Alaska Airlines becomes the first U.S. airline to allow self-tagging of bags on select routes

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) will be the first U.S. airline to allow self-tagging of bags from home on select introductory routes. The airline issued this statement:

Self-tag online debuts on April 21 for passengers traveling nonstop between Seattle/Tacoma and San Diego, Anchorage or Juneau, Alaska, with plans to expand the option for customers traveling from other airports later this summer. This launch follows the completion of a successful pilot program, which was offered to customers traveling between Seattle/Tacoma and Hawaii in 2013.

Starting on April 21, travelers flying to or from any of the four debut cities will receive a pre-trip email with a link to request a free reusable bag tag holder by mail. Tag holders will also be available to pick up at each of the four airports. Passengers who elect to self-tag will enjoy a designated Self-Tag Express™ lane when they arrive at the airport.

How self-tag online works:

Book a trip at http://www.alaskaair.com.
Follow instructions in your pre-trip email to request a bag tag holder by mail or pick up a holder in person at one of the four participating airports.
Check in online up to 24 hours before your flight and follow the instructions to print a bag tag at home.
Insert printed bag tag into the tag holder.
At the airport, follow signs for Self-Tag Express™ lanes.
Show the agent your boarding pass, identification and drop off your bags.

Alaska Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to launch self-bag tagging from home, another chapter in the carrier’s long history of pioneering technologies and innovations to make flying easier. Alaska was the first airline in North America to sell tickets over the Internet, and the first in the world to allow customers to check in and print boarding passes online. Last year, the carrier installed kiosks with self-tagging printers at 10 airport locations including Seattle/Tacoma, Anchorage and Portland, Oregon.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-490 N703AS (msn 28893) departs from Anchorage International Airport (ANC), one of the introductory cities for self-tagging.

Alaska Airlines:

China Airlines introduces a “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan” decorated Airbus A330-300 logo jet

China Airlines (Taipei) this month introduced a logo jet dedicated to the ethnic diversity in Taiwan. The airline issued this statement on the special Masalu! Taiwan Airbus A330-300:

The “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan” liveried aircraft is the result of a partnership between Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples, Executive Yuan and China Airlines. The pictured B-18358 made its inaugural flight on March 11 from Taoyuan Airport to Auckland via Sydney. China Airlines flies to Auckland seven times a week, promoting Taiwan’s indigenous culture to the world. Continuing with China Airlines’ Taiwan Culture and Creativity series, the new liveried aircraft is the only one of its kind in the world, displaying details of a traditional wedding of the Paiwan tribe. The drawings come from renowned indigenous artist Sakuliu Pvavaljung’s Wedding Celebration series, shown in the public for the first time. These drawings of joyful celebration welcome people to enjoy the diversity Taiwan has to offer.

The liveried aircraft is an Airbus A330-300, with a capacity of 30 Business Class seats and 277 Economy Class seats. There are illustrations on the cabin interior and designs on the head-rest covers containing indigenous elements, and inserts in the seat pockets introducing the livery on the plane. The aircraft will mainly serve Australia and New Zealand routes, along with Japan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia routes. In July 2013, Taiwan and New Zealand established the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs of Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC), and it is the first agreement of its type to incorporate a chapter on indigenous cooperation. Taiwan’s indigenous people and New Zealand’s Māori both belong to the Austronesian language family, and research has shown that they have similar genetic characteristics. Because of their close links both culturally and genetically, Taiwan and New Zealand agreed to strengthen ties between the two indigenous groups. Therefore, the first flight for “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan Liveried Aircraft” was to Auckland, New Zealand, marking historical significance.

The inaugural flight ceremony began with a vibrant Paiwan tribe wedding ceremony, followed by a melodious performance of “Song of the Sea” by Taipei City Indigenous Youth and Children Chorus, together with China Airlines pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and maintenance crew of indigenous descent. The attendees at the unveiling of the liveried airplane included Wu Den-yih, Vice President of Taiwan, Lin,Chiang-I (Mayaw.Dongi), Minister of The Council of Indigenous Peoples, Sun Huang-hsiang, Chairmain of China Airlines, and Lin Peng-liang, President of China Airlines. Each passenger on the inaugural flight received a passport cover, bag, and deck of cards with indigenous print, and a Visiting Taiwan’s Indigenous Tribes notebook.

The illustrations on “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan Liveried Aircraft” come from the father of modern indigenous art, Sakuliu Pvavaljung. They are from his series of works titled Wedding Celebration, depicting unique marriage traditions from the Paiwan tribe. The illustrations chosen best capture the essence of these works, and include the sending of dowry from the groom on the right side of the fuselage, and the carrying of the bride and the swing ceremony on the left side of the fuselage. The logo “MASALU! TAIWAN” on the body of the plane uses the Paiwan greeting “Masalu” to welcome people to Taiwan.

The indigenous people of Taiwan are few and precious, numbering approximately 530,000 and constituting two percent of the population. The government of Taiwan officially recognizes 14 peoples, and each has preserved their own culture, language and customs. The Council of Indigenous Peoples has partnered with China Airlines on a liveried aircraft in order to promote the rich culture of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples, and to draw people from all over the world for a taste of Taiwanese aesthetics. The inaugural flight not only echoes New Zealand and Taiwan bringing tourism ties closer through the ANZTEC agreement, but also expands on economic development in Taiwan’s tribes.

As a leading player in Taiwan’s aviation industry, China Airlines promotes Taiwan’s strength as a cultural hub, and in recent years has released 3 launched aircraft from its Taiwan Culture and Creativity series. The first liveried airplane, “Love & Hug,” features works from artist Jimmy Liao, in which little children are locked in loving embrace with protected animals and planet earth. The second liveried airplane, “Taiwan Tourism,” a collaboration with Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau, shows LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), ecology, romance, cuisine, shopping, culture and other features of Taiwan tourism offerings with a creative cultural flair. The third liveried airplane, “Visiting Indigenous Tribes of Taiwan,” displays the customs of Taiwan’s indigenous people, showcases Taiwan’s cultural creativity.

Copyright Photo: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-302 B-18358 (msn 1346) departs today (March 28) from the Taipei (Taoyuan) base.

China Airlines:

Air Canada rouge expands into western Canada

Air Canada (Montreal) has announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge (Toronto-Pearson), is expanding to Western Canada to serve a number of predominantly leisure markets from Vancouver and Calgary to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Anchorage. Flights on these routes, currently operated by Air Canada, will be converted to Air Canada rouge service beginning this spring, as will flights to San Diego from Toronto.

In addition, the airline announced that it will introduce new seasonal nonstop service operated by Air Canada rouge between Vancouver and Phoenix beginning on December 17, 2014. Existing service from Calgary and Toronto to Phoenix will also be converted to Air Canada rouge.

Air Canada flights on the following routes will be converted to Air Canada rouge Airbus A319 service beginning this spring:

Vancouver to:

Las Vegas, NV, daily flights effective April 28.
Los Angeles, CA, four times daily effective May 1.
Anchorage, AK, daily effective May 16.
San Francisco, CA, four times daily effective July 1.
Phoenix, AZ, daily effective December 17.

Calgary to:

Las Vegas, NV, daily effective April 28.
Los Angeles, CA, twice daily effective May 1.
Phoenix, AZ, daily effective December 17.

Toronto to:

San Diego, CA daily effective March 29.
Phoenix, AZ, daily effective May 4; up to three times daily during the winter season.
With the addition of these routes, together with its previously announced summer 2014 schedule to Europe, the Caribbean and the United States, Air Canada rouge plans to operate a total of 54 routes, including new service this summer to Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Nice and Rome.

In other news, Air Canada has revised its introductory plans for the new Boeing 787. The airline has cancelled plans to operate the new type initially to London (Heathrow). The 787 will now operate from Toronto (Pearson) to Zurich from May 18 through June 29 per Airline Route.

Air Canada:

Air Canada rouge:

Air China to start Beijing-Vladivostok service on June 3

Air China (Beijing) plans to start Beijing – Vladivostok (Siberia, Russia) service on June 3, 2014.

The four-times weekly service CA 701/2 will be operated on Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday. The outbound flight departs at 06:25 Beijing time and arrives at 11:35 local time; the return flight departs at 12:35 local time and arrives at 12:00 Beijing time.

Vladivostok is also known in Chinese as Haishenwai. Located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula in the east of the Eurasian continent, Vladivostok is close to Russia’s borders with China and North Korea. There’s a three-hour time difference between Vladivostok and Beijing. Vladivostok is the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Beijing – Vladivostok service is Air China’s third route to Russia after Beijing – Moscow and Beijing – Chita were introduced.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-89L B-5423 (msn 36742) arrives back at the Beijing (Capital) hub.

Air China:

Virgin Australia becomes the Official Airline of the Fremantle Football Club

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) today (March 28) announced it has become the Official Airline of the Fremantle Football Club (rugby) and the Premier Partner and Official Airline of the West Coast Eagles for the next five years.

As part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to Western Australia, the airline today also unveiled a unique ‘give-back’ program designed to deepen the support between fans and the clubs.

From today, Virgin Australia will give $10 back to clubs for every flight taken by Velocity Frequent Flyer members who register their club preference during the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

Virgin Australia will also reward the WA fans that fly the most during the season with an exclusive seat on board a charter flight from Perth to the AFL Grand Final, including tickets to the game and accommodation.

Read the full story from the football club: CLICK HERE

Virgin Australia:

Embraer delivers the first Embraer E175 to SkyWest Airlines

Embraer (São José dos Campos) yesterday (March 27) delivered, in a ceremony held at the Company’s headquarters, in São José dos Campos, the first dual-class 76-seat Embraer 175 (ERJ 175) to SkyWest Inc. (SkyWest Airlines) (St. George, Utah). The aircraft is part of the firm order signed by the airline last year, for 40 E175 aircraft. SkyWest Airlines will operate the aircraft as an United Express carrier for United Airlines. The E175s are configured in a dual-class 76-seat layout.

An additional 60 orders are reconfirmable, subject to SkyWest being awarded Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) contracts with major U.S. airline partners. The agreement between SkyWest and Embraer also includes options for another 100 E175s, taking the potential total order up to 200 airplanes.

In a separate deal with Embraer, SkyWest became the launch customer of the E175-E2, ordering 100 aircraft with 100 additional options, for deliveries beginning in 2020.

SkyWest is the largest regional airline group in the world and is the parent company of SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines. Both companies have long histories with Embraer and were early customers for the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft. More than 40 EMB 120 Brasilia aircraft currently fly in the SkyWest Airlines network, primarily in the western United States. ExpressJet Airlines operates 251 aircraft of the ERJ 145 family and is the largest ERJ operator in the world.

The new type is due to enter revenue service on May 17, 2014 on the Chicago (O’Hare)-Washington (Reagan National) route.

United Express-SkyWest:

Routes operated as United Express:

The first Asiana Airlines Airbus A380 is rolled out of the paint shop

The first Airbus A380 for Asiana Airlines (Seoul) was rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Hamburg, marking the completion of its painting. The aircraft will then have completion of its cabin and enter a final phase of ground and flight tests in Hamburg, during which all cabin systems will be thoroughly tested, including air flow and air conditioning, lighting, galleys, lavatories, seats and in-flight entertainment systems. In parallel, Airbus will also undertake advanced performance tests with the aircraft before it flies back to Toulouse for preparation of its delivery to the airline in the second quarter of this year.

Asiana Airlines has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft from Seoul initially on regional services in Asia followed by long-haul routes to the United States.

Asiana Airlines:

Video: From National Geographic – Building the Airbus A380:

Searchers shift their search to a new northern area, five aircraft spot new floating objects

The search for Malaysian Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370 with Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) with 239 souls on board has shifted to a new area in the Indian Ocean after new analysis of the data and the spotting of new objects by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Lockheed P-3 Orion in this new area. The new area is approximately 680 miles further north of the previous search area which did not yield any confirmed debris from flight MH 370. The new analysis is due to new computations that MH 370 could have been flying faster and may have run out of fuel earlier.

According to AMSA a total of five aircraft spotted objects today in the new area. A ship will be in the new area tomorrow.

Read the full report from CNN: CLICK HERE

The Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) which is leading the search from Perth, Western Australia has issued this statement about the change:

[Date]

We would like to update you on some credible information AMSA has received from the ATSB which will see the search area refocused today.

The AMSA search for any sign of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been shifted to an area north following advice from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

An international air crash investigation team in Malaysia provided updated advice to the ATSB, which has examined the information and determined an area 1100 kilometres to the north east of the existing search area is now the most credible lead as to where debris may be located.

The new search area is approximately 319,000 square kilometres, about 1850 kilometres west of Perth.

The Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) is re-tasking satellites to capture images of the new area.

Weather conditions are better in the revised area and ten aircraft have been tasked for today’s search.

They include two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P3 Orions, a Japanese Coast Guard Gulfstream 5 jet, a Japanese P3 Orion, a Republic of Korea P3 Orion, a Republic of Korea C130 Hercules, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin IL-76, a United States Navy P8 Poseidon aircraft, and one civil Australian jet acting as a communications relay.

Four of the ten aircraft are overhead the search area, with a further six planes to fly over the area today.

A further RAAF P3 Orion has been placed on standby at RAAF Base Pearce in WA to investigate any reported sightings.

Six ships are relocating to the new search area including HMAS Success and five Chinese ships.

Chinese Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) patrol ship, Haixun 01, is in the search area.

HMAS Success is expected to arrive in the search area late tomorrow night.

A US towed pinger locator and Bluefin-21 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle have arrived in Perth to assist with location and recovery of the black box.

The depth of the water in the search area is between 2000 and 4000 metres.

Meanwhile Malaysia Airlines issued this statement today:

Introductory statement

Today, the search for MH370 has been further refined. The international investigation team continue working to narrow the search area, and shed further light on MH370’s flight path.

We are, as always, grateful for the continuing co-operation of our partners in this difficult and intensive search.

Whilst search operations are on-going, we continue to focus our efforts on caring for the families. In Cabinet this morning, we discussed the importance of continuing to support the relatives of the passengers and crew.

1. Refined search area

On Monday, the Prime Minister announced that based on new data analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB had concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

On Tuesday, I confirmed that further study of this data would be undertaken to attempt to determine the final position of the aircraft. The Malaysian investigation team set up an international working group, comprising agencies with expertise in satellite communications and aircraft performance, to take this work forward.

The international working group included representatives from the UK, namely Inmarsat, AAIB, and Rolls Royce; from China, namely the CAAC and AAID; from the US, namely the NTSB, FAA, and Boeing; as well as the relevant Malaysian authorities.
The group has been working to refine the Inmarsat data, and to analyse it – together with other information, including radar data and aircraft performance assumptions – to narrow the search area.

Information which had already been examined by the investigation was re-examined in light of new evidence drawn from the Inmarsat data analysis.

In addition, international partners – who continue to process data in their home countries, as well as in the international working group – have further refined existing data. They have also come up with new technical information, for example on aircraft performance.

Yesterday, this process yielded new results, which indicated that MH370 flew at a higher speed than previously thought, which in turn means it used more fuel and could not travel as far. This information was passed to RCC Australia by the NTSB, to help further refine and narrow the search area.

The Australian authorities have indicated that they have shifted the search area approximately 1,100 kilometres to the north east. Because of ocean drift, this new search area could still be consistent with the potential objects identified by various satellite images over the past week.

This work is on-going, and we can expect further refinements. As the Australian authorities indicated this morning, this is standard practice in a search operation. It is a process of continually refining data which in turn further narrows the search area. With each step, we get closer to understanding MH370’s flight path.

Searches must be conducted on the best information available at the time. In the search for MH370, we have consistently followed the evidence, and acted on credible leads. Our search and rescue efforts have been directed by verified and corroborated information. This latest refinement of the search area is no different.

2. Satellite images

Last night, Japanese authorities announced they had satellite images which showed a number of floating objects approximately 2,500 kilometres southwest of Perth. Early this morning we received separate satellite imagery from the Thai authorities which also showed potential objects.

These new satellite images join those released by Australia, China, France, and Malaysia, all of which are with RCC Australia. The range of potential objects, and the difficulty in re-identifying them shows just how complex this investigation is. We remain grateful to all our partners for continuing to assist in the search operations.

3. Concluding remarks

The new search area, approximately 1,680 kilometres west of Perth, remains in the Australian area of responsibility.

Australia continues to lead the search efforts in this new area, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority gave a comprehensive operational update earlier today. As more information emerges, they will be issuing frequent operational updates, including on assets deployed.

I would like to echo their statements that the new search area, although more focused than before, remains considerable; and that the search conditions, although easier than before, remain challenging.

For the families of those on board, we pray that further processing of data, and further progress in the search itself, brings us closer to finding MH370.

Map: AMSA. The new search area (in green) is 1,850 kilometers (1,155 miles) directly west of Perth .

Malaysia Airlines:

Sunwing Airlines takes delivery of a new Boeing 737-800 direct from Boeing

Sunwing Airlines (Toronto) has taken delivery of a new Boeing 737-800 (737-81D C-GNCH, msn 39438) (above) with a new Sky Interior direct from Boeing. The airline issued this statement:

“Sunwing Airlines is pleased to announce it has taken delivery of its newest aircraft directly from the Boeing facility in Seattle. Earlier this month, Sunwing representatives travelled to the Seattle headquarters of Boeing to pick up their latest aircraft — the state-of-the-art 737-800 Boeing plane which is configured within Sunwing fleet specification to accommodate 189 passengers. Sunwing Captain, John Hudson and crew operated the brand new aircraft carrying the Sunwing representatives from Seattle to Toronto.

The Next-Generation aircraft contains most modern interior features such as an innovative cabin mood lighting system, pivoting overhead stowage bins that add to the openness of the cabin, as well as advanced-technology wing design that helps increase fuel capacity and efficiency. After leaving Boeing, the 737-800 series plane was retrofitted with the Split Scimitar Winglets technology prior to its integration into Sunwing Airlines flight operations. This technology improves performance of the aircraft and decreases fuel burn by approximately seven per cent over the same aircraft with no Winglets.”

Top Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-81D C-GNCH taxies at Boeing Field (King County) in Seattle on a clear day.

Sunwing Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Sunwing Airlines.

SkyWest to upgrade service to Twin Falls, Idaho this summer

Logo

SkyWest Airlines (Delta Connection) (St. George, Utah) will upgrade service to Twin Falls, Idaho this summer to Bombardier CRJ200 service from Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia flights. The airlines issued this statement:

“Flying in and out of Twin Falls is about to get an upgrade with the start of new jet service this summer. The daily Delta Connection flights, operated by SkyWest Airlines, are scheduled to begin June 5. This transition to larger, jet aircraft will continue to make flying out of Magic Valley Regional Airport simple and convenient.

The twice-daily jet service will be onboard the 50-passenger Bombardier-manufactured Canadair Regional Jet 200 (CRJ200) and will replace the current 30-passenger EMB-120 Brasilia flights.”

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N912SW (msn 7595) prepares to touch down in Los Angeles.

Delta Connection-SkyWest:

Delta Connection routes operated by SkyWest Airlines: