Monthly Archives: April 2018

Brussels Airlines grows by 13.4% in March

Brussels Airlines made this announcement:

In March, 778,175 passengers boarded a Brussels Airlines flight, which represents a 13.4% increase compared to the same month last year. Passenger growth was recorded across the entire network, leading to a 4.7 percentage point increase of the seat load factor.

Brussels Airlines closes March with growth. On board of the 6,390 flights that were operated during the past month, Brussels Airlines welcomed 778,175 passengers, or 91,876 more than in March 2017. The largest growth was recorded on the North American (+28.1%) and African sectors (+18.1%), followed by the European network (+10.8%) and the Middle East (+5.6%). The Asian growth is due to the fact that Brussels Airlines’ Mumbai route was opened on 30 March 2017 (comparison of 2 days of operations last year versus an entire month this year). On the European network the growth was mainly achieved thanks to the Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium activities that were integrated last October.

The passenger growth led to an increase of the seat load factor by 4.7 percentage points, bringing the average seat load factor to 79.5%. It was also a very strong month for Brussels Airlines Cargo. The cargo load factor grew by 5.8 percentage points to 75.2%. The freight volumes transported in the belly of Brussels Airlines’ passenger flights increased by 43%, a significant growth that is partly due to the opening of the Mumbai route.

Compared to March last year, Brussels Airlines operated 3.9% less flights. Nevertheless the airline was able to increase its growth rate. This is the result of the replacement of the last AVRO jets (100 seats) by Airbus aircraft with a greater capacity (180 seats). Thanks to its increased offer, Brussels Airlines was able to continue to propose competitive fares and attract even more customers. This means, however, that the pressure on airline ticket prices remains very high.

These statistics do not include the passengers on board of charter flights Brussels Airlines operates on behalf of tour operators.

Month	Month	VLY difference
mar18	mar17	VLY difference
Flights	6,390	6,650	-3.9%
Total Passengers	778,175	686,299	13.4%
— Passengers Europe	632,445	570,678	10.8%
— Passengers Africa	94,059	79,643	18.1%
— Passengers North America	24,817	19,368	28.1%
— Passengers Middle East	16,775	15,881	5.6%
— Passengers Asia	10,079	729	1282.6%
Available seat-kilometers (ASK)	1,661,714,583	1,423,890,745	16.7%
Revenue Passenger-Kilometers (RPK)	1,320,531,121	1,064,760,834	24.0%
Passenger Load Factor (%)	79.5%	74.8%	4.7%pt
Available Ton-Kilometers (ATK)	197,312	168,453	17.1%
Revenue Ton-Kilometers (RTK)	155,970	123,253	26.5%
Cargo Load Factor (%)	75.2%	69.4%	5.8%pt
These results are based on figures currently available

Brussels Airlines aircraft slide show:

SAS orders one Airbus A330-300 to replace an Airbus A340-300

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has signed an order for one additional Airbus A330-300 with delivery during the spring of 2019. The aircraft will replace one Airbus A340-300.

SAS’s long haul fleet consists of 16 Airbus A330/A340, of which one Airbus A340-300 mostly has functioned as a reserve aircraft. With the investment in one new Airbus A330, SAS improves its customer offering as SAS’s entire long haul fleet will have an identical cabin interior. In addition, the Airbus A330-300 has approximately 15-20% lower jet fuel consumption per seat kilometer compared to the Airbus A340 that will be replaced.

The list price of one A330-300 aircraft, including engines, ordered from Airbus amounts to $264 million, before discounts agreed between SAS and Airbus. The new Airbus A330-300 will be financed through a sale/leaseback.

In accordance with the other A330-300, SAS has chosen RR Trent 772B as engine.

SAS will eventually replace its remaining Airbus A340-300s with new Airbus A350-900s.

SAS aircraft slide show:

Southwest reaches an agreement with its mechanics

Southwest Airlines has announced that it has reached an Agreement in Principle with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) for the Company’s Aircraft Mechanics and Related Employees workgroup. The five-year agreement includes terms for updated work rules, improved wages and benefits, and a ratification bonus.

The Agreement in Principle will be committed to final contract language before it is sent to affected Employees for a vote. The date for a ratification vote will be determined in the coming weeks.

The current AMFA contract became amendable on August 17, 2012. Mediation was filed by AMFA on July 6, 2015. AMFA represents over 2,400 Southwest Employees in the Aircraft Mechanics and Related Employees workgroup.

Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N922WN (msn 32461) (Tennessee One) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941458.

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Azul announces the lease of two Boeing 737-400F freighters

Azul has announced the lease of two used Boeing 737-400F freighters to support the rapid growth of its cargo business unit, Azul Cargo Express. Both aircraft are expected to be delivered during the second half of this year. As a result, Azul Cargo Express will have additional capacity and greater flexibility to provide customized solutions for its growing customer base.

“We have decided to order these freighter planes because we see the need to have some dedicated narrowbody aircraft to support the growth of our cargo business. The 737 is the only narrowbody freighter option in the market and was chosen because of the model’s low ownership cost combined with its superior capacity and unbeatable reliability track record. With these planes, we’ll have greater versatility based on the needs of our clients, and we will also be able to offer new services, such as air charter. With no doubt, these cargo planes will support our fast expansion,” notes Izabel Reis, director of Azul Cargo Express.

The 737-400F can hold up to 20 tons of cargo. With more capacity and higher flexibility, Azul Cargo Express expects to grow revenues by 40% this year, expanding its service offering throughout Brazil. In 2017, Azul’s cargo business registered a 49% revenue growth compared to the previous year.

LATAM Brasil is coming to Las Vegas

LATAM Airlines Brasil is planning to operate seasonal flights to Las Vegas from December 15, 2018 to March 1, 2019. The new route will operate three days a week with Boeing 767-300 aircraft according to Airline Route.

LATAM aircraft slide show:

Wizz Air signs order with Geven to equip 110 Airbus A321neo aircraft

Wizz Air Holdings Plc has announced that following a competitive selection process a new agreement was signed with the Geven Company. The airline is purchasing the brand new Essenza seat model, Geven’s latest innovation, to equip 110 Airbus A321neo that will start delivery in January 2019 and continue through a streamline of five years.

Based on current list prices, the value of the new order, placed with Geven is some EUR 44 million, although discounts have been granted to Wizz Air for this order covering 110 new aircraft. The new agreement will contribute to providing greater comfort for all passengers, as well as having a positive impact on the airline’s operations. The light weighted seat brings less fuel consumption, which reflects into a lower environmental footprint and further contributes to Wizz’s drive for even lower operations costs.

Essenza seat model created by Geven follows the fashionable Italian appeal enhancing the unique features of the Wizz aircraft’s interior design. The new model allows an easy passenger access with an increased knee clearance of 25% on average. The seats, in Wizz Air’s authentic cobalt blue color, will be covered with engineered leather, with an ergonomic shape and an ultra slim backrests. Furthermore, these lines are as aesthetic as functional, as the ample seat cushion and lower literature pocket travelers will enjoy even greater comfort on board of the brand new aircraft.

Photos: Geven.

Air France management offers representative unions a multi-year deal on pay negotiations

Air France issued this statement:

On April 11, 2018, Air France and its customers are facing a 7th day of strike action over the past 6 weeks.

Although constituting minority actions on a company-wide scale, these strikes are nonetheless causing severe commercial and operational impact, and destroying the company’s image and results. They are putting great strains on the teams at work, who are dealing with dissatisfied and disappointed customers, and stirring up internal tensions.

From the outset of the strikes, Air France management has explained its reasoning behind the significant pay and profit-sharing measures applied in 2018, and has underlined the risks the company would run if it were to increase its costs massively and abruptly, in a context of increased competition. It can only deplore that the negotiation proposals put forward have been rejected to date.

In a spirit of dialogue and responsibility, Air France management has invited the unions to participate in a multi-year pay negotiation (2019-2021). This negotiation, which will take place on an inter-category basis in line with union demands, will lead to a genuine “growth pact”. The multi-year scope will allow us to offer a response to the demands expressed and adopt a timeframe for implementing measures that the company is unable to apply abruptly.

In order to resolve this conflict, as part of this negotiation, management will offer to apply some of the forthcoming measures as from 1st April 2018 by increasing pay scales by 1%, resulting in a 2% pay scale increase for 2018.

This negotiation will begin on Thursday, April 12, and we propose that it takes place without interruption until an agreement open to signature is reached. With this proposal, management calls on unions to suspend the conflict while this negotiation takes place.

Moreover, the negotiation underway with the pilot unions over the past two weeks will continue around specific pilot themes, within a balanced framework allowing to guarantee the growth dynamic to which we are committed.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Qatar Airways signs Letter of Intent for five Boeing 777 Freighters

Boeing and Qatar Airways today signed a letter of intent to purchase five 777 Freighters, valued at $1.7 billion at list prices. When a purchase is finalized, it will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.

His Excellency Mr. Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group CEO and Kevin McAllister, president & CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes sign a Memorandum of Understanding for five Boeing 777 Freighters in the presence of the Qatari Minister of Finance and Qatar Airways Chairman His Excellency Mr. Ali Sharif Al Emadi (left) and Sheikh Meshal Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatari Ambassador to the USA. (Boeing photo)

The letter of intent was signed during a ceremony attended by Qatari Minister of Finance and Qatar Airways Chairman His Excellency Mr. Ali Sharif Al Emadi, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister.

Qatar Airways currently operates a fleet of nearly 100 Boeing widebody airplanes and has about 100 more Boeing airplanes on order.

The 777 Freighter is capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a payload of 112 tons (102 metric tonnes or 102,000 kg). The airplane’s long range translates into significant savings as fewer stops mean lower landing fees, less congestion, lower cargo handling costs and shorter delivery times.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Boeing): Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777-FDZ A7-BFA (msn 36098) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 913421.

Qatar Airways aircraft slide show:

Qatar Airways announces an investment in JetSuite, Inc.

(PRNewsfoto/JetSuite, Inc.)

Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar and one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, and JetSuite, Inc., a leading U.S. private aviation company, announced today in the presence of the Qatari Minister of Finance and Chairman of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr Ali Sharif Al Emadi that Qatar Airways has taken a minority stake in JetSuite, Inc. and indirectly in JetSuiteX, Inc. Qatar Airways joins JetBlue Airways, which will be increasing its investment, and a number of private investors as stakeholders in both JetSuite and JetSuiteX.

With this investment in JetSuite, Inc., Qatar Airways will help fuel the growth of JetSuite’s private aviation business, which currently focuses on light and very light jets. The investment extends to JetSuiteX, the sibling company to JetSuite, further accelerating the expansion of its acclaimed semi-private air service on the U.S. West Coast and beyond. JetSuiteX fills a niche in underserved short haul markets and small airports, and enjoys a Net Promoter Score over 90, higher than the major U.S. airlines. JetSuiteX operates its fleet of Embraer 135 aircraft from private terminals in California and Nevada, with no lines, no waiting and no stress, at a price competitive with commercial travel. The Qatar Airways investment will enable faster expansion of this fleet and the ability to reach new destinations, including the potential to bring the semi-private model to additional U.S. regions.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said, “We are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in such unique business as JetSuite and JetSuiteX; we believe that both businesses are complimentary to Qatar Airways business and maintain the core values and customer focus of our own business. We believe that JetSuite and JetSuiteX deliver a truly class-leading service to the U.S. market with a huge potential for development, and we are very excited to invest in this opportunity alongside JetBlue and the other investors.”

This investment further supports Qatar Airways investment strategy, which already includes minority investments in several other international carriers, such as International Airlines Group, LATAM Airlines Group, Cathay Pacific and Air Italy.

(PRNewsfoto/JetSuite, Inc.)

About JetSuite

JetSuite provides flying that moves your soul through transparent pricing, efficient operations, acute attention to detail, acclaimed customer service, and industry-leading safety practices. Offering a WiFi-equipped fleet of jets across the U.S., JetSuite was recently ranked #1 in light jet utilization by ARGUS. Under the leadership of CEO Alex Wilcox, a JetBlue founding executive, JetSuite is IS-BAO certified and rated Platinum by ARGUS, the highest possible safety rating in the private jet industry.

WestJet announces two new summer routes

WestJet has announced two nonstop routes for this summer. Starting June 29, WestJet will begin service between London, Ontario and Vancouver and between Quebec City and Calgary. WestJet’s limited-edition flights will be offered only during the peak summer travel season.

From June 29 through September 8, WestJet will offer four weekly, nonstop flights between Quebec City and Calgary. Service will be reduced to three weekly, nonstop flights from September 8 through October 26. The service opens up 18 new WestJet destinations via Calgary International Airport including Saskatoon, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Comox, Nanaimo, and WestJet’s new WestJet Link service to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Cranbrook.

From June 29 to September 7, WestJet will offer three weekly, nonstop flights between London, Ontario and Vancouver. The service arrives in London in the evening and departs in the morning, opening up six new WestJet destinations including Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Fort St. John, Prince George and Kelowna via VancouverInternational Airport.

Details of new service:

Route	Frequency	Departs	Arrives	Effective/End Date
Calgary – Quebec City	4x weekly	10:30 a.m.	4:32 p.m.	June 29 / September 8, 2018
Quebec City – Calgary	4x weekly	5:30 p.m.	10:05 p.m.	June 29 / September 8, 2018
Calgary – Quebec City	3x weekly	10:30 a.m.	4:32 p.m.	September 8 / October 26, 2018
Quebec City – Calgary	3x weekly	5:30 p.m.	10:05 p.m.	September 8 / October 26, 2018
Vancouver – London, ON	3x weekly	9:15 a.m.	4:27 p.m.	June 29 / September 7, 2018
London, ON – Vancouver	4x weekly	5:30 p.m.	7:18 p.m.	June 29 / September 7, 2018