Eastern Airlines (3rd) has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to fly a new route from New York (JFK) to Wuhan, China via a fuel stop in Anchorage.
The airline hopes to start the route in January 2024.
The current Eastern Airlines, besides operating charters, flies scheduled flights to Santo Domingo from Miami.
Top Copyright Photo: Eastern Airlines (3rd) Boeing 777-212 ER N771KW (msn 28530) RIV (Michael B. Ing). Image: 961485.
Eastern Airlines (3rd) aircraft photo gallery:
United Airlines, according CEO Scott Kirby, is offering its pilots a new contract of over $8 billion in cumulative increases in pay and benefits over four years, possibly the biggest labor deal by a major American airline, if ratified by the union.
Expect other airline pilots unions to seek similar contracts.
Also expect higher air fares.
Top Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 777-222 ER N791UA (msn 26933) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 960800.
United Airlines naircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
Copyright Photo: China Postal Airlines-EMS Boeing 777F B-221Y (msn 67764) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 960771.
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) is phasing out and retiring its Boeing 777-200 ER fleet as we have previously reported. According to Airline Route, the last revenue flight has now been tentatively scheduled for March 26, 2016 as flight MH 377 from Guangzhou to the Kuala Lumpur base.
The type was involved in two tragic aircraft losses in 2014.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRN (msn 28419) completes its final approach to the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.
Malaysia Airlines aircraft slide show: 
Airline Aircraft Type “Endangered Species List”:
Video: Flight Review of 9M-MRL:
Jin Air (JinAir.com) (Seoul) yesterday (December 19) commenced its new route from Seoul (Incheon) to Honolulu, its first route to Hawaii.
The first pictured flight arrived around 9:30 am (0930) and departed at 11:45 am (1145).
Flights LJ 601 and LJ 602 will operate five days a week from December 19 through March 26, 2016 with the pictured Boeing 777-200.
Copyright Photo: Elway Kibota/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 777-2B5 ER HL7743 (msn 34208) at HNL on the inaugural flight was transferred from the parent, Korean Air, on November 29, 2014.
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Jin Air aircraft slide show:
Jin Air route map:
Crystal Luxury Air (subsidiary of Crystal Cruises) (Los Angeles) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777. The company will begin offering exclusive 14-day and 28-day itineraries to remote destinations around the world. The pictured ex-Air Austral Boeing 777-29M LR has been painted at Victorville, CA and is now registered as P4-XTL.
As we reported last month: Crystal Cruises for Crystal Luxury Air (Los Angeles) made this announcement:
Crystal Cruises, the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, is once again pioneering new fronts in the luxury travel industry with the purchase of a Boeing 777-200 LR, offering an array of global itineraries for its expanded brand extension Crystal Luxury Air. The announcement comes on the heels of Crystal’s groundbreaking news in July of an extensive brand expansion, which will include extravagant air vacations around the world aboard a luxurious Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
In addition to doubling the initial air projections with the expanded aircraft fleet, Crystal will work with the Registry of Aruba in developing and securing an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). This will pave the way for Crystal Luxury Air to launch international operations. The twin-aisle Boeing 777-200 LR will be redesigned to accommodate just 88 guests with flat-bed first class seats; a beautifully appointed lounge and bar; and offer 14- and 28-day around-the-world and international itineraries, beginning in 2017.
The twin-aisle Boeing 777-200 LR, and the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which typically seats up to 300 passengers and will be redesigned to accommodate just 52 guests, will boast the premium luxury that discerning global travelers have come to expect from Crystal, including copious amounts of guest space, plush amenities and Crystal’s world-class service and crew. Trips will include accommodations at the world’s most luxurious hotels, the finest Michelin star-level cuisine prepared by celebrated chefs and fabulous local cultural entertainment. Additionally, the aircrafts can be arranged for special charters.
Copyright Photo: Derin Allard/AirlinersGallery.com.
Air France (Paris) will be enhancing its flight schedule for summer 2016 with two additional routes. Starting in June 2016, Air France will begin service from New York (JFK) to Paris-Orly, in addition to the four daily frequencies to Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Beginning in April 2016, Air France will operate three weekly flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport.
The daily New York-JFK to Paris-Orly service will be operated by Boeing 777-200 aircraft, equipped with 309 seats – 35 in Business, 24 in Premium Economy and 250 in Economy.
This route is part of the transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) and offers customers the possibility of arriving at Paris’ second busiest airport. It also enables passengers to easily connect with Air France’s domestic network on arrival at Paris-Orly.
Flight schedule (in local time)
AF37: Leaves New York-JFK at 18:05, arrives at Paris-Orly at 7:05 the following day;
AF32: Leaves Paris-Orly at 11:00, arrives at New York-JFK at 13:10.
Air France is supporting the resumption of commercial exchange with Iran and will serve Tehran from Paris-Charles de Gaulle three times a week (on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) starting in April 2016.
Flight schedule (in local time)
AF738: Leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:30, arrives in Tehran at 18:40;
AF755: Leaves Tehran at 7:15, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:55.
Background of the New York – Paris Route
The route was launched on July 1, 1946, by Douglas DC-4. The flight lasted 23 hours 45 minutes and carried 33 passengers on board.
In 1960, Air France served New York from Paris-Orly by Boeing 707 in 8 hours 15 minutes.
In 1970, JFK airport welcomed Air France’s Boeing 747-100, then the Concorde (1977), a romance that lasted more than 25 years. In 2009, New York was the first to welcome the Airbus A380.
Background of the Paris – Tehran Route
On April 29, 1946, Air France launched a scheduled route Paris – Marseille – Tunis – Benghazi – Cairo – Beirut – Baghdad – Tehran, with a flight every two weeks.
The nonstop Paris-Tehran route was suspended in October 2008.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The restored Paris (Orly) – New York (JFK) route will be operated with Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft including the pictured 777-228 ER F-GSPY (msn 32305) arriving at Los Angeles International Airport.
Air France aircraft slide show:
Emirates (Dubai) has announced its fleet plans for 2016. In total, the airline will aggressively retire 26 aircraft, including 12 Airbus A330-300s, 4 A340-300s, 1 A340-500, 6 Boeing 777-200 ERs, 2 Boeing 777-300s and 1 Boeing 777-300 ER. The average age of the Emirates aircraft slated for retirement in 2016 will be 15.7 years, well-below the average industry retirement age of 25. In addition, 13 more aircraft will be retired in 2017 and another 13 will be retired in 2018.
Top Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. The four Airbus A340-300s will be retired next year. Airbus A340-313 A6-ERS (msn 139) arrives at the Dubai hub.
This means the Airbus A340-300, the last A340-500 (A6-ERE) and Boeing 777-200 ER fleets will now be retired in 2016.
The remaining Airbus A330-200s will likely be retired now in 2017.
Below Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. The last remaining Airbus A340-500 will also be retired in 2016. Now retired, A340-541 A6-ERH (msn 611) is pictured arriving at the Dubai hub.
The fast-growing airline continued;
Balancing its aircraft retirement program, Emirates will take delivery of 36 new aircraft in 2016, including 20 Airbus A380s and 16 Boeing 777-300 ERs. These two aircraft types are recognized as some of the most efficient and quiet commercial airplanes available, emitting on average 12% less carbon dioxide than the aircraft being retired. At the end of 2016, the aircraft retirements and new deliveries will put Emirates’ average fleet age at 5.6 years, dramatically younger than the global average. A recent analysis shows the average fleet age for the top five airlines in North America is 13.6 years, while the average fleet age for the top five airlines in Europe is 10.7 years.
Currently, the total number of aircraft in the Emirates fleet stands at 243. In 2015, the airline received 26 new aircraft, including 15 A380s, 10 Boeing 777-300ERs and 1 Boeing 777 Freighter. The airline has 263 additional aircraft on order, worth over US$120 billion at list prices. Its order book includes 71 Airbus A380s, 42 Boeing 777-300ERs, 115 Boeing 777-9Xs and 35 Boeing 777-8Xs.
Above Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. The six smaller Boeing 777-200 ERs will now be retired in 2016. Boeing 777-21H ER A6-EMI (msn 27250) arrives in London (Heathrow).
When delivered beginning in 2020, the new Boeing 777Xs will come with a variety of fuel efficient design additions making it almost 20% more fuel efficient than previous models. It will also include a range of passenger-focused amenities including larger windows, increased cabin pressure, more humidity, higher ceilings and a wider cabin than previous models.
In addition to reducing the age of its fleet, Emirates also implements a variety of other environmental practices that reduces CO2 emissions. These include FlexTracks, a program that plans efficient flight route patterns based on weather conditions; single-engine taxi on the ground; idle reverse thrust upon landing; and fuel-efficient ground handling and transportation equipment. Emirates publishes its environmental initiatives and emissions performance data annually as part of the Emirates Group environmental report available on http://www.emirates.com/environment.
Emirates aircraft slide show:
Airline Aircraft Endangered Species List:
El Al Israel Airlines (Tel Aviv) reported a record third quarter net profit of $936 million, up from a net profit of only $10.1 million in the same quarter a year ago. The change was a direct result of lower fuel costs.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-258 ER 4X-ECC (msn 30833) arrives in London at Heathrow Airport.
El Al aircraft slide show:
Crystal Cruises for Crystal Luxury Air (Los Angeles) has made this announcement:
Crystal Cruises, the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, is once again pioneering new fronts in the luxury travel industry with the purchase of a Boeing 777-200 LR, offering an array of global itineraries for its expanded brand extension Crystal Luxury Air. The announcement comes on the heels of Crystal’s groundbreaking news in July of an extensive brand expansion, which will include extravagant air vacations around the world aboard a luxurious Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
In addition to doubling the initial air projections with the expanded aircraft fleet, Crystal will work with the Registry of Aruba in developing and securing an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). This will pave the way for Crystal Luxury Air to launch international operations. The twin-aisle Boeing 777-200 LR will be redesigned to accommodate just 88 guests with flat-bed first class seats; a beautifully appointed lounge and bar; and offer 14- and 28-day around-the-world and international itineraries, beginning in 2017.
The twin-aisle Boeing 777-200 LR, and the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which typically seats up to 300 passengers and will be redesigned to accommodate just 52 guests, will boast the premium luxury that discerning global travelers have come to expect from Crystal, including copious amounts of guest space, plush amenities and Crystal’s world-class service and crew. Trips will include accommodations at the world’s most luxurious hotels, the finest Michelin star-level cuisine prepared by celebrated chefs and fabulous local cultural entertainment. Additionally, the aircrafts can be arranged for special charters.
Images: Crystal Cruises.
