Tag Archives: MUC

Lufthansa launches the first Fanhansa aircraft – Airbus A321 D-AIDG

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has unveiled its first “Fanhansa” – titled aircraft for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. The pictured Airbus A321-231 D-AIDG (msn 4672) was rolled out at Munich on Friday May 16 and is now in service in the LH European network. The airline issued this statement:

The first aircraft with the new “Fanhansa” livery taxied out to the runway on schedule at 11.20 on May 16. The Airbus A321-200, named after the town of Göttingen in Lower Saxony, flew from Munich to Hamburg as flight number LH 2066 on the same day. Overnight the “Delta Golf” – from its registration number D-AIDG – was embellished with special foil by five Lufthansa Technik employees in 40 hours of work. The Fanhansa lettering on this Airbus medium-haul aircraft is 7.65 meters long.

Lufthansa is celebrating a special premiere with Fanhansa. For the first time since beginning flight operations nearly 60 years ago, part of the fleet is to change the name on the aircraft fuselage. To mark the football World Cup, a total of eight Lufthansa aircraft will swap their familiar livery for the new Fanhansa logo. The Airbus A321-200 will be followed by two additional short-haul aircraft and a total of five long-haul aircraft with the Fanhansa lettering, including the Boeing 747-8, the world’s longest civilian aircraft. After departing from Munich at 11.20 a.m., the Airbus was scheduled to land at Hamburg Airport between 12.35 p.m. and 1.20 p.m., and arrive at London-Heathrow between 5.00 p.m. and 6.05 p.m. The return to Munich is scheduled for 8.55 p.m.

With Fanhansa, Lufthansa will be flying not just the German national team to Brazil, as partner of the German Football Association, but also thousands of football fans, media representatives and officials. During the many surprise Fanhansa promotions that will be happening on board Lufthansa scheduled flights and at check-in counters and gates in German airports, participants will be able to qualify immediately for a ticket to Brazil on board a Fanhansa plane.

Lufthansa:

AirBridgeCargo Airlines is coming to Munich on May 9

AirBridgeCargo Airlines-ABC (Moscow-Sheremetyevo), the largest Russian scheduled cargo airline and part of Volga Dnepr Group, is further expanding its services in Central Europe by introducing direct services to/from Munich with a Boeing 747 freighter on May 9.

The new Munich flight to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport will be in addition to the existing 4 weekly Boeing 737 flights operated by Atran Cargo Airlines, also part of Volga Dnepr Group. ABC Boeing 747 all-cargo flight between the Bavarian capital and ABC hub in Moscow (Sheremetyevo) will be on Friday midday, providing ideal end of the week departure time for European customers.

Germany has always been one of the most important markets contributing to ABC’s growth over the last decade. Earlier this year ABC launched scheduled Boeing 747 services to and from Leipzig, extending the Group’s strong association with the airport, where it has invested in a modern aircraft maintenance and repair facility to serve a variety of aircraft types (Boeing 747-200/300/400/8 (CF-50/80, PW4000), Boeing 737CL).

AirBridgeCargo’s scheduled network covers major markets in Asia (China, Japan and Korea), Europe (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden) and North America (Chicago, Dallas).

The airline’s fleet is one of the youngest in the industry and includes 12 Boeing 747s: four Boeing 747-400ERFs, three Boeing 747-400Fs and five brand new Boeing 747-8Fs. The average fleet age is about 4 years.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-8HVF VQ-BLR (msn 37668) taxies at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS).

AirBridgeCargo Aircraft Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Routes to Europe:

Thomas Cook Airlines to add new routes from Manchester to Miami and New York

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) is returning and will commence scheduled passenger services at Miami International Airport (MIA) effective on May 3, 2015. Thomas Cook plans on operating twice-weekly nonstops between Manchester and MIA utilizing Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The new route is seasonal and is expected to be operated for eight months.

The airline is also starting three times a week service from Manchester to New York (JFK) starting also in May.

The airline currently operates from Manchester to Orlando and Las Vegas.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 G-OMYT (msn 301) with the new Thomas Cook Group “Sunny Heart” logo on the tail arrives in Munich.

The new Thomas Cook Group “Sunny Heart” logo:

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

United Airlines launches Houston-Munich flights

United Airlines (Chicago) yesterday (April 24) launched daily nonstop service between its Houston hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Munich, linking the fourth-largest city in the U.S. with the capital of Bavaria.

United will operate the service with Boeing 767-400 aircraft with 242 seats – 39 in United BusinessFirst and 203 in United Economy, including 70 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats.

Flight UA 104 departs Bush Intercontinental daily at 4:10 p.m. (1610) and arrives at Munich’s Franz Joseph Strauss International Airport at 9:50 a.m. (0950) the next day. On the return, flight UA 105 will depart Munich at 9:30 a.m. (0930) and arrive in Houston at 2:20 p.m. (1420) the same day.

The new Munich flights complement the daily nonstop service between Houston and Frankfurt that both United and its joint-venture partner Lufthansa offer today.

United is the leading U.S. carrier to Germany, operating year-round nonstop flights to five German cities from hubs in Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-424 ER N76055 (msn 29450) in the Star Alliance motif taxies at Munich.

United Airlines (current):

Scandinavian Airlines improves its inflight food service with two new levels

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) is improving its inflight food service and has issued this translated statement today:

As a part of the continuous development of SAS’ service concept, SAS has developed the onboard food and beverage offering to improve the customer experience. The adjustments follow a broad customer survey and are introduced from beginning of March.

In June 2013, SAS launched the new service concept called “SAS Go & Plus” which has been overall well-received by SAS customers. A customer survey, with more than 4500 respondents, shows that the customers appreciate SAS Go & Plus for its
simplicity and 85% of the customers are positive or neutral to the concept.

There are three main initiatives in the development of SAS Go & Plus:

1. Improvements of the food and beverage offering; adjustments of onboard concept and clarification of the difference between SAS Go & SAS Plus.

2. We introduced SAS Go & Plus to make travel easier for our customers. By clarifying and improving our on board offering we want to ensure a pleasant and joyful overall experience for customers when they choose SAS says Snorre Andresen, Vice President Product Management and Development at SAS.

The first changes to the onboard concept come into effect on March 1 and again on March 20. The improvements of meals are ongoing.

Facts about improvements and adjustments:

SAS improves food experience on board

SAS customers appreciate proper meals on longer flights, and snacks and beverages on shorter flights.

SAS reduces the number of menu variants and introduces a clearer concept for flights within Europe: one for the Nordic region and one for flights to Europe.

SAS Plus includes a new evening meal and drinks served in classic Orreforsglass

Warm bread with the meal.

The cafe offers a selection of fresh food, such as sandwiches salads and hot wraps.

The cafe menu is continually updated with seasonal additions.

The dining experience will be enhanced on intercontinental flights for SAS Go & Plus and Business.

All meals will be renewed or enhanced and the food presentation improved with new design and packaging.

Along with other treats, pre-departure champagne will be re-introduced in Business. SAS Go includes pre-departure water and one non-alcoholic drink together with meals. Alcoholic beverages are included in SAS Business and Plus, and are for sale in SAS Go.

SAS clarifies the difference between SAS Go and Plus:

SAS Plus includes everything, also food and drinks onboard, and with SAS Go food and drinks are for purchase.

Breakfast included in SAS Plus and available for purchase in SAS Go. It is possible to buy breakfast with EuroBonus points.

Coffee, tea and newspaper are as always included for all SAS passengers.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-883 LN-RCY (msn 28324) in the special “Disney Planes” motif taxies at Munich, Germany.

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS:

Cargolux orders an additional Boeing 747-8 Freighter

Cargolux Airlines International (Luxembourg) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) have announced an order for an additional 747-8 Freighter. The order, valued at $357.5 million at list prices, is the 14^th 747-8 Freighter the cargo carrier has ordered from Boeing.

“The Cargolux Board of Directors approved the order of our 14^th 747-8 Freighter almost 35 years to the day that the airline took delivery of its first 747 Freighter ever,” said Richard Forson, interim president and CEO of Cargolux. “This shows how pleased we, as an all-747 cargo operator, are with the performance and economics of this new generation aircraft and underlines the importance of the role of the 747 overall in the success of our company.”

Cargolux was the world’s first operator of the 747-8 Freighter, taking its first delivery of the airplane type in October 2011. Since then, the airline has taken a total of nine 747-8 Freighters, providing the carrier with increased cargo capacity coupled with excellent economic performance. With today’s announcement, Cargolux has a total of five unfilled orders for 747-8 Freighters.

As well as being one of the launch customers for the 747-8 Freighter, Cargolux also took delivery of the first ever 747-400 Freighter in November 1993. The all-Boeing carrier has a fleet comprised entirely of 747-400 Freighters and 747-8 Freighters.

Cargolux:

Condor is coming to Minneapolis/St. Paul next summer

Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) has announced it will be flying from Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) to Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP). Flights will depart on Mondays and Thursdays with Boeing 767-300 aircraft from June 26 until September 11, 2014.

Besides MSP, Condor flies to Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL), Las Vegas (LAS), Seattle/Tacoma (SEA), Anchorage (ANC), Calgary (YYC), Fairbanks (FAI), Halifax (YHZ), Toronto (Pearson) (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Whitehorse (YXY) in North America.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-330 D-ABUB (msn 26987) decorated with the extra Janosch markings featuring Kastenfrosch and Tigerente, arrives in Munich. D-ABUB also carries the new Thomas Cook “Sunny Heart” tail logo.

Condor:

Norwegian establishes its sixth Spanish base at Barcelona

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) continues to expand in Europe and will open a new base in Barcelona in the spring of 2014. The fast-growing company is launching four new routes from Barcelona to Berlin, Hamburg, Warsaw and Sandefjord Torp.

Barcelona is Norwegian’s sixth Spanish base along with Madrid, Alicante, Malaga, Las Palmas and Tenerife.

Norwegian will base three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft in Barcelona, recruiting 100 employees locally and launches four new routes from April 2014:

Barcelona – Hamburg: Four times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting
April 3, 2014

Barcelona – Berlin: Three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting April 2, 2014

Barcelona – Warsaw: Three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, starting April 3, 2014

Barcelona – Sandefjord Torp: Twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays starting on April 3, 2014

Norwegian will also expand the following existing routes from Barcelona:

Stockholm – Barcelona: 13 flights a week
Helsinki – Barcelona: Daily
Barcelona – London: Daily from March 31, 2014

Norwegian:

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Augsburg Airways operates its last flight for Lufthansa

Augsburg Airways (Munich) today (October 26) operated the last Lufthansa Regional flight for Lufthansa. The airline is closing down as a result. Augsburg was the last independent contractor operating for Lufthansa.

The company started operations as Interot Airways in September 1986. It adopted the current name on November 6, 1995.

Top Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) D-ADHT (msn 4281) in the Lufthansa Regional 2003 livery wears special “Last day” and “bye bye” markings as it approaches Munich on the very last flight for Lufthansa today.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. This historic photo captures the very last arrival for Augsburg Airways at the Munich hub.

Augsburg Airways:

Etihad Airways to recruit 50 pilots from Airberlin, enters a new relationship with KLM

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has announced it will recruit around 50 pilots from partner Airberlin (Berlin) which has been downsizing. The carrier issued this statement:

The move comes as Airberlin, Germany’s second largest carrier, continues to work through its Turbine business turnaround program, and as Etihad Airways prepares for significant international expansion.

The recruitment transfers began in April when the first batch of six Boeing 737-rated First Officers arrived in Abu Dhabi to start type conversion training on to the Boeing 777 at Etihad Airways’ Flight Training Centre.

Upon successful completion, the six pilots will undertake line training on the airline’s global network, before being fully licensed as type-rated Boeing 777 First Officers.

Further pilot transfers will take place in the coming months, comprising Airbus A320 Captains, Airbus A320 First Officers, Airbus A330 First Officers and Boeing 777 non-rated First Officers.

Etihad Airways’ current fleet of 77 Boeing and Airbus aircraft will grow significantly this decade with more than 90 firm order aircraft scheduled for delivery.

Over the next 12 months the carrier will take delivery of four Boeing 777-300 ERs, five Airbus A320s, one Airbus A321, one Airbus A330-200 and one Airbus A330-200 freighter aircraft. Late next year, Etihad Airways will also introduce its first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Etihad Airways currently employs over 1,400 pilots, and plans to recruit 1,000 more by 2020.

In other news, Etihad has announced it has entered the second phase of its strategic partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) following the launch of new Amsterdam service. The airline issued this statement:

The daily service, operated by a two cabin Airbus A330-200 and configured to carry 262 passengers with 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class, was launched on May 15 and carries KLM’s KL code.

The launch of the new flights coincides with the addition of 12 new KLM destinations out of Schiphol Airport which now carry Etihad Airways EY code. KLM has also added its KL code to a further six Etihad Airways destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub.

The 12 additional destinations that Etihad Airways customers can now access through codeshare operations with KLM are Stockholm, Aberdeen, Barcelona, Bergen, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Leeds/Bradford and Madrid.

These cities join the first phase of cities served by KLM, which carry the EY code, Billund, Cardiff, Newcastle, Oslo, and Stavanger.

KLM now has its KL code on six Etihad Airways’ flights to Abu Dhabi, Brisbane, Khartoum, Male, Muscat and Seychelles.

These join the initial group of cities served by Etihad Airways – Colombo, Islamabad, Lahore, Melbourne, and Sydney – which also carry the KL code.

In addition to flight operations Etihad Airways has this year wet-leased a Boeing 747-400 freighter from KLM. This aircraft, with a payload capacity of 124 tons, links the two cargo hubs of Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam, and increases our capacity to Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Dhaka.

From KLM’s partner, Air France, Etihad Airways has also wet-leased an Airbus A340-300 for use on the Paris-Abu Dhabi route from now until the end of the year.

Amsterdam joins a group of 17 leading European cities that Etihad Airways flies to including Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London and Paris.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Etihad Airways’ Airbus A330-243 A6-EYE (msn 688) (Manchester City Football Club) arrives at Munich.

Video: Etihad Airways.