Monthly Archives: October 2015

Cathay Pacific introduces a new revised look

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) on November 1 introduced a new revised livery and also a new video of a revised livery. The first aircraft to received the new look is Boeing 777-367 ER B-KPM (msn 36159).

Cathay Pacific Airways On November 1 marked another important milestone for the airline as it unveiled a new livery that will be progressively introduced onto all the aircraft in its fleet. The livery was showcased on one of the airline’s Boeing 777-300vER aircraft at a special event held at Hong Kong International Airport.

Addressing guests at the event, Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “Today represents the beginning of a new era for Cathay Pacific. We are very happy and proud to unveil our new aircraft livery which represents our journey into the future and also celebrates the many great things we have achieved over the past seven decades as the home carrier of Hong Kong.”

Mr Chu said that the new livery is a continuation of the work that began last year to refresh Cathay Pacific’s brand identity. “The livery is a vital part of our brand image – a symbol of the company’s values displayed on our most important physical asset. The livery represents Cathay Pacific in and out of Hong Kong and every time our aircraft take off or touch down in our network of destinations around the world,” he said.

“Creating a new livery is much more than a cosmetic exercise. This new look is the latest – and most significant – development in our ongoing efforts to improve the overall customer experience at Cathay Pacific. It is also a highly visible representation of the huge investments we are making in new aircraft and products as part of our ongoing commitment to build Hong Kong’s position as an international aviation hub.”

Guest of Honor at the event was Professor Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Transport and Housing, who officiated at the livery unveiling ceremony together with Ivan Chu. More than 300 guests were in attendance at the event, held in the hangars of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), including aviation and trade officials, members of the Marco Polo Club loyalty programme, guests from the Hong Kong public, and Cathay Pacific staff. In addition to seeing the new livery unveiled, all guests enjoyed a unique behind-the-scenes experience where they could explore the aircraft inside and out and chat with the airline’s operations teams.

In recent years, Cathay Pacific has made huge investments in new aircraft and new products to provide a rewarding experience for its customers. The airline has also worked hard to build Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s great aviation hubs, growing its network and building connectivity to oil the wheels of commerce, tourism and trade.

Cathay Pacific sees the livery as a symbol of its commitment to its home city as well as a visible representation of its promise to offer a Life Well Travelled to customers. As part of its ongoing efforts to provide a richer travel experience, the airline promises a number of important upcoming developments including the introduction of the new Airbus A350 fleet, further enhancements to its products and services, and the continued expansion of its network.

The update to the livery is part of a series of ongoing improvements to Cathay Pacific’s customer experience. These include not only the new livery, but also the website and mobile app, as well as major enhancements to the airline’s airport lounges in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Bangkok and beyond.

The new Airbus A350 series will be the first fleet to launch with the new livery.

However, the airline’s existing fleet will be repainted with the new livery as aircraft go through their normal maintenance schedule over the next five years, with some 150 aircraft getting the new look in total.

The new livery comprises three key design elements: the incorporation of the updated and streamlined brushwing, which was launched in October 2014; a simplification of the colour palette to Cathay Pacific green, grey and white; and a more prominent display of the Cathay Pacific name and brushwing. These updates are most evident on three areas of the aircraft: the nose, the fuselage and the tail.

All images by Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific aircraft slide show:

Video: Cathay Pacific:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLskBTrhGek&w=560&h=315%5D

Air Canada to offer double-daily Vancouver-London Heathrow service next summer

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced it is boosting international flights at its Vancouver (YVR) hub next summer with double daily flights from YVR to London Heathrow. In addition, the airline’s new nonstop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia will now launch two weeks earlier on June 1, 2016 to meet demand.

AC will use Boeing 777-300 ERs and 787-9 Dreamliners on the YVR-LHR route.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner C-FNOE (msn 35265) departs from Toronto (Pearson).

Air Canada aircraft slide show:

MetroJet Airbus A321-231 EI-ETJ crashes in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, 224 dead

MetroJet (Kogalymavia dba) (Moscow-Domodedovo) Airbus A321-231 EI-ETJ (msn 663) while operating flight KGL 9268 from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt to St. Petersburg, Russia with 217 passengers and seven crew members was climbing after departing Sharm el Sheikh in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt on October 31, 2015. The crew told ATC they had technical problems. The flight was reported to be at 31,000 feet when it disappeared from the radar screens after 23 minutes of flight. The scattered wreckage was located by military forces in the mountains of the Sinai near Al Arish on the Mediterranean Sea. There are now reports of bodies being recovered. The Russian Embassy in Cairo is now reporting all on board have died in the tragic crash.

The airframe was originally delivered to MEA as F-OHMP on May 27, 1997 and has served with Onur Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Kolavia.

Thomson Airways invites the British public to name its new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Thomson Airways (London-Luton) today announced a new contest to name its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner due in January 2016:

The new Dreamliner arrives just in time as new research from Thomson and First Choice has revealed that long haul holidays are fast becoming the preferred choice for many British holidaymakers, with more people than ever before are prepared to go the distance to find their dream destination. Travelling for nine hours or more is now considered par for the course for many Brits (77%) as they seek more adventure and cultural diversity from their holidays.

Above Photos: Thomson Airways.

Thomson and First Choice have seen a 350% increase in long haul passengers in the last 10 years, with a staggering 800% increase in family bookings alone, leading to the addition of exciting destinations such as Costa Rica and Thailand and most recently, Indian Ocean gem, Sri Lanka which will be on offer from winter 2016, travelling on the 787 Dreamliner from London Gatwick airport.

A new aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is also having an impact on travellers’ decisions to venture on a long-haul trip, with one in three (34%) of those surveyed stating the introduction of these new aircraft has inspired them to go further afield on holiday.

To celebrate the launch with their customers, Thomson is inviting the British public to choose a name through the “Name Our Plane” competition which begins on the 30th of October: http://nameourplane.com/

To enter, entrants should simply click on the link above, and submit their idea on the dedicated web page. They will then be encouraged to get votes for their entry from friends and family to ensure they make the top five to be in with a chance of winning the prize of £2500 worth of Thomson holiday vouchers. At the end of the competition, the top five entries with the most votes as voted for by the public will be submitted to a judging panel made up of Thomson Airways staff.

The prize for this competition consists of two parts:

1. The winner’s choice of name will be positioned on to the side of the seventh Dreamliner which will join Thomson Airway’s fleet in January 2016.

2. The winner will receive £2500 worth of Thomson holiday vouchers, enabling them to choose their holiday from the whole of Thomson’s range.

The features of the new Dreamliner 787 are:

Lighter on the environment – a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions on a typical Dreamliner flight.

Unrivalled comfort – customers travelling on the Dreamliner benefit from the on-board features, which reduce the effects of jetlag, make for a quieter and smoother flight, and give customers fantastic views ensuring that their holiday begins the moment they step on board.

Large windows and controllable light – the windows on the Dreamliner are 30% bigger than the average aircraft windows (27x47cm), allowing every customer a view of the horizon. Electric dimmers on all windows mean customers can determine the degree of light they let in.

Bigger seats – travel in Economy Club and you’ll get a 32” seat pitch. Upgrade to Premium Club and you’ll get 38”, meaning plenty of room to stretch out.

Technology – state-of-the-art 9” TVs.

Extended flying range – aircraft is designed to lower costs on long-distance routes that don’t require the capacity of the larger sized aeroplane (such as a Boeing 777). The extended flying range of this mid-sized aircraft therefore offers the prospect of many more long-haul flight options.

Reduced jetlag – reduced symptoms of jetlag due to increased hydration levels and lower cabin pressure.

Below Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner G-TUIF (msn 36428) arrives back at Paine Field after a test flight by Boeing.

Thomson Airways aircraft slide show:

Atlantic Star Airlines to partner with TUIfly, flights to St. Helena to start in March

Atlantic Star Airlines (London) has issued this statement:

Atlantic Star will partner with TUIfly to deliver its 2016 charter flight program between the UK and St. Helena. TUI Group is Europe’s largest travel company and holds a European Air Safety Agency Air Operators Certificate, including the necessary Extended Twin Operations validation necessary to operate to St. Helena.

TUIfly will operate a Boeing 737-800 on the route from London Gatwick to St. Helena, via a short fuel stop in Banjul, Gambia. The two-class configuration will offer Economy and Economy Plus seating options.

The first dates for travel coincide with the Easter school holidays. They will of course be dependent on the airport at St. Helena being opened on schedule in February 2016.

Further flights are planned, timed to coincide with school holidays later in 2016. Atlantic Star will not be able to confirm the dates or release tickets for sale on these services until much nearer the time.

The first service will leave London Gatwick in the late evening of Sunday, March 20, 2016, arriving mid-morning in St. Helena on Monday, March 21, 2016. The aircraft will then leave St. Helena around lunchtime, to arrive back in London Gatwick late the same night.

The second service will operate to a similar schedule, leaving London Gatwick on Sunday, April 3, 2016 to arrive in St. Helena on April 4, 2016, departing St. Helena the same day to arrive at London Gatwick late that night.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. TUIfly’s (TUIfly.com) (Germany) ex-Airberlin Boeing 737-86J WL D-ABKI (msn 37748) arrives at EuroAirport.

TUIfly aircraft slide show:

Dynamic International Airways issues an update on the FLL aircraft fire

Dynamic International Airways (Greensboro) has issued this follow-up statement:

“On behalf of Dynamic International Airways, I want to express our sincere apologies to our passengers as well as friends and families of the passengers on board flight DYA405 which experienced reported incident,” stated Don Dodson Director of Operations at Dynamic International Airways.

“Per our internal investigation, we would like to share following information:

After successfully passing required safety, mechanical and operation pre-flight inspections, Dynamic International Airways flight 2D0405 was taxiing and preparing for on time departure from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Caracas Simon Bolivar Airport. Flight crew as well as airport personnel noticed engine problem during taxiing and acted according to emergency procedures. Passengers and flight crew were evacuated from the aircraft. Flight DYA405 was carrying 90 passengers as well as crew compliment of 11 people. Minor number of reportedly injured were treated and most of them were released shortly after. We are waiting for more detailed information from relevant parties in order to assure accuracy of the information we are providing. The experience of the Captain and First officer were 15700 and 4140 hours respectively. Per initial information the actions of the cabin crew were exemplary and according to their safety training.”

“Our primary focus is to provide support for the passengers who are at the airport and to any passengers who have been medically treated and/or released. Support received from airport authorities personnel as well as our colleagues from other airlines was tremendous and we would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude for their help during and after the incident,” he continued.

Airline has provided Subservice for the recovery flights 2D 0405 and return flight 2D 0406 on 29th of October for all passengers impacted with today’s flight disruption. Flight 2D0405 is now departing on October 29th at 20:00 PM EST from Fort Lauderdale to Caracas, while Flight 2D0406 will depart Caracas to Fort Lauderdale at 02:00 AM local time on October 30th. Checks in counters are open for flight 2D 0405 while checks in counters for flight 2D0406 are opening at 21:00. Passengers are also able to receive vouchers, full refunds, and hotel accommodation in case they would like to travel on tomorrow flight as per their preference. Other flights were not impacted by the incident and operation is continuing according to schedule.”

“Dynamic is also in the process of dispatching a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation. We would not like to speculate about the potential causes of the incident during the ongoing investigation and all of us at Dynamic are committed to fully cooperating with the NTSB and other authorities. We have activated our Family Assistance Plan and have established a special toll-free number. Family members of the passengers who may have been on board Flight DYA405 may contact 1 (888) 283-2157 or 262-226-8787 for more information. Dynamic International Airways lead delegate Joseph Schoofs is at the airport in order liaise with passengers, while additional executive management team will be onsite by 2000 this evening,” he finished.

Copyright Photo: Andy Cripps/AirlinersGallery.com. A dramatic photo of the fire breaking out in the number one engine of Boeing 767-269 ER N251MY (msn 23280) on the taxiway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Passengers are seen scrambling away from the burning airliner as ARFF units fight the fire.

Virgin America reports 3Q GAAP net income of $71.9 million

Virgin America (San Francisco) reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2015. Key highlights from the third quarter include:

Third quarter 2015 net income was $73.0 million excluding special items1, an increase of $31.3 million from the third quarter of 2014. Operating income and operating margin excluding special items were $75.0 million and 18.2 percent, respectively.
On a GAAP basis, net income was $71.9 million. Operating income and operating margin on a GAAP basis were $73.9 million and 18.0 percent, respectively.
Fully diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $1.64. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share was $1.61.

“Virgin America continued its strong financial performance in the third quarter with record earnings and margins,” said David Cush, Virgin America’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe we are well-positioned to grow the airline while maintaining our low cost model, driving year-over-year industry unit revenue outperformance and improving ancillary revenue. We’re also investing in our product so that we can continue improving what is already the best, most consistent guest experience in the industry.”

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N634VA (msn 3359) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Virgin America aircraft slide show:

El Al finalizes its order for up to nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and El Al Israel Airlines (Tel Aviv) agreed on an order today for up to nine 787 Dreamliners, valued at more than $2.2 billion at current list prices. Three of the orders will be added to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website on November 5 and the remainder will be posted as further contractual requirements are finalized.

El Al will also lease six additional 787s from independent leasing companies as the Israeli-flag carrier looks to replace and grow its existing long-haul fleet, increasing capacity and providing greater route flexibility to and from its hub at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

El Al has been an all-Boeing carrier since taking delivery of its first Boeing airplane in 1961 and currently operates a fleet of 22 737s, seven 747s, seven 767s and six 777s.

Image: Boeing.

El Al aircraft slide show:

Dynamic Airways Boeing 767-200 N251MY catches on fire while taxiing out for takeoff at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXH6RY3tjwQ&w=560&h=315%5D

Dynamic International Airways (Greensboro) issued this statement concerning a fire on Boeing 767-269 ER N251MY (msn 23280) (below) operating flight 2D 405 from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood to Caracas, Venezuela:

Above Copyright Photo: Andy Cripps/AirlinersGallery.com.

Today, October 29, 2015, while taxiing for an on time departure from Fort Lauderdale to Caracas, Dynamic International Airways crew became aware of an engine problem. The crew followed the emergency procedures, shut down the engine and evacuated the aircraft in order to assure safety to all on board.

The Company is conducting initial investigation and will issue further information once available. Safety of our passengers and crew members is the first priority of Dynamic International Airways. Dynamic International Airways is currently arranging accommodation and transportation for all passengers impacted by today’s flight disruption. Airline expects to continue operation as per the schedule starting tomorrow October 30, 2015. Dynamic International Airways would like to thank its passengers for their patience and support while our teams conduct their duties.

Sincerely,

Dynamic International Airways

Air Canada announces a new Toronto-Seoul nonstop route

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced the introduction of nonstop flights between Toronto (Pearson) and Seoul, South Korea as part of its ongoing expansion of international services. The new year-round nonstop flights between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport will begin on June 17, 2016 with daily service.

The new Toronto-Seoul nonstop flights will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.

In addition to new Toronto-Delhi and Dubai routes to be operated with Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning in November 2015, Toronto–Istanbul will be converted to Boeing Dreamliner service effective May 2016, joining Toronto–Copenhagen, Zurich, Tel Aviv, Tokyo-Narita (summer) and select Toronto and Vancouver flights to London-Heathrow as well as Vancouver–Tokyo-Narita, Seoul and Brisbane. Air Canada will also begin operating its international flights from Calgary to Tokyo-Narita, London-Heathrow and Frankfurt with Boeing 787 aircraft beginning in 2016.

By Summer 2016, the following routes operated with Boeing 777-300 ER and 777-200 LR aircraft will also feature Air Canada’s new international product standard unveiled with the Boeing Dreamliner as the airline converts all 25 of its Boeing 777 aircraft to offer a consistent international product and a choice of Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy cabins: Toronto–London-Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo-Haneda, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Vancouver–Beijing, Shanghai and Sydney, Australia.

Toronto-Seoul flights will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft offering a choice of 20 International Business Class lie-flat seat suites, 21 Premium Economy and 210 Economy Class seats featuring upgraded in-flight entertainment at every seat throughout the aircraft. Flights are timed to optimize connectivity to and from Air Canada’s extensive North and South American network through the airline’s Toronto hub.

Since 2009, Air Canada has increased its system-wide international capacity, measured by seats, by approximately 50 per cent. This year, Air Canada launched new international services from Montreal to Venice and Mexico City, Vancouver to Osaka, and Toronto to Amsterdam. In November, the airline will launch nonstop service to Dubai and Delhi from Toronto and it has also announced new service beginning in 2016 to Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Glasgow and London-Gatwick from Toronto; Brisbane from Vancouver, and Lyon and Casablanca from Montreal.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner C-GHPX (msn 35261) taxies at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.