Tag Archives: LGA

Are nonstop New York LGA-California flights a possibility?

According to this report by Dan Reed of Forbes, the Post Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages LaGuardia Airport (LGA) along with John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), is considering lifting the perimeter rule at LGA that restricts nonstop flights over 1,500 miles.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. If the rule is lifted, the landing and takeoff slots at LGA will become more valuable. Airlines will likely move some JFK-West Coast flights to LGA. The loser in this possible rule change may be the small communities with their current flights to LGA with smaller aircraft. The number of 50-seat regional jets is likely to decrease with any rule change at LGA. Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N278SK (msn 145370) climbs away from the runway at LGA.

GoJet Airlines to expand its Delta Connection contract, will operate seven Bombardier CRJ900s

GoJet Airlines (St. Louis), a wholly owned subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc., has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Delta Air Lines to operate seven Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft under the Delta Connection regional service brand. Deliveries are slated to begin in June of 2015 and continue through October.

The addition of these CRJ900 aircraft continues Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan focused on reducing 50-seat regional jets while improving the overall customer experience.

GoJet Airlines currently operates a fleet of 47, two-class CRJ700 aircraft under the United Express and Delta Connection brands, of which 22 are in service for Delta. GoJet has provided regional service for Delta under the Delta Connection brand since 2011.

GoJet serves over 4 million passengers annually, with more than 220 daily flights providing service to over 60 destinations.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N367CA (msn 10069) lifts off the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

American to drop American Eagle service between Louisville and New York LaGuardia

American Airlines (New York) will drop American Eagle nonstop service between Louisville, Kentucky and New York (LaGuardia) on March 29 due to low demand according to Louisville Business First.

The route is operated by Republic Airlines (2nd) using Embraer ERJ 175s.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N421YX (msn 17000386) taxies at Baltimore/Washington.

American Eagle aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-2nd-Republic-Ai

United Airlines to start Panama City, Florida-Houston flights on March 5, 2015

United Airlines (Chicago) will start twice-daily United Express service from Panama City, Florida to the Houston (Bush Intercontinental) hub on March 5, 2015 per the Panama City News Herald.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. ExpressJet Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N36915 (msn 145421) departs the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

United Express-ExpressJet aircraft slide show:

United Airlines (current livery) aircraft slide show:

Virgin America touches down at LaGuardia Airport in New York

Virgin America (San Francisco) today (October 28) launched its new service from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) with four daily nonstop flights to Dallas Love Field (DAL). From today, the airline is now servicing all three major airports in New York with now up to 20 flights departing the New York metropolitan area each day.

Virgin America secured 12 slots at LGA earlier this year as part of the American Airlines merger settlement. The new services have been timed to provide convenient connections with Virgin America’s new nonstop schedule from DAL. This includes three daily nonstop flights from DAL to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). With a loyal following of business travelers, the airline recently announced plans to add a fourth daily trip from DAL to DCA, SFO and LAX as of April 2015.

Virgin America Aircraft Slide Show:

Delta to bring back nonstop seasonal service to Liberia, Costa Rica, will expand flights to Punta Cana

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will bring back its nonstop seasonal service connecting Liberia, Costa Rica with Los Angeles and the airline’s hubs in Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York-JFK. Additionally, seasonal service between San Jose and Minneapolis/St. Paul will be reinstated.

Delta continues its expansion in Costa Rica, operating 40 weekly services during the peak season and connecting the cities of San Jose and Liberia with key destinations in the United States.

In other news, Delta will expand its service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic during the high demand season, including flights from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York-JFK.

Flights will be operated using Airbus A320 and Airbus A319 aircraft and will complement existing Delta service to this luxury Caribbean destination.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 N322NB (msn 1434) takes off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

Delta Air Lines (current):

JetBlue and Cape Air partner with Bridgewater State University to establish a pilot pipeline

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Cape Air (Hyannis) recently announced a new partnership with Bridgewater State University (BSU). BSU is the newest addition to JetBlue’s University Gateway Program, a pilot talent pipeline which partners with top university aviation programs and regional airlines such as Cape Air. BSU is the airline’s first school alliance in its Boston focus city.

JetBlue’s University Gateway Program is a career-planning and mentoring initiative designed to identify and recruit talented professionals into the pilot ranks. The program includes rigorous academic training and valuable regional airline experience. The University Gateway program creates a clearly defined career path for aspiring pilots, beginning early in an aviator’s college career and culminating with the possibility of a final interview at JetBlue.

In late August, Captain Rich Carter, JetBlue’s director system chief pilot, Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State University and Linda Markham, president of Cape Air officially signed a memorandum of understanding. JetBlue crewmembers as well as school administrators were on hand at Boston’s Logan International Airport to celebrate the announcement. BSU is the seventh university partner for JetBlue’s University Gateway Program. Other academic alliances include the University of North Dakota, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona and Prescott), Auburn University, Jacksonville University and Inter-American University of Puerto Rico.

The University Gateway Program is open to students at participating schools with high academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or above) and recommendations from their professors. It requires a successful series of interviews with JetBlue and a regional airline partner, as well as continued enrollment in an Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) program. During the Gateway Program, participants intern at Cape Air or other regional airline partners, and then serve as an instructor at their respective flight school. Following that process, candidates fly with Cape Air for at least two years and then receive an interview at JetBlue.

BSU is an AABI accredited university which offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science with concentrations in aviation management or flight training. The university combines a liberal arts education with flight experience and prepares students to fly in varying weather conditions and over mountainous terrain and open waters as well as how to handle operations in both controlled and uncontrolled environments.

Education is a core pillar of JetBlue’s overall strategy and responsibility platform. The airline and its newly launched JetBlue Foundation encourage students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including aviation careers from piloting an aircraft to maintaining its engines. JetBlue has a unique education pathway including relationships with elementary school students and mentoring high school and college students to the University Gateway Program, which may lead to positions as Pilot Trainees with the carrier.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. A dramatic “up close” runway action view of JetBlue’s special 10th Anniversary color scheme on Airbus A320-232 N569JB (msn 2075) at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

JetBlue Airways:

Cape Air:

American Airlines Group to transfer all 47 Bombardier CRJ700s from Envoy Air to PSA Airlines

American Airlines Group (Dallas/Fort Worth) has decided to transfer all 47 Bombardier CRJ700s (and the associated flying) from subsidiary Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle Airlines) (Dallas/Fort Worth) to subsidiary PSA Airlines (2nd) (Dayton). This will leave Envoy Air as an Embraer ERJ operator. AAG is likely to continue phasing out its smaller regional jets. The pilots of Envoy Air and the AAG failed to agreed on a new contract. Will Envoy Air follow the same path as Delta’s Comair?

Bill Sprague, representing the Envoy Air pilots, issued this statement to its member pilots:

The MEC is outraged by this announcement by AAG that all 47 of our CRJ700 aircraft will be transferred to PSA. This action obviously and significantly punishes Envoy pilots for refusing to accept the additional concessions demanded by the company in exchange for larger aircraft. We are not aware of any plans to bring additional aircraft to Envoy. Therefore the company’s recent commitment to keep 200 aircraft on the property for the foreseeable future is no more credible than their promise to re-fleet Envoy as part of the bankruptcy contract.

We are evaluating the details related to the transfer of these aircraft to PSA. This action will eliminate the highest levels of compensation available under our contract.

Once again, we find ourselves wondering what the future holds for our carrier. The company has already announced their intention to park the remaining Embraer 140s. Barring any additional aircraft, we will only be operating a fleet of 118 Embraer 145s. This would require roughly 48% fewer pilots than are active on our seniority list today. We will provide you the company’s draw down schedule when they provide it to us.

The company has indicated that moving these aircraft to PSA is necessary to more efficiently focus operations on a single aircraft type. In reality, management’s decision clearly exploits the lower costs afforded by the 10 year agreement ratified last fall by our colleagues at PSA.

We understand this is a very stressful time for all of us. Many of you have inquired about the status of our previously advertised career progression resources. The MEC will receive a briefing next Tuesday, the 9th, from ALPA National regarding the rollout of these resources, and details will be communicated as we get them.

Bill Sprague
MEC Chairman

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N543EA (msn 10323) departs from the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

American Eagle-Envoy Air:

Southwest to drop three Caribbean routes from Atlanta

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) effective March 1, 2015 will drop two weekly international routes from Atlanta; Aruba and Montego Bay. The company will also drop the Atlanta-San Juan route on March 7, 2015 per Airline Route.

Effective on March 7, 2015 Southwest will add weekly San Antonio-New Orleans service.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-7H4 N436WN (msn 32456) departs from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

Southwest Airlines:

Frontier adds three new routes from growing Cleveland

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is again adding more routes from its new and growing Cleveland mini hub. Frontier is adding three new mainline routes from Cleveland to Chicago O’Hare (starting on October 1), Washington-Dulles (October 1) and New York-LaGuardia (October 26).

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N209FR (msn 4641) approaches the runway at Washington (Reagan National).

Frontier Airlines (2nd):