Southwest Airlines announces new spring routes including new international routes

Southwest Airlines today announced the beginning of its spring 2019 schedule and the addition of new international routes from key U.S. gateway cities. The carrier extended its bookable flight schedule through April 7, 2019:

More International Service

Beginning Saturday, March 9, 2019, the carrier will add new and returning seasonal flights on Saturdays between:

St. Louis and Montego Bay, Jamaica*

St. Louis and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic*

Milwaukee and Cancun

Pittsburgh and Cancun

Raleigh-Durham and Cancun

San Antonio and Cancun

Baltimore/Washington and Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos

*Subject to government approvals

New Nonstop Routes throughout the United States

Southwest also announced the beginning of new seasonal service on Saturdays effective March 9, 2019, between:

Cleveland and Tampa

Cincinnati and Orlando

On Sunday, March 10, 2019, the carrier will begin weekly service on Sundays between:

Dallas and West Palm Beach, Fla.

Dallas and Harlingen, Tex.

Houston and Lubbock

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Southwest): Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 WL N947WN (msn 32544) (Shark Week 30th – Bull Shark) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 943318.

Southwest aircraft slide show (current livery):

Ravn Alaska is selected for the EAS McGrath – Anchorage route

Ravn Alaska has been awarded the Essential Air Service (EAS) route subsidy by the DOT for the McGrath – Anchorage route.

Era Aviation, Hageland Aviation and Frontier Flying Service operate under the Rain Alaska brand.

In other news, Crowley Fuels LLC and Ravn Air Group have announced that the two companies have executed a long-term contract to provide aviation fuel and services to Alaska’s largest regional airline, headquartered in Anchorage.

The new agreement expands on the existing Crowley/Ravn relationship, which began in 2010. In addition to providing aviation fuel to Ravn, under the terms of this new contract, Crowley will provide on-site, into-wing fueling services – supplying 100 LL AvGas and additized Jet A – to Ravn’s commercial aircraft in Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, St. Mary’s, Galena and Aniak, streamlining the fueling process, and enhancing Ravn’s ability to serve its customers through optimized operations. Crowley Fuels is also providing heating oil and gasoline to these six Ravn locations with opportunities to expand services to other locations in the state.

Supported by over 1,000 employees, Ravn operates a highly reliable fleet of nearly 70 aircraft on more than 400 flights per day from hubs in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Bethel, Aniak, St. Mary’s, Nome, Kotzebue, Unalakleet, Barrow, and Galena. The airline provides passenger, mail, freight, and charter customers with air transportation and logistics services to more than 115 destinations throughout Alaska.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Ravn Alaska): Ravn Alaska (Corvus Airlines) de Havilland Canada DHC-8-106 Dash 8 N889EA (msn 322) ANC (Michael B. Ing). Image: 925039.

Ravn Alaska aircraft slide show:

Route:

Danish Air Transport becomes Norra’s majority shareholder

Finnair has released this statement:

Danish Air Transport (DAT) has acquired 60% of Nordic Regional Airlines AB (Norra) from Finnair, which held the 100 % stake in Norra on an interim basis after Norra’s previous owners who held 60% of shares exited the business in November 2017.

Finnair continues to own 40% of the company. As such, the transaction has no impact on Norra’s operations, personnel or purchase agreement between Finnair and Norra.

Norra operates Finnair’s domestic and European routes with a total of 24 ATR and Embraer aircraft.

The transaction requires approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Norra): Norra – Nordic Regional Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) OH-ATF (msn 744) HEL (Ton Jochems). Image: 937415.

Norra aircraft slide show:

DAT Route Map:

United Airlines announces new international routes

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-USA6/United-Airlines-NC-Boeing/i-LcSXRjb/A

United Airlines has made this announcement:

Strengthening the world’s most comprehensive route network, United Airlines today announced customers have new international routes to choose from in 2019 including daily, year-round service between San Francisco and Amsterdam and new nonstop seasonal summer service between Newark and Naples, Italy, the only nonstop flight from North America to Naples, as well as Newark and Prague, subject to government approval.

New Daily, Year-Round Service Between San Francisco and Amsterdam

Beginning March 30, 2019, United will be the only U.S. carrier to offer nonstop service between San Francisco and Amsterdam and is the airline’s fifth nonstop flight to the Netherlands. United currently operates daily, year-round services between Amsterdam and Chicago, Houston, Newark and Washington Dulles.

United has operated nonstop service to Amsterdam for more than 25 years and currently offers daily nonstop service between Amsterdam and its hubs in Chicago, Houston, Newark and Washington, D.C.

