Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) is getting ready for the upcoming 2015-2016 National Football League (NFL) season and in particular the hometown Seattle Seahawks team. The company has painted a different 747 in the “12th Fan” livery with “In it to win it!” titles.
The 747 will perform at the annual Boeing Seafair Air Show at Lake Washington in Seattle on August 2.
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Photo: Katie Lomax/Boeing. Boeing 747-83QF N841BA (msn 60119) is the Jumbo that now wears the special Seattle Seahawks markings. Boeing 747-87UF N770BA (msn 37564) previously wore a similar livery during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl XLVIII victory in 2014.
WestJet (Calgary) hasย announced it is launching new nonstop service to Florida, Mexico and Costa Rica, as well as adding more than 85 flights across its growing domestic and international network as part of its winter 2015-2016 flight schedule. WestJet’s regional airline, WestJet Encoreย (Calgary), will also begin service three times a day to Boston, its first U.S. destination.
WestJet will launch new nonstop service between Toronto (Pearson) and West Palm Beach and Toronto (Pearson) and Sarasota/Bradenton, as well as between Toronto (Pearson) and Boston and Halifax and Boston.
The airline will also introduce new service to Mexico between Toronto (Pearson) and Huatulco, Toronto (Pearson) and Merida, and Toronto (Pearson) and Cabo San Lucas, as well as additional service to Costa Rica between Toronto (Pearson) and San Jose (SJO). WestJet already serves Liberia.
Guests flying from the Region of Waterloo International Airport and Charlottetown Airport will see new weekly nonstop flights to Orlando.
Details of WestJet’s new routes from Central and Eastern Canada for the winter of 2015-2016:
WestJet is also increasing service from a number of destinations within Central and Eastern Canada including Toronto (Pearson), Halifax, St. John’s, Deer Lake and Charlottetown, as well as from Toronto (Pearson) to Liberia, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.
The airline will also add new nonstop flights between Calgary and Florida, Costa Rica and Mexico, and between Vancouver and Orlando.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet’s Boeing 737-76N C-GWSH (msn 29886) taxies to the gate at the Calgary hub.
The pictured Boeing 747SP-27 7O-YMN (msn 21786) was operated by Yemenia (Yemen Airways) (Sana’a) as a presidential airplane for the government. However the country of Yemen is currently locked in a civil war and a governmental crisis since 2011. The “government” of Yemen in essence is now gone and so is their presidential aircraft.
The war-torn county (below) has become a conflict zone between the Houthis and Islah, as well as the al-Qaeda insurgency.
Map: Google Maps.
According to Wikipedia, “In September 2014, the Houthis took over Sana’a, forcing Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar to flee the country, and prompted the formation of a new “unity government” including a variety of Yemeni factions. A draft constitution was discussed that would split Yemen into six federal regions, but the Houthis rejected the proposal. Hadi, his prime minister and cabinet resigned on January 22, 2015 amid a political impasse against the Houthis and ongoing violence in the capital. Three weeks later, the Houthis declared themselves in control of the government in what Abdul-Malik al-Houthi called a “glorious revolution”, although opposition politicians, neighboring states, and the United Nations decried the takeover as a coup d’รฉtat. Most of Yemen’s political factions and the international community have refused to recognise the Houthis’ authority, and UN-brokered talks on a power-sharing deal are ongoing. However, on February, 21, 2015 Hadi rescinded his resignation and declared he was still the legitimate president in Aden. Hadi called on government institutions to gather in Aden, which he proclaimed on March 21, 2015 was Yemen’s “economic and temporary capital” while Sana’a remains under Houthi control.”
7O-YMN has now been discovered as destroyed at Adenย this month after Saudi-backed Yemeni forces recaptured Aden. The exact date of the destruction is unknown.
Meanwhile onย March 30, 2015, as previously reported, Yemenia was forced to suspend all operations due to the on-going military conflict in the divided county which affected its base at Sana’a International Airport. Some aircraft, including 7O-YMN, had been moved to Aden as it was deemed to be relatively safe. However it was not safe for 7O-YMN.
This is the unglamorous end of this “Queen of the Skies”.
MSN 21786 started its airline career on April 23, 1980 when it was delivered brand new from Boeing to Braniff International Airways (Dallas) as N604BN (below).
The airframe would next enter the VIP transport market, flying for the government of Qatar as the Qatar Amiri Flight as A7-AHM on February 7, 1996. Next it would move to Yemenia for the Yemen government on November 26, 2000 as 7O-YMN. The jetliner has been flying in Yemen colors for the past almost 15 years until this final blow. A sad end indeed.
Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) has announced it will extend the current Istanbul (Ataturk) – Johannesburg route to Durban this fall. Durban will become the third destination for the carrier in South Africa.
Turkish currently has the fourth largest flight network with 276 destinations in 110 countries.
In other news, the carrier started daily service toย Dammam flights from/to Istanbul (Sabiha Gรถkรงen International Airport). Damman becomes the 22nd destination from the secondary airport of Istanbul.
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-303 TC-JNS (msn 1458) climbs away from the runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Avior Airlines (Barcelona, Venezuela) is expanding. According to this report by Reuters, the Venzuelan carrier is addingย six Airbus A340-300s, four additional Boeing 737-400s and two Boeing 737-300s. The first “new” aircraft is due in September. This will allow the carrier to retire its aging Boeing 737-200s.
The airline is also planning to add new routes to Peru, Uruguay and Madrid, Spain, its first European destination.
Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Avior Airlines). Avior currently operates venerable Boeing 737-200s and newer Boeing 737-400s. Ex-Piedmont Airlines/USAir/US Airways Boeing 737-401 YV2946 (msn 23886) departs from Miami International Airport (MIA).
Avior aircraft slide show:
Video: Avior Airlines started subsidiary Avior Regional with Fokker 50s in 2014 for its regional feeder routes:
New Gen Airways (Sabaidee Airways dba) (Bangkok-Don Mueang) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, leased from ILFC. The pictured ex-Air Jamaica/Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-8Q8 is currently registered as N645AR (msn 30645, ex 9Y-JMA) and will become HS-NGG. The new jetliner, painted in an updated livery for the new airline, passed through Honolulu on delivery.
The new Thai airline started passenger operations in January 2014 with older Boeing 737-400s. The carrier currently has four Boeing 737-400s.
In other news, the airline announced a new scheduled route from Krabi International Airport to Nanchang, China. The new route was started on July 15. Previously New Gen operated charters on this route.
Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/AirlinersGallery.comย (all others by New Gen Airways). N645AR is seen on the ramp at Honolulu. The new airliner is named “Juthathib”.
Air Malta (Luqa, Malta) has issued this statement and photos:
Air Malta on July 16 launched โ The Sky Spa – the first ever free in-flight spa experience onboard a commercial short-haul flight.
Flights KM 116/7 to/from London Gatwick were chosen to introduce the innovative exclusive onboard service of spa treatments which no other airline offers free of charge to passengers travelling in Economy.
This initiative was made possible by teaming up with Myoka Spas, well known in the spa and beauty industry in Malta. It will be available on selected flights.
Two professional therapists welcomed passengers with various beauty product samples and later pampered them with complimentary and luxurious treatments including hand, feet and neck massages whilst listening to relaxing music.
Air Maltaโs lucky customers were also presented with a 20โฌ voucher for use at any Myoka Spa in Malta, making it a truly unforgettable surprise.
This experience is just the beginning and part of a series of similar projects that Air Malta will be launching in the near future aimed at enhancing customers experience and showing that the airline Cares More.
Air France (Paris) will introduce the Airbus A380 on the Paris (CDG) – Mexico City route on January 12, 2016 with three initial weekly frequencies. The A380 will replace existing Boeing 777-300 ER service. The route will be served daily with the A380 starting on March 26, 2016 per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-861 F-HPJG (msn 067) departs from Los Angeles International Airport.
British Airways (London) will resume daily Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner service on the London (Heathrow) – Calgary route now on December 5, 2015 per Airline Route. The Boeing 767-300 will be assigned to the route from October 25 until December 4.
In other news, BA has announced the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be assigned to the London (Heathrow) – Delhi route from October 25 according to Airline Route.
Additionally the new type will be assigned to the London (Heathrow) – Abu Dhabi – Muscat route starting on November 17.
The 787-9 will also now operate on the London (Heathrow) – Kuala Lumpur route starting December 21 and the new London (Heathrow) – Austin route starting February 22, 2016.
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. British Airways currently operates eight Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The first 787-9 Dreamliner will be registered as G-ZBKA (msn 38616). BA has 16 on order. Boeing 787-8 G-ZBJC (msn 38611) departs from London (Heathrow).
Air Canada (Montreal) stated it plans to increase its new Toronto – Delhi nonstop service from four times weekly to daily service beginning on October 30, 2016.
Air Canada’s new nonstop service between Toronto and Delhi , set to be launched on November 1, 2015 with four weekly flights, is the airline’s first route to be dedicated for Boeing 787-9 series aircraft. Air Canada will receive a total of 29 new 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft by 2019, in addition to eight 787-8 aircraft already in operation, as part of the carrier’s fleet renewal and international expansion from its global hub at Toronto Pearson airport.
Photo Above: Air Canada. Mood lighting on the 787.
Top Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. AC currently operates eight Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners (top). The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (C-FNOE msn 35265) is currently undergoing final testing at Boeing before the handover this month. Boeing 787-8 C-GHPY (msn 35262) arrives at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.
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