Edelweiss expands its long-haul fleet

Edelweiss is taking over an additional Airbus A340-300 from sister airline Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). The aircraft is to be deployed from July 2023. Edelweiss’ long-haul fleet will consist of five Airbus A340s from 2023 onwards.

The Airbus A340 with the registration HB-JMC comes from the SWISS fleet.

Planning work is currently underway for the upcoming modifications to the aircraft’s cabin. The aircraft will be operated in the familiar Edelweiss livery. Edelweiss’ long-haul fleet will consist of five Airbus A340s from July 2023.

In addition to the Airbus A340s, Edelweiss currently operates twelve Airbus A320s on short- and medium-haul routes.

Top Copyright Photo: Edelweiss Switzerland (Edelweiss Air) Airbus A340-313 HB-JMF (msn 561) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 958589.

Edelweiss Air aircraft photo gallery:

Frontier adds more international destinations from Atlanta

Frontier Airlines will launch new service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to five new international destinations in November and December 2022.

Frontier will offer new service to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO), Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL), and Kingston, Jamaica (KIN).

The expansion more than doubles Frontier’s international destinations from ATL and comes less than a year after the airline introduced its first international routes from the airport to Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana.

Service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL):

SERVICE TO:	SERVICE START:	SERVICE FREQUENCY:	INTRO FARE:
Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)	Nov. 5, 2022	1x/week	$69*
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)	Nov. 6, 2022	2x/week	$69*
Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)	Nov. 7, 2022	2x/week	$89*
San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)	Nov. 17, 2022	2x/week	$79*
Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)	Dec. 17, 2022	1x/week	$79*

In other news, Frontier Airlines will launch new service from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) in November 2022.

Service from Orlando International Airport (MCO):

SERVICE TO:

SERVICE START:

SERVICE FREQUENCY:

INTRO FARE:

Guadalajara (GDL)

Nov. 6, 2022

2x/week

$89*

Frequency and times are subject to change.

Finally, Frontier Airlines will launch new service from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI) in November 2022.

Service from Denver International Airport (DEN):

SERVICE TO:

SERVICE START:

SERVICE FREQUENCY:

INTRO FARE:

West Palm Beach (PBI)

Nov. 6, 2022

3x/week

$69*

Frequency and times are subject to change.

Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

ALC leases 19 new Airbus aircraft to Condor

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) today announced long-term lease placements for 19 new Airbus aircraft with Condor (Germany), including 17 Airbus A321neos and two A320neos.

The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the airline starting in early 2024 through mid-2027 from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

ALC currently leases five aircraft to Condor, including three A321s and two A320s.

Condor aircraft photo gallery:

Tailwind Air announces first-ever seaplane service to Washington, D.C. area from Manhattan

Tailwind Air has announced an exciting new destination, creating the fastest way to Washington, D.C. Travelers may now enjoy a nonstop seaplane flight directly from Manhattan’s Skyport Marina at East 23rd Street (IATA code: NYS) to Washington, D.C.’s College Park Airport (IATA code: CGS).

Flights to/from Manhattan are approximately 80-90 minutes. Tailwind will be the only scheduled air service inside the Beltway outside of DCA. Tailwind will also offer one-stop flights from Boston Harbor’s Fan Pier Marina to Washington, D.C.’s College Park Airport.

Scheduled service begins September 13, 2022, and will be operated by our fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans featuring two experienced pilots, eight Economy Plus leather seats, aisle and window access, crisp air-conditioning, and an ability to land on water or at an airport.

New York Skyport (NYS) is Manhattan’s dedicated seaplane base. Located at the eastern end of 23rd Street along the East River, Tailwind Air operates all Manhattan departures from there and has a dedicated climate-controlled lounge for all passengers.

With the addition of Washington, D.C., Tailwind Air now serves nine destinations from its Manhattan base. Manhattan destinations are Boston Harbor – Fan Pier Marina (BNH), Washington, D.C. – College Park (CGS), East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Montauk, Provincetown, Plymouth, and Bridgeport.

airBaltic concludes City Collection by successfully issuing fourteenth NFTs on OpenSea

airBaltic made this announcement:

Today already the fourteenth NFT (non-fungible token) edition of the airBaltic City Collection has been issued, concluding first-ever issued NFT collection by airBaltic. The new NFT is available on OpenSea marketplace for a fixed price of 0.1 Ether.

The fourteenth airBaltic issue is a digital art piece with one of the most beloved Latvian cities Rīga, the beautiful capital of the country and the home to the historical Freedom Monument, beautiful Art Nouveau buildings and modern National Library of Latvia. In honour of Latvia’s centenary, in 2018, airBaltic invited everyone to vote on their favourite towns and cities in Latvia, after which the company’s Airbus A220-300 fleet was named.

On April 14 2021, Latvian airline airBaltic became the world’s first airline to issue non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The airline issued limited collector NFTs, showcasing an individual Airbus A220-300 with its registration as well as a piece of art of Kuldīga, one of the most beloved Latvian cities. Following the first edition, airBaltic has issued thirteen more digital art pieces honouring beloved Latvian cities Cēsis, Alūksne, Liepāja, Bauska, Sigulda, Jelgava, Ogre, Valmiera, Gulbene, Smiltene, Līvāni, Jūrmala and now Rīga.

airBaltic is well known as the airline for innovation among global carriers. In 2014, airBaltic became the world’s first airline to accept Bitcoin payments for its flight tickets. Now, in cooperation with service provider BitPay, airBaltic accepts also other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash, Ether and Dogecoin among others for bookings made on its website.

As previously informed, in May 2022 airBaltic announced a new NFT (non-fungible token) collection called Planies, consisting of 10 000 unique cartoon aircraft designs. The NFT holders of the collectables will be able to receive airBaltic Club points and other loyalty program benefits. Owners of the airBaltic City Collection NFTs will be able to receive Planies NFT free of charge.

American Airlines announces agreement to purchase Boom Supersonic Overture aircraft, places deposit on 20

American Airlines and Boom Supersonic today announced the airline’s agreement to purchase up to 20 Overture aircraft, with an option for an additional 40. American has paid a non-refundable deposit on the initial 20 aircraft. Overture is expected to carry passengers at twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft.

Boom Supersonic’s Overture would introduce an important new speed advantage to American’s fleet, which is currently the simplest, youngest and most efficient among U.S. network carriers. Under the terms of the agreement, Boom must meet industry-standard operating, performance and safety requirements as well as American’s other customary conditions before delivery of any Overtures.

Overture is being designed to carry 65 to 80 passengers at Mach 1.7 over water — or twice the speed of today’s fastest commercial aircraft — with a range of 4,250 nautical miles. Optimized for speed, safety and sustainability, Overture is also being designed to fly more than 600 routes around the world in as little as half the time. Flying from Miami to London in just under five hours and Los Angeles to Honolulu in three hours are among the many possibilities.

In July, Boom revealed the final production design of Overture, which is slated to roll out in 2025 and carry its first passengers by 2029.

Frontier to increase capacity up to 20%

Frontier Airlines (2nd), according to Reuters, in the shadows of a lost deal with Spirit, is planning to increase it capacity by up to 20% in the next 10 years.

KLM and the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) have reached an agreement on a new contract

KLM and the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) have reached an agreement in principle on a new collective labour agreement (CLA), effective March 1, 2022 through 1 March 2023, for pilots covered by the CLA for KLM cockpit crew. KLM is satisfied with the result. This will ensure calm and stability for the coming year and reflects KLM’s current circumstances. KLM and VNV will now finalise the protocol texts, which VNV will then present to their members’ council for approval.

KLM has ensured that the new CLA takes account of price developments in the Netherlands. A wage clause specifying a 2% increase effective 1 October 2022 and further 2% effective 1 March 2023 has been agreed. This reflects agreements recently reached with the trade unions representing ground personnel.

We also reached an agreement with VNV on productivity and flexibility in the coming period.

The existing international commuting arrangement for pilots has been discontinued. Pilots who live outside the Netherlands will now pay for their flights when commuting to work.

KLM employees will receive one-off payment when KLM no longer has a credit facility with government guarantees. This payment acknowledges the concerted effort made by KLM staff in the face of recent challenges.

Despite KLM’s successful recovery, the future remains uncertain due to factors such as high inflation, rising costs, uncertainties surrounding coronavirus and scarcity in the job market. KLM must therefore continue to cut costs structurally. The negotiating parties agreed to return to the table if the situation so demands in the coming period.

Emirates and Aegean to codeshare

Emirates is activating a new codeshare partnership today with AEGEAN, allowing its customers to benefit from increased connectivity to eight domestic Greek points via Athens, using a single ticket. Emirates will place its code on AEGEAN operated flights, providing customers with a convenient and seamless booking experience as well as one consistent baggage policy, to popular destinations: Kerkyra, Chania, Irakleion, Mikonos, Thira, Rhodes, Thessaloniki and Alexandropoulos. Under the codeshare agreement, AEGEAN will also place its code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Athens for their customers to benefit from smooth connections to Dubai and onward.

Starting October 2022, Emirates and AEGEAN will further increase their joint codeshare network to include eight more European regional routes via Athens, including Bucharest, Belgrade and Naples, among others, as well as westwards on Emirates’ flights to New York Newark from Athens, and New York JFK from Milan. Emirates currently serves Athens with 12 weekly flights operated by a Boeing 777. These additional codeshare routes will be subject to receiving the necessary regulatory approvals.

Through its codeshare agreements with more than 26 carriers, two rail partners as well as 110 interline partners worldwide, Emirates offers its customers truly global connectivity across 6 continents.

Delta to add Split Scimitar Winglets for its 737-800 fleet and some recently acquired 737-900ERs, and up to 70 757-200s

Aviation Partners Boeing has made this announcement:

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) and Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Delta) share a commitment to reduce aircraft carbon emissions. Today, APB is excited to announce Delta’s recent agreements to purchase Split Scimitar Winglets for its 737-800 fleet and for a number of recently acquired 737-900ER aircraft. Delta also recently agreed to purchase Scimitar Blended Winglets for up to 70 of Delta’s 757-200 aircraft. Both the Split Scimitar Winglets and Scimitar Blended Winglets are upgrades to APB’s ubiquitous Blended Winglets.

737-900ER Split Scimitar Winglet. Photo Credit: Carl Ceresoli Chief Technology Officer & CISO at Pacers Sports and Entertainment.

Delta has previously purchased and installed APB winglet products on its 737-800, 737-900ER, 757-200, 757-300 and 767-300ER fleets. APB is proud that Delta has, once again, turned to APB’s winglet products across its fleets to deliver savings in jet fuel consumption and gains in fuel efficiency.

Delta aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):