Tag Archives: A330200

Turkish Airlines to start Istanbul-Boston flights on May 12, 2014

Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) is planning to start nonstop Istanbul (Ataturk)-Boston (Logan) service on May 12, 2014. The new route will be operated with Airbus A330s five days a week per Airline Route.

Turkish Airlines:

Edelweiss Air to add a second weekly flight to Tampa

Edelweiss Air (Zurich) has announced it will add a second weekly flight on the Zurich-Tampa route starting on March 14, 2013.

Edelweiss Air:

Virgin Australia starts its new code share agreement with Airberlin

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) has announced a reciprocal code share and frequent flyer agreement with Airberlin (Berlin), Germany’s second largest airline.

The code share flights commence on August 1, 2013, subject to government approval, Virgin Australia will code share on Airberlin’s daily direct services from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf and Berlin. Airberlin will also code share on Virgin Australia’s Abu Dhabi to Sydney service, its Phuket to Perth service and on nine of its domestic services within Australia.

As part of the new agreement, members of Virgin Australia’s loyalty program Velocity Frequent Flyer and Airberlin’s top bonus program will receive reciprocal benefits, with the ability to earn and redeem Points or miles, regardless of which airline is operating the flight.

Airberlin operates daily direct services between Abu Dhabi and Berlin and between Abu Dhabi and Dusseldorf. The Airbus A330-200 operated services offer Full Flat seats with a massage function and 15 inch LED monitors in Business Class ensuring a superior level of comfort. In Economy Class, Airberlin offer new seats with anti-thrombosis cushions, a complimentary drinks service and a new in-seat entertainment system.

Top Copyright Photo: John Adlard/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 VH-XFC (msn 1293) arrives at the Sydney hub.

Virgin Australia:

Airberlin:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-223 D-ABXA (msn 288) in the Oneworld scheme taxies to the runway at Palma de Mallorca.

Hawaiian Airlines today commences a new route to Taipei, Taiwan

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) today (July 9) launched nonstop service to Taipei, Taiwan, the latest addition to its expanding international network and seventh Asian gateway destination.

The departure of HA 807 followed gate side festivities that included Hawaiian music and hula, performance honoring the Taiwanese culture, traditional Hawaiian blessing, and presentation of lei to passengers boarding the inaugural flight. Remarks were given by Hawai’i Governor Neil Abercrombie, who was one of several VIP guests on the inaugural flight; V.C. Chu, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu; and Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Copyright Photo: PRNewsFoto/Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaiian Airlines employees greet Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie (center) with lei as he boards the inaugural flight from Honolulu to Taipei today. Taipei is the latest addition to Hawaiian Airlines’ growing international network and seventh Asian destination. Front Row (L to R): Sharon Wai, Governor Neil Abercrombie, and Billy Remular. Back Row: Shannon Kaleikini-Fukuda, Sonny Ah Puck and Jerrica Sorrow.

Today’s inaugural capitalizes on the extension of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program to cover citizens of Taiwan. Taipei is the capital city and economic center of Taiwan, and the surrounding metropolitan area of Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung is home to nearly seven million people. As a whole, Taiwan has more than 23 million people and is considered one of the “Four Asian Tiger Economies” with one of the highest Per Capita GDP in Asia.

Hawai’i hosted nearly 10,000 visitors from Taiwan in 2012, according to the Hawai’i Tourism Authority (HTA), which expects arrival numbers to grow substantially with Visa restrictions lifted. “This new Hawaiian Airlines flight fits into our strategy of global market diversification,” commented Mike McCartney, HTA president and CEO. “This new service is critically important asHawai’i strives to become a major hub for that region in Asia.”

Hawaiian Airlines will operate three flights a week between Honolulu and Taipei using a 294-seat A330-200 aircraft. Flight HA 807 departs Honolulu International Airport at 1:55 a.m. every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, crosses the international dateline, and lands at Taipei International Airport at 6:15 a.m. the following day.

The return Flight HA 808 departs Taipei at 8:55 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, crosses the international dateline, and arrives in Honolulu at 1:10 p.m. the same day.

The addition of Taipei to Hawaiian Airlines’ international network follows the launches of service to Tokyo in November 2010, Seoul in January 2011, Osaka in July 2011, Fukuoka in April 2012, New York in June 2012, Sapporo in October 2012, Brisbane in November 2012, Auckland in March 2013 and Sendai in June 2013. New non-stop service will begin between Honolulu and Beijing, China in April 2014, subject to government approvals.

Hawaiian Airlines:

XL Airways France launches seasonal service to Miami

XL Airways France (Paris-CDG) on June 28 launched summer seasonal service to Miami, its fourth U.S. destination. The new route will operate three days a week until September with Airbus A330-200s.

XL Airways France:

Routes to the Western Hemisphere:

Libyan Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A330-200

Libyan Airlines (Tripoli), the national carrier of Libya, has taken delivery of its first A330-200 becoming a new operator for the type. The carrier already operates seven Airbus A320 aircraft, with three A330-200 and four A350-800 aircraft on order.

Accommodating a two-class configuration of 24 business and 235 economy seats, the aircraft is powered by GE CF6-80 engines and will be deployed in the Middle East, around Dubai and Jeddah, as well as on Asian and European trunk routes.

Libyan Airlines:

SriLankan Airlines signs MOU for six Airbus A330-300s and four A350-900s

SriLankan Airlines (Colombo) has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Airbus for six A330-300s and four A350-900s. The MOU will have to be finalized into a firm contract.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. SriLankan already operates the Airbus A330-200. The A330-300 and A350-900 will be new types for the flag carrier. Airbus A330-243 4R-ALB (msn 306) prepares to land at Dubai.

SirLankan Airlines:

Virgin Australia to upgrade the Perth-Sydney route to all Airbus A330s on weekdays, expands its code-share program with Etihad Airways

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) has announced that from October this year, it will operate its Airbus A330 aircraft on all Perth-Sydney weekday flights.

The introduction of a seventh Airbus A330 to Virgin Australia’s fleet later this year will see these aircraft operate all Perth-Sydney and Perth-Melbourne weekday services and two out of three Perth-Brisbane weekday services.

The airline now offers all customers on flights between Perth and the East Coast fully inclusive hot meals and beverages, as well as in-flight entertainment.

“We have had an extremely positive response to the introduction of our Airbus A330 “Coast To Coast” service and we are very pleased to now be offering this on all Perth-Sydney and Perth-Melbourne weekday flights.

The Airbus A330 aircraft feature Virgin Australia’s designer Business and Economy Class product, which includes luxury leather seating, generous seat recline and a range of gourmet food offerings.

In other news, Virgin Australia has announced flights to Milan, Italy and Amsterdam, Netherlands will be added to its codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) from June 3, 2013.

The announcement follows recent regulatory approvals being granted allowing Virgin Australia to codeshare on flights into Italy and the Netherlands.

Customers travelling on Virgin Australia’s network will be able to connect through Abu Dhabi on to Milan or Amsterdam on the same ticket. Velocity Frequent Flyer members will also be able to earn points and status credits on these routes.

The codeshare flight between Abu Dhabi and Milan will be operated by a two-class Airbus A330-200 seven times per week. Abu Dhabi to Amsterdam will be operated by a two-class Airbus A330-200 seven times per week. Etihad and Virgin Australia fly 28 times per week from Australia to Abu Dhabi, connecting to 14 codeshare destinations in Europe.

This is a continuation of the roll-out of Virgin Australia’s alliance with Etihad Airways, which already includes 50 codeshare and interline destinations globally. Virgin Australia will continue to work closely with Etihad Airways to develop a network aligned with the needs of their customers.

Etihad Airways currently operates flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane into Abu Dhabi.

Virgin Australia:

Avianca to deploy the Airbus A330 on the Lima-Miami route starting on July 15

Avianca (Bogota) is planning to deploy its Airbus A330-200s on the daily Lima-Miami route starting on July 15 per Airline Route.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 N948AC (msn 948) taxies to the runway at Miami International Airport dressed in the now old 2005 livery (please click on the photo for the full-size view).

Avianca:

Bottom Copyright Photos: Avianca. The new look for AV. Airbus A320-214 N538AV (msn 5398) is one of the first aircraft to display the new look.

Video:

Etihad Airways to recruit 50 pilots from Airberlin, enters a new relationship with KLM

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has announced it will recruit around 50 pilots from partner Airberlin (Berlin) which has been downsizing. The carrier issued this statement:

The move comes as Airberlin, Germany’s second largest carrier, continues to work through its Turbine business turnaround program, and as Etihad Airways prepares for significant international expansion.

The recruitment transfers began in April when the first batch of six Boeing 737-rated First Officers arrived in Abu Dhabi to start type conversion training on to the Boeing 777 at Etihad Airways’ Flight Training Centre.

Upon successful completion, the six pilots will undertake line training on the airline’s global network, before being fully licensed as type-rated Boeing 777 First Officers.

Further pilot transfers will take place in the coming months, comprising Airbus A320 Captains, Airbus A320 First Officers, Airbus A330 First Officers and Boeing 777 non-rated First Officers.

Etihad Airways’ current fleet of 77 Boeing and Airbus aircraft will grow significantly this decade with more than 90 firm order aircraft scheduled for delivery.

Over the next 12 months the carrier will take delivery of four Boeing 777-300 ERs, five Airbus A320s, one Airbus A321, one Airbus A330-200 and one Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft. Late next year, Etihad Airways will also introduce its first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Etihad Airways currently employs over 1,400 pilots, and plans to recruit 1,000 more by 2020.

In other news, Etihad has announced it has entered the second phase of its strategic partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) following the launch of new Amsterdam service. The airline issued this statement:

The daily service, operated by a two cabin Airbus A330-200 and configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class, was launched on May 15 and carries KLM’s KL code.

The launch of the new flights coincides with the addition of 12 new KLM destinations out of Schiphol Airport which now carry Etihad Airways EY code. KLM has also added its KL code to a further six Etihad Airways destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub.

The 12 additional destinations that Etihad Airways customers can now access through codeshare operations with KLM are Stockholm, Aberdeen, Barcelona, Bergen, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Leeds/Bradford and Madrid.

These cities join the first phase of cities served by KLM, which carry the EY code, Billund, Cardiff, Newcastle, Oslo, and Stavanger.

KLM now has its KL code on six Etihad Airways’ flights to Abu Dhabi, Brisbane, Khartoum, Male, Muscat and Seychelles.

These join the initial group of cities served by Etihad Airways – Colombo, Islamabad, Lahore, Melbourne, and Sydney – which also carry the KL code.

In addition to flight operations Etihad Airways has this year wet-leased a Boeing 747-400 freighter from KLM. This aircraft, with a payload capacity of 124 tons, links the two cargo hubs of Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam, and increases our capacity to Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Dhaka.

From KLM’s partner, Air France, Etihad Airways has also wet-leased an Airbus A340-300 for use on the Paris-Abu Dhabi route from now until the end of the year.

Amsterdam joins a group of 17 leading European cities that Etihad Airways flies to including Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London and Paris.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Etihad Airways’ Airbus A330-243 A6-EYE (msn 688) (Manchester City Football Club) arrives at Munich.

Video: Etihad Airways.