Tag Archives: Boeing 737400

Alaska Airlines protects its turf by submitting a formal proposal to the FAA for possible scheduled operations at Paine Field

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) has issued the following statement about the possible use of Paine Field near Everett, WA for possible scheduled airline service. The proposed service is unlikely to start unless another competitor files to start service from PAE (Boeing’s home for the 747, 767, 777 and the 787). In other words, Alaska is keeping its options open to protect its Pacific Northwest turf. Paine Field is on the north side of the Seattle area while the current SEA (Sea-Tac) is on the south side of the Seattle area between Seattle and Tacoma. Here is the full statement:

Alaska Airlines is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to add Paine Field in Everett, Washington, as an authorized airport for the carrier’s operations. This is a required step if the carrier were to begin jet service out of the regional airport at some point in the future. As required by its application, Alaska Airlines is providing the FAA with a proposed schedule over the next five years that could include 28 round-trip jet flights a week.

“We continue to believe that our flights at Sea-Tac Airport and in Bellingham best serve the Puget Sound region’s needs for affordable air travel, particularly in light of the significant investments both airports have made recently to improve their facilities,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of planning and revenue management. “That said, if one or more other airlines begin operations at Paine Field, we would commence service alongside these carriers. Submitting a schedule with the FAA along with a request for authorization to serve Paine is a necessary step in the process.”

Alaska Airlines’ proposed schedule in the first year of operations would include 14 weekly round-trip flights to Las Vegas, Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, using Boeing 737-800 jet aircraft. Alaska would also fly 21 weekly round-trip flights to Portland, Ore., with Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. Not all destinations would be served daily.

By the fifth year of operations, Alaska would fly 49 weekly round-trip flights. This would include 28 round-trips to Las Vegas, Honolulu, Maui, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego with 737-800s, plus 21 weekly round-trips to Portland using Q400s.

Alaska Airlines informed the FAA that these proposed schedules could change depending on competitors, business and economic factors, and the needs of its customers. The carrier is also seeking information from the FAA about any necessary environmental review of its proposed schedule, given a pending legal challenge to the agency’s approval of commercial air service at Paine Field in December.

Alaska Airlines operates about 1,750 weekly round-trip flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, located 42 miles south of Paine Field, and up to 63 weekly round-trip flights at Bellingham International Airport, which is approximately a one-hour drive north of Everett.

Paine Field currently has no adequate passenger terminal, which would need to be built before operations by any airline could begin.

Summary of proposed service for the first year — 35 round-trip flights a week:

City Pair	Weekly Frequency	Aircraft
Everett-Honolulu	4	737-800
Everett -Las Vegas	7	737-800
Everett -Maui	3	737-800
Everett -Portland	21	Q400

Summary of proposed service by the fifth year — 49 round-trip flights a week:

City Pair	Weekly Frequency	Aircraft
Everett -Honolulu	4	737-800
Everett -Las Vegas	7	737-800
Everett -Los Angeles	7	737-800
Everett -Maui	3	737-800
Everett -Phoenix	4	737-800
Everett -Portland	21	Q400
Everett -San Diego	3	737-800

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-490 N706AS (msn 28894) in the Disneyland-Make-A-Wish motif makes a landing at Paine Field for maintenance reasons.

Alaska Airlines:

Cal Jet Air to drop all service to Mazatlan early on February 5

Cal Jet Air (operated by Xtra Airways) (Minneapolis and San Antonio) has abruptly dropped all charter flights to Mazatlan, Mexico effective on February 5 instead of the planned April 7. The public charter company blamed a decision made by The Sinola Group in Mazatlan that was contracting the company to fly these flights operated by Xtra Airways. The Sinola government ended ended the support due to low bookings.

Cal Jet Air launched flights to Mazatlan on January 13 from Los Angeles, Denver, Oakland, Houston and San Antonio.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. Formerly operated for Bahamasair by Xtra Airways until their two new Boeing 737-500s arrived, the pictured Boeing 737-429 N42XA (msn 25729) rests between Cal Jet Air charter flights at Los Angeles.

Xtra Airways:

Japan Transocean Air introduces its new “Jinbei Jet” Whale Shark

Japan Transocean Air-JTA (JAL) (Naha, Okinawa) in December introduced this striking new Whale Shark logojet named “Jinbei Jet”.

Top Copyright Photo: Shige Sakaki. Boeing 737-4Q3 JA8939 (msn 29486) is pictured at its Okinawa home in the motif.

JTA-Japan Transocean Air:

US Airways reports its highest annual profit in company history

US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways) (Phoenix) today reported its fourth quarter and 2012 financial results. For full year 2012, the Company reported a record net profit of $537 million, or $2.79 per diluted share, which excludes net special items totaling a credit of $100 million. This compares to a full year 2011 net profit of $111 million excluding net special items, or $0.68 per diluted share. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported a record net profit of $637 million, or $3.28 per diluted share for 2012, up 797 percent over the 2011 net profit of $71 million, or $0.44 per diluted share.

For the fourth quarter 2012, net profit excluding net special items was $46 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Net profit excluding net special items for the fourth quarter 2011 was $21 million, or $0.13 per diluted share. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported a record net profit of $37 million for its fourth quarter 2012, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to a net profit of $18 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011. As previously disclosed, the Company’s fourth quarter and full year results were negatively impacted by approximately $35 million due to Hurricane Sandy. See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP financial information to non-GAAP financial information.

US Airways Group, Inc. Chairman and CEO Doug Parker stated, “We couldn’t be happier with the performance of US Airways in 2012. Our 32,000 hard-working team members did a phenomenal job of running a safe and reliable airline for our customers and these record financial results are the result of their efforts.

A strong demand environment and record passenger yields led to improved revenue performance. Total revenues in the fourth quarter were a record $3.3 billion, up 3.9 percent versus the fourth quarter 2011 on a 1.4 percent increase in total available seat miles (ASMs). Total revenue per ASM was a record 15.58 cents, up 2.5 percent versus the same period last year driven by a two point increase in passenger load factor.

For the full year 2012, total revenues were a record $13.8 billion, up 5.9 percent versus 2011. Total revenue per ASM increased 3.9 percent to a record 15.64 cents, driven by a 3.5 percent increase in passenger yield and a record load factor of 82.9 percent, up from 82.3 percent in 2011.

Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter were $3.2 billion, up 3.5 percent over the same period last year. Mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 13.55 cents, up 2.8 percent on a 0.7 percent increase in mainline ASMs. Excluding special items, fuel and profit sharing, mainline CASM was 8.73 cents, up 2.9 percent versus the same period last year. Express CASM excluding special items and fuel was 14.54 cents, down 2.7 percent on a 4.8 percent increase in ASMs.

For the full year 2012, total operating expenses were $13.0 billion, up 2.7 percent versus 2011. Excluding special items, fuel and profit sharing, mainline CASM increased 0.5 percent to 8.39 cents. Express CASM excluding special items and fuel decreased 1.5 percent to 14.49 cents.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2012, the Company had $2.71 billion in total cash and investments, of which $336 million was restricted, up from $2.31 billion, of which $365 million was restricted on December 31, 2011.

Special Items

The Company recognized approximately $9 million of net special items in the fourth quarter, which are primarily related to corporate transaction and auction rate securities arbitration costs.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. The remaining Boeing 737-400s will be the next type to be retired by US Airways. Boeing 737-4B7 N439US (msn 24781) climbs away from the runway at Charlotte.

US Airways:

Brussels Airlines and its unions reach agreement, retires its last Boeing

Brussels Airlines (Brussels) and its unions have reached agreement on a new contract that will allow the airline to return to profitability. The airline issued the following statement:

The social agreement (contract), based on a set of structural and temporary measures aiming at securing a sustainable future and profitable growth for the company, is focused on job protection and increase of the company’s competitiveness.

On December 7 Brussels Airlines and the union delegates representing the pilots, cabin crew and non-flying staff (including maintenance) of the Belgian company have reached an agreement and herewith make an end to an intensive negotiation period. The agreement is in line with the targets set by the performance improvement plan Beyond 2012-2013 that aims to bring the company back to profitability by 2014.

Bernard Gustin, CEO of Brussels Airlines, qualifies this agreement as a significant step for the Belgian airline, demonstrating the strong engagement of both sides towards the future of the company: “We are extremely satisfied that the agreements reached are taking the requirements and interests of all parties into consideration. Union delegates and management have committed themselves to make mutual concessions in order to safeguard jobs and create growth perspectives for our company by significantly increasing our competitiveness”.

The main topics discussed at the negotiation table were structural measures, such as productivity improvement and seasonality, and temporary measures, like a part-time working regime (for the cockpit crews) and a salary freeze.

Productivity improvement on the European & long haul network, in line with the economic objectives set at the start of the process
Adaptation of operations to the summer & winter season
Competitive flight time/duty time
Salary freeze by keeping the wage scale at the same level until 2015

In addition, according to CH-Aviation, Brussels Airlines retired its last Boeing 737 from revenue service on November 30. Boeing 737-36N OO-VEN (msn 28586) and 737-4Q8 OO-VET (msn 28202) (pictured) operated the last flights for each type.

Brussels Airlines:

TNT Express conditionally sells TNT Airways and Pan Air Lines Aereas to the ASL Aviation Group

TNT Express N.V. (Hoofddorp) has announced the conditional sale of 100% of the equity interest in its subsidiary TNT Airways SA (TAY) (Liege) and Pan Air Lineas Aereas SA (PNR) (Madrid) to ASL Aviation Group Limited (Dublin). The transfer is conditional on and will become effective immediately prior to completion of the proposed UPS-TNT Express merger.

This change of ownership and control will ensure service continuity of the TNT Express operations after the completion of the proposed merger, in compliance with EU airline ownership and control rules [1].

ASL Aviation Group is an established European group of aviation companies, which currently includes three airlines (including Air Contractors), two support services companies and various leasing entities. ASL Aviation Group holds a European air operator license and operates and owns a fleet of about 90 aircraft in use for freight and passenger services. ASL Aviation Group employs close to 1,200 personnel and generated revenues of around €410 million in 2011. ASL Aviation Group is owned by Compagnie Maritime Belge N.V. (51%) and 3P Air Freighters Ltd (49%).

ASL Aviation Group will take over all flights performed by TNT Express’ airlines. ASL Aviation Group has entered into a service contract that will maintain service continuity. ASL Aviation Group will become a key third-party provider of the combined UPS-TNT Express group and will be invited to bid for all of the combined group’s outsourced air business in Europe when this becomes open to tender. Alongside its commercial agreement with UPS-TNT Express, ASL Aviation Group expects to develop further its third-party airline and maintenance businesses.

Almost all employees of the airlines will stay with the airlines except for a small number of employees who will transfer to the TNT Express’ Liège hub due to the nature of their work. As part of the transaction, ASL Aviation Group has committed to comply with applicable laws and regulations to respect all individual employee rights, covenants and benefits as exist under current ownership.

TNT Express does not expect the airlines ownership transfer to impact activities at TNT Express’ hub in Liège for at least one year following completion of the proposed UPS-TNT Express merger. Further, ASL Aviation Group intends to maintain the TNT Airways headquarters in Liège. UPS recognizes the significant value of TNT Express’ operations, assets and people in Liège and will develop longer-term plans for the hub, with involvement of employees’ representatives, the Walloon Region and Liège Airport.

Copyright Photo: Pedro Baptista/Flyingphotos. Boeing 737-45D OO-TNP (msn 27256) of TNT Airways completes its final approach into Lisbon.

TNT Airways:

Cal Jet Air to operate to Mazatlan from Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Los Angeles and Oakland

Cal Jet Air (Minneapolis and San Diego) is a new public charter company like the previous Direct Air (Myrtle Beach). The company is planning to operate charter flights to Mazatlan, Mexico from Houston, San Antonio, Denver, Los Angeles and Oakland.

Cal Jet Air’s flight will be operated by Xtra Airways (Boise), which is a U.S. Air Carrier, who provides public charter air flights. Xtra Airways use to operate for Direct Air. Cal Jet Air offers all-inclusive vacations, golf and entertainment packages.

All flights are filed and approved by the Department of Transportation and operate under Part 380 CFR. (Code of Federal Regulation)

According to the company, Cal Jet Air is privately owned and managed by a core management team consisting of five experienced men and women. Together they have more than 100 combined years of extensive experience in tour operations and packaging; aviation charters and services; finance; marketing; technology; and, general management in the tour operator aviation industry. The management team has extensive knowledge in both domestic and international operations.

Cal Jet Air is focused on delivering a reliable and safe product with professional service that meets or exceeds the expectations of their clients. The Company has based its Corporate Headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cal Jet Air operates a Reservation / Call Center located in San Diego, California.

Copyright Photo: Luimer Cordero. Former Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-4Q8 N772AS (msn 25105) of Xtra Airways is seen at Punta Gorda, Florida operating for Direct Air.

Xtra Airways:

Blue Panorama Airlines enters into bankruptcy protection and reorganization

Blue Panorama Airlines (Rome-Fiumicino) has entered into the equivalent of Chapter 11 (bankruptcy protection and reorganization). On October 23, the company issued the following statement (translated from Italian):

BLUE PANORAMA AIRLINES TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NEW REGULATORY TOOLS CONTAINED IN THE “ORDER OF DEVELOPMENT” TO INCREASE ITS COMPETITIVENESS ‘

Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A. announces that it has applied for admission to the composition procedure in continuity under the Development Decree, according to the U.S. model of highly effective better known as “Chapter 11”.
Blue Panorama has decided to use this tool accessible to even a few weeks to Italian companies to consolidate their financial and capital structure in order to deal in the best position possible to the challenges posed by the current economic environment in the field of aviation and leisure travel. This is to continue to play in this respect the leading role that for over 14 years, is recognized by its customers. The start of the procedure has been notified to ENAC, which provided for the issuance of temporary license pursuant to article 9 of the Regulation 1008/2008.

The objectives that arises Blue Panorama Airlines through this new route are to:

– Continue to offer passengers excellent service, safe and reliable;
– Improve the industrial and commercial efficiency;
– To ensure the normal operation of domestic and international flights;
– Continue to offer competitive air links for the benefit of users;
– Make Blue Panorama Airlines and Blu-express a new benchmark in the sector.

During the reorganization process, Blue Panorama Airlines will carry out normal operations, while maintaining the commitment of its management team and operational. In addition to the consolidation of traditional connections will also be triggered new international services of great interest both outgoing and incoming flows.

Blue Panorama Airlines and Blu-express continue to operate their respective flight schedules, honoring tickets and reservations as usual, and to continue the industrial partnerships with carriers, tour operators and travel agent partners.
The President and founder of the company, Franco Pecci, maintains and increases its commitment to the holding in the firm belief that customers, which have always been the company’s priority will continue to use the Blue Panorama flights and Blu-express for quality service competitive and constantly delivered by the carrier in all years.

Copyright Photo: Lucio Alfieri. The company operates under both the Blue Panorama Airlines and blu-express names and brands. Boeing 737-4K5 EI-CUN (msn 27074) carries both names at Bologna.

Blue Express Airlines:

Frameable Color Prints and Posters:

Alaska Air Group reports net income of $163.4 million in the third quarter

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horzon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) reported third quarter 2012 GAAP net income of $163.4 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, compared to $77.5 million, or $1.06 per diluted share in 2011. Excluding the favorable impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments of $21.2 million ($13.1 million after tax, or $0.18 per diluted share), the company reported record third quarter 2012 net income of $150.3 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, compared to net income excluding special items of $131.1 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, in 2011.

Third quarter highlights with comparison to 2011:

Reported record third quarter net income, excluding special items, of $150.3 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $131.1 million, or $1.79 per diluted share. This quarter’s results compare to a First Call mean estimate of $2.08 per share.
Earned net income under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $163.4 million, or $2.27 per diluted share, compared to net income of $77.5 million, or $1.06 per diluted share.
Held the No. 1 spot in U.S. Department of Transportation on-time performance among the 10 largest U.S. airlines for the 12 months ended August 2012.
Announced a new $250 million share repurchase program, representing approximately 10 percent of our market capitalization, while completing our previously announced $50 million share repurchase program.
Achieved trailing 12-month return on invested capital of 12.7 percent, compared to 12.0 percent in the 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2011.
Lowered adjusted debt-to-total capitalization ratio by 8 points, to 54 percent, since Dec. 31, 2011.
Held $1.2 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of Sept. 30, 2012.
Received “2012 Global Vision Award” by Travel + Leisure magazine for Alaska Airlines’ sustainability efforts.

New routes:

Began new service between Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Portland, Ore., and Washington, D.C.; and Seattle and San Antonio in the third quarter.
Announced expanded service between Los Angeles and Anchorage beginning in summer 2013.

Boeing order:

Signed an aircraft purchase agreement with Boeing for 50 new 737 aircraft, including 37 of Boeing’s new 737 MAX aircraft with deliveries expected in 2015 through 2024. This order positions Alaska to replace aging aircraft over the next decade and grow the fleet, assuming profitability and return-on-invested-capital targets can be met.

The following table reconciles the company’s reported GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share (EPS) during the third quarters of 2012 and 2011 to adjusted amounts:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2012				2011
(in millions, except per share amounts)	Dollars		Diluted EPS		Dollars		Diluted EPS
Reported GAAP net income	$	163.4	$	2.27	$	77.5	$	1.06
Fleet transition costs, net of tax	—		—		1.2		0.02
Mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments, net of tax	(13.1)		(0.18)		52.4		0.71
Non-GAAP adjusted income and per share amounts	$	150.3	$	2.09	$	131.1	$	1.79

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737-490 N791AS (msn 28886) decorated as “Follow Me to Disneyland/50 Years” completes its final approach into the Seattle/Tacoma hub.

All of the Horizon Air aircraft have now been rebranded as Alaska Horizon.

Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Horizon (Horizon Air):

Alaska Airlines to have a State of Hawaii “Spirit of the Islands” logojet in 2013

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) is inviting school-aged children in Hawai’i to create artwork honoring the unique culture of the Aloha State that will adorn a Boeing 737-800 in a “Paint the Plane” contest. In partnership with the Hawai’i State Department of Education (DOE) and the Hawai’i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), contest forms will be distributed to more than 400 schools and 218,000 students throughout the Islands.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade from public, private and home schools across the state have until November 30 to submit designs that best capture the “Spirit of the Islands.” A final selection panel comprised of 10 judges representing Hawai’i’s government, community, arts, education and tourism leaders will select three top designs. Residents of the state of Hawai’i will then vote on the top three designs and provide Alaska Airlines with their recommendation in an online public vote slated for December 2012. The plane is scheduled to be revealed at a public event in Hawai’i during the spring of 2013.

The student with the winning submission will get his or her design painted on an Alaska Airlines aircraft, a trip for four to any Alaska Airlines destination and a $5,000 scholarship. Second- and third-place winners will receive a trip for four to any Alaska Airlines destination, and 12 honorable mentions will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship, except for the grade of the grand prize winner.

Hawai’i Gov. Neil Abercrombie attended a kick-off event today with 330 students at Prince Jonah Kuhio Elementary School in Honolulu, along with representatives from Alaska Airlines, the DOE and HAIS (above).

“Spirit of the Islands” contest schedule:

Sept. 24 – Contest begins for Hawai’i students
Nov. 30 – Entry forms must be postmarked and mailed to a designated Alaska Airlines P.O. box in Honolulu
Dec.11-18 – Hawai’i residents vote online for their favorite design
January 2013 – Results of online voting revealed and winner announced
Spring 2013 – Painted plane is unveiled

Complete contest details are available at www.alaskaair.com/hawaii, including contest rules, instructions and entry forms required to participate. Entry forms will also be available at the Alaska Airlines booth during several community events throughout the Islands, including the Maui Fair, Hawai’i’s Children and Youth Day, Hawai’i Fishing and Seafood Festival, and the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Boeing 737-490 N705AS (msn 29318) in the State of Alaska theme arrives at the Seattle/Tacoma hub.

The “Spirit of the Islands” contest is the third time Alaska Airlines has turned to the public to paint a plane. The Spirit of Alaska Statehood aircraft paint scheme (above) was created by a 16-year-old Sitka student in a similar statewide contest celebrating Alaska’s 50-year anniversary. Last year, two soccer fans designed the MLS Portland “Timbers Jet” (below) to celebrate the airline’s jersey sponsorship of the Portland, Oregon, soccer team.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-790 N607AS (msn 29751) taxies to the active runway at Seattle/Tacoma International Airport.

Alaska Airlines is hosting the contest in celebration of five years of serving Hawai’i, which today includes daily nonstop flights from seven West Coast cities and Anchorage, Alaska, to four major islands. On average, Alaska Airlines offers more departures in more nonstop markets between Hawai’i and the West Coast than any other carrier (22 daily roundtrips, or 308 weekly flights, in 21 nonstop markets).

Alaska Airlines: