American Airlines: Final update on operations recovery following Tropical Storm Florence

Tropical Storm Florence information:

Thanks to the hard work of the American Airlines team โ€“ both before and after Tropical Storm Florence arrived โ€“ operations have resumed at all but four airports in North Carolina. Throughout the region the team was focused on ensuring the best possible care of our customers and team members, along with ground handling equipment and aircraft, in order to resume operations as expeditiously as possible. The remaining four airports are expected to resume operations in the coming days pending airport conditions and runway inspections.

Additionally, thanks to the generosity of our customers and team members, AAdvantageยฎ members have raised more than $175,000 for the American Red Cross. Monetary donations are the best way to assist those in need at this time, which will help provide shelter, food, relief supplies and health services through trained Red Cross personnel who are on the ground in disaster areas. From now through Sept. 21, AAdvantageยฎ members can earn 10 miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross with a minimum $25 donation. Visit the Red Cross website to donate now.

Travel Alert

The current travel alert allows customers whose travel plans are impacted by this storm to rebook without change fees. Customers can reschedule their travel on aa.com by retrieving their reservation, or by contacting American reservations at +1-800-433-7300 in the U.S. or Canada. If a customer chooses not to fly to/from an airport covered by the current waiver, American will waive change fees for future travel. Customers are also encouraged to check the status of their flight on aa.com.

Before the storm arrived, American waived fees for bags and in-cabin pets, and added reduced, last-minute fares for flights departing from certain airports that were forecast to be directly impacted by Florence.

Refunds

If an American flight has been canceled or excessively delayed, customers may cancel their itinerary and request a refund by visiting our website. Customers who booked through a travel agent should contact their travel agency directly.

Airport Operations

Resumption of service at airports will be based on airport and roadway conditions, including the ability of our team members to get to work. We are also coordinating closely with our partners at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and local airport authorities. These agencies must conduct their own assessment of their operations prior to any airline resuming service.

North Carolina Airports

  • Greenville, North Carolina (PGV)
    • Plan to resume operations Sept. 20
  • Jacksonville, North Carolina (OAJ)
    • Plan to resume operations Sept. 19
  • New Bern, North Carolina (EWN)
    • Plan to resume operations Sept. 18
  • Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
    • Plan to resume operations Sept. 18

Azur Air Germany outsources its operations

Azur Air (Germany) Boeing 737-9GP ER WL D-AZUG (msn 35717) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 943548.

Azur Air Germany (Dusseldorf) has returned it last aircraft (the pictured D-AZUG). Its Berlin station has also been reportedly shut down.

The airline is blaming staff shortages.

As a temporary measure, the German airline has announced is now outsourcing some of its operations to other sub-service carriers including Onur Air.

The German airline started operations on July 4, 2017 for tour operator Anex Tour.

The future of the company remains unclear.

Top Copyright Photo:ย Azur Air (Germany) Boeing 737-9GP ER WL D-AZUG (msn 35717) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 943548.

Azur Air (Germany) aircraft slide show:

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Cathay Pacific, Boeing to donate worldโ€™s first 777 to aviation museum

First Boeing 777, to be donated to Pima Air Museum

Cathay Pacific and Boeing announced today that they are donating the first-ever Boeing 777 airplane to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona, one of the worldโ€™s largest facilities devoted to celebrating aerospace.

The iconic 777-200 airplane (line number WA001 and registered B-HNL) will fly from Cathay Pacificโ€™s home airport in Hong Kong to Tucson, Arizona on September 18, 2018. The jet will be displayed permanently at the museum alongside more than 350 other historic aircraft.

Boeing first flew the 777-200 aircraft on June 12, 1994 and continued to use it as a test airplane for several years. The aircraft joined the Cathay Pacific fleet in 2000 and was retired in May after 18 years of service. During its time with Cathay Pacific, B-HNL operated 20,519 flights, recording 49,687 hours of flying time.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Officer Rupert Hogg said: โ€œAs the worldโ€™s very first 777, B-HNL holds a very special place in the history of both our airline and that of commercial aviation, and we are very pleased it will soon bring enjoyment to enthusiasts at its new home in Arizona.

โ€œOur 777-200 aircraft have served us exceptionally well over the last two decades, and as we progressively retire these over the months ahead, we eagerly look forward to welcoming the state-of-the art 777-9 aircraft into our fleet from 2021,โ€ he added.

In the 1990s, Cathay Pacific was one of a handful of airlines to provide input for the 777 at the design stage, which gave Hong Kongโ€™s home airline a unique opportunity to refine the aircraftโ€™s features to suit its needs. Among the requests were a cabin cross-section similar to the 747 Jumbo Jet, a modern โ€˜glassโ€™ cockpit, fly-by-wire system, and, crucially, lower operating costs. Today, Cathay Pacific operates one of the largest 777 fleets in the world.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister said: โ€œCathay Pacific has been instrumental in the tremendous success of the 777 programme. The airline contributed greatly to the airplaneโ€™s original design and has been one of its biggest ambassadors ever since. And now they are a launch customer for our new 777X airplane. We are thrilled to partner with Cathay on this donation to the museum as a way to share the remarkable story of the Boeing 777 for years to come.โ€

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Cathay Pacific):ย Cathay Pacific Airways Boeing 777-267 B-HNL (msn 27116) TPE (Robbie Shaw). Image: 943546.

Cathay Pacific aircraft slide show:

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JetBlue introduces “Bluericua” as a salute to Puerto Rico

JetBlue Airways has introduced a new “Bluericua” special livery as a salute to Puerto Rico on the pictured Airbus A320-232 N779JB (msn 3811).

Top Copyright Photo: Eric Dunetz.

Bottom Photo: Tampa International Airport.

Eurowings to add Dusseldorf – Las Vegas flights

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Germany/Eurowings-Lufthansa-Regional/i-VCQq55g/A

Eurowings will add the Dusseldorf – Las Vegas service starting on July 3, 2019.

The new route will be operated three days a week with Airbus A340-300s operated by Brussels Airlines according to Airline Route.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Eurowings):ย Eurowings (Brussels Airlines) Airbus A340-313 OO-SCW (msn 335) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 941320.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

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China Airlines adjusts times for Ontario-Taiwan flights

China Airlines Boeing 777-309 ER B-18007 (msn 43982) (Boeing special colors) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941349.

China Airlines and the Ontarioย International Airport Authority (OIAA) announced schedule changes for flights between Ontario and Taiwan beginning next week, a move that will enable passengers to reach more connecting flights to destinations across Asia.

(PRNewsfoto/Ontario International Airport)

Effective Monday, September 17, 2018 China Airlines flight CI23 will depart Ontarioย International Airport (ONT) at 11:50 p.m. and arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) at 5:00 a.m. local time two days later. The return flight, CI24, will depart TPE at 6:00 p.m. local time, arriving ONT at 3:10 p.m.

While scheduled departure and arrivals may be adjusted in the future, officials stressed that early morning arrivals to TPE will enable passengers to make connections to South East Asia, Japan, Korea and China more conveniently.

China Airlines began roundtrip service between ONT and TPE in March arriving daily into Ontario at 1:20 p.m. pacific time with a return flight to TPE departing at 4:15 p.m., arriving TPE at 8:55 p.m. the next day. The China Airlines service was Ontario’sย first nonstop, transoceanic passenger service.

China Airlines is expected to introduce its new Airbus A350-900 on the route.

Top Copyright Photo:ย China Airlines Boeing 777-309 ER B-18007 (msn 43982) (Boeing special colors) ONT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 941349.

China Airlines aircraft slide show:

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Air Albania launches operations

Air Albania (Tirana), the new flag carrier of Albania launched regularly scheduled passenger operations today (September 15) with a flight from Tirana to Istanbul. The first aircraft is a leased Airbus A319-132 registered as TC-JLR.

A test flight was conducted on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Air Albania was founded on May 16, 2018 as a consortium of the Albanian and Turkish governments.

Turkish Airlines, a founding partner, owns 49% of the shares of Air Albania. The remaining 41% is held by MDN Investment and 10% by Albcontrol, representing the Albania government.

All images by Air Albania.

Videos (not in English):

 

United to offer Redding, CA service

United Express-SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N923SW (msn 7664) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 936854.

United Airlines is planning to offer daily United Express service connecting the Los Angeles hub with Redding, CA starting on March 8, 2019. According to Airline Route, the route will be operated with SkyWest Airlines CRJ200s.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by SkyWest):ย United Express-SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) N923SW (msn 7664) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 936854.

United Express-SkyWest aircraft slide show:

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Spirit Airlines to fly to Cali, Colombia

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-232 WL N624NK (msn 5880) BWI (Brian McDonough). Image: 943094.

Spirit Airlines has announcedย it is adding the beautiful city of Cali as its fifth Colombian service station.

Beginning on December 20, 2018*, Spirit will connect Alfonso Bonilla Aragรณn International Airport (CLO) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) with daily nonstop service.

The city of Cali and the Valle de Cauca Department region serves as home to more than three million people, and will mark Spiritโ€™s 68th service station in its growing network. Cali joins the other vibrant Colombian cities of Cartagena, Bogotรก, Medellรญn, and Armenia currently served by the airline. Cali will be Spiritโ€™s 17th destination in Latin America and 28th destination outside the continental United States.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Spirit):ย Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-232 WL N624NK (msn 5880) BWI (Brian McDonough). Image: 943094.

Spirit aircraft slide show:

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JetBlue to add three new Mint routes this winter

JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 WL N962JT (msn 6988) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943531.

JetBlue Airways is planning to add three winter Mint international routes. The seasonal routes will operate weekly per Airline Route with Airbus A321s:

Boston โ€“ St. Luciaย – weekly from November 3, 2018 through April 27, 2019
Boston โ€“ St. Maartenย – weekly from February 16 through April 27, 2019
New York JFK โ€“ Liberiaย -weekly from December 15, 2018 through April 27, 2019

Top Copyright Photo (all others by JetBlue):ย JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 WL N962JT (msn 6988) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943531.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

Current Mint Routes:

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