Chicago O’Hare Airport was hit by a snowstorm on January 28. China Airlines Cargo’s Boeing 747-400F B-18715 was damaged while taxiing to the cargo ramp at ORD when the number 2 engine hit at least one baggage cart on Friday, January 28.
Video:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnAW4m7svM&w=560&h=315%5D
Exterior of American Airlines Hangar 2 at O’Hare International Airport
Global architecture and engineering firm Ghafari Associates is excited to announce the completion of American Airlines’ Hangar 2 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the longest clear span, dual threshold airline hangar in the world.
The new facility was unveiled at a grand opening celebration on January 25 attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ghafari team members, and over 200 officials, customers, employees, partners, and vendors.
Ghafari provided architecture and engineering services for the development of the 194,000 SF dual-entry facility, which can accommodate all aircraft variants in American’s fleet, including narrow-body and wide-body types. The facility also houses ancillary support functions, including a general back shop, a component staging area, and storage spaces.
Unique to the hangar is dual access entry, allowing aircraft to enter and exit from either side of the long dimension. Coupled with a larger capacity for aircraft hardstand positions, this feature offers greater flexibility in servicing American’s extensive fleet of aircraft. The facility is also designed with over 20,000 linear feet of underground utilities, providing point-of-use aircraft services for safer, more effective, and timesaving operations. Additional key features of the design include the use of LED lighting and daylight harvesting, which will reduce energy costs while meeting the Sustainable Airport Manual requirements.
American Airlines celebrated the opening of five new gates at its hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on May 11, the first new gates to be constructed at the airport in 25 years. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined CEO Doug Parker; Franco Tedeschi, vice president — ORD Hub Operations; Ginger Evans, commissioner — Chicago Department of Aviation; and ORD team members for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of what is known as the L-Stinger.
The $78 million construction project was completed on time over the span of 20 months. With the additional gate capacity, American is flying more seats out of Chicago this summer than at any point in the last 10 years. Just last week American inaugurated new service from Chicago to Venice, Italy (VCE), and Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR).
“Today marks a historic moment for O’Hare as we open the airport’s first new gates in 25 years,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I want to thank American Airlines for recognizing the value of this investment and look forward to working with all of our airline partners as we begin moving forward on our transformational plan that represents a watershed moment for O’Hare and Chicago’s economic future.”
The new gates are the latest in American’s investment in ORD, including a new Flagship Lounge and renovated Admirals Club lounges, and later this year, a new hangar and ground equipment maintenance facility.
All images by American Airlines.
United Airlines (Chicago) flight US 3645 from Grand Rapids, MI to the Chicago (O’Hare) hub landed this afternoon (March 14) with the nose wheel retracted. There were no reported injuries on the Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N157GJ according to WGN. The flight was operated by GoJet Airlines (St. Louis).
According to a report by WZZM13, the passengers were informed 20 minutes into the flight there was a problem with the nose gear and the flight would be making an emergency landing at ORD.
Read the full report from WGNtv.com: CLICK HERE
Read the full report by WZZM 13 ABC: CLICK HERE
In related news, GoJet will take delivery of its first Bombardier CRJ900 in June. GoJet Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc., will operate seven Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft under the Delta Connection regional service brand. Deliveries will begin in June of 2015 and continue through October 2015.
GoJet Airlines currently operates a fleet of 47, two-class Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, of which 22 are in service for Delta (the others for United under the United Express banner). GoJet has provided regional service for Delta under the Delta Connection brand since 2011.
Top: Twitter photo by Scott Frody. Bombardier CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10) N157GJ (msn 10230) of GoJet sits on its nose after landing. ARFF personnel assist the safe exit of all passengers and crew members.
United Express-GoJet aircraft slide show: 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. N157GJ departs from Dulles International Airport (IAD) prior to the O’Hare incident.
United Airlines (Chicago) will introduce new premium-cabin dining service on United Express flights beginning next week, featuring freshly prepared entrees served on chinaware and expanded meal-service times for United First and United Business customers on regional flights.
The airline continues:
These dining improvements are part of United’s previously announced multi-million-dollar investment in in-flight food service.
The new meal service will be introduced in phases by aircraft type, with the new menus available on United Express North America flights operated with Embraer E170 (above) and E175 aircraft beginning March 1, and on Bombardier CRJ700 and Q400 aircraft beginning in April.
More Choices, More Often
New breakfast, lunch and dinner menus designed by United’s team of chefs will be offered on flights of more than two hours and twenty minutes.
Breakfast flights may include a fresh fruit plate served with cereal, creamy Greek yogurt and breakfast bread.
Lunch and dinner will feature two freshly-prepared entree choices that may include an artisanal pretzel roll filled with tangy barbecue chicken and coleslaw paired with a tri-color quinoa side salad; or ginger and garlic marinated beef with pickled vegetables and crisp edamame, served with Asian sesame dressing and a side of fresh fruit. Flight attendants will serve signature triple chocolate chunk cookies as dessert on lunch and dinner flights.
Other highlights include:
On flights of less than one hour, gourmet biscotti will be served on early morning flights and a premium fruit and nut snack mix will be served on later flights.
On flights between one hour and two hours and twenty minutes, flight attendants will offer light refreshments that include a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit.
The airline is also adding light refreshments to flights departing between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and after 8 p.m.
Photo Above: United Airlines. The barbeque chicken and coleslaw sandwich.
United Express Inflight Entertainment
The airline is continuing improvements to the United Express inflight experience by outfitting more than 200 E175, E170 and CRJ700 regional jets with Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product. By mid-2015, United expects to complete installation on these aircraft.
Additionally, the company will begin providing Personal Device Entertainment on these regional jets this year, offering customers hundreds of complimentary movies and television shows to view on their Apple iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.
Eco-Skies Recycling Program Expanded to United Express Flights
In mid-January, United Express carriers began recycling on board E175 aircraft, furthering United’s Eco-Skies commitment to operating sustainably and responsibly. These E175 flights originate from Houston, Chicago and San Francisco.
These flights follow the same recycling program currently in place on United’s mainline fleet, using United Eco-Skies recycling bags for recycling paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and the carrier’s new hot beverage cups. The hot beverage cups – introduced in 2014 and boarded on all E175 flights – are recyclable and made in the United States from 50 percent recycled materials.
Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Shuttle America’s Embraer ERJ 170-100SE N639RW (msn 17000057) taxies at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub.
United Express-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:
United Airlines (Chicago) will add the Chicago (O’Hare) – Evansville, Indiana route starting on June 4.
The Evansville Regional Airport issued this short statement:
Evansville Regional Airport announced that United Airlines will be adding three daily flights from Evansville, IN (EVV) to Chicago, IL (ORD) beginning on June 4, 2015. These flights will be operated with United Express Embraer 145 50-passenger jet aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 145LR (EMB-145LR) N13965 (msn 145215) arrives at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
United Express-ExpressJet aircraft slide show:
United Airlines (Chicago) 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): 
United Express-SkyWest Airlines aircraft slide show:
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):
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.
We’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:
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 Fábregas, 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, with 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: 