Tag Archives: ATL

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is still going strong at 60

The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules reaches another major milestone on August 23 marking the 60th anniversary of its first flight at Burbank, California, in 1954.

The company has issued this statement:

To honor this historic C-130 anniversary, Lockheed Martin invites members of the worldwide Hercules community to share their C-130 memories, experiences, photos and videos. From Aug. 18 through Sept. 30, stories can be shared through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube. Stories will be collected on a Lockheed Martin-sponsored website and shared with page viewers. To ensure stories are included on this site, the hashtag “#herc60” must be included within each post. Submissions also can be emailed to c-130-communications.gr-aero@lmco.com and they will be manually posted on the anniversary site.

In addition, special videos, photos and features saluting the C-130 will be posted daily to Lockheed Martin’s corporate webpage, Code One Magazine, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube accounts throughout the week of Aug. 18-23.

Since its debut, the C-130 Hercules has exhibited a combination of rugged tenacity, unmatched flexibility and continuous innovation that continue to make it the global airlifter choice. The C-130 has the longest, continuous military aircraft production run in history and is one of the top three longest, continuous aircraft production lines of any type.

The aircraft is widely considered as the world’s most proven workhorse. To date, more than 2,500 C-130s have been ordered and/or delivered to 63 nations. The C-130 operates out of 70 countries and has been produced in more than 70 variants. All of the C-130’s production models have been built at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Marietta facility.

“In its first six decades, the C-130 shaped aviation history, redefined industry standards and exhibited flexibility that other aircraft have yet to match,” said George Shultz, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, C-130 Programs. “The C-130 remains the world’s most proven airlifter because of its ability to adapt, remain relevant and deliver results no matter the mission. As we celebrate the Hercules, we want to thank the people who designed, and now build, deliver, fly, maintain and sustain it. It’s their contributions that have kept the global C-130 fleet flying and will continue to do so for decades to come.”

The Hercules has been everywhere and is known for its ability to tackle any mission, anywhere, at any time. Aircrews have flown it to both poles, landed or airdropped military supplies to combat hot spots and performed countless relief operations around the globe. From the highest air strips in the Himalayas to landing on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean, the C-130 regularly – and proudly – defies expectations.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. The C-130 is mainly a military transport aircraft. However several airlines have operated the civilian version. Of course the civilian version, the current Lockheed 382G (L-100-30), remains a viable and tough airline transport to this day in many remote parts of the world. Even passenger carriers like Delta Air Lines have operated the Hercules on dedicated cargo routes. An earlier model, the pictured Lockheed 382E-6C Hercules (L-100-20) N9259R (msn 4176), is seen at the Atlanta base on October 3, 1969. This aircraft was delivered on October 14, 1966. Delta replaced its Curtiss C-46 freighters with this newer turboprop freighter. The dedicated freighter service was short-lived.

Delta Air Lines (historic):

Hercules Slide Show:

Delta announces new flights from Los Angeles to Austin, Boise and San Salvador

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) this summer will continue its expansion at Los Angeles International Airport with new daily nonstop service to Austin, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, along with new daily nonstop service to San Salvador, El Salvador, pending government approval. Delta also has filed for approval to begin daily service between Los Angeles and Monterrey, Mexico.

Delta’s new Los Angeles service includes:

Twice daily nonstop service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Service Begins
2569	AUS at 7:30 a.m.	LAX at 8:25 a.m.	June 16, 2014
2571	AUS at 4:30 p.m.	LAX at 5:45 p.m.	June 16, 2014
2570	LAX at 9:45 a.m.	AUS at 2:40 p.m.	June 16, 2014
2572	LAX at 6:15 p.m.	AUS at 11:30 p.m.	June 16, 2014

Daily nonstop service to Boise Airport

5818	BOI at 6:15 a.m.	LAX at 7:15 a.m.	June 6, 2014
5820	LAX at 7:30 p.m.	BOI at 10:35 p.m.	June 5, 2014

Daily nonstop service to El Salvador International Airport

436	SAL at 7:20 a.m.	LAX at 11:35 a.m.	July 2, 2014
433	LAX at 12:10 a.m.	SAL at 6:10 a.m.	July 2, 2014

Service from Los Angeles to Austin and San Salvador will be operated using Delta Boeing 717 and Boeing 737 aircraft, respectively. Service from Los Angeles to Boise and Monterrey will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines using two-class, 76-seat Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.

With new service to Austin, Delta will now connect Los Angeles’ growing Silicon Beach tech and startup community with all the major tech centers in the United States, including: Boston, beginning June 5; New York; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle/Tacoma; and now Austin.

Additionally, customers in Austin, Boise, Monterrey and San Salvador will soon have one-stop service to Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda, and Sydney through Delta’s international gateway in Los Angeles.

Delta has made significant enhancements to its Los Angeles service both on the ground and in the air in the last few years. Travelers through Los Angeles will enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport. The current project will double the size of the ticketing lobby and screening checkpoints, open an exclusive, separate Sky Priority lobby and checkpoint, and include renovations to the Delta Sky Club and new baggage carousels. The project has already begun and is scheduled to take place in several phases with full completion in 2015.

Delta currently operates 130 flights to 43 destinations from LAX, and every flight offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating. By this summer, Delta will operate more than 140 peak-day flights to LAX, including our new service. Nearly every domestic flight features Wi-Fi service.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Former AirTran Airways Boeing 717-23S N991AT (msn 55135) completes its final approach into the Atlanta hub.

Delta Air Lines (current):

Allegiant celebrates 15 years of scheduled passenger flying

Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) yesterday (February 28) commemorated the 15th anniversary of the carrier’s first scheduled service from Fresno, California to Las Vegas, Nevada on February 28, 1999.

Starting with just one plane, Allegiant has grown to a fleet of 68 planes, flying over 7 million passengers last year. Allegiant now serves 99 cities, more than any other domestic low cost carrier.

Over the years, Allegiant has carried over 40 million passengers, and the Company continues to grow, offering more nonstop service in more communities. In 2013, Allegiant announced service in 15 new cities and added 39 new routes to its network, at a time when many airlines are consolidating and cutting service. The company recently announced its 44th consecutive quarter of profitable operation while keeping its average one-way fare under $100.

Allegiant differs in many ways from other U.S. airlines. The Company is focused on low-cost, nonstop leisure travel, providing customers with low base fares while giving passengers the option to pay for the amenities they want, like luggage, seat assignments and priority boarding, without including the cost of things they don’t need in the price of the ticket.

Allegiant operates under the ultra low-fare model and charges extra for additional services.

Copyright Photo: Norbert G. Raith/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured former SAS Douglas DC-9-21 N127NK (msn 47361) in the original 1998 colors was leased by Allegiant in June 1998 when it received its FAA Part 121 and DOT certification.

Allegiant Air:

Delta to add two new routes from Los Angeles

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is planning to add two new routes from Los Angeles in June including the first Boeing 717 route. According to Airline Route the carrier will add Delta Connection daily service from LAX to Boise, Idaho with Embraer 175s starting on June 5.

The first Boeing 717 route from LAX will operate between LAX and Austin, Texas on a daily basis starting on June 16.

In other news, seasonal Delta Connection flights will be operated from the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub to Idaho Falls with Bombardier CRJ900s three days a week from June 7 through October 29 per Airline Route.

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Air Lines to retire the last Douglas DC-9 on January 6, 2014

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) although not yet officially announced, but published in the schedules, is currently planning to operate the last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 on January 6, 2014. An appropriately named flight DL 1965 will operate from Detroit to Minneapolis/St. Paul departing DTW at 3:39 pm (1539) and arriving at MSP at 4:43 (1643) followed by flight DL 2014 which will operate from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Atlanta as the last scheduled flight, departing MSP at 7:20 pm (1920) and arriving at ATL at 8:47 pm (2047) local time. An unspecified DC-9-51 will operate the last flights. Photos of the last flights are welcome.

Delta has been gradually dwindling down the former Northwest Airlines (and North Central Airlines) DC-9-51 fleet with 10 retirements in 2011, six in 2012 and four so far in 2013. According to Airliners.net, 14 were still in service as of November 19, 2013. One of these 14 aircraft will operate the last revenue flight on January 6, 2014. The aircraft will be ferried to the desert and eventually broken up for scrap metal.

This is actually the second Delta retirement of the DC-9. Delta previously retired its last original DC-9-32 on January 1, 1993. With the merger of Northwest Airlines on October 29, 2008, the DC-9 type was re-introduced back in the Delta fleet under the Delta name.

Delta Air Lines took delivery of its first 65-seat Douglas DC-9-14 (N3304L) (see N3314L below) on September 18, 1965. The new type entered revenue service on November 29, 1965 as flight DL 791 on the Atlanta-Memphis-Kansas City route.

177 total DC-9s were operated. Delta in its history operated the following DC-9 types:

16 DC-9-14s

1 DC-9-15 (leased from Jet International)

114 DC-9-31/32s

12 DC-9-41s

34 DC-9-51s

Information from the Delta Museum:

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 N773NC (msn 47775) completes its final approach into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Delta Air Lines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Douglas DC-9-14 N3314L sits at the old Atlanta maintenance base on January 27, 1970. The original delivery color scheme of the DC-9-14s included this forward-pointing widget which was later changed to the standard upright widget.

Frontier Airlines to end Denver-Albuquerque service on January 6

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is planning to drop the historic Denver-Albuquerque route on January 6, 2014 according to Airline Route.

Parent Republic Airways Holdings (Indianapolis) is planning to sell off the Frontier subsidiary.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 N905FR (msn 1583) with Sherman, the Sea Lion on the tail, arrives at Atlanta.

Frontier Airlines (2nd):

Delta to start weekly seasonal nonstop Atlanta-Fargo, North Dakota flights on December 21

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will add new nonstop seasonal service between Fargo, North Dakota and Atlanta, effective on December 21, 2013. Fargo is a growing market.

The Saturday-only service between Fargo’s Hector International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be operated by Delta Connection carrier ExpressJet Airlines (Atlanta) using a two-class Bombardier CRJ900, equipped with 12 First Class seats, 12 Economy Comfort seats and 52 seats in the main cabin.

Delta’s new nonstop seasonal service between Fargo and Atlanta is scheduled as follows:

Service	Flight	Departs	Arrives	Service Begins	Service Ends
ATL-FAR	5180	7:15 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	Dec. 21, 2013	March 29, 2014
FAR-ATL	5181	6:15 a.m.	10:10 a.m.	Dec. 21, 2013	March 29, 2014

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N131EV (msn 15217) prepares to taxi from the gate at the Atlanta hub.

Delta Air Lines:

Pinnacle Airlines emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization as a Delta subsidiary

Pinnacle Airlines (Pinnacle Airlines Corporation) (Minneapolis/St. Paul) emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and reorganization on May 1. The airline is now a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (Atlanta). As previously reported, Pinnacle is moving to the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub. Delta is investing $52 million in the reorganized carrier.

Pinnacle filed for Chapter 11 on April 1, 2012 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Read the full story from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Pinnacle will operate a large Bombardier CRJ900 fleet for Delta (eventually 92 aircraft). The smaller 50-seat CRJ200 fleet of 140 aircraft is being gradually phased out. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N147PQ (msn 15147) arrives at the Atlanta hub.

Delta Connection-Pinnacle:

Republic Airways Holdings improves in the 1Q to a net profit of $300,000

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) has reported first quarter 2013 net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.1 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2012.

“I am pleased that during our seasonally most challenging quarter, we were able to restore our consolidated results to profitability,” said Bryan Bedford, Chairman and CEO of Republic Airways Holdings. “This is the first time in four years that we have produced positive earnings during the first quarter and our results reflect the continued improvement in the business and the substantial efforts of my coworkers and our senior leadership team.”

Republic Segment Summary

Republic revenues decreased 8.6% from the first quarter of 2012 to $324.7 million in the first quarter of 2013. Republic passenger service revenue decreased $52.2 million due to operating 12 fewer Embraer ERJ 190 aircraft under pro-rate operations with Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver). Five of the aircraft were moved into fixed-fee charter service, five aircraft were sold over the last two quarters, and two aircraft were returned to lessors. Fixed-fee service revenues increased 9.4% to $304.0 million, despite the removal of fuel expense and the related reimbursement on our United Embraer ERJ 170 fixed-fee agreement, which accounted for $24.6 million of revenues in the prior year’s first quarter. This reduction was more than offset by revenue from the growth in our Bombardier Q400 operations at United and our new ERJ 190 fixed-fee charter service agreement.

Fuel costs for Republic decreased $46.2 million to $13.6 million for the quarter. The fuel cost per gallon, including into-plane taxes and fees, increased to $3.86 per gallon in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $3.33 per gallon in the prior year’s first quarter. The fuel cost per gallon related to our fixed-fee charter agreement is generally higher than our pro-rate operations and is treated as a pass through cost under the agreement.

Pre-tax income improved to $20.6 million, from $10.9 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The prior year’s first quarter included $5.3 million of expense for idled aircraft, and this year’s first quarter includes the benefit of our ERJ restructuring effort completed in late 2012.

As of March 31, 2013, Republic operated 70 aircraft with 44-50 seats and 152 aircraft with 69-99 seats to support its fixed-fee commercial agreements. Under the pro-rate agreement with Frontier, Republic operated five 99-seat ERJ 190 aircraft. Compared to March 31, 2012, this reflects a net increase of six aircraft for the Republic segment. The Company has returned or subleased three ERJ aircraft, placed 16 Q400 aircraft into service, sold five ERJ 190 aircraft, and returned two ERJ 190 aircraft to the lessor over the past year.

Frontier Segment Summary

Frontier total revenues decreased 9.2% to $310.9 million for the quarter, compared to $342.4 million for the same period in 2012. Capacity on Frontier, as measured by available seat miles (ASMs), was down 12.6% from the prior year’s first quarter, as a result of four fewer Airbus aircraft in operation. Load factor for the first quarter was 87.8%, an increase of 3.1 points from the first quarter of 2012. Total revenue per ASM (TRASM) increased 3.9% to 11.86 cents in the first quarter 2013 from 11.41 cents in the first quarter 2012.

Fuel costs for Frontier were $118.0 million for the quarter, a decrease of $13.9 million from the prior year’s first quarter. The fuel cost per gallon, including into-plane taxes and fees, increased to $3.41 per gallon in the first quarter 2013, compared to $3.39 per gallon in the prior year’s first quarter. The first quarter 2013 result included a gain on fuel hedges of $0.4 million.

The operating unit cost for Frontier, excluding fuel, was 8.08 cents for the first quarter 2013, a 5.2% increase compared to 7.68 cents for the same quarter 2012.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2013, Frontier posted a pre-tax loss of $20.1 million compared to a pre-tax loss of $21.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Frontier recorded $5.9 million, or 0.23 cents per ASM and $0.07 per diluted share, of aircraft return costs associated with the return of five leased Airbus A318 and A319 aircraft during the first quarter of 2013.

As of March 31, 2013, Frontier operated 56 Airbus aircraft compared to 60 Airbus aircraft as of March 31, 2012. Frontier returned two A318 aircraft and three A319 aircraft and took delivery of one leased A320 aircraft.

Recent Business Developments

On March 12, 2013, the Company received bankruptcy court approval of its capacity purchase agreement (CPA), as amended, with American Airlines to operate 47 ERJ aircraft in fixed-fee operations. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in July and is scheduled to enter service for American on August 1, 2013. The Company anticipates taking delivery of 18 new E175 aircraft in 2013.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company’s total cash balance increased $34.2 million to $428.5 million as of March 31, 2013, compared to December 31, 2012. Restricted cash increased $35.8 million, to $182.9 million, from December 31, 2012. The Company’s unrestricted cash balance decreased $1.6 million, to $245.6 million, from December 31, 2012. A condensed cash flow statement has been included in the tables section of this release.

The Company’s debt decreased to $2.0 billion as of March 31, 2013, compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2012. As of March 31, 2013, almost 90% of the debt is at a fixed interest rate. The Company has significant long-term lease obligations for aircraft that are classified as operating leases and are not reflected as liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. At a 6.0% discount factor, the present value of these lease obligations was approximately $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. A condensed consolidated balance sheet has been provided in the tables section of this release.

Copyright Photo: Norbert G. Raith. Frontier is now expected to retire the last two Airbus A318s by early August. Airbus A318-111 N809FR (msn 3092) prepares to land in Atlanta.

Frontier Airlines:

The bankruptcy court approves Pinnacle’s path out of bankruptcy, Delta to invest

Pinnacle Airlines Corporation (Memphis) has announced that the comprehensive agreements it reached with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta), the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (Creditors’ Committee) in Pinnacle’s Chapter 11 cases have been approved by the Bankruptcy Court overseeing Pinnacle’s cases. The agreements together provide a path for the Company to emerge from bankruptcy with a competitive cost structure and a viable long-term business plan. Under Pinnacle’s new business plan, the Company will transition to operating a fleet of 81 fuel-efficient, two-class regional jets for Delta.

The comprehensive agreements include:

An amendment to the Company’s existing debtor-in-possession credit facility to provide Pinnacle with $30 million of additional liquidity to support its continued operation through emergence from Chapter 11 and an additional $22 million to fund certain required payments to Pinnacle’s pilots under a Bridge Agreement and related employer taxes. The amendment would also extend the maturity date for the credit facility from April 1 to May 15, 2013.
Amendments to the existing operating agreements with Delta that form the basis of the new business plan. Pinnacle will receive Delta Connection’s next 40 CRJ900 aircraft awarded, setting Pinnacle’s long-term fleet plan at 81 CRJ900 aircraft. The 40 additional CRJ900 aircraft deliveries are planned to begin in the fall of 2013 and are expected to be completed by year-end 2014. Pinnacle’s 140 CRJ200 aircraft will be removed from operation over the next two to three years.
A new collective bargaining agreement with Pinnacle’s pilots, as well as a bridge agreement that provides transitional payments, furlough benefits and specified career opportunities at Delta to Pinnacle’s pilots.
A restructuring support agreement among Pinnacle, Delta and the Creditors’ Committee setting forth certain principal terms for a plan of reorganization to emerge from Chapter 11. The reorganization plan will provide for Delta or an affiliate to acquire the equity in the reorganized Pinnacle Airlines Corporation after it emerges from bankruptcy. Pinnacle must file a plan of reorganization acceptable to Delta and the Creditors’ Committee by February 15, 2013.

Delta Connection-Pinnacle Airlines: