Tag Archives: Jazz Air

Chorus Aviation’s statement on its investment in Pluna

Chorus Aviation Inc. (Halifax) today (June 21) announced certain developments relating to Chorus’ investment in Pluna Lรญneas Aรฉreas Uruguayas S.A. (Montevideo).

In April 2010, Chorus (formerly the Jazz Air Income Fund) invested $15 million (USD) in Latin American Regional Aviation Holding Corporation (LARAH) in return for a 33.3% non-voting equity interest in the company, which translated into a 25% indirect ownership in Pluna.ย  At the time of the investment, LARAH held an indirect 75% equity interest in Pluna; the Government of Uruguay held an indirect equity interest of 25%.

The Uruguayan government has taken control of Pluna, allowing the airline to continue operating. Chorus is working directly and cooperatively with the national government to produce and assess potential recapitalization and business plans for Pluna. As part of the proceedings, all of the shares in Pluna held indirectly by LARAH have been delivered in trust with the Montevideo Stock Exchange in return for certain conditions and indemnities from the Uruguayan government. There can be no assurances as to the extent of Chorus’ participation and involvement.ย  Further, there can be no assurances that a successful recapitalization of Pluna will be accomplished, and if so, that Chorus will retain an equity stake or other investment therein.

Chorus is currently assessing the valuation of its original $15 million investment and how it will be accounted for in its second quarter financial disclosure planned for mid-August, 2012. The situation at Pluna has no effect on Jazz operations or current cash flows.ย Chorus will provide an update and share next steps upon the finalization of the review and will not speculate on the outcome or Pluna’s future.

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero.ย 

Pluna:ย 

Air Canada returns to JFK International Airport in New York

Air Canada (Montreal) flight AC 8902 today inaugurated service between Toronto Pearson and John F. Kennedy International Airport, making the airline the only carrier serving all three major airports in the New York City region from Canada. With the reinstated route, existing service toย Newark Liberty International Airportย and an additional daily flight between Toronto and LaGuardia Airport that began May 1 to bring that service to hourly, Air Canada will operate up to 38 nonstop return flights a day between Canada and New York City this summer.

The new Toronto-JFK service is operated by Air Canada Express (Jazz Air) using 50-seat CRJ regional jets. The JFK flights, operating out of Terminal 7, will have early morning, mid-day and evening arrivals and departures. With the new services, Air Canada will operate a total of up to 38 return flights a day to the New York metropolitan area from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography.

Air Canada Express-Jazz Slide Show: CLICK HERE

The first Jazz Bombardier Q400 is painted

Jazz Air (Chorus Aviation) (Air Canada Express) (Air Canada Jazz) (Halifax) will soon take delivery of its first (of 15) new Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400). C-GGOY (msn 4365) has now been painted in the new Air Canada Express brand.

Air Canada Jazz Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Jazz’s routes operated for Air Canada:

Air Canada to retire the Air Canada Jazz brand, all will become Air Canada Express

Air Canada (Montreal) announced today (April 27) it has decided to gradually retire the Air Canada Jazz brand. All regional carriers will begin operating under the Air Canada Express brand. Aircraft will be repainted during normal repainting cycles. Jazz Air will continue to use the Jazz name and livery for their independent (non-Air Canada) operations.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Please click on the photo for the full details.

Air Canada Jazz Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Air Canada Jazz routes operated by Jazz:

Chorus Aviation’s 2010 profit increases to C$125.8 million

Chorus Aviation Inc. (Halifax), formerly Jazz Air Income Fund, announced its fourth quarter and year end 2010 financial results.

The company reported net income of C$84.6 million for the fourth quarter.

For the full year 2010, net income was C$125.8 million.

The company recently finalized a purchase agreement for 15 Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft with Bombardier, and an agreement with Air Canada for Chorus Aviation Inc. to acquire and lease these aircraft to Jazz Aviation LP (Jazz Air).

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Please click on photo for additional details.

Air Canada Jazz (Chorus Aviation) Route Map:

Jazz Air Income Fund to become Chorus Aviation

Jazz Air Income Fund (Halifax) yesterday (November 10) announced that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice granted a final order approving the plan of arrangement providing for the conversion from an income trust to a corporate structure.

Once completed, the transaction will result in the conversion of the Jazz Air Income Fund to a dividend paying public corporation to be named Chorus Aviation Inc., with the trading symbols on the Toronto Stock Exchange of CHR.A, CHR.B and CHR.DB. Per the conversion, Fund unitholders will receive one share of Chorus for each unit held.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Please click on the photo for additional information.

Jazz Air reports a third quarter net profit of C$19.1 million

Jazz Air Income Fund (Jazz Air) (Halifax) reported net income of C$19.1 million in the third quarter. This net income of C$19.1 million compares to a larger C$25.3 million net profit in 2009, a decrease of C$6.2 million or 24.6%.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography. Please click on the photo for additional details.

Thomas Cook Airlines Canada launches operations

Jazz Air (Halifax) as planned yesterday (November 5) officially launched its flight services agreement with Thomas Cook Canada Inc. Early morning flights departed from Toronto (Pearson) to Montego Bay, Jamaica and Cancun, Mexico.

The five-year flight services agreement, signed earlier this year, has Jazz operating six Boeing 757-200 aircraft on behalf of Thomas Cook (Canada).ย  The service will operate to various sun destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax under the Thomas Cook (Canada) brand.ย  Flights will operate during the winter season, November to April, and will feature several product enhancements developed jointly by Jazz, Thomas Cook and its Sunquest Division.

Jazz took delivery of the first two Boeing 757-200 aircraft earlier this week and will see four more aircraft arrive in December at which time service from Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax will commence.ย  The aircraft are leased to Jazz Air LP from Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd.

Copyright Photo: Roger Cannegieter. Operated by Jazz Air, Boeing 757-25F C-GJZH (msn 30758, ex G-JMCE) visits Curacao on November 7. Other than the Canadian registration and flag, the airliner is being operated in full Thomas Cook colors without any Jazz Air sub-titles.

Air Canada to fly out of Toronto City Airport, but not with Jazz Air!

Airย Canada (Montreal) today announced that it has settled the terms of a long term Commercial Carrier Operating Agreement (CCOA) with theย Torontoย Port Authority (TPA), operator ofย Billy Bishopย Torontoย City Airport. Conclusion of the agreement is subject to certain conditions, including agreement with the lessor of terminal space, City Centre Terminal Corp. (CCTC), for lease of space at the airport. In addition, the airline has entered into a letter of intent (LOI) for the leasing of aircraft and has finalized arrangements with a regional carrier to operate flights from theย Toronto Island Airport beginning inย February 2011.

Air Canada’s initial schedule will offer customers the choice of up to 15 daily non-stop flights fromย Billy Bishopย Torontoย City Airport, in close proximity to downtownย Toronto, toย Montrealย Trudeau International Airport.

Flights will be operated with Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) (ex Lynx Aviation?) turboprop aircraft. Airย Canadaย has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with a lessor for the five aircraft that will be operated on theย Torontoย City Airport-Montreal route. Formal terms and conditions of the lease agreements are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Following a competitive bid process to select a Canadian regional operator for these aircraft, Air Canadaย has concluded a capacity purchase agreement with Sky Regional Airlines Inc., an associated company of Skyservice Business Aviation. The regional carrier will sublease and operate the Q400 aircraft on behalf of Airย Canada. According to Air Canada, “Selection of Sky Regional Airlines was based on a number of criteria including a competitive cost structure, a proven track record in customer service excellence and experience maintaining Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. The selection of Sky Regional Airlines to operate these flights has no impact on Air Canada’s commercial arrangements with other regional carriers including Jazz Air LP (Air Canada Jazz) (Halifax) with which Airย Canadaย maintains a strong commercial relationship.”

Airย Canadaย is actively engaged in talks with the airport terminal owner, City Centre Terminal Corp. (CCTC), towards an agreement to lease terminal facilitates that will accommodate the new service.

Jazz Air concludes negotiations with Thomas Cook Canada to operate six Boeing 757-200 aircraft this winter

Jazz Air (Halifax) announced that it has concluded negotiations with Thomas Cook Canada Inc. with respect to their flight services agreement, establishing the pricing for a five-year term ending on April 30, 2015.

Last April, Jazz signed a flight services agreement with Thomas Cook to operate flights on its behalf on Thomas Cook during the winter seasons (November through April). In the initial season, Jazz will operate six Boeing 757-200 aircraft to various destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax under the Thomas Cook Canada brand, subject to Jazz obtaining the required regulatory approvals. Service will commence on November 5, 2010 and will feature several product enhancements developed jointly by Jazz, Thomas Cook and its Sunquest Division.

In 2011, Jazz expects growth in flying under its capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada. Based on the Annual Operating Plan provided by Air Canada which is provided for budget and planning purposes and is subject to change, Jazz anticipates flying approximately five percent more block hours year over year. Jazz estimates the total billable block hours for the year 2011, which include the Thomas Cook flying, to be between 400,000 and 410,000 block hours. Beginning in June 2011, Jazz will introduce the new Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) NextGen aircraft to support the Air Canada service.