Monthly Archives: June 2019

Video: Sichuan Airlines A350 Panda One flight

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idacK2GLLf0&w=560&h=315%5D

New video from Sam Chui:

This was filmed a month back when I was in China. It is my first full vlog in Mandarin! (Chinese). English is provided as subtitle. I must also declare this is NOT sponsored by the airline as I paid my own ticket. As always I like to make my content engaging and marketable to show the best of each airline.

Ryanair launches its new subsidiary, Malta Air, for now under the Ryanair brand

Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737-800 WL 9H-QAE (msn 44812) (Ryanair colors) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 946824.

Ryanair has launched its new subsidiary, Malta Air, in Malta.

The pictured 9H-QAE (formerly EI-GDR) is one of the first to receive the new registration.

For now, the new airline is operating under the Ryanair brand although it is expected to soon adopt its own livery (below).

Previously on June 11, Ryanair Holdings announced it had agreed to purchase Malta Air, a Maltese start-up airline, into which Ryanair will move and grow its Malta based fleet of 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

This investment in Malta Air will allow Ryanair to grow its already sizable presence in Malta (3 million customers per year), and access non-EU markets (North Africa) from Malta. Completion is planned for the end of June, following which Ryanair Holdings will;

  • Switch 6 Malta based aircraft (worth over $600m) onto the Maltese register
  • 200 Malta based crew move onto local contracts paying local Maltese taxes
  • Increase its Malta based fleet to 10 aircraft within three years and create over 350 jobs
  • Brand its Malta based fleet in Malta Air colors for Summer 2020
  • Move Ryanair based aircraft from France, Italy and Germany onto the Malta AOC which will allow these crews to pay their income taxes locally in France, Italy and Germany instead of Ireland where they are currently required to pay income taxes under Ryanair’s Irish AOC.

Top Copyright Photo: Ryanair (Malta Air) Boeing 737-800 WL 9H-QAE (msn 44812) (Ryanair colors) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 946824.

Air Arabia to launch nonstop flights between Sharjah and Vienna

Air Arabia (Sharjah, UAE) has announced the launch of nonstop flights between Sharjah and Vienna, capital of Austria, starting on September 15, 2019.

The nonstop six-hour flight to Vienna, popularly known as the ‘City of Music’, will initially operate four times a week, on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and will increase to daily flights starting mid-December.

Flights on Fridays and Sundays depart Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) at 17:35 hours local time arriving at Vienna International Airport (VIE) at 21:50 hours local time. The return flights depart Vienna International Airport at 22:40 hours arriving in Sharjah the next day at 06:20 hours local time.

Flights operating on Saturdays depart Sharjah International Airport at 07:25 hours local time arriving at Vienna International Airport at 11:40 hours local time. The return flights depart Vienna International Airport at 12:30 hours arriving in Sharjah at 20:10 hours local time.

On Wednesdays, flights are scheduled to depart from Sharjah International Airport early in the morning at 07:15 hours local time arriving at Vienna International Airport at 11:30 hours local time. The return flights depart Vienna International Airport at 12:20 hours arriving in Sharjah at 20:00 hours local time.

Air Arabia currently operates flights to more than 170 routes across the globe from four hubs located in the Middle East and North Africa.

 

KLM’s first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner arrives in Amsterdam

KLM’s first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner (PH-BKA, msn 42485) was delivered one day late on June 29. The new type arrived today at the Amsterdam base. The new airliner is named “Orange Bloesem” (Orange Blossom) and carries a special “100 Years” logo (above).

The 787-10 Dreamliners will be named after flowers.

Photo: KLM.

Videos:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLYMRa2jmbM&w=560&h=315%5D

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ha0M484V8g&w=560&h=315%5D

Boeing’s statement on the latest issue concerning the 737 MAX software

Boeing issued this statement:

The safety of our airplanes is Boeing’s highest priority. During the FAA’s review of the 737 MAX software update and recent simulator sessions, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified an additional requirement that it has asked the company to address through the software changes that the company has been developing for the past eight months. The FAA review and process for returning the 737 MAX to passenger service are designed to result in a thorough and comprehensive assessment. Boeing agrees with the FAA’s decision and request, and is working on the required software. Addressing this condition will reduce pilot workload by accounting for a potential source of uncommanded stabilizer motion. Boeing will not offer the 737 MAX for certification by the FAA until we have satisfied all requirements for certification of the MAX and its safe return to service.

Daily Headlines – June 30, 2019

Airline News from other sources:

Newark Airport resumes flights after United Airlines plane makes emergency landing

American Airlines and mechanics union head to Federal court for trial over work slowdown

Bamboo Airways wants to fly Airbus A380s to the United States

JetBlue to end nonstop flights between Charleston, SC and Washington

Airlines have collected $1.3 billion in baggage fees so far this year

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants hold first major union protest in 20 years

ANA will test biofuel derived from rabbit poop

EVA Air flight attendants strike the airline for the second time in 2019

 

ExpressJet negotiations break down early as Teamsters file for mediation with the NMB

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued this statement:

ExpressJet  Airlines, a carrier in which United Airlines holds a 49 percent stake, sent a clear message to its aircraft mechanics this week by passing a regressive compensation proposal early in the negotiations process. In response the Teamsters Airline Division has asked the National Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency that oversees airline labor relations, for mediation assistance.

“Bargaining requires that the union and company try to move closer together, not further apart” said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division.

The company’s offer came during negotiations that were held on June 25 and 26 in Atlanta. At the end of the first day the company presented a regressive offer that proposed less total compensation for ExpressJet mechanics than the previous offer, convincing Teamster negotiators that the parties needed government mediation assistance to reach an agreement.

“ExpressJet mechanics are paid about half of what United Airlines mechanics make even though they all pass the FAA’s difficult licensing requirements; this is because ExpressJet is considered a ‘regional’ airline in the United Airlines system,” said Bourne. “ExpressJet mechanics are not asking for the same wages as United Airlines mechanics, but they expect to be paid for their skill and experience in a market where there is increased demand and fewer licensed mechanics entering the field.”

The mechanics agreed to pay cuts in 2008 to avoid ExpressJet declaring bankruptcy. After bargaining for almost ten years with its mechanics over restoring their wages, in 2017 ExpressJet agreed in a one-year contract to bring back pay to 2008 levels. Contract talks opened again in 2019.

“Over half of our remaining mechanics are in a ‘wait and see’ posture, hoping the new ownership led by United Airlines will be a better bargaining partner than the former owner,” said Bourne. “Unfortunately the company’s first compensation offer was unrealistic and the second was even worse. It’s very disheartening to these mechanics, most of whom remain here with the expectation that the new owners will pay them what the market for mechanics demands.”

JetBlue takes delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, adds a new tail fin design

JetBlue's first Airbus A321neo, delivered on June 29, 2019 with a new tail fin

JetBlue Airways today (June 29) quietly took delivery of its first Airbus A321neo which will allow the carrier to launch new longer routes, especially London.

The pictured N2002J, with a new unnamed tail fin design, arrived at the New York JFK base this afternoon.

Airbus and JetBlue have not yet announced the delivery or the name of the new design.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-271NX WL N2002J (msn 8823) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 946819.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

ASL Airlines France inaugurates two new routes from Paris CDG

ASL Airlines France has made this announcement (translated from French):

ASL Airlines France made its first flight to Belgrade on Monday (June 24) and and Tunis on Tuesday (June 25). These two inaugural flights departing from Paris-CDG started the summer schedule for the carrier.

✈ Belgrade is now served twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays until September 5, 2019
departure from Paris-CDG at 18:20 – arrival in Belgrade at 20:40.
departure from Belgrade at 21:40 – arrival at Paris-CDG at 00:05 (D + 1)

✈ Until September 6, 2019 ASL Airlines France serves Tunis from Paris:
twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, until August 1
once a week, on tuesday, august
daily the first week of September.

Flights departing and arriving at Paris-CDG are from the T3 Terminal.

 

In addition to the inauguration of the Paris-Belgrade and Paris-Tunis routes, the 2019 passenger flights program is also highlighted by:

✈ The reinforcement of the Bordeaux-Oran and Perpignan-Oran routes inaugurated last summer.
✈ The addition of new frequencies on the Paris-Algiers and Paris-Tel Aviv routes operated year-round.
✈ The renewal of flights to Oujda from Paris, Bastia and Strasbourg.

ASL Airlines France serves ten regular routes during the summer 2019 season:

Paris-CDG / Tunis; Paris-CDG / Belgrade; Paris-CDG / Oujda; Paris-CDG / Bastia; Strasbourg / Oujda; Bastia / Oujda; Bordeaux / Oran; Perpignan / Oran as well as Paris-CDG / Tel Aviv and Paris-CDG / Algiers which are insured year round.

All photos by the airline.