Tag Archives: Amsterdam

Fast-growing Ruili Airlines commits to purchase 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and Ruili Airlines (Kunming, Yunnan, China) today announced at the Paris Air Show that the airline has committed to purchase 30 737 MAXs with the financial support of AVIC International Leasing, amid a surge in China’s passenger traffic.

The commitment, valued at $3.2 billion at current list prices, will be subject to the approval of the Chinese government and will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

Currently, Ruili Airlines operates 34 daily flights on 11 scheduled routes with a fleet of five Boeing 737 airplanes. According to its development plan, the start-up carrier will expand its fleet to seven aircraft by the end of this year and 26 by 2020.

Ruili Airlines obtained its public air transport enterprise business license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in February 2014, marking the formal establishment of the carrier. The start-up airline is the first private carrier approved by CAAC after the regulator relaxed restrictions on new carriers in 2013.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Ruili Airlines already operates both the Boeing 737-700 and the 737-800. The pictured Boeing 737-86J D-ABMX (msn 37786) became B-1960 on delivery.

Ruili Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Air Canada inaugurates new routes to Amsterdam and Mexico City

Air Canada (Montreal) has further expanded its global network with the June 5 arrival of flight AC824 in Amsterdam from Toronto (Pearson) and the departure of AC994 from Montreal (Trudeau) to Mexico City. The launch of these nonstop services marks a further advance of the airline’s international expansion strategy, which has seen its international capacity grow more than 50 percent since 2009.

New routes launched by Air Canada this year, in addition to Toronto-Amsterdam and Montreal-Mexico City, include: Montreal-Venice, Vancouver-Osaka, Vancouver-Comox, Calgary-Halifax, Calgary-Nanaimo, Toronto-Austin, Toronto-Atlantic City and Calgary-Terrace. Announced new routes still to launch include: Toronto-Dubai, Toronto-Delhi and Toronto-Abbotsford.

The Toronto-Amsterdam route will be operated with 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft.

The Montreal-Mexico City route will be operated with 120-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Chris Sands/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-375 ER C-FPCA (msn 24306) rotates on the runway at Calgary International Airport.

Air Canada aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways posts its fourth consecutive profitable year

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) posted a fiscal year net profit of $73 million on total revenues of $7.6 billion, up 52.1 percent and 26.7 percent respectively over the previous year.

The airline continued:

The record performance, which marked the airline’s fourth consecutive year of net profitability, also saw earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up 32.5 per cent to $257 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and rentals (EBITDAR) were up 16.2 percent to $1.1 billion, representing a 15 percent margin on total revenues.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, “Our shareholder has set a clear commercial mandate for this business and we continue to deliver against that mandate. Our focus is on sustainable profitability and our fourth year of net profits, at a time when we continue to invest in the new routes, new aircraft, new product and new infrastructure needed to compete effectively, shows we are serious about that goal.

Etihad Airways carried a total of 14.8 million passengers in 2014, an increase of 22.3 percent year-on-year. Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) – measuring passenger journeys – increased by 23.6 percent to 68.6 billion (55.5 billion), while Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) – representing capacity – grew by 21.8 percent to 86.6 billion (71.1 billion). The growth in passenger demand and revenue over the 12-month period continued to outstrip Etihad Airways’ capacity increase, highlighting the strength of its long-term growth strategy.

Passenger numbers were strengthened by the continued enhancement of Etihad Airways’ global network last year. The airline launched services to 10 new destinations in eight countries – Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Francisco, Rome, Zurich, Medina, Yerevan, Jaipur, Phuket and Perth – and increased capacity on 23 existing routes. By the end of the year, the average network-wide seat load factor was 79.2 per cent, compared to 78.0 per cent in 2013.

A key driver of Etihad Airways’ growth in 2014 was its partnership strategy, based on wide-ranging codeshares and its unique approach of minority equity investments in strategically important airlines. This has accelerated network growth, giving Etihad Airways the largest route network of any Middle Eastern carrier, reaching more than 500 destinations. It has boosted sales and marketing opportunities in key markets, as well as allowing significant business synergies and cost savings.

This strategy delivered revenues of $1.1 billion in 2014, an increase of 37.7 per cent (US$ 820 million), and represented 24 per cent of Etihad Airways’ total passenger revenues.

In 2014, Etihad Airways received final approval for its 49 percent investment in Air Serbia. It also invested €560 million to acquire a 49 per cent shareholding in new Alitalia, a 75 percent interest in Alitalia Loyalty, which operates the MilleMiglia frequent flier program, and the future purchase of five pairs of London Heathrow Airport slots for lease back to Alitalia. The transaction became effective on December 31, 2014, after receiving European Commission merger clearance.

Air Serbia and Alitalia are the latest additions to Etihad Airways’ equity partner network. Etihad Airways also owns minority stakes in Airberlin, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus (stake increased to 4.99 percent in 2014), Jet Airways and Virgin Australia (stake increased to 22.9 percent in 2014). An investment in Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline, has now been formalized after Swiss Government approval earlier this year.

Etihad Airways launched new codeshare agreements with Air Europa, jetBlue Airways, Philippine Airlines, Gol, SAS, Hong Kong Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas, while Etihad Airways’ existing codeshares with South African Airways, Alitalia and Jet Airways were significantly expanded.

In addition, Etihad Airways Partners was unveiled last year, using a partnership cooperation model to offer passengers more choice through improved networks and schedules, plus enhanced frequent flyer benefits. The partnership also builds greater synergies for participating airlines, which currently include airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI.

Etihad Airways’ fleet consisted of 110 aircraft at the end of 2014 (up 23.6 per cent year-on-year), with an average age of 5.5 years, one of the youngest in the sky. The airline took delivery of its first Airbus A380 and its first Boeing 787-9 in December, with both state-of-the-art aircraft offering new industry leading standards in cabin interiors, together with considerable fuel efficiency and environmental improvements.

An additional nine Airbus aircraft (two A330-200s, three A321s, three A320s and one A330-200F) and six Boeing aircraft (one 777-300 ER, five 777-200 LRs) were received in 2014, while further leased capacity was also added to enhance the airline’s rapid growth.

More than 200 aircraft are currently on firm order, together with options and purchase rights for 66 additional aircraft. In 2015, Etihad Airways plans to introduce 16 aircraft into its fleet, including nine wide-bodies (one Boeing 777-300 ER, four Boeing 787 Dreamliners and four Airbus A380s) and seven narrow-body Airbus A320 family aircraft (six A321s and one A320).

Mr Hogan added: “Our ability to provide guests with the best possible service was strengthened by a number of important developments last year, including the arrival of our first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 aircraft, the introduction of our ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery, the launch of The Residence by Etihad™ and our next-generation First, Business and Economy products, and a sophisticated new uniform, as showcased to the world last year.”

In January 2014, the airline conducted a milestone demonstration flight with a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, powered in part by the first UAE-produced aviation biofuel.

Mr Hogan said, “Although our growth continued strictly to plan in 2014, we are currently faced with unprecedented external challenges. Of particular concern has been the rise in aggressive protectionist sentiment in Europe and the US, where both Etihad Airways and its partner airlines are being targeted. These attempts to limit competition are detrimental to consumer choice. They threaten to damage the significant progress that our airline has made in offering improved travel connections, product and service standards, and value for money.

“Despite these hurdles, Etihad Airways will continue to grow as planned in 2015, working with our equity and codeshare partners around the world to serve the destinations that our guests want to visit and at the times they want to travel.”

Etihad Airways employed 24,206 people from 144 nationalities by the end of 2014, an increase of 37.5 per cent compared to the previous year.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

KLM to introduce the Boeing 787-9 on October 25

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) has updated its planned Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner routes according to Airline Route. The airline is now planning to introduce the new type on the Amsterdam – Abu Dhabi – Bahrain route on October 25. This will be followed by Amsterdam – Cairo on November 30, Amsterdam – Quito -Guayaquil on December 2, Amsterdam – Xiamen on December 3, Amsterdam – Fukuoka on February 28, 2016, Amsterdam – Rio de Janeiro on March 1, 2016 and finally Amsterdam – Chengdu on March 27, 2016.

Images: KLM.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Emirates Group announces its 27th consecutive year of profit, $1.5 billion net profit, up 34%, will launch weekly cargo service to Columbus, Ohio

The Emirates Group (Emirates Airline and Emirates SkyCargo) (Dubai) has announced its 27th consecutive year of profit. The profit for the fiscal year was $1.5 billion, up 34 percent from the previous year. The airline issued this statement:

The Emirates Group announced its 27th consecutive year of profit and steady growth across the company, ending the year in a strong position despite the many global and operational challenges during this period. The financial year ending March 31, 2015 also marked the achievement of new capacity milestones at both Emirates and dnata, as the Group continued to expand its global footprint, and strengthen its business through strategic investments.

Released in its 2014-15 Annual Report the Emirates Group posted an AED 5.5 billion (US$1.5 billion) profit, up 34% from last year. The Group’s revenue reached AED 96.5 billion (US$26.3 billion), an increase of 10% over last year’s results, and the Group’s cash balance remained strong, growing to AED 20.0 billion (US$5.5 billion).

“2014-15 was a turbulent year for aviation. The fall in oil prices provided cost relief in the second half of our financial year, however it did not offset the hit to our profitability caused by significant currency fluctuations, nor the hit to our revenue from operational adjustments in addressing the Ebola outbreak, armed conflicts in several regions, and the 80-day runway upgrading works at Dubai International airport (DXB). Achieving our 27th consecutive year of profit and one of our best performances to date, is testimony to the strength of our brands and business fundamentals, as well as the dedication and talent of our workforce,” said His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.

The strong rise of the US dollar against currencies in many of Emirates’ and dnata’s key markets had an AED 1.5 billion (US$412 million) impact to the Group’s bottom line, while the 80-day disruption at DXB had an estimated impact of AED 1.7 billion (US$467 million) on Group revenue.

“Every year brings a new set of challenges. In addressing these, we are always guided by the best interest of our people, our customers, and our long-term goals. As a Group, we keep a close eye on our top and bottom lines, but we never take our foot off the gas pedal when it comes to investing to enhance our business performance, and looking after our people. In 2014-15, the Group collectively invested over AED 20.2 billion (US$5.5 billion) in new aircraft and equipment, modern facilities, the latest technologies, and staff initiatives. This was the second highest amount ever in one financial year after last year’s record investment.”

The Group’s employee base across its more than 80 subsidiaries and companies increased by 11% to over 84,000-strong representing over 160 different nationalities.

“Looking ahead, the ongoing uncertainty for many currencies and economic markets around the world will continue to pose a challenge, as will the looming threat of protectionism in some countries. However, we move into the new financial year with confidence, and a strong foundation for continued profitability with our strong balance sheet, solid track record, diverse global portfolio, and international talent pool,” said Sheikh Ahmed. “We will continue on our journey of steady and rational growth, and work even harder to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

In line with the overall profit increase, the Group declared a dividend of AED 2.6 billion (US$ 700 million) to the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

Emirates performance

In 2014-15, Emirates increased capacity by 4.0 billion Available Ton Kilometers (ATKMs). For the first time in the airline’s history, Emirates’ total passenger and cargo capacity crossed the 50 billion mark, to 50.8 billion ATKMs at the end of the financial year, cementing its position as the world’s largest international airline.

Emirates received 24 new aircraft during the year, including 12 A380s, ten Boeing 777-300 ERs and two Boeing 777Fs, bringing its total fleet count to 231. At the same time 10 aircraft were phased out, taking the average fleet age to 75 months or approximately half the industry average of 140 months. The airline remains the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 and A380 – both aircraft being amongst the most modern and efficient wide-bodied jets in the sky today.

With the delivery of new aircraft, Emirates launched five new passenger destinations: Abuja, Brussels, Budapest, Chicago, Oslo and four new additional freighter-only destinations: Atlanta, Basel, Mexico City, and Ouagadougou. It also added services and capacity to 34 cities on its existing route network across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, offering customers even greater choice and connectivity.

The 80-day runway closure at DXB necessitated the grounding of 19 Emirates aircraft, reducing the airline’s capacity by 9%, and causing the reduction of services to 41 destinations over this period. The estimated impact on airline revenue was AED 1.6 billion (US$ 436 million). The Ebola outbreak in Africa prompted route suspensions and increased health and safety screenings at other ports; and geopolitics resulted in the suspension of services and re-routing of flight paths to avoid overflying conflict zones.

Despite these challenges, Emirates revenue reached a new record of AED 88.8 billion (US$24.2 billion). The average price of jet fuel dropped significantly during the second half of the financial year and has supported Emirates’ bottom line improvement. Emirates’ fuel bill decreased by 7% over last year to AED 28.7 billion (US$7.8 billion). Fuel is now 35% of operating costs, down by 4%pts compared to last year. However, fuel remained the biggest cost component for the airline. Total operating costs increased by 6%, compared to a revenue increase of 7% over the 2013-14 financial year.

The airline successfully managed increased competitive pressure across all markets to record a profit of AED 4.6 billion (US$1.2 billion), an increase of 40% over last year’s results, and a healthy profit margin of 5.1%, the strongest margin since 2010-11.

Carrying a record 49.3 million passengers, up 11% from last year, Emirates managed to achieve a Passenger Seat Factor of 79.6%, an improvement compared with last year’s results (79.4%) in spite of a 9% increase in seat capacity byAvailable Seat Kilometres (ASKMs). This highlights thestrong consumer desire to fly on Emirates’ state-of-the-art aircraft, and via efficient routings through its Dubai hub.

Under pressure from the weakening of all major currencies against the USD, passenger yield dropped to 29.7 fils (8.1 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM).

Emirates also improved its premium seat factor despite lingering economic uncertainty and strong competition in many markets. Premium and overall seat factor for the airline’s flagshipA380aircraft outperformed the network, underscoring the popularity of Emirates’ premium and A380 product amongst passengers. At 31 March 2015, Emirates had 59 A380 aircraft in its fleet, serving one out of every four destinations on its passenger network.

To fund its fleet growth, Emirates raised a total of AED 18.7 billion (US$5.1 billion), using a variety of financing structures. Emirates achieved a major landmark when it closed the first ever Japanese Operating Lease on an A380. It also entered into a Japanese Operating Lease with a Call Option (JOLCO) with respect to one A380-800 aircraft to expand the investor base of the A380 into the Japanese market. During the year, Emirates also successfully closed sale and leaseback transactions for five B777-300ERs and one B777-200ER aircraft.

The financing highlight of the year was the successful issuance of a UK Export Finance (UKEF) guaranteed Sukuk bond of AED 3.4 billion (US$913 million) to fund the acquisition of four A380 aircraft to be delivered in 2015. This deal marked the world’s first Sukuk financing supported by UKEF and the largest ever capital markets offering in the aviation space with an Export Credit Agency guarantee.

These deals align with Emirates’ strategy to seek diverse financing sources, and underscore its sound financials and the strong investor confidence in the airline’s business model. Emirates closed the financial year with a healthy AED 13.3 billion (US$3.6 billion) cash flow from operating activities.

Revenue generated from across Emirates’ six regions continues to be well balanced, with no region contributing more than 30% of overall revenues. Europe is the highest revenue contributing region with AED 25.2 billion (US$6.9 billion), up 7% from 2013-14. East Asia and Australasia follows closely with an increase of 3% and AED 24.6 billion (US$6.7 billion). The highest growth with 20% was recorded for the Americas to AED 11.0 billion (US$3.0 billion). Gulf and Middle East revenue increased 4% to AED 8.6 billion (US$2.3 billion).

Across the rest of the globe Emirates saw strong revenue increases from West Asia and Indian Ocean up 11% to AED 9.2 billion (US$ 2.5 billion) and Africa with AED 8.1 billion (US$2.2 billion) in revenue, up 5%.

In line with its customer-focused proposition, Emirates invested over AED 73 million (US$20 million) last year to equip its fleet with free Wi-Fi. By March 31, 2015, 107 of its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft offered Wi-Fi services. The airline also opened new dedicated airport lounges in Glasgow and Los Angeles, taking to 37 the number of dedicated Emirates Lounges across the world. Emirates also opened a new 300-seat contact centre in Budapest to support its growth and supplement its language and response capability.

Looking forward to 2015-16, Emirates has to date announced two new routes including Denpasar and Orlando aside from a number of capacity upgrades to existing destinations.

The 2014-15 financial year has been a strong one for Emirates SkyCargo who reported a revenue of AED 12.3 billion (US$ 3.4 billion), a very remarkable 9% increase over last year. Contributing 15% of the airline’s total transport revenue Emirates SkyCargo continues to play an integral role in the company’s expanding operations.

Emirates SkyCargo’s tonnage strongly increased by 6% to reach 2.4 million tonnes in an airfreight market that remained challenging with fast-changing demand patterns. Emirates SkyCargo’s performance highlights its ability to grow revenues against the industry norm. This year, freight yield per Freight Tonne Kilometre (FTKM) decreased by 1%, and was also impacted by the weakening of major currencies.

On May 1, 2014, Emirates SkyCargo marked a major milestone with the move of its freighter operations to its new cargo terminal at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International airport (DWC). Capable of handling 700,000 tons of cargo annually, the new terminal at DWC is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and has the potential for further expansion to handle 1 million tonnes annually, positioning the business for future growth.

At the end of the financial year, the Emirates SkyCargo freighter fleet had grown to 14 aircraft – 12 Boeing 777Fs, and 2 Boeing 747-400Fs.

Emirates’ hotels recorded revenue of AED 693 million (US$ 189 million), an impressive increase of 23% over last year. This positive development was supported by the opening of the second tower of the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai, the world’s tallest hotel.

In other news, Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has announced that Columbus, the State Capital of Ohio in the United States, will join its global freighter network with the launch of a weekly service to Rickenbacker International Airport from May 27, 2015.

The new freighter service to America’s 15th largest city will become Emirates SkyCargo’s 48th destination in its worldwide freighter network and sixth in the US. The announcement was made on the side lines of the 7th Air Cargo Europe Exhibition and Conference taking place in Munich, Germany, where Emirates SkyCargo is showcasing its products and services.
The flight will be operated by an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 Freighter, which has the capacity to carry just over 100 tonnes of cargo, and with its main deck cargo door being one of the widest of any aircraft, enables it to uplift outsized cargo and carry larger consignments.

Top Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Emirates added an even dozen new Airbus A380s during the year. A380-861 A6-EEX (msn 154) departs from Heathrow Airport in London.

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Emirates SkyCargo is coming to Columbus, Ohio starting on May 27. Boeing 777-F1H A6-EFL (msn 42230) taxies at Amsterdam.

Air France-KLM to increase the number of flights to North America this summer

Air France-KLM Group (Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) (Paris and Amsterdam) have issued this statement:

This summer, in response to high market demand, Air France-KLM is strengthening its network in North America with new seasonal service between the United States and Europe. Starting May 4, Air France will operate nonstop flights between Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. In addition, beginning May 8, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will operate nonstop flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Air France Service from Minneapolis-Saint Paul

For the third consecutive year, Air France is offering nonstop flights between Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. From May 4 until September 27, 2015, Air France will operate up to 14 flights a week connecting Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Paris, seven of which will be operated in codeshare by its joint-venture partner Delta Air Lines (Atlanta). The Air France flights will operate on an Airbus A340-300 (above), featuring a capacity of 275 seats (30 seats in Business, 21 in Premium Economy and 224 in Economy).

Flight schedules (local times)

AF673: Departure from Minneapolis at 7:55 p.m., arrival at 11:25 a.m. the next day
AF694: Departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 1:45 p.m., arrival in Minneapolis at 3:50 p.m.

From May 4 to June 7, 2015, flights are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. From June 8 to August 30, flights are scheduled daily. From August 31 to September 27, flights are scheduled every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Service from Dallas-Fort Worth

From May 8 until October 24, 2015, nonstop flights operated by KLM will connect Dallas-Fort Worth and Amsterdam-Schiphol. Over this period, the airline will operate up to five flights per week. An Airbus A330-200 (below) will be used for the flights, with a capacity of 243 seats (30 seats in Business and 213 in Economy). KLM has been flying to this seasonal destination since March 2008.

Flight schedules (local times)

KL670: Departure from Dallas-Fort Worth at 3:30 p.m., arrival at Amsterdam-Schiphol at 7:55 a.m. the next day.
KL669: Departure from Amsterdam-Schiphol at 10:35 a.m., arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth at 1:40 p.m.

From May 8 to October 4, 2015, flights are scheduled every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays. From October 5 to October 24, flights are scheduled on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

19 Destinations in North America

During the 2015 summer season, Air France-KLM will serve 19 destinations in North America. In addition to the two new seasonal connections to Minneapolis and Dallas, the group is increasing its flights from Vancouver, Canada, with Air France operated flights to Paris-Charles de Gaulle that started on March 29, 2015. Starting May 19, 2015, KLM will begin service between Edmonton, Canada, and Amsterdam-Schiphol. Air France-KLM’s network is further strengthened by the transatlantic joint-venture between Air France, KLM, Alitalia, and Delta Air Lines – a partnership that represents 25% of total airline capacity between Europe and North America.

Top Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Air France Airbus A340-313 F-GLZO (msn 246) lands in Zurich.

Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. KLM’s Airbus A330-203 PH-AOF (msn 801) taxies at the Amsterdam hub.

Air France-KLM’s first quarter loss widens

Air France-KLM Group (Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Transavia Netherlands, Transavia France, Hop! and Martinair) reported a first quarter net loss of €504 million ($56.9 million), compared to a net loss of €485 million ($546 million) in the same quarter a year ago.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The group retired three Boeing 747 freighters in the Winter 2014-15 season, while another five Martinair McDonnell Douglas MD-11s will be retired by the end of the Winter 2015-16 season. The Group plans to operate only five full-freighters by the end of 2016. McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (F) PH-MCS (msn 48618) of Martinair taxies at the Amsterdam cargo hub.

Air France aircraft slide show:

KLM aircraft slide show:

Martinair aircraft slide show:

Delta announces its additional seasonal service to Amsterdam and Italy

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will add summer seasonal to Amsterdam from Salt Lake City International Airport. The nonstop daily flight to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport launches on May 2, 2015.

According to the airline, this summer Delta has increased its network out of Schiphol, adding extra services to New York-JFK, Detroit and Minneapolis/St Paul in March, with an additional frequency to Seattle/Tacoma starting on May 4. The airline will operate up to 19 peak-day nonstop flights, responding to increased demand for service between the U.S. and the Netherlands during the peak summer travel period.

Delta is also increasing travel options for customers flying between Italy and the United States this summer. The U.S. airline will be restarting numerous seasonal services throughout May and June 2015. Flights will operate from four Italian cities – Rome, Milan, Pisa and Venice – to Delta’s hubs in New York-JFK, Atlanta and Detroit.

Expanded service at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Rome

In addition to restarting its seasonal service to Detroit Metropolitan-Wayne County Airport on May 2, 2015, Delta will launch a second frequency to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, effective May 23. The extra services complement Delta’s existing daily flights to Atlanta and New York-JFK, and take the total number of weekly seats on offer between Rome and the U.S. to over 14,000.

The seasonal flight from Rome to Detroit will operate daily using a Boeing 767-400 and the second Atlanta flight will operate up to six times weekly using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Seasonal flights return to Venice and Pisa

Delta will restart a daily nonstop flight between Venice Marco Polo Airport and its Atlanta hub, effective June 2 using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The flight complements the existing daily New York-JFK service that was restarted at the end of March, meaning that Delta will operate two daily flights to the U.S. from Venice during the summer.

From Pisa, Delta will operate nonstop service to New York-JFK six times weekly using a Boeing 757-200 aircraft, effective June 16.

Extra service added at Milan Malpensa

Customers flying from Milan Malpensa Airport will benefit from a daily flight to Atlanta, effective June 17, complementing Delta’s existing daily service to New York-JFK. Operated using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, the flight will add a further 3,150 weekly seats between Milan and the U.S..

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-332 ER N176DZ (msn 29697) approaches the runway at Zurich.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery only):

KLM unveils its newest Boeing 777-300 ER in the new livery and new interior

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) welcomed its newest Boeing 777-300 featuring an all-new interior in its World Business Class and Economy Class. The exterior has already been decorated in the new company livery.

The new video below shows footage of the arrival and various features on board. KLM President and CEO Pieter Elbers gives a short rundown of the fleet renewal program, including the arrival of KLM’s first Boeing 787-9 in October.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 777-306 ER PH-BVN (msn 44459) was handed over officially on March 27 and it is named Tijuca National Park – Nationaal Park Tijuca.

KLM aircraft slide show:

Video Below: KLM. KLM welcomed its newest Boeing 777-300 featuring an all-new interior in its World Business Class and Economy Class. The exterior has already been decorated in the new company livery.

Emirates SkyCargo is coming to Orlando

Emirates SkyCargo (Dubai), the freight division of Emirates (Dubai), is set to expand its United States cargo network to 11 destinations, when the airline launches a daily service to Orlando, Florida from September 1, 2015.

The Dubai – Orlando route will be served by a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft, which has a belly-hold capacity of up to 17 tons of cargo per flight. Emirates SkyCargo also has belly-hold cargo services to San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Washington D.C., Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Chicago (O’Hare) and Houston (Bush Intercontinental), with the latter four cities also forming part of the air cargo carrier’s United States freighter network, along with Atlanta.

Emirates flight EK 219 will depart Dubai International Airport at 0350hrs local time and arrive at Orlando International Airport Terminal at 1140hrs local time. The return flight, EK 220 will depart Orlando International at 1420hrs and arrive into Dubai at 1230hrs the following day.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Emirates SkyCargo (Emirates) Boeing 777-F1H A6-EFI (msn 35609) taxies at Amsterdam.

Emirates: