Opinion by Dana Milbank of the Washington Post. To read the column CLICK HERE
From Wikipedia:
Daniel Kevin Elwell is the Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in addition to running the Next Generation Air Transportation System.
Appointed by President Donald Trump to become the FAA Deputy Administrator in June 2017, Elwell was promoted to Acting Administrator on January 7, 2018.
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Southwest Airlines hasย announced during its Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Denver, Colorado, that it intends to begin construction on its first maintenance hangar at the Denver International Airport this summer.
The nearly $100 million investment will allow Southwest’s Mechanics to work on up to three aircraft inside the 130,000 square-foot hangar. There will be parking and facilities outside the hangar for eight additional aircraft. Ground breaking is expected to occur within the next few months and the hangar is anticipated to be completed in late 2020.
The facility can house the 75 Technical Operations Employees currently working in Denver, who are responsible for maintaining Southwest’s all Boeing 737 fleet. Once opened, it’ll join the six other hangars located in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Orlando, and Phoenix. Overall, the Carrier employs more than 4,000 People within its Technical Operations department.
Southwest carries more local travelers to and from Denver than any other carrier. Denver International Airport is also one of the carrier’s top five airports in terms of daily departures in its network of more than 100 cities and offers up to 224 daily departures for sale to nearly 70 nonstop destinations. The carrier employs 4,200 People in Denver.
Images: Southwest Airlines.
airBaltic has concluded a cooperation agreement, known as a codeshare agreement, with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The airBaltic and SAS partnership will offer convenient connections between Latvia, Scandinavia and beyond.ย
airBaltic will put its code BT on flights connecting Riga and Alesund, Bergen, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim via such common gateways as Oslo and Copenhagen airport. SAS will place its flight code SK on direct flights from Stockholm Arlanda, Copenhagen and Oslo airports and vice versa, ensuring transportation between Scandinavian capitals and Riga, as well as connecting traffic from SASโs whole network and Riga via its three hubs.
airBaltic serves over 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius, offering the largest variety of destinations and convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East. In summer season 2019, airBaltic has launched new destinations from Riga to Dublin, Stuttgart and Lviv as well as to Kos and Menorca.
Finnair and the Shanghai-based Juneyao Air have agreed on a new codeshare cooperation on the route operated by Juneyao Air and Finnair between Helsinki and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), as well as on selected Juneyao routes in China and selected Finnair routes in Finland. The new codeshare agreement adds eight new destinations to Finnairโs network in China.
From June 28, 2019 onwards Finnair customers can connect with Juneyao Air from Shanghai to Harbin, Shenyang, Dalian, Qingdao, Xiยดan, Chongqing, Kunming, Xiamen and Fuzhou. In addition, the Finnair code will be added on Juneyao Air routes between Nanjing and Xiยดan, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie. At the same time, Juneyao Air code will be added to Finnairยดs route between Shanghai and Helsinki, and to Finnairโs domestic routes from Helsinki to Ivalo, Rovaniemi, Kemi, Kuopio and Oulu. The Finnish Lapland has become a popular destination for Chinese tourists.
These new codeshare flights can be booked from May 16, 2019.
In other news, Finnair yesterday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first long-haul route to New York:
May 15 is the anniversary of our first long haul flight. We opened the route to New York 50 years ago. The flight to New York departed on May 15, 1969 at 10.30. The route anniversary was celebrated at Helsinki Airport.
Top Copyright Photo: Juneyao Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner B-1115 (msn 64312) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 943661.
Juneyao Airlines aircraft slide show:
Britten Norman has made this announcement:
Britten-Norman has two new BN2B-26 Islanders on its production line for the Falkland Islands Government Aviation Service (FIGAS) โ bringing the serviceโs fleet to a total of six Islanders by the time the second aircraft is delivered.
The investment, approved by the islandsโ Government, will be used to meet the Falklandsโ increasing popularity as a tourist destination. Passenger numbers have risen from 5,800 in 2011/12 to 8,800 in 2017/18 โ a trend that FIGAS expects to continue in the future.
The first of the two new aircraft will be delivered in the summer, with the second scheduled for early 2020. Both Islanders are in the commuter role, equipped with the Gamin G600TXi avionics suite, System 55X Autopilot and Spidertracks. Britten-Normanโs team of expert avionics engineers will deliver Garmin Avionics Training in the Falklands upon the first aircraftโs arrival.
FIGAS has operated Islanders since October 1979. The service has gradually evolved from air ambulance and mail service in 1948 to passengers, freight, fishery patrol and scenic flights, with tourists and local passengers making up most of the traffic. The Islanderโs performance as a high-frequency and short-flight platform makes it the ideal aircraft for hopping to almost 30 different airfields located in the Falkland Islandsโ East and West mainlands.
FIGAS currently operates five Britten-Norman BN-2B Islanders.
All photos by FIGAS.
Map of the Falkland Islands (Google Maps):
The capital of Stanley and the airport at the top:
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Two de Havilland Canada float planes flying cruise passengers on sightseeing trips to Misty Fjords National Monument collided Monday near Ketchikan, AK.
Mountain Air Service Randy Sullivan (below) died in the crash along with five passengers. Theย 6 that died were on the Mountain Air Service DHC-2 Beaver.
10 people were injured and treated on the other aircraft, a Taquan Air DHC-3 Otter which carried 11 people.
Taquan Air issued this statement:
The Taquan family is devastated by Monday’s events and we are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from our neighbors and friends from around the world. We are grieving the loss of life suffered in this tragic incident and our hearts go out to the passengers, pilots and families of both flights.
We are so grateful to the Coast Guard, first responder’s, the FAA, and NTSB for their tireless efforts. We would also like to thank the community of Ketchikan and our tour partners across the state for their support.
On Monday, May 13, 2019, at 12:26 p.m. local time, a de Havilland Otter operated by Taquan Air was involved in an accident approximately eight (8) nautical miles from Ketchikan, AK. The flight was returning from a Misty Fjords tour and carried ten guests and the pilot. A second float plane was also involved in an incident.
The U.S. Coast Guard and local search and rescue teams have confirmed that nine (9) of the guests and the pilot on the Taquan Air plane have been rescued and are receiving medical attention with the condition of one (1) guest still unknown.
We are devastated by this news and our hearts go out to our passengers and their families. At this time, we are in the midst of an active crisis response, and our focus is on assisting these passengers, the pilot, our staff, their families and loved ones, and first responders.
Taquan Air has suspended all scheduled flights and is cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other authorities to examine every aspect of this event.
In addition to the NTSB, FAA, and U.S. Coast Guard, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the first responders, and the entire Ketchikan community for their support in the rescue effort.
Read the full report from NBC News: CLICK HERE
Video:
https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Turkey/ACT-Airlines/i-xZ2b348/A
Cathay Pacific Airways has delayed its first payment to the HNA Group for its HK Express subsidiary.
According to the report by Forbes, the payment was held up due to a questionable purchase of three Boeing 747-400F freighters that have not yet been disposed.
HK Express leased two Boeing 747-400F freighters to ACT Airlines (top) and the third is operated by Suparna Airlines according to the report.
Read the full report.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airlines): ACT Airlines Boeing 747-428F ER TF-ACR (msn 32866) IST (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 943472.
ACT Airlines aircraft slide show:
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A new video from United Airlines:
Go behind the scenes of our photoshoot in the sky.
Amazon has announced it will build its primary hub on the south side of the airfield at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG).
Amazonโs $1.4 billion investment will support a fleet of 100+ Prime Air cargo planes.
CVG, state and local officials worked with Amazon on a deal to:
โข Lease more than 900 acres of CVG land for 50+ years
โข Construct three million square feet of buildings
โข Add more than 2,700 jobs to CVGโs existing base of 10,000
The expected activity and landed weight of Amazonโs operations will enable CVG to continue lowering its landing fees, benefiting all carriers while ensuring CVG remains a great place to do business.
The Air Hub at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport will open in 2021.
Recently, Amazon also announced a gateway operation to launch in Wilmington, Ohio, in 2019 as well as an expanded operation in Rockford, Illinois.
In addition, Amazon issued this story:
On May 14, Amazon broke ground for a new Air Hub located in Hebron, KY at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The Air Hub will open in 2021 as part of the company’s commitment to ensure fast, free shipping for customers.
Amazon first set roots in Kentucky in 1999 when it opened two fulfillment centers. Today, Kentucky is home to 14 Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers, one customer service center and two Whole Foods Market stores. Amazon has invested more than $8 billion in the state and created more than 12,500 full-time jobs.
โOur new Amazon Air hub, opening in 2021, is part of our continued investment in Prime to ensure we have the capacity required for continued outstanding service for our customers,โ said Sarah Rhoads, director, Amazon Air. โWeโre proud to call Kentucky home for our air hub, creating more than 2,000 jobs in this fantastic community.โ
โThe commonwealth of Kentucky is thrilled to celebrate this historic day, as Amazon officially breaks ground on its $1 billion-plus Amazon Air Hub,โ said Kentucky Governor, Matt Bevin. โThis massive project at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will be revolutionary for the regionโs workforce and for our stateโs overall economy. We are grateful for Amazonโs long-term commitment to Kentucky, and we are proud to see this momentous new endeavor take flight.โ
“A vibrant airport with a strong air cargo footprint improves the economic vitality of our region,โ said Candace McGraw, CEO, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. โWe are grateful to the Amazon team for locating its Central Air Cargo Hub at CVG. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.โ
โTodayโs ground-breaking ceremony celebrating Amazon Airโs investment in Boone County, Kentucky, at CVG is a fantastic next step for this historic project,โ said Judge/Executive Gary Moore, Boone County, Kentucky. โAs one of Kentuckyโs fastest-growing counties, I am enthusiastic about what this development means for Boone Countyโas validation of the skill level of our local workforce, advantageous geographic location, and pro-growth policies. The leaders of Boone County and our region look forward to working with Amazon for many years to come.โ
Top Copyright Photo: Prime Air (Atlas Air) Boeing 767-375 ER (F) WL N1217A (msn 25865) ONT (Arnd Wolf). Image: 945755.
Prime Air-Atlas Air aircraft slide show:
Video:
LGW has released this statement (translated from German):
Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter (LGW) is renewing its fleet. From December 2019, the regional airline will phase in the first Embraer E190 aircraft. The new Embraer E190s will replace the existing Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) fleet. This will take about two years, until autumn 2021.
The replacement will harmonize the fleet within the group. WDL Aviation, the time-freight subsidiary based at Cologne/Bonn Airport, is currently also being equipped with aircraft from the Embraer E190 series. This will create synergies within the group.
LGW will continue flying as a wet lease provider for Eurowings in the longer term.
Zeitfracht Group took over LGW from the Lufthansa Group only at the beginning of April.
Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings (LGW) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) D-ABQC (msn 4231) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 943756.
Eurowings-LGW aircraft slide show:
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