Southwest Airlines’ mechanics approve a new contract, ending a long impasse

Southwest Airlines has announced the Company’s Mechanics and Related Employees, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), have voted to ratify a new tentative agreement.

“Our Mechanics will receive well-deserved pay increases, and the Company will realize additional flexibilities necessary to compete in today’s airline industry,” said Vice President of Labor Relations Russell McCrady. “This new contract benefits all parties as it takes care of our People and preserves the long-term health of Southwest Airlines.”

Our 2,400 Mechanics and Related Employees will immediately be covered by the ratified contract, which will become amendable in April 2024.

WestJet to fly the Dreamliner to Maui

WestJet today revealed its winter Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner schedule, announcing the state-of-the-art aircraft will now fly between Calgary and Maui and will operate an additional day to London (Gatwick) this winter.

WestJet revealed its winter 787-9 Dreamliner schedule, announcing the state-of-the-art aircraft will now fly between Calgary and Maui and will operate an additional day to London (Gatwick) this winter (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

As part of the schedule release, WestJet also announced the 787-9 Dreamliner will be operate daily service between Toronto and London (Gatwick) starting October 23, 2019.

WestJet flies between Calgary and Maui up to six times weekly, or up to four times weekly on the Dreamliner, with service launching October 31, 2019. In addition, WestJet’s Dreamliner will operate between Calgary and London (Gatwick) four times weekly starting October 27, 2019. WestJet currently flies daily between Calgary and Gatwick. WestJet already serves more destinations with more flights from Calgary than any other airline, and these additions augment WestJet’s continued investment growth in the Calgary and Alberta economies.

The WestJet Dreamliner features 320 seats in three cabins: business, premium and economy, all of which contain a high-level of comfort and WestJet’s award-winning guest service. The Dreamliner’s Business cabin features all-aisle-access, lie-flat seats with on-demand dining and entertainment. The upscale Premium cabin is the ideal combination of comfort, value and guest service including a separate cabin, elevated meal service and signature welcome perks featuring champagne and amenity case. WestJet’s improved Economy cabin features on-demand inflight entertainment, blankets and pillows and complimentary food and beverages with a select number of extra legroom seats available for purchase.

Route	Frequency	Departing	Arriving	Effective
Calgary – Kahului	Up to six- times weekly	11 a.m	2:27 p.m	October 31, 2019
Kahului – Calgary	Up to six- times weekly	10:30 p.m	7:14 a.m.+1	October 31, 2019
Calgary – London (Gatwick)	Four-times weekly	7:45 p.m	11:20 a.m.+1	October 27, 2019
London (Gatwick) – Calgary	Four-times weekly	1:20 p.m	3:25 p.m	October 28, 2019
Toronto – London (Gatwick)	Daily	8:50 p.m	9:10 a.m.+1	October 23, 2019
London (Gatwick) – Toronto	Daily	11:10 a.m	1:57 p.m	October 24, 2019

Top Copyright Photo: WestJet Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner C-GUDO (msn 64976) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 945843.

WestJet aircraft slide show:

Air India to operate the Boeing 747-400 on two domestic routes in June

Air India, with the demise of Jet Airways, is scheduling the Boeing 747-400 on two mainline domestic routes from Delhi during the month of June.

According to Airline Route, the carrier will assign the Jumbo to two daily routes from Delhi; Kolkata and Mumbai, starting on June 1.

The Boeing 747-400 fleet is now down to only four aircraft.

The type is also operated on high-density Hajj pilgrimage charters, mainly between government charters.

Air India has not indicated when it plans to retire the last four aircraft.

Air India aircraft slide show:

Fortune: At Boeing, the flap over one tiny light indicates much larger flaws

From Fortune:

By Cyrus Sanati.

“Are Boeing planes really “pilot’s planes” anymore?

The aerospace giant has long enjoyed a reputation for building “pilot’s planes,” where nothing got between a pilot and their ability to fully control their aircraft. That’s why a failed cockpit warning light and a flawed avionics software program in their new 737-Max aircraft has received so much condemnation in recent days from aviation experts. It showed that Boeing was not only sloppy, but that they had quietly reneged on their long-running promise to keep pilots as the masters of the cockpit.”

Read the full report.

CNBC: Boeing shares rise after report that a bird strike may have caused 737 MAX crash

From CNBC:

“The Wall Street Journal says some U.S. aviation officials believe a bird strike may have caused a Boeing 737 MAX to crash in March.”

Read the full report.

EVA Air to retire its last Boeing 747-400F freighter in June

EVA Air Cargo is planning to operate its last scheduled Boeing 747-400 cargo flight in June.

According to Airline Route, the last two flights are currently scheduled for June 2 between both Los Angeles and Bangkok and the Taipei (Taoyuan) base.

The airline operated the Boeing 747-400 passenger flight on August 21, 2017 between Hong Kong and Taipei.

Top Copyright Photo: EVA Air Cargo Boeing 747-45EF B-16407 (msn 27899) ANC (Michael B. Ing). Image: 946574.

EVA Air aircraft slide show:

American Airlines eliminates oversize bag fees for sports and music equipment

American Airlines has made this announcement:

As the busy summer travel period quickly approaches, American Airlines has announced changes to its policies regarding oversize sports and music equipment. American is eliminating oversize bag fees for common sports and music equipment, effective for travel on or after May 21. The updated policies, which will be music to the ears of musicians who fly on American, will also ensure that customers can more easily pursue active and healthy lifestyles wherever their travels may take them, without having to pay additional oversize bag fees.

Customers can check common oversize sports and music equipment as standard baggage, up to the maximum allowed dimensions and within the weight requirements. Refer to the full policy for additional information.

Download the video »

What you should know

Based on feedback from our customers and American team members, American is eliminating the charge for common oversize sports and music equipment — up to the maximum size we accept for these items. The change is effective for travel on or after May 21.
American will accept these oversize items as a standard checked bag without an additional oversize charge.
The checked oversize bag counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers traveling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers traveling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50 lbs./62 in.).
Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee.
Additional allowances/restrictions may apply based on destination, class of service, elite status, active U.S. military members or AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American-operated itineraries).

The Seattle Times: Kirkland consultant questioned for six hours in criminal probe of Boeing 737 MAX crashes

By Steve Miletich. Read the full story.

Finnair and China Southern launch codeshare cooperation that brings five new destinations for Finnair customers in China

Finnair and China Southern Airlines have agreed on new codeshare partnership starting on June 1, 2019. The cooperation includes the Finnair route between Guangzhou and Helsinki, and selected China Southern destinations in China.

The new codeshare partnership adds five new destinations to Finnair´s network in China, and customers will be able to connect with China Southern from Guangzhou to Changsha (CSX), Chongqing (CKG), Hangzhou (HGH), Nanjing (NKG), Sanya (SYX), Wenzhou (WNZ), Xiamen (XMN) and Xi´an (XIY).

In addition, China Southern code CZ will be added to Finnair flights from Helsinki to several popular destinations in Europe: Amsterdam (AMS), Billund (BLL), Copenhagen (CPH), Goteborg (GOT), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Riga (RIX) and Stockholm (ARN).

The new codeshare flights can be booked from May 21, 2019 onwards.

Finnair recently moved to the new Terminal 2 in Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Terminal 2 is optimised and designed for smooth transfer traffic. This this move also supports the codeshare collaboration between Finnair and China Southern, who offers extensive domestic connections from Guangzhou onwards.

Airbus celebrates delivery of its 12,000th aircraft – an A220-100 to Delta Air Lines

Airbus celebrated the delivery of its 12,000^th aircraft ever in its 50-year history. The aircraft was an A220-100, assembled in Mirabel, Canada and handed over to U.S.-based Delta Air Lines.

The aircraft is the 12^th A220 delivered to date to Delta Air Lines since the carrier received its first A220 in October 2018. The A220 started scheduled service with Delta in February 2019. Delta is the first U.S. airline to operate the A220 and is the largest A220 customer, with a firm order for 90 aircraft.

This milestone delivery of a Canadian-made Airbus aircraft to a U.S.-based airline highlights the growing presence of Airbus in North America. Since Airbus’ leadership of the A220 program became effective on July 1, 2018, ground was broken in January this year in Mobile, Alabama for the construction of a second A220 final assembly line, set to start deliveries to U.S. customers in 2020.

Airbus delivered its first aircraft, an A300B2 to Air France, back in 1974. Fast forward to 2010, Airbus handed over its 6,000^th aircraft, 36 years after its first. The pace continued to accelerate, taking Airbus just nine years to double that number, reaching 12,000^th Airbus aircraft delivery on May 20, 2019.