Fly Jamaica Airways is cleared to serve New York and Toronto from Georgetown, Guyana
Fly Jamaica Airways (Kingston) has been cleared by the Guyana government to operate scheduled passenger service from Georgetown, Guyana to both New York (JFK) and Toronto (Pearson). The airline is looking for a second Boeing 757-200 to operate the new routes. There is a long list of carriers that have tried to make the Georgetown-New York route viable.
The new airline commenced scheduled services on February 14, 2013 between Kingston, Jamaica and New York (JFK) with this former ATA Airlines Boeing 757-23N N524AT (msn 30233).
Read the full story from the Jamaica Observer: CLICK HERE
Here is how the airline describes its self on its website:
Fly Jamaica Airways began with a dream to create a truly regional airline, using local talent and with an emphasis on providing a truly local experience to its customers. An full-service, local airline that would bring the Diaspora, and the world, home to the Caribbean.
Fly Jamaica Airways is a partnership between Chief Executive Officer and Guyanese-born Captain Paul Ronald Reece, and Jamaican shareholders, including Chief Operating Officer, Captain Lloyd Tai and Manager of In-Flight Services, Christine Steele.
The Company was incorporated in Kingston, Jamaica on September 7, 2011 and started with a Boeing 757 aircraft. We faced a rigorous start-up process, including meeting national and international requirements. Through the stewardship of our experienced management and dedication of our amazing employees, we proved to aviation regulators that we have what it takes to be a world-class airline.
On August 24, 2012, Fly Jamaica Airways conducted its demonstration flight from Kingston, Jamaica to Georgetown, Guyana, as part of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority’s (JCAA) approval process. On August 31, 2012 the JCAA issued our Air Operators Certificate (AOC).
Fly Jamaica Airways has also satisfied rigorous requirements for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), in order to operate as a commercial US-registered carrier.
Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. N524AT rests at Fort lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport before going into revenue service. All other photos by Fly Jamaica.
Fly Jamaica Videos:
Historic Photo of the Day – May 15, 2013
Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71 N1305L (msn 46072) FLL (Christian Volpati Collection). Image: 912117.
Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati Collection.
Delta Air Lines: 
JetBlue to serve Port-au-Prince, Haiti
JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced its intent to serve Port-au-Prince, Haiti with daily nonstop service from both New York City and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood. From Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) in the Haitian capital, JetBlue plans to offer one daily nonstop flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and twice daily flights to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), subject to receipt of government operating authority. Port-au-Prince will be JetBlue’s 82nd BlueCity with service to begin on December 5, 2013.
Destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean now make up almost one-third of JetBlue’s route network. In the Caribbean, JetBlue is the largest carrier in terms of capacity in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, offering more flights than any other carrier. JetBlue flies to more than ten countries, including Aruba. Barbados, and the Bahamas. This June, the airline is set to begin nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Medellin, Colombia, and in November to Lima, Peru, subject to receipt of government operating authority.
JetBlue’s flights from New York to Port-au-Prince will be operated with its comfortable Airbus A320 fleet with seating for 150, while flights from Fort Lauderdale will be operated on its spacious 100-seat Embraer 190 fleet.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N206JB (msn 19000025) arrives at runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue Airways:
Routes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood:
JetBlue Airways plans to double its operations at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood in the next five years
JetBlue Airways (New York) plans to grow its operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to 100 daily departures over the next five years, making it the third busiest focus city for the airline. The carrier grew over 11 percent at FLL last year. Most of the expansion at FLL will be to foreign destinations according to this interview with CEO Dave Barger in the Sun-Sentinel.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N329JB (msn 19000433) in the Barcode tail design taxies to runway 9L on the north side of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The south parellel runway is being extended for expansion.
JetBlue Airways:
Spirit Airlines reports a 1Q net profit of $32.8 million
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) issued the following financial report:
Spirit Airlines, Inc. reported first quarter 2013 financial results.
- Adjusted net income for the first quarter 2013 was $32.8 million, or $0.45 per diluted share1. GAAP net income was $30.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share.
- For the first quarter 2013, Spirit achieved an operating margin, excluding special items, of 14.4 percent1. Operating margin on a GAAP basis was 13.4 percent for the first quarter 2013.
- Spirit ended the first quarter 2013 with $483.5 million in unrestricted cash.
- Spirit grew total available seat miles (“ASMs”) 20.8 percent as compared to the first quarter 2012.
- Spirit’s return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2013 was 28.0 percent. See “Calculation for Return on Invested Capital” table below for more details.
Revenue Performance
For the first quarter 2013, Spirit’s total operating revenue was $370.4 million, an increase of 22.9 percent, compared to first quarter 2012.
Total revenue per available seat mile (“RASM”) for the first quarter 2013 was 11.85 cents, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the first quarter 2012 driven by strength in operating yields. The calendar shift of Easter occurring in March this year compared to April in 2012 contributed to the strong first quarter 2013 results.
Passenger flight segment (“PFS”) volume grew 17.8 percent year-over-year in the first quarter 2013. Average non-ticket revenue per PFS for the first quarter 2013 increased 5.9 percent year-over-year to $54.75 and average ticket revenue per PFS for the quarter increased 3.2 percent year-over-year to $79.09. The growth in non-ticket revenue per PFS during the first quarter 2013 was primarily driven by the introduction of advance purchase restrictions on bags as well as other various changes in our pricing structure for optional services.
Cost Performance
Total operating expenses in the first quarter 2013 increased 21.4 percent year-over-year to $320.8 million on a capacity increase of 20.8 percent.
Cost per available seat mile excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”) for the first quarter 2013 was 6.04 cents, up 0.8 percent year-over-year. The increase in Adjusted CASM ex-fuel was primarily driven by depreciation and amortization expense related to amortization of heavy maintenance events. Due to an increased number of severe winter storms during the quarter, the Company experienced a higher number of weather-related flight cancellations compared to the same period last year. The CASM pressure associated with the resulting decrease in ASMs as well as other weather-related expenses such as higher deicing expense, also contributed to the increase in Adjusted CASM ex-fuel. The impact of these items was partially offset by efficiency benefits resulting in lower labor expense per ASM, lower distribution expense per ASM, and an increase in average stage length.
Selected Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items
As of March 31, 2013, Spirit had $483.5 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, no restricted cash, no debt on its balance sheet, and total shareholders’ equity of $614.8 million.
During the first quarter 2013, Spirit incurred capital expenditures of $10.6 million, which includes the purchase of a spare engine that was financed under a sale leaseback transaction after it was delivered. The Company paid $15.1 million in pre-delivery deposits (“PDPs”) for future deliveries of aircraft, and paid $6.8 million in maintenance reserves, net of reimbursements.
Fleet
In the first quarter 2013, Spirit took delivery of two used A319 aircraft and two new A320 aircraft, ending the quarter with 49 aircraft in its fleet. Spirit’s March A320 aircraft delivery was the carrier’s first aircraft to be delivered with sharklets. The Company has five additional new A320 aircraft with sharklets scheduled for delivery in 2013.
The carrier is expanding quickly. On April 25 started service on nine new nonstop routes and also resumed summer seasonal service on a variety of our customers’ favorite routes.
Nine New Spirit Airlines Nonstop Routes Starting April 25, 2013:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Cancun, Mexico (CUN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Los Angeles (LAX)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Oakland/San Francisco (OAK)
- Philadelphia (PHL) – Las Vegas (LAS)
- Philadelphia (PHL) – Myrtle Beach (MYR)
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) – Myrtle Beach (MYR)
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) – Las Vegas (LAS)
- Houston (IAH) – Los Angeles (LAX)
- Denver (DEN) – Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
In addition, Spirit resumes the following summer seasonal routes:
- Atlantic City (ACY) – Detroit (DTW)
- Atlantic City (ACY) – Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Atlantic City (ACY) – Atlanta (ATL)
- Atlantic City (ACY) – Boston (BOS)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Myrtle Beach (MYR)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Portland, Oregon (PDX)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Boston (BOS)
- Boston (BOS) – Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Detroit (DTW) – Los Angeles (LAX)
- Orlando (MCO) – San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Kingston, Jamaica (KIN) – starts May 9, 2013
The following new nonstop routes start in June:
- Houston (IAH) – Denver (DEN) – starts June 13
- Houston (IAH) – Detroit (DTW) – starts June 13
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) – starts June 13
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Latrobe/Pittsburgh (LBE) – starts June 14
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-132 N506NK (msn 2490) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Spirit Airlines: 
JetBlue to add new seasonal service from Hartford/Springfield to Fort Myers and Tampa
JetBlue Airways (New York) announced today plans to add daily nonstop service to two new Floridian destinations from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (BDL): Winter seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (RSW) service; and year-round service to Tampa International Airport (TPA), effective Thursday, October 24, 2013.
JetBlue’s schedule between Hartford/Springfield and Fort Myers:
| Hartford (BDL) to Fort Myers (RSW): | Fort Myers (RSW) to Hartford (BDL): |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 11:40 a.m. – 3 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. |
| - Flights operate daily effective October 24, 2013 for winter seasonal service — All times local -
- Schedules for October 24-26 vary from the stated times - |
|
JetBlue’s schedule between Hartford/Springfield and Tampa:
| Hartford (BDL) to Tampa (TPA): | Tampa (TPA) to Hartford (BDL): |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 9:10 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. | 12:25 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. |
| - Flights operate daily effective October 24, 2013 - - All times local – Schedules for Oct 24-26 vary slightly from the stated times - |
|
JetBlue’s flights between Hartford/Springfield and Fort Myers as well as Tampa will be operated with its comfortable Airbus A320 fleet.
Copyright Photo: Luimer Cordero. Airbus A320-232 N510JB (msn 1280) (DIRECTV On Board) taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue Airways:
JetBlue Airways Corporation 1Q net income slips to $14 million due to Hurricane Sandy, will add Lima Peru
JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue Airways) (New York) today reported its results for the first quarter 2013:
- Operating income for the quarter was $59 million, resulting in a 4.5% operating margin, compared to operating income of $89 million and a 7.4% operating margin in the first quarter of 2012.
- Pre-tax income of $23 million in the first quarter. This compares to pre-tax income of $49 million in the first quarter of 2012.
- Net income for the first quarter was $14 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. This compares to JetBlue’s first quarter 2012 net income of $30 million, or $0.09 per diluted share.
“Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated crewmembers, we reported our twelfth consecutive quarter of profitability,” said Dave Barger, JetBlue’s President and Chief Executive Officer. ”First quarter results were solid but below those of a year ago, primarily due to Hurricane Sandy-related demand weakness in the Northeast during the peak Presidents’ Day travel period and higher than expected maintenance costs during the quarter. While the first quarter was challenging, we remain focused on achieving sustainable, profitable growth and are optimistic about the rest of the year.”
Operational Performance
JetBlue reported record first quarter operating revenues of $1.3 billion despite the lingering impact of Hurricane Sandy, which reduced revenue during the Presidents’ Day travel period by an estimated $25 million. Revenue passenger miles for the first quarter increased 7.6% to 8.51 billion on a capacity increase of 6.3%, resulting in a first quarter load factor of 83.9%, an increase of 1.0 point year over year.
Yield per passenger mile in the first quarter was 13.95 cents, up 0.7% compared to the first quarter of 2012. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) for the first quarter 2013 increased 1.8% year over year to 11.70 cents and operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 1.5% year over year to 12.81 cents.
“Successful execution of our network plan, particularly in Boston, and our continued focus on high-margin products and services contributed to the solid revenue results we announced today,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s Chief Commercial Officer.
Operating expenses for the quarter increased 11.3%, or $126 million, over the prior year period. JetBlue’s operating expense per available seat mile (CASM) for the first quarter increased 4.6% year over year to 12.23 cents. Excluding fuel and profit sharing, CASM increased 6.6% to 7.62 cents, driven in part by approximately $20 million of higher than expected maintenance expense related to JetBlue’s EMBRAER 190 aircraft.
Fuel Expense and Hedging
JetBlue continued to hedge fuel to manage price volatility. During the first quarter JetBlue hedged approximately 8% of its fuel consumption and managed approximately 10% of its fuel consumption using fixed forward price agreements (FFPs), resulting in a realized fuel price of $3.29 per gallon, a 1.3% increase over first quarter 2012 realized fuel price of $3.25.
JetBlue has managed approximately 37% of its second quarter projected fuel requirements using a combination of FFPs, collars, swaps and call options. Based on the fuel curve as of April 19th, JetBlue expects an average price per gallon of fuel, including the impact of hedges, FFPs and fuel taxes, of $3.03 in the second quarter.
Balance Sheet Update
JetBlue ended the first quarter with approximately $849 million in unrestricted cash and short term investments. In addition, JetBlue maintains a $200 million line of credit with Morgan Stanley.
JetBlue announced today that it has obtained a new revolving credit facility for up to $350 million. “We continue to enhance and optimize our liquidity position through our growing unencumbered asset base and credit facilities, which we believe will be accretive to return on invested capital,” said Mark Powers, JetBlue’s Chief Financial Officer.
Second Quarter and Full Year Outlook
For the second quarter of 2013, CASM is expected to be between negative 1.5% and positive 0.5% compared to the year-ago period. Excluding fuel and profit sharing, CASM in the second quarter is expected to increase between 3.0% and 5.0% year over year. JetBlue expects nearly three quarters of this year over year increase to be driven by maintenance expense.
CASM for the full year is expected to increase between 1.5% and 3.5% over full year 2012. Excluding fuel and profit sharing, CASM in 2013 is expected to increase between 2.0% and 4.0% year over year.
Capacity is expected to increase between 6.5% and 8.5% in the second quarter and to increase between 6.0% and 8.0% for the full year.
In other news, Jetblue announced Lima will become the 81st Blue City beginning on November 21. The capital of Peru will become the fourth destination in South America with one daily flight from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, subject to government approval.
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N569JB (msn 2075) taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in special 10th Anniversary livery.
JetBlue Airways:
JetBlue Airways launches New York JFK-Albuquerque service as it suffers ATC delays at JFK of up to 90 minutes yesterday
JetBlue Airways (New York) yesterday (April 22) launched New York’s only nonstop service to the city of Albuquerque on a day that saw horrendous delays due to FAA ATC controller furloughs.
Albuquerque is JetBlue’s first destination in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, and is the 77th destination served in the airline’s growing route network.
JetBlue’s schedule between New York and Albuquerque:
| JFK to ABQ: | ABQ to JFK: |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 8:25 p.m. – 11:04 p.m. | 11:55 p.m. – 5:57 a.m. |
| - Daily flights operate year round beginning Monday, April 22, 2013 – | |
JetBlue’s flights from Albuquerque will be operated with its 150-seat Airbus A320 fleet.
Meanwhile the New York airports were hit the hardest by the FAA ATC controller furloughs with delays upwards of 90 minutes yesterday. More delays are expected today.
Read the full report in the USA Today: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boston Strong. JetBlue Airways has been a strong supporter of the Boston Red Sox and the city of Boston as it recovers from the tragic Boston Marathon bombings and massive lock-down of the city. Airbus A320-232 N605JB (msn 2368) in the Boston Red Sox livery arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue Airways:
Spirit Airlines adds new service to Philadelphia
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has added Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to its route network offering daily nonstop ultra low fare service between PHL and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). In addition, daily nonstop service between Philadelphia and Las Vegas starts on April 25, 2013, and daily nonstop seasonal service between Philadelphia and Myrtle Beach starts on April 26, 2013.
Today Spirit offers nonstop service to 21 destinations from DFW, including Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Chicago-O’Hare, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston-Bush Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Mesa, Portland (Oregon), San Diego, Tampa, Toluca/Mexico City. In addition, Spirit is adding nonstop service to the following cities bringing the total number of nonstop destinations from DFW to 26 by this summer:
- Los Angeles – April 25, 2013
- Oakland/San Francisco – April 25, 2013
- Cancun, Mexico – April 25, 2013
- Los Cabos, Mexico – June 13, 2013
- Latrobe/Pittsburgh – June 14, 2013
Spirit currently offers daily nonstop service to Las Vegas from Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Oakland/San Francisco, San Diego, and Portland, Oregon.
Spirit currently offers year-round daily nonstop service to Myrtle Beach from Atlantic City, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and New York LaGuardia, as well as seasonal service to Chicago O’Hare, Detroit, Latrobe/Pittsburgh, the Niagara Falls, New York/Toronto area, and Charleston, West Virginia.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-132 N505NK (msn 2485) prepares to touch down on runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Spirit Airlines:
Route Map:
CanJet Airlines considers long-range scheduled operations
CanJet Airlines (2nd) (Halifax), a division of IMP Group Limited, is a full-service charter airline. The airline is now considering scheduled operations again.
According to this report by The Province, the charter airline’s first priority is formalize a new long-range flying contract with Air Transat (Montreal). Failing that, the airline is considering operating scheduled flights between Canada and the European Union, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica and Barbados.
CanJet currently operates its Boeing 737-800s mainly for Air Transat (Montreal). Now Air Transat, as we previously reported, is considering operating their own Boeing 737s.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Boeing 737-81Q WL C-FXGG (msn 29051) climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
CanJet Airlines:
JetBlue announces new Boston-Houston Hobby flights
JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced it will be adding two daily flights between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport starting July 25, 2013.
JetBlue’s schedule between Boston and Houston:
| Boston (BOS) to Houston (HOU): | Houston (HOU) to Boston (BOS): |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 7:00 a.m. – 9:57 a.m. | 10:35 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. |
| 1:40 p.m. – 4:39 p.m. | 5:20 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| - Flights operate daily effective July 25, 2013 -
- All times local – |
|
HOU becomes 49th destination from Logan and Houston Hobby becomes Logan’s 74th nonstop domestic destination.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-232 N563JB (msn 2006) in the Blueberries tail design climbs away from runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue Airways:
Allegiant to add Greensboro-Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood flights
Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) has announced new nonstop jet service between Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) beginning on June 6, 2013.
The new flights will operate twice weekly between Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. McDonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83) N876GA (msn 53469) arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Allegiant:
The end of Capital Cargo International Airlines
Capital Cargo International Airlines (Orlando) is no more. The cargo airline was merged into ATI-Air Transport International (Little Rock) yesterday (March 11). Founded in 1995, Capital Cargo International Airlines (CCIA) was an FAA 121 Supplemental Air Carrier. The airline operated five Boeing 727-200 and three 757-200 freighters.
Parent Air Transport Services Group issued the following statement:
Air Transport Services Group, Inc. announced on March 11, 2013 the completion of the merger of two of its airline subsidiaries, Air Transport International, Inc. (ATI) and Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. (CCIA).
The merger creates a single airline, ATI, with its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, its operations center in Wilmington, Ohio, and its management team led by ATI President ATSG President and CEO Dennis Manibusan. ATI currently operates 13 aircraft, including seven Boeing 767 freighters (five 767-200s and two 767-300s), three Boeing 757 freighters, and three DC-8 combi (combination passenger and main-deck cargo) aircraft. The three DC-8 combis are to be replaced soon with four Boeing 757 combis.
The Air Carrier Certificate for CCIA has been surrendered to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and its aircraft leases and other assets transferred to ATI, following that agency’s review and approval of the technical aspects of ATI’s airline merger plan. Further, the economic authority for CCIA has been surrendered to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for cancellation.
ATSG President and CEO Joe Hete, President and CEO of ATSG, said completing the merger is an important milestone in an overall effort to make ATSG more profitable, and to better serve its customers.
“This merger is the most significant of a number of steps we are taking throughout ATSG to better fit our airline overhead and operating cost structures to the airline operations we have today, and expect to add in the future,” Hete said. “Dennis Manibusan and his teams in each company have worked hard to complete this process, and I applaud their efforts. The larger scale and strength of the new combined ATI they have created will be better prepared to support ATI’s customers, including DHL and the U.S. military, and attract new business in the months to come.”
Top Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell. Boeing 727-223 (F) N708AA (msn 22465) approaches runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The freighter is painted in the final 2011 livery.
Bottom Copyright Photo: Capital Cargo International Airlines. Boeing 757-222 (F) N531UA (msn 25042) was the only 757 to wear the new color scheme.
Capital Cargo International Airlines:
ATI-Air Transport International:
WestJet and Air France expand their relationship
WestJet Airlines (Calgary) and Air France (Paris) today announced they have entered into a code-share agreement enabling Air France to offer its customers 10 new Canadian destinations operated by WestJet.
The “AF” code is now on select WestJet flights connecting from Toronto to Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saint-John’s, Moncton and Halifax. Winnipeg and Calgary flights also bear the French carrier’s code for both Toronto and Montreal connections to Air France’s direct flights to Paris.
This is the ninth code-share agreement for WestJet which, additionally, has twenty-one interline relationships.
Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-76N WL C-GWSH (msn 29886) climbs away from runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
WestJet: 
Air France:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. Airbus A320-211 F-GHQK (msn 236) taxies to the runway at Geneva.
Southwest Airlines to fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico (replacing AirTran)
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced an extension of flight schedules for travel through November 1, 2013. In extending both carriers’ bookable inventory, Southwest introduces four new nonstop routes, including the first Southwest service from Des Moines to the West through Las Vegas, and the return of seasonal service in three markets. The carrier also announced new Southwest Airlines service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and San Juan, a conversion from AirTran service in the market, beginning on September 29, 2013. Southwest Airlines begins its initial service in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 14 with nonstop service between both Tampa Bay and Orlando. AirTran introduces additional seasonal flying to and from Florida.
Southwest’s new markets:
- Two daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and San Juan
- One daily nonstop flight between Nashville and Pittsburgh
- One daily nonstop flight between Atlanta and San Diego
- One daily nonstop flight between Des Moines and Las Vegas
- One daily nonstop flight between Jacksonville and Chicago
Southwest’s returning seasonal markets:
- One daily nonstop flight between Indianapolis and Orlando
- One daily nonstop flight between Jacksonville and Las Vegas
- One daily nonstop flight between Orlando and Minneapolis-Saint Paul
AirTran’s new markets:
- Seasonal service between Orlando and Houston (Hobby)
- Seasonal service between Orlando and New Orleans
- Seasonal service between Fort Myers and Columbus
- Seasonal service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Pittsburgh
Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N944WN (msn 36659) with extra “Free Bags Fly Free” markings arrives on runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Southwest Airlines:
AirTran Airways:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. The special AirTran schemes are not expected to survive the integration into Southwest. The pictured Boeing 737-7BD WL N354AT (msn 36725) in the special Georgia Aquarium ”Dolphin 1″ scheme is due to become N7724A with Southwest.
JetBlue and Aer Lingus expand their code share relationship
JetBlue Airways (New York) and Aer Lingus (Dublin) have announced a codeshare agreement that expands upon the partnership that has linked the two carriers’ networks at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Boston’s Logan International Airport since 2008.
Flights operated by JetBlue and featuring the Aer Lingus “EI” flight number will soon be available for sale on the Aer Lingus website, travel agents and online travel agencies, connecting the Irish carrier’s transatlantic flights with 29 JetBlue destinations in North America including Baltimore/Washington, Buffalo, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Orlando, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, subject to receipt of government approval.
Through the JetBlue-Aer Lingus partnership, customers can enjoy the convenience of booking a single ticket that includes flights operated by both carriers, with benefits including one-stop check-in and baggage transfer to dozens of destinations throughout the United States.
The start of the new codeshare arrangement coincides with the move of Aer Lingus’ New York flight operations from Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport into JetBlue’s acclaimed Terminal 5. Aer Lingus customers connecting to one of JetBlue’s many destinations across the U.S. will benefit from same terminal connections, one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in for travel on both airlines, from the U.S. to Europe.
With the move to Terminal 5, scheduled for April 3, 2013, the minimum connection time from European arrivals to US departures will be reduced to just about 60 minutes. Customers travelling to Ireland will enjoy connections as fast as 40 minutes.
Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell. Airbus A320-232 N569JB (msn 2075) in the 10th Anniversary scheme taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
JetBlue Airways:
Aer Lingus:
Spirit Airlines reports 4th consecutive profitable year and record full-year 2012 net income
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) reported fourth quarter 2012 and full year 2012 financial results.
- Net income for the fourth quarter 2012 was $19.5 million, or $0.27 per diluted share. Results for the fourth quarter and full year 2012 include an estimated $25 million negative revenue impact ($24 million pre-tax income, $15 million after tax) from Hurricane Sandy.
- Adjusted CASM ex-fuel for the fourth quarter 2012 decreased 2.5 percent year-over-year. See “Reconciliation of Adjusted CASM ex-fuel to CASM” table below for more details.
- Net income, excluding special items, for the full year 2012 was a record $103.8 million, or $1.43 per diluted share1. GAAP net income for the full year 2012 was a record $108.5 million, or $1.49 per diluted share.
- For the fourth quarter 2012, Spirit achieved an operating margin, excluding special items, of 9.7 percent (15.8 percent adjusted for Hurricane Sandy)1. For the full year 2012, Spirit’s operating margin, excluding special items, was 12.6 percent (14.2 percent adjusted for Hurricane Sandy). Operating margin on a GAAP basis was 9.7 percent and 13.2 percent for the fourth quarter and full year 2012, respectively.
- Spirit ended 2012 with $416.8 million in unrestricted cash.
- Spirit’s return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) was 26.5 percent (28.8 percent adjusted for Hurricane Sandy) for the year ended December 31, 2012. See “Calculation for Return on Invested Capital” table below for more details.
“2012 was a very exciting year for Spirit. We successfully grew our business, delivered strong financial results and remained committed to our low-cost, low-fare strategy. This low-cost, low-fare strategy helped us to achieve among the highest margins in the industry,” said Ben Baldanza, Spirit’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “I want to thank and congratulate our team members that contributed to our success.”
Revenue Performance
For the fourth quarter 2012, Spirit’s total operating revenue was $328.3 million, an increase of 19.8 percent, compared to fourth quarter 2011.
Total revenue per available seat mile (“RASM”) for the fourth quarter 2012 was 11.10 cents, a decrease of 6.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2011 due to the negative revenue impact from Hurricane Sandy and a 5.3 percent increase in average stage length.
Passenger flight segment (“PFS”) volume grew 22.0 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter 2012 with average non-ticket revenue per PFS for the fourth quarter 2012 increasing 9.4 percent year-over-year to $52.73 and average ticket revenue per PFS for the quarter decreasing 8.6 percent year-over-year to $71.30. The growth in non-ticket revenue per PFS was primarily driven by a passenger usage fee increase implemented late in the fourth quarter of 2011.
For the full year 2012, total operating revenue increased 23.1 percent to $1.3 billion compared to the same period last year on a 21.3 percent increase in available seat miles.
Cost Performance
Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter 2012 were $296.3 million, an increase of 25.6 percent compared to the same period in 2011. The increase in operating expenses was primarily driven by fuel and other expenses associated with additional available seat miles (“capacity”) which grew by 28.3 percent year-over-year.
Cost per available seat mile excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”) for the fourth quarter 2012 decreased 2.5 percent year-over-year to 5.93 cents. Primary drivers of the decrease included lower labor expense per ASM year-over-year due to lower unit overhead costs, lower distribution expense per ASM as a result of a decrease in credit card fees, and an increase in average stage length. These benefits were partially offset by start-up costs related to Spirit’s seat maintenance program of $1.4 million during the fourth quarter 2012, bringing the total start-up costs related to this program to $6.8 million, and higher depreciation and amortization expense related to amortization of heavy maintenance events.
Total operating expense for the full year 2012 was $1.1 billion, up 23.5 percent as compared to the full year 2011, largely driven by fuel and other expenses associated with capacity increasing by 21.3 percent year-over-year.
Selected Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items
As of December 31, 2012, Spirit had $416.8 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, no restricted cash, no debt on its balance sheet, and total shareholders’ equity of $582.5 million.
During the fourth quarter 2012, Spirit incurred capital expenditures of $2.1 million, paid $5.8 million in pre-delivery deposits (“PDPs”) for future deliveries of aircraft, net of reimbursements, and paid $2.1 million in maintenance reserves, net of reimbursements.
Fleet
Spirit ended 2012 with 45 aircraft in its fleet. The Company has nine aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2013, including seven new Airbus A320 aircraft and two used A319s.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Spirit Airlines is expected to retire its last two Airbus A321s (N587NK and N588NK) in 2017. Both are not expected to be repainted in the new colors. A321-231 N587NK (msn 2476) climbs away from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood hub.
Spirit Airlines:
Spirit Airlines starts Detroit-Denver and Houston-Orlando flights
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) started new nonstop service between Detroit and Denver on February 14. The initial service is operating daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and increases to daily service starting on March 1, 2013.
Spirit currently offers daily nonstop service from Denver to Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Phoenix/Mesa (seasonal), as well as a variety of connections throughout the Americas.
Spirit currently offers nonstop daily service from Detroit to Cancun, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, New York LaGuardia, Orlando and Tampa, as well as convenient connections throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America.
In addition, Spirit Airlines also started daily nonstop service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Orlando International Airport on February 14.
The flight will also operate as new one-stop continuation service via Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) as DFW-Houston-Orlando and Orlando-Houston-DFW, complementing Spirit’s existing non-stop service between DFW and Orlando.
Spirit introduced its ultra low fare service to Houstonians in September with twice daily nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, and started daily nonstop service from Houston to both Chicago O’Hare and Las Vegas in October. Spirit offers connections from Houston to 12 destinations throughout the Americas, including Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Oakland/San Francisco, Phoenix/Mesa, Portland (Oregon), Tampa, and Toluca/Mexico City.
Spirit offers Orlando customers nonstop service to Atlantic City, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Latrobe/Pittsburgh, and now Houston.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-132 N504NK (msn 2473) climbs away from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
Spirit Airlines:
Route Map:
Please click on the map for the full-size image.
Grand Rapids to join the Southwest Airlines network on August 11
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today that Grand Rapids, Michigan is the next AirTran Airways (Dallas) city to be converted to Southwest service. Those flights from Grand Rapids to Baltimore/Washington, Denver, Orlando, and Saint Louis will begin on August 11, 2013. AirTran service in Grand Rapids will end the previous day, August 10, 2013.
From Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), fly Southwest Airlines Nonstop to:
- (BWI) Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
- (DEN) Denver International Airport
- (MCO) Orlando International Airport
- (STL) Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Additionally, AirTran expands operations in Memphis with new nonstop flights between Memphis and Chicago (Midway), Baltimore/Washington, and Orlando, beginning on August 11, 2013. In Memphis, AirTran currently offers five daily nonstop flights to Atlanta.
Southwest also will begin nonstop service between Flint, Michigan and Las Vegas starting on August 11, 2013. Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint is currently served by AirTran Airways and will convert to Southwest Airlines service on April 14, 2013. Inaugural service from Flint will also include nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.
Top Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney. Boeing 737-3H4 N609SW (msn 27929) in the California One motif lands at Las Vegas.
Southwest Airlines:
AirTran Airways:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Southwest Airlines is also phasing out the AirTran Airways’ Boeing 717 fleet. The 717s will gradually migrate to Delta Air Lines. Boeing 717-2BD N946AT (msn 55009) painted in the special livery of the world champion Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Sunwing Airlines to operate Edmonton-Cancun weekly flights
Sunwing Airlines (flysunwing.com) (Toronto-Pearson) has announced the addition of winter flights from Edmonton to Cancun, Mexico. The new flights will depart on Tuesdays, commencing on February 12, 2013 until April 9, 2013.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-8K5 C-FRZG (msn 35139) was leased for the winter season from Thomson Airways on December 3, 2012 and still retains the new fuselage colors of Thomson creating this unique hybrid livery.
Sunwing Airlines: 
Spirit Airlines announces new seasonal service to Myrtle Beach from Baltimore/Washington and Philadelphia
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced that starting April 25, 2013, it is adding daily nonstop seasonal service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR).
Spirit currently offers year-round daily nonstop service to Myrtle Beach from Atlantic City, Boston, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and New York LaGuardia, and also recently announced it has moved up the start dates for its 2013 seasonal service to/from Myrtle Beach – and just in time for the Valentine’s and President’s Day Weekend – including:
- Daily nonstop service between Myrtle Beach and Chicago O’Hare starting February 14, 2013.
- Daily nonstop service between Myrtle Beach and Detroit starting February 14, 2013.
- Three weekly nonstop flights between Myrtle Beach and the Latrobe/Pittsburgh area starting February 14, 2013, with service increasing to daily on April 25, 2013.
- Two weekly nonstop flights between Myrtle Beach and the Niagara Falls, New York/Toronto area starting February 15, 2013, with service increasing to four weekly flights on April 25, 2013.
- Two weekly nonstop flights between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, West Virginia starting March 2, 2013.
In addition, effective April 25, 2013, Spirit resumes seasonal service to/from Myrtle Beach and the Plattsburgh, New York/Montreal Area and Dallas/Fort Worth, both with three flights per week.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-132 N503NK (msn 2470) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Spirit Airlines: 
Route Map:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Silver Airways’ CEO Darrell Richardson to retire after leading the company through its growth period
Silver Airways Corporation (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) announced that CEO Darrell Richardson (below) plans to retire from the company, capping a long and distinguished career in aviation. Mr. Richardson informed the Board of Directors of his decision and has received its full support. Silver’s board of directors is actively conducting a search for a new CEO; Mr. Richardson will remain in a consulting capacity until a transition is finalized. Richardson has also accepted an offer to join the Company’s board of directors.
Copyright Photo: Silver Airways.
Matthew Ray, Chairman of the Board for Silver Airways, commented on Richardson’s retirement, saying: “Darrell has played an integral role in building Silver Airways and we have realized many accomplishments under his leadership. His dedication and contributions, both strategically and operationally, have positioned us for continued future success. We now have a strong operating platform and bright future ahead. We could not be more thankful for Darrell’s leadership.”
The former CEO of Air Turks & Caicos and Pace Airlines, Mr. Richardson’s career in aviation spans more than 40 years and includes posts with such notable former and current carriers as Continental, Air Florida and Mesaba Airlines, where he served as Chief Operating Officer from 1995 to 2000. He started his career with Piedmont Airlines in 1968 after earning a BSEE degree from the Cook Institute of Technology. Mr. Richardson also holds an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Miami.
Silver Airways has grown tremendously during Mr. Richardson’s tenure. The far-flung carrier’s (see route maps below) fleet has grown to 13 Raytheon (Beechcraft) 1900Ds and 17 SAAB 340Bs (25 by the end on March). The feeder airline has taken on abandoned routes and cities that many major carriers no longer wanted to operate to and from.
Copyright Photo below: Brian McDonough. The SAAB 340B, discarded by many others, is becoming the backbone of the Silver Airways fleet. Former Mesaba Airlines SAAB 340B N402XJ (msn 402) taxies to runway 9L at Fort lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Silver Airways:
Route Maps (Silver Airways) operates in five distinct regions across the United States, ranging from one of the coldest to one of the warmest:
Billings, Montana:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Cleveland:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Washington Dulles:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Atlanta:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Florida-Bahamas:
Please click on the map for the full-size view.
Spirit Airlines issues a statement for the ground collision with a parked US Airways Airbus A320 on December 31
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has conducted its own internal investigation and issued the following statement concerning the ground collision between a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 and a parked US Airways Airbus A320 on December 31 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport:
Spirit Airlines said yesterday (January 2) that it has completed its preliminary internal investigation into the incident on the night of December 31, 2012 involving Spirit Airlines flight 403 traveling from Atlanta and landing at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Following landing, air traffic control instructed the pilot to taxi to the gate using taxiway T. While taxiing, the Spirit Airbus A320 made contact with a parked US Airways A320 aircraft. Spirit was not advised by air traffic control of the presence of the other aircraft. As part of Spirit’s investigation, Spirit has been informed by officials that the control tower had also not been advised that the other A320 was parked in such close proximity to an active taxiway.
In addition, Spirit Airlines has advised the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and they will not be investigating given the minor nature of the incident.
Customers deplaned at the gate as normal and there were no injuries. There were 167 customers on board. Spirit’s aircraft was returned to service within hours following minor repairs.
Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell. Airbus A320-232 N601NK (msn 4206) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Spirit Airlines: 
US Airways expands to Central and South America with Avianca codeshare agreement
US Airways (Phoenix) and Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) have announced a new bilateral codeshare agreement after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The airline also announced an expansion of its codeshare with TACA. US Airways customers will enjoy new access to destinations throughout Colombia with Avianca and expanded access in Central and South America with TACA, along with the convenience of a single-ticket purchase for a seamless travel experience and the ability to redeem status Dividend Miles for travel. Customers traveling on Avianca and TACA will also receive expanded access to the United States. Both Avianca and TACA are subsidiaries of AviancaTaca Holdings.
US Airways customers will be able to connect to the Colombian cities of Bogota, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena and Medellin on Avianca. Conversely, Avianca customers in these cities will have access to US Airways’ hub cities of Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and the airline’s focus city at Washington’s Reagan National Airport. All fights are available for sale starting December 21 for travel beginning on January 7, 2013. Specific connection information is as follows:
| New Connections for US Airways Customers on Avianca | New Connections for Avianca Customers on US Airways |
| To Bogota, Colombia (BOG) from: | To Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National (DCA) from: |
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| To Medellin, Colombia (MDE) from: | To Philadelphia (PHL) from: |
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| To Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ) from: | To Charlotte, N.C. (CLT) from: |
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| To Cali, Colombia (CLO) from: | To Phoenix (PHX) from: |
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| To Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) from: | |
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US Airways will also be expanding its codeshare with TACA (San Salvador). With the expansion US Airways customers will now able to reach San Salvador, El Salvador and Guatemala City, Guatemala. TACA customers will have access to the US Airways’ hub cities. Specific codeshare information is as follows:
| New Connections for US Airways Customers on TACA | New Connections for TACA Customers on US Airways |
| To Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) and San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) from: | To Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix from: |
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Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-214 N109UW (msn 1065) departs the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
US Airways: 
TACA:
Avianca:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Airbus A319-115 N647AV (msn 3647) arrives at Washington (Dulles).
JetBlue Airways arrives in Providence, Rhode Island
JetBlue Airways (New York) yesterday (November 29) launched nonstop service between the Sunshine State of Florida and the carrier’s 75th destination: Providence, Rhode Island. The carrier now operates two daily flights from T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and one daily flight to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Service between Providence and Florida will be operated on the value airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring many premium offerings, including a first checked bag free (b), assigned leather seating with legroom to spare, and more than 140 channels of complimentary live television and radio on personal seatback screens (c). The airline, well-known for its superior and personable customer service, also offers a free and unlimited assortment of name brand snacks and drinks for the ride.
JetBlue’s schedule between Providence and Orlando:
| PVD to MCO: | MCO to PVD: |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 8:00 a.m. – 11:03 a.m.
3:15 p.m. – 6:17 p.m. |
11:55 a.m. – 2:33 p.m.
5:40 p.m. – 8:18 p.m. |
| - Flights operate year round – | |
Customers traveling between Providence and Orlando can conveniently connect onwards to three other cities in JetBlue’s route network: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; or Nassau, The Bahamas.
JetBlue’s schedule between Providence and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood:
| PVD to FLL: | FLL to PVD: |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 4:30 p.m. – 7:44 p.m. | 12:55 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. |
| - Flights operate year round –
|
|
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Airbus A320-232 N534JB (msn 1705) climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
JetBlue Airways: 
Tiara Air Aruba arrives in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood
Tiara Air Aruba (Aruba) yesterday (November 27) expanded to the United States with twice-weekly Boeing 737-300 jet service on the Maracaibo-Aruba-Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and return route.
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Formerly operated by United Airlines as N345UA and Gol Transportes Aereos as PR-GLE, Boeing 737-322 was delivered to Tiara Air Aruba as P4-TIW (msn 24249) on February 14, 2012. The jetliner is named “Arawak” after the Arawak indigenous people of the West Indies.
Hot New Photos: 
Frontier Airlines adds the first jet service at Shenandoah Valley, Virginia today
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) today (November 20) expands its service from Orlando International Airport, Fla. (MCO) with the launch of nonstop service to Shenandoah Valley, Va. (SHD). Frontier Airlines is the only low-fare carrier at the airport, the first jet service at the airport, and the only airline offering nonstop service from the Shenandoah Valley to Orlando.
Following is the schedule for Frontier’s Shenandoah service:
Orlando-Shenandoah (beginning Nov. 20, 2012)
| Route | Departs | Arrives | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||||||||
| MCO-SHD | 7:30 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | Tues/Thurs | A319 | ||||||||||||
| SHD-MCO | 10:05 a.m. | 12:10 p.m. | Tues/Thurs | A319 | ||||||||||||
| MCO-SHD | 7:00 a.m. | 8:55 a.m. | Sun | A319 | ||||||||||||
| SHD-MCO | 9:35 a.m. | 11:40 a.m. | Sun | A319 | ||||||||||||
The new service will operate on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Frontier Airlines on the same day also expanded its service from Orlando, Florida (MCO) with the launch of nonstop service to Columbia, Missouri (COU). This is the only nonstop service from Columbia to Florida, and the only low-fare carrier service to Mid-Missouri.
Following is the schedule for Frontier’s Columbia service:
Orlando-Columbia (beginning Nov. 20, 2012)
| Route | Departs | Arrives | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||
| MCO-COU | 1:50 p.m. | 3:35 p.m. | Tues | A319 | ||||
| COU-MCO | 4:15 p.m. | 7:35 p.m. | Tues | A319 | ||||
| MCO-COU | 8:00 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | Sat | A319 | ||||
| COU-MCO | 10:25 a.m. | 1:45 p.m. | Sat | A319 |
The new service will operate on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus Airbus A319-111 N929FR (msn 2240) with Larry, the Lynx, on the tail, departs from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Frontier Airlines: 
Route Map: Frontier is adopting the Allegiant Air model for serving underserved smaller markets to vacation centers. Frontier is adding more leisure and vacation routes and also from these smaller underserved markets.
Please click on the map to expand.
Frontier Airlines to expand operations at Trenton, New Jersey
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) today announced it will expand its low-fare service at Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN), in Trenton, N.J., with the addition of four nonstop destinations launching in late January and early February 2013. The Denver-based airline also announced that it would be basing an Airbus A319 aircraft at Trenton-Mercer Airport to operate this new service. Frontier is the only airline providing scheduled service out of Trenton-Mercer Airport, the gateway to New Jersey’s state capital, all of central New Jersey, and southeast Pennsylvania.
In addition to its previously announced nonstop service to Orlando, Florida (MCO), Frontier will now provide customers throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania convenient, low-fare service to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Florida (FLL); Fort Myers, Florida (RSW); New Orleans, Louisiana (MSY); and Tampa, Florida (TPA). This new service brings the number of nonstop destinations served by Frontier out of Trenton-Mercer to five.
Following is the schedule for Frontier’s new Trenton service:
| Route | Effective | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||
| Fort Lauderdale | Feb. 2, 2013 | Mon/Wed/Sat | A319 | ||||||
| Route | Effective | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||
| Fort Myers | Jan. 31, 2013 | Thur/Sun | A319 | ||||||
| Route | Effective | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||
| New Orleans | Feb. 1, 2013 | Mon/Fri | A319 | ||||||
| Route | Effective | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||
| Tampa | Jan. 31, 2013 | Tues/Thur/Sat | A319 | ||||||
Frontier will also increase its frequencies to Orlando from two weekly flights to four:
| Route | Effective | Frequency | Aircraft | |||||||||
| Orlando | Feb. 1, 2013 | Tues/Wed/Fri/Sun | A319 | |||||||||
The new service will operate on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-112 N943FR (msn 2518) taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Frontier Airlines:
Frontier Airlines to expand service at Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) has announced it will expand on its existing annual summer seasonal nonstop service between Denver, Colorado (DEN) and Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC) with the addition of winter season flying beginning February 13, 2013. The Denver-based carrier will operate two weekly flights through April 7, 2013. Frontier’s summer season service in Jackson Hole will resume May 2013.
Following is the schedule for Frontier’s Jackson Hole service:
Denver-Jackson Hole (beginning Feb. 13, 2013)
| Route | Departs | Arrives | Frequency | Aircraft | ||||||||||
| DEN-JAC | 12:25 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. | Wed/Sun | A319 | ||||||||||
| JAC-DEN | 2:35 p.m. | 4:05 p.m. | Wed/Sun | A319 |
Frontier’s Jackson Hole service operates on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-111 N919FR (msn 1980) departs from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Frontier Airlines: 
Southwest Airlines to push south to San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 14
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) now offers for sale nonstop service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Orlando and Tampa, for travel beginning on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Beginning in April, Southwest will operate three daily nonstop flights between Orlando and San Juan and one daily nonstop flight between Tampa and San Juan, as the carrier transitions these routes from AirTran Airways-operated city pairs.
AirTran Airways will continue to offer service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, and Atlanta. Southwest soon will determine the best time to convert the remaining AirTran flying to Southwest as part of the ongoing integration to eventually become one airline flying under the Southwest brand. AirTran Customers who booked flights between San Juan and Tampa Bay or San Juan and Orlando for travel beginning April 14, 2013, or later will be contacted by the airline and rebooked on Southwest flights.
AirTran began service at San Juan in March 2008 with service to Orlando and Atlanta. In February 2009, the carrier added service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington. AirTran added San Juan service to Tampa Bay in April 2011 and to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood in May 2012. Today, AirTran still offers a total of five daily nonstop flights to three markets from San Juan: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (see below).
Top Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-8H4 N8604K (msn 39883) taxies to the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.
AirTran Airways: 
Southwest Airlines:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-7BD N313AT (msn 33927) departs the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The incredibly shrinking AirTran route map and future Southwest destinations:
Please click on the map to expand.
Sunwing Airlines to fly to San Jose, Costa Rica for the winter
Sunwing Airlines (Toronto-Pearson) has announced the launch of new flights to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO), in addition to its current flights to Liberia (LIR). Flights from Toronto (Pearson) will depart weekly on Fridays from December 21, 2012 to April 12, 2013.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-8Q8 C-FTAH (msn 29351) departs from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Sunwing Airlines: 
JetBlue Airways is coming to Charleston, South Carolina
JetBlue Airways (New York) will serve Charleston International Airport (CHS) with twice daily nonstop service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and a daily flight from Boston’s Logan (BOS) starting on Thursday, February 28, 2013. CHS will become the airline’s 76th destination.
JetBlue’s schedule between New York and Charleston:
| JFK to CHS: | CHS to JFK: |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 8:10 a.m. – 10:23 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. |
| 2:59 p.m. – 5:18 p.m. | 5:55 p.m. – 7:43 p.m. |
| - Flights operate daily beginning Feb. 28 , 2013 - | |
JetBlue’s schedule between Boston and Charleston:
| BOS to CHS: | CHS to BOS: |
| Depart – Arrive | Depart – Arrive |
| 9:35 a.m. – 12:06 p.m. | 12:45 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. |
| - Flights operate daily beginning Feb. 28 , 2013 - - All times local - |
|
JetBlue’s flights from Charleston will be operated with its 100-seat Embraer ERJ 190 fleet.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N193JB (msn 19000017) in the Harlequin tail design climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
JetBlue Airways: 
Spirit Airlines starts service from Baltimore/Washington
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) on September 6 started service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) with twice daily nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and daily nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth.
Spirit has been providing ultra low fares to Fort Lauderdale with connections to the Caribbean and Latin America from the Washington, DC/Baltimore area for nine years. The carrier has relocated its operations from Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA) to BWI and adding service to Dallas/Fort Worth.
Copyright Photo: Airbus A319-132 N534NK (msn 3395) taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
Spirit Airlines: 
Spirit Airlines announces even more new routes
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) today announced that it is adding two more new routes from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport starting October 4, 2012, including:
- daily nonstop service between Houston and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and
- daily nonstop service between Houston and Las Vegas
Spirit also recently announced it is launching twice daily nonstop service between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on September 20, 2012, with connections available to six destinations including, Baltimore/Washington, Las Vegas, Mesa, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Toluca, and Portland, Oregon.
Spirit Airlines also announced schedules for new service to/from Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico starting November 8, 2012.
- Daily nonstop service between Los Cabos, Mexico (serving Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) and San Diego starts November 8, 2012, with connecting service to Dallas/Fort Worth.
- In addition, four weekly nonstop flights between Los Cabos, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start June 13, 2013.
- Three weekly nonstop flights between Cancun, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start April 25, 2013, with service increasing to daily on June 13, 2013.
The company also announced it is adding daily nonstop service between Denver International Airport and Mesa (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport) starting on October 4, 2012.
Finally the ultra-fare airline announced it is adding daily nonstop service between Portland International Airport and San Diego International Airport starting on November 8, 2012.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-232 N604NK (msn 4431) taxies to the runway at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood hub.
Spirit Slide Show: 
Spirit’s growing Route Map:
Please click on the map to expand.
St. Cloud, Minnesota to have airline service again via Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) has announced it will launch twice-weekly service from Mesa, Arizona (near Phoenix) to St. Cloud, MN on December 15. Delta dropped service to St. Cloud (to MSP) in December 2009.
Read the full report from MPR News: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Allegiant also operates the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-87 (MD-87), mainly for charter flights. The short-fuselage type will be retired in 2013.
Allegiant Slide Show: 
Spirit announces new routes to Mexico and Philadelphia
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced schedules for new service to/from Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico starting on November 8, 2012.
The new service includes one daily nonstop service between Los Cabos, Mexico (serving Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) and San Diego, with connecting service to Dallas/Fort Worth.
In addition, four weekly nonstop flights between Los Cabos, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start on June 13, 2013.
Three weekly nonstop flights between Cancun, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start on April 25, 2013, with service increasing to daily on June 13, 2013.
The company is also launching nonstop Dallas/Fort Worth-Philadelphia (four days a week) service on April 26, 2013 as it builds up its DFW hub.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Airbus A320-232 N607NK (msn 4595) taxies at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood hub.
Spiriti Airlines Slide Show: 
Updated Route Map:
Click on the map to expand.
United Airlines to start seasonal Austin-Cancun weekly flights on November 10
United Airlines (Chicago) will start weekly and seasonal Austin-Cancun flights starting on November 10. The route will be operated with Boeing 737-700s per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-724 N24715 taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
United Airlines: 
Silver Airways comes to Atlanta and Washington Dulles tomorrow
Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) tomorrow (August 1) will expand its East Coast route network with the launch of its first-ever flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). New flights begin August 1 offering nonstop service from Atlanta to Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), serving the Greater Gainesville and Alachua County area in northern Florida, and Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) in Lewisburg, West Virginia. Schedules are as follows:
Atlanta – Gainesville
| DAY | FLIGHT NO. | FROM | TO | DEPARTURE TIME | ARRIVAL TIME | ||||||||||
| Sun-Fri | 3603 | Atlanta (ATL) | Gainesville (GNV) | 9:00 p.m. | 10:40 p.m. | ||||||||||
| Sun-Fri | 3600 | Gainesville (GNV) | Atlanta (ATL) | 6:00 a.m. | 7:40 a.m. | ||||||||||
Atlanta – Lewisburg/Greenbrier Valley
| DAY | FLIGHT NO. | FROM | TO | DEPARTURE TIME | ARRIVAL TIME | ||||||||||
| Sun-Fri | 3601 | Atlanta (ATL) | Lewisburg/Greenbrier (LWB) | 8:10 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | ||||||||||
| Sat | 3605 | Atlanta (ATL) | Lewisburg/Greenbrier (LWB) | 12:40 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. | ||||||||||
| Sun-Fri | 3602 | Lewisburg/Greenbrier (LWB) | Atlanta (ATL) | 6:30 p.m. | 8:25 p.m. | ||||||||||
| Sat | 3605 | Lewisburg/Greenbrier(LWB) | Atlanta (ATL) | 10:00 a.m. | 11:55 a.m. |
On August 1 Silver Airways is also coming to Washington (Dulles). This will be the first-ever flights from Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) by Silver Airways. The new routes, which fall under the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Essential Air Services (EAS) program, cover five gateways in West Virginia, two in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia as follows:
- West Virginia – Beckley (BKW), Clarksburg (CKB), Lewisburg (LWB), Morgantown (MGW)
- Pennsylvania – Altoona (AOO) and Johnstown (JST)
- Virginia – Staunton/Shenandoah (SHD)
Silver Airways will operate its new IAD routes as United Express through its ongoing codeshare agreement with United Airlines. Schedule highlights include:
Altoona, PA (AOO); Johnstown, PA (JST); Clarksburg, WV (CKB); Morgantown, WV (MGW); Staunton/Shenandoah, VA (SHD)
- Three daily weekday flights and three weekend departures (one on Saturdays, two on Sundays).
Beckley, WV (BKW)
- Two daily weekday flights and two weekend departures (one each on Saturdays and Sundays).
Lewisburg/Greenbrier (LWB)
- One daily departure seven days per week.
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck.
United Airlines to operate to Jackson Hole, Wyoming from both Newark and San Francisco
United Airlines (Chicago) is planning to serve the ski area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming next winter with nonstop service from both the Newark and San Francisco hubs according to Trib.com.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-724 N24715 taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
United Airlines: 
Spirit Airlines adds six more routes from Dallas/Fort Worth
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) is continuing its expansion at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) adding new low-yield pressure on recovering American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth). The ultra low fare airline has announced it is adding nonstop service to yet another six new cities from DFW, including Fort Myers, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Latrobe (near Pittsburgh). Spirit has also filed to service Los Cabos, Mexico. This will bring the total number of nonstop destinations that Spirit serves from DFW to 26.
- Spirit will offer nonstop seasonal service between DFW and Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) with three weekly flights starting November 8, 2012 through April 24, 2013.
- Daily nonstop service between DFW and New Orleans International Airport (MSY) begins January 24, 2013, with a second daily flight starting June 13, 2013.
- Spirit will offer four weekly nonstop flights between DFW and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) beginning April 26, 2013, with service increasing to daily on June 13, 2013.
- Spirit will offer four weekly nonstop flights between DFW and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) beginning April 26, 2013, with service increasing to daily on June 13, 2013.
- Spirit will offer three weekly nonstop flights between DFW and Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Pittsburgh (LBE) beginning June 14, 2013.
- In addition, Spirit has filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin nonstop service between DFW and Los Cabos, Mexico, serving Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Schedules and fares will be announced upon receipt of necessary governmental approval.
Spirit introduced its ultra low fares at DFW just over a year ago in May of 2011 and has continued to grow its operations there ever since. Today Spirit offers nonstop service to 15 destinations from DFW, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando, Mesa (near Phoenix), San Diego, Tampa, Toluca (near Mexico City), and Portland, Oregon. In addition to today’s announcement, earlier this month Spirit announced it is adding nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington, Houston, Oakland/San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the airline has also filed to service Cancun, Mexico. This brings the total number of nonstop destinations that Spirit serves from DFW to 26.
Spirit Airlines: 
Route Map:
Please click on the map to expand.
AirTran adds more flights on the Baltimore/Washington-Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood route
AirTran Airways (subsidiary of Southwest Airlines) (Dallas) has announced more options for Baltimore Customers looking to get to Florida, AirTran Airways will add as many as four daily nonstop flights between Baltimore/Washington and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood beginning on September 6, 2012, through the end of its published schedule on February 13, 2013. The new flights will add to AirTran’s existing three daily roundtrip flights between the markets.
With the September flight schedule, Southwest Airlines will operate three daily nonstop flights between Baltimore/Washington and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood for a combined total of up to ten daily roundtrip BWI-FLL flights between the carriers.
Southwest Airlines began service to Baltimore/Washington on Sept. 15, 1993, with ten daily nonstop departures to two cites. Since then, Southwest has grown its operation to more than 170 daily nonstop departures to nearly 50 cities. Southwest has nearly 3,000 Employees at BWI, and has a plane dedicated to the state, Maryland One.
Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-7BD N281AT taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
AirTran Airways: 
Southwest Airlines: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Maryland One arrives at Las Vegas.
Southwest to launch nonstop Nashville-New York LaGuardia flights on February 13
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced today they extended their flight schedules for travel bookings through February 13, 2013. In the schedule, Southwest will begin new service between Nashville and New York LaGuardia with two daily nonstop flights. The carrier also will begin new seasonal routes as listed below:
Southwest’s new seasonal markets include:
- One daily nonstop flight between Nashville and Ft. Myers
- One daily nonstop flight between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Phoenix
- One daily nonstop flight between Milwaukee and New Orleans
- One daily nonstop flight between Ontario and Reno
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.
Southwest Airlines: 
JetBlue names San Juan a “focus city”
JetBlue Airways (New York) has named its growing San Juan operation a “focus city”. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony held yesterday (June 28) in celebration of JetBlue Airways’ new home at Terminal A in San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), the airline’s President and CEO Dave Barger, together with Puerto Rico’s Governor Luis Fortuno, announced that San Juan has become the sixth focus city in JetBlue’s 71-city network.
San Juan joins Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando as the sixth focus city in JetBlue’s network. The designation of San Juan as a focus city in JetBlue’s growing route network underscores the airline’s ever-increasing commitment to the Puerto Rican community and its expansion into the new Terminal A at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, which will be able to accommodate further growth.
In Puerto Rico, JetBlue currently serves Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan, with service to 13 nonstop destinations, nine within the continental US: Boston, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Hartford/Springfield, Jacksonville, New York, Newark, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach and; four within the Caribbean: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. The airline has announced it will begin the only direct nonstop to Washington Reagan National Airport, its 14th city out of San Juan, on August 23, 2012.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.
JetBlue: 
Silver Airways wants to replace Colgan Air at Bridgeport, Morgantown and Beckley
Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has filed to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) flights at three airports in West Virginia – Bridgeport, Morgantown and Beckley.
The flights would be operated as an United Express carrier to the Washington (Dulles) hub, replacing Colgan Air, according to this report by the Washington Post.
Colgan Air will operate the routes until July 31.
Silver Airways has also opened a new maintenance base at DuBois, PA according to the article.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck.
Is Caribbean Airlines facing a cash crunch?
Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) according to this report by the Trinidad Express Newspapers, has failed to meet its promised $5 million payment to Children’s Life Fund, a charity favored by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.
Also according to the report, CAL owes National Petroleum approximately $29 million for aviation fuel.
The airline has recently reduced staff in the Air Jamaica operation.
Also according to the report, the airline has been unable to take delivery of the third and fourth new ATR 72-600 due to not being able to meet the payments.
As the flag carrier, Caribbean Airlines receives a fuel subsidy which grounded REDjet did not receive and was critical.
Finallly, the airline is also reportedly looking at its two-brands policy (maintaining the Air Jamaica brand).
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck. This Boeing 737-800 wears joint titles.
Caribbean Airlines Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Frontier Airlines adds new flights from Milwaukee
Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A319-111 N919FR (msn 1980) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.) (Denver) announced it will launch new seasonal nonstop service between Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Seattle/Tacoma (SEA) and will increase service to Phoenix (PHX) this winter. The MKE-SEA flight will be operated by Republic Airlines (2nd) Embraer ERJ 190s.
Twice-weekly nonstop service to SEA will be provided for the peak holiday travel season December 16, 2010, through January 4, 2011. A second daily nonstop service to Phoenix will be provided February 14 through April 17, 2011.
Frontier also announced that it would be increasing its nonstop service between Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Cancún, Mexico (CUN) to twice-weekly flights with a new Sunday flight from Feb. 13 through April 17, 2011. Frontier offers nonstop service between Indianapolis and Cancún on Saturdays from November 6, 2010 to May 1, 2011.
Both the MKE-PHX and IND-CUN flights will be operated with Airbus A319s.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on photo for more details.
JetBlue Airways to fly from Jacksonville to San Juan
JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N534JB (msn 1705) (Blueberries) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) today announced plans to continue expanding its San Juan, Puerto Rico focus city at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport with daily nonstop service to Jacksonville, Florida beginning on May 19, 2011. The new route will be the only nonstop service between the Caribbean and Jacksonville, Florida.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-232 N534JB (msn 1705) climbs away from runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
JetBlue Airways wants to grow without any merger
JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N636JB (msn 2755) (1st-Stripes) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) wants to grow organically rather than growing through a merger according to this report by Reuters.
Read the full story:
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. This was the first tail design for jetBlue Airways, introduced in 1999. Airbus A320-232 N636JB (msn 2755) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
Tomorrow will be the last day of Continental Airlines
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 operate for the last time on September 30 with the last flights of the day. Officially on October 1, 2010 Continental and United Airlines (Chicago) will be merged as “equals” although the United name will survive. Oddly CO’s 1991 livery will live on as the merged airline’s color scheme.
Boeing 737-924 ER N53442 (msn 33536) is the first CO airplane to receive UA titles. Aircraft 285 and 124 should follow.
The first new UA revenue flight is expected to depart Houston (Bush Intercontinental) on Friday morning. More information to follow.
We will be honoring the history of CO over the next few days with additional historical photos.
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Honoring the past, Boeing 737-924 ER N75436 (msn 33531) departing Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood was painted in the 1947 “Blue Skyway” livery (initially this livery was introduced on metal fuselages).
Continental Airlines on Flickr Slide Show:
Continental Airlines on AG Slide Show (press >):
Southwest Airlines to buy AirTran Airways, will now operate 717s
AirTran Airways Boeing 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) (Orlando Magic) FLL (Dave Campbell), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today (September 27) that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (Orlando), the parent company of AirTran Airways (Orlando), for a combination of cash and Southwest Airlines’ common stock.
At Southwest Airlines’ closing stock price of $12.28 on September 24, 2010, the transaction values AirTran common stock at $7.69 per share, or approximately $1.4 billion in the aggregate, including AirTran’s outstanding convertible notes. This represents a premium of 69 percent over the September 24, 2010 closing price of AirTran stock. Under the agreement, each share of AirTran common stock will be exchanged for $3.75 in cash and 0.321 shares of Southwest Airlines’ common stock, subject to certain adjustments, based on Southwest Airlines’ share price prior to closing. Including the existing AirTran net indebtedness and capitalized aircraft operating leases, the transaction value is approximately $3.4 billion.
The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each company, and closing is subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of certain regulatory clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions.
The acquisition will significantly expand Southwest Airlines’ low-fare service to many more Customers in many more domestic markets (especially the mega hub at Atlanta), creating hundreds of additional low-fare itineraries for the traveling public. Moreover, the expansion of low fares should generate hundreds of millions in annual savings to consumers. Based on an economic analysis by Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, LLP*, Southwest Airlines’ more expansive low-fare service at Atlanta, alone, has the potential to stimulate over two million new passengers and over $200 million in consumer savings, annually. These savings would be created from the new low-fare competition that Southwest Airlines would be able to provide as a result of the acquisition, expanding the well-known “Southwest Effect’” of reducing fares and stimulating new passenger traffic wherever it flies.
AirTran revenues and operating income, excluding special items, for the twelve months ending June 30, 2010, were $2.5 billion and $128 million, respectively. Southwest Airlines revenues and operating income, excluding special items, for the twelve months ending June 30, 2010, were $11.2 billion and $843 million, respectively. The proposed transaction, including the anticipated benefit of net synergies, but excluding the impact of one-time acquisition and integration costs, is expected to be accretive to Southwest Airlines pro forma fully-diluted earnings per share in the first year after the close of the transaction and strongly accretive thereafter. Net annual synergies are expected to exceed $400 million by 2013. One-time costs related to the acquisition and integration of AirTran are expected to be in the range of $300 million to $500 million.
As of June 30, 2010, the combined unrestricted cash and short-term investments of the two companies was $3.7 billion. Southwest Airlines intends to fund approximately $670 million in cash consideration for the transaction out of cash on hand. Since June 30, Southwest’s cash and short-term investments balance has increased from $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion. In addition, Southwest Airlines has a fully available, unsecured revolving credit facility of $600 million.
Based on current operations, the combined organization would have nearly 43,000 Employees and serve more than 100 million Customers annually from more than 100 different airports in the U.S. and near-international destinations. In addition, the combined carriers’ all-Boeing fleet consisting of 685 active aircraft would include 401 Boeing 737-700s, 173 Boeing 737-300s, 25 Boeing 737-500s, and 86 Boeing 717s, with an average age of approximately 10 years, one of the youngest fleets in the industry. Southwest Airlines also announced, previously, that it is evaluating the opportunity to introduce the Boeing 737-800 into its domestic network to complement its current fleet, providing opportunities for longer-haul flying and service to high-demand, slot-controlled, or gate-restricted markets. This acquisition supports Southwest Airlines’ evaluation of the Boeing 737-800.
Until closing, Southwest Airlines and AirTran will continue to operate as independent companies. After closing, Bob Fornaro will continue to be involved in the integration of the two companies. Southwest Airlines plans to integrate AirTran into the Southwest Airlines Brand by transitioning the AirTran fleet to the Southwest Airlines livery, developing a consistent Customer Experience, and consolidating corporate functions into its Dallas headquarters. Subject to receipt of necessary approvals, Southwest Airlines’ integration plans include transitioning the operations of the two carriers to a Single Operating Certificate. Plans for existing AirTran facilities will be developed by integration teams and decisions will be announced at appropriate times. The carriers’ frequent-flyer programs will be combined over time, as well.
Copyright Photo: Dave Campbell. Southwest Airlines will become a new operator of the Boeing 717. Both companies are very supportive of logojets and special promotions. 717-2BD N949AT (msn 55003) in the Orlando Magic motif taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
