wiz Air UK is adding seven new routes from Leeds/Bradford, mainly to eastern Europe.
Wizz Air UK announces new routes from Leeds/Bradford
Monthly Archives: September 2022
DAL Group and Air Arabia announce joint venture to launch a new airline in Sudan named Air Arabia Sudan
Air Arabia has made this announcement:
Sudan’s most innovative and customer-focused conglomerate, DAL Group, and Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, have announced the planned launch of “Air Arabia Sudan”, a joint-venture company to be based in Khartoum International Airport.
Air Arabia Sudan will follow the value-added product offering operated by Air Arabia Group. The ticket pricing model will be best-in-class and accessible to all income-groups, which empowers travelers to save and spend more wherever they may decide by paying for only the services they want.
Air Arabia Sudan will operate a fleet of new Airbus A320 aircraft. All aircraft cabin interiors will be fitted with world-class comfort seats, offering one of the industry’s most spacious economy cabin seat pitches. Air Arabia’s signature online and mobile phone application-based user interfaces, the product experience, from ticket purchase to punctual arrival at the travel destination, will be quick, convenient and reliable.
Based in Khartoum, the new company will adopt the low-cost business model operated by Air Arabia Group across its existing network. Work on securing the relevant approvals and licenses is scheduled to commence shortly. More details regarding route network, fleet size and composition, scheduled services and other matters are expected to be communicated in due course.
Cyprus Airways to operate two flights to and from Manchester in October
Cyprus Airways has made this announcement:
Cyprus Airways has announced the availability of two direct flights to/from Manchester International Airport. The routes will be operated between October 11 and 14, 2022.
The flights will operate as per following schedule:
Cyprus Airways, Cyprus’s flag-carrier, resumed operations in 2016. The airline operates an Airbus A319 and two Airbus A320 aircraft fleet which are currently operating on a seven-scheduled destination network to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Yerevan and Rhodes.
Cyprus Airways aircraft photo gallery:
Finnair starts change negotiations, estimates 200 jobs could be reduced globally
Finnair has made this announcement:
Finnair starts change negotiations with its employees to discuss plans to reorganize the company through personnel redundancies and changing job descriptions. The plan is linked to Finnair’s new strategy published on September 7 which focuses on restoring Finnair’s profitability. The plan targets to build Finnair’s different functions to meet the size of the company and the changes in Finnair’s operating environment. Finnair will be operating with a smaller capacity than before the pandemic.
Up to approximately 200 jobs at Finnair could be reduced globally if the plan is implemented. About 120 of the redundancies would be in Finland where the negotiations concern approximately 770 employees working in executive, manager and expert roles. Finnair has a total of approximately 5300 employees globally. The negotiations do not concern crew or other operative employees.
Finnair CEO Topi Manner says: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the closed Russian airspace have impacted our business significantly. Thus, in addition to other actions to restore Finnair’s profitability, we have to discuss measures that are, unfortunately, the most painful ones for our employees”.
A social support program to those who could lose their work, will be discussed in the negotiations. Finnair offered a social support program to help in re-employment in 2020 for those who then lost their job at Finnair due to the situation caused by the pandemic. The program gained good results.
The change negotiations will start on October 5th and are estimated to take at least 6 weeks. Finnair is currently discussing with all its stakeholders about changes needed to restore Finnair’s profitability. This includes discussions with its employees on changes in employment terms which would reduce unit costs.
Finnair aircraft photo gallery:
SATA Azores Airlines announces its 2022/2023 winter schedule to Boston and New York
SATA Azores Airlines launches its Winter 22/23 schedule. All flights are operated by the fuel efficient Airbus A321 Neo LR. Schedule, timings, and aircraft refer to a typical winter week.
Boston
SATA Azores Airlines will be flying directly into Ponta Delgada from Boston on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with returning flights on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
New York
This winter SATA Azores Airlines will also be continuing itsr service from New York (JFK) to Ponta Delgada and Funchal. The flight from JFK to PDL will operate on Friday and Saturday, returning on Thursday and Saturday. The flight from JFK to FNC will depart on Thursday and return on Friday.
Azores Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Embraer delivers the 1700th production aircraft, goes to KLM Cityhopper
Embraer has reached a new milestone on the E-Jet program, the delivery of the 1700th production aircraft.
The Aircastle leased E195-E2 was handed over to KLM Cityhopper at a ceremony at Embraer’s facility in São José dos Campos.
E-Jets have enjoyed global success in the fleets of 150 airlines and leasing companies from more than 50 countries since the first aircraft entered revenue service in 2004.
The E195-E2 is part of a family of advanced-generation E-Jets that offer the quietest, lowest polluting, and most fuel-efficient aircraft in the under 150 seat market.
The E195-E2 is Embraer’s largest commercial aircraft with seating for up to 146 passengers. The KLM Cityhopper configuration has 132 seats in three zones – Business Class, Economy Comfort, and Economy Class.
This delivery is the 60th E-Jet for the airline which operates a mixed fleet of 47 first and 13 advanced generation E2s, the largest in Europe. KLC have 12 further E195-E2s on order, with options for 10 more.
Aeroflot to restore three international routes in October
Aeroflot Russian Airlines in October is restoring service to Bangkok (Thailand), Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Goa (India).
Service will be flown with Airbus A330s.
These three countries have failed to sanction Russian airlines.
WestJet Group furthers growth strategy, inking deal with Boeing for an additional 42 fuel-efficient 737-10 aircraft plus 22 options
WestJet has made this announcement:
WestJet Group announced an agreement with Boeing to purchase an additional 42 MAX aircraft, along with options for 22 more. This order is in addition to WestJet’s remaining 23 MAX orders and extends the airline’s fleet growth plans out to 2028.
“With this additional order, the WestJet Group will accept delivery of no fewer than 65 aircraft in the next six years, at least 50 will be 737-10 aircraft, furthering our commitment to affordable travel options for Canadians and jobs for our company and the aerospace industry,” said WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech. “WestJet’s expansion plans are rooted in an enhanced presence in Western Canada and a growth strategy in eastern Canadian communities through increased transcontinental flights and more direct routes to sun and leisure destinations. This will be further strengthened once our Sunwing transaction has been approved.”
WestJet’s Board of Directors approved the order for state-of-the-art Boeing 737-10 aircraft, the largest model in Boeing’s MAX family. The 737-10 provides superior economic benefits to any other 737 aircraft in WestJet’s fleet, while ensuring simplicity through expected training commonality across the airline’s 737 fleet.
“The 737-10 will provide WestJet with additional capacity and unrivalled efficiency as the airline further expands its network of destinations across Canada and internationally. WestJet understands the value of the 737 MAX family, with the 737-10 set to perfectly complement the outstanding capability and flexibility already afforded by the 737-8, along with improved sustainability across its fleet,” said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“The 737-10 will be a game changer, with one of the lowest costs per seat among mid-range aircraft. This will foster our low-cost positioning and affordability for Canadians. In addition, with its lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions, the 737-10 will further improve the environmental footprint of our fleet,” said von Hoensbroech. “Thank you to our Board of Directors, who endorsed both the business and environmental merits of this agreement. It reflects our confidence in our business model and sustained market recovery, as we emerge from the pandemic being one of few airlines at scale that have not drawn any sector-specific government aid.”
The WestJet Group’s fleet, with an average age under 10 years, is among the youngest of established North American carriers.
Features of the Boeing 737-10:
- Greater fuel efficiency and the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle airplane in the industry.
- Can cover 99 per cent of the world’s single-aisle routes, ideal to serve WestJet’s growing domestic and international network.
- Reduced fuel use and carbon emissions by at least 20 per cent per seat compared to previous generations, helping airlines make air travel even more sustainable.
- Improved guest comfort with a quieter cabin featuring the Boeing Sky Interior, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger overhead stowage bins.
- Quieter airplane, creating a 50 percent smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.
WestJet has a current fleet size of approximately 170 aircraft across the WestJet Group, with 110 active 737s. WestJet announced its strategic path forward in June, with the 737 as a key pillar of long-term growth.
Two airliners have a minor collision on the ramp at London Heathrow
Korean Air Boeing 777-300 (HL7782) was taxiing as flight KE908 to Seoul at London Heathrow Airport for departure on September 28.
The left wingtip of HL7782 collided with a parked Icelandair Boeing 757-200 (TF-FIK) preparing for departure to Keflavik. The rudder of TF-FIK was struck by the wingtip of HL7782.
Aer Lingus is coming to Cleveland
Aer Lingus has made this announcement:
Aer Lingus is planning to launch a new transatlantic route for summer 2023 which will see the airline operate its first service to Cleveland, Ohio, with connections from nine UK airports.
Starting on May 19, 2023, the new North America service will operate four times a week.
This will be Aer Lingus’ 15th transatlantic route from Ireland and the only direct European service to Cleveland.
UK customers will be able to connect on onto Aer Lingus’ Cleveland service via Dublin from nine UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Southampton, and Leeds Bradford.
Next summer Aer Lingus will offer customers a choice of 15 transatlantic routes between Ireland and North America, as well as three long-haul services from its Manchester base.
Rebuilding connectivity and growing its transatlantic network is critical to Aer Lingus’ long-term growth strategy as it continues its recovery following the pandemic.
The addition of Cleveland as a new destination demonstrates the airline’s commitment to connecting Europe to North America via its Dublin Hub.
The new Dublin-Cleveland service will be served by an Airbus A321neo LR, which is Aer Lingus’ most sustainable long-haul aircraft.
The Airbus A321neo LR, which comprises both Business Cabin and Economy Class cabin, delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to 50% reduction in noise footprint, when compared to previous generation aircraft.
Aer Lingus aircraft photo gallery:
