Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) reported net income of RUB 3.03 billion ($85 million) in the first quarter, an increase of 5.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 VQ-BPW (msn 5982) with Sharklets prepares to touch down in Stockholm (Arlanda).
Aeroflot:ย 
Air Serbia (Belgrade) will launch a new daily Airbus A319 Belgrade-Beirut route on ย June 1 per Airline Route.
Top Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-131 YU-APC (msn 2621) lands at Stockholm (Arlanda).
Air Serbia:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Air Serbia/Vladimir Turo. The Airbus A319 fleet gathers at the Belgrade hub.
Norwegian Long Haul (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) today (May 3) launched the first nonstop flight from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Oakland, California. It is the first time that Sweden has a direct flight to the San Francisco Bay area.
The new route is operated two days a week with the Boeing 787. Oslo-Oakland service starts on May 28.
Norwegian’s other long-haul routes from Stockholm (Arlanda) and Oslo (Gardermoen) operates to New York (JFK), Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Bangkok. From Copenhagen the fast-growing airline operates nonstopย flights to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York (JFK).
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 EI-LNC (msn 34795) prepares to land at Stockholm (Arlanda).
Norwegian:ย
Emirates Airline (Dubai) will continue to serve all of its worldwide destinations during the 80-day period of runway upgrading works at Dubai International Airport (DXB) starting on May 1. However, it has had to reduce flights to over 40 destinations, and change timings on some of its flights.
These changes will not impact customers booked to fly between May and July, as the flight schedules have been planned and implemented months ahead of time. Customers or travel agents searching for flight options on Emirates will only see those flights that are available.
Emirates aircraft at Dubai International Airport.
โAs the biggest operator at Dubai International accounting for about 50% of traffic, of course we have had to take the biggest hit in reducing flights. There will be an impact on our revenues to the tune of approximately AED 1 billion. However, we understand the need for this upgrading work to be done, and we support it wholeheartedly. It will add much-needed capacity to the airport, and having world-class infrastructure ultimately means a better experience for customers. So we have to take the long-term view and manage the short term pain,โ he added.
Emirates will ground 20 aircraft in May, 22 in June, and 22 in July, as Dubai Airports launches a comprehensive runway upgrade project which will see both runways at Dubai International close alternatively for resurfacing and other enhancement works.
During this time, Emirates has plans for its own upgrading projects, taking advantage of its โgrounded fleetโ to perform engineering maintenance and onboard enhancements, ensuring its award-winning fleet operates at top form. These works include phased upgrades to its GCS (Global Communications Suite), an initiative that requires approximately 2,200 man hours of mechanical and avionic work per aircraft. The parked aircraft also provides operational flexibility for an ongoing fleet-wide inflight entertainment system and cabin maintenance improvement campaign. In addition, the Emirates Engineering team will carry out its first-ever landing gear change to a Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, the start of a program which will eventually involve over 70 other Boeing 777s. The landing gear change work occurs once every 10 years in the aircraftโs lifespan.
All Emirates passenger flights will continue to operate from Dubai International Airport (DXB) during the runway upgrading period from ย May 1 through July 20, while its freighter operations will move to Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central (DWC) on May 1 as planned.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-31H ER A6-EGT (msn 35600) touches down at Stockholm’s Arlanda International Airport (ARN).
Emirates:ย
Dniproavia Airways (Dniproavia National Aircompany) (Dnipropetrovsk) will start a new route between Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine and Vienna, Austria on April 30. Scheduled flights to the capital of Austria will be operated three times a week โ on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft.
Because of the loss of the Black Sea resorts in the Crimea, Dniproavia Airways is also developing new routes for the summer, offering alternative Black Sea resorts.
Starting on April 27, 2014 Dniproavia Airways starts direct scheduled flights between Dnipropetrovsk and Georgian cities of Tbilisi and Batumi.
Dniproavia Airways also starts a new route between Dnipropetrovsk and Istanbul on April 28, 2014.
Direct flights will be operated on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Flights en route Dnipropetrovsk -Tbilisi will be operated on Sundays:
Dniproavia is also planning a program of regular flights to the resorts in Bulgaria โ from Dnepropetrovsk to both Bourgas and Varna.
The airline had previouslyย ceased all operations on January 8, 2013 but managed to resume partial operations on February 1, 2013. The airline resumed full operations on April 2, 2014 after sanctions were lifted by the government although some routes are limited due to the current tensions in the eastern portion of the Ukraine and the Crimea which is now controlled by Russia.
The airline issued this statement:
Specific sanctions which have been applied to the Dniproavia since November 2013. According to the order of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the sanctions are now lifted.
Tax Notices, which became the basis to seek special sanctions โ introduction of individual licensing regime of international business activities โ had been recognized by the Court as illegal and were canceled. Nevertheless, the special sanctions had been applying to the Dniproavia Airways for five months, which had hampered greatly the economic activities of the Company: performance of daily payments in foreign currency for spare parts and components, airport services and air navigation, fueling, passenger handling. Also, as a result of the abovementioned sanctions customs clearance of the aircraft components was almost blocked.
Special sanctions applied to Dniproavia are lifted by the Order of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, dated April 2, 2014.
Thus, since April 2, 2014, Dniproavia has recommenced its normal operating activities.
Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Dniproavia now operates only the Embraer ERJ 145, retiring its Boeing 737s during the sanctioned period. ERJ 145EP (EMB-145EP) UR-DNK (msn 145039) is pictured at Stockholm (Arlanda).
Dniproavia:ย 
Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) is celebrating 50 years of flying to Chicago with increased service to the United States. The airline issued this statement:
SAS was the first airline to fly over the North Pole to the U.S. West Coast inย 1954. Ten years later, SAS also began flying to the U.S. Midwest and is nowย celebrating 50 years of service between Copenhagen and Chicago. In 2014, SAS isย continuing to increase its traffic, adding five weekly departures and a newย route to the USA. In doing so, SAS is cementing its position as Scandinavia’sย biggest and most capable airline for travel to the United States.
On April 2, 1964, SAS launched the route to Chicago (O’Hare) with the maiden flight fromย Copenhagen. Captain Jens Mueller flew passengers and crew in a Douglas DC-8-33 toย Chicago via Montreal, sowing the seeds for a successful route, which has sinceย been operated by aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, Boeing 767 and Airbus A330and A340.ย More than 3 million people have flown this route with SAS, and today the airlineย flies directly from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Chicago.
SAS operates a nonstop route between Copenhagen and Chicago (O’Hare) with one flight a day every day of the week. This will now also apply to the route to San Francisco, which is getting an extra departure on Tuesday, making it a daily service as of June 10.
SAS currently flies from Stockholm to Chicago every day in the summer and five times a week in winter. SAS is adding another winter departure to Chicago (O’Hare) from Stockholm, which will also be getting an extra flight to New York (JFK). SAS is also adding two more departures a week on the Oslo-New York (JFK) route in winter. Oslo-New York (JFK) operates daily in the summer.
SAS has also just announced the opening of a new route between Stavanger andย Houston (Bush Intercontinental) (please see our previous report).
Details of the expansion of U.S. services:
ยท Copenhagen-San Francisco: From June 10 to October 25, 7 departures per weekย (Tuesday has been added)
ยท Stockholm Chicago: Daily departures in the summer. On the winter timetableย (from end of October) 6 departures per week (Thursday has been added)
ยท Stockholm-New York: Daily departures in the summer. On the winter timetableย (from end of October) 6 departures per week (Friday has been added)
ยท Oslo-New York: Daily departures in the summer. On the winter timetable (fromย end of October) 6 departures per week (Tuesday and Wednesday have been added)
ยท Stavanger-Houston: From 20 August with 6 departures per week (exceptย Saturday)
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus Airbus A340-313X OY-KBM (msn 450) in the Star Alliance motif departs the runway at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport (ARN).
Scandinavian Airlines-SAS:ย
Eastern Airways (Humberside and Aberdeen) is expanding the size of its SAAB 2000 fleet to nine aircraft with the introduction of an extra aircraft.
The regional airline, which provides a comprehensive domestic network of scheduled services, and is the UKโs leading provider of fixed wing air services for the oil and gas industry, will see the Saab 2000 entering service in the coming weeks.
The Swedish manufactured 50-seater SAAB 2000 is one of the worldโs fastest turbo-prop aircraft with its two Rolls Royce engines producing a cruising speed of 425 mph, and low fuel burn due to its efficiency.
This latest addition will be assigned to its charter services operating for the oil and gas industry, which also includes the recently awarded major contract with BP flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles.
Paul Alcock, Eastern Airwaysโ managing director, said: โThe SAAB 2000 is an extremely flexible aircraft that can operate on both short and longer runways, which is ideally suited to our long term charter services for the oil and gas industry.ย The aircraft type is also used on our scheduled network and to European destinations for ad-hoc charters.โ
SAAB 2000 aircraft were first introduced to Eastern Airways fleet in 2004 and the latest addition increases the fleet to nine.ย The airline is also the largest operator of British Aerospace Jetstream 41s in the world with a fleet of 18.ย The remainder of the fleet comprises of four regional jets, including two Embraer 135 and two Embraer 145 aircraft.
A network of services across to 20 airports in the UK, Norway and France is operated by the airline on a fleet of 31 regional aircraft (see route map below).
In January 2014, the airline started a new scheduled service between Leeds Bradford and Southampton and also launched its third domestic route in France with flights between Lorient and Lyon.
Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 2000 G-CDKA (msn 006) prepares to land in Stockholm (Arlanda).
Eastern Airways:ย
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) flight MH 370 (operated with the pictured Boeing 777-2H7 ER 9M-MRO, msn 28420) departed Kuala Lumpur at 0041 local time on March 8 bound for Beijing, China. The flight has gone missing and did not enter Chinese airspace. ย Radar contact was lost with the aircraft near Vietnam airspace over water (Gulf of Thailand). The aircraft was last reported to be flying at 35,000 feet. There was no communication from the crew about any problem. Search and Rescue units are now searching for the aircraft.
According to CNN, “theย Vietnamese Navy confirmed the plane crashed into the Gulf of Thailand. According to Navy Admiral Ngo Van Phat, a regional commander, military radar recorded that the plane crashed into the sea south of Phu Quoc island.”
However no debris has been located.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Read the latest report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
A 12-mile oil slick has been discovered between Malaysia and Vietnam by a Vietnamese Navy Antonov An-26 according to the New York Times. The last reported position of the aircraft was between Malaysia and Vietnam. It is unclear if this is from the aircraft.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
There are now reports that at least two stolen passports were used to board the aircraft which is now raising the question that this may have led to a possible terrorist attack.
The Telegraph explores this issue (along with a picture of the oil slick): CLICK HERE
Phu Quoc Island is on the border of Vietnam and Cambodia, southwest of Phnom Penh and west of Ho Chi Minh City (Google Maps):
The airline initially issued this statement:
We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH 370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41 am earlier this morning (March 8) bound for Beijing. The aircraft was scheduled to land at Beijing International Airport at 6.30 am local Beijing time. Subang Air Traffic Control reported that it lost contact at 2.40 am (local Malaysia time).
Flight MH 370 was operated on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew โ comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants), 12 crew members. The passengers were of 13 different nationalities. Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft. Our team is currently calling the next-of-kin of passengers and crew.
Focus of the airline is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilize its full support. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members. The airline will provide regular updates on the situation.
The airline will provide regular updates on the situation. Meanwhile, the public may contact +603 7884 1234 for further info.
Malaysia Airlines issued this latest update midday on March 8:
Malaysia Airlines is stillย unable toย establish any contact or determine the whereabouts ofย flight MH 370. Earlier today (March 8), Subang ATC had lost contactย with theย aircraft at 2.40 am. The last known position of MH370 before it disappeared off the radar was 065515 North (longitude) and 1033443 East (latitude).
We are still trying to locate the current location of theย flight based on the last knownย positionย of theย aircraft. We are workingย with theย International search and rescue teams in trying to locate theย aircraft. So far, weย have notย received any emergency signals or distress messages from MH 370.ย We are working with authorities and assure that all sources are deployed to assist with the search and rescue mission.
The passenger manifest will not be released until all families of the passengers have been informed.ย The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew โ comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants) and 12 crew members.
We are deploying our โGo Teamโ to Beijingย whichย willย depart Kuala Lumpurย Internationalย Airport at 4.30 pmย with a team of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of theย passengers.
The passengers are of 14 different nationalities. All crew on-board are Malaysians.
Please take note that the earlier statement did not include the number of Indian nationals. This was due to confusion between the country code of Indonesia and India.
The below table shows the latest number of passengers and their nationalities:-
| Nationality | Total |
| China/Taiwan | 154 including infant |
| Malaysia | 38 |
| India | 5 |
| Indonesia | 7 |
| Australia | 6 |
| France | 4 |
| USA | 3 including infant |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Ukraine | 2 |
| Canada | 2 |
| Russian | 1 |
| Italy | 1 |
| Netherlands | 1 |
| Austrian | 1 |
Our focus now is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilize our full support.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members.
Shortly after midnight, Sunday March 9 local time, Malaysia Airlines issued this update:
Malaysia Airlines humbly asks all Malaysians and people around the world to pray for flight MH 370.
It has been more than 24 hours since we last heard from MH 370 at 1.30 am. The search and rescue team is yet to determine the whereabouts of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
An international search and rescue mission from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam was mobilized this morning (March 8). At this stage, they have failed to find evidence of any wreckage. The sea mission will continue overnight while the air mission will recommence at daylight.
We are dispatching all information as and when we receive it. The situation in Beijing is also being monitored closely. As many families of passengers are in China, we have deployed our โGo Teamโ to Beijingย with a team of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of theย passengers.
Immediate families of passengers are advised to gather at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Travel arrangements and expenses will be borne by Malaysia Airlines. Once, the whereabouts of the aircraft is determined, Malaysia Airlines will fly members of the family to the location.
Our sole priority now is to provide all assistance to the families of the passengers and our staff. We are also working closely with the concerned authorities in the search and rescue operation
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) is pictured arriving at Stockholm (Arlanda) before the accident.
Malaysia Airlines (slide show of their aircraft):ย
We will update this initial report with more information as it becomes available.
Satellite Weather – Southeast Asia from Meteoblue. The current weather appears to be mostly clear over Vietnam:
Other Airline News: CLICK HERE
CNN Video:
Norwegian Long Haul‘s (Norwegian Air Shuttle) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) today launched the first nonstop flight between Stockholm (Arlanda) and Los Angeles in California with twice weekly service. As of April 30, Norwegian will operate three flights a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Thisย is the first time that Sweden has a nonstop flight to Los Angeles.
Twice-weekly nonstop Stockholm – Oakland flights will begin on May 3, 2014ย and will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Currently Norwegian’s other long-haul routes from Stockholm Arlanda operate to New York (JFK), Fort Lauderdale/Fort Lauderdale and Bangkok.
Norwegian is currently attempting to transfer the Norwegian Long Haul operations to Norwegian Air International (Dublin). All of the 787s are registered in Ireland.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 EI-LNA (msn 35304) lands at Malaga with Olympic skater Sonja Henie on the tail.
Norwegian:ย
Icelandair Group (Icelandair) (Keflavik) reported its financial results for 2013 (all dollar figures in US dollars):
Bjรถrgรณlfur Jรณhannsson, President and CEO
“The Company’s performance in 2013 is good and considerably better than our budget projected in the beginning of the year.ย Profit before taxes amounted to $71.0 million, up by $13.6 million between years. Like recent years, last year was characterised by profitable organic growth, which is in line with our strategy. Capacity in our route network was increased by 16% from last year, and the number of passengers increased by 12%. The Company’s largest market in international flight services is the market between Europe and North-America, which has been the principal driving force of our growth in recent years. The tourist market to Iceland has also shown significant growth, and the demand for domestic tourist services has increased rapidly. Concurrently with this expansion, companies within Icelandair Group have found opportunities for profitable growth.
The rapid growth of recent years has tested the Company’s infrastructure, which is now stronger than ever before. The main reasons for the good performance of the year include favourable external conditions, increase in tourism in Iceland and last but not the least our strong team of employees which are a very important factor in what we have achieved. It is always satisfying when things are going well, but there is no room for complacency. There are various challenges ahead that we need to address.ย The principal challenge is the increasing competition, and in addition our contracts with some of our classes of employees have expired, which creates some uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Company’s business model has proven sound, our finances are solid and our cash position is strong. Icelandair Group is therefore well positioned to take on the future. The Company’s budget for 2014 projects EBITDA at $145-150 million.โ
Trip Report on Icelandair by the Sydney Morning Herald on a London-Halifax trip: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-208 TF-FIJ (msn 25085) lands in Stockholm (Arlanda).
Icelandair:ย
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