Tag Archives: Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW

AeroMexico flight 2431 crashes at Durango, Mexico

AeroMexico Connect flight AM 2431 operating from Durango, Mexico to Mexico City on July 31, 2018 with Embraer 190 XA-GAL (above) crashed while attempting to takeoff from Durango and overran the runway and burned. The 99 passengers and four crew members were able to exit the burning aircraft. The aircraft is destroyed.

The flight was attempting to takeoff in heavy rain. Downdraft?

Videos:

On social media:

49 people were hospitalized.

Two people, including one crew member, are in critical but stable condition.

AeroMexico issued this updated statement:

We deeply regret the events of this Tuesday evening involving flight AM 2431 from Durango bound for Mexico City.

This is a very difficult day for passengers, pilots, flight attendants, families, and loved ones of all those affected by this accident; as well as for our Aeromexico family and Mexico at large.

During a press conference the CEO of Grupo Aeromexico, Andres Conesa, expressed, “Our heart is with those affected and their families. We are deeply saddened and moved by this incident, and we would like to reiterate, first of all, that the Grupo Aeromexico family extends its support, thoughts, and prayers to those affected and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist them.”

Aboard the aircraft were 88 adult passengers, nine minors, two infants and four crew members, as well as two pilots and two flight attendants. At present time no human losses have been reported thanks to the prompt action of the crew and passengers. The safety of our passengers is our first priority. Our more than 14,000 employees are wholly committed to the well-being of passengers and their families.

The aircraft involved was an Embraer 190 with registration XA-GAL, manufactured in 2008 and has been operated as part of our fleet since 2014.

At the moment, our priority is to address the needs of those affected and their families by taking the following actions:

Providing attention and care for passengers and crew in nearby medical facilities.
The Aeromexico Emergency Response Team is already in the accident zone and is focused on assisting passengers and their families.
We have made free transportation available to relatives of affected passengers in Durango. To this end, a telephone helpline has been established at +52 (55) 51 33 40 59 in Mexico and 1 866 205 4084 from abroad.

We are closely collaborating with the relevant authorities, particularly with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), to establish the cause of this accident.

On behalf of the company, Andres Conesa especially thanked the crew for their professional actions, along with the Federal and State authorities, whom from the first minute have supported the rescue and assistance efforts. Moreover, he also thanked the employees for their professionalism and prompt response, as well as other airlines that have expressed their solidarity.

Lastly, we would like to reaffirm that we are focused 100% on doing everything in our power for the well-being of passengers and their families.

JetBlue grows again in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood with start date set for new Grand Cayman service

JetBlue Airways today announced it is again growing in South Florida and in the Caribbean with the start of nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) and Grand Cayman (GCM).

JetBlue first announced its intent to fly this route in January. Service will operate once daily beginning October 25, 2018.

New Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood service will complement JetBlue’s existing service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and seasonal service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

Schedule between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Grand Cayman (GCM)
Beginning October 25, 2018

FLL-GCM Flight #1397					GCM-FLL Flight #1398
10:26 a.m. – 10:53 a.m.					11:53 a.m. – 2:29 p.m.

The new service also advances JetBlue’s position as the top airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, where the airline plans to operate 140 daily flights in the coming years.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood is one of JetBlue’s fast-growing focus cities, serving customers throughout South Floridaand offering a fast and convenient alternative for Miami-Dade travelers. The airline also recently expanded its operation to two new gates in Terminal 3 and began utilizing Terminal 1 for additional international arrivals to help support future growth.

JetBlue intends to serve the route with its 100-seat Embraer 190 aircraft offering the airline’s award-winning service and the most legroom in coach (b), as well as complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks and free first-run Hollywood movies.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N187JB (msn 19000009) (Blueberries) FLL (Bruce Drum). Image: 104650.

JetBlue aircraft slide show:

Georgian Airways now flies to Italy

Georgian Airways on March 28 added a new route linking Tbilisi with Bologna. This is the first route to Italy by the carrier. The new route operates twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays.

LAM and fastjet sign memorandum of understanding to explore wide-ranging commercial cooperation

LAM and fastjet on March 20 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore long-term commercial cooperation. The Memorandum was signed in LAM headquarter in Maputo. The intent of the memorandum includes wide-ranging areas of cooperation expected to significantly enhance commercial aviation in the country.

The memorandum covers code-share and interline agreements between the two carriers, optimized network synergies to accommodate same as well as cooperation on other commercial systems, cargo, engineering and maintenance. LAM chief executive Mr. Pinto commented that the “areas of cooperation will not only further strengthen Mozambique’s flag carrier as a regional air-services provider but contribute significantly to initiatives that promote tourism, economic development and trade.”

“This is an exciting and industry-leading public-private partnership initiative,” adds Mr. Pinto. “It not only supports Mozambique’s greater economic growth objectives in terms of the efficient and affordable movement of people and goods, but also the notion of a longer-term Whole of State Aviation strategy.” Mozambique is a signatory to the Yamoussoukro Decision and one of the early nation-adopters on the Continent.

“The approach to commercial cooperation is the first of its kind on the African continent,” says Fastjet Chief Executive Nico Bezuidenhout. “There is significant opportunity in stimulating not only commercial aviation but also up and downstream economic growth through key cooperative initiatives. Fastjet is committed to exploring and leveraging the agreement to the best-benefit of both companies and, ultimately the people of Mozambique.” The African Development Bank recently reported on a high medium-term growth forecast for Mozambique. “This memorandum of understanding lays the foundation for full economic leverage of a very bright future and fulfilment of the Government of Mozambique’s Whole of State aviation objectives.”

Fastjet CEO Nico Bezuidenhout and LAM CEO Antonio Pinto seal the Memorandum of Understanding deal.

The CEOs of fastjet and LAM airline finalise the paperwork for the Memorandum of Understanding agreement.

Top Copyright Photo: LAM-Linhas Aereas de Mocambique Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW C9-EMA (msn 19000301) JNB (Michael Stappen). Image: 906763.

LAM aircraft slide show:

Fastjet aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Fastjet.com Airbus A319-112 5H-FJG (msn 2891) EGBP (Antony J. Best). Image: 936095.

Air Canada to accelerate the phase out of the Embraer 190s

Air Canada (Montreal) outlined in its 4Q and 2017 earnings call its revised fleet plans. The AC executives stated the company have already received two Boeing 787 Dreamliners and two Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s since the beginning of the year. The company expects to take delivery of three additional 787s and 14 737-8s in the first half of 2018.

In 2019 Air Canada plans to retire five Boeing 767-300s. The 767s should be gone by late 2019 from the mainline fleet.

The company has also decided to accelerate the retirement of the Embraer 190 fleet. The 25 Embraer 190s will now be retired before the new Bombardier CS300s are delivered in 2019. To do this, the company will retain the Airbus A319 fleet a bit longer until the Bombardier CS300s are fully delivered.

Air Canada will receive the first Bombardier CS300 in 2019.

Additionally, Air Canada rouge is now operating 25 Boeing 767-300s.

Air Canada aircraft slide show (historic liveries):

Virgin Australia retires its last Embraer 190, takes delivery of the last Boeing 737-800

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) today (February 3) retired its last Embraer 190. VH-ZPH operated flight VA 1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane.

Newcastle Airport announced the last departure on social media:

In other news, this week, Virgin Australia welcomed its newest Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation (NG) aircraft to the fleet, named “Dreamtime Beach”. This delivery completes the Boeing 737 fleet of more than 80 aircraft.

Below Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. The last Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-YWE (msn 41015, ln 6775) taxies at a soggy Boeing Field.

Photo Above: Virgin Australia.

Top Copyright Photo: Virgin Australia Airlines Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW VH-ZPR (msn 19000424) PER (Micheil Keegan). Image: 908555.

Virgin Australia aircraft slide show:

JetBlue announces fourth quarter 2017 financial results

JetBlue Airways Corporation on January 25, 2018 reported its results for the fourth quarter 2017:

Operating income of $189 million, a decrease of 36.0% from the fourth quarter of 2016, principally due to higher fuel prices.
Pre-tax income of $170 million, a decrease of 38.0% from the fourth quarter of 2016.
Fourth quarter net income of $672 million, or $2.08 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.32, which excludes a benefit of $1.76 associated with the revaluation of our deferred tax liabilities to reflect the impact of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This compares to JetBlue’s fourth quarter 2016 net income of$172 million, or $0.50 per diluted share.

Financial Performance

JetBlue reported fourth quarter operating revenues of $1.8 billion. Revenue passenger miles for the fourth quarter increased 3.1% to 11.5 billion on a capacity increase of 5.1%, resulting in a fourth quarter load factor of 83.1%, a 1.6 point decrease year over year.

Yield per passenger mile in the fourth quarter was 13.57 cents, up 2.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) for the fourth quarter of 2017 increased 0.8% year over year to 11.28 cents and operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 1.8% year over year to 12.66 cents.

Compared with last year, operating expenses for the quarter increased 16.5%, or $222 million. Interest expense for the quarter declined 12.4%, or $4 million, as JetBlue continued to reduce its debt. JetBlue’s operating expense per available seat mile (CASM) for the fourth quarter increased 10.8% year over year to 11.29 cents. CASM Ex-Fuel¹ for the fourth quarter increased 8.1% to 8.63 cents.

“I’d like to thank our 21,000 Crewmembers, who rose to each and every challenge during 2017. Our fourth quarter results were driven by solid demand across our network, our successful ancillary platform and recovery in the Caribbean that exceeded our expectations, following a historic hurricane season. We continue to make progress to achieve our margin commitments and to compete successfully as a low-cost carrier,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s President and CEO.

Fuel Expense and Hedging

In the fourth quarter of 2017 JetBlue had hedges in place for approximately 10% of its fuel consumption. The realized fuel price in the quarter was $1.89 per gallon, a 21.6% increase versus fourth quarter 2016 realized fuel price of $1.56.

JetBlue does not presently have any forward fuel derivative contracts to hedge its fuel consumption. Based on the fuel curve as of January 12^th, JetBlue expects an average price per gallon of fuel of $2.16 in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of approximately 28% over the realized fuel price in the first quarter of 2017.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

JetBlue ended the quarter with approximately $693 million in unrestricted cash and short term investments, or about 10% of trailing twelve month revenue. In addition, JetBlue maintains approximately $625 million in undrawn lines of credit.

During the fourth quarter, JetBlue repaid $57 million in regularly scheduled debt and capital lease obligations. JetBlue anticipates paying approximately $59 million in regularly scheduled debt and capital lease obligations in the first quarter and approximately $202 million for the full year 2018.

“In the fourth quarter and 2017 we took actions to navigate a complex external environment, while striving to protect and enhance our margins. These actions included capacity adjustments and redeployments following a challenging summer and to mitigate the impact of hurricanes. We continue to demonstrate our ability to make progress in our commitments to all our stakeholders and to lay the foundation that will ultimately achieve superior margins,” said Steve Priest, JetBlue’s EVP Chief Financial Officer.

First Quarter and Full Year 2018 Outlook

Capacity is expected to increase between 3.5% and 5.5% year over year in the first quarter 2018. For the full year 2018, JetBlue expects capacity to increase between 6.5% and 8.5%.

RASM growth is expected to range between 2.5% and 5.5% for the first quarter 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

CASM Ex-Fuel is expected to grow between 2.0% and 4.0% for the first quarter of 2018. For the full year 2018, JetBlue expects year over year CASM Ex-Fuel to be between (1.0)% and 1.0%.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N304JB (msn 19000257) (Blueprint) FLL (Tony Storck). Image: 940756.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue expands in Worcester with daily New York-JFK nonstop flights

JetBlue Airways has announced it is further expanding its presence in New England by launching daily nonstop service between Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) beginning May 3, 2018.

JetBlue is the only commercial airline to serve Worcester. The airline’s New York service builds on existing nonstop flights between Worcester and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), which launched in November 2013.

Schedule Between Worcester (ORH) and New York-JFK (JFK)
Beginning May 3, 2018


ORH-JFK Flight #671			JFK-ORH Flight #676
6:04 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.			10:45 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.

JetBlue will serve the route with its Embraer 190 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N329JB (msn 19000433) (Barcode) FLL (Brian McDonough). Image: 908032.

JetBlue introduces its first Embraer 190 special livery – “Blueprint”

jetblue-erj-190-100-n304jb-17-blueprintgrd-jfk-jetbluelrw

JetBlue Airways (New York) on February 20, 2017 announced two eye-catching additions to the airline’s fleet with the very first special livery for an Embraer 190 (above) and a new tailfin design that will appear on multiple aircraft this year (below). The airline is introducing the new paint schemes as it celebrates its 17th anniversary this month.

jetblue-blueprint-design-elements-jetbluehr

‘Blueprint’ Is Born

JetBlue has a long tradition of adding unique, special liveries to its Airbus A320 fleet and that tradition is expanding to the airline’s Embraer 190 fleet.

Often referred to as the backbone of the operation in cities like Boston; Washington, D.C.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, JetBlue’s design team created a paint scheme that showcased the so-called “bones” of the 100-seat aircraft. Drawing upon the styles of various aviation, nautical and space exploration vehicle cut-away diagrams, the JetBlue design team created a mechanical x-ray of sorts infused with some JetBlue fun.

The see-through paint job draws on both the technical and fanciful aspects of air travel. Mechanical features like the nose gear, jet engine and yoke were among the more obvious design elements to include. But for the onboard features, JetBlue designers drew upon their own travel experiences, crewmember tales, and the airline’s loyal customers for inspiration, even creating fictional characters to compile a list of the items they might be traveling with. Plane spotters are encouraged to give the overhead bins, under-seat storage areas, and the luggage holds a closer look to see if they can spot the nearly 50 items these “Blueprint” customers are traveling with.

Although “Blueprint” features just three signature JetBlue colors, it is one of the airline’s most intricate special livery designs and took nearly two weeks to paint at a facility in Quebec. The first-ever JetBlue E190 special livery debuted at Boston’s Logan International Airport and will operate on routes served by the E190 throughout the JetBlue network.

‘Highrise’ Reaches for the Skies

JetBlue has come a long way since launching its first two routes, now flying to 100 destinations across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. And even as the airline looks toward more growth in the years ahead there’s still no place like home. That’s why New York’s Hometown Airline® is honoring the city that never sleeps with a tailfin take on the buildings that form the iconic skyline.

The design, which depicts the image of bright lights through window panes of city high-rises (above), is meant to reflect JetBlue’s growth and New York’s perpetual desire to reach for the sky. Four of JetBlue’s signature colors are reflected in “Highrise” and the illuminated windows can be rearranged creating a slightly different pattern on different aircraft tailfins.

The “Highrise” pattern debuted at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and will be added to additional aircraft this year across the JetBlue network, so customers can be on the lookout for the newest tailfin design in a city near them.

Top Photo: JetBlue Airways. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N304JB (msn 19000257) pushes back from the gate.

American Airlines to early retire its Embraer 190 fleet

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Airlines/i-Lw3gZDF/A

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) management has decided to early retire its fleet of 20 Embraer 190s at the end of 2019. The E190s are operated mainly on Shuttle routes from its Philadelphia base. The company concluded the fleet was too small to economically maintain.

American has also decided to begin retiring its aging fleet of nine Airbus A330-300s in 2017. The A330-300 fleet should be retired by the end of 2018.

American is also reducing its Boeing 767-300 ER fleet to 17 aircraft by the end of 2018.