 2857) (Ermine) LAS (Ton Jochems). Image: 921280.

Frontier Airlines on September 8, 2021 marked a significant fleet milestone with the retirement of its last Airbus A319 aircraft – tail N949FR – delivered to the company in 2006.

The type had been grounded in March 2020 but it was returned to service when traffic picked up again. It is now being retired for the last time by the carrier.

Frontier passengers, crew and executives commemorated the occasion during flight 391 from Nashville (BNA) to Denver (DEN). The phase-out of the A319 is part of a fleet modernization plan by America’s Greenest Airline, that includes a strong focus on operating newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

“The retirement of Frontier’s last Airbus A319 aircraft is a proud and symbolic moment for our team as we look ahead towards a greener future,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. “Our ultra-modern fleet is already the most fuel-efficient in the U.S. skies and, as we continue the transition to A320neo (New Engine Option) and A321neo aircraft, our fuel savings and operational efficiencies continue to evolve.”

The final A319 tail featuring Erma the Ermine flew with Frontier for more than 15 years. The A319 model aircraft, which the company first began flying in 2001, played a vital role in Frontier’s success for more than 20 years, providing efficient, safe and reliable service, including during the airline’s transition to an ultra-low-cost carrier.

The aircraft’s final flight was marked with a special onboard announcement and giveaway items for customers, including a framable certificate commemorating the occasion. Denver-based crew were invited to greet the aircraft on its final arrival during a gate celebration, as well.

Frontier operates the youngest and most fuel-efficient U.S. fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft with an average age of only 4.1 years, including the largest A320neo fleet in North America. Moreover, with approximately 140 aircraft currently on order, Frontier’s modern fleet will continue to grow in the coming years, a testament to the company’s overall commitment to more sustainable, reliable and affordable flying.

Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A319-112 N949FR (msn 2857) (Ermine) LAS (Ton Jochems). Image: 921280.

Frontier aircraft slide show:

Hi Fly adds three A319-100s to its fleet

Hi Fly, Europe’s specialized wet lease airline, is delighted to announce the addition of three new Airbus A319-100s to its fleet.

The aircraft, which were delivered to Hi Fly in May and June, have a total passenger capacity between 144 and 150 passengers.

Hi Fly is the largest aircraft wet lease specialist in the world and operates an all-Airbus fleet that includes A320, A330, A340, and  A380 aircraft.

Photo: Duarte Gomes.

 

Eurowings opens new base in Pristina

Eurowings (Airberlin) Airbus A319-112 D-ABGJ (msn 3415) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 937931.

Eurowings has made this announcement:

Eurowings is further expanding its European network: With the opening of a new base in Pristina, the airline is expanding its services in Eastern Europe and will be stationing an Airbus A319 in the capital of Kosovo from June 19, 2019. Thus, Pristina will become the thirteenth Eurowings location.

For the first time, Eurowings will offer direct connections from Pristina to Switzerland. At the same time, the existing connections to the cities of Düsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart will be significantly increased. In total, the airline offers over 60 weekly frequencies to and from Pristina.

All flights including the new routes can be booked in the coming days – for example on the Internet at eurowings.com or via the Eurowings App.

Photo: Eurowings. Gjeravia, the highest mountain of Kosovo.

The metropolis Pristina

Pristina, with almost 150,000 inhabitants, is the capital and largest metropolis in Kosovo. It lies in the historical landscape of the Kosovo field and offers numerous historical buildings. Pristina is the economic, cultural and media center of the country. The city has one of the youngest populations in Europe and is characterized by above-average economic growth in recent years.

Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A319-112 D-ABGJ (msn 3415) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 937931.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Lufthansa CityLine to fly the Airbus A319

Lufthansa Group has made this announcement:

Lufthansa CityLine and pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit have agreed on new employment conditions for their approx. 650 pilots. The collective bargaining agreement sets the stage for the introduction of a new, future-proof aircraft type at Lufthansa CityLine.

Come 2019, Lufthansa CityLine will start operating A320 family planes taken over from Lufthansa.

The first Airbus A319-100 aircraft will depart from the Munich hub next spring. Another 5 aircraft will follow by the end of 2020.

“Lufthansa CityLine has been handling an important part of our feeder traffic at the hubs in Munich and Frankfurt for many years,” says Wilken Bormann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa CityLine and CEO of Lufthansa Hub Munich. “Entering the A320 segment is a logical next step. With the new collective agreement, both negotiating partners have illustrated their will to jointly develop Lufthansa CityLine as a key component of the Lufthansa Group.”

The parties have agreed on an extensive package. It includes, among other things, a moderate salary increase for the next three years and a growth-related increase for 2021. Essential points of the structure of the company pension plan will be adapted to the regulations for Lufthansa’s mainline staff. Another key aspect is the optimization of the training roadmap for its pilots. The package thus opens up important new growth prospects.

Lufthansa CityLine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and a specialist in hub traffic at the two hubs of Frankfurt and Munich. Every year, the airline welcomes around eight million passengers aboard its roughly 50 aircraft. The fleet takes off to around 80 airports in over 24 countries more than 300 times a day. Lufthansa CityLine employs about 2,200 people.

All photos by Lufthansa.

Just Us Air is set to take to the skies following the award of its AOC

Just Us Air has made this announcement:

Just Us Air is delighted to announce that it has successfully secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority.

The newly-launched carrier will operate a small fleet of Airbus aircraft available for short notice ACMI and wet / damp lease operations, series flights, and ad-hoc charter services.

Based in Bucharest, Just Us Air will commence operations with a 2008-manufactured Airbus A319 in 144Y configuration – registration YR-URS (above) – which is available to customers immediately.

A second aircraft – an Airbus A321 in 220Y configuration – will be added to the AOC at the end of April 2018.

Just Us Air will be working in close partnership with UK-based Chapman Freeborn Airchartering who will provide the airline with commercial and operational support.

Dan Iuhas, CEO of Just Us Air, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded our AOC and look forward to the next chapter in our journey. With our team’s vast experience in airline operations and the professionalism and global reach of Chapman Freeborn, we feel we are ideally placed to offer a high quality product and service to the market at a time of short supply.”

Photo: Just Us Air.

The Airbus A319neo completes its first flight

The first Airbus A319neo performed its first flight on March 31, 2017.

The smallest member of the A320neo Family, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, took off from Hamburg and landed in Toulouse after a 5 hour flight.

It was piloted by Experimental test pilots Michel Gagneux and Eckard Hausser (below). They were assisted in the cockpit by Test-Flight Engineer Jean Michel Pin, while two flight test engineers Sylvie Loisel-Labaste and David O’nions directed the flight from the aircraft’s Test Engineer station.

This flight was the occasion for the crew to assess the general handling of the aircraft and to check the main systems. The A319neo, registered as D-AVWA, will be based in Toulouse in order to complete its flight test program.

Photos: Airbus.

 

A new Cyprus Airways receives its AOC

Cyprus Airways (2nd) (Larnaca) is a new version of the original flag carrier. The new Cyprus Airways has secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The company made this short statement on March 14, 2017:

We are delighted to inform you that Cyprus Airways received the Air Operator Certificate! We are very excited to begin flying soon!

The new carrier acquired its first aircraft, the pictured Airbus A319-114 5B-DCW (msn 1129, ex S7 Airlines VP-BTO), in December 2016 and operated a proving flight on March 4, 2017.

The original Cyprus Airways ended all operations on January 9, 2015.

All images by Cyprus Airways.