Flight	Frequency	City Pair	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft
UA 968	Daily	SFO – AMS	2:55 p.m.	10:20 a.m. +1	Boeing 787-9
UA 969	Daily	AMS – SFO	2:50 p.m.	4:50 p.m.	Boeing 787-9

New Summer Service Between Newark and Naples, Italy

United will be the only carrier offering customers nonstop service between the U.S. and Naples, Italy, beginning May 22, 2019 through October 4, 2019.

United’s daily, summer service will connect customers traveling from New York/Newark to Naples, Southern Italy’s largest city. Visitors to Naples enjoy the city’s castles, architecture, art and world-famous cuisine as well as nearby Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed the nearby Roman town of Pompeii. Naples also serves as a gateway to the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination.

United’s new service to Naples will be its sixth nonstop service to Italy and is conveniently timed for connecting customers from more than 60 destinations across the United States.

Flight	Frequency	City Pair	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft
UA 964	Daily	EWR – NAP	5:25 p.m.	8:05 a.m. +1	Boeing 767-300
UA 965	Daily	NAP – EWR	10:10 a.m.	2:05 p.m.	Boeing 767-300

New Summer Service Between Newark and Prague, Czech Republic

Beginning June 6, 2019 through October 4, 2019, United will offer daily nonstop seasonal service between Newark and Prague, also known as the Golden City, the City of a Hundred Spires and the jewel in the crown of Central Europe.

Flight	Frequency	City Pair	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft
UA 188	Daily	EWR – PRG	6:05 p.m.	8:25 a.m. +1	Boeing 767-300
UA 187	Daily	PRG – EWR	10:10 a.m.	1:30 p.m.	Boeing 767-300

Next year United will resume nonstop seasonal service between eight U.S. airports and more than 20 destinations in Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico including popular destinations like Porto, Portugal; Reykjavik, Iceland; Athens, Greece and Venice, Italy. As previously announced, United will also begin the only nonstop service between Washington Dulles and Tel Aviv, Israel next year.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by United): United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER N653UA (msn 25391) (Star Alliance) LHR (SPA). Image: 924670.

United aircraft slide show (Boeing):

First ANA Airbus A380 rolls out of final assembly line in Toulouse

Airbus made this announcement:

The first Airbus A380 for All Nippon Airways (ANA) has rolled out of the final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse. The aircraft has now been moved to an outside station where various ground tests will be undertaken in preparation for first flight in the coming weeks. The aircraft will then be transferred to the Airbus facilities in Hamburg for cabin installation and painting.

ANA HOLDINGS INC. placed a firm order of three A380s in 2016, becoming the first customer for the superjumbo in Japan. The first delivery is scheduled early in 2019, and the A380 will initially be operated on the popular Tokyo-Honolulu route.

To date, Airbus has delivered 229 A380s, with the aircraft now in services with 14 airlines worldwide.

Top Photo: Airbus.

The ANA A380s will be painted in three special liveries:

Cape Air to fly to New York

Cape Air has made this announcement:

We’re spreading our wings to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport! Beginning on October 23, 2018, we will be offering one daily round-trip between Hyannis and Nantucket to New York’s JFK. This seasonal service will run through mid-May of 2019.

Our NYC connection means Islanders and Cape Codders have access to the Big Apple for fun, business, or domestic and international flight options from JFK. At JFK, we will be located in Terminal 5, which means easy connections with our partner, JetBlue.

New Yorkers who want to get back to ACK for Stroll Weekend, Daffy, Nantucket Wine, or just to visit the Cape & Islands during the beautiful (less crowded!) shoulder season can skip the traffic and ferries for an easy 1 hour and 20 minute flight.

All photos by Cape Air.

Wizz Air announces further expansion in Ukraine

Wizz Air has announced that it will further expand its operations in Ukraine by adding a fourth Airbus A320 aircraft at its Kyiv base in March 2019, launching five long-awaited routes from Kyiv and Lviv airports and increasing the number of tickets offered with over 45% next year.

The new low fare routes announced will operate from Kyiv to Breman, Billund and Riga and from Lviv to Copenhagen and Frankfurt Hahn.

The new aircraft will arrive on March 1, 2019 and will support the service of the 5 new routes from Ukraine from which, Wizz’s routes to Kyiv-Bremen, Kyiv-Billund, Lviv-Copenhagen and Lvivi-Frankfurt Hahn are the only direct connections.

Wizz Air started its operations from Kyiv International Airport in 2008.

Wizz Air also released its 2019 summer schedule from Kyiv airport.

WIZZ AIR’S NEW ROUTES FROM UKRAINE

New routes	Frequency	Start date	Fares from*
Kyiv – Riga	Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays	2 March 2019	24.99 EUR / 759 UAH
Kyiv – Bremen	Mondays, Fridays	1 March 2019	24.99 EUR / 759 UAH
Kyiv – Billund	Tuesdays, Saturdays	2 March 2019	24.99 EUR / 759 UAH
Lviv – Copenhagen	Wednesdays, Sundays	3 March 2019	24.99 EUR / 759 UAH
Lviv – Frankfurt Hahn	Mondays, Fridays	14 December 2018	24.99 EUR / 759 UAH

WIZZ AIR’S FREQUENCY INCREASE ON EXISTING ROUTES

New routes	Weekly flights
Kyiv – Lisbon	3 from 2

Top Copyright Photo: Wizz Air (wizzair.com) (Hungary) Airbus A320-232 HA-LWI (msn 4628) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 940680.

Wizz Air aircraft slide show:

British Airways becomes the Official Airline Partner to England Rugby

British Airways issued this statement:

British Airways announced as Principal Partner to Twickenham Stadium and the Official Airline Partner to England Rugby.

British Airways will become the Official Airline Partner to England Rugby, flying the Men’s and Women’s squads to tournaments around the world. The multi-year, ground-breaking new partnership will also see the airline become the first ‘Principal Partner’ to Twickenham Stadium, the home of England Rugby. British Airways will have exclusive stadium branding, including the building’s roof, which as an iconic landmark on the flight path and is seen by the thousands of travellers flying in to Heathrow every day.

British Airways and England Rugby will also work closely together on the digital experience at Twickenham Stadium, including developing and launching a new stadium app and e-ticketing in the future. It also sees the new top floor facility of the redeveloped East Stand named as the British Airways Rose Garden, which will be a modern relaxed environment for guests featuring live music and a mix of open cooking stations.

Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways, said: “We’re getting behind England Rugby and looking forward to supporting the Men’s and Women’s squads, by delivering them ready to win on their travels all over the world. Twickenham Stadium also sits on the flight path in to Heathrow, so our partnership with the home of England Rugby will be visible to British Airways customers from the skies.”

RFU Chief Executive, Steve Brown, commented on the launch today: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with British Airways and are extremely excited about working together. Twickenham Stadium is the home of English rugby and we’re so pleased to have British Airways – an iconic British brand with a strong heritage and aligned with our core values – as our first ever principal partner of the stadium.”

The partnership will see British Airways fly the England Men’s and Women’s teams to matches all around the world, including to Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2021.

To kick off the partnership, British Airways held a photoshoot at the stadium with uniformed ambassadors and created a bespoke pitch design captured by an aerial camera.

Photo: British Airways.

SkyWork Airlines has stopped all operations

SkyWork Airlines (Bern) was declared bankrupt on August 28, 2018 and halted all operations on the following day.

The airline issued this short statement:

SkyWork Airlines has stopped operations with immediate effect. We would like to thank you for your loyalty during the past seven years.

The Federal Office of Civil Aviation-FOCA issued this statement:

Bernese Regional Air Line Skywork Airlines AG ceased operation with immediate effect due to economic reasons. 11’000 passengers, which made bookings, are affected by the cease of operation.

Previously on October 16, 2017, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation announced it would to terminate SkyWork’s air operator’s certificate (AOC) after October if the airline failed to provide information on sufficient funds to maintain operations during the winter schedule.

SkyWork Airlines was unable to provide the necessary funding and was forced to cancel all flights for the winter schedule.

Negotiations failed to find a new investor and the airline decided to declare bankruptcy.

The company started in 1983.

Top Copyright Photo: SkyWork Airlines SAAB 2000 HB-IZT (msn 036) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 943336.

SkyWork Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video:

American Airlines flight attendants to picket AA headquarters

Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) issued this statement:

In any early morning wake up call, members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) will descend upon American Airline’s Headquarters 1 building tomorrow. “It’s time for our company to wake up and understand exactly what’s going on with their 27,000 front line employees,” said APFA National President Lori Bassani. “We are sick from toxic uniforms, sick from cabin fume events and sick of being given the run-around with the flawed implementation and improperly programmed new scheduling systems.”

Flight Attendants are set for full operational integration (FOI) in October of this year. Monumental changes have been introduced to the work force in the areas of scheduling and contractual issues.

As of FOI, flight attendants from both legacies (Us Airways and American) will work under the same collective bargaining agreement and a new attendance policy. “The new sick policy is extremely punitive and does not take into account the unique working conditions flight attendants endure daily. We are exposed to ill passengers, foreign food borne illnesses, toxic cabin air, unhealthy sleep patterns, radiation exposure, and flight attendants cross multiple time zones, to name just a few,” said President Bassani.

APFA members will gather at AA Headquarters 1 in Dallas Ft. Worth at 7:30am. They will be protesting the disrespect and disregard shown to the flight attendants as American Airlines plows ahead to FOI.

Picket signs and mobile billboards will be displaying images during the informational picketing event.