Tag Archives: IAD

United Airlines flight UA 1074 returns to Washington Dulles after passengers restrain a disruptive passenger

United Airlines (Chicago) flight UA 1074 from Washington (Dulles) (IAD) to Denver (DEN) returned to Dulles International Airport last night (March 16) after a disruptive passenger reportedly charged the cockpit. Several passengers restrained the passenger until the Boeing 737 could safely land back at IAD. According top ABC News, “local law enforcement met the aircraft at the gate and detained the passenger”. The unnamed passenger was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Twitter photo by Ron Hernandez. Several passengers restrain the disruptive passenger.

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

SAS to launch an improved business class experience on January 28

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) has announced it will launch a new improved business class experience for its long-haul flights staring on January 28. The airline issued this statement:

On January 28, SAS is launching an improved service concept in SAS Business on all its long haul flights. Customers will enjoy a restaurant experience in the air with an even greater number of choices, even more personal service and high quality in every respect.

SAS is currently in the process of updating its long haul fleet. This includes the renovation of seven existing aircraft and the introduction of new aircraft from fall 2015. The food and drink experience onboard in SAS Business is also being improved and customers will notice changes from January 28.

Additional choice and more personal service will be the most noticeable changes for customers in SAS Business. For example, they will have an extra starter and main course to choose from. To increase the restaurant feel and provide an even more personal service, proper tablecloths and porcelain will be used and food will be served from a service trolley to minimize the use of trays.

The improved service concept will be available on all SAS long haul flights from January 28. SAS’s long haul destinations from Scandinavia are New York (JFK), Washington (Dulles), Chicago (O’Hare), San Francisco, Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo (Narita). On September 10, 2015, SAS will open a new route from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Hong Kong.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A330-343 SE-REF (msn 568) in the Star Alliance scheme arrives at Dulles International Airport near Washington.

SAS aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-3/Airlines-Europe3-QZ/Scandinavian-Airlines-SAS

Silver Airways to expand operations in Florida and the Bahamas

Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) is again expanding operations in Florida and the Bahamas. The airline will add new routes and additional frequencies starting on February 12, 2015. Silver has announced new and additional frequencies between Tallahassee and key business markets throughout the State of Florida, including Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – Tallahassee: Silver is starting four new weekly nonstop flights on peak travel days of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, starting on February 12, 2015.

Orlando – Tallahassee: Starting on February 12, 2015, Silver is also doubling its service (from one flight per day to two) between Orlando and Tallahassee.

In addition to the above added nonstop flights, more highlights of Silver’s new intra-Florida schedule include:

1. Additional frequencies between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Tampa – increasing from four to five flights per day on weekdays (starting February 12, 2015);
2. Additional frequencies between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Jacksonville – increasing from three to four flights per day on weekdays (starting
February 12, 2015);
3. Improved connections between Key West and Tallahassee, and between West Palm Beach and Tallahassee;
4. Silver’s new increased intra-Florida schedules offer the most nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood to primary business centers in Orlando and Jacksonville than any other airline.

Silver Airways is also announcing the introduction of three new nonstop routes between the Sunshine State and the Out Islands of the Bahamas, as well as resuming a number of seasonal routes and increasing frequencies between numerous current routes starting on February 12, 2015.

Silver’s new nonstop routes include:

Tampa – Marsh Harbour in the Abacos with two weekly flights on Saturdays and Sundays;
Orlando – North Eleuthera with one weekly flight on Saturdays;
Orlando – Freeport in Grand Bahama with one weekly flight on Saturdays.

Silver is also resuming the following seasonal service:

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – Governors Harbour in Eleuthera with three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays);

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood – George Town on Great Exuma Island with five weekly flights (every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays);
Orlando – Marsh Harbour in the Abacos with daily service;
Jacksonville – Marsh Harbour in the Abacos with two weekly flights on Saturdays and Sundays.

In addition, Silver Airways is adding more flights for the peak travel season between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Bimini, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, and Treasure Cay, as well as between West Palm Beach and Marsh Harbour.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Silver Airways now only operates the versatile SAAB 340B turboprop. SAAB 340B N346AG (msn 446) arrives at Washington (Dulles).

Silvery Airways aircraft slide show:

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

Silvery Airways Current Route Map: Other than the Washington Dulles operation, the airline has been shrinking back to its core area of Florida and the Bahamas:

Porter Airlines to add seasonal service to Charleston, South Carolina

Porter Airlines (Toronto) is introducing weekly seasonal service between its Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport base and Charleston, South Carolina from February 14 to May 2, 2015.

The new South Carolina service (the company previously operated to Myrtle Beach) will supplement regular service to these US cities (below):

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) C-GLQO (msn 4270) arrives in Washington (Dulles) (all others by Porter).

Porter Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video: In April 2013 Porter laid out its expansion lans for its home downtown airport:

Lufthansa to be hit again by a pilot’s strike starting tomorrow

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is facing another strike by its pilots starting tomorrow, Monday, December 1. The airline issued this statement:

Strike by pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit from 12.00 on December 1 to 23.59 on December 2

The pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit has announced a strike for all Lufthansa short-haul and continental flights departing between 12.00 CEST on December 1 to 23.59 CEST on December 2, and for all intercontinental flights departing between 03:00 CEST to 23:59 CEST on December 2. During the strike period disruptions of Lufthansa flights are expected. Lufthansa is currently working intensely on a special timetable for the strike period. All flights operated by the Lufthansa Group airlines Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings, Swiss and Air Dolomiti (operated by OS, SN, 4U, LX, EN) will not be affected.

Passengers, whose flights have been cancelled, can rebook free of charge to alternative flights.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

Trans States Airlines to operate 36 additional Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets for United Airlines

Trans States Airlines (subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc.) (St. Louis) has announced that it will operate 36 Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft provided by United Airlines (Chicago). Trans States expects to begin taking delivery of and starting scheduled service with these aircraft under the United Express brand and livery in February 2015, with deliveries slated to continue through the first quarter of 2016. The aircraft will be moved from ExpressJet Airlines to Trans States by United.

Trans States Airlines has been providing United Airlines regional service under the United Express brand since 2003. The addition of these 36 aircraft will increase the fleet size of Trans States Airlines from 29 to 65 aircraft, more than doubling its current fleet size. Trans States Airlines currently has 25 aircraft in service with United, all of which are 50 seat Embraer ERJ 145s. The remaining four ERJ 145s in its fleet are operated as US Airways Express.

Trans States currently serves 25 cities and operates approximately 190 daily flights.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Trans States’ Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N845HK (msn 145842) in the old 2004 livery approaches the runway at United’s Dulles International Airport hub near Washington.

United Express-Trans States aircraft slide Show:

Map: Trans States currently operates in these cities as United Express and US Airways Express.

Delta to introduce the Boeing 717 on five routes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) continues to expand Boeing 717 operations as more aircraft are released from AirTran Airways. As previously reported, AirTran will operate its last flight on December 28.

Delta will introduce the 717 to the Minneapolis/St. Paul hub starting on January 6, 2015 with a route to Charlotte. Kansas City, Madison and Philadelphia will be added on February 13 followed by Detroit on March 2 per Airline Route.

Delta is also assigning the 717 to two new routes from the Atlanta hub to both Georgetown (December 20) and Nassau (January 12) in the Bahamas.

Delta Aircraft Slide Show (current livery):

Lufthansa to drop service to Abu Dhabi next summer

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has announced it will drop its daily route from Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi, the home of Etihad Airways. The route will be dropped on March 29, 2015. The German airline has been getting increased price competition from Etihad and its partner Airberlin (Berlin) on the route.

The route is operated with Airbus A330-300s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-343 D-AIKJ (msn 701) arrives at Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

Lufthansa Aircraft Slide Show:

Silver Airways consolidates its operations around the SAAB 340B and Florida

Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) starting on November 6, 2014 is further expanding its already extensive Florida schedule by adding nearly 40 percent more flights within the Sunshine State. Silver Airways’ increased flying starting November 6, 2014, includes additional service to/from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Key West, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Pensacola, and Tallahassee. In addition, Silver recently started new service between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Jacksonville, and between Orlando and Key West this summer.

Details of the schedule changes in Florida:

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood

Within Florida, Silver currently flies nonstop from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Tampa, and Orlando, as well as one-stop service to Gainesville, Pensacola, and Tallahassee. In addition, Silver offers nonstop service to seven destinations in the Bahamas, including Bimini, Grand Bahama (Freeport), Eleuthera, the Abacos (Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay), and Exuma (George Town). Increased flights starting November 6, 2014 include:

an additional nonstop weekday flight between Fort Lauderdale and Key West for a total of four daily nonstop flights;
an additional weekday flight between Fort Lauderdale and Tampa for a total of four flights per day, plus increased weekend service;
weekday service between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando increasing from three to five flights per day, plus increased weekend service;
daily same plane one-stop service between Fort Lauderdale and Gainesville;
same plane one-stop service between Fort Lauderdale and Pensacola increasing from two to three flights per day;
same plane one-stop weekday service between Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee increasing to more than two flights per day.

Key West

Silver currently flies nonstop to Key West from Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando. Increased flights starting November 6, 2014 include:

an additional weekday flight between Fort Lauderdale and Key West for a total of four daily flights;
a second daily flight between Fort Myers and Key West;
increased weekday flights between Tampa and Key West for a total of four daily flights;
two additional nonstop flights between Orlando and Key West for a total of three nonstops, and an additional one-stop for a total of five daily direct flights;
and daily same plane one-stop flight between Jacksonville and Key West.

Orlando

Silver currently flies nonstop from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Pensacola, as well as to Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. Increased flights starting November 6, 2014 include:

increased weekday service between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale from three to five flights per day, plus increased weekend service;
two additional nonstop flights between Orlando and Key West for a total of three nonstops, and an additional one-stop for a total of five daily direct flights;
an additional flight between Orlando and Fort Myers for a total of two daily flights;
an additional flight between Orlando and Pensacola for a total of three daily flights;
an additional flight between Orlando and Gainesville for a total of three daily flights, as well as convenient mid-day arrival and departure times.

Fort Myers

Silver currently flies nonstop from Fort Myers to Key West and Orlando. Increased flights starting November 6, 2014 include:

resumption of second seasonal flight between Fort Myers and Key West;
an additional nonstop flight between Fort Myers and Orlando for a total of two daily flights.

Tampa

Silver currently flies from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Key West, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola. Increased flights starting November 6, 2014 include:

increased weekday service between Tampa and Key West for a total of four daily flights;
increased weekday service between Tampa and Fort Lauderdale from three to four daily flights, plus increased weekend service.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N442XJ (msn 442) arrives at the Dulles International Airport hub.

Silver Airways:

Silver Airways Aircraft Slide Show:

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

Current Route Map: Silver Airways retired its last Beech 1900D with the closure of the Cleveland hub. The regional carrier previously closed down its Atlanta and Montana operations. Besides some remaining EAS routes from Washington (Dulles) the company is now concentrating its operations in its original location, the state of Florida and the Bahamas.