Cebu Pacific Air to launch its new Airbus A330 Manila-Dubai service on October 7
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) (Manila) has announced it will operate nonstop daily flights between Manila and Dubai beginning on October 7, 2013.
Daily flights from Manila to Dubai are scheduled to depart at 4:40 PM (1640) (Manila time), while flights from Dubai to Manila depart at 11:10 PM (2310) (Dubai time). It will be the budget airline’s first long haul destination.
The Manila-Dubai flights will be operated on the Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a configuration of more than 400 all-economy class seats. Guests can also enjoy OnAir WiFi connectivity inflight.
Cebu Pacific previously announced that it will lease up to 8 Airbus A330-300 aircraft for its long haul operations. The airline will take delivery of 2 Airbus A330 aircraft this year, and an additional 2 in 2014. The Airbus A330 has a range of up to 11 hours which means the airline could serve markets such as Australia, Middle East, parts of Europe and the US.
Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 25 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft. Its fleet of 43 aircraft is the one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2013 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 17 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders.
Cebu Pacific: 
Top Video: Commercial video promoting the new “sand” destination of Dubai.
Iberia puts its first Airbus A330-300 on trans-Atlantic service to Boston
Iberia (Madrid) on March 17 introduced its new Airbus A330-300 on its first trans-Atlantic route from Madrid to Boston. It is unclear if the type will be operated to Miami as planned.
AESA, the Spanish Aeronautical Safety Agency, granted Iberia ETOPS-90 minutes authority. Iberia hasn’t flown ETOPS flights since it retired its two Boeing 767-300s (EC-GTI and EC-GSU).
ETOPS stands for “Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards”. Under ETOPS-90 the aircraft must follow a route that will allow it to reach a diversion airport within 90 minutes if one engine fails.
Copyright Photo: Wingnut. Airbus A330-302 EC-LUB (msn 1377) taxies at London (Heathrow).
Iberia:
Iberia takes delivery of its first Airbus A330-300
Iberia (Madrid) has taken delivery of the first of the five Airbus A330-302s that will enter service for the Spanish airline this year. The new type landed at 11:46 a.m. (1146) today at Iberia’s T4 hub at Madrid-Barajas airport.
The aircraft, A330-302 EC-LUB (msn 1377), is named “Tikal” and is equipped with IB’s new business and economy class interiors for long-haul flights.
In other news, the flag carrier is facing a new round of strikes by its employees on February 18 and February 22, grounding 415 of the 1,060 flights according to Reuters. The strike is also expected to affect Vueling Airlines and Iberia Express.
Copyright Photo: #SaveIberia. EC-LUB arrives at the MAD base. The new type is due to go into revenue service on the Madrid-Luanda route. Iberia had wanted to introduce a new livery with this new type but has decided to delay any new brand.
Iberia: 
Malaysia Airlines joins the oneworld alliance on February 1
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) tonight at midnight (February 1) became a part of oneworld® at midnight Kuala Lumpur time, adding one of Asia’s leading airlines to the global airline alliance that aims to be the first choice for frequent international travelers the world over.
The first flight in the new alliance is MH 386, which departed Kuala Lumpur at 1.40 am (0140) for Shanghai (Pudong). The national airline of Malaysia will be offering oneworld’s full range of services and benefits. Another key focus flight for the airline is the first departure by the first of its aircraft featuring the full oneworld livery – an Airbus A330-300 (see above) operating flight MH 129 to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur at 10.15 am.
For Malaysia Airlines, joining oneworld completes the latest phase of its repositioning plan. Becoming part of the world’s premier global airline alliance will strengthen its competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivalled alliance global network served by partners including some of the best and biggest airlines in the world.
Malaysia Airlines, which serves more than 60 destinations in almost 30 countries, will substantially expand the alliance’s network in one of the world’s fastest growing economic powerhouses, South East Asia.
Its addition to oneworld makes Malaysia – which has one of the world’s 30 biggest national economies and with a population of almost 30 million – a home market for the alliance. Its capital Kuala Lumpur, the world’s 10thmost visited city by international visitors according to the latest annual Mastercard survey, is now a oneworld hub.
Malaysia Airlines connects new 16 destinations and one country – Brunei – to the oneworld map. More significantly, it will strengthen the alliance’s connectivity between many key business cities in Asia and other parts of the world.
Its addition expands oneworld’s global coverage to 842 destinations in 156 countries, served by some 9,000 departures a day operated by a combined fleet of some 2,500 aircraft, carrying nearly 340 million passengers a year, with annual revenues of US$ 110 billion. Add oneworld’s other members elect – Qatar Airways and Sri Lankan Airlines – and the alliance network will reach 860 destinations in 159 countries.
Currently three of oneworld’s active member airlines serve three points in Malaysia, with Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian flying to Kuala Lumpur, Cathay Pacific operating to Penang and its Dragonair regional affiliate to Kota Kinabalu.
Copyright Photo: T. K. Ali. It is a new dawn for Malaysia Airlines. The pictured Airbus A330-323X 9M-MTE (msn 1243) at Kuala Lumpur is the first aircraft in the company to wear the Oneworld livery.
Malaysia Airlines: 
Video:
US Airways to switch the Charlotte-London route to Heathrow Airport on March 30
US Airways (Phoenix) today announced that service between the airline’s largest hub in Charlotte, N.C. and London’s preferred business airport, Heathrow Airport, will start on March 30, 2013. The daily flight will supplement the airline’s existing daily service between its international gateway in Philadelphia and Heathrow and replace its current service between Charlotte and London’s Gatwick Airport, which ends on March 29.
US Airways will operate service between Charlotte and London Heathrow with Airbus A330-300 aircraft with seating for 28 in Envoy, the airline’s international business class, and 263 in the main cabin.
The flight schedule is as follows.
| Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – London Heathrow Airport (LHR) | London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) | |||||
| Flight | Departure | Arrival | Flight | Departure | Arrival | |
| 730* | 7:05 p.m. | 8:05 a.m. | 731** | 10:05 a.m. | 2:10 p.m. | |
| * Flight arrives next day.
** First day of Charlotte-bound flight is March 31, 2013. |
||||||
The flight will originate in Miami offering customers in South Florida one-stop service to London via the airline’s Charlotte hub.
US Airways recently announced the launch of new service between Charlotte and its second destination in Brazil, Sao Paulo, beginning on May 5, 2013.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A330-323X N277AY (msn 380) taxies to the runway at the Charlotte hub.
US Airways: 
Hong Kong Airlines introduces its first Airbus A330-300
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong) today (December 10) introduced its first Airbus A330-300 into revenue service on the Hong Kong-Beijing route per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Eurospot. The pictured Airbus A330-343X F-WWCY (msn 1358) became B-LNM when it was handed over on November 30.
Hong Kong Airlines: 
TransAsia Airways orders six additional Airbus A321neo aircraft
TransAsia Airways (Taipei) of Taiwan has placed a firm order with Airbus for another six A321neo aircraft. The new aircraft will be part of the airline’s fleet expansion and will allow it to develop new routes to regional destinations. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt and Whitney PW1100G engines.
Turkish Airlines orders 15 additional Airbus A330-300s
Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) has placed an order for 15 additional Airbus A330-300s, their seventh order for the A330 family of aircraft and their twentieth Airbus order overall. The aircraft will be operated on medium and long haul routes from the Turkish Airlines hub in Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines placed their first order with Airbus in 1984, and now operate 101 Airbus aircraft including 17 A330 Family aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer. Airbus A330-343X TC-JNR (msn 1311) taxies across the ramp at Nuremberg.
Turkish Airlines: 
Philippine Airlines orders 54 Airbus aircraft
Philippine Airlines (Philippines) (PAL) (Manila) has placed a firm order with Airbus covering 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo and 10 A330-300s. The aircraft are being purchased under a major fleet modernization programme at the airline, with deliveries starting in 2013.
The single aisle A321 aircraft are being purchased to enhance the airline’s product offerings on domestic and regional routes, as well as to support alliances with its partner airlines. The widebody A330s will be operated on higher demand regional routes and longer range services to the Middle East and Australia. PAL will announce engine selections for all the aircraft at a later date.
Image: Airbus.
Philippines Slide Show: 
SAS to add two long-haul routes and European expansion
Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A330-343X LN-RKH (msn 497) ARN (Stefan Sjogren), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) will expand its route network with two new long-haul routes. Oslo-New York will commence on March 27, 2011, while the Copenhagen-Shanghai route will start during the winter of 2011. In addition, SAS will also launch a number of new European routes, as well as significantly increase frequency across its key short haul routes by 150 new weekly departures.
The Oslo-New York route will be launched March 27 next year and serviced daily with an Airbus A330-300, offering 34 Business class seats, 35 Economy Extra and 195 Economy seats, whilst Copenhagen-Shanghai will start as five times weekly as of next winter, using an Airbus A340-300, which offers 46 Business class seats 28 Economy Extra and 171 Economy seats.
The additional European frequencies will be continuously introduced during spring 2011. Compared to same period last year, SAS will offer150 more departures a week on key routes.
In addition four new routes will open: Oslo-Munich, Oslo-Palma, Oslo-Split and Stockholm-Venice.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren.
AirAsia X to start Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo Haneda flights in December
AirAsia X (AirAsia.com) Airbus A330-343X F-WWYY (9M-XXG) (msn 1131) TLS (Guillaume Besnard) (latest delivery), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
AirAsia X (AirAsia.com) (Kuala Lumpur) is going to launch low-fare Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo (Haneda) flights in December. The company is planning to add two additional cities.
Read the full report in The Japan Times:
Copyright Photo: Guillaume Besnard. A dramatic picture of AirAsia X’s brand new Airbus A330-343X F-WWYY (msn 1131). it will become 9M-XXG on delivery.
Lufthansa selects a new CEO, orders more aircraft for the group
Lufthansa Airbus A330-343X D-AIKJ (msn 701) IAD (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has selected a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and ordered a new round of aircraft. The group has ordered 20 Airbus A320 family aircraft and three A330-300s for Lufthansa, four A320 family aircraft and five A330-300s for Swiss International Air Lines and eight A319-100s for low-cost Germanwings. Eight Embraer ERJ 195 aircraft were also ordered for Lufthansa Regional.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. LH will now operate 13 Airbus A330-300s. A330-343X D-AIKJ (msn 701) prepares to land at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, near Washington.
The first new Airbus A330-300 is being prepared for Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) will soon take delivery of its first new Airbus A330-300 direct from Airbus. This aircraft is the second A330-300 for THY, the first being TC-SGJ (msn 407) which was leased from Saga Airlines in the old colors.
Copyright Photo: A330-343E F-WWYM (msn 1150) is pictured at Toulouse in the new 2010 livery. It will be delivered as TC-JNH.
Delta Air Lines is now using Facebook to book seats
Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323X N801NW (msn 524) AMS (Karl Cornil), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) yesterday launched the industry’s first social media ‘Ticket Window’ enabling bookings directly from its Facebook page and other social media sites. The Delta Ticket Window, along with a newly designed home page at delta.com introduced earlier this week, offers the first visual cues of the airline’s planned transformation in customer-facing technology.
Delta’s Ticket Window allows any of Facebook’s 500 million users to complete a full travel booking using a dedicated “tab” at facebook.com/delta without navigating to delta.com. Delta plans to expand its Ticket Window to other sites, including online banner ads to allow full booking capabilities within the airline’s advertisements.
The redesign of Delta’s home page is the first step toward a larger redesign which will continue to improve the online experience on delta.com and its affiliated technology, including airport kiosks, to offer more functionality to customers. The immediate home page changes include easier access to flight booking, status updates, online check-in and SkyMiles account information.
Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil. Airbus A330-323X N801NW (msn 524) approaches Amsterdam for landing.
Philippines (Philippine Airlines) is facing tough negotiations with three unions
Philippines (Philippine Airlines) Airbus A330-301 RP-C3332 (msn 188) SIN (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Philippines (Philippine Airlines) (Manila) is facing difficult negotiations with three of its unions. Next week could be a difficult one for the flag carrier.
Read the full report:
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Airbus A330-301 RP-C3332 (msn 188) prepares to land at Singapore.
Thai Airways International signs MOU for seven additional Airbus A330-300s
Thai Airways International (Bangkok) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for the purchase of seven more A330-300s. The aircraft will be delivered from the end of 2011 and will join an existing fleet of 20 A330-300s flying to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.
Copyright Photo: Airbus A330-343E HS-TEO (msn 1003) climbs away from Toulouse.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines signs contract for 11 Airbus A330-300s
Aeroflot Russian Airlines Airbus A330-343 VQ-BCV (msn 1072) LHR (David Apps), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) today signed a firm contract with Airbus for the purchase of 11 A330-300 aircraft.
At the moment Aeroflot is flying 64 A320 Family aircraft and 10 leased A330s, making it the biggest Airbus operator in the region. Additionally in 2007 Aeroflot placed a firm order for 22 A350 XWBs.
Copyright Photo: David Apps. Leased Airbus A330-343 VQ-BCV (msn 1072) prepares to land at London (Heathrow).
Aeroflot to acquire 11 new Airbus A330-300s
Aeroflot Russian Airlines Airbus A330-343 VQ-BCV (msn 1072) LHR (Antony J. Best), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is moving ahead to order 11 Airbus A330-300s after receiving board approval. The aircraft will be delivered in the 2011 to 2013 period.
Report in German:
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Leased Airbus A330-343 VQ-BCV (msn 1072) prepares to land at Heathrow Airport near London.
Onurair adds two Airbus A330-300s
Onurair (Istanbul) has added its first two Airbus A330-300s (TC-OCA and TC-OCB) this month.
Qatar Airways to expand to 120 destinations in three years
Qatar Airways Airbus A330-302 A7-AEN (msn 907) ARN (Stefan Sjogren), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Qatar Airways (Doha) is one of fastest growing airlines in the world. The flag carrier will be expanding its global network of destinations from 89 to 120 over the next three years, beginning with this week’s launch of new routes to Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires and new routes to Phuket, Hanoi, Budapest, Bucharest, Brussels and Nice beginning this fall.
Full press release:
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren.
QANTAS’ Airbus A330-303 VH-QPF comes to the rescue of Abby Sunderland in the Indian Ocean
QANTAS Airways Airbus A330-303 VH-QPF (msn 595) SYD (John Adlard) (aircraft involved in the rescue of Abby Sunderland), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
QANTAS Airways’ (Sydney) crew on board Airbus A330-303 VH-QPF (msn 595) was responsible for finding lost sailor Abby Sunderland.
CLICK HERE to read the full story.
Copyright Photo: John Adlard. VH-QPF is pictured at Sydney before the rescue mission.
US Airways starts daily Charlotte-Rome flights
US Airways Airbus A330-323X N274AY (msn 342) LHR (Keith Burton), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
US Airways (Phoenix) yesterday (May 13) began daily, year-round nonstop service to Rome from the Charlotte hub.
The new flight will complement US Airways’ daily nonstop service to Rome from Philadelphia, the airline’s international gateway. It will be operated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft with seating for 30 in Envoy, US Airways’ trans-Atlantic business class, and 263 in the main cabin.
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Airbus A330-323X N274AY (msn 342) arrives at London (Heathrow).
