Tag Archives: 737-300

PAL Airlines of Chile suspends operations

PAL Airlines (Santiago) on May 27 saw its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) suspended because the local DGAC (Chile’s Civil Aviation Directorate) detected the airline did not accomplish technical requirements that may risk the operational safety of the airline if these issues are not corrected. The DGAC decided to stop all PAL Airlines operations until these issues are corrected. According to DGAC, PAL Airlines is working to recover its AOC in the coming days.

Here is the statement by the AGAC (translated from Spanish):

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reports that according to the audits that are usually performed, the audits revealed that Principal Chile SA Airlines (PAL) has failed to comply with the technical requirements for its Air Operators Certification (AOC). Therefore its operation could jeopardize security if detected problems are not solved.

Therefore, citizens of Chile are informed that if these problems are not resolved, all air operations of this company will be suspended until the company hows its ability to comply with the technical requirements of aviation regulations .

The company is committed to provide a solution, as soon as possible, to the problems identified so as to continue to operate with the utmost safety .

The DGAC regrets the inconvenience this may cause, but the obligation of the Aeronautics Division is to ensure aviation safety.

Meanwhile PAL Airlines has stated it is working hard to relocate its maintenance facilities to another area of Santiago Airport (the original facilities were already demolished).

PAL is working hard to recover its AOC and expects to obtain it again in the next 4-5 days.

PAL Airlines has issued this statement about its efforts to restore its AOC (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

Special thanks to Alvaro Romero reporting from Chile.

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/ModoCharlie.com. Ex-United Boeing 737-322 CC-ACE (msn 24669) completes its final approach back to the Santiago hub.

PAL Airlines:

Jat Airways’ Boeing 737-300s to continue flying charters under the Aviolet brand

Air Serbia (Belgrade) this month has unveiled a new charter division named Aviolet. Aviolet will operate charters using the three 144-seat Boeing 737-300s formerly of Jat Airways (Belgrade). The first flight is today (May 24) on a charter flight from Belgrade to Antalya.

Air Serbia:

Jat Airways:

Boliviana de Aviacion is coming to Miami on June 6

Boliviana de Aviacion-BoA (Cochabamba) is planning to launch the Cochabamba-Santa-Cruz-Miami route (fours days a week) via a refueling stop at Panama City, Panama with Boeing 737-300 aircraft on June 6 per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-3Q8 CP-2554 (msn 26303) slips into the blue sky at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

BoA:

airBaltic to drop service to Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen) and Kaliningrad

airBaltic (airBaltic.com) (Riga) is dropping its two routes to Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen) and Kaliningrad on May 27 per Airline Route.

The airBaltic fleet currently consists of three aircraft types – 5 Boeing 737-500s, 8 Boeing 737-300s and 12 Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen turboprops, in total – 25 aircraft. The company hopes to replace the Boeing 737 fleet with new Bombardier CS300 aircraft which has been delayed.

airBaltic:

Azman Air commences operations in Nigeria on May 15

Azman Air (Kano, Nigeria) was finally awarded its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and commenced scheduled passenger operations on May 15 with two former bmibaby Boeing 737-300s (5N-HAI and 5N-YSM). The first routes are Kano-Lagos, Lagos-Abuja and Kano-Abuja.

Azman Air:

The Battle of Dallas: Southwest Airlines fights to protect its Love Field turf from “invading” Virgin America despite Sir Richard Branson’s “love letter” to the city

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) according to this article by Bloomberg Businessweek, is playing “hardball” to protect its home turf at Dallas’ downtown Love Field. Upstart Virgin America (San Francisco), as we have reported, wants to sublease two gates at DAL from American Airlines (approved by the DOT) in order to start new service to key coastal markets. Virgin America, if it gains the two gates, with offer inflight amenities that Southwest does not offer its flyers at Love Field. Is Southwest afraid of Virgin America gaining a foothold in DAL?

Virgin America has brought in the “big gun”, i.e. Sir Richard Branson, who has been visiting and urging local leaders to approve the sublease from American Airlines to Virgin America. Branson has also “videoed” a love letter (see video below) to the city leaders and business interests. Southwest is pushing back claiming it can offer more flights to more markets with the two disputed gates. The city of Dallas will have to decide who gets the lease, either upset the local “hometown” airline or invite in a new strong competitor. There is a battle going on in Dallas that is heating up with the weather. Someone will win this gunfight and someone will lose it. The stakes are high.

Video:

Read the article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. With “Lone Star One”, Southwest continues to remind Texans it is the airline of Texas, not an airline from the West Coast. Dallas is the new battleground for these two carriers. Who will prevail?

Southwest Airlines:

Virgin America:

Southwest picks Amadeus’ Altéa reservations for its domestic operations

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and Amadeus IT Group announced today that they have entered into a joint contract for Amadeus’ Altéa reservations solution that will support the carrier’s domestic service. Amadeus’ Altéa reservations solution currently supports the Company’s international service, and Southwest has long indicated a desire to operate just one reservation system, operating multiple systems following the acquisition of AirTran Airways (Orlando and Dallas) and the launch of international service on Southwest. After months of due diligence, the airline selected Amadeus’ Altéa solution based on a successful international launch and future capabilities.

Over the next few years, Southwest and Amadeus will partner to move to a single reservation system. Until then, the airline will continue with two reservation platforms after the sunset of the AirTran brand in December 2014. Amadeus is the leading IT provider for the travel and tourism industry with a unique portfolio of new generation solutions and the largest customer base for airline passenger service systems.

After two years of work, Southwest began selling international itineraries in January 2014 using Amadeus’ Altéa reservation solution. The carrier will begin flying those itineraries on July 1, 2014.

Southwest is Amadeus’ largest U.S. airline IT partner in terms of domestic passengers boarded annually. Amadeus has more than 100 airlines on their reservation system—mostly based in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Once implemented, Southwest will be Amadeus’ largest airline IT partner worldwide in terms of passengers boarded.

Meanwhile Sabre reacted to announcement with this statement:

Sabre Corporation reported that it was notified earlier today by Southwest Airlines of its decision to end the competitive bid process for its future reservations system. Sabre was further notified that the contract has been awarded to a competitor.

Sabre remains under contract to be compensated through December 31, 2016 for continuing to provide reservations services for all domestic flights.

In 2013, Southwest Airlines’ reservations system contributed approximately one percent of total Sabre revenues, and three percent of Adjusted EBITDA.

Sabre’s leading SabreSonic CSS reservation solution is a market leader with strong market momentum. The robust and flexible solution was recently selected by the combined American Airlines and U.S. Airways, the world’s largest airline.

Sabre’s broad portfolio of airline solutions continues to provide opportunity for the Company to work with Southwest going forward through its currently installed solutions, as well as future opportunities.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-7H4 N219WN (msn 32490) arrives at the runway threshold at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS).

Southwest Airlines:

Jambojet starts operations on April 1 with three Boeing 737-300s

Jambojet (Jambojet.com) (subsidiary of Kenya Airways) (Nairobi) as planned, launched low-fare operations on April 1 between Nairobi and Mombasa. Service to Kisumu and Eldoret were also commenced on the same day with three leased Boeing 737-300s (from Kenya Airways).

The new airline will gradually expand to Arusha (Tanzania), Bujumbura (Burundi), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Entebbe (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) according to ATW.

The formation of lower cost Jambojet is a defensive move by parent Kenya Airways against any plans by Fastjet to operate in Kenya.

Top Copyright Photo: Jambojet. Each tail represents a different animal, specifically the Cheetah, Zebra and Giraffe. The the three leased Boeing 737-300s are pictured at Nairobi.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jambojet. Captain Aquinas Birika and First Officer Wanjiru Gichaga make a toast after landing the first flight.

Southwest to launch two new routes from Los Angeles to both Boise and Omaha

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) on June 9 will introduce new daily service from Los Angeles to Omaha, Nebraska. This will be followed by Los Angeles-Boise, Idaho weekly service starting on June 14.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-3H4 N614SW (msn 28033) with Blended Winglets arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Southwest Airlines:

Air Serbia to retire the last Jat Airways Boeing 737 on April 28

Air Serbia (Belgrade) is currently planning to operate the last Boeing 737-300 flight on April 28. The aging Jat Airways Boeing 737-300 fleet is being upgraded and replaced with newer Airbus A319s. Currently the last Boeing 737-300 scheduled service is now scheduled for flight JU 415 from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Belgrade on April 28 according to Airline Route.

This will also be end of the Jat Airways (JAT) brand and name.

Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Because of the imminent retirement the former Jat Airways Boeing 737-300s are not being repainted in Air Serbia’s colors. Boeing 737-3H9 YU-ANJ (msn 23714) completes its final approach to the runway at London’s Heathrow Airport in the current 2004 livery.

Air Serbia:

Jat Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. JAT was the first airline in Europe to order and operate the new Boeing 737-300 in 1985. The new type entered revenue service after the first (YU-AND) was delivered on July 31, 1985. The pictured 737-3H9 YU-ANL (msn 23716) displays the original 1963 livery worn by the type.