Tag Archives: DUB

flyVista gets ready to add its first Airbus A320

flyVista (Tbilisi, Georgia) as previously reported, commenced scheduled passenger operations on August 4, 2014 with Boeing 737-33R 4L-AJC (msn 28873). Now the new carrier is getting ready to add an Airbus A320.

According to the airline, “flyVista is a low cost carrier operating as the brand of Vista Georgia which is certified by Georgia’s civil aviation authority and follows its strict safety regulations. Starting in summer 2014, flyVista will be providing customers with safe and affordable scheduled flights to neighboring countries from its base in Tbilisi, Georgia. At flyVista the emphasis is not only on safety but also on providing its passengers with an enjoyable flight within its network. flyvista was established as the scheduled airline brand of Vista Georgia which is strategically partnered with Aerovista.”

The airline currently flies from Tbilisi to Almaty, Kiev and Tehran.

Copyright Photo: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured A320-214 OE-ICW (msn 879) will become 4L-AJD when it is leased from GECAS. Previously the airframe was leased by Iberworld (EC-GZD), Spring Airlines (B-6258) and Senegal Airlines (6V-AII).

VivaAerobus to add two new routes to Houston

VivaAerobus (Monterrey) has announced it will add two new routes to Houston (Bush Intercontinental) from Cancun (starting on December 3) and Guadalajara (starting on November 20) per Airline Route.

Update: Read the analysis of this low-cost airline by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Paul Doyle/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-Livingston Airbus A320-232 EI-ERH (msn 2157) arrives in Dublin before the delivery to the Mexican carrier.

VivaAerobus:

Route Map:

VivaColombia to fly internationally to Balboa, Panama

VivaColombia (Medellin) is launching its first international routes to Balboa, Panama. The low fare airline will start daily flights to the former Howard Air Force Base, now known as the Panama Pacific International Airport in Balboa, Panama (BLB) (near Panama City) on August 1 from both Bogota and Medellin.

VivaColombia is the first and only low-cost airline in Colombia. It started operations on May 25, 2012, from the Jose Maria Cordova Airport located in Rionegro, in the state of Antioquia.

Copyright Photo: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 EI-EPX (msn 1454) became HK-4905 when it was delivered on October 31, 2012..

Stobart Air sets new passenger records for the Aer Lingus Regional operation in May

Stobart Air (formerly Aer Arann) (Dublin) has issued this statement for its expanding Aer Lingus Regional operation:

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, has announced a 35% increase in passenger numbers for the month of May 2014 compared to the same month last year. It represents the eleventh consecutive month of passenger growth for the airline.

May 2014 was a record breaking month for the airline as it flew 122,079 passengers, 31,589 more than May 2013 and 1,191 more than the previous record set in August 2013.

Total passenger numbers for the year to date are up 23% compared to this time last year. Passenger numbers on the airline’s Dublin routes were up 49%, with the Dublin-Kerry route seeing an increase of 21% in May. The Dublin–Bristol route saw an increase of 22% due to the deployment of new aircraft on the route and an increase to three daily flights for the summer months.

Aer Lingus Regional passenger numbers from the UK connecting to trans-Atlantic flights has more than doubled in the first four months of the year compared to the same period in 2013. This was due to Aer Lingus’ new San Francisco and Toronto services. Boston and New York bound passengers from Birmingham and Manchester via Shannon Airport has proven to be very popular

Passenger numbers on the airline’s Cork services saw a second consecutive month of growth with an 11% increase from the same month last year. The Cork-Bristol route increased by 14%, while the Cork-Manchester route saw a 17% increase in May.

A focus on providing services for major sporting events continued to be a key driver in passenger growth for the airline. May’s Heineken Cup Final in Cardiff contributed a 44% monthly increase in passenger numbers on the airline’s services to the Welsh capital alone.

Routes from Shannon Airport also saw a significant growth with a 15% increase in May compared to the same month last year.

‘May 2014 was a record period for us and our eleventh successive month of passenger growth. New and expanded routes, along with our investment in new aircraft are resonating with passengers. It is notably that growth is occurring across the network and at each of our bases in Dublin, Shannon and Cork.’

Aer Lingus Regional:

Blue1 to cut four Boeing 717s and up to 160 jobs

Blue1 (SAS Finland) (Helsinki) will see its nine Boeing 717s reduced by four aircraft according to the CEO Mikael Wångdahl as reported by Taloussanomat. The subsidiary of SAS may also be forced to eliminate up to 160 jobs (one half of its workforce). The cuts are being driven by lower demand and the mounting financial losses of parent Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm). The cuts will start at the beginning of the winter season in November.

Copyright Photo: SM Fitzwilliams Collection/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 717-2CM OH-BLI (msn 55061) prepares to depart from Dublin bound for Helsinki.

Blue1:

Turkish Airlines finalizes its order for 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8s

Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) today (June 16) finalized an order for 15 additional 737 MAX 8s, valued at $1.6 billion at list prices. The order follows the announcement in May 2013 when the Turkish flag carrier placed the largest Boeing order in the airline’s history for 50 737 MAXs and 20 Next-Generation 737s.

With today’s announcement, Turkish Airlines has more than 100 unfilled orders for Boeing airplanes; 65 737 MAXs, more than 25 Next-Generation 737s and 20 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The Istanbul-based carrier currently operates a fleet of more than 100 Next-Generation 737s and 15 777-300ERs.

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,000 orders from 41 customers, bringing the most advanced engine technologies to the world’s best-selling airplane, building on the strengths of today’s Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over tomorrow’s competition.

Turkish Airlines currently serves 254 cities in 106 countries around the world from its base at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.

Turkish Airlines:

Flybe to fly an Embraer 195 for Helvetic Airways this summer, becomes profitable again

Flybe (Exeter)has announced it has signed a contract with Helvetic Airways (Zurich), to provide the Swiss airline with a 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft with flight deck and cabin crew, operating under Flybe’s Airline Operating Certificate (AOC) for a period of two months.

Helvetic Airlines operates flights frequented by both business and leisure customers to destinations in Europe and Northern Africa. Its arrangement with Flybe will run from July 1 through to August 31, 2014. The aircraft will operate three key routes from Zurich to Ohrid, Skopje (Macedonia) and Prishtina (Kosovo).

In other news, the company’s efforts to turn around the company are working. The company posted an £8 million ($13.4 million) net profit for its full fiscal year.

Read the full presentation: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael Kelly/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) G-FBEB (msn 19000057) lands at Dublin.

Flybe:

Helvetic Airways:

Arik Air to fly to Dubai starting on July 28

Arik Air (Arik Wings of Nigeria) (Lagos) will spread its wings again on July 28 when it launches a new route from Lagos and Abuja to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The new extension will be operated five days a week with its Airbus A330-200s.

Arik Air:

VivaAerobus begins its transition to the Airbus A320

VivaAerobus (Mexico City) formally launched its fleet transition to A320 aircraft today (May 14), after the airline started operating its first three Airbus A320 aircraft in April. The low cost carrier will receive an additional two A320s before the end of 2014. The A320s, powered by IAE, are configured in an all economy 180 seat configuration, 32 additional seats or a 22 percent increase in capacity as compared to VivaAerobus’ existing fleet of Boeing 737-300s.

The A320s will bring VivaAerobus improved fuel efficiency, performance and range, allowing the airline to ultimately expand its network service throughout Mexico and beyond. The aircraft will be based in the airline’s Cancun hub and fly to Mexico City, Monterrey, Veracruz, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Reynosa and Torreon. Additionally, the aircraft will operate from Mexico City to Reynosa and from Monterrey to Mazatlan.

By the end of 2016, the airline will have completed its fleet transition from 737-300 to become an all-Airbus operator. In October 2013 VivaAerobus signed a purchase agreement for 52 Airbus A320 Family aircraft (40 A320neo and 12 A320ceo), representing the biggest Airbus aircraft order by a single airline in Latin American history.

VivaAerobus:

Norwegian names its fifth Boeing 787-8 after Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen

Norwegian Long Haul (Norwegian Air Shuttle) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) has just finished up adding the tail image to its newly-delivered fifth Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The pictured EI-LNE (msn 34796) was handed over to Norwegian on April 30. Today in Dublin the 787 departed with the new likeness of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on the tail.

According to Wikipedia, Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (1872 – 1928) was a Norwegian explorer of the polar regions. Amundsen led the Antarctic expedition (1910–1912) to become part of the first group of explorers to reach the South Pole in December 1911. In 1926, he was the first expedition leader to be recognized without dispute as having reached the North Pole.

Amundsen is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage (1903–06). He disappeared in June 1928 while taking part in a rescue mission.

Norwegian: