Icelandair Group submits an offer to buy 51% of Cabo Verde Airlines

Loftleidir Icelandic’s subsidiary has submitted a binding offer for majority shares of Cabo Verde Airlines.

Loftleidir Icelandic, a subsidiary of Icelandair Group, will, together with Icelandic investors, submit a binding offer for a 51% of the shares in Cabo Verde Airlines on Cape Verde.

Authorities in Cape Verde and Loftleidir Icelandic have been cooperating for some time. In August 2017, Loftleidir Icelandic signed a management agreement with the Cape Verde Government on restructuring Cabo Verde Airlines.

The agreement also aimed to strengthen the international airport in Cape Verde, to develop the islands as a promising tourist destination and to build an international hub for connecting flights. Coinciding with the agreement, it was announced that the company was due to be privatised. Cabo Verde Airlines already has operating licenses to fly scheduled flights to Europe and the United States.

The purchase price is confidential. However, the acquisition would partly be paid for by the work already completed by Loftleidir Icelandic’s employees. The acquisition is made through a new company, Loftleidir Cabo Verde. Loftleidir Icelandic holds a 70% stake in the company, and other investors 30%. Loftleidir Icelandic’s acquisition of Cabo Verde Airlines does not have significant effect on Icelandair Group’s financial statements since Cabo Verde Airlines will not be reflected in the group’s consolidated financial statements. The share will classified as an associated company.

Árni Hermannsson, Managing Director of Loftleidir Icelandic:

“The participation in the acquisition of a majority share in Cabo Verde Airlines holds great opportunities for Loftleidir Icelandic, especially in light of the expected growth in passenger demand in Africa in the coming years. We have already participated in the restructuring of the company, and Cabo Verde Airlines’ operations are well suited to Loftleidir Icelandic’s projects around the world. The knowledge and experience already available within Loftleidir Icelandic and its sister companies has come to good use in restructuring the company and will continue to assist in further developments. Further opportunities are related to shared use of airplanes from Icelandair Group’s fleet, and crews where applicable, as is already being done in various projects. In developing connecting routes, we can also draw further on Icelandair’s experience. In the case of Cabo Verde Airlines, we have opportunities for well-organized connecting routes between Europe and South America on one hand, and West Africa and North America on the other, along with West Africa and Europe. The island’s location is ideal for developing connecting flights.”

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airlines): TACV-Cabo Verde Airlines Boeing 757-2Q8 D4-CBP (msn 30045) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 932908.

Cabo Verde Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map:

Wizz Air expands its Bucharest base

Wizz Air has announced the expansion of its Bucharest base by allocating a new Airbus A321 aircraft to its Bucharest fleet, and the launch of two new routes to Memmingen in Germany and Castellón in Spain as well as raising frequency on six of its existing routes.

The new Airbus A321 aircraft will join Wizz Air’s Bucharest fleet in March 2019.

The new aircraft will allow for frequency updates on six of Wizz Air’s current routes from Bucharest, including Dortmund, London, Doncaster-Sheffield, Bologna, Treviso and Eindhoven.

Wizz Air’s first Bucharest flight took off in 2012 and since then, the airline has become the leading carrier in Romania.

WIZZ now offers 141 routes from Romania from its 10 airports with 30 countries.

Top Copyright Photo: Wizz Air (wizzair.com) (Hungary) Airbus A321-231 WL HA-LTA (msn 8216) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 943340.

Wizz Air aircraft slide show:

Air France to add new service to Belgrade

For the 2019 summer season (March 31 to October 26, 2019), Air France will offer its customers Belgrade (Serbia) on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. This route will be operated with one daily flight from 31 March 2019.

Flight schedules (in local time):

AF1660: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 12:20, arrives in Belgrade at 14:35;
AF1661: leaves Belgrade at 15:25, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 17:55.
Daily flight by Airbus A319 or A320.

In addition, with its partner Air Serbia, Air France customers will benefit from a total of 21 weekly flights between Paris and Belgrade (7 flights operated by Air France and 14 code-share flights operated by Air Serbia).

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Air France): Air France Airbus A320-214 F-GKXR (msn 3795) LHR (SPA). Image: 944564.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Turkish Airlines orders three Boeing 777 freighters

Turkish Airlines and Boeing today announced an order for three 777 Freighters as the flag carrier of Turkey continues to soar on record financial results and double-digit passenger and cargo growth. The order adds more of the long-range freighter to Turkish’s fleet as the airline pursues its goal of becoming the world’s largest cargo carrier.

Based on the 777-200LR (Longer Range), the 777 Freighter can fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a full payload of 112 tons (102 metric tonnes or 102,000 kg). The long range means fewer stops and associated landing fees, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter delivery times.

The new order comes days after Turkish Airlines posted record profits for the first nine months of 2018 on strong passenger and cargo demand. The carrier’s air freight business saw a 25-percent tonnage increase and a 29-percent revenue increase compared to the same period a year ago. The results extend the airline’s success in recent years as Turkey has become one of the largest and fastest-growing aviation markets.

In line with the rapid growth, Turkish Airlines has steadily expanded its current and future fleet. Last January, the carrier announced the order of three 777 Freighters. Two months later, Turkish finalized an order for 25 787-9 Dreamliners and five options to prepare for growing demand at Istanbul’s third airport, named “Istanbul Airport” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during its official opening last month. Over the past few months, Turkish has begun taking delivery of new 737 MAX airplanes to refresh its single-aisle jets. In all, the airline’s fleet of Boeing jetliners has grown to more than 160, with nearly 100 additional jets on order.

With more than 30 777s in its fleet, Turkish Airlines is among the top 10 operators of the wide-body jet in Europe and the Middle East.

To support the long-term growth of the Turkish aerospace industry and strengthen Boeing’s presence in the country, Boeing launched a strategic partnership program in Turkey last year, called the National Aerospace Initiative. Aligned with the targets of Turkey’s Vision 2023 that set for the 100th anniversary of Turkish Republic’s foundation, the initiative lays out a strategic collaboration framework in four key areas: industrial development, technology acceleration, services collaboration and advanced-skill training.

In line with these goals, Boeing is planning to open an engineering center in Istanbul that would specialize in research and support Turkey’s growing aerospace capability. The company also recently expanded its collaboration with Turkish Technic, the maintenance arm of Turkish Airlines. Under the agreement, Turkish Technic becomes a strategic supplier for Boeing’s Global Fleet Care program, providing operators with line maintenance, heavy maintenance, component service and repair for multiple aircraft models. Additionally, Boeing and Turkish Technic will partner to train and certify aircraft technicians.

Image: Boeing.

KLM: Bye bye Boeing 747-400; “City of Bangkok”

From the KLM blog:

By Coco Peters,

“City of Bangkok” is the oldest Boeing 747 still in operation at KLM. This aircraft type has iconic status in aviation history. The Boeing arrived in Amsterdam from Seattle in 1989 and has, in the meantime, carried a considerable number of passengers. But now it’s time to say farewell. Boeing 747-400 City of Bangkok will soon fly its last flight after almost 30 years of faithful service.

I was lucky enough to be allowed to watch this “crate” undergo its final service. There is nothing better for an intern than to be allowed to nose around an aircraft. Every time I go into a hangar (I make it sound as if I go every week, but it was only my third time) my KLM-blue heart starts to beat a little faster. How bizarre it is that such an enormous machine can get up into the air. This aircraft weighs around 178,750 kilograms. It is completely empty now. Where there would normally be 408 passengers, plus cockpit and cabin crew, there is no one. The Boeing 747-400 is in Hangar 11 for maintenance.

Boeing 747-400 facts:

Wing span: 64.44m (a football pitch is between 64m and 75m wide, that’s how wide a Boeing 747-400 is).
Length: 70.67m
Cruising speed: 920kmph
Range: 12,900km
Number of passengers: 408
In service at KLM since June 1989
This machine has spent a total of 134,279 hours in the air and performed 18,024 take-offs (and, luckily, 18,024 landings too). This is equivalent to 15.7 years of non-stop flying!

Imagine, if the average load factor over all 29 years was 80%, with 408 seats on board, you would come out at (0.8 x 408) x 18,024 = 5,883,033.6. That’s nearly 6 million passengers who have been carried by this aircraft over the years. Berlin has a population of around 6 million.

City of Bangkok There is something in this aircraft you won’t find in any other, namely, a plaque, I suppose you’d call it, saying “Presented to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines by Bangkok Metropolitan administration on the occasion of the first arrival of this aircraft named THE CITY OF BANGKOK in Thailand, April 1991.”

Naming an aeroplane

But something special happened in Amsterdam too. On 1 July 1989, the City of Bangkok was named by nine Thai monks from the 100-year old monastery in the district of Laksi. This is the same district where the KLM Catering and crew hotel is located in Bangkok. The ceremony took place in Hangar 11 at Schiphol Oost. More than 200 people attended and a special Thai meal was prepared for the monks. I spent ages trying to find the exact spot where the monks baptised the aircraft, but I think the ink must have faded, because I couldn’t find it.

Flat in business

Colleagues gave me a tour of the interior, from the cockpit to the crew sleeping area. (You knew that the crew sleep on board during long flights, right?) A quick peek in the cockpit and a moment in the CO-CO seat – this was especially good, because my name is Coco. Unfortunately, for security reasons, we’re not allowed to share this photo with you.

A lovely lie down, flat, in World Business Class; wonderful, but regrettably the plane stayed in the hangar, otherwise I would happily have stayed there. It felt really special to be allowed to do all this as a simple intern. Not everyone gets the chance to be so close to an aircraft, let alone to be shown around one. I felt like an aircraft fanatic, although I have always liked aircraft – when they get me to my destination and home again. But that has changed now. I can quite easily say that I have the best internship.

If you would like to see this queen of the air one more time, Boeing 747-400 City of Bangkok will take off for the last time on 25 November and land on 26 November.

* The Boeing 747 fleet will be replaced in the coming years by the Boeing 777 and the 787 Dreamliner. These newer aircraft use less fuel and less CO2. In 2020 we want to generate 20% less CO2 emissions than in 2011.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by KLM and the writer): The last departure from Los Angeles of PH-BFB: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-406 PH-BFB (msn 24000) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 944574.

KLM aircraft slide show:

British Airways enhances cabin crew training with new apprentice program

Brand new intensive 12-month apprenticeship scheme from March 2019
Cabin Crew will train at the airline’s world-class Global Learning Academy
Airline recently awarded SkyTrax title, UK’s Best Cabin Crew
Almost 2,500 hopefuls have already applied for new scheme

British Airways continues its investment in world-class customer service, today announcing a programme to recruit more than 2,000 cabin crew in 2019.

(Photo by Nick Morrish/British Airways)

Successful candidates with no prior cabin crew experience will train through the airline’s new cabin crew apprenticeship programme, getting their career off to a flying start.

World-class training

After completing an intense cabin crew training course at British Airways’ Global Learning Academy, including the very best training in customer service and aviation safety and security, apprentices will continue their learning journey in the air and on the ground.

The programme will see them gain qualifications in English, Maths and Digital skills, access to a dedicated mobile app to track their progress and continuous development coaching from a certified apprenticeship coach.

The airline’s initiative reflects the Government’s push to increase and enhance the number and quality of apprenticeships offered in the UK, to improve core skills and the quality of training offered.

British Airways has a long tradition of running quality apprenticeship schemes, with apprentices currently working in engineering, customer service and head office roles.

The airline’s Global Learning Academy has recently achieved the status of a registered ‘Employer Provider’ of apprenticeships, enabling it to continue delivering specialist airline learning, while also offering employees enhanced skills and professional qualifications.

Dozens of apprentices from across the airline attended Skills London this weekend, the UK’s biggest careers event for 15 – 24-year olds, and spoke to thousands of young people about their experience as an apprentice at British Airways.

Victoria Bromley, Customer Service Apprentice, said: “My apprenticeship at British Airways has been the perfect way to begin my career in the aviation industry. The opportunities available are amazing and I couldn’t have asked for better support throughout.

“I am so proud of what I have achieved so far and I’m really excited for the future. I would absolutely recommend an apprenticeship to anyone.”

Apprenticeships for all

Announcing the training enhancements and the new cabin crew apprenticeship programme, British Airways’ Chief Learning Officer Nigel Jeremy, said:

“Apprenticeships are for people of all ages and backgrounds, and we’re delighted to be offering the UK’s largest cabin crew apprenticeship scheme as part of our cabin crew training at our world-class learning academy.

“We are looking for candidates who can offer exceptional customer service. The scheme has already proved to be extremely popular, and as we head towards our Centenary year in 2019, there couldn’t be a better time to join the airline.”

To find out more, and to apply, visit: https://careers.ba.com/

United Airlines announces new daily service between Paine Field and Denver and San Francisco

United Airlines today announced it will begin nonstop service between Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport and its hubs in Denver and San Francisco. Subject to government approval, United will operate two daily flights from Denver and four daily flights from San Francisco, beginning March 31, 2019.

United service to Paine Field/Snohomish County Airport

Flight #	Depart	Time	Arrive	Time	Aircraft
5460	Denver	9:25 a.m.	Paine Field	11:30 a.m.	E175
5528	Denver	7:15 p.m.	Paine Field	9:22 p.m.	E175
5871	San Francisco	11:00 a.m.	Paine Field	1:24 p.m.	E175
5880	San Francisco	12:45 p.m.	Paine Field	2:07 p.m.	E175
5898	San Francisco	4:15 p.m.	Paine Field	6:39 p.m.	E175
5883	San Francisco	9:30 p.m.	Paine Field	11:54 p.m.	E175

United operates up to 40 daily flights between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and its U.S. hubs. North Seattle and Northwest Washington are among the fastest growing areas in the nation and United’s new service connects Paine Field to two of the airline’s largest hubs offering customers more opportunities to easily connect to hundreds of domestic destinations including California’s Central Coast, Colorado, Hawaii and New York City. United’s new service also offers customers more opportunities to conveniently connect to popular international destinations including Sydney, London, and Mexico City.

Top Copyright Photo: United Express-SkyWest Airlines Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N139SY (msn 17000468) LAX (Ron Monroe). Image: 944561.

United Express-SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Airbus delivers the first A330-900 to launch operator TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal has taken delivery of the world’s first new generation widebody A330neo and, as the launch airline, will be the first to benefit from the aircraft’s unbeatable operating economics, increased range, and Airbus’ new Airspace cabin offering passengers the best in class comfort. The Portuguese carrier will take delivery of a further 20 A330-900s in the coming years.

TAP Air Portugal’s first A330-900 is leased from Avolon. It features 298 seats in a comfortable three-class lay-out with 34 full-flat business class, 96 economy plus and 168 economy class seats. The Airspace by Airbus cabin offers more personal space, larger overhead storage bins, advanced cabin lighting and the latest generation in-flight entertainment system and connectivity. The aircraft will be deployed on routes from Portugal to the Americas and Africa.

The A330neo is a true new generation aircraft building on the A330’s success and leveraging on A350 XWB technology. It incorporates the highly efficient new generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, and a new higher span 3D optimised wing with new sharklets fully optimised for the best aerodynamic performance. Together these advances bring a significant reduction in fuel consumption of 25 percent compared with older generation competitor aircraft of a similar size. Moreover, new composite nacelles, a fully faired titanium pylon and zero-splice air inlet technology provide the A330-900 with state-of-the-art aerodynamics and acoustics .

Today, TAP Air Portugal operates an Airbus fleet of 72 aircraft (18 A330s, 4 A340s,and 50 A320 Family aircraft). The single-aisle fleet includes 22 A319ceo, 21 A320ceo and four A321ceo, one A320neo and two recently delivered A321neo.

The A330 is one of the most popular widebody families ever, having received over 1,700 orders from 120 customers. More than 1,380 A330s are flying with over 128 operators worldwide. The new A330neo is the latest addition to the leading Airbus widebody family, which also includes the A350 XWB and the A380, all featuring unmatched space and comfort combined with unprecedented efficiency levels and unrivalled range capability.

Photos: Airbus.

ALC to lease 15 new Airbus aircraft to Vistara

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) announced today long-term lease agreements for nine Airbus A320-200neo and six Airbus A321-200neo aircraft with Vistara, an Indian full-service airline that is a joint venture of TATA Sons Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA). The nine A320-200neo aircraft will feature CFM56 LEAP-1A26 engines and will be delivered to Vistara starting in the first quarter of 2021 through 2022. Featuring CFM56 LEAP-1A32 engines, the six A321-200neo aircraft will be delivered to the airline starting the first quarter of 2020 through 2021. All 15 aircraft will be delivered from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

With these 15 A320neo family aircraft and the A320-200’s already leased by ALC to Vistara, ALC is expected to become the lessor with the largest share in Vistara’s fleet as measured by number of aircraft as well as by aircraft value.

British Airways operates the last Boeing 767-300 revenue flight

British Airways last night (November 25), as planned, operated the last Boeing 767-300 revenue flight (flight BA 663) between Larnaca (LCA) and London (Heathrow).

According to FlightAware, flight BA 663 arrived at LHR at 2234 (10:34 pm) with the pictured G-BZHA.

British Airways introduced the type in 1990. G-BNWB was the first to arrive on February 8, 1990. BA has been gradually retiring the type since 2013 and was down to two aircraft at the end.

British Airways issued this statement:

767 first entered fleet in 1990, flying over 425,000 commercial flights
Last commercial flight took place yesterday, Larnaca – Heathrow, before being retired to St Athan in Wales today
Retirement comes just days after airline takes delivery of 30th 787 Dreamliner

British Airways today bids farewell to one of the most iconic aircraft in its fleet, the Boeing 767. The airline’s final two 767s are being retired to St Athan in Wales after the last commercial flight – Larnaca in Cyprus to Heathrow – took place yesterday (November 25).

Since British Airways operated its first 767 in February 1990 on a short hop to Paris, the fleet of aircraft have completed over 425,000 commercial flights. Frankfurt was the route where enthusiasts could spot the 767 most frequently, with the aircraft completing nearly 15,000 flights to and from the airport, but the aircraft has also been used to serve routes from Abu Dhabi, to Calgary and New York. While it was initially used for long-haul, in recent years it has been reconfigured for use on short-haul, including to Athens and Larnaca as well as on some domestic routes.

The retirement comes as British Airways looks to the future of its fleet. Just days ago, the airline took delivery of its 30th Boeing 787 Dreamliner – the newest aircraft in its fleet. Not only is the Dreamliner around 40 per cent quieter than other aircraft it also uses 20 per cent less fuel than similarly sized aircraft. This means a reduction in carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. But it’s not just the 787 being added to British Airways’ fleet. Later in the year the airline will take delivery of another pioneering aircraft – its first Airbus A350, part of the airline’s £4.5bn investment for customers over the next five years.

On the 767 retirement, British Airways Director of Flight Operations, Captain Al Bridger, said: “The 767 has been a brilliant part of our fleet, flying some of our most popular routes and giving customers what was an industry-leading service in its time. It’s fitting that as the final 767 leaves the fleet, we take our 30th delivery of another industry-leading aircraft, the 787, which offers customers an exceptional experience in the skies.”

The final 767 commercial flight took place on aircraft registration G-BZHA. This aircraft first flew in 1998 and has flown an estimated 23 million miles. It has visited Larnaca 900 times in its life, but its most popular route is actually to Athens, where it’s completed 1,275 round trips. It is estimated that this aircraft has carried around 4 million customers across nearly 23,000 flights.