Tag Archives: Bruce Drum

United Airlines files for Los Angeles-Shanghai authority

United Airlines (United Continental Holdings, Inc.) (Chicago) has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin daily nonstop service between the airline’s Los Angeles hub and Shanghai, starting on May 20, 2011. In addition, Continental Airlines applied for authority to place its CO code on the United-operated flights between the two cities.

The proposed flights from Los Angeles will depart at 1:33 p.m. (1333) and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:55 p.m. (1755) the next day. Service from Shanghai, beginning on May 21, 2011, will depart at 7:50 p.m. (1950) and arrive in Los Angeles at 4:47 p.m. (1647) the same day.

United intends to operate the service with three-cabin Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft, which offer customers service in United First ยฎ, United Business ยฎ and United Economy ยฎ.

United currently serves Shanghai daily from Chicago (O’Hare) and San Francisco. Continental serves Shanghai daily from Newark.

Additionally, United Airlines is boosting service into Mexico City from its hubs in Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. United will launch a second daily flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City beginning on October 15, and a third daily beginning pn January 4, 2011. From Chicago, United’s current Saturday-only service to Mexico City will become twice-daily beginning November 4. From San Francisco, daily service to Mexico City becomes twice-daily on November 4. From Denver, United will offer once-daily service to Mexico City between December 16 and January 3, 2011. All flights will be operated with Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft.

From Washington Dulles, United currently offers daily service to Mexico City.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 777-222 ER N787UA (msn 26939) arrives from Tokyo (Narita) at Seattle/Tacoma.

Frontier Airlines is considering other “marketing” options with other larger airlines

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is in discussions about possible new “marketing agreements” with other larger airlines according to this article in Bloomberg.

Read the full report:

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Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A319-111 N942FR (msn 2497) taxies to the gate at Los Angeles.

Virgin America to lease four Airbus A320s from Sahaab Aircraft Leasing

Virgin America (San Francisco) will lease four Airbus A320-200s from Sahaab Aircraft Leasing, a subsidiary of the Jazeera Airways Group.

Read the full report from Reuters:

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Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) taxies to the gate at Seattle/Tacoma.

American Airlines receives U.S. DOT approval to fly from Los Angeles to Shanghai

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has received U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval to fly between Los Angeles and Shanghai, China.

The company issued the following statement:

“We are very pleased that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted us the authority and frequencies needed to begin new service between Los Angeles and Shanghai, the largest market for travel between the United States and China that is not presently served by a U.S. airline. These new flights will enrich American’s customer service offering to China and will expand American’s schedule at Los Angeles International Airport, one of its five cornerstone cities.

“We thank DOT officials for their expedited review of our request and we look forward to launching these new daily flights on April 5 using 247-seat Boeing 777 aircraft, which feature 16 First Class, 37 Business Class and 194 Economy Class seats.

“This has been a terrific week for the employees, customers, and shareholders of American Airlines. We have launched our new joint business with our immunized trans-Atlantic and oneworld partners, British Airways and Iberia. We have announced new service from New York Kennedy to Budapest, as well as a second Barcelona flight, plus new service from Chicago O’Hare to Helsinki and a second flight between Miami and Madrid. In addition, DOT has tentatively granted trans-Pacific antitrust immunity for American and its oneworld partner Japan Airlines.”

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 777-223 ER N785AN (msn 30005) taxies to the runway at Miami.

American Airlines to recall 545 flight attendants and 250 pilots

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) today announced that it is sending recall notices to 545 flight attendants and 250 pilots. Several factors contributed to the company’s ability to recall, primarily its efforts to capitalize on new international flying and business opportunities with British Airways and Iberia, continuing to strengthen its cornerstone hubs, and preparing for it’s pending alliance with Japan Airlines.

The first group of 25 pilots will be recalled in mid-November, and the company will continue to recall at a rate of approximately 30 per month. For flight attendants, recall notices will be sent in phases. The first notices will be issued to approximately 225 flight attendants this month; subsequent notifications will follow later in the year.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-823 N936AN (msn 29532) completes the river approach at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

JetBlue Airways to fly from Jacksonville to San Juan

JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) today announced plans to continue expanding its San Juan, Puerto Rico focus city at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport with daily nonstop service to Jacksonville, Florida beginning on May 19, 2011. The new route will be the only nonstop service between the Caribbean and Jacksonville, Florida.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-232 N534JB (msn 1705) climbs away from runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

American Eagle starts Miami-Gainesville and LaGuardia-Minneapolis/St. Paul service

American Eagle Airlines (2nd) (Dallas/Fort Worth) yesterday (October 1)began nonstop service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in Gainesville, FL. Executive Airlines (San Juan) operates the service with 64-seat ATR 72-200 turboprop aircraft.

In addition, American Eagle yesterday also launched four daily nonstop flights between New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Eagle flies the route with Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet aircraft, featuring Eagle’s new First Class service.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. ATR 72-212 N270AT (msn 270) of Executive Airlines operating under the American Eagle brand taxies to the gate at the Miami hub.

AirTran Airways adds more Sun Belt flights

AirTran Airways (Orlando) announced new nonstop service from Tampa to Key West, as well as additional flights to Tampa, San Juan, Phoenix and Orlando beginning this winter.

The company will also begin nonstop flights between Milwaukee and Phoenix on December 13, 2010.

Service between Akron/Canton and Orlando will start on December 21, 2010.

New flights between Milwaukee and Tampa will also start on March 8, 2011.

Finally a new route between Baltimore/Washington and San Juan will be available starting on April 5, 2011.

Southwest Airlines announced its intends to acquire and merge AirTran Airways.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 737-76N N289AT (msn 32673) approaches Las Vegas for landing.

JetBlue Airways wants to grow without any merger

JetBlue Airways (New York-JFK) wants to grow organically rather than growing through a merger according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full story:

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Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. This was the first tail design for jetBlue Airways, introduced in 1999. Airbus A320-232 N636JB (msn 2755) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

Tomorrow will be the last day of Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines (Houston) will operate for the last time on September 30 with the last flights of the day. Officially on October 1, 2010 Continental and United Airlines (Chicago) will be merged as “equals” although the United name will survive. Oddly CO’s 1991 livery will live on as the merged airline’s color scheme.

Boeing 737-924 ER N53442 (msn 33536) is the first CO airplane to receive UA titles. Aircraft 285 and 124 should follow.

The first new UA revenue flight is expected to depart Houston (Bush Intercontinental) on Friday morning. More information to follow.

We will be honoring the history of CO over the next few days with additional historical photos.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Honoring the past, Boeing 737-924 ER N75436 (msn 33531) departing Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood was painted in the 1947 “Blue Skyway” livery (initially this livery was introduced on metal fuselages).

Continental Airlines on Flickr Slide Show:

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Continental Airlines on AG Slide Show (press >):

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