Tag Archives: Boeing 737-300

ASL Aviation Group to rebrand its four European airlines

ASL Airlines 737 (15)(Flt)(ASL)(LRW)

ASL Aviation Group (Dublin) is combining and rebranding its four European airlines under the same name. Air Contractors, Europe Airpost, Farnair Switzerland and Faranair Hungary will begin operating under the ASL Airlines brand. The group issued this statement:

ASL Aviation Group logo

Ireland based ASL Aviation Group is to launch a new European airline brand, ASL Airlines, as part of its strategy for continued growth in passenger and cargo operations.

ASLโ€™s 4 European airlines are to be renamed under the new ASL Airlines brand and there will be 4 airline operations โ€˜centres of excellenceโ€™ in Ireland, France, Switzerland and Hungary.

Air Contractors logo

Air Contractors will become ASL Airlines Ireland

Europe Airpost logo-1

Europe Airpost will become ASL Airlines France

Farnair Europe logo

Farnair Switzerland will become ASL Airlines Switzerland

Farnair Hungary will become ASL Airlines Hungary

The ASL Group, which employs 1,500 globally, will continue to be based at its Corporate Support Office in Swords, County Dublin and will be led by Group Chief Executive, Hugh Flynn.

The total ASL fleet is +/- 100 aircraft depending on leasing arrangements, of which 75 aircraft are flying in Europe and in future will operate as โ€˜ASL Airlinesโ€™. Some of these aircraft will be painted in airline customer colours while the rest will soon start to become visible in Europeโ€™s airports in the new ASL Airlines livery.

The strategy, named โ€˜Platform for Growthโ€™, is an initiative aimed building on ASLโ€™s leading role in various express integrator, passenger and postal markets in Europe.

ASL will also expand its global presence through its interest in Safair in South Africa and cargo airlines K-Mile in Thailand and QuikJet in India where ASL announced last week that its shareholding is to increase to 72.59%.

 

The new ASL Airlines brand and identity will achieve a number of key strategic aims:

  • The creation of an evolutionary new identity and brand image
  • A progressive transition from the current ASL Aviation Group identity
  • Show a clear and consistent link between ASL Aviation Group and the 4 airlines
  • Reflect key selling points of trust, reliability, size and credibility
  • Affirm ASLโ€™s commitment to our value proposition to our customers
  • Enable us to enhance optimisation across the group
  • Increase the competitiveness of each airline in the market

โ€œOur intent is to have a new strong single brand that will play a major role in helping us to achieve our vision and mission and reflect our corporate values in our businessโ€, said ASL Group Chief Executive, Hugh Flynn.

โ€œThis strong single brand will make it considerably easier to use the aircraft of the European fleet across the individual countries to meet customer demand and this increased fleet flexibility and consequent competitiveness will enable us to grow our businessโ€, Hugh Flynn continued.

Hugh Flynn explained that ASLโ€™s optimisation potential will include the creation of โ€˜Centres of Excellenceโ€™, reducing cost and improving safety, reliability, quality and profitability, 4 of ASLโ€™s 5 corporate values.

โ€œIn additionโ€, he said. โ€œthere will be increased security of employment, job satisfaction and challenge for all of the people of ASL, our 5th corporate value, and the most important after safety,โ€, Hugh Flynn concluded.

A 5th operations โ€˜centre of excellenceโ€™ in South Africa will oversee the continued growth in Safair, the specialist humanitarian Hercules operator; FlySafair, South Africaโ€™s first โ€˜trueโ€™ low cost airline launched in October 2014 and the two Asian airlines. ASLโ€™s aircraft leasing platforms will also continue to be based in Dublin.

To facilitate the โ€˜Platform for Growthโ€™ strategy the ASL Group is being restructured into two divisions, European Airlines and Rest of the World Airlines and Leasing.

  • The current CEO of Air Contractors, Colin Grant will become Chief Executive of the new European Airlineโ€™s division and will be based in Dublin.
  • The current CEO of Safair, Dave Andrew, will become Chief Executive of the new Rest of the World Airlines and Leasing Division and will be based between Johannesburg and Dublin.

    โ€˜Platform for Growthโ€™ will see ASL increase the number of aircraft in its combined cargo and passenger fleets. Aircraft will also be transferred throughout the group to facilitate the airlines and their โ€˜centres of excellenceโ€™ becoming specialists in operating specific aircraft types.

    The 4 European airlines to be rebranded ASL Airlines currently operate throughout Europe for the leading express freight integrators and for postal services in France and the UK from hubs in France and Germany and between bases throughout the continent from Norway to Greece.

    Passenger services are also operated under the airlines own brand from Switzerland, Ireland and France while the Irish airline, Air Contractors, operates three passenger Boeing 757โ€™s on daily transatlantic flights from Dublin and Shannon to Canada and the United States.

Air Contractors โ€“ ASL Airlines Ireland

Copyright Photo above: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212 EI-SLK (msn 395) prepares to land at Shannon.

Irish Airline, Air Contractors, will be rebranded as โ€˜ASL Airlinesโ€™ Ireland. Just last week the airline won the prestigious โ€˜Aircraft Operator of the Yearโ€™ award at the Irish Aviation Authority sponsored Irish Aviation Awards.

Copyright Photo above: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Contractors operates this Boeing 757-2Q8 EI-LBS (msn 27623) for Aer Lingus.

Air Contractors operates Boeing 757-200 transatlantic passenger services from Shannon and Dublin to North America for Aer Lingus and also operates Boeing 737 charter passenger services throughout Europe from Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock Airports.

The airline also operates a fleet of turbo prop and jet aircraft for express parcel integrators throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Air Contractors aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

Europe Airpost โ€“ ASL Airlines France

Paris CDG based Europe Airpost will be rebranded as โ€˜ASL Airlinesโ€™ France. The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 737-300/-400/-700 aircraft on passenger and cargo services.

Copyright Photo above: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-31S EI-STA (msn 29057) of Europe Airpost arrives at scenic Salzburg, Austria.

Europe Airpost flies passenger charter services for tour operators throughout Europe and the Mediterranean countries, as well as VIP and ad hoc passenger flights throughout the world. On the cargo side, Europe Airpost flies for overnight and postal operators within France and Europe, and operates ad hoc cargo flights throughout the world.

As part of its strategy of diversification, Europe Airpost also operates a weekly scheduled cargo service out of Paris CDG to Tunis, and a number of seasonal scheduled passenger routes serving France, Austria, Portugal and Halifax (Nova Scotia/Canada) via Dublin.

Europe Airpost aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

Video: Europe Airpost:

Farnair Europe โ€“ ASL Airlines Switzerland and ASL Airlines Hungary

The two European airlines in the Farnair Group will be rebranded as โ€˜ASL Airlinesโ€™ Switzerland and ASL Airlines Hungary.

Copyright Photo above: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Farnair Switzerland ATR 42-320 HB-AFF (msn 264) arrives back at the Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg base.

Farnair operates a fleet of turbo prop and jet aircraft for express parcel integrators throughout Europe and also operates cargo turbo prop services in Africa. Farnair also operates ATR42 passenger services.

Farnairโ€™s joint venture airlines in Asia, Quikjet in India and K-Mile in Thailand are not included in the rebranding initiative.

Farnair aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

Video:

Choice Aire starts operations to Atlantic City with a Swift Air Boeing 737-300

Choice Aire logo

Choice Aire (Miami) started public charter flights between Miami and Atlantic City on May 21 with the pictured ex-US Airways Boeing 737-3B7 N529AU (msn 24411) (below) operated by Swift Air (USA) (Phoenix).

The travel company is planning to operate additional public charters on the following routes:

Choice Aire expansion_edited-1

Photo: Choice Aire.

Choice Aire (Swift Air USA) 737-300 N529AU (15)(Grd)(Choice Aire)(LRW)

 

flyVista ends operations

flyVista large logo

flyVista (Tbilisi), the airline division of Vista Georgia, has ended scheduled passenger operations according to ATW. Their website has gone dark.

The airline was hurt by the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 and the on-going conflict in the eastern part of the Ukraine.

Aerovista logo

flyVista was partnering with Aerovista (Dubai), an aircraft leasing, trading and management company, which provided the two Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Aerovista has decided to operate the aircraft elsewhere.

Read the full account from The Rakayat Post: CLICK HERE

The Georgian airline began operations on August 5, 2014.

flyVista Team

Above photo: flyVista.

Video: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo. Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-33R 4L-AJC (msn 28873) at Frankfurt was leased from Aerovista.

Air New Zealand is planning to retire the last Boeing 737 in September

Air New Zealand (Auckland) is tentatively planning to retire its last Boeing 737 from revenue in September. The airline is planning to operate the last Boeing 737-300 revenue flight on September 6 as flight NZ 557 from Auckland to Christchurch according to Airline Route.

Air New Zealand and its associated companies have been a Boeing 737 operator since 1968. National Airways (New Zealand National Airways Corporation) (NAC) (Wellington) took delivery of Boeing 737-219 ZK-NAC (msn 19929) on August 29, 1968, followed by ZK-NAD (msn 19930) on September 11, 1968 and ZK-NAE (msn 19931) on October 5, 1968. NAC was taken over and merged into Air New Zealand on April 1, 1978. At that time ANZ became a Boeing 737 operator.

Top Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com. Air New Zealand Boeing 737-3K2 ZK-NGK (msn 26318) approaches the runway at Auckland.

Air New Zealand aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

National Airways-NAC aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

Bottom Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. A fine ramp portrait of NAC’s ex-PSA Boeing 737-214 ZK-NAK (msn 20156).

AG Aviation friend

DFW formally welcomes VivaAerobus

Viva Aerobus DFW

VivaAerobus (vivaaerobus.com) (Monterrey) on March 28 launched service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport to Monterrey and Guadalajara. The airline was formally welcomed yesterday (April 16) to DFW with a water cannon salute known as the Airport’s “shower of affection.” VivaAerobus launched service with three weekly flights to Monterrey and Guadalajara, using Airbus A320 aircraft that seat 180 passengers and Boeing 737-300 aircraft that seat 148 passengers.

VivaAerobus 2015 logo

VivaAerobus currently serves 21 destinations in Mexico with hubs in Monterrey and Cancun. The airline flies to three U.S. destinations in addition to DFW Airport. Vivaaerobus started operations from its base in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in 2006. The carrier is jointly owned by IAMSA, the largest bus operator in Mexico, and the founders of Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost air carrier.

Top Photo: Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

VivaAerobus aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

VivaAerobus Route Map:

VivaAerobus 4.2015 Route Map

Lufthansa is hit again by another round of strikes by its pilots

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is being impacted today (March 18) by another round of strikes by its pilots, represented by theย Vereinigung Cockpit (VC). Today’s strike is affecting short and medium-haul flights in Europe. The pilots have also called for another strike tomorrow, this time affecting its long-haul flights.

The airline has been plagued by strikes by its pilots.

The airline issued this statement:

The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced strike action on March 18, 2015, affecting short and medium haul flights operated by Lufthansa. All Lufthansa long haul operations are scheduled to operate as normal. Also not affected by the strike are flights operated by Germanwings, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti; Swiss, Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines. Lufthansa Cityline will also remain largely unaffected by the industrial action.

Despite the strike, the Lufthansa Group will continue to operate the majority of the 3000 daily scheduled flights and passengers will be offered flight alternatives via rebooking.

The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit have announced strike action for March 19, 2015, affecting Lufthansa long haul flights. Short haul flights will not be affected.

A special flight schedule will be published early afternoon on March 18, 2015.

Passengers are kindly requested to check the status of their flight prior to departure.

Read the full report by the BBC: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Still going strong. The pictured Boeing 737-330 registered as D-ABEC (msn 25149) is named “Karlsruhe”. D-ABEC is pictured arriving at Zurich and was delivered on December 27, 1967. Lufthansa is planning to retire its remaining Boeing 737-300s and 737-500s this year.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:ย AG Airline Slide Show

AG Thank you

Alas Uruguay takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-300

Alas Uruguay (Montevideo) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-300. The pictured former Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-36N CX-OAA (msn 28569) arrived at Carrasco International Airport (MVD) in Montevideo on March 11 (below) to the traditional water cannon salute.

Alas Uruguay 737-300 WL CX-OAA (15) arrival at MVD (Alas Uruguay)(LR)

 

The new airline hopes to start scheduled passengers operations soon once it acquires its AOC.

Alas Uruguay logo (LRW)

Alas Uruguay was created by the former employees of defunct PLUNA.

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/AirlinersGallery.com. CX-OAA is pictured at the Montevideo base.

Southwest to add flights from Columbus, Ohio to both Boston and Oakland

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) hasย extended its flight schedule through October 30, 2015. The new schedule will bring more nonstop service and new destinations beginning August 9, 2015, for travelers flying Southwest in Santa Ana/Orange County, Washington, D.C. (Reagan National), and Columbus, Ohio.

The carrier will add service to both coasts from Port Columbus International Airport with the airport’s first daily nonstop flight to/from Oakland, and twice-daily service to/from Boston Logan International Airport.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-3H4 N644SW (msn 28329) in the new 2014 livery arrives at Baltimore/Washington (BWI). Southwest is gradually replacing its older Boeing 737s.

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย AG Airline Slide Show

AG No Ads-Beautiful

 

Southwest Airlines to go to 166 daily flights at Dallas Love Field with new services, announces new routes from Orange County

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has announced it added nonstop flight options between 10 cities and Dallas Love Field, linking a total of 43 destinations to Dallas beginning in April 2015.

Starting April 8, 2015, Southwest Airlines will offer nonstop service between Dallas Love Field and:

Charleston, South Carolina*
Columbus
Indianapolis
Memphis
Milwaukee
Panama City, Florida
Portland, Oregon
Sacramento
San Jose, California
Seattle/Tacoma

*Nonstop service between Dallas Love Field and Charleston, SC, begins on April 11, 2015 and operates only on Saturdays.

Beginning April 8, 2015, Southwest will begin offering daily flights between Dallas and Panama City on a seasonal basis, one month after launching the route with weekly flights on Saturdays. The same day, increased flights begin between Dallas and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, Oakland (San Francisco Bay Area), and Santa Ana/Orange County.

This announcement brings Southwest’s service at Love Field to 166 daily flights.

More nonstop destinations are landing at Santa Ana/Orange County.ย The carrier has also announced new service between Santa Ana/Orange County and Seattle/Tacoma and between Santa Ana/Orange County and Chicago (Midway).

These new flights are in addition to previously announced service between Santa Ana/Orange County and Austin, all of which are effective June 28, 2015.

Southwest also will increase the number of daily, nonstop departures between Santa Ana/Orange County and Dallas Love Field and Santa Ana/Orange County and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico effective April 8 and plans to inaugurate daily service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on June 7, from Santa Ana/Orange County, subject to governmental approvals.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Now repainted, Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-3H4 N640SW (msn 27713) prepares to land at Baltimore/Washington (BWI).

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (new livery only):ย AG Airline Slide Show

AG Aviation friend

Southwest Airlines is adding more flights to Phoenix for the Super Bowl

Southwest Airlines (Dallas)ย is adding more nonstop flights and connections between Seattle/Tacoma and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Boston and Manchester and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for the Super Bowl. The additional flights will only be offered between January 29 and February 2 to handle the anticipated increase in travelers.

Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-3H4 N654SW (msn 28399) taxies to the runway at San Francisco International Airport.

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (new livery only):

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/Southwest-Airlines-Current