Newcomer Qingdao Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A320

Qingdao Airlines (Qingdao, Shandong Province), a Chinese start-up airline, has taken delivery of the company’s first ever aircraft, an Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets, on lease from Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC). The airline will become a new operator and make its first commercial flight from its home base of Qingdao in Eastern China to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province in Southwestern China, later in April.

The A320, powered by CFM56 engines, features a comfort two-class cabin with eight business and 144 economy class seats.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and standard on all members of the new A320neo family. They offer operators up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Qingdao Airlines placed an order for 23 A320 Family aircraft in 2013 (see photo below).

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured A320-214 D-AXAJ at Hamburg (Finkenwerder) became B-9955 (msn 6061) on the hand over yesterday (April 10).

Qingdao Airlines:

Cathay Pacific to return to Manchester

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) today (April 10) announced that it will launch a four-times-weekly service to Manchester on December 8, 2014 (subject to government approval).

The Manchester service will be operated by Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.

Flights will depart from Hong Kong to Manchester every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Departures from Manchester are also on these days.

Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-367 ER B-KPS (msn 39232) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

Cathay Pacific:

Dniproavia to start a new route to Vienna on April 30 after restrictive sanctions are lifted

Dniproavia Airways (Dniproavia National Aircompany) (Dnipropetrovsk) will start a new route between Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine and Vienna, Austria on April 30. Scheduled flights to the capital of Austria will be operated three times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.

Because of the loss of the Black Sea resorts in the Crimea, Dniproavia Airways is also developing new routes for the summer, offering alternative Black Sea resorts.

Starting on April 27, 2014 Dniproavia Airways starts direct scheduled flights between Dnipropetrovsk and Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Batumi.

Dniproavia Airways also starts a new route between Dnipropetrovsk and Istanbul on April 28, 2014.

Direct flights will be operated on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Flights en route Dnipropetrovsk -Tbilisi will be operated on Sundays:

Dniproavia is also planning a program of regular flights to the resorts in Bulgaria – from Dnepropetrovsk to both Bourgas and Varna.

The airline had previously ceased all operations on January 8, 2013 but managed to resume partial operations on February 1, 2013. The airline resumed full operations on April 2, 2014 after sanctions were lifted by the government although some routes are limited due to the current tensions in the eastern portion of the Ukraine and the Crimea which is now controlled by Russia.

The airline issued this statement:

Specific sanctions which have been applied to the Dniproavia since November 2013. According to the order of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the sanctions are now lifted.

Tax Notices, which became the basis to seek special sanctions – introduction of individual licensing regime of international business activities – had been recognized by the Court as illegal and were canceled. Nevertheless, the special sanctions had been applying to the Dniproavia Airways for five months, which had hampered greatly the economic activities of the Company: performance of daily payments in foreign currency for spare parts and components, airport services and air navigation, fueling, passenger handling. Also, as a result of the abovementioned sanctions customs clearance of the aircraft components was almost blocked.

Special sanctions applied to Dniproavia are lifted by the Order of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, dated April 2, 2014.

Thus, since April 2, 2014, Dniproavia has recommenced its normal operating activities.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Dniproavia now operates only the Embraer ERJ 145, retiring its Boeing 737s during the sanctioned period. ERJ 145EP (EMB-145EP) UR-DNK (msn 145039) is pictured at Stockholm (Arlanda).

Dniproavia:

American Airlines and US Airways issue their fleet plans

American Airlines Group (American Airlines and US Airways) (Dallas/Fort Worth) has issued its new fleet update (see below) for 2014. Overall the fleet will grow by only three aircraft this year. The Group will take delivery of 83 new mainline aircraft during 2014, namely 10 Airbus A319s, 42 A321s, three A330-200s, 20 Boeing 737-800s, two 787-8s and six 777-300s (more Airbus aircraft than Boeing aircraft). The Group expects to retire during 2014 26 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82/83s (MD-80s), 14 Boeing 737-400s, 22 757-200s, 13 767-200s and five Airbus A320s.

The last eight Boeing 737-400s being operated by US Airways (top) are expected to be retired before the end of the third quarter (September 30).

On the regional side, the Group is significantly reducing its Embraer ERJ 140 fleet but it will also operate a large amount of inefficient 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200s (138) and Embraer ERJ 145s (118).

Here is the full report:

In addition, according to Airline Route, American Airlines and US Airways will begin assigning certain routes to either American or US Airways:

Effective June 1: American Airlines routes to be operated entirely by US Airways:

Charlotte – Chicago (O’Hare)
Charlotte – Miami
Los Angeles – Phoenix

Effective July 2, the following American routes will be operated by US Airways:

Miami – Detroit
Miami – New Orleans
Miami – Raleigh
Miami – Tampa

Effective July 2, the following US Airways routes will be operated by American:

Phoenix – Detroit
Phoenix – Newark
Phoenix – Orange County
Phoenix – Seattle

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. A significant milestone is approaching quickly. US Airways has had a long association with the Boeing 737 and the last 737-400 is expected to be retired before the end of September according to this fleet update. Boeing 737-4B7 N433US (msn 24555) taxies to the runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

US Airways:

American Airlines (current):

American Airlines (historic):

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. American is quickly replacing the older Boeing 767-200 ERs currently being operated between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles with newer Airbus A321s. The last AA 767-200 is expected to be retired on May 7 according to ch-aviation although the type will continue with US Airways into 2015. American Airlines’ Boeing 767-223 ER N335AA (msn 22333) departs from Los Angeles bound for New York (JFK).

Piedmont Airlines’ flight attendants ratify the new contract

Piedmont Airlines’ (2nd) (US Airways Express) (Salisbury) flight attendants, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), have voted to ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement that was reached on March 6. The new contract was ratified by the airline’s 180 flight attendants who are based in Harrisburg, PA; Salisbury, MA; Charlottesville, VA; Roanoke, VA and New Bern, NC.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier (de Havilland Canada) DHC-8-102 N908HA (msn 015) of Piedmont Airlines (2nd) taxies to the runway at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) hub.

Piedmont Airlines-US Airways Express:

Alaska Airlines’ IAM employees ratify a new 5-year contract

Alaska Airlines‘ (Seattle/Tacoma) 2,500 clerical, office and passenger service employees, who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), have ratified a new five-year contract. The contract was approved by 62 percent of those who voted.

The contract includes pay raises and job security provisions, among other improvements.

The previous three-year contract became amendable on January 1, 2014 and a tentative agreement was reached on February 3, 2014. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-4Q8 N754AS (msn 25095) arrives at Anchorage International Airport (ANC).

Alaska Airlines:

Southwest starts operating its first Boeing 737-800 with Split Scimitar Winglets

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) yesterday (April 9) operated its first revenue flight utilizing a Boeing 737-800 equipped with Aviation Partner’s Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets. The newly designed winglet differs than those currently installed on the carrier’s fleet of Boeing 737s, with aerodynamic scimitar tips and a large ventral strake on the bottom of the blended winglet structure. By upgrading the 737-800s with Split Scimitar Winglets, annual fuel savings are estimated to increase from approximately 3.5 percent per aircraft from Blended Winglets to approximately 5 to 5.5 percent per aircraft annually. In addition, the new winglet will reduce emissions, supporting Southwest’s commitment to the environment.

The Split Scimitar Winglets will be installed on 33 new 737-800s once they are delivered to the airline this year. The airline also plans to retrofit 52 additional 737-800s currently in the fleet. The retrofits are expected to be completed by early 2015. All of the carrier’s Boeing 737-700s and 737-800s, as well as a majority of its 737-300s, are equipped with Blended Winglets saving the company roughly 55 million gallons of fuel annually. Blended Winglets were first installed on Southwest Airlines Boeing 737s in 2007.

Copyright Photos: Southwest Airlines. Brand new Boeing 737-8H4 N8624J (msn 37004) was delivered to the company on March 26, 2014.

Southwest Airlines:

Silver Airways to drop most of the Atlanta routes

Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) is trimming back its route structure again. The regional carrier will drop most of its routes radiating from the Atlanta hub. The carrier issued this statement today:

As part of its plan to strengthen operations, increase revenue, reduce costs, andbetter position the airline for future growth and other opportunities, Silver Airways today announced plans to exit much of its Atlanta network and redeploy its aircraft and team members to other key markets.

Silver has provided the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) with the required 90-day notice of its intent to discontinue scheduled service between Atlanta and five communities, including Muscle Shoals,
Alabama (MSL); Greenville, Mississippi (GLH); Laurel/Hattiesburg, Mississippi (PIB); Tupelo, Mississippi (TUP); and Meridian, Mississippi (MEI).

Silver does intend, however, to continue operations between Atlanta and Macon, Georgia (MCN), and between Macon and Orlando, Florida (MCO), as well as between Atlanta and Greenbrier/Lewisburg, West Virginia (LWB).

The airline also confirmed that once operations at the affected communities are discontinued, all team members in good standing who wish to remain with Silver will be offered opportunities elsewhere.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N420XJ (msn 420) taxies at Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Silver Airways:

Atlanta Route Map:

Air Canada and Gogo to roll out Wi-Fi in May in the North American fleet

Air Canada (Montreal) and Gogo announced today that it plans on rolling out Wi-Fi on Air Canada’s entire North American fleet in May. The agreement also provides for future type-testing of Gogo satellite solutions for Wi-Fi on international flights. The international trials will take place in 2015.

Air Canada presently has two Wi-Fi-equipped Airbus A319 aircraft that are now operating in Canada and the U.S. and, subject to a final agreement with Gogo, the carrier plans to begin outfitting its remaining Airbus A319, A320 and A321 narrow-body and Embraer 190 fleet types, as well as its Air Canada Express CRJ705 and Embraer 175 aircraft, with Gogo’s Air-To-Ground (ATG) and next generation ATG-4 technologies. The installations are to begin in May, with the goal of equipping 29 aircraft in 2014 and a targeted completion date of December 2015 for the designated 130 narrow-body aircraft. The 2Ku and Global Xpress satellite trials are expected to take place on select international aircraft in 2015.

Copyright Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Canada’s Boeing 777-333 ER C-FIUL (msn 35255) climbs away from the runway at a cold Edmonton (International). It mainly serves the international markets.

Air Canada:

United’s first Boeing 787-9 rolls out of the Everett final assembly building

United Airlines‘ (Chicago) first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner rolled out of final assembly Tuesday evening (April 8) at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, facility. The rollout marks the first major milestone in the aircraft’s production ahead of its expected delivery this summer. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the second and newest member of the fuel-efficient 787 family. With the fuselage stretched 20 feet longer than the 787-8, United’s 787-9 will fly more than 30 additional passengers and up to 300 nautical miles farther with the same exceptional environmental performance, including up to 20 percent less fuel burn per seat and up to 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized aircraft. The airline is the North American launch customer for the aircraft.

Earlier this year, United announced that it will fly the 787-9 on nonstop service between its hub at Los Angeles International Airport and Melbourne, Australia, beginning in October. The airline will fly the route six times weekly with the aircraft. United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the 787-9, and this will be the airline’s first international deployment of the aircraft type.

Over the next several months, the aircraft will move to the next phase of completion, which includes final cabin configuration and painting. United’s 787-9 will be configured with 252 seats – 48 in United BusinessFirst and 204 in United Economy, including 88 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space. United’s first 787-9 will also be one of five aircraft used by Boeing in a flight test program to certify the aircraft.

United Airlines (current):