Yearly Archives: 2013

Avianca Brazil is invited to join the Star Alliance, replacing TAM Airlines

Avianca Brazil (OceanAir Linhas Aereas dba) (Sao Paulo) has been invited to join the Star Alliance as part of Avianca (Bogota) membership. On December 13, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance agreed to extend Avianca’s membership of the Alliance to include its partner Avianca Brazil. The unanimous decision marks the first step in Star Alliance’s strategy to secure its position in the Brazilian market following current member airline TAM’s decision to leave the Alliance as a consequence of its merger with LAN.

As a first step in the integration process, experts from Avianca Brazil, the Star Alliance member carriers serving Brazil and Star Alliance management will jointly work on enhancing Avianca Brazil’s network. The aim is to facilitate seamless connections via the major hubs in São Paulo – Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro – Galeão/Antônio Carlos Jobim.

Avianca Brazil is expected to join the alliance in 2014.

Top Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Avianca Brazil’s Airbus A318-121 PR-ONG (msn 3438) departs from Sao Paulo (Guarulhos). Bottom Copyright Photo: Avianca Brazil.

Avianca (Brazil):

Spirit Airlines and Association of Flight Attendants agree to a tentative agreement

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) and its flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), announced that they reached a tentative agreement for a five-year contract. The tentative agreement, which is subject to ratification by the flight attendant membership, planned for first quarter 2014, was unanimously supported by the union’s leadership. The agreement was reached with the assistance of the National Mediation Board.

Spirit Airlines:

Seaborne Airlines starts San Juan-La Romana flights

Seaborne Airlines (Christiansted, St. Croix and San Juan) has started new service from San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) to La Romana International Airport in La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM). Seaborne’s new route represents the only nonstop service from San Juan to La Romana.

Currently operating Thursday and Sunday, Seaborne will offer daily service effective on March 15, 2014.

Seaborne also recently announced new service between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and St Kitt’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), with continuous service to Nevis’ Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV), beginning on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. Seaborne has been adding SAAB 340B turboprops to its fleet. N353SA (msn 351), still in the basic Pacific Coastal livery, prepares to depart from the SJU hub.

Boeing to expand the North Charleston, South Carolina facility

Boeing (Chicago) announced it will begin construction in the second half of 2014 on a new paint facility on its main campus in North Charleston, South Carolina. The company expects to begin painting fully assembled 787 Dreamliners in South Carolina in mid-2016.

The approximately 230,000 square-foot (21,368 m2) facility will be used to apply customer liveries to Boeing South Carolina (BSC)-built 787s. Today all BSC-built 787s are flown to Fort Worth, Texas, for final paint and then flown back to South Carolina for customer delivery.

The company also announced it acquired access to a total of 468 acres (189 hectares) in North Charleston, S.C., to protect for potential future growth in South Carolina through a long-term lease with Palmetto Railways, a division of the S.C. Department of Commerce. In addition to the 267 acres (108 hectares) sold by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, another 201 acres (81 hectares) of land in North Charleston were purchased with state bond funds allocated to Boeing. Owned by Palmetto Railways, the land will be leased to Boeing under a long- term lease. The company has an option to purchase all of the 468 acres (189 hectares) at the end of the initial lease term at the end of 2027.

“This expansion makes future growth in North Charleston possible. While we expect to begin the permitting process immediately for this property, we have no specific plans for the land other than where we will locate the new paint facility,” said Jones.

As part of the site expansion, beginning in January 2014, Boeing will construct a new 10,000 square-foot (929.03 m2) fully equipped fire station at its main campus, which is expected to be operational by late 2014. The company will add a second autoclave in 2016 to support aftbody composite fabrication for previously announced 787 program rate increases.

“We’ve been busy here in South Carolina this year,” said Jones. “Our BSC teammates have not only been ramping to rate in component and airplane production, but they’re doing it in the middle of construction zones. Our commitment to South Carolina is visibly demonstrated every day as our growth and expansion continues. I don’t expect that ending anytime soon.”

Since late 2012, Boeing has been expanding its main South Carolina site to create more efficiencies and capabilities in production to meet committed 787 build rates. Under previously announced expansion plans, the company is adding 391,000 square feet (36,325 m2) to its aftbody fabrication and assembly building; 42,000 square feet (3,901.9 m2) to its aft and midbody component paint facility; 67,000 square feet (6,224.5 m2) in office and meeting space to its final assembly building; and a new 94,000 square-foot (8,732.9 m2) Dreamlifter Operations Center, to be completed in the first quarter of 2014. The midbody component assembly facility is undergoing construction to add additional capacity and efficiency on the production floor.

In 2013, Boeing announced plans to establish IT Centers of Excellence and an Engineering Design Center, along with plans to build a new Propulsion facility in South Carolina. In November, Boeing broke ground on the new 220,000 square-foot (2,0439 m2) facility located in Palmetto Commerce Park in North Charleston (Ladson area) that will house its new 737-MAX propulsion assembly work, scheduled to begin in mid-2015.

Boeing is currently considering offers from 22 states for a possible site to build the proposed 777X airplane. South Carolina is probably one of those states. Is Charleston International Airport (CHS) the new Paine Field (PAE)?

Alaska Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants reach a tentative agreement

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and the Association of Flight Attendants announced they have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 3,300 flight attendants.

Once the tentative agreement is approved by the union’s leadership, Alaska Airlines’ flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in mid-February 2014.

The current contract became amendable on May 1, 2012. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.

Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-890 N568AS (msn 35183) in the special “Employee powered” livery arrives in Las Vegas.

Alaska Airlines:

Air France to start Paris CDG-Tokyo Haneda service on March 30

Air France (Paris) from March 30, 2014, will be offering a new service to Tokyo-Haneda Airport, in addition to its flights to Tokyo-Narita. In this way, Air France will offer two daily frequencies – one day flight and one night flight – to Tokyo-Haneda and one daily frequency to Tokyo-Narita.

Air France is the only airline to offer night flights between Tokyo-Haneda airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

The day flight to Tokyo-Haneda will be operated by Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft, with a capacity of 309 seats (35 in the Business cabin, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy). The night flight will be operated by Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, with a capacity of 303 seats (8 seats in La Première, 67 in Business, 24 in Premium Economy and 200 in Economy).

In other news, starting on January 12, 2014, Air France will increase by 25 percent its capacity to Kuala Lumpur with a Boeing 777-200 equipped with a new “leisure” configuration offering additional seats for customers. The aircraft will offer a seat capacity of 309 seats (35 in Business class, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy) compared with 246 when this frequency was first launched. Spurred by the successful launch of this destination in April 2013, the Company is thus increasing its service to the Malaysian capital.

Starting on June 16, 2014, Air France will also launch a new frequency between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Kuala Lumpur with four weekly flights.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. On October 7, 2013, Air France celebrated its 80^th anniversary. For the occasion, an Airbus A380 is now sporting AF’s birthday colors. The aircraft, a reference in terms of comfort and eco-friendliness, will bring AF’s passion for adventure and innovation high into the sky. And it will not be the only aircraft to do so: a new A320, equipped with “Sharklet” winglets, will also be decorated for AF’s 80^th birthday. Airbus A380-861 F-HPJI (msn 115) with the special 80 ans-years logo arrives in Los Angeles.

Air France:

Video on this A380:

European Routes from Paris (CDG):

Monarch Group returns to the black for its fiscal year

Monarch Group (Monarch Airlines) (London-Luton), the UK’s leading independent travel group, has announced its unaudited results for the Financial Year ended October 31, 2013.

Commenting on the Group’s 2013 performance and the outlook for 2014, Executive Chairman, Iain Rawlinson, said:

“I am delighted to announce the return to profitability of The Monarch Group in 2013. This was the outcome targeted by our 2011 refinancing, which was based on a clear plan that combined the achievement of business efficiencies and intra group synergies with growth strategies for each business area. All these elements have been delivered in tough markets.

“Whilst we are encouraged by the more positive recent economic news of late, in the short-term there remains overcapacity in the aviation industry and we believe many travel customers are cautious about the economic outlook. However, our Group structure, combining the three mutually supporting business areas of the scheduled airline, tour operations and aircraft engineering, each with its own independent growth strategy, provides us with resilience in this very competitive market environment.

“The actions we have taken in the last two years provide strong foundations from which to plan the next phase of growth and development. Our steady investment in this period – in strengthening the group and divisional management, raising awareness of our trusted travel brands, improving distribution, introducing business efficiencies, and answering the needs of customers – provides a strong platform from which to complete our modernisation agenda. ”

Summary (October 31 year-end)

KEY STATISTICS	2013 Unaudited Statutory	2012 Statutory	Change
Gross turnover (£m)	1,237.5	1,071.5	+15.5%
Monarch Airlines (£m)	763.2	683.5	+11.7%
Tour Operations (£m)	336.4	291.4	+15.4%
Monarch Aircraft Engineering (£m)	107.2	86.3	+24.2%
Other (£m)	30.7	10.3	+198.1%
Turnover, net of intra-Group sales (£m)	960.5	825.1	16.4%
Web traffic – unique visitors (m)	21.9	20.0	+9.5%
Gross e-commerce revenue (£m)	520.0	479.0	+8.6%

2013 Group Highlights

All trading divisions profitable for the year on a pre-exceptionals basis
Successfully delivered efficiency programs, achieving annualised cost savings of £52 million and increase in intra group turnover of an additional £31 million
Investment of some £20 million in aircraft engineering facilities, and systems to increase operating capacity and improve efficiency
Significant increase in unique visitors to the Group’s e-commerce platforms, up 10% to 22 million
Group-wide roll out of Olympics-inspired ‘WorldHost’ Customer Service programme
Launch of The Monarch Foundation, providing focus for charitable and CSR activities

Monarch Airlines in FY2013

11.7% increase in gross revenues to £763.2 million
10.1% increase in capacity to 8.1 million sector seats and on track to deliver 10 million sector seats by end 2016
9.5% increase in airline passenger volumes to 7.0 million
Advanced plans to order up to 60 new narrow body aircraft in Q1 2014 (valued at US$6 billion at list prices) to continue fleet renewal program
New base at Leeds-Bradford Airport established
UK network development so that over two thirds of the UK population lives within a 90 minute drive of one of Monarch’s six bases[1]
New advertising campaign to be launched Christmas 2013 emphasising Monarch Airlines’ customer service heritage and commitment to providing “Superior Customer Experience at Competitive Price”

Tour Operations in FY2013

15.4% increase in gross revenues to £336.4 million
12% growth in passenger volumes to 911,000, substantially out-performing the market
18% growth in Package Holiday volumes, continuing the trend for consumers to seek ‘care, convenience and financially protected holidays’[2]
5.6% increase in unique visitors to package holiday websites to 9.3 million
Successful migration to new, flexible enterprise technology platform
Continued investment in differentiated offer for customers

Monarch Aircraft Engineering in FY2013

24.2% increase in revenues to £107.2 million
26% growth in revenue from 3rd party customers
80% increase in maintenance capacity following the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility at Birmingham Airport
Introduced Bombardier and Embraer type aircraft servicing capability

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Monarch Airlines is reviewing tender offers from the manufacturers and is expected to place a large aircraft order up to 60 aircraft in early 2014. A new order with Airbus is expected. Airbus A321-231 G-ZBAF (msn 2730) is seen in action at Palma de Mallorca.

Monarch Airlines:

easyJet to start Milan Malpensa-Tel Aviv flights

EasyJet (UK) (London-Luton) has announced its plans to connect Milan with Tel Aviv in Israel. The airline, which already flies to Tel Aviv from London Gatwick, Manchester and London Luton, will start to provide services from Milan Malpensa in March 2014 by operating four flights per week.

This latest route is now EasyJet’s third since the signing of a historic Open Skies agreement between the EU and Israel. Across Europe the airline also currently serves Tel Aviv from Basel, Geneva, Rome Fiumicino and Berlin.

EasyJet (UK):

Jazz Aviation DHC-8-300 lands safely after an engine fire

Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express) (formerly Air Canada Jazz) (Halifax) Bombardier DHC-8-300 operating a passenger flight from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island to Vancouver experienced an engine fire yesterday (December 12). According to Reuters, “Shortly after the Jazz DHC 8-300 aircraft took off from Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, the crew was notified of an engine oil issue and flames were seen near one of the engines, Air Canada Jazz said in an emailed statement.

The crew released fire retardant into the engine housing and were able to extinguish the flames. The aircraft, which had 35 passengers and three crew members on board, then returned to Nanaimo, where it was met by emergency vehicles.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Jazz Aviation’s Bombardier DHC-8-301 (Q300) C-GKTA (msn 124) is seen at the Vancouver hub.

Air Canada Express-Jazz Aviation:

Ryanair to go to allocated seating on February 1

Ryanair (Dublin) will go to allocated seating starting on February 1, 2014. The ultra low-fare carrier will also offer premium seating (for extra charges of course). The airline issued this statement:

Ryanair has launched allocated seating on all Ryanair flights from February 1, 2014, which is now available when booking on the Ryanair.com website, which allows all Ryanair customers to choose their preferred seats in advance (or to book seats together with their companions).

Ryanair customers can now select their preferred allocated seat either during the booking process (through the ‘manage my booking’ feature) or when checking-in online with three seat options available:

Premium seats – Rows 1-5, 16 & 17 or 32 & 33 – giving customers priority boarding, extra legroom and/or faster disembarking all for a fee of just €10/£10 (the same fee as Ryanair’s current reserved seat fee)

Standard seats – Rows 6-15 & 18-31 – where customers can pre select their preferred window or aisle seats or ensure that they sit together for a fee of just €5/£5 (priority boarding can be added for a supplement of just €2/£2).

Ryanair Cabin Crew

Ryanair customers who do not wish to pre-select their seats can check-in during the period from 7 days to 2 hours prior to their flight and they will be assigned an allocated seat at no cost. (Free allocated seats will not be available prior to 7 days before each flight departure).

Customers who have already purchased priority boarding for flights departing after February 1, 2014 can select a standard seat free of charge when checking-in online.

Ryanair: