Tag Archives: Airbus A330-343

SAS highlights its winter schedule

SAS has made this announcement:

The new SAS winter program features new routes and more frequent departures for all of Scandinavia, domestic, intra-Scandinavian, European and intercontinental.

On the intercontinental routes, there will be an increase in the number of flights from Copenhagen to both Washington and Miami, whilst there will be a doubling of the weekly flights between Stockholm and Miami.

The Scandinavian capitals – Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen – will see an increase in the number of flights to a number of European destinations. In addition, several completely new routes will be introduced, including Gothenburg – Berlin, Stockholm – Oulu, Tampere – Malaga and Bergen – Aberdeen.

This initiative is in response to good market growth plus higher passenger numbers in winter, a period that usually sees lower demand than the summer season. SAS will fly 200 routes in its winter program for the first time and 18 new routes for the whole of 2018.

SAS made a substantial investment in Aarhus, Denmark, in April and this will be continued this winter with routes to destinations such as Malaga, Munich, Stockholm and Oslo. From Copenhagen Kastrup, the timetable will continue to include flights to Gazipasa and Beirut this winter plus more departures to Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Brussels and Munich.

SAS will also expand capacity on routes to Bergen and Tromsø, Norway, to meet increased demand. The Tromsø route was originally planned for the winter program only, but its popularity has persuaded SAS to offer departures throughout the summer and winter. SAS will also operate the Stockholm – Tromsø route up to five times a week during the winter.

Although Copenhagen – Boston will take a winter break, the number of intercontinental flights to Miami and Washington DC will be increased, with three and seven weekly departures from Kastrup, respectively. The frequency of flghts to Miami from Stockholm will double.

In Norway, Oslo will have more frequent departures to Warsaw, Billund, Dusseldorf and Gazipasa, plus flights to a number of other cities: A new route between Bergen – Aberdeen is being established, whilst the Bodø – Alicante route is proving very popular with customers and will continue in the winter program.

There will also be new direct routes from Stockholm to Oulu, Finland, plus additional departures between Gothenburg and Berlin. Berlin is currently also serviced from Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. There will also be more frequent departures from Stockholm to more European destinations, such as Alicante, Lisbon, Turku and Örnsköldsvik.

Tampere in Finland will gain a new route to Malaga in the SAS winter program.

SAS aircraft slide show:

China Eastern introduces its Pixar Toy Story logo jet

China Eastern Airlines has introduced a new “Pixar Toy Story” special color scheme on Airbus A330-343 B-5976 (msn 1632). The airline has made this announcement:

Our new Disney livery plane based on Pixar Toy Story took its maiden flight from Shanghai to Beijing today, April 28, 2018.

It is our third Disney livery plane, and this time we present you a special inner decoration.

Let China Eastern take you to Shanghai Disney Resort.

All photos by China Eastern.

Wow Air introduces new Wow Premium Fares

Wow Air, Iceland’s ultra-low-fare transatlantic airline, announces WOW premium, a new full-service ticket bundle that is perfect for the business or leisure traveler seeking a more inclusive travel experience. This new offering from Wow Air will rival similar business services offered on legacy carriers with the fares remaining closer to what consumers have come to know and expect from the innovative Icelandic airline.

The WOW premium ticket bundle includes: the WOW air BigSeat, featuring a wider seat with a foot rest and at least 37 inches of legroom; priority boarding and fast track security; an in-flight meal and drinks; two checked bags; one carry-on item; one personal item; and no change fee for rescheduling and cancellation protection.

WOW premium is an enhanced version of the WOW biz offering that was announced in 2017.

“We have received great interest from businesses that want to provide their employees that travel a more comfortable experience at affordable prices that are not currently available,” says Skúli Mogensen, founder and CEO of WOW air. “We believe we can be a leader in this market by offering a premium product at half the price of our competitors and look forward to continuing to lower prices over the Atlantic.”

For a limited time, travelers can purchase select one-way WOW premium fares to Iceland from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and New York (EWR and JFK) for as low as $399*. Additionally, WOW air is offering select one-way WOW premium fares from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and New York (EWR and JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG) and London (LGW and STN) via Iceland for as low as $599*.

More information about each ticket package available from WOW air is available here:

WOW basic

WOW plus

WOW comfy

WOW premium

Flight ticket
1 personalitem up to a maximum of 42x32x25cm/ 17x13x10in.

Flight ticket
1 personal item
1 carry-on bag up to a maximum of 56x45x25cm/22x18x10in (12kg/26 lbs).
1 checked bag.
Standard seat selection.

Flight ticket
1 personal item
1 carry-on bag
1 checked in bag.
Cancellation protection. Ensures a refund if a customer cancels a flight reservation due to unavoidable reasons. More on cancellation protection here.
Seat reservation. XL (seat pitch: 32“ – 33″) or XXL (seat pitch: 35″+). Best extra legroom seat available.

Flight ticket
1 personal item.
1 carry-on bag.
2 checked bags
Cancellation protection. Ensures a refund if a customer cancels a flight reservation due to unavoidable reasons. More on cancellation protection here.
BigSeat. Our biggest and most comfortable seat with a seat pitch: 37″ -45″)
Fast Track Security at KEF airport in Iceland. Separate security lane through security control. Quicker access to the departure hall.
Priority boarding (all airports). Early boarding means plenty of overhead baggage space and more time to get comfortable on board.
In-flight meal. Delicious meal from our exclusive pre-order menu or food and drink from the WOW ME catalog on board.
No change fee

*Flights from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (EWR & JFK) to Iceland (KEF), Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG) and London (LGW & STN) via Iceland. Based on lowest one-way WOW premium fare booked on www.wowair.us. Includes all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Available for travel April – June & September – October, 2018. The offer applies for 375 seats on selected flights, only when booking round trip flights. Subject to availability. Lowest advertised fare is exclusive to MyWOW members.

Wow Air aircraft slide show:

SAS orders one Airbus A330-300 to replace an Airbus A340-300

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS has signed an order for one additional Airbus A330-300 with delivery during the spring of 2019. The aircraft will replace one Airbus A340-300.

SAS’s long haul fleet consists of 16 Airbus A330/A340, of which one Airbus A340-300 mostly has functioned as a reserve aircraft. With the investment in one new Airbus A330, SAS improves its customer offering as SAS’s entire long haul fleet will have an identical cabin interior. In addition, the Airbus A330-300 has approximately 15-20% lower jet fuel consumption per seat kilometer compared to the Airbus A340 that will be replaced.

The list price of one A330-300 aircraft, including engines, ordered from Airbus amounts to $264 million, before discounts agreed between SAS and Airbus. The new Airbus A330-300 will be financed through a sale/leaseback.

In accordance with the other A330-300, SAS has chosen RR Trent 772B as engine.

SAS will eventually replace its remaining Airbus A340-300s with new Airbus A350-900s.

SAS aircraft slide show:

Hong Kong Airlines to operate seasonal service to Moscow

With the FIFA World Cup 2018 taking place in Russia, Hong Kong Airlines will launch a seasonal thrice-weekly service* linking Hong Kong and Moscow from May 18 to October 27, 2018.

Hong Kong Airlines will deploy an Airbus A330-300 on its new service between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Moscow Vnukovo International Airport (VKO). The wide-body aircraft features a two-class configuration with 32 Business Class seats and 260 Economy Class seats.

Flight schedule* is as follows (All times local):

Flight Number	Route	Departure	Arrival	Frequency
HX2019	HKG-VKO	1615	2125	Tue
HX2019	HKG-VKO	1500	2010	Fri, Sun
HX2018	VKO-HKG	0020	1500	Wed
HX2018	VKO-HKG	0035	1515	Mon, Sat

* Our newly launched scheduled service between Hong Kong and Moscow is subject to government and regulatory approval.

* Flight number and schedule may change without prior notice

Hong Kong Airlines aircraft slide show:

Virgin Atlantic updates its economy section

Virgin Atlantic Airways on March 7 announced the launch of three new ways to fly economy as part of a multi-million pound investment in the cabin for the 21^st century traveller.

From the spring of 2018, Virgin Atlantic will introduce ‘Economy Delight, ‘Economy Classic’ and ‘Economy Light’ tickets. The three new ways to fly will allow customers to choose the product that suits their budget and travel style – but never compromise on inclusive food and drink, unrivalled service, and inflight entertainment.

Economy Delight will offer the leading economy product of any UK airline – customers will enjoy a seat with 34 inch legroom, priority check in and boarding as well as advanced seat assignment. Economy Classic will now offer free seat assignment – providing extra reassurance for families and groups that they can sit together. The new Economy Light ticket will always offer Virgin Atlantic’s lowest fare – making long haul travel affordable and accessible for millennials, and customers jetting off on city breaks.

What the new fares offer:

Economy Light

Pack light and pay less.
Seat allocated at check in, then sail through security with hand luggage only.

Meals, drinks and snacks included

Hand baggage only

No refunds or changes

Economy Classic

Little extras that make a big difference.
Take a bag and choose your seats in advance.

Meals, drinks and snacks included

1 x 23kg checked bag

Free seat selection at any time

Upgradeable with miles

Economy Delight

A bit more legroom, a lot more style.
Take the comfort level up a notch and get settled in sooner.

Meals, drinks and snacks included

1 x 23kg checked bag

Free seat selection at any time

Upgradeable with miles

Extra legroom seat

Premium check in

Priority boarding

Craig Kreeger, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“We’re unveiling the biggest change to our Economy cabin in over a decade – launching three new ways to fly, and a host of innovations on the ground and in the air as part of a wider £300 million investment in our customers. We know that one size doesn’t fit all, and from spring our customers can afford to be choosy and still travel in the UK’s leading economy cabin.

“We always want flying with Virgin Atlantic to be more special than other airlines, and we’ll never compromise on excellent service, industry leading food and drink and cutting edge inflight entertainment – regardless of which Economy ticket our customers are travelling on, they’ll be able to enjoy all this onboard.”

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“When I started Virgin Atlantic I wanted to challenge the status quo and make flying amazing – regardless of which cabin you’re in – and that’s still true today. We’re unveiling a multimillion pound investment to make Virgin Atlantic’s Economy cabin the best of any UK airline and setting the bar for others to follow.”

The three new ways to travel are part of a wider investment in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy cabin – delivering innovations on the ground, and in the air:

Investing in additional Economy Delight seats: At a time when most airlines are packing seats onto planes, Virgin Atlantic is investing in extra leg room. The airline is retrofitting its fleet to provide up to 36 Economy Delight seats on every flight – offering customers an even comfier journey with spacious 34 inch legroom.
Serving up the best Economy meals in the sky: All customers travelling in Economy will continue to enjoy a three course meal plus complimentary drinks and snacks – with a focus on supporting independent suppliers such as UK based Fairfield Farm Crisps, and the Grown Up Chocolate Company.
More personalised service at the airport: For the first time Virgin Atlantic is introducing automated bag drop at London airports, freeing up employees to provide a more personalised service where customers need it most. Four kiosks will open at London Gatwick this summer, followed by a further 18 kiosks at London Heathrow from winter 2018.
Keeping our customers connected: Every single seat in Economy now offers a personal USB charging point, and every route offers access to high speed Wi-Fi to help customers work and play on the go.
New aircraft: 12 new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will join the fleet from spring 2019 – offering unrivalled levels of comfort and reliability for customers, and a brand new Economy cabin designed with Virgin Atlantic’s customers in mind.
Virgin scent: Virgin Atlantic has partnered with leading British candle maker Rachel Vosper to create a new scent called “Air.” Designed to evoke wellbeing and inspire future travel it will be available across check in, the gate and upon boarding the aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic and Delta offer the leading transatlantic partnership, and the new Economy products will offer a seamless experience for customers travelling with the airlines. Economy Delight, Economy Classic and Economy Light will complement Delta’s Comfort +, Main Cabin and Basic Economy products – always offering a three course meal , Wi-Fi, hundreds of hours of inflight entertainment and excellent service regardless of the ticket type.

Virgin Atlantic aircraft slide show:

Wow Air to launch low-cost flight from New York JFK to Iceland this spring

Wow Air will begin service out of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on April 27, 2018, giving New York passengers the opportunity to visit some of the most popular European destinations just in time for spring. Travelers still have the option to fly out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) as well, with a total of 20 weekly flights from both JFK and EWR.

For a limited time, $99 tickets will be available from JFK and EWR to Keflavik (Reykjavik), Iceland and $149 tickets from EWR to Amsterdam (AMS), Berlin (SXF) and Paris(CDG) and from JFK to London (STN), Paris (CDG) and Amsterdam (AMS).

Launched in November 2011, Wow Air now connects 38 destinations across the U.S. and Europe with the Icelandic capital. In 2016, WOW Air flew with 1,668,773 passengers in total, which is an increase of 130% from 2015.

Wow Air aircraft slide show:

Cebu Pacific to fly nonstop Manila – Melbourne

Cebu Pacific has announced nonstop service between Manila and Melbourne, Australia starting on August 14, 2018, subject to final regulatory approval.

This is Cebu Pacific’s second destination in Australia following the launch of its nonstop Manila-Sydney route in 2014. Since its entry, tourist arrivals from the Philippines has become one of the fastest-growing source markets for Australia, with an average 16% increase over the past four years. Prior to the entry of Cebu Pacific, tourist arrivals from the Philippines was at about 70,000. Since 2014, that number has steadily climbed to over 120,000.

Cebu Pacific will fly three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) between Manila and Melbourne with the following schedule:

			ETD (local time)	ETA (local time)
Manila-Melbourne	5J 049	T/TH/Sat	605am	350pm
Melbourne-Manila	5J 050	T/TH/Sat	505pm	1115pm

The Manila-Melbourne service leads Cebu Pacific on another expansion path across the region, further boosting a network that now spans over 106 routes on 37 domestic and 26 international destinations. Cebu Pacific is expecting delivery of the first of its brand new Airbus A321ceo aircraft in the next few weeks. Between 2018 and 2022, CEB expects delivery of six additional Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo, and eight ATR 72-600.

Copyright Photo: Cebu Pacific Air (Cebu Pacific Air.com) Airbus A330-343 RP-C3343 (msn 1495) SIN (Pascal Simon). Image: 939336.

Cebu Pacific aircraft slide show:

Virgin Atlantic is adding four Airbus A330-200s

On social media, Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) announced the addition of its first Airbus A330-200 to the fleet:

Say hello to “Daydream Believer”, an Airbus A330-200 that’s the latest addition to our fleet.

Video:

Virgin Atlantic is adding four ex-Airberlin Airbus A330-200s.

The aircraft will be flying from Manchester to New York-JFK (starting on March 1), Atlanta (March 2), Barbados (May 17), San Francisco (May 22) and Boston (May 23).

According to the carrier, “These aircraft will add resilience to our flying program in light of an industry-wide shortage of Trent 1000 engines used on our Boeing 787 aircraft.”

The four additions:

Airbus A330-223 G-VMNK (msn 403, ex D-ALPA) “Daydream Believer”

Airbus A330-223 G-VWND (msn 476, ex D-ALPF) “Scarlett O’Hara”

Airbus A330-223 G-VMIK (msn 432, ex D-ALPB) “Honky Tonk Woman”

And a fourth to be registered as G-VLNM “Strawberry Fields”

Each of the aircraft will feature 19 fully flat beds in Upper Class, 45 extra leg room economy seats and 222 economy seats.

Top Copyright Photo: The Airbus A330-200s will join with the A330-300s already in the fleet. Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A330-343 G-VINE (msn 1231) LHR (SPA). Image: 940830.

Virgin Atlantic aircraft slide show:

Sichuan Airlines is coming to Zurich

Sichuan Airlines is going to extend the existing Chengdu – Prague route to Zurich on March 26, 2018. The extended route will be operated three days a week with Airbus A330s per Airline Route.

In other news, the Chinese carrier launched the Chengdu – St. Petersburg, Russia route on January 26, 2018.

Sichuan Airlines aircraft slide show: