Tag Archives: Airbus A320-216

Italy green lights the sale of ITA Airways but will retain a small share

Airline Color Scheme - Introduced 2021

The government of Italy has signaled to the Lufthansa Group and MSC shipping group of Switzerland it can proceed with negotiations to acquire a majority share of newly-created ITA Airways.

The government however wants to retain a small share.

The government has also drafted a decree which lists ways it can offload its majority share of ITA Airways, including a direct sale or a public offer, without setting a deadline for a final deal.

ITA Airways on January 24, 2022 announced it had received an Expression of Interest from the MSC Group and Lufthansa to acquire the majority of ITA Airways. The MSC Group has agreed with Lufthansa its participation in the partnership on terms to be defined during the Due Diligence.

Both the MSC Group and Lufthansa have expressed the wish that the Italian Government maintains a minority stake in the Company. Furthermore, the MSC Group and Lufthansa have requested 90 days of exclusivity to work on this Expression of Interest.

Top Copyright Photo: ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 EI-DTN (msn 4143) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 956718.

ITA Airways aircraft slide show:

ITA Airways photo gallery:

 

Photo: ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 EI-DTN (msn 4143) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 956718.

Airline Color Scheme - Introduced 2021

Copyright Photo: ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 EI-DTN (msn 4143) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 956718.

The first ITA Airways A320 is painted

ITA Airways’ first Airbus A320 has been painted. At 21:30 (9:30 pm) today the first plane with the new livery is scheduled to depart from Ostrava for Rome.

The flight will be AZ / ITY8020 and the arrival time iin Rome s expected shortly after 23:00 (11 pm) local time.

The pictured Airbus A320-216, registered as EI-DTE, is dedicated to the champion Paolo Rossi.
EI-DTE will enter revenue service tomorrow as flight AZ2044 between Rome (Fiumicino) and Milan (Malpensa).

 

Airbus A319-111 EI-IMN will be the next to be painted.

Marco Finelli reporting from Italy.

 

 

Photo: ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 EI-EIB (msn 4249) (Born in 2021) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 955557.

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Hot-New-Photos/Hot-New/i-99BHvth/A

Copyright Photo: ITA Airways Airbus A320-216 EI-EIB (msn 4249) (Born in 2021) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 955557.

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Allegiant announces six new routes for the summer including Phoenix

Ex EI-DSD, delivered on January 11, 2018

Allegiant Air today announced six new nonstop routes for summer and fall vacation travel to premier destinations in Florida and the west. The new offerings include two routes to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which Allegiant will serve for the first time in its history.ย 

The new routes toย Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airportย (PHX)ย include:

  1. Provo, Utahย viaย Provo Airportย (PVU)ย โ€“ beginning Oct. 8, 2021
  2. Stockton, Calif.ย viaย Stockton Metropolitan Airportย (SCK) โ€“ย beginning Oct. 15, 2021

The new route toย Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airportย (AZA):

  1. Pittsburgh, Penn.ย viaย Pittsburgh International Airportย (PIT)ย โ€“ beginning Aug. 19, 2021

The new routes to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) include:

  1. Bentonville, Ark.ย viaย Northwest Arkansas National Airportย (XNA)ย โ€“ beginning July 2, 2021
  2. Provo, Utahย viaย Provo Airportย (PVU)ย โ€“ beginning Oct. 7, 2021

The new route toย Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airportย (FLL):

  1. Bentonville, Ark.ย viaย Northwest Arkansas National Airportย (XNA)ย โ€“ beginning Oct. 8, 2021

Top Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A320-216 N273NV (msn 3076) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945314.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

Terminal move sets the stage for Allegiant’s LAX expansion on May 19

Ex EI-DSD, delivered on January 11, 2018

Allegiant Travel Company (Allegiant Air) is setting the stage for its next phase of growth at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Las Vegas-based airline, which has served LAX since 2009, will relocate its operations to Terminal 1 and the new, state-of-the-art West Gates at Tom Bradley. Allegiant will begin service from its new LAX location on Wednesday, May 19.

The move affords the leisure travel-focused carrier opportunity to offer even more of the affordable, nonstop flights which are its hallmark. Anticipating the busy summer travel season, Allegiant will increase its capacity inย Southern Californiaย by locating a fourth Airbus A320 aircraft at LAX.ย Los Angelesย has been a full-time base for Allegiant aircraft and crew since 2016.ย 

Allegiant’s all-nonstop network is unique amongย U.S.-based airlines, focused on bringing leisure travelers from small-to-medium sized cities to premier vacation destinations with convenient local access and affordable fares. Allegiant customers reach the people and places that matter most without the extra time and hassle of stops, connections and layovers.

Photo: LAX.

Allegiant currently serves 33 cities in 21 states from LAX, including new service toย Indianapolis, Ind.ย beginningย May 28; toย Omaha, Neb.ย andย Rapid City, S.D.ย beginningย June 4; and toย Shreveport, La.ย Beginningย July 2.ย  More than half the cities Allegiant serves from LAX are unique to the airline. Since starting service in 2009, Allegiant has flown more than 4.2 million passengers through LAX.

Top Copyright Photo: Allegiant Air Airbus A320-216 N273NV (msn 3076) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945314.

Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:

Austrian Airlines to offer more flights to Paris, Amsterdam and Copenhagen this summer

Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-216 OE-LXB (msn 3482) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 941835.

Austrian Airlines has made this announcement:

Austrian Airlines will increase frequencies to other European destinations in the upcoming summer flight schedule in addition to the previously announced expansion of its offering primarily to Germany. It will offer twelve more weekly flights to Paris than in the summer flight schedule 2018. On balance, Austriaโ€™s home carrier will offer a total of 39 weekly flights to the โ€œCity of Loveโ€.


One additional daily flight connection to Amsterdam will be offered, or seven more flights each week. Overall, Austrian Airlines will have 34 weekly flights to Amsterdam in its portfolio.

Travelers to Copenhagen can also be pleased with the addition of four weekly flight connections. Thus, Austrian Airlines will operate 31 flights per week on the Vienna-Copenhagen route. All the above-mentioned changes apply to flights starting on May 1, 2019.

Above Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-216 OE-LXB (msn 3482) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 941835.

Austrian Airlines aircraft slide show:

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Allegiant announces its financial results, will add 17 additional Airbus aircraft

Ex EI-DSD, delivered on January 11, 2018

Allegiant Travel Companyย (Allegiant Air) has reported the following financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2018, as well as comparisons to the prior year:

Three Months Ended
December 31,
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
Unaudited 2018 2017 Change 2018 2017 Change
Total operating revenue (millions) $ 412.1 $ 379.2 8.7 % $ 1,667.4 $ 1,511.2 10.3 %
Operating income (millions) 63.1 26.8 135.7 243.5 230.6 5.6
Net income (millions) 41.4 83.4 (50.4 ) 161.8 198.1 (18.3 )
Diluted earnings per share $ 2.56 $ 5.18 (50.6 ) $ 10.00 $ 12.13 (17.6 )

“Iโ€™m happy to report we had our 64th consecutive profitable quarter,” stated Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company. “The past 18 to 24 months have been challenging as we pushed through a successful onetime changeover to an all Airbus fleet. This was a major undertaking by our team. During this period we sustained a number of one-time transition costs but still maintained among industry leading operating margins on our airline activity of 15.3 percent despite a 27 percent increase in the cost per gallon of fuel in 2018.

“And these returns were accomplished despite the added challenges of our fleet transition years. I couldnโ€™t be more pleased with where we find ourselves today as we look forward to 2019 and beyond. We are also pleased with our EPS-based reporting approach which we started in 2018. You will see our estimates for 2019 below.

“Finally, my hat is off to our team. They not only rose up to the logistical challenge of the fleet changeover during the past 18 months, but at the same time continued to elevate our operational performance and customer service standards across the board.”

Highlights

  • Currently 431 routes
    ย  ย o Nearly 75 percent no competition – 90 percent of new 2018 routes no competition
    o Have identified an additional 600 routes for possible growth
  • 2019 expect higher EBITDA
    oย Revenue improvement from higher number of incremental seats
    oย Greater efficiencies in labor and fuel consumption
    oย Higher aircraft reliability will enable more flights during peak days
    o Higher number of charter opportunities versus the MD-80
  • 2018 improvement in operations
    oย Controllable completion – 99.7 percent, among best in industry
    o Improved operations – over $10 million in cost savings
    oย On time arrival 77 percent, up nearly four percentage points over 2017
  • Co-brand credit card
    o Active accounts increased by approximately 60 percent versus 2017
    o Signed marketing agreement with Minor League Baseball participating clubs
  • 2019 high yield bond refinancing
    oย $450 million term loan
    oย Five year duration
    o Expected to close in early February

Shareholder returns

  • 2018 shareholder returns
    oย Returned $45 million in dividends in 2018
    oย Will pay dividends of $0.70 per share on March 14, 2019 to shareholders of record as of March 1, 2019
    oย $100 million in share repurchase authority

2019 outlook

  • Aircraft
    oย Expect to add seventeen Airbus aircraft by the end of the year
    oย Have now terminated forward capital leases for eight aircraft due to extensive delivery delays
  • Scheduled and system ASM growth
    oย First quarter expected to grow between four and six percent vs last year
    oย Expect first quarter ASM growth to be the lowest of the year
    oย Expect second quarter ASM growth to be the highest of the year due to later Easter
  • Sunseeker Resort financing
    oย Expect $175 million of the estimated $420 millionSunseeker Resort construction cost
    oย Provided by a well-known institutional asset manager
    oย 2/3 of the loan is expected to be non-recourse to Allegiant Travel Company
    oย Expect financing to close by the end of the first quarter 2019
Aircraft fleet plan by end of period
Aircraft – (seats per AC) YE18 1Q19 2Q19 3Q19 YE19
A319 (156 seats) 32 37 37 38 38
A320 (177/186 seats) 44 46 51 53 55
Total 76 83 88 91 93

Aircraft listed in table above include only in-service aircraft and future aircraft under contract (subject to change)

Previously the company announced 16 new routes andย plans to establish a two-aircraft base atย Gerald R. Ford International Airport inย Grand Rapids, Michigan. ย The company also announced service to two new cities โ€“ Nashville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia.

Above Copyright Photo (all others by the airline):ย Allegiant Air Airbus A320-216 N273NV (msn 3076) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 945314.

Allegiant aircraft slide show:

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Air Corsica to add a new route to London Stansted next summer

Air Corsica Airbus A320-216 F-HBEV (msn 3952) NTE (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 928523.

Air Corsica is planning to add the Bastia – Calvi – London (Stansted) route next summer.

According to Airline Route, the new route will operate on Saturdays starting on May 18, 2019.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Air Corsica):ย Air Corsica Airbus A320-216 F-HBEV (msn 3952) NTE (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 928523.

Air Corsica aircraft slide show:

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Austrian Airlines will significantly expand its European route network in the winter

Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-216 OE-LXA (msn 3295) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 942247.

Austrian Airlines has made this announcement:

Austrian Airlines will significantly expand its European route network in the upcoming winter flight schedule 2018/19.

More than 40 additional flights each week will be operated to 14 destinations starting at the end of October 2018. This includes German cities such as Berlin, Dusseldorf and Hamburg as well as other destinations such as Copenhagen, Kiev, Athens and Krakow. These frequency increases will be made possible on the basis of enhanced efficiency in the route network. โ€œAlongside the European flights we are increasing our frequencies to North America as wellโ€, explains Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto. โ€œAs a result we are strengthening Vienna as hub for our flights.โ€

More flights to Germany, Denmark and Greece

As of the end of October 2018, Austrian Airlines will operate up to 48 weekly flights to Berlin-Tegel and 36 flights to Dusseldorf, an increase of seven flights per week in each case compared to the winter of 2017/18. Austrian Airlines will fly up to 29 times each week to Hamburg, or three additional flights in the upcoming winter flight schedule. On balance, Austriaโ€™s flag carrier will offer up to 17 more weekly flights to Germany or a total of up to 238 flight connections each week from Vienna to Germany.

Denmarkโ€™s capital city is also included in the drive to expand frequencies in Europe. Austrian Airlines will fly up to 30 times per week to Copenhagen starting at the end of October 2018, an increase of four flights compared to the last winter flight schedule.As of the end of October 2018, the number of weekly flights offered to Athens will be raised by four, from six to ten times each week. Daily flights will be operated to Thessaloniki, which is three times more often than in the 2017/18 winter flight schedule.

Strengthening of Eastern European core marketย Eastern Europe will remain an important market for Austrian Airlines. Kiev will be served up to 16 times per week in the upcoming winter flight schedule, which is five times more often than in the previous winter. All in all, Austrian Airlines will offer up to 30 weekly flight connections to destinations in Ukraine as of the end of October 2018. This not only encompasses the capital city of Kiev but also Dnipro, Lviv and Odessa.

One additional weekly flight will be operated to each of the destinations of Koลกice, Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo for a total of up to 63 flights per week.ย Austrian Airlines will offer flights to Warsaw and Krakow in Poland and increase its weekly offering to Krakow by two flights to make a total of up to thirteen times per week. Up to 18 weekly flights will be operated to Warsaw.

Romania is represented with three destinations in the Austrian Airlines 2018/9 winter flight schedule. Bucharest, Iasi and Sibiu will be served up to 41 times per week altogether.
Bulgaria will also continue to be an integral part of the Austrian Airlines flight schedule with two destinations. Up to 29 weekly flights will be operated to the capital city of Sofia, and daily flight service will be offered to the coastal town of Varna. As a result, Austrian Airlines aircraft will take off for Bulgarian destinations up to 36 times each week starting with the coming winter season.

Increased frequencies to North America and Tel Aviv

In addition to inaugurating flight service to the traditional holiday destination of Cape Town, Austrian Airlines is also expanding its long-haul flight service to North America effective at the start of the winter flight schedule 2018/19. As of the end of October 2018, up to thirteen flights will be operated to New York each week, a rise of six weekly flights compared to the last winter flight schedule. Furthermore, Austrian Airlines will operate daily flights to Chicago, comprising two more weekly flight connections compared to the winter flight schedule 2017/18. One additional flight will be offered each week to Toronto, pushing the weekly total to five flights. On balance, Austriaโ€™s national carrier will operate up to 30 flights to North American destinations in the upcoming winter flight schedule 2018/19.

Austrian Airlines is also increasing frequencies to Tel Aviv in addition to raising the number of flights to North America. Passengers who want to travel between North America and Israel via the flight hub of Vienna Airport can choose from up to 21 weekly flight connections to Tel Aviv starting at the end of October 2018, or more than double the number of Austrian Airlines flights compared to the last winter flight schedule.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Austrian):ย Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-216 OE-LXA (msn 3295) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 942247.

Austrian Airlines aircraft slide show:

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