Chilejet S.A. (Chilejet.com) (Santiago) as we previously reported, is a new airline “established in Chile to serve specific niche markets in the air charter and scheduled markets.”
On December 4, 2014 Chilejet announced Santiago and Antofagasta airport stations have been approved by the Chilean Air Aviation Authority โ DGAC, in order to start flight operations. The new airline plans to fly fromย Santiago (SCL) to Calama (CJC) and Antofagasta (ANF).
Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero.ย The company took delivery of its first aircraft, ex-America West/US Airways/PAL Airlines Boeing 737-3G7 CC-ADZ (msn 24634), in 2014. The airliner currently sits at Santiago awaiting approval to fly again.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has extended its flight schedule for travel through August 7, 2015, adding new, nonstop service in cities across the United States:
Southwest Airlines also began selling seats on daily service between Orange County/Santa Ana and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and seasonal, Saturday-only service between Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico, beginning June 7, 2015 through August 7, 2015. Both routes subject to government approval.
The June and July schedule is the biggest in the history of Southwest Airlines with as many as 3,800 flights a day.
The flight schedule extension for early Summer 2015 also brings additional seasonal flights effective June 7, 2015 (unless otherwise noted), including nonstop service between:
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Now repainted, Boeing 737-3H4 N654SW (msn 28399) arrives at Baltimore/Washington (BWI).
Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (new livery only):
airBaltic (Riga) will launch a new weekly route between Riga and Dubrovnik, Croatia, on May 26, 2015.
In addition, the Latvian airline will also launch a new weekly route between Riga and the Greek island of Rhodes next summer, starting on June 12, 2015.
Both routes will be operated with Boeing 737-300 aircraft.
Previously the carrier announced it will start a new route connectingย Riga and Aalborg, Denmark, starting on April 18, 2015.
Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-33A YL-BBI (msn 27454) arrives in Munich.
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced on December 3 that its Customer Service Agents (CSAs) and Customer Representatives (CRs), represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), have voted in favor of a new four-year contract. The agreement includes pay increases, as well as bonus opportunities that are tied to Company and Employee performance.
Southwest Airlines is approximately 83 percent unionized and actively engaged in negotiations with six out of its 12 unions. The airline is known for its friendly Customer Service and currently serves as the largest domestic carrier in terms of passengers boarded.
Copyright Photo: Jeffrey S. DeVore/AirlinersGallery.com. Southwest Airlines has started repainting the Boeing 737-300 fleet. Boeing 737-3H4 N640SW (msn 27713) is the first.
Chilejet S.A. (Chilejet.com) (Santiago) as we previously reported, is a new airline in Chile. The company has taken delivery of its first aircraft. Ex-PAL Airlines Boeing 737-3G7 CC-ADZ (msn 24634) has been acquired by the airline.
The new airline plans to commence operations with Boeing 737-300 aircraft phased into its fleet over a period of 1-3 months and will also include Boeing 737-300/400/500 family aircraft with varying individual seating capacities of between 130 -168 passengers.
The airline will initially serve Santiago, Calama and Antofagasta.
The airline describes itself:
Chilejet was established in Chile to serve specific niche markets in the air charter (non-regular) and scheduled (regular) markets and to provide the growing aviation sector in the country with an alternative quality airline.
Chilejet has assembled a professional team of post holders combined with additional experienced personnel in aviation, each with at least 20 โ 35 years within their respective fields of operations, engineering, commercial and legal/administration.
Pursuant to its application for its Air Operatorโs Certificate from the Chilean DGAC, Chilejet has initiated a planned introduction of services to the market using Boeing type aircraft.
Canadian North (Calgary and Yellowknife) today (November 18) unveiled this new Canadian Football League (CFL) logojet at its Edmonton hangar for the upcoming Grey Cup Championship Game. The right side of Boeing 737-36N C-GCNO (msn 28596) carries the team logos of the Eastern teams and left side the western teams.
The airline issued this statement on November 18:
On November 18, at an exciting “reveal” ceremony, the CFL and Canadian North jointly unveiled a custom-painted Boeing 737-300 aircraft, emblazoned with the CFL logo and the logos of all nine CFL franchise teams. This eye-catching plane will be used to fly the 102nd Grey Cup Champions home from Vancouver, British Columbia on Monday, December 1 and will serve as a highly visible billboard for the CFL and its teams wherever it lands.
Canadian North is the premier charter provider for Canada’s resource sector, top sport franchises and air-inclusive vacationers. The CFL and Canadian North announced a three-year partnership earlier this year that made Canadian North the official airline of the CFL.
Photos Below: Canadian North. Both sides are displayed at the unveiling event:
Video: The painting of the aircraft:
Canadian North is the official airline of the CFL.
On July 9, 2014 the airline announced it had become the official airline of the CFL:
Canadian North is proud to become the official airline of the Canadian Football League. This new three-year partnership will include flying the East and West Division Champions to the 102nd Grey Cup game in Vancouver this November.
โThere is nothing more Canadian than the CFL and we are excited to be partnering with both the league and the Grey Cup,โ said Steve Hankirk, President of Canadian North. โWeโre thrilled to broaden our relationship with the CFL and believe this creates opportunities for more teams to charter with Canadian North.โ
Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League, said: โCanadian North prides itself in contributing to the communities it serves, and that makes the airline a great fit for our league, which has a long history of doing the same.โ
In other news, the company is planning to expand with more charters to warmer climates in early 2015.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com and Norwegian Long Haul) (Oslo) reported a net profit of NOK 373.8 million ($57.0 million) for the third quarter, down 14% from a net profit of NOK 435.9 million ($65.8 million) for the same quarter in 2013.
The airline issued this full report:
Norwegian reports strong growth in all European markets with a capacity increase of 36 percent and a load factor of 85 percent in its third quarter results. The pre-tax result (EBT) was 505 MNOK, compared to 604 MNOK the same quarter previous year. The costs associated with wet-leasing replacement aircraft and a weak Norwegian Krone (NOK) significantly affected the figures.
Even with strong passenger growth, the load factor was high and increased by three percentage points to 85 percent in the third quarter. Norwegian carried 7.1 million passengers this quarter and the companyโs operations at London Gatwick had the strongest passenger growth.
The pre-tax result (EBT) was 505 MNOK, compared to 604 MNOK the same quarter previous year. The combination of a weak Norwegian Krone (NOK), the delayed approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation and costs associated with flight delays, affected the results this quarter. Wet-leasing replacement aircraft and extra fuel, as well as accommodation, food and drink for delayed passengers also created extra costs. The costs associated with the long overdue application before the U.S. Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit for Norwegianโs Irish subsidiary, Norwegian Air International were also considerable. The application is in full accordance with the Open Skies Agreement between the EU and the U.S.
โWeโre very satisfied that throughout our world-wide route network, an increasing number of new passengers choose Norwegian. Norwegian has recently received several international awards and was even named โEuropeโs best low-cost airlineโ the second year running. However, we have also experienced some turbulence this quarter. Our results are affected by additional costs related to the pending U.S. permit for our subsidiary in Dublin, consequently reducing our ability to optimize our fleet of aircraft. Even though technical difficulties with our Boeing 787 Dreamliners have also caused additional costs, our long-haul operation now consists of more aircraft and improved reliability. Looking into 2015, we will see a year of consolidation and lower growth. Next year, our fleet of short-haul aircraft will consist exclusively of Boeing 737-800s as older Boeing 737-300s will be phased out,โ said CEO Bjรธrn Kjos.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Norwegian will retire its last Boeing 737-300 in 2015. Devoid of a tail photo, Boeing 737-31S LN-KHC (m,sn 29295) arrives in Stockholm (Arlanda).
Siam Air (Siam Air Transport Company Limited) (Bangkok-Don Mueang) is a new Thai airline that started operations this month between Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Hong Kong with two Boeing 737-300s (HS-BRU and HS-BRV)
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) today is celebrating the end of the flight distance restrictions under the expiring Wright Amendment at its Dallas Love Field base. The airline issued this statement about additional routes from DAL:
Southwest Airlines is giving away 1,000 free flights to celebrate its new-found freedom from its home airport, Dallas Love Field.
The carrier is celebrating the repeal of the law known as the “Wright Amendment” which was imposed in 1979, limiting the reach of Dallas’ convenient airport. Starting today, the airline begins offering new nonstop flights from Love Field to the first of 17 destinations.
Denver
Chicago (Midway)
Baltimore/Washington
Washington, D.C. (Reagan National)
Las Vegas
Los Angeles (LAX)
Orlando
Beginning November 2, 2014, Southwest Airlines will continue its rollout of new nonstop flights from Love Field to:
Phoenix
Orange County/Santa Ana
San Diego
Tampa
Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood
New York City (LaGuardia)
Atlanta
Nashville
Beginning January 6, 2015:
San Francisco (SFO)
Oakland (OAK)
“After 34 long years, Southwest now has the right to spread our low fares, our friendly policies, our Fun-LUVing Attitudes, and Legendary Customer Service,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer during a spirited news conference in front of airline Employees and community Leaders. “Most importantly, we have the right to spread our LOVE across the United States anywhere we want to fly nonstop from our home airport, and our hometown, Dallas, Texas, On this day, October 13, 2014, Southwest Airlines celebrates that Dallas Love Field has officially been Set Free!”
Above: New Route Map from Dallas Love Field.
Customers on each of the first departures from Love Field to one of the seven new nonstop destinations received special gifts including shirts, Southwest Vacations packages, and more, as a way to celebrate the new flights and thank Customers for their support. In keeping with the week of NONSTOP Love, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewardsยฎ Credit Card is celebrating by surprising Customers on flights throughout the week with various gifts and giveaways. Dallas-based Batter Up Cake Shop also surprised Customers and Employees with a cake dedicated to the new nonstop destinations the carrier is now offering from Love Field.
2014 is a milestone year for the 43-year-old airline. The carrier launched international flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, remains on track to complete the AirTran acquisition by the end of the year, revealed a new look, and now is breaking through the wall of the Wright Amendment flight restrictions imposed in 1979 (international nonstop restrictions still apply).
Top Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-7H4 N708SW (msn 27842) in the new heart livery arrives in Las Vegas.
Irelandia Aviation and Grupo IAMSA, owners of Mexico’s low-cost airline VivaAerobusย (Monterrey) and the Colombian airline VivaColombiaย (Medellin), announced their intention to expand the Viva airline brand in Central and South America.
Grupo Viva is being established as a multinational airline holding company based in Panama City, Panama. The new company will be responsible for the further development of the Viva airline brand beyond current operations in Mexico and Colombia, maximizing cost synergies and operational efficiencies across the group and centralizing key management functions.
Grupo Viva is chaired by Roberto Alcรกntara Rojas, also Chairman of the Board of VivaAerobus and Grupo IAMSA. Irelandia Aviation Managing Partner Declan Ryan will be a principal investor.
Tony Davis, currently Partner and COO of Irelandia Aviation, has been appointed CEO. In addition to working with Irelandia Aviation for the past three years, Tony has an extensive track record in establishing low-cost airlines around the world, and he has been closely involved in the recent development of VivaAerobus and VivaColombia. Tony will be responsible for the creation of the Group’s corporate structure and management infrastructure over the next 12 months.
Joe Mohan, who is joining from his position as Senior VP Commercial at COPA Airlines, has been appointed President and COO. Joe has worked in Central and South America for more than 10 years and led the commercial function in one of the region’s most successful airline groups, consistently achieving impressive growth and profitability results. He also brings direct experience of helping lead a high-performing Latin American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Joe will be responsible for the expansion of the group’s regional coverage and improving cost synergies and operational efficiencies for airlines in the group.
Commenting on the appointments, Declan Ryan said, “We are delighted that two executives of the caliber of Tony and Joe have agreed to lead the creation and development of our new low-cost airline group in Latin America. We are convinced that there are tremendous opportunities for our ultra-low-cost airline model to expand in the region. With our existing airlines already well-established in Mexico and Colombia, together with our order last year for 52 new Airbus A320 aircraft, this is the right time to establish Grupo Viva.”
Top Copyright Photo: Fernandez Imaging/AirlinersGallery.com.ย VivaAerobus (vivaaerobus.com) Boeing 737-3B7 XA-VIB (msn 23378) taxies at Austin, TX.
VivaAerobus:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. Formerly operated by OLT Express,ย Airbus A320-214 EI-EPX (HK-4905) (msn 1454) is now withย VivaColombia (VivaColombia.com).
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