Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is expanding operations at Atlanta while it downsizes its Denver hub. On March 6 the ultra low fare airline will add new routes to Austin, Indianapolis and Miami.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N219FR (msn 1860) with Jack, the hare, taxies to runway 10L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:
WestJet (Calgary) today announced its fourth quarter and year-end results for 2014, with record adjusted full-year net earnings1 of $317.2 million, or $2.46 per diluted share (all figures in Canadian dollars). This compares with the net earnings of $268.7 million, or $2.03 per diluted share reported in the full-year 2013, up 18 percent and 21 percent, respectively. For the fourth quarter, the airline reported record diluted earnings per share of $0.70, up 35 per cent from $0.52 reported last year. These fourth quarter 2014 results include pre-tax incentive payments of $9.8 million associated with WestJet’s new pilot agreement reached in December 2014 and a pre-tax non-cash loss of $2.5 million related to the previously disclosed sale of 10 of our oldest Boeing 737 aircraft.
This represents WestJet’s 39th consecutive quarter of profitability and based on the trailing twelve months, the airline achieved a return on invested capital of 14.3 per cent, compared with the 13.8 per cent reported in the previous quarter, representing the 10th consecutive quarter in which WestJet exceeded its 12 per cent target.
Notes:
(1) Full-year 2014 adjusted net earnings exclude an after-tax non-cash loss of $33.2 million recorded in the third quarter of 2014 associated with the previously disclosed sale of 10 of WestJet’s oldest Boeing 737 aircraft. Refer to reconciliations in the accompanying tables for further
information regarding calculations.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. WestJet is gradually removing its older Boeing 737-700s. Boeing 737-7CT C-FWSV (msn 32760) arrives at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
WestJet aircraft slide show:
Southwest Airlines (Dallas) has turned to the McMurdo Group for its Kannad Survival Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) for its Boeing 737s. The McMurdo Group issued this statement:
McMurdo Group, a global leader in end-to-end search and rescue and maritime domain awareness solutions, today announced that its Kannad Survival Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) (below) are being integrated throughout Southwest Airlines’ (Dallas) fleet of 636 Boeing 737 aircraft.
ELTs, which are a key component of passenger and crew safety in the event of an emergency, enable first responders to locate the aircraft as soon as possible and potentially save more lives. Survival ELTs are removable from the aircraft and are stowed to facilitate usage by crew members in emergency situations. The ELTs were provided by McMurdo’s aviation partner, Aviall Services, Inc.
McMurdo’s Kannad ELTs are already used by some of the world’s largest aircraft and airline brands including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Pilatus, British Airways, United Airlines and China Airlines. The high-performance distress beacons provide the most innovative technology available including pin-point positioning and location data for optimal rescue response time.
In a typical search and rescue scenario an emergency signal from an ELT or distress beacon is relayed via satellite to Mission Control Centers and Rescue Coordination Centers for eventual rescue team deployment. This search and rescue ecosystem (known as COSPAS-SARSAT) has helped to save over 37,000 lives since 1982. McMurdo is the industry’s only provider of this end-to-end search and rescue solution from aviation/maritime/military/personal distress beacons to satellite ground station communications to rescue response solutions.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGalllery.com. Boeing 737-76N N7706A (msn 32661) approaches the runway for landing at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver), under its new ownership group, is slashing 1,160 Denver jobs according to the Denver Post. The company informed its Denver employees yesterday it is outsourcing all ramp, baggage, gate and ticket counter positions at Denver International Airport according to the report. Contractor Swissport will take over the positions in March. Denver was the last Frontier station that serviced its flights with its own in-house employees.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
In other news, Frontier Airlines discontinued service from Trenton (Mercer County) to Nashville, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Cleveland on January 6 due to low demand.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N213FR (msn 4704) completes its final approach to the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Frontier Airlines (2nd) aircraft slide show:
Allegiant Air‘s (Las Vegas) pilots will conduct informational picketing today (January 13) to bring “awareness to their efforts to secure a new contract.”
McCarran International Airport
5757 Wayne Newton Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time
Allegiant Air Corporate Headquarters
1201 N. Town Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89144
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
14700 Terminal Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33762
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
100 Terminal Dr.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Time: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
In other news, Allegiant announced the addition of low-cost, twice weekly nonstop jet service to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood from Indianapolis beginning on April 8, 2015, continuing Allegiant’s rapid expansion in Indianapolis.
Allegiant’s launch of service from Indianapolis next month will be the largest in the company’s history, when it will inaugurate nonstop service to five destinations: Las Vegas, Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Punta Gorda and seasonal service to New Orleans. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood is the carrier’s fourth Florida destination announced from Indianapolis
Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-204 N906NV (msn 27236) holds short of the runway at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS).
Allegiant Air aircraft slide show:
http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Allegiant-Air
Virgin America (San Francisco) today (December 18) begins new daily nonstop seasonal service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
The new daily route will operate until April 27, 2015.
In addition to the new seasonal daily service to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, the airline is adding a second weekly flight to its seasonal service between New York (JFK) and Palm Springs. This second frequency will operate until April 25, 2015.
Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Virgin America). Airbus A320-214 N630VA (msn 3101) departs from Los Angeles.
Video:
Virgin America aircraft slide show: 
Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras (Sao Paulo) operated its first international flight today (December 2), landing at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport at 5 am (0500). Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood is Azul’s first international route. The airline’s inaugural departure will leave for Sao Paulo (Campinas) at 7 pm (1900) this evening.
According to the airline, “Since its debut six years ago on December 15, 2008, Azul has flown more than 100 million customers, changing the face of competition in the Brazilian domestic aviation market. The airline’s 145-aircraft fleet currently operates one-third of Brazil’s daily departures with more than 850 flights, serving 105 destinations throughout Brazil. From its new $1.5 billion terminal at Sao Paulo-Campinas International Airport, located 60 minutes from the city, Azul conveniently connects to popular destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Salvador and Iguacu Falls.
Flights will depart Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) at 7 pm (1900), arriving the next day at Sao Paulo-Campinas (VCP) at 6:20 am (0620). Returning flights leave VCP at 11:27 pm (2327, arriving the following day at FLL at 5 am (0500).
In two weeks, on December 15, which is also the airline’s sixth anniversary, Azul will inaugurate daily service between Orlando International and Sao Paulo-Campinas.
In other news, Azul is planning an IPO according to Reuters. Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Rob Finlayson/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 PR-AIZ (msn 527) climbs away from Campinas International Airport.
Azul aircraft slide show:
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