Spirit Airlines launches two new routes from Los Angeles

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) today (July 9) introduced two new nonstop routes between Los Angeles and Kansas City and Baltimore-Washington, DC.

The new daily, nonstop service will connect Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Spirit now offers 15 daily departures out of LAX to 11 cities, and will be adding more routes in the future. On August 20, Spirit will offer another nonstop route to and from Los Angeles to Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Additionally, the carrier will provide twice daily service to/from Oakland starting on November 12.

According to the airline, Spirit is the fastest growing airline in the United States. With a scheduled growth of approximately 30% this year, Spirit expects to keep expanding service by adding new destinations at the lowest available fares in the industry.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Airbus A320 with Sharklets, A320-232 N642NK (msn 6586) approaches the runway at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Spirit Airlines aircraft slide show:

Mahan Air becomes a new Airbus A340-600 operator, adds six new destinations

Mahan Air (Tehran) has become a new Airbus A340-600 operator. The pictured ex HiFly Airbus A340-642 EP-MMH (msn 391) ferried to Tehran on May 8, 2015 and is now in service. The airline is planning to add seven stretched Airbus A340s according to ch-aviation. The date of introduction is unknown.

The carrier has recently been expanding its international network. The carrier has recently added Bahrain (May 14), Moscow (Vnukovo) (May 28), St. Petersburg (Pulkovo) (June 4), Athens (June 14), Milan (Malpensa) (June 17) and Sochi (June 23), all from Tehran (Khomeini).

Mahan Air aircraft slide show:

VietJet Air to add Boeing aircraft

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) has issued this statement about a possible new customer in VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City):

Boeing and VietJet Air have announced the companies’ intention to collaborate and expand the airline’s future fleet with Boeing airplanes.

The memorandum of collaboration signing event was hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and witnessed by H.E Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of Vietnam Communist Party, along with other Vietnamese and U.S. government officials.

“Boeing is honored to start this new partnership with VietJet,” said Dr. Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to providing VietJet with the very best airplanes in the world such as the 737 MAX and growing this relationship for many years to come.”

VietJet Air, is a privately held, low-cost airline in Vietnam, with headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City is currently a loyal Airbus customer.

Videos: VietJet Air.

VietJet Air aircraft slide show:

KLM reaches a tentative agreement with its pilots union including the operation of the new Boeing 787

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) today reached a further agreement in principle with the Dutch Air Line Pilots Association (Vereniging Nederlandse Verkeersvliegers – VNV).

The agreement in principle reached with VNV will now be put before the association’s membership base for approval.

The airline provided these details:

Perform 2020

Lengthy and intense negotiations took place with a VNV delegation in recent months. VNV consistently expressed its willingness to invest in the company. KLM and VNV have now reached an agreement for the forthcoming three-year period from January 1, 2015 up to and including December 31, 2017, in which the pilots’ contribution towards the employment conditions is proportionately balanced with the consideration required of KLM by VNV and will also contribute significantly towards achieving the Air France KLM Perform 2020 objectives.

The outcome

The outcome achieved through negotiation now means that pilots will give concrete shape to the annual productivity gain of 4%. The agreement also includes a concrete increase in the retirement age. Moreover, this agreement will also generate an improvement in KLM’s cash position. In return for this investment, pilots now enjoy access to shares. This will be defined further. The agreement in principle has yet to be tested against legal, fiscal and governance aspects.

What are the results of negotiations with the Dutch Air Line Pilots Association (VNV)?

Holiday entitlement

From commencement of the 2016 collective labor agreement (CLA) year, all pilots will enjoy a holiday entitlement of 35 days. Holiday entitlement was first awarded on the basis of age, and varied from 34 to 38 days.

21 days leave during summer

The number of contiguous days leave during the summer period has been reduced by 1 day to 21 calendar days starting from April 1, 2016.

Transparent holiday scheme

A properly functioning offer and exchange platform will increase the transparency and predictability of the holiday scheme for pilots.

ICA: Change to travel leave days (leave scheme)

Starting from the winter schedule, travel leave in travel cycles of more than 3 travel leave days will no longer be rounded upward. For example, if a flight generates 4.2 travel leave days, this will no longer be rounded up to 5 days.

As a result (in this example), the travel leave after a flight will thus be 4.2 days instead of 5. The 0.2 travel leave day (4.2 – 4) will not be lost, as the decimal will be counted. As soon as the decimals total 1 full travel leave day, the day will be awarded to the pilot.

The current CLA agreement and method (rounding system) will remain applicable to travel cycles of 3 or fewer travel leave days.

ICA: Reduction of 4-pilot operations

Cape Town, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur have been designated as 3-pilot instead of 4-pilot destinations. Should any of these destinations no longer apply, KLM and VNV will in consultation designate another 4-pilot destination.

Note: KLM conducts ICA flights with two, three or four pilots. The number of pilots in the cockpit depends on the applicable flight time.

Boeing 737: Assignment

A Boeing 737 pilot is assigned in cycles of 28 days (16 working days, 12 leave days). This will be adjusted by structurally raising the number of working days from 16 to 17 (with 11 leave days).

KLC: Public holidays

KLC pilots will with retroactive effect from January 1, 2015 surrender 3 of the 6 public holidays provided for by the CLA.The maximum number of flight hours per 30 days and per year as stated in the CLA will be raised in order to accommodate the productivity increase resulting from this measure.

Boeing 787 classification

Pilots can vary/ mix flights* with the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-200/300. KLM and VNV have a shared vision of the professional and technical aspects that require attention in this respect, including a logical design and the accompanying preconditions. Consultations on this will continue also after the introduction of the Boeing 787.

This has resulted in the proposal that the Boeing 787 be classified in the same manner as the Boeing 777 in terms of payment, the rules applicable to duty and rest times (WRR) as well as the position in the pilot career scheme (RVL).

Two beds and a seat for resting purposes are available in the Overhead Flight Crew Rest (OFCR) area. If a business class seat is still available on the flight day in the case of 4-pilot destinations, this seat will be made available to the 4th pilot for resting purposes.

The Boeing 787 cockpit OFCR is certified for the entire flight operation, including taxiing, takeoff and landing.

* A pilot flies/ is certified for both the Boeing 777 200/300 and the Boeing 787.

Pensions

The retirement age will be raised in 4 steps from 56 to 58. This means that starting from 2016, it will be raised by six months each year until the retirement age of 58 years is reached in 2019.

Additional agreements reached on the financing of the pension scheme have released a significant amount in pension contributions, thus improving the cash position of KLM.

Counter performance KLM

Shares in AF-KLM

KLM will provide pilots with a one-off share package as compensation for the resulting productivity gains and pension concessions.

Profit-sharing scheme

The current profit-sharing scheme will be replaced by an improved profit-sharing scheme.

90% part-time

A 90% part-time variant will be added to the existing options for all WRR appendices. This offers pilots the possibility of exchanging the raised productivity for a salary reduction. The new employment percentage cannot be applied in combination with parental leave.

Employment

KLM has in this proposal committed itself to the VNV to include the same employment provision as that agreed with the ground and cabin unions. This provision states that no forced redundancies will take place on economic grounds during the CLA period as long as the existing instruments used for this purpose (including temporary increase in part-time and/or non-activity) are adequate. The parties will enter into consultations if these instruments prove to be inadequate.

Term

The term is from January 1, 2015 up to and including December 31, 2017.

Image: KLM.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Southwest Airlines flight 3299 aborts its takeoff at Chicago Midway

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) flight 3299 from Chicago (Midway) to Boston last night (July 8) suddenly aborted its takeoff due to a “mechanical issue”. The right engine apparently caught on fire according to local media reports. The 143 passengers safely exited the aircraft via mobile stairs.

One passenger tweeted a video of the aborted takeoff.

Read the full report from ABC Channel 7: CLICK HERE

JetBlue to offer free live streaming of Major League Baseball games

JetBlue Airways (New York) on the heals of the Virgin America Wi-Fi announcement, has responded with this announcement in the on-going “Wi-Fi Wars”:

JetBlue today announced a new partnership with MLBAM, the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball, that will give JetBlue customers free in-flight access to MLB.TV – the #1 live streaming sports service – on their laptops and supported smartphones and tablets through the MLB.com At Bat mobile app. The agreement brings free, Internet streaming of live Regular Season baseball games 35,000 feet in the sky for the first time ever, and adds to JetBlue’s expanding catalog of onboard entertainment delivered over Fly-Fi, the industry’s fastest complimentary broadband Internet.

The airline continues;

All JetBlue customers traveling in the contiguous United States on Fly-Fi equipped aircraft will have complimentary access to MLB.TV, which offers more than 2,500 live and archived games on demand per season. While MLB.TV typically requires a subscription, JetBlue customers will receive free access while in flight through “The Hub,” JetBlue’s Fly-Fi content portal. For the first time ever, customers using Fly-Fi Hub can catch any Regular Season game being played by any of MLB’s 30 teams at any time.

According to the airline, “With speeds up to 20 mbps per device, Fly-Fi offers a true Internet streaming experience that no other U.S. carrier is capable of providing. MLB.TV becomes the first live sports property to join JetBlue’s robust list of leading brands offering content on JetBlue flights including Amazon Prime streaming entertainment (coming soon), The Wall Street Journal, PBS, NatGeo, Vice, Harper Collins and Time, Inc. among others.”

Unlike other carriers that charge sky high prices for Wi-fi, JetBlue is keeping Fly-Fi free for all customers. Fly-Fi Hub content complements JetBlue’s signature seatback entertainment featuring live DIRECTV® programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXM® radio on every aircraft. JetBlue airs more channels of free sports on-board than any other domestic airline. The line-up includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, NBC Sports, Fox Sports 1 and NFL Network.

Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N605JB (msn 2368) in the special Boston Red Sox livery is seen taxiing at the New York (JFK) base.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

Swiss unveils its new Boeing 777-300 ER cabin and routes, three Airbus A340-300s to go to Edelweiss

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) will usher-in a new era in the history of its long-haul aircraft fleet next January with the arrival of the first of its nine new Boeing 777-300 ERs. The new Swiss twinjets will seat 340 passengers, include three-classes of service, and offer wireless internet connectivity. The ‘Triple Sevens’ will be deployed on routes to and from the US west coast, South America, and Asia from the 2016 summer schedule onwards.

The new type will be initially introduced on the Zurich – New York (JFK) route on February 21, 2016 with four weekly flights. It will operate to JFK until March 25, 2016.

Zurich – Montreal (Trudeau) will follow on March 27, 2016, Zurich – Hong Kong on April 10, 2016 and Zurich – Los Angeles on June 9, 2016 per Airline Route.

The new aircraft will be deployed primarily on services to Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Bangkok (staring on July 8, 2016). San Francisco (staring on September 1, 2016), São Paulo (starting August 1, 2016) and Tel Aviv will also receive Boeing 777 service several times a week.

As a part of its ‘Next-Generation Airline of Switzerland’ strategy, Swiss will begin the renewal of its long-haul aircraft fleet in 2016. A total of nine new Boeing 777-300 ERs (Extended Range) will be gradually assimilated into the fleet from the beginning of next year. This will result in the creation of 360 new cabin crew jobs in the future.

In Swiss configuration, the Boeing 777-300 ER will offer 340 seats: eight in First Class, 62 in Business Class, and 270 in Economy. The redesigned cabin interior of the new Swiss flagship will provide comfort and aesthetics to meet the most discerning of demands in all three seating classes.

The Swiss First seat can be transformed into one’s own private suite and includes a 32-inch screen, the largest in the industry. Swiss First guests will also enjoy electrically-adjustable window blinds and their own personal wardrobe.

SWISS Business–more privacy and personal space (PRNewsFoto/Swiss International Air Lines)

The Swiss Business seating (above) offers optimum privacy and freedom of movement, while the seat cushion’s firmness can be individually regulated. The seats can be easily converted into a lie-flat bed that reclines into more than six- feet long in length (@6’7″).

Swiss Economy customers can also look forward to a new air travel experience with new seat-cushion technology and further innovations that include a large personal touchscreen. In addition to the regular cabin service, all SWISS Economy guests will be able to make use of a self-service kiosk offering a wide range of drinks and snacks.

All nine Boeing 777-300 ERs will also feature wireless internet via a broadband connection, enabling passengers to surf or send emails on their laptop, tablet or smartphone device.

The first delivery of six of the new Boeing 777-300 ERs will replace six Swiss Airbus A340-300s that will be returned to the lessor. Between 2017 and 2018, Swiss will receive an additional three Boeing 777-300 ERs. These new aircraft will replace three other A340-300s which will enter the fleet of Swiss’ sister carrier Edelweiss.

Swiss International Air Lines is Switzerland’s national airline, serving 106 destinations in 49 countries from Zurich and Geneva and carrying over 16 million passengers a year with its 95-aircraft fleet.

Video: Swiss.

Swiss aircraft slide show:

Norwegian to launch London Gatwick – Boston service, expands in Spain

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian Long Haul) (Oslo) has announced it will launch four weekly flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW) in May 2016.

Last month, Norwegian announced flights from Boston to Guadeloupe and Martinique, which will commence on December 3, 2015, with twice weekly service to both destinations.

Flights between Boston and London will be served by the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline will start taking delivery of the new Dreamliners in 2016, with 35 seats in Premium and 309 seats in Economy.

Norwegian currently offers 25 nonstop routes from the U.S. to London and Scandinavia with its current fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners (above), providing more European routes than any other European airline.

Service from Las Vegas will commence on October 31, 2015; service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, will commence on November 1, 2015; and service from St. Croix, U.S. V.I., will commence on November 5, 2015.

Additionally, Norwegian will begin service from Boston, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and New York/JFK to Guadeloupe Islands’ Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport(PTP) and to Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF) on December 3, 2015.

In other news, Norwegian’s international expansion continues. For the first time the company launches domestic flights in Spain from the Spanish major cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga to the Canary Islands.

From October Norwegian will offer seven Spanish domestic routes between the mainland and Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura for a total of 56 flights a week.

From Madrid, Norwegian will fly daily Boeing 737-800 flights to Gran Canaria and Tenerife. From Barcelona it will operate several flights a week to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura. From Malaga it will fly two flights a week to Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Norwegian will offer 56 flights a week between the mainland and the Canary Islands starting on October 25.

Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner EI-LNB (msn 35305) with Thor Heyerdahl on the tail lands at Stockholm (Arlanda).

Norwegian aircraft slide show:

Air Canada to bring the Boeing 787 to Brisbane from Vancouver

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced the addition of new nonstop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia. Flights to Brisbane will initially operate three times weekly using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners beginning on June 17, 2016, with the intention to increase to daily service, subject to obtaining the necessary government approvals.

This year to date, Air Canada has launched new international services from Montreal-Venice, Montreal-Mexico City, Toronto-Amsterdam, Vancouver-Osaka, with Toronto-Dubai and Toronto-Delhi launching this fall.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner C-GHPV (msn 35260) taxies at Vancouver International Airport.

Air Canada aircraft slide show:

Ethiopian today launches a new route to Manila

Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa) today (July 9) launched a new route to Manila via Bangkok. The extended route will operate three days a week with Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 24 seats in Cloud Nine and 211 seat in the Economy class. Ethiopian now serves 90 international destinations.