Tag Archives: Bombardier DHC-8-400

Alaska Air Group has its best quarter ever

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air) (Seattle/Tacoma) reported record third quarter 2010 net income of $122.4 million, or $3.32 per diluted share, compared to net income of $87.6 million, or $2.46 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2009. Excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge gains of $16.7 million ($10.4 million after tax or $0.28 per diluted share) and Horizon restructuring and CRJ-700 transition charges of $9.8 million ($6.1 million after tax or $0.17 per diluted share), the company reported record adjusted net income of $118.1 million, or $3.21 per diluted share, compared to net income of $83.0 million, or $2.33 per share, excluding special items in the third quarter of 2009.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Please click on photo for additional details.

Horizon Air to introduce three more college planes

Image: Horizon Air.

Image: Horizon Air.

Image: Horizon Air.

Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma) announced today it will soon fly 76-seat Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) turboprops with university colors and marks of three additional public universities: the University of Idaho, the University of Montana and Montana State University.

The aircraft will be painted one at a time starting in early November (in the order shown above). The painting will take about 10 days per aircraft, and each aircraft will begin regular passenger service two days after donning its new colors. These Q400s were scheduled for repainting, so the new looks are being provided at no cost to the universities or additional painting cost to Horizon.

Horizon has flown to the airports serving these universities for many years. The airline began service to Pullman-Moscow (near the University of Idaho) almost 29 years ago, Missoula (home to the University of Montana) 24 years ago, and Bozeman (home to Montana State University) nearly 21 years ago.

The new planes will join five other university-themed aircraft launched by Horizon since early 2008 โ€“ representing Boise State University, Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, the University of Washington and Washington State University.

Unveiling events are planned for the following dates: University of Idaho (at Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport) on Nov. 10, University of Montana (at Missoula International Airport/Johnson-Bell Field) on Nov. 19, and Montana State University (at Gallatin Field in Bozeman) on Nov. 30. Specific times and event information will be released when finalized.

Horizon Air Slide Show:

CLICK HERE (and then click on >)

Horizon Air and IBT reach tentative agreement on pilot contract

Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) jointly announced that, with the assistance of federal mediation, they have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for the airline’s 673 pilots.

The IBT expects to be ready to present the details of the agreement to Horizon’s pilots by late October. The ratification vote would take place immediately following.

Horizon’s pilot contract became amendable in September 2006. After years of negotiations, in January 2010 both Horizon and the IBT requested federal mediation to work through the remaining open items. In June, an agreement in principle was reached, and the negotiation teams spent the subsequent months finalizing the details.

Per federal law, airline contracts don’t expire. An existing contract remains in effect after the amendable date until a new contract is agreed to by the negotiating teams and ratified by represented members.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Certainly one of the most colorful liveries is the “Celebrating 25 Years” introduced on June 20, 2006. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N425QX (msn 4039) is pictured on final approach at the SeaTac hub.

Island Air celebrates its 30th anniversary

Airline Color Scheme - Introduced 2006 (Island Style)

 

 

Island Air (Hawaii) (Honolulu) on Thursday (September 9) celebrated its 30th anniversary with special events in Honolulu. A orchid lei was given to each passenger departing from Honolulu and were also given a special music CD single recorded by Island Air employees.

Read the full story from HNL RareBirds:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography. The Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) proved to be too large for the Hawaiian market. DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GAFM (msn 4017) became N814WP with the carrier during its short career.

Smart Aviation orders two Bombardier Q400s

Smart Aviation Company (subsidiary of EgyptAir) (Cairo) has signed a firm order to acquire two Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400)ย turboprop aircraft, and has also taken options on an additional threeย aircraft.

A corporate jet aircraft charter operator since its founding in May of 2007, Smart Aviation has formed a commercial airline subsidiary and will use its Q400 aircraft to launch scheduled and charter services to complement its corporate aircraft activities throughout the Middle East

QANTAS grounds five Bombardier Q400s

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) grounded five Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) turboprop aircraft due to landing gear problems.

The aircraft, operated by its QANTAS Link carriers were removed from service on August 21 following advice from the manufacturer, the airline said in a statement.

Cracks were discovered in a major component of a landing gear fitting in five of its 21 Q400s, with the remaining 16 Q400s unaffected and to remain in service.

The company issued the following statement:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Peter Gates. Sunstate Airlines’ Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VH-QOS (msn 4263) arrives at Brisbane.

Horizon Air to change its business plan

Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma) is planning to give up its branded operations and will enter into a full capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with its parent Alaska Airlines starting on January 1, 2011.

Read the full report from Aviation Week:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N428QX (msn 4160) holds for runway takeoff clearance at the Seattle/Tacoma base.

Lynx Aviation gets a reprieve, will keep three Q400s to serve Aspen

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) and the Republic Airways Holdings parent is giving the Lynx Aviation (Denver) division another chance to survive. Frontier announced that Lynx will continue its Denver (DEN) to Aspen (ASE) service under the Frontier brand. Frontier will service the Aspen flights with Lynx’s Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400) turboprop aircraft. Service will include one departure per day from October 1 through November 17, two departures per day November 18 through December 15 and four daily departures from December 16 through April 2011. Frontier Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (Indianapolis).

Frontier had announced in late July that it would cease its Denver to Aspen service on September 30. However, the company has made the decision to retain three of its Bombardier Q400 aircraft in order to carry on service to Aspen and several other Colorado locations.

In addition to Aspen, Frontier will use the Q400s to serve other Colorado routes, including Durango and Colorado Springs.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N501LX (msn 4165) taxies from the gate at the DEN hub.

Porter Airlines to grow Toronto City-Newark route to 11 roundtrips

Porter Airlines (Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport) is finalizing approval for four additional slots at Newark Liberty International Airport. As a result, Porter Airlines will operate 11 daily roundtrip flights to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, beginning September 20. The airline currently operates nine daily roundtrips.

In other news,ย Porter Airlines is returning to Mont Tremblant, QC, for its fourth winter season, with increased service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Up to 12 flights per week will be operated, an increase from eight flights per week last season.

Theย Mont Tremblantย winter schedule debuts on December 21, running untilย April 3. Flight time is just over an hour between downtownย Torontoย andย Mont Tremblant.

Copyright Photo: Gilbert Hechema. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GLQM (msn 4252) prepares to land at Montreal (Trudeau).

Flybe to operate three Q400s for Finnair

Flybe (Exeter) announced that it has reached agreement with Finnair (Helsinki) to provide regional services in Scandinavian and Baltic Sea Areas.

This new co-operation will begin on October 31, 2010 with three wet leased Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft. Flybe will commence services to key Scandinavian and Baltic markets from Helsinki Airport that will include Tampere, Turku and Tallinn. This agreement is expected to grow beyond the three aircraft in the summer of 2011.

Flybe and Finnair have also agreed to begin discussions on a potential wider co-operation agreement, which could see Flybe providing a range of services across the Nordic and Baltic Sea markets.

Copyright Photo: Terry Wade. Painted in the special green “eco” livery, Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JEDP (msn 4085) lines up to land at Gatwick Airport near London.