American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and Korean Air (Seoul) have signed an agreement to begin codesharing. Pending regulatory approval, Korean Air will place its code on American Airlines flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, South Korea.
Once approved, the two carriers plan to sell codeshare flights for travel beginning in April 2015. The new agreement will allow Korean Air SKYPASS members to earn miles when traveling on American-operated flights between DFW and ICN.
American began serving Seoul in May 2013.
American’s route between DFW and Seoul is operated with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The airline is retrofitting all 47 of its 777-200s to refresh the cabins and enhance the premium experience on international flights. The retrofitted 777-200 features a Business Class product designed especially for American’s customers, with a fully lie-flat seat, direct aisle access and a private flying experience. The plane has a modern interior โ including a walk-up bar โ with unique lighting, a dramatic archway and a spacious look.
Top Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-223 ER N776AN (msn 29582) of American Airlines arrives in London (Heathrow).
American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery:
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) will begin operating its new daily service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) on May 7, marking the airline’s sixth daily flight to Asia from DFW and the only nonstop flight connecting DFW and Beijing. With the addition of this service, American will offer 11 routes between the U.S. and Asia. Customers may begin booking flights on the new route this Saturday, Jan. 24.
Daily DFW-PEK Service Schedule (all times local):
AA 89
Departs DFW at 10:40 a.m.
Arrives at PEK at 2:15 p.m. the following day
AA 88
Departs PEK at 4:25 p.m.
Arrives at DFW at 5 p.m.
The new flight from DFW will complement American’s existing service from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Beijing. With the addition of Beijing, American will offer nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth to five key markets in Asia โ Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo.
American will operate its service between DFW and Beijing with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The airline is retrofitting all 47 of its 777-200s to refresh the cabins and enhance the premium experience on international flights. The retrofitted 777-200 features a Business Class product designed especially for American’s customers, with a fully lie-flat seat, direct aisle access and a private flying experience. The plane has a modern interior โ including a walk-up bar โ with unique lighting, a dramatic archway and a spacious look. It also has Main Cabin Extra and all Main Cabin seats have in-seat entertainment systems.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-223 ER N797AN (msn 30012) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.
American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):
United Airlines (Chicago) is considering an order for 10 Boeing 777-300 ERs according to Bloomberg. Quoting an United representative, the stretched Triple Sevens would possibly replace other aircraft ย United has on order (i.e. 787s). Boeing needs to keep the 777-300 production line going until the new 777X version is ready for production.
In other news, United is dropping its routes from its Denver hub to Saskatchewan. The carrier will drop service to both Regina and Saskatoon on February 28.
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Both the old United and Continental were large Boeing 777-200 operators. The progression to the larger 777-300 ER is a logical move. United’s Boeing 777-222 ER N788UA (msn 26942) departs the runway at London (Heathrow).
Alitalia (3rd) (Rome) today issued new strategy with its new partner Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi). The new strategy will also include a new brand and livery for 2015.
The company issued this statement:
The strategy for the new Alitalia was unveiled today, with an unequivocal commitment by the new executive team and strategic investors to reinvent the airline.
Alitalia will introduce new routes, new product and service standards, a new cost management strategy and new branding, as the foundations to build a premium global airline representing the best of Italy.
The new Alitalia commenced operations on January 1, 2015, following the completion of equity investments by Etihad Airways and Alitaliaโs existing shareholders. The new companyโs Board meeting yesterday ratified the business strategy, which was outlined today by Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman of Alitalia, Silvano Cassano, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group and Vice Chairman of Alitalia.
Luca di Montezemolo said: โThe energies, passion and expertise I have experienced at Alitalia in recent weeks do not leave any doubt that the airline weโre unveiling today will become once again a premium Italian airline recognised worldwide. This is why I believe the people in Alitalia are a pillar of the history weโre about to write.
“Our priority is to put the customer at the centre of everything we do. And to do that, we will change many things, starting with the way we work. We need to work as one united team to achieve this great common goal.
โThe revitalized Alitalia we envision and have started building, will be an asset to this country, and a driver to support the growth of our tourism and our business.โ
James Hogan said Alitaliaโs future will rely on major change throughout the organization.
โIn a market still beset by the continuing Eurozone crisis, anything other than rapid, decisive change is simply not an option.
โThis is the right strategy, with the right management team to lead it.
โBut there should be no doubts at all: we have made a commercial investment that must deliver a commercial return.
โWeโve invested in the new Alitalia because we believe it can flourish again. It will only succeed if there is 100 per cent support from everyone. The coming months and next few years will not be easy, but if everyone pulls together as one team, Alitalia can grow again.โ
Mr Hogan said that Alitaliaโs major investors had set a clear deadline for the airline to deliver profitability by 2017.
Outlining the airlineโs new strategy, Silvano Cassano said: โThe new Alitalia strategy is serious, it is exciting and it is commercial. It is a strategy for success โ if everybody delivers.
โIt is serious because it has been developed over months by an executive team and a set of partners that share extensive and in-depth industry expertise.
โIt is exciting because of the vision and ambition that we have for the brand and for the business. This is the chance to create a new Alitalia, one which Italy can truly feel proud of.
โAnd it is commercial because that is the only way this can work. Every single employee at Alitalia has to get into a commercial mindset, one in which the basis of every decision is: Does this add value to our customer? Does it add value to our company? And does it help us to deliver a financial return?
โWe need to create a performance-based, customer-focused culture which results in a sustainably profitable airline, one which can grow over the long term.
โThe investment we have received from our shareholders gives us the opportunity to do that.โ
Mr Cassano added: โA successful Alitalia means jobs, it means trade and it means tourism. It means a major impact on the Italian economy.โ
The key elements of the new business strategy include:
Network
A new three-hub strategy in Italy. Milan Malpensa will increase long-haul services, while Milan Linate will increase connectivity with partner airline hubs. Rome Fiumicino will grow long-haul flying and continue to expand short and medium haul flying to maintain relevance to the Italian market.
Schedules across the network will be optimized to allow better connectivity, as well as increased codesharing with existing and new partners.
New routes from Rome include Berlin, Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Mexico City, Santiago (Chile), Beijing and Seoul, with increased flights to New York, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi.
Alitalia will also add 13 weekly flights from Milan Malpensa, with daily services to Abu Dhabi, four flights a week to Shanghai, and additional flights to Tokyo.
There will also be increased connectivity with Etihad Airwaysโ hub in Abu Dhabi, with daily services from Venice, Milan, Bologna and Catania, as well as additional flights from Rome, all allowing onward connections to the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China and Australia.
Venice will be the only Italian airport, in addition to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, from which Alitalia will operate services to Abu Dhabi with long-haul aircraft.
Cooperation
While exploring further opportunities to deepen the relationships with Skyteam members and in particular Air France/KLM and Delta, there will be a major new partnership with Airberlin and Niki, as well as increased connectivity with Etihad Airways. There are also plans to work more deeply with Air Serbia and Etihad Regional. These partnerships will increase customer choice across many markets.
Fleet
Alitalia and Etihad Airways and its partners are exploring opportunities to improve jointly fleet efficiency. For example, Alitalia is in the process of relocating 14 Airbus A320s to Airberlin, and looking into options with Etihad Airways to acquire additional wide-body aircraft for Alitalia. Alitalia will also have opportunities to receive aircraft from Etihad Airwaysโ existing fleet orderbook.
Guest Services
A new customer-first culture, with new product and service standards across the airline. A new Customer Excellence Training Academy will deliver skills to all customer-facing staff, while customers will experience traditional Italian hospitality, new food service options, new-look lounges in Rome, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate.
Brand
Alitalia will launch a new brand and visual identity, covering aircraft, uniforms and all other customer touch-points. While the name will remain unchanged, the new branding will seek to capture and embody the essence of Italy.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The updated version (in 2006) of the basic 1969 livery will soon be history as Alitalia replaces it with a new Italian theme and look. Alitalia is also going to receive new aircraft types for its long-range routes from partner Etihad Airways. Boeing 777-243 ER EI-ISD (msn 32860) arrives in Los Angeles.
Video:ย Join Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman of Alitalia, Silvano Cassano, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group and Vice Chairman of Alitalia, as they outlining the strategy for a new Alitalia.
Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) plans to begin daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Shanghai-Pudong Airport on July 9, 2015, pending U.S. Department of Transportation and foreign government approval.
The Los Angeles market makes up 25 percent of all U.S.-Asia demand, and the start of Shanghai service marks Delta’s fourth daily nonstop flight to the Asia-Pacific region in addition to Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda and Sydney.
The route will operate using a 291-seat Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft with 37 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 36 seats in Economy Comfort and 218 seats in Economy class.
Combined with its hubs in Detroit, Seattle/Tacoma and Tokyo-Narita, Delta will operate 42 weekly departures to China’s global financial center. Additionally, Delta offers daily service to China’s capital, Beijing, from both Seattle/Tacoma and Detroit.
Travelers passing through Los Angeles continue to enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at LAX. The current project will double the size of the ticketing lobby and screening checkpoints and open an exclusive Sky Priority lobby with dedicated access to screening checkpoints for Delta’s high-value customers. It also will include renovations to the Delta Sky Club and new baggage carousels. All renovations are expected to be complete prior to the start of Shanghai service in July.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 777-232 LR N702DN (msn 29741) named “The Spirit of Atlanta” arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.
Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย
Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi) is switching London airports. Starting on March 30 the flag carrier will switch from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow Airport. The airline currently operates twice-weekly Boeing 777-200 service from Hanoi and twice-weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
The airline is planning to switch to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners starting on July 1 per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-26K ER VN-A144 (msn 33503) taxies at Paris (CDG) in the now old livery.
Qatar Airways (Doha) and Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) have finalized an order for four 777 Freighters, valued at $1.24 billion at current list prices. The airline also has purchase rights for four additional airplanes, which when exercised will bring the combined value to $2.46 billion.
Qatar Airways first announced an intent to order the four 777 Freighters at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow.
Qatar Airways currently operates a fleet of 37 Boeing 777-300E Rs (Extended Range) and 777-200 LRs (Longer Range), in addition to seven 777 Freighters.
The 777 Freighter is capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a full payload and general cargo market densities, making it the world’s longest-range twin-engine freighter.
Global air freight traffic is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 4.7 percent, doubling the cargo traffic over the next 20 years, according to the Boeing World Air Cargo Forecast released in October.
Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/Airlinersgallery.com.ย Boeing 777-FDZ A7-BFD (msn 41427) arrives in Amsterdam.
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has formally submitted an application to the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) proposing to operate daily, year-round, nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). Per the U.S.-Japan bilateral agreement, U.S. airlines may only operate a total of four daily round-trip flights at Haneda Airport. Currently that service is provided by Delta Air Lines from Los Angeles and Seattle/Tacoma, Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu, and United Airlines from San Francisco. American’s application seeks to transfer an existing route authority from Seattle/Tacoma, and would provide new service to Haneda from American’s hub in Los Angeles.
In December, the DOT instituted a carrier-selection proceeding to determine whether current service between Seattle/Tacoma and Haneda should be reallocated to another airline. Citing underutilization of a scarce resource, American seeks a reallocation of the Haneda authority. The airline intends to fly it year-round with daily service from Los Angeles. American’s application is in response to the DOT’s decision to consider the best allocation of the slots.
American would provide important consumer and competitive benefits in the Haneda market, by competing head-to-head with other carriers on the Los Angeles-Haneda route and bringing the first-ever oneworld service to the LAX-HND market to compete with other alliances. American’s proposal would also enhance the overall competition for service between the U.S. and Tokyo. Los Angeles is the largest continental U.S. gateway to Tokyo and demand in the Los Angeles-Tokyo market is almost five times larger than Seattle-Tokyo.
American will operate its proposed LAX-HND service with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The airline is retrofitting all 47 of its 777-200s to refresh the cabins and enhance the premium experience on international flights. The retrofitted 777-200 features a Business Class product designed especially for American Airlines customers, with a fully lie-flat seat, direct aisle access and a private flying experience. The plane has a modern interior โ including a walk-up bar โ with unique lighting, a dramatic archway and a spacious look. It also has Main Cabin Extra and all Main Cabin seats have in-seat entertainment systems.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-223 ER N753AN (msn 30261) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.
American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย
United Airlines (Chicago) next summer from May 16 (changed from June 4) to September 23, 2015 will operate a Chicago (O’Hare) – Rome (Fiumicino) service. The seasonal route will operate with Boeing 777-200 ER equipment.
On December 22 confirmed the seasonal route:
United Airlines will launch new nonstop flights between its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport and Rome on May 16, 2015, subject to government approval. The summer-season service will operate five-times-weekly through June 3, daily from June 4 to August 17, and six-times-weekly from August 18 through September 23, 2015.
Flight UA 970 will depart Chicago at 6:00 p.m. (1800), arriving at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci -Fiumicino Airport at 10:30 a.m. (1030) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 971 will depart Rome at 12:45 p.m. (1245), arriving in Chicago at 4:20 p.m. (1620) the same day.
Schedules may vary slightly on some days. Flight times will be nine hours 30 minutes eastbound and 10 hours 35 minutes westbound.
United will operate the flights using Boeing 777 aircraft with a total of 269 seats โ eight flat-bed seats in United Global First, 40 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 221 seats in United Economy, including 104 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats.
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinesGallery.com. Former Continental Airlines Boeing 777-224 ER N77006 (msn 29476) climbs away from Heathrow Airport.
Video: Fantasy Flights 2014:
United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 with 239 people on board tragically remains missing. Several articles and a book have expressed many different unproven theories. No part of the aircraft has been officially found. The latest unproven theory, written by former Proteus Airlines CEO Marc Dugain and published by Paris Match, claims the the Boeing 777-200 ER may have been hijacked by a “remote control system” and possibly shot down by U.S. forces near Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The U.S. has denied the aircraft came down near the British island.
Google Maps: Diego Garcia in the lonely Indian Ocean. A close-up of the British island below.
On November 10, 2014 Malaysia Airlines issued this statement (the last statement from the airline on MH 370):
Malaysia Airlines refers to recent news articles speculating on an official declaration of loss of flight MH 370.
Addressing the speculation to family members via letters, the airline highlighted that any course of action is always guided by the advice of the technical team in charge of the search operations.
The assurances given to us are that the ongoing search and recovery operations will remain and will not be discontinued.
Recent speculation in the press regarding a declaration of loss followed the expression of a personal opinion only. Any information regarding MH 370, the search and recovery operations and any matters related to the missing aircraft will only be communicated by the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC).
Malaysia Airlines is hopeful that we will find closure to this tragedy and we support and thank our government as well as the governments of Australia and China for their invaluable assistance in this time of crisis.
The airline shares the pain and anguish of family members in having to deal and come to terms with this situation, as such we have assured them that locating the aircraft and recovering the flight data recorders remain the key priority. Every party involved in this complex operation is as determined as the families and Malaysia Airlines to find answers to our many questions.
With regard to the level of compensation available pursuant to the Montreal Convention, or similar applicable legal regime, the airline has made it very clear that payments are determined by law to take account of proven passenger and family circumstances and will be assessed accordingly.
Malaysia Airlines and its insurers remain steadfast to ensure that fair and reasonable compensation is paid to the families of all MH370 passengers in accordance with the law when the families are ready to discuss the issue. We have stated this publicly on many occasions and we reiterate that the airline will honour any commitments that we have made.
The well-being of the family members is always our main priority, and we will continue to communicate on any updates as and when we have them.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of passengers and crew of MH 370.
What do you think?
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Where is 9M-MRO? Missing Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) lands in Kuala Lumpur before the tragic disappearance.
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