Tag Archives: Airbus A320

Lufthansa to fly Finland’s ski center in the Kittilä, Lapland region

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has announced it will fly from Munich nonstop to the largest and best-known winter sports center in Finland for the first time. From December 19. 2015, Lufthansa will be taking off every Saturday for Kittilä, nearby to the ski resort at Levi. Until March 26, 2016, the winter seasonal route to Lapland will be operated with an Airbus A320 with 168 seats.

In other route news, Lufthansa will operate this summer from Munich to Glasgow with Airbus A319s starting on May 16. The route will operate one day a week.

In other news, Lufthansa Technik completed the installation of Premium Economy class seats (above) on an Airbus A340-300 with the registration of D-AIGO. Thus, a total of 53 aircraft now offer the extra comfort in Economy Class on approximately 2,000 new, well-equipped seats. Passengers can thus already enjoy the airline’s new travel class on half of all long-haul jets.

The retrofit order is carried out according to the type of aircraft. Therefore, all Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 aircraft on routes from the Frankfurt hub already have Premium Economy on board. A total of 15 of the Airbus A340-600 aircraft stationed in Munich and the A340-300 aircraft in Dusseldorf also feature the new seats.

The remaining aircraft of the type Airbus A330-300, A340-300, A340-600 and Boeing 747-400 will be retrofitted in the coming weeks. The retrofitting is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2015.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

Bloomberg: Air India wants to order 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft

Air India (Mumbai) according to Bloomberg, quoting unnamed sources, is in negotiation with Airbus in order to acquire 14 new A320neo aircraft.

The flag carrier is also considering converting some Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners orders (seven remain on order) to the larger 787-9.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo below: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. The newer Airbus A320s would replace the older models. Airbus A320-214 VT-EDF (msn 4237) arrives in Dubai.

Air India aircraft slide show:

Video: Aer Lingus unveils Airbus A320 EI-DEO in a new “Green Spirit” special rugby livery, now flying

Aer Lingus (Dublin) as reported, yesterday (May 10) unveiled its new “Green Spirit” special livery in support of the Irish Rugby Team. The carrier is the official airline of the national team. The new livery has been painted on the pictured Airbus A320-214 EI-DEO (msn 2486) which was formerly painted in full Virgin Atlantic colors for the Little Red operation.

Copyright Photo Below: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. EI-DEO as of today, May 11, is now flying on revenue flights. It is pictured in bright sunlight departing this morning from Dublin.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus today unveils its new “Green Spirit” Airbus A320 rugby logo jet

Aer Lingus (Dublin) today (May 10) unveiled its new “Green Spirit” Airbus A320 logo jet at a media event in Dublin. Formerly operated for Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) on the Little Red service, the pictured Airbus A320-214 EI-DEO (msn 2486) now sports this special scheme.

Aer Lingus has entered into a partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) as the official airline of the Irish Rugby Team.

Aer Lingus will paint a second Airbus A320 in September to show their support for the IRFU.

EI-DEO will go into service tomorrow, Monday May 11, 2015, and will operate across Aer Lingus’ short haul network to the UK and Continental Europe.

The three-year deal will see Aer Lingus support the IRFU by flying players, management and support staff around Europe as they compete in the RBS Six Nations Championships and in other high-profile international tournaments.

Commenting on the partnership, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Officer Stephen Kavanagh said: “The livery in IRFU and player branding is a first for Aer Lingus and recognizes the contribution sport makes to all our lives”.

The partnership deal with the IRFU is part of a strategy by Aer Lingus to promote the brand and its commitment in supporting the best of the Irish.

Report and copyright photos by Assistant Editor Michael Kelly from Dublin.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

British Airways announces two new routes from London Heathrow, also increases Gatwick frequencies

British Airways (London) has announced that it will serve two new routes from its London-Heathrow hub for Winter 2015/16, with one route ending a 7-year hiatus to and from Iceland.

The British flag-carrier will begin thrice-weekly services between London (Heathrow) and Keflavik (near Reykjavik) from October 2015, and then a twice-weekly service from London (Heathrow) to Salzburg, Austria beginning in December 2015.

Lynne Embleton, BA’s director of strategy and business units, said: “Reykjavik is a new destination for us, and customers will now have the convenience of flying from Heathrow as well as Gatwick to Salzburg.”

BA will also increase the frequencies on its routes from London (Gatwick) to Funchal, Faro, Seville and Turin for the winter 2015/16 season starting on October 27, 2015 and running to March 25, 2016.

The airline will add two flights from London (Gatwick) to Faro on Tuesdays and Thursdays, two flights to Seville on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, two flights to Funchal, Madeira, on Wednesdays and Fridays, and one extra frequency to Turin on Sundays, which will operate between December 13, 2015, and March 20, 2016.

Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock reporting from Manchester.

British Airways aircraft slide show:

Congo Airways to launch operations on June 30

Congo Airways (Kinshasa) is a new airline in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The upstart is planning to launch scheduled passenger operations on June 30 with one Airbus A320 according to Reuters. A second A320 is being negotiated. According to the report, the new airline “will initially serve eight Congolese hubs, including the capital Kinshasa, the eastern city of Goma and the copper mining centre of Lubumbashi.”

The country has been notorious for short-lived carriers. The new airline promises to be different.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Volaris to fly to Puerto Rico

Volaris (Mexico City), as part of their active expansion, has announced the introduction of new international service from Cancun, Quintana Roo to the city of San Juan in Puerto Rico, effective July 2 operating with two flights per week.

Volaris continues to strengthen its positioning as the Mexican airline with the most extensive route network throughout Mexico and the US, totaling 139 routes to 60 destinations – 22 international and 38 domestic. Since its inauguration, Volaris has transported nearly 50 million passengers, 7 million of which have been for international travel.

Cancun, Quintana Roo – San Juan, Puerto Rico
(Effective July 2. Thursdays and Sundays)

Departing Cancun, Quintana Roo at 11:30, arriving San Juan, Puerto Rico at 15:50.
Departing San Juan, Puerto Rico at 17:20, arriving Cancun, Quintana Roo at 19:40.

Volaris aircraft slide show:

Avianca firms up its order for 100 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft

Airbus (Toulouse) has issued this statement:

Following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announcement in February, Avianca (Bogota) has signed a purchase agreement for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, the largest single order ever made in Latin America’s aviation history. The agreement, which includes A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft (below), will allow Avianca to maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region as the airline aims to replace airplanes currently operating from their Bogota, Lima and San Salvador hubs.

Image Above: Airbus.

Established in Colombia in 1919, Avianca was the first airline in the Americas, and is the second oldest airline in the world. The Airbus-Avianca partnership was taken to a new level in 1998 when TACA (now part of Avianca), LAN, and TAM placed a joint order for 90 single-aisle aircraft. This was the largest joint contract ever signed in Latin American commercial aviation history. To date, the Avianca airline group has ordered nearly 300 aircraft including 276 A320 Family (among them, 133 A320neo Family) and 15 A330 Family.

To date, the A320neo program has 345 firm orders from six customers in Latin America — Avianca, Azul, Interjet, LATAM Airlines Group, VivaAerobus and Volaris. With more than 950 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 500, more than 550 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Avianca will remain an Airbus A320 Family operator. Current generation Airbus A320-214 N724AV (msn 6153) climbs away from Miami International Airport (MIA).

Avianca (Colombia) aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways to fly New York – Havana charter flights

JetBlue Airways (New York) has announced it will operate weekly New York (JFK) – Havana, Cuba charter flights for tour organizer Cuba Travel Services starting on July 3. JetBlue also operates to Cuba from both Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Tampa. The airline issued this full statement:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo joined with JetBlue Airways, and its charter partner, Cuba Travel Services, yesterday (May 5) to announce a new flight from New York to Havana, Cuba. The milestone makes JetBlue the first major carrier to announce a new flight to Cuba from New York since travel restrictions were recently eased.

The expanded charter service comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo’s trade mission to Cuba, where the Governor, joined by JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes and other New York business leaders, led a dialogue to connect New York businesses to new opportunities in Cuba.

Cuba Travel Services is offering the flight, operated by JetBlue, on Fridays from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Havana’s José Martí International Airport (HAV) beginning July 3, 2015. Travelers should make arrangements directly with Cuba Travel Services.

Cuba Travel Services, a leading authorized carrier service provider, believes expanding its flight network will provide licensed travelers more travel options for a lower cost. The additional service offers customers additional options to travel to Cuba from New York without connection delays or extra domestic travel expenses to connect in Florida.

The New York metropolitan area has the second largest Cuban-American population in the United States after Florida.

JetBlue serves all charter flights to Cuba on its 150-seat Airbus A320.

With the addition to the New York-Havana flight, JetBlue will operate five weekly round trips to Cuba, including flights from Tampa (TPA) and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) with various charter partners. Cuba will one day play an important role in JetBlue’s overall Caribbean network, a region where JetBlue is the largest airline. The airline began flying to Cuba for charter companies in 2011.

Schedule between New York and Havana on Fridays as of July 3, 2015:

JFK – HAV HAV – JFK 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

About Cuba Travel Services

Cuba Travel Services Inc. arranges daily, nonstop public charter flights between the United States and Cuba and is licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as an authorized Carrier Service Provider specializing in travel to Cuba. They offer full service travel arrangements to individuals, groups, families, educators, students, professionals and organizations, under Specific or General Licenses issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Copyright Photo: Fred Freketic/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N624JB (msn 2520) touches down at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York last winter.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways files to serve Antigua from New York

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced its continued expansion in the region as it filed an intent to serve Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) three times weekly from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), with the aim to launch service on November 5, subject to receipt of government operating authority.

Additionally, the airline will add seasonal weekly service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) to Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), which will launch November 7, subject to receipt of government operating authority.

The Boston-Barbados flight is the fifth new seasonal service to the Caribbean and Latin America launched from Boston in the last year following Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR); Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP), which begins June 17; Saint Lucia (UVF); and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP). JetBlue also recently announced it would offer its highly successful Mint experience on flights between JFK to Barbados this winter with Saturday service between November 7, 2015 and April 30, 2016, and daily service between December 19, 2015 and January 4, 2016.

The weekly Boston-Barbados flight will complement JetBlue’s existing daily service from New York JFK, which was launched in 2009.

JetBlue’s flights to both Antigua and Barbados will be operated on a 150-seat Airbus A320.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N586JB (msn 2160) in the special “I Love New York” livery taxies to the gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show: