Monthly Archives: June 2017

BVI Airways to launch nonstop Tortola – Miami service

Miami International Airport has announced BVI Airways is scheduled to launch first-ever nonstop service between Tortola, British Virgin Islands and MIA on July 22, with two weekly roundtrip flights on Saturdays and Sundays.

BVI Airways will use the pictured BAe (Avro) RJ100 aircraft (VP-LWW, msn E3274, above) to serve the new route, which connects Miami to the British Virgin Islands’ capital and largest island. Tortola will also be MIA’s 40th Caribbean destination with nonstop service.

Previously British Caribbean Airways (below) was a short-lived British airline that attempted to connect Tortola in the British Virgin Islands with Miami via Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The 146 operator flew between April 14, 1986 and October 12, 1987.

Top Photo: BVI Airways.

Copyright Photo Below: British Caribbean Airways BAe 146-100 N246SS (msn E1003) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 103394.

Airline Color Scheme - Introduced 1986

Norwegian becomes the first European Boeing 737 MAX 8 operator

Norwegian and Boeing on June 29, 2017 celebrated the delivery of the Norwegian’s first two 737 MAX 8s. Norwegian is the first European carrier to take delivery of the 737 MAX and will deploy the airplanes on transatlantic flights between northern Europe and the east coast of the United States.

Norwegian is the sixth largest low-cost carrier in the world and flies over 500 routes to more than 150 destinations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean and the US. It currently operates a fleet of more than 100 Next-Generation 737-800s and over a dozen 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners. The Oslo-headquartered carrier also has unfilled orders for 108 737 MAX 8s and 19 787-9s.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 737 MAX 8 EI-FYA (msn 42830).

Alaska Airlines salutes the Seattle Mariners on their 40th Anniversary

Alaska introduces the Seattle Mariners 40th anniversary plane. (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines)

Alaska Airlines on June 28, 2017 relesed this statement and photo:

As a symbol of the long-standing partnership between Alaska Airlines and the Seattle Mariners, today Alaska officially unveiled a specially-marked Boeing 737-800, featuring the Seattle Mariners logo and the 40th anniversary design across the fuselage. The official hashtag of the Mariners-Alaska partnership, #MyOhMariners, appears next to the boarding door. Guests seated over the wings will be able to see the hashtag on the plane’s winglets.

Both organizations are dedicated to helping communities both in Seattle and around the world. For every home run hit by a Mariners player during the 2017 season, as part of the Mariners Care program, Alaskawill donate 10,000 airline miles to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) – Seattle Chapter to help worthy students succeed in education. Miles donated supplement a 1-million-mile seed gift from Alaska Airlines and will help students fly to college tours, travel back and forth between school and home, and participate in a variety of leadership development programs and other programming offered by UNCF. This year there have been 73 home runs to-date and the total is expected to reach the goal of 100 by the close of the season.

Since 2016, Alaska has donated more than 8 million miles to charities and community projects through the Mariners Care program. Alaska also supports Robinson Canó’s RC22 Foundation, that has a mission to help build schools in the Dominican Republic. In November 2015, RC22 opened its first school in Canó’s hometown of San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.

Photo: Alaska Airlines.

Buta Airways to start operations on September 1

Buta Airways will operate flights from Baku to Moscow (Vnukovo Airport), Antalya, Kazan, Mineralnye Vody, Kiev, Tbilisi and Tehran. Starting from the winter season (from October 29 this year), cities such as Istanbul and St. Petersburg will be added to the route network of Buta Airways.

The first flight of Buta Airways from Baku to Tbilisi will be operated on September 1, 2017.

Being a low-cost airline, Buta Airways will offer additional services such as carriage of baggage, hand luggage, hot onboard meals, as well as seat selection in the airplane on the flights on a paid basis.

The airline will provide sandwiches and water free of charge on all flights, hot meals can be pre-ordered during the purchase of the ticket for 7.90 euro. On board the aircraft you can also buy a variety of drinks and cold appetizers.

 

Buta Airways is the first low-cost airline in Azerbaijan, a structural unit of the CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL). It was founded in December 2016. The Airline’s fleet consists of modern Embraer aircrafts. The Airline is based in Baku, at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Image: Buta Airways.

 

Allegiant announces 28 new routes and service from 3 new cities

Allegiant's 2015 "Visit Florida" postcards special livery

Allegiant Air has announced 28 new routes and service from three new U.S. cities: Gulfport/Biloxi, Mississippi; Norfolk, Virginia; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The airline continued;

New routes announced include:

Year-round nonstop service to Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) from:

  1. Gulfport, Mississippi – begins August 30, 2017 with fares as low as $29*
  2. Milwaukee – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $35*
  3. Newburgh, New York – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $59*
  4. Norfolk, Virginia – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $39*

Year-round nonstop service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) from:

  1. Louisville, Kentucky – begins October 4, 2017 with fares as low as $54*
  2. Kansas City, Missouri – begins October 4, 2017 with fares as low as $45*
  3. Boise, Idaho – begins October 6, 2017 with fares as low as $59*
  4. Milwaukee – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $59*
  5. St. Louis – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $54*

Seasonal nonstop service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) from:

  1. Omaha, Nebraska – begins October 4, 2017 with fares as low as $49*
  2. Tampa / St. Pete, Florida – begins November 15, 2017 with fares as low as $69*
  3. Indianapolis – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $49*

Year-round nonstop service to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) from:

  1. Norfolk, Virginia – begins October 4, 2017 with fares as low as $39*
  2. Milwaukee – begins October 13, 2017 with fares as low as $49*
  3. Ogdensburg, New York – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $59*

Seasonal nonstop service to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) from:

  1. Phoenix / Mesa – begins November 15, 2017 with fares as low as $69*

Year-round nonstop service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from:

  1. Ogden, Utah – begins October 5, 2017 with fares as low as $35*
  2. Cincinnati – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $69*

Year-round nonstop service to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) from:

  1. Flint, Michigan – begins October 6, 2017 with fares as low as $49*
  2. Milwaukee – begins October 13, 2017 with fares as low as $49*
  3. Rochester, New York – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $69*
  4. Newburgh, New York – begins November 17 2017 with fares as low as $65*

Seasonal nonstop service to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) from:

  1. St. Cloud, Minnesota – begins November 15, 2017 with fares as low as $69*

Year-round nonstop service to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) from:

  1. Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $39*
  2. Los Angeles – begins November 16, 2017 with fares as low as $69*

Year-round nonstop service to Las Vegas via McCarran International Airport (LAS) from:

  1. Ogden, Utah – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $45*
  2. Omaha, Nebraska – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $49*

Year-round nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) from:

  1. Milwaukee – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $50*
  2. Norfolk, Virginia – begins November 17, 2017 with fares as low as $39*

Seasonal nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico via Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) from:

  1. Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina – begins December 15, 2017 with fares as low as $64*

Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 N228NV (msn 716) (Visit Florida) FLL (Tony Storck). Image: 936495.

Iran Airtour commits to 45 Airbus A320neo aircraft

Tehran based Iran Airtour Airlines (Iran Air Tours), has become Airbus’ newest customer for the A320neo Family after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for 45 aircraft at the Paris Air Show.

Celebrating 45 years since establishment, the carrier now has been added to Airbus’ list of new customers. Operating scheduled services to domestic and international markets, Iran Airtour will benefit from the new aircraft to modernise its fleet and expand its operations to domestic and international markets.

The MoU is contingent upon all necessary approvals, including those from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Airbus will continue to act in full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) and associated rules.

Ruili Airlines signs MOU for 20 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes

Ruili Airlines and Boeing on June 22, 2017 announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 20 737 MAX airplanes at the 2017 Paris Air Show.

Launched in May 2014, Ruili Airlines operates a fleet of 14 Boeing 737 airplanes on 28 domestic routes with 76 daily departures. The start-up carrier plans to expand its fleet to 40 aircraft by the end of 2020.

Ruili Airlines aircvraft photo gallery:

Copa Airlines converts for 15 Boeing 737 MAX 10s

Copa Airlines and Boeing have announced an order for 15 737 MAX 10s at the 2017 Paris Airshow. With this announcement, Copa is one of the launch customers for the 737 MAX 10 airplane and will be the first airline in Latin America to operate the newest addition to the 737 MAX family.

This order is a conversion from a previous order of 737 MAX aircraft.

Copa Airlines will use the airplanes to replace existing airplanes and support the carrier’s plans for strategic growth. Copa will be the first airline in the region to operate the 737 MAX on deep South American and North American routes. The 737 MAX 10’s operating economics and passenger comfort are ideally suited to Copa’s route network.

Image: Boeing.

Xiamen Airlines signs MOU for 10 Boeing 737 MAX 10s

Xiamen Airlines (Xiamen Air) and Boeing have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the 2017 Paris Air Show for 10 737 MAX 10 airplanes, valued at $1.2 billion at list prices.

Xiamen Airlines will become one of the launch customers for the 737 MAX 10, the newest member of Boeing’s 737 MAX family.

Xiamen Airlines will work closely with Boeing and relevant stakeholders to finalize the agreement for 10 737 MAX 10 Airplanes, which requires the approval of Xiamen Airlines’ board of directors, the China Southern Airlines Company Limited’s board of directors, as well as the Chinese Government.

Xiamen Airlines is an existing 737 MAX customer and plans to use the new airplanes with their subsidiaries, including Hebei Airlines and Jiangxi Airlines.

Image: Boeing.