Tag Archives: A320214

Virgin America launches Los Angeles-Las Vegas flights, get a drink and chat with a fellow passenger with the new Red in-flight entertainment system

Virgin America (San Francisco) today celebrated the launch of its new daily nonstop flight service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS).

The three daily roundtrip flights will add to the airline’s existing service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to LAS and from New York’s Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to LAS.

In addition, to mark its latest Vegas expansion, the airline today launches a first-of-its-kind seat-to-seat delivery service on flights nationwide. The feature allows guests to use the airline’s Red™ in-flight entertainment platform to order a drink, meal or snack for fellow guests onboard, using the Red system’s on-demand food ordering system. Travelers can now send an in-flight cocktail to that friendly stranger in seat 4A – and then follow up with a text message using the seat-to-seat chat function also on Red.

Virgin America’s new seat-to-seat delivery feature on the Red system is live on flights nationwide and Sir Richard Branson helped introduce the innovative new feature with a video (see below). Travelers can now use the airline’s touch-screen seatback personal entertainment platform to send a cocktail, snack or meal to a fellow traveler onboard their flight using a digital seat map. Virgin America already features a seat-to-seat chat platform via its Red in-flight entertainment system, so that travelers can send text messages to other guests on their aircraft. As part of the launch of the unique feature, Virgin America is kicking off an online promotion inviting users to share how they are using or would use the new “Seat-to-Seat” feature – including their best in-flight pick-up lines. Social media submissions are being collected from April 22^nd through May 22^nd. The top five entries will be voted on by Virgin America fans with the top two entries scoring grand prize packages including mood-lit Virgin America flights to Las Vegas from anywhere in the Virgin America U.S. domestic network, a two-night stay in a Terrace Studio at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, dinner for two at a restaurant of choice from the Restaurant Collection at The Cosmopolitan, and VIP entry to Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan. For contest rules and terms and conditions, visit http://www.virginamerica.com/html/pdf/130422_get_lucky_woobox_tc.pdf

Once again Virgin America shows why it rates at the top of opinion polls for U.S. airlines. Well done VA.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian Peters. The first Virgin America Airbus A320 with Sharklets, Airbus A320-214 N361VA (msn 5515) named “Jersey Girl” arrives at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Virgin America:

Video: Sir Richard Branson introduces Virgin America’s Seat to Seat

Air Malta celebrates Valletta as the European Capital of Culture 2018

Air Malta (airmalta.com) (Luqa) is celebrating the selection of Valletta as the European Capital of Culture 2018 with an updated Airbus A320 logojet incorporating its new livery.

According to Wikipedia, “the European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension.”

Valletta is the capital of Malta in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta.

Also according to Wikipedia, “Valletta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as Knights Hospitaller. The city is essentially Baroque in character, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture in selected areas, though World War II left major scars on the city. The City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.”

This is how the city describes itself:

“Valletta, Malta’s capital and a World Heritage site, is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has welcomed emperors, heads of state, artists and poets and is now the permanent seat of the Maltese government.

Dotted with quaint cafés and wine bars, the city is today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions, hosting among others, the majestic St John’s Co- Cathedral, the imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.

The city’s unique setting nowadays plays host to a series of cultural events, from theatre in English, to concerts by leading opera singers.

A hive of business activity during the day, the city switches to a slower gear for the night. Use it to your advantage to get away from the noise and take a stroll to admire the magic of the fortified capital amplified by the gentle lighting. Admire the bastion walls, the dense clusters of worn limestone buildings, the timber balconies, and imposing Churches.”

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Airbus A320-214 9H-AEO (msn 2768) appeared at Amsterdam today in the updated look which incorporates a portrait of the ancient city of Valletta.

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Air Malta:

Vueling Airlines’ board accepts IAG latest raised bid, won’t be merged with Iberia

Vueling Airlines‘ (Barcelona) board of directors has approved the latest bid by the International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) after IAG raised its bid for the remaining shares by 32 percent to €9.25 a share.

IAG CEO Willie Walsh also stated Vueling Airlines will remain a separate carrier and will not be merged with the higher cost and troubled Iberia (Madrid).

Read the full report from Bloomberg: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. Airbus A320-214 D-AXAS (msn 5533) with Sharklets at a snowy Hamburg (Finkenwerder) became EC-LVO when it was handed over on April 5.

Vueling Airlines:

Virgin America wants to fly to Hawaii

Virgin America‘s (San Francisco) CEO David Cush has stated the carrier would like to add new routes to Hawaii starting in 2015 when it has a sufficient number of new Airbus A320s with Sharklets. This will be the first use of A320s to the islands although Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) will be using new Airbus A321s from Hawaii to the Mainland.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. The pictured Airbus A320-214 WL D-AXAL (N361VA) (msn 5515) is the first Virgin America A320 with Sharklets.

Virgin America:

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Virgin America arrives in Newark, will name the first Airbus A320 with “Sharklets” as “Jersey Girl”

Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (April 9) celebrated the launch of its new service to Newark, New Jersey – the 20th destination in the carrier’s growing network. The carrier is serving Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with three daily nonstop flights from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Late last month, the airline named the 53^rd member of its fleet in honor of the Garden State after inviting social audiences to show their “New Jersey” pride by submitting a name. The winning name, “Jersey Girl,” will grace the nose of the first aircraft in Virgin America’s fleet to be outfitted with Airbus’s new “Sharklet” technology, which promises to be one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the nation once she takes to the skies later this month.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. The pictured Airbus A320-214 WL D-AXAL was handed over to the carrier as N361VA (msn 5515) on March 19 through a lease with AerCap. It is the first Virgin American A320 with Sharklets and will be named “Jersey Girl” in honor of the new service to Newark.

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Virgin America:

Frontier Airlines is restoring airline service in Delaware on July 1

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is bringing airline service back to the state of Delaware. According to the Associated Press and the Washington Post, Frontier will start Airbus A320 service in Delaware on July 1, offering three flights a week to Chicago (Midway) and Houston from Wilmington (New Castle County Airport).

Service to Orlando and Denver commences on the following day with two flights a week to Orlando and four flights a week to Denver. Twice-weekly service to Tampa starts on July 4.

Wilmington is on the south side of Philadelphia while Frontier’s new service at Trenton, New Jersey is on the north side of Philadelphia. The airline is now bracketing the Philadelphia area and highlights the airline’s new strategy to serve underserved markets.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Frontier Airlines:

Virgin Atlantic prepares to launch “Little Red” on Sunday

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) is preparing to launch its new UK feeder service called “Little Red” on Sunday, March 31. The first route will be London (Heathrow)-Manchester. London (Heathrow)-Edinburgh will follow on April 5 and finally London (Heathrow)-Aberdeen will be launched on April 9. The new service will be operated with four Aer Lingus A320s now being painted in the Virgin Atlantic brand.

Virgin Atlantic Careers website: http://careersuk.virgin-atlantic.com/

Copyright Photo: Malcolm Nason. Aer Lingus’ A320-214 EI-DEO (msn 2486) “Queen of the Cobbles” poses for the camera at Shannon on March 28 after the repainting was finished.

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Virgin Atlantic:

EasyJet to hire 200 pilots for 2014

EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton) has announced today it will start this week in its search to fill 200 new, additional pilot positions in 2014. For successful applicants the new roles will provide the first step towards a long term career with EasyJet and will also enable the airline to continue its profitable expansion which recently included launching new routes to Russia and Norway.

EasyJet expects to fill the new positions from several sources including – pilots starting their career, pilots currently flying for the military who wish to join the civilian aviation sector and those who currently fly for other airlines who wish to build a career at EasyJet.

The new positions will be offered across all 11 of EasyJet’s UK bases – Gatwick, Southend, Luton, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast – and across easyJet’s European network of bases.

Those interested can apply through careers.easyJet.com and if successful will start flying with EasyJet from summer 2014.

EasyJet (UK):

Swiss takes delivery of its first first Airbus A320 with Sharklets

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) on March 20 received from Airbus its first new A320 with Sharklets. Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by four percent on longer sectors.

Swiss:

Interjet launches twice-weekly Monterrey-Las Vegas service

Interjet (Mexico City) on March 14 launched new twice-weekly service from Monterrey, Mexico to Las Vegas. This new route follows the Monterrey-San Antonio route which was added previously on November 15, 2012.

Interjet:

Routes from Monterrey: