More problems for Spirit Airlines – a third day of major cancellations – over 690 flights cancelled nationwide since Monday. From the SunSentinel in Fort Lauderdale:
Spirit Airlines slammed for third straight day, canceling more than half its flights (msn.com)
The new air service, using SAAB 2000 aircraft, is a joint venture between long time airline investor Wexford Capital, Juneau-based Alaska Seaplanes, and McKinley Alaska Private Investment, LLC.
New Nonstop SAAB 2000 service returns to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor this fall with the formation of Aleutian Airways, a joint venture between veteran airline investors and operators.
Craford is the co-owner and President of Juneau-based commuter airline Alaska Seaplanes which will be marketing the flights under the Aleutian Airways brand.
Sterling Airways, a Part 121 US air carrier and portfolio company of Wexford Capital will operate the flights. Wexford has a long and successful track record as an operator of US air carriers, including Republic Airways.
Anchorage-based McKinley Alaska Private Investment, LLC is an investor in their Naโ-Nuk Investment Fund, LP managed by McKinley Capital Management, LLC.ย Together, this experienced team of industry professionals is positioned to make Aleutian the โStrongest Link in the Chainโย and Southwest Alaskaโs preferred airline.
The aircraft will be flown by former PenAir Saab 2000 pilots, seasoned Alaska-based crews with deep experience in the flying conditions of Southwest Alaska.
Further, Aleutian Airways will be reinstituting the PenAir pilot experience requirements for Dutch Harbor โ bringing back industry-leading safety standards to the region.ย Many former PenAir employees have already signed on to join Aleutian, from pilots to mechanics, flight attendants and ground personnel.
Aleutian Airways will be announcing its flight schedule later this month.
Air Seychelles will be resuming scheduled passenger flights to the neighboring island of Mauritius this October, after an absence of more than 18 months on the route.
The return of the Seychelles flag carrier to the Indian Ocean Island, follows the announcement of the full reopening of the Mauritius borders starting from October 1, 2021, leading to further ease in movement for fully vaccinated travelers looking to explore the many treasures the tropical destination has to offer.
The flights between Seychelles and Mauritius are set to start on October 3, 2021.
Flights will be operated twice per week on Wednesdays and Sundays.
The flight schedule between Seychelles and Mauritius starting October 3, 2021 are as follows:
| Flight Number | Origin | Destination | Depart | Arrive | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HM049 | Seychelles | Mauritius | 10:00hrs | 12:35hrs | Wednesdays and Sundays |
| HM048 | Mauritius | Seychelles | 13:25hrs | 16:10hrs | Wednesdays and Sundays |
La Compagnie has appointed Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) to support its first-ever venture into the air cargo market.
It has awarded WFS a three-year contract to handle cargo onboard its Airbus A321LR services from Paris Orly to Newark International Airport, which will increase from the current four flights a week to seven in September.
This is the first time La Compagnie has carried cargo onboard its business passenger services. Depending on the number of passengers, each flight is expected to carry up to 3.5 tonnes to and from France and the US.
WFS also holds ground handling contracts with La Compagnie in Newark for its passenger and ramp services to Paris Orly and Nice.
Copyright Photo: Merpati Nusantara Airlines-MNA Vickers Vanguard 953 PK-MVE (msn 717) JKT (Jacques Guillem Collection). Image: 954620.
Copyright Photo: Air Zimbabwe Vickers Viscount 754D VP-YTE (msn 241) (Air Rhodesia colors) HRE (Jacques Guillem Collection). Image: 954619.
Copyright Photo: Air Austral Airbus A220-330 (CS300 BD-500-1A11) F-OLAV (msn 55106) (volcano) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 954616.
JetBlue Airways today announced plans to double down on its commitment to New York by maintaining its headquarters in the city and advancing plans to expand its flagship terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
These initiatives further strengthen JetBlueโs presence in New York, where it has already announced plans to substantially increase flying and bring more low fares and more jobs to JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark as part of its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines.
JetBlue Keeps Its Flag Firmly Planted inย New York City
After an in-depth review and competitive bid process, JetBlue today announced its intention to keep its headquarters inย New York Cityย when its current office lease expires in 2023. The decision comes as the airline industry is recovering from the financial impact of the pandemic, which has also shifted how people will work in office environments in the future.
JetBlue plans to stay at its current home in the Brewster Building at 27-01 Queens Plaza North inย Long Island City, where the company has been based since 2012 and is home to its iconic rooftop sign. JetBlue intends to negotiate and execute a lease over the next few months and then re-design its office space to be responsive to rapidly evolving workplace trends that have accelerated during the pandemic.
The Brewster Building was built in 1911 and is where the Brewster Aeronautical Company manufactured theย Brewsterย F2A (a.k.a. The Brewster Buffalo), the first monoplane fighter airplane used by theย U.S.ย Navy in World War II.
Orlandoย is home to JetBlueโs training facility and a number of corporate support functions. JetBlue subsidiary JetBlue Travel Products is based inย Fort Lauderdale. JetBlue is one of the leading carriers in both markets.
A World Class Terminal 6 Begins to Take Shape
In addition to its corporate presence, the airline continues to further plans to bring more air service to New Yorkers across the regionโs three airports. Its flagship Terminal 5 at JFK has been celebrated for its customer-friendly design and facilities, and Governor Cuomo today announced that the Port Authority ofย New Yorkย andย New Jerseyย (PANYNJ) will approve plans to develop a world-class terminal on the Terminals 6 and 7 sites.
The new Terminal 6 project will seamlessly integrate with Terminal 5, building on JetBlueโs award-winning customer experience while expanding the airlineโs footprint farther into the north side of the airport. It helps secure JetBlueโs long-term future at JFK with opportunities for new gates starting in 2025, and offers partner airlines the ability to co-locate with JetBlue to improve connectivity for customers.
The Terminal 6 project will be developed and operated by JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), a private consortium comprised of JetBlue; Vantage Airport Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including as a member of the consortium that built LaGuardia Airportโs new Terminal B; American Triple I (ATI), a 100% minority- and woman-owned investor, owner, developer, and manager of infrastructure assets and infrastructure focused companies that seek to spur economic growth and development in markets across theย U.S.; and RXR Realty, a leadingย New York-based real estate operating and development company.
Theย $3.9 billion, 1.2 million square foot terminal is set to replace aging existing facilities, and will be designed to accommodate both wide-body gates and narrow-body gates, as well as bright and airy check-in halls and arrival spaces designed to enhance the customer experience. Customers will enjoy more than 100,000 square feet of commercial dining and retail amenities, lounges, and recreational spaces. The new terminal will also include critical infrastructure improvements to the airportโs roadways, optimizing traffic flow and transportation access at the airport, and incorporate the latest advances in both sustainability and security.
According to the Port Authority ofย New Yorkย andย New Jersey, the development of Terminal 6 is expected to result in over 4,000 direct jobs (both on-site and off-site) and direct payroll wages ofย $1.9 billion. The total economic activity impact from the project amounts to nearlyย $2.8 billionย in total wages andย $6.3 billionย in total economic activity.
JetBlue will also expand its footprint at LaGuardia Airport beyond its current space at the historic Marine Air Terminal and partially move into the airportโs recently opened and state-of-the-art Terminal B later this year with plans to move completely in 2022. Atย Newark, JetBlue will also move, relocating to the new Terminal A in 2022.
JetBlue Loves New York
JetBlue plans to add more than 1,800 jobs atย New York Cityย airports thanks to new flights and destinations it is adding as a result of its Northeast Alliance with American Airlines. JetBlue plans to nearly triple its flights at LaGuardia and substantially increase flying at JFK andย Newark. With this planned growth, JetBlue will continue to work withย New York stateย to market the airline as New Yorkโs Hometown Airlineยฎ and bring visibility for the high-quality, low-fare air service that it offers at eight airports across theย Empire State.
As part of this commitment to work together, JetBlue and the state are planning to extend their joint branding agreement of the world-recognized I LOVE NY logo, an unprecedented partnership with the State’s iconic brand, and collaborate on showcasing theย Empire Stateย experience at locations within the airlineโs JFK terminal. In partnership with New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), JetBlue and NYC will partner to continue advancing shared priorities related to a diverse and inclusive workplace, including hiring and workforce development, and climate change.
ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta) made this announcement on social media about restarting operations:
ExpressJet Airlines Receives DOT Fitness Authority Plans Restart in Q3.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued its final fitness order allowing ExpressJet Airlines to restart commercial operations.
The airline is planning to restart operations in late September.
The airline continued:
ExpressJet Airlines has a 35-year history of superior service and performance and is the amalgamation of Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) and Continental Express, former subsidiaries of Delta Air Lines and Continental Airlines respectively.
On July 30, 2021,ย The Department of Transportation (DOT)ย issued its final fitness order allowing ExpressJet Airlines to restart commercial operations. ExpressJet stopped flying last year after the termination of its United Express operations. The passage of time required the company to seek DOT fitness recertification in order to โreboot.โ ย Note that ExpressJet has maintained its FAA flying authority as a Part 121 carrier.
ExpressJet expects to resume service within the quarter with a focus on cities, markets, and customers that have seen diminished air service as a result of airline consolidation and an industry trend towards larger aircraft. ExpressJet will leverage its 35-year history of having flown several hundred aircraft to most of Americaโs smaller airports and intends to provideย high-quality, reliable, efficient point-to-point flying service in small and abandoned markets with unmet customer needs – avoiding needless overlap with the major airlines and โultra-low-cost carriers.โ
ExpressJetโs current aircraft fleet includes the 50 seat ERJ145 jet aircraft and our certificate qualifies us to fly the EMB 170/175/190, CRJ 200/700/900 and the ERJ135 at short notice.
ExpressJet is excited about the opportunity before it, and we will announce more detailed flying plans in the coming weeks.
The carrier was forced to halt operations on September 30, 2020 after United Airlines decided to consolidate its United Express Embraer ERJ 145 regional operations under CommutAir.
ExpressJet intends to release more details soon on its intended routes.
QANTAS Group made this announcement:
Around 2,500 frontline Qantas and Jetstar employees will be stood down for an estimated two months in response to ongoing COVID outbreaks.
The stand down is a temporary measure to deal with a significant drop in flying caused by COVID restrictions in Greater Sydney in particular and the knock-on border closures in all other states and territories.ย No job losses are expected.
Todayโs decision will directly impact domestic pilots, cabin crew and airport workers, mostly in New South Wales but also in other states given the nature of airline networks. Employees will be given two weeksโ notice before the stand down takes effect, with pay continuing until mid-August.
Income support in the form of government disaster payments will be key to helping eligible employees get through this challenging period and the Qantas Group welcomes the targeted Federal Government support offered for those stood down outside of declared hotspots and to retain domestic aviation capability.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the difficult decision to trigger stand downs reflected the reality confronting many businesses operating in New South Wales.
โThis is clearly the last thing we want to do, but weโre now faced with an extended period of reduced flying and that means no work for a number of our people.
โWeโve absorbed a significant amount of cost since these recent lockdowns started and continued paying our people their full rosters despite thousands of cancelled flights.
โQantas and Jetstar have gone from operating almost 100 per cent of their usual domestic flying[1]ย in May to less than 40 per cent in July because of lockdowns in three states.
โHopefully, once other states open back up to South Australia and Victoria in the next week or so, and the current outbreak in Brisbane is brought under control, our domestic flying will come back to around 50 to 60 per cent of normal levels.
โBased on current case numbers, itโs reasonable to assume that Sydneyโs borders will be closed for at least another two months. We know it will take a few weeks once the outbreak is under control before other states open to New South Wales and normal travel can resume.
โFortunately, we know that once borders do reopen, travel is at the top of peopleโs list and flying tends to come back quickly, so we can get our employees back to work.
โThis is extremely challenging for the 2,500 of our people directly impacted, but itโs also very different from this time last year when we had more than 20,000 employees stood down and most of our aircraft in hibernation for months on end.
โThe vaccine rollout means the end is in sight and the concept of lockdowns will be a thing of the past. Australia just needs more people rolling up their sleeves as more vaccine arrives.
โThe challenge around opening international borders remains. There are still several thousand Qantas and Jetstar crew who normally fly internationally and who have been on long periods of stand down since the pandemic began. Higher vaccination rates are also key to being able to fly overseas again, and finally getting all our people back to work,โ added Mr Joyce.
[1]ย Based on FY19 capacity levels.
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