Frontier Airlines begins service from both Houston Hobby and Intercontinental Airports to Cancun, Mexico

Frontier Airlines todayย launches nonstop service from both William P. Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Cancun, Mexico this week.

New Route from William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU)

SERVICE TO:

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INTRO FARE:

Cancun

May 26, 2022

3X weekly

$99*

New Route from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH):

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Cancun

May 27, 2022

4X weekly

$99*

In other news, the airline today is also launching nonstop service from New York Stewart International Airport to Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham.

New Routes from New York Stewart International Airport (SWF):

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Atlanta

May 26, 2022

3X weekly

$79*

Raleigh-Durham

May 26, 2022

2X weekly

$69*

Finally,ย Frontier Airlines is restarting nonstop service from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Raleigh-Durham and Philadelphia this week.

New Routes from CVG:

SERVICE TO:

SERVICE START:

SERVICE FREQUENCY:

INTRO FARE:

Raleigh-Durham

May 26, 2022

3X weekly

$69*

Philadelphia

May 27, 2022

4X weekly

$99*

Frequency and times are subject to change.

Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Canada Jetlines receives Stage 2 approval from Canadian Transportation Agency

Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (Jetlines) the new all-Canadian, leisure carrier, is proud to announce that the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has determined that the company has met the agencyโ€™s financial requirements.

The CTA had previously determined that Canada Jetlines met the Canadian Control requirements. With the satisfaction of this significant milestone, the formal CTA commercial license will be issued following the issuance of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Transport Canada.

โ€œThis is an important milestone for Canada Jetlines as we are approaching the completion of the AOC process with Transport Canada. The teams of both the CTA and Canada Jetlines have been working with great collaboration and diligence to ensure we have met or exceeded the requirements for a start-up airline operating in Canada. We are working in earnest towards the finish line of the certification process. We are confident that we will operate our first commercial flight this summer and plan to announce our commercial schedule in the coming weeks,โ€ said Eddy Doyle CEO Canada Jetlines.

Airbahn AOC is revoked by the DOT due to lack of progress

Department of Transportation (DOT) has revoked Airbahn’s AOC due to lack of progress in the final process.

The DOT gave the following reasons for this decision:

  • Airbahn has been in Phase 3 of FAA certification for over three years
  • Airbahn isnโ€™t close completing safety certifications
  • Based on how long it has been, Airbahn employees already require recurrent training without the company having operated a single flight

As previously reported, Airbahn is a private prospective airline based at Irvine, CA and plans to operate within and between destinations in Western USA.

The upstart had big plans:

Scoot to fly to Jeju Island, South Korea

Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), has launched sales of passenger services to Jeju, South Korea.

Commencing on ย June 15, 2022, the three-times weekly nonstop flight service will be Scootโ€™s second destination to South Korea.

Scoot aircraft photo gallery:

Saudia to regularly operate to Neom Bay Airport (NUM)

Saudia has made this announcement:

NEOM, the sustainable regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia, and SAUDIA, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaโ€™s national flag carrier, have created a strategic partnership to begin offering weekly service to international destinations from NEOM Bay Airport (NUM), representing the inauguration of commercial services at the airport.

SAUDIA will operate direct flights to select regional and international destinations.

SAUDIA will begin with weekly flights to Dubai International Airport by the end of June 2022, with plans to expand to London soon thereafter. Aircraft traveling to the selected destinations will have a joint NEOM-SAUDIA livery, showcasing the NEOM brand to the world.

Increasing direct connectivity to NEOM is an important step in promoting the further development of the ambitious giga-project, which is being completed by an impressive team of local, regional and international experts. NEOM currently has over 1,500 full-time employees representing over 65 nationalities, and numerous business partners from all over the world.

NEOM sits at the crossroads of three continents, with 40% of the world accessible within a four-hour flight. NEOMโ€™s mobility strategy will see the further evolution of air travel to NEOM in the coming years, supporting its vision to shape the future of air mobility through seamless and customer-centric connectivity, rooted in cutting-edge technology.

Saudia aircraft photo gallery:

Alaska Airlines pilots vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike

ALPA issued this statement:
Alaska Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Intโ€™l (ALPA), said firmly today that theyโ€™re willing to strike if agreement on a new employment contract cannot be reached. With nearly 96 percent of members participating, an overwhelming 99 percent of Alaska pilots authorized union leaders to call a strike if necessary and when the parties are permitted by the National Mediation Board (NMB) to take that action.

The vote follows informational picketing last month where over 1,500 off-duty pilots, nearly half of the pilots employed by the airline, and their supporters, lined airports and streets at every Alaska Airlines base, the largest event of its kind in ALPAโ€™s history.

โ€œFor three years, Alaska pilots have been resolved in their commitment to reach a new agreement and today, we spoke with one unified voice, just like we did with our recent informational picketing event,โ€ said Capt. Will McQuillen, chairman of the Alaska Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. โ€œFor years, we have been working toward a market-based contract with reasonable solutions that address work rules, scheduling flexibility, and career-security issues that pilots at other companies enjoy, not a strike. Now is the time for management to respond and engage constructively at the bargaining table.โ€

Before a strike can take place, the NMB must first decide that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and offer the parties an opportunity to arbitrate the contract dispute. If either side declines the arbitration, both parties enter a 30-day โ€œcooling offโ€ period, after which pilots and management can engage in self-helpโ€”a strike by the union or a lockout by management.

Alaska Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

 

WestJet ratifies 10-year agreement with WestJet flight dispatchers

WestJet has announced that WestJet flight dispatchers, represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA), voted more than 90 per cent in favor of a 10-year agreement.

This ratified agreement starts June 1, 2022 and expires on May 31, 2032.

WestJet aircraft photo gallery:

Ethiopian orders five additional Boeing 777F freighters

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines today announced the carrier is further expanding its all-Boeing freighter fleet with an order for five 777 Freighters. The order is currently unidentified on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.

Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of nine 777 Freighters, utilizing the model’s range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and maximum structural payload of 107 tonnes (235,900 lb) to connect Africa with 66 dedicated cargo centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

In early March 2022, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the carrier’s intent to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest, most capable and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter.

Ethiopian Airlines also operates three 737-800 converted freighters, as well as a combined passenger fleet of more than 80 Boeing jets, including 737s, 767s, 777s and 787s.

Ethiopian Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Sun Country to start Vancouver service on June 15

Sun Country Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) will begin a summer route to Vancouver from its MSP hub.

Route Map:

Sun Country Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

 

QANTAS buys 51% of TripADeal

QANTAS Group has made this announcement:

  • Qantas buys 51 percent stake in fast-growing online travel business
  • Plans to significantly grow TripADealโ€™s revenue through a close partnership with Qantas Loyalty
  • Frequent Flyers can now use Qantas Points for any TripADeal holiday package

Qantas Frequent Flyers can now use their points on a huge range of holiday packages in a deal that sees the national carrier take a majority shareholding in the Australian-made travel business, TripADeal.

The stake allows Qantas Loyalty to immediately expand its exposure to the estimated $13 billion online packaged holiday booking market, which is experiencing significant growth as leisure demand booms and the shift to e-commerce continues.

Over the past decade, TripADeal has built thousands of direct supplier relationships with hotels, tour operators and other vendors that allow it to offer well-priced holiday packages both domestically and overseas. They also have their own tour guides based in over 30 countries.

TripADeal packages range from African safaris, Japanese ski trips and exploring Antarctica, to South Australian wine tasting tours and Bali beach holidays.

All of these ready-made holidays can now be booked using Qantas Points, regardless of which airline is part of the package. Frequent Flyers will also earn three points for every $1 they spend with TripADeal and can also use โ€˜points plus payโ€™ to make their holiday happen sooner.

The combination of TripADealโ€™s success at curating holiday packages together with the reach of Qantas Loyaltyโ€™s 14-million member base, plus the opportunity to redeem and earn points, is projected to drive a significant increase in TripADealโ€™s revenue in the next few years.

Pre-COVID, TripADeal had an annual growth rate of more than 40 per cent and in the 12 months prior to the pandemic, bookings were in excess of $200 million.ย  Monthly bookings are now significantly higher.

Qantas joins existing shareholders, the founders of TripADeal and private equity firm BGH Capital, which bought a stake in 2020.

The full terms of the all-cash purchase are commercial in confidence. The agreement provides a mechanism for Qantas to acquire the remaining 49 per cent of TripADeal in four years at an agreed multiple of TripADealโ€™s bookings at the time.

QANTAS aircraft photo gallery: