Monthly Archives: February 2012

EuroLOT to operate eight Bombardier Q400s

EuroLOT (Warsaw) has received permission from Poland’s treasury to acquire eight Bombardier DHC-8-402s (Q400s). The Q400s are expected to replace some of the existing ATR 42s and ATR 72s.

Read the full report from the Warsaw Business Journal: CLICK HERE

EuroLOT was established on December 19, 1996 and commenced scheduled operations on July 1, 1997. EuroLOT was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of LOT Polish Airlines. Currently its current main shareholder is the Polish State Treasury with 62.1% of the stock, while LOT retains 37.9%. It operates for its parent company.

Photo: EuroLOT.

Niki is planning Vienna-Sarajevo service

Niki (flyniki.com) is planning Vienna-Sarajevo service this summer in competition with Austrian Airlines according to Balkans.com.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Niki Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Aer Lingus’ profits were up in 2011 but warns about the affects of higher fuel costs for 2012

Aer Lingus (Dublin) reported net profit for 2011 rose to $95.6 million. The airline expects a profitable 2012 but warned against the affects of higher fuel costs.

Read the full report from the WSJ: CLICK HERE

Aer Lingus Slide Show: CLICK HERE

American to fly nonstop Washington Reagan-Los Angeles starting in June

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) today announced it will launch new nonstop two-class Boeing 757-200 service between Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) starting on June 14, 2012. The new service will complement American’s three existing daily round-trip flights between LAX and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

The new flight between Washington Reagan and Los Angeles is made possible because of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill that was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama which lifted the long-range restrictions on certain routes.

American Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Starbow Airlines to add two more BAe 146s

Starbow Airlines (Accra) is planning to add additional BAe 146s.

The new airline issued the following statement:

“Aero Surveys Limited, a West African regional carrier, operating under the commercial name ”Starbow” has just finalized the lease of another two BAe 146 jetliners bringing its total fleet size to four jets in less than six months.

Starbow started domestic operations in Ghana on Monday September 26, 2011 with its maiden flight to Kumasi. Starbow’s patronage has increased overwhelmingly since it commenced operations and now serves Kumasi with 16 flights a week, Tamale with 7 flights a week and Takoradi with 5 flights a week.

Regionally, Starbow plans to offer direct air services from Accra, Ghana to capital cities of neighbouring countries in the second quarter of 2012 namely, Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Monrovia in Liberia and Cotonou in Benin.

Starbow is leasing the aircraft from Riva Investments Limited, a lessor based in the British Virgin Islands, which has purchased the aircraft from Falko Regional Aircraft Limited. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled in May 2012.”

Boeing delivers the first VIP 747-8 Intercontinental

Boeing (Chicago) yesterday celebrated the delivery of the first 747-8 Intercontinental VIP airplane to an undisclosed customer, according to the manufacturer. The airplane, which was delivered with a minimal interior, will enter service in 2014 after its VIP interior is installed.

The VIP version of the 747-8 Intercontinental provides a cabin with 4,786 square feet (444.6 square meters). This 747-8 VIP will include Greenpoint Technologies’ Aeroloft, located above the main cabin between the upper deck and tail of the 747-8 VIP, giving the airplane 393 square feet (36.5 square meters) of additional cabin space. The Aeroloft will be installed by Boeing Global Transport & Executive Systems (GTES) in Wichita, Kan.

With Aeroloft, the VIP-configured 747-8 offers a total of 5,179 square feet (481.1 square meters) of cabin space, can carry 100 passengers and has a range of about 8,840 nautical miles (16,372 km). It provides double-digit improvements in fuel burn and emissions over the 747-400, and is 30 percent more quiet. With a normal cruise speed of Mach 0.86, it is the fastest large commercial jet.

The 747-8 VIP jet is the only large airplane in its class that fits today’s airport infrastructure, giving its owners the flexibility to fly to more destinations. Building on the current 747’s capability to fly into most airports worldwide, the 747-8 VIP uses the same pilot type ratings, services and most ground support equipment.

To date, undisclosed customers have ordered nine 747-8 VIP airplanes.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. The pictured 747-8K8 registered A7-HHE (msn 37544) is believed to be for Qatar Amiri Flight.

JetBlue and Korean Air announce a new interline agreement

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Korean Air (Seoul) jointly announced today an interline partnership which allows travelers to conveniently book connections between JetBlue’s network in The Americas and Korean’s network throughout Asia Pacific.

Effective this week, customers can book tickets for combined travel on JetBlue and Korean Air through New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Korean Air offers daily nonstop service from New York, Washington and Los Angeles to the carrier’s hub at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN), where travellers can connect onward to 12 Korean cities, more than two dozen Chinese cities, and most major cities in Asia Pacific including Bangkok, Beijing, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Taipei.

In New York, JetBlue offers easy connections between Korean Air-operated flights and cities along the East Coast including Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and multiple destinations in Florida. From Los Angeles, JetBlue offers connecting service to Boston, New York (JFK), and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From Washington Dulles, the carrier connects to destinations in the West Coast and throughout the Northeast United States.

With the recently added service on its new A380 fleet from Seoul to New York, Korean Air is the first airline to offer flights between East Asia and New York on the double-deck, wide-body jet. Korean Air also offers daily service between Los Angeles and Seoul aboard the superjumbo. Passengers flying over the Pacific will find unparalleled comfort on Korean Air’s A380: with only 407 seats on the aircraft, Korean Air offers the most spacious configuration of any airline. The A380 superjumbo has 12 luxurious First Class Kosmo suites on the lower deck, whilst the upper deck is entirely devoted to Prestige Business Class. The all-Business Class deck features 94 full flat Prestige Sleeper seats. The aircraft also comes with a stylish onboard bar and lounge area where passengers can sample Korean Air’s selection of exclusive cocktails as well as a first-of-its-kind ‘Duty Free Showcase’ which features a great variety of duty-free products with a dedicated cabin crew member to assist and advise passengers with all their shopping needs.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.

JetBlue Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Korean Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing.

The flight attendants move United one step closer to full integration

United Airlines (Chicago) today announced further progress in the company’s work to fully integrate the United and Continental work groups.

This afternoon flight attendants represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) ratified a new labor agreement with the company.

The new agreement covers approximately 15,000 United flight attendants at the company’s United Airlines subsidiary located throughout the United States and several international bases. The company and the AFA will soon commence negotiations for a joint collective bargaining agreement for flight attendants at United, Continental and Continental Micronesia. Continental flight attendants ratified their collective bargaining agreement in February 2011.

In addition, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Master Executive Councils for both United and Continental yesterday ratified an extension of the Transition and Process Agreement reached with the company. The agreement contains modifications of the initial agreement which facilitate the conclusion of joint collective bargaining negotiations.

United Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Frontier Airlines to add two new Pennsylvania routes from Orlando

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is adding two non-hub routes. Frontier announced today that it is expanding its service from Orlando, Florida (MCO), with the addition of new year-round, nonstop service to and from Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton, Pennsylvania (ABE) and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (MDT). Twice-weekly Allentown service begins on May 26, 2012, offering flights on Tuesday and Saturday. Harrisburg service – which will operate Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – takes off May 24, 2012.

The new Orlando routes will operate on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Frontier Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Korean Air to operate its new Airbus A380 to Frankfurt this summer

Korean Air (Seoul) has announced it will deploy its new Airbus A380 on the Seoul (Incheon)-Frankfurt route with daily service from March 25 through October 27.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems.

Korean Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE