Tag Archives: A330-200

Eurowings’ Airbus A330-203 D-AXGA arrives in Palma de Mallorca without its left engine panel

Eurowings (Dusseldorf) first Airbus A330-203 D-AXGA (msn 530), operated on behalf of Germanwings (2nd) (Cologne/Bonn) and performing flight 4U592 from Cologne/Bonn (Germany) to Palma de Mallorca (Spain) with 169 passengers and 13 crew, departed Cologne’s runway 14L when the engine access doors of the left hand engine (CF6) opened, separated and came to rest in the first third of the runway. The crew continued the flight and in absence of abnormal indications landed in Palma Mallorca without further incident about 2 hours later.

The airline confirmed that parts of the engine cowling separated, there were no abnormal indications, the crew received information when the aircraft was over southern France and continued the flight to Palma Mallorca. Lufthansa Technik as well as Germany’s BFU are investigating as to why the parts separated.

Germany’s BFU confirmed they were informed about the separation of parts of the cowling of the left hand engine and are currently undertaking a technical examination in coordination with Spain’s CIAIAC.

The Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), Germany’s ATC provider, reported that tower did not observe parts separating from the engine, the parts were later reported by another crew, collected in a runway inspection and identified, which took about 45 minutes. The crew was informed about the parts of engine cowling having been found when the aircraft was over southern France about one hour after departure.

Assistant Editor Javier Rodriguez reporting from Palma de Mallorca.

Hawaiian announces a cabin redesign of its Airbus A330 fleet with lie-flat seating, reports 3Q adjusted net income of $78.4 million

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) has announced it plans to introduce new luxury design elements and enhanced service options in its Airbus A330 premium cabins, including the addition of 180-degree lie-flat seats. The airline has developed its new seats in partnership with Optimares, an Italian manufacturer focused on traveler-centric design.

The airline continued:

The 180-degree seats will use an innovative seat platform to fold into 76-inch beds, maximizing living space for travelers while providing options for both privacy and a shared flight experience. They will also feature an advanced in-flight entertainment experience powered by the next generation of large-format tablets and equipped with a telescoping tablet arm that adjusts to optimize viewing angle and comfort.

Hawaiian Airlines Announces Premium Cabin Redesign of its Airbus A330 Fleet with Lie-Flat Seating (PRNewsFoto/Hawaiian Airlines)

Hawaiian worked with West Coast-based brand and design consultancy PaulWylde to translate the airline’s signature design language, rooted in the natural colors and forms of the island landscape, into the cabin experience. The cabin design will incorporate flowing curves evocative of the winds and ocean, while marrying organic textures, pops of bright saturated color, and luxury materials like leather from Poltrona Frau.

Hawaiian, PaulWylde and Optimares collaborated intensively to ensure the seat and cabins are uniquely tailored to the needs of the Hawaii traveler. The seats will be installed in a 2-2-2 configuration ideally suited for couples and families traveling to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.

The first newly outfitted aircraft is expected to enter Hawaiian’s long-haul network in the second quarter of 2016. The airline will begin installing lie-flat seats in the remaining 22 A330 aircraft in September of 2016 through 2017.

As part of the cabin redesign, Hawaiian also announced it will add 28 additional Extra Comfort seats on each A330 aircraft in response to growing demand for its popular premium economy service. The Extra Comfort option features 36 inches of seat pitch; priority boarding at the gate; complimentary on-demand in-seat entertainment; and a personal power outlet.

Today, Hawaiian’s wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus 330-200 aircraft seat 294 passengers, with 18 in Business/First Class, 40 in Extra Comfort and 236 in the Main Cabin. In the new configuration, the aircraft will seat 278 passengers, with 18 in Business/First Class, 68 in Extra Comfort and 192 in the Main Cabin. Seat pitch in the Main Cabin will remain a roomy 31 inches.

Hawaiian operates its A330 aircraft on the majority of its North American and international routes. Amenities include personal on-demand entertainment system, comfortable legroom, and a roomy interior.

On the financial side, Hawaiian reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2015:

GAAP net income of $70.0 million or $1.15 per diluted share.
Adjusted net income of $78.4 million or $1.29 per diluted share, an increase of $28.9 million or $0.50 cents per diluted share year-over-year.
Adjusted pre-tax margin of 20.0% compared to 12.6% in the prior year period.
Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $611 million.
Achieved leverage target at 3.1x.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 N375HA (msn 1606) carries special Oakland Raiders logo at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Hawaiian Airlines aircraft slide show:

Eurowings operates the first Airbus A330-200 revenue flight

Eurowings (Dusseldorf) made its Airbus A330-200 commercial debut on October 14, 2015, initially operating service for Germanwings (2nd) (Cologne/Bonn). The new type entered service operating a flight from Cologne/Bonn to Palma de Mallorca as flight GWI588. The airline will also operate a flight from Hamburg to Palma de Mallorca from October 19. Services from both German cities to Palma will end on October 31.

On November 2, Eurowings will launch intercontinental Airbus A330 service to Veradero, Cuba, followed by the Caribbean destinations of Puerto Plata and Punta Cana. In addition, the airline will offer nonstop service to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, as well as Dubai.

The airline have two A330s which are wet leased from the Lufthansa-Turkish Airlines joint venture SunExpress. The Eurowings A330s are formerly EVA Air aircraft. The new Eurowings Europe GmbH was launched in Vienna on August 10, 2015.

The Eurowings A330s have 21 premium seats and 289 in economy, including a 46-seat economy “More Comfort” zone. This 310 seat configuration is a major change compared to Lufthansa’s three-class A330s which have 217-221 seats.

Assistant Editor Javier Rodriguez reporting from Palma de Mallorca.

Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-203 D-AXGA (msn 530) D-AXGA it pictured on its final approach runway 06L at Palma de Mallorca with the nice autumn light.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

RwandAir firms up its order for one Airbus A330-200 and one A330-300

RwandAir (Kigali), the national flag carrier of the Republic of Rwanda, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for an A330-200 and a larger A330-300, at a signature ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda. With this order RwandAir becomes a new Airbus customer and is the first East African customer for the long-haul airliner. This agreement firms up a commitment announced earlier this year.
Aircraft deliveries will begin in the second half of 2016, enabling the country’s carrier to deploy its new flagship aircraft on medium and long-haul routes serving destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The two aircraft will feature a three class cabin layouts. The A330-200 will have 244 seats (20 business class, 21 premium and 203 economy class) and the A330-300 will have 274 seats (30 business class, 21 premium and 223 economy class). The aircraft will be equipped with Rolls Royce Trent 772B engines.

To date the A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, has attracted more than 1,500 orders and around 1,200 A330s are flying worldwide with over 100 operators. Ever since the original A330-300 entered service, its hallmarks are its very efficient operating economics, innovative cabin features, while offering passengers much wider economy-class seats than any competing aircraft. Moreover, with numerous product improvements and with an operational reliability of 99.4 percent, the A330 is the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft in its class.

Image: Airbus.

RwandAir aircraft slide show:

Hawaiian Airlines is the official airline of the Oakland Raiders for the 2015 season

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) has announced the renewed partnership with the NFL Oakland Raiders. The airline has added the Raiders shield logo to an Airbus A330-200. The airline issued this statement:

Hawaiian Airlines is proud to announce it will serve as the Official Airline of The Oakland Raiders for the 2015 National Football League (NFL) season. Hawai‘i’s largest and longest serving carrier has provided its signature ‘Mea Ho‘okipa’ (translation: I am host) in-flight hospitality and charter service for the team’s away games since 2000.

Starting with the Raiders’ September 3 preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Hawaiian’s designated Airbus A330 aircraft featuring the Raiders’ shield will carry players, coaches, trainers, as well as uniforms and equipment, to eight games, including: Seattle, Cleveland, Chicago, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Tennessee and Denver through December.

Hawaiian provides a dedicated catering coordinator to meet the team’s expectations and to handle special requests. Hearty, nutritious meals are provided along with sandwiches and an assortment of healthy snacks that include fresh fruit, protein bars and, at the Raiders’ request, products from Hawai‘i, such as Passion Orange Guava Juice and Hawaiian Iced Tea. For entertainment, Hawaiian offers a wide selection of movies, TV shows and music.

Hawaiian Airlines has served the Oakland market since 2008, and provides daily nonstop flights to both Honolulu and Kahului, Maui. During the peak summer months, travelers can fly nonstop to all four major Hawaiian islands, when the airline adds seasonal service from Oakland to Līhu’e, Kaua’i and Kona, Hawai’i Island, between May and September. Hawaiian also serves the Bay Area with nonstop flights between San Francisco and San Jose to Honolulu.

Photo: Hawaiian Airlines. Airbus A330-243 N375HA (msn 1606) was delivered on February 24, 2015 and is named “Humu”.

Hawaiian Airlines aircraft slide show:

XL Airways France to operate to Los Angeles

XL Airways France (Paris-CDG) will operate summer seasonal flights from Paris (CDG) to Los Angeles next summer starting on June 1, 2016. Three weekly flights will be operated with Airbus A330-200s according to Airline Route.

Top Copyright Photo: Chris Sands/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 F-GRSQ (msn 501) is pictured operating at Calgary.

Below Photo: XL Airways France.

XL Airways France aircraft slide show:

American Airlines to drop the Philadelphia – Tel Aviv route

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced it will stop service on the nonstop route between Philadelphia and Tel Aviv effective on January 4 (January 5 on the westbound flight). The Airbus A330-200s assigned to the unprofitable route will be reassigned.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 N290AY (msn 1480) approaches the runway at London (Heathrow).

American Airlines aircraft slide show:

Lufthansa Group establishes Eurowings Europe GmbH, is pleased with the early long-haul bookings

Lufthansa Group (Frankfurt) is happy with the early bookings for its upcoming new Eurowings long-haul services. The group also established Eurowings Europe (Vienna) on August 10. The group issued this report:

The new Eurowings looks all set for a successful launch of its attractively-priced long-haul services. Three months ahead of its first such flights – to the Caribbean, Thailand and Dubai – Lufthansa’s new budget-fare subsidiary reports promising booking levels.

“As the customer demand confirms, what we’re offering here is a highly attractive long-haul air travel product,” says Karl Ulrich Garnadt, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and CEO of Lufthansa German Airlines. “Our strategy of offering our further Eurowings brand, which is aimed particularly at price-sensitive leisure travellers, clearly meets a market need. And our decision to commence these operations in Cologne and the North Rhine Westphalia region has proved a prudent one, too.”

The new intercontinental services will be operated with Airbus A330-200 equipment (above). The first two aircraft are already being prepared to enter revenue service at the beginning of November. The Eurowings long-haul fleet will then gradually be expanded to seven Airbus A330s.

The new Eurowings is adopting the business and marketing concept that has already proved successful with its sister carrier Germanwings, which has firmly positioned itself as an innovative quality low-cost airline.

While Germanwings is focused on the German air travel market, Eurowings will now expand the concept throughout Europe, and will further extend it to intercontinental city and vacation destinations.

Eurowings will be opening its first operating base outside Germany in Austria. In collaboration with fellow Lufthansa Group carrier Austrian Airlines, Eurowings will offer European services from and to Vienna using Airbus A320 equipment – one aircraft from the 2015/16 winter schedules, and a second from March 2016. Both aircraft will be operated by Austrian Airlines.

The new Eurowings Europe GmbH was founded in Austria on Monday, August 10.

The company will serve as the starting point for further growth, which will see the establishment of several more operating bases throughout the European continent. Eurowings Europe is currently setting up its flight operations, which includes creating its own cockpit and cabin crew corps.

The new Eurowings cockpit crew positions are initially being advertised internally within Lufthansa, to give priority to existing pilots from the Lufthansa Group and those who have completed their flight training in Bremen and are awaiting suitable vacancies. The pilot recruitment process should then be extended to outside applicants in the second half of August. The cabin crew recruitment process will begin in the second half of September.

The remuneration systems at Eurowings Europe will be aligned to those already in place at other airlines within the Lufthansa Group. But they will also pay due regard to the particular conditions and challenges of the low-cost airline sector, particularly in terms of productivity levels and seasonal demand fluctuations.

The new remuneration packages will also feature attractive occupational pension benefits. As well as offering an employer’s retirement savings contribution amounting to 2% of the employee’s basic salary, Eurowings will increase this contribution to 2.5% for any employee who undertakes to make their own employee’s savings contribution of 1.0%.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Former EVA Air Airbus A330-203 B-16301 (msn 530) became D-AXGA with the new Eurowings.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Air Serbia applies for codeshare service to the U.S. via partner Airberlin

Air Serbia (Belgrade) hopes to serve the United States again. Formerly as Jat Airways, the company previously flew to the USA starting in 1970 with Boeing 707s. Later McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s were deployed on those routes starting in 1978 (below).

Above Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. JAT-Yugoslav Airlines (later Jat Airways) McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 YU-AMA (msn 46981) approaches Zurich.

Now as Air Serbia, the airline has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to serve the U.S. via a codeshare agreement with partner Airberlin (Berlin) using Airbus A330s (above).

If approved, the Air Serbia code would be shown on Airberlin flights to Chicago (O’Hare), Miami and New York (JFK) via Berlin (Tegel) and Dusseldorf according to Airline Route.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airberlin’s Airbus A330-223 D-ALPC (msn 444) approaches the runway at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Air Serbia aircraft slide show:

Jat Airways aircraft slide show:

Airberlin aircraft slide show:

Iberia to introduce the new Airbus A330-200 in January

Iberia (Madrid) will introduce the new 288-seat Airbus A330-200 on January 1, 2016 on the Madrid – Panama City route with a one-off flight per Airline Route. The following day it will be introduced on the Madrid – Guatemala City route, followed by Montevideo and Santo Domingo.