Austrian Airlines carried close to 6.4 million passengers in the period January to June 2018. This comprises a year-on-year increase of 9.8 percent or about 600,000 passengers. This rise in passenger volume can be primarily attributed to the integration of an additional Boeing 777-200 aircraft (above and below) in the airline fleet alongside growth in continental flight traffic in Europe.
The flight offering measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) was up 4.9 percent to almost 12.9 billion. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) climbed 8.1 percent from the prior-year level to surpass the level of 9.8 billion. Capacity utilization of the flights (passenger load factor) equaled 75.8 percent on average, an increase of 2.3 percentage points compared to the first half of 2017.
โThe new member of our fleet strongly boosted passenger volume in Juneโ, says Andreas Otto, Member of the Management Board and CCO of Austrian Airlines. โBesides the positive development of our continental traffic, we also continued to score points in the intercontinental segment, for example with the restart of our flights to Tokyo.โ
The upward trend in the total number of passengers also applies to the month of June 2018. About 1.4 million passengers flew with Austriaโs red-white-red flag carrier in June, comprising a 10.1 percent increase from the prior-year month. The flight offering measured in available seat kilometers climbed 7.7 percent to 2.7 billion. Revenue passenger kilometers were up 11.9% to almost 2.2 billion. Capacity utilization (passenger load factor) equaled an average of 81.5 percent, representing an increase of 3.1 percentage points compared to June 2017. The number of flights was up six percent from the previous year to 13,979 flights in June 2018.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by Austrian):ย Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-2Q8 ER OE-LPF (msn 28692) (60 Jahre-Years) FRA (Bernhard Ross). Image: 942209.
Top Copyright Photo (all other by Frontier):ย Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N326FR (msn 8102) (Skye, the Blue Jay) SNA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941693.
flybmi has unveiled its newly redesigned website (flybmi.com), offering a more customer friendly platform, which is optimised for mobile usage and visually rich layout.
Launched on Tuesday,ย June 26, 2018, the new site is designed to appeal to both the business and leisure markets, with improved functionality, refined navigation and a fresh look and feel.
The airline is also rebranding to become โflybmiโ, in-keeping with its existing web address, flybmi.com. The simplification of the brand and logo to flybmi retains investment in the current name and visual identity, which still references the rich history of the legacy flybmi brand whilst appealing to a broader European audience reflecting the refreshed vision for the company.
Flybmi has long been a favorite of business travellers due to the carrierโs convenient departure times, professional service, fully inclusive offering and broad network into key business destinations throughout Europe.
At the heart of the website is a completely new booking engine developed by 2e Systems, one of the leading travel e-commerce solutions providers, based in Germany. The booking engine enables customers to move through the booking flow, comparing the pricing across flight times and dates, offering the full suite of flybmiโs range of retail products and also provides customers the ability to pay for their travel with various payment forms and currencies, irrespective of their point of origin.
The fresh new design of flybmi.com continues to cater to the business traveller whilst also enhancing the airlineโs appeal to the rapidly increasing leisure market, who are drawn by the traditional full-service benefits of travelling with flybmi which include, complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks, no middle seats and 23kg of hold luggage, inclusive on all fares. As the airline drives to increase its leisure share of the market, it has created a site with both customer groups in mind. Clear and bright imagery, with a greater family and destination focus is key to positioning flybmi as an airline that delivers a service for travellers across the board.
Commenting on the re-design, flybmi Director Marketing & Customer, Antony Price said: โWe have worked very hard to create an easy to use website working equally well on all user interfaces that appeals to both our corporate and leisure customers. We believe the new site does exactly that. The clean, sharp design makes it easy for time pressed business travellers to navigate and book flights and find important content, whilst the redesigned destination reviews are there to inform and inspire those looking for a holiday or mini break within Europe. Weโre also delighted that both the website and official title of the airline will now be consistently referred to as flybmi. It will refresh and enhance the brandโ
Key features of the new site are:
Ability to book and check in online
Manage booking function where customers can add in extras such as sporting equipment, fast-tracked security or airport lounge access
Destination reviews and key events
Careers โ dedicated page showcasing available positions at the airline ranging from pilots and cabin crew to engineers and office staff
Private charter โ find out more about how to charter a private jet for business or leisure purposes
Martinair has been informed that a Convair aircraft has crashed in South Africa. The aircraft was painted in Martinโs Air Charter (retro) livery, but is not operated nor owned by Martinair.
The Convair aircraft was destined for the Dutch aircraft museum Aviodrome at Lelystad Airport in The Netherlands, which is also the owner of the aircraft.
Martinair wishes to send itโs sympathy to the passengers and crew and all others involved in this accident.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch nonstop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles using the new Airbus A350-900 ULR (ultra-long-range) aircraft in November.
In addition, SIA will step up existing daily nonstop Singapore-San Francisco services to 10 times per week. Together with the earlier announced nonstop Singapore-New York services, SIA will link Singapore and the US with 27 weekly nonstop flights by the end of 2018.
Flight SQ38 from Singapore to Los Angeles will commence on November 2, 2018. The route will initially be served three times per week, departing Singapore on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Daily operations will commence from November 9, 2018 after an additional A350-900 ULR aircraft enters service. From December 7, 2018, a further three services per week will be added as SQ36, lifting total nonstop flights between Singapore and Los Angeles to 10 times per week.
With the introduction of nonstop services between Singapore and Los Angeles, SIAโs existing one-stop service to Los Angeles via Seoul will cease after November 30, 2018. Singapore-Seoul frequency will be maintained at four flights per day with the introduction of a new Singapore-Seoul return flight from December 1, 2018, operating as flight SQ612. Together with SIAโs current daily one stop service to Los Angeles via Tokyo, Los Angeles will be served 17 times per week.
SIA will also be increasing frequency on the existing Singapore-San Francisco route with three more weekly flights, with effect from November 28, 2018. The three additional services will operate as SQ34, departing every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday to San Francisco and will complement existing daily SQ32 nonstop services. Together with SIAโs current daily one-stop service to San Francisco via Hong Kong, San Francisco will also be served 17 times per week.
SIA will be the first airline in the world to operate the A350-900 ULR, with seven on firm order with Airbus. This ultra-long-range aircraft will be configured in a two-class layout, with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy Class seats. SIAโs existing A350-900s feature a three-class layout with 42 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy Class and 187 Economy Class seats.
Singapore Airlines currently has 21 A350-900s in its fleet, with 46 more on order including the seven ULR variants. The first A350-900 ULR is due for delivery in September, enabling the launch in October of the worldโs longest non-stop flights, between Singapore and New York (Newark).
Singapore Airlines currently operates 40 flights per week to the US cities of Houston, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. With the new flights, total US frequency will increase to 53 per week by December.
Images: Airbus and Singapore Airlines.
Video: Sam Chui reviews the Airbus A350-900 Business Class:
Wizz Air, the largest airline in Romania and one of Europe’s fastest growing airlines, launched 7 new routes accompanied by the celebration of the two-year anniversary of its Iasi base and the deployment of a second aircraft to the local fleet.
The modern 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft will support the operations of the newest services available from Iasi to Billund, Brussels Charleroi, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Malmรถ, Paris Beauvais and Thessaloniki, as well the increased frequencies to 2 popular destinations from Iasi: Milan Bergamo and Tel-Aviv.
In total, Wizz Air schedule will have 20 additional weekly flights departing from Iasi.
In other news, the company will also launch a new from Vienna to Eilat in November.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by Wizz Air):ย Wizz Air (wizzair.com) (Hungary) Airbus A321-231 WL HA-LTD (msn 8305) (Airbus 100) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 942462.
After having revealed the first part last January and having already welcomed more than 200,000 customers, Air France today presents its entire brand new Business lounge located in Hall L of Terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
With a total surface area of 3,200 sq. m. and a capacity of 540 seats, this completely redesigned lounge offers several new features for optimum comfort:
๏ญ ย โLe Balconโ, an exclusive space created by the designer Mathieu Lehanneur;
๏ญ ย A chic and elegant cocktail menu created by the Hotel Lancaster in Paris;
๏ญ ย The largest wellness area of all the Air France lounges;
๏ญ ย A Kids area to entertain children before their trip;
๏ญ ย The “Gourmet Table” a catering area where a chef prepares the dish of the day in front of customers;
๏ญ ย Several other areas for a tailor-made experience.
When they arrive in the lounge, guests can easily find their way around thanks to an interactive plan atย the entrance. They can browse all the services available, depending on how much time they have.
Mathieu Lehanneur creates “Le Balcon”
Air France has entrusted French designer Mathieu Lehanneur with the creation of a bar area where time seems to stand still in a 160 sq. m. space suspended between heaven and earth for the companyโscustomers. Located at the heart of the new Air France Business lounge, โLe Balconโ is set against the runways in a unique and welcoming architecture, forming a curved structure sheltered under an immense golden mirrored ceiling.
The space includes a central bar and a succession of outlying theatrical box seats where passengers can relax and enjoy the comfort prior to their flight. Each box is upholstered in blue velvet and embroidered with their respective numbers, and features a large sofa, a pedestal table and the latest connectivity services. Mixing wood, marble, mirrorwork and light, โLe Balconโ is at the same time chic, immersive and digital.
At the center, the designer has integrated a LED screen into the parquet floor depicting an image of the sky. From daybreak to dusk, this giant window of light imitates the variations of the day in real time. Whatever your departure time, this sky is like an introduction to your journey, before jetting across timezones…
A cocktail selection created by the Hotel Lancaster in Paris
At the heart of Le Balcon, every evening from 19:00 to 21:00, Air France offers a selection of cocktails* specially designed by the head bartender of the Hotel Lancaster in Paris.
Customers will be able to try an exclusive creation:
– ย “Un air de Paris”, a cocktail specially created for Air France where champagne sparkles like the Eiffel Tower and Cointreau opens the gates of the Tuileries gardens with its notes of orange and cognac, enhanced by a few drops of lemon;
– ย A “Destination” cocktail of the month, inspired by the flavours of a legendary city on the Air France network. Each month, customers will board for a new destination: Shanghai, Johannesburg, New York or Tokyo.
– ย A non-alcoholic mocktail, to be consumed without moderation, created around an iconic ingredient from the French regions which is renewed every month.*The consumption of alcohol is dangerous to your health.
Vistara, Indiaโs finest full-service carrier, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, has agreed to place firm orders with Airbus for 13 A320neo (above) family aircraft and with Boeing for six 787-9 Dreamliners. Together, the deals are valued at $3.1 billion, based on published list prices.
The letter of intent (LOI) signed with Airbus comprises 13 firm-ordered A320neo and A321neo aircraft, as well as options for seven more aircraft from the A320neo family.
In addition, Vistara will lease another 37 new A320neo-family aircraft from leasing companies. Together, Vistara will be adding a total of 50 A320neo-family aircraft into its existing fleet.
Vistara has selected the LEAP 1-A engines from CFM International to power the A320neo and A321neo aircraft, which will be due for delivery between 2019 and 2023. Vistara will use these aircraft to densify its domestic network and to support its international operations planned for later this year.
Photo Above: Boeing.
The letter of intent (LOI) signed with Boeing comprises six firm-ordered 787-9 Dreamliners and purchase rights for four more aircraft from the 787 Dreamliner family. Vistara has selected the General Electric GEnx-1B engines to power the aircraft, which are scheduled to be delivered between 2020 and 2021. The 787-9s are intended for use on medium-haul and long-haul international routes.
The addition of the new aircraft will complement Vistaraโs existing fleet of 13 Airbus A320ceo (above) and 8 A320neo aircraft that have enabled the airline thus far to achieve operational excellence. From the initial order, Vistara has an impending delivery for one A320neo which is due in September 2018.
Vistara today serves 22 destinations with over 800 flights a week and fleet of 21 aircraft. In a short span of time since starting operations in 2015, the airline has redefined the air travel experience for travellers in India, and has already flown 10 million happy customers.
JetBlue Airways today announced it has ordered 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft โ previously called the Bombardier CS300 โ for delivery beginning in 2020, with the option for 60 additional aircraft beginning in 2025.
The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1500G engines. The order follows JetBlueโs intensive review aimed at ensuring the best financial performance of the airlineโs fleet while providing maximum flexibility to execute its network strategy and enhancing its industry-leading customer experience.
As part of the agreement, JetBlue has also reshaped its Airbus orderbook, including converting its order for 25 A320neos to the A321neo and adjusting the delivery schedule.
โWe are evolving our fleet for the future of JetBlue, and the A220-300โs impressive range and economics offer us flexibility and support our key financial and operating priorities,โ said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. โAs we approach our 20th anniversary, the A220, combined with our A321 and restyled A320 fleet, will help ensure we deliver the best onboard experience to customers and meet our long-term financial targets as we continue disciplined growth into the future.โ
โJetBlueโs selection of the A220 aircraft as a complement to its growing A320 Family fleet is a tremendous endorsement โ both of the A220 itself and of the way these two aircraft can work together to provide airline network flexibility and a great customer experience,โ said Eric Schulz, chief commercial officer for Airbus. โJetBlue will be able to leverage the unbeatable efficiency of both the A321neo and the A220-300, as well as taking advantage of the roomiest and most customer-pleasing cabins of any aircraft in their size categories.โ
โWeโre honored by JetBlueโs confidence in selecting the A220-300 aircraft which adds to their existing order of the A320neo family of aircraft both powered by the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine,โ said Chris Calio, president of commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney. โWeโve been powering JetBlue with our V2500ยฎ engines since they started operations in 2000. We now look forward to also supporting JetBlue across their two new fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft platforms.โ
The A220-300โs spacious and comfortable cabin makes it the perfect fit for JetBlue, which has consistently led U.S.airlines in the onboard experience. The A220โs cabin design offers customers the best inflight experience with wider seats, spacious overhead bins and extra-large windows that offer a great view from the sky and on the ground.
The aircraftโs advanced aerodynamics combined with a specially designed Pratt & Whitney engine help the aircraft deliver approximately 40 percent lower fuel burn per seat than JetBlueโs current E190 fleet, a reduced noise footprint and decreased emissions.
Thorough Analysis Determined Path to Greatest Value
JetBlue conducted a comprehensive review of multiple options for its 100-seat aircraft. In addition to its financial analysis, JetBlue invited frontline leaders and crewmembers, including technical operations, to evaluate the aircraft in person at JetBlueโs JFK hangar.
JetBlue plans to phase in the A220-300 as a replacement for JetBlueโs existing fleet of 60 Embraer E190 aircraft. The aircraftโs range and seating capacity will add flexibility to JetBlueโs network strategy as it targets growth in its focus cities, including options to schedule it for transcontinental flying. The aircraft also opens the door to new markets and routes that would have been unprofitable with JetBlueโs existing fleet.
โWe expect the A220 to be an important long-term building block in our goal to deliver superior margins and create long-term shareholder value,โ said Steve Priest, executive vice president and chief financial officer, JetBlue. โWe are confident the A220 will perform well in every aspect, including network, cost, maintenance, or customer experience. Simply put โ our crewmembers, customers and owners are going to love this aircraft.โ
While the E190 has played an important role in JetBlueโs network since 2005, the airlineโs fleet review determined that the A220โs economics would allow the airline to lower costs in the coming years. The A220 was designed by previous manufacturer Bombardier to seat between 130 and 160 customers, enabling financial and network advantages over the current 100-seat Embraer configuration.
Seamless Transition With Built-In Flexibility
โThe diligence that went into this analysis from teams across JetBlue speaks to the aircraftโs importance for the next generation of our airline,โ Priest said. โWe expect a seamless transition, and weโve worked with Airbus and Bombardier to build in maximum flexibility to the order book as market conditions shift over time.โ
JetBlue plans to take delivery of the first five aircraft in 2020, the airlineโs 20th year of service. Deliveries will continue through 2025. JetBlue expects it will begin to reduce flying with its existing fleet of E190 aircraft beginning in 2020. The phase out will continue gradually through approximately 2025.
Options for 60 additional aircraft begin in 2025, and JetBlue retains flexibility to convert certain aircraft to the smaller A220-100 if it chooses. Both members of the A220 Family share commonality in more than 99 percent of their replaceable parts as well as the same family of engines.
JetBlueโs A220 aircraft will be assembled in Mobile, Alabama.
Airbus has revealed the A220 at a ceremony held at its Henri-Ziegler Delivery Centre, near Toulouse. Witnessed by Airbus employees and members of the global news media, the A220-300 landed directly from the painting at 12:25 am CEST wearing its new Airbus name and colors.
The A220 family comprises two models, the A220-100 and A220-300, formerly Bombardier Inc.โs C Series (CS100 and CS300). The aircraft are fully optimized for the 100 to 150 seat market and perfectly complement Airbusโ existing best-selling A320neo family.
โEveryone at Airbus has been looking forward to this historic moment. Today, we are thrilled to welcome the A220 to the Airbus family and are honoured to see it wearing its new Airbus colours for the first time,โ said Guillaume Faury, Airbus President Commercial Aircraft. โI pay tribute to all the women and men at Bombardier and the supply chain who have strived over the past years to bring this fantastic aircraft to the world. The A220 now enters a new phase in its career with all Airbusโ ressources behind it to further its commercial success worldwide.”
Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, added: โWe are enthusiastic about incorporating theย A220ย in the Airbus Family. I have received positive feedback from customers, and this contributes to my optimism that within the Airbus network, we will make the A220 a great commercial success.”
Top Copyright Photo (all others by Airbus):ย Airbus A220-300 (CS300) C-FFDO (msn 55002) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 942717.
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