Tag Archives: Houston

United to end Houston (Bush) – Dallas (Love) service

United Airlines (Chicago) is ending Houston (Bush Intercontinental) – Dallas (Love Field) United Express service on March 16. Currently ExpressJet Airlines operates seven daily flights on the route per Airline Route.

Previously Southwest Airlines had announced it was sub-leasing two gates from United Airlines at Love Field. Southwest will now operate from 18 gates at DAL and will start new flights to nine cities in April.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. ExpressJet Airlines Embraer ERJ 145XR (EMB-145XR) N17169 (msn 145844) arrives at Dulles International Airport near Washington.

United Express-ExpressJet aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/United-Express-ExpressJet

United Airlines adds 55 flights on 8 routes for the Super Bowl

United Airlines (Chicago) added more flights for football fans on top of regularly scheduled service to Phoenix from its hubs in Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco. The airline also added special new nonstop service, operating from January 29 to February 2, from Boston and Seattle/Tacoma to Phoenix for the Super Bowl. Several of the flights will be operated with Boeing 767 aircraft to accommodate the extra demand.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER N675UA (msn 29243) completes its final approach at Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):

WestJet is coming to Houston and Gander, adds Encore routes from Halifax

WestJet (Calgary) today announced two new destinations – Houston, Texas and Gander, Newfoundland – as part of the 2015 summer schedule release. The airline adds a total of nine new routes and increased frequency on 15 established routes.

In addition to nonstop flights to Houston, growth in Western Canada includes new daily non-stop flights from Calgary to Yellowknife and Terrace, BC, launching May 3, 2015. WestJet Encore service between Edmonton and Kamloops, BC, announced early last year, is set to begin on February 15, 2015.

In addition, WestJet has announced the largest increase in service from Halifax Stanfield International Airport since the airline first arrived in February 2003. This announcement, part of the 2015 summer schedule release, makes it official – WestJet Encore is now serving Canadians coast to coast.

The airline continues to bolster its presence in the Atlantic Provinces where the majority of route and frequency increases announced today take place. New nonstop daily service from Halifax to Gander and Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Sydney, Nova Scotia begins July 15, 2015, along with increased frequency between Halifax and Ottawa, Toronto and St. John’s, Newfoundland. Cities currently served from Halifax include Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ontario, and six U.S. and international destinations.

Haligonians will also help WestJet celebrate new service between their fair city and Glasgow, United Kingdom, beginning May 29, 2015. As the halfway point between Europe and the west coast of North America, Halifax is the perfect jumping-off point for a tour across the pond.

Details of new daily nonstop service between Halifax and Glasgow, United Kingdom:

Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. With this announcement, WestJet Encore will now operate from coast to coast. On the other end, WestJet Encore Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-FHEN (msn 4441) lands at Vancouver International Airport.

WestJet aircraft slide show:

WestJet Encore aircraft slide show:

Video: Flying jump seat on a WestJet Boeing 737-800:

United Airlines to start Houston-Sao Paulo Boeing 787 service

United Airlines (Chicago) is planning to introduce the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the Houston (Bush Intercontinental) – Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) route in April. The 787 will operate daily on the route starting on April 7 per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner N20904 (msn 34824) departs the runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/United-Airlines

United Airlines offers its premium international passengers new 2015 limited edition amenity kits, wants to fly to Cuba from Houston and Newark

United Airlines (Chicago) is offering international premium-cabin customers a unique enhancement to their in-flight experience – specially designed amenity kits available through late spring.

Above Photo: United Airlines. 2015 destination (city) amenity kits.

Limited-edition commemorative tins are currently available and showcase United’s global route network, the most comprehensive of any U.S. carrier. In early spring, United will introduce amenity kits featuring a PGA TOUR theme.

Above Photo: United Airlines. The 2015 Global First PGA amenity kit.

United Global First and United BusinessFirst customers on international flights departing the airline’s seven mainland U.S. hubs and Honolulu receive special-edition amenity tins, each showcasing the skyline of London, Frankfurt, Toyko, Beijing, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai or Honolulu.

Above Photo: United Airlines. BusinessFirst 2015 amenity kit.

The commemorative tins, available through the end of March or while supplies last, contain Philosophy-brand skin-care products and other items traditionally found in United’s amenity kits, including comfortable socks, an eye mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissue and ear plugs.

Above Photo: United Airlines. BusinessFirst 2015 amenity kit contents.

United previously offered limited-edition amenity tins in 2014, showcasing the carrier’s mainland U.S. hubs. The set of domestic-location tins proved so popular with customers that United is now introducing the new global-location set.

Above Photo: United Airlines. The 2014 ORD BusinessFirst amenity kit.

Global First and BusinessFirst customers on international flights arriving in the United States continue to receive the airline’s traditional amenity kits.

PGA TOUR Amenity Kits

Beginning in April, on international flights departing and arriving in the United States, United will offer amenity kits with a PGA TOUR theme. United is the official airline of the PGA TOUR.

The kits, which come in the form of shoe bags, will include traditional amenity kit items plus tees, United-branded Bridgestone Golf balls and a promotional offer for a future Bridgestone Golf purchase.

The United-PGA TOUR amenity kits will be available through the end of June or while supplies last.

Additionally, United and the PGA TOUR offer MileagePlus members discounts on starting times and golf club rentals at properties within the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network – a collection of more than 30 world-class golf destinations primarily throughout North America – and discounts on the TOURAcademy.

In other related news, United stated yesterday it wants to operate regular flights to Cuba from both Newark and Houston (Bush Intercontinental), subject to government approvals according to Reuters. United has operated charters to Cuba from South Florida in the past. United also holds the old Pan Am route authority to Cuba but this would probably be replaced with a prospective new bilateral agreement if the embargo is eliminated by Congress.

Regular flights (which ended in 1959) are likely years away. In the meantime, Cuban charters continue from a limited number of U.S. cities.

United Airlines aircraft slide show:

Transcarga to start regularly scheduled cargo flights to Miami and Houston

Transcarga International Airways – La Linea de Venezuela (2nd) (Caracas) is starting regularly scheduled cargo flights this month to Miami and Houston (Bush Intercontinental). Per their website, the company has been authorized to operate 20 flights a month to Miami from Venezuela and 10 flights a month to Houston. In February the cargo airline is expected to request more frequencies. The company has added three Airbus A300B4-203 (F) freighters (YV560T, msn 261, YV562T, msn 274 and YV563T, msn 220).

The current Transcarga International Airways, C.A. was formed on October 21, 1998 with 100% Venezuelan capital. Transcarga received its AOC in 2001 with cargo operations commencing in November 2001. In 2002 the airline obtained 402 authority from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate wet lease flights to and from the USA. The carrier has operated cargo charter flights to Miami in the past.

The original Transcarga – Transportes Aereos de Carga (1st) (ex LEBCA) (subsidiary of VIASA) operated from 1968 to 1979 with Douglas DC-7C and DC-8 freighters.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A300B4-203 (F) YV560T (msn 261) is pictured at Miami on a route proving flight.

Transcarga (2nd) aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-CSAmerica-2/Airlines-Latin-America2-GZ/Transcarga-International-2nd

Volaris to launch Guadalajara-Houston flights

Volaris (Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.) (Mexico City) will add the Guadalajara – Houston (Bush Intercontinental) route on March 23, 2015. The new route will be operated three days a week per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Volaris names its aircraft after contest winners. In 2010 the airline announced its “Put your name on a Volaris’ plane and get free flights for a year” contest. Contestants had to answer the question: What would you do if you had a Volaris’ plane for a year? According to the airline, “Our jury will choose the twenty one (21) most original, creative and fun answers as winners. The prize will include the right to to put your name on a Volaris’ plane and a Volaris’ Pass to get free flights for yourself and one travel companion during a year to any of our destinations.” The pictured Airbus A320-232 XA-VOV (msn 3524) arriving at Las Vegas is named “Valerie”.

Volaris aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Mexico/Airlines-Mexico-AZ/Volaris

Southwest files to serve six international destinations from Houston Hobby Airport

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) filed applications today (December 11) with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting approval to serve six destinations in Latin America with new, daily, nonstop service from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. After receiving U.S. government approval of the new service, Southwest will begin selling these flights at Southwest.com, offering Customers nonstop options between Houston (Hobby) and four destinations in Mexico—Cancun, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos—as well as flights to San Jose, Costa Rica, and Belize City, Belize. Service to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City, Belize, adds a second destination in Central America, a seventh country, and the 96th city on the Southwest route map.

The new Houston flights will be made possible by the completion of an estimated $156 million five-gate international concourse now under construction at Hobby. The completed project will increase capacity for all airport functions and add a Federal Inspections Services (FIS) facility to streamline U.S. Customs and Border Protection screening and baggage processing for arriving international passengers.

Image: Houston Hobby Airport. A concept drawing of the new international concourse.

The Houston Hobby International Terminal Project will add five new gates, enabling scheduled international service from Hobby. Southwest is working in conjunction with the City of Houston, which is preparing for the new facility with surrounding infrastructure improvements including a new parking facility, central utility plant and roadway improvements throughout the Houston Hobby Airport district. A study conducted by Houston Airport System estimates the Houston Hobby International Terminal Project would add 10,000 jobs to the region and provide a $1.6 billion impact annually to the local economy. The study also expects the expanded facility to bring an additional 1.6 million air travelers each year.

Southwest is currently selling nonstop service on Saturdays between Houston (Hobby) and Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba beginning on March 7, 2015. The Aruba flights are made possible by U.S. CBP Pre-clearance procedures, which provide U.S. border inspection in certain foreign countries including Aruba. This will allow Southwest Customers arriving at Hobby Airport from Aruba to deplane without further CBP inspections into the domestic terminal, quickly claim baggage and depart the airport, or make seamless connections to many of the more than 40 domestic destinations Southwest currently serves nonstop from Houston (Hobby).

One of Southwest Airlines’ original cities, Houston supports the fifth busiest operation in the carrier’s network of more than 90 airports across six countries, with approximately 150 departures a day from Houston (Hobby). More than 3,200 Southwest Employees are Houston-based and foster community and business partnerships across greater Houston that, in 2013 alone, bolstered nearly 170 nonprofit organizations with more than $900,000 in local charitable donations.

Top Copyright Photo: Brandon Farris/AirlinersGallery.com. Brand new Boeing 737-8H4 WL N8654B (msn 37045) lands at Boeing Field in Seattle. Delivery is imminent.

Southwest aircraft slide show:

ANA is coming to Houston

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) has announced it will launch a new route from Tokyo (Narita) to Houston (Bush Intercontinental) starting on June 12, 2015 with Boeing 777-300 ERs.

ANA will also increase the number of flights from Tokyo to Singapore and Bangkok by introducing twice daily services from Narita to these two cities in addition to the existing double daily service from Haneda Airport. Flights from Singapore and Bangkok arriving in Narita early morning will increase the number of North American cities that can be connected and will, together with the evening flight, greatly increase the convenience of Asia-North America connections at Narita.

Houston will be ANA’s tenth destination in North America.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-381 ER JA786A (msn 37948) with the special “Forward as one Japan” markings arrives at Narita International Airport near Tokyo.

ANA aircraft slide show:

EVA Air to add Houston on June 19, 2015

EVA Air (Taipei) will open the planned Taipei (Taoyuan)-Houston (Bush Intercontinental) route on June 19, 2015. The new route will be operated three days a week.

Update: On December 15 EVA Air made this announcement:

EVA Air will initiate nonstop flights between Taipei and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on June 19, 2015. The airline will start the new service with three flights a week and increase frequency to four on July 1, 2015.

EVA will serve the route with a brand-new Boeing 777-300 ER equipped with WiFi, the latest inflight entertainment system and SMS roaming service that passengers can use to send and receive short messages on their own mobile phones. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in May 2015 and will be specially painted nose-to-tail with Texas–sized Hello Kitty and Sanrio characters. It will have 333 seats, configured with 39 in Royal Laurel Class business, 56 in Elite premium economy and 238 in Economy.

Further enhancing the convenience of its routing, the airline will fly the new Hello Kitty Jet between Taipei and Singapore in addition to using it for Houston service.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Now repainted from the special “Boeing 777-300ER” livery, Boeing 777-35E ER B-16702 (msn 32640) arrives in Los Angeles.

EVA Air aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-1/Airlines-Asia1-AE/EVA-Air