Monthly Archives: May 2010

Blue1 to add the Boeing 717

Image: Blue1 via Allan Huse.

Blue1 (Helsinki) will invest in 120-seat Boeing 717-200 aircraft for its fleet to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding route network and increasing operations.

Blue1 is focusing more and more on becoming a business travelers’ airline, with a strong emphasis on both the number of routes and operations. The contents of the service product are also being renewed to respond to the new needs of the Finnish business traveler. The Boeing 717 has an important role in the company’s route strategy and the growth of operations, as well as the service experience for our customers.

The first Boeing 717 aircraft will join the Blue1 fleet in the autumn of 2010. The total number of aircraft in the fleet will be nine within six months. With the acquisition of the Boeing 717, Blue1’s aim is to double its fleet in a couple of years and to transfer to a fleet of just one type of aircraft.

As part of this new introduction, Blue1 will also introduce an unique and different blue color scheme for each aircraft.

Delta Air Lines to hire 300 pilots

Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 N138DL (msn 25409) FLL (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) plans to hire 300 pilots according to this Reuters report.

Read the full report:

CLICK HERE

VARIG to fly to Barbados

VARIG (2nd) (VRG Linhas Aereas) Boeing 737-76N WL PR-VBU (msn 29905) GRU (Marcelo F. De Biasi), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE:GOL – News), the parent of both Gol Transportes Aereos and VARIG (2nd) (VRG Linhas Aereas), has received approval to start regular flights between Brazil and Barbados, in the Caribbean. Flights will begin on June 26 and will take place once a week, on Saturdays, under the VARIG brand.

The new flight will leave Sao Paulo International Airport/Guarulhos at 4:35 p.m. (local time) (1635) on Saturdays, arriving in Bridgetown, Barbados, at 9:15 p.m. (local time) (2115). The return flight will leave Bridgetown at 10:00 p.m. (local time) (2200), arriving in Brazil at 4:35 a.m. (local time) (0435) on Sundays.

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. VARIG’s (2nd) Boeing 737-76N PR-VBU (msn 29905) arrives back at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Jazz Air’s pilots vote to go on strike if necessary

Air Canada Jazz Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) C-FZSI (msn 7160) ATL (Norbert G. Raith), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Jazz Air (Air Canada Jazz) (Halifax) is facing a possible strike by its pilots. The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) released the results of the strike ballot conducted by the pilots of Jazz Air LP. An overwhelming 99 percent of pilots voted in favor of a strike should it become necessary to conclude a fair collective agreement with Jazz Air.

The Jazz pilots have been operating under the same contract since 2004.

According to ALPA, “Over the same time period, Jazz has distributed more than $475 million in profits directly to the Jazz Air Income Fund unit holders. The Jazz pilots work under a contract that has seen no adjustments to allowances, pension or benefits, and further pay adjustments to concessionary pay scales that fall well below the rate of inflation. Their collective agreement had an expiry date of June 30, 2009.”

Under the Canada Labour Code, both the strike authorization vote and written notification to the Company are required steps before any withdrawal of services can begin. Of the pilots eligible to vote, more than 90 percent participated in the balloting. At the end of the mandatory cooling-off period, Jazz pilots will legally be allowed to go on strike if there is not a new agreement.

Copyright Photo: Norbert G. Raith. Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) C-FZSI (msn 7160) is pictured on final approach at Atlanta while operating for Air Canada Jazz.

AirTran Airways adds new flights from San Antonio and Huntsville

AirTran Airways Boeing 737-76N WL N289AT (msn 32673) LAS (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AirTran Airways (Orlando) yesterday (May 27) added new nonstop service from San Antonio International Airport, to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

AirTran Airways began service to San Antonio on June 11, 2008. In addition to these new destinations, the airline also offers direct flights to its hub in Atlanta.

In addition, the company yesterday also launched daily nonstop service between Huntsville International Airport and both Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Orlando International Airport.

To celebrate the inaugural flight, Cadillac Williams, Alabama native and running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helped the airline donate tickets to the American Red Cross North Alabama / Tennessee Valley Region.

A spoof website for “Crynair”

http://crynair.com/

Iraqi Airways is declared bankrupt

Iraqi Airways (Baghdad) yesterday (May 26) was declared bankrupt by the Iraqi Government due to the ongoing debt-related lawsuit with the government of Kuwait concerning the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s Transportation Minister stated it would take three years to close down the state-owned company. The company may be sold to a private investor which would disconnect the government from the debt.

Air New Zealand to offer mobile phone and data capability on its new Boeing 777-300s

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Air New Zealand photo gallery.

Air New Zealand (Auckland) will be enabling its new Boeing 777-300 aircraft with mobile phone and data capability, with the first aircraft due for delivery in November 2010.

The introduction of the new service will enable Air New Zealand’s customers to use their iPhone, Blackberry and GSM mobile phones to safely send and receive emails and text messages during their flights.