Allegiant announces nine new routes

2021 "Raiders - Raider Nation" team livery

Allegiant Air has announced nine new nonstop routes for spring vacation travel to premier destinations in Florida and the southwest.

Routes from TYS:

The new routes toย Knoxville, Tennesseeย viaย McGhee Tyson Airportย (TYS)ย include:

  1. Phoenix, Arizonaย viaย Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airportย (PHX)ย โ€“ beginningย Feb. 16, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $59.*
  2. Minneapolis, Minnesotaย viaย Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airportย (MSP) โ€“ย beginningย March 9, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $49.*

Routes from AZA:

The new route toย Phoenix, Arizonaย viaย Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airportย (AZA):

  1. Toledo, Ohioย viaย Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airportย (TOL)ย โ€“ beginning March 9, 2022 with one-way fares as low as $59.

Routes from PIE:

The new route to St. Petersburg, Florida via St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) include:

  1. Clarksburg, West Virginiaย viaย North Central West Virginia Airportย (CKB)ย โ€“ beginningย March 11, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $49.*

Routes from ATW:

The new routes toย Appleton, Wisconsinย viaย Appleton International Airportย (ATW):

  1. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airportย (FLL)ย โ€“ beginningย March 10, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $49.*
  2. Sarasota, Floridaย viaย Sarasota Bradenton International Airportย (SRQ)ย โ€“ beginningย March 11, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $59.*
  3. Denver, Colo.ย Viaย Denver Airportย (DEN)ย โ€“ beginningย March 11, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $39.*

Routes from FNT:

The new routes toย Flint, Michiganย viaย Flintย Bishop International Airportย (FNT) include:

  1. Boston, Massachusettsย viaย Logan International Airportย (BOS)ย โ€“ beginningย March 10, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $49.*
  2. Jacksonville, Fla.ย viaย Jacksonville International Airportย (JAX)ย โ€“ beginningย March 11, 2022ย with one-way fares as low asย $39.*

Top Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A319-111 N328NV (msn 2821) (Raiders – Raider Nation) LAS (Tony Storck). Image: 955811.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

Allegiant Air aircraft photo gallery:

QANTAS will convert two of its Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighters

QANTAS Airways Airbus A330-203 VH-EBI (msn 898) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 956063.

QANTAS Airways made this announcement:

Qantas will convert two of its Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into freighters to support the significant shift towards consumers shopping online.

One of the converted widebody freighters will be used in Qantas Freightโ€™s international network, while the other will be a new addition to the dedicated fleet that serves Australia Postโ€™s domestic parcel and mail business.

In addition, Qantas Freight will receive its third Airbus A321P2F freighter this week, which will also operate for Australia Post. The narrow body aircraft previously operated passenger services for Jetstar. The freighter will provide additional capacity ahead of whatโ€™s expected to be the busiest Christmas period ever for air cargo.

The seat capacity of the two A330s will be replaced by more efficient scheduling on the Qantas passenger network.

Qantas will also take delivery of three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners during 2022.

The aircraft will be converted by EFW, a joint venture between Airbus and STย Engineering. Conversion work will include removing seats, replacing the existing cabin door with a larger door and the installation of a cargo handling system.

The first A330 aircraft, which will be utilized by Australia Post, will start its conversion in August 2022 and is expected to start operating in mid-2023 with the second to start operating in late 2023.

โ€œThe two A321PTF aircraft already in the skies, and the third taking off this month, provide our network with critical additional capacity and flexibility, while also improving the sustainability of our air freight operations, as they can carry twice as many parcels and require less fuel per kilo of mail and parcels uplifted.

Top Copyright photo: QANTAS Airways Airbus A330-203 VH-EBI (msn 898) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 956063.

QANTAS Airways aircraft slide show:

QANTAS Airways aircraft photo gallery:

 

SAS announces the number of travelers stabilized in November, but uncertainty remains

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS issued this report:

In November more than 1.3 million passengers traveled with SAS, an increase by just over 300% year on year. At the same time SAS increased its capacity by 143% compared to last year and came in at a similar level versus the previous month. The flown load factor was 61%, which is up 36 percentage points (p p) compared to last year and 1.6 p p increase compared to October. Eased travel restrictions subsequently lead to increased ticket sales both internationally and domestically, which is clearly seen comparing numbers with last year as well as with earlier months.

โ€œWe have seen a gradual increase of demand over the past few months as travel restrictions have been lifted. Demand and ticket sales have stabilized ahead of the winter, which in general is a slower period. However, with new versions of the COVID-19 virus spreading across the globe, the future continues to be uncertain. Entering the winter season, we need to remain flexible when it comes to our capacity in order to respond to the demand amongst Scandinaviaโ€™s travelersโ€ย says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS.

SAS scheduled traffic Nov21 Change1
ASK (Mill.) 2 371 136.8%
RPK (Mill.) 1 429 467.7%
Passenger load factor 60.3% 35.1 pp1
No. of passengers (000) 1 309 296.8%
Geographical development, schedule Nov21ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  vs.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Nov20
RPK ASK
Intercontinental 943.8% 145.6%
Europe/Intrascandinavia 786.7% 356.1%
Domestic 153.5% 12.3%
SAS charter traffic Nov21 Change1
ASK (Mill.) 79 874.6%
RPK (Mill.) 66 1948.4%
Load factor 82.6% 43.3 pp1
No. of passengers (000) 18 1777.1%
SAS total traffic (scheduled and charter) Nov21 Change1
ASK (Mill.) 2 451 142.8%
RPK (Mill.) 1 495 486.3%
Load factor 61.0% 35.7 pp1
No. of passengers (000) 1 327 301.1%

1ย Change compared to same period last year. pp = percentage points

Preliminary yield and PASK Nov21 Nominal change FX adjusted change
Yield, SEK 1.06 -35.9% -37.0%
PASK, SEK 0.64 53.8% 51.0%
Nov21
Punctuality (arrival 15 min) 82.4%
Regularity 97.2%
Change in total CO2ย emissions, rolling 12 months -17.1%
Change in CO2ย emissions per available seat kilometer -10.7%
Carbon offsetting of passenger related emissions 56.6%

Definitions:

RPK โ€“ Revenue passenger kilometers

ASK โ€“ Available seat kilometers
Load factor โ€“ RPK/ASK
Yield โ€“ Passenger revenues/RPK (scheduled)

PASK โ€“ Passenger revenues/ASK (scheduled)

Change in CO2ย emissions per available seat kilometers โ€“ SAS passenger related carbon emissions divided with total available seat kilometers (incl non-revenue and EuroBonus tickets), rolling 12 months vs rolling 12 months previous year

Carbonย offsettingย ofย passengerย relatedย emissions โ€“ Share of SAS passenger related carbon emissions compensated by SAS (EuroBonus members, youth tickets and SAS’ staff travel) during the month

From fiscal year 2020 we report change in CO2ย emissions in total and per Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) to align with our overall goal to reduce our total CO2ย emissions by 25% by 2025, compared to 2005.

Finnair adds Seattle/Tacoma to its network and continues direct flights from Stockholm to Los Angeles and New York during the summer season

Finnair expands its network in the United States and opens flights from Helsinki to Seattle/Tacoma starting June 1, 2022. In the summer season 2022, Finnair will operate three weekly flights to Seattle on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Finnair also continues to expand its presence in the US by continuing direct flights to New York John F. Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport from Stockholm, Sweden, through the summer season. From May 1, 2022, Finnair will increase frequencies for these connections. Finnair will fly from Stockholm to New York daily, and to Los Angeles four times a week.

In the summer season 2022, Finnair will fly from Helsinki also to Dallas/Fort Worth, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

El Al Israel Airlines is the official airline of the Miss Universe 2021 competition taking place in Eilat, Israel

El Al Israel Airlines is the official airline of the Miss Universe 2021 competition that will take place for the first time in Eilat, Israel. Over the last few days, representatives from 80 countries and 5 continents have arrivedย inย Israelย ahead of the competition, including the current Miss Universe, Mis Andrea Maza,ย Mexico’sย representative.

El Al’s flight attendant Manalush Grazemach alongside a plane branded especially in honor of the competition (PRNewsfoto/EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd.)

Miss Universe departing Andrea Maza on a flight to Israel for the competition (PRNewsfoto/EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd.)

The international competition will be broadcast live to more than 170 countries and to 600 million viewers all over the world. This year, the competition will highlight the significant issue of the global warming as part of a green agenda that is also part of the values of the “Miss Universe” organization.

During their stay inย Israel, the delegates were guests at EL AL and took part of the Miss Universe campaign to encourage tourism toย Israelย and to strengthen the EL AL brand around the world.

The event and the participants are hosted inย Israelย by the Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Even thoughย Israel is currently closed to tourists now, however, the delegation arrived under COVID-19 regulations and received special approvals to enter Israel.

El Al also announced that the representative of the United Arab Emiratesย will also compete for the title of Miss Universe and will participate in the event inย Israelย alongside the representative fromย Moroccoย who will also compete, for the first time, in 40 years.

 

CommutAir announces Embraer ERJ145 fleet interior refresh program

CommutAir is pleased to announce the launch of an expansive effort to update and replace the interiors of its entire fleet of Embraer 145XR 50-seat aircraft with the support of United Airlines.

The upgraded aircraft will provide a more modernized and comfortable travel experience for customers flying with CommutAir. Heading into 2022, customers can expect to see new sidewalls, overhead bins, bulkhead finishes, LED cabin and reading lights, and a completely redesigned lavatory on CommutAir’s entire fleet of ERJ145 aircrafts.

CommutAir is hiring in all areas to continue to support the expansive growth the carrier has experienced in recent years. The carrier offers pilot programs that include:

  • Career path program through United AVIATE partnership โ€“ the fastest path to a United flight deck
  • Attractive sign-on bonus for Direct-Entry Captainsย ($50,000)
  • Rapid position upgrades for qualified applicants
  • Top-tier benefits includingย 401Kย matching
  • Unparalleled Commuter Policy

Breeze Airways to add Islip and West Palm Beach

Breeze Airways has announced it will add Islip, Long island (February 17, 2022) and West Palm Beach (February 19, 2022).

From Islip (ISP), Breeze will fly to Charleston and Norfolk.

From West Palm Beach (PBI), Breeze will fly to Akron/Canton, Charleston, Columbus (Ohio), New Orleans, Norfolk and Richmond.

Updated Route Map:

WestJet releases its 10th holiday video

WestJet today released the airline’s 10th holiday video, WestJet Christmas Miracle:ย A Wish Come True.ย This year’s theme focuses on the emotional and sentimental moments that guests missed celebrating last year due to the pandemic.

Over the course of two weeks, undercover and operating as a documentary film crew, WestJet interviewed Canadians in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver asking them how the pandemic impacted their Christmas traditions and what they wished for the most this holiday season.

The spot features surprises ranging from round-trip tickets and all-inclusive vacation packages to a global reunion between mother and daughter.

Additional Christmas Miracle content including a WestJet’s Christmas Miracle surprise for the airline’s WestJet Cares for Kids partner, Make A Wish, will be available in the coming days.

Sydney Seaplanes places an order for 50 of Eve’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL)

Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions (Eve), an Embraer company, and Sydney Seaplanes, a leader in the transition to sustainable aviation, today announced a partnership that will lay the foundation for new electric air taxi operations inย Greater Sydney. With the partnership, Sydney Seaplanes has placed an order for 50 of Eve’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), with progressive deliveries expected to commence from 2026.

The new partnership accelerates the progress towards 100% of greater Sydney’s local tourism and commuter flights coming from zero emission electric aviation.

Sydney Seaplanes first took to the air in 2005, with just one 6 seat De Havilland Beaver seaplane. Since those modest beginnings, Sydney Seaplanes has become an iconic tourism service, an integral part of the daily workings ofย Sydney Harbourย and one of the largest tourism flight operators inย Australia. Since commencing services Sydney Seaplanes has flown over 425,000 passengers on 80,000 flights.

In 2020, Sydney seaplanes announced plans to create an all-electric and zero-emissions regional airline Alt Air as soon as 2022, with first all-electric flights planned as early as 2024. Introducing eVTOL aircraft offers an opportunity to extend the catchment of the Rose Bay aviation facilities to efficiently serve all ofย Greater Sydney.

QANTAS launches the Sydney – Delhi route

 

QANTAS Airways made this announcement with the launch of the Sydney – Delhi route today:

The first commercial Qantas flight from Australia to India in almost a decade has taken to the skies today (December 6), marking another milestone in Australiaโ€™s reopening to the world.

The flight departed Sydney shortly after 6am and will touch down in Delhi after a 15-hour journey.

The Sydney-Delhi service and the Melbourne-Delhi service, which starts just before Christmas, have been the fastest selling routes on the national carrierโ€™s international network since borders reopened, with most flights in December almost entirely sold out.

Qantas is operating three weekly return flights from Sydney to Delhi, which will increase in January 2022, and four weekly return flights from Melbourne to begin from 22 December 2021.

Itโ€™s the first time Qantas has operated a commercial service to India since the end of its Brisbane to Mumbai service in 2012 and the airlineโ€™s first regular passenger flight from Australia to Delhi since 1974.

Over the past 12 months, Qantas operated more than 60 repatriation flights on behalf of the Federal Government flights to bring Australians home from India.

All passengers on Qantas international flights are required to be fully vaccinated, unless they are under 12 years old, are 12-17 year olds traveling to Australia with their family or guardian or have an exemption.

Initial international flights are limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and parents in line with Federal Government requirements. Students and a number of other visa holders are expected to be able to re-enter Australia in the coming weeks.

International flights are subject to government and regulatory approval.