Monthly Archives: April 2018

Swoop announces a new Winnipeg – Abbotsford route

Swoop announced a new domestic regional route, providing daily, direct service between Winnipeg and Abbotsford beginning August 16, 2018.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of Swoop’s recent announcement of a fourth aircraft being added for the peak summer travel season. This new route will double the weekly frequency schedule in Winnipeg, and add 7 flights to the Abbotsford weekly frequency schedule.

Swoop service officially begins on June 20, 2018, with an initial network that includes Abbotsford, Hamilton, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax.

With the addition of the new Winnipeg–Abbotsford route, Swoop will be operating 66 weekly flights as of August 16, 2018.

Starting today, Swoop is celebrating the latest route announcement and increased weekly frequency schedule with a system-wide seat sale detailed in the table below†:

Departing	Arriving	Air transportation charges Base fare from	Taxes, fees and charges	Total one-way price from
Abbotsford	Winnipeg	$87.17	$11.83	*$99.00CAD**
Winnipeg	Abbotsford	$62.17	$36.83	*$99.00CAD**
Abbotsford	Edmonton	$29.07	$8.93	*$38.00CAD**
Edmonton	Abbotsford	$9.55	$39.45	*$49.00CAD**
Hamilton	Winnipeg	$28.94	$40.06	*$69.00CAD**
Winnipeg	Hamilton	$33.59	$35.41	*$69.00CAD**
Hamilton	Halifax	$55.49	$43.51	*$99.00CAD**
Halifax	Hamilton	$50.97	$48.03	*$99.00CAD**
Hamilton	Abbotsford	$55.49	$43.51	*$99.00CAD**
Abbotsford	Hamilton	$87.17	$11.83	*$99.00CAD**
Edmonton	Hamilton	$57.17	$41.83	*$99.00CAD**
Hamilton	Edmonton	$55.49	$43.51	*$99.00CAD**

†Book by April 24, 2018 (11:59 p.m. MT) for travel between June 20-June 27 and/or August 16-December 13, 2018. 4800 seats available. Some blackout dates and restrictions apply.

Image: Swoop.

Route Map:

JetBlue grows again in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood with start date set for new Grand Cayman service

JetBlue Airways today announced it is again growing in South Florida and in the Caribbean with the start of nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) and Grand Cayman (GCM).

JetBlue first announced its intent to fly this route in January. Service will operate once daily beginning October 25, 2018.

New Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood service will complement JetBlue’s existing service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and seasonal service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

Schedule between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Grand Cayman (GCM)
Beginning October 25, 2018

FLL-GCM Flight #1397					GCM-FLL Flight #1398
10:26 a.m. – 10:53 a.m.					11:53 a.m. – 2:29 p.m.

The new service also advances JetBlue’s position as the top airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, where the airline plans to operate 140 daily flights in the coming years.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood is one of JetBlue’s fast-growing focus cities, serving customers throughout South Floridaand offering a fast and convenient alternative for Miami-Dade travelers. The airline also recently expanded its operation to two new gates in Terminal 3 and began utilizing Terminal 1 for additional international arrivals to help support future growth.

JetBlue intends to serve the route with its 100-seat Embraer 190 aircraft offering the airline’s award-winning service and the most legroom in coach (b), as well as complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks and free first-run Hollywood movies.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N187JB (msn 19000009) (Blueberries) FLL (Bruce Drum). Image: 104650.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

More Delta nonstop flights on the way this winter between the U.S. and Europe

Delta Air Lines customers will continue to have year-round nonstop access to Europe from several U.S. gateways this winter as the airline will run several key routes through the upcoming winter season:

New York-JFK to Lisbon
Los Angeles to Paris and Amsterdam
Indianapolis to Paris
Orlando to Amsterdam

Lisbon via New York-JFK

Effective October 27, nonstop service from Delta’s hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport will operate on the following schedule to Lisbon on Boeing 757 aircraft:

New York-JFK – Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
Flight Number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
DL473	JFK at 10:20 p.m.	LIS at 10:15 a.m.	Up to five times weekly (four times weekly Jan. through early March)
DL273	LIS at 11:45 a.m.	JFK at 3:03 p.m.	Up to five times weekly (four times weekly Jan. through early March)

“After a tremendously successful first summer of operating JFK-Lisbon in 2017, we saw great potential for additional Delta service in Portugal and consequently are adding both Atlanta-Lisbon and JFK-Ponta Delgada (Azores) summer service in 2018,” James added. “In winter 2018, we are further demonstrating our commitment to the market by extending our JFK-Lisbon service, allowing our customers to travel nonstop from New York to this exciting, dynamic destination on a year-round basis.”

Paris and Amsterdam nonstop from Los Angeles

Beginning October 27, Los Angeles service to Paris and Amsterdam will fly on the following schedule with Airbus A330 aircraft:

Los Angeles – Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam (AMS)
Flight Number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
DL156	LAX at 11:42 a.m.	CDG at 8:15 a.m. (next day)	Three times weekly
DL157	CDG at 3:15 p.m.	LAX at 6:48 p.m.	Three times weekly
DL78	LAX at 12:12 p.m.	AMS at 8:30 a.m.(next day)	Four times weekly
DL79	AMS at 3:30 p.m.	LAX at 6:39 p.m.	Four times weekly

“Delta is excited to be adding service from its fast-growing hub at Los Angeles International Airport to its two principal hubs in Paris and Amsterdam,” said Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s Vice President – Sales, West. “These services, which are being launched in June and will now be extended to year-round operations, provide key links between business, entertainment and cultural capitals on both sides of the Atlantic. They offer Delta’s Los Angeles customer base unparalleled access to the rest of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India on joint venture partners Air France and KLM.”

Indianapolis to Paris nonstop

Delta’s new Indianapolis-Paris flight launches on May 24 and will now be extended into the winter. As Indianapolis’s only nonstop service to Europe, it will now provide Indianapolis travelers year-round nonstop access to the City of Light on 767-300ER aircraft, as well as dozens of easy, one-stop connections to points beyond in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India on joint venture partner Air France.

Indianapolis (IND) – Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Flight Number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
DL500	IND at 6:29 p.m.	CDG at 8:40 a.m. (next day)	Four times weekly (three times weekly Jan. through early March)
DL501	CDG at 1:10 p.m.	IND at 4:54 p.m.	Four times weekly (three times weekly Jan. through early March)

Orlando to Amsterdam nonstop

Delta’s new Orlando-Amsterdam service began on March 30, and will now run through the winter, providing a vital year-round, nonstop link between Florida’s entertainment capital and one of Europe’s most charming and authentic cities, with convenient, one-stop connections to points beyond in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India offered by joint venture partner KLM.

Orlando (MCO) – Amsterdam (AMS)
Flight Number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
DL126	MCO at 9:48 p.m.	AMS at 12:45 p.m. (next day)	Four times weekly
DL127	AMS at 2:40 p.m.	MCO at 7:49 p.m.	Four times weekly

Delta will discontinue service effective October 27 between Newark Liberty International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Customers in the New York City area will still have access to Paris via Delta and joint venture partner Air France flights from New York-JFK with up to a combined five daily roundtrips.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (Boeing):

Icelandair celebrates the addition of its new Boeing 737 MAX and inspires passengers to capture stunning aerial shots

Icelandair has issued this statement:

Icelandair welcomes its first new Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a unique celebratory flight ‘Iceland By Air’ that took a special route over some of Iceland’s most stunning landscapes and sights.

All Icelandair planes are named after Icelandic volcanoes or areas of Iceland’s spectacular natural beauty. The new Boeing 737 MAX 8, named Jokulsarlon, took a special flight to Akureyri where Icelandair was founded in 1937, from the air, passengers were able to see Eyjafjordur, the mountains of the Trollaskagi peninsula and Hvalfjordur by Reykjavík

Hosted by top Icelandic landscape photographer, Páll Jokull, guests on board the celebratory flight were provided with an in-air tutorial to learn how to take the best aerial photographs from the newly designed windows for better viewing. Pall’s photography tips helped passengers to get the perfect shot: using the aircraft’s new LED lighting system to light the photo and the better-designed cabin windows to help frame it. ‘Capturing a good photo from the Boeing 737 MAX is a combination of the light available and the composition of what you see out there, landscape/sky, and will be made easier with the new redesigned windows,’ advises Jokull.

Passengers toasted the new plane with Icelandair’s special-edition 737 Transatlantic Icelandair Pale Ale, available on board and in the Icelandair Saga Lounge at Keflavik International airport for a limited time. The beer contains an ABV of 7.37% and is made with hops from the Pacific Northwest (where Boeing planes are made) and European malts as homage to the journey these planes will make.

Icelandair’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8 provides an improved customer flying experience with a redesigned cabin interior and customizable LED lighting. The enhanced cabin features a Boeing Sky Interior, fitted with modern-sculptured walls that cleverly lead your eye to the window. Additional thoughtful touches have been added, with larger overhead cabins to give passengers extra space to store their carry-on luggage more easily.

Icelandair’s newest plane also sets new standards in fuel-efficiency and performance with up to 20 percent more fuel-efficiency* and increasing its range by up to 3,515 nautical miles. The 737 MAX 8 incorporates the latest quiet engine technology to reduce the noise footprint of the airplane by up to 40 percent.

The carrier will add a total of 16 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to its fleet over the next four years, enabling the airline to further bolster its growing network. The new plane will complement Icelandair’s existing fleet of 757 and 767, all perfectly suited for mid-range flights and the airline’s operation of transatlantic and European routes.

In early summer 2018 the airline will start five new North American routes in addition to commencing flights between Dublin and Reykjavík. Icelandair has also recently simplified its on board product to offer two travel classes: Saga Premium and Economy to best suit their customers’ travel needs. In addition to investing in its product in the air and strengthening its network, the customer online experience has been updated too with a newly launched website that’s available in 16 new languages and easier than ever to navigate.

All passengers on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 over the next month can take part in capturing the perfect photo from the air using #IcelandByAir to enter with the winning photos to be featured in Icelandair’s in-flight magazine and showcased on Icelandair’s website. To check out photographer Pall’s tips to, to find out more about the competition or book with Icelandair please visit:www.icelandair.com.

In other news, Icelandair is introducing five new classes of service:

Top Copyright Photo (all other photos by Icelandair): Icelandair Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 TF-ICE (msn 44353) BFI (Joe G. Walker). Image: 941076.

Icelandair aircraft slide show:

Video:

United to end Cape Air ATR 42 United Express service, the last turboprop service

United Airlines has announced it will end the United Express ATR 42 service provided by Cape Air on May 31, 2018 from Guam. United will use mainline Boeing 737s to fly between Guam and Saipan starting on June 1, 2018.

Cape Air’s wings in Micronesia includes service to the islands of Guam, Rota and Saipan. The market is served by Cape Air’s ATR 42s, and are operated for United Express (formerly Continental Connection).

Cape Air operates three ATR 42s for United in Micronesia. This operation is the last turboprop United Express operation.

Route Map in Micronesia:

Photos: Cape Air/Kim Barksdale.

Video:

Pakistan International Airlines introduces a new livery

PIA – Pakistan International Airlines has once again refreshed its brand.

The airline has announced today it will soon unveiled its new livery on its first aircraft. The airline has offered these images on social media.

Pakistan’s national animal Markhor is the new aircraft tail logo.

All images by PIA.

Eurowings launches a new route from Munich to Las Vegas

Eurowings yesterday (April 16) launched a new route linking Munich with Las Vegas.

Photo: Eurowings.

Photo Below: LAS. The arrival in Las Vegas.

Far Eastern to become a Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 operator

Far Eastern Air Transport-FAT has announced it will add 11 new Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet over the next five years. The first delivery will be in the fourth quarter of 2019. The new type will replace its aging McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82s and DC-9-83s.

Boeing made this short announcement on social media:

Congrats to Far Eastern Air Transport for selecting and becoming the first in Taiwan to operate the 737 MAX 8.

Image: Boeing.

Etihad Airways and EgyptAir expand their codeshare partnership

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Egyptian national airline EgyptAir, have announced a significant expansion of their successful codeshare partnership, widening their horizons to cover more destinations in Africa, North Asia and Australia for the benefit and convenience of their customers. Sales on the expanded agreement will come into effect from today, for travel from May 2, 2018.

The initial phase of the agreement was launched in March 2017 and saw both Etihad Airways and EgyptAir place their codes on each other’s flights operating between Abu Dhabi and Cairo. The second phase of expansion of the current codeshare partnership will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY’ code on EgyptAir flights to a number of African destinations including Ndjamena in Chad, Nairobi in Kenya, Khartoum in Sudan, Entebbe in Uganda, Johannesburg in South Africa, and subject to government approvals, on flights to Nigeria, Eritrea and Tanzania, through the Star Alliance carrier’s Cairo hub.

The expanded partnership will also see EgyptAir place its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Seoul, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and subject to government approvals, on flights to China.

Etihad Airways has been serving the Abu Dhabi – Cairo route since 2004, and currently operates five daily flights between the two capitals. EGYPTAIR operates up to three daily services on the route.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243 A6-EYH (msn 729) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 941607.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

EgyptAir aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: EgyptAir Boeing 777-36N ER SU-GDO (msn 38289) LHR (SPA). Image: 941608.

Air Canada elevates transcontinental service for premium U.S. customers with new Air Canada Signature Service

(CNW Group/Air Canada)

Air Canada today became the first North American carrier to designate aircraft with lie-flat suites for premium cabin customers flying nonstop to Canada on major transcontinental routes with its new Air Canada Signature Service, including the onboard product Air Canada Signature Class. Beginning June 1, the airline will offer lie-flat suites and other enhanced amenities to eligible customers travelling on its wide-body aircraft from New York–Newark to Vancouver and both daytime and overnight daily flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Toronto.

Air Canada Signature Service customers will receive priority service at every stage of the journey, including access to airport concierge services, expedited check-in and security clearance, priority baggage handling and preferential boarding. Customers will also enjoy Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access and, for eligible customers connecting onward to international destinations at Toronto-Pearson, access to the exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite, featuring à la carte restaurant dining from a menu created by celebrated Canadian chef David Hawksworth.

“Our new Air Canada Signature Service and Air Canada Signature Class brands reflect the ongoing refinements to our premium travel service. We know our premium customers travelling on longer flight itineraries, such as overnight transcontinental flights, place a high value on convenience and comfort when in airports or onboard an aircraft. We are the first North American airline designating aircraft with lie-flat seats for U.S. originating premium customers travelling select transborder routes on non-stop flights so that they can arrive fully rested in Canada,” said Benjamin Smith, President of Passenger Airlines, Air Canada.

Available starting today on all Air Canada international flights and beginning June 1on select transcontinental flights within North America, Air Canada Signature Service and Air Canada Signature Class will incorporate and elevate the award-winning attributes of Air Canada’s International Business Class, featuring its next generation lie-flat suites. Air Canada Signature Service will be available on select transborder and domestic Canadian transcontinental flights when operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777, Boeing 767 and Airbus A330 aircraft. This includes routes between Toronto and the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Vancouver, and between Vancouver and the cities of New York–Newark and Montreal.

To note, Air Canada Signature Service with lie-flat suites to provide a full night’s rest will be available daily on the following North American non-stop overnight flights beginning June 1.

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Aircraft
AC788	Los Angeles 22:15	Toronto 05:52 + 1 day	Boeing 787-9
AC754	San Francisco 22:45	Toronto 06:37 + 1 day	Boeing 787-9
AC126	Vancouver 22:35	Toronto 05:55 + 1 day	Boeing 777

Air Canada Signature Service also introduces new amenities to make the journey even more comfortable, including:

For transcontinental travellers, the introduction of celebrity-chef David Hawksworth inspired menu items on flights serving lunch or dinner, enhanced wine and premium spirits, and the added option of espresso and cappuccino served with dessert or a new cheese selection;
On all routes, customers will be able to enjoy the new Air Canada Signature Cocktail and for international travellers Laurent-Perrier champagne;
On international flights, updated onboard menu items from chef David Hawksworth and a South Asian menu by chef Vikram Vij on flights to Mumbaiand New Delhi, complemented by an expanded wine selection chosen by Air Canada sommelier Véronique Rivest; service on new restaurant style dishware and glassware;
Additional bedding to enhance the sleep experience;
At Air Canada’s Toronto-Pearson global hub, full fare Air Canada Signature Class customers departing on International flights will have access to the Air Canada Signature Suite. The suite is an exclusive airport retreat, where eligible customers can dine à la carte at a complimentary, full-service restaurant from a menu created by chef Hawksworth, or enjoy, Moet & Chandon champagne, fine wines and premium cocktails in an intimate, Canadian-designed and decorated setting;
For customers originating in Toronto-Pearson or arriving at Toronto-Pearson from a domestic Canada flight with onward international travel, Air Canada will also provide Air Canada Valet Service, powered by BMW, starting later in 2018. It is the first dedicated service offered by an airline in North America for customers booked in a premium cabin, where a dedicated fleet of BMW sedans whisk customers over the tarmac to connect, making connecting at Toronto-Pearson truly exclusive and seamless;
For international travelers, personal comfort items by Canadian brands, including enhanced amenity kits by Want Les Essentiels, with premium care products by vitruvi.