Monthly Archives: November 2013

LAM Embraer 190 crashes in Bwabwata National Park in Namibia, 34 dead

LAM’s (Linhas Aereas de Mocambique) (Luanda) Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW C9-EMC (msn 19000581) yesterday (November 29) was operating flight TM 470 from Maputo, Mozambique to the Luanda, Angola with 28 passengers and six crew members. The airliner never arrived. The weather in the area was reported to be stormy with low visibility. Today rescuers located the burned out wreckage in the Bwabwata National Park according to Reuters. There were no survivors. The airliner was only a little over one year old, having been delivered on November 8, 2012.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured sister ship ERJ 190-100 IGW C9-EMA (msn 19000301) was the first E190 to arrive on August 6, 2009.

LAM:

Video: LAM’s 33 years of flying:

Map:

Hageland Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan crashes near St. Marys, Alaska, 4 killed

Hageland Aviation’s (operating under the Era Alaska brand) flight 1453 crashed last night four miles from the St. Marys Airport. The Cessna 208B Caravan plowed into a small hill. Flight 1453 had departed from Bethel with nine passengers and a pilot. The airliner was bound for Mountain Village and St. Marys.

The downed aircraft could not be reached and found for over one hour. Four people died in the crash.

Read the full story from the Anchorage Daily News: CLICK HERE

Era Alaska is the common name Frontier Flying Service, Hageland Aviation and Era Aviation operate under. Era Alaska was the featured airline in the TV show “Flying Wild Alaska”.

Era Alaska:

Era Alaska Route Map:

Garuda Indonesia to launch Explore with new ATR 72-600s on December 3

Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta) has decided to market its new regional ATR 72-600s as “Explore” as a sub brand starting on December 3. The airline issued this statement:

In line with the airline’s efforts to develop and strengthen its flight network, especially in the domestic sector, Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, is pleased to announce its brand new sub-brand “Explore” along with the introduction of the airline’s ATR 72-600 aircraft into its fleet, on Monday, November 25, 2013.

In addition to the sub-brand “Explore”, at the same time Garuda Indonesia also introduced the sub-brand “Explore Jet” along with the operation of its Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen fleet since last October 2012 to serve the airline’s network in both eastern and western Indonesia.

President and CEO of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar said, the implementation of both sub-brands is in line with the excellent characteristic of Garuda Indonesia’s ATR 72-600 and Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen that have the ability to serve flights to new destinations in eastern Indonesia, which has limited runway.

“The ‘Explore’ ATR 72-600 aircraft will support Garuda Indonesia’s Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft operation in accordance to improve the national connectivity program (MP3EI) by developing our flight network to the fast growing economic regions and tourist destination in the remote area in Indonesia,” he said.

Moreover, the operation of these turboprop aircraft are also in line with the company’s efforts to enhance service to the customers by offering a wider choice of destinations and travel options to passengers as well as part of Garuda Indonesia’s move to join the SkyTeam global alliance in March 2014 and in anticipation of 2015’s ASEAN Open Sky policy.

Garuda Indonesia will operate “Explore” flight through ATR 72-600 aircraft, starting on December 3, 2013, with a single class cabin (All Economy) configuration with a seat capacity for 70 passengers to serve flights flying out of its hubs or spokes, such as from Denpasar on to Labuan Bajo, Ende, and Bima, as well as from Makassar and Ambon to destinations in those regions.

In line with its fleet development program, Garuda Indonesia will receive 35 ATR 72-600s, including firm orders for 25 aircraft and options for 10 additional aircraft, in stages up to 2017. The aircraft will be used to serve short-haul point to point flights, and flights between hubs and spokes.

Garuda will use these new turboprop on routes that are under the 400 nm range in all regions of the country. The ATR 72-600 is very much capable of reaching small airports that have runways measuring less than 1,600 meters, and are therefore too small for jet planes.

“Being equipped with modern technology and capable of efficient operations, the ATR 72-600 offers the same high level of comfort to passengers, as the other fleet types operated by Garuda Indonesia. This type of aircraft is the best in its class to serve short distance routes between the islands and cities in Indonesia that have a limited runway capacity,” added Emirsyah.

In line with the company’s long-term “Quantum Leap 2011-2015” expansion program, Garuda Indonesia will take delivery of 26 new aircraft in 2013 to support the development of both the national and international flight networks, consisting of 4 Boeing 777-300 ERs, 3 Airbus A330s, 10 Boeing 737-800 NGs, 7 Bombardier CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft, and 2 ATR 72-600s. Meanwhile, in 2013 Citilink will receive 10 A320 aicraft. Thus, Garuda Indonesia Group will operate as many as 139 aircraft by the end of this year.

In the third quarter of 2013, Garuda Indonesia Group has received 27 new aircraft, consisting of 7 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, 2 Airbus A330-300/200s, 7 Bombardier CRJ-1000 NextGen aircraft, 2 Boeing 777-300 ERs, and 9 Airbus A320-200s. In all, up to the third quarter of 2013, Garuda Indonesia Group is currently operating 131 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Globalpics/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Garuda Indonesia ATR 72-600, the pictured ATR 72-212A (marketed as the ATR 72-600) with the test marks of F-WWEH, became PK-GAA when it was delivered on November 15. “Explore” titles were added later.

Garuda Indonesia:

Video: ATR 72-600 promotional video:

Thai Lion Air to launch operations on December 4

Thai Lion Air (Bangkok-Don Mueang) has secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and is planning to launch scheduled low-fare passenger operations on December 4 with two new 215-seat Boeing 737-900 ERs. The first routes will be from Don Mueang to Chiang Mai, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur according to the Bangkok Post. The low-cost carrier will add Singapore, Guangzhou, Hong, Shenzhen, Delhi and Mumbai next year.

Thai Lion Air is part of the Lion Air Group.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-9GP ER N5515R (msn 38738) became HS-LTI when it was handed over on October 18, 2013 in Seattle.

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Cathay Pacific to replace its Johannesburg and San Francisco Boeing 747-400 routes on October 26, 2014

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) has been progressively replacing its Boeing 747-400s from passenger service especially on long-haul routes.. The company is currently planning to replace the last two long-range Boeing 747-400 passenger routes to Johannesburg and San Francisco with newer Boeing 777-300 ERs on October 25, 2014 per Airline Route.

Update: This retirement date has now been moved up to August 31, 2014 per Airline Route.

This will end long-haul passenger service of the type with CPA. It is unclear at this time if the airline will continue short-haul Asian service of the aircraft after this date.

In addition, the company will end Boeing 747-400 passenger service to London (Heathrow) on December 31, 2013.

Cathay Pacific continues to operate an extensive Boeing 747 freighter operation.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-467 B-HOP (msn 23815) approaches London (Heathrow) when it once served that route.

Cathay Pacific Airways:

Air Dolomiti to operate Bergamo-Munich flights starting on June 2, 2014

Air Dolomiti (Verona), the Lufthansa Group’s Italian airline, will operate flights from Il Caravaggio International Airport in Bergamo Orio al Serio (near Milan) to Munich starting on June 2, 2014.

The new route will operate twice daily (except one flight a day on the weekends).

In other news, Air Dolomiti and Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) have agreed to work closely feeding Condor long-haul flights from Frankfurt and Munich from Italy according to airliners.de. Air Dolomiti operates from Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Palermo, Pisa, Rome (Fiumicino), Turin, Trieste, Venice and Verona.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Dolomiti’s Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) I-ADJS (msn 19000597) completes its final approach into the Frankfurt hub.

Air Dolomiti:

WestJet’s pilots reject the proposed contract

WestJet (Calgary) has announced that its pilots have voted against a tentative agreement by a margin of 58.7 percent. Turnout was very strong, with 96 per cent of pilots voting.

The current agreement remains in effect until a new agreement is reached. Pilots at WestJet are represented by the WestJet Pilots Association (WJPA), a non-union employee association.

“We are disappointed with the results of the vote,” said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “Our leadership team and the WJPA will regroup in the coming weeks, focusing on understanding the specific concerns of the pilot group and, just as we’ve always done, work collaboratively to bring forward a new agreement.”

WestJet:

Norwegian launches its new route to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood with its third Boeing 787

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Norwegian Long Haul) (Oslo) today launched its first nonstop flight from Scandinavia to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood in South Florida. The first flight departed from Copenhagen. Tomorrow is the first nonstop flight to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood from Oslo and on Sunday from Stockholm (Arlanda). The flight took off with Norwegian’s third and newest 787-8 (EI-LNC, msn 34795) which was delivered on November 27.

Copyright Photo: Norwegian. Norwegian celebrated the launch with an “American-Cuban party” at Kastrup airport in Copenhagen Airport. Norwegian greeted passengers on the first nonstop flight between Scandinavia and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Norwegian’s CEO Bjorn Kjos cut the ribbon and declared the line open.

“It’s a milestone that we are opening our first long distance route from Copenhagen and it is with pleasure that we can now welcome the first passengers on board. Our first long-haul routes from Stockholm and Oslo earlier this year has been much appreciated and we are delighted to now offer passengers from Denmark nonstop flights to Florida in our new 787 Dreamliner, the world’s most modern passenger aircraft”, said Norwegian’s CEO Bjorn Kjos.

Videos:

Norwegian:

SunExpress to expand operations at Izmir, Turkey

SunExpress Airlines (Antalya) will add new flights from its Izmir hub to Copenhagen, Helsinki, Lyon, Nantes and Paris (Charles de Gaulle) in April 2014. SunExpress will fly 200 flights a week from Izmir International Airport to 26 destinations in Europe, mainly in Germany, Switzerland and Austria (see map below).

The airline is also expanding operations next summer at Gazipasa Airport (GZP) in the Antalya Province of Turkey according to Haber Alanya. The Turkish carrier will offer flights to Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart through its German subsidiary.

SunExpress is a joint venture between Turkish Airlines (50 percent) and Lufthansa (50 percent).

SunExpress (Turkey):

Alitalia fails to raise enough “cash call” capital to keep it flying

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) according to Reuters, has failed so far to raise the 300 million euros ($407 million) (only 173 million euros received) in its emergency cash call. The flag carrier is now facing stiffer competition as other airlines move in to add new routes from Italy sensing the emergency. Alitalia will need to find a strategic carrier very quickly that is willing to invest in a failing airline and turn it around. So far Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), the savior of struggling airlines, has avoided Alitalia.

Air France-KLM, which owns 25 percent, refused to put in any more capital because it stated the rescue plan was not drastic enough to save the airline.

This is the second version of Alitalia, saved once before from the first failing Alitalia. Is there a third?

The Italian drama continues. Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Alitalia (2nd):