Norraโs pilot union FAPA ry. has informed about industrial action regarding standby work for its pilots as of Dec 1. Norra operates many of Finnairโs domestic and regional flights.
Due to the industrial action, Finnair prepares for changes in domestic and regional flights in December. Flight cancellations are possible.
To minimize the impacts to our customersโ travel plans, Finnair leases an ATR aircraft with pilots and cabin crew from Danish DAT. The leased aircraft will be used to flights that might otherwise be cancelled.
โWe apologize for the inconvenience this situation may cause to our customers. We do our best to ensure that our customers get to their destinations smoothly,โ says Jaakko Schildt, Chief Operating Officer, Finnair.
Finnair communicates about the cancellations and changes in carrier directly to customers affected via SMS and/or e-mail. If a flight is cancelled, Finnair re-routes customers to their destinations. Customers can also choose to change the travel date +/- 2 days of the original date or apply for full refund for an unused ticket.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline):ย Norra – Nordic Regional Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) OH-ATG (msn 757) HEL (Ton Jochems). Image: 937416.
Finnair will renew the entire cabin of its ATR aircraft, and introduce a new Premium Economy cabin class for its long-haul fleet. These investments speak of Finnairโs commitment to offer a high level of customer comfort and increased choice for its customers.โฏโฏย
Finnairโs ATR aircraft are currently used for domestic flights in Finland, on flights to the Baltics, to Gdansk in Poland and to Stockholmโsย Brommaย airport. The flights are operated by Finnairโs partnerย Norra.
The cabin renewal will include new seats, new carpets and a harmonised and fresh cabin interior design.
The first ATR aircraft with the renewed cabin is expected to be in operation in summer 2019, and the refurbishment of the 12 aircraft will be completed by the end of Q1, 2020.โฏโฏโฏย
Finnair will also introduce a new cabin class, Premium Economy, for its entire long-haul fleet fromย 2021. Located in its own cabin, the Premium Economy class will feature highly customised designs for Finnairย and provide customers with increased space and comfort along with an enhanced service offering.โฏย
โWe see a growing trend of quality focused travellers, who place a strong focus on the comfort and quality of their travel experience,โย adds Karhu. โResponding to customer needs from all our key markets, our new Premium Economy class will serve the requirements of both leisure and corporate customers.โโฏย
The rollout of Premium Economy class to Finnairโs long-haul fleet starts in Q4 2020ย and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.โฏ Detailed planning of the cabin design, service concept as well as the commercial aspects are currently ongoing, and Finnair will be communicating more details at a later stage.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airlines):ย Norra – Nordic Regional Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) OH-ATG (msn 757) HEL (Tony Storck). Image: 943676.
Danish Air Transport (DAT) has acquired 60% of Nordic Regional Airlines AB (Norra) from Finnair, which held the 100 % stake in Norra on an interim basis after Norraโs previous owners who held 60% of shares exited the business in November 2017.
Finnair continues to own 40% of the company. As such, the transaction has no impact on Norraโs operations, personnel or purchase agreement between Finnair and Norra.
Norra operates Finnairโs domestic and European routes with a total of 24 ATR and Embraer aircraft.
The transaction requires approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by Norra):ย Norra – Nordic Regional Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) OH-ATF (msn 744) HEL (Ton Jochems). Image: 937415.
Air Botswana today signed a firm order for two ATR 72-600s. Having operated ATR -500 series aircraft since 1996, the Botswanan national flag carrier has been an ATR operator for more than 20 years and will now upgrade and restructure its fleet with the addition of the latest generation turboprop aircraft. The ATR -600 series is the market leader in the regional aviation segment with a 40% fuel burn advantage against its turboprop competitor. It is a proven route opener, having opened 150 routes in 2017 thanks to its versatility and operational efficiency.
The aircraft will be configured with a 70-seat, dual class cabin, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. They are also equipped with the newest navigation aid tools. The airline currently operates a fleet of three ATR 42-500s and one ATR 72-500. With this deal, the airline will start a progressive replacement of their former turboprop fleet, adding the newest standards of comfort.
ATR estimates that there will be the need for over 3000 turboprops in the next twenty years, with more than 10% of these aircraft destined for Africa & the Middle East and foresees the creation of some 300 new routes.
Copyright Photo: The new ATR 72-600s are expected to replace the older ATRs.ย Air Botswana ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) A2-ABS (msn 788) JNB (Paul Denton). Image: 910347.
FlyValan (Genoa) was finally able to commence scheduled passenger operations on January 23, 2018 from Genoa to Trieste after being delayed from December 11, 2017. The inaugural flight received a water cannon salute (below):
The new carrier received its upgraded AOC on January 3, 2018 for its new ATR 72.
On November 27, 2017, FlyValanโs first aircraft ATR 72 -500 registred YR-FVL , named “Liguria”, touched down at 17:45 pm at Genoa International Airport.
FlyValan expects to add service to Geneva, Zurich and Brussels from Genoa.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by FlyValan): 2-DCBT became D4-CBT and YR-FVL.ย FlyValan (operated by FlyCompass) ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) 2-DCBT (msn 747) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 939606.
Blue Islands in December issued this complaint against newcomer Waves. Here is the statement:
Blue Islands has lodged formal legal action with Guernseyโs Royal Court after repeatedly calling on the islandโs Transport Licensing Authority to exercise its powers to ensure Waves Technologies Limited apply for the necessary route licences to operate passenger services between Guernsey and Jersey.
The central issue is Wavesโ lack of a Guernsey Air Transport Licence, in respect of any aircraft being used for the carriage for reward of passengers or cargo on a flight beginning or ending in Guernsey. This is a requirement of the Air Transport Licensing Law, with Section 1 being quite explicit about this. Not holding one means Waves operations are illegal.
For many months, Blue Islands have repeatedly written to the chair of the Transport Licensing Authority, and have not received any adequate response. The decision to call for a judicial review is intended to compel the Authority to act to uphold the law it is meant to enforce and protect the travelling public from an operator acting outside of the rules. If Blue Islands started operating a daily service on any Aurigny route under the claim of being an air taxi, the TLA would step in and stop it. That is exactly what should have happened here.
Competition on the inter-island route is nothing new, and Blue Islands continues to face it every day with Flybe โ even though it is a franchise partner, a seat sold on a Flybe aircraft is of no value to Blue Islands. Previously, Blue Islands and Aurigny vigorously competed on the route, and each lost ยฃ1m. a year in the process. Blue Islands believes in competition, and are happy to compete on any of its routes, but competition must be on a level playing field โ and not from an operator ignoring the laws. The Air Transport Licensing Law and associated policy statement insists the impact of a new operator on any route is considered and the incumbent operator is given the chance to make an official representation. By ignoring the law the Transport Licensing Authority has denied Blue Islands this opportunity.
Furthermore, Blue Islands is becoming increasingly concerned that innocent investors, caught up by Waves marketing activities are being lured into investing significant sums of money into what they believe to be an innovative โair taxiโ service that requires no route licence. Blue Islands do not believe Waves is operating as a legitimate air taxi service and the TLA must evaluate Wavesโ claim. This review will ensure all relevant parties formally appraise the legitimacy of Waves business model, its financial fitness and viability, including its recent ยฃ17.5m. self-valuation from a business without any tangible means of justifying such a figure either through its trading volumes, asset base or additional markets for an as-yet non-existent product. Although this falls outside the legal action, the clarity this case will bring should usefully serve to protect potential investors from harm. If Waves fails, Guernsey could very well suffer unquantifiable reputational damage.
Air services between Guernsey and Jersey must remain sustainable and continue to provide regular, scheduled services which benefit the whole travelling community โ and not just those who can afford the higher Waves ticket price.
Blue Islands is commencing this judicial review to end what is, purely and simply, illegal activity.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by Blue Islands): Blue Islands now operates under Flybe brand.ย Flybe (Blue Islands) ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) G-ISLK (msn 634) GCI (Nick Dean). Image: 940455.
Darwin Airline (Lugano) has announced it will cease all scheduled operations. Instead the company will revert to being a charter airline. The ATR 72-500s (pictured) will be returned to the lessors.
In related news, the company has entered into reorganization proceedings after it was declared to be insolvent (bankrupt).
The airline had recently rebranded as Adria Switzerland in association with Adria Airways on September 16, 2017 but has encountered unfavorable market conditions.
Update: On November 28, 2017 the airline was grounded by Swiss authorities after its AOC was revoked due to financial concerns.
On Monday, October 30, 2017, AIr Europa is entering the inter-island market in the Canary Islands.
The airline will offer flights between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) andย Tenerife Nord (TFN), Fuerteventura (FUE) and Lanzarote (ACE) with over 25 daily flights operated by its subsidiary Air Europa Express with two 68-seat ATR 72-500s.
Copyright Photo:ย Air Europa Express (2nd) ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) EC-MSN (msn 918) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 939430.
FlyValan is a new airline based in Genoa. The upstart is now planning to launch operations on November 27, 2017.
FlyValan will connect Genoa with five cities: Trieste, Zurich, Geneva, Barcelona and Brussels .
โWe will first use a single aircraft, an ATR 72-500 with 68 seats and is named ย โLiguriaโ.
In February, the new airline will take delivery of a second airplane, and at the end of the business plan the company will have five aircraft.
FlyValan will connect Genoa with Trieste three times a week, while the remaining cities will be linked twice a week.
FlyValanโs goal is to explore new routes, which are underserved or unserved.
FlyValan isnโt a low-cost category but rather itโs a โboutique airlineโ. Fly Valan is different from other companies, primarily by:
having a qualified, Italian-speaking crew;
special on-board travel retail that features the diversity and trends of local businesses. These businesses, in turn, will be able to discover a new way of communication and cooperation with international clients who will soon arrive in Liguria on FlyValan Company aircrafts;
The FlyValan Magazine, which will be published every four months. This magazine will inform the clients about events taking place in Liguria and will also reveal the secrets of these beautiful lands, as to promote exciting information about them and their establishment on the market.
Schedule
The beginning of our flights will be held on November 27.
Monday
FXP121
GOA
BRU
07:45
10:00
FXP122
BRU
GOA
10:50
13:05
FXP131
GOA
BCN
18:30
20:20
FXP132
BCN
GOA
21:10
23:00
Tuesday
FXP241
GOA
TRS
07:40
09:10
FXP242
TRS
GOA
10:00
11:30
Thursday
FXP441
GOA
TRS
07:45
09:15
FXP442
TRS
GOA
10:05
11:35
FXP421
GOA
BRU
17:00
19:15
FXP422
BRU
GOA
20:10
22:25
Friday
FXP531
GOA
BCN
06:55
08:45
FXP532
BCN
GOA
09:50
11:40
FXP541
GOA
TRS
14:00
15:30
FXP542
TRS
GOA
16:20
17:50
* Please note that due to the involvement of the aviation authorities, the starting date of the operations is subject to change.
Finnair has acquired 60% of Nordic Regional Airlines AB (Norra) from Staffpoint Holding Oy (StaffPoint) and Kilco Oy (Kilco). Finnair currently owns 40% of the company, and following the transaction Norra will transfer full ownership to Finnair on an interim basis. The transaction has no impact on Norraโs operations or personnel.
Norra operates Finnairโs domestic and European routes as purchase traffic with a total of 24 ATR and Embraer aircraft. Following the changes in StaffPointโs ownership base disclosed on 5 October 2017, StaffPoint and Kilco have decided to withdraw from the ownership of Norra. Finnair aims to find a new majority owner for Norra.
โRecent years have shown that the partnership model can be successful in domestic and regional purchase traffic. Our aim is to find a new, industrial partner to develop Norraโs business further with us,โ says Finnair COO ยญJaakko Schildt.
The transaction requires approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.
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