Lufthansa’s 10th Airbus A321neo joins the fleet

Lufthansa made this announcement on social media:

Air Canada continues to rebuild its global network with service resuming to key destinations around the world

Air Canada today unveiled additional details of its planned international schedule for this summer, which includes the resumption of 17 routes and 11 destinations across the world from its hubs. The airline is resuming its service betweenย Calgaryย andย Frankfurt, as ofย August 1, up to four times weekly, and is also offering for the first time a unique non-stop service fromย Montrealย toย Cairo, Egypt, three times weekly.

“As travel restrictions ease across the globe, we are committed to rebuild our international network and continue as a global carrier to connectย Canadaย to the world, while also developing additional markets and targeting new opportunities. Canadians are eager to travel again, and we are ready to reunite customers with their families and friends. With vaccination rates globally increasing and our industry-leading CleanCare+ bio-safety protocols, Air Canada has your health and safety as its top priority,” saidย Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

“We are pleased to restart our non-stop service betweenย Calgaryย andย Frankfurt, a key European market for our customers inย Western Canada. This route will operate all year long, connectingย Calgaryย to the world via the global hub ofย our trans Atlantic joint venture partner, Lufthansa, inย Frankfurt. We are also considering additional routes as restrictions continue to loosen,” Mr. Galardo added.

International flight schedule for Summer 2021

Route

Frequency

Start Date

Calgary-Frankfurt

Up to 4x weekly

August 1, 2021

Toronto-Vienna

3x weekly

July 21, 2021

Toronto-Dublin

3x weekly

August 1, 2021

Toronto-Paris

Up to 5x weekly

August 2, 2021

Toronto-Zurich

4x weekly

August 3, 2021

Montreal-Geneva

3x weekly

July 22, 2021

Montreal-Tel Aviv

2x weekly

August 1, 2021

Montreal-London

Up to 4x weekly

August 3, 2021

On top of these upcoming service resumptions, Air Canada has already resumed flights toย Greece,ย United Arab Emiratesย (UAE),ย Italy,ย Spain,ย United Kingdomย andย Moroccoย and will increase frequencies in some of these destinations as of August.

Resumed routes

Route

Frequency

Toronto-Athens

Up to 5x weekly in August

Toronto-Dubai

3x weekly

Toronto-Rome

Up to 4x weekly ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

Toronto-Lisbon

Up to 3x weekly

Montreal-Athens

Up to 5x weekly in August

Montreal-Casablanca

Up to 5x weekly in August

Montreal-Rome

Up to 3x weekly

Montreal-Lisbon

2x weekly

Vancouver-London

Up to daily in August

Airย Canadaย also recently launched its first and unique non-stop service toย Cairoย from itsย Montrealย hub, three times weekly, serving the large Egyptian community established inย Montrealย and throughoutย North America. This new route provides a direct gateway toย Africa and offersย convenient connectivity throughout Canadaย and the U.S. from across Air Canada’s network.

The airline continues to operate to several other destinations including:ย Brussels, Bogotรก,ย Doha,ย Hong Kong,ย Seoul,ย Shanghaiย andย Tokyo. Clickย hereย for the full schedule.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography.

IAI to open a new Boeing 737 conversion plant in Naples, Italy

Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Aviation Group has agreed to establish a passenger to freighter conversion site to convert the Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 passenger aircraft to freighters with the Atitech company, at Atitechโ€™s leading MRO center in Naples, Italy.
ย 
The cargo conversion site in Italy will join two existing cargo conversion sites in China.
ย 
Atitech MRO is a veteran global company with extensive experience in aviation and is certified by the Federal Administration Agency (FAAPart 145) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASAPart 145).ย 
Marco Finelli reporting from Italy.

Norwegian reports a positive passenger traffic trend in June

Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian explorer

Norwegian’s traffic figures for June continue to be heavily influenced by travel restrictions and therefore low demand. However, forward bookings and demand continue to show a positive increase as a greater number of markets unlock and ease restrictions. In July, the number of aircraft and routes will gradually increase.

In June, 225 509 passengers flew with Norwegian, which is approx. 100 percent more than at the same time last year. Compared with June 2020, the total capacity (ASK) has increased by 182 percent and passenger traffic (RPK) up 102 percent. The load factor in June was 62.9 percent, a decrease of 25 percentage points compared with last year.

โ€œJune traffic results still show the impact of low demand due to reduced flying schedules and government imposed travel restrictions. However, we have seen a continued month on month increase in bookings as countries ease restrictions. As a result, we have resumed flights to a number of key European destinations, we will continue to adjust and increase our network and schedules as demand rises.โ€ Said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

Norwegian operated 15 aircraft in June. During the month the company operated 99.9 percent of its scheduled flights, with 94.1 percent departing on time.

Top Copyright Photo: Norwegian.com (Norwegian Air Sweden) Boeing 737-8JP WL SE-RRF (msn 39004) (Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian explorer) ARN (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 954104.

Relaunch of route from Netherlands to Scandinavian Mountains Airport by Great Dane Airlines

Great Dane Airlines Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) OY-GDA (msn 19000213) TFS (Richard Vandervord). Image: 949099.

Scandinavian Mountains Airport made this announcement:

Dutch BBI-Travel will relaunch the route to Scandinavian Mountains Airport starting onย  December 19, 2021. Two days a week, Thursdays and Sundays, Dutch passengers can now travel from Groningen Airport to Sรคlenfjรคllen and Trysil where they can enjoy real winter and skiing. The flights are in cooperation with Great Dane Airlines, which will use the pictured Embraer 195 with room for 118 passengers.

Timetable winter 2021/2022

Video:

Scandinavian Mountains Airport is located on the national border between Sweden’s largest alpine ski area of Sรคlen and Norway’s largest alpine ski resort of Trysil.

The region offers four ski resorts with more than 100,000 beds in hotels, apartments, cottages. The area has 250 pistes and a large selection of restaurants, entertainment, shopping and activities. Scandinavian Mountains Airport is a state-of-the-art airport with remotely controlled air traffic control tower. The terminal building has the capacity to handle four flights at once. Scandinavian Mountains Airport is wholly privately owned by 33 companies.

Top Copyright Photo: Great Dane Airlines Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) OY-GDA (msn 19000213) TFS (Richard Vandervord). Image: 949099.

Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise Antonov An-26 with 28 people crashes in Kamchatka, Siberia

Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise was operating a flight today with 22 passengers and six crew members from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (below) to Palana in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia.

At first. the Antonov An-26B-100 (RA-26085) went missing.

According to the Associated Press:

“Wreckage from a plane that went missing Tuesday in Russiaโ€™s Far East region of Kamchatka was found around five kilometers (three miles) away from a runway at an airport on the coast where it was supposed to land, officials said.

An Antonov An-26 plane with 22 passengers and six crew members, flying from the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the town of Palana on the Okhotsk Sea coast, missed a scheduled communication and disappeared from radar as it was on approach for landing.”

More from the BBC: Dozens missing on plane in Russian Far East Kamchatka peninsula – BBC News

Air Serbia and Luxair establish partnership agreement, Air Serbia increases flights to Montenegro

Air Serbia Airbus A319-132 YU-APE (msn 3252) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 954338.

Air Serbia and Luxair have established a new partnership agreement.

In other news, Air Serbia is increasing the number of flights to Montenegro with this announcement:

Due to high demand, Air Serbia has provided in July a total of 12,340 additional seats on flights to the Montenegrin coast. The Serbian national airline has made additional 10,228 seats available to passengers by introducing 43 round trip flights to Tivat this month. Also, the introduction of a different aircraft type on existing flights on this popular route has made another 2,160 seats available.

With reference to the concerned changes, Air Serbia will operate up to 54 flights a week to Tivat in July, while the number of daily flights on this route will range from six to as many as eight.

In July, Air Serbia plans to operate three daily flights to Podgorica, that is, up to 21 flights a week, and Serbiaโ€™s flag carrier will operate a total of 322 round trip flights to both of its destinations in Montenegro. In order to provide greater capacity, one return flight to Podgorica on Sundays will be performed by an Airbus A330 with 257 seats.

Top Copyright Photo: Air Serbia Airbus A319-132 YU-APE (msn 3252) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 954338.

Air Serbia aircraft slide show:

PLAY arrives in Berlin

Play Airlines announced on social media its first arrival in Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).

Air Canada’s new service between Montreal and Kelowna celebrated at Kelowna International Airport

Air Canada’s newest domestic route with the only nonstop service between Montrealย andย Kelownaย was celebrated atย Kelownaย International Airport today.

The flights operate three times weekly, increasing to four times in mid-July and five times in August. Customers will enjoy Air Canada’s fuel-efficient Airbus A220-300 fleet featuring Business Class and Economy cabins, a modernized in-flight entertainment system with hours of complementary entertainment available at every seat, onboard Wi-Fi and more.

This new route adds to the significant impact Air Canada has on the local economy and that of the province ofย British Columbiaย as a whole. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada contributed approximatelyย $2.2 billionย to BC’s GDP, annually. Additionally,ย Kelownaย is now connected to all four of the airline’s hubs which connects the Okanagan Valley directly to Air Canada’s vast

Airย Canada’sย Airbus A220-300 features 12 Business Class seats and 125 Economy Class seats with upgraded in-flight entertainment at every seat throughout the aircraft.

Fย light

Rย oute

Dย eparture
Time

Arrival
Time

Aircraft

Day of Operation

AC365

Montreal to Kelowna

19:05

21:35

Airbus A220-300

Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

AC364

Kelowna to Montreal

10:00

17:30

Airbus A220-300

Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, Sun

Airย Canada’sย new refund policy of offering customers options of refunds, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours, is applicable to all tickets purchased.

Porter Airlines confirms restart of service to select Canadian destinations beginning September 8

Porter Airlines is officially returning to the skies onย Sept. 8, nearly 18 months after suspending flights due to COVID-19 public health and travel restrictions.

U.S. flights start on September 17 (CNW Group/Porter Airlines)
U.S. flights start on September 17 (CNW Group/Porter Airlines)

The flight schedule is returning in phases, with the initial group of Canadian destinations beingย Halifax,ย Moncton,ย Montreal,ย Ottawa,ย Quebec City,ย St. John’s, NL,ย Thunder Bayย andย Toronto. U.S. destinations inย Boston,ย Chicago,ย New Yorkย andย Washingtonย follow onย Sept. 17.

Approximately 500 team members will be recalled to active status as the first phase of flights are introduced. More staff will be added in subsequent months as flights and destinations return to the schedule.

The initialย flight scheduleย is as follows:

Canadian Routes* Peak daily roundtrips Service start date
Ottawa – Toronto 6 flights Sept. 8
Montreal – Toronto 6 flights Sept. 8
Thunder Bay – Toronto 3 flights Sept. 8
Ottawa – Halifax 2 flights Sept. 13
Montreal – Halifax 1 flight Sept. 13
Quebec City – Toronto 1 flight Sept. 13
Halifax – St. John’s 1 flight Sept. 17
Moncton – Ottawa 1 flight Sept. 17
U.S. Routes*
New York (Newark) – Toronto 6 fights Sept. 17
Boston – Toronto 3 flights Sept. 17
Chicago (Midway) – Toronto 2 flights Sept. 17
Washington (Dulles) – Toronto 1 flight Sept. 17
* All Toronto routes operate at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Schedules vary by day of week.

Flights to other year-round destinations normally operated by Porter are currently available for booking and set to resume as ofย Oct. 6.