Tag Archives: A320-214

Video: Aer Lingus unveils Airbus A320 EI-DEO in a new “Green Spirit” special rugby livery, now flying

Aer Lingus (Dublin) as reported, yesterday (May 10) unveiled its new “Green Spirit” special livery in support of the Irish Rugby Team. The carrier is the official airline of the national team. The new livery has been painted on the pictured Airbus A320-214 EI-DEO (msn 2486) which was formerly painted in full Virgin Atlantic colors for the Little Red operation.

Copyright Photo Below: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. EI-DEO as of today, May 11, is now flying on revenue flights. It is pictured in bright sunlight departing this morning from Dublin.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus today unveils its new “Green Spirit” Airbus A320 rugby logo jet

Aer Lingus (Dublin) today (May 10) unveiled its new “Green Spirit” Airbus A320 logo jet at a media event in Dublin. Formerly operated for Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) on the Little Red service, the pictured Airbus A320-214 EI-DEO (msn 2486) now sports this special scheme.

Aer Lingus has entered into a partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) as the official airline of the Irish Rugby Team.

Aer Lingus will paint a second Airbus A320 in September to show their support for the IRFU.

EI-DEO will go into service tomorrow, Monday May 11, 2015, and will operate across Aer Lingus’ short haul network to the UK and Continental Europe.

The three-year deal will see Aer Lingus support the IRFU by flying players, management and support staff around Europe as they compete in the RBS Six Nations Championships and in other high-profile international tournaments.

Commenting on the partnership, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kavanagh said: “The livery in IRFU and player branding is a first for Aer Lingus and recognizes the contribution sport makes to all our lives”.

The partnership deal with the IRFU is part of a strategy by Aer Lingus to promote the brand and its commitment in supporting the best of the Irish.

Report and copyright photos by Assistant Editor Michael Kelly from Dublin.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Avianca firms up its order for 100 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement:

Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announcement in February, Avianca (Bogota) has signed a purchase agreement for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, the largest single order ever made in Latin America’s aviation history. The agreement, which includes A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft (below), will allow Avianca to maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region as the airline aims to replace airplanes currently operating from their Bogota, Lima and San Salvador hubs.

Image Above: Airbus.

Established in Colombia in 1919, Avianca was the first airline in the Americas, and is the second oldest airline in the world. The Airbus-Avianca partnership was taken to a new level in 1998 when TACA (now part of Avianca), LAN, and TAM placed a joint order for 90 single-aisle aircraft. This was the largest joint contract ever signed in Latin American commercial aviation history. To date, the Avianca airline group has ordered nearly 300 aircraft including 276 A320 Family (among them, 133 A320neo Family) and 15 A330 Family.

To date, the A320neo program has 345 firm orders from six customers in Latin America — Avianca, Azul, Interjet, LATAM Airlines Group, VivaAerobus and Volaris. With more than 950 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 500, more than 550 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Avianca will remain an Airbus A320 Family operator. Current generation Airbus A320-214 N724AV (msn 6153) climbs away from Miami International Airport (MIA).

Avianca (Colombia) aircraft slide show:

Vacation Express to expand its relationship with Interjet

Vacation Express has announced an expanding partnership with Interjet (Mexico City). The travel company continued:

This announcement comes after Vacation Express and Interjet completed a very successful winter travel season, departing from Cleveland, Columbus, Nashville, Newark and Pittsburgh. The two newest gateways for Interjet departures are Richmond and Charlotte that recently started on Monday, April 6 and Raleigh/Durham that will begin on June 14. These weekly, exclusive nonstop flights will continue through the summer and some are extended through the fall for travelers to visit destinations in Mexico.

Vacation Express, part of Sunwing Travel Group Inc., has been in existence for over 25 years and offers vacation packages to over 35 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Costa Rica. The charter flights are operated by Sunwing Airlines, AeroMexico, Swift Air, LLC, Interjet, Xtra Airways and Volaris.

Interjet aircraft slide show:

Virgin America posts a record first quarter GAAP net profit of $12.8 million

Virgin America (San Francisco) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

Key highlights from the first quarter include:

First quarter 2015 net income was $10.5 million excluding special items1, an increase of $32.9 million from the first quarter of 2014. Operating income and operating margin excluding special items were $13.1 million and 4.0 percent, respectively.

On a GAAP basis, net income was $12.8 million. This represents the first time in its history that Virgin America has recorded a profit in the first quarter of the year, and the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in profitability. Operating income and operating margin on a GAAP basis were $15.4 million and 4.7 percent, respectively.

Fully diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $0.24. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share was $0.29.

“Virgin America continues to perform exceptionally well, achieving net income of $10.5 million excluding special items in the first quarter of 2015,” said David Cush, Virgin America’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This marks the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in our financial performance, off the back of a record year of profitability in 2014. This is a testament to our business model, our product and Teammates who delivered an outstanding experience for our guests.”

First Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

• Operating Revenue: Total operating revenue was $326.4 million, an increase of 4.1 percent over first quarter of 2014.

• Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM): Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 2.6 percent compared to the first quarter 2014, to 10.27 cents. Year-over-year PRASM growth was driven by a 0.9 point increase in load factor and a 1.4 percent increase in yield. Total RASM increased 2.7 percent year-over-year.

• Cost per Available Seat Mile (CASM): Total CASM excluding special items decreased 5.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014, to 11.11 cents. Decreases in fuel costs and reduced heavy maintenance activity contributed to the decline in CASM, partially offset by increases in salaries, wages and benefits. Salaries, wages and benefits costs included a $2.1 million accrual for teammate profit sharing and payroll taxes related to 2014 profit sharing. CASM excluding special items, fuel costs and profit sharing for the quarter increased 3.0 percent year-over-year, to 7.82 cents.

• Fuel Expense: Virgin America realized an average economic fuel cost per gallon including taxes and the impact of hedges of $2.45, which was 22.7 percent lower year-over-year. This amount includes certain fuel expense adjustments described as special items below.

• Special Items: Special items in the first quarter of 2015 relate to $2.3 million of adjustments for fuel hedges that settled during the first quarter of 2015 but for which unrealized losses had been previously recorded under GAAP and mark-to-market adjustments for fuel hedges that mature subsequent to March 31, 2015, which did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

• Operating Income: First quarter 2015 operating income excluding special items was $13.1 million, an increase of $26.3 million as compared to 2014. The Company’s operating margin excluding special items of 4.0 percent, improved by 8.2 points year-over-year.

• Net Income: Net income excluding special items for the first quarter was $10.5 million, an increase of$32.9 million year-over-year.

• Fully Diluted EPS: Fully diluted earnings per share, excluding special items, was $0.24 for the first quarter of 2015. First quarter 2015 fully diluted earnings per share was $0.29 on a GAAP basis.

• Capacity: Available seat miles (ASMs) for the first quarter of 2015 increased 1.5 percent year-over-year compared with the first quarter of 2014. The airline was affected by severe winter weather, reducing capacity growth by 1.5 percent versus the Company’s original plan. Virgin America ended the quarter with 53 Airbus A320-family aircraft, unchanged from the first quarter of 2014.

• Liquidity: Unrestricted cash was $418.3 million as of March 31, 2015.

2015 Aircraft Financing

Virgin America entered into agreements to finance approximately 80 percent of the purchase price of its five 2015 Airbus A320 aircraft deliveries. The weighted average interest rate on these financing commitments, if fixed at current underlying interest rates, would be under 5.0 percent.

Second Quarter 2015 Outlook

The Company’s expectations for the second quarter of 2015 are based on currently available information. These expectations are forward-looking, and actual results could differ materially depending on market conditions and the factors set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” below. You should not place undue reliance upon these expectations.

The Company expects capacity, as measured by available seat miles, to decrease by approximately 0.0 percent to 1.0 percent for the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the second quarter of 2014. Based on current revenue trends, the Company expects PRASM to decrease between 0.0 percent and 2.0 percent versus the second quarter of 2014. The Company expects CASM excluding fuel and profit sharing to increase between 8.0 percent and 10.0 percent versus the second quarter of 2014. CASM excluding fuel and profit sharing is increasing in the second quarter due to a decrease in average stage length year-over-year of approximately 4.0 percent, additional maintenance costs expected during the quarter, and previously announced increases in salaries, wages and benefits.

The Company is targeting a full year 2015 increase in CASM, excluding fuel and profit sharing, of approximately 7.0 percent to 9.0 percent, primarily due to the previously announced increase in salaries, wages and benefits and to a decrease in average stage length. In 2016, the Company is currently targeting CASM, excluding fuel and profit sharing, to remain flat year-over-year.

Based on Virgin America’s hedge portfolio and current market prices for aviation fuel products, the Company expects Virgin America’s economic fuel cost per gallon inclusive of related taxes and hedge costs to average between $2.10 and $2.20 for the second quarter of 2015. This number may change depending on fluctuations in market prices for jet fuel during the quarter.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N854VA (msn 5058) Arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

Virgin America aircraft slide show:

Frontier Airlines to announce additional nonstop routes from Atlanta

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is expected today to announce six additional destinations from Atlanta according to a report by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. A press conference has been scheduled for today in Atlanta. Frontier aims to be the third largest carrier in ATL by this summer behind Delta and Southwest. With the loss of AirTran Airways there is a void in the large hub for an ultra low fare carrier service. Spirit Airlines is also building up its presence in ATL.

As we previously reported, on March 6 Frontier added new service from ATL to Austin, Indianapolis and Miami.

Today (April 30), as planned, the airline is adding new routes from Atlanta to Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans and New York (LaGuardia).

More details will follow.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Also read Assistant Editor Aaron Newman’s Planely Speaking: The Battle for the Big Peach: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-USA 3000 Airlines Airbus A320-214 N263AV (msn 1860) with Jack, the Rabbit, on the tail arrives in Las Vegas. The airliner has now become N219FR.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video: New Frontier Slimline Seats:

The expanding Frontier Airlines route map. Frontier is now flying more in the East rather than the traditional West making its name somewhat obsolete as it downsizes its fading Denver hub.

Finnair expands its codeshare agreement with Airberlin

Finnair’s (Helsinki) AY designator will be added to selected services operated by Airberlin (Berlin) or its subsidiary Niki (Vienna) to Bucharest, Catania, Chania, Cologne, Larnaca, Málaga, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos and Stuttgart. Finnair passengers will be able to connect to these cities via Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna or Zurich.

Most of the new codeshares will supplement Finnair’s own nonstop services from Helsinki, allowing passengers more travel dates and a wider choice of schedules.

Finnair and Airberlin have been codesharing across Scandinavia and Central Europe since 2010.

Top Copyright Photo: AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 OH-LXF (msn 1712) taxies at London (Heathrow).

Finnair aircraft slide show:

Airberlin aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airberlin’s Airbus A320-214 D-ABNA (msn 5191) prepares to land at Tenerife Sur.

Allegiant acquires three former Hamburg Airways Airbus A320s

Allegiant Travel Company (Allegiant Air) (Las Vegas) has announced that it has purchased three additional Airbus A320 aircraft. The aircraft were most recently operated by Hamburg Airways in Europe and are scheduled to enter the Allegiant operating fleet in 2015.

Specially the three aircraft are N227NV (msn 714, ex D-AHHH, N228NV (msn 716, ex D-AHHD) and N229NV (msn 730, ex D-AHHG).

On the financial side, the company reported first quarter net income of $64.9 million, up 89.8 percent from the same quarter a year ago.

The CEO commented on the results:

“We are very proud to report our 49th consecutive profitable quarter, a record quarter for the company, both in absolute terms and on a percentage basis,” stated Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company. “I especially want to thank our team members for their contributions. Their everyday efforts delivering customers safely and reliably is critical to our continued success. It’s nice to start the year off with such strong results after coming off one of the most operationally challenging years in recent memory.

“I’m also pleased to announce our pilots will be receiving a pay increase as a result of our continued success. Excluding a $43.3 million non-cash impairment change in the fourth quarter of 2014, our trailing twelve month operating margin was 21.8 percent as of March 31st. As part of our pilots’ variable pay band structure, pilot pay scales will increase between 5 and 7 percent per hour effective May 1st.

Finally CEO Gallagher commented on the on-going dispute with its pilots and additional focus by the FAA:

“And lastly we have had recent labor/legal issues with the representative of our pilots, the IBT. We expect a successful outcome on our Preliminary Injunction request before the Las Vegas Federal court in the coming weeks. In conjunction with these labor activities, our local FAA office has stepped up surveillance of our operations. We are not aware of any findings from the FAA related to this increased surveillance. However, the FAA has indicated their heightened focus and surveillance associated with the labor activity will continue until the outcome of the litigation is known. While this increased surveillance is in place, the FAA has indicated it will not process any current or additional requests for work that may relate to our planned growth. At the current time, we do not expect any immediate effect on our operations.”

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N218NV (msn 1229) in the special “Make-A-Wish” livery arrives at Sanford (near Orlando).

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

easyJet celebrates the delivery of its 250th Airbus aircraft

EasyJet (UK) (stylized as easyJet) (London-Luton) and Airbus celebrated their successful partnership yesterday (April 22) at a ceremony in Hamburg (Finkenwerder) to mark the delivery the airline’s 250th Airbus A320 family aircraft. Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, Jean-Paul Ebanga, CFM International President and CEO, Didier Evrard, Airbus EVP and Head of Programs, and Christopher Buckley, Airbus EVP Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific were present at the event.

To celebrate the 250th delivery, easyJet unveiled its newest A320 with a unique livery featuring 250 miniature aircraft (below). As with other recent deliveries to easyJet, the A320 is equipped with the latest technology and fuel-saving Sharklets.

The airline flies 234 aircraft on more than 750 routes to over 130 airports across 33 countries.
easyJet operates Europe’s largest and the world’s fourth largest Airbus single aisle fleet. Since easyJet took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft (an A319) in September 2003, Airbus has delivered an aircraft on average every 16 days since the first delivery

EasyJet has 158 aircraft currently on order, and in terms of total aircraft orders is Airbus’ third biggest airline customer. Currently easyJet fly a fleet of 85 A320s (180 seats) and 149 A319s (156 seats).

Photos: Airbus. The pictured Airbus A320-214 D-AVVL (msn 6572) with the special emblems became G-EZOL on the handover on April 22.

EasyJet aircraft slide show:

Finnair and Airberlin to expand their codeshare relationship

Finnair (Helsinki) is expanding its codeshare cooperation in Europe with fellow oneworld alliance member Airberlin (Berlin).

Finnair’s AY designator will be added to selected services operated by Airberlin or its subsidiary Niki to Bucharest, Catania, Chania, Cologne, Larnaca, Malaga, Naples, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos and Stuttgart. Finnair passengers will be able to connect to these cities via Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna or Zurich.

Most of the new codeshares supplement Finnair’s own nonstop services from Helsinki, allowing passengers more travel dates and a wider choice of schedules. The codeshares are planned to take effect from early May.

Finnair and Airberlin have been codesharing across Scandinavia and Central Europe since 2010.

Top Copyright Photo: Airbus A320-214 OH-LXC (msn 1544) of Finnair taxies at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Finnair aircraft slide show:

Airberlin aircraft slide show:

Below Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airberlin is gradually phasing out its Boeing 737s. Boeing 737-86J D-ABKQ (msn 37760) prepares to touch down in Tenerife Sur (TFS).