Kenya Airways will restore the Nairobi – London (Heathrow) route on June 26, 2021.
Flights were suspended on April 9, 2021.
Route Map:
Video:
Top Copyright Photo: Kenya Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner 5Y-KZE (msn 36042) ZRH (Ton Jochems). Image: 942202.
Kenya Airways aircraft slide show:
Hawaiian Airlines has announced the resumption of its Tahiti service following the launch of a pre-travel testing program between Hawaiสปi and French Polynesia that allows for quarantine-free travel within the two archipelagos. Beginning Aug. 7, Hawaiian will reinstate once-weekly nonstop flying between Honoluluโs Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Tahitiโs Fa’a’ฤ International Airport (PPT), utilizing its 278-seat Airbus A330 aircraft.
Hawaiian has served as the leading carrier for Hawaiสปi-Tahiti air travel since its inaugural service in June 1987. The airline suspended its PPT service flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic. The carrierโs resumption of flights is made possible by the new pre-travel testing program established by Hawaiสปi Gov. David Ige and French Polynesia President รdouard Fritch โ a result of low COVID-19 cases within the two destinations.
Both Hawaiสปi and French Polynesia will implement strict travel requirements for resident and visitor safety. Those traveling inbound from PPT to HNL must complete and upload a negative test result from the Institut Louis Malardรฉ, a state-approved testing partner, to the state of Hawaiสปiโsย Safe Travels program. Guests traveling outbound to PPT from HNL will need to provide proof of vaccination and have fulfilledย the government of Tahiti’s COVID-19 entry requirementsย prior to travel. Those not compliant will be subject to a 10-day quarantine.
Hawaiian Airlines flight HA481 will depart HNL at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7 and arrive at PPT at 9:30 p.m. Flight HA482 will depart PPT at 11:30 p.m. the same evening and arrive into HNL at 5:15 a.m. the following day.
Meanwhile the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (N780HA) has been painted by Boeing at North Charleston, SC site pending delivery.
Looking back: A photo from the past:
Air France on June 18 took delivery of its 10th Airbus A350-900. The aircraft, registration F-HTYK, rolled off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse and took off for Paris-Charles de Gaulle, where it will operate on the airline’s long-haul routes.
The front of the fuselage bears the name ‘Aubusson’, named after the town in the Creuse region of France, whose tapestries are famous throughout the world. Since 2019 and the delivery of the first Airbus A350, Air France has resumed the legendary tradition of naming its aircraft after French cities. Aubusson is the 46th city to be honored in this way.
In a few days’ time, โAubussonโ will be joined at Paris-Charles de Gaulle by โCannesโ, Air Franceโs 11th Airbus A350.
Renewing the Air France fleet, a powerful way of reducing its environmental footprint
With the Airbus A350-900, Air France is accelerating the change towards more sustainable air transport, in line with itsย HORIZON 2030ย commitments.
The latest-generation A350 consumes 25% less fuel than previous-generation aircraft (i.e. 2.5 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres) thanks in particular to the use of 67% lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.
Between now and 2025, Air France will take delivery of 38 Airbus A350s to modernize its long-haul fleet.
The renewal of the short and medium-haul fleet will begin in September, with the delivery of the first of the 60 Airbus A220s ordered by Air France.
A new definition of comfort
The Air France Airbus A350 has 324 seats, with 34 in the Business cabin, 24 in the Premium Economy cabin and 266 in the Economy cabin.
On board, customers enjoy:
In other news, on June 17, 2021, Air France started the trial of IATA Travel Pass on flights from New York-JFK and Barcelona-BCN to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. With this experiment, the airline seeks to offer its passengers an improved customer experience by streamlining the checking of COVID-19 test results.Available on smartphones, IATA Travel Pass app enables travelers to:
IATA Travel Pass should also bring greater speed and efficiency to the checks performed at the airport.
This trial is free of charge for customers and offered on a voluntary basis. It is open to customers traveling on Air France-operated flights with Paris as their final destination from New York JFK until 8 July, and from Barcelona BCN until 30 June 2021.
IATA Travel Pass meets the strictest data protection requirements. All the userโs health details remain on the app: at no point are they transmitted or centrally stored, which assures the user of total control over all their personal data.
The trial marks a further step in making travel simple and reliable again and highlights Air Franceโs commitment to exploring the best options available to provide its customers with the highest level of health and safety.
These efforts have notably been recognized by a 4-star score at the Skytrax Covid-19 Airline Safety rating, and more recently by a Diamond Award at the APEX Health Safety rating powered by SimpliFlying.
Passengers traveling to Corsica and the French Overseas Departments on departure from Paris-Orly airport can already present their proof of vaccination and the results of a COVID-19 ย test using the state-supported TousAntiCovid App, which will be compatible with the European Green Pass which will come into force on 1 July, 2021.
La Compagnie made this announcement:
La Compagnie is pleased to announce the gradual resumption of its all business-class flights with the launch of two new routes.
Skyalps (skyalps.com) (Sky Alps Tour Operator Srl) is a new Italian virtual airline based in Bolzano (BZO), the entry point for the Italian Alps (below).
South Tyrolian entrepreneur Josef Gostner originally planned to launch Skyalps in May 2020 but it has been delayed due to COVD-19 and restrictive borders.
The new airline finally was able to commence scheduled passenger operations on June 17, 2021 from Bolzano to Ibiza via Parma/Emilia-Romagna. The flight was operate by LuxWing of Malta using their Dash 8 9H-BEL (ex G-ECOK). A second Q400 (9H-EVA, ex G-ECOO) is also joining the fleet.
A charter flight was operated previously on June 6, 2021.
The carrier is also starting the Bolzano – Parma – Rome (Fiumicino) route on June 18.
Darwin Airline ceased theirย flightsย toย Rome for Alitalia on June 18, 2015 leaving Bolzano Airport again without any scheduled commercial traffic.
The new airline also plans to serve Olbia (twice-weekly), Berlin (BER) (twice-weekly) and Dusseldorf (twice-weekly) later this month.
Emirates is ramping up its operations and expanding services across its network to meet strong leisure travel demand over the summer, as entry restrictions ease forย travelers. The airline has been gradually and safely rebuilding its route network and advancing its strategy to optimize its presence in key markets to serve leisure and growing business travel demand, as well as segments of travelers visiting friends and relatives. Today, Emirates serves 115 global passenger destinations, and by the end of July, it will have recovered close to 90% of its pre-pandemic network, operating 880 weekly services across 124 cities.
The airline will resume services to seven cities in July including: Venice on July 1; Phuket, Nice, Orlando and Mexico City on July 2; Lyon on July 9 and Malta on July 14. Emirates will also launch flights to Miami, starting July 22.
More flights to top destinations
Across its network, the airline willย boost capacity and expand its schedules by layering on frequencies for the summer, connecting more customers with popular destinations and adding more choice and convenience as they plan their long-awaited holidays.
Emirates will be adding frequencies to 12 cities across Europe, Africa and North America as more destinations re-open for international visitors, and offer quarantine free travel. Emirates destinations with enhanced schedules for July and August include: German cities Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg; Zurich; Vienna; Prague; Madrid; Stockholm; Brussels; Lisbon; Chicago and Tunis. In Europe, the airline currently flies to more than 30 cities in 20 countries including popular holiday destinations Greece, Spain, Italy, France and Malta, which offer quarantine free arrivals.
In the United States, with rapid vaccine rollouts and the reopening of air travel at a rate outpacing the world, Emirates will continue to build its presence.ย With the addition of Miami to its network in July, Emirates will operate over 70 weekly flights to the US, offering over 26,000 seats across 12 gateways including Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK and Newark), Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and Orlando.ย The airline is also ramping up its trans-Atlantic operations Milan-New York and Athens-Newark to meet large passenger volumes and high demand across its premium cabins.
An expanded A380 summer network
Emirates will also boost its A380 network this summer, bringing its flagship experience to 15 cities on 129 weekly services. During the summer, the airline plans to activate over 30 of its A380s to augment its 151 strong fleet of Boeing 777s. The Emirates A380 experience continues to be sought after by customers, with many going out of their way to book their travel on an Emirates A380 for its signature products, spaciousness, quietness and unmatched levels of comfort.
Emirates will be deploying the A380 to the following cities during the summer period: Cairo, Jeddah, Amman, Guangzhou, London Heathrow, Manchester, Frankfurt, Vienna, Paris, Munich, Moscow, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Toronto. Stepping up of deployment of the A380 demonstrates the importance of the aircraft to Emiratesโ recovery and growth strategy. The A380 ensures the efficient use of capacity on high demand routes, and enables Emirates to deliver its sought-after A380 experience to more customers, helping the airline to maintain its leadership position in key cities across its network.
From Reuters:
Cathay Pacific is working with Airbus to introduce “reduced crew” long-haul flights with a sole pilot in the cockpit much of the time, industry sources told Reuters.”
Read the full article: EXCLUSIVE Cathay working with Airbus on single-pilot system for long-haul | Reuters
(PRNewsfoto/Cathay Pacific Airways)
Boeing’s 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, today (June 18, 2021) completed a successful first flight. The airplane took off from Renton Fieldย inย Renton, Washington, atย 10:07 a.m.ย and landedย atย 12:38 p.m. at Boeing Field inย Seattle.
“The airplane performed beautifully,” said 737 Chief Pilot Capt.ย Jennifer Henderson. “The profile we flew allowed us to test the airplane’s systems, flight controls and handling qualities, all of which checked out exactly as we expected.”
MAX-10 First Flight Takeoff Renton
Photo: Boeing.
Today’s flight was the start of a comprehensive test program for the 737-10. Boeing will work closely with regulators to certify the airplane prior to its scheduled entry into service in 2023.
The 737-10 can carry up to 230 passengers. It also incorporates environmental improvements, cutting carbon emissions by 14 percent and reducing noise by 50 percent compared to today’s Next-Generation 737s.
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future and living the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.
Credit: Stephen M. Keller, 2021
Southwest Airlines just announced:
Southwest Airlines today celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its first flight by thanking Employees by offering a gift of 50,000 Southwest Rapid Rewardsยฎ points. The Nationโs largest domestic carrier also unveiled Freedom One, a Boeing 737-800 (Boeing 737-8H4 N500WR, msn 36898) emblazoned with a stylized flag of the United States of America.
โThe word โfreedomโ has significant meaning to the People and history of Southwest Airlines,โ said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlinesโ Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. โWeโre eternally grateful to those who have served and are currently serving in our Armed Forcesโ including the more than 7,400 veterans and 1,500 military spouses in our Southwest Family. Our Purpose is to connect People to whatโs important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel. We simply couldnโt fulfill our Purpose if not for the sacrifices and dedication of our military men and women. We appreciate their service and bravery in providing a blanket of freedom for our country.โ
Freedom One was unveiled to Southwestยฎ Employees during a Company celebration at the Southwest Airlinesยฎ Technical Operations Hangar at William P. Hobby International Airport in Houston, where attendees included Southwest Military Ambassadors, Military Council, winners of the Companyโs prestigious Presidentโs Award, and others. Military Ambassadors are Southwest Employees who are veterans and military spouses. They serve as a resource for the Company to foster inclusion for veterans and service members.
The specialty plane features 50 stars and 13 stripes and becomes a high-flying tribute to 50 years of Southwest Airlines service with a symbol of unwavering pride for our Nation and its heroes. It is the first Boeing 737-800 to join the airlineโs unique paint schemes. Other special paint schemes on Southwest Boeing 737-700s include: Arizona One, California One, Colorado One, Florida One, Illinois One, Lone Star One (Texas), Louisiana One, Maryland One, Missouri One, Nevada One, New Mexico One, and Tennessee One.
Before unveiling Freedom One, Kelly announced Southwest is offering an Employee gift to recognize and appreciate active Southwest Employees in the milestone moment for Southwest Airlines: 50,000 Rapid Rewards bonus points deposited later this year into the account of each Employee who chooses to accept the gift.
โSouthwest revolutionized the travel industry since our very first flight on June 18, 1971โa time when less than 15% of Americans ever had traveled by air,โ said Kelly at the Employee celebration. โThe People of Southwest democratized the skies with friendly, reliable, and affordable air travel, and what better way to honor you, our Employees, on our 50th Anniversary than by offering a gift of 50,000 Rapid Rewards points.โ
Southwestโs first flights operated on what was known as the Texas Triangle, between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Throughout the next fifty years, Southwest grew to become the nationโs largest domestic airline, carrying up to 1 in the 4 travelers in the United States. Today, Southwest operates one of the worldโs largest fleets of Boeing 737s, serves 121 destinations throughout North America, Employs more than 56,000 People, and is consistently ranked among the best airlines and best employers in the world.
| June 18, 1971 | Southwest Airlines begins service to DAL, SAT, and IAH. Our flight schedule starts with six roundtrips DAL-SAT and 12 roundtrips DAL-IAH with $20 one-way fares. |
The early intrastate routes in Texas:
Following the Southwest Employee celebration, Freedom One departed Houston, headed for Dallas. Pilots and Flight Attendants onboard are Southwest Employees who served in the military or in the reserves. Additionally, a military veteran dispatched the flight from Southwestโs Network Operations Control facility in Dallas. As the aircraft approached Dallas, it followed the Federal Aviation Administrationโs HERBZ navigational flight path to the airport, recently named in honor of Southwest Founder Herb Kelleher.
Video: The painting of N500WR:
Eurowings Discover is the new leisure carrier of the Lufthansa Group. The first Airbus A330-200 now has titles in the basic Eurowings livery (above).
Details for the new division:
EW Discover GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Starting in the summer of 2021, the new airline will fly its guests to the most beautiful vacation destinations as Eurowings Discover: to the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, to South Africa and North America.
Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Discover Airbus A330-203 D-AXGB (msn 684) MUC (Arnd Wolf). Image: 954160.
You must be logged in to post a comment.