Tag Archives: A320232

Qatar Airways is coming to Belgrade and Warsaw

Qatar Airways (Doha) has announced further expansion to its European network with the launch of scheduled flights to Serbia and Poland by the end of the year taking the airline’s coverage across the Continent to 32 destinations.

Services to the previously announced destination of Belgrade, capital of Serbia, have been confirmed for a November 20 start with a thrice-weekly schedule via Ankara.

Two weeks later, beginning on December 5, the airline will add the Polish capital Warsaw to its rapidly-growing European network operating flights four-times-a-week.

News of the expansion follows this week’s announcement by Qatar Airways that it will begin daily flights to Chicago – the carrier’s fourth USA gateway – from April 10 next year.

Both the Belgrade and Warsaw routes will be operated from Qatar Airways’ Doha hub with an Airbus A320 configured in two classes – 12 seats in Business and 132 in Economy. Each seat features an interactive audio and video entertainment system offering hundreds of movies, TV programs and music channels.

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Qatar Airways:

Volaris is coming to Denver on December 8

Volaris (Mexico City) will add Denver to its route map on December 8. The fast-growing carrier will add weekend only Airbus A320 service on the Mexico City-Denver route. Mexicana used to fly this route. Volaris has a close working code-share relationship with Southwest Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Named “Pedro”, Airbus A320-232 XA-VON (msn 3672) completes its final approach into Los Angeles International Airport.

Volaris:

Routes from Mexico City:

Click on the map for the full view.

Tiger Airways makes a comeback in Australia

Tiger Airways (Australia) (Melbourne) is making a comeback after its grounding under the direction of CEO Andrew David. The group continues to lose money but it is working towards returning to profitability.

The Australian details the comeback.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Tiger Airways (Australia):

United Continental Holdings posts 2Q net income of $545 million

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (United Airlines) (Chicago) today reported second-quarter 2012 net income of $545 million or $1.41 per diluted share, excluding $206 million of net special charges. Including special charges, UAL reported second-quarter 2012 net income of $339 million or $0.89 per diluted share.

UAL second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue increased 2.3 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 3.0 percent compared to the same period in 2011.
Second-quarter consolidated fuel expense increased 5.6 percent, or $181 million, year-over-year.
Consolidated unit costs (CASM) holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant and excluding special charges and third-party business expense for second-quarter 2012 increased 2.1 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter consolidated CASM increased 4.6 percent year-over-year.
UAL ended the second quarter with $8.2 billion in unrestricted liquidity.
UAL accrued $54 million for profit sharing, based on year-to-date profitability.

Second-Quarter Revenue and Capacity

For the second quarter of 2012, total revenue was $9.9 billion, an increase of 2.4 percent year-over-year excluding special items. Including special items in 2011, second-quarter total revenue increased 1.3 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue rose 2.3 percent to $8.8 billion, compared to the same period in 2011.

Consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased 0.5 percent on a consolidated capacity (available seat miles) decrease of 0.6 percent year-over-year for the second quarter, resulting in a second-quarter consolidated load factor of 84.3 percent.

Consolidated yield for the second quarter of 2012 increased 1.8 percent year-over-year. Second-quarter 2012 consolidated PRASM increased 3.0 percent compared to the same period in 2011.

Mainline RPMs in the second quarter of 2012 increased 0.5 percent on a mainline capacity decrease of 0.2 percent year-over-year, resulting in a second-quarter mainline load factor of 84.7 percent. Mainline yield for the second quarter of 2012 increased 1.0 percent compared to the same period in 2011. Second-quarter 2012 mainline PRASM increased 1.8 percent year-over-year.

“We continued redeploying domestic aircraft in the second quarter and are pleased with the early financial results on those routes,” said Jim Compton, UAL’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “Our extensive fleet and industry-leading global network enable us to reallocate aircraft to provide customers with more options.”

Passenger revenue for the second quarter of 2012 and period-to-period comparisons of related statistics for UAL’s mainline and regional operations are as follows:

	2Q 2012 Passenger Revenue (millions)	Passenger Revenue vs. 2Q 2011	PRASM vs. 2Q 2011	Yield vs. 2Q 2011	ASMs vs. 2Q 2011

Domestic	$3,441	0.6%	1.1%	1.3%	(0.5%)

Atlantic	1,589	(1.9%)	2.3%	1.1%	(4.1%)
Pacific	1,257	12.5%	6.6%	4.9%	5.6%
Latin America	657	(3.4%)	(3.4%)	(7.2%)	0.1%
International	$3,503	2.6%	2.6%	0.7%	0.0%

Mainline	$6,944	1.6%	1.8%	1.0%	(0.2%)
Regional	1,824	5.2%	8.5%	5.0%	(3.0%)

Consolidated	$8,768	2.3%	3.0%	1.8%	(0.6%)

Cargo and other revenue in the second quarter of 2012 increased 3.4 percent, or $39 million, year-over-year to $1.2 billion.

Second-Quarter Costs

Total operating expenses, including special charges, increased $363 million, or 4.0 percent, in the second quarter compared to the same period of 2011. Second-quarter 2012 operating expenses, excluding fuel, profit sharing, special charges and third-party business expense, increased $158 million, or 2.9 percent, year-over-year.

Third-party business expense was $60 million in the second quarter. Consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense, increased 4.1 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively, in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Second-quarter consolidated and mainline CASM, including special charges, increased 4.6 and 5.2 percent year-over-year, respectively.

In the second quarter, consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense and holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, increased 2.1 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, compared to the results for the same period of 2011.

Second-Quarter Liquidity and Cash Flow

UAL ended the second quarter with $8.2 billion in unrestricted liquidity, comprised of $7.7 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $500 million of undrawn commitments under a revolving credit facility. During the second quarter, the company generated $959 million of operating cash flow and had gross capital expenditures of $500 million. The company made debt and net capital lease payments of $258 million including $69 million of prepayments in the second quarter.

United Airlines:

JetBlue reports net income of $52 million in the second quarter

JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue Airways) (New York) today reported its results for the second quarter 2012:

Operating income for the quarter was $130 million, resulting in a 10.2% operating margin, compared to operating income of $86 million and a 7.5% operating margin in the second quarter of 2011.
Pre-tax income of $86 million in the second quarter. This compares to pre-tax income of $43 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Net income for the second quarter was $52 million, or $0.16 per diluted share. This compares to JetBlue’s second quarter 2011 net income of $25 million, or $0.08 per diluted share.

Operational Performance

JetBlue reported record second quarter operating revenues of $1.3 billion, an increase of 11.0% versus last year. Revenue passenger miles for the second quarter increased 10.5% to 8.50 billion on a capacity increase of 5.5%, resulting in a second quarter load factor of 85.3%, an increase of 3.8 points year over year.

Yield per passenger mile in the second quarter was 13.78 cents, up 1.3% compared to the second quarter of 2011. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) for the second quarter 2012 increased 6.1% year over year to 11.76 cents and operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 5.2% year over year to 12.82 cents.

Operating expenses for the quarter increased 7.7%, or $82 million, over the prior year period. JetBlue’s operating expense per available seat mile (CASM) for the second quarter increased 2.1% year-over-year to 11.51 cents.

Excluding fuel, CASM increased 5.6% to 6.99 cents, driven primarily by higher maintenance expense due to the aging of JetBlue’s fleet. JetBlue has taken several actions designed to better manage maintenance expense, including the sale and replacement of six older spare engines during the second quarter, which favorably impacts ongoing repair rates. JetBlue also sold two EMBRAER 190 aircraft that it had previously leased to a third party. JetBlue recorded approximately $10 million in gains in other operating expenses during the quarter related to the sales of these assets.

Fuel Expense and Hedging

JetBlue continued to hedge fuel to manage price volatility. Specifically, JetBlue hedged approximately 27% of its fuel consumption during the second quarter, resulting in a realized fuel price of $3.22 per gallon, a 3% decrease over second quarter 2011 realized fuel price of $3.31. JetBlue’s fuel expense reflects $1 million in losses on fuel hedges that settled during the second quarter. In addition, JetBlue recorded $4 million in mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting losses during the quarter, which is included in non-operating income/expenses.

JetBlue has hedged approximately 27% of its third quarter projected fuel requirements and 27% of its fourth quarter projected fuel requirements using a combination of collars, crude call options, and jet fuel swaps. Based on the fuel curve as of July 20th, JetBlue expects an average price per gallon of fuel, including the impact of hedges and fuel taxes, of $3.13 in the third quarter and $3.18 for the full year 2012.

Balance Sheet Update

JetBlue ended the second quarter with approximately $1.2 billion in unrestricted cash and short term investments. In addition, JetBlue announced it has obtained a new line of credit for up to $100 million with Morgan Stanley, which is secured by a portion of its short-term investments.

During the quarter, JetBlue made approximately $220 million in debt payments, including approximately $170 million of prepayments. JetBlue recorded a $2 million gain in non-operating income during the quarter in connection with these prepayments.

Third Quarter and Full Year Outlook

For the third quarter of 2012, CASM is expected to increase between 1.0% and 3.0% over the year-ago period. Excluding fuel, CASM in the third quarter is expected to increase between 4.5% and 6.5% year over year. JetBlue expects most of this year over year increase to be driven by maintenance expense and profit sharing expense.

CASM for the full year is expected to increase between 1.0% and 3.0% over full year 2011. Excluding fuel, CASM in 2012 is expected to increase between 2.5% and 4.5% year over year.

Capacity is expected to increase between 7.0% and 9.0% in the third quarter and to increase between 6.5% and 8.5% for the full year.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Airbus A320-232 N587JB 9msn 2177) prepares to takeoff at the New York (JFK) hub. N587JB also sports the special “Building Blocks” motif.

JetBlue Airways:

Air New Zealand to remove its blue-turquoise tail from its livery

Air New Zealand (Auckland) is further reducing the “color” in its “color scheme”. According to this report by the airline via its “The Flying Social Network”, the flag carrier will remove its blue and turquoise tail combination next year to a very unexciting black tail with its traditional white Koru logo. The black titles are being updated with a new font style. The rest of fuselage is a boring all-white.

Current logo:

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Air New Zealand has been gradually reducing “color” in its livery with each change. The most recent change was to remove the “Pacific Wave” fuselage accent marks from the original 1996 color scheme. Previously the 1996 color scheme update had removed the blue and turquoise fuselage cheat lines of the more colorful 1973 livery. Boeing 747-475 ZK-SUH arrives at Los Angeles in the basic 1996 livery minus the Pacific Wave fuselage marks which were removed in 2008.

Air New Zealand:

View the 1973 livery: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan. Did the special All Blacks color scheme influence the carrier to go a very basic black and white livery? Airbus A320-232 ZK-OAB (msn 4553) arrives at Auckland.

JetBlue Airways is coming to Grand Cayman, its 23rd Caribbean destination

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced its intent to serve Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, the largest destination in the British Overseas Territory’s archipelago. Beginning on November 15, 2012, the airline will serve Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) with three times weekly service on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Saturday service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) beginning on November 17, 2012.

Destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean now make up almost one-third of the carrier’s route network. Grand Cayman will be JetBlue’s 74th destination and the 23rd destination in the Caribbean. Earlier this month, JetBlue also announced intent to serve two other new Caribbean destinations: Cartagena, Colombia beginning on November 2, 2012 and Samana, Dominican Republic starting on November 14, 2012, both from New York’s JFK.

With this new addition, by the end of 2012 JetBlue will serve the following Latin American and Caribbean destinations: Aruba; The Bahamas (Nassau); Barbados; Bermuda; Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman); Colombia (Bogota and Cartagena); Costa Rica (Liberia and San Jose); Dominican Republic (La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana, Santiago and Santo Domingo); Jamaica (Kingston and Montego Bay); Mexico (Cancun); Puerto Rico (Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan); St. Croix; St. Lucia; St. Maarten; St. Thomas; and, Turks and Caicos (Providenciales).

JetBlue’s schedule between New York and Grand Cayman:

JFK to GCM:	GCM to JFK:
Depart – Arrive	Depart – Arrive
7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	12:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
– Flights operate three times weekly on Mon., Thurs., Sat. beginning Thurs., Nov. 15 , 2012 – – All times local –

JetBlue’s schedule between Boston and Grand Cayman:

BOS to GCM:	GCM to BOS:
Depart – Arrive	Depart – Arrive
10:25 a.m. – 2:35 p.m.	3:30 p.m. – 7:25 p.m.
– Flights operate on Saturdays beginning Sat. Nov. 17, 2012 – – All times local –

JetBlue’s flights to Grand Cayman from Boston and New York will be operated with its Airbus A320 aircraft.

JetBlue Airways:

Routes from New York (JFK):

Please click on the map to expand.

Air New Zealand celebrates 15 years of the Star Alliance with a special logo

Air New Zealand (Auckland) has added an additional “15 Years” logo to its Airbus A320 Star Alliance logojet.

On May 14, 1997, five airlines, namely United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Thai Airways International and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) launched the Star Alliance.

The five airlines adopted the traditional five-pointed star logo to represent the five founding airlines.

Air New Zealand joined the alliance in March of 1999.

Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter. Airbus A320-232 ZK-OJH (msn 2257) completes its final approach into Auckland with the additional markings.

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JetBlue to fly to Samana in the Dominican Republic starting on November 14

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced plans to expand its service to its sixth destination in the Dominican Republic and 73^rd BlueCity with the addition of Samana, subject to receipt of government approval. Effective November 14, 2012, JetBlue will launch twice weekly flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and El Catey International Airport (AZS), on Wednesdays and Saturdays – the only service between the United States and this emerging tourist destination.

JetBlue’s proposed schedule between JFK and AZS:

JFK to AZS:	AZS to JFK:
Depart – Arrive	Depart – Arrive
8:25 a.m. – 1:05 p.m.	2:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
– Flights operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays effective November 14, 2012 –

In the Dominican Republic, JetBlue also serves La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santiago and Santo Domingo with service to Boston, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, New York, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue’s service to Samana will operate with the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.

JetBlue Airways:

Southwest Airlines acquires four Reagan National slots from Spirit Airlines

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has acquired four landing and takeoff slots at Washington (Reagan National) from Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood). The Department of Transportation (DOT) approve the acquisition on July 2. Southwest intends to launch nonstop St. Louis-Washington (Reagan National) flights on September 6.

Meanwhile Spirit will move its two daily roundtrips from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood to Reagan National to nearby Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on September 5.

Top Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney. Brand new Boeing 737-8H4 N8309C (msn 36985) was delivered on May 18, 2012.

Southwest: