Tag Archives: Chicago

United Airlines introduces a new premium cabin menu on select United Express flights

United Airlines (Chicago) will introduce new premium-cabin dining service on United Express flights beginning next week, featuring freshly prepared entrees served on chinaware and expanded meal-service times for United First and United Business customers on regional flights.

The airline continues:

These dining improvements are part of United’s previously announced multi-million-dollar investment in in-flight food service.

The new meal service will be introduced in phases by aircraft type, with the new menus available on United Express North America flights operated with Embraer E170 (above) and E175 aircraft beginning March 1, and on Bombardier CRJ700 and Q400 aircraft beginning in April.

More Choices, More Often

New breakfast, lunch and dinner menus designed by United’s team of chefs will be offered on flights of more than two hours and twenty minutes.

Breakfast flights may include a fresh fruit plate served with cereal, creamy Greek yogurt and breakfast bread.

Lunch and dinner will feature two freshly-prepared entree choices that may include an artisanal pretzel roll filled with tangy barbecue chicken and coleslaw paired with a tri-color quinoa side salad; or ginger and garlic marinated beef with pickled vegetables and crisp edamame, served with Asian sesame dressing and a side of fresh fruit. Flight attendants will serve signature triple chocolate chunk cookies as dessert on lunch and dinner flights.

Other highlights include:

On flights of less than one hour, gourmet biscotti will be served on early morning flights and a premium fruit and nut snack mix will be served on later flights.

On flights between one hour and two hours and twenty minutes, flight attendants will offer light refreshments that include a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit.

The airline is also adding light refreshments to flights departing between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and after 8 p.m.

Photo Above: United Airlines. The barbeque chicken and coleslaw sandwich.

United Express Inflight Entertainment

The airline is continuing improvements to the United Express inflight experience by outfitting more than 200 E175, E170 and CRJ700 regional jets with Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product. By mid-2015, United expects to complete installation on these aircraft.

Additionally, the company will begin providing Personal Device Entertainment on these regional jets this year, offering customers hundreds of complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Apple iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.

Eco-Skies Recycling Program Expanded to United Express Flights

In mid-January, United Express carriers began recycling on board E175 aircraft, furthering United’s Eco-Skies commitment to operating sustainably and responsibly. These E175 flights originate from Houston, Chicago and San Francisco.

These flights follow the same recycling program currently in place on United’s mainline fleet, using United Eco-Skies recycling bags for recycling paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and the carrier’s new hot beverage cups. The hot beverage cups – introduced in 2014 and boarded on all E175 flights – are recyclable and made in the United States from 50 percent recycled materials.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Shuttle America’s Embraer ERJ 170-100SE N639RW (msn 17000057) taxies at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub.

United Express-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

Frontier to add Orlando-Las Vegas and Denver-Raleigh/Durham flights

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) will add seasonal flights between the two top vacation destinations of Orlando and Las Vegas. The new route will start on April 30.

The low fare carrier is also adding nonstop between Denver and Raleigh/Durham starting on June 11.

Frontier is also adding two new routes from Philadelphia to both Minneapolis/St. Paul and Houston (Bush Intercontinental) starting on April 30.

The airline is also adding new services from Chicago (O’Hare) to Austin and Los Angeles on April 14, and Raleigh/Durham and San Francisco starting on April 30.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 N922FR (msn 2012) in the old 2001 livery with Foxy, the Red Fox, on the tail, arrives in Los Angeles.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

Frontier’s expanding route map:

United to start United Express service from Chicago O’Hare to Evansville

United Airlines (Chicago) will add the Chicago (O’Hare) – Evansville, Indiana route starting on June 4.

The Evansville Regional Airport issued this short statement:

Evansville Regional Airport announced that United Airlines will be adding three daily flights from Evansville, IN (EVV) to Chicago, IL (ORD) beginning on June 4, 2015. These flights will be operated with United Express Embraer 145 50-passenger jet aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N13965 (msn 145215) arrives at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

United Express-ExpressJet aircraft slide show:

American Airlines announces its first Boeing 787 routes

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced it will begin domestic service with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in May and international service in June.

The 787 initially will be deployed between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning on May 7, before launching internationally between DFW and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) beginning June 2. The new aircraft will also operate between DFW and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires beginning on June 4. American will deploy the 787 to additional markets in 2015 as it takes delivery of new aircraft.

Above Photo: American Airlines. Business Class.

Arranged in a two-class cabin configuration, American’s 787-8 features 28 fully lie-flat Business Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The custom-designed forward-and rear-facing seats provide direct-aisle access for every Business Class customer for more mobility throughout the cabin. The aircraft is equipped with satellite Wi-Fi capability to keep customers connected while traveling internationally. The premium cabin also features inflight entertainment selections on a 15.4-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitor positioned in each seat. Business Class customers will also be offered Bose® QuietComfort® Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones and ear buds. Each seat is equipped with universal AC power outlets and a USB jack.

Above Photo: American Airlines. Main Cabin.

The Main Cabin will be outfitted with 48 Main Cabin Extra seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, offering customers up to six inches of additional legroom, and 150 Main Cabin seats also arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. Every seat offers a 9-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitor with an assortment of movies, TV programs, games and audio selections. Each Main Cabin seat is also equipped with universal AC power outlets and a USB jack.

Other advanced features on the Dreamliner include larger dimmable windows, improved cabin humidity and improved sound quality. American’s 787-8s will also feature a walk-up bar stocked with snacks and refreshments for customers traveling in the premium cabin.

American has placed firm orders for 42 Boeing 787 aircraft, with the right to acquire an additional 58. American already has the youngest fleet of the U.S. global network carriers, with an average aircraft age of 12.3 years. In 2015, American plans to take delivery of an average of two new aircraft per week. These new deliveries will make American’s fleet even younger, more modern and more efficient and will provide a solid foundation for continued improvements in technology, products and services.

Video: American Airlines. Testing and accepting the first Boeing 787:

American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

American Airlines becomes the airline of the Chicago Cubs, is a logo jet coming?

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) today issued this statement:

American Airlines, which has operated from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) for more than 30 years, is strengthening its ties with Chicago by becoming the Official Airline of the Chicago Cubs and historic Wrigley Field. American has signed a long-term Legacy Partnership with the Cubs, one of the most beloved franchises in Major League Baseball.

Beginning with the 2017 season, American and the Cubs will add a new premium club space located behind home plate with access for premium box seat ticket holders.

American’s 8,500 Chicago-based employees will take great pride in their company’s new branding presence at Wrigley Field, including a fixed sign on the brick wall by the Cubs’ batting circle at Wrigley Field and video board features in the historic ballpark. American will host employees, fans and the team at festivities throughout the season, which will include Cubs player and mascot appearances, giveaways and the Cubs Road Trip sweepstakes.

The agreement includes marketing opportunities at the Cubs’ Spring Training facility, Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. American also becomes a Hall of Fame sponsor of Cubs Charities’ primary fundraising event, the Bricks and Ivy Ball, and will provide domestic round-trip air travel packages for the organization’s fundraising efforts.

In an agreement with a separate enterprise controlled by the Ricketts family, American will present the “American Airlines Executive Conference Center” as part of the office building to be developed in the new plaza location adjacent to Wrigley Field.

For more than 30 years, American Airlines has been the preferred airline at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), offering an average of 500 daily departures to 115 destinations around the world. American recently co-located with its merger partner US Airways, offering customers easy access to all of the combined carrier’s flights at Terminal 3.

Is a Chicago Cub logo jet coming?

Spirit Airlines to add the Chicago O’Hare-Atlantic City route

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) will add the Chicago (O’Hare)-Atlantic City daily route on April 16 per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Jacques Guillem Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-132 N534NK (msn 3395) prepares to depart from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Spirit Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/Spirit-Airlines

Etihad Airways adjusts its North American schedules to increase connectivity

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has announced a number of schedule changes to the airline’s flights between its Abu Dhabi hub and Toronto (Pearson), New York (JFK), and Chicago (O’Hare), which will start on Sunday, March 29, 2015.

The move will provide convenient schedule options for passengers travelling from Canada or the US to the UAE, enhance overall connectivity for flights to and from the Indian Subcontinent (ISC), and establish new connections to key markets such as Dhaka, Kathmandu, and Kolkata.

The new times also all connect with key Etihad Airways’ ISC destinations which include Colombo, Delhi, Karachi, Lahore, and Mumbai.

The three flights a week Toronto service, flight EY 141, will now depart at 2.50 am rather than the current time 10.25 am and the daily EY 151 flight to Chicago will move from a 9.30 am departure to 3.40 am.

Return flight EY 140 from Toronto will arrive at 12.05 pm, and EY 150 from Chicago will arrive in Abu Dhabi at 12.20 pm, which will allow for faster connection times through the hub at a non-peak period.

The new schedule will see the return flight from New York, EY 102, will now depart JFK three hours later than it currently does to ensure its arrival in Abu Dhabi to meet the early afternoon bank of flights to the ISC.

Passengers on the retimed outbound Chicago flight will continue to be processed through United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport, following the recent expansion of the facility’s hours of operation to include early morning flights to the US.

US Preclearance allows passengers to conveniently pass through all required checks including US customs, immigration and security while in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight, enabling them to avoid queues on arrival in the US and arrive as domestic passengers.

Passengers on all Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, which also includes Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York JFK, and Washington DC, are processed through US preclearance.

The schedule changes for Toronto and Chicago have been made in conjunction with Etihad Airways’ key partners, Air Canada and American Airlines in North America, and Jet Airways in India.

The partner airlines will implement new codeshare flights as well as re-accommodate guests who are affected by the new schedule.

Toronto, Chicago, and New York JFK (EY101 / EY102) flight schedule changes are from March 29, 2015:

Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 777-3FX ER A6-ETR (msn 39687) with the promotional Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 markings taxies at London (Heathrow).

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-1/Airlines-Asia1-AE/Etihad-Airways

United Airlines adds 55 flights on 8 routes for the Super Bowl

United Airlines (Chicago) added more flights for football fans on top of regularly scheduled service to Phoenix from its hubs in Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco. The airline also added special new nonstop service, operating from January 29 to February 2, from Boston and Seattle/Tacoma to Phoenix for the Super Bowl. Several of the flights will be operated with Boeing 767 aircraft to accommodate the extra demand.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER N675UA (msn 29243) completes its final approach at Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):

BH Air plans to fly to New York and Chicago starting in May

BH Air (Sofia) plans to start trans-Atlantic routes to both New York and Chicago from Sofia starting in May according to novinite.com quoting Sofia Airport CEO Hristo Shterionov. The airline intends to operate four flights a week.

On June 4, 2014 the company leased its first Airbus A330-200 (A330-223 LZ-AWA, msn 255) (above and below) from AerCap.

Top Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-223 LZ-AWA (msn 255) arrives at Palma de Mallorca.

BH Air aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/BH-Air-Balkan-Holidays

Below Copyright Photos: BH Air.

United Airlines starts Wi-Fi installation on regional jet aircraft

United Airlines (Chicago) has expanded Wi-Fi to the first of its United Express regional aircraft.

The airline will outfit more than 200 Embraer ERJ 175, ERJ 170 and Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets with Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product. By mid-2015, United expects to complete installation on nearly all these aircraft.

Additionally, the company will begin providing Personal Device Entertainment on regional jets this year, offering customers hundreds of complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Wi-Fi-enabled iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.

United Wi-Fi and Personal Device Entertainment

United’s regional jet Wi-Fi installations begin as the airline continues to outfit its mainline fleet with Wi-Fi, which the carrier currently offers on nearly three-quarters of its domestic mainline fleet. United also operates more international aircraft with Wi-Fi than any other U.S. airline.

The company has installed Personal Device Entertainment on nearly 200 mainline aircraft, including its entire Boeing 747-400, Airbus A319 and A320 fleets and its nine Boeing 777 aircraft that fly primarily between the continental United States and Hawaii.

Regional Service Upgrades

In addition to Wi-Fi and Personal Device Entertainment, United is further investing in its customers’ regional-jet experience, including:

Adding 120 Embraer ERJ 175 aircraft to the regional fleet, each offering wider seats and aisles than other regional aircraft, large overhead bins and a power outlet at each United First seat; and

Upgrading premium-cabin meal service on United Express this spring by replacing snack boxes with freshly prepared food on flights that are more than 2 hours and 20 minutes, or 800 miles.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N105SY (msn 17000395) waits for its next assignment at the Chicago (O’Hare) hub.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

United Express-SkyWest Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/United-Express-SkyWest