Tag Archives: Airbus A340-313

Air Belgium starts operations

Air Belgium (2nd) (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) commenced operations today (March 29). The second version of Air Belgium operated their very first flight positioning from Bari (BRI) to Amsterdam (AMS). The pictured OO-ABA then operated a revenue flight for Surinam Airways from Amsterdam to Paramaribo (PBM) operating for them as flight PY993, substituting for Surinam PZ-TCR.

The new airline obtained its AOC on March 14, 2018.

Regular scheduled operations will begin on April 30 from Brussels South Charleroi Airport to Hong Kong.

Air Belgium aircraft slide show:

Air Tahiti Nui Introduces the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabins, the A340s to be phased out in September 2019

Air Tahiti Nui on March 22 introduced its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner cabin layout in the Global Distribution System (GDS) for worldwide distribution and sales.

In 2015, the flag carrier of French Polynesiafinalized a purchase order for two 787-9 Dreamliners and the lease of two additional 787-9s through Air Lease Corporation.

The new “Tahitian Dreamliner” will be available starting November 2018 on its first flights between Tahiti and Auckland, New Zealand.

The phasing out of Air Tahiti Nui’s current Airbus A340-300 fleet will commence in November 2018 and be completed by September 2019, coinciding with the airline’s 20^th anniversary (below).

Above Copyright Photo: Air Tahiti Nui Airbus A340-313 F-OSUN (msn 446) LAX (Robbie Shaw). Image: 937697.

A New Premium Cabin and Class Configuration

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

With the introduction of the airline’s first Premium Economy product, travelers will discover the many benefits of the new three-class configuration (Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class). ZODIAC Aerospace is providing the airline’s new Z535 Premium Economy class seat as well as the new Z300 Economy class seat.

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

The MOANA Premium class will offer a more comfortable flying experience with extra leg room and relaxation space. The Z535 seat will feature a unique structure providing an optimum pitch of 38 inches, a width of 19 inches and a seat recline of 8 inches. The dedicated cabin will feature a total of 32 seats configured in five rows on a seven-abreast (2-3-2) arrangement.

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

The two Moana Economy class cabins will feature a total of 232 seats specially designed for long-haul travel, on a nine-abreast (3-3-3) configuration. The Z300’s articulating seat pan makes it one of the best next generation long-range economy class seats available in the industry. The economy class seats will be installed at a pitch of 31 inches offering a seat recline of 6 inches for improved comfort.

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

Air Tahiti Nui is also providing further enhancements in its famous Poerava Business Class, including the introduction of a 180-degree full-flat seat designed by Rockwell Collins. The Parallel Diamond, designed to optimize space, includes a wide range of storage areas to accommodate today’s business class traveler. The cabin will feature a total of 30 seats configured in five rows on a six-abreast (2-2-2) arrangement. Installed at a 60 inches of pitch, the new business class product moves into a fully flat 78 inches bed for sleeping. Each seat is equipped with a luxurious cushion and cover comfort system for restful travel. The updated business class seats also offer a touch screen remote control, inflight entertainment system, personal lighting and privacy divider.

A New Connected Entertainment System

The “Tahitian Dreamliner” will be equipped with Panasonic’s most advanced Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system in operation today. The eX3 solution offers unmatched performance and reliability bringing Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) to every seat through multi-touch screens, ensuring that every passenger enjoys an immersive and entertaining experience while onboard. Business class seats will be equipped with 16-inch screens, Premium Economy will feature 13-inch screens and Economy class will have 12-inch screens, matching the airline’s current Business class screen size.

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

As part of this new partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, guests will be able to stay connected with Panasonic’s eXConnect satellite broadband during the airline’s short- and long-haul flights from Los Angeles, Paris, Auckland and Tokyo to Tahiti. Additionally, high speed internet will be accessible directly with the in-seat system and via PDA through onboard Wi-Fi.

A New Cabin Aesthetic

The cabins of the Dreamliners will be completely redesigned to offer a stunning new look that is distinctly Tahitian. Air Tahiti Nui’s inspiration lies in the beautiful Islands of Tahiti and its people, which inspire the airline to create a remarkable and engaging customer experience that transcends the cabin reality, so that a trip to Tahiti starts from the moment you step on board the aircraft.

(PRNewsfoto/Air Tahiti Nui)

As Air Tahiti Nui approaches its 20^th anniversary, customers can look forward to more exciting news on the new “Tahitian Dreamliner”.

All Images by Air Tahiti Nui.

Air Tahiti Nui aircraft slide show:

Lufthansa to fly nonstop to Jeddah and Addis Ababa in two separate flights from October 2018

In the 2018/19 winter flight schedule, Lufthansa will be offering the connections from Frankfurt to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) as two separate flights. Until now, the only connection from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa involved a time-consuming stop-over in Jeddah. Wide-body aircraft and improved departure times make these connections even more attractive for travelers, while the early-morning arrival in Frankfurt gives passengers access to the entire range of Lufthansa flights to destinations around the world. With this change, Lufthansa is reacting to increased demand for tickets to these two destinations.

The new nonstop connection from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa will be served daily, except on Tuesdays and on Sundays. An Airbus A340-300 with the flight number LH598 will take off for the East African metropolis at 2:10 p.m. and reach the Ethiopian capital at 10:55 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves Addis Ababa at 00:55 a.m. the next day and arrives in Frankfurt at 6:35 a.m. The nonstop flight will decrease the average flight duration to approximately seven hours.

Every day except Wednesday, an Airbus A330-300 with the flight number LH652 will fly from Frankfurt to Jeddah, leaving the Rhine-Main area at 2:10 p.m. and arriving in Jeddah around 9:40 p.m. The return flight is scheduled to leave Jeddah at 1:50 a.m. the following day and arrive in Frankfurt at 5:45 a.m.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

PAL to upgrade Brisbane to nonstop flights, will drop Darwin

Philippine Airlines (Manila) will begin operating direct nonstop flights between Manila and Brisbane from March 27, giving passengers the convenience of a shorter flying time of less than seven (7) hours, compared to the current one-stop service of 9 hours 20 minutes with a stopover in Darwin.

The Manila – Brisbane nonstop flights will operate four times weekly, utilizing the 254-seat Airbus A340 aircraft initially, and PAL’s brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft later in the first half of 2018. The A321 NEO is the longer-range version of the popular A321, outfitted with full-flat business class seats and entertainment systems.

PR 221 leaves Manila at 11:30 PM every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and arrives in Brisbane at 9:20 AM local time the following day, every Thursday, Saturday Sunday. Return flight PR 222 departs Brisbane at 11 AM local time (Th/Sa/Su) and touches down in Manila at 5 PM on the same day.

Effective May 1, PAL will operate the fourth weekly frequency every Tuesday. Flight PR221 leaves Manila at 12:55 AM (Tue) and arrives in Brisbane at 10:45 AM local time on the same day. Return flight PR222 departs Brisbane at 12 NN local time (Tue) and touches down in Manila at 6 PM on the same day.

In 2017 alone, the flag carrier launched nonstop flights to Toronto (Canada), Auckland (New Zealand), Doha (Qatar), Kuwait City (Kuwait) and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) by eliminating the en route stopovers in Vancouver, Cairns, Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively.

With the removal of the Darwin stopover by March 25, PAL will temporarily suspend its flights to Darwin, considering that a stand-alone Manila-Darwin service would be uneconomically sustainable. The airline will revisit this decision in the near future as market conditions improve.

In the meantime, PAL will continue expansion to other key Australia destinations as it assigns more of the new A321neos and the new-cabin Airbus A330s to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Philippines aircraft slide show:

Lufthansa will be flying from Frankfurt to Shenyang in China again in Summer 2018

As of March 27, 2018 Lufthansa will be offering flights to Shenyang in China from Frankfurt again.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, an Airbus A340-300 will head towards China. Flight LH782 will take off in Frankfurt at 5:50 p.m. and reach Shenyang the next morning at 9:55 a.m. local time. The return flight is scheduled to depart at 1:15 p.m. as LH783 and reach Frankfurt around 6:30 p.m. The aircraft has three travel classes (Business Class, Premium Economy, Economy Class) and can seat a total of 279 passengers.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

Eurowings adds its first Airbus A340-300

Eurowings has added its first Airbus A340-300 to its long-haul fleet. The pictured ex-Lufthansa Airbus A340-313 D-AIGY (msn 335) was in storage and was repainted and re-delivered to Frankfurt on January 13, 2018.

Photo: Eurowings.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Air France to resume nonstop flights to Saint Martin (St. Maarten)

Air France is resuming its nonstop flight schedule between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin – Juliana (SXM).

Two special nonstop flights for the Christmas holiday period will operate between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin – Juliana on December 23, 2017 and January 6, 2018.

From January 13 to March 26, 2018, the end of the 2017-18 winter season, Air France will operate a nonstop service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin – Juliana once a week by Airbus A340 with a capacity of 275 seats (30 seats in Business, 21 seats in Premium Economy and 224 seats in Economy).

From March 27 to June 13, 2018, the start of the 2018 summer season, Saint Martin – Juliana will be served non-stop by Air France from Paris-Charles de Gaulle once a week by Airbus A330-200 with a capacity of 208 seats (40 seats in the Business cabin, 21 seats in the Premium Economy cabin and 147 seats in the Economy cabin).

From June 14 to October 27, 2018, the end of the 2018 summer season, two weekly flights will operate between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin – Juliana by Airbus A330-200, with a capacity of 208 seats (40 seats in the Business cabin, 21 seats in the Premium Economy cabin and 147 seats in the Economy cabin).

Since the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma, the Air France-KLM Group has been constantly changing its services to Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy according to changes in demand and the operational constraints involved in the operation of these flights.

Flight schedules (in local time)

Special flights on December 23/24, 2017 and January 6/7, 2018 by Airbus A340:

AF4140: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:30, arrives at Saint Martin – Juliana at 14:50
Flight operates on December 23, 2017 and January 6, 2018

AF4141: leaves Saint Martin – Juliana at 16:50, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 06:10
Flight operates on December 24, 2017 and January 7, 2018

From January 13 to March 26, 2018 (end of 2017-18 winter season) – one weekly flight by Airbus A340:

AF498: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle à 10:30, arrives at Saint Martin – Juliana at 14:50

AF525: leaves Saint Martin – Juliana à 18:55, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 08:15

Flight operates on Saturdays

From March 27 to June 13, 2018 (start of 2018 summer season) – one weekly flight by Airbus A330:

AF202: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:40, arrives at Saint Martin – Juliana at 13:45

Flight operates on Tuesdays from March 27 to June 13, 2018 (except from May 2-16, 2018, operates on Wednesdays)

AF209: leaves Saint Martin – Juliana at 15:45, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 06:05

Flight operates on Wednesdays from March 27 to June 13, 2018 (except from May 3-17, 2018, operates on Thursdays)

From June 14 to October 27, 2018 (end of 2018 summer season) – two weekly flights by Airbus A330:

AF498: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:40, arrives at Saint Martin – Juliana at 13:45

AF499: leaves Saint Martin – Juliana at 15:45, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 06:05

Flight operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Air France will also continue its daily service to Saint Martin – Grand Case (SFG) from Paris-Orly (ORY), via Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP), in partnership with Air Antilles, which operates flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Grand Case.

In addition, KLM will also serve Saint Martin – Juliana twice weekly to and from Amsterdam-Schiphol by Airbus A330 with a capacity of 268 seats (18 seats in the Business cabin and 250 in the Economy cabin).

Also, Saint Barthélemy (SBH) will be served in partnership with the airline Winair as a connection of all Air France and KLM flights to and from Saint Martin – Juliana and daily via Pointe-à-Pitre in partnership with the airline Air Antilles.

Edelweiss to add four additional long-haul destinations in November 2018

Edelweiss Air is adding four new long-haul destinations in November 2018. This includes Colombo (November 3, 2018, twice-weekly, A340-300), Ho Chi Minh City (November 15, 2018, twice-weekly A340-300), Mahe (November 3, 2018, weekly, A340-300) and Varadero (November 9, 2018, weekly, A330-300).

Copyright Photo: Edelweiss Switzerland (Edelweiss Air) Airbus A340-313 HB-JMG (msn 562) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 935101.

Edelweiss Air to add Buenos Aires

Starting on November 7, 2018, Edelweiss will operate twice-weekly nonstop flights from Zurich to Buenos Aires with an Airbus A340-300, departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays respectively.

As previously announced, Edelweiss will offer flight services to eight new holiday destinations in the short- and medium-haul range in 2018. Edelweiss will add three additional Airbus A320s. Two of the aircraft will commence flight operations in April 2018, the third one as of June 2018. The aircraft will be leased from Edelweiss’ parent company, the Lufthansa Group, and from the leasing company Macquarie.

Copyright Photo: Edelweiss Switzerland (Edelweiss Air) Airbus A340-313 HB-JMG (msn 562) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 935965.

South African Airways gets a government capital infusion

South African Airways on October 25, 2017 issued this statement:

1. South African Airways (SAA) welcomes the announcement of a capital injection made by government for the airline on October 25, 2017. The injection will go a long way to stabilise the airline financially and will help restore the confidence of all stakeholders in the operational sustainability of the company.

2. In order to turn its fortunes around, SAA had approached its shareholder with a request for recapitalisation of R13.1 billion over three years. The announcement today means that a total amount of R10 billion has been allocated to SAA in the current financial year. For the period ending 30 September, the airline received R5.2 billion. Of this, R2.2 billion was used to settle a maturing loan with Standard Chartered in July 2017 and another R700 million was paid to Citibank in September this year as part of the agreed payment plan and R1.2 billion was used towards working capital requirements. The funds remaining out of the R5.2 billion are ring-fenced to enable SAA to meet its payment plan with Citibank and to cover working capital requirement and/or partially settle the domestic lenders. Out of the remaining R4.8 billion, 60% will be used to partially pay the local lenders and the remainder of the funds will be used as working capital.

3. SAA is aware and sensitive to the reality that the allocation comes at a time when government faces a number of demands competing for resource allocation. This calls for departure from a mundane flight path, work with urgency towards bringing more shareholder value, and become financially sustainable in the shortest time possible.

4. The implementation of SAA’s turnaround plan must switch to a higher gear and reassure through results, all stakeholders that the airline is on course towards financial sustainability.

5. Both the lenders and the shareholder have imposed strict conditions, increased oversight and demand more accountability from the airline. The conditions imposed include revalidation of the turnaround plan and implementation thereof within specific time frames, appointment of mission-critical personnel (including a permanent Chief Executive, Chief Financial and Chief Restructuring Officers) as well as compliance on all governance issues. In addition, four other executive management positions will be advertised this weekend. Furthermore, National Treasury last week announced new appointments to strengthen the current SAA board of directors.

6. SAA has made significant headway in meeting the requirements set out by the shareholder and its lenders. The company has no intention to falter on the remainder of the conditions.

7. SAA is implementing some major initiatives as part of its remediation to improve financial performance and optimise operational performance. The airline has already announced its network changes and other milestones will be announced as the turnaround plan is implemented.

Copyright Photo: The Airbus A340-300s are now likely to be replaced sooner with any reorganization. South African Airways Airbus A340-313 ZS-SXE (msn 646) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 920715.