JetBlue adds 30 Airbus A220s to its order book, total now 100

JetBlue Airways today announced an agreement to exercise its option to add 30 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft to its order book, bringing the total number of A220s in the airlineโ€™s fleet and on order to 100.

In 2018, JetBlue announced its initial order of 60 A220s and the option for 60 additional aircraft. JetBlue converted 10 of 60 options to firm orders in 2019, and the 30 A220s announced today will enable acceleration of the retirement of JetBlueโ€™s Embraer E190 fleet.

Exceptional Fuel Efficiency & Economics

The A220 offers nearly 30 percent lower direct operating costs per seat compared to the fleet it is replacing, supporting the airlineโ€™s focus on keeping costs low. Additionally, the aircraftโ€™s range and seating capacity will add flexibility to JetBlueโ€™s network strategy as it targets growth in its focus cities, including options for transcontinental flying and opening the door to new markets and routes not feasible with the airlineโ€™s existing fleet.

The A220 is powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which deliver double-digit improvements in fuel and carbon emissions. Optimizing fuel burn is an important first step in JetBlueโ€™s sustainability strategy, and prioritizing fuel-efficient aircraft and engines aligns with JetBlueโ€™s approach to reducing emissions. Earlier this year, JetBlue became the first majorย U.S.ย airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flights, and later announced its plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2040.

Considerable Comfort

The A220โ€™s spacious and comfortable cabin makes it the perfect fit for JetBlue, which has consistently ledย U.S.ย airlines in onboard experience.

The airlineโ€™s A220s are outfitted with 140 Collins Meridian seats, customized around customer feedback and featuring a number of design elements with comfort and convenience in mind. Seating is arranged in a two-by-three configuration offering multiple seating options for all party sizes and includes USB-C, USB-A and AC power at every seat. JetBlue โ€“ which offers the most legroom in coachaย โ€“ maximizes the A220โ€™s ultra-modern design to create an elevated customer experience throughout the interior.

Keeping customers connected and entertained is also on display aboard JetBlueโ€™s A220 with Thales AVANT and ViaSat-2 connectivity. With this system, JetBlue offers every customer high-definition screens at every seat and personalized entertainment choices. Additionally, JetBlue is the onlyย U.S.ย carrier with free high-speed Fly-Fiยฎย on every plane, providing customers with the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices to stream, surf, or chat during the entire flight, from gate to gate. Fly-Fiยฎย connectivity is available in nearly every region that JetBlue fliesb.

Future of the Fleet

JetBlueโ€™s first A220 aircraft arrived in December 2020 and the airline is on track to take delivery of its ninth A220 this month. Nine more are scheduled for delivery in 2022, followed by another 21 in 2023. Ultimately, these A220s will replace the airlineโ€™s E190s, with the last E190 exiting in 2026.

JetBlueโ€™s initial order for 60 A220 aircraft was announced in July 2018.

Eastern to operate its Boeing 777F freighters from Chicago O’Hare to Asia for Flexport

Eastern Air Holdings and Flexport, the platform for global logistics, have announced a multi-year contract for cargo services that will bring much needed net-new capacity to the global airfreight market. Eastern is expected to begin flying its Boeing 777 Express Freighters, once approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, twice weekly between Chicagoย International Airport (ORD) andย Hong Kongย International Airport (HKG) as well asย Chicagoย International Airport (ORD) andย Saigon’sย Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) on behalf of Flexport.

Flexport Logo

The Eastern Boeing 777 Express Freighter is the first of its kind to market, designed specifically for eCommerce goods, and provides much needed cargo capacity to the global supply chain with its low-cost, reliable solution. The innovative design converts the main deck cabin of the widebody Boeing 777, traditionally a passenger aircraft, into a true cargo aircraft that will enable Flexport clients โ€“ some of today’s most valuable global brands and fast-growing eCommerce companies โ€“ to fulfill consumer demand and keep goods moving.

The soon-to-be launched service will join Flexport’s extensive tech-enabled global airfreight, container freight station (CFS) and trucking network. As all shipments are managed via the Flexport Platform, clients utilizing the Eastern Boeing 777 Express Freighter service will benefit from end-to-end control of their shipments and continuous milestone visibility. Part of a comprehensive supply chain strategy, Flexport clients shipping from Asiaย hubs into the United States Midwest can use Flexport Platform data to determine high value SKUs and prioritize shipments to control costs and maximize the value of Eastern’s innovative solution.

As passenger travel remains depleted, the cargo constraints impacting the global supply chain continue to persist. Eastern has purchased five Boeing 777s for cargo conversion, with an option to acquire 30 additional Boeing 777s. As eCommerce-driven demand continues to grow, this new capacity provided by Eastern, and partners like Flexport, will deliver an innovative solution to ease the pain.

Eastern Airlines (3rd) aircraft slide show:

Eastern Airlines (3rd) aircraft photo gallery:

Alliance Air to connect challenging airfields of the Himalayas with two brand new ATR 42-600s

ATR and Alliance Air, the only Indian public airline, have signed a deal to acquire two ATR 42-600s via lessor TrueNoord. These new aircraft will support Alliance Airโ€™s mission of serving challenging airfields in the Himalayas. The first deliveries to Alliance Air will start mid 2022.

The former regional subsidiary of Air India, which already operates 18 ATR 72-600s, has chosen to complement its fleet with brand new ATR 42s as their unique credentials, both in terms of versatility and economics, make it the perfect aircraft to serve even the least accessible regions of India. The aircraft will be able to operate on the short runways of the Shimla and Kullu airports, both located at high altitudes, and exposed to high temperatures.

In 2021, 40 new routes were created in India with ATR aircraft.

These are the third and fourth ATR 42 aircraft that TrueNoord is introducing into its fleet, as in December 2021, the lessor bought two ATR 42-600 to support Silver Airwaysโ€™ development in the United States.

About Alliance Air

Alliance Air is wholly owned by the Government of India through AI Asset Holding Ltd., and is run as an independent Strategic Business Unit. It has an existing fleet of 18 ATR 72-600 and is in process of expanding its fleet by inducting two more ATR 42-600 to cater to airports with landing restrictions. Alliance Air operates 125+ flights/day to 50+ destinations within India with focus on connecting Tier II & III cities.

Alliance Air is the front runner in promoting the โ€œRegional Connectivity Schemeโ€ (RCS) of the Government of India, the very objective of which is to make air travel affordable and widespread, to boost the national economy.

Scoot returns to the Gold Coast

Scoot restored the Singapore – Gold Coast, Australia route on February 13.

Airlink to return to St. Helena on March 26

The scheduled Airlink service will recommence on Saturday, March 26, 2022, with fortnightly flights between Johannesburg and St Helena and the monthly inter-Island service with Ascension Island. Additional inter-Island flights have been included during periods of peak demand.

The Airlink flight schedule between March 2022 and January 2023 can be seen below:

 

Flight No. Date Leg Flight No. Date Leg
131 26 Mar 2022 JNB – HLE 135 26 Mar 2022 HLE – ASI
136 27 Mar 2022 ASI – HLE 132 27 Mar 2022 HLE – JNB
131 9 Apr 2022 JNB – HLE 132 9 Apr 2022 HLE – JNB
131 23 Apr 2022 JNB – HLE 135 23 Apr 2022 HLE – ASI
136 24 Apr 2022 ASI – HLE 132 24 Apr 2022 HLE – JNB
131 7 May 2022 JNB – HLE 132 7 May 2022 HLE – JNB
131 21 May 2022 JNB – HLE 135 21 May 2022 HLE – ASI
136 22 May 2022 ASI – HLE 132 22 May 2022 HLE – JNB
131 4 Jun 2022 JNB – HLE 132 4 Jun 2022 HLE – JNB
131 18 Jun 2022 JNB – HLE 135 18 Jun 2022 HLE – ASI
136 19 Jun 2022 ASI – HLE 132 19 Jun 2022 HLE – JNB
131 2 July 2022 JNB – HLE 132 2 July 2022 HLE – JNB
131 16 July 2022 JNB – HLE 135 16 July 2022 HLE – ASI
136 17 July 2022 ASI – HLE 132 17 July 2022 HLE – JNB
131 30 July 2022 JNB – HLE 135 30 July 2022 HLE – ASI
136 31 July 2022 ASI – HLE 132 31 July 2022 HLE – JNB
131 13 Aug 2022 JNB – HLE 132 13 Aug 2022 HLE – JNB
131 27 Aug 2022 JNB – HLE 135 27 Aug 2022 HLE – ASI
136 28 Aug 2022 ASI – HLE 132 28 Aug 2022 HLE – JNB
131 10 Sep 2022 JNB – HLE 135 10 Sep 2022 HLE – ASI
136 11 Sep 2022 ASI – HLE 132 11 Sep 2022 HLE – JNB
131 24 Sep 2022 JNB – HLE 132 24 Sep 2022 HLE – JNB
131 8 Oct 2022 JBN – HLE 135 8 Oct 2022 HLE – ASI
136 9 Oct 2022 ASI – HLE 132 9 Oct 2022 HLE – JNB
131 22 Oct 2022 JNB – HLE 132 22 Oct 2022 HLE – JNB
131 5 Nov 2022 JNB – HLE 135 5 Nov 2022 HLE – ASI
136 6 Nov 2022 ASI – HLE 132 6 Nov 2022 HLE – JNB
131 19 Nov 2022 JNB – HLE 132 19 Nov 2022 HLE – JNB
131 3 Dec 2022 JNB – HLE 135 3 Dec 2022 HLE – ASI
136 4 Dec 2022 ASI – HLE 132 4 Dec 2022 HLE – JNB
131 17 Dec 2022 JNB – HLE 135 17 Dec 2022 HLE – ASI
136 18 Dec 2022 ASI – HLE 132 18 Dec 2022 HLE – JNB
131 24 Dec 2022 JNB – HLE 132 24 Dec 2022 HLE – JNB
131 7 Jan 2023 JNB – HLE 135 7 Jan 2023 HLE – ASI
136 8 Jan 2023 ASI – HLE 132 8 Jan 2023 HLE – JNB
131 21 Jan 2023 JNB – HLE 135` 21 Jan 2023 HLE – ASI
136 22 Jan 2023 ASI – HLE 132 22 Jan 2023 HLE – JNB

 

 

Airlink tickets for the service between Johannesburg and St Helena are now on sale and are available online via the Airlink website at:ย www.flyairlink.com/en-za/flights-to-st-helenaย and through all IATA travel agents.

The first Arajet Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 is now flying

Arajet’s first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (HI026) was seen flying at Boeing Field pending delivery:

Lynx Air takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8

Lynx Air has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (C-GJSL).

The new airline made this announcement on social media:

Love is in the air! Our first Boeing 737-8 has arrived at YYC and we can’t take our eyes off it. See you onboard soon!

Ukraine International Airlines continues to operate flights, sends 5 Boeing 737-800s to Spain due to insurance risk

Ukraine International Airlines issued this statement:

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will continue to operate flights according to the existing schedule, operating 16 medium-haul aircraft without any changes in the schedule.

The preservation of operational work was made possible by a constructive dialogue between UIA’s business partners, as well as cooperation with the Government of Ukraine. Currently, tickets for flights of UIA and partners are on sale on the official website of the airline.

Due to the foreign policy situation, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has received an official notification from insurance companies to terminate the insurance of aircraft for flights in the airspace of Ukraine. In this regard, UIA, at the request of lessors, sends 5 Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Spain while retaining other aircraft in the company’s fleet. In addition, 2 aircraft of the airline are sent for scheduled engine maintenance in Belgrade.

UIA is making efforts and is constantly negotiating with insurance companies, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, the State Aviation Service and hopes for mutual understanding.

The airline will continue to regularly report any possible changes in its operations.

Bonza announces 25 routes and 16 destinations in Australia

Bonza has announced 25 routes and 16 destinations in Australia as the new airline reveals its start-up plans.

The new airline will be based at Sunshine Coast Airport and Melbourne.

The initial 16 destinations are: Albury, Avalon, Bundaberg, Cairns, Coffs Harbour, Gladstone, Mackay, Melbourne, Mildura, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba Wellcamp, Townsville and the Whitsunday Coast.

Sunshine Coast

  • 12 routes to:
    • Albury – 2 flights per week
    • Avalon – 3 flights per week
    • Cairns – 5 flights per week
    • Coffs Harbour – 2 flights per week
    • Mackay – 3 flights per week
    • Melbourne – 4 flights per week
    • Mildura – 2 flights per week
    • Newcastle – 4 flights per week
    • Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
    • Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
    • Townsville – 4 flights per week
    • Whitsunday Coast – 3 flights per week

Melbourne

  • 8 routes to:
    • Bundaberg – 2 flights per week
    • Gladstone – 2 flights per week
    • Mackay – 2 flights per week
    • Mildura – 3 flights per week
    • Port Macquarie – 2 flights per week
    • Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
    • Toowoomba Wellcamp – 4 flights per week

Whitsunday Coast

  • 3 routes to:
    • Newcastle – 2 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week
    • Toowoomba Wellcamp – 2 flights per week

Rockhampton

  • 4 routes to:
    • Cairns – 2 flights per week
    • Melbourne – 3 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week
    • Townsville – 3 flights per week

Mackay

  • 3 routes to:
    • Cairns – 2 flights per week
    • Melbourne – 2 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 3 flights per week

Cairns

  • 3 routes to:
    • Mackay – 2 flights per week
    • Rockhampton – 2 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 5 flights per week

Toowoomba Wellcamp

  • 3 routes to:
    • Melbourne – 4 flights per week
    • Townsville – 2 flights per week
    • Whitsunday Coast – 2 flights per week

Townsville

  • 3 routes to:
    • Rockhampton – 3 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
    • Toowoomba Wellcamp – 2 flights per week

Newcastle

  • 2 routes to:
    • Sunshine Coast – 4 flights per week
    • Whitsunday Coast – 2 flights per week

Port Macquarie

  • 2 routes to:
    • Melbourne – 2 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 2 flights per week

Gladstone

  • 1 route to Melbourne

Bundaberg

  • 1 route to Melbourne

Coffs Harbour

  • 1 route to Sunshine Coast

Albury

  • 1 route to Sunshine Coast

Mildura

  • 2 routes to:
    • Melbourne – 3 flights per week
    • Sunshine Coast – 2 flights per week

Avalon

  • 1 route to Sunshine Coast

The new airline will initially operate five Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Video:

QANTAS to establish a new Embraer E190 base at Darwin, operated by Alliance Airlines, extends the Darwin – London route

QANTAS Group has made this announcement:

The Northern Territory is set for an employment and tourism boost with Qantas announcing plans to set up a new Embraer E190 jet base at Darwin Airport.

At least four E190s will be based in Darwin to service key QantasLink routes across Australia, as well as a new international passenger service from Darwin to Dili.

The E190 jets feature both business and economy cabins with up to 97-seats and a five-hour range. They are being deployed on Qantasโ€™ network as part of a three-yearย deal with Alliance Airlines to ramp up domestic flights and increase connections and schedules between smaller capital cities and regional centers.

With support from the Northern Territory Government, basing the four aircraft in Darwin will bring an additional 90 jobs to the Territory, including pilots, cabin crew and engineers recruited by Alliance Airlines.

The size, range and economics of the aircraft have opened up more flights on existing routes as well as new routes that wouldnโ€™t be viable with larger aircraft, including three new domestic routes from Darwin to Canberra, Cairns and Townsville.

Qantas has been operating weekly flights between Darwin and Dili since February 2021 in partnership with the Australian Government to maintain critical passenger and freight links with Timor-Leste. This service will now become a permanent commercial route with the E190 aircraft with three flights per week, ramping up to five flights each week from July.

All E190 aircraft activated as part of the deal with Alliance will progressively be painted in QantasLink livery.

The Qantas Group currently operates a total 18 routes from Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayers Rock Airports and connects Darwin directly to eight domestic destinations.

Qantas has also announced that it will extend the operation of its double daily Australia to London flights via Darwin until June.

International flights are subject to Government and Regulatory approval.

In other news, Qantas will keep flying its double daily direct flights from Australia to London via Darwin following ongoing uncertainty around the reopening of the West Australian border and testing requirements for passengers transiting through Singapore.

When international travel recommenced in November last year, but Western Australia remained closed, Qantas temporarily re-routed its Perth to London service via Darwin.

Qantas worked closely with the Northern Territory Government to set up Darwin as an alternative hub, allowing passengers to arrive in or transit through the Territory capital as they returned home to Australia or travelled overseas to reunite with loved ones.

The Perth to London service was scheduled to revert to operating via Perth in April, but with the West Australian Government yet to confirm a reopening date for the state, Qantas will continue to operate the route via Darwin until at least June 2022.

To streamline transit arrangements for passengers, Qantas will also continue to operate the Sydney to London flight via Darwin instead of through Singapore until June 2022.

Alliance Airlines Route Map:

Alliance Airlines aircvraft photo gallery: