easyJet (UK) (London-Luton) on December 12 will start the twice-weekly London (Gatwick)ย ย โ Friedrichshafen route. This new service will be operated with Airbus A319s according to Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 G-EZDK (msn 3555) in the new 2015 livery arrives at EuroAirport.
easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:ย 
ASL Aviation Group (Dublin) is combining and rebranding its four European airlines under the same name. Air Contractors, Europe Airpost, Farnair Switzerland and Faranair Hungary will begin operating under the ASL Airlines brand. The group issued this statement:
Ireland based ASL Aviation Group is to launch a new European airline brand, ASL Airlines, as part of its strategy for continued growth in passenger and cargo operations.
ASLโs 4 European airlines are to be renamed under the new ASL Airlines brand and there will be 4 airline operations โcentres of excellenceโ in Ireland, France, Switzerland and Hungary.
Air Contractors will become ASL Airlines Ireland
Europe Airpost will become ASL Airlines France
Farnair Switzerland will become ASL Airlines Switzerland
Farnair Hungary will become ASL Airlines Hungary
The ASL Group, which employs 1,500 globally, will continue to be based at its Corporate Support Office in Swords, County Dublin and will be led by Group Chief Executive, Hugh Flynn.
The total ASL fleet is +/- 100 aircraft depending on leasing arrangements, of which 75 aircraft are flying in Europe and in future will operate as โASL Airlinesโ. Some of these aircraft will be painted in airline customer colours while the rest will soon start to become visible in Europeโs airports in the new ASL Airlines livery.
The strategy, named โPlatform for Growthโ, is an initiative aimed building on ASLโs leading role in various express integrator, passenger and postal markets in Europe.
ASL will also expand its global presence through its interest in Safair in South Africa and cargo airlines K-Mile in Thailand and QuikJet in India where ASL announced last week that its shareholding is to increase to 72.59%.
The new ASL Airlines brand and identity will achieve a number of key strategic aims:
โOur intent is to have a new strong single brand that will play a major role in helping us to achieve our vision and mission and reflect our corporate values in our businessโ, said ASL Group Chief Executive, Hugh Flynn.
โThis strong single brand will make it considerably easier to use the aircraft of the European fleet across the individual countries to meet customer demand and this increased fleet flexibility and consequent competitiveness will enable us to grow our businessโ, Hugh Flynn continued.
Hugh Flynn explained that ASLโs optimisation potential will include the creation of โCentres of Excellenceโ, reducing cost and improving safety, reliability, quality and profitability, 4 of ASLโs 5 corporate values.
โIn additionโ, he said. โthere will be increased security of employment, job satisfaction and challenge for all of the people of ASL, our 5th corporate value, and the most important after safety,โ, Hugh Flynn concluded.
A 5th operations โcentre of excellenceโ in South Africa will oversee the continued growth in Safair, the specialist humanitarian Hercules operator; FlySafair, South Africaโs first โtrueโ low cost airline launched in October 2014 and the two Asian airlines. ASLโs aircraft leasing platforms will also continue to be based in Dublin.
To facilitate the โPlatform for Growthโ strategy the ASL Group is being restructured into two divisions, European Airlines and Rest of the World Airlines and Leasing.
โPlatform for Growthโ will see ASL increase the number of aircraft in its combined cargo and passenger fleets. Aircraft will also be transferred throughout the group to facilitate the airlines and their โcentres of excellenceโ becoming specialists in operating specific aircraft types.
The 4 European airlines to be rebranded ASL Airlines currently operate throughout Europe for the leading express freight integrators and for postal services in France and the UK from hubs in France and Germany and between bases throughout the continent from Norway to Greece.
Passenger services are also operated under the airlines own brand from Switzerland, Ireland and France while the Irish airline, Air Contractors, operates three passenger Boeing 757โs on daily transatlantic flights from Dublin and Shannon to Canada and the United States.
Air Contractors โ ASL Airlines Ireland
Copyright Photo above: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212 EI-SLK (msn 395) prepares to land at Shannon.
Irish Airline, Air Contractors, will be rebranded as โASL Airlinesโ Ireland. Just last week the airline won the prestigious โAircraft Operator of the Yearโ award at the Irish Aviation Authority sponsored Irish Aviation Awards.
Copyright Photo above: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Contractors operates this Boeing 757-2Q8 EI-LBS (msn 27623) for Aer Lingus.
Air Contractors operates Boeing 757-200 transatlantic passenger services from Shannon and Dublin to North America for Aer Lingus and also operates Boeing 737 charter passenger services throughout Europe from Dublin, Shannon, Cork and Knock Airports.
The airline also operates a fleet of turbo prop and jet aircraft for express parcel integrators throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Air Contractors aircraft slide show:ย
Europe Airpost โ ASL Airlines France
Paris CDG based Europe Airpost will be rebranded as โASL Airlinesโ France. The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 737-300/-400/-700 aircraft on passenger and cargo services.
Copyright Photo above: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-31S EI-STA (msn 29057) of Europe Airpost arrives at scenic Salzburg, Austria.
Europe Airpost flies passenger charter services for tour operators throughout Europe and the Mediterranean countries, as well as VIP and ad hoc passenger flights throughout the world. On the cargo side, Europe Airpost flies for overnight and postal operators within France and Europe, and operates ad hoc cargo flights throughout the world.
As part of its strategy of diversification, Europe Airpost also operates a weekly scheduled cargo service out of Paris CDG to Tunis, and a number of seasonal scheduled passenger routes serving France, Austria, Portugal and Halifax (Nova Scotia/Canada) via Dublin.
Europe Airpost aircraft slide show:ย
Video: Europe Airpost:
Farnair Europe โ ASL Airlines Switzerland and ASL Airlines Hungary
The two European airlines in the Farnair Group will be rebranded as โASL Airlinesโ Switzerland and ASL Airlines Hungary.
Copyright Photo above: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Farnair Switzerland ATR 42-320 HB-AFF (msn 264) arrives back at the Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg base.
Farnair operates a fleet of turbo prop and jet aircraft for express parcel integrators throughout Europe and also operates cargo turbo prop services in Africa. Farnair also operates ATR42 passenger services.
Farnairโs joint venture airlines in Asia, Quikjet in India and K-Mile in Thailand are not included in the rebranding initiative.
Farnair aircraft slide show:ย
Video:
Air France (Paris) is expanding the role for its HOP! regional subsidiary. HOP! Air France willย take over the operation of Air France’s domestic services from the Paris Orly hub to Bordeaux, Marseilles, Nice and Toulouse.
Air France has issued this statement:
Air France at Lyon presented HOP! Air France, its short-haul activity, bringing together since March 29 the entire route network on departure from Paris-Orly, including La Navette flights, routes on departure from the French regions, inter-regional routes and to Europe.
This new organization is supported by a new unique and competitive commercial offer on the short-haul network, with tickets on sale since March 24, 2015.
With regular frequencies and adapted flight times, HOP! Air France aims to meet the expectations of both business travellers and leisure and VFR (Visit Friends and relatives) customers, i.e., travelling to see family and friends, who live and work in different regions, with holiday homes, etc.
HOP! Air France operates the leading European domestic network, with over 600 flights a day, a very extensive domestic network, with around one hundred aircraft offering a seating capacity of 48 to 212 seats. More than 8,500 Company staff (ground agents, pilots, flight attendants) are at the service of customers, across France.
A RETURN TO PROFIT IN 2017
This new offer within the Air France Group, should allow to generate new synergies and contribute to reducing unit costs. With this new activity, the Air France Group plans to implement the conditions for a return to profitability in 2017.
THE ASSOCIATION OF TWO BRANDS TO SIMPLIFY THE AIR FRANCE GROUPโS SHORT-HAUL OFFER
HOP! will be the main commercial brand for the customer. It symbolizes the values of proximity, simplicity and accessibility on short routes. Backed by the Air France brand, synonymous with a powerful network and a reassuring, trustworthy and quality brand, HOP! Air France proposes a new coherent offer that adapts to all the mobility needs of its customers.
Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of the Air France-KLM Group, stated: “In France and Europe, Air France-KLM aims to offer its customers a solution for all their travel needs, both business and leisure. Our four brands Air France, KLM, HOP! and Transavia are thus developing complementary and competitive offers. This diversification, in which HOP! Air France rightly has its place for short distance travel, represents a considerable asset in addressing our customersโ needs to get about quickly and easily”.
Frรฉdรฉric Gagey, Chairman and CEO of Air France, stated: “The time has come for the Air France Group to gain market share on the short-haul market. Competition is fierce with trains, and more recently coach travel and the car-pooling trend. An extensive network in France, a strong commercial presence on this market and a simpler and more reactive organization will enable HOP! Air France to establish itself as the reference on the French domestic network, Europeโs leading network”.
Lionel Guรฉrin, Chief Operating Officer HOP! Air France, added: “The strength of HOP! Air France is the ability to offer all its customers frequent, rapid and direct flights at attractive and competitive fares, while contributing to the economic and tourist development of the regions served. The HOP! brand, backed by the Air France brand, also benefits from the expertise and professionalism of more than 8,500 employees united under a single banner committed to winning back short-haul customers in France”.
HOP! AIR FRANCE IN FIGURES
โข 600 daily flights to 50 airports served
โข 96 aircraft with between 48 and 212 seats
โข Fares starting at โฌ49* including tax one-way
โข 13 million passengers carried each year
โข 130 routes in summer 2015
โข 4 Navette shuttle flights on departure from Paris-Orly: Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse
โข 2 main hubs in France: Lyon (27 routes) and Paris-Orly (20 routes)
โข More than 8,500 employees at the service of our customers, both on the ground and on board
On departure form Lyon:
โข 27 destinations: 19 in France and 8 in Europe
โข 2.8 million passengers carried in 2014
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Embraer ERJ 170-100LR F-HBXL (msn 17000009) lands at EuroAirport.
HOP! aircraft slide show:ย
FedEx Corporation (FedEx Express) (Memphis) has announced its intention to acquire its European rival TNT Express (TNT Airways) (Amsterdam) in an all-cash public offer with a stated public value of $4.8 billion. FedEx is offering a 33 percent premium in its price offering for the stock of TNT. The combined European headquarters will be Amsterdam. TNT’s Liege cargo hub will be maintained.
The two companies issued this joint statement:
Transaction highlights:
FedEx Corporation (FedEx) and TNT Express N.V. (TNT Express) reached conditional agreement on recommended all-cash public offer of โฌ8.00 per ordinary TNT Express share.
The Offer Price represents a premium of 33% over the closing price of 2 April 2015 and a premium of 42% over the average volume weighted price per TNT Express share of โฌ5.63 over the last 3 calendar months.
The transaction represents an implied equity value for TNT Express of โฌ4.4 billion ($4.8 billion).
Transaction unanimously recommended and supported by TNT Expressโ Executive Board and Supervisory Board.
High level of deal certainty.
PostNL N.V. has irrevocably confirmed to support the Offer and tender its 14.7% TNT Express shareholding.
Combination will transform FedExโs European capabilities and accelerate global growth.
Customers will enjoy access to an enhanced, integrated global network, combining TNT Express strong European capabilities and FedExโs strength in other regions globally, including North America and Asia.
FedEx and TNT Express employees share a commitment to serving customers and delivering value for shareholders and supporting the communities they live and work in.
The parties have agreed to certain non-financial covenants including:
Existing employment terms of TNT Express will be respected.
The European regional headquarters of the combined companies will be in Amsterdam/Hoofddorp.
TNT Express hub in Liege will be maintained as a significant operation for the group going forward.
TNT Expressโ airline operations will be divested, in compliance with applicable airline ownership regulations.
FedEx and TNT Express anticipate that the Offer will close in the first half of calendar year 2016.
FedEx and TNT Express are confident that anti-trust concerns, if any, can be addressed adequately in a timely fashion.
Top Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com.ย FedEx Express Boeing 757-204 (F) N923FD (msn 26266) departs from EuroAirport serving Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg.
FedEx Express aircraft slide show:ย
TNT aircraft slide show:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com.ย TNT Airways Boeing 737-4M0 (F) OE-IAT (msn 29210) taxies to the runway at Frankfurt.
Video: Visual Approach at night by a Hello McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30.
Germania Fluggssellschaft (Berlin) on Friday night (February 20), launched a new route from Dรผsseldorf to Tehran. Yesterday (February 22), the airline launched its first flight from Berlin (Schรถnefeld) in the capital city of Iran.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-Airberlin Boeing 737-76J D-ABLB (msn 36115) lands at EuroAirport near Basel.
Germania aircraft slide show:ย
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is ending Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operations at the end of March. Operated from the Munich hub by subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine, the last CRJ700 route and flight from MUC will be to Luxembourg and return on March 29 per Airline Route.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Lufthansa CityLine’sย Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) D-ACPL (msn 10076) lands in EuroAirport serving Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg.
Lufthansa Regional-Lufthansa CityLine aircraft slide show:
http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Lufthansa-Regional-CityLine
Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin) is continuing to optimize its route network with the expansion of its services to the important focus market of Italy at the beginning of the summer schedule. Starting March 29, 2015, Airberlin will operate a new daily service from Stuttgart to Rome as well as three flights a day from Stuttgart to Milan (Linate) starting in May 2015. In addition, starting in May Airberlin will expand its service on the Stuttgart to Venice route to include three new daily flights.
The number of flights from Dusseldorf to Rome is also being increased: starting March 29, Airberlin will offer six new flights from Monday to Friday as well as two flights on Sundays. Several improvements to the departure times of existing services complete the optimization of the flight program from Germany to Italy. With up to ten additional flights per week compared to last year, Airberlin will operate a total of 260 flights a week from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Italy during summer 2015.
The new flights will be integrated in the codeshare agreement with Alitalia (3rd) (Rome) and will carry Alitalia flight numbers. All of Airberlinโs and Alitalia’s direct flights between Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been operated as codeshare flights since the start of the 2014/2015 winter schedule.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 D-ABFC (msn 4161) lands at EuroAirport serving the Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg area.
Airberlin aircraft slide show:
http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/Airberlin-Air-Berlin
EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton) is continuing itโs ever-expanding route map by announcing 19 new routes for the summer season of 2015.
The new routes were released on the carrierโs website. They are as follows:
Amsterdam โ Corfu (June 30) twice weekly
Amsterdam โ Ibiza (June 30) three times weekly
Amsterdam โ Palermo (June 29) twice weekly
Bristol โ Bilbao (April 19) twice weekly
Bristol โ Isle of Man (April 19) four times weekly
Bristol โ Zakinthos (May 13) once weekly
Hamburg โ Alicante (March 30) twice weekly
Hamburg โ Bologna (March 29) three times weekly
Hamburg โ Irakleion (June 27) twice weekly
Hamburg โ Paris Orly (March 29) once daily
Hamburg โ Pisa (March 30) twice weekly
Hamburg โ Thessaloniki (June 29) twice weekly
Lisbon โ Ponta Delgada (March 29) three times weekly
London Luton โ Split (June 16) three times weekly
Manchester โ Kefalonia (June 16) twice weekly
Manchester โ Split (June 17) twice weekly
Newcastle โ Corfu (June 7) once weekly
Newcastle โ Rhodes (June 4) once weekly
Newcastle โ Split (June 2) twice weekly
Sophie Dekkers, easyJetโs UK Director, said:
โWeโre pleased to be continuing our growth with additional new routes for next summer placed on sale today.โ
โThis underlines our commitment to both leisure and business passengers across the UK, making it easy and affordable for them to connect to a choice of summer destinations and we expect our new routes to be especially popular.โ
Reported by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock from Manchester.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 G-EZGA (msn 4427) lands at EuroAirport serving Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg..
EasyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:
http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/EasyJet-UK
Air France (Paris) will combine its short-haul, point-to-point operations under the HOP! Air France brand starting in the summer of 2015. Air France is reorganizing it short haul operations due to the increased competition for other low-cost airlines and other forms of travel. The airline issued this statement:
The organization proposal for the Air France Group’s short-haul activity, bringing together Air France’s point-to-point activity and HOP!, was presented this during the Air France Works Council meeting.
This proposal is based on the recommendations of a group of experts submitted to Frรฉdรฉric Gagey on June 30: for each market need there must be a corresponding and adapted commercial offer and economic model, whether in terms of costs or revenue.
Starting from the summer season 2015, the short-haul activity will be operated by HOP! Air France. Its objective will be to quickly generate value for the Group, and recover profitability on the short-haul market within three years.
A new commercial offer will be introduced to the market during the first quarter of 2015, under the brand name HOP! with the backing of Air France .
This project includes the implementation of a new, simplified structure.
Presented by Lionel Guรฉrin, Chairman and CEO of HOP!, tasked with implementing the new HOP! Air France activity, it will bring together the Air France Point to Point teams from Paray Vieille Poste and the HOP! teams from Rungis at a single center in Montreuil, close to the French market sales agents. There will be no modification, transfer of employment contracts, or transfer of the teams based at Roissy or elsewhere in France.
This new structure will come into effect at the beginning of 2015, for operational implementation from the summer 2015 season onwards.
Frรฉdรฉric Gagey, Air France Chairman and CEO, added: “The short-haul activity is in competition with trains, cars, and low-cost airlines. We need to restructure our company to be even more responsive, market-oriented and close to our customers. HOP! Air France provides a response adapted to the specific characteristics of the short-haul carrier activity and the travel needs of our customers. I am counting on the efforts of all staff to achieve the ambitious targets for this business”.
The new HOP! Air France will operate 800 flights a day.
Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100STD F-HBXB (msn 17000250) arrives at EuroAirport serving the Base, Mulhouse and Freiburg area.
HOP! aircraft slide show:
http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Hop-For-Air-France
HOP! currently serves these destinations:
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