Tag Archives: O’Hare

Etihad Airways adjusts its North American schedules to increase connectivity

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has announced a number of schedule changes to the airline’s flights between its Abu Dhabi hub and Toronto (Pearson), New York (JFK), and Chicago (O’Hare), which will start on Sunday, March 29, 2015.

The move will provide convenient schedule options for passengers travelling from Canada or the US to the UAE, enhance overall connectivity for flights to and from the Indian Subcontinent (ISC), and establish new connections to key markets such as Dhaka, Kathmandu, and Kolkata.

The new times also all connect with key Etihad Airways’ ISC destinations which include Colombo, Delhi, Karachi, Lahore, and Mumbai.

The three flights a week Toronto service, flight EY 141, will now depart at 2.50 am rather than the current time 10.25 am and the daily EY 151 flight to Chicago will move from a 9.30 am departure to 3.40 am.

Return flight EY 140 from Toronto will arrive at 12.05 pm, and EY 150 from Chicago will arrive in Abu Dhabi at 12.20 pm, which will allow for faster connection times through the hub at a non-peak period.

The new schedule will see the return flight from New York, EY 102, will now depart JFK three hours later than it currently does to ensure its arrival in Abu Dhabi to meet the early afternoon bank of flights to the ISC.

Passengers on the retimed outbound Chicago flight will continue to be processed through United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport, following the recent expansion of the facility’s hours of operation to include early morning flights to the US.

US Preclearance allows passengers to conveniently pass through all required checks including US customs, immigration and security while in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight, enabling them to avoid queues on arrival in the US and arrive as domestic passengers.

Passengers on all Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, which also includes Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York JFK, and Washington DC, are processed through US preclearance.

The schedule changes for Toronto and Chicago have been made in conjunction with Etihad Airways’ key partners, Air Canada and American Airlines in North America, and Jet Airways in India.

The partner airlines will implement new codeshare flights as well as re-accommodate guests who are affected by the new schedule.

Toronto, Chicago, and New York JFK (EY101 / EY102) flight schedule changes are from March 29, 2015:

Copyright Photo:ย Etihad Airways Boeing 777-3FX ER A6-ETR (msn 39687) with the promotional Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 markings taxies at London (Heathrow).

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-1/Airlines-Asia1-AE/Etihad-Airways

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United Airlines adds 55 flights on 8 routes for the Super Bowl

United Airlines (Chicago) added more flights for football fans on top of regularly scheduled service to Phoenix from its hubs in Chicago (O’Hare), Denver, Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco. The airline also added special new nonstop service, operating from January 29 to February 2, from Boston and Seattle/Tacoma to Phoenix for the Super Bowl. Several of the flights will be operated with Boeing 767 aircraft to accommodate the extra demand.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com.ย United Airlines Boeing 767-322 ER N675UA (msn 29243) completes its final approach at Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery only):ย AG Slide Show

United Airlines starts Wi-Fi installation on regional jet aircraft

United Airlines (Chicago)ย has expanded Wi-Fi to the first of its United Express regional aircraft.

The airline will outfit more than 200 Embraer ERJ 175, ERJ 170 and Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets with Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product. By mid-2015, United expects to complete installation on nearly all these aircraft.

Additionally, the company will begin providing Personal Device Entertainment on regional jets this year, offering customers hundreds of complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Wi-Fi-enabled iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.

United Wi-Fi and Personal Device Entertainment

United’s regional jet Wi-Fi installations begin as the airline continues to outfit its mainline fleet with Wi-Fi, which the carrier currently offers on nearly three-quarters of its domestic mainline fleet. United also operates more international aircraft with Wi-Fi than any other U.S. airline.

The company has installed Personal Device Entertainment on nearly 200 mainline aircraft, including its entire Boeing 747-400, Airbus A319 and A320 fleets and its nine Boeing 777 aircraft that fly primarily between the continental United States and Hawaii.

Regional Service Upgrades

In addition to Wi-Fi and Personal Device Entertainment, United is further investing in its customers’ regional-jet experience, including:

Adding 120 Embraer ERJ 175 aircraft to the regional fleet, each offering wider seats and aisles than other regional aircraft, large overhead bins and a power outlet at each United First seat; and

Upgrading premium-cabin meal service on United Express this spring by replacing snack boxes with freshly prepared food on flights that are more than 2 hours and 20 minutes, or 800 miles.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N105SY (msn 17000395) waits for its next assignment at the Chicago (O’Hare) hub.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย AG Slide Show

United Express-SkyWest Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-3/Airlines-United-States3-QZ/United-Express-SkyWest

Allied Pilots Association union agrees to put the latest AAG contract offer to a ratification vote

Allied Pilots Association-APA (Dallas/Fort Worth), representing the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and 5,000 pilots US Airways (Phoenix), agreed late Saturday (January 3) to put the latest offer from the American Airlines Group (Dallas/Fort Worth) to a ratification vote. The AAG was threatening to pull the offer. The AAG is not offering a profit sharing program unlike the pilots at Delta.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), “the company is offering the pilots a more than 18% pay increase retroactive to December 2, 2014 plus a 4% boost that it announced late last month for most nonunion employees and any unions that reach joint postmerger contracts. Moreover, the pilots are in line to receive an additional 3% raise retroactive to the start of 2015, the first of four annual pay increases.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. American Airlines Boeing 737-823 N831NN (msn 33211) taxies at the O’Hare International Airport hub in Chicago.

American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย AG Slide Show

United Airlines to add seasonal service from Chicago O’Hare to Rome next summer

United Airlines (Chicago) next summer from May 16 (changed from June 4) to September 23, 2015 will operate a Chicago (O’Hare) – Rome (Fiumicino) service. The seasonal route will operate with Boeing 777-200 ER equipment.

On December 22 confirmed the seasonal route:

United Airlines will launch new nonstop flights between its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport and Rome on May 16, 2015, subject to government approval. The summer-season service will operate five-times-weekly through June 3, daily from June 4 to August 17, and six-times-weekly from August 18 through September 23, 2015.

Flight UA 970 will depart Chicago at 6:00 p.m. (1800), arriving at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci -Fiumicino Airport at 10:30 a.m. (1030) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 971 will depart Rome at 12:45 p.m. (1245), arriving in Chicago at 4:20 p.m. (1620) the same day.

Schedules may vary slightly on some days. Flight times will be nine hours 30 minutes eastbound and 10 hours 35 minutes westbound.

United will operate the flights using Boeing 777 aircraft with a total of 269 seats โ€“ eight flat-bed seats in United Global First, 40 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 221 seats in United Economy, including 104 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats.

Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinesGallery.com. Former Continental Airlines Boeing 777-224 ER N77006 (msn 29476) climbs away from Heathrow Airport.

Video: Fantasy Flights 2014:

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย AG Slide Show

Frontier Airlines to drop the Cleveland-Chicago O’Hare route on January 3

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is dropping the Cleveland-Chicago (O’Hare) route on January 3, 2015 per Airline Route. The carrier currently operates four weekly flights. The route was part of Frontier’s build-up at CLE in the wake of United Airlines de-hubbing the airport.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Formerly operated by USA 3000 Airlines, Airbus A320-214 N261AV (msn 1615) with an Atlantic Puffin on the tail departs from Los Angeles International Airport. The jetliner is now registered as N218FR.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-2/Airlines-UnitedStates-2/Frontier-Airlines-2nd

 

 

Envoy Air pilots are now at a critical decision point

Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle Airlines) (Dallas/Fort Worth) is at a critical point in its history. The subsidiary of the American Airlines Group (AAG) has been shrinking as the pilots of Envoy Air continue their often tense negotiations with AAG management. The AAG has been reassigning Envoy aircraft as the Envoy pilot base shrinks.

Now the Envoy MEC, representing the pilots of Envoy, has reached another tentative agreement (TA) with AAG management. This TA will now go to the pilots for their vote. It is likely to be the final vote on a new contract. Sam Pool, Envoy MEC Chairman, has sent this message to the Envoy pilots:

December 7, 2014

Fellow Envoy Pilots,

The Envoy MEC reconvened early this morning in Washington, DC to consider a final proposal from company representatives. After another full day of intense negotiations and discussions, late tonight the MEC approved a tentative agreement (TA), endorsing and supporting its ratification by the membership. The MEC believes this TA is the best obtainable agreement, and provides the best path forward for Envoy pilots given our circumstances.

To say this has been a difficult process is an understatement. All quadrants of our diverse pilot group will be affected by some factors of this agreement, and our reps have not taken this decision lightly. It has been one year since this process began, and to this end, our negotiators, officers and the entire ALPA leadership have ensured that they have achieved as much as possible in return for the re-fleeting of our airline.

Weโ€™ve reached a point where the final decision rests with you, and a ratification vote will be conducted in the near future. The MEC is planning roadshows beginning this week, and will conduct several all pilot conference calls. We will provide you a list of specific times and locations for all roadshows and pilot conference calls in a future email.

Thank you for your continued professionalism and support.

In Unity
Sam Pool
Envoy MEC Chairman

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N534AE (msn 10312) of Envoy Air awaits its next assignment from the Chicago O’Hare Airport hub.

American Eagle-Envoy Air aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/American-Eagle-Envoy

United details its new Newark-Venice flights and seasonal Chicago O’Hare-Dublin summer service

United Airlines (Chicago) today announced new trans-Atlantic summer-season service between Newark and Venice, Italy, along with new service between Chicago (O’Hare) and Dublin, both subject to government approval.

In addition, the airline will offer a second daily nonstop flight between Washington (Dulles) and Paris (CDG) for the summer season.

Newark to Venice

Flight UA 170 will depart United’s New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport daily at 6:45 p.m. (1845), arriving in Venice at 9:05 a.m. (0905) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 169 will depart Venice Marco Polo Airport daily at 10:55 a.m. (1055), arriving at Newark at 2:25 p.m. (1425) the same day. Flight times will be eight hours 20 minutes eastbound and nine hours 30 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate with Boeing 767-400 ER aircraft with a total of 242 seats โ€“ 39 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 203 in United Economy, including 70 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

United has served Italy since 1992. The airline currently operates nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Milan and, on a seasonal basis, New York/Newark and Washington Dulles to Rome.

The new Venice flights will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015, through Sept. 23, 2015.

Chicago O’Hare to Dublin

Flight UA 152 will depart United’s Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport daily at 6:05 p.m. (1805), arriving in Dublin at 7:35 a.m. (0735) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 153 will depart Dublin Airport daily at 9:50 a.m. (0950), arriving in Chicago O’Hare at 12:15 p.m. (1215) the same day. Flight times will be seven hours 30 minutes eastbound and eight hours 25 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate using Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats โ€“ 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats.

Chicago O’Hare will be the third United hub with nonstop service to Dublin, after Newark and Washington Dulles.

The Chicago O’Hare-Dublin service will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015 through Aug. 17, 2015.

Washington Dulles to Paris CDG

Flight UA 140 will depart United’s hub at Washington Dulles International Airport daily at 10:10 p.m. (2210), arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris at 12:20 p.m. (1220) the following day (all times local). The return flight UA 141 will depart Paris CDG daily at 4:30 p.m. (1630), arriving at Washington Dulles at 7:30 p.m. (1930) the same day. Flight times will be eight hours 10 minutes eastbound and nine hours westbound.

United will operate the flights with Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats โ€“ 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats.

United’s current service between Washington and Paris departs Washington Dulles daily at 5:20 p.m., arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 6:55 a.m. the following day (all times local). The return flight, 914, departs Paris daily at 11:55 a.m., arriving at Washington Dulles at 3 p.m. the same day. The current flights operate with 214-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

United has served France since 1987. The airline operates nonstop flights to Paris from its Chicago O’Hare, Newark and San Francisco hubs, in addition to the Washington Dulles service.

The second Washington-Paris frequency will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015 through August 17, 2015.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-424 ER N59053 (msn 29448) approaches the runway in Zurich.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):ย AG Slide Show

Envoy Air’s Embraer ERJ 145 operations continue to shrink, the Miami pilot and FA base to be phased down by April 2015

Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle Airlines 2nd) (part of American Airlines Group) (Dallas/Fort Worth) continues to shrink its Embraer ERJ 145 operations as its parent continues to replace its flying with larger aircraft from other associated AE carriers..

Pedro Fรกbregas,ย President and CEO of Envoy, has informed its employees that the parent American Airlines Group has decided to phase down and finally close the Miami pilot and flight attendant base in April 2015.

According to the memo, withย the December 18 schedule, Envoy will operate 37 daily departures from Miami International Airport (MIA), using 12 50-seat Embraer ERJ 145 (EMB-145) regional jets. This is a big drop off from the 60 flights operated at the hub on October 1, 2014 with its 23 ERJs. The ERJ 145 aircraft and crews that will no longer be needed in MIA will be assigned to replace Envoy operations in other locations for the planned retirement of the 44-seat ERJ 140 (EMB-140) aircraft.

No Envoy pilots or flight attendants will be furloughed as a result of the schedule change.

Envoy is phasing out its pilot and flight attendant base in MIA. This will begin in January 2015 and will be completed by April 2015.

Republic Airlines will replace the smaller Envoy ERJ 145s with its newer and larger Embraer ERJ 175s.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Envoy Air’s Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N697AB (msn 14500875) taxies to the runway at the Chicago O’Hare hub.

American Eagle-Envoy Air:ย AG Slide Show

 

Spirit Airlines announces two additional routes from Chicago O’Hare to Philadelphia and San Diego

Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced two more new nonstop routes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, increasing the number of cities it serves nonstop from Chicago to 23. New daily nonstop service to San Diego and Philadelphia will begin on April 16, 2015, with one daily flight to each city.

In addition to this new service to San Diego and Philadelphia, Spirit previously announced that it will begin new service between Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta on October 24, and between Chicago O’Hare and New Orleans on October 31.

In all, Spirit will operate to 23 cities nonstop from Chicago, including Atlanta (starting October 24), Atlantic City, Baltimore/Washington DC, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Fort Myers, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans (starting October 31), New York (LaGuardia), Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia (starting April 16, 2015), Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, San Diego (starting April 16, 2015) and Tampa.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N602NK (msn 4264) taxies at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Spirit currently has three aircraft brands in service.

Spirit Airlines:ย AG Slide Show