Dutch Antilles Express is barred from flying to Venezuela, will sue INAC
DAE-Dutch Antilles Express (Curacao) has been barred from flying to Venezuela due to safety concerns cited by the INAC. Venezuela is its main market. DAE will take legal action against INAC and will continue operations to other destinations including Miami and Orlando. The airline will also ask the government of Curacao to take similar actions against Venezuelan carriers according to this report by El Universal.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
In other news, DAE is considering upgrading its McDonnell DC-9-83 (MD-83) fleet (operated by Falcon Air) with newer Airbus A319s or A320s. Falcon Air would acquire and operate the new aircraft for DAE.
Top Copyright Photo: Greg Drawbaugh/DRAW Decal. The Fokker 100s will also have to be replaced at some point. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PJ-DAA (msn 11310) prepares to depart from St. Maarten. All other images below by DAE.
DAE-Dutch Antilles Express: 
Skywest Airlines of Australia becomes Virgin Australia Regional Airlines
Skywest Airlines (Australia) (Perth) today (May 7) became Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.
The company issued this statement:
Virgin Australia today (May 7) unveiled its new regional airline operation with Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti in Perth.
Following the acquisition of Skywest Airlines last month, today marked the launch of the newly branded airline. The first two aircraft to be rebranded as ‘Virgin Australia’ were officially unveiled (Fokker 100 VH-FSQ and Fokker 50 VH-FNA), representing the airline’s commitment to continued investment and new growth opportunities for regional and charter travel in Australia.
The entity known as Virgin Australia Regional Airlines will be based in Perth, Western Australia and the operation will now have 32 aircraft operating over 800 services per week to 41 different destinations.
The old Skywest Airlines route map (above).
Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti described it as a momentous day for the airline, tourism and the travel industry.
“This country has one of the most geographically dispersed populations in the world and reliable, affordable air services are vital to the growth of regional Australia.
“In 2010, we articulated a strategy to become the airline of choice for all travellers in Australia. Since then, we have changed the competitive landscape in many ways and today marks our next major leap forward.
“By integrating Skywest Airlines into the Virgin Australia Group, we unlock new opportunities to grow our services to regional Australia and significantly increase our charter presence in the high growth fly-in-fly-out markets.
“Western Australia is one of the fastest growing aviation markets and a very important part of our strategy. We have made significant investment over the past two years with the introduction of our internationally configured Airbus A330 aircraft on services between the East and West Coast, increased frequencies to the resource-rich Pilbara region and established a large crew base in Perth.
“By building a Perth-based operation and workforce, we will continue to invest in local resources, expertise and infrastructure”, Mr Borghetti said.
Sir Richard Branson said: “It is fantastic what John and the team have done over the last couple of years, completely repositioning the airline with the introduction of the Virgin Australia brand and its brilliant product and service. Now I am thrilled to see him focusing on other market segments including regional and charter services where I know they will deliver.
“This is the start of the next ground-breaking chapter for the Virgin Australia Group and an exciting time for the airline”, Sir Richard said.
Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan. All other images and photos from Skywest. The Skywest Airlines brand is now being retired. All of the aircraft are gradually being repainted into the Virgin Australia brand.
The faces of Skywest Airlines.
Video: Skywest Airlines of Australia fades into the sunset:
Skywest Airlines:
Virgin Australia:
New combined Virgin Australia domestic route map:
Air Bagan Fokker 100 crash lands on a road, 2 killed and 8 injured
Air Bagan‘s (Yangon) flight W9 011 from Mandalay to Heho, Myanmar (formerly Burma) was being operated yesterday (December 25) with the pictured Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) XY-AGC (msn 11420). The jetliner was operating with 65 passengers and six crew members. According to local reports, the flight was on approach to Heho in fog, when the Fokker 100 made an emergency landing on a road near the airport and came to a stop in a rice field in pieces and caught on fire.
One passenger and one motorcyclist was killed in the accident and eight were injured.
The airline issued the following statement:
Read the full account from The Independent: CLICK HERE
According to the airline, “Heho is the gateway to beautiful Inle Lake with its unique lifestyle, and the ancient pagoda complexes of Kekku, Indain and Taungto. There is also the Shwe Umin Cave Pagoda of Pindaya, a lovely little town with a lake in its centre ad a flourishing craft industry of hand made paper and paper umbrellas
Gateway to the Inle Lake which is known as the Venice of the East, picturesque Inle Lake is definitely one of the magical sights in South East Asia. The lake is not only a beautiful sight to enjoy, but also the practical home of the native Intha (sons of the lake), who live on the lake in stilt houses with neatly cultivated floating farms and nurseries. The presence of many ethnic groups in the area, still wearing their national dress, especially on market day makes it a captivating place of much cultural interest.”
Copyright Photo: K.C. Sim. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) XY-AGC (msn 11327) is pictured departing from Singapore before the accident.
Domestic Route Map:
Please click on the map to expand.
Air Bagan: 
Air Astana retires its last two Fokker 50s on November 30
Air Astana (Almaty) has retired its last Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 (Fokker 50). The airline issued this statement:
Air Astana continues to phase out the fleet of Fokker 50 turboprops, with the last two aircraft scheduled to be returned to the lessor in January 2013. The original fleet of six aircraft will be fully replaced by new generation Embraer E-190 jet airliners by mid 2013.
During eight years of service with Air Astana, the Fokker 50 fleet completed 50,000 domestic flights, flew 90,000 hours and safely carried 1.5 million passengers.
As a result of the Fokker 50 being withdrawn from service, Air Astana ceased operating Astana to Uralsk, Astana to and Atyrau to Uralsk services on December 1, 2012. The airports at Uralsk and Semey do not meet the international safety and equipment standards required to support Embraer E-190 jet operations. The resumption of flights to Uralsk and Semey will only be possible after a major upgrade of airports to jet standard.
“Modernizing the fleet is a strategic priority of Air Astana, with new generation Embraer E-190s having started replacing Fokker 50 turboprops on the short-haul routes over the past 18 months. The new aircraft offer our passengers more comfort and time-saving convenience to destinations Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Russia and the Caucasus”, said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana. “Air Astana regrets any inconvenience caused to passengers caused by the withdraw of these turboprop services, but safety is our number one priority”.
Copyright Photo: Henk A. Duivenvoorden.
Air Astana: 
OLT Express Germany to become a low-cost carrier
OLT Express (Germany) (Bremen) is transforming itself from a regional feeder airline into a new point-to-point low-cost carrier according to Airline Route.
Starting on October 15, 2012, the redesigned airline will open new bases at Dresden, Muenster and Saarbruecken. In addition, the airline will open 14 new routes including new service to Budapest, Southend (near London), Milan (Malpensa), Paris (CDG) and Vienna.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. All of the new routes will be operated with Fokker 100s. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) D-AOLH (msn 11265) taxies at Zurich in the attractive 2011 livery.
OLT Express (Germany): 
OLT Express Germany is sold by Amber Gold to Panta Holdings
OLT Express (Germany) (Bremen) has been sold by Amber Gold to Dutch financial investor Panta Holdings BV.
Under the leadership of Panta Holdings, OLT Express (Germany) will continue its expansion plans by integrating Contact Air (Stuttgart) in early September.
Panta Holdings has been active in the aviation industry with Dutch company Denim Airways and leasing company Mass lease. In addition, Panta is involved in the Canadian supplier Avcorp Industries. Panta Holdings also owned VLM Airlines in the past before it was sold to the Air France-KLM Group.
After Amber Gold announced it was getting out of the aviation industry after the recent failure of OLT Express (Poland) there was a period of uncertainty for the employees of the OLT Express (Germany) and Contact Air. Now they have a more secure future.
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl. The Fokker 100 will now be the main aircraft for the new OLT Express. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 D-AOLG approaches for landing in the bright 2011 livery at Zurich. Unfortunately this color scheme is now also associated with the failure of OLT Express (Poland) which made headlines when it stranded passengers. A new branding effort by the new owners could become a new reality.
OLT Express (Germany): 
Contact Air: 
OLT Express Germany takes over Contact Air
OLT Express Germany (Bremen) took over the operations of Contact Air Service GmbH & Co. KG (Stuttgart) on July 4. Both companies will continue to operate under the OLT Express brand. Anti-trust clearance of the acquisition is expected to be completed in early September 2012.
With the acquisition, OLT Express Germany now employs about 500 additional employees. Of these, there are approximately 200 employees in Bremen, about 200 in Stuttgart and about 100 in Saarbruecken.
Top Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl.
OLT Express (Germany): 
Contact Air: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner.
DAE launches a new Curacao-Panama City route
DAE (Dutch Antilles Express) Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PJ-DAA (msn 11310) SXM (Greg Drawbaugh) , originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
DAE (Dutch Antilles Express) (Curacao) on October 16 launched a new twice-weekly route from Curacao to Panama City.
Copyright Photo: Greg Drawbaugh.
Air Panama (2nd) adds its first Fokker 70
Copyright Photo: Louis Seldon. Previously operated by the Ford Motor Corporation, F.28 Mk. 0070 N324K (msn 11545) poses for the camera at Detroit (DTW) before repainting into Air Panama's colors.
Air Panama (2nd) (Panama City) added its first Fokker F.28 Mk. 0070 (Fokker 70) (msn 11545) on August 19. Turismo Aereo adopted this historical name in 2006.
Here is a route map:
Sol del Paraguay’s first aircraft is painted
Copyright Photo: Andre Du-Pont/Mexico Air Spotters.
Sol del Paraguay (Asuncion) is a new airline in Paraguay. The carrier is getting ready to take delivery of its first aircraft, this ex-Mexicana Click Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 XA-TCP (msn 11341). A second Fokker will be added in order to start regional operations in 2011.
Copyright Photo: Andre Du-Pont/Mexico Air Spotters. XA-TCP is pictured at Mexico City after repainting.
The VLM Airlines brand is now gone
Copyright Photo: Pepscl. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.
CityJet (Dublin) has repainted the last Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 of VLM Airlines. The VLM brand is now retired.
Copyright Photo: Pepscl. OO-VLI (msn 20226) was the last to be repainted. The airliner waits for its passengers at Paris (Orly).
OceanAir is now operating as Avianca (Brazil)
Avianca (Brazil) (OceanAir Linhas Aereas) Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PR-OAJ (msn 11418) FLN (AirSpeed), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
OceanAir Linhas Aereas (Sao Paulo-Guarulhos) is now operating as Avianca (Brazil).
Copyright Photo: AirSpeed. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PR-OAL (msn 11418) taxies at Florianopolis with its new titles.
Iceland to close two airports tomorrow due to the ash
Flugfelag Islands-Air Iceland Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 (Fokker 50) TF-JMM (msn 20214) ARN (Stefan Sjogren), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Iceland will close two airports on Friday for the first time, a week after ash from an Icelandic volcano forced the shutdown of airspace over much of Europe and stranded thousands of passengers around the world, the Icelandic aviation authority announced Thursday according to this CNN report.
The Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavík International Airport will be closed beginning early Friday morning, the aviation authority said, according to a statement on the Keflavik airport’s website.
Though the ash cloud originated in Iceland, the country’s airports have been spared from closure until now. Strong northwest winds had been blowing ash from the volcano, in the south of Iceland, out to sea and over Europe.
Two other Icelandic international airports, in Akureyri and Egilsstadir, will stay open to all air traffic, the aviation authority said. The ash cloud is not expected to reach those cities, which are in the north and east of the island nation.
Icelandair announced Thursday that trans-Atlantic passengers from the U.S. and Europe who would have stopped in Keflavik will be rerouted Friday via Glasgow, Scotland.
Icelandair said that passengers traveling to and from Iceland will have the option of being re-routed through the Akureyri airport, a four-hour drive from Reykjavík. The airline is arranging bus travel between Akureyri airport and the Reykjavík Bus Terminal.
Read the full report from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/22/iceland.airport.closures/
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren. The ash is now also disrupting domestic air travel in Iceland. Flugfelag Islands’ (Air Iceland) Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 TF-JMM (msn 20214) prepares to land at Stockholm (Arlanda).
KLM Cityhopper retires the Fokker 50
KLM Cityhopper (Amsterdam) as planned retired its last two Fokker F.27 Mk. 050s (Fokker 50s) on March 27.
Photo and story link:
Video on the last flight:
Alliance Airlines to add eight more Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s
Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Alliance photo gallery.
Alliance Airlines (Brisbane) plans to buy an additional eight Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s (Fokker 100s) in order to expand its operations according to Flightglobal. The company signed a letter of intent (LOI) with an unnamed European vendor for the 100-seat aircraft, which will be delivered progressively from May. When the deliveries are completed, Alliance will have a fleet of 19 Fokker F.28 Mk. 100s and six Fokker F.27 Mk. 50s.
Read the full report:
Air Maleo to start cargo operations in West Papua, Indonesia
Air Maleo is a new airline in West Papua in the eastern portion of Indonesia. According to Flightglobal the company has acquired three Fokker F.27 Mk. 600 freighters from Empire Airlines (Coeur d’Alene) and hopes to commence operations in mid March.
Full article:
www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/24/338750/indonesian-cargo-start-up-air-maleo-to-use-f27s.html
Denim Air ceases all operations
Denim Air Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PH-LNE (msn 11322) MST (new type), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Denim Air (Amsterdam) ceased all operations on February 18, 2010. The company was established in 1996 and commenced operations on April 26, 1996. Air Nostrum acquired the company in January 1999 however in October 2002 the management of Denim Air acquired the all of the shares. The company specialized in ACMI operations and was flying for Air Nostrum and Arik Air and other agencies and companies. It was operating 10 Bombardier DHC-8-300s (Q300s), 10 Fokker F.27 Mk. 050s (Fokker 50s) and three Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s (Fokker 100s) at the end.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PH-LNE (msn 11322) is seen at Maastricht.
Amapola Flyg is operating SE-LJY in ANA colors
Copyright Photo: Ola Carlsson. Pictured hauling mail at night is SE-LJY at Stockholm (Arlanda).
Amapola Flyg (Stockholm-Arlanda) is operating its Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 (Fokker 50) SE-LJY (msn 20259) for the Swedish Post Office in this hybrid ANA color scheme.
KLM Cityhopper to retire the last Fokker 50 on March 27
KLM Cityhopper Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 PH-LXJ (msn 20270) NUE (type to be retired March 27, 2010), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
KLM Cityhopper (Amsterdam) will retire its last Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 (Fokker 50) from revenue service on March 27.
Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer. Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 PH-LXJ (msn 20270) stops at Nuremberg.
Iranian Air Transport changes its name to Naft Airlines
Naft Airlines Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) EP-MIS (msn 11503) THR, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Iranian Air Transport (Ahwaz) has changed its name to Naft Airlines.
Copyright Photo: Shahram (Shary) Sharifi.
Carpatair to add three Fokker 70s starting in December
Carpatair Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) YR-FKB (msn 11369) BLQ, originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Carpatair (Timisoara) will add three 72-seat Fokker F.28 Mk. 0070s (Fokker 70s). The first (YR-KMA) will be delivered in December with second in February 2010 and the third the following month. The new type will join the current fleet of SAAB 2000s and the pictured Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s.
Website with a press release and photo:
Copyright Photo: Lucio Alfieri.
Please click on photo or link below for full view, information, prints for sale and other photos:
Mexicana Click’s Office Depot logojet
Mexicana Click (Click Mexicana)
Copyright Photo: Arturo Zapata. XA-MRB is pictured at the Mexico City hub.
(Mexico City) in August introduced this special color scheme promoting Office Depot for the going back to school season.
Aria Air restarts operations
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.
Aria Air (Tehran) restarted operations on October 14. It previously shut down on July 25, 2009.
VLM Airlines being rebranded as CityJet
Copyright Photo: Nik French. VLM's Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 OO-VLP (msn 20209) was previously painted as The Green Machine and before that in the Euro 2008 soccer colors. It is pictured at Manchester after dark in CityJet's colors.
VLM Airlines (Antwerp) has started repainting its fleet into CityJet’s 2007 colors. CityJet will be the surviving carrier when Air France subsidiary CityJet (Dublin) is merged with VLM. The two carriers will operate under the CityJet name starting on January 1, 2010. However both carriers will continue to operate under each AOC until this date.
Skywest Airlines to acquire another Fokker 100
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Skywest's Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) VH-FNJ (msn 11489) climbs beautifully at Denpasar in the 2003 colors..
Skywest Airlines (Australia) (Perth) is adding another Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) bringing the fleet to 16 aircraft (nine F100s and seven Fokker F.27 Mk. 050s). The company is also considering an order for four Airbus A320s.
Press release:
Contact Air Fokker 100 makes emergency landing
Contact Air’s (Stuttgart) Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) D-AFKE (msn 11505) made an emergency landing at Stuttgart this morning due to landing gear problems. The passengers and crew escaped using the emergency chutes. The incident made headlines in Germany because one of the passengers on board was the chairman of Germany’s Social Democratic Party headed to Stuttgart to make a speech.
For dramatic pictures please see this news link:
Iran Aseman Fokker 100 burst tire, starts fire
Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.
Iran Aseman Airlines (Tehran) yesterday (August 11) had a Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) make a hard landing at Isfahan, Iran causing a tire to burst and a resultant fire in the wheel. There were no injuries.
News item:
www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20090812160152/Article/index_html
Aria Air suspends all flights after the accident
Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.
Aria Air (Tehran) suspended all operations yesterday (July 25) one day after the fiery crash that killed 16 people (mostly crew) at Mashhad the previous day.
News link:
Miniliner introduces a blue version of livery
Miniliner (Bergamo) has painted its Fokker F.27 Mk. 500 I-MLXT (msn 10374) in a blue and white version of the 2009 livery. I-MLXT stops at Liege. Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten.
Myanma Airways’ XY-ADW crashes in Sittwe
Myanma Airways (Yangon) according to Reuters lost its Fokker F.28 Mk. 4000 XY-ADW (msn 11114) on June 6 when it crash landed at Sittwe in western Myanmar on a flight from Yangon. Three people were injured. The aging airliner is probably an insurance write off but this is subject to confirmation.
Additional details from Reuters:
Mexicana Click to replace F100s with 717s
Please click on photo for full view and caption.
Mexicana Click (subsidiary of Mexicana) (formerly Click Mexicana) (Mexico City) will lease 25 104-seat Boeing 717-200s from Boeing Capital Corporation via its parent. The first copy will arrive this month and will replace the current 25 Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s (Fokker 100s).
