All Copyright Photos: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8SH B-18659 (msn 61424) is pictured at the Mandarin Airlines’ maintenance facility in Taichung.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Dhaka) and Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) yesterday (November 24) celebrated the airline’s first direct-purchased Next-Generation 737-800 as part of the countryโs national airlineโs fleet modernization plan.
As part of the first phase of its fleet modernization plan, the airline currently operates a total of six Boeing 777s and two Next-Generation 737-800s. With this delivery, Biman Bangladesh Airlines adds one additional 737-800 and has four 787 Dreamliners on order.
Copyright Photo: Royal S. King/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8E9 S2-AHO 9msn 40334) taxies to the runway at Seattle’s Boeing Field (King County).
Boeing (BA) and BOC Aviation (Singapore), announced an order for 22 737 airplanes, building on the leasing company’s existing order book to fulfill customer demand.
The order, consisting of 11 Next-Generation 737-800s and 11 737 MAX 8 airplanes, will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website once finalized.
In addition to today’s announcement, BOC Aviation has ordered 167 737 airplanes, including 50 737 MAXs and 16 777s.
BOC Aviation is a leading global aircraft leasing company with a portfolio of 253 owned and managed aircraft operated by 59 airlines worldwide in 29 countries, with commitments to acquire 203 aircraft, as of 30 September 2015. BOC Aviation, owned by Bank of China, is based in Singapore with offices in Dublin, London, Seattle and Tianjin.
Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta) is expanding into China. The flag carrier made this announcement:
As part of its continuous network expansion program, particularly of the Chinese market, Garuda Indonesia on Sunday, November 22, officially launched a direct flight from Denpasar to Guangzhou, China and return.
Garuda Indonesia flies the Denpasar – Guangzhou (GA 896) route three (3) times a week, every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday with a departure from Denpasar scheduled at 23:45 WITA and arriving in Guangzhou at 05:00 LT (local time). Meanwhile, the Guangzhou – Denpasar route (GA 897) is flown every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Departure time from Guangzhou is at 06:15 LT and arrives in Denpasar at 12:00 WITA. On this new route, Garuda operates a Boeing 737-800 NG with a capacity of 12 passengers in business class and 150 passengers in economy class.
Garuda Indonesia’s Director of Services, Nicodemus P. Lampe said that the Denpasar – Guangzhou vv service is part of the airlines network expansion strategy, especially to China. China is a very important market for Garuda Indonesia and the Airline will continue to develop services to this country, explained Nicodemus.
With the launching of this new Denpasar Guangzhou service, Garuda now flies to China 24 times a week, to Shanghai – Jakarta vv (7 times), Beijing – Jakarta vv (4 times), Beijing – Denpasar vv (3 times), Guangzhou – Jakarta vv (7 times) and the newest service, Denpasar – Guangzhou Denpasar vv (3 times), added Nicodemus.
Now, more than ever, Garuda Indonesia is ready to cash in on the huge potential Chinese market, as Chinese tourists visiting Indonesia between January-August 2015 reached 489,233 tourists or an increase of 25.56 percent compared to the same period in 2014, which only reached 389,627 tourists, added Nicodemus.
Apart from flying to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, Garuda Indonesia also flies 21 times a week to Hong Kong, including Hong Kong – Jakarta vv (14 times) and Hong Kong – Denpasar vv (7 times).
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8U3 WL PK-GMG (msn 30141) prepares to taxi from the gate at Denpasar on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Copa Airlines (Panama City) took delivery of the 100th airplane to join its fleet, a Boeing 737-800 (HP-1852CMP) decorated with a special decal celebrating the airline achieving this important milestone.
The airplane, leased from SMBC Aviation Capital, flew from Seattle to its Panama City home base, where it was welcomed by a special ceremony.
With this new airplane, Copa now has 77 Next-Generation 737s in its fleet. In April, the airline signed an order for 61 737 MAX airplanes.
Copa Airlines allows passengers to make fast and convenient connections to 74 destinations in 31 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean through its Hub of the Americas in Panama City, the airline hub with the most international connections in Latin America. For the last two consecutive years, FlightStats has recognized Copa as “Best Airline in Latin America” for its on-time performance and quality of service.
Photo: Boeing. Boeing 737-8V3 HP-1852CMP (msn 39968) wears the special “100” logo.
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) on November 16 introduced its TWA heritage livery logo jet. The pictured Boeing 737-823 N915NN (msn 33227) wears the 1979 livery of Trans World Airlines with joint American and TWA titles.
Copyright Photo: Brian Peters/AirlinersGallery.com. N915NN passed through the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) today.
American Airlines aircraft slide show:ย
Video: American Airlines. AA brought this Boeing 777-300 ER to Sydney.ย Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft performed a flyover of Sydney Harbour and was welcomed by joint business partner QANTAS Airways in Hangar 96 at Mascot. The aircraft visit is a prelude to Americanโs new daily service from Sydney to Los Angeles, which starts on December 19, as part of the carriersโ expanded partnership announced earlier this year.
A newly reconfigured Qantas Boeing 737-800 painted in vintage 1960s livery has been unveiled in Sydney as the national carrier celebrates 95 years of flying.
Retro Roo II (VH-VXQ) has the same livery that featured on Qantasโ Boeing 707 jets from 1959 to 1961 โ when the flying kangaroo helped revolutionise long-haul travel.
The Boeing 707 represented a step-change in aviation and Qantas was the first carrier outside the United States to operate the jet. In 1959, Qantas used it to become the first airline to operate regular passenger jet services across the Pacific Ocean, connecting Sydney and San Francisco.
Qantas was also the first airline to offer a round-the-world jet service with the Boeing 707. The flying time was 70 hours compared to 127 hours with the Super Constellation aircraft that the B707 replaced. Today a Qantas flight from Sydney to London stops just once, in Dubai, and takes 21 flying hours.
Welcoming the freshly-painted jet into a hangar with more than 300 employees, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce described the vintage livery as a flying tribute to the airlineโs history of innovation.
Above Photo: QANTAS.ย Boeing 737-838 VH-VXQ (msn 33723) arrives at the Sydney base.
โNone of the past 95 years would have been possible without all those who have worked for Qantas with such commitment and passion. Tens of thousands of people have dedicated their whole careers to the national carrier and many who work here today are the third or fourth generation in their family to do so,โ he added.
โAs we celebrate our 95th birthday today, I hope this livery inspires a sense of pride in what our national airline has achieved during all those years of taking Australians around the world and bringing them safely home again,โ said Mr Joyce.
โA large part of the national pride people feel towards the flying kangaroo comes from the fact it has been responsible for so many innovations in global aviation.
โWe were the first airline to introduce business class, we have operated record breaking endurance flights throughout our history and weโve helped pioneer many breakthroughs in aviation technology.
โInnovation is still at the core of Qantas and weโre now looking to a new generation of aircraft with the arrival of Qantasโ first B787 Dreamliners in 2017. Like the 707 in 1959, these aircraft are at the cutting edge of aviation and weโre really excited about the opportunities theyโll open up for our customers.
The arrival of Retro Roo II, which was painted in Townsville, is part of Qantasโ 95th birthday celebrations. Events so far have included an Australia-wide Instameet and Qantasโ charity flight to Longreach, which raised over $110,000 for drought relief. A gala dinner for over 1,000 people in the airlineโs A380 hangar in Mascot on Friday rounds out the activities.
Retro Roo II is the second Qantas 737 aircraft in vintage livery. Retro Roo I was launched last November, featuring the livery of 1971-1984, and regularly appears on social media as passengers photograph it at airports across the country.
Earlier this year, Qantas donated its record-breaking Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJA) to an aviation museum staffed largely by former Qantas employees. The aircraft was significant for operating the worldโs longest non-stop flight from London to Sydney in 1989, and is now a big tourism draw for the Illawarra region.
Copyright Photo: Rob Finlayson/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by QANTAS). Boeing 737-838 VH-VXQ (msn 33723) named “Retro Roo II” is pictured at Sydney after arriving from Townsville.
QANTAS aircraft slide show:ย
Video: QANTAS Airways. The first Boeing 707 service to San Francisco.
Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and Ryanair (Dublin) celebrated the Irish low-cost carrier’s 375th direct delivery of a Next-Generation 737-800. Ryanair is the largest Next Generation 737-800 customer in the world having ordered more than 530 of the airplane type.
The Dublin based airline is this year celebrating its 30th anniversary of operations since its first flight in 1985. Today, Ryanair is the largest all-Boeing operator in Europe.
Atlantic Star Airlines (London) has issued this statement:
Atlantic Star will partner with TUIfly to deliver its 2016 charter flight program between the UK and St. Helena. TUI Group is Europe’s largest travel company and holds a European Air Safety Agency Air Operators Certificate, including the necessary Extended Twin Operations validation necessary to operate to St. Helena.
TUIfly will operate a Boeing 737-800 on the route from London Gatwick to St. Helena, via a short fuel stop in Banjul, Gambia. The two-class configuration will offer Economy and Economy Plus seating options.
The first dates for travel coincide with the Easter school holidays. They will of course be dependent on the airport at St. Helena being opened on schedule in February 2016.
Further flights are planned, timed to coincide with school holidays later in 2016. Atlantic Star will not be able to confirm the dates or release tickets for sale on these services until much nearer the time.
The first service will leave London Gatwick in the late evening of Sunday, March 20, 2016, arriving mid-morning in St. Helena on Monday, March 21, 2016. The aircraft will then leave St. Helena around lunchtime, to arrive back in London Gatwick late the same night.
The second service will operate to a similar schedule, leaving London Gatwick on Sunday, April 3, 2016 to arrive in St. Helena on April 4, 2016, departing St. Helena the same day to arrive at London Gatwick late that night.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com.ย TUIfly’s (TUIfly.com) (Germany) ex-Airberlin Boeing 737-86J WL D-ABKI (msn 37748) arrives at EuroAirport.
WestJet (Calgary) today (October 18) unveiled its new Disney Frozen-theme logo jet on the pictured Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSV (msn 37158). The airline issued this statement:
A plane so cool, it’s frozen.ย Second custom-painted WestJet aircraft inspired by Disney’s Frozen.
WestJet, WestJet Vacations and The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Ltd., Parks and Resorts, have made magic again, unveiling a second custom-painted, Disney-themed aircraft featuring Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Frozen, the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Like the #MagicPlane featuring Sorcerer Mickey, the images on the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane tell an enchanting story. The tail of the aircraft features Anna and Elsa celebrating sisterhood and the magic of snow. Moving along the aircraft from back to front, the magic travels to warmer climes where Olaf can be found enjoying a summer day on the beach. The theme carries through to the interior of the aircraft with images on the overhead bins, bulkheads, lavatory mirrors and headrests.
“This aircraft takes the relationship between WestJet and Disney to a completely new level of cool,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. “Two years ago, we launched the #MagicPlane, our first Disney-themed aircraft, and no matter where it flies throughout our network, it is the most-anticipated and most-photographed aircraft in WestJet history. Today, we are proud to team up with our great friends at Disney to create a sequel like no other.”
“To see our vision come to life is so exciting, as we collaborated on this project for over a year. Only a very small group of us (WestJetters and Disney Artists and Cast Members) knew and we had to keep our secret under wrapsโฆ or should I say, on ice,” said Marlie Morrison, Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Ltd., Parks & Resorts. “It’s a truly unique and unforgettable design that Disney Fans and WestJet guests alike will enjoy for years to come.”
Fun facts about the #DisneyFrozenThemedPlane:
The aircraft was painted in Fort Worth, Texas.
The paint team included team members from Canada, the United States and Germany. They watched Frozen to get them into the spirit before work began.
The job took 21 days of 12-hour rotations involving a constant crew of six painters working 24/7.
The crew used 643.5 litres of paint consisting of 23 colours — five for the umbrella alone.
Sparkles were added to the paint in sections to add shimmer and shine as the aircraft moves.
An airbrush artist was brought in to work on details around the sun, water and castle.
The inside of the aircraft has decals and headrest covers that mimic the cold-to-warm (back-to-front) theme on the outside of the aircraft.
There are 54 separate overhead bin doors on the aircraft and each has a unique Frozen decal.
Several dozen bagels were consumed during the painting of this aircraft (there weren’t any doughnut stores nearby). The crew drank more than 100 litres of sweet tea.
You must be logged in to post a comment.