Monthly Archives: May 2010

JetBlue restores the summer New York (JFK)-Nantucket route

JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) today (May 27) restores the summer route from JFK to Nantucket Island. The seasonal route will be operated with Embraer ERJ 190s through September 30.

Continental to fly the 787 nonstop Houston-Auckland

Image: PRNewsFoto/Continental Airlines.

Continental Airlines (Houston) announced another major step in development of its Houston hub with plans to begin nonstop Boeing 787 flights to Auckland, New Zealand on November 16, 2011 (subject to government approval).

Auckland will be added to the 63 international destinations that Continental currently serves nonstop from Houston, and will become the 26th destination in Continental’s Pacific network. Continental serves more destinations in the Pacific region than any other U.S. carrier.

Continental will be one of three airlines flying nonstop between North America and New Zealand. At approximately 7,400 miles, the new route will be the longest from Continental’s Houston hub. Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis, with five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation.

Swiss rolls out its wild San Francisco “flower power” Airbus A340

Copyright Photo: Adrian Arzenheimer. Airbus A340-313X HB-JMJ (msn 150) poses for the camera in its 1960s "groovy" color scheme.

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) today (May 26), as planned, rolled out its new “flower power” logojet at Zurich to promote the launch of the new Zurich-San Francisco route.

Air India in crisis, first the accident, now the strike

Air India Boeing 747-4H6 VT-AIS (msn 25703) FRA (Bernhard Ross), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air India (Mumbai) today is dealing with an unexpected strike by its employees (ground crews and engineers), in the aftermath of the Air India Express crash.

Read the full report:

CLICK HERE

Investigators call off search for missing Air France Flight Data Recorders

Air France Airbus A330-203 F-GZCP (msn 660) DXB (tragically crashed June 1, 2009), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Air France’s Airbus A330-203 F-GZCP (msn 660), which crashed tragically on June 1, 2009 in the Atlantic Ocean, will probably remain a mystery. Investigators have called off their search for the Flight Data Recorder and the Cockpit Voice Recorder.

Air France flight AF 447 operating from Rio de Janeiro to Paris (CDG) plunged into the Atlantic Ocean during a thunderstorm, killing 228 people.

Read the full report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

In other news, Air France-KLM will be considering a purchase of either the Airbus A350-900 or the Boeing 787-900. A decision is expected next year.

Read the full report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

AerCap signs agreement to sell six A320s to Avolon, establishes a JV

AerCap Holdings N.V. (The Netherlands) announced it has signed an agreement with aircraft leasing company Avolon (Dublin) for the sale of six Airbus A320s. Four of the aircraft are new (2010 manufactured) and are part of the AerVenture portfolio, a joint venture between AerCap and Abu Dhabi’s investment holding company Waha Capital. The other two aircraft are owned by AerCap and were manufactured in 2008. All aircraft have been sold with leases attached.

In addition to the A320 sale, AerCap has established a joint venture with Avolon which owns three of AerCap’s A330-200 aircraft on long-term leases with Aeroflot. AerCap and Avolon will each contribute 50% of the equity required for this joint venture. AerCap will continue to manage the aircraft and the related leases.

United Airlines Boeing 777-222 diverts to Montreal, 10 people injured

United Airlines’ (Chicago) flight UA 935, operating from London (Heathrow) to Los Angeles with a Boeing 777-222 ER N794UA (msn 26953) yesterday (May 25) diverted to Montreal (Trudeau) after encountering turbulence. 10 people on board were injured by severe turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean. The airline said a crew member and nine passengers needed immediate medical treatment.

Delta to start Atlanta-Monrovia flights on September 4

Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 ER WL N1609 (msn 30574) LAX (Michael B. Ing), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) announced new service between the Atlanta hub and Monrovia, Liberia.

The new service, which is scheduled to begin September 4, will connect Delta’s hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Roberts International Airport in Monrovia with a stop in Accra, Ghana. The flight will be operated on 215-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft, equipped with 34 BusinessElite seats and 181 seats in Economy.

Delta has received approval from the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority, and preliminary approval from the U.S. government, to sell seats for the new flight for the planned launch in September. Final U.S. government approvals are expected before the flight begins.

American finally launches Chicago O’Hare-Beijing flights

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) yesterday (May 25) launched its first flight between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport. The new route is operated with Boeing 777-200 ERs and operates four days a week.