Tag Archives: Boeing

Boeing wants to conduct 787 test flights, Japan: still unclear what caused the ANA batteries to overheat

Boeing (Chicago) has asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (Washington) for permission to conduct 787 test flights, suggesting they could be getting closer to a solution of the battery fire issue according to a report by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Japan’s transport safety agency said it is still unclear whether battery chemistry or an electrical issue caused the main battery on the ANA flight to overheat, forcing it to make the emergency landing according to Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Grand Rapids to join the Southwest Airlines network on August 11

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today that Grand Rapids, Michigan is the next AirTran Airways (Dallas) city to be converted to Southwest service. Those flights from Grand Rapids to Baltimore/Washington, Denver, Orlando, and Saint Louis will begin on August 11, 2013. AirTran service in Grand Rapids will end the previous day, August 10, 2013.

From Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), fly Southwest Airlines Nonstop to:

(BWI) Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
(DEN) Denver International Airport
(MCO) Orlando International Airport
(STL) Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

Additionally, AirTran expands operations in Memphis with new nonstop flights between Memphis and Chicago (Midway), Baltimore/Washington, and Orlando, beginning on August 11, 2013. In Memphis, AirTran currently offers five daily nonstop flights to Atlanta.

Southwest also will begin nonstop service between Flint, Michigan and Las Vegas starting on August 11, 2013. Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint is currently served by AirTran Airways and will convert to Southwest Airlines service on April 14, 2013. Inaugural service from Flint will also include nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.

Top Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney. Boeing 737-3H4 N609SW (msn 27929) in the California One motif lands at Las Vegas.

Southwest Airlines:

AirTran Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Southwest Airlines is also phasing out the AirTran Airways’ Boeing 717 fleet. The 717s will gradually migrate to Delta Air Lines. Boeing 717-2BD N946AT (msn 55009) painted in the special livery of the world champion Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

American Airlines and Alaska Airlines move closer with a new codeshare agreement

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) announced today that the two airlines are strengthening their relationship by adding new codeshare routes that will offer customers even more choices and benefits when traveling throughout the United States. The codeshare flights are available for purchase today for travel beginning Feb. 7, 2013.

The codeshare expansion will allow American to place its code on 22 new Alaska routes that provide Bay Area travelers with access to Hawaii and will increase the options for transcontinental flights for travelers in the Pacific Northwest and San Diego to Boston, Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Fla. Under the agreement, Alaska will place its code on 19 American routes, which will provide better access for Alaska customers on flights between Los Angeles and U.S. cities such as Washington, D.C., Orlando and Houston. Additionally, Alaska customers will gain better access between the Pacific Northwest and 11 new cities throughout Texas via American’s Dallas/Fort Worth hub. In all, Alaska customers will gain access to 13 new destinations.

American and Alaska Airlines already have an established and successful frequent flier program relationship in place allowing members to earn and redeem miles on each other’s flights. In addition, the miles Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members earn on American Airlines flights count toward elite status qualification and elite status members can receive their elite status bonus miles on American Airlines flights. Likewise, the miles American Airlines AAdvantage^® members earn on Alaska Airlines flights count toward elite status qualification and elite status members can receive their elite status bonus miles on Alaska Airlines flights. Elite members are also eligible for priority check-in and boarding as well as waived baggage charges for two checked bags when traveling on each other’s flights. Elite Level Mileage Plan members have access to preferred seating when traveling on American Airlines and AAdvantage Executive Platinum and AAdvantage Platinum members have access to preferred seating when traveling on Alaska Airlines or its affiliates.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Newly-painted Boeing 737-823 N908NN (msn 31157) in the new livery ferries from Los Angeles (LAX) to Orange County-Santa Ana (SNA) as flight AA 1125.

American Airlines:

Alaska Airlines:

UPS reports record earnings per share

UPS (United Parcel Service) (UPS Airlines) (Atlanta and Louisville) announced record 2012 fourth quarter and full year adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.32 and $4.53 respectively, with the U.S. Domestic segment leading the way. The company generated annual free cash flow of approximately $5.4 billion, a testament to operations execution and the emphasis UPS places on capital efficiency. UPS estimates that Hurricane Sandy reduced earnings per share by approximately $0.05.

UPS recorded a fourth quarter mark-to-market, non-cash, after-tax charge of $3.0 billion for its company-sponsored pension and post-retirement benefit plans. Although the plans exceeded their expected rate of return, these incremental gains were more than offset by a 120 basis point decline in year-end discount rates. As a result, on a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share for the quarter fell to a loss of $1.83. For the full year, reported diluted earnings per share were $0.83. This adjustment does not affect cash flow, required pension funding or benefits paid to plan participants.

UPS expects full year earnings per share to be within a range of $4.80 – $5.06, an increase of 6-to-12% compared to 2012 adjusted results. The company also raised guidance for 2013 share repurchases from $1.5 billion to $4.0 billion.

Adjusted

Consolidated Results

4Q 2012

4Q 2011

Revenue

$14.57 B

$14.17 B

Operating profit (loss)

($2.78 B

)

$2.05 B

$1.20 B

$2.02 B

Operating margin

(19.1 %

)

14.1 %

8.4 %

14.3 %

Average volume per day

18.8 M

18.3 M

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

($1.83

)

$1.32

$0.74

$1.28

During the year, UPS delivered more than four billion packages. For the quarter, it delivered 18.8 million pieces per day, an increase of 2.9% over the prior-year period.

Overall consumer spending for holiday shopping fell slightly below expectations, however; UPS still delivered more than 500 million packages, including almost 28 million on its peak day, both new records.

Cash Position

For the year ending Dec. 31, UPS generated $5.4 billion in free cash flow after capital expenditures of $2.2 billion. UPS repurchased 21.8 million shares for approximately $1.6 billion and paid dividends totaling $2.1 billion, up 9.6% per share.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 747-45E (BCF) N579UP (msn 26062) climbs away from Anchorage International Airport (ANC).

UPS-United Parcel Service:

JetBlue and Asiana move closer with a new interline agreement

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Asiana Airlines (Seoul) have announced the launch of an interline agreement to connect each other’s networks and bring new flight options to travelers between Asia and the Americas.

Through the arrangement, effective immediately, travelers can book single-ticket travel combining flights on both carriers and enjoy one-stop baggage check-in when they transfer between the airlines at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

JetBlue is the largest domestic airline at JFK, where Asiana offers daily nonstop service to its global hub at Incheon International Airport. Travelers can connect onward to cities across Asia and Oceania via Seoul.

U.S.-bound travelers will enjoy easy transfers at JFK from Asiana to JetBlue destinations including Boston, Massachusetts; Burlington, Vermont; Syracuse and Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York; Portland, Maine, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and six cities in Florida including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Jacksonville.

Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N348JB (msn 19000511) with the Barcode tail fin gracefully climbs away from Toronto (Pearson).

JetBlue Airways:

Asiana Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Yuji Wang. Boeing 767-38E HL7514 (msn 25763) of Asiana Airlines arrives from the Seoul hub at Shanghai (Pudong).

American Airlines asks the bankruptcy court for more time to reorganize

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and its unsecured creditors committee according to this Reuters report have asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court “to extend the period during which creditors cannot pursue their own restructuring plans for the airline to April 15. That replaced a January request to extend the time to April 1.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile American continues its merger discussions with US Airways.

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato. As reported yesterday, brand new Boeing 777-323 ER N718AN (msn 41665) completed its first revenue flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Sao Paulo (Guarulhos). The first arrival yesterday at Sao Paulo is captured in this historic photo. N718AN also displays the new 2013 color scheme and new brand for the company.

Hot New Photos:

American 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:

American Airlines becomes the first U.S. airline to put the Boeing 777-300 ER into revenue service

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) last night became the first U.S. airline to put into revenue service the new Boeing 777-300 ER (Extended Range). The new type was introduced last night on the Dallas/Fort Worth -Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) as flight AA 963 arriving this morning. The company now has three of the type: N717AN was handed over December 11, 2012, followed by N718AN on December 19 and N719AN on January 28, 2013. The first two are now in service.

The airline commented:

“Two new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will bring you a world-class travel experience like no other. Customers traveling between Dallas/Fort Worth and Sao Paulo will be the first to experience the newest addition to our fleet. And, from January 31 through February 28, 2013, we will operate both of our 777-300 ER aircraft for a total of six round-trip flights per week. Customers flying between both Dallas/Fort Worth and New York JFK and London Heathrow will be the next to fly on the new aircraft. Want to be sure you’re flying on our brand new plane? While purchasing your ticket, just make sure that “77W” is listed as the aircraft type for your selected flight.

From new cabin interiors and updated amenities, to more inflight entertainment options and seat comfort in every cabin – the new aircraft will offer you a new, state-of-the-art travel experience.

We aim to bring you a total of 14 777-300 ERs as part of our plans to take delivery of more new aircraft than any other U.S. carrier by the end of the decade.”

New Boeing 777-300 ER routes per Airline Route:

New York (JFK) – London (Heathrow) starts March 30

Dallas/Fort Worth – London (Heathrow) starts April 2

New York (JFK) – Sao Paulo starts April 11

Los Angeles – London (Heathrow) starts June 12

Copyright Photo: Josh Rawlin. Boeing 777-323 ER N718AN (msn 41665) is pulled briefly out of the hangar at the Dallas/Fort Worth base before being put into revenue service.

American Airlines:

Video of the painting:

Aeroflot delays the introduction of its first new Boeing 777-300 ER to Bangkok

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is ready to be a Boeing 777 operator again (it previously operated the 777-200). However the Russian flag carrier has delayed the introduction of its first new Boeing 777-300 ER on the Moscow-Bangkok route. The pictured 777-3M0 ER VP-BGB (msn 41679) was handed over to the carrier on January 30. Aeroflot is blaming the delay on the delay of Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) to certify the new type in Russia. The airline issued the following statement:

“On January 30, 2013, after completing all the necessary formalities Aeroflot took delivery of new Boeing 777-300 ER at Seattle manufacturing plant.

According to the statement of the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia to the mass media, Aeroflot will not get the permission of the Russian aviation authority to start the commercial exploitation of the plane, because until now the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) has not certified Boeing 777-300 ER type aircraft.

Due to this situation Aeroflot has to postpone the launch of the first commercial flight of this aircraft on Moscow-Bangkok route initially planned for February 1, 2013.

Instead of flying on Boeing 777-300 ER Aeroflot will provide services to this destination on Boeing 767-300 and Airbus A330. The passengers on Moscow-Bangkok route, who bought tickets for new Comfort class will be provided with business class tickets.

In order to start the exploitation of the airliner from the mentioned date, Aeroflot has timely completed all the necessary formalities stipulated by the Russian legislation, and therefore the air company will take measures to compensate the caused losses.”

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. VP-BGB is pictured at a wet Everett (Paine Field) prior to the hand over. VP-BGB is seen getting ready to depart on a test flight. The wide-body airliner is named “M. Kutuzov”. According to Wikipedia, “Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (1745-1813) was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. He served as one of the finest military officers and diplomats of Russia under the reign of three Romanov Tsars: Catherine II, Paul I and Alexander I. His military career was closely associated with the rising period of Russia from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century. Kutuzov contributed much to the military history of Russia and is considered to have been one of the best Russian generals under the reign of Catherine II.”

Aeroflot Russian Airlines:

Air China to introduce the Boeing 777-300 ER on the Beijing-New York JFK route on March 31, will launch Chengdu-Frankfurt flights on May 19

Air China (Beijing) on March 31, 2013 will upgrade its aircraft to the Boeing 777-300 ER (see above) and increase its frequency from 7 to 11 per week for its nonstop New York (JFK)-Beijing flights.

Air China is the only airline with nonstop service between New York and Beijing. It is also the only airline with first class cabin between these two cities. Current daily flights between New York and Beijing are CA 982 and CA 981.

The additional outbound flight, CA 990, departs from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2:50 AM, arriving in Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 2:20 PM local time the next day. Inbound, CA 989 leaves Beijing at 9:00 AM also on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in New York at 10:20 AM local time on the same day.

According to the airline, the “Triple Seven” has a wider cabin than any competing aircraft. It is designed for maximum passenger comfort and convenience. Air China’s Forbidden Pavilion (first class) features eight luxury suites, 41 full-flat bed seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class) and 259 economy seats with individual monitors and in-seat audio-video on demand (AVOD).

Designed for maximum passenger comfort, the interior of Air China’s Boeing 777-300 ER feature ten mood lighting variations in the Forbidden and Capital Pavilions, each timed to complement the different phases of a flight—from boarding through meal service, sleeping and pre-arrival. The ambient lighting recreates the sunset, night and sunrise to reflect the various services associated with each phase and create a totally relaxing environment.

Today’s announcement follows last week’s approval granted to Air China by the U.S. Department of Transportation to start four weekly nonstop services between Houston and Beijing on July 11, 2013 using the Boeing 777-300 ER. Houston is Air China’s fifth gateway in North America in addition to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. The Los Angeles-Beijing service, operated with the Boeing 777-300ER, will resume its double daily flights on March 31, 2013. Vancouver-Beijing is scheduled to increase from 7 to 11 flights per week on May 17, 2013. A bigger Boeing 747-400 full passenger aircraft will be used for the San Francisco-Beijing daily operation beginning on March 31, 2013.

In other news, Air China will commence nonstop Chengdu-Frankfurt service on May 19, 2013.

Chengdu, the capital of a province widely known as China’s breadbasket, is a southwestern Chinese city with huge growth potential. Recent years have seen a continuous uptick in the number of outbound travelers from Chengdu and other southwestern neighboring cities like Lhasa, Kunming and Xi’an who leave China via Chengdu. Currently, passengers who travel between Chengdu and other southwestern regions and Germany have to transfer in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong, and the whole journey takes at least 15 hours. The opening of the new Chengdu-Frankfurt nonstop service will make Chengdu the third Mainland China city with direct air links to Frankfurt. The whole flight takes just 10 hours, which represents a significant cut in travel time. This faster service will be another driver of the fast growth in tourism and economy of southwestern China.

The three-times weekly service, CA431/432, will be operated with an Airbus A330-200 (see below) on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight time is approximately 10 hours. The flight leaves Chengdu at 01:30 and arrives in Frankfurt at 06:10 on the same day. The return flight is expected to take off from Frankfurt at 14:00 and arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 05:40 the next day.

Top Copyright Photo: Yuji Wang. Boeing 777-39L ER B-2035 (msn 38674) in the “Smiling China” special livery climbs away from Shanghai (Hongqiao).

Air China:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Airbus A330-243 B-6117 (msn 903) completes its approach back at the Beijing hub.