Sunwing Airlines (Toronto-Pearson) will add weekly seasonal flights from Montreal (Trudeau) to both Aruba and Ixtapa, Mexico starting on December 16. The company is also adding extra frequencies to existing Caribbean routes.
The company issued this statement:
In response to a successful winter of sold out flights and with further enhancements to its leading product portfolio, Sunwing is announcing greater frequency to the popular resort destinations of Punta Cana, Varadero, and Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, with service up to twice daily.
Sunwing has also announced new destinations, with direct service from Montreal to the Caribbean island of Aruba and Ixtapa, Mexico, starting in December of 2013.
Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8K5 WL C-FRZG (msn 35139) in the special 2011 Oasis Hotels and Resorts – Oasis Loves U livery climbs away from Montreal (Trudeau).
Alaska Airlines‘ (Seattle/Tacoma) pilots yesterday (July 10) approved a new five-year contract. With nearly 94 percent of 1,343 eligible pilots casting a ballot, 67 percent voted in favor of the agreement. The contract increases pay by nearly 20 percent over the life of the agreement and contains job security and work rule improvements. It also protects pilots’ retirement and insurance benefits.
The airline stated, “It is particularly significant that the pilots and Alaska management reached agreement on a new contract a little more than a month beyond the last agreement’s April 1, 2013, amendable date. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire, they only become amendable, and it is common for negotiations to last for years beyond the amendable date. The parties’ full negotiating teams began meeting in summer 2012.”
Alaska’s pilots and management now will begin the process of implementing the new agreement and preparing to discuss changes needed to accommodate new flight-time/duty-time rules that are scheduled to go into effect on January 4, 2014.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-890 WL N532AS (msn 36347) completes the final approach from the south into Washington (Reagan National).
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) reported a profit before taxes of $45.6 million for the second quarter. The company issued this statement:
Norwegian today reported a profit before tax (EBT) of 277 million NOK for the second quarter of 2012. This is an improvement of 152 million Norwegian kroner, compared with the same period last year. The quarter was marked by significant cost reduction, strong output growth and fully booked flight. Even with startup costs for long-range effort and new bases in Europe reduces costs, something that is crucial to ensure the company’s competitiveness in the future.
Norwegian had a turnover of NOK 4 billion in the second quarter, an increase of 27 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Earnings before tax (EBT) amounted to 277 MNOK 152 million Norwegian crowns better than in 2012. Number of passengers flew with Norwegian in the second quarter amounted to 5.5 million, over 1 million more than the same period last year and an increase of 23 percent. The traffic growth (RPK) increased sharply to 35 percent, which is linked to every Norwegian passengers now fly much longer than they did a year ago. Cost reduction is at 9 percent.
Growth in all markets
The figures also show a strong production growth, with an increase of 34 percent (ASK). Growth is consistently in all markets. Even with a solid growth in capacity is the load factor high. The load factor for the second quarter was 77 percent, 1 percentage point higher than in the same period last year. The Norwegian’s long-range initiatives, Norwegian has had a load factor of 96 percent. The new base at London Gatwick already has a 85 percent load factor on the newly opened Mediterranean routes.
“It has been a good quarter for Norwegian where we see clear results on the choices the company has made. We finally got started with long-haul flights and we have opened a new base in London. At the same time, we have managed to reduce our costs, which is essential in such a competitive industry as the airline industry”, said Norwegian’s CEO Bjorn Kjos.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8JP WL LN-NGE (msn 39050) in the special UNICEF – Unite For Children markings, prepares for runway departure clearance at Palma de Mallorca. UNICEF is Norwegian’s favorite charity.
Spring Airlines Japan (Tokyo-Narita) as the new low-cost subsidiary of Spring Airlines (Shanghai), has been approved by Japan’s MLIT for a launch of scheduled passenger operations. However the new airline is now planning to commence operations in late 2013 or early 2014 according to CAPA. The new airline is planning to operate domestic routes initially from Narita Airport to Hiroshima, Kumamoto and Takamatsu. The airline previously was hoping to start operations in the spring of 2013 and the first Boeing 737-800 was prepared for delivery.
Spring Airlines is the largest low-cost carrier in China andย operates over 50 international and domestic routes covering a network of more than 30 cities across China, Japan and Thailand.ย Spring Airlines is the aviation subsidiary of Shanghai Spring International Travel Service.
Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp/AirlinersGallery.com. Unlike the parent which operates Airbus A320s, Spring Airlines Japan will operate Boeing 737-800s. The Japanese subsidiary also has a different livery.ย Boeing 737-81D N272LM (msn 39429) will be delivered as JA01GR.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and the DISH Network has announced a new partnership. The DISH Network Corporation issued this statement today:
DISH, the leading pay-TV provider, today announced โTV Flies Freeโ marking the first time TVย entertainmentย is free for passengers aboard Southwest Airlines. Beginning today for Southwest Customers using iPhoneยฎ, iPadยฎ and iPod touchยฎ, or most other Internet-ready personal devices, DISH is providing free access to live TV and up to 75 on-demand shows on the airlineโs more than 400 Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.
The news was unveiled by DISHโs โBoston Guysโ who surprised each of the passengers aboard a Southwest flight fromย Bostonย to Baltimore/Washington with a free iPad 2 on behalf of the two companies. Southwest Customers and Crew greeted the news with spirited applause, as for the first time, Customers flying on Southwest Airlines can stream directly to their personal devices live TV and up to 75 on demand titles for free, a savings of $5 per day. Over the past year, the โBoston Guys,โ have popularized DISHโs Hopperยฎ Whole-Home HD DVR with their Boston accents featured humorously in DISHโs โHoppaโ commercials.
โDISH and Southwest are two iconic American brands known for putting the customer first, providing products, services and experiences they truly demand,โ said DISH President and CEO Joe Clayton. โItโs only logical our two companies should team up to give passengers free live TV and on-demand shows on flights around the country.โ
Clayton added: โCustomers using DISHโs award-winning DISH AnywhereTMย and Hopper TransfersTMย apps on their iPad can watch all theirย live TV, DVR recordings and on-demand shows anywhere, anytime viaย Wi-Fi connectionย orย Hopper Transfers. Now, on Southwest, they can use an iPad to watchย free live TVย and on-demand shows. Itโs a perfect fit.โ
โSouthwest Airlines continues to innovate and evolve our on-board Customerย experience,โ said Kevin Krone, Chief Marketing Officer at Southwest Airlines. โWe started with Wi-Fi and now have expanded to television. This new offer puts free television in the hands of our Customers. Just one more way Southwest offers more value at 37,000 feet.โ
In-air access to live TV, on-demand programming and Wi-Fi connectivity is delivered by Southwestโs satellite-based inflightย entertainmentย and connectivity partner, Row 44, a subsidiary ofย Global Eagle Entertainment, Inc.
PROMOTION AND SERVICE DETAILS
As part of the agreement, DISH also announced a promotion for new DISH customers signing up for the Hopper Whole Home DVR and a qualified programming package, offering 12,500 points in Southwestโsย Rapid Rewardsย frequent flyer program and the choice to receive an iPad 2. DISH is teaming up with Southwest Airlines for the nationwide marketing campaign to make its offer available to the airlineโs Customers.
Southwestโs in-airย live TV, delivered by connectivity partner Row 44, is available on most Internet-ready devices on most flights. The live-TV lineup currently features Bravo, CNBC, FOX 5 New York (WNYW),ย FOX Business Network,ย FOX News Channel, Golf Channel, MLB.com (Major League Baseball, when games are available), MSNBC, NBC 4 (WNBC), NFL Network,ย Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel.ย Popular TV showย episodes are also available on demand as part of the TV lineup. Free TV, compliments of DISH, is a limited-time promotion.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8H4 WL N8609A (msn 36893) prepares to land at Washington (Reagan National).
Iraqi Airways (Baghdad) in May 2008, through the Iraqi government, ordered 30 new Boeing 737-800s from The Boeing Company with options for 10 additional aircraft. The first aircraft in the order is being prepared for delivery. The flag carrier is taking the opportunity to also introduce a new livery for the airline. The airline is retaining its historic green and while color scheme but now with updated lines.
Copyright Photo: Duncan Kirk/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-81Z YI-ASE (msn 40104) taxies to the runway at Boeing Field (King County) in Seattle yesterday (May 28) in the evening for a test flight.
WestJet (Calgary) has announced new, daily service betweenย Vancouver and Kona (The Big Island) and between Vancouver and Lihue (Kauai), starting in December.
On December 12, 2013 , service between Vancouver andย Hawaii Islandย increases to daily from the four times weekly served last winter. Service between Vancouver andย Kauaiย also increases to daily, beginning on December 14, 2013 , from three times weekly.
In addition to increased service to Hawaii Island and Kauai, WestJet also offers twice-daily service from Vancouver to both Honolulu and Maui.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8CT WL C-GWSZ (msn 37092) in the special Care-antee livery taxies at Vancouver on a beautiful day.
Air Pacific announced it will change its name and start trading as Fiji Airways on Thursday June 27.
Returning to its 1958 name, the switch-over marks another important milestone in the airlineโs turnaround. Customers have already been able to experience a โsneak peakโ of our new A330 aircraft with their new state of the art features. June 27 represents the official launch of the Fiji Airways brand with a number of further new brand elements rolled out across Fiji and the international marketplace on this date.
โThe official changeover date marks the official end of Air Pacific and the beginning of Fiji Airways. It is exciting that after a 15-month journey, we can now be known as โFiji Airwaysโ across the globe. The changeover represents an exciting future for the airline that is rooted in our more than 60-year history and service to the people of Fijiโ, said Aubrey Swift, the airlineโs Acting CEO.
โAt the heart of our airlineโs new name and brand is the Fiji Airwaysโ brandmark, a striking new Masi design, created by celebrated local Fijian Masi artist, Makereta Matemosi. The brandmark symbolises the airlineโs new identity and epitomises all that Fiji Airways represents. It is authentic, distinctive, and true to the airlineโs Fijian roots. Fiji Airways will continue to be the countryโs flying ambassador to the world, bringing the renowned Fijian hospitality to people across the globe.โ
The changeover underscores the success of the airlineโs turnaround plan, which started in 2010 and has culminated in reversing record losses and significantly growing passengers and revenue without increasing the size of the carrierโs fleet.
Schedule, product and service enhancements will be rolled out through the rest of 2013, along with the delivery of the third Fiji Airways A330 (and the retirement of the 747s). Thus, by the end of the year, the turnaround and brand transition will be complete.
Top Copyright Photo: John Adlard/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8X2 WL DQ-FJG (msn 29968) is seen at Sydney in the new look.
Fiji Airways:ย
Air Pacific:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Graham Weatherby. Boeing 737-7X2 DQ-FJF (msn 28878), repainted in the new livery of Fiji Airways, departs from a wintry Christchurch, New Zealand.
Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) has announced that from August 15, 2013 it will commence services between Melbourne and Hamilton Island.
The airline will operate its Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the new route with 8 Business Class and 168 Economy Class seats.
The flights will depart Melbourne at 8:30 am (0830) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving into Hamilton Island at 11:30 am (1130). The return flight departs Hamilton Island at midday (1200) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays arriving into Melbourne at 3:00 pm (1500). During off-peak months (between February and June), services will only operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Boeing 737-8FE WL VH-YIA (msn 37824) prepares to land at Perth.
Sunwing Airlines (flysunwing.com) (Toronto-Pearson) hasย announced new nonstop service from Toronto (Pearson) to Curaรงao. The weekly flights will operate from December 15, 2013 to March 30, 2014.
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8HX C-FTOH (msn 29647) arrives back at the Toronto (Pearson) base.
Sunwing Airlines:ย
The founder, CEO and owner of Sunwing, Colin Hunter, at night, is a singer:
Route Map: Sunwing serves basically strong winter vacation destinations from Toronto to the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Florida, the Bahamas, Central America, Mexico and now South America as well as strong summer vacation destinations to Europe.
You must be logged in to post a comment.