Air Canada introduces new uniforms

Air Canada on social media announced the debut of the new uniforms:

Via Airlines adds new routes from Sanford and Little Rock

Via Airlines (ViaAir) has announced new nonstop jet service between Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport ( JAN) plus expanded service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

Service between Sanford and Jackson begins June 11, 2018, with flights available Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday each week.

The carrier will also launch service from Sanford to Mobile and Montgomery on May 14.

Via Airlines has also announced continued seasonal service between Branson Airport (BKG) and Austin, Texas (AUS).

Service between the two cities begins May 24, 2018, operating through September 3, 2018. Flights will be available Thursday, Saturday and Sunday each week with occasional (additional) service on Friday.

The airline will also add service from Austin to Oklahoma City on April 22, Little Rock on April 29 and Tulsa on May 6 per Airline Route.

All flights will be operated with Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets.

Copyright Photo: ViaAir (Via Airlines) Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N841HK (msn 145382) CLT (Jay Selman). Image: 403273.

ViaAir aircraft slide show:

Two airliners collide on the ramp at Tel Aviv

Germania flight ST 4915 with Boeing 737-76J D-ABLB (msn 36115) was being pushed back from the gate at Tel Aviv today (March 28) when it collided with a parked El Al Boeing 767-3Q8 ER EX-EAK (msn 27600) operating flight LY 385. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage when the 737 tail struck the horizontal stabilizer of the 767.

There were no reported injuries. Both flights were cancelled.

Twitter photo:

Video:

Great Lakes suspends scheduled turboprop flight operations

Great Lakes Airlines has issued this statement:

At midnight on Monday, 3/26/18, Great Lakes suspended scheduled flight operations as an air carrier.

Although we are ceasing flight operations, it is important to note that the company has not entered bankruptcy and will continue to operate certain segments of the business. We will continue to support the ADI flights operating between Denver, Pierre and Watertown.

Aerodynamics, Inc. continues to operate scheduled service between the cities of Denver, CO, Pierre, SD and Watertown, SD.

The previous route map in January 2014:

The new route map:

Copyright Photo: Great Lakes Airlines (USA) Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N202UX (msn UE-202) (Dodge City, Kansas) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 913939.

Great Lakes aircraft slide show:

American announces four new routes to Mexico and South America

American Airlinesis continuing to grow its presence in the region with the addition of four new destinations. Next winter, customers will have access to three new cities in South America: Georgetown, Guyana (GEO); Pereira, Colombia (PEI) and Cordoba, Argentina (COR); and one new city in Mexico: Oaxaca (OAX).

American is also introducing service to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), from its West Coast hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making American the first and only airline to offer nonstop service between these two major cities.

New Routes:

Route	Aircraft	On Sale	Flights Begin
LAX-EZE	Boeing 787-9	April 2	Dec. 19
DFW-OAX	Embraer E175	April 2	Dec. 19
MIA-GEO	Airbus A319	April 2	Dec. 20
MIA-PEI	Airbus A319	April 17	Dec. 20
MIA-COR	Boeing 767-300	May 7	Apr. 2, 2019
All routes are subject to government approval.

American also recently announced new service between its hub at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Mexico City (MEX) beginning July 5, which will enhance trans-Atlantic connectivity from Mexico. By expanding with these new routes, American will offer up to 270 flights per day to the region.

American Airlines aircraft slide show (Boeing):

Air New Zealand announces new nonstop service between Chicago and Auckland

Air New Zealand has announced it will begin new nonstop service between Auckland and Chicago (O’Hare), beginning November 30, 2018.

The new service announcement deepens the joint venture relationship between Air New Zealand and United Airlines.

In addition to the new route announcement, United announced it will extend its seasonal service between San Francisco and Auckland to year-round beginning April 2019.

Air New Zealand service between Auckland and Chicago

From November 30, 2018, Air New Zealand will operate three times weekly, year-round service with its new configuration Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hours northbound and just over 16 hours southbound.

Air New Zealand code share service will be offered on around 100 flights across the U.S. for convenient connections to Auckland via Chicago. United Airlines operates more flights from its hub at O’Hare International Airport than any other airline, with more than 500 flights to 147 airports across the United States.

United expands service between San Francisco and Auckland

Beginning in April 2019, United will extend service between its West Coast hub in San Francisco and Auckland to year-round with three-times-weekly service. In partnership with Air New Zealand, United’s flight arriving in Auckland will offer passengers more than 20 connections across the region. The return trip utilizes United’s extensive route network in San Francisco, which provides connections to the United States, Canada, and Latin America. United operates more than 290 daily flights from its hub at San Francisco International Airport to 79 airports across the U.S. and 26 international destinations. Tickets for the expanded San Franciscoschedule will be available on united.com and airnewzealand.com later this year.

United service between San Francisco and Auckland will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER between November and March and will operate with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft between April and October.

Since United and Air New Zealand began their alliance in 2016, the joint venture has opened up more travel options for U.S. and New Zealand travelers than ever before. Overall passenger volumes have grown as customers traveling from New Zealand to the U.S. connect to United’s broad domestic network from its hubs in Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The new Chicago – Auckland Northern Winter 2018 schedule from November 30, 2018 is as follows:

Flight No.	Operated by	Aircraft type	Departs	Arrives	Effective dates	Frequency
NZ26 (UA6728)	Air New Zealand	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner	Auckland 20:10	Chicago 16:15	30 Nov 2018 – 8 Mar 2019	Wed, Fri, Sun
NZ26 (UA6728)	Air New Zealand	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner	Auckland 20:10	Chicago 17:15	10 Mar 2019 – 29 Mar 2019	Wed, Fri, Sun
NZ27 (UA6727)	Air New Zealand	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner	Chicago 19:10	Auckland 06:30+2	30 Nov 2018 – 8 Mar 2019	Wed, Fri, Sun
NZ27 (UA6727)	Air New Zealand	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner	Chicago 20:10	Auckland 06:30+2	10 Mar 2019 – 29 Mar 2019	Wed, Fri, Sun

Flights will arrive into and depart from Terminal 5 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The above timings are subject to change.

Air New Zealand aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines and Aer Lingus team up to give Mileage Plan members more flights to Europe, Aer Lingus comes to Seattle

Alaska Airlines and Aer Lingus announced a broad partnership that will provide Mileage Plan members more ways to earn and redeem miles to Europe. The carriers will begin interline availability across their respective networks starting in April. Alaska Mileage Plan members will be able to earn and redeem miles on Aer Lingus flights and Aer Lingus AerClub members will also be able to earn and redeem miles on Alaska, starting at a later date.

Aer Lingus currently serves Dublin from 13 cities in North America, including from Alaska’s gateway cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and – starting May 18 – nonstop from Seattle/Tacoma.

Aer Lingus will fly Airbus A330-200 wide body aircraft on its new route from Seattle/Tacoma to Dublin. Since Dublin airport has its own U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, passengers and their luggage will be pre-cleared in Ireland before departure, with no need to go through passport control on arrival in Seattle.

Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland, founded in 1936. It operates 63 aircraft on more than 100 routes to destinations in the U.K., Europe and North America and carries more than 12 million guests per annum. Aer Lingus is Ireland’s only 4-Star airline, awarded by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization. Its mission is to connect Ireland to the world and to become the leading value carrier operating across the North Atlantic. Its home base is Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world’s largest airline groups.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Drukair to again operate a route to Bangkok this summer

Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines (Paro) will again operate the Paro – Bangkok route with its Airbus A319s this summer from May 16 until October 27, 2018 according to Airline Route.

Photo Above: Paro Airport (Drukair).

Top Copyright Photo: Drukair-Royal Bhutan Airlines Airbus A319-115 WL D-AVYB (A5-JSW) (msn 6496) XFW (Gerd Beilfuss). Image: 926468.

Drukair aircraft slide show:

Video: Flying into Paro.

American to add two new MAX 8 routes from Miami

American Airlines on August 5 will add two additional Boeing 737-8 MAX 8n routes from the Miami hub. According to Airline Route, AA will insert the new type on daily service from MIA to both Antigua and Denver.

American Airlines aircraft slide show (Boeing):

AerLine Holdings to sell XTRA Airways, fleet shrunk to one aircraft

AerLine Holdings has entered into negotiations to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary XTRA Airways.

XTRA Airways has operated Boeing 737 aircraft in its charter fleet flying sports teams, rock bands, relief flights from Caribbean Islands including Puerto Rico, scheduled service between Saipan in the U.S. Mariana Islands and China, sub-service for tour operators within Europe, deportees for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and most recently supplying two highly customized executive 737 aircraft for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.

XTRA Airways has an impeccable safety record, is one of the few charter carriers having scheduled service (U.S.-flag) authority, is certified to fly within Europe, and is authorized by the U.S. and China to conduct scheduled service between the two countries.

Following the decision to divest of its interest in XTRA Airways, seven of its eight 737 aircraft have been sold, and its fleet will be reduced to just one 737 aircraft before the end of May 2018.

AerLine Holdings will select a buyer that can offer the best value to the company, its employees and shareholders, and is anticipated to make an award before the end of April 2018.

XTRA Airways is a 31-year-old commercial charter U.S. airline that specializes in group air travel throughout the Americas. The company operates a modern fleet of Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 aircraft, and is certified under the FAA Part 121 Flag regulations designated for all major U.S. airlines. Customers include corporate incentive groups, sports teams, entertainers, civic leaders, students, and other groups. XTRA Airways is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida.

XTRA Airways aircraft slide show: