Tag Archives: Boeing 757300

Thomas Cook Group unveils its new “Sunny Heart” livery

Thomas Cook Group (London) has unveiled its new “Sunny Heart” livery. Airbus A321-211 G-TCDC (msn 5872) was delivered to Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) on November 22 and will go into revenue service in mid December. the second of the 23 new Airbus A321 aircraft to be delivered to the Thomas Cook Group Airlines by 2016, previously announced in early 2013. This follows the first A321 delivered to sister airline Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) in May 2013.

Six aircraft will be deployed in the UK and will be in operation by the summer season of 2014.

The group explains the new look, a departure from its traditional blue and white colors:

“Our new ’Sunny Heart’ livery expresses the philosophy of our airline; our team putting their heart into every flight and making sure our customers’ holiday starts as soon as they board their flight to their holiday destination. The Sunny Heart is the perfect symbol for our passion to create memorable holidays for our guests.”

G-TCDC is also the first Airbus aircraft in the Thomas Cook Group to be fitted with wing-tip Sharklets which help the aircraft fly using less fuel, contributing – with the new fuselage shape – to an overall fuel efficiency of up to 6 per cent compared to the existing aircraft in the fleet.

Meanwhile Condor Flugdienst has already painted its first aircraft in the new brand, Boeing 757-330 D-ABOJ (above).

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. Condor’s Boeing 757-330 D-ABOJ (msn 29010) sits at the Frankfurt base today between flights in the new look.

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Condor Flugdienst:

Video: Painting of the first A321 for Condor (in the old colors):

Video: Thomas Cook Airlines:

United Airlines introduces 200th aircraft with live television

United Airlines (Chicago) has equipped its 200^th aircraft with live television, offering customers more than 100 channels of live programming while in-flight. United operates more live television-equipped aircraft than any other airline in the world.

United currently offers live television on most Boeing 737 aircraft and on many of its Boeing 757-300 aircraft. In addition to live news, sports and family entertainment, customers may enjoy up to eight newly released movies a month. The service is complimentary for customers in United First and available for purchase in United Economy starting at $5.99 and varying depending on the length of flight.

Live television-equipped aircraft also feature power outlets in United First and United Economy Plus, enabling customers to charge their cell phones, laptops, e-readers and other mobile devices.

Onboard Improvements

The expansion of live television on United aircraft comes as the airline continues to invest in its onboard products.

United offers personal on-demand entertainment for premium-cabin and economy-cabin customers on the majority of its long-haul international aircraft, providing hundreds of hours of movies, television programs, music and games. Additionally, United is:

Installing satellite Wi-Fi. The airline expects to have more than 200 aircraft equipped with the service by the end of 2013.
Adding flat-bed seating on all of the airline’s long-haul international aircraft. United currently offers more flat-bed seating than any other U.S. carrier.
Introducing flat-bed seats on its transcontinental ‘p.s.’ Premium Service, offering a revamped premium cabin, all-new interiors, personal on-demand entertainment, Wi-Fi connectivity, in-seat power and USB ports. The airline expects to complete the reconfiguration of p.s. aircraft by the end of the year.
Adding extra-legroom Economy Plus seating. The airline currently offers Economy Plus seating on nearly 650 mainline aircraft and approximately 150 regional jets.
Nearly doubling the overhead storage space on more than 150 Airbus aircraft, with more than half of those retrofits completed.
Implementing streaming wireless video onboard its Boeing 747-400 aircraft beginning later this year.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 757-33N N57864 (msn 32588) climbs away from the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines:

Icelandair remains in the red with a 1Q net loss of $18.3 million

Icelandair Group (Icelandair) (Keflavik) reported a net loss of $18.3 million in the first quarter, an increase from a net loss of $13.2 million in the same quarter a year ago.

The airline issued this statement:

Icelandair Group organic growth continues

Losses after taxes USD $18.3 million, as compared to USD $13.2 million in the preceding year
Performance in the quarter exceeded management projections
EBITDA negative by USD $8.3 million, as compared to negative USD $3.0 million last year
Passenger revenues increased by 24% between years
Total revenue increased by 10%
Equity ratio was 32% at the end of March
Net cash provided by operating activities USD 78.5 million, as compared to USD 86.1 million in the preceding year

Björgólfur Jóhannsson, President and CEO:

“Icelandair Group’s performance over the quarter was better than our budget projected and estimates of continued growth materialized. Capacity on international flights increased by just short of a quarter in the first three months of the year, and the increase in passenger numbers over the same period was 18%. The greatest increase was in the number of passengers on the North Atlantic market, about 40%. The number of passengers in the tourist market to Iceland also increased significantly from last year, with a positive impact for all tourist services in Iceland. The Group’s freight activities have shown a turnaround. Freight charter projects have been downsized systematically, and the focus has been shifted to scheduled air freight services, which has returned good results.

At the start of the year we issued an EBITDA forecast for 2013 in the range of USD 115-120 million. The performance in the first quarter was in excess of the forecast, and in addition operating prospects are generally positive. Based on adjusted assumptions, EBITDA for the year is now projected at USD 122-127 million.”

Icelandair:

Route Map:

Icelandair to fly year-round from Toronto

Icelandair (Keflavik) has announced year-round service from Canada with the return of flights from Toronto (Pearson) this spring.

Icelandair will resume operations from Pearson International Airport on March 8, 2013 with four flights per week to Keflavik (near Reykjavik).

Toronto will become Icelandair’s fifth year-round North American gateway. The Toronto flights are part of a 2013 route expansion that will be the largest in Icelandair’s 76-year history. The ambitious growth plan includes a new North American gateway, Anchorage and the addition of two new European destinations, St. Petersburg, Russia and Zurich.

Icelandair operates year-round service to Iceland and more than 20 European destinations from Boston, Denver, New York (JFK), Seattle/Tacoma and now Toronto (Pearson). In addition, Icelandair offers seasonal service from Halifax, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Sanford (near Orlando) and Washington (Dulles). Only Icelandair allows passengers to stopover in Iceland for up to seven nights at no additional airfare.

Route Map:

Please click on the map for the full-size view.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography. Boeing 757-308 TF-FIX (msn 29434) approaches Toronto (Pearson) for landing. Icelandair is replacing its aging Boeing 757 fleet with 12 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 aircraft with purchase rights for additional 12 aircraft. The first delivery to Icelandair is scheduled for the first half of 2018.

Icelandair:

Icelandair to expand to Anchorage, St. Petersburg (Russia) and Zurich

Icelandair (Keflavik) has announced its newest gateway from North America: Anchorage, Alaska along with two new destinations in Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia and Zurich, Switzerland.

Flights to Anchorage will begin on May 15, 2013 with nonstop seasonal service between Iceland and Anchorage twice a week through mid-September 2013. From its hub in Keflavik near Reykjavik, Icelandair offers nonstop connections to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

Icelandair will also include more destinations to Europe with four flights a week to Zurich and two flights a week to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Icelandair flights to St. Petersburg will begin on June 1, 2013 with nonstop flights from Iceland twice a week through September 17, 2013. Flights to Zurich, Switzerland will begin on June 1, 2013 with nonstop flights from Iceland twice a week through September 14, 2013.

Icelandair Slide Show: