Tag Archives: N854VA

Alaska Airlines launches new codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways

Alaska Airlines has made this announcement:

As Alaska Airlines expands its global reach with our oneworld partners, we proudly announced today the launch of a codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways, a fellow member of the alliance, that further strengthens the partnership between the two airlines and provides travelers with exciting and convenient options.

Beginning July 1, the agreement allows passengers on Qatar Airways to book travel and easily connect to more than 150 routes throughout Alaska’s network. On the West Coast, Qatar Airways has nonstop service connecting its main hub in Doha to three of Alaska’s primary gateway cities – Los Angeles with twice daily flights, and daily flights at San Francisco and Seattle – allowing for seamless connectivity.

Alaska launched its partnership with Qatar Airways on Dec. 15, 2020, with the ability for our Mileage Plan members to earn miles on Qatar Airways flights. On March 31, 2021, Alaska officially joined oneworld and expanded its partnership with Qatar Airways to provide elite benefits reciprocally, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security and boarding; lounge access and extra baggage allowance. Qatar Airways has been a member of oneworld since 2013.

In the coming months, Alaska’s guests will be able to book travel on Qatar Airways flights between the U.S. and Qatar and beyond to their favorite destinations in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

Top Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 N854VA (msn 5058) (Fly with Pride) SEA (Nick Dean). Image: 954265.

Alaska Airlines unveils an Airbus A320 in a “Pride Plane” special livery on N854VA

Alaska Airlines announced on social media it had unveiled a “Fly with Pride” special livery on its Airbus A320-214 N854VA with this statement and photos:

Our Pride flies nonstop. Literally! We are longtime supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re proud to share our newest special aircraft, which was inspired by leaders of Alaska’s LGBTQ+ employee group to encourage conversations around belonging, equity and equality.

The design features airplane decals with iconic rainbow stripes & inclusive colors such as brown, black, light blue, white & pink to represent BIPOC & Transgender communities. Without those groups of people & their activism, we would not have Pride today.

Previously on June 4, 2021 the company issued this statement on the ACLU Letter:

Alaska Airlines has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. We have been a leader in the industry when it comes to inclusivity in our uniform and grooming standards, which have been informed by our employees and developed in accordance with federal and state laws.

We are committed to making Alaska a place where everyone feels respected and belongs and proudly celebrate the diversity of our employees this Pride month and all year long.

Over the past year, we have introduced several new guidelines designed to give our flight attendants more inclusive uniform options. Since early 2020, all flight attendants have been able to order any pant or parka style and have been able to select the uniform kit of their choice, regardless of gender identity. Starting later this month, we are set to introduce the ability to order these items online, giving employees greater ease of choice in the uniform selection process. We will also implement new gender-neutral hair policies that will allow all flight attendants to wear their hair down when not handling food, regardless of gender. These are two of the latest policy changes we have made to make Alaska a more inclusive place to work.

We are committed to continuing to explore uniform and grooming standards for our flight attendants. We know we cannot do this alone, and appreciate the feedback and partnership we have with our flight attendant community.

The statement was in response to this letter sent to Alaska by the ACLU:

Virgin America posts a record first quarter GAAP net profit of $12.8 million

Virgin America (San Francisco) today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

Key highlights from the first quarter include:

First quarter 2015 net income was $10.5 million excluding special items1, an increase of $32.9 million from the first quarter of 2014. Operating income and operating margin excluding special items were $13.1 million and 4.0 percent, respectively.

On a GAAP basis, net income was $12.8 million. This represents the first time in its history that Virgin America has recorded a profit in the first quarter of the year, and the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in profitability. Operating income and operating margin on a GAAP basis were $15.4 million and 4.7 percent, respectively.

Fully diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $0.24. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share was $0.29.

“Virgin America continues to perform exceptionally well, achieving net income of $10.5 million excluding special items in the first quarter of 2015,” said David Cush, Virgin America’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This marks the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in our financial performance, off the back of a record year of profitability in 2014. This is a testament to our business model, our product and Teammates who delivered an outstanding experience for our guests.”

First Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

• Operating Revenue: Total operating revenue was $326.4 million, an increase of 4.1 percent over first quarter of 2014.

• Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM): Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 2.6 percent compared to the first quarter 2014, to 10.27 cents. Year-over-year PRASM growth was driven by a 0.9 point increase in load factor and a 1.4 percent increase in yield. Total RASM increased 2.7 percent year-over-year.

• Cost per Available Seat Mile (CASM): Total CASM excluding special items decreased 5.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014, to 11.11 cents. Decreases in fuel costs and reduced heavy maintenance activity contributed to the decline in CASM, partially offset by increases in salaries, wages and benefits. Salaries, wages and benefits costs included a $2.1 million accrual for teammate profit sharing and payroll taxes related to 2014 profit sharing. CASM excluding special items, fuel costs and profit sharing for the quarter increased 3.0 percent year-over-year, to 7.82 cents.

• Fuel Expense: Virgin America realized an average economic fuel cost per gallon including taxes and the impact of hedges of $2.45, which was 22.7 percent lower year-over-year. This amount includes certain fuel expense adjustments described as special items below.

• Special Items: Special items in the first quarter of 2015 relate to $2.3 million of adjustments for fuel hedges that settled during the first quarter of 2015 but for which unrealized losses had been previously recorded under GAAP and mark-to-market adjustments for fuel hedges that mature subsequent to March 31, 2015, which did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

• Operating Income: First quarter 2015 operating income excluding special items was $13.1 million, an increase of $26.3 million as compared to 2014. The Company’s operating margin excluding special items of 4.0 percent, improved by 8.2 points year-over-year.

• Net Income: Net income excluding special items for the first quarter was $10.5 million, an increase of$32.9 million year-over-year.

• Fully Diluted EPS: Fully diluted earnings per share, excluding special items, was $0.24 for the first quarter of 2015. First quarter 2015 fully diluted earnings per share was $0.29 on a GAAP basis.

• Capacity: Available seat miles (ASMs) for the first quarter of 2015 increased 1.5 percent year-over-year compared with the first quarter of 2014. The airline was affected by severe winter weather, reducing capacity growth by 1.5 percent versus the Company’s original plan. Virgin America ended the quarter with 53 Airbus A320-family aircraft, unchanged from the first quarter of 2014.

• Liquidity: Unrestricted cash was $418.3 million as of March 31, 2015.

2015 Aircraft Financing

Virgin America entered into agreements to finance approximately 80 percent of the purchase price of its five 2015 Airbus A320 aircraft deliveries. The weighted average interest rate on these financing commitments, if fixed at current underlying interest rates, would be under 5.0 percent.

Second Quarter 2015 Outlook

The Company’s expectations for the second quarter of 2015 are based on currently available information. These expectations are forward-looking, and actual results could differ materially depending on market conditions and the factors set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” below. You should not place undue reliance upon these expectations.

The Company expects capacity, as measured by available seat miles, to decrease by approximately 0.0 percent to 1.0 percent for the second quarter of 2015 as compared to the second quarter of 2014. Based on current revenue trends, the Company expects PRASM to decrease between 0.0 percent and 2.0 percent versus the second quarter of 2014. The Company expects CASM excluding fuel and profit sharing to increase between 8.0 percent and 10.0 percent versus the second quarter of 2014. CASM excluding fuel and profit sharing is increasing in the second quarter due to a decrease in average stage length year-over-year of approximately 4.0 percent, additional maintenance costs expected during the quarter, and previously announced increases in salaries, wages and benefits.

The Company is targeting a full year 2015 increase in CASM, excluding fuel and profit sharing, of approximately 7.0 percent to 9.0 percent, primarily due to the previously announced increase in salaries, wages and benefits and to a decrease in average stage length. In 2016, the Company is currently targeting CASM, excluding fuel and profit sharing, to remain flat year-over-year.

Based on Virgin America’s hedge portfolio and current market prices for aviation fuel products, the Company expects Virgin America’s economic fuel cost per gallon inclusive of related taxes and hedge costs to average between $2.10 and $2.20 for the second quarter of 2015. This number may change depending on fluctuations in market prices for jet fuel during the quarter.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N854VA (msn 5058) Arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

Virgin America aircraft slide show:

Virgin America produces its first full-year profit of $10.1 million for 2013

Virgin America (San Francisco) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013:

Fourth Quarter 2013 Financial Highlights:

Net Income: $14.2 million in net income, compared to a year ago quarterly loss of $25.0 million, an improvement of $39.1 million.
Operating Revenue: Total operating revenue of $359.9 million, an increase of 2.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2012.
Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM): RASM increased 4.1 percent, to 11.79 cents. Both increased load factor (up 1.6 points to 78.5 percent) and yield (up 2.4 percent) contributed to the RASM improvement.
Cost per Available Seat Mile (CASM): CASM excluding fuel costs remained the same year-over-year. Total CASM decreased 1.3 percent to 11.02 cents.
Operating Income: $24 million in operating income, increased by $18.4 million year-over-year. Operating margin was 6.6 percent, an increase of 5.1 points from the fourth quarter of 2012.
Capacity: Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 1.3 percent during the fourth quarter. Stage length decreased 8.1 percent, to 1,426 miles.

Full Year 2013 Financial Highlights:

Net Income: 2013 net income of $10.1 million increased $155.5 million, from a loss of $145.4 million in 2012. 2013 was Virgin America’s first full year of profitability.
Operating Revenue: Total operating revenue for 2013 was $1.425 billion, a $92 million increase and 6.9 percent improvement over 2012.
RASM: Total RASM increased 9.3 percent over 2012, to 11.64 cents. Virgin America achieved the highest year-over-year percentage increase in RASM of all major U.S. airlines in 2013.
CASM: Excluding fuel costs, CASM increased 3.3 percent, to 6.83 cents. This modest increase was largely driven by network changes that reduced aircraft utilization by 6.7 percent. Total CASM increased by 0.5 percent to 10.96 cents.
Operating Income: $80.9 million, an increase of $112.6 million from 2012’s operating loss of $31.7 million. 2013 operating margin was 5.7 percent, an increase of 8.1 points over 2012.
Capacity: Network changes led to a 2.2 percent decrease in ASMs for the full year. The average length of a flight (stage length) decreased by 5.9 percent, to 1,474 miles.
2013 Restructuring: The Company completed a debt restructuring in May 2013, eliminating more than $300 million of debt and accrued interest and reducing interest rates on a majority of the remaining debt.
Liquidity: Year-end unrestricted cash balance was $155.7 million. Virgin America generated strong operating cash flow in 2013 of $51 million.

Fleet Plan:

2013 Additions: The airline took delivery of one additional A320 aircraft in the first quarter of 2013, increasing the total operating fleet to 53 Airbus A320-Family aircraft.

Future Deliveries: The airline’s total order with Airbus remains at 40 A320-Family aircraft, with five scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2015, five in the first half of 2016, and 30 scheduled for delivery starting in 2020.

Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. Taken from a different perspective at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Airbus A320-214 N854VA (msn 5058) taxies to the terminal.

Virgin America: