Tag Archives: MAN

Eastern Airways to launch Leeds/Bradford – Southampton service on January 20

Eastern Airways’ (Humberside) new service from Leeds Bradford International Airport to Southampton, aimed primarily at business travellers, launches on Monday January 20, 2014.

The UK’s second largest regional airline will offer three flights each weekday in each direction, as well as a Sunday service to ensure business communities in Yorkshire and on the south coast of England have a high frequency air service enabling them to do business.

A convenient early morning departure from Leeds Bradford at 6.50 am allows for a full day in Southampton and south coast region before returning back to Yorkshire just after 5 pm or 7.40 pm on the same day.

The scheduled services depart Leeds Bradford on weekdays at 6.50 am, 10.20 am and 5.10 pm, arriving in Southampton at 7.50 am, 11.20 am and 6.10 pm respectively. Flights leave Southampton at 8.20 am, 4.05 pm and 6.40 pm, landing in Leeds Bradford at 9.20 am, 5.05 pm and 7.40 pm.

Sunday services leave Leeds Bradford at 4.15 pm arriving in Southampton at 5.15 pm, then return at 5.45 pm landing into Leeds Bradford at 6.45 pm.

Eastern Airways has been providing scheduled flights from Leeds Bradford since 2003, and also provides a choice of daily weekday services from the airport to Aberdeen.

A dedicated fast track security channel is offered at Leeds Bradford and Southampton airports for all Eastern Airways passengers to avoid any queues at security search, enabling the airline to close check-in just 30 minutes before the departure time. Complimentary drinks and snacks are offered on board the aircraft and passengers are not charged for check-in, baggage or choice of seat.

A network of services across to 20 airports in the UK, Norway and France is operated by the airline on a fleet of 30 regional aircraft.

Top Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. BAe Jetstream 41 G-MAJY (msn 41099) taxies at Manchester (all others by Eastern Airways).

Eastern Airways:

YanAir to start Vinnitsa-Tel Aviv twice-weekly flights on December 29

YanAir (Kiev) is planning to launch twice-weekly flights (on Wednesdays and Sundays) from Vinnitsa (also known as Vinnytsa), Ukraine to Tel Aviv, Israel with this Airbus A320 on December 29 according to Kommepcahtb.ua. The carrier also serves Moscow from Vinnytsia with SAAB 340As.

Vinnytsia is an ancient city in central Ukraine.

YanAir received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) on June 26, 2013 and currently operates two SAAB 340As and one Airbus A320.

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis. The pictured Airbus A320-211 UR-YAD (msn 726) is seen arriving at an overcast Manchester on a football charter flight and was leased from ILFC on August 20, 2013.

Video: A tour of their SAAB 340A:

Swiss reaches agreement with two pilot groups, names its first A320 with Sharklets “Grenchen”

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich) has issued this statement:

Swiss International Air Lines and its Aeropers and IPG pilots’ unions have reached an agreement in their negotiations on the future overall structure and working parameters for the company’s cockpit crew corps.

Swiss and its Aeropers and IPG cockpit crew unions have been in discussions since the end of last year with a view to establishing forward-looking working structures and laying the foundations for a single pilot corps. After intensive negotiations, the parties have found a viable compromise in the last few days that has met with the approval of both unions and the company.

The key issues in these discussions have been creating an integrated Swiss European and Swiss International pilot corps, efficiently introducing the new Bombardier CS100 and Boeing 777 aircraft types, sustainably maintaining Swiss’ competitive edge, securing cockpit jobs and establishing and developing the company’s new Geneva crew base.

The agreement reached will now be used to work out the corresponding amendments to the collective labour agreements (CLAs) of the two pilot corps between now and the end of this year. These amendments will then be presented to the unions’ respective members for approval. The aim here is to have all collaborations under the new employment parameters from April 2014 onwards.

With the result of these negotiations, and the corresponding integration of Swiss European Air Lines into Swiss International Air Lines, Swiss is both setting a vital course for its own corporate future and breaking new ground within the airline industry.

In other news, Swiss International Air Lines has named its Airbus A320 HB-JLT “Grenchen” (above) after the town in northwest Switzerland. The aircraft is something of a celebrity in the Swiss fleet: it’s the first member of Swiss’ Airbus A320 family to be equipped with sharklets, the winglets developed by the manufacturer to enhance inflight performance.

The symbolic naming ceremony was held in Grenchen and was attended by Boris Banga, the current Mayor of Grenchen, Daniel Bärlocher, Swiss’ Head of Corporate Communications and Peter Fasler, Head of Licence and Rating Training at Swiss Aviation Training subsidiary. Performing the honor was top Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann, the four-time Olympic gold medallist, World Champion and World Cup Winner, who serves as an ambassador for watch manufacturer Breitling, which is headquartered in the town.

The sharklet-equipped HB-JLT is the 38th member of the Airbus A320 family to be delivered to Swiss. The aircraft is deployed on medium-haul routes in Europe and on services to Africa and the Middle East.

The sharklets reduce aerodynamic drag in the wingtip area. Airbus calculates that the resulting fuel savings reduce the associated carbon dioxide emissions by some 1,000 tons per aircraft per year – the equivalent of the CO2 produced by around 200 averagely-used family cars.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 WL HB-JLT (msn 5518) with Sharklets and a new name departs from Manchester.

Swiss:

Aer Arann’s pilots threaten a strike next week over pay issues, disrupting the “new beginning”

Aer Arann‘s (Aer Lingus Regional) (Dublin) pilots are threatening to strike four days next week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) over a disagreement concerning pay issues.

Read the full story from The Irish Times: CLICK HERE

The strike is disrupting the plans of the company for a “new beginning”.

Earlier this year the company announced a “new beginning”:

Aer Arann plans to join Europe’s top tier of regional airlines by 2015 and to double its passenger numbers to over two million in five years, the company said today.

The airline also confirmed a 32% rise in Aer Lingus Regional passenger numbers in 2012, with total passenger growth of 16% in the past two years.

Announcing a “new beginning” at the airline, Sean Brogan, Interim Chief Executive, Aer Arann outlined a package of measures to grow its customer base and route network, including:

Successful restructuring: a successful restructuring of the company has been completed, putting the airline on a strong financial footing;
Fleet renewal program: the airline will be taking delivery of eight new aircraft. The new aircraft, ATR 72-600s, will replace the older existing fleet of ATR 72-200s and ATR 42s. The first new plane will commence service this May, with the remaining aircraft expected for delivery over the next 11 months. The new fleet will be fully operational in time for the Summer 2014 program;
Extension of Aer Lingus agreement: the airline has extended its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus, which will see Aer Arann operate under the Aer Lingus Regional brand until the end of 2022;
Addition of two new routes: commencing this Summer, Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann will add two new routes to its network, Dublin-Birmingham and Dublin-Manchester. The addition of these routes, two of the busiest on the Ireland to UK network, will increase passenger numbers by 300,000 and bring the airline’s route network to 24.

Combined with existing Aer Lingus mainline services to Manchester and Birmingham, these new services will result in a significant ramping up of frequencies to two of the busiest routes on the Ireland to UK network. Specifically, services on the Dublin Birmingham route will go from three to six services per day while services on the Dublin Manchester routes will go from three to five per day.

It also means that the airline will be operating routes to the main UK cities. The Stobart Group is also advancing plans to add routes at London Southend airport.

Expansion of services: the airline is to increase frequencies on its Dublin Edinburgh and Dublin Glasgow routes.Specifically, services on the Dublin Edinburgh route will go from four up to six services per day while services on the Dublin Glasgow route will go from four up to six per day.

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) EI-REL (msn 748) departs from Manchester in the Aer Lingus Regional brand.

Aer Arann:

Aer Lingus Regional-Aer Arann:

Route Map:

Condor Flugdienst unveils a new “Janosch” Boeing 767 logojet

Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) has introduced new “Janosch” Boeing 767-300 logojet. Janosch and Condor are teaming up in support of “A Heart for Children”. Condor has supported this organization for the past year and a half and has contributed a portion of its ticket sales. This includes an auction of aircraft models with the Janosch markings. The proceeds are fully passed on to “the A Heart for Children” fund. The pictured Boeing 7673-330 ER D-ABUE (msn 26984) is covered with the images of the animated heroes and will be the flagship for worldwide attention to the project. All other Condor aircraft will also carry the charity logo and a Janosch character in the Condor logo.

Top Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. D-ABUE departs from Manchester last evening.

Condor:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Condor. A close-up of the special markings.

Thomson Airways launches its first Boeing 787 international flight

Thomson Airways (London-Luton and Manchester) yesterday (July 8) started its first international Boeing 787 route between Manchester and Sanford, Florida

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner G-TUIA (msn 34422) approaches the Manchester base for landing.

Thomson Airways:

Video: Alesha Dixon helped Thomson Airways launch the first flight to Sanford (near Orlando), Florida:

Blue Islands to drop the Jersey-Manchester route on June 10

Blue Islands (Guernsey) is planning to operate the last flight to and from Manchester on June 10 from Jersey per the BBC. The airline of the Channel Islands will redeploy the aircraft for its new “Blue Shuttle” (see video below) service between Guernsey and Jersey.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. Blue Islands’ ATR 42-300 G-ZEBS (msn 066) approaches Manchester Airport in Ringway, Manchester for landing.

Blue Islands:

Revised route map without Manchester:

Video:

TUI Travel commits for 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

Boeing (Chicago) and TUI Travel PLC (London) announced a commitment today for 60 737 MAX airplanes, valued at $6.09 billion at list prices. The commitment by one of the world’s leading leisure travel groups includes 737 MAX 8s and 9s. Boeing looks forward to working with TUI Travel to finalize the details, at which time the order will be posted as a firm order to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website.

“A major part of TUI Travel’s strategy is to provide our customers with unique holiday experiences that they can only get from us,” said Peter Long, Chief Executive, TUI Travel. “This multi-billion pound investment in the Boeing 737 MAX – representing the future generation of more fuel-efficient aircraft for our short and medium-haul programs – will be a further driver in delivering this.”

The TUI Travel airlines are Arkefly (Netherlands), Corsair International (France), Jetairfly (Belgium), Thomson Airways (UK), TUIfly (Germany) and TUIfly Nordic (Sweden). This graph shows TUI Travels’ brands and market shares in these key European markets:

Top Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. The new aircraft will replace the current generation of Boeing 737-800s. Thomson Airways’ 737-8K5 WL G-TAWK (msn 28836) is pictured at Manchester in the new TUI colors (please click on the photo for the full-size view).

Arkefly:

Corsair International:

Jetairfly:

Thomson Airways:

TUIfly:

TUIfly Nordic:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ole Simon. TUIfly was ranked the most fuel-efficient charter airline worldwide for short-haul and long-haul flights in the 2012 Airline Index published by the German environmental NGO, atmosfair, indicating how TUIfly’s investment in modern, more fuel-efficient aircraft and focus on efficient aeronautical procedures are yielding results. Thomson Airways came second for most efficient charter airline for short haul flights. TUIfly’s (TUIfly.com) Boeing 737-8K5 WL D-ATUD (msn 34585) in the special Haribo Goldbaren scheme climbs away from Frankfurt (please click on photo for full-size view).

Suckling Airways’ Dornier 328 fleet is now completely integrated into Loganair

Suckling Airways (Flybe) (formerly ScotAirways) (Cambridge) was acquired by Loganair Limited in July 2011. The Dornier 328 fleet is now fully integrated into the Loganair operation. The move was completed in April 2013.

Loganair operates under the Flybe brand.

Suckling was founded by Roy and Merlyn Suckling in 1984 and commenced operations on April 26, 1986.

The former family airline honors its past with this historic record on its website, soon to be closed down: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Now in Flybe colors, Dornier 328-110 G-BWWT (msn 3022) operates at Manchester.

Lufthansa cancels most of its flights tomorrow due to the strike by the Verdi union

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will be impacted heavily tomorrow due to a strike by the Verdi union which represents around 33,000 of its employees. The airline is pre-canceling almost 1700 flights. Only a few flights will operate. The airline has issued this statement:

The Lufthansa Group’s flight operations will be considerably restricted on Monday April 22, 2013 as a result of the planned warning strike by the Verdi trade union.

Due to the announced strike actions on Monday, April 22, nearly all Lufthansa flights within Germany and Europe will be cancelled. Only a select few short-haul flights will operate on Monday, such as in Berlin, where strike actions should end by 2:30 pm CET. In all, only 20 of the 1,650 planned Lufthansa short-haul flights on Monday will operate due to the limited flight schedule.

In addition to the cancellations in Germany and Europe, massive flight cancellations and delays are to be expected for long-haul flights beginning Sunday April, 21. Of the 50 planned flights in Frankfurt, only six will operate; in Munich, of the 17 planned flights, only three will operate; whereas, in Dusseldorf all three long-haul flights are scheduled to operate as planned.

Flights operated by Germanwings will not be affected.

Lufthansa regrets any inconvenience to Lufthansa passengers caused by the threatened strike measures by ver.di and will do its utmost to minimise impacts on passengers. Passenger support and service has paramount priority.

Passengers are kindly asked to please check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Passengers for flights that will take place please calculate extra time at the airport.

An overview of currently cancelled flights can be found here:

Cancelled flights

Read the full news report by Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Nik French. The new Lufthansa 1955 retrojet is this Airbus A321-231 registered as D-AIDV (msn 5413) captured nicely at Manchester.

Lufthansa: