Tag Archives: Boeing

WestJet celebrates the delivery of its 100th Next-Generation Boeing 737

WestJet Airlines (Calgary) and Boeing (Chicago) celebrated the 100^th Next-Generation 737 to join the airline’s fleet on December 6.

WestJet began in 1996 with three Boeing 737-200s serving five cities and has grown into Canada’s largest low-fare airline serving 81 destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. With today’s delivery of a Boeing 737-800, WestJet’s fleet now consists of 100 airplanes – all Boeing Next-Generation 737s.

The airplane, the pictured 737-8CT registered as C-GAWS (msn 38880), was initially delivered to Newport Beach, California-based leasing company Aviation Capital Group (ACG) and is now being leased and operated by WestJet.

Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp. Wearing its test registration of N1781B, the new jetliner carries unique #100 Boeing 737 NG sub-titles at Seattle (Boeing Field).

WestJet:

US Airways makes a formal merger proposal to American Airlines

US Airways (Phoenix) has presented a formal merger proposal to American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) according to a report by the Associated Press as reported by the Charlotte Observer. Under the proposal, US Airways’ CEO Doug Parker would head the new company which would retain the American name and the Dallas/Fort Worth headquarters.

Additionally American Airlines’ pilots have approved the new labor contract paving the way for AA to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and also a possible merger with US Airways. American’s CEO Tom Horton, who is likely to lose his job in any merger, has told his employees a decision on the merger proposal will be coming soon.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In other news, US Airways will launch daily nonstop service to Sao Paulo, Brazil from its largest hub at Charlotte, North Carolina beginning on May 5, 2013. The new route is US Airways’ second destination in South America and complements the airline’s existing nonstop service to Rio de Janeiro from Charlotte. US Airways will operate service to Brazil’s largest city on Boeing 767-200 ER aircraft with seating for 18 in Envoy, US Airways’ international business class, and 186 in the main cabin.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. US Airways’ Boeing 767-2B7 ER N256AY (msn 26847) departs from the Charlotte hub. The additional long-range routes are extending the career for the wide-body type with US Airways. A merger with AA would end the US Airways name and brand. However with Doug Parker in control of a new American Airlines there will also be a new long-overdue brand for AA for sure.

American Airlines:

US Airways:

Southwest Airlines files for DCA slot exemptions for Houston Hobby-Washington Reagan National authority

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) today announced it has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for slot exemptions that would allow Southwest to offer nonstop service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). The proposed service is possible due to Spirit Airlines’ discontinued use of the slot exemptions, which are available for use inside Washington National’s traditional 1,250 mile service perimeter.

Southwest’s application points out that current average fares for nonstop service between Houston and Washington National are more than 60 percent higher than Southwest’s average nonstop fare between Houston and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), a similar distance. Southwest projects that its proposed HOU-DCA service would attract tens of thousands of new Passengers and save consumers millions of dollars annually.

As part of the effort to bring a low-fare alternative to the HOU-DCA market, Southwest is unveiling www.Southwest.com/HOU-DCA.

A decision by the DOT is expected in the first quarter of 2013. Southwest is prepared to begin service this spring if awarded the slots.

Southwest has served Houston since June 18, 1971, and currently has more than 2,700 HOU Employees serving 143 flights every day. Earlier this year, the Houston City Council approved the carrier’s proposal to construct a new five-gate international facility at Hobby Airport. This new service is scheduled to begin in 2015.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-7H4 N281WN (msn 36528) with special 500th Boeing 737 Aircraft markings arrives at Washington (Dulles).

Southwest Airlines:

Norwegian to add two new routes to Alicante, Spain, announces the new routes from the new London Gatwick base

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) on April 3, 2013, will launch its second international route from Umeå Airport to Alicante, Spain. In addition, on April 9, 2013, Norwegian will also launch its second international route from Karlstad Airport to Alicante.

In addition the low-cost carrier has announced the new routes from the new London (Gatwick) base (see below).

Copyright Photo: Terry Wade. Boeing 737-8JP LN-NOW (msn 37817) with Norwegian painter Oda Krohg on the tail approaches London (Gatwick) for landing.

Norwegian:

London Gatwick Route Map:

Norwegian LGW Route Map

Icelandair commits for 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and 737 MAX 9s

Icelandair (Keflavik) and Boeing (Chicago) have announced a commitment today for 12 737 MAXs, valued at more than $1.2 billion at list prices. The commitment by the Icelandic carrier includes 737 MAX 8s and 9s. Boeing looks forward to working with Icelandair to finalize the details, at which time the order will be posted as a firm order to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

The 737 MAX is a new-engine variant of the world’s best-selling airplane and builds on the strengths of today’s Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see a 13 percent fuel-use improvement over today’s most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplanes.

The 737 MAX also features the new Boeing Sky Interior. According to Boeing, “the sleek interior boasts modern lines, a spacious cabin with more headroom and LED lighting that offers vibrant color options.”

Icelandair Group currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 23 757-200/300 airplanes for both its passenger and cargo operations. The Icelandic carrier has used the geographical location of its Keflavik-based hub mid-way between North America and Europe, as an opportunity to build an ever-growing network of more than 25 international destinations.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will replace the older Boeing 757-200 aircraft such as the pictured Boeing 757-208 TF-FIJ (msn 25085) on finals at London (Heathrow).

Icelandair:

FAA to order U.S. airlines to inspect Boeing 787 fuel systems

Federal Aviation Administration-FAA (Washington) is issuing a formal order requiring U.S. airlines to inspect the fuel systems of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner according to this report by Reuters.

The fuel issue emerged on Tuesday (December 4) when a United Airlines Boeing 787-8 aircraft with 184 passengers and crew on board was forced to make an emergency landing in New Orleans due to an electrical problem. The aircraft was flying from Houston (Bush Intercontinental) to Newark.

United Airlines (Chicago) is currently the only Dreamliner operator in the United States.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Read about the United incident from the Post-Tribune: CLICK HERE

United Airlines:

British Airways wants to cut 400 cabin staff positions

British Airways (London) is currently in negotiations to cut 400 cabin staff positions according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bernardo Andrade. Boeing 767-336 ER G-BNWS (msn 25826) climbs away from Madrid bound for the London Heathrow hub.

British Airways:

Ryanair to grow in Scotland next summer after reaching an agreement with Edinburgh Airport’s new owners

Ryanair (Dublin) today announced a new summer build-up in Scotland:

Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (December 4) announced significant summer 2013 growth in Scotland, with 38 routes (6 new) at Edinburgh and 27 routes (2 new) at Glasgow Prestwick, which will deliver a combined total of over 3 million passengers and sustain over 3,000 “on site jobs” at both Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick airports.

Ryanair cut its winter 2012 schedule at Edinburgh following the breakdown of cost negotiations with the previous owners of Edinburgh, the BAA. After reaching agreement with Edinburgh Airport’s new owners, Global Infrastructure Partners, Ryanair will now grow again at Edinburgh as follows:

38 routes (up 11%).
6 new routes to/from Bologna, Beziers, Cagliari, Corfu, Katowice & Santander
Increased frequencies on 5 other routes
From 232 to 246 weekly flights (up 5%).
From 1.6m to 1.8m pax p.a (up 11%).
1,800 jobs at Edinburgh Airport.

Ryanair will also grow at Glasgow Prestwick as follows:

27 routes (up 7%).
2 new routes to/from Rzeszow & Warsaw Modlin
Increased frequencies on 4 other routes
From 86 to 95 weekly flights (up 10%).
From 1.2m to 1.4m pax p.a (up 6%).
1,400 jobs at Edinburgh Airport.

Ryanair:

Boeing 737 breaks single-year record for orders and deliveries

Boeing (Chicago) reached a record for year-to-date 737 deliveries with yesterday’s delivery of the 377th Next-Generation 737. The delivery of the airplane, a 737-900 ER (Extended Range) with Boeing Sky Interior for United Airlines (Chicago), topped the previous record of 376 deliveries set in 2010.

In October, the 737 also broke its own record for net orders in a single year when it topped the 2007 record of 846 orders. Net year-to-date orders for the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX total 1,031 airplanes. This also is the first time in the single-aisle jetliner’s history that it has logged more than 1,000 orders in a single year.

In other news for United Airlines, United delivered its best monthly on-time performance for 2012 in November – despite the continued impact of Superstorm Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed – with 85.5 percent of domestic flights and 81.2 percent of international flights arriving within 14 minutes of the scheduled arrival time.

The airline is awarding eligible employees a $100 bonus to recognize this performance. United pays eligible employees $50 each month that domestic or international flights arrive on time at least 80 percent of the time and $100 if the company exceeds both on-time goals.

During the 10-day Thanksgiving travel period between Friday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 25, 88.3 percent of United’s flights arrived on time, the second-highest performance over the past five years and 5.5 points better than in 2011, despite higher year-over-year load factors.

On Thanksgiving Day, 95.4 percent of United flights arrived on time, the second best single day since Jan. 1, 2008.

The United Express carriers also delivered their best monthly performance for 2012 in November, with 80.1 percent of United’s regional flights arriving on time.

United Airlines:

Boeing Slide Show:

Boeing Aircraft Blog: CLICK HERE

Pegasus Airlines to serve Gazipasa Airport starting on December 17

Pegasus Airlines (flypgs.com) (Istanbul) will launch new service to Gazipasa Airport in southern Turkey on December 17. According to Wikipedia, the Airport opened for domestic flights in July 2010 with daily flights from Istanbul with Bora Jet. International flights began with the 2011 holiday season, with flights from Amsterdam. The new airport is only 30 minutes by road from Alanya compared to a travel time of two hours between Alanya and Antalya Airport, which was previously the nearest airport. Pegasus will serve the airport with service to Ankara, Adana, Izmir, Diyarbakir, Elazig and Trabzon within Turkey and Amsterdam, Berlin, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, London, Munich, Marseilles, Paris, Pristina, Stockholm, Skopje, Stuttgart, Vienna and Zurich.

In addition, Pegasus will start new service to Belgrade four days a week from Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen) starting on February 1, 2013 according to Airline Route.

Pegasus Airlines: