Lufthansa to operate around one half of its long-haul flights today due to the pilots’ strike

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has issued this statement:

Lufthansa has published a special timetable for its services for Tuesday, September 8.

The action has been taken following a call by the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union (VC) for its members at Lufthansa German Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo to take strike action.

A total of 1,500 passenger flights (including some 170 long-haul services) and seven cargo flights were scheduled to be operated during the planned strike period today.

With a relatively large number of cockpit personnel indicating their willingness to fly, the airline will be able to operate more than half of its intercontinental passenger services despite the VC’s strike call.

All in all, 84 long-haul services from or to Frankfurt, Munich or Düsseldorf will have to be cancelled, while 90 such flights can be operated.

The willingness of many pilots to work despite the strike call will also permit all seven scheduled cargo flights for Tuesday to be performed. Lufthansa Cargo will thus be able to maintain its full flight program.

All Lufthansa customers holding tickets for long-haul travel from or to Frankfurt, Munich or Düsseldorf are urged to check the latest status of their flight on LH.com well in advance of their scheduled departure.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

First flight for the first British Airways Boeing 787-9, to be introduced on October 25

British Airways (London) has 22 216-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order. Yesterday (September 7), the first copy, the pictured 787-9 G-ZBKA (msn 38616), successfully completed its first flight from Paine Field near Everett via Moses Lake.

According to British Airways, “the Boeing 787-9 – the latest addition to the fleet – features an evolution of our First cabin, with just 8 seats compared to the usual 14, increased range and is 20 feet longer and four inches taller than the 787-8.”

The new type will be introduced on the daily London (Heathrow) (LHR) – Delhi route on October 25. The London (Heathrow) – Abu Dhabi – Muscat route will follow on November 5 per Airline Route.

The 787-9 will also be introduced from LHR to Kuala Lumpur on December 5 and Austin, Texas on February 1, 2016.

Read more on the new BA 787-9: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner G-ZBKA arrives back at Paine Field after its successful first flight on September 7.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

Airbus starts production of the first A330neo

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement:

Airbus’ first A330neo is coming to life one year after the program was launched, with the first ‘cutting of metal’ underway at its production facilities in Toulouse and Nantes. Machining of the first engine pylon started during the summer at Airbus’ facility in Saint-Eloi (Toulouse), while Airbus’ Plant in Nantes began production of the first A330neo center wing box.

The first A330neo Center Wing Box rib 1 (above) produced in Nantes uses an innovative Isogrid design with 330 triangular pockets which enables the part to meet all our rigidity, strength and low weight requirements.

The all-new pylon produced in Saint-Eloi is a key element in the A330neo’s innovative design, attaching the latest generation, fuel-efficient Trent 7000 engines to the wings. Made out of light weight titanium, the A330neo pylon uses cutting-edge aerodynamics, materials and design technologies derived from the A350 XWB. The A330neo pylon will be fitted with a new A350 XWB inspired fairing made from composite materials and titanium for ensuring optimised aerodynamics.

The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017. The A330neo incorporates latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features.

Photo: Airbus.

Air China’s first 242-ton Airbus A330-300 and 50th A330 makes its first flight

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement concerning Air China‘s (Beijing) 50th Airbus A330 and also the first 242-ton A330-300:

The 50th A330 to be operated by Air China, which is also China’s first A330-300 with the increased 242 ton maximum take-off-weight (MTOW) capability, has successfully completed its first flight in Toulouse, France.

Displaying a special livery to celebrate the “50th A330 for Air China”, the aircraft will be delivered to the Chinese carrier in September.

Air China is the flag carrier of China, one of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets. Air China introduced its first A330 in 2006 and since then has become Air China’s benchmark widebody aircraft, supporting its tremendous growth both on domestic and international routes.

Air China operates a fleet of 169 Airbus aircraft, comprising 120 A320 Family and 49 A330 Family aircraft.

The A330 with the higher, 242 ton MTOW is the platform for the future A330neo, and is a concrete example of Airbus’ incremental innovation strategy. Thanks to latest engine improvements, and an aerodynamic package reducing aircraft drag, the A330 with 242 ton MTOW offers an extended range of up to 500 nautical miles and up to two percent reduced fuel consumption. The 242 ton A330 is capable of missions from 30 min to 15 hours.

Top Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A330-343 F-WWYC (msn 1658) will become B-5977 on delivery. The 242-ton airliner also carries a special “50th A330 for Air China” logo.

Air China aircraft slide show:

Bottom Photo: Airbus/A. Tchaikovski.

Frontier Airlines to start Detroit – Orlando service

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) will start daily Detroit-Orlando flights starting on November 18.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N229FR (msn 5581) with Peachy, the Fox, on the tail arrives at Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map (click on the map for the full size view):

Air New Zealand operates its last regularly-scheduled Boeing 737 flight, will operate a farewell tour

Air New Zealand (Auckland) as planned, today (September 6) operated its last regularly-scheduled Boeing 737 revenue flight as flight NZ 557 between Auckland and Christchurch. The last regular flight was operated with Boeing 737-319 ZK-NGI (msn 25608) (above).

However Air New Zealand will operate the aircraft on a Farewell Tour around New Zealand from September 8 through September 21 under the following schedule:

September 8 CHC-IVC ETD 0700 ETA 0800 ANZ 1737
IVC-DUD ETD 1530 ETA 1600 ANZ 1737

September 9 DUD-CHC ETD 1530 ETA 1615 ANZ 1737

September 12 CHC-CHC 6 times ANZ 1731 through ANZ 1736

September 13 CHC-CHC 6 times ANZ 1731 through ANZ 1736

September 14 CHC-WLG ETD 1815 ETA 1900 ANZ 1737

September 15 WLG-WLG 3 times
WLG-NPE ETD 1515 ETA 1600 ANZ 1737

September 16 NPE-TRG ETD 1515 ETA 1600 ANZ 1737

September 17 TRG-AKL ETD 1530 ETA 1600 ANZ 1737

September 19 AKL-AKL 6 times

September 20 AKL-AKL 6 times

September 21 AKL-CHC ETD 1000 ETA 1120 ANZ 6201

As previously reported, Air New Zealand and its associated companies have been a Boeing 737 operator since 1968. National Airways (New Zealand National Airways Corporation) (NAC) (Wellington) took delivery of Boeing 737-219 ZK-NAC (msn 19929) on August 29, 1968, followed by ZK-NAD (msn 19930) on September 11, 1968 and ZK-NAE (msn 19931) on October 5, 1968. NAC was taken over and merged into Air New Zealand on April 1, 1978. At that time ANZ became a Boeing 737 operator.

Top Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com. Air New Zealand Boeing 737-3K2 ZK-NGI taxies at a cloudy Auckland.

Air New Zealand aircraft slide show:

Thank you to Colin Hunter for the above information from New Zealand.

Video: The last ANZ Boeing 737 flight:

CityJet introduces a new brand, new aircraft coming

CityJet (Dublin) on September 4 introduced a new look for the airline on the pictured BAe (Avro) RJ85 EI-RJT (msn E2366). The company is also looking at replacement aircraft that would be capable of flying into London’s City Airport (LCY). Competition is probably between Embraer and Bombardier. Bombardier is working on the certification for its new CS100 at LCY. The company issued this statement:

CityJet, the Irish European regional airline, on September 4 unveiled its new brand and earmarked plans for future expansion, investment and job creation.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, officially unveiled the airline’s new brand at an event in CityJet’s Dublin Airport hangar.

Since becoming independent of Air France ownership in 2014, CityJet has developed significantly in the market and now employs almost 500 staff, with over 300 based at its headquarters in Swords, Co. Dublin, and additional crew bases in London and Paris. The new branding represents a further step forward as an independent airline and comes at an exciting time of change for CityJet.

CityJet Executive Chairman Pat Byrne announced that the airline will open a new call center in Dublin with effect from March next year, initially creating 15 jobs, while in the past three months it has hired almost 60 additional staff, including 24 new pilots and 30 cabin crew and four executive officers.

Mr Byrne said: “This is a new look for a new era as we continue to grow our passenger numbers and invest in our staff and fleet. Today is a special day as we bring CityJet forward with a new dynamic branding, which I would refer to as inside-out branding as it based hugely on what our staff across the airline determined it should be.”

“We are also at an advanced stage in investment in our fleet and hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the coming weeks. We expect to create further employment opportunities in the air and on the ground across our network. The opening of our new call centre in Swords will provide our customers with an enhanced service offering. We are also concurrently investing in developing our technology and customer loyalty services to ensure CityJet continues to provide excellent facilities to all customers.

The Executive Chairman said: “We will carry over two million passengers this year on our own scheduled services network, on our wet lease program for Air France and on our charter services. We are seeing continual growth across our network as awareness of CityJet increases. CityJet is a pan-European airline, with over 70% of our passengers travelling between London and mainland Europe. Our flagship Dublin to London City route has seen a 40% growth in the last six months whilst advance bookings for our new Cork to London City service, which commences on October 1, are strong. We look forward to introducing CityJet – and the ease of travel through London City Airport – to business and leisure passengers in Munster in a few weeks time.”

Top Copyright Photo: Michael Kelly/AirlinersGallery.com. RJ85 EI-RJT (msn E2366) sits outside the Dublin hangar after the unveiling ceremony.

CityJet aircraft slide show:

Below Photo: CityJet.

Korongo Airlines to be liquidated

Korongo Airlines (Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo) will not fly again. Yesterday (September 4) the investors decided not to restart flight operations and took the additional step to dissolve the company.

An incident a week prior to the decision grounded their only airplane, the pictured Boeing 737-3M8 OO-LTM (msn 25070) (above). The aircraft, on lease from Brussels Airlines, was damaged on August 19 on takeoff at Bipemba Airport at Mubuji-Mayi. The carrier was forced to cease operations until the decision to liquidate was made.

The airline started operations on April 16, 2012 with the help of Brussels Airlines.

The airline issued this statement:

Dear passengers,

We regret to announce that due to the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Korongo Airlines held on September 4 in Lubumbashi, the decision was taken to stop the activity of the airline, which is put into liquidation.

Flight operations of Korongo Airlines are therefore definitively adopted.

This decision was taken because of the operating conditions extremely difficult encountered until now and the decision taken by the Congolese government to launch a new national airline against which we will not be able to compete in a spirit of search of profitability.

Korongo Airlines would like to thank all our customers for their trust and expresses its sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused by the judgment of its activities.

It goes without saying that korongo airlines will continue to take its responsibilities vis-à-vis its clients and invite any passenger who is in possession of a ticket to a trip after the September 4, 2015 to contact the company to the attention of the Liquidator who has been appointed, Mr Patrick William, at the following coordinates:

Korongo Airlines sa, company in liquidation
Avenue Msiri, 1939 Lubumbashi-rd Congo
+ 243 99 60 30 101

We thank you for your understanding.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The airline name was based on the Swahili term for large migrating birds.

Korongo Airlines aircraft slide show:

Scoot retires its last Boeing 777-200, becomes the first all-787 operator

Scoot (flyscoot.com) (Singapore) as planned, retired its last Boeing 777-200 with the delivery and entrance into revenue service of its latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner (787-8 9V-OFB, msn 37118, named “Lickity-Split”).

The airline becomes the first all-Boeing 787 Dreamliner operator in the world. The airline transitioned to its all-787 fleet in just seven months.

The airline issued this short statement on social media on September 2:

With the addition of ‪#‎787LickitySplit‬ to the Scoot family, we are now the first airline to operate an all new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet across our network of destinations!

Scoot aircraft slide show:

Will the Transaero Airlines brand be retired and merged into Aeroflot?

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has agreed to acquire 75 percent of the shares of failing Transaero Airlines (Moscow). Aeroflot is buying out its main competitor (and its $1.6 billion debt) for the symbolic price of one ruble. Transaero Airlines is the second largest airline in Russia and has lately been failing and building up a large debt.

According to Reuters, “Transaero will be completely overhauled and integrated into the Aeroflot group,” an Aeroflot spokesman was quoted as saying by RIA news agency.

For now, the Transaero Airlines name will be kept alive as a significant but shrinking part of the Aeroflot Group. However for the long term, will Transaero be merged into Aeroflot and the brand retired?

Above Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Transaero has been introducing this new brand with its new deliveries. Will this new look be retained?

51 percent of the Aeroflot stock is owned by the government of Russia. The government is backing its major industries.

Transaero Airlines (and many other Russian airlines) have been struggling since the ruble collapsed in 2014. In short, Russian citizens are traveling less overseas with their devalued currency.

As we previously reported, even Aeroflot reported a loss in the first half of this year.

On September 1, Transaero Airlines issued this short statement:

The Government of the Russian Federation held the meeting of the Intergovernmental commission chaired by Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister, on the issues of air transport industry.

In the interests of the development of the commercial aviation and creating one of the largest in the world group of airlines, the commission has approved the acquisition of JSC Transaero Airlines by Aeroflot group.

The shareholders of Transaero Airlines believe this measure will serve the interests of passengers, personnel and partners of the airline.

The Chairman of the meeting has highly appreciated the role of the founders, managers and all the personnel of Transaero Airlines in the modern history of the commercial aviation of the country.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-United Airlines and Air India Boeing 777-222 ER EI-UNV (msn 28714, ex N205UA/VT-AIK) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.

Aeroflot aircraft slide show:

Transaero Airlines aircraft photo gallery: