Monthly Archives: August 2019

British Airways to showcase the BEA A319 at the Jersey Air Display

British Airways has made this announcement:

Jersey residents will step back in time when British Airways celebrates 100 years of flying with a nostalgic entry in this year’s International Air Display on September 12.

One of the airline’s heritage aircraft, an Airbus A319 in the former British European Airways (BEA) livery, will take part in the flypast, one of the highlights of the Jersey show which attracts more than 25,000 visitors.

The A319, registration G-EUPJ, has been painted to mark British Airways’ centenary and is one of a collection of four heritage aircraft with vintage livery.

BEA flew predominantly on domestic and European routes between 1959 and 1968. However, there is one significant difference with the replica; the aircraft has a grey upper wing, rather than the traditional red, to meet current wing paint reflectivity requirements.

The historic lookback during the air show will continue on the ground where British Airways’ ambassadors in various heritage uniforms will welcome visitors to the show. There will be a special Club Europe fare on offer and a chance to win flights from Jersey to Milan, a new destination from London Gatwick this year.

British Airways operates a year-round service to Gatwick from Jersey, with 34 departures a week.

The airline has a long association with Jersey which began in 1933 when Jersey Airways, a forerunner of BEA and British Airways, launched its new route from Portsmouth. Until Jersey Airport opened in March 1937, the aircraft arriving on the island landed on the beach at St Aubin’s Bay.

The airline will be working with expert partners to identify BA’s 100 Great Britons; the people up and down the country who are currently shaping modern Britain, and of course, the year would not be complete without some special flying and moments for customers.

The centenary activity is taking place alongside the airline’s current five-year £6.5bn investment for customers. This includes the installation of the best quality WiFi and power in every seat, fitting 128 long-haul aircraft with new interiors and taking delivery of 72 new aircraft. The airline will also be introducing new Club World seat with direct aisle access later this year.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): BEA – British Airways Airbus A319-131 G-EUPJ (msn 1232) LHR (SPA). Image: 945875.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

Some of Miami’s most famous voices will soon welcome passengers and visitors at MIA

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Miami International Airport’s passengers and visitors will soon receive a warm welcome from some of Miami’s most recognizable voices.

World-renowned artists, athletes and local personalities have lent their voices to MIA in a new initiative to share the warmth and energy of our diverse and vibrant community.

Bringing the heat to this launch are NBA Champions Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem along with Grammy-winning recording artist Willy Chirino and singer and telenovela star Jencarlos Canela.

“We thank all of the hometown personalities who are participating in this campaign which is representative of our diverse community,” said Lester Sola, MIA Director and CEO. “We are excited that our 45 million passengers will now be greeted by these celebrities who call Miami home.”

The messages will be heard on MIA’s overhead announcement system inside the terminals throughout the day on a rotating basis.

Stay tuned as more of Miami’s most iconic voices will soon be announced.

Allegiant announces a new base in the Lehigh Valley, PA

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Allegiant Air made this announcement:

State and local officials joined executives from Allegiant Travel Company today as the company announced plans to establish a two-aircraft base at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Allegiant’s growth plans in the state include creating at least 66 new, high-wage jobs.

The Las Vegas-based company is investing $50 million to establish its new base of operations, which will house two Airbus aircraft. The company, which focuses on linking travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class leisure destinations, plans to begin its base operations at Lehigh Valley International Airport on February 12, 2020. Lehigh Valleywill become the airline’s 18^th aircraft base.

The Lehigh Valley is a two-county region in eastern Pennsylvania consisting of 62 municipalities and three cities; Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. Located one hour north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes west of New York City, the Lehigh Valley is the 69th largest metropolitan region in the United States, with a $40.1 billion GDP that is larger than that of two entire states, Wyoming and Vermont. With more than 15,000 businesses contributing to an incredibly diverse industry base, Lehigh Valley is the fastest growing and third most populous region in the state of Pennsylvania, with a population of more than 670,000 residents. Site Selection named the Lehigh Valley one of the top five fastest-growing regions with under a million people in the United States in 2018, and the fastest-growing region of its size in the Northeast U.S. for a third consecutive year.

Allegiant began operating at ABE in 2005 and currently offers seven nonstop routes – to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Sanford, St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Punta Gorda, Florida; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia. Allegiant currently carries more than 280,000 annual passengers through Lehigh Valley.

Current routes from ABE:

New routes announced:

Alliance Airlines introduces the “Pink Lady”

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Alliance Airlines made this announcement:

Introducing Alliance Airlines’ ‘Pink Lady’, supporting Australians affected by breast cancer:

This month, Alliance will officially launch the latest addition to our fleet of aircraft in support of Australians affected by breast cancer. Alliance’s Pink Lady will redefine ‘pretty in pink’ as she flies in her Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) livery throughout Australia.

The pictured Fokker 70 VH-NUU arrived in Townsville on August 19.

Transat reiterates its support for the arrangement with Air Canada

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Transat A.T. Inc., the parent of Air Transat, has made this announcement:

Transat A.T. Inc. confirms that it has taken note of Pierre Karl Péladeau’s press release dated August 19, 2019 regarding his recommendation to shareholders with respect to the arrangement with Air Canada. Transat notes that pursuant to this press release, no offer to acquire Transat has been made by Mr. Péladeau or any of his business associates.

Absence of an alternative offer

The arrangement with Air Canada is the result of a rigorous and diligent process by Transat’s board of directors supported by financial and legal advisors over a period of more than 6 months. Transat has never received any offer from Mr. Péladeau or any of his business associates to acquire Transat, and this, despite the April 30, 2019 announcement to the effect that Transat was in preliminary discussions with more than one party interested in acquiring it. Since the execution of the arrangement agreement with Air Canada on June 27, 2019, Mr. Péladeau or any other interested party could have made an offer to Transat, in the manner specifically provided for in the arrangement agreement. The process contemplated permits the offeror under any qualifying offer to undertake the necessary due diligence. Transat has not received any such offer to date.

Essentially, as no other offer has been received, our Shareholders have the choice between on the one hand, receiving $18 in all-cash consideration for each Transat share they hold, or on the other hand, bearing the risks associated with the implementation of Transat’s strategic plan. There is currently no concrete alternative transaction on the table.

The Arrangement with Air Canada benefits all our stakeholders, notably (i) our travellers, by enhancing route offerings, frequencies, connection times and leisure travel options, (ii) our communities, by maintaining the Transat head office and its key functions in Montréal and by introducing additional regional and U.S. networks allowing for Montreal to become a leading global hub, and (iii) our employees, by providing better job security and additional development opportunities through greater growth prospects.

In view of the above and for the reasons described in Transat’s Management Proxy Circular dated July 19, 2019, Transat’s Board and the special committee of the Board, supported by its legal and financial advisors, continue to unanimously reiterate that the Arrangement with Air Canada is in the best interest of Transat and its stakeholders and is fair to its shareholders, and unanimously recommend that Transat shareholders:

Vote FOR the special resolution approving the plan of arrangement with Air Canada

Avianca Brasil to exit Star Alliance

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Ocean Air Linhas Aéreas S/A, headquartered in São Paulo and formerly doing business as Avianca Brasil, will formally leave Star Alliance with effect from September 1, 2019. Star Alliance maintains a competitive network in the region.

Ocean Air’s withdrawal follows several months of bankruptcy protection and the withdrawal of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Brazilian regulator ANAC. The Star Alliance network maintains a significant and long-time presence in the Brazilian market continuously since its founding in 1997. As of September 1, 2019, the Alliance will number 27 member airlines.

Cabo Verde Airlines to fly to Lagos, Nigeria

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Cabo Verde Airlines, the Cape Verdean airline, will start flying to Lagos, Nigeria, from December 9, 2019.

After announcing flights to Luanda (Angola, December 9, 2019), Porto Alegre (Brazil, December 11, 2019) and Washington DC (December 11, 2019), Cabo Verde Airlines now announces a new route for the Winter 2019-2020.

The connection between Sal and Lagos will be operated five times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a Boeing 757-200 aircraft, with 161 economy class seats and 22 executive seats.

The inaugural flight is scheduled for December 9, 2019 departing from Amílcar Cabral International Airport (Sal) at 20:50 local time and arriving at Murtala Muhammed Airport (Lagos) at 02:10 local time.

All flights will connect to Sal Island, Cabo Verde Airlines’ international hub, and will make connections to Lisbon (five times a week), Washington DC (three times a week) and Boston (once a week), as well as to the airline’s destinations in Brazil – Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife and Fortaleza.