Tag Archives: A320214

Finnair to continue to fly to Tel Aviv year-round, rumors of a possible merger with SAS

Finnair (Helsinki) will continue to operate its new route to Tel Aviv also during the winter season. As of November 1, Finnair will continue to fly to Tel Aviv with the similar frequency as during the on-going summer season, twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, but with new timetables that better fit Finnair’s Asian and European connections.

Finnair flights arriving from Asia on Mondays will have a good connection to Tel Aviv. The connecting flight from Helsinki departs at 3.40 p.m. (1540) and arrives in Tel Aviv at 8.05 p.m.(2005) The return flight from Tel Aviv departs at 8.55 p.m. (2055) and arrives in Helsinki at 1.35 a.m. (0135) the next day.

On Fridays the flight departs from Helsinki at 6 a.m. (0600) and arrives in Tel Aviv at 10.25 a.m. (1025). The return flight from Tel Aviv is well connected to Finnair’s Asian flights in the afternoon.

The flights to Tel Aviv are operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft.

Finnair will also operate five scheduled flights a week from Helsinki to Dubai during the winter season. In addition, a charter service is provided on Tuesdays.

In other news, there are media reports of a possible merger with Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm). According to this report by Reuters, new Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo sees both advantages and disadvantages with a possible merger. other than that, both airlines are not commenting on the reports.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Finally, Finnair has leased three Embraer ERJ 170s to AeroMexico Connect.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Finnair’s Airbus A320-214 OH-LXF (msn 1712) arrives at Amsterdam.

Finnair:

Bottom Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Finnair’s Embraer ERJ 170-100STD OH-LEL (msn 17000139) in now dressed in full AeroMexico connect colors. The airliner is pictured passing through Toronto (Pearson) on June 15 and will become XA-SAC with the Mexican carrier.

Frontier to start twice-weekly Wilmington, DE-Fort Myers service on November 16

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) today announced it will add nonstop service from Wilmington New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Delaware (ILG) to Fort Myers, Florida (RSW) starting November 16, 2013.

As previously announced, Frontier will start service on July 1 from Wilmington to five cities: Chicago-Midway; Denver; Houston; Orlando; and Tampa. The Fort Myers service builds on this new service given the strong customer response Frontier is seeing to its new Wilmington service.

This new service will operate with 168-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N210FR (msn 4668) approaches Washington (Reagan National) for landing.

Frontier Airlines:

Allegiant Air takes delivery of its first Airbus A320

Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) yesterday (June 18) took delivery of its first Airbus A320 (N219NV).

In other news, Allegiant introduce twice weekly nonstop service on June 7 between Provo International Airport (PVU) and Oakland International Airport (OAK).

Copyright Photo: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. Sister-ship and former Iberia A320-214 EC-HUL (msn 1347) is awaiting delivery at Dublin as N217NV.

Allegiant Air:

EasyJet commits to 135 Airbus A320 aircraft, subject to shareholder approval

EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton), subject to shareholder approval, intends to place a firm order with Airbus for 100 A320neo aircraft. These will be preceded by 35 A320ceo aircraft equipped with Sharklets. Of the 135 aircraft, 85 will be for replacement.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 G-EZUI (msn 4721) in the special 200th Airbus livery departs from Zurich.

EasyJet:

Vueling Airlines unveils its “Linking Europe” logojet contest winner

Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) on May 30 introduced its new “Linking Europe” logojet on this Airbus A320-214 EC-LVP (msn 5587). The unique livery was the result of a contest to design the logojet. Young designers and architects were invited to submit their designs in March. The winning team is Paolo Nazzari and Plarent Berhamaj.

The Fundació Mies van der Rohe joined with Vueling Airlines to launch the professional career of the winning European students through this contest. The competition also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Mies Award, Europe’s most important and prestigious architecture prize.

Vueling Airlines:

Alitalia’s first quarter net loss widens to $203 million, workers agree to work 5 fewer days each month

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) is slipping again. The flag carrier’s first quarter first quarter net loss widened to $203 million, citing non-recurring items but did not provide the details.

Read the full report for the airline: CLICK HERE

Read the analysis by the Wall Street Journal: CLICK HERE

Update from Reuters: CEO Gabriele Del Torchio and board members have agreed to cut their salaries by 20 percent, while 2,200 ground staff will work five fewer days each month under a government-backed plan.

Alitalia (2nd):

Aeroflot puts its Airbus A320 1956 retrojet into revenue service

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has put its newly-delivered Airbus A320-214 VP-BNT (msn 5614) into revenue service. The flag carrier issued this statement:

The only air plane in a retro livery in Russia has joined the Aeroflot fleet celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the national flag carrier.

In late 2012 Aeroflot organized a voting in social networks to choose the best livery for its retro-jet. More than 2500 people participated in the voting process, and the livery of one of the first world’s jet airliners — Tupolev Tu-104 (appeared in 1956) was declared a winner. In the opinion of the majority of voters was this livery carried the spirit of the “romantic” 1950s, the time when the air transport industry in the country was rapidly growing and significant achievements were made in the national air construction.

The final draft of the livery to be painted on the newest Airbus A320 was designed in accordance with the voters’ comments, taking into account safety standards and recommendations from Airbus and Akzo Nobel specialists considering the paint spraying and its technical and performance parameters.

The retrojet is named “DOBROLET” after the Open Joint Stock Company found on March 17, 1923, which was the predecessor of Aeroflot. The newcomer to the Aeroflot fleet is to demonstrate the vast historical inheritance of the air company and to attract interest of the public to the long and rich history of Aeroflot.

Gaining from the synergy of prominent heritage and modern innovative development, the Russian national flag carrier, one of the oldest air companies in the world, operates one of the youngest air fleets in Europe. Currently there are 137 aircraft in Aeroflot including 87 Airbus A319/320/321 family planes.

All Airbus aircraft are received by Aeroflot directly from Airbus manufacturing plants. The airplanes are designed in two class composition and can carry 116 (A319), 140 and 158 (A320) and 170 (A321) passengers. These aircraft provide services on European and Russian domestic destinations. Airbus A320 family airplanes satisfy the highest reliability, safety and comfort standards and are one of the best for mid-range flights.

Top Copyright Photo: Aeroflot. Airbus A320-214 VP-BNT (msn 5614) is seen at the Moscow (Sheremetyevo) base. VP-BNT was handed over on May 29.

Aeroflot:

Hot New Photos:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The airframe was tested at Toulouse as F-WWIF.

Air China orders 60 Airbus A320s and 40 A320s for Shenzhen Airlines

Air China (Beijing) has ordered 60 Airbus A320s for its own use and 40 for its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines (Shenzhen).

The two airlines are buying 40 of the current version of the A320 and 60 of the new A320neo.

Air China’s order includes 27 current A320s (above) and 33 A320neos. Shenzhen will receive 13 current A320s (below) and 27 A320neos.

Deliveries will start in 2014.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Air China’s A320-214 B-6607 (msn 3461) prepares to land at the Beijing hub (please click on the photo for the full size view).

Air China:

Shenzhen Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Shenzhen’s Airbus A320-214 B-6377 (msn 3599) arrives at Tokyo (Narita).

Avianca Holdings reports net earnings of $75.3 million in the first quarter

Avianca Holdings S.A, (Avianca and TACA) reported net income of $75.3 million in the first quarter of 2013. The company issued this statement:

First Quarter 2013 Highlights

Avianca Holdings earns net income of $75.3 million (USD) for 1Q 2013, an increase of more than $75 million over the profit recorded for the same period in 2012.
First quarter operating revenues increased to USD$ 1.11 billion, up 5.9% from 1Q 2012 due mainly to a 6.5% increase in passenger revenues driven by an 8.6% growth in passenger traffic over 1Q 2012 figures. Cargo and other revenue increased by 2.5%, primarily as a result of an increase in our Freight and Loyalty revenues.
Operating Cost per available seat kilometer (CASK) decreased by 1.5% from 10.98 cents in 1Q-12 to 10.81 cents in 1Q-13 and CASK excluding Fuel decreased by 1.8% from 7.31 cents in 1Q-12 to 7.17 cents in 1Q-13.
Operating Income (EBIT) increased to USD$ 108.1 million, a 31.1% increase from USD$ 82.4 million in 1Q-12. Excluding special items in 1Q-12 operating income increased by 48.5%. Operating Margin for 1Q-13 rose to 9.7% compared to 7.8% in 1Q-12, primarily as a result of lower unit costs.
Capacity, measured in ASK’s (available seat kilometers), increased by 5.4% during 1Q 2013, mostly due to expansion in our domestic operations in Colombia and Peru. In addition, passenger traffic, measured in RPK’s (revenue passenger kilometers) grew 7.8%, reaching a consolidated Load Factor of 80.8%, surpassing 1Q-12 Load Factor by 2.3 percentage points.
In Line with the fleet renewal program, the company continues to incorporate new aircraft. During the first quarter, one (1) Airbus A330 Freighter, one (1) Airbus A330 and two (2) Airbus A320 passenger aircraft (one of which is equipped with sharklets) were incorporated.
During the first quarter the Company inaugurated its new VIP lounge in Terminal Eldorado International Airport in Bogotá. Lifemiles members can now enjoy over 2,000 square meters of services and innovations in different environments. The lounge has capacity to simultaneously serve nearly 670 travelers, 505 Gold Elite and 165 Diamond Elite members.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Avianca’s (Colombia) Airbus A320-214 N664AV (msn 3664) arrives at Miami International Airport.

Avianca (Colombia):

TACA:

EasyJet to acquire 25 pairs of London Gatwick slots from Flybe

EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton) has announced and confirmed it plans to acquire 25 pairs of arrival and departure slots London’s Gatwick Airport from Flybe (Exeter) for £20 million ($25.7 million). The company issued this statement:

EasyJet plc can confirm it has completed an agreement with Flybe Group plc to acquire 25 pairs of arrival and departure slots at Gatwick airport for a total consideration of £20 million. The acquisition is subject to the approval of Flybe’s shareholders.

The slots will transfer from summer 2014 and will allow easyJet to provide additional frequencies on popular existing routes from Gatwick as well as add new destinations across the UK and Europe.

In return, Flybe issued this statement:

Flybe confirmed to the London Stock Exchange today at 0700 that it has sold its arrival and departure slots at London Gatwick airport, thus bringing to an end Flybe’s 22 year record of providing high-frequency air services from the UK regions to the airport. Flybe will continue to fly all its routes until the end of March 2014. The slots have been sold to EasyJet for a cash sum of £20 million.

The decision is as a result of the pricing regime applied by the airport’s owners to the operators of smaller, regional aircraft which, in Flybe’s case, has resulted in a 102% rise over the last five years. In a well-publicised, lengthy and expensive complaint, the airline used the Airports Act 1986 to argue to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 2010 that Gatwick was acting in an anti-competitive and discriminatory manner. Despite support from other airlines, communities and governments around the British Isles, the fact that Flybe operates more UK domestic flights than any other airline and has won the airport’s Gold Award for punctuality in every quarter since its introduction in 2009, the CAA ruled in September 2012 that Gatwick was within its rights to raise their landing fees for smaller aircraft, thus paving the way for today’s regrettable announcement.

Flybe will continue to operate as normal all its seven domestic Gatwick routes – from Belfast City, Guernsey, Inverness, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Newcastle and Newquay – until Saturday March 29, 2014, with no changes to pricing, frequency or timings. It also confirmed that there will be no impact upon any other route currently operated from those seven airports and that the funds generated by the sale of the slots will be re-invested in the remaining 159 Flybe routes.

Separate to this announcement, Flybe today updated the London Stock Exchange on the significant positive progress it has made in its plan to return Flybe UK, its UK based scheduled airline, to profitability. Highlights included surpassing its target savings of £25m, with £30m of annual cost savings being delivered for year 2013/14 onwards, and the deal agreed in principle with BALPA (British Airlines Pilots Association) for a 5% reduction in salary in return for extra time off.

Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. EasyJet’s Airbus A320-214 G-EZTD (msn 3909) holds short of the runway ready for departure from London (Gatwick).

EasyJet (UK):

Flybe:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Flybe’s Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JEDW (msn 4093) arrives at Gatwick Airport.