Monarch Airlines (London-Luton) has announced two new routes from Birmingham Airport – to Salzburg and Turin – as part of its winter ski program for 2014/15. Flights will commence on December 13, 2014.
Monarch flies from Birmingham (BHX) to Salzburg (SZG) and Turin (TRN).
In addition, Monarch Airlines will offer twice-weekly London Gatwick โ Agadir service starting on October 28.
Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 G-ZBAI (msn 2553) climbs away from Palma de Mallorca.
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) will begin two-class Airbus A321 flights from Los Angeles to Dallas/Fort Worth (starting on August 1), Las Vegas (September 3) and Miami ย (August 19) per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N103NN (msn 5804) departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has unveiled its first “Fanhansa” – titled aircraft for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. The pictured Airbus A321-231 D-AIDG (msn 4672) was rolled out at Munich on Friday May 16 and is now in service in the LH European network. The airline issued this statement:
The first aircraft with the new โFanhansaโ livery taxied out to the runway on schedule at 11.20 on May 16. The Airbus A321-200, named after the town of Gรถttingen in Lower Saxony, flew from Munich to Hamburg as flight number LH 2066 on the same day. Overnight the โDelta Golfโ โ from its registration number D-AIDG โ was embellished with special foil by five Lufthansa Technik employees in 40 hours of work. The Fanhansa lettering on this Airbus medium-haul aircraft is 7.65 meters long.
Lufthansa is celebrating a special premiere with Fanhansa. For the first time since beginning flight operations nearly 60 years ago, part of the fleet is to change the name on the aircraft fuselage. To mark the football World Cup, a total of eight Lufthansa aircraft will swap their familiar livery for the new Fanhansa logo. The Airbus A321-200 will be followed by two additional short-haul aircraft and a total of five long-haul aircraft with the Fanhansa lettering, including the Boeing 747-8, the worldโs longest civilian aircraft. After departing from Munich at 11.20 a.m., the Airbus was scheduled to land at Hamburg Airport between 12.35 p.m. and 1.20 p.m., and arrive at London-Heathrow between 5.00 p.m. and 6.05 p.m. The return to Munich is scheduled for 8.55 p.m.
With Fanhansa, Lufthansa will be flying not just the German national team to Brazil, as partner of the German Football Association, but also thousands of football fans, media representatives and officials. During the many surprise Fanhansa promotions that will be happening on board Lufthansa scheduled flights and at check-in counters and gates in German airports, participants will be able to qualify immediately for a ticket to Brazil on board a Fanhansa plane.
Copyright Photo: Lufthansa. The first “Fanhansa” aircraft at Munich.
Finnair Group (Finnair) (Helsinki) reported a first quarter lossย of โฌ34.2 million ($47.3 million). The loss doubled from a loss of โฌ17.5 million ($24.2 million) in the same quarter in 2013. The decline was attributed to a falloff in leisure travel and a new weakness in business travel.
Read the full report from the Helsinki Times: CLICK HERE
In other news,ย Finnair is set to open a new Premium Lounge directly adjacent to the award-winning Finnair Lounge near Gate 36 in the non-Schengen area of Helsinki Airport. The Premium Lounge, designed by the Helsinki firm dSign Vertti Kivi & Co, complements the original Finnair Lounge and will be ready for Platinum and Gold Finnair Plus members and other oneworld top-tier customers by July 1, 2014.
The Premium Lounge showcases classic Nordic design in harmony with Finnish nature, with dynamic changes in light, colors and video projections synchronized with the seasons and time of day to create a calm atmosphere for travelers. High-quality complimentary meals and drinks, including wines and spirits, are plated on Marimekko tableware or served in Iittala Ultima Thule glasses โ first designed for Finnair in 1968 by Tapio Wirkkala. The lounge features carefully selected furniture including legendary Tulip and Womb chairs created by Eero Saarinen. The 4380 foot space can comfortably seat up to 122 guests providing them with separate areas for work and relaxation.
As part of the overall upgrade in lounge services, the customers of both the Premium Lounge and the original Lounge will also enjoy access to completely new private shower suites and Finnish sauna. Towels and forest berry-based shampoos, shower gels and lotions from Finland will be provided.
โThis new and exclusive lounge takes Finnairโs long association with Finnish design to a new level,โ says Markku Remes, Finnairโs Manager of Lounge and VIP Services. โWe will be delighted to welcome our most loyal and regular customers into this special space before their flight.โ
โOur aim was to create a high-quality, even emotional experience for Finnairโs demanding clients,โ says designer Vertti Kivi. โDifferent zones for work, refreshment, silence or bathing are unified with a light Scandinavian design touch, creating a space that clients wonโt forget.โ
The Premium Lounge is open to Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members and their guests, as well as to frequent flyer cardholders with equivalent status at a fellow oneworld airline, including Finnairโs joint business partners American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airlines.
Other Business Class passengers are welcome to the original Lounge, which is directly adjoining the Premium lounge and is regularly featured in lists of the worldโs top airline lounges.
Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-delivered Airbus A321-231 OH-LZL (msn 6083) with Sharklets lands in the leisure market of Palma de Mallorca.
JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced that LiveTV received a supplemental type certificate (STC) and Parts Manufacturing Authorization (PMA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), necessary steps in the process of having high-speed Wi-Fi and LiveTV’s next generation inflight entertainment system installed on its new fleet of Airbus 321 all-core aircraft. The new LiveTV system, LiveTV 4.0, and JetBlue’s inflight Wi-Fi product, Fly-FiTM, will provide customers with a significantly enriched experience.
The Live TV 4.0 system has a larger screen (10.1 inches for the core experience and 15.6 inches for the Mint experience), and additional content options. Through JetBlue’s partnership with DirecTV, customers will have access to more than 100 channels of live television with optional closed-captioning, a new TV guide that displays current and upcoming program information, and two additional JetBlue Features, totaling eight features each available with English and Spanish audio tracks. Additionally, JetBlue’s SiriusXM satellite radio offering will have an improved home screen where all programming information will be displayed on one screen.
JetBlue also launched Fly-Fi last December on its Airbus A320 fleet, and currently operates 37 Fly-Fi enabled aircraft. The airline is up to 10 A320 Fly-Fi installations per month and is targeting to have its entire Airbus A320 fleet complete by the end of 2014.
JetBlue will be installing LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi on the other three all-core Airbus A321 aircraft, which have been flying since last December. The next step is to receive the certification needed for the first Airbus A321 Mint aircraft.
The airline now has one Airbus A321 aircraft with LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi installed which re-entered service on April 28, 2014. The remaining three A321 aircraft will undergo LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi installation throughout the spring, with all four A321 core only aircraft expected to be in service with LiveTV 4 and Fly-Fi installed by the end of June.
Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A321-231 D-AVZA (msn 5783) became N903JB on delivery.
JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) will launch nonstop two-class Airbus A321 “Mint” service between the New York (JFK) hub and San Francisco on October 26 according to Airline Route.
According to the airline, “Mint will offer an unparalleled in-flight experience: the longest lie-flat beds in domestic business class (a) and four private suites among the 16 Mint seats.
Mint will feature a pre-departure drink, followed by a cocktail and amuse-bouche once airborne. JetBlue, New York’s Hometown Airlineโข, has partnered with the popular New York City-based restaurant Saxon + Parole to curate the onboard menu. Mint travelers will customize their meal by choosing among five “comfort food with a twist” offerings, served tapas-style, followed by dessert. Fresh cappuccino and espresso made from the first purposely built cappuccino machine for a U.S. airline will be available throughout the flight.
JetBlue will also be the only U.S. airline to offer customized men’s and women’s amenity kits from partner Birchbox, a global discovery retail company that offers consumers a personalized way to discover, learn about and purchase the best beauty and grooming products from prestigious brands. With an amenity kit designed specifically for JetBlue, loyal customers will receive new favorite products often as these unique kits will be changed several times throughout the year.
The Mint seat:
JetBlue chose to fully customize the Mint seat, featuring:
Fully lie-flat beds up to 6′ 8″ (203cm), averaging the longest in the U.S. domestic business class market (a)
The only private suites with closing doors in the American market, four on each flight
Seats up to 22.3″ wide, making them the widest seats on average in the U.S. domestic market (a)
Air cushions with adjustable firmness
Massage function
15-inch flat screen with up to 100 channels of DirecTVยฎ programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXMยฎ radio
Shoe storage
Dual 110 volt power outlets with two USB ports
“Wake me for service” indicator, allowing customers to customize their service needs
A refreshed core experience
JetBlue’s brand new Airbus A321 aircraft will also feature an enhanced core product, including a new world-class seat designed to maximize comfort, larger 10.1″ personal screens offering up to 100 channels of DirecTVยฎ programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXMยฎ radio (d), in-seat power outlets accessible to all customers and a drink holder. As a result of the new next-generation slimmer seat design, customers will enjoy even more living space and the most legroom in coach (e), as well as more comfort.
To add even more to the core experience on New York-Los Angeles/San Francisco flights, JetBlue created the marketplace for all new Airbus A321s, a self-serve station full of snacks, sodas and water for customers to enjoy at their convenience throughout the flight.
The airline’s A321 fleet will also offer free (f) superfast Fly-Fi for all customers, JetBlue’s revolutionary in-air Wi-Fi.
Top Copyright Photo: ย Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.comย (all others by JetBlue). Airbus A321-321 N907JB (msn 5865) arrives on runway 09L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
JetBlue Airways:ย
Video: Humanity in customer service and the new Airbus A321 Mint Service:
Finnair (Helsinki) tomorrowย marks exactly 90 years since Finnairโs first commercial flight. On March 20, 1924, Finnairโs first flight transported 357 pounds of mail from Katajanokka in Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia aboard a Junkers F13 D-335 seaplane. Finnair, originally called Aero Oy, was founded onย November 1 of the previous year.
Nine decades later, Finnair currently operates 43 aircraft traveling to more than 60 destinations around the world and employs nearly six thousand people. Last year, the company transported 9.3 million passengers, which represents 60 percent of all passengers that passed through Helsinki Airport. Air traffic plays a central role in Finnish business and the national economy, directly and indirectly employing over 120,000 people in Finland.
Today, Finnair, the worldโs sixth-oldest airline still in operation, has six daily flights on weekdays between Helsinki and Tallinn operated by Flybe.
According to Flightstats, Finnair was the worldโs most punctual airline in four different months last year, and in 2013 it operated the worldโs second most punctual airline network.
Finnairโs recent milestones include the launch of new routes to Xiโan and Hanoi, design cooperation with Marimekko, renewed inflight dining options in Business Class, new and environmentally friendly offices, and becoming the first airline in the world to take delivery of new A321 Sharklet aircraft (see photo above).
Later this year Finnair is set to enter a joint business on EU-Japan traffic with fellowย oneworld partners British Airways and Japan Airlines. Furthermore, Finnair will continue the retrofit of its widebody fleet with seats in Business Class that convert to full-flat beds. In 2015 Finnair will become the first European airline to operate the next-generation Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.
The Finnish Airline Pilotsโ Association and the Finnish Aviation Museum will organize a joint celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of Finnairโs maiden flight at 12:00 pm on March 20ย at Matruusinpuisto park in Helsinkiโs Katajanokka district. The event is open to all aviation enthusiasts. Weather permitting, the event will also feature a visit by a seaplane.
Follow the events celebrating the 90th anniversary of Finnairโs maiden flight on Twitter under the hashtag #Finnair90.
Congratulations Finnair!
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-delivered Airbus A321-231 OH-LZH (msn 5803) with Sharklets prepares to land at Tenerife Sur.
Monarch Airlinesย (London-Luton) will begin offering twice-weekly Airbus A321 service from London (Luton) to Antalya starting on March 30 per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 G-ZBAE (msn 5606) with Sharklets arrives at Tenerife Sur.
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US Airways (Phoenix) according to Airline Route, has announced the anticipated US Airways and US Airways Express route deletions and dates from Washington’s Reagan National Airport as required by the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreement as a prerequisite for the American Airlines-US Airways merger.
May 22, 2014: San Diego
June 5: Augusta, Fayetteville, Fort Walton Beach, Jacksonville (NC), Little Rock and Omaha
June 19: Tallahassee
July 2: Islip, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Pensacola and Savannah
August 19: Detroit
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N508AY (msn 3740) arrives at Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Emirates (Dubai) and Jetstar Airways (Melbourne) have announced an agreement which is set to open up new destinations for Emirates passengers across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia as the Dubai-based airline continues to connect people, places and passions.
Emiratesโ code will now be placed on a number of routes operated by Jetstar Airways in Australia and New Zealand and Jetstar Asia, giving passengers access to 27 new routes and six new destinations such as Bali in Indonesia, Byron Bay in Australia, Dunedin in New Zealand and Siem Reap in Cambodia*.
From April 6, 2014, all Emiratesโ passengers on Jetstar flights will receive boarding passes on check-in at their first international departure point for connecting international services.
The codeshare includes seven domestic routes in Australia to add to the 50 that Emirates already codeshares with cornerstone investor in the Jetstar Group, QANTAS Airways; four new routes in New Zealand, six new routes between Australian and New Zealand over the Tasman Sea and ten international routes out of Singapore to Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
*Subject to final regulatory approval.
Top Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Emirates’ Boeing 777-31H ER A6-ECV (msn 35594) touches down on the runway at New York’s JFK International Airport.
Emirates:ย
Jetstar Airways (Australia):ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Christian Laugier/AirlinersGallery.com. Jetstar’s Airbus A321-231 VH-VWZ (msn 1195) taxies at the Gold Coast.
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