From ABC News:
United Airlines is turning to NASCAR pit crews to learn their secrets of quick ramp turnarounds.
Read the full story.
EVA Air operates its last Boeing 747 flight
EVA Air on June 4, 2019 ended its relationship with the Boeing 747. The pictured Boeing 747 B-16407 (msn 27899) operated cargo flight BR 619 from Los Angeles to Taipei.
Previously the airline retired its last passenger Boeing 747-400 on August 21, 2017.
The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747-400 in November 1992. The Jumbo was introduced on December 12, 1992 between Taipei and Los Angeles.
The 747 freighters were replaced with newer Boeing 777F freighters.
Top Copyright Photo: EVA Air Cargo Boeing 747-45EF B-16407 (msn 27899) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 933909.
EVA Air aircraft slide show:
Air Transat announces its winter schedule including New Orleans
Air Transat has announced the new features of its flight program for winter 2019โ2020, effective November 1, and is continuing to develop its service to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, Florida and Louisiana, offering over 30 Sun destinations as well as several European regions. In addition, the carrier will add new Airbus A321neoLR aircraft to its operations this winter.
Even more new routes and destinations
This winter, the airline will introduce new destinations and routes out of several regions of the country. Air Transat will now be the only airline to offer a direct flight from Montreal to New Orleans, Louisiana, with two direct flights per week beginning in November.
In the West, Air Transat will refocus a significant portion of its operations on Vancouver, becoming the only carrier to serve Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida (two direct flights a week). In addition, the airline will offer new flights to San Josรฉ and Liberia, Costa Rica (two flights a week), and reintroduce a direct flight to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
In Ontario, the carrier will increase its presence, including a new direct flight to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, from London. A new direct flight to Santa Clara, Cuba, from Hamilton will also be added, as well as an additional direct flight to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for a total of two direct flights a week.
More flights to Florida and sustained frequency to the Dominican Republic and Mexico
Air Transat will be investing in Florida, with a focus on Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Daily direct flights will now be offered from Montreal during peak season as well as an increased frequency from Quebec City (five direct flights a week).
Air Transat will enhance its program with an additional direct flight to Puerto Plata out of Montreal (five direct flights weekly). Punta Cana will also benefit from an additional direct flight out of Hamilton (two direct flights a week), in addition to existing daily direct flights out of Montreal and Toronto.
To Mexico, Air Transat will be offering an additional direct flight to Puerto Vallarta out of Calgary, for a total of four direct flights a week, in addition to its daily direct flights to Cancun/Riviera Maya from Montreal and Toronto.
Beginning in winter 2019โ2020, Air Transat will fly year-round to Madrid and Malaga, Spain, out of Montreal (two direct flights a week, respectively) as well as out of Toronto and Vancouver through connecting flights in addition to its daily direct flight from Montreal to Paris, France.
Out of Toronto, the airline will offer its two weekly direct flights to Glasgow and Manchester, United Kingdom, year-round and will extend the flight season until mid-January for Barcelona, Spain (two flights a week), and Rome, Italy (two direct flights a week), in addition to offering daily flights to London, United Kingdom.
Domestic and connecting flights for more options
Air Transat’s domestic flights program, which connects several of Canada’s major cities, will offer a wider choice of transatlantic destinations through connecting flights and will also give Canadians a chance to discover their own vast country. The carrier will continue its daily flights between Montreal and Toronto, in addition to its seven direct flights a week between Vancouver and Toronto and its three weekly direct flights between Montreal and Vancouver.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Air Transat Airbus A321-211 C-GEZN (msn 4103) YUL (Gilbert Hechema). Image: 946579.
Air Transat aircraft slide show:
American reaches a milestone at DFW – 900 daily flights
American Airlines made this announcement:
American Airlines completed the next step in its journey of unprecedented growth today as the airlineโs schedule at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) grew to more than 900 daily flights for the first time this summer. The milestone enables more than 9,000 one-stop travel possibilities through DFW โ more than any other airline hub in the world.
As previously announced, American is focused on strengthening its network by expanding operations at its most profitable hubs, with the majority of new flying being added at DFW and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The airline has been incrementally adding 100 flights at DFW this summer, including inaugural service this week to Dublin (DUB); Munich (MUC); and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ). Throughout 2019, American has started service from DFW to 23 new markets and increased service to more than 80 existing markets. This growth marks the airlineโs largest expansion at DFW in more than a decade.
Map: DFW International Airport.
To facilitate the growth at DFW, beginning today, American will operate mainline flights from gates B5 to B12 in Terminal B. These gates were previously used by American Eagle but have been resized to accommodate mainline aircraft and connect more customers. In May, the airline expanded its footprint to include 15 new gates in the Terminal E satellite, which now supports more than 100 daily regional flights for American Eagle service. The completely renovated space includes refreshed ticket counters and gate areas as well as new ramp lighting, moving walkways, elevators and escalators. Later this year, American will also open a new Admirals Club in Terminal E, providing travelers with access to a lounge within any of DFWโs five terminals.
โMore than 104,000 customers will journey through DFW every day this summer and our recent investments ensure DFW will remain a premier gateway while providing customers with a world-class experience,โ said Cedric Rockamore, Vice President of DFW Hub Operations for American. โTo our DFW team members, itโs already been a big summer here at DFW, and I canโt thank you enough for all youโve done to care for our customers and your colleague as part of this journey.โ
American has also been investing in the premium customer experience at DFW. Last month, the airline opened its newest Flagship Lounge. The 35,000-square-foot lounge provides customers traveling in Flagship First and Flagship Business an opportunity to refresh, unwind or work before their flight with quiet spaces for taking a rest, lounge-style seating, luxury showers, ample wireless chargers and a variety of hot and cold entrees. In addition, Flagship First customers have access to Flagship First Dining, Americanโs complimentary, fine-dining restaurant experience.
Americanโs renovated Admirals Club lounge in Terminal D has also re-opened with an updated modern look, more power outlets, showers and space to relax. Guests have access to complimentary food, snacks and beverages, including an exclusive label from master sommelier Bobby Stuckey. The Admirals Club also features local craft beers from breweries in Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.
JetBlue to launch its longest route with its new Airbus A321neo
JetBlue Airways today announced that its new and expanded Guayaquil service, with daily nonstop flights between New Yorkโs John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Guayaquil, Ecuadorโs Josรฉ Joaquรญn de Olmedo International Airport (GYE).
JetBlue will launch the new service on December 5, 2019 (subject to final approvals). Flights will operate daily and the new route will become the longest in the JetBlue network, stretching beyond todayโs longest route by more than 200 nautical miles.
Current routes from New York (JFK):
Guayaquil is the second city in Ecuador JetBlue serves and the sixth JetBlue city in South America overall. The airline first launched daily service between Fort Lauderdale and Quito in 2016. Existing service between Fort Lauderdaleand Guayaquil launched February 2019.
Schedule between New York (JFK) and Guayaquil (GYE)
Beginning December 5, 2019
| JFK – GYE Flight #1769 | GYE – JFK Flight #1770 | |||
| 2:00 p.m. โ 9:04 p.m. | 10:55 p.m. โ 5:13 a.m. (+1) | |||
The new nonstop flight between the Northeast and South America will be made possible by the Airbus A321neoโs extended range and fuel efficiency. JetBlueโs growth in its existing Ecuador market advances the airlineโs leadership position in Latin America and the Caribbean where it serves nearly 40 destinations, and where it currently operates approximately one-third of its flights.
Photo: Airbus.
Inside the aircraft, JetBlueโs award-winning comfort and connectivity will be the focus of the onboard customer experience. The A321neo will feature the Collins Meridian seat โ which is the widest seat available for the single aisle Airbus family of aircraft โ with enhanced cushion comfort, adjustable headrests, power connections at every seat and the most legroom in coach (a). Inflight entertainment will be powered by Thales AVANT and ViaSat-2 connectivity. With this system โ featuring 10.1 inch, 1080P high definition screens, more than 100 channels of live television with DVR-like pause and rewind functionality, picture-in-picture function and more โ JetBlue will offer customers expanded entertainment choices in nearly every region the airline flies (b). JetBlue is the only major U.S.airline with seatback entertainment screens at every seat on every aircraft.
JetBlue Tail Designs:
Business Insider: American Airlines CEO reveals why he engineered 2 of the biggest airline mergers in the last 20 years
From Business Insider:
American Airlines’ current CEO, Doug Parker, originally was the CEO of America West Airlines when he saw an opportunity to grow the company when he saw weakness in a struggling fellow carrier. He acquired and merged bankrupt US Airways with America West. The more appropriate US Airways name and brand was adopted.
Next, another opportunity came when American Airlines went into bankruptcy. Parker orchestrated a buyout and strategic merger of US Airways with American Airlines when it came out of bankruptcy. Once again the larger company’s name was adopted. As a result of the merger, the current day American Airlines is the largest airline in the world.
Peal the paint away of some AA Airbus A320s and you will find the America West roots.
This is really the story of how upstart America West Airlines (a new airline of the deregulation era) under CEO Doug Parker became the largest airline in the world through two acquisitions and two name adoptions.
Read the full story.
Above Copyright Photo: America West Airlines Airbus A320-232 N657AW (msn 1083) LAX (Bruce Drum). Image: 101107.
America West Airlines aircraft slide show:
America West September 7, 2005 Route Map:
KLM takes off to Las Vegas
Today (June 6) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines initiated its Amsterdam-Las Vegas (LAS) route. KLM will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with a capacity of 294 seats per flight on Thursdays and Sundays. Starting July 1, a third weekly flight will be added on Tuesdays.
The new KLM flights will expand on Air France-KLMโs transatlantic network and serve to strengthen the joint venture portfolio with Delta Air Lines.
Photo: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.
KLM will operate its flights to Las Vegas on Thursdays and Sundays. The flights, using a Boeing 787-9, offer thirty seats in World Business Class, forty-five seats in Economy Comfort Class, and 219 seats in Economy Class. In July, we will add a third weekly flight on Tuesdays.
The flight schedule is as follows:
- KL0635 departs from Amsterdam Schiphol at 12:35 and arrives at Las Vegas McCarran International at 14:15 local time.
- KL0636 departs from Las Vegas at 16:05 local time and arrives the next day at 11:05 Amsterdam-Schiphol.
Las Vegas becomes KLMโs 18th North Atlantic destination.
Top Copyright Photo: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner PH-BHP (msn 42506) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 943792.
KLM aircraft slide show:
American Airlines brings D-Day veterans to France for historic commemoration of World War II invasion
American Airlines made this announcement:
Eight veterans of the D-Day invasion, which marked a major turning point in World War II, arrived in France on Monday and Tuesday aboard American Airlines flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA).
The airline hosted many of them and their guests at a luncheon Sunday at the CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. The event included a Color Guard flag presentation and a national anthem performance. After lunch, these esteemed members of the Greatest Generation traveled to Paris (CDG), where they were greeted with cheers, waving flags and a water cannon salute.
โThese veterans fought so bravely to give us the freedom to fly that we have today,โ said Philippe Serafino, General Manager at CDG for American Airlines. โOur team members in Paris are always looking for ways โ big and small โ to express their infinite gratitude to the individuals who fought to liberate France and serve the Allied cause during the war.โ
In Paris, the group, which includes two veterans who havenโt been back to Normandy since the days following June 6, 1944, will join their fellow soldiers, sailors and airmen to observe reenactments of the invasion and participate in ceremonies commemorating their bravery and service to the nation and the world.
โI feel this will be closure for me because I had turned down going a long time ago,โ said Jack Gutman, a U.S. Navy corpsman first class on D-Day. โHaving my son with me to experience what I went through and for him to see it in a different light and understand what I went through is so important to me.โ
โIโm overwhelmed and speechless,โ added Carl Felton, a U.S. Navy petty officer first class on D-Day. โI couldnโt be more excited and more humbled with all of the praise that has been heaped upon us.โ
The flights and luncheon are part of a larger initiative American is supporting alongside Let Freedom Ring, a nonprofit organization founded by D-Day veteran George Ciampa, who is on the trip. Four American team members are also volunteering their personal time to accompany the D-Day veterans in support of that organization.
โAfter serving 27 years and multiple deployments, I have a small sense of sacrifice these World War II veterans gave to this country,โ said ORD-based First Officer John Gorse, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force who is on the trip. โTheir service truly saved the world from the darkest of days. Iโm sure the feeling they felt on that day 75 years ago will come rushing back and there is no way to describe that terror. They survived so we could survive as a nation.โ
All photos by American Airlines.
Delta honored to fly veterans to 75th D-Day festivities in France
Delta people had the privilege of serving real-life heroes this week, as more than a dozen American veterans of World War II re-crossed the Atlantic to commemorate the 75thanniversary of the D-Day landings in France.
First up was the remarkable Tom Rice, who as a paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division made the momentous jump into Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944. This week, the 97-year-old will again parachute into Normandy in a tandem jump to commemorate the anniversary of the World War II turning point, and his story is being followed by a CNN documentary crew and other international media.
A native of Coronado, Calif., Rice received a hero’s send off as he departed Los Angeles for Paris with his family on Thursday. A color guard made up of Delta employee veterans stood by as he was escorted into the gate area to applause from Delta employees and customers. The welcome was followed by a brief presentation to honor Tom for his heroism, as well as a water cannon salute for the aircraft as it departed LAX.
“75 years ago, Tom dropped into Normandy on D-Day, so the words ‘awesome’ and ‘hero,’ which are thrown around all too often, truly apply to this person and this story,” said Kevin Teel, LAX Chief Pilot.
Added LAX-based Captain Pat McCormick, who was the captain of the flight that day, “This is a chance to be with a generation that we’ll never be able to thank enough. Delta has the privilege of sponsoring Tom over to Paris and back, and this is one way to say thank you for the sacrifice and commitment he made with the 101st Airborne.
“I’ll be crossing over the channel a little faster than he did the first time, and my request is that Tom stay on this airplane until we get to Paris,” McCormick joked.
Rice said later of the trip, “Itโs been a marvelous experience, probably one of the greatest things to happen to me in my life.”ย โ
In Atlanta, Delta served 14 energetic U.S. World War II veterans ranging from ages 93 to 102, also on their way to Normandy via Paris. The group was traveling with Forever Young, a Tennessee-based charity for senior military veterans.
The veterans, including U.S. Army and Navy and one former prisoner of war, came from across the country to meet in Atlanta for their flight to Paris. A celebration featuring balloons, American flags and a snack cart was held in the gate area to honor the heroes. Several customers made their way to the veterans to take photos with them.
After an announcement to recognize the veterans for their heroism, they were escorted down the jet bridge to applause from Delta employees and customers. During the flight Captain McCormickย gave a brief announcement detailing each veterans’ role during World War II and explaining the purpose of the Forever Young flight.
Bombardier statement on the CRJ program
Bombardier issued this statement:
Bombardier has recently stated it would explore strategic options for the CRJ Program.ย From time to time, this may lead to discussions with potential counterparties.ย While Bombardier does not generally comment publicly on market speculation or rumors, in light of recent media reports, Bombardier believes it is prudent to advise stakeholders that it is in discussions with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. with respect to its CRJ Program.ย We will not further comment on the nature of the discussions.
Before any agreement can be reached further review and analysis by Bombardier management and approval by Bombardier’s Board of Directors are required, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. must complete its due diligence review and own analysis and approval process, which are outside of Bombardier’s control. There can be no assurance that any such discussions will ultimately lead to an agreement.
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