Tag Archives: DHC-8-402

WestJet Encore starts two new routes to Fort McMurray today

WestJet (Calgary) today inaugurated new nonstop daily service between Kelowna, B.C., and Fort McMurray and between Vancouver and Fort McMurray. Both services are offered by WestJet Encore using its fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft.

Today, WestJet also launched a third daily flight between Calgary and Fort McMurray using the same type of aircraft.

In other news, WestJet has retrofitted the first Boeing 737-800 (below) with new Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar winglets. The pictured Boeing 737-8CT C-GWRG (msn 39071) is now flying throughout the WestJet network.

Top Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-FIWE (msn 4466) is pictured at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.

WestJet:

Bottom Copyright Photo: WestJet.

WestJet Encore to replace WestJet on the Toronto-Quebec City route

WestJet (Calgary) has announced the launch of new, nonstop twice-daily service between Toronto (Pearson) and Quebec City, Quebec, effective on March 15, 2015. Using WestJet Encore‘s fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft, the new service will replace WestJet’s current daily service on board its Boeing Next-Generations 737s.

On the financial side, WestJet announced its first quarter results for 2014, with net earnings of $89.3 million (all amounts in Canadian dollars), or $0.69 per diluted share. This compares with the net earnings of $91.1 million, or $0.68 per diluted share reported in the first quarter of 2013. Based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 13.7 per cent, compared with the 13.9 per cent reported in the previous quarter. These results include pre-tax recoveries of value added taxes of $17.6 million associated with fuel costs and $2.5 million associated with airport costs incurred from 2009 to 2013.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-built Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) C-FIWE (msn 4466) of WestJet Encore sits idle on the ramp at Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto.

WestJet:

Alaska Air Group reports GAAP net income of $94 million for the first quarter

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air – Alaska Horizon) (Seattle/Tacoma) today reported first quarter 2014 GAAP net income of $94 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to $37 million, or $0.51 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2013. Excluding the impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments of $8 million ($5 million after tax, or $0.07 per diluted share), the company reported record adjusted net income of $89 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $44 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in 2013.

“Our record first quarter results reflect strong demand for our service and the efforts we’ve taken to improve the value we bring to our customers,” CEO Brad Tilden said. “Our solid foundation of award-winning service, excellent operational performance, low costs and low fares, and the best employees in the business will help us sustain our success in the face of increasing competition.”

Financial Highlights:

Reported record first quarter net income, excluding special items, of $89 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $44 million, or $0.62 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter. This quarter’s results compare to a First Call analyst consensus estimate of $1.24 per share.

Recorded net income for the first quarter under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $94 million or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $37 million, or $0.51 per diluted share in 2013.

Reported record adjusted pretax margin for the first quarter of 11.8%.

Achieved trailing 12-month return on invested capital of 14.8% compared to 13.4% in the 12 months ended March 31, 2013.

Paid a $0.25 per-share quarterly cash dividend on March 11 totaling $17 million. This is a 25% increase from the previous cash dividend payment of $0.20 per-share.

Repurchased 352,851 shares of common stock for $30 million in the first quarter of 2014.

Lowered adjusted debt-to-total-capitalization ratio by 3%, to 32%, from December 31, 2013.

Held $1.4 billion in unrestricted cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2014.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Dedicated freighter operations at Alaska Air Cargo becomes very active in Alaska this time of the year. Boeing 737-490 (F) N709AS (msn 28896) touches down at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC).

Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Horizon:

Horizon Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Horizon Air’s (Alaska Horizon) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the “Q400”) N440QX (msn 4347) in the special Oregon State University-OSU Beavers color scheme taxies to the runway at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hub.

Flybe expands operations at Birmingham to become the largest base

Flybe (Exeter) on April 10 celebrated the inaugural flight of eight new routes to operate from Birmingham Airport with passengers taking off to Cologne/Bonn on the carrier’s distinctive Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) signature purple aircraft (above).

On the same day, Flybe also took off on the first of its daily flights to Florence – the first time ever this route has been offered out of Birmingham. This was followed on April 11 with the airline’s inaugural flight to Porto (four days a week) and its four-days weekly service to Alicante (started on April 12).

The remaining four of Flybe’s new routes from Birmingham will take off in May, with Bordeaux, Palma de Mallorca and Toulouse starting on May 13 and Newquay on May 16.

The airline will also operate nonstop service from Birmingham to Ibiza (three days a week) and Keflavik (three days a week) from June 29 through September 7.

With a record 12 aircraft based at the airport, Birmingham has become Flybe’s largest base. This summer, it will be operating 32 routes to and from Birmingham with a total choice of up to 381 return flights a week.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. The “Purple Plane”, namely Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECY (msn 4157), completes its final approach into Manchester International Airport (MAN).

Flybe:

Routes from Birmingham:

Horizon Air’s dispatchers approve the new contract

Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) (Seattle/Tacoma) and the Transport Workers Union have jointly announced that the carrier’s 17 dispatchers have ratified a new four-year contract by a ratio of 82 percent.

Horizon Air and TWU reached tentative agreement on a new contract on March 19.

Under the Railway Labor Act, which governs collective bargaining agreements in the airline industry, contracts do not expire. Instead they become amendable. The ratified agreement for Horizon’s dispatchers becomes amendable on August 26, 2018.

Horizon Air is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group and flies to 39 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N400QX (msn 4030) in the special Idaho Vandals livery arrives in Los Angeles.

Alaska Horizon:

Horizon Air:

Nok Air converts two Bombardier Q400s to firm orders

Nok Air (Bangkok) of Thailand has converted two previously booked Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft options to firm orders. The options were acquired under a contract announced on November 19, 2013 that also included two firm-ordered aircraft and four purchase rights. At that time, Bombardier also confirmed that Nok Air would be the launch customer for the new extra capacity seating option of the Q400 NextGen turboprop that will allow the aircraft to accommodate up to 86 passengers.

Image: Bombardier.

Nok Air:

Island Air will again operate the Bombardier Q400, orders two

Hawaii Island Air, Inc. (Island Air) (Honolulu) has placed a firm order for two Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen turboprop airliners and has also taken options for four additional Q400 NextGen aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered with a dual-class, 71-seat configuration. Island Air is Hawaii’s leading regional airline and second oldest carrier.

Island Air previously operated the type briefly in the past.

Image: Bombardier.

Island Air:

WestJet converts options for five additional Bombardier Q400s

WestJet (Calgary) today announced it has converted five of its 25 options to firm orders for Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft, scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2015. The first of the five will arrive in June 2015.

With the conversion of these options, WestJet will have a fleet of 25 Bombardier Q400s by the end of 2015. The airline has further options for 20 more Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft between 2016 and 2018.

The aircraft will be operated by subsidiary WestJet Encore.

WestJet:

Video: Amateur video of a WestJet Encore flight from takeoff in Fort St. John to landing in Calgary:

airBaltic to launch a new route from Riga to Bucharest, Romania on June 3

airBaltic (Riga) on June 3, 2014, will launch a new route between Riga, Latvia and the Romanian capital of Bucharest.

airBaltic will fly from Riga to Bucharest four times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Passengers will board a Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft for a flight that will last for 2 hours 55 minutes.

Top Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) YL-BAX (msn 4324) departs from Berlin (Tegel).

airBaltic:

Bottom Copyright Photo: airBaltic.

Current routes from Riga:

QANTAS announces five new Link destinations

QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has announced a number of new regional routes, providing customers with direct services to five new destinations on its domestic network.

Through better utilization of aircraft, QANTAS will provide customers with access to the following new routes: Brisbane to Port Macquarie, Melbourne to Coffs Harbour, Sydney to Hervey Bay, Sydney to Hamilton Island and Brisbane to Miles.

Domestic Routes