Iberia (Madrid) is resuming summer seasonal service to Havana, Cuba with five weekly flights starting on June 1. The flag carrier will also operate three weekly flights on a Madrid – Medellin – Cali – Madrid routing commencing on July 3 per Airline Route. Both routes will operate with Airbus A330-300 equipment.
Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Iberia Airbus A330-302 EC-LZJ (msn 1490) completes its final approach to the runway at the Madrid Barajas International Airport hub.
Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) has announced it will launch a new improved business class experience for its long-haul flights staring on January 28. The airline issued this statement:
On January 28, SAS is launching an improved service concept in SAS Business on all its long haul flights. Customers will enjoy a restaurant experience in the air with an even greater number of choices, even more personal service and high quality in every respect.
SAS is currently in the process of updating its long haul fleet. This includes the renovation of seven existing aircraft and the introduction of new aircraft from fall 2015. The food and drink experience onboard in SAS Business is also being improved and customers will notice changes from January 28.
Additional choice and more personal service will be the most noticeable changes for customers in SAS Business. For example, they will have an extra starter and main course to choose from. To increase the restaurant feel and provide an even more personal service, proper tablecloths and porcelain will be used and food will be served from a service trolley to minimize the use of trays.
The improved service concept will be available on all SAS long haul flights from January 28. SASโs long haul destinations from Scandinavia are New York (JFK), Washington (Dulles), Chicago (O’Hare), San Francisco, Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo (Narita). On September 10, 2015, SAS will open a new route from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Hong Kong.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A330-343 SE-REF (msn 568) in the Star Alliance scheme arrives at Dulles International Airport near Washington.
Airbus (Toulouse) on January 12 issued this statement:
The newest evolution in Airbusโ market-leading widebody jetliner product line โ the A330 with an increased 242-ton maximum takeoff weight capability โ is another step closer to entering service later this year after its successful maiden flight.
Taking off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport today (January 12), the A330-300 variant carried out an airborne evaluation that concluded with its return to the southwestern France location โ which is home to Airbus headquarters and the A330 final assembly line.
During the flight, a five-person crew โ comprised of Captain Thierry Bourges and First Officer Jean-Louis Rabilloud, along with flight test engineers Joan Andre and Gert Wunderlich and test flight engineer Alain Pourchetโ checked the jetlinerโs flight control system and validated its flight envelope. This activity kicked off the increased takeoff weight A330-300โs flight test campaign, which is to involve some 15 total hours aloft to confirm its new aerodynamic package and performance.
The increased maximum takeoff weight A330 results from Airbusโ focus on incremental innovation, and will further increase the cost-effectiveness and versatility for its popular twin-engine A330 product line. Operators will benefit from these jetlinersโ additional range and fuel-burn reduction, resulting from a combination of improved engine performance and the aircraftโs enhanced aerodynamics.
The 242-ton A330-300 maximum takeoff weight variant launch customer is U.S.-based Delta Air Lines, which is scheduled to take delivery of its first aircraft in the second quarter of this year. The shorter-fuselage A330-200 in the 242-ton configuration is planned to enter commercial service in early 2016.
In addition to Delta Air Lines, eleven customers worldwide have already selected this option since the launch in November 2012.
Airbusโ latest A330 variant is the basis for the A330neo (new engine option) version โ which will incorporate new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 powerplants and aerodynamic improvements to provide unmatched operating economics, along with the latest in cabin technology.
Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Registered F-WWYY (msn 1628), the first flight is captured today at Toulouse.
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) has suspended the trading of its shares. The beleaguered airline which is majority owned (70 percent) by theย state investment fund Khazanah Nasional, is acquiring the remaining shares. The fund will delist the stock and take it private according to the Business Insider.
Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) is adding a second daily flight to Miami for the winter season 2015/2016. The second flight, operated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft, will start on October 25, 2015 from London (Heathrow) per Airline Route. The second flight will compliment the daily Boeing 747-400 flight.
Copyright Photo: Airbus A330-343 G-VNYC (msn 1315) taxies at the London Heathrow base.
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is resuming flights to Florida from its Munich hub. Starting today (December 2), the airline will operate five flights a week to the Sunshine State in addition to its daily Airbus A380 service from Frankfurt.
During the winter months, Miami will be served by LH flight 460, which will be operated with an Airbus A330-300 in the new First, Business and Economy Class layout, which can accommodate 217 passengers.
Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-343 D-AIKQ (msn 1305) touches down in Charlotte with downtown Charlotte in the background.
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong) is celebrating its 8th anniversary. The airline issued this statement and logo:
Since its establishment in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines has grown to become an internationally-acclaimed SKYTRAX 4-star airline and was awarded “World’s Most Improved Airline” by SKYTRAX in 2014, recognizing the warmth of its service and the quality of its onboard offering. The Airline operates an all-Airbus fleet with an average age of approximately 2.4 years as of May 2014, which is one of the youngest fleets among major international airlines in the world. To mark the 8th anniversary, Hong Kong Airlines launches a series of exciting activities and promotions, as an appreciation gesture for customers’ continuous support and sharing joy with the whole city.
To spread the birthday joy across Hong Kong, the airlines is delighted to organize “8th Anniversary Roadshow”. A party truck decorated into airplane cabin (below) will travel across different places in Hong Kong, giving out more than 18,000 gifts and up to 888,888 Fortune Wings Miles reward. The first five days of roadshow have attracted numerous visitors, who had fun with games and won attractive prizes. With the wish to earn miles and redeem free air tickets, many of them registered as Fortune Wings Club members.
Many visitors queued up to join โ8th Anniversary Roadshowโ. They had fun with games on the party truck and won attractive prizes. During the promotion period, visitors can get a birthday stamp card on truck and collect stamps on different roadshow locations. Having at least 5 stamps and writing birthday messages on card, the top ten creative participants will be awarded a total of 888,888 miles. Let’s grasp this opportunity and join the party in coming five days!
Top Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Hong Kong Airlines). Airbus A330-343 F-WWYP became B-LNO (msn 1384) on delivery.
Hong Kong Airlines aircraft slide show:ย
Video: The new business class on Hong Kong Airlines:
Delta Air Lines (Seattle/Tacoma) as previously reported, is building up its new and growing Seattle/Tacoma hub, the home of Boeing. The build-up at SEA is at the apparent expense of its “partner” Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) which prides itself on being “all Boeing”. Delta believes the local Seattle market is much larger than one airline and continues its build-up.
According to the local newspaper, The Seattle Times, Delta is apparently now turning to Airbus for a new round of widebody aircraft over Seattle-favorite and the hometown manufacturer Boeing. According to the report, Delta has rejected Boeing’s offer of a mix of 777-300 ERs and 787-9 Dreamliners. Instead Delta will turn to rival Toulouse-based Airbus for a new order of 25 Airbus A350-900s and 25 A330-900neos. The prospective order has not yet been officially announced or confirmed by Airbus.
According to Delta, the earlier delivery slots offered by Airbus were critical in the decision. How will this play in the growing Seattle market where everyone knows someone who works for Boeing. Will this affect their booking decisions?
Delta has also delayed Northwest’s previous order for 18 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. Clearly Airbus is the winner for its widebody needs.
Delta, to their defense, is a large Boeing 737 and 777 customer and continues to take delivery of new 737s which helps the Seattle economy.
As the competition heats up more in the “battle for Seattle”, will Alaska play up that it is very loyal to Boeing?
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. The large Airbus fleet came mainly from the merger with Northwest Airlines along with a lot of its management who now manage the current Delta. ย Former Northwest Airbus A330-323 N801NW (msn 524) taxies to the international gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Finnair (Helsinki) will start flying to Chicago (O’Hare) next summer, from June 13 to October 17, 2015. Flights will be operated three times a week with Airbus A330 aircraft. Departures from Helsinki and Chicago are on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 17:25 and arrive in Chicago (ORD) at 18:40 local time. Return flights to Helsinki depart at 22:00 and arrive the following day at 14:50.
Finnairโs Chicago service is included in the joint business on trans-Atlantic traffic with fellow oneworld alliance partners British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines and Americanโs merger partner US Airways. Chicago is a hub for American, which allows Finnairโs customers quick codeshare connections to destinations throughout the United States, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The joint business between the cooperating airlines also gives customers the possibility to mix and match flights on different carriers for the best pricing and scheduling. For example, an itinerary could include a nonstop flight to Chicago in one direction, but a return flight connecting through another transatlantic hub if the timing is more convenient.
Due to opening the Chicago route, Finnair’s seasonal summer service to Hanoi will be discontinued. Finnair’s previously announced new summer destinations in 2015 include Athens, Dublin, Malta and Split.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-302 OH-LTM (msn 994) taxies at the Helsinki hub.
Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is increasing its flights from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport to Athens International Airport for the 2015 summer season.
Delta will resume operations with a five-times weekly service from March 30, 2015, growing to daily on May 2, 2015. From June 2, 2015, additional flights will be added bringing the weekly total to 11. During the peak summer months, Delta will offer up to 5,900 weekly seats between Greece and the United States. All services from Athens are operated in conjunction with Deltaโs joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia.
Deltaโs Athens services are operated using Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-323 N815NW (msn 817) arrives back at the John F. Kennedy International Airport hub in New York.
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