Tag Archives: 737200

Sky Airline of Chile retires its last Boeing 737-200

Sky Airline (Chile) (Santiago) on July 26 operated the last revenue flight of a Boeing 737-200. Three 737-200s were retired on July 26.

The first of the three airliners that finished their career was CC-CTK, performing flight SKU 055, departing Santiago (SCL) to Carriel Sur, Concepción Airport (SCIE/CCP) at 17:15 (local time). It returned to SCL as flight SKU 054.

Flight SKU 116 was flown from Santiago to Copiapó’s Desierto de Atacama airport (SCAT) using CC-CVI, and flew from there to Santiago as SKU 117 at 19:09.
The last flight was flight SKU 122, flown with CC-CTH. The flight took off from SCL for La Serena (SCSE/LSC), then to Copiapó and returning to Santiago around 22:00 (local). This flight marked the end of the era of 737s in SKY Airline service.

Thanks goes to Alvaro Romero for this information.

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/ModoCharlie.com. Boeing 737-2Q3 CC-ABD (msn 22736) is pictured at the SCL base.

Sky Airline (Chile): AG Slide Show

Sky Airline phases out its last Boeing 737-200s

Sky Airline (Chile) (Santiago) on July 3 2013 retired from scheduled operations three of its Boeing 737-200s: CC-CTO, CC-AAG and CC-ABD. Three 737-200s still remain in service: CC-CTH, CC-CTK and CC-CVI. However these last three aircraft will be retired by the end of July 2013. After that, the carrier will only operate Airbus A319s and A320s.

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/ModoCharlie.com. Boeing 737-230 CC-CTK (msn 22402) completes its final approach back into the Santiago base.

Sky Airline (Chile): AG Slide Show

Malawi Airlines Limited is launched in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines to replace Air Malawi

Malawi Airlines Limited (Blantyre) was launched on July 2 as the replacement flag carrier of Malawi replacing defunct Air Malawi (Blantyre). The new airline will be operated in partnership with investor Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa). Malawi will have a 51 percent share in the new carrier and Ethiopian Airlines will hold the other 49 percent according to this report by Nyasa Times.

Ethiopian Airlines will supply two aircraft for the new venture.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Air Malawi was placed into liquidation in November 2012. One grounded Boeing 737-300, one 737-500 and one ATR 42-300 are for sale by the receiver.

Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Malawi was one of the last passenger operators of the Boeing 737-200. 737-2K9 7Q-YKX (msn 23405) is pictured arriving at Johannesburg.

Air Malawi: AG Slide Show

Former routes of Air Malawi:

Air Malawi 11:2012 Route Map

Aloha Air Cargo celebrates five years and moves ahead with the building of a new cargo facility at Honolulu

Aloha Air Cargo 5 Years (Aloha Air Cargo)(LR)

Aloha Air Cargo (Honolulu) on May 14 celebrated its fifth anniversary. The company is keeping alive the Aloha name.

The cargo airline on May 2 also held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new air cargo facility, which will consolidate existing cargo operations, aircraft maintenance, loading docks, support offices, and customer service operations into an integrated facility on the west side of the airport near the end of Elliott Street and Hale Kinai Road. The facility initiates the kick-off for the Hawaii Airports Modernization Program – part of Governor Neil Abercrombie’s New Day Work Projects. In attendance were Governor Abercrombie, Deputy Airport Director Ford Fuchigami, Kahu Kelekona Bishaw, Aloha Air Cargo Executives and employees, and various key customers and local Hawaii businesses.

Aloha’s cargo facility will act as its primary operational hub, which will coordinate logistics efforts with the company’s Statewide shipping network across all major airports including Lihue, Kauai (LIH), Kahului, Maui (OGG), Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (KOA), and Hilo, Hawaii (ITO).

Aloha Air Cargo 737-200 fleet (Aloha Air Cargo)(LR)

The groundbreaking is a perfect segue into Aloha Air Cargo’s 5-year anniversary as an independent cargo company which took place on May 14, 2013. The cargo carrier continues to grow and strengthen its core cargo business, while expanding its offerings to become a formidable logistics solutions provider – coming a long way since its much beloved predecessor, Aloha Airlines, closed its doors in March 2008.

The new cargo facility and hangar will be 115,000 square feet, including over 2,400 square feet of refrigerator capacity and five (5) drive-up docks for shippers. Structural considerations were made to incorporate over 31,000 square feet of buildup area under roof for cargo to be sheltered from the elements, wind, sun, and rain. Completion of the facility is projected at the end of first quarter 2014. Until then, operations will not be impacted, and Aloha will continue to serve more than 2,000 local businesses who rely on the cargo carrier to move over 100 million pounds of freight annually into and across the State.

Above Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin (all others from Aloha Air Cargo). Boeing 737-2X6C N841AL (msn 23123) passes through Oakland.

Aloha Air Cargo logo copy

 

Video:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAValjcOTis&w=420&h=315%5D

Aeroflot to combine Vladivostok Air and SAT Airlines under a new company called Far Eastern Airline (DVA)

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has transferred its controlling 52.156 percent of the shares of Vladivostok Air (Vladivostok Avia) (Vladivostok) (a member of the Aeroflot Group of companies) to SAT Airlines (Sakhalin Airlines) (Sakhalin) (a 100 percent subsidiary of Aeroflot). This move was made following the decision of Aeroflot’s Board of Directors concerning the creation of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) within the Aeroflot Group.

According to Aeroflot, “the new member in Aeroflot Group of companies will satisfy the growing demand for regional flights offering the highest service standards in one of the most impressively developing regions of the country — Russia’s Far East.”

Aeroflot continues, “the creation of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) will contribute significantly to the social-economic development of this vast region with a powerful economic potential and will let Aeroflot Group become one of the leading air carriers in Asia-Pacific.

The establishment of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) is one of the key elements of Aeroflot Group strategy aimed at the creation of a large aviation holding which will successfully compete with the leaders of the global civil aviation.”

Vladivostok Air is the largest air carrier in Russia’s Far East, carrying about 1,100,000 passengers annually on its own fleet of planes. The airline flies to 24 domestic and 13 international destinations.

Vladivostok Air FAs

Copyright Photo: Vladivostok Air. V/A’s flight attendants.

Aeroflot recently celebrated its 90th anniversary of its creation as a state airline. Aeroflot is one of the world’s oldest airlines, founded on March 17, 1923 as Dobrolet. Operations commenced on July 15, 1923 from Moscow to Nizhniy Novgorod. The company adopted its current name Aeroflot on March 25, 1932.

Read the full report from Pravda: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl. Vladivostok Air’ Airbus A330-301 VQ-BEU (msn 055) arrives at Antalya.

Aeroflot: AG Slide Show

Vladivostok Air logo-1

Vladivostok Air: AG Slide Show

SAT Airlines: AG Slide Show

SAT Airlines logo

SAT Airlines Route Map:

SAT Airlines 3:2013 Route Map

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. SAT Airlines’ (Sakhalin Airlines) Boeing 737-232 RA-73005 (msn 23100) completes its final approach at Beijing.

American Airlines and US Airways approve their merger

American Airlines 2013 logo

American Airlines (AMR Corporation) (Dallas/Fort Worth) and US Airways (Phoenix) have approved a stock merger between the two companies. The boards of both airlines met last night to approve the merger according to this report by Reuters. This came after AMR Corporation’s unsecured creditors also approved the merger. An announcement is expected today with all of the details.

US Airways management will be taking control of the new American Airlines. The American Airlines name will be retained for the new company and the US Airways name and brand will be retired.

USAirways logo

 

This is what happened when deregulation upstart America West Airlines (Phoenix) acquired US Airways (Washington) (formerly USAir and Allegheny Airlines) and kept the US Airways name. CEO Doug Parker of US Airways (formerly the CEO of America West Airlines) is expected to become the new CEO of the new American Airlines which is expected to be based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (Doug will be moving).

America West logo

In reality, this is the story of how America West Airlines in essence acquired two large financially troubled airlines, kept their names and in the process became the largest airline in the world. America West was a product of deregulation. Although the name does not survive today (the people do), America West was founded in 1981 by Ed Beauvais (who later founded Western Pacific Airlines). Operations began on August 1, 1983 as a new airline under deregulation. W. Douglas Parker joined America West in June 1995 and became the CEO in September 2001.

Read the full story from Reuters: CLICK HERE

How US Airways (the airline no one wanted) acquired American Airlines to become the largest airline in the world (from Reuters): CLICK HERE

Watch here for the formal announcement later today.

American Airlines: AG Slide Show

US Airways: AG Slide Show

America West Airlines: AG Slide Show

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Peal away the new American name and you will find the America West name in the past. This is really the story of how deregulation upstart America West Airlines became the largest airline in the world named American Airlines. America West had humble beginnings with used Boeing 737-200s. The pictured 737-275 N127AW (msn 20922) taxies to the runway at Oakland in the original 1983 color scheme.

11 companies are interested in bidding for Air Malawi, will the third attempt to privatize be successful?

Air Malawi (Blantyre) is again on the blocks to be privatized by the Malawian government. The government, through the Privatisation Commission, has received expressions of interest from 11 companies for the national flag carrier according to this report by Engineering News. The 11 companies will be short-listed for a final selection.

According to Wikipedia, since 2000, the Malawian government has attempted on two occasions to privatize the airline unsuccessfully. The first attempt in 2003 failed because of the successful bidder, in partnership with South African Airways, was unable to post a security bond. The second attempt in 2007 failed after disagreements over the terms of the bid by Comair (Johannesburg) of South Africa. Comair is interested in bidding again.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten. Whoever is successful in bidding for Air Malawi will immediately have to upgrade the old fleet. Veteran Boeing 737-2K9 7Q-YKX (msn 23405) approaches Johannesburg for landing. The airframe was originally delivered to Midway Airlines (1st) (Chicago-Midway) as N701ML on December 5, 1985. This aircraft has now gone on to Star Air Cargo as ZS-SVT.

Air Malawi logo

Air Malawi: AG Slide Show

Air Zimbabwe resumes domestic operations

Air Zimbabwe (Harare) with government assistance has resumed domestic operations again according to this report by The Standard. Previously the national flag carrier had relaunched domestic operations on May 2, 2012 (still on their website) until July 2012. The report also states the airline is planning to resume international operations today (November 4) (believed to be to Johannesburg).

The government of Zimbabwe has reportedly assumed the debt of the carrier.

Also according to the report, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is ready to “cooperate” with the struggling carrier.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten. The domestic operations are believed to be operated with Boeing 737-200s. The pictured 737-2N0 Z-WPB (msn 23678) is seen arriving at Johannesburg in the past.

Frameable Color Prints and Posters: 

Air Zimbabwe: 

Air Botswana adds six new routes

Air Botswana (Gaborone) on October 28 will add six new routes:

  • Gaborone – Cape Town
  • Gaborone – Lilongwe
  • Gaborone – Blantyre
  • Gaborone – Lanseria
  • Gaborone – Nairobi
  • Maun – Victoria Falls

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

Gaborone – Cape Town

  • Tuesday / Thursday / Sunday – Departure: 07:00 Arrival: 09:15

Gaborone – Lilongwe

  • Monday – Departure: 09:30 Arrival: 13:00
  • Thursday – Departure: 09:30 Arrival: 13:00

Gaborone – Blantyre
(Via Harare)

  • Wednesday – Departure: 08:30 Arrival: 12:10

Gaborone – Lanseria

  • Wednesday / Friday – Departure: 07:20 Arrival: 08:20
  • Wednesday / Friday – Departure: 16:00 Arrival: 17:00

Gaborone – Nairobi
(Via Harare)

  • Monday / Saturday – Departure: 10:00 Arrival: 15:25

Maun – Victoria Falls

  • Tuesday / Thursday- Departure: 10:15 Arrival: 11:15
  • Saturday – Departure: 14:20 Arrival: 15:20

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Boeing 737-2T5 ZS-SGX (msn 22396) is pictured at Johannesburg.

Air Botswana: 

Air North brings the Boeing 737 to northern Yukon for the first time

Air North (Whitehorse), Yukon’s Airline, on September 5 announced that for the first time its flight 307/308 from Whitehorse to Dawson City, Old Crow and Inuvik was operated by a Boeing 737 aircraft. The inaugural flight also marked the first time a Boeing 737 had ever landed in Dawson City.

The recent acquisition of a second Boeing 737-500 gave the airline greater flexibility with its fleet – combined with efforts on the part of the Yukon Government to prepare Dawson City and Old Crow airports for jet service, that allowed for the first flight to take place.

The aircraft that flew the route was the airline’s Boeing 737-200 Combi, which is equipped with a $1 million gravel kit to allow for service into unpaved airports such as Dawson City and Old Crow. The aircraft also boasts a large cargo door in the forward cabin, allowing Air North to transport much larger goods into the two communities. Future jet flights will be flown when cargo and passenger service warrant the larger aircraft.

Just over 12 years ago, the Vuntut Development Corporation purchased a stake in Air North. At the time that took place, there were no plans for the airline to purchase jets or fly south of Whitehorse. Now, the airline connects Old Crow, Dawson City, Inuvik and Whitehorse to the three gateway cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary – and is able to provide far greater service and reach than what was feasible at the time of investment made by the VDC and the 1,500 other Yukon shareholders that invested in the company.

Copyright Photo: Royal S. King. Boeing 737-201 C-GNAU (msn 21817) taxies past the camera at Vancouver.

Air North: 

Frameable Color Prints and Posters: 

Route Map:

Please click on the map for the full size image.