Monthly Archives: April 2021

Ryanair to establish a new base at Riga with 16 new routes

Ryanair has announced a new base opening in Riga with two based aircraft, 95 departing flights per week and 30 routes in total, including 16 new routes connecting Riga to a host of international destinations across Europe from October 2021.

Routes:

Route	Departing Flights per Week
Aarhus	3
Bristol	2
Budapest	3
Gothenburg	3
Krakow	2
Kviv**	2
Lviv**	2
Malaga	2
Memmingen	2
Warsaw Modlin	5
Palermo	2
Paris Beauvais	2
Rome Ciampino	3
Torp Sandefjord	4
Frankfurt Hahn***	2
Venice Treviso***	2

**Subject to regulatory approval

***New winter service, launched in Summer 2021

Top Copyright Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS WL EI-DWT (msn 33626) (Vigo – Cies Islands) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 943419.

Ryanair aircraft slide show:

ANA to install world’s first hands-free lavatory doors on 21 aircraft

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for eight consecutive years, has partnered with JAMCO Corporation to develop the world’s first hands-free door that allows easy access to lavatories on its aircraft. The innovative door was developed as part of the ANA Care Promise initiative, and will help limit potential vectors for the transmission of pathogens. The first hands-free doors will be introduced to domestic flights starting May 1.

“Guided by the principles of ANA Care Promise, we have continued to invest in the development and implementation of innovative technologies because the health and safety of passengers and our staff is the top priority,” said Shinichi Inoue, Senior Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management & Planning. “The hands-free lavatory door is the latest example of us putting this principle into practice as we look for ways to make the travel experience safer and more convenient.”

The new lavatory door is equipped with a large inner door locking knob and an additional handle so that passengers can use their elbows to unlock the door. Because the door mechanism is different to those found on other aircraft, signage has been placed near the lavatory to provide operational instructions.

Above Copyright Photo: ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Air Japan Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner JA899A (msn 34519) (Star Alliance) NRT (Akira Uekawa). Image: 953557.

The hands-free lavatory will be installed on 11 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and eight Boeing 777-200s. The initial installation will be for aircrafts serving domestic routes, while ANA hopes to introduce the system to all domestic and international aircraft in the future.

To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens, ANA has instituted the ANA Care Promise program which goes above and beyond the recommendations from public health officials in order to keep passengers and employees healthy. With such efforts, ANA is the first airline in Asia and only the fourth in the world to receive the SKYTRAX Airline Safety 5-Star rating which confirms the effectiveness of ANA Care Promise.

ANA aircraft slide show:

Sun Country Airlines announces 18 new nonstop routes

Sun Country Airlines has announced the addition of 18 new nonstop routes, adding nine airports to its growing network. The expansion includes six nonstop routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), two nonstop routes from Duluth International Airport (DLH), two nonstop routes from Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB), one nonstop route from Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), five nonstop routes from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and two routes from Rochester International Airport (RST).

The airline welcomes Duluth International Airport (DLH), Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in Grand Cayman, Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB), Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), Rochester International Airport (RST), St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks and Caicos to its growing network.

Of the 18 newly announced routes, ten will offer the only nonstop service to travelers. From Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport, Sun Country will offer the only nonstop flights to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Providenciales International Airport (PLS).

From Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Sun Country will offer the only scheduled nonstop service to Cancun International Airport (CUN). From Duluth International Airport (DLH), Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) and Rochester International Airport (RST), the airline will offer the only nonstop flights to both Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

Sun Country will now offer service to five different airports on Florida’s Gulf Coast, providing visitors to the area with the flexibility to choose the destination airport that best suits their needs. With today’s expansion, Sun Country Airlines will operate a total of 93 routes across 69 airports in the United States, Mexico, Central America and Caribbean.

The full list of new seasonal/year-round routes includes:

From Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
o Service begins November 24, 2021
o Operates four days weekly on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday o One-way fares as low as $79*

• Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
o Service begins December 16, 2021 (extended from previous schedule) o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays
o One-way fares as low as $89*

• St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
o Service begins November 25, 2021
o Operates four days weekly on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday o One-way fares as low as $79*

• Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
o Service begins December 10, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays o One-way fares as low as $89*

• Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM)
o Service begins December 18, 2021 o Operates once weekly on Saturdays o One-way fares as low as $159*

• Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
o Service begins December 18, 2021 o Operates once weekly on Saturdays o One-way fares as low as $159*

From Duluth International Airport (DLH)

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
o Service begins December 17, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays o One-way fares as low as $79*

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
o Service begins December 17, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays o One-way fares as low as $79*

From Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
o Service begins December 16, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $79*

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

o Service begins December 17, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays o One-way fares as low as $79*

From Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
o Service begins December 16, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $79*

From Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)

• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
o Service begins August 26, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $39*

• Cancun International Airport (CUN)
o Service begins December 18, 2021 o Operates once weekly on Saturdays o One-way fares as low as $179*

• McCarran International Airport (LAS)
o Service begins August 26, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $89*

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
o Service begins December 15, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays o One-way fares as low as $89*

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
o Service begins December 16, 2021
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $79*

From Rochester International Airport (RST)

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
o Service begins February 3, 2022
o Operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays o One-way fares as low as $79*

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
o Service begins February 4, 2022
o Operates twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays o One-way fares as low as $69*

• Fares are valid for one-way travel and are inclusive of all government taxes and fees.
• Must be purchased by 11:59 pm CT (Central Time) on May 4, 2021.
• Additional baggage and other service fees may apply.
• Seats are limited and fare may not be available on all flights or dates within the travel range. • Valid for new bookings only.

• Fares, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. • Restrictions apply.

Previous Route Map:

Top Copyright Photo: Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-8KN WL N835SY (msn 40250) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 952358.

Sun Country aircraft slide show:

Spirit Airlines prices its offering of 10,594,073 shares of its common stock at $35.05 a share

Spirit Airlines has announced it has priced its underwritten public offering of $440,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes” and such offering, the “Convertible Notes Offering”). The net proceeds to Spirit from the Convertible Notes Offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $428.3 million.

Spirit has granted the underwriters of the Convertible Notes Offering a 30-day option to purchase up to $60,000,000 aggregate principal amount of additional Convertible Notes, solely to cover over-allotments, in the Convertible Notes Offering. The Convertible Notes will be convertible by holders if certain conditions are met, and during certain periods, based on an initial conversion rate of 20.3791 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $49.07 per share, representing a premium of approximately 40.0% over the last reported sale price of $35.05 per share of Spirit’s common stock on April 28, 2021. Spirit will settle conversions of the Convertible Notes in cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at Spirit’s election.

Spirit also separately priced its registered direct offering of 10,594,073 shares of its common stock at an offering price of $35.05 per share (the “Common Stock Offering”).

Spirit expects to use approximately $368.7 million of the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering to redeem $340.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 at a redemption price equal to 108.0%, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed up to, but excluding, the redemption date. Spirit expects to use the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes Offering (together with existing cash on hand, if the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Notes) to repurchase approximately $146.8 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Convertible Notes”) for approximately $440.7 million, including accrued and unpaid interest on the 2025 Convertible Notes repurchased, pursuant to privately negotiated agreements with a limited number of current holders of such 2025 Convertible Notes, which agreements are conditioned upon the consummation of the Convertible Notes Offering. Spirit expects to use the remaining net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering and any remaining net proceeds from the Convertible Notes Offering for general corporate purposes. Each of the Common Stock Offering and the Convertible Notes Offering is expected to close on April 30, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The closing of neither the Common Stock Offering nor the Convertible Notes Offering is conditioned upon the closing of the other offering.

Above Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N WL N925NK (msn 9407) FLL (Andy Cripps). Image: 949115.

Spirit Airlines aircraft slide show:

Reuters: FAA orders Boeing to fix some 737 MAX electric systems

Boeing is facing new issues with its 737 MAX, this time affecting 109 aircraft worldwide, including 71 in the United States. Boeing is now halting all deliveries of the type.

From Reuters:

“The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday ordered Boeing Company to fix bonding issues in the electrical systems of some of its 737 MAX planes that could lead to a loss of engine ice protection loss and critical functions on the flight deck.

The FAA said the issue affected 109 airplanes worldwide delivered to airlines, including 71 in the United States and warned the issue if not fixed “could affect the operation of certain systems, including engine ice protection, and result in loss of critical functions and/or multiple simultaneous flight deck effects, which may prevent continued safe flight and landing.”

Read the full article.

Avelo Airlines takes off with the first flight between Hollywood-Burbank and Santa Rosa

Avelo Airlines made this announcement:

The inaugural flight from America’s first new mainline airline in nearly 15 years — Avelo Airlines — departed Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) this morning for Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS), the gateway to California’s wine country.

Avelo’s inaugural flight departed BUR at 10:30 a.m. PDT with a scheduled arrival into STS at 11:55 a.m. PDT. The inaugural flight from STS to BUR departs today at 3:55 p.m. local time, with a 5:35 p.m. scheduled arrival at BUR.

Avelo Airlines takes off with first flight between Burbank and Santa Rosa at Hollywood Burbank Airport on April 28, 2021 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air)

The route will be served by 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

An early afternoon arrival and late afternoon departure from STS will provide leisure travelers with better convenience when planning their trips to and from Los Angeles, wine country and the surrounding Bay Area. Avelo Airlines flight XP 101 departs BUR daily at 3:40 p.m. arriving in STS at 5:05 p.m. local time; flight XP 102 departs STS daily at 5:45 p.m. arriving in BUR at 7:20 p.m.

More Destinations Take Flight This Week

In addition to STS, Avelo will commence service this week between BUR and two preeminent destinations in the Western U.S.

On April 29, Avelo will launch three-times-a-week service between BUR and the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) in Pasco, Washington. The largest airport in the Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon region, PSC is situated in the vibrant, sunshine-soaked heart of Washington’s sprawling wine country. Avelo Airlines flight XP 103 departs BUR on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. arriving in PSC at 10:20 a.m.; flight XP 104 departs PSC at 11:00 a.m. and arrives to BUR at 1:30 p.m.

On April 30, four-times-a-week service will commence between BUR and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), the onramp to Big Sky Country and Yellowstone National Park. Avelo Airlines flight XP 105 departs BUR on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:00 a.m.arriving in BZN at 11:25 a.m.; flight XP 106 departs BZN at 12:05 p.m. arriving in BUR at 1:40 p.m.

By late May, Avelo will provide nonstop service between its initial base at BUR and 11 destinations across the Western U.S., including Arcata–Eureka, Redding and Santa Rosa, California; Bend–Redmond, Eugene and Medford, Oregon; Bozeman, Montana; Grand Junction, Colorado; Pasco, Washington; Phoenix–Mesa, Arizona; and Ogden–Salt Lake City, Utah.

Route Map:

Midwest Express still hopes to launch operations

Midwest Express Airlines (2nd) is still trying to get airborne. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed its plans to bring back the Midwest Express name and experience. As previously report, the upstart had previously announced its first routes to Cincinnati, OH (CVG), Omaha, NE (OMA), and Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) from Milwaukee.

The company is hoping that the rising number of people with vaccines and a return of air travel will allow them to commence operations, maybe in 2021.

The comeback with not be with Elite Airways which previously showcased one of its CRJ200s with ME titles.

Midwest Express issued this statement last year:

Midwest Express (ME) announced that it has ended its partnership with Elite Airways. Midwest Express has filed a lawsuit against Elite because Elite breached its agreement with Midwest Express.

Midwest Express and Elite Airways had partnered to launch flying operations for Midwest Express, while Midwest Express pursues its own airline operating certificate and aircraft.

Although Midwest Express is discontinuing its partnership with Elite Airways, Midwest Express president Greg Aretakis says the airline’s plan continues to move forward with a goal of delivering nonstop flights with exceptional customer service. “We are in substantial discussions with other airline operators to bring back nonstop service to Milwaukee,” Aretakis added. “We have received a tremendous amount of support from the business community and former passengers who tell us that they need better options for air travel in Milwaukee; and we intend to deliver it.”

Midwest Express is continuing fundraising efforts. A date has not yet been set for the start of service.

UPS releases its first quarter 2021 earnings

Consolidated Revenue Increased 27%; Growth Across All Segments
Consolidated Operating Profit Up 158% to $2.8B, Up 164% on an Adjusted* Basis
Diluted EPS of $5.47; Adjusted Diluted EPS Up 141% to $2.77

UPS has announced first-quarter 2021 consolidated revenue of $22.9 billion, a 27% increase over the first quarter of 2020. Consolidated average daily volume increased 14.3% year over year. Consolidated operating profit was $2.8 billion, up 158% compared to the first quarter of 2020, and up 164% on an adjusted basis. Diluted earnings per share were $5.47 for the quarter, 393% above the same period in 2020, and up 141% on an adjusted basis.

For the first-quarter of 2021, GAAP results include a net benefit of $2.4 billion, or $2.70 per diluted share, comprised of an after-tax mark-to-market (MTM) pension benefit of $2.5 billion and after-tax transformation and other charges of $140 million. The MTM benefit was primarily driven by the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The ARPA, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021, protects certain multi-employer pension plans from becoming insolvent through 2051, thereby eliminating the Company’s liability for potential coordinating benefits related to the Central States Pension Fund. Enactment of the ARPA required the Company to remeasure its UPS IBT Pension plan at current discount rates, which have increased since the previous measurement date. The overall result was a reduction in the pension liability of $6.4 billion.

“I want to thank all UPSers for delivering what matters, including COVID-19 vaccines,” said Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer. “During the quarter, we continued to execute our strategy under the better not bigger framework, which enabled us to win the best opportunities in the market and drove record financial results.”

U.S. Domestic Segment

1Q 2021

Adjusted

1Q 2021

1Q 2020

Adjusted

1Q 2020

Revenue

$14,010 M

$11,456 M

Operating profit

$1,359 M

$1,463 M

$364 M

$401 M

Revenue increased 22.3%, led by growth from small and medium-sized businesses.
Revenue per piece increased 10.2%, driven by Ground products.
Operating margin was 9.7%; adjusted operating margin was 10.4%.

International Segment

1Q 2021

Adjusted

1Q 2021

1Q 2020

Adjusted

1Q 2020

Revenue

$4,607 M

$3,383 M

Operating profit

$1,085 M

$1,091 M

$551 M

$558 M

Average daily volume grew 23.1%, with export growth from all regions.
Revenue increased 36.2%, led by Asia and Europe.
Operating margin was 23.6%; adjusted operating margin was 23.7%.

Supply Chain and Freight Segment

1Q 2021

Adjusted

1Q 2021

1Q 2020

Adjusted

1Q 2020

Revenue

$4,291 M

$3,196 M

Operating profit

$321 M

$395 M

$157 M

$158 M

Revenue increased 34.3%, driven by strong demand in nearly all businesses.
Operating margin was 7.5%; adjusted operating margin was 9.2%.

_{* “}_{Adjusted” amounts are non-GAAP financial measures. See the appendix to this release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most closely correlated GAAP measure.}

Outlook

Given continued economic uncertainty, the Company is not providing 2021 revenue or diluted earnings per share guidance; however, it is re-affirming its full-year capital allocation plans. UPS has scheduled its 2021 Investor and Analyst Day for June 9, when it will share further financial details.

Reaffirms Full-Year 2021 Capital Allocation Plans

The sale of UPS Freight is expected to close in the second quarter.
Capital expenditures are planned to be about $4.0 billion.
Long-term debt repayments, including $1.5 billion repaid in the first quarter of 2021, will total $2.5 billion.
Effective tax rate for the remainder of the year is expected to be around 23.5%.
The Company has no plans to repurchase shares.

Top Copyright Photo: UPS Airlines (UPS-Worldwide Services) Boeing 747-8F N626UP (msn 65781) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 952877.

UP Airlines aircraft slide show:

Neos to operate passenger flights to New York JFK

Neos has officially obtained an approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate passenger flights to the United States.

The first route will be Milan Malpensa – New York JFK, twice a week and begins in the second half of June and will be “Covid Tested”.

The route is already active with two weekly frequencies for cargo transport and from June it will also be used for scheduled passenger transport flights.

The operations foresee the departure from Milan Malpensa on Thursdays and Sundays at 12:20 with arrival in New York at 14:50 on the same day, while the return flight will take off at 17:50 from New York with arrival in Milan Malpensa at 7:20 of the following day (local times).

In November 2020, Neos made the first international “Covid Free” flight between Milan and Nanjing, launching a protocol that, still today, represents the only way to travel from one country to another, eliminating the quarantine. The airline has also joined the IATA Travel Pass trial, a ‘digital passport’ that allows passengers to keep their health information on the app, verifiable by airlines and authorities by scanning a QR code. The IATA Travel Pass project will make it possible to streamline and speed up embarkation and disembarkation procedures, offering a safe and secure model for all travelers and their privacy.

Marco Finelli reporting from Italy.

Top Copyright Photo: Neos Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner EI-NEU (msn 38794) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 944065.

Neos aircraft photo gallery:

Neos aircraft slide show:

LATAM will continue to transport vaccines free

LATAM Airlines Group reported that it will continue to transport vaccines at no cost within the countries where it operates throughout 2021 through its Solidarity Plane program. To date, the group has transported over 23.7 million vaccines against COVID-19 within South America, through more than 300 flights in the domestic markets of Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

More than 50 towns have benefited from the doses, including those located in difficult access points including Easter Island in Chile, Galapagos in Ecuador, Iquitos in Peru. In Brazil, doses have been moved to all states, as a result of the country’s current health crisis.

After the arrival of the first shipments of vaccines to the region in December 2020, LATAM made the free transport of doses available to the authorities of the governments of the countries where it has domestic operations.

Since the beginning of the pandemic to date, Solidarity Plane has transported more than 480 tons of medical supplies, benefiting Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. At the same time, more than 1,400 organs and tissues were mobilized within South America and the transfer of stem cells was carried out for ten people with blood cancer, who were able to receive a second chance at life. In passenger transport, more than 1.300 health professionals were able to travel to meet different needs related to Covid-19 in the countries that LATAM operates with domestic flights.

Through LATAM Cargo, the group has transported over 48 million vaccines to South America and within the countries in which it operates. LATAM Cargo is the first airline in the American continent, and the only one in the region, to obtain the CEIV Pharma (IATA) certification. This voluntary certificate internationally certifies that facilities, equipment, operations and personnel meet all applicable standards, regulations and guidelines expected by pharmaceutical manufacturers.