Air New Zealand (Auckland) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320-200 equipped with fuel saving wing tip devices, or Sharklets, at a ceremony during the 50th Le Bourget Paris Airshow. The aircraft was handed over to the airlineโs Chief Flight Operations and Safety Officer David Morgan.
Airbus launched the Sharklet during the November 2009 at the Dubai Air Show. Air New Zealand was the first customer to commit to the fuel saving devices.
Air New Zealand will take delivery of a total of 10 Sharklet equipped A320s.
Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A320-232 F-WWBH (msn 5629) was officially handed over to the carrier on June 15 as ZK-OXA (please click on the photo for the full-size view).
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has launched these new routes:
Thursday, June 13, 2013: four weekly nonstop seasonal service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) with flights on Tuesday, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Thursday, June 13, 2013: daily nonstop service between Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Denver (DEN).
Thursday, June 13, 2013: daily nonstop service between Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Detroit (DTW).
Thursday, June 13, 2013: resumption of daily nonstop seasonal service between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Toluca/Mexico City (TLC).
Friday, June 14, 2013: three weekly nonstop flights between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Latrobe/Pittsburgh (LBE) with service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
Just two years after starting service at DFW, Spirit has grown to offer nonstop service to 26 destinations from the Metroplex, including Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Cancun (Mexico), Chicago-O’Hare, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Fort Myers, Houston-Bush Intercontinental, Las Vegas, Latrobe/Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Los Cabos (Mexico), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Oakland/San Francisco, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Mesa, Portland (Oregon), San Diego, Tampa, Toluca/Mexico City.
HOUSTON
Spirit offers nonstop service from Houston Bush Intercontinental to Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando, as well as a variety of connections throughout the Americas.
DENVER
Spirit offers nonstop service from Denver to Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa (seasonal) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (seasonal), as well as a variety of connections throughout the Americas.
DETROIT
Spirit offers nonstop service from Detroit to Atlantic City, Cancun, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Myrtle Beach, New York and Orlando, as well as a variety of connections throughout the Americas.
LATROBE/PITTSBURGH
Spirit offers nonstop service from Latrobe/Pittsburgh to Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Myrtle Beach and Orlando. As an excellent alternative to Pittsburgh International Airport, Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is conveniently located along Routes 30 and 981 in Western Pennsylvania.
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N615NK (msn 5159) prepares to land at Baltimore/Washington (please click on the photo for the full size view).
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Video: ABC 15 asks is Spirit Airlines that cheap?
CBS examines the ultra low fare strategy of Spirit Airlines and interviews CEO Ben Baldanza: CLICK HERE
Sky Airline (Santiago) on June 7 received new authorization from the Brazilian aviation authorities for new route authority rights to operate between Chile and Brazil. The airline will start Brazilian flights in 2014.
Meanwhile the airline continues to convert its Boeing 737-200 fleet to more modern Airbus A319s and A320s. The company during May scrapped two more Boeing 737-200s (CC-CTI and CC-CTX).
Top Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Airbus A320-232 CC-ABV (msn 1400) arrives at the Santiago hub (please click on the photo for the full size view). All others by Sky Airline.
Air New Zealand (Auckland) has issued this statement its new partnership with Tourism New Zealand:
Airย Newย Zealand has unveiled its new aircraft livery which features the iconic official New Zealand Fern Mark, the use of which is managed by Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Under the MOU, Airย Newย Zealand and Tourism New Zealand will each invest more than $10 million over the next 12 months in co-operative marketing activity in the key markets of Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, North America, the United Kingdom and Europe as well as increased activity in emerging markets such as India and Indonesia.
Airย Newย Zealand and Tourism New Zealand have a strong track record of working together to market New Zealand as a destination. Recent collaboration includes high profile leverage activity to market New Zealand in association with The Hobbit trilogy; joint advertising campaigns in Australia, Japan, China, North America and Europe, hosting over 180 international media to New Zealand and activity to educate the trade on New Zealand including a recent familiarisation for 140 travel agents from North America, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Over the next 12 months, the organizations will continue to jointly promote New Zealand to travellers through advertising, PR activity, working closely with trade partners and on campaigns that actively target business events.
In the coming year, Airย Newย Zealand will also introduce its new aircraft livery which features the iconic New Zealand Fern Mark.
โWe are delighted to reveal our new aircraft livery which would not have been possible without the support of Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The new-look livery is distinctive and iconic and we believe will inspire a sense of pride in New Zealanders,โ says Mr Luxon.
The livery design process involved extensive consumer testing including focus groups both in New Zealand and offshore. A clear preference was established for the New Zealand Way Fern Mark to be incorporated into the design with 78 per cent of those surveyed believing it fits with the Airย Newย Zealand brand and represented New Zealand.
The new livery will be progressively rolled out across the Airย Newย Zealand fleet from later this year. The majority of the airlineโs fleet will eventually feature the white version of the new livery and a limited number will feature the distinctive black version of the new design (see new Boeing 787-9s designs below).
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Poll: Do you like the new two-version “Black Fern” livery?
Top Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Air New Zealand). The new fern livery reminds us of the special All Blacks-Crazy About Rugby livery worn by this Airbus A320. A320-232 OAB (msn 4553) arrives back at Auckland.
Air New Zealand (Auckland) has entered into an agreement to acquire a further three percent of the shares of Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane), taking its interest to 22.99 percent.
The company issued this statement:
The agreement is subject to customary Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) conditions and Airย Newย Zealand has filed the required Substantial Shareholder Notice.
Airย Newย Zealand will consider acquiring up to a further 3% of the shares in Virgin Australia, to the extent it is permitted to do so under the Australian Corporations Act, and has made an application to FIRB on that basis.
As part of its usual process, FIRB seeks the views of the ACCC on any competition related issues. The ACCC has advised Airย Newย Zealand that it intends to conduct public enquiries to enable it to form a view in relation to these potential shareholdings.
The additional interest affirms Airย Newย Zealandโs strong belief and confidence in Virgin Australia and the strategy it is pursuing under the leadership of John Borghetti and his team.
Airย Newย Zealand is not seeking a position on the Board of Virgin Australia nor does it have the intention of obtaining control of Virgin Australia.
Top Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Air New Zealand). As planned, Air New Zealand is going to this very simplistic black and white “color scheme”. The airline is now promoting its new look. The first Airbus A320 to be repainted is the pictured A320-232 ZK-OJQ (msn 4584) pictured departing from the Auckland hub. In the past ANZ has had very colorful liveries (please click on the Slide Show below for a history of ANZ color schemes).
Virgin Australia Holdings Limited (Virgin Australia Airlines) (Brisbane) today (May 28) welcomed confirmation from the Foreign Investment Review Board that it has no objections to the proposed acquisition of 60 percent of the existing shares in Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd (Tiger Australia) (Melbourne).
This confirmation satisfies another condition for the proposed acquisition of Tiger Australia, which will enable Virgin Australia to access the budget market segment and expedite the growth of Tiger Australia.
The proposed transaction still remains subject to certain conditions and Virgin Australia expects the transaction to be completed by mid-July.
Top Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/Blue Wave Group. Virgin Australia’s brand newย Boeing 737-8FE WL VH-YFF (msn 40994) and crew pass through Honolulu on delivery.
Above Copyright Photo: Virgin Australia.
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Bottom Copyright Photo: Peter Gates/AirlinersGallery.com. Tiger Airways’ย Airbus A320-232 VH-VNH (msn 3734) stops at Brisbane.
Cyprus Airways (Larnaca) is moving closer to Air France (Paris) with an expanded code-share program. Air France-KLM is helping the airline with its reorganization. The carrier today made this announcement:
Air France and Cyprus Airways are building on their existing cooperation to now offer a total of 20 daily code-share flights.
This new agreement offers travellers a wider choice of seamless travel solutions. Passengers travelling on Air Franceโs extensive international network are now able to connect to and from Cyprus at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
Flight options between Larnaca and Paris are also enhanced through several daily connections via Athens, in addition to the five weekly nonstop flights operated by Cyprus Airways. Customers can now take advantage of the domestic flights operated within Greece by Cyprus Airways, offering easy connections via Athens, between Paris, Rhodes and Heraklion.
Thanks to this new code-share agreement, Air France will now offer flights operated by Cyprus Airways: Larnaca-Paris, Larnaca-Athens, Athens-Heraklion and Athens-Rhodes. Cyprus Airways will also offer flights operated by Air France between Athens and Paris.
To better serve passengers on both airlinesโ code-share flights, Cyprus Airways has conveniently moved from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. Terminal 2 is also used by Air France for its own flight operations. Moreover, passengers on both Air France and Cyprus Airways flights can collect points for their frequent flyer programmes, Flying Blue and Sunmiles, with each airline on all code-share flights.
This expanded relationship follows the bank rejection of all overtures by MEA-Middle East Airlines (Beirut) to either acquire a share or all of Cyprus Airways. The Central Bank, which controls the majority shares of MEA, rejected the plan by MEA to buy into troubled Cyprus Airways which is undergoing an reorganization. The bank did not want the airline to take on this added risk.
Read the full report from The Daily Star: CLICK HERE
Meanwhile Cyprus Airways’ pilots are supporting the restructuring plan being designed by Air France-KLM.
Video: 65 Years of Cyprus Airways:
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Airbus A320-232 5B-DCK (msn 2275) approaches the Larnaca base for landing.
JetBlue Airways (New York)ย and Emirates (Dubai) today announced their intention to expand their current partnership to include bilateral codesharing, pending FAA and DOT regulatory approval and subject to receipt of foreign government operating authority. Under the expanded agreement, JetBlue will place its “B6” airline code on all flights currently operated by Emirates between the U.S. and Dubai International Airport, as well as between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Milan, Italy.
The agreement deepens a three-year partnership between JetBlue and Emirates. Emirates started placing its code on select JetBlue-operated flights in April 2012, expanding an interline agreement that dates back to 2010. Current codeshare routes offered by Emirates on JetBlue-operated flights cover 28 destinations including Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Puerto Rico.ย Since March this year, Emirates also began placing its code on additional JetBlue routes, including Bridgetown, Barbados, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Through the existing agreement, customers enjoy the convenience of a single combined ticket for Emirates and JetBlue-operated flights, plus other benefits including one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.
Members of Skywards, the Emirates reward program, can earn miles on JetBlue-operated flights and also redeem miles for flights to any of JetBlue’s 77 destinations (and counting) throughout the Americas. Similarly, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program can earn points for Emirates-operated flights worldwide.
Emirates’ global network encompasses 133 destinations in 77 countries across six continents and the airline currently operates 56 passenger flights per week between Dubai and the U.S.ย including flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and the twice daily A380 service from JFK to Dubai International Airport.ย , Emirates’ extensive network gives travellers in the U.S. access not only to the carrier’s home of Dubai, the commercial and tourism hub of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region, but also to cities across Africa, India, and throughout Asia Pacific.
From New York JFK, Emirates offers two daily nonstop flights to its global hub at Dubai International Airport โ both aboard its flagship A380 โ offering travellers fine dining, personalized service and multi award-winning entertainment options. From Washington Dulles, Emirates offers one daily nonstop flight to Dubai.
Top Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom.ย Airbus A320-232 N779JB (msn 3811) (Real Salt Lake-2009 Champions) taxies from the gate at Long Beach.
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Bottom Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom.ย Airbus A380-861 A6-EDN (msn 056) carefully taxies at New York (JFK).
Tiger Airways (Australia) (Melbourne) intends to expand its fleet from 11 aircraft to 23 in five years. The expanding airline will be battling Jetstar Airways for market share in the budget travel segment. Rob Sharp is the new CEO, the fifth CEO in five years.
Small Planet Airlines (formerly FlyLAL Charters) (Vilnius) is expanding its charter fleet. It is billing itself as the fastest growing charter airline in Europe. The charter airline is leasing five additional Airbus A320s. The first A320 was added in April 2011. The remaining two aging Boeing 737-300s should be retired at the end of the current summer season.
The current fleet serves the Polish charter market along with the UK, France and Lithuania.ย Small Planetย Airlines works with the majorย tour operators to bring holiday travelers toย Greece, Spain,ย Turkey, Egypt and other sunny destinations. The company also charters flights for the government, sport teams and private customers.
Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Formerly operated by Air Astana, Airbus A320-232 P4-UAS is becoming LY-SPB (msn 2987) with Small Planet. All other images and photos below from Small Planet.
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