Delta introduces the “Smart Travel Pack” for an extra $199

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is one of the U.S. airlines leading the stampede to find new revenue sources to “enhance the travel experience”.

According to the airline, Delta will begin offering a new travel option for SkyMiles customers which provides access to some of the airline’s most popular enhanced travel extras such as checked bags, priority boarding and seat selection for $199. The new package, called Smart Travel Pack, introduces a practical and affordable way for customers to add a suite of extra services and additional comfort for their upcoming business or personal travel.

An eligible SkyMiles member who purchases the Smart Travel Pack will receive:

Free first checked bag for each passenger traveling in the same reservation
Priority Boarding to give the entire party more time to get onboard and get settled in their seats with carry-on baggage stowed
Access to Preferred Seats to allow selection of bulkhead or exit row seats or access aisle or window seat toward the front of the plane at no additional charge
Discounted Economy Comfort which gives customers the option to upgrade to Economy Comfort for 50 percent less on domestic flights and 25 percent less on international flights
20 percent more bonus miles for the SkyMiles member who purchases the Smart Travel Pack to get them to their next Award Ticket faster

Package features are valid for the SkyMiles member who purchases the Smart Travel Pack during the promotion period and up to eight friends or family members traveling with them with the exception of bonus miles which are only awarded to the primary purchaser’s SkyMiles account.

Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Former TWA/American Airlines Boeing 757-231 N709TW (msn 28479) in the SkyTeam alliance color scheme, taxies at Shannon.

Delta Air Lines:

Mesa extends its contract with United Airlines to 2019 to operate 20 Bombardier CRJ700s, will also add 30 Embraer 175 aircraft

Mesa Air Group, Inc. (Mesa Airlines) (Phoenix) has announced a new agreement with United Airlines (Chicago) that extends the term of its existing fleet of 20 Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet aircraft to 2019 and adds 30 new United owned Embraer 175 (ERJ 175) aircraft under the United Express contract.

Under the terms of this agreement Mesa will place the new Embraer 175 jets into service over the next two years. Mesa will hire approximately 350 pilots, 300 flight attendants, and 200 maintenance and other support personnel to support the additional aircraft.

“This is truly a great day for Mesa. We will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service to United’s customers,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa’s Chairman and CEO. “Mesa began operating under the United Express banner in 1992, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to expand our longstanding partnership. Our first codeshare agreement with United transformed our company, and I am sure this one will do the same. We are also very pleased to rejoin the Embraer family of operators and look forward to working with our many friends there as well.”

Paul Foley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “It has always been our goal to exceed the expectations of both our partners and customers. We believe this contract is evidence that our operational performance and industry leading cost structure have begun to pay big dividends for the company and our people. Based on data from the Department of Transportation, Mesa has been the number one performing regional airline for each of the last three years. We’d like to thank all of our people who have contributed to our success and enabled us to compete successfully for this new business.”

Mesa Airlines currently operates over 425 daily system departures to 82 cities, 32 states, Mexico and the District of Columbia, as United Express and US Airways Express under contractual agreements with United Airlines and US Airways, respectively, and independently in Hawaii as go! The airline, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 2,000 employees.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Mesa Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N515MJ (msn 10117) arrives at the Washington (Dulles) hub.

United Express-Mesa Airlines:

Bankruptcy court approves the American-US Airways merger pending government approval

AMR Corporation (American Airlines) (Dallas/Fort Worth) has secured an approval from U.S. bankruptcy judge Sean Lane yesterday for its merger with US Airways. However the merger requires a resolution with the Department of Justice which is going to court to block the proposed merger with the US Airways Group.

The judge also denied a clause that would pay outgoing CEO Tom Horton $19.9 million in severance pay.

Read the full story from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-823 N970AN (msn 30096) completes its final approach into Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

American Airlines:

Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines sign MOU to merge

Air Georgian Limited (AGL) (Air Canada Express) (Toronto-Pearson) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Regional 1 Airlines (R1) (Calgary), a subsidiary of Avmax Group Inc., a fully integrated aviation company with operations in Canada, United States, Africa and Afghanistan. Regional 1 Airlines and Air Georgian Limited will merge operations under one management team through the creation of a parent holding company.

Air Georgian will continue to focus primarily on its CPA relationship with Air Canada (Montreal). Air Georgian currently operates Beechcraft (Raytheon) 1900D aircraft under the brand name of Air Canada Express. R1 will focus on expanding its domestic presence, specializing in serving the natural resource sector. R1 will further expand upon its existing international operations, specializing in ACMI contracts in remote regions, as well as continuing to support the United Nations World Food Program and other peacekeeping and humanitarian programs.

This strategic merger will allow the new combined entity to position itself as a unique, fully integrated airline leveraging the technical, geographical and asset strengths of Avmax and the professional management and strong operational background of Air Georgian. Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines will benefit from having access to the world’s largest private fleet of Dash 8 and CRJ series aircraft, over $100 million in spare parts and domestic maintenance bases in Halifax, Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. International operations will be supported through Avmax maintenance bases in Great Falls, Montana, Jacksonville, Florida, Nairobi, Kenya and N’djamena, Chad in Africa.

Eric Edmondson will assume the President and CEO role at the newly formed parent company, as well as the role of President at both Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines. Daniel Revell will continue to be the CEO of Air Georgian and John Binder will continue in his role as CEO of Regional 1 Airlines. Scott Monsen will become the CFO & VP Finance at the parent company and its subsidiaries. Daniel Bockner will be the VP, Flight Operations & Security, while Brad Warren will fill the role of VP, Maintenance & Technical. Rick Giacomuzzi will hold the position of VP, Finance at Regional 1 Airlines. This merger does not impact the current structure or operations of any other subsidiary within AvMax Group Inc.

Upon closing, the combined operations will utilize Beechcraft 1900D, de Havilland Canada (Bombardier) DHC-8-100, DHC-8-300 and CRJ100/200 aircraft types, with the ability to quickly add additional larger gauge aircraft types with the long term goal of positioning the brands as major players in the 18-76 seat turbo-prop and jet market. Air Georgian will continue to operate, maintain and support the corporate jet charter market in Toronto as well as offering third-party training to the airline and corporate aviation sectors.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Beechcraft (Raytheon) 1900D C-GORA (msn UE-326) taxies at the Toronto (Pearson) hub in the Air Canada Express livery.

Air Canada Express/Air Georgian:

United to start summer seasonal flights from Chicago O’Hare to Edinburgh, Scotland

United Airlines (Chicago) has announced will launch nonstop summer seasonal service between its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport and Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning on May 22, 2014, subject to government approval. This will be the first scheduled nonstop service between the two cities.

The flights will operate five times weekly from May 22 to June 11, daily between June 12 and September 1 and four times weekly between Sept. 2 and Oct. 5, 2014.

The flights will depart Chicago O’Hare at 6 p.m. (1800), arriving in Edinburgh at 7:45 a.m. (0745) the following day. The return flights will depart Edinburgh at 10:25 a.m. (1025), arriving in Chicago at 1 p.m. (1300) the same day (all times local). Flight times are seven hours, 45 minutes eastbound and eight hours, 35 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate using Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

United offers more nonstop service to more destinations from its Chicago O’Hare hub than any other carrier and has added 11 new routes from Chicago since the beginning of 2013.

United currently operates year-round nonstop service from its Newark Liberty International Airport hub to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, having started service to Scotland in 1998.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-222 N521UA (msn 24891) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines:

AeroMexico to launch AeroMexico Contigo on October 1

AeroMexico (Mexico City) has announced the start of its AeroMexico Contigo program as of October 1.

According to the carrier, “the new product will provide migrant customers residing in Mexico or in the United States, who travel frequently between the two countries, a specific Call Center and personal assistance at participating airport check-in counters, to help the passengers fill out their immigration forms, transportation of oversized packages, connections to the airline’s route network and attention on both sides of the border, as well as competitive rates for this important passenger segment.”

The carrier has configured four of its Boeing 737-800 airplanes to offer this new service, with 174 seats. The three front rows – 18 seats – will feature the AM Plus seat configuration, with more legroom and angle in the reclining backrests, among other benefits. The other 156 seats will be in Economy Class.

Some of the destinations featuring the Aeromexico Contigo product include:

Destinations Within Mexico
Guadalajara – Tijuana	28 weekly flights
Culiacan – Tijuana	14 weekly flights

Mexico-US Destinations
Guadalajara – Chicago	7 weekly flights
Guadalajara – Ontario	7 weekly flights
Guadalajara – Los Angeles	14 weekly flights
Guadalajara – Fresno	3 weekly flights
Guadalajara – Sacramento	3 weekly flights

In addition to this product’s unique benefits, AeroMexico will continue to provide complimentary on board beverages and entertainment services, and one piece of checked luggage weighing up to 55 pounds, with a 22 pounds carry-on for travel between Mexico and the United States. Passengers traveling from the United States to Mexico can also check a 50 pounds piece of luggage and carry a 22 pounds bag on board.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. AeroMexico’s Boeing 737-852 EI-DRC (msn 35116) approaches the runway at Miami International Airport.

AeroMexico:

Airzena Georgian Airways to lease a Boeing 737-700 from ALC

Air Lease Corporation has announced the long term lease of one Boeing 737-700 jet aircraft (msn 33015) to Airzena Georgian Airways (Tbilisi, Georgia). The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in October, 2013.

Airzena Georgian Airways is the designated national airline of Georgia, operating extensive scheduled services to many destinations in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Russia, with Boeing 737s and CRJ regional jets.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The carrier already operates the type but the new addition will replace an older Boeing 737-500. Boeing 737-790 WL 4L-TGM (msn 33012) taxies at Amsterdam.

Airzena Georgian Airways:

Sunwing Airlines to fly Halifax-St. Petersburg, Florida flights this winter

Sunwing Airlines (Toronto-Pearson) will operate weekly nonstop flights this coming winter season from Halifax, Nova Scotia to St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida. The flights will depart on Wednesdays from February 5, 2014 until April 30, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8K5 C-FRZG (msn 35139) in the special Oasis livery taxies to the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Sunwing Airlines:

Virgin America to resume seasonal New York-Palm Springs flights

Virgin America (San Francisco) announced that it is resuming its seasonal flights to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on December 21. The nonstop flight will add to Virgin America’s seasonal daily connecting flight schedule from JFK to PSP and its seasonal daily nonstop schedule from SFO to PSP.

Virgin America’s 2013-2014 nonstop JFK-PSP flight schedule is as follows:

Flight	From	To	Dep	Arr	Frequency	Service Begins
55	JFK	PSP	1030	1335	Saturday only	December 21, 2013

Flight	From	To	Dep	Arr	Frequency	Service Begins
56	PSP	JFK	1440	2245	Saturday only	December 21, 2013

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N623VA (msn 2740) climbs away from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Virgin America:

Alaska Airlines is ranked number one U.S. airline in fuel efficiency

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) is ranked Number 1 in fuel efficiency in a report released by the International Council on Clean Transportation, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. The ICCT study is the first to quantify fuel performance for U.S. airlines.

Alaska, along with its regional partner Horizon Air, led all 15 mainline U.S. carriers as the most fuel-efficient airline operating in the United States in 2010, outperforming the least fuel-efficient carrier by 26 percent.

“We have made significant investments in our fleet, technology and processes to improve our fuel performance, which is a key part of Alaska’s commitment to be the airline industry leader in environmental stewardship. These sustainability efforts also help us keep our costs down in order to provide better value for our customers,” said Keith Loveless, Alaska Air Group’s executive vice president and general counsel. “We’re proud and gratified to see our efforts validated by such an independent and respected source as the International Council on Clean Transportation.”

The ICCT study looked at fuel-consumption data reported annually by airlines to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The study employed methodology developed by a team of researchers at the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Center of Excellence for Aviation Operations Research (NEXTOR) at the University of California, Berkeley, to evaluate fuel efficiency based on passenger miles between origin and destination as well as airports served and/or flight frequency. Researchers looked at fuel burned and identified inefficiencies, such as the use of older technology, circuitous routing and taxiing with two engines instead of one.

By improving its fuel efficiency in recent years, Alaska Airlines reduced its carbon emissions by 30 percent (measured by flying one passenger one mile). This reduction was accomplished through a variety of measures—most notably by migrating to exclusively flying the Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400, the most fuel-efficient aircraft in their classes.

Alaska Airlines has also made other improvements in its sustainability efforts:

Sustainable service ware is used for inflight meals and beverages. Additionally, Horizon Air flight attendants recycle 91 percent of all paper, plastic, aluminum and glass generated onboard while Alaska cabin crews divert 80 percent of recyclable materials.
First-of-their-kind solar-powered boarding ramps are being used in Seattle and San Jose, Calif. This project enables passengers to enter and exit an aircraft faster by using the front and rear doors simultaneously.
Worked with the FAA and Port of Seattle to implement new arrival routes at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport using satellite-based navigation rather than ground-based radar. The shorter routes, which became operational last spring, save fuel, lower carbon emissions and noise, and reduce pilot-controller workloads.
Installed the first airport wind-turbine solar panel in Nome, Alaska.
In August 2013, Alaska became the first airline to sign an agreement with Hawaii BioEnergy LLC to purchase sustainable biofuel for its Hawaii flights.
Operated 75 passenger flights powered by a 20 percent biofuel blend in November 2011. These flights demonstrated the viability and need for an adequate, affordable and sustainable supply of alternative aviation fuel. The biofuel project grew out of Alaska Air Group’s involvement in Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest, the first U.S. regional group of its kind to study alternative aviation fuels.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-990 ER N403AS (msn 41730) climbs away from Boeing Field in Seattle. All-Boeing Alaska enjoys one of the shortest delivery flights in the world from Boeing Field (King County) (BFI) in Seattle to nearby Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Alaska Airlines: