Monthly Archives: September 2018

Alaska Airlines announces daily nonstop service to El Paso, Texas

Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air) Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N635QX (msn 17000731) SEA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943663.

Alaska Airlines announced today it will begin daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and El Paso International Airport, along with daily nonstop service between El Paso and San Diego International Airport. El Paso is a new destination for Alaska.

 

The new service is scheduled to begin February 19, 2019, offering the only nonstop flights from Seattle/Tacoma and San Diego to El Paso.

Alaska has considered El Paso as a new destination for some time. It’s currently the largest underserved market from Seattle/Tacoma within the range of our Embraer 175 jets. That aircraft โ€“ with three cabin classes โ€“ is a perfect fit for this route, which will be flown by Horizon Air.

El Paso will become Alaska’s third destination to Texas served from San Diego, joining Austin and Dallas Love Field.

El Paso will become the 91st nonstop destination available from Alaska’s main hub in Seattle/Tacoma this spring.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air) Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N635QX (msn 17000731) SEA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943663.

Alaska Horizon aircraft slide show:

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Airbus delivers the first A320neo to Sky Airline of Chile

First Airbus A320neo for Sky Airline of Chile

Sky Airline has taken delivery of its first A320neo aircraft, on lease from ALC, at a delivery ceremony in Toulouse.

Sky Airlineโ€™s A320neo is powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and has a capacity of 186 passengers, incorporating innovative Space Flex features.

This new A320neo joins Sky Airlineโ€™s existing fleet of 15 A320 Family aircraft, and is the first of 21 A320neos to be leased by the airline.

The A320neo Family is the aircraft of choice for airlines in Latin America, capturing 680 orders and commitments from lessors and nine customers, representing over 70 percent of orders in the new generation single-aisle aircraft market.

Featuring the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the efficient A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 15 percent fuel and CO2ย savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 as well as 50 percent noise reduction. With more than 6,100 orders received from over 100 customers, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent of the market.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Airbus):ย Sky Airline (Chile) Airbus A320-251N WL F-WWDY (CC-AZC) (msn 8444) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 943415.

Sky Airline aircraft slide show:

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Airbus A330-900 receives EASA Type Certification

First Airbus A330neo

The Airbus A330-900 has received its Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. The Type Certificate was signed by EASAโ€™s Certification Director, Trevor Woods, and handed over by EASAโ€™s Head of Large Aeroplanes Certification, Ludovic Aron, to Airbusโ€™ Head of Engineering for Commercial Aircraft, Jean-Brice Dumont. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is expected to follow shortly.

In agreement with TAP Air Portugal, its first built aircraft served as a demonstrator for route proving around the world visiting more than 12 countries. Together with the two A330-900 flight test aircraft, the certification flight test campaign was successfully completed in around 1,400 flight test hours in under a year since the first flight on October 19, 2017.

The A330neo is a true new-generation family comprising the A330-900 and its smaller sibling, the A330-800, which will make its first flight in the coming weeks. The A330-900 in particular is the lowest seat-mile cost 300-seater which incorporates highly efficient Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, a new 3D-optimised wing and new sharklets with use of lighter composite materials. Together, these advances bring a significant reduction in fuel consumption of 25 per cent compared with older generation aircraft of similar size.

Passengers can expect the highest levels of comfort when flying on the A330neo, with the aircraft featuring the award-winning Airspace by Airbus cabin with newly designed sidewalls and fixtures, larger overhead storage, advanced cabin mood lighting and the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity.

Operationally, the A330neo shares a common pilot type-rating with the larger A350 XWB, which facilitates minimum flight training cost and maximum pilot productivity. Maintenance personnel will also benefit from the aircraftโ€™s new Skywise data connectivity features which will help them to predict potential issues before they arise, thus ensuring maximum productivity of the aircraft in revenue service.

The A330 is one of the most popular widebody families ever, having received over 1,700 orders from 120 customers. More than 1,400 A330s are flying with over 120 operators worldwide. The A330neo is the latest addition to the leading Airbus widebody family, which also includes the A350 XWB and the A380, all featuring unmatched space and comfort combined with unprecedented efficiency levels and unrivalled range capability.

Top Copyright Photo:ย TAP Portugal – Air Portugal Airbus A330-941N F-WWKM (CS-TUA) (msn 1819) FAB (Antony J. Best). Image: 942899.

TAP aircraft slide show:

Ryanair to open two new French bases at Bordeaux and Marseille

Ryanair has announced significant expansion in France, launching two new bases at Bordeaux and Marseille as part of its Summer 2019 schedule, with 2 new based aircraft for each airport (a total investment of $400m) and 27 new routes (connecting 12 countries).

Ryanairโ€™s new Bordeaux base will deliver:

2 based aircraft ($200m investment)

16 new routes: Bari (2 wk), Cologne Bonn (3), Copenhagen (3), Dublin (2), Fez (2), Krakow (2), Manchester (2), Marrakesh (2), Marseille (daily), Mykonos (1), Nantes (4), Naples (2), Ouarzazate (2), Tangier (2),Valencia (2) & Venice Treviso (3)

24 routes for summer 2019

70 weekly flights

Ryanairโ€™s new Marseille base will deliver:

2 based aircraft ($200m investment)

11 new routes: Agadir (2 wk), Alicante (2), Bologna (3), Bordeaux (daily), Bucharest (2), Budapest (2), Manchester (2), Naples (2), Ouarzazate (2) Prague (2) & Warsaw (2)

40 routes for summer 2019

150 weekly flights

 

Joon to add six new destinations in summer 2019

Joon (Air France) Airbus A321-211 F-GTAS (msn 3419) BCN (Tony Storck). Image: 941918.

Starting in summer 2019, Joon will serve 6 new destinations:

In Europe:

  • Madrid;
  • Stockholm;
  • Prague;
  • Manchester.

In the Caribbean:

  • Saint Martin.

In South America:

  • Quito.

Starting next summer Joon will serve 6 new destinations from Paris-CDG: Madrid* (Spain), Stockholm* (Sweden), Prague* (Czech Republic), Manchester* (UK), Saint-Martin* (France) and Quito (Ecuador).

  • Madrid, Stockholm, Prague and Manchester by Airbus A320 and A321!

From Paris-CDG, Joon will fly to Madrid, Stockholm, Prague and Manchester by Airbus A320 (174 seats) and A321 (212 seats).

In Business, Joon provides all you need! A full meal for lunch, hot pastries for breakfast and a snack at any other time of the day are available free of charge.

In Economy, there is a choice of free drinks at any time of the day. Would you like something else? A savoury snack? Or something sweet? Joon has something for everyone, with a selection of organic and gourmet products sold by the crew.

During the flight, you have free access to YouJoon, the onboard streaming offer available on your own smartphone, tablet or computer, which now offers a wide range of newspapers & magazines.

  • Enjoy the new cabins on the Airbus A340 to Saint Martin and Quito !

Flights from Paris-CDG to Saint Martin and Quito will be operated by Airbus A340 with 278 seats including 30 in Business, 21 in Premium Economy and 227 in Economy.

In Business, Premium Economy and Economy on long-haul flights, you can enjoy the new cabins on the Airbus A340, with:

  • Latest-generation individual touch screens with more than 1,200 hours of entertainment;
  • YouJoon, your onboard streaming offer available on smartphone, tablet or computer;
  • A wide choice of TV series, newspapers & magazines, web TV, cartoons, music and games.

In business, sleep in a seat-bed and enjoy all the comforts. Your seat can be transformed into a 2-metre long bed. As far as the in-flight catering is concerned, Joon takes you on a culinary journey with dishes designed by exceptional French chefs, with savoury and sweet gourmet delights.

The Premium Economy cabin offers you a brand new seat with optimal comfort: a 133ยฐ seat recline, 99 cm of generous legroom and 49 cm wide seat. At mealtime, your starters and desserts are inspired by those served in the Business cabin and are accompanied by a drink of your choice, including champagne!

In the Economy cabin, you have 78 centimetres of legroom and a 118ยฐ seat recline. A full meal is also available. And if you wish, you can treat yourself to a drink or a sweet or savoury treat from our additional menu!

About Joon

Joon is the new generation of travel by Air France. A trip designed for you that you can create yourself. Launched in September 2017, Joon has carried more than two million customers in Europe and worldwide from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Its fleet consists of Airbus A320 and A321 on its medium-haul network and Airbus A340 on its long-haul network. Joon is an innovation laboratory for the Air France group, with a modular offer, in-flight catering, streaming programmes with original content and multiple and innovative partnerships for a global travel experience.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Air France, the company will have a fleet of 28 Airbus aircraft in 2020 (18 A320/A321 and 10 A340/A350). Joon currently employs more than 500 people.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Joon (Air France) Airbus A321-211 F-GTAS (msn 3419) BCN (Tony Storck). Image: 941918.

Joon aircraft slide show:

Joon Destinations:

Etihad Airways forges a new partnership with Air Europa

Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APE (msn 191) LHR (Rob Skinkis). Image: 943662.

Etihad Airways has made this announcement:

Etihad Guest, the loyalty program for Etihad Airways, has announced a new partnership with Air Europa, enhancing the benefits for its members by allowing them to earn and spend Etihad Guest Miles when flying with the Spanish carrier.

The partnership allows members to also accumulate miles on codeshare flights operated and marketed by Etihad Airways in partnership with Air Europa. In addition, Etihad Guest members can redeem miles for tickets across the Air Europa network.

The agreement provides for greater cooperation between the airlinesโ€™ frequent flyer programs, Etihad Guest and SUMA, enabling passengers to earn and redeem miles reciprocally. In both cases, the number of miles earned will depend upon the class of travel flown.

Air Europa currently flies across Europe including holiday resorts in the Canary and Balearic Islands as well as long-haul services to the Americas and the Caribbean.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APE (msn 191) LHR (Rob Skinkis). Image: 943662.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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Juneyao Air unveils its special liveries and cabins for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Juneyao Air Boeing 787 “Chinese style” liveries – “Peony”, “Chinese Red” and “Chinese Ribbon”

Juneyao Airlines has made this announcement:

Juneyao Air hasย announced the planned suite of services for its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, including the ย promotional video “Dream a Journey; Share a Trip”, the fine design of the seats and cabin interiors, and the special liveries of the 787 fleet.

The array of unique service offerings is meant to demonstrate the superior features of the premium aircraft and how the airline stands unique and apart from its rivals with the mission of delivering Juneyao Air’s brand initiative “Warm Journey Beyond Imagination“.

Juneyao Air expects the theme of “Dream a Journey; Share a Trip” to become synonymous with the interior design of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, transforming each flight into an auspicious start of or pleasing end to the dream voyage that the passenger is looking forward to or just concluding.

Thompson Vantage XL seats on Juneyao Air Boeing 787

Panels and accessories for Juneyao’s Business Class

Night environment in Juneyao’s Business Class

The airline plans to roll out a series of new service features in business class: 29 highly customized 1-2-1 configuration Thompson Vantage XL full-flat seats that give the passenger additional private personal space and ensure a more comfortable flight experience. Seats are designed with a gentleย massage feature, an adjustable multifunctional light source and a larger storage space. The airline’s mission is to create a more distinguished, fashionable and differentiated travel experience.

Recaro CL3710 seats in the Economy Class, together with 12-inch IFE provided by Panasonic Avionics

Economy class incorporates a 3-3-3 layout, making more efficient use of the wide-bodied aircraft’s space. Optimized cabin space planning and the highly acclaimed Recaro CL3710 seat delivers legroom up to 32 inches. Each seat is equipped with a next-generation Panasonic 12-inch high-definition personal entertainment system and a separate USB port. In addition, the seat headrest can be adjusted in nine directions, assuring a relaxed and refreshed passenger, even after a long flight. A next-generation high-flux on-board satellite communications system keeps the traveler constantly connected ย even while cruising at 30,000 feet.

Juneyao Air’ image as a carrier that puts the comfort of the passenger first can be felt everywhere in the design once one enters the cabin. The configuration management team has specially customized a blend of seven kinds of light and shadows which, in Chinese traditional thought, symbolizes good fortune for the cabin and all that is within, while, at the same time, delivering to passengers a relaxing, easy-on-the-eyes visual experience. ย Quentin Bisch, one of the famous perfumer from Givaudan, created a special fragrance exclusively for the airline, adding a pleasing aromatic scent to the comfortably decorated cabin. Besides, the onboard service also includes a selection of alcoholic drinks, custom-made meals and special afternoon teas.

Juneyao Air Boeing 787 “Peony” livery

The special liveries of Juneyao’s 787 fleet are bound to draw the attention of passengers as they board the aircraft. The first 787 will feature the”Chinese Peony” livery symbolizing good fortune. As China’s national flower, the peony stands for elegance, wealth and magnificence, which makes the flower a perfect fit with the airline’s brand image and vision for the future. Moreover, the “Chinese Peony” 787 echoes the existing “Chinese Peony” A320s that were painted in celebration of the company’s tenth anniversary, and marks Juneyao Air entry into a stage where both short- and long-haul flights have become part of the roadmap. Meanwhile, the second, the third and the fourth 787 will be painted the “Chinese Ribbon” livery. The idea of using Chinese red silk ribbons as the theme symbolizes the airline’s entry into a new era while representing its contribution to theย One Belt, One Roadinitiative and further realizing the continuous development and aviation dream of the company.

The first Boeing 787 is scheduled to be delivered in Seattle in mid-October.

Later the aircraft will service domestic routes between Shanghai and Shenzhen, Sanya, Chengdu and Chongqing.

Intercontinental flights by 787 from Shanghai are expected to be launched in 2019 and will further enhancehe airline’s globalization roadmap. Therefore Juneyao Air is ready to welcome the new Boeing 787 to its fleet. With the rapid development of the company, travelers are likely to spot more Juneyao flights connecting continents together, serving as an ambassador for Chinese culture, and to make every passengers’ dreams come true.

All images by Juneyao Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways expand their codeshare partnership

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-8H6 WL 9M-MXP (msn 40153) DPS (Pascal Simon). Image: 943657.

Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways have announced the expansion of their codeshare partnership, allowing passengers to travel to more destinations in Malaysia, Qatar, Indonesia, Australia and the United States of America. Sale and travel under the expanded agreement commenced on September 18, 2018.

Under the new codeshare agreement, Qatar Airways code will be placed on 19 of Malaysia Airlines flights. Qatar Airways customers can now fly seamlessly on one booking reference to new Malaysian cities such as Kuantan, Kota Bharu, Miri and 10 other domestic cities in Malaysia. Besides seamless connectivity, passengers will also benefit from through baggage check-in and other benefits such as frequent flier miles accrual.

Malaysia Airlines passengers can also take advantage of Qatar Airways presence in the Americas, with the new codeshare extending to cities such as New York City, Miami, and Boston among others. Malaysia Airlines will place its MH code on 10 new destinations served by Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways currently offers a triple-daily direct service to Kuala Lumpur and a nonstop four-times-weekly flight to Penang.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways is one of the worldโ€™s fastest-growing airlines. Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 150 destinations worldwide. Earlier this year, Qatar Airways revealed a host of forthcoming global destinations in line with its expedited expansion plans, including Gothenburg, Sweden; Da Nang, Vietnam and Mombasa, Kenya.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-8H6 WL 9M-MXP (msn 40153) DPS (Pascal Simon). Image: 943657.

Malaysia Airlines aircraft slide show:

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United announces its winter ski season schedule

United Airlines today announced it is offering customers more than 100 flights and more than 10,000 seats daily to conveniently get to 12 of the country’s top ski destinations during the 2018/2019 ski season.

United and United Express offer service to more ski destinations in the United Statesthan any other airline including new flights this year between Denver and Mammoth Lakes, California and between Los Angeles and Eagle/Vail, Colorado; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Mammoth Lakes, California.

In addition to new service from Denver and Los Angeles, United is offering customers increased daily service between San Francisco and Eagle/Vail, Colorado; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming throughout the winter season. United will also offer a second daily flight from Chicago to Eagle/Vail and between San Francisco and Bozeman, Montana around the holidays.

Delta to launch Detroit – Honolulu service on June 29, 2019

Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 ER WL N175DZ (msn 29696) (SkyTeam) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 943648.

Delta Air Lines has made this announcement:

Delta customers will have more options to bask in the Aloha spirit beginning next June as new service between Delta’s Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport hub and Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport comes online.

The Detroit-Honolulu route will be served with Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft equipped with 25 fully flat-bed seats in Delta One, 29 seats Delta Comfort+ and 171 seats in the Main Cabin. The onboard experience includes access to Wi-Fi, free personal in-flight seatback entertainment screens and power ports in every seat.

This new service will be available for sale on September 29, 2018 and flights will operate on the following schedule beginning June 29, 2019:

Detroit Wayne County Metro Airport โ€“ Honolulu International Airport

Departs Arrives
DTW at 12:00 p.m. HNL at 3:43 p.m.

Honolulu International Airport โ€“ Detroit Wayne County Metro Airport

Departs Arrives
HNL at 3:15 p.m. DTW at 6:10 a.m. (next day)

The added service follows the announcement of nonstop service to San Jose, California that begins November 15, 2018. Delta is also planning to expand its service to London-Heathrow from Detroit to twice daily beginning in May 2019. Additional schedule details will be released at a later date.

The new Detroit service marks Delta’s ninth U.S. gateway to Honolulu, joining current core service from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City and Seattle/Tacoma in addition to seasonal service from New York-JFK, San Francisco and Portland, Ore.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Delta):ย Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 ER WL N175DZ (msn 29696) (SkyTeam) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 943648.

Delta aircraft slide show (Boeing):

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