Tag Archives: Miami

ABX Air to return four Boeing 767-200F freighters to DHL

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (Wilmington, Ohio) announced its airline subsidiary, ABX Air (Wilmington, Ohio), has received termination notices from DHL affecting four DHL-owned Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft that ABX Air leases and operates within the U.S. under terms of the Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (CMI) agreement between the companies. DHL sought bids to operate the aircraft from other vendors earlier this year.

The notices are effective in late December 2014 for two aircraft, and in January 2015 for the two remaining aircraft. This reduction in CMI operations for DHL will likely reduce ATSG’s earnings from continuing operations by less than one cent per share in 2015. Excluding those four aircraft, ATSG currently operates 21 freighter aircraft over scheduled routes for DHL, including 17 Boeing 767s and four Boeing 757s.

Related to this announcement, Atlas Air announced it will expand its service for DHL Express’ North American route network using four additional Boeing 767-200 freighter aircraft owned by DHL. Atlas Air expects to start flying the first incremental aircraft in December 2014, and to operate all four by the end of January 2015.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. ABX Air’s Boeing 767-281 (F) N798AX (msn 23431) arrives in Miami in DHL colors.

ABX Air:

DHL:

AeroMexico restores the Monterrey-Houston route on November 3

AeroMexico (Mexico City) is resuming two routes from Monterrey on November 3; to both Torreon and Houston. The Monterrey-Houston route was last operated in January 2011 per Airline Route.

In other news, AeroMexico previously announced a fourth weekly flight between Merida and Miami effective on November 8. This new service will operate on Saturdays and, as the current three frequencies, will be operated with a 99-seat Embraer 190.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. AeroMexico Connect‘s (Aerolitoral) Embraer ERJ 190-100LR XA-ACJ (msn 19000531) arrives in Los Angeles.

AeroMexico:

AeroMexico Connect:

Air France to bring the Airbus A380 to Miami starting on December 1

Air France (Paris) is bringing the Airbus A380 to Miami. Starting on December 1 the A380 with replace the Boeing 747-400 on the Paris (Charles de Gaulle)-Miami route.

During the 2014-2015 winter season (October 26, 2014 – March 28, 2015), Air France will offer up to 7 flights a week to Miami from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. From December 1, 2014 until the end of the season, each flight will be operated by Airbus A380 aircraft.

Daily flight schedules: *

From December 1, 2014 to March 28, 2015 (local time):

AF 090: departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:50, arriving in Miami at 18:05
AF 099: from Miami at 20:55, arrival at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 11.20 the next day

* flights daily except Wednesday from January 5, 2015 to February 1, 2015 and March 9, 2015 to March 28, 2015.

The Air France A380 has 516 seats in four cabins Travel: The First (9 seats); Business (80 seats); Premium Economy (38 seats) and Economy (389 seats).

Air France:

American Airlines announces new routes to Viracopos International Airport in Campinas, Brazil

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced it is adding new service to Viracopos International Airport (VCP) in Campinas, Brazil, from American’s hubs at Miami International Airport (MIA) and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). This will mark American’s 10th destination in Brazil.

To operate these new routes, American will transition one daily frequency between Miami and Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and select weekly frequencies between JFK and GRU. The new flight from JFK to VCP will operate three times per week beginning on December 1, 2014, and the daily flight from Miami to VCP will be launched on December 2, 2014, pending government approval. Both routes will be operated with Boeing 767-300 ER retrofited aircraft featuring fully lie-flat Business Class seats with all-aisle access.

By December, American will operate all of its flights between MIA and GRU with Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, to better match demand for premium seating between these two important destinations. With this change, all flights between GRU and DFW, JFK and MIA will be operated with American’s 777-300 ER. The aircraft features a three-class cabin configuration with fully lie-flat seats in First and Business Class, international Wi-Fi, and more customer and cargo capacity than any other aircraft currently in American’s fleet.

US Airways service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to GRU will be discontinued beginning October 1, 2014. Charlotte customers will still have access to GRU through American’s Latin America gateway in MIA. American will also continue to serve GRU from its hubs in Dallas/Fort Worth, JFK and Los Angeles.

Beginning this winter, the airline will make the following seasonal schedule adjustments to Europe:

In addition, flights to Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) in Milan, Italy, will now be split between JFK and MIA, with four weekly frequencies from JFK and three from MIA between Jan. 6, 2015, and March 28, 2015.

Campinas Airport is the home of Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras which has also announced new long-range routes from Campinas with its new Airbus A330s.

The Campinas area is a city of around five million people and about a one hour drive from Sao Paulo.

American (current livery):

Republic Airlines to fly Embraer 175s as American Eagle from the Miami hub starting on October 2

Republic Airlines (2nd) (American Eagle) (Indianapolis) on October 2 will start operating Embraer 175s on American Eagle services from the Miami hub to Atlanta, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. The E175s will replace existing Embraer ERJ 145 service per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Republic’s Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N404YX (msn 17000367) completes its final turn on the river approach into Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).

American Eagle-Republic:

Jetairfly to expand flights to Florida

Jetairfly (TUI Airlines Belgium) (Brussels) will return to Sanford (near Orlando) on October 24 where it will operate twice weekly Boeing 767-300 ER flights on a Brussels-Miami-Sanford-Brussels routing per Airline Route.

The carrier will also add a separate third weekly return trip to Miami.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-341 ER OO-TUC (msn 24844) taxies from the gate at Brussels.

Jetairfly:

American to introduce the Miami to Cap-Haitien, Haiti route on October 2

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) will launch new daily service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Cap-Haitien, Haiti (CAP), adding a new international destination to the airline’s growing global network. Customers can now book travel on the new route for travel beginning October 2, 2014, subject to government approval.

The new route supplements American’s long-standing service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and will be operated with a Boeing 737-800.

American Airlines (current):

American Airlines Group to repaint the American and US Airways Boeing 757 fleets

American Airlines Group (American Airlines and US Airways) (Dallas/Fort Worth) has informed its employees about the repainting of the American Airlines and US Airways fleets into the 2013 American brand.

In the June 26 issue of Arrivals, the employees were briefed on the repainting process.

Highlights: As expected, the aging fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82s (MD-82s) and DC-9-83s (MD-83s) of American will not be repainted. This type is being phased out and will be gone in 2018. However the AAG has made the decision to repaint the 35 Boeing 757-200s of American and the 16 Boeing 757-200s of US Airways into the new livery. So far none have been repainted. We are likely to start seeing some soon, especially at US Airways. All will be repainted by the fourth quarter of 2016.

All of the American 777-200s have now been repainted (above).

US Airways has started repainting the Airbus A320 family aircraft: 700, 701, 702, 703, 809, 814, 819, and one other have been repainted. 579, 580, and 581 were all delivered new in American colors. The first Airbus aircraft to be repainted were the former Star Alliance liveried aircraft.

All new arrivals for both American and US Airways are of course, painted in the new American look.

We are likely to still see the American 1968 classic livery lingering on until the fourth quarter of 2017. The American Boeing 737-800s will be the last type to be fully repainted.

Here is the graph sent to the employees:

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. All of the Triple Sevens have been repainted. Boeing 777-223 ER N790AN (msn 30251) arrives in New York (JFK).

American Airlines (current livery):

American Airlines (historic liveries):

US Airways:

Video: Painting a Boeing 777:

Middle Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. American currently operates 35 Boeing 757-200s as the type is gradually being retired. Boeing 757-223 N624AA (msn 24582) of American Airlines taxies to the gate at the Miami hub painted in the classic 1968 livery.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. US Airways is now down to just 16 Boeing 757-200s. Boeing 757-2B7 N938UW (msn 27246) prepares to land in Stockholm (Arlanda).

American to introduce Airbus A321 service between Miami and Las Vegas

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) in addition to adding new Airbus A321 routes from Los Angeles as previously reported, will also add two-class Airbus A321 service between its Miami hub and Las Vegas starting on September 3. The route will be operated on a daily basis per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N108NN (msn 5946) completes its final approach to the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.

American Airlines (current):

LAN is facing a possible mechanics strike on June 26 in Lima, LAN Cargo breaks ground on a new hangar at Miami

LAN Airlines (Santiago) may be somewhat impacted by a possible strike by 70 percent of its LAN Peru (Lima) mechanics maintaining LAN and TAM aircraft. The mechanics are based in Lima, Peru.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation-ITF has issued this statement:

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) LATAM network reports that it is hearing of concerns from passengers due to fly on LAN and TAM planes during a strike expected to begin in Peru on June 26. Unions report that more than 200 mechanics – over 70 percent of all LAN Peru mechanics – will not be certifying airplane flights during the strike, which is expected to affect operations across Latin America, including during the World Cup.

LAN Peru aviation mechanics are responsible for the security of the flights of LAN and TAM Airlines (the LATAM Airline Group), and their function is fundamental to the maintenance of the aircraft and the safety of flights.

On June 26-27 a strike is likely to take place, called by the SITALANPE trade union, which represents 70 per cent of all those mechanics. This is expected to result in cancellations and delays across the region. The mechanics are unequivocal: their labor is not replaceable because they are certified to work on the aircraft. “We are the ones that review the planes each time that they land and if we do not sign the logbook of the aircraft, they do not leave. Without our approval, no plane will be able to fly and therefore the whole company will stop,” explained Juan Carlos Talavera, a LAN Peru aviation mechanic and press secretary of SITALANPE.

Lima, Peru, is the central hub for maintenance work in the holding company that includes both the LAN and TAM Airlines. The Peruvian mechanics maintain the cargo and passenger aircraft for LAN Argentina, LAN Chile, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, and TAM and LAN Cargo.

Dario Castillo Alfaro, the leader of the LAN Chile mechanics’ union, commented: “Our mechanics’ union is supporting the Peruvian workers and is ready to express its solidarity and support. As Chileans, we are depending on our Peruvian co-workers to protect the aviation sector in Latin America from the kind of cost cutting in operations that threatens the security of our passengers. As LAN and TAM workers we know that on behalf of passengers and aviation workers, it is our obligation to inform customers of potential problems and risks. The future of aviation in South America is being threatened by the company’s refusal to negotiate in Peru and Argentina.”

In other news, LAN Cargo (Santiago), an affiliate of LATAM Airlines Group, S.A. and part of South America’s largest airline group comprised of LAN Airlines and its affiliates and TAM Airlines, officially broke ground on a new 98,242-square-foot state of the art maintenance hangar facility at Miami International Airport. The hangar will be LATAM Airlines Group’s first maintenance hangar in the United States. The project represents an investment of more than $15 million dollars and is estimated to create more than 300 new direct and indirect jobs in the first five years, further increasing LATAM Airline Group’s participation and commitment to economic growth in Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida.

The new facility includes state of the art design, technology, and meets the highest standards of environmental compliance. The innovative roof design with the tail cupola will accommodate Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A350 size aircraft, and still meet the applicable structure height requirements.

On June 23 ITF issued this subsequent announcement:

This week, the aviation unions of the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) Network of LATAM Unions in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia will be taking action to support the mechanics of LAN Peru and the flight attendants of LAN Argentina. The workers will inform passengers in the airport about the actions.

The passengers need to know that the demands of the LAN and TAM Airline workers are fair and that the company has the resources to resolve the conflicts. Aviation labour conditions impact the quality of life of workers and potentially the high standards of service on flights.

LAN Peru Mechanics

On June 26th and 27th, a planned strike of the mechanics union (SITALANPE), who represent 70 percent of the workforce, would affect flights in the country and the region. Licensed aviation mechanics are required to certify all aircraft.

LAN Argentina Flight Attendants

In Argentina, the flight attendants have suffered time and again delays in their collective rights. Since 2005, when the company began operations in Argentina, LAN has refused to sign a collective agreement to regulate the flight attendants’ working conditions.

LAN Peru union leader reports detention and threats in the Lima Airport

Juan Carlos Talavera Flores, the press secretary of the SITALANPE union of Peru, has reported that he was detained on Friday, June 20th. He reports that during his detention he was threatened by a security staff from the airport. The security staff introduced himself as being sent by LAN Peru. Mr. Talavera explained that this security staff member told him that LAN Peru was going to bring a legal notary to verify his assumed illegal actions.

Mr. Talvera explains that it was a confusing, frightening and strange action by LAN Peru to intervene with his detention. The leader of the mechanics union states that the police, and the security personnel of the airport sent by LAN Peru, detained him while he was distributing information to the passengers about delays and cancellations which would occur during the upcoming LAN Peru strike of June 26 and 27.

At the police station, the union leader reports that he was searched unfairly for drugs and incriminatory evidence. At the jail, he was threatened. Hours later he was released without charges.

Juan Carlos Talavera Flores, is a leader in the international solidarity campaign to protect aviation standards in South America. His detention was made while he was distributing information in the Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima and answering questions from passengers about the upcoming industrial actions and strikes in LAN and TAM airlines.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. LAN Cargo’s Boeing 767-316F ER CC-CZZ (msn 25756) approaches the runway at Miami International Airport (MIA).

LAN Cargo:

LAN Airlines (Chile):