Tag Archives: Airbus A320-214 WL

Aeroflot resumes service to Cairo

Aeroflot Russian Airlines on April 11 resumed regular flights between Moscow and Cairo. Flights are scheduled three times per week on Airbus A320 aircraft, and will depart/arrive at Sheremetyevo Airport’s Terminal F.

Even though air service between Russia and Egypt has been interrupted for such a long time, the load factor on upcoming flights is more than 85%.

Flights between Moscow and Cairo will be operated on the following schedules (all local times):

Flight SU 400 will be operated weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Moscow at 20:50 and arriving in Cairo at 00:25.

Flight SU 401 will be operated weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Cairo at 01:25 and arriving in Moscow at 06:50.

Flights between the Russian and Egyptian capitals will operate daily from June 12 to July 2. This is due to the increased demand for air transportation during this period.

Aeroflot aircraft slide show:

In March Lufthansa Group airlines increased capacity utilization to a new record level despite significantly increased services

Occupancy rate rises by 3.9 percentage points to 81.2 percent in March
Number of flights increases by 8.1% at the same time
Around 11.1 million passengers fly with Lufthansa Group Airlines , 15.7 percent more than a year earlier
Currency adjusted yield indication stable
Lufthansa grows especially in Munich
Point-to-point airlines carry around a third more passengers

In March 2018, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group welcomed around 11.1 million passengers. This shows an increase of 15.7% compared to the previous year’s month. The available seat kilometers were up 9% over the previous year, at the same time, sales increased by 14.5%. The seat load factor increased by 3.9 percentage points compared to March 2017 to 81.2%. This is a new record which is partly also connected with the postponement of the Easter holidays from April to March. Capacity utilization also reached an all-time high of 77.8 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Around 28.6 million passengers flew with the airlines of the Lufthansa Group in the first three months of this year.

The currency adjusted yield indication remained stable in March compared to previous year.

Cargo capacity increased four percent year-on-year, while cargo sales were up 0.4% in revenue tonne-kilometer terms. As a result, the Cargo load factor showed a corresponding reduction, decreasing 2.6 percentage points in the month to 71.3%.

Network Airlines

The Network Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Swiss and Austrian Airlines, carried 8.2 million passengers in March, ten percent more than in the prior-year period. Compared to the previous year, the available seat kilometers increased by 5.3% in March. The sales volume was up 10.4% over the same period, increasing seat load factor by 3.7 percentage points to 81.1%.
Lufthansa German Airlines transported 5.7 million passengers in March, a 10.2% increase compared to the same month last year. A 4.8% increase in seat kilometers in March corresponds to a 9.2% increase in sales. Furthermore, the seat load factor was 81.5%, therefore 3.3 percentage points above the prior-year’s level. Lufthansa is growing above all at its Munich location. In March, 12.6% more passengers took off from the Bavarian 5-star hub than a year earlier. This means that growth in Munich was a third higher than in Frankfurt, where 9.2% more passengers flew than in the same month last year.

Point-to-Point Airlines

The Lufthansa Group’s Point-to-Point Airlines – Eurowings (including Germanwings) and Brussels Airlines – carried around 2.9 million passengers in March. Among this total, 2.7 million passengers were on short-haul flights and 260,000 flew long-haul. This amounts to an increase of 35.4% in comparison to the previous year. March capacity was 30.6% above its prior-year level, while its sales volume was up 39.1%, resulting in an increased seat load factor by five percentage points of 81.3%.

On short-haul services the Point-to-Point Airlines raised capacity 34.8% and increased sales volume by 48.4%, resulting in a 7.3 percentage points increase in seat load factor of 79.3%, compared to March 2017. The seat load factor for the long-haul services increased by 1.6 percentage points to 85% during the same period, following a 23.5% increase in capacity and a 25.8% rise in sales volume, compared to the previous year.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Kuwait and MEA to codeshare on the Kuwait City – Beirut route

Kuwait Airways and Middle East Airline have announced a new strategic partnership, which will see Kuwait national carrier’s code, KU added to Middle East Airline flights and Lebanon national carrier’s code, ME added to Kuwait Airways flights operated between Kuwait City and Beirut.

The Bilateral Code Share Partnership will commence on March 25, 2018.

Kuwait Airways operates 11 weekly flights on the route with Airbus A330/A320 aircraft and Middle East Airlines (MEA) operates 13 weekly flights with its Airbus A320 fleet.

Top Copyright Photo: Kuwait Airways Airbus A320-214 WL F-WWBY (9K-AKE) (msn 6350) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 925047.

Kuwait Airways aircraft slide show:

MEA aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: MEA-Middle East Airlines Airbus A320-214 F-OMRB (msn 5152) BRU (Karl Cornil). Image: 910515.

Aeroflot to resume service to Cairo

From April 11, 2018 Aeroflot will resume regular flights from Moscow to Cairo. Flights will operate three times per week on Airbus A320 aircraft to and from Sheremetyevo Terminal F. Ticket sales will launch on 13 March 2018.

Flights between Moscow and Cairo will operate on the following schedules (all times local):

Flight SU 400 will depart weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing Moscow at 20:50 and arriving in Cairo at 00:25.

Flight SU 401 will depart weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, departing Cairo at 01:25 and arriving in Moscow at 06:50.

From June 12 to July 2 flights between the Russian and Egyptian capitals will operate daily. This is due to increased demand for air transportation during the World Cup.

Aeroflot stopped operating flights to Cairo in late 2015, when air links between Russia and Egypt were interrupted. A significant increase in security measures was required to reinstate flights between the two countries. This requirement has been met on the Egyptian side, and on 4 January 2018 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree permitting the resumption of regular air traffic.

Aeroflot aircraft slide show:

Allegiant is coming to Nashville

Allegiant Air is coming to Nashville. Nashville will become the 120th Allegiant destination.

Service is due to start on June 7 with year-round flights to Punta Gorda, Florida and seasonal flights to Destin, Myrtle Beach, Richmond and Savannah.

The airline is expected to make an announcement today on other routes.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

Vietjet expands to India and Thai Vietjet adds the Bangkok – Krabi route

Vietjet has announced its plan to operate nonstop flights connecting Vietnam and India.

The India route will connect Ho Chi Minh City with New Delhi with four flights a week.

Vietjet’s Thai subsidiary, Thai Vietjet (below), is to launch a new nonstop domestic service between Bangkok and Krabi from April 5, 2018.

Thai Vietjet will launch a new nonstop domestic service between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Krabi, starting on April 5, 2018. The service will operate with two daily return flights and a flight duration of one hour twenty minutes per leg. Departure times from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) are 07:10, 19:25 and departure times from Krabi are 09:05, 21:20. Thai Vietjet will deploy an A320 aircraft with 180 seats for the route, representing the airline’s determination to meet passenger demand for popular routes.

Above Copyright Photo: Vietjet Air Thailand (VietJetAir.com) Airbus A320-214 WL HS-VKC (msn 6878) BKK (Michael B. Ing). Image: 936176.

With the new Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Krabi flight addition, the airline will be flying five Thailand domestic routes, including Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi and a daily direct flight connecting Phuket and Chiang Rai.

Top Copyright Photo: Vietjet Air (VietJetAir.com) Airbus A320-214 VN-A668 (msn 3791) BKK (Jay Selman). Image: 402705.

Vietjet aircraft slide show:

Thai Vietjet aircraft slide show:

Allegiant Air to expand at Destin/Fort Walton Beach

Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) has announced it will convert its Destin/Fort Walton Beach destination into a year-round base with two new based aircraft. Destin/Fort Walton Beach in the Florida Panhandle will become the airline’s 14th year-round base.

The carrier is starting five new seasonal, twice-weekly routes from the new base in June to:

Bentonville, AR (Northwest Arkansas) (June 6)

Concord, NC (June 7)

Evansville, IN (June 8)

Lexington, KY (June 7)

Raleigh/Durham, NC (June 8)

Total service from Destin/Fort Walton Beach:

Allegiant made this announcement:

Allegiant announced plans to establish a two-aircraft base at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS). As part of Allegiant’s growth in Florida, the company anticipates adding more than 65 new, high-wage jobs during 2018. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport will become the airline’s 14th year-round aircraft base.

The Las Vegas-based company is investing more than $49 million to establish a year-round base of operations, which will house two Airbus aircraft. Allegiant set the stage for this expansion by utilizing Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport as a seasonal base during the summer of 2017. Today Allegiant also announced new service to five cities – routes made possible only by establishing the Destin base.

Allegiant’s service in Destin-Fort Walton Beach began with six routes in 2016, and expanded to 16 cities in 2017. With a unique focus on leisure travelers, Allegiant flies all nonstop service built around an “out-and-back” model whereby aircraft and crews return to base after a day of flying.

As part of today’s celebration, Allegiant announced new, seasonal service to five cities, bring the total number of cities with service to the Emerald Coast to 21.

New seasonal service to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) includes:

Bentonville, Arkansas via Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) – begins June 6, 2018 with fares as low as $68.*
Concord, North Carolina via Concord Regional Airport (USA) – begins June 7, 2018 with fares as low as $46.*
Lexington, Kentucky via Blue Grass Airport (LEX) – begins June 7, 2018 with fares as low as $62.*
Evansville, Indiana via Evansville Regional Airport (EVV) – begins June 8, 2018 with fares as low as $61.*
Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina via Raleigh-Durham International Airport(RDU) – begins June 8, 2018 with fares as low as $46.*

“We are thrilled! Allegiant’s model fits like a glove at VPS and a year-round base will bring monumental widespread economic impacts to our region. We look forward to Allegiant’s continued success at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport,” said Tracy Stage, Okaloosa Countyairports director.

The new routes will operate twice weekly and expand on the service Allegiant currently operates to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS), bringing the total number of Allegiant routes to VPS to 21.

*About the introductory one-way fares:

Seats are limited. Price includes taxes and fees. Fares are one way and not available on all flights. Flights between EVV and VPS must be purchased by Feb. 13, 2018 for travel by Aug. 27, 2018. Flights between LEX and VPS must be purchased by Feb. 13, 2018 for travel by Aug. 19, 2018. Flights between RDU and VPS must be purchased by Feb. 13, 2018 for travel by Aug. 27, 2018. Flights between USA and VPS must be purchased by Feb. 13, 2018 for travel by Aug. 26, 2018. Flights between XNA and VPS must be purchased by Feb. 13, 2018 for travel by Aug. 11, 2018. Additional restrictions may apply

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

Frontier grows in Raleigh-Durham – now flying to 15 destinations

Frontier Airlines is continuing its commitment to make flying from Raleigh-Durham International Airport more affordable by adding six new routes. In April the low-cost carrier will begin service to Buffalo, N.Y.; Houston; Milwaukee, Wis.; New Orleans; San Antonio, Tex. and San Juan, P.R. With this announcement Frontier will now serve 15 destinations from Raleigh-Durham, making it the second largest carrier at the airport in terms of destinations served.

Summary of New Service:

Departure

Return

Day of Week

Service Start

Airbus

Seasonal

0745 RDUBUF 0910

—

1000 BUFRDU 1139

Wednesday Saturday

4/11/2018

320

1405 RDUIAH 1619

—

1709 IAHRDU 2052

Tuesday Thursday Sunday

4/8/2018

320

0820 RDUMKE 0930

—

1020 MKERDU 1315

Tuesday Thursday Sunday

4/8/2018

320

0745 RDUMSY 0905

—

0955 MSYRDU 1255

Monday Friday

4/9/2018

320

1345 RDUSAT 1609

—

1659 SATRDU 2052

Monday Friday

4/9/2018

320

1229 RDUSJU 1602

—

1657 SJURDU 2048

Wednesday Saturday

4/11/2018

320

Frontier flies one the youngest fleets in the industry consisting of Airbus A320 Family jet aircraft. With nearly 200 more new aircraft on order, Frontier will continue to grow and modernize its fleet to deliver on the mission to provide affordable travel across America. By 2026, the company will be in a position to deliver Low Fares Done Right to more than 50 million passengers a year.

Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-214 WL N233FR (msn 7095) (Buck, the Pronghorn) LAS (Jay Selman). Image: 937542.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

easyJet sees fourfold increase in interest for pilot careers through its career website

easyJet (UK) has made this announcement:

Following the airing of the two part ITV documentary, easyJet: Inside the Cockpit, easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has seen a significant increase in interest from budding pilots to its careers website.

Visits to its careers page at easyJet.com increased to over 28,500 across both episodes during the two hours in which they were broadcast compared to typical user figures of 7000 visits for a similar two hour period. The number of woman registering interest in its Amy Johnson initiative has also risen substantially. The last episode of the series was broadcast last night on ITV 1.

easyJet’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative aims to tackle an industry wide stereotype – by 2020, 20% of its entrant cadets will be female having already doubled it over the last two years.

easyJet currently employs over 3000 pilots and earlier this year, in its largest pilot recruitment drive, easyJet opened a campaign called “For the love of Flying” to attract up to 450 new pilots.

easyJet’s Amy Johnson initiative

Only 3% of commercial airline pilots worldwide are female and only 450 of them have achieved the rank of captain* – which means every female captain could fit onto an A380 aircraft. In the year ending September 2015, women made up 6% of easyJet’s new pilot intake and 5% of its total pilot community.

In October 2015 easyJet launched its Amy Johnson Flying Initiative with the aim of doubling the number of female new entrant pilots to 12% over two years. The initiative was really successful with over 600 applicants and so easyJet was able to achieve the 12% target in year one – recruiting 33 female new entrant pilots. These women have either started to fly with easyJet or are assigned to courses due to start in the coming weeks.

Encouraged by this success, easyJet has now set itself a more stretching target of ensuring that 20% of new entrant cadet pilots recruited by easyJet in 2020 are female. Based on current recruitment plans this would mean that easyJet would be recruiting around 50 female pilots a year which will really start to change the face of the industry. This is a long term strategy, which is hoped will eventually lead to easyJet recruiting, retaining and developing many more female pilots.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

Videos:

Lufthansa streamlines domestic departures at Munich with “racetracks”

Lufthansa issued this statement:

Lufthansa will be offering a special long-term service on flights from Munich to Düsseldorf, Berlin/Tegel, Frankfurt and Hamburg, which will make long waits before take-off a thing of the past. On weekdays between 6 and 8:30 a.m. and between 4 and 6:30 p.m., there will be a dedicated access to security checks, with departure gates nearby and shorter boarding times on so-called “racetracks”. The key requirement is that passengers only have one item of hand luggage. “After a successful trial period, the results are clear: the time savings were very noticeable for our passengers. In a survey, the majority of passengers state that the start of their journey was much more comfortable and that they are spending less time waiting at the airport,” says Wilken Bormann, CEO Hub Munich.

The service at a glance

Fast lane thanks to a dedicated access to security checks
For all departures to Düsseldorf, Berlin/Tegel, Frankfurt and Hamburg, passengers at Terminal 2 have access to a dedicated security checkpoint. It is in operation on weekdays during the peak times between 6 and 8:30 a.m. and 4 and 6:30 p.m. and is open to Lufthansa passengers travelling with only one item of hand luggage. The signs pointing to the security checkpoint read “Smart Depart Fast Lane”.

Special departure gates
Get to the plane quickly after the security check: The location of the departure gates has also been optimized. They are at the center of Terminal 2 and are a short walk from the security checkpoint. The arrival gates at the destination airports are also close to the exits.

Shorter boarding times
Passengers travelling to the previously mentioned locations can arrive at the gate later: flights to the specified destinations have shorter boarding times. The times that are stated on the boarding pass apply.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show: