NTSB Investigation of Transair flight 810 ditching continues

The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation of the crash of Transair flight 810 on July 2, 2021 continues as investigators continue to gather information and evidence.

Rhoades Aviation Inc., dba Transair, flight 810, a Boeing 737-200 (N810TA), ditched in the waters of Mamala Bay near Honolulu, shortly after takeoff from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Hawaii. Flight 810 was operating under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 121, as a cargo flight bound for Kahului International Airport, Kahului, Hawaii. Both members of the two-person flight crew were injured and were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department. The airplane was substantially damaged and sank.

The NTSB’s investigation began Friday with the arrival in Hawaii of several investigators. The remainder of the NTSB’s Go Team arrived late afternoon Saturday.

The NTSB conducted an organizational meeting Saturday evening with the parties to the investigation which include:

  • The Federal Aviation Administration
  • The Boeing Company
  • Pratt and Whitney
  • The National Air Traffic Controllers Association
  • Rhoades Aviation

The Investigator-in-Charge formed the followingย investigative groups:

  • Powerplants
  • Airplane Systems
  • Structures
  • Operations
  • Human Performance
  • Air Traffic Control
  • Maintenance Records
  • Cockpit Voice Recorder
  • Flight Data Recorder

The team is also supported by NTSB specialists in Meteorology and Airports who are working from the NTSB’s headquarters.

A small amount of floating debris was recovered and taken to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, where it was examined by NTSB investigators.

Before the cockpit voice and flight data recorders can be recovered, the exact location of the plane on the ocean floor must be determined. Investigators plan to use side scan sonar Monday to survey the debris field, the condition of the airplane and its location, including how far beneath the surface the plane sank. That information will be used to determine how and when the recorders could be recovered and then how and if the airplane will be salvaged.

Meanwhile investigators are scheduling interviews with flight 810’s two pilots, air traffic controllers, and Transair maintenance employees.

In general terms, NTSB investigators develop factual information in three areas: the people involved in an accident, the equipment involved in the accident and the environment in which the accident occurred.ย โ€‹

The NTSB has released the following photos of the aircraft that broke apart on ditching:

 

Avelo Airlines trims its schedule from Hollywood/Burbank

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-86N SSWL N801XT (msn 35220) BUR (Michael B. Ing). Image: 954303.

Avelo Airlines (formerly Xtra Airways) has extended its schedule through January 11, 2022.

The extended schedule shows the new carrier is ending service to two original destinations from its Hollywood/Burbank base.

Grand Junction (GJT) (below) will be terminated on August 16.

Bozeman (BZN) flights will end on September 15.

Top Copyright Photo: Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-86N SSWL N801XT (msn 35220) BUR (Michael B. Ing). Image: 954303.

Avelo Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map:

United adds nearly 150 flights to warm-weather cities this winter

United Airlines made this announcement:

As demand for travel continues to build, United Airlines is expecting the resurgence to continue for winter holiday travel and is planning ahead by increasing service to cities in the U.S.,ย Mexico, theย Caribbeanย andย Central America. The airline will add nearly 150 flights to warm-weather destinations across the U.S and is increasing service to Latin beach and leisure markets by 30% compared to 2019. The airline will fly 137 more flights than it did in 2019 to places likeย Florida,ย California,ย Arizona,ย Georgiaย andย Nevadaย starting this November through next March.

United has prepared for the return of air travel for more than a year, matching its flying schedule and aircraft availability to demand by maintaining close coordination between its network planning teams and the airline’s operating groups. During this fourth of July travel period, United carried five times as many customers as it did over the same period in 2020 and in anticipation of that trend continuing throughout 2021, the airline is expanding its winter schedule.

“Celebrating the holidays with family and loved ones in 2020 was a challenge, and we know our customers are already eager to plan winter vacations and gatherings in person this year to make up for time that they lost,” saidย Ankit Gupta, vice president of network planning at United. “As pandemic restrictions ease, people are becoming more confident in planning travel further in advance, so we want to make sure to offer our customers as much choice as possible.”

Most of these additional flights will be operated with mainline aircraft featuring United FirstSMย , Economy Plusยฎย and standard Economy seat options and complimentary snacks and onboard Wi-Fi. The additional U.S. flights include:

  • Up to 25 additional daily flights fromย New York/Newarkย to citiesย including Ft. Myers,ย Jacksonvilleย and Savannah
  • Up to 14 additional daily flights fromย Denverย to cities includingย Charleston,ย Ft. Lauderdaleย and Savannah
  • Up to 12 additional daily flights fromย Chicagoย to cities includingย Key West,ย Las Vegasย andย San Diego
  • Up to 11 additional daily flights fromย Washington D.C.ย to cities includingย Charleston,ย New Orleansย andย Phoenix
  • Up to seven additional daily flights fromย Houstonย toย Floridaย includingย Miami,ย Orlandoย andย Palm Beach
  • Up to four additional daily flights fromย Los Angelesย toย Orlando,ย Tampaย and Ft. Myers
  • Up to four additional daily flights fromย Clevelandย toย Orlando,ย Tampaย and Ft. Myers
  • Up to three additional daily flights fromย San Franciscoย toย Orlandoย and Ft. Myers

And as customers continue to reunite with family and friends in warm international destinations this winter, United is increasing service to theย Caribbean,ย Mexicoย andย Central Americaย by 30% compared to 2019. This added service includes launching 12 new routes fromย Denver,ย Los Angeles,ย New York/Newark,ย San Franciscoย andย Washington, D.C.ย to destinations includingย Belizeย City,ย Belize;ย Cozumel, Mexico;ย Liberia,ย Costa Ricaย andย Nassau, Bahamas.Image

Eurowings expands its winter service to Northern Europe

Northern lights over the vilage of Reine, Lofoten, Norway

Eurowings also made this announcement:

Take off to Northern Europe with Eurowings: With no less than four new destinations from Dรผsseldorf and Stuttgart, Eurowings makes travel to Northern Europe easier in its 2021/22 winter flight schedule. In the regions around Tromsรธ (Norway), Rovaniemi (Finland), Luleรฅ and Kiruna (both Sweden), travelers from Germany can expect fascinating landscapes and nature experiences such as the polar night, the Northern lights or extravagant leisure experiences such as dog sledding or icebreaker trips.

From Dรผsseldorf, Eurowings’ largest base, Eurowings will take off for the first time on December 4 toย Tromsรธ, Norway. The city lies 344 kilometers North of the Arctic Circle, which corresponds to the latitude of Northern Alaska. As a travel destination, the region is particularly attractive because of the Northern Lights. The Dรผsseldorf-Tromsรธ route will be offered at prices starting atย 49.99 eurosย every Saturday, and from December 21 also on Tuesdays with an Airbus A319.

Also, from Dรผsseldorf, Eurowings will be flying to the Finnish city ofย Rovaniemi, which is located somewhat further South than Tromsรธ near the Arctic Circle, every Sunday from December 5. Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland and is known to tourists from Germany primarily for its Northern Lights tours. However, there is also the Arktikum science center and museum to discover, which impresses with its spectacular architecture and exhibitions on history and life in the far north. Flights from Dรผsseldorf to Rovaniemi are available fromย 49.99 eurosย for the oneway ticket.

The Swedish cities ofย Kirunaย andย Luleรฅย are newly accessible from Southern Germany in the 2021/22 winter flight schedule: Eurowings will fly to both cities from Stuttgart. Flights to Luleรฅ will start on December 1, 2021.ย Luleรฅย is located in the North of Sweden and impresses with its mystical polar lights and crystal-clear ice worlds. The area offers attractive leisure experiences such as snowmobile safaris, aurora tours or trips with the icebreaker. Eurowings will be flying the Stuttgart-Luleรฅ route at prices starting atย 49.99 eurosย for the oneway ticket from the beginning of December on Wednesdays and Sundays with an Airbus A319.

Kiruna, the most Northern city in Sweden, is the second new destination from Stuttgart. Kiruna is the scene of polar night from December 12-31. Visitors to the region can look forward to activities such as skiing, dog sledding and snowshoeing. The ice hotel in Jukkasjรคrvi is also a visitor magnet: it is rebuilt every year starting in October and opens in December. Eurowings will be flying to Northern Sweden every Saturday from December 4, 2021 at prices starting atย 49.99 eurosย for the oneway ticket.

Eurowings is expanding its route network: New destinations from Dรผsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Salzburg

Eurowings has made this announcement:

Against the backdrop of further travel facilitation, the pandemic situation in Europe is easing significantly. This not only makes vacation travel possible again, but many people living in Germany can now finally visit their foreign homeland again. Eurowings has now added connections to Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and North Africa, in addition to other vacation destinations. The new routes enable many people to safely visit their friends and relatives again.

Eurowings has launched the most extensive program of new routes at its largest location,ย Dรผsseldorf. From the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the Georgian capitalย Tbilisi (from โ‚ฌ109.99)ย will be accessible on Wednesdays and Sundays from the summer flight schedule. The connection will continue to be offered once a week during the winter flight schedule. The Russian cities ofย Yekaterinburg (from โ‚ฌ139.99)ย andย Krasnodar (from โ‚ฌ139.99),ย which were also served in the summer, will also be served in the winter. Yekaterinburg on the Ural Mountains will be offered once a week on Saturdays and the economic center of Krasnodar in southern Russia will be served on Mondays and Fridays.

Starting August 31, Eurowings will offer flights from Dรผsseldorf toย Zagreb (from โ‚ฌ44.99)ย on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The airline will also be flying from Dรผsseldorf toย Kiev (from โ‚ฌ39.99), the capital of Ukraine, in the winter flight schedule (currently on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). And many North Rhine-Westphalians of Italian descent and as well as vacationers can look forward to the new connection toย Bergamo (from โ‚ฌ34.99)ย in northern Italy from October 31 – Eurowings operates the route on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. From January 31, 2022, the city in Lombardy will then be served daily except Saturdays.

Fromย Cologne/Bonn, Eurowings passengers will travel toย Yerevan (from โ‚ฌ129.99),ย the capital of Armenia, from August 6, 2021. The airline will fly the route every Friday with an Airbus A320.ย Marrakech (from โ‚ฌ54.99)ย in southwestern Morocco will be accessible again from December 12 this year. The nearly 1,000-year-old city will be served every Sunday with an Airbus A319 operated by Eurowings.

Marrakech (also from 54.99โ‚ฌ) is also bookable again fromย Stuttgart: Eurowings starts the flight connection on 5 December this year and flies from Baden-Wรผrttemberg every Sunday with an Airbus A319.

From Austriaย Larnaca (starting from โ‚ฌ124,99)ย on Cyprus is connected from 4 September: Fromย Salzburg, the airline will operate the route to the port city in the southeast of the Mediterranean island every Saturday, also with an Airbus A319.

Aer Lingus commences trial IATA Travel Pass

Aer Lingus began trialling digital travel solution, IATA (International Air Transport Association) Travel Pass, on flights from Amsterdam to Dublin on July 5, 2021.

The IATA Travel Pass app can be downloaded onto a mobile device directly from the iOS App and Google Play store. Once downloaded, customers will create a secure account and will be presented with the entry requirements for their destination. Aer Lingusโ€™ customers can then book a COVID-19 test with an approved provider* and the results will be automatically uploaded into the app by the laboratory.

The app then checks that a customer meets the COVID-19 test entry requirements for their destination and will then notify the customer to let them know that they are โ€˜OK to travelโ€™. The airlineโ€™s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), has been working closely with IATA to co-develop the app that is now being successfully piloted by other global airlines, including British Airways and Iberia.

As Aer Lingus seeks the best solutions for its customers to ensure frictionless travel it has been progressing with a number of digital solutions in addition to the IATA Travel Pass, including VeriFLY which has been trialled on routes to and from the US and London Heathrow.

SAS increases flights from Scandinavia to the United States

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A350-941 F-WZHJ (SE-RSA) (msn 358) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 948367.

Meanwhile SAS reacts:

SAS will finally be operating on all its US destinations when it resumes direct routes to Boston in September and flights to Miami in October.

Also, SASโ€™ first A321LR aircraft will take off from Copenhagen to Boston in September. At the same time SAS will increase the number of flights from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC starting in September.

From October 1, 2021 SAS will resume service to Miami from Copenhagen and Stockholm respectively. Towards the end of October, Miami will be served daily with three weekly flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm respectively as well as once weekly from Oslo.

SAS is currently present in the Chicago market with daily passenger flights as well as additional cargo only flights from Copenhagen and will restart the Stockholm-Chicago route later this autumn.

SASโ€™ US routes and departures this autumn:

  • Copenhagen-New York โ€“ 7 weekly
  • Copenhagen-Chicago โ€“ 7 weekly
  • Copenhagen-Los Angeles โ€“ 4-5 weekly
  • Copenhagen-San Francisco โ€“ 4 weekly
  • Copenhagen-Washington DC โ€“ 4 weekly
  • Copenhagen-Boston โ€“ 3 weekly
  • Copenhagen-Miami โ€“ 3 weekly
  • Oslo-New York โ€“ 3 weekly
  • Oslo-Miami โ€“ 1 weekly
  • Stockholm-New York โ€“ 3-5 weekly
  • Stockholm-Chicago โ€“ 3 weekly
  • Stockholm-Miami โ€“ 3 weekly

Although many countries are now easing their entry restrictions, most countries still require various types of travel and test certificates and it is important to be well-prepared well before arriving at the airport. To make it easier for travelers, SAS has developed a new digital platform, SAS Travel Ready Center.

Top Copyright Photo: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A350-941 F-WZHJ (SE-RSA) (msn 358) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 948367.

SAS aircraft slide show:

Finnair introduces nonstop long-haul flights from Stockholm Arlanda

Delivered on December 13, 2018

Finnair to complete with SAS at ARN:

Finnair opens nonstop flight routes from Arlanda Airport, Stockholm in Sweden to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand and Miami in the United States for the winter season 2021/2022.

All three routes will be operated with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft offering a smooth and modern travel experience.

As of October 22, 2021 Finnair flies from Arlanda to Bangkok five times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. From November 28, 2021 the weekly frequencies will be increased to seven and flights are operated from Monday through Sunday until April 22, 2022.

Flights from Arlanda to Phuket will be operated on Sundays as of October 24, 2021. An additional frequency will be added Thursday as of November 4, 2021 and for Tuesdays as of November 30, 2021. Flights to Phuket will be operated until April 21, 2022.

Flights from Arlanda to Miami will start with two weekly frequencies, on Wednesdays and Saturdays as of October 23, 2021. From November 29, 2021 flights will be operated also on Monday and Friday until April 22, 2022.

Finnair flies to Bangkok, Phuket and Miami also from its home base Helsinki Airport.

Top Copyright Photo: Finnair Airbus A350-941 OH-LWM (msn 264) LHR (SPA). Image: 945935.

Finnair aircraft slide show:

PAL Airlines is awarded contract to provide aircraft charter services for Indigenous Services Canada

PAL Airlines and the Exchange Income Corporation (EIC) family of airlines is proud to be awarded a contract by the Government ofย Canadaย for the continued delivery of specialized air charter services on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). These carefully managed air charter services facilitate travel to First Nations fly-in communities acrossย Canada, ensuring health care professionals and other personnel can continue the delivery of essential services and critical supplies to sensitive communities.

Operated with strict health and safety protocols in place, these charter flights allow health care professionals and other personnel to board aircraft at dedicated facilities and maintain quarantine during travel.

 

QANTAS Link to launch flights from Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine)

QANTAS Airways has made this announcement:

Queenslanders will have more travel options to the world-famous Whitsundays with QANTAS Link launching direct flights from Brisbane to the Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine) for the first time in seven years.

From September 17, 2021, QANTAS Link will operate up to seven weekly return flights between Proserpine and Brisbane with its 74-seat Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft, adding more than 1000 seats on the route each week.

It follows the new routes QANTAS Link commenced from Brisbane to Albury and Cooma earlier this week. Between QANTAS, QANTAS Link and Jetstar, the Group has now launched more than 45 new routes since international borders closed, around half of which are into Queensland.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new route would create stronger connections to the popular tourism destination.

The new Brisbane-Proserpine service will complement Jetstar flights to the Whitsunday Coast from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.