Tag Archives: Airbus A321-211

LaudaMotion and Ryanair partnership takes off with new details

LaudaMotion and Ryanair on March 28 announced details of the LaudaMotion summer 2018 schedule with a total of 21 aircraft operating from 9 cities in Austria and Germany from June.

LaudaMotion’s summer 2018 schedule will deliver:

– 21 aircraft

– 9 bases in three countries:

Austria – Vienna

Germany – Berlin Tegel, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart

Switzerland – Zurich

– 44 airports

– 65 routes

Last week, LaudaMotion and Ryanair announced a new aviation partnership where the Irish airline is initially taking a 24.9% stake in LaudaMotion, which will increase to 75% subject to approval by the EU Competition Authority. The aim is to further develop and expand Austria’s LaudaMotion GmbH, headquartered in Vienna.

Niki Lauda will chair the newly created LaudaMotion Board and will be responsible in his new role for establishing LaudaMotion as an Austrian low-fare airline for the scheduled and charter market.

This agreement with Ryanair will allow the gradual growth of LaudaMotion in Austria which currently has a fleet of ten Airbus aircraft. Ryanair will provide financial and management support to LaudaMotion as well as 6 wet-lease aircraft for summer to enable LaudaMotion to complete an extensive 21 aircraft flying program from June.

Four aircraft will be based in Vienna and the frequency of flights to Palma de Mallorca will increase to up to three daily connections. Four LaudaMotion aircraft will be based in Berlin Tegel, six in Dusseldorf, one each in Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart respectively, with two in Zurich.

LaudaMotion’s new Berlin Tegel base will open on June 1, 2018 with four based aircraft, offering low fare routes to 17 sunshine destinations: Barcelona, Brindisi, Corfu, Faro, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, Ibiza, Kos, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Malaga, Milan Malpensa, Palma de Mallorca, Pula, Rhodes, Rijeka and Tenerife.

This coming winter, LaudaMotion will focus on a city shuttle service with up to three more aircraft based in Vienna, allowing Austrian customers to benefit from a wider selection of flights at affordable prices to Europe’s major cities.

The inaugural LaudaMotion flight from Dusseldorf to Palma de Mallorca took off last Sunday in record time – just 25 days after the takeover from Niki on March 1, 2018. The Spanish sunshine isle is one of the most important destinations in the LaudaMotion route network.

In Vienna, Niki Lauda, LaudaMotion Chairman said:

“I am pleased to confirm that LaudaMotion is now up and running and I would like to thank the Laudamotion team for all their hard work and enthusiasm, which has allowed us to start efficiently and on time. We look forward to building the Laudamotion brand and to creating new jobs, more promotional opportunities and greater consumer choice, particularly in Vienna where we will more than double our Airbus aircraft base next year.

I am pleased to welcome Michael O’Leary and the Ryanair team to Vienna to mark the start of our partnership, which will see Laudamotion grow its fleet to more than 30 Airbus aircraft and provide wider choice and lower fares to Viennese consumers and visitors.”

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“Ryanair is pleased to support this first summer schedule for LaudaMotion, which is great news for Austrian consumers and visitors, who can now book low fare flights and benefit from genuine competition and more choice. We share Niki Lauda’s vision to develop a successful Austrian low fares airline in a market dominated by Lufthansa’s high fare Austrian and Swiss subsidiaries. Indeed, Laudamotion is now in pole position to accelerate rapidly in both the scheduled and charter markets in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

This partnership will be of enormous benefit to both Ryanair and Laudamotion customers. The LaudaMotion AOC will support a fleet of Airbus aircraft, which is something we have hoped to develop within the Ryanair Group for some years. And in turn, Ryanair will support LaudaMotion by providing access to our fleet and financial resources, allowing for more rapid growth. This is also good news for LaudaMotion’s people, providing improved job security and promotional opportunities at Austria’s first low fares airline.”

Below Copyright Photo (all others by LaudaMotion): LaudaMotion Airbus A321-211 OE-LCG (msn 1988) (Airberlin colors) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 941370.

LaudaMotion aircraft slide show:

Vietjet introduces a new Airbus A321 logo jet for the France – Viet Nam relationship

Vietjet has made this announcement:

Vietjet is on a high note in France recently as it received its newest Airbus A321 which bears the official logo of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France. The hand-over ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietjet Managing Director Luu Duc Khanh, said: “It is our great honor to have our aircraft emblazoned with the official logo for the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam – France diplomatic relations. This is a meaningful tribute that acknowledges Vietjet’s continual efforts to introduce a vivid image of an innovative and integrated Vietnam to the international community. Standing high from profoundly comprehensive collaborations among Vietjet and French partners, we would contribute more to the development of economic – cultural – trade cooperation between Vietnam and France.”

The newly added A321 is the 43th of a total 121 aircraft that Vietjet has ordered from Airbus. This delivery is the fastest ever handover made between the two companies. The new aircraft boasts a wide cabin with a logical configuration that will give passengers extra comfort so they can enjoy a superlative flying experience with Vietjet. The latest addition to Vietjet’s expanding fleet will allow the airline to pursue its strategy to improve its services and to expand operation to farther destinations in South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and other destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The official logo for the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France was unveiled by the French Embassy in Hanoi on January 24, 2018.

In another important event in France, Vietjet signed a comprehensive agreement with Safran – CFM worth US$6.5 billion for the supply of 321 engines to power the airline’s 148 aircraft as well as fleet management services, training, R&D programs (for example, in fuel efficiency), and technical management. Safran – CFM will also help the airline develop regional-level support maintenance capabilities.

Also in France, Vietjet leaders also inked a finance agreement with GECAS France on purchasing and leasing six A321neo aircraft worth US$800 million.

All photos by Vietjet Air. The pictured Airbus A321-211 VN-A657 (msn 8215) was handed over in on March 27, 2018.

Vietjet Air aircraft slide show:

S7 Airlines switches over to the summer schedule, will fly to 205 destinations

Starting on March 25, 2018, S7 Airlines, a oneworld^® global airline alliance member, switches over to the summer flight schedule, which will remain effective until October 27, 2018. During this period the airline will perform flights to 205 destinations in 34 countries around the world.

“In the summer season, we are pleased to offer S7 Airlines passengers about 30 new flights to foreign and domestic destinations. We have significantly expanded our presence in Western Europe and are launching flights to the cities which will arouse the interest of the most sophisticated travellers. Passengers will be able to travel from Moscow to Bari, the capital of the Italian province of Apulia located on the Adriatic coast, as well as to Olbia and Cagliari, situated on the wonderful island of Sardinia. Fans of ecotourism will appreciate the flights to Reykjavik and Tenerife, which are dramatically opposite in nature, but equally impressive,” notes Igor Veretennikov, the Commerce Director of S7 Group.

At the end of May, passengers of S7 Airlines will be able to go to Turkey, which is traditionally a popular country for summer holidays. Daily scheduled flights from Moscow to Antalya will allow travellers to plan themselves their vacation with family and friends in hotels, and property owners will have the same opportunity to plan their stay in their homes and apartments.

Traditional holiday season flights will be resumed in the summer schedule of S7 Airlines. Passengers will be able to fly directly to European seaside resorts, such as Málaga, Valencia, Pula, Dubrovnik, Ibiza and Kos, from Moscow Domodedovo Airport. There also will be flights to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Tivat, Larnaca, Catania, Rome and other popular cities of southern Europe, which are in demand all year round.

Passengers from St. Petersburg will appreciate the convenience of direct flights to European countries, as there will be new flights to Pisa in Italy, Alicante in Spain and Pula in Croatia, as well as to Scandinavian capitals — Copenhagen and Stockholm. Besides, travellers from St. Petersburg can receive 1,500 bonus Miles and more for each flight to Europe¹ if they take part in the “Fly to Europe with S7 Priority” campaign.

Passengers from Novosibirsk will also have new opportunities. S7 Airlines launches a direct flight to Larnaca starting 1 May 2018. Cyprus is traditionally popular with travellers from the Siberian region, and now passengers will be able to organise a trip without a connection in Moscow. In addition, direct flights to Frankfurt am Main and Düsseldorf — major transport hubs, from where it is convenient to continue the trip to European countries — will be resumed.

Japan, a country of striking contrasts, will become closer for residents of Siberia and the Far East. For the first time, passengers will be able to fly directly to Tokyo from Novosibirsk and Irkutsk and will again get the opportunity to fly directly to Osaka from Vladivostok.

S7 Airlines continues to develop interregional air carriages performed on modern Embraer 170 aircraft. Passengers will be able to travel to Samara, Kazan, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk from Novosibirsk and to Murmansk and Perm from St. Petersburg.

S7 Airlines aircraft slide show:

Small Planet Airlines to open two new European bases

Small Planet Airlines will open two new European bases in 2018: in Chania on the Greek island of Crete and in Stockholm-Arlanda airport which serves the Swedish capital. Together with major Scandinavian tour operators, Small Planet Airlines will perform flights to Albania, Croatia, Greece, and the Canary Islands.

The flights will commence in April 2018, and will be performed by two Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline plans to operate flights twice a day and transport 170 000 passengers during the seven months of the summer season.

Small Planet Airlines chose the Greek island of Crete as its new base due to its geographical location that will enable the airline to expand its route-map and reach multiple Scandinavian airports from one base in the Mediterranean.

In the Summer 2017, Small Planet Airlines utilized 22 Airbus aircraft from 9 European bases. The airline plans to operate a fleet of 28 aircraft in the year 2018.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Small Planet): Small Planet Airlines (Poland) Airbus A321-211 SP-HAX (msn 2903) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 934857.

Small Planet (Poland) aircraft slide show:

TAP to offer flights from Porto to Barcelona, London City and Ponta Delgada and boost its services to Brazil and Canada

TAP Postugal (Lisbon) has announced it will add new routes:

TAP will again fly from Porto to Milan and Barcelona, after the suspension of the route in 2016, offering a greater number of flights
The airline also announces new routes from Porto to London City and Ponta Delgada
TAP’s operations out of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport grow by an additional 41 flights every week
The airline also announces 10 flights per week between Lisbon and Florence
And a further four flights per week to São Paulo and one additional flight to Brasilia and to Belo Horizonte in Brazil, and one to Toronto, Canada

TAP Air Portugal will grow its operations from Porto Airport over the coming year. The airline has started two flights a day to Barcelona and to Milan, reinstating and intensifying two routes that were suspended in 2016 as part of the operation redesign carried out at that time.

In addition to reinstating these routes, TAP has also announced the launch of new routes from Porto, with six flights per week to London City airport and a new daily service to Ponta Delgada.

With these new flights, which start on March 25, 2018, TAP is introducing a total of 41 new services per week between Porto and four different cities. These flights will be available to book as soon as the operational details have been finalised. The two daily flights to Barcelona will depart Porto at 6.30am (TP1030) and 7.35pm (TP1031). The flights to Milan will depart Porto at 6.30am (TP818) and 5.55pm (TP816). The six flights a week between Porto and London City will leave Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport at 12.05pm (TP354), arriving in London at 2.20pm, with the return flight leaving London at 2.50pm (TP353), arriving in Porto at 5.10pm.

Another new flight on TAP’s summer timetable from Porto is the creation of a daily flight to Ponta Delgada. TP1861 will depart Porto at 1.20pm, arriving in Ponta Delgada at 2.45pm. The return flight (TP1866) will take off at 3.35pm, landing in Porto at 6.50pm, both local times.

From Lisbon to Florence

TAP also announces the launch of a direct service between Lisbon and Florence, with 10 flights per week, beginning on June 10, 2018. Florence joins Rome, Bologna, Milan and Venice to become the company’s fifth destination in Italy. This demonstrates TAP’s commitment to the Italian market, which is important not just for point-to-point traffic, but also as a way of generating traffic to other TAP destinations through its Lisbon hub.

The service between Lisbon and Florence will have two different timetables. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the flight will leave Lisbon at 7.05am, arriving in Florence at 10.50am. Flights will depart Florence at 11.35am, arriving in Lisbon at 1.35pm. On Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays there will also be flights leaving Lisbon at 3.50pm, arriving in Florence at 7.35pm. Flights will then depart Florence at 8.20pm, arriving in Lisbon at 10.20pm.

More flights to Brazil and Canada

From June 1, 2018, TAP is also boosting its long-haul operation with four more flights each week to São Paulo and one more to Brasilia and Belo Horizonte in Brazil and to Toronto in Canada.

Next year the company intends to offer flights between Lisbon and Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, a service that is currently awaiting government authorization.

Copyright Photo: The pictured TAP Airbus A321-212 is wearing the revised “Air Portugal” titles instead of “TAP Portugal” on the tail. In addition, the web address has been changed from www.flytap.com to flytap.com with some additional touch of color. TAP Portugal – Air Portugal Airbus A321-211 CS-TJH (msn 2270) MUC (Arnd Wolf). Image: 940450.

TAP Portugal aircraft slide show:

IAG confirms the acquisition of Niki, will be rebranded

International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced formally it will buy the assets of the Austrian airline Niki, which was formerly part of the Air Berlin group, for €20 million and provide liquidity to Niki of up to €16.5 million.

The transaction is being made by a newly formed subsidiary of Vueling which will be incorporated as an Austrian company and run initially as a separate operation. It is subject to customary closing conditions such as the EC competition approval.

The assets include up to 15 Airbus A320 family aircraft and an attractive slot portfolio at various airports including Vienna, Dusseldorf, Munich, Palma and Zurich.

The new company plans to employ approximately 740 former NIKI employees to run the operation.

Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “Niki was the most financially viable part of Air Berlin and its focus on leisure travel means it’s a great fit with Vueling. This deal will enable Vueling to increase its presence in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and provide the region’s consumers with more choice of low cost air travel”.

More details about the new subsidiary’s branding and route network will be provided in due course, when appropriate.

Copyright Photo: The Niki brand will be retired. Niki Luftfahrt (flyNiki.com) Airbus A321-211 OE-LET (msn 3830) TFS (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 926835.

Niki aircraft slide show:

DAE to lease two new Airbus A320s to Hongtu Airlines

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd. (DAE) (Dubai) has announced that its leasing division, DAE Capital and Yunnan Hongtu Airlines of China has completed a lease agreement for two new Airbus A320-200 aircraft. These modern, fuel efficient planes will be delivered in 2018 and are part of a direct order DAE has with Airbus. The aircraft will come equipped with CFM 56-5B4/3 PIP engines.

This latest addition to the Hongtu A320 family fleet will assist the carrier as it looks to capitalize on China’s increasing domestic demand for leisure and business air travel, offering a high-end, customized service to its passengers. Hongtu currently has a fleet of three Airbus A320 family aircraft and operates flights to 10 domestic destinations.

Hongtu Airlines is a Chinese airline operating domestic flights from its Kunming Changshui International Airport base in Yunnan Province. The airline launched operations on May 21, 2016.

Hongtu Airlines currently operates a pair of Airbus A321s (above) and a single A320.

Lufthansa makes further concessions to EU Commission, will no longer pursue Niki

Lufthansa has made further concessions on December 13, 2017 in the course of the intended acquisition of parts of the Air Berlin Group. The transaction is currently being examined by the EU Commission as the responsible merger control authority. In the so-called Phase One assessment, Lufthansa had already offered extensive commitments in particular by giving up slots. However, the Commission considers this to be insufficient and has clearly indicated that an acquisition of Niki and its integration into the Eurowings Group would currently not be approved. Based on this assessment, a takeover of Niki by Eurowings is no longer being pursued.

Lufthansa has informed both Air Berlin and its administrator that it intends to close the transaction excluding the acquisition of Niki.

With regard to the still intended takeover of Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter (LGW), Lufthansa would give up numerous slots in order to obtain merger clearance in Phase One. The revised commitments will be submitted to the EU Commission today.

The Lufthansa Group maintains its plan of expanding its point-to-point business increasingly through organic growth of the Eurowings Group.

A share of the agreed purchase price for Niki has already been transferred to the company as bridge financing. The unpaid purchase price components will now be used for the organic capacity expansion in Niki’s markets. Economically, this leads to a comparable result for the Lufthansa Group.

Air Canada suspends service to San Juan and St. Maarten

Air Canada and Air Canada rouge are suspending winter seasonal service to both San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten due to hurricane damage and the long recovery for both islands. The airline was planning to operate to San Juan from both Montreal and Toronto (Pearson) this winter as well as Toronto – St. Maarten.

The airline is planning to resume winter service to both destinations in the winter 2018/19 season according to Airline Route.

Ural Airlines to launch flights to Switzerland

Ural Airlines has announced the opening of weekly scheduled flights to Switzerland. The routing Zhukovsky – Geneva – Zhukovsky will be operating during the winter season from December 29, 2017 until March 23, 2018 on Fridays.