Tag Archives: Airbus A320-214

easyJet salutes its growing Bordeaux hub with a new logo jet

easyJet carried 18.8 million passengers to and from France in 2017, with 1.7 million to and from Bordeaux.

The inauguration of seven new routes will bring the total number of destinations served by the “orange airline” from Bordeaux to 29, consolidating its position with 28% of the French market.

easyJet has operated in Bordeaux since 2006, and the opening of the Bordeaux base and the arrival of three aircraft this spring 2018 will bring the total capacity to nearly 22 million seats in France, including more than 2.2 million in Bordeaux, which is an increase of approximately 21%. These changes will mean an additional 400,000 seats during the summer period alone. The new base will also allow easyJet to recruit 110 staff in Bordeaux.

easyJet is saluting this growing presence with this new logo jet.

Javier Rodriguez reporting from Spain.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

Air Malta starts new routes to Southend, Cagliari and Catania

Last weekend Air Malta started its much anticipated flights between Malta to London Southend, Malta to Cagliari and flights between London Southend, Catania and Cagliari Airports. Air Malta will continue to operate these routes in winter 2018/9.

The Maltese airline started operating a twice weekly flight to Cagliari in Sardinia every Wednesday and Sunday, a twice weekly flight to Catania every Monday and Thursday and three times weekly to Malta every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Customers travelling to/from London Southend can also opt to travel via Catania or Cagliari thus connecting Malta and London Southend with a daily flight.

Top Copyright Photo (others by Air Malta): Air Malta (airmalta.com) Airbus A320-214 9H-AEO (msn 2768) (Valletta – European Capital of Culture 2018) ZRH (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 941852.

Air Malta aircraft slide show:

Air Canada operates a biofuel flight from Edmonton to San Francisco

Air Canada announced its Edmonton–San Francisco flight on May 2 will operate with biofuel onboard a 146-seat Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The larger aircraft was scheduled for this flight to accommodate the trade mission delegation led by the Government of Alberta, the City of Edmonton and Edmonton-area businesses to California.

“Air Canada is proud to partner today with the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) to operate today’s flight with biofuel. Air Canada continues to support and advocate for the development of biofuel in Canada to become commercially viable; a big step towards creating more sustainable aviation in Canada and internationally. This is our eighth biofuel-operated flight since 2012. The result of today’s biofuel use reduces this flight’s carbon emissions by over 10 tonnes, which represents a 20% reduction in net carbon emissions for this flight,” said Teresa Ehman, Director, Environmental Affairs at Air Canada.

“Since 1990, Air Canada has improved its fuel efficiency by 43 per cent. We have also committed to meet ambitious targets set by the International Air Transport Association, including carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, relative to 2005 levels. These efforts and other green initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce waste were recognized by Air Transport World which earlier this year named Air Canada the Eco-Airline of the Year for 2018.”

“This biofuel demonstration flight reflects our combined commitment to bring forward low carbon, renewable fuels into the aviation and airport sectors,” said Tom Ruth, President and CEO of EdmontonInternational Airport. “Air Canada’s leadership in the renewable resource sector strongly aligns with EIA’s commitment to regional economic development and sustainability, while reducing the long-term carbon impact of airport operations.”

“Dozens of Alberta businesses and organizations are joining us on today’s San Francisco flight, to help showcase our province’s potential abroad and create new jobs and opportunities at home,” said the Honourable Deron Bilous, Alberta Minister of Economic Development and Trade. “Using biofuel is an important reminder that, by working with partners like Air Canada and EIA, Alberta will continue to be the energy and environmental leader North America needs for the 21st century.”

“This commitment and use of cleaner energy shows corporate leadership which is integral to all of us working together to address climate change,” said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. “I hope it encourages other companies to follow suit so we can continue to accelerate leadership on energy transition and climate change.”

Air Canada’s Edmonton–San Francisco daily, nonstop flights launched yesterday, May 1.

Air Canada aircraft slide show (old liveries):

Hong Kong Airlines to start daily service to Manila from June 2018

Hong Kong Airlines will operate daily flights between its home base of Hong Kong and Manila, the capital of the Philippines from June 1, 2018 – the latest addition to the airline’s expanding network.

Hong Kong Airlines will deploy an Airbus A320 on the new route, which will be outfitted with a single-class configuration and offer 174 seats in Economy Class.

The schedule* for the new service can be seen below (All times local):

Flight Sector	Flight Number	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
HKG – MNL	HX781	2110	2300	Tue, Fri, Sun
HKG – MNL	HX781	2130	2300	Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat
MNL – HKG	HX782	0655	0855	Daily

Hong Kong Airlines aircraft slide show:

ANA to merge Peach and Vanilla

ANA – All Nippon Airways is planning to merge its partly-owned low-fare Peach Aviation and fully-owned Vanilla Air subsidiaries by March 2020. Peach will be the surviving brand.

The new Peach will be Japan’s largest budget airline.

ANA is also planning to expand its ownership in Peach from the current 67 percent to 77.9 percent.

Peach is planning to expand its fleet to more than 50 aircraft after the merger.

ANA issued this statement on March 22, 2018:

To further build on the respective successes of Peach Aviation Limited (Peach) and Vanilla Air INC. (Vanilla) and position them for future growth, ANA Holdings has announced the integration of its two subsidiary airlines, Peach and Vanilla, with the goal to become the leading low cost carrier (LCC) in the Asian region. The process of full integration is planned to start in the second half of the FY2018, with the target to be completed by the end of FY2019, with Peach being designated as the basis of the integrated airline.

Following the integration, the airline will serve as a strong foundation for further fleet growth and network expansions from Osaka Kansai Airport as well as from Tokyo Narita Airport. In addition, the airline will stimulate potential demand in Japan and from abroad through attractive service, various innovations and fares that exceed expectations.

History of the two LCCs:

Peach Aviation started its operations from Osaka Kansai Airport in March 2012 as the first Japanese branded LCC with the concept of “The Flying Train (safe, easy and cheap).” The carrier has raised the value of its customer experience through a number of ideas that were revolutionary to the aviation industry. Peach has been the leading carrier among the LCCs in Japan with its stable operational quality and its progressive management strategy.

Vanilla Air started its operations from Tokyo Narita Airport in December 2013. With the help of the huge demand in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the carrier actively expanded its network of domestic and international routes. One of the significant landmarks of Vanilla’s achievements is the revitalization of local Japan destinations such as Amami-Oshima, by creating and carrying new leisure demand to the region. Vanilla has also played a big role in bringing a large number of inbound passengers to Japan from Asian countries such as Taiwan.

Purpose of the Integration

The integration will combine and further enhance the strengths the two LCCs have today, and will create a stronger competitive advantage to further promote not only the Japan domestic service, but also capture the strong demand for visitors to Japan. Beyond FY2020, the airline plans to have more than 50 aircraft operating on more than 50 routes, up from the 35 aircraft today and the 39 routes currently served.

By FY2020, the integrated LCC plans to enter the mid-haul LCC market to aggressively incorporate the growing travel demand in Asia, and will also contribute to the Japanese government’s goal of 40 million people visiting Japan in 2020.

With target revenue of 150 billion Japanese yen and an operating profit of 15 billion Japanese yen for FY2020, the strategy will contribute to increased operational efficiency and reduction of unit costs. ANA group will maintain the strategic independence of the integrated LCC, and position the airline as an important pillar for greater profits and new opportunities for future expansion, and become the leading LCC in Asia.

Peach Route Map:

Vanilla Air Route Map:

Top Copyright Photo: Peach Aviation (Japan) Airbus A320-214 JA817P (msn 6824) NRT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 934246.

Peach aircraft slide show:

Vanilla Air aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: The Vanilla Air brand will be slipping away. Vanilla Air Airbus A320-214 WL JA06VA (msn 6320) NRT (Michael B. Ing). Image: 934241.

Joon announces two new destinations from Paris

Joon from October 28, 2018, will serve two new destinations in its medium-haul network on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Bergen in Norway and Budapest in Hungary.

Bergen, a new destination for the Air France-KLM group, will be operated with 1 daily flight and Budapest with 3 daily flights. These two destinations will increase service to Air France’s hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and will offer the group’s customers multiple connecting opportunities throughout Joon and Air France’s long-haul network.

Joon, the new-generation travel experience by Air France, is a constantly increasing offer with even more destinations in summer 2018 – Cairo, Cape Town, Fortaleza, Mahé, Mumbai and Tehran for our long-haul destinations, and Oslo, Rome, Naples, Istanbul which join our medium-haul offer to Berlin, Barcelona, Porto and Lisbon, launched in autumn 2017!

Previously on March 25, 2018,

Joon operated its first long-haul flight to Cairo in Egypt. Our first customers discovered Joon’s newly furbished Airbus A340, with three surprising cabins!

Photo Above: Joon.

In Business class, sleep in a lie-flat bed and get ready for some surprises! Your seat converts into a lie-flat bed with a length of 2 metres! In terms of colours, fabrics and available space, you’ll feel at home in our Business cabin where you are free to relax as you please during your flight. Thanks to your fixed-shell seat, you benefit from a real private space – welcome to your bubble of serenity where you’ll receive a welcome kit and a practical and stylish comfort kit. Enjoy our in-flight entertainment offer with more than 1,200 hours of programmes, on a 15.6-inch HD touch screen and a noise-reduction audio headset! Enjoy a full meal comprising dishes designed by exceptional French chefs, and for your aperitif, give in to the temptation of a signature cocktail designed by the Experimental Cocktail Club*, prepared by our Joon cabin crew!

^{* Cocktail bar located in the Montorgueil district of Paris.}

The Premium Economy cabin is equipped with a new seat offering optimum comfort – a 133° seat recline, generous legroom of 99 cm and a wide 49cm seat. You receive special attentions in your premium space – you are given a comfort kit on entering the cabin along with a welcome drink. At meal times, your starter and dessert are inspired by Business class!

In the Economy cabin, your seat offers 78cm legroom and it reclines to 118°. You seat is equipped with a latest-generation touch screen and a USB port to charge your devices during the flight. You also receive a free, complete meal. If you want even more choice, you are free to personalize your trip, either by choosing from among our 70 seats available on a paying-option basis – Seat Plus^* or Seat Duo^**, or by treating yourself to a drink or gourmet snack on purchase in our A la Carte selection on board!

Joon, the new-generation travel experience by Air France, is on the move all the time, with even more destinations this summer – Cairo, Cape Town, Fortaleza, Mahé, Mumbai, Tehran for our long-haul destinations, and Oslo, Rome, Naples, Istanbul join our medium-haul offer to Berlin, Barcelona, Porto and Lisbon, launched in autumn 2017!

^{* You’ll appreciate our Seat Plus for their additional legroom (34 inches) as well as being at the front of the cabin to be among the first to disembark. Price: €50 for a flight time of 9 h or less and €70 for a flight time of 9 hours or more.

** Seat Duo located at either side of the cabin next to the windows will offer you greater privacy. Price: €30}

Top Copyright Photo: Joon (Air France) Airbus A320-214 F-GKXH (msn 1924) LIS (Marcelo F. De Biasi). Image: 940704.

Joon aircraft slide show:

Allegiant Air to end service to Trenton, NJ

Allegiant Air will drop the Punta Gorda – Trenton twice-weekly route on April 29, 2018.

Allegiant aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop service between New York’s JFK Airport and San Jose, California, and third daily Seattle flight

Alaska Airlines today announces new daily, nonstop service between San Jose, California and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) beginning July 6.

Additionally, Alaska is expanding service between Seattle/Tacoma and JFK with an early-morning, nonstop flight, giving flyers convenient connections to 10 international destinations on its Global Partner airlines. Together, Alaska and Virgin America operate 15 flights a day to JFK from six West Coast gateways including Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and soon San Jose.

Summary of new service:

Start Date	City pair	Departs	Arrives	Aircraft	Frequency
July 6	San Jose – JFK	7:05 a.m.	3:43 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	JFK – San Jose	4:45 p.m.	8:23 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	Seattle – JFK	7:05 a.m.	3:35 p.m.	A320	Daily
July 6	JFK – Seattle	6:55 p.m.	10:26 p.m.	A320	Daily
Flight times based on local time zones.

The new Alaska Lounge at JFK, located upstairs in Terminal 7, will open to the public in late April. It will offer a premium lounge experience featuring signature touches like a barista for custom crafted coffee drinks and a relaxing living room feel that embodies the airlines’ cool, West Coast vibe. Additional enhancements to the Terminal 7 airport experience, funded by a $65 million investment from British Airways, are helping to modernize the terminal and enhance the food and retail concession experience while providing new seating areas near the gates for an improved customer experience.

Alaska gates and the Alaska Lounge are located in the same terminal as Global Partners British Airways and Icelandair, providing guests convenient access to a combined 10 daily flights to top global destinations across Europe. Alaska allows Mileage Plan members to travel and earn miles to more than 900 destinations around the globe through a unique network of international partners, with many flying out of JFK.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery, Airbus):

Aigle Azur is expanding with new routes

Aigle Azur is expanding. The airline will cross the continents and fly to Beijing starting on June 21 and to São Paulo commencing on July 5.

For the long-range routes Aigle Azur will be leasing two Airbus A330-200s. A new livery is expected for the new additions.

On September 14, the company will inaugurate a new route connecting Paris (Orly) to Milan (Malpensa) with Airbus A320s.

Aigle Azur aircraft slide show:

Small Planet Airlines to become the largest carrier in the Baltic states in 2018

Small Planet Airlines has announced financial results for the year 2017, reporting a profit of €5.1 million and full recovery from a loss incurred in 2016. The company grew its yearly revenue to €323.1 million, a 45% increase from the year 2016, and transported 2.7 million passengers – 35% more as compared to the previous year.

Small Planet Airlines reported EBITDA topped €9.6 million, a significant increase from the loss of €0.5 million in 2016.

According to the airline’s estimates, it should become the largest carrier in the Baltic states by passenger flow, revenue, and fleet size already in 2018.

“We dedicated last year to stabilizing our operations and learning from mistakes we have made, adding just 1 aircraft to the fleet. I am glad that this year we can go for a full-speed growth again! 6 additional aircraft will join us in 2018, increasing our fleet to 28 Airbus aircraft. Passenger numbers are set to increase accordingly – we hope to carry nearly 4 million holidaymakers in 2018. Revenue should increase by one-third”, comments Kristijonas Kaikaris, the CEO of Small Planet Airlines.

Improving on-time performance was a key priority in Small Planet Airlines ‘Get it Right’ strategy last year. The decision to dedicate two stand-by aircraft paid-off well: only 1.36% of flights encountered delays of 3 hours or longer. The airline is determined to improve this indicator further in 2018.

This year Germany is becoming the fastest-growing market for Small Planet Airlines with 10 aircraft to be based in various German airports.

“For years, Poland was the largest market for Small Planet Airlines operations. However, this year we do not plan any significant growth there – the situation is stable and good, and 1 additional aircraft will join the Polish fleet. In Germany, on the other hand, the growth exceeds 200% and is influenced by various factors. Firstly, Germany is Europe’s largest aviation market, so the demand is naturally high there. The insolvency of Air Berlin opened an additional niche. Secondly, diversification of markets was always among our goals, it is not business-wise to keep your eggs in one basket”, adds Mr. Kaikaris.

According to him, the airline’s growth in Germany is key to balancing seasonality, since German holidaymakers are less impacted by winter time – Small Planet Airlines has already sold all available seats in Germany for the upcoming Winter season.

Another strategic market for improving utilization, Asia, is on a way to triple growth. At the moment, Small Planet Airlines Co. Ltd. operates a fleet of two Airbus aircraft, but the number is estimated to grow to six or even eight aircraft by the end of 2018. Based in Cambodia, the company focuses on outbound Chinese tourism, currently operating flights between Palau and Hong Kong as well as between Macau and Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali.

Small Planet Airlines will fly 240 routes from 15 European bases in Summer 2018. The airline’s European fleet will grow to 28 aircraft – 20 Airbus A320s and 8 Airbus A321s.

Photo Below: Small Planet Airlines. The sky is the limit: this year we will fly 28 aircraft in Europe. Vilnius Airport is going to need a bit more space!