Tag Archives: Hamburg

Qatar Airways and Airbus resolve their dispute concerning the delivery of the first A380

Qatar Airways (Doha) and Airbus (Toulouse) have resolved a three-month dispute that was blocking the delivery of the first Airbus A380 according to this report by Reuters. As we had reported, Qatar had previously declined to take delivery of the pictured Airbus A380-861 A7-APA due to concerns about the quality of the cabin interior. Qatar has 10 A380s on order.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Qatar Airways has been delaying the inaugural flight from Doha to London (Heathrow). According to Airline Route the latest inaugural date is October 10 for this route. Doha-Paris (CDG) remains on target for October 16 so the airline is bound to take two aircraft at first on delivery.

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-861 A7-APA (msn 137) awaits the official handover date.

Above Copyright Photo: Qatar Airways. The First Class section of the Airbus A380.

Qatar Airways Aircraft Slide Show:

Video: Qatar Airways unveiled its Airbus A380 product in March 2014:

Yeti Air International to relaunch as Himalaya Airlines on October 28

Yeti Air International (Kathamandu), a subsidiary of the Yeti Airlines Group, has been reformed as a new joint venture between Tibet Airlines (Lhasa, Tibet) (49 percent) and Yeti World Investment and HIF Aviation Investment according to The Economic Times. This time the airline will operate as Himalaya Airlines.

Himalaya Airlines will launch operations on October 28 on the Kathamndu-Lhasa route with leased Airbus A320 Family aircraft.

The airline will literally fly “on top of the world”.

Tibet Airlines started operations on July 26, 2011 and is 31 percent owned by Air China.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Tibet Airlines will likely be the operator of the aircraft for the new joint venture. Airbus A319-115 D-AVYH (man 4766) became B-6436 on delivery.

Tibet Airlines:

Asiana to add the Airbus A380 on the Seoul-Los Angeles route now on August 20

Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon) has moved forward the start of Airbus A380 service on the route to Los Angeles to August 20, instead of August 26 per Airline Route.

Asiana Airlines:

EasyJet to add 19 new routes

EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton) is adding 19 new routes, due to start flying this autumn, across the EasyJet network including nine new UK services. These new routes will provide over 390,000 additional seats across the EasyJet network, with over 144,000 of these being to and from the UK.

With the overwhelming popularity of easyJet’s current flights to Reykjavik, Iceland, the airline has launched two further routes to the capital. Over 30,000 passengers are expected to use Ireland’s only direct scheduled flights from Belfast International airport alone which join easyJet’s current UK connections from Bristol, London Luton, Edinburgh and Manchester airports. Reykjavik also becomes destination number 107 from London Gatwick – easyJet’s largest base.

The brand new connection will launch from Belfast International on December 12, 2014 and will operate twice per week, throughout the year to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik (via Keflavik).

The route will be operated using a 156 seater Airbus A319 and easyJet expects to carry around 30,000 passengers to Reykjavik during the first 12 months.

There are three brand new EasyJet destinations from London Luton to Naples in Italy, Basel – Switzerland’s third largest city – and Munich, the capital of Germany’s Bavaria region.

EasyJet will also offer the only direct connections from Aberdeen to Geneva, as well as flights from Glasgow to Marrakech and Edinburgh to Funchal.

Edinburgh to Funchal, Portugal is a year round service which will fly twice per week from 3 February 3, 2015.

Aberdeen to Geneva, Switzerland is a winter service operating weekly from December 13.

Glasgow to Marrakech, Morocco is a year round service operating twice per week from October 29.

In total EasyJet is now offering 33 destinations with over 2.3 million seats to and from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports this winter – this is more than any other airline operating in Scotland.

EasyJet has already introduced four new routes to Scotland in 2014 including double daily connections between Inverness and London Gatwick and new links to Croatia and Greece from Glasgow.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 G-EZBG (msn 2946) in the special Hamburg livery arrives in Rome (Fiumicino).

EasyJet (UK):

Qatar Airways to start a new route to Tokyo Haneda tomorrow, Airbus A380 to be introduced now to London Heathrow on August 1

Qatar Airways (Doha) is set to continue its expansion into the Far East tomorrow (June 18) when it launches its newest destination, Tokyo Haneda International Airport. The addition of its newest destination will double the airline’s service to the city of Tokyo with up to two flights a day. The route, which will be operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will be Qatar Airways’ third into Japan, joining Osaka and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.

With the commencement of flights to Tokyo Haneda, the number of flights to Japan rises from 14 to 21 frequencies each week.

In other news, Qatar Airways is now planning to introduce the new Airbus A380 on August 1 to London (Heathrow) and Paris (CDG) on August 15 according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-861 F-WWST (msn 137) has now become A7-APA for its handover.

Qatar Airways:

Asiana Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A380 becoming the 11th operator

Asiana Airlines (Seoul) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380, becoming the eleventh operator of the type in the world. The A380 was handed over to Park Sam Koo, Chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO, during a special ceremony today (May 26) in Toulouse, France.

Asiana Airlines has ordered six A380s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. The airline has specified a premium three class layout for its fleet, seating a total of 495 passengers, with 12 private suites in First Suite, 66 fully flat seats in Business Smartium and 417 seats in Travel Class. All seats are equipped with the latest on-demand in-flight entertainment systems.

Asiana Airlines will initially deploy its new flagship aircraft from Seoul on regional services in Asia to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok, followed by long-haul routes to Los Angeles.

As part of its widebody fleet modernization strategy, Asiana Airlines also has 30 of the all-new the A350 XWB on order. The A350 XWB will offer a step change in efficiency, with operating costs 25 per cent lower than the competition. The A380 and A350 will complement an existing Airbus fleet at Asiana that currently includes the A330 and A320 Family.

Airbus currently has 324 firm orders for the A380, from 20 customers.

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A380-841 F-WWAP (msn 152) became HL7625 on the handover.

Asiana Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Airbus. Park Sam Koo, Chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, and Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier toured the number 1 Asiana Airlines A380 after this aircraft’s formal handover ceremony on May 26, held at Airbus’ Toulouse, France delivery center.

Video: Painting of the first A380:

Flybe to add 2 new routes from Birmingham to Hamburg and Oslo

Flybe (Exeter) has announced it will operate two new routes from Birmingham Airport this winter namely a daily service to Hamburg and Oslo from October 26, 2014 through to March 27, 2015 with Embraer 175s.

Already Birmingham Airport’s largest carrier, the airline has also announced (May 20, 2014) that, due to early successes, it will extend to year-round on six of the new routes it is operating this summer. Flybe will continue to operate up to 28 weekly flights to Cologne, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Florence and Oporto with frequency aimed to provide convenience for business travellers and those passengers wanting a short break on the continent. Due to the popularity of its summer twilight flights to Reykjavik, it’s also moving this three times a week service to daytime flying, also with effect from October 26.

The move is estimated to result in Flybe carrying an additional 100,000 passengers a year at Birmingham Airport. Altogether, it’s another exciting week for Flybe in Birmingham as its last four remaining inaugural flights for summer take off to Newquay, Bordeaux, Palma and Toulouse.

In total, Flybe will operate up to 350 flights a week from Birmingham on 26 routes as part of its 2014-15 winter schedule.

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100STD (ERJ 175) G-FBJA (msn 17000326) arrives in Manchester.

Flybe:

Routes from Birmingham:

Pegasus Airlines adds new routes to Geneva, Hamburg and Prague

Pegasus Airlines (Istanbul) continues to rapidly expand its network with the addition of three new European destinations, Geneva, Hamburg and Prague, making a total of 83 destinations in 34 countries.

Pegasus flights to Prague will launch on June 19. Flights will run three times a week departing Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 12:50 and Prague Vaclav Havel Airport at 15:05 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Pegasus flights to Geneva launch on June 21. GVA is Pegasus’ third destination in Switzerland, after Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg and Zurich. Flights will run four times a week departing Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 12:25 and Hamburg Airport at 08:20 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Pegasus flights to Hamburg launch on July 1. HAM is Pegasus’ 8th destination in Germany, after Stuttgart, Munich, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Berlin, Nuremberg and Frankfurt. Flights will run four times a week departing Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 11:40 and Geneva Airport at 14:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

With the addition of these new European destinations, Pegasus Airlines now flies a scheduled service across Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the Caucasus to include 83 destinations in 34 countries.

Previously Pegasus Airlines announced as of June 12, 2014 the company will operate flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen to the Kingdom of Bahrain, located in the Persian Gulf. Pegasus flights to Bahrain, literally translating as ‘The Two Seas’, will run three days a week leaving London Stansted at 12.55 and connecting from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Bahrain International Airport at 22.15 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to arrive at 02:05. The returning flight from Bahrain to London will leave at 03.05 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arrive at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen at 07.20 and connecting to London Stansted at 10.20, arriving at 12.15.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-82R TC-CPF (msn 40879) arrives at Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg (EuroAirport).

Pegasus Airlines:

Qatar Airways to debut its first Airbus A380 on the Doha-London Heathrow route on June 17, offers more glimpses of the interiors

Qatar Airways (Doha) has revealed an additional glimpse of its first Airbus A380-800 (above) with its First and Business Class lounge and bathroom interiors.

The onboard lounge of Qatar Airways’ A380 has been designed to ensure that every feature is the finest and most comfortable in the sky. Designed with passengers foremost in mind, the lounge offers them an ideal place to engage with a friend, sit and relax, or just move around.

The lounge also offers passengers an escape from the typical airplane environment and has been developed to make them feel like they are in their own executive club. The spaciousness of the lounge combined with the most advanced mood lighting system available helps make passengers feel refreshed when they return to their cabin for rest or work.

The First Class bathrooms have also been customised to create a spa-like warmth with contemporary clean lines and a finish that comes with the most luxurious amenities. The lavatories include features such as modern taps which are sensor operated and large square modern sinks which help to maximize space.

The airline is due to receive its first A380 (top) very soon, the first of 13 such aircraft on order and it will be deployed on one of its busiest routes, Doha – London Heathrow on June 17.

Qatar Airways is celebrating a year of exceptional fleet growth as it is also set to welcome the first of 80 Airbus A350s on order later this year, being the global launch customer of the world’s newest aircraft. Meanwhile the airline is also currently making enhancements to its select A320 and A330 fleet by upgrading its Business Class seating so that they recline into 180-degree fully lie-flat beds.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 134 aircraft to 138 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Over the next few months, the network will grow further with Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia (May 15), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Turkey (May 22, 2014), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, USA (June 10, 2014), Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014), Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1, 2014) and Djibouti (July 27, 2014).

In other news, Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight landed at Larnaca International Airport today (April 29), marking the five-star airline’s 138th destination from Doha.
The inaugural flight signals the start of a four-time weekly service to Larnaca that will be operated by an Airbus A320, with 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy.

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Qatar Airways). Airbus A380-861 A7-APA (msn 137) at Hamburg (Finkenwerder) will be the first Airbus A380 to be delivered to Qatar.

Qatar Airways:

Newcomer Qingdao Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A320

Qingdao Airlines (Qingdao, Shandong Province), a Chinese start-up airline, has taken delivery of the company’s first ever aircraft, an Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets, on lease from Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC). The airline will become a new operator and make its first commercial flight from its home base of Qingdao in Eastern China to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province in Southwestern China, later in April.

The A320, powered by CFM56 engines, features a comfort two-class cabin with eight business and 144 economy class seats.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and standard on all members of the new A320neo family. They offer operators up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Qingdao Airlines placed an order for 23 A320 Family aircraft in 2013 (see photo below).

Top Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured A320-214 D-AXAJ at Hamburg (Finkenwerder) became B-9955 (msn 6061) on the hand over yesterday (April 10).

Qingdao Airlines: