Tag Archives: Airbus A320-232

JetBlue comments on the Frontier-Spirit announcement

JetBlue Airways has issued the following statement regarding the revised Frontier-Spirit merger agreement:

We continue to believe JetBlue’s proposal is decisively superior to the Frontier transaction, even considering its revised terms, and it continues to offer Spirit shareholders significantly more value, more cash, more certainty, and more regulatory protections.

JetBlue offers $33.50 per Spirit share in cash, a very significant 38%¹ premium to the implied market value of the amended Frontier transaction. Also, importantly the incremental $2.00 per Spirit share offered by Frontier are effectively being paid by Spirit shareholders through their ownership in the combined company, therefore resulting in only approximately $1 of incremental economic value.

We will more thoroughly review and assess the revised terms of the Frontier-Spirit merger agreement, and we intend to continue our “vote no” campaign against the inferior Frontier transaction at the special meeting.

Since our initial proposal was made public on April 5, Spirit’s share price performance has reflected its shareholders’ overwhelmingly positive view of our offer, and their confidence in our ability to achieve regulatory clearance of the transaction, an outcome which remains supported by outside regulatory experts’ analysis.

The conflicted Spirit Board continues to rely on a series of mischaracterizations to justify an inferior deal – about the regulatory situation, that is at odds with the views of outside experts that our transaction can get done; about the Northeast Alliance, despite the overwhelming facts supporting its pro-competitive nature; and about the impact of the changing industry environment, including competition for pilots. Adding to these misrepresentations, the Spirit Board is now claiming they have served their shareholders by accepting a revised Frontier proposal, an act which does not change the fundamental superiority of our transaction, agreeing, among other things, in exchange for underwhelming financial concessions, to weaken Spirit shareholders’ governance in the combined company through less board representation.

Top Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N636JB (msn 2755) (Spotlight) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 957969.

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EgyptAir flight MS804 was likely caused by a cigarette in the cockpit

EgyptAir flight MS804 was a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Cairo International Airport.

On May 19, 2016 at 02:33 Egypt Standard Time (UTC+2), the Airbus A320 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all 56 passengers, 3 security personnel, and 7 crew members on board.

According to CBS News,

“According to a 134-page document seen by Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera and sent to the Paris court of appeal in March, a fire on board was likely to have been caused by the conjunction of two factors.

These were a leak from the co-pilot’s oxygen mask and the combustion of a cigarette smoked by the pilot or co-pilot.”

Top Copyright Photo: EgyptAir Airbus A320-232 SU-GCC (msn 2088) (Christian Volpati Collection). Image: 932992.

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SmartLynx Airlines to expand its fleet to around 60 aircraft this summer

SmartLynx Airlines has made this announcement:

This week, Latvia’s oldest operating carrier SmartLynx Airlines marks its 30th anniversary. In the summer season, the airline plans to have about 60 airplanes, becoming the largest air fleet operator in the Baltic states.

Presently, SmartLynx Airlines operates 33 airplanes, in April three more will be delivered, and the other 22 will be delivered gradually by the end of the summer season. The company’s fleet consists of Airbus A320 (25), A330-300 (6), and A321 (4) aircraft. There are two other Airbus A321F air cargo jets, and in April the company will receive the first Boeing 737 MAX.

“We expect that in relation to the fleet size, this year we will be ahead the world’s largest names in aviation, but we will be able to speak about it in more detail when we have received all the aircraft. The experience obtained during the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis helped us to continue sustainable development so that we could mark our 30th anniversary with a record-high number of airplanes. As our fleet is expanding, the number of our employees is also increasing – we have already 300 employees in our Riga office, and by the end of the year we plan to fill in 40 more vacancies. We hope to see our next anniversary as the largest Latvian employer in aviation,” said SmartLynx Airlines head Zygimantas Surintas.

Developing new business directions during crisis

The pandemic is called the most severe crisis in the aviation history, however, despite the sudden strike, SmartLynx Airlines during this time has not only managed to maintain its operations, but also develop new business directions. The air cargo fleet has been expanded significantly, and air cargo transportation will be one of the company’s main strategic directions also in the future. The airline announced on opening fleet service centre SmartLynx Technik in Riga and Tallinn. Meanwhile, two geographically significant players – Royal Air Maroc in Morocco and Air Peace in Nigeria were added to the client portfolio for full-service ACMI aircraft lease services.

The company’s subsidiary SmartLynx Malta announced on a significant step, signing a partnership agreement with DHL Express, providing that the two recently refurbished cargo jets Airbus A321-200 will join the DHL European air fleet. The company during the pandemic has managed to keep and maintain cooperation with the largest partners from the pre-pandemic period, such as EasyJet, TUI and Jet2.

Development plans not only in Europe, but also in other continents

As the company’s head says, the main strategic direction of SmartLynx Airlines will be to strengthen the airline’s leading position as a trustworthy passenger and air cargo carrier not only in Europe, but also in other continents.

At present, the main business share of SmartLynx Airlines is organization of passenger charter flights to different resorts and special destinations. A large business share is related with leasing the company’s jets, services and staff to those airlines who wish to expand their range of services.

SmartLynx Airlines long-term clients include easyJet, TUI, Jet2. Recently such companies as DHL, Qatar Airways, Air Peace, Royal Air Morocco, and others have joined the client portfolio.

Routes from Riga:

Routes from Tallinn:

Top Copyright Photo: SmartLynx Airlines Estonia Airbus A320-232 ES-SAM (msn 1896) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 927299.

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Nile Air is coming to Stockhom

Nile Air has announced a new route linking Cairo with Stockholm (Arlanda) starting on June 18, 2022.

The new route will operate twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Top Copyright Photo: Nile Air Airbus A320-232 SU-BQB (msn 3183) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 957117.

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Animawings to fly to Dubrovnik this summer

Animawings has announced it will start summer seasonal flights between Bucharest and Dubrovnik on June 18, 2022 with weekly flights.

The route will be operated with an Airbus A320.

The company is a subsidiary of Aegean Airlines.

Established in 2019, Animawings operates flights to the most popular destinations in Europe and Africa.

Top Copyright Photo: Animawings Airbus A320-232 YR-AGA (msn 3162) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 954972.

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ITA – Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos suspends operations

ITA Transportes Aéreos Ltda (ITA – Itapemiriim Transportes Aéreos) (Sao Paulo) suspended all operations on December 17, 2021.

The airline was short-lived. It only started operations on June 29, 2021.

The company issued this statement (in Portuguese):

Top Copyright Photo: Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos – ITA (2nd) Airbus A320-232 PS-AAF (msn 2359) GRU (Rodrigo Cozzato). Image: 954411.

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JetBlue and American Airlines Northeast Alliance offers customers record-setting summer schedule out of New York and Boston

JetBlue Airways and American Airlines today announced that customers in New York and Boston will have more reasons to make the Northeast Alliance (NEA) their preferred travel provider as the airlines add new routes, improved schedules and enhanced product offerings. Nine new routes go on sale this week across both airlines in New York and Boston. With these new routes, the NEA offers more frequencies in New York and Boston than any other airline.

Record-Setting Service in New York and Boston

With the addition of new destinations, new markets and added frequencies on variety of existing routes in New York and Boston, JetBlue and American are on track for a record-setting year in the Northeast in summer 2022.

At New York-JFK, the NEA will offer up to 300 daily departures, with JetBlue operating a record 195 flights. Along with the introduction of JetBlue’s new Vancouver service, the airline will also add frequencies on a variety of existing routes between New York-JFK and:

Aruba (AUA) | Up to 4x daily.
Atlanta (ATL) | Up to 4x daily.
Cancun (CUN) | Up to 4x daily.
Detroit (DTW) | Up to 2x daily.
Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) | Up to 2x daily.
Kingston, Jamaica (KIN) | Up to 5x daily.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) | Up to 2x daily.
Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Up to 4x daily.
Raleigh-Durham (RDU) | Up to 3x daily.
Saint Lucia (UVF) | Up to 2x daily.
Turks and Caicos (PLS) | Up to 2x daily.

As part of the customer-focused NEA, in 2022, American will enhance its global reach with new, nonstop service between New York-JFK and Doha, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), becoming the only U.S.-based carrier to serve the Middle Eastern destination.

In the past year, American has provided New York customers with new international travel options, including JFK to Santiago, Chile (SCL); Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV); Athens, Greece (ATH) and Delhi, India (DEL).

At New York-LGA, the NEA will offer nearly 200 daily departures, which includes JetBlue tripling their departures compared to 2019. Along with the introduction of JetBlue’s new Portland, Maine service, the airline will also add frequencies on a variety of existing routes between LGA and:

Boston (BOS) | Up to 15x daily.
Charleston, S.C. (CHS) | Up to 3x daily.
Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX) | Up to 3x daily.
Nashville, Tenn. (BNA) | Up to 3x daily.
New Orleans, La. (MSY) | Up to 2x daily.
Orlando, Fla. (MCO) | Up to 5x daily.
Tampa, Fla. (TPA) | Up to 3x daily.
Savannah/Hilton Head, S.C. (SAV) | Up to 2x daily.

American has also added new LGA routes to Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Oklahoma City; and Omaha, Neb. The airline has also added more seats to routes to St. Louis; Raleigh, N.C.; and Nashville, Tenn. Bolstered by the NEA, American has strengthened its offering at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), with better frequencies to its hub airports.

As part of the LaGuardia redevelopment project, American is completing its move of operations to the new Terminal B, Western Concourse starting today. The airline will no longer operate out of the old Central Terminal Building, which has been home to American’s operation since the 1960s. Additionally, JetBlue will be fully operating out of LaGuardia’s Terminal B when completed in summer 2022, providing easy connections for customers traveling on the Northeast Alliance. The LaGuardia Terminal B redevelopment includes a new 1.3 million square foot terminal with 35 gates, an array of New York City-inspired shops and dining options, permanent pieces of art by leading artists and a one-of-a-kind water feature.

Beginning in June, customers in Boston will enjoy greater connectivity with six new U.S. domestic routes and two new options to Canada. With these new routes, the NEA will serve 46 of the top 50 U.S. domestic mainland markets from Boston. Tickets will be available for sale starting Dec. 20.

In Boston, American today announced new nonstop service operated on Embraer E175 aircraft between Boston and:

Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ) | 1x weekly.
Louisville, Ky. (SDF) | Up to daily.
Memphis, Tenn. (MEM) | Up to daily.
Pensacola, Fla. (PNS) | 1x weekly.
Traverse City, Mich. (TVC) | 1x weekly.

These new routes follow recently announced American routes from Boston to Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis; Wilmington, North Carolina; St. Louis; and Toronto.

Along with JetBlue’s introduction of new service to Vancouver and Asheville, the airline will add even more flying between Boston and Washington, D.C. (DCA) with up to 16 daily departures. Additionally, service at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) will return in summer 2022 with up to five daily flights between Baltimore and Boston starting June 9.

In summer 2022, the NEA will offer more than 200 daily departures in Boston, with JetBlue operating more than 150, to more nonstop destinations than any other carrier.

All-New JetBlue Cities and New Routes Now On Sale

In June 2022, JetBlue will touch down for the first time at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – JetBlue’s first-ever Canadian destination – and at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) in North Carolina. JetBlue will serve Vancouver daily from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and daily throughout the summer season from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Asheville service will operate daily throughout the summer.

Schedule between New York (JFK) and Vancouver (YVR) Daily starting June 9, 2022
JFK – YVR Flight #1975	YVR – JFK Flight #1974
7:18 p.m. – 10:49 p.m.	11:59 p.m. – 8:13 a.m. (+1)

Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Vancouver (YVR) Daily summer seasonal starting June 16, 2022
BOS – YVR Flight #2149	YVR – BOS Flight #2150
5:55 p.m. – 9:19 p.m.	10:29 p.m. – 6:46 a.m. (+1)

Schedule between Boston (BOS) and Asheville (AVL) Daily summer seasonal starting June 16, 2022
BOS – AVL Flight #2277	AVL – BOS Flight #2278
11:15 a.m. – 1:40 p.m.	2:15 p.m. – 4:35 p.m.

JetBlue is also now selling seats for an all-new route at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), with service to Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine. Flights will operate daily throughout the summer season beginning in July 2022.

Schedule between New York (LGA) and Portland (PWM) Daily starting July 9, 2022
LGA – PWM Flight #1382	PWM – LGA Flight #1383
3:29 p.m. – 4:57 p.m.	6:20 p.m. – 7:32 p.m.

JetBlue will operate these new routes using a variety of aircraft which all offer the airline’s award-winning service featuring the most legroom in coach (a); free Fly-Fi, the fastest broadband internet in the sky (b); complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks; free, live DIRECTV® programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXM® radio at every seat.

New JetBlue Routes, Special JetBlue Fares

To celebrate the launch of the four all-new new routes, JetBlue is offering limited time introductory fares (c):

New York (JFK) – Vancouver: $99
Boston – Vancouver: $99
Boston – Asheville: $74
New York (LGA) – Portland, Maine: $54

These fares are available online only at JetBlue.com and on the JetBlue mobile app. Travelers who book directly through jetblue.com are guaranteed to find the airline’s best and lowest fares, and can enjoy additional benefits including access to all of JetBlue’s fare options, as well as fare sales and promotions, some of which may not be available through other third-parties.

Codeshare Expands

Today’s newly announced 2022 schedules come just as JetBlue and American have activated a key component of its codeshare agreement with more connecting markets now available through JFK. The airlines are now codesharing on 185 routes, as American will have its code placed on 70 JetBlue routes while JetBlue will place its code on 115 American routes. This gives the pair a combined schedule with the number of markets and seats that allows JetBlue and American to offer their respective customers options that stack up against larger, dominant carriers. JetBlue and American customers purchasing a codeshare itinerary benefit from having a single ticket that includes flights operated by both carriers, as well as conveniences on their day of travel like one-stop check-in and baggage transfer.

More connecting markets through other New York airports and Boston are set to become available to book soon.

Top Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 N605JB (msn 2368) (Boston Red Sox) DCA (Brian McDonough). Image: 956141.

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Qatar Airways to launch flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, resume flights to Luxor and increases Cairo to triple daily Services

Qatar Airways has announced that it will launch a new service to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on December 3, 2021 with twice weekly flights, this new route will follow the resumption of operations to Luxor on November 23, 2021 with four weekly flights.

In a further expansion of services to Egypt, Qatar Airways will also increase its Cairo service starting from October 1, 2021, increasing flights to the capital to triple daily. The resumption of operations to Luxor and launching of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh sees Qatar Airways now operate a total of 34 weekly flights to Egypt. The new services will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in First Class and 132 seats in Economy Class.

Flight Schedule – Luxor: Starting November 23

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (all times local)

Doha (DOH) to Luxor (LXR) QR1321 departs: 08:25 arrives: 11:00

Luxor (LXR) to Doha (DOH) QR1322 departs: 12:10 arrives: 16:05

Flight Schedule – Sharm El-Sheikh: Starting December 3

Tuesday and Friday (all times local)

Doha (DOH) to Sharm El-Sheikh (SSH) QR1311 departs: 09:00 arrives: 10:45

Sharm El-Sheikh (SSH) to Doha (DOH) QR1312 departs: 13:15 arrives: 17:30

Top Copyright Photo: Qatar Airways Airbus A320-232 A7-MBK (msn 4170) MUC (Gunter Mayer). Image: 955330.

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South African Airways resumes operations

South African Airways on September 23 resumed operations after being shut down for a year and reorganized as a leaner carrier.

The flag carrier issued this statement:

Following months of preparation after exiting business rescue, SAA has resumed both domestic and continental service. The carrier’s first scheduled flight flew from OR Tambo International in Johannesburg to Cape Town International on Thursday, September 23, 2021 and is one of three return flights per day between the two cities. Flights are also started to five African capitals – Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka, and Maputo.

SAA 317 JNB – CPT took off this morning with 123 passengers on board ✈️. Thank You for your continued support. #FlySAA pic.twitter.com/94yiSNQSx7

— SAA – South Africa (@flysaa) September 23, 2021

On this Heritage Day, it feels good to have the flag 🇿🇦 flying again. #FlySAA #LetsGoTheDistance pic.twitter.com/aqOtjtBb3b

— SAA – South Africa (@flysaa) September 24, 2021

SAA’s Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo says, “This week is a proud and significant one for SAA and its staff as well as all South African citizens. Our journey back to the skies has not been easy and I pay tribute to our dedicated workforce in all areas of the business all of whom have and are putting in long hours ahead of this day. People in every facet of the business want nothing more than for SAA to succeed and for us to build a new airline based on safety and exemplary customer service.”

Kgokolo says while SAA has big ambitions it’s overriding ethos will be one of responsible and prudent fiscal management and a commitment to transparency. “We restart this business with a new vision of pride in the brand and one that has been inculcated into every staff member. Our first order of business is to service our start-up routes efficiently and profitably and then look to expanding the network and growing our fleet, all depending on demand and market conditions.