Tag Archives: Boeing

Yakutia Airlines intends to order 3 Boeing 737-700s and 8 737-800s

Yakutia Airlines (Yakutia Aircompany) (Yakutsk) intends to firm up a new order with Boeing for three new Boeing 737-700s and eight 737-800s for deliveries in the 2016-2018 period per Air Journal. This order will be a replacement order for the existing fleet.

Read the full article (in Russian): CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Paul Doyle. Boeing 737-76Q WL D-ABAB (msn 30227) at Dublin became VQ-BLS on delivery. The airliner wears the 2009 “Northern Lights” livery.

Yakutia Airlines:

Frameable Color Prints and Posters:

El Al retires its last Boeing 757 today

El Al Israel Airlines (Tel Aviv) today (November 26) operated its final Boeing 757 revenue flight from Tel Aviv to Barcelona and back per AIrline Route. The type was introduced by El Al in November 1987.

El Al:

LAN Airlines is planning to commence nonstop Rio de Janeiro-Miami service on January 22

LAN Airlines (Chile) (LANTAM Airlines Group) (Santiago) is planning to introduce nonstop Rio de Janeiro – Miami flights using Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft starting on January 22 according to Airline Route.

LAN Airlines:

Airberlin to start Berlin-Warsaw service on March 23 as it expands to the east

Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin) will offer three flights a day on the Berlin – Warsaw route starting on March 23, 2013. The company will also expand to three flights a day on the Berlin – Krakow route also on the same day as the airline focuses on eastern Europe. Airberlin issued the following statement:

Airberlin is expanding its route network competencies in Poland and from March 23, 2013 will operate up to three flights a day from Berlin to Warsaw. The Polish capital is already the third destination in Poland for Germany‘s second largest airline. In addition Airberlin will increase the number of flights from Berlin to Krakow, also from March 23, 2013, thereby operating a total of up to 48 flights a week from Berlin to its European neighbor.

Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO Airberlin, said: “We have strategically revised our network for the summer of 2013. The adjustments and new introductions on the flight schedule are in line with our drive for increased efficiency. In the future we will concentrate even more on our core business areas, that is, our touristic flight programme and our scheduled services. The main priority here is to strengthen the visibility of the airline in strategic core markets such as Central and Eastern Europe.”

On the financial side, in the third quarter, Airberlin was able to increase its net income to EUR 66.6 million (2011: EUR 30.2 million), an increase of more than 120 percent over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The operating result improved by 4.5 percent to EUR 101.2 million (EUR 96.8 million). Revenue increased by 1.4 percent over the previous year, to EUR 1,395.1 million (EUR 1,375.5 million), despite a targeted capacity reduction of 5.4 percent. Capacity utilization increased slightly by 0.4 percentage points to 84.54 percent (84.14 percent). Yield (revenue per passenger) improved by 3.1 percent to EUR 115.84 (EUR 112.39). EBITDAR (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and leasing expenses) increased by 3.8 percent to EUR 279.5 million (EUR 269.3 million). Total equity at the end of the quarter amounted to EUR 186.3 million, which corresponds to an equity ratio of eight percent.

Airberlin recorded a continuing reduction of direct operating costs – excluding fuel costs – as a result of the “Shape & Size” program, which yielded a contribution of EUR 70 million in the third quarter. Over this period, fuel costs increased by EUR 35 million.

For the fleet, AB will cut its operational fleet from 158 aircraft to 135 per ATW.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. The Boeing 737-800 fleet will continue to grow. Boeing 737-86J D-ABKT (msn 36881) arrives at Antalya, Turkey.

Airberlin:

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:

Ryanair to cut 10 routes from Budapest

Ryanair (Dublin) has announced a 40 percent cut and the loss of 10 routes from Budapest due to increased airport costs. The airline issued the following statement:

Ryanair on November 22 has announced 40% cuts at its Budapest base with the closure of 10 routes and loss of over 280 weekly flights from January 10, 2013 after the Hochtief-run airport increased charges, refused to provide efficient facilities and failed to offer a competitive cost base for future growth offered by Ryanair. Ryanair’s Budapest traffic will fall by 800,000 passengers per year (from 2 million to 1.2 million passengers) leading to the loss of up to 800 “on-site” jobs.

Hochtief’s failure to agree a long term growth deal with Europe’s largest airline is further proof that Budapest Airport has no interest growing Hungarian tourism, traffic and jobs as it repeatedly increases charges even as its traffic declines. This was confirmed by Patrick Bohl (Budapest Airport) who recently admitted that ‘budget airline’ passengers pay more than Malev transfer passengers, with Budapest enjoying “probably the best recovery any airport has seen when they lost a national carrier.”

These Budapest cuts (effective January 10, 2013) will include:

5 to 3 based aircraft
30 routes to 20 (down 33%).
From over 280 weekly flights to less than 170 (down 40%).
2 million to 1.2 million passengers per year (down 40%).
Frequency cuts on 9 of 20 other routes
The loss of 800,000 passengers per year and 800 “on-site” jobs at Budapest Airport.

Ryanair regrets these cuts and confirms that they can be reversed if a competitive cost offer and efficient facilities become available at Budapest Airport.

Ryanair:

Gol shuts down Webjet today

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) has announced as of today (November 23), it will begin the process of winding up the activities of its subsidiary Webjet Linhas Aereas (Rio de Janeiro) and the discontinuation of its name and brand. The airline was grounded today.

The group continued in its statement; “The first step is to extinguish flight operations. Webjet has an operational model based on a fleet that mostly consists of aging Boeing 737-300 aircraft that are advanced age, technologically out of date and consume large amounts of fuel. Given the Brazilian sector’s new cost standards, this model is no longer competitive.

As a result of the winding up of operations, around 850 employees, including flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel, will be laid off.

Webjet’s clients and passengers will be fully served by Gol and their flights will be guaranteed. As of this date, Gol will be responsible for all air transport and associated services for these passengers. In this context, all the necessary measures are been taken.

As a result of this decision and its consequences, the Company estimates a non-recurring increase in costs in the fourth quarter of 2012, which will be disclosed to the market opportunely. However, the measures will improve operational efficiency as of 2013.

In relation to Webjet’s Boeing 737-300 fleet, Gol estimates that it will return all 20 aircraft by the end of the first half of 2013, 16 of which in the first quarter.

Thanks to the smaller fleet, Gol expects to reduce its domestic supply (ASK) by between 5% and 8% year-on- year in the first half of 2013, underlining its commitment to recovering its operating margins and the sustainability of the business.”

Webjet Linhas Aereas:

SkyTeam welcomes Xiamen Airlines

SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, yesterday (November 21) welcomed China’s Xiamen Airlines (Xiamen) as its 19^th member. Xiamen Airlines is also the fourth member from Greater China. The airline strengthens SkyTeam’s footprint in China and its overall #1 position in the Greater China Region by adding three new hubs – Xiamen, Fuzhou and Hangzhou – combined with a comprehensive domestic and growing international network.

China’s sixth largest carrier, Xiamen Airlines is also one of the world’s most profitable, having posted positive financial results for 26 consecutive years. The airline flies more than 15 million passengers annually to more than 50 cities including Macau, Hong Kong and Taipei. Founded in 1984, it is headquartered in the coastal city of Xiamen in the dynamic province of Fujian. This area of China boasts a thriving and diverse industrial economy as well as a growing tourism market.

Xiamen Airlines’ fast expanding international network includes Southeast and Northeast Asia and the airline has announced plans to launch flights to Europe, North America and Australasia by 2014 after the introduction of the Boeing 787. SkyTeam membership offers Xiamen Airlines’ customers greater connectivity onto international routes from China operated by other alliance members. This includes carriers from the region: China Airlines, China Eastern and China Southern, and nine additional SkyTeam airlines: Aeromexico, Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Delta, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/Blue Wave Group. Brand new Boeing 737-85C B-5658 (msn 38395) passes through Honolulu on its long delivery flight across the Pacific Ocean. B-5658 also displays the new 2012 livery which shortened the titles to Xiamen Air.

Xiamen Air:

Qatar Airways puts its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner into revenue service to Dubai

Qatar Airways (Doha) yesterday (November 20) entered its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner into revenue service on the short Doha-Dubai route. The company issued the following statement:

Qatar Airways on November 20 began commercial services of its brand new Boeing 787 aircraft with Doha – Dubai becoming the Dreamliner’s debut route.

Qatar Airways First 787 Dreamliner Prepares To Take Off To Dubai

The state-of-the-art aircraft is being deployed on four daily rotations between the two cities marking a new era for Middle East aviation as Qatar Airways is the Boeing 787 launch customer in the region.

Flight QR 106 took off from Doha International Airport at 0800 hrs for the one hour journey to Dubai.

Qatar Airways’ newest addition to its fleet heralds the start of an exciting new era for travellers worldwide with unparalled levels of comfort and luxury onboard Boeing’s next generation aircraft.

The 787 services to and from the UAE will target peak travel times in a combination of morning, afternoon and night flights to Dubai.

The new operation comes less than a week after the aircraft’s delivery flight from Seattle to Doha, where it has since spent a few days positioned at Doha International Airport giving staff an opportunity to tour the aircraft before it enters commercial service.

Qatar Airways has orders for 60 Dreamliners. The next four 787s are due to join the fleet by the end of December.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the maiden commercial route marked yet another exciting achievement for the award-winning airline.

“Today signifies an exciting and hugely anticipated occasion for Qatar Airways, as well as the global aviation industry. It is with enormous pride for my country, our employees and myself that we are embarking on another momentous achievement for our award-winning airline with the introduction of 787 passenger flights. The Dreamliner is yet another first for Qatar Airways, our customers and for the Middle East aviation industry, he said.

“Dubai is one of our most popular routes and we felt it important to give our passengers in and around our neighbouring city an opportunity to experience the comforts of our new plane before it begins long-haul commercial services.

“With this launch we reaffirm our continued commitment to challenge and lead the aviation industry, redefining the passenger experience as we deliver a truly five-star offering to travellers around the world.

“I have no doubt that our passengers – aviation fanatics, seasoned travellers and first time flyers alike will cherish their first time aboard our 787s and look forward to savouring the experience time and time again. The 787 raises the bar for luxury commercial travel and the experience for travellers around the world will never be the same again,” added Al Baker.

Following the 787s welcome into commercial service on the Doha – Dubai route, it will then spread its wings on one of the airline’s five daily flights to London Heathrow. As more 787s join the fleet over the course of the next few weeks, the aircraft will be inducted on other long-haul routes including Zurich, Frankfurt and Delhi.

Qatar Airways has 254 custom-made seats across its 787 Business and Economy Class cabins with specially designed interiors, together with a unique inflight entertainment system offering over 1,000 audio and video programming options. Its Dreamliners are also the world’s first fully connected 787s with wireless facilities for passengers to remain in touch with their friends and loved ones on the ground.

A striking feature of every seat throughout the aircraft is the award-winning touch screen Android system, where passengers are able to navigate through a truly interactive service offering more than 1,000 movie, TV programmes, music and gaming entertainment options in a sophisticated and user friendly way, just like the latest smart phones.

The touch-screen control unit has a unique dual screen interface allowing passengers to play games on their handheld device while enjoying a movie on their personal screen. Passengers are also able to be fully connected through WIFI and GSM telephony, sending both text and MMS messages, with each seat equipped with USB, MP3 and other charger ports, including laptop power outlets.

In addition, dynamic mood lighting and the composite design of the Dreamliner with lighter materials, will ensure passengers are less fatigued and more refreshed as the cabin pressure is 2,000 feet closer to ground level with an air purification system that is cleaner and healthier than many other aircraft.

The 787 Dreamliner is made up of composite materials making it a lighter and more fuel efficient than any comparable aircraft of its size and range. Key features include larger windows, lower cabin pressure at higher altitude ensuring less fatigue, mood lighting throughout the aircraft and more passenger space and comfort.

Since the beginning of 2012, Qatar Airways has launched flights to 10 new destinations – Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi (Georgia); Kigali (Rwanda); Zagreb (Croatia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad (Iraq), Perth (Australia), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania); Yangon (Myanmar), Maputo (Mozambique), and Belgrade (Serbia).

Over the next few weeks and months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Warsaw, Poland (December 5), Gassim, Saudi Arabia (7 January 2013); Najaf, Iraq (January 23); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (February 20); Chicago, USA (April 10); and Salalah, Oman (May 22).

Qatar Airways:

Gol reduces its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million

Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) reduced its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million.

Read the full report from Zacks: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. Boeing 737-8EH PR-GTF (msn 34279) in the special 10 Anos (10 Years) color schemes taxies at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol: