Tag Archives: Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100

Greenland Express to now start operations on June 17

Greenland Express has now set the date of June 17 as its launch date, delayed from June 2. Denim Air will wet lease and operate its Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PH-MJP (msn 11505) for the new airline in its colors. The company issued this statement:

Due to events beyond our control, Greenland Express Air is forced to postpone the start up of our new routes between Greenland, Denmark and Iceland for 15 days. Thus, the initial flight is now moved from June 2, 2014 to June 17, 2014.

Greenland Express Air uses the Dutch aircraft supplier Denim Air ACMI as operator of the Fokker 100 aircraft which is being used for the routes, and Denim Air ACMI is still awaiting the Dutch aviation authorities’ approval of the aircraft register on the company’s AOC (Airline Operators Certificate). Denim Air ACMI has informed Greenland Express Air that this approval is expected within the next few days. Hereafter, registering of the aircraft on the AOC is subject to approval from the Danish aviation authorities.

The Fokker 100 aircraft arrived as scheduled to its new base in Aalborg Airport on June 2, in Greenland Express Air livery. The aircraft has been declared ready for operations.

Greenland Express Air also has a spare aircraft available under our agreement with Denim Air ACMI. The spare aircraft is being painted into its new livery during this week. The spare aircraft is already registered on Denim Air ACMI’s AOC, and it is expected ready for flight operations no later than the new date for initial flight operations. The spare aircraft will be based in Holland and can enter into service with a few hours’ notice, should it become necessary.

Passengers who are already booked on Greenland Express Air flights affected by the above stated cancellations have been contacted directly and have been either re-booked with other carriers, re-booked at later departure dates or have received a refund of their ticket, depending on the wishes of each passenger.

Greenland Express plans to operate on the following routes:

Aalborg – Kangerlussuaq
Aalborg – Keflavik
Aalborg – Narsarsuaq
Aalborg – Copenhagen
Keflavik – Narsarsuaq
Keflavik – Aalborg
Keflavik – Kangerlussuaq
Copenhagen – Narsarsuaq
Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq
Copenhagen – Aalborg
Keflavik – Copenhagen
Copenhagen – Keflavik
Narsarssuaq – Aalborg*
Narsarssuaq – Keflavik*
Narsarssuaq – Copenhagen*

*Routing from fra Narsarssuaq is via Kangerlussuaq.

No labor peace at Austrian Airlines-Tyrolean Airways and also no contract and no merger due to tense labor negotiations

Austrian Airlines (Vienna) and Tyrolean Airways (Innsbruck and Vienna) have met with stiff resistance and a possible strike from its unions on its recent proposals for a new contract and hopefully some labor peace. As a result, Tyrolean Airways has now withdrawn its offer for a new contract as previously reported. In addition, Tyrolean Airways will not be merged into Austrian Airlines. Lower cost Tyrolean Airways currently operates all aircraft (except one Boeing 777-200) for Austrian Airlines under the Austrian brand. The company has also decided not to pursue a replacement program for the Fokker jet aircraft due to this uncertain labor environment. The group issued this statement:

• Threat of industrial action or even a strike met with incomprehension
• Works Council considers the old collective wage agreement to be the basis for negotiations
• “Old collective wage agreement would lead into an economic dead end”

After ten months of negotiations the management of Tyrolean Airways has withdrawn its offer for a new Group collective wage agreement. Last Monday the Works Council responded to the presented offer by holding a general staff meeting and threatening industrial actions or even a strike – a total of 34 flights had to be cancelled, and almost 3,000 passengers were affected by the disruption of normal flight operations.

Moreover, at the first round of negotiations following the announcement of the offer, Karl Minhard, Chairman of the Works Council for the flight and cabin crew, declared that from his point of view the basis for negotiations is still the original collective wage agreement applying to the former flight staff of Austrian Airlines. In January, both parties had still defined the goal of reaching an agreement by May 31, 2014.

“We would not manage to achieve this under the prevailing circumstances, neither with respect to the timing or the contents”, says Klaus Froese, Managing Director of Tyrolean Airways. “The past cannot be the answer to an economically challenging future. The old collective wage agreement would lead us straight into an economic dead end”, he adds. As a reminder: for six consecutive years Austrian Airlines operated in the red. As of 2013 the company was again in the black, as a result of strict cost management and after the termination of the old collective wage agreement.

After consulting with the Executive Board of Austrian Airlines, the management of Tyrolean Airways decided to take the proposed solution off the agenda. “We have to remain punctual and reliable, especially when people are planning their summer vacations. Flight disruptions and cancellations are not acceptable for our customers”, Froese adds.

Thereby, for the time being, also the offer of merging Tyrolean Airways and Austrian Airlines is no longer under discussion. The management of Austrian Airlines does not believe it is an opportune time to make the potential investments of up to EUR 1 billion to replace the Fokker aircraft and expand long haul routes. This is because the former collective wage agreement does not provide a sound basis for such investments.

“We will now deliberate which options we have. Naturally my door remains open for serious negotiations about an economically viable Austrian Airlines”, Froese emphasizes.

The management remains confident with respect to the lawsuits filed by the trade union and the Works Council. The transfer of flight operations to Tyrolean was economically essential and also legally permissible.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. The Fokker 70s and 100s operated by Tyrolean Airways are not likely to replaced any time soon with this uncertainty. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) OE-LVC (msn 11446) arrives in Amsterdam.

Austrian Airlines:

Dutch Antilles Express is barred from flying to Venezuela, will sue INAC

DAE-Dutch Antilles Express (Curacao) has been barred from flying to Venezuela due to safety concerns cited by the INAC. Venezuela is its main market. DAE will take legal action against INAC and will continue operations to other destinations including Miami and Orlando. The airline will also ask the government of Curacao to take similar actions against Venezuelan carriers according to this report by El Universal.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In other news, DAE is considering upgrading its McDonnell DC-9-83 (MD-83) fleet (operated by Falcon Air) with newer Airbus A319s or A320s. Falcon Air would acquire and operate the new aircraft for DAE.

Top Copyright Photo: Greg Drawbaugh/DRAW Decal. The Fokker 100s will also have to be replaced at some point. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PJ-DAA (msn 11310) prepares to depart from St. Maarten. All other images below by DAE.

DAE-Dutch Antilles Express:

Skywest Airlines of Australia becomes Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

Skywest Airlines (Australia) (Perth) today (May 7) became Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

The company issued this statement:

Virgin Australia today (May 7) unveiled its new regional airline operation with Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti in Perth.

Following the acquisition of Skywest Airlines last month, today marked the launch of the newly branded airline. The first two aircraft to be rebranded as ‘Virgin Australia’ were officially unveiled (Fokker 100 VH-FSQ and Fokker 50 VH-FNA), representing the airline’s commitment to continued investment and new growth opportunities for regional and charter travel in Australia.

The entity known as Virgin Australia Regional Airlines will be based in Perth, Western Australia and the operation will now have 32 aircraft operating over 800 services per week to 41 different destinations.

The old Skywest Airlines route map (above).

Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti described it as a momentous day for the airline, tourism and the travel industry.

“This country has one of the most geographically dispersed populations in the world and reliable, affordable air services are vital to the growth of regional Australia.

“In 2010, we articulated a strategy to become the airline of choice for all travellers in Australia. Since then, we have changed the competitive landscape in many ways and today marks our next major leap forward.

“By integrating Skywest Airlines into the Virgin Australia Group, we unlock new opportunities to grow our services to regional Australia and significantly increase our charter presence in the high growth fly-in-fly-out markets.

“Western Australia is one of the fastest growing aviation markets and a very important part of our strategy. We have made significant investment over the past two years with the introduction of our internationally configured Airbus A330 aircraft on services between the East and West Coast, increased frequencies to the resource-rich Pilbara region and established a large crew base in Perth.

“By building a Perth-based operation and workforce, we will continue to invest in local resources, expertise and infrastructure”, Mr Borghetti said.

Sir Richard Branson said: “It is fantastic what John and the team have done over the last couple of years, completely repositioning the airline with the introduction of the Virgin Australia brand and its brilliant product and service. Now I am thrilled to see him focusing on other market segments including regional and charter services where I know they will deliver.

“This is the start of the next ground-breaking chapter for the Virgin Australia Group and an exciting time for the airline”, Sir Richard said.

Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan. All other images and photos from Skywest. The Skywest Airlines brand is now being retired. All of the aircraft are gradually being repainted into the Virgin Australia brand.

The faces of Skywest Airlines.

Video: Skywest Airlines of Australia fades into the sunset:

Skywest Airlines:

Virgin Australia:

New combined Virgin Australia domestic route map:

Air Bagan Fokker 100 crash lands on a road, 2 killed and 8 injured

Air Bagan‘s (Yangon) flight W9 011 from Mandalay to Heho, Myanmar (formerly Burma) was being operated yesterday (December 25) with the pictured Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) XY-AGC (msn 11420). The jetliner was operating with 65 passengers and six crew members. According to local reports, the flight was on approach to Heho in fog, when the Fokker 100 made an emergency landing on a road near the airport and came to a stop in a rice field in pieces and caught on fire.

One passenger and one motorcyclist was killed in the accident and eight were injured.

The airline issued the following statement:

Air Bagan Accident

Read the full account from The Independent: CLICK HERE

According to the airline, “Heho is the gateway to beautiful Inle Lake with its unique lifestyle, and the ancient pagoda complexes of Kekku, Indain and Taungto. There is also the Shwe Umin Cave Pagoda of Pindaya, a lovely little town with a lake in its centre ad a flourishing craft industry of hand made paper and paper umbrellas

Gateway to the Inle Lake which is known as the Venice of the East, picturesque Inle Lake is definitely one of the magical sights in South East Asia. The lake is not only a beautiful sight to enjoy, but also the practical home of the native Intha (sons of the lake), who live on the lake in stilt houses with neatly cultivated floating farms and nurseries. The presence of many ethnic groups in the area, still wearing their national dress, especially on market day makes it a captivating place of much cultural interest.”

Copyright Photo: K.C. Sim. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) XY-AGC (msn 11327) is pictured departing from Singapore before the accident.

Domestic Route Map:

Please click on the map to expand.

Air Bagan:

OLT Express Germany to become a low-cost carrier

OLT Express (Germany) (Bremen) is transforming itself from a regional feeder airline into a new point-to-point low-cost carrier according to Airline Route.

Starting on October 15, 2012, the redesigned airline will open new bases at Dresden, Muenster and Saarbruecken. In addition, the airline will open 14 new routes including new service to Budapest, Southend (near London), Milan (Malpensa), Paris (CDG) and Vienna.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. All of the new routes will be operated with Fokker 100s. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) D-AOLH (msn 11265) taxies at Zurich in the attractive 2011 livery.

OLT Express (Germany):

OLT Express Germany is sold by Amber Gold to Panta Holdings

OLT Express (Germany) (Bremen) has been sold by Amber Gold to Dutch financial investor Panta Holdings BV.

Under the leadership of Panta Holdings, OLT Express (Germany) will continue its expansion plans by integrating Contact Air (Stuttgart) in early September.

Panta Holdings has been active in the aviation industry with Dutch company Denim Airways and leasing company Mass lease. In addition, Panta is involved in the Canadian supplier Avcorp Industries. Panta Holdings also owned VLM Airlines in the past before it was sold to the Air France-KLM Group.

After Amber Gold announced it was getting out of the aviation industry after the recent failure of OLT Express (Poland) there was a period of uncertainty for the employees of the OLT Express (Germany) and Contact Air. Now they have a more secure future.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl. The Fokker 100 will now be the main aircraft for the new OLT Express. Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 D-AOLG approaches for landing in the bright 2011 livery at Zurich. Unfortunately this color scheme is now also associated with the failure of OLT Express (Poland) which made headlines when it stranded passengers. A new branding effort by the new owners could become a new reality.

OLT Express (Germany):

Contact Air:

OLT Express Germany takes over Contact Air

OLT Express Germany (Bremen) took over the operations of Contact Air Service GmbH & Co. KG (Stuttgart) on July 4. Both companies will continue to operate under the OLT Express brand. Anti-trust clearance of the acquisition is expected to be completed in early September 2012.

With the acquisition, OLT Express Germany now employs about 500 additional employees. Of these, there are approximately 200 employees in Bremen, about 200 in Stuttgart and about 100 in Saarbruecken.

Top Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl.

OLT Express (Germany):

Contact Air:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner.

DAE launches a new Curacao-Panama City route

DAE (Dutch Antilles Express) Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PJ-DAA (msn 11310) SXM (Greg Drawbaugh) , originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

DAE (Dutch Antilles Express) (Curacao) on October 16 launched a new twice-weekly route from Curacao to Panama City.

Sol del Paraguay’s first aircraft is painted

Sol del Paraguay (Asuncion) is a new airline in Paraguay. The carrier is getting ready to take delivery of its first aircraft, this ex-Mexicana Click Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 XA-TCP (msn 11341). A second Fokker will be added in order to start regional operations in 2011.