Tag Archives: Boeing 737-500

KlasJet adds three Boeing 737-500s

European business aviation company KlasJet (Vilnius, Lithuania) has finished 2018 with a big bang. The company has extended its fleet with three Boeing 737-500s. Growth of the fleet is one of the cornerstones of KlasJet’s strategic goals in 2019. New aircraft enable the company to further extend bespoke services and experiences, tailored to sophisticated customer’s needs. Expansion is set to continue in 2019 with plans to purchase four more Boeings.

The first aircraft will have 52 business class seats in exclusive red and black leather trim (LY-KDT). The second aircraft will be equipped with an interchangeable interior that will be able to transform from 68 to 102 business class seats (LY-FLT). The last addition to the fleet will be a special 737 with refined economy interior of 120 seats.

Expansion is set to continue in 2019 with plans to purchase four more Boeing aircraft.

KlasJet is oriented to a special customers segments and groups such as sports clubs, show business, diplomatic flights, VIP flights, VIP tours, M.I.C.E. Sports is that particular segment where KlasJet has extremely a lot of experience. Olympic games, participation in preparation for the World Cup 2018 with well-known National Teams as well as bringing teams and officials to Russia for the World cup itself, most famous football teams from top European Leagues, such as English Premier League, Spanish Primera division, Italian Serie A, French League 1, participation in both top European cups – Europa League and Champions League. Journeys with Lithuanian National basketball team and other countries National teams. This is definitely not the end of impressive list.

At the moment, KlasJet is operating four aircraft – a Hawker 800XP, Bombardier CRJ200, Bombardier Challenger 850, and a Boeing 737-500. This fleet is proven to be the top choice among customers in Europe and the Middle East since 2013. With gained trust and expertise, the company is now entering a new stage of development.

All three new Boeing 737-500s are being prepared for their operations. They are being reconfigured according to KlasJet customer’s needs. Aircraft will be customized and uniquely designed including tailored technical specifications. Each 737 will be setup to meet the need of the particular customer segment.

The first aircraft will have 52 business class seats in exclusive red and black leather trim to have the best-in-class comfort. It will be operational as of the first quarter of 2019. The second aircraft, a blue bird of the sky by design, will be equipped with an interchangeable interior that will be able to transform from 68 to 102 business class seats. Such flexibility is crucial to adjust offers for large VIP groups. The aircraft is already being maintained at the KlasJet hangar in Lithuania and will start its operations no later than the second quarter of the year. The last addition to the fleet, following in the 2nd half of 2019, will be a special 737 with refined economy interior of 120 seats.

All photos by KlasJet.

Albatros Airlines of Venezuela to add its first Boeing 737

Albatros Airlines (Venezuela) (Maracay) is becoming a new Boeing operator. The Venezuelan carrier will soon take delivery of this former Ukraine International Boeing 737-5L9 registered currently as N102ES (msn 28995, ex UR-GBB). The airliner was painted at East Midlands and rolled out yesterday.

The airline currently operates two Cessna 208B Grand Caravans and three Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias.

According to the airline, Albatros Airlines was founded on December 27 2007, in order “to strengthen the growth of commercial air activity; meet the transportation needs that affect various regions of the country, and promote the development of tourism in Venezuela.”

The carrier’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was awarded by the National Institute of Civil Aviation on May 13, 2010 for the commercial air transport of passengers, cargo and mail. On May 20, 2010 the company made its first commercial flight to Porlamar and Porlamar Carúpano. The new airline quickly expanded with routes to Los Roques from Caracas (Maiquetia) and Maracay.

Copyright Photo: Ian Bowley/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Albatros Airlines). The first 737 also introduces this new livery for the airline. The airline encouraged design contributions from the public before the final design was selected.

airBaltic adds two new routes

airBaltic (airBaltic.com) (Riga) on October 30 launched a new route connecting Vilnius and Amsterdam. The new route will operate three days a week. Previously on October 28 the company started a new route connection between Tallinn and Paris (CDG). The Paris route will operate four days a week. Both routes are being operated with Boeing 737s.

Top Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by airBaltic). Ex-United Boeing 737-522 YL-BBM (msn 26680) arrives in Zurich.

airBaltic Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/airBaltic

Route Map for routes from Riga:

flyafrica.com launches operations

flyafrica.com (Harare) finally launched scheduled passenger operations on August 1 from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls. The start was delayed from July 23.

The flyafrica.com fleet is made up of five Boeing 737-500s including the pictured Z-FAA.

Flyafrica.com to launch low-fare operations on July 23

Flyafrica.com (Harare) is a new airline in Zimbabwe. The new carrier has announced it will launch low-fare and pay-as-you-go operations on July 23 with Boeing 737-500 aircraft. The first route will be from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg with three weekly flights.

Ukraine International starts Kiev-Tehran flights, will cut its fleet by 25%

Ukraine International Airlines-UIA (Kiev) on June 3 launched nonstop scheduled flights connecting the capitals of the Ukraine and Iran – Kiev and Tehran. Flights connecting Kiev and Tehran will be operated three times a week: outbound – on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; inbound – on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

All flights will be operated on Boeing 737 aircraft in two-class cabin configuration – Business and Economy.

In other news, due to on-going turmoil in the Ukraine, especially in the eastern Russian-speaking areas, the flag carrier will cut its capacity and will reduce its fleet by 25 percent according to CAPA.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. The older Boeing 737s including the pictured Boeing 737-5Y0 UR-GAK (msn 26075) at Zurich, are likely to be the first to be phased out by the downsizing GIA.

Ukraine International Airlines:

AirBaltic returns to the black with a net profit of $1.39 million for 2013

AirBaltic (stylized as airBaltic) (Riga) has also returned to the black. The Latvia carrier achieved a net profit of 1 million euro ($1.39 million) for the full year of 2013. AirBaltic has surpassed its original plans and has turned around the FY 2012 loss of EUR -27 million, converting it into a net profit of 1 million euro for 2013. AirBaltic has achieved profitability one year ahead of the initial schedule.

AirBaltic achieved 5% better yields and 1% of unit revenue improvements over the twelve months of 2013 (RASK – revenue per available seat kilometer), when compared to the same period a year ago, and generated stable revenues of EUR 325 million, despite capacity reductions.

AirBaltic serves sixty destinations from its home base in Riga, Latvia.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. The Boeing 737s will be phased out and replaced reportedly by 2017 by the new Bombardier CS300s assuming the latter can unravel its testing and production issues. Boeing 737-522 YL-BBN (msn 26683) in the special “Official Carrier of Latvia Team for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics” taxies at Zurich.

airBaltic:

Air Do today retires its “Bear Do” logo jet

Air Do (Sapporo) is gradually retiring its fleet of Boeing 737-500s (now down to five aircraft).

According to ZipanguFlyer, Air Do’s first special-theme aircraft, the pictured Boeing 737-54K JA8196 (msn 27966) “Bear Do”, flew its last revenue service today (March 14) as flight HD 024, from Sapporo (New Chitose) to Tokyo (Haneda) with 121 passengers. The passengers received special “Bear Do” memorabilia and a last flight certificate according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full story from ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Susumu Tokunaga/AirlinersGallery.com. JA8196 taxies past the camera at Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) in Tokyo.

Air Do:

Pictures of the event on Air Do’s Facebook page:

Southwest Airlines’ pilot union opposes the application of Norwegian Air International

Southwest Airlines‘ (Dallas) pilots, represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA), issued this statement today in opposition to the application to the DOT by Norwegian Air International of Ireland:

The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) is joining numerous pilot groups across the United States along with Airlines for America to battle against Norwegian Air International’s application to the Department of Transportation that would provide them the ability to circumvent labor laws of their home country.

SWAPA’s opposition is contradicted by the Washington Airports Task Force who have chosen to support the Norwegian Air International (NAI) application. SWAPA has written to the Task Force to rethink their position and not oppose the many D.C.-area Southwest Airlines pilots.

NAI is an attempt by a Norwegian-owned entity to capitalize on the EU’s loose labor and aviation oversight regulations. They have applied for – and received – an Operating Certificate from Ireland although not one of their aircraft will operate from there. They have also contracted a Singapore-based company to staff their cockpits with Bangkok-based contract pilots (to evade EU labor and tax provisions).

“This ‘Flag of Convenience’ strategy is one that has decimated the U.S. Maritime industry,” said Captain Paul Jackson, Chair of SWAPA’s Governmental Affairs. “That industry was once robust and employed over 200,000 U.S. workers. Today the number of jobs has been reduced to around 2,500 due to the offshoring of work through foreign flag registrations of ships seeking the lax labor laws of those countries. Southwest pilots will not stand by and let this happen to the U.S. airline industry.”

“We are not opposing the entrance of an airline that competes fairly and doesn’t use the lax EU laws to drive out labor protections, bringing a questionable level of oversight to their operation,” continued Jackson. “We strongly believe that our product and the work of our industry can stand up to any competitor if they play by the rules in place and do not seek to lower costs at any price.”

Located in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) is a non-profit employee organization representing the more than 6,800 pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA works to provide a secure and rewarding career for Southwest pilots and their families through negotiating contracts, defending contractual rights and actively promoting professionalism and safety.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-5H4 N527SW (msn 26569) completes its final approach for the runway at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport.

Southwest Airlines:

LAM orders three Boeing 737-700s

LAM – Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (Maputo) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) announced an order for three Next-Generation 737-700 airplanes. The order, valued at $228 million at list prices, includes purchase rights for three additional Next-Generation 737s.

The order, formally signed in November 2013 and was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website, is part of the Mozambique flag-carrier and the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communication’s long-term strategy to increase flight frequency and provide greater route flexibility to and from the southern African nation.

LAM – Linhas Aereas de Mocambique’s new 737-700s will be fitted with Boeing’s latest Performance Improvement Package (PIP), delivering an additional two percent improvement in fuel efficiency for what is already the most fuel efficient single aisle aircraft. The airplanes will also feature the popular passenger-inspired Boeing Sky Interior, with modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

Based at Maputo International Airport in Mozambique’s capital city, LAM – Linhas Aereas de Mocambique currently operates flights domestically and regionally, across southern Africa with a fleet that currently includes Boeing 737-500s, and other smaller regional aircraft.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. The new Boeing 737-700s will replace the older 104-seat 737-500 type. Boeing 737-53S C9-BAP (msn 29074) arrives in Johannesburg.

LAM: