Yearly Archives: 2013

Allegiant Air introduces an Airbus A320 Make-A-Wish logo jet

Allegiant A320-200 N218NV (13-Make-A-Wish)(Grd)(Allegiant Air)(LR)

Allegiant Air (Las Vgeas) today kicked off a unique and impactful social media campaign celebrating the painting of Allegiant’s newly acquired Airbus A320 with a special Make-A-Wish® branded livery. A time-lapse video of the plane painting can be viewed athttp://gofly.us/rBXwF. For every share of the video from the company’s Facebook page, Allegiant has committed to donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $10,000.

The painting of the plane commemorates the company’s ongoing collaboration with Make-A-Wish to provide flights for families traveling to their wish destinations. Since teaming up with Make-A-Wish in May of 2012, Allegiant has donated wish travel for more than 70 families traveling to their wish destinations and more than $110,000 in cash sponsorships for Make-A-Wish events across the country. With service from more than 100 communities to popular family vacation destinations such as Orlando, Southern California and Hawaii, Allegiant is looking forward to continuing to help grant travel wishes.

Allegiant Air:

Video:

Alitalia reaches its $412 million cash call goal, will keep flying

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) has reached its goal to obtain $412 million in a cash call from its close investors according to Reuters. This will allow the struggling carrier to keep flying during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. The cash call is part of the Italian government’s plan to keep the flag carrier flying while it searches for a new partner to rescue the airline.

Read the full story from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) EI-RDC (msn 17000333) taxies at Zurich.

Alitalia (2nd):

AeroMexico to offer seasonal service to Denver again this winter

AeroMexico (Mexico City) has announced that it will begin to offer its traditional seasonal service between Mexico City and Denver as of December 15, 2013.

The carrier will serve the route with the following schedules:

Denver – Mexico City*
AM 0659	02:30 p.m.	07:02 p.m.	Daily

Mexico City – Denver*
AM 0658	09:37 a.m.	12:15 p.m.	Daily

* Times are shown in each country’s local time and are subject to change without notice.

AeroMexico will offer customers more options as of January 1st, 2014 with a second nonstop flight to this destination with the following schedules:

Denver – Mexico City*
AM 1659	05:00 p.m.	09:39 p.m.	Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday

Mexico City – Denver*
AM 1658	01:00 p.m.	03:40 p.m.	Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday

* Times are shown in each country’s local time and are subject to change without notice.

The carrier will serve the route with its Boeing 737-700 aircraft configured with 124 seats — 12 in Clase Premier, Aeromexico First Class cabin.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-752 WL XA-DRD (msn 35117) with the special Fight Against Breast Cancer in Mexico – Pink Ribbon markings arrives in Las Vegas.

AeroMexico:

WestJet’s new Santa video

WestJet (Calgary) has issued this new Santa video in time for the holidays.

The airline described the video:

WestJet has released the airline’s second annual holiday video – The WestJet Christmas Miracle – showing how WestJet and Santa teamed up to delight unsuspecting travellers with a real-time holiday surprise.

WestJet’s Digital Command Centre and a team of more than 150 merry WestJetters became Santa’s helpers, delivering personalized gifts to guests arriving in Calgary as part of a true holiday miracle.

“This year, we wanted to turn our holiday campaign into a tradition by doing something that’s never been done before,” said Richard Bartrem , WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. “Inspired by the notion of real-time giving, we wanted to surprise our guests with meaningful, personalized gifts when they least expected them. Being able to show our guests how much we care with gift-giving, a tried and true holiday tradition, resonates with WestJetters as much as our guests.”

Last year, WestJet’s inaugural holiday video reached nearly 500,000 views in just weeks. Once the video reached the milestone of 25,000 views, the airline donated flights to a family in need through WestJet’s community investment program. This year, WestJet Cares for Kids will continue this tradition by donating flights through Ronald McDonald House Charities, one of WestJet’s six partner charities, once the video reaches 200,000 views. Canadians can help to reach this goal by sharing the WestJet Christmas Miracle video with friends and family.

Nineteen hidden cameras captured guests at Toronto and Hamilton International Airports confiding their Christmas wishes with a virtual Santa Claus while waiting to board flights to Calgary . Guests were surprised upon arrival when a festively decorated baggage carousel came to life. On this special day, it was not just their suitcases that arrived, but the gifts they had asked for merely hours before.

The WestJet Christmas Miracle video was made possible in part by WestJet’s trusted partners, Best Buy Canada, Calgary International Airport Authority, Toronto Pearson International Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.

WestJet:

AMR Corporation and the US Airways Group come together as the American Airlines Group

AMR Corporation (Dallas/Fort Worth) and US Airways Group, Inc. (Phoenix) today announced the completion of their merger to officially form American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) and begin building the new American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth).

According to the new airline group, “The new American has a robust global network with nearly 6,700 daily flights to more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries and more than 100,000 employees worldwide. The combined airline has the scale, breadth and capabilities to compete more effectively and profitably in the global marketplace. Customers will soon enjoy access to more benefits and increased service across the combined company’s larger worldwide network and through an enhanced oneworld® Alliance. US Airways will exit Star Alliance on March 30, 2014 and will immediately enteroneworld on March 31, 2014. With an expanded global network and a strong financial foundation, American will deliver significant benefits to consumers, communities, employees and stakeholders.”

Although American and US Airways have come together as one company, the process to achieve a Single Operating Certificate is expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months. In the meantime, customers should continue to do business with the airline from which travel was purchased just as they did before the merger. In short, it is “business as usual.” The airlines’ separate websites, aa.com and usairways.com, as well as the two airlines’ reservations systems and loyalty programs, will continue to operate separately until further in the integration process.

Customer benefits of the transaction to be rolled out over time include:

A codeshare agreement between American and US Airways, creating more convenient access to the combined company’s global network
More choices and connectivity, with nine hub airports across the U.S.
Global access to a stronger oneworld alliance – including joint businesses with British Airways, Iberia and Finnair across the Atlantic and with Japan Airlines and Qantas across the Pacific – creating more options for travel and benefits both domestically and internationally
Reciprocal American Admirals Club and US Airways Club benefits and reciprocal elite recognition
Upgrade reciprocity
Consolidation of loyalty programs and expanded opportunities to earn and redeem miles across the combined network
Full integration of policies, websites, kiosks and customer-facing technology to ensure a consistent worldwide travel experience
Co-location of ticket counters and gates in key markets
With firm orders for more than 600 new mainline aircraft, American will have one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the industry, and a solid foundation for continued investment in technology, products, and services

Customers will begin to see enhancements to their experience in early January, including the ability to earn and redeem miles when traveling on either American Airlines or US Airways, reciprocal American Admirals Club and US Airways Club benefits, and reciprocal elite recognition. The combined airline expects to share more details around these key customer benefits early next year.

As the integration process is underway, American’s new Find Your Way site, aa.com/findyourway, will connect customers to key information throughout the merger integration process. Additionally, customers should visit aa.com and usairways.com, which will continue to be regularly updated with news on any fee, policy and procedure changes.

Employees of the new American will benefit from being part of a company with a more competitive and stronger financial foundation, which will create greater career opportunities over the long term. The completed merger also provides the path to improved compensation and benefits for employees.

Alignment of pay, benefits, work rules and other guidelines for employees of both airlines will be phased in over time so that all changes can be carefully considered. Represented employees will continue to work under their respective Collective Bargaining Agreements, with the modifications provided under the negotiated Memoranda of Understanding for certain groups. American’s non-represented Agents, Representatives and Planners will operate under their current terms and conditions of employment with merger-related adjustments.

The combination is expected to deliver enhanced value to American Airlines’ stakeholders and US Airways’ investors. The transaction is expected to generate more than $1 billion in annual net synergies by 2015.

The common and preferred stock of American Airlines Group will trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “AAL” and “AALCP,” respectively.

Rothschild is serving as financial advisor to American Airlines, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Jones Day, Paul Hastings, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and K&L Gates LLP are serving as legal counsel. Barclays and Millstein & Co. are serving as financial advisors to US Airways, and Latham & Watkins LLP, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Dechert LLP and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP are serving as legal counsel to US Airways. Moelis & Company and Mesirow Financial are serving as financial advisors to the Unsecured Creditors Committee. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Togut, Segal & Segal LLP are serving as the Unsecured Creditors Committee’s legal counsel.

Copyright Photo: Brian Peters/AirlinersGallery.com. Repainted with the new tail markings, Boeing 777-223 ER N791AN (msn 30254) departs from the DFW Hub in the “new look” AA Oneworld livery. N791AN is the first American aircraft to appear in the updated Oneworld color scheme.

Video: A “Thank You” from outgoing CEO Tom Horton of the American Airlines:

American Airlines:

The IAM declines to celebrate the “new” American Airlines opening bell ceremony

US Airways (Phoenix) as we mentioned yesterday, it is still technically two separate airlines – East and West operating under the US Airways name with separate contracts, crews and assigned aircraft. As the US Airways management led by CEO Doug Parker gets ready to take over the “new” merged American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has reminded US Airways management that not all is well in the current US Airways, let alone a new larger airline. The IAM today issued this statement:

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced it declined management’s invitation to participate in the “new” American Airlines’ opening bell ceremony in New York City celebrating the carrier’s first day of stock trading on the NASDAQ.

“Make no mistake, this airline has ignored and disrespected IAM members at US Airways by its shameless refusal to settle a fair contract,” said IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham. “To stand there with American’s management and pretend there are no labor problems and celebrate ‘one airline’ would be an outright lie.”

IAM members at US Airways have been in contract negotiations for almost three years. The carrier’s management, headed by Doug Parker, who will assume the reins at the “new” American, has refused to settle new accords with IAM members at pre-merger US Airways. Earlier this year, the IAM requested a release from contract talks from the National Mediation Board (NMB), a federal agency, which, if granted, could lead to a strike.

“This is a merger in name only,” said IAM District 141 President Rich Delaney. “As long as this management team refuses to settle a fair contract, approximately 32,000 employees will remain separated and the merger’s synergies will not be realized.”

The IAM and Transport Workers Union (TWU) formed an alliance earlier this year, the TWU-IAM Employee Association, to jointly represent mechanic & related, fleet service and stockroom employees at the new airline. The agreement stipulates the TWU-IAM Association will request a single carrier determination from the NMB, a pre-requisite to integrating unionized workforces. This request will only occur once contracts are settled for IAM-represented workers at pre-merger US Airways. Workforce integration will be delayed for approximately 32,000 workers at the carrier, by far the largest percentage of the combined workforce, until the airline settles agreements with the IAM.

The IAM represents approximately 14,000 mechanic and related, fleet service, maintenance training specialist and stockroom employees at US Airways.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. US Airways’ Airbus A321-231 N552UW (msn 4957) with the “7000th Airbus” sticker by the L1 front door arrives at Los Angeles.

US Airways:

American Airlines:

Kuwait Airways signs MOU for 10 Airbus A350-900 and 15 A320neo aircraft

Kuwait Airways (Kuwait City), the National airline of Kuwait, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to buy ten Airbus A350-900 and fifteen A320neo Family aircraft. The order is part of Kuwait Airways’ fleet renewal strategy. The carrier already operates three Airbus A320s, three A310s, five A300s and four A340s.

Image: Airbus.

Kuwait Airways:

Air Seychelles to fly again to Europe, will add an Airbus A319

Air Seychelles (Mahe), the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has announced, subject to regulatory approval, it will launch flights to Paris-Orly as part of a significant expansion to its international schedule.

The island carrier use to operate an extensive nonstop Boeing 767 nonstop network to Europe before its new partnership with Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi).

Starting in February 2014, Air Seychelles will operate two roundtrip services per week between Seychelles and Paris-Orly via Abu Dhabi with its Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with 18 flat-bed Business Class seats and 236 Economy seats.

The new Paris-Orly services complements Etihad Airways’ existing double-daily services to Paris-Charles De Gaulle.

Currently, the island carrier code shares on 14 flights per week to Paris-Charles De Gaulle with equity partner Etihad Airways, offering a daily service between the archipelago and the French capital. The new flights will increase the connections to 18 per week.

The airline also unveiled a new regional network plan, subject to approvals, which will see significant expansion of its operations in the Indian Ocean in the fourth quarter of 2014, following the delivery of an Airbus A319.

Highlights of the plan include:

• The launch of regional services to Antananarivo, Reunion and Mumbai
• An increase in services to Abu Dhabi from seven to eleven per week, offering a double daily service with equity partner Etihad Airways
• A network designed to maximise connectivity through the Seychelles, with two way connectivity throughout the region with Mumbai and Abu Dhabi and beyond.

The new regional schedule will see Air Seychelles operate three roundtrip flights per week to Mauritius and Mumbai, two roundtrip flights per week to Antananarivo and Reunion, and 11 return flights per week to Abu Dhabi.

The airline will also offer three return flights per week to Hong Kong, three return flights per week to Johannesburg, and two flights per week to Paris-Orly.

Altogether, the airline will see its weekly international services nearly double from 16 to 29 flights per week.

Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A330-243 A6-EYY (msn 751) is actually leased from partner Etihad Airways.

Air Seychelles:

Current Route Map:

Emirates arrives in Afghanistan, its 78th country served

Emirates (Dubai) on December 4 launched its newest route to Kabul, Afghanistan.

Kabul is the 138th destination of the fast growing airline and Afghanistan is the 78th country now served by the carrier.

The route is operated by an Airbus A340-500 configured in a three cabin configuration, offering 12 First Class, 42 Business Class and 204 Economy Class seats. Emirates is the only airline which offers First Class from Dubai to Kabul.

EK 640 will depart Dubai daily at 09.55 hours and arrive in Kabul at 13.15. The return flight, EK 641 will leave Kabul at 15.30 hours and arrive back in Dubai at 18.00.

The day before on December 3 Emirates celebrated the launch of Airbus A380 service to Los Angeles, becoming the world’s longest A380 service in operation.

The landmark flight, crossing the Russian Federation, the North Pole and Eastern Canada, has a published duration of 16 hours 20 minutes, more than enough time to delve into over 400 hours of in-flight Hollywood movies.

Emirates:

Video: The A380 inaugural flight to Los Angeles:

Aerovias DAP brings rock band Metallica to King George Island

Aerovias DAP (Antarctica Airways) (Punta Arenas) brought the well known rock band Metallica to Teniente Marsh airfield (SCRM) of the Chilean Base Presidente Frei, located on King George island, South Shetland archipelago near Antarctica on December 6. The trip was flown on Aerovías DAP BAe 146-200 CC-CZP from Punta Arenas’ Presidente Ibáñez International Airport (SCCI/PUQ). After its landing, the band saluted personnel deployed there before boarding the Orthelus ship, that brought Metallica and supporters to the Argentine base Carlini, where its concert of December 12 will take place.

According to Wikipedia, “Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding “big four” of thrash metal alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Metallica formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features founders Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ulrich (drums), longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo since 2003.”

Thanks to Alvaro Romero/ModoCharlie.com for his report from Chile.

Aerovias DAP describes its Antarctica operations (operated as Antarctica Airways) on its website:

Antarctica Flights

You will be part of an unforgettable experience that will take you to one of the farthest points ongorros Earth. The coldest, highest, windiest, driest and less populated continent. A continent that has been completely sunk by ice, which has not only shaped its topography, but has also influenced its evolution.

This place is one of the only places on Earth that is still pristine. It is therefore, why, it has become an important reserve for the biosphere. Its unique beauty contrasted with its extreme weather conditions, make it an exotic and enchanting destination for all those privileged travelers who are planning a visit to the end of the world.

The Antarctica is an ecological wonder that mesmerizes explorers, scientists and travelers.

On our aircraft you will fly over the Magellan Strait, Tierra del Fuego Island, Darwin Mountain Range, the mythical Cape Horn and the raft Drake Passage. Finally arriving at King George Island, gateway to the white continent, where most of the antarctic scientific bases are located.

Here you can also find the Chilean village “Villa Las Estrellas”, place where several Chilean families live all year round.
You will visit the impressive landscapes of the white continent, see part of its wildlife and experience the daily life of men populating this territory in the name of science and investigation.

Full Day Program

Description of the Program:

At your arrival to Pta. Arenas you will have included 03 nights of accommodations in base of double room including one dinner or lunch per person daily at the hotel Cabo de Hornos or similar. If passenger needs any additional night because of the delay of the trip due to weather conditions or others, in this case the extra night is by passenger side.

On the day prior to the flight one of our guides accompanied by one of our commercial department representatives, will give you a short description about the Antarctic Program at 8:00 pm at your hotel in Punta Arenas. After that, you will enjoy a welcome cocktail in the same hotel.

Day Program :

– Transfer from hotel to Punta Arenas Airport to board the DAP plane with destination to King George Island (Antarctica)

– At your arrival, you will be welcomed by our Antarctica-expert tour guide, who will take you on a tour visiting the following venues:

– ‘Villa Las Estrellas’ (First settlement inhabited by civilians)

– Visit to the Drake Passage area, where we will observe a colony of different seals along
the beach.

– Lunch or a snack depending on the place and time of arrival.

-Navigation on a zodiac boat to Ardley Island to visit some penguin colonies.

-Navigation to Collins glacier.

-Return to Punta Arenas after a 5-hour tour (depending on weather conditions).

– Transfer from Airport to the Hotel in Punta Arenas

OVERNIGHT PROGRAM

– Passengers will be taken on a caterpillar truck to the Ice Camp based on Collins glacier, located about 10 km. (6 miles) from the runway. Where you will stay overnight.

-Visit to the Collins glacier and scientific bases the next day.

-Walk to the “Elefanteras” (sea elephant colony)

-It is also possible to visit other tourist attractions, depending on the weather conditions, before returning to Punta Arenas.

The whole program, which includes accommodation, visits, walks and navigations, is subject to weather conditions, and may change.

Please refrain from touching or handling the fauna and flora, as it is important to preserve the native surroundings. The protection of the environment is a legacy to our future generations.

Note 1: Meals and beverages are included in all our programs. Please, let us know in advance if you have any special nutritional requirements.

Note 2: At the time of the booking, please give us all passengers’ full name, passport numbers, birth date and nationality.

Note 3: At the time of booking, please give us all passenger’s clothes and shoes size in order to provide them with Wellingtons for the excursion and a present.

Insurance: DAP declares that our insurance of civil liability covers all passengers against risks while they are on the airplane and when boarding or disembarking via the stairs.

Therefore, all passengers must have the necessary insurance to cover civil liability derived from any injuries or illnesses that they may sustain while being outside the plane.

Likewise, the operator must demand passengers to have a rescue insurance that covers a potential evacuation from Antarctica by air. The parties involved consider an
essential subject that all passengers have the insurance mentioned above.

SUGGESTED CLOTHING

Clothing recommended to be worn for this trip include:

– Pants cover and windbreak (at least)
– Gloves and hats
– Trekking shoes
– Sunblock
– 2 additional pairs of warm socks

Map: