Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) has announced it will not operate the nonstop service it planned to launch between Durango, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada starting on October 4, 2012 due to a lack of demand.
Frontier will continue to provide service to Durango with daily flights to its hub in Denver.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Airbus A319-111 N939FR (msn 2448) lands at Las Vegas.
Frontier Airlines Slide Show:ย 
Volaris (Mexico City) willย launch a new route from Leon, Guanajuato to Chicago (Midway) on October 3.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Airbus A319-133 XA-VOQ (msn 4422) is decorated in special marks promoting the destination of Chicago.
Volaris Slide Show:ย 
Frameable Color Prints and Posters:ย 
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced schedules for new service to/from Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico starting on November 8, 2012.
The new service includes one daily nonstop service between Los Cabos, Mexico (serving Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) and San Diego, with connecting service to Dallas/Fort Worth.
In addition, four weekly nonstop flights between Los Cabos, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start on June 13, 2013.
Three weekly nonstop flights between Cancun, Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth start on April 25, 2013, with service increasing to daily on June 13, 2013.
The company is also launching nonstop Dallas/Fort Worth-Philadelphia (four days a week) service on April 26, 2013 as it builds up its DFW hub.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Airbus A320-232 N607NK (msn 4595) taxies at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood hub.
Spiriti Airlines Slide Show:ย 
Updated Route Map:
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Singapore Airlines (Singapore) has launched a contest for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be on the delivery flight of SIAโs 19thย Airbus A380 from Toulouse, France in early September.
The winner of the lucky draw and a guest of his or her choosing will be flown to Airbusโ headquarters in Toulouse from any point in the SIA network. In Toulouse, the pair will enjoy two nightsโ accommodation, a half-day tour of the city, and dinners hosted by SIA and Airbus. They will also be treated to an exclusive tour of Airbusโ production center, before boarding the super jumbo aircraft for its delivery flight to Singapore.
Being on a delivery flight is a unique experience usually restricted to a small number of cabin and technical crew, as well as a handful of other SIA staff involved in accepting the aircraft. The operational nature of the flight means service is limited, but its exclusive nature offers a sneak peek into the real workings of the airline industry.
To qualify for the draw, contestants are required to own a passport onย SIAJourneys.com. Those who currently do not have an existing passport may create one on the microsite. The contest ends on August 28, 2012 and the winner will be chosen from those with validย passports. More details are available onย SIAJourneys.com.
Singapore Airlines currently operates 18 A380s and was the first to operate the worldโs largest commercial aircraft in October 2007. The Airlineโs 19thย A380 (9V-SKT) is due for delivery on September 6, 2012.
SIA was the “First to Fly” the A380 in 2007, with an inaugural flight to Sydney on October 25, 2007. Today, the airline operates the super jumbo to ten destinations across its network, including Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), London (Heathrow), Paris (CDG), Zurich, and Frankfurt.
In other news, Singapore will inaugurate Singapore-Munich-Manchester service with Boeing 777-300 ERs on October 28, 2012.
Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. Airbus A380-841 9V-SKR (msn 082) taxies across the tarmac at Zurich.
Singapore Airlines Slide Show:ย 
Frameable Color Prints and Posters:ย 
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) will introduce the Airbus A380 on the Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route on March 1, 2013 according to Airline Route.
On the financial side, the company reported an operating loss in the second quarter. Here is the full report:
“Malaysia Airlines has announced a reduced operating loss of RM102 million for the second quarter ended 30 June 2012 compared to RM443 million in the same period last year. The significant 77% improvement in performance year-on-year (y-o-y) at the operating level was due to efforts in the pricing and revenue management area plus lower fuel costs and lower passenger-related costs in line with capacity cuts.
The operating loss for the second quarter was also lower than the operating loss of RM307 million achieved in the first quarter of 2012. For the second quarter of 2012, total revenue fell 6% to RM3.2 billion compared to RM3.4 billion in the previous year following the Route Rationalisation programme in late 2011 and early 2012 to cut several loss-making and low yielding routes.
Group expenditure reduced 13% y-o-y to RM3.4 billion. Fuel costs, which accounted for 37% of expenditure, fell 18% to RM1.3 billion following a 15% drop in consumption. The same quarter also saw a drop in jet fuel price to an average USD132 per barrel from USD140 per barrel y-o-y. Non-fuel costs dropped 10%.
Aircraft leasing costs reduced 9% due to the return of two freighter Boeing 747 aircraft. Overall maintenance costs fell by 16% whilst handling and landing costs fell some 20%. On the other hand, depreciation of aircraft increased 35% in the second quarter due to additions to the fleet with the arrival of 5 new aircraft including the first of six A380 ordered as part of its fleet renewal program.
The Groupโs net loss after interest and taxes stood at RM348.7 million for the second quarter ended 30 June 2012, equivalent to a 34% improvement on the loss of RM525.8 million registered in the same period y-o-y. Included in the second quarter 2012 results was a forex loss of RM173.0 million due to the strengthening of the US Dollar against the Ringgit.
For the 6 months ended 30 June 2012, Malaysia Airlinesโ net loss stood at RM520.1 million, 32% better than the previous loss of RM767.4 million for the same period in 2011.”
In other news, on August 6,ย Boeing and Malaysia Airlines celebrated the direct delivery of the airlineโs 75th 737 aircraft during an event at Boeing Field. The airplane, a Next-Generation 737-800, arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 8, 2012.
The airplane comes with the 787 Dreamliner-inspired Boeing Sky Interior, which features larger pivoting overhead stowage bins, larger window reveals and LED lighting to enhance the sense of spaciousness. Malaysia Airlines was the Asia launch customer for the Boeing Sky Interior in October 2010.
Malaysia Airlines took delivery of its first 737 in 1972 and has operated the 737-200, 737-300, 737-400, 737-500 and 737-800.
Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis. Airbus A380-841 9M-MNB (msn 081) climbs away from London (Heathrow) in the full special livery.
Frameable Color Prints and Posters Available:ย 
Malaysia Airlines Slide Show:ย 
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd (London) has announced plans to fly from London Heathrow to Manchester Airport from March 2013 – providing competition to British Airwaysโ short haul service. The new route is the airlineโs first foray into domestic flying; signaling the start of a new network which will provide regional feed to its long haul service as well as providing choice for important point to point passengers.
Sir Richard Bransonโs airline is going to apply for all of the remedy slots being awarded by the European Commission following the IAG takeover of bmi, but is using some of its existing slots to service the Manchester to London route. The airline believes competition on this route has been neglected in the remedy process and aims to provide choice for the 650,000 passengers* who travel between the two cities.
The airline will operate three daily flights to Manchester using Airbus A319 aircraft from March 31, 2013.
The A319 will be a new type for Virgin Atlantic.
Copyright Photo: Nik French.
Virgin Atlantic Slide Show:ย 
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 airlineโs 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 weekโs announcement by Qatar Airways that it will begin daily flights to Chicago โ the carrierโs fourth USA gateway โ from April 10 next year.
Both the Belgrade and Warsaw routes will be operated from Qatar Airwaysโ Doha hub with an Airbus A320 configured in two classes โ 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:ย 
Arik Air (Arik Wings of Nigeria) (Lagos) is set to take delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 to be operated on its international route network.
Copyright Photo: Malcolm Nason. Formerly operated by Kingfisher Airlines as VT-VJL, Airbus A330-223 EI-EWH (msn 891) is seen departing from Dublin after repainting. Leased from Pembroke, the wide body airliner will become 5N-JIC on delivery. The aircraft is named “Joseph of the Holy Family”.
Arik Air:ย 
Mahan Air (Tehran) on August 14 started twice-weekly nonstop service between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur with Airbus A310s according to Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis. A310-304 F-OJHI (msn 537) climbs away from Birmingham.
Mahan Air:ย 
Kuwait Airways (Kuwait City) is planning to drop Geneva on September 15 per Airline Route. The airline recently added Abu Dhabi and Muscat on July 29.
Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. Airbus A340-313 9K-ANB (msn 090) taxies at GVA.
Kuwait Airways:ย 
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