Tag Archives: PMI

Finnair adds capacity to Stockholm, expands cooperation with Swedish regional airline BRA

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Finnair will add connections to Stockholm’s Bromma airport, and deepen its cooperation with the Swedish regional airline BRA. With the new frequencies, Finnair adds capacity between Bromma and Helsinki by a total of 40%, offering up to 7 connections per day between both cities. The new connections to Stockholm’s conveniently located downtown airport further improve Finnair’s offering for the Swedish market, which is one of Finnair’s key markets. Finnair also flies to Stockholm Arlanda airport with up to 8 connections a day.

Starting from January 2018, BRA will operate an additional afternoon flight for Finnair from Bromma in Stockholm to Helsinki and back during the weekdays, offering Swedish customers an additional connection to Finnair’s extensive Asian network. Finnair will also operate an additional morning flight from Helsinki to Bromma five days a week, and an evening flight from Bromma to Helsinki six days a week, giving Finnair customers an improved schedule and quick transfers to BRA’s regional network in Sweden via Bromma. BRA offers connections from Bromma to Malmö, Umeå, Sundsvall, Växjö, Visby, Ängelholm, Halmstad, Ronneby, Östersund and Trollhättan.

Finnair flies to four airports in Sweden – Stockholm Arlanda and Bromma, Gothenburg and Umeå – with a total of up to 17 daily connections. With the BRA codeshare, Finnair covers altogether 13 cities in Sweden, and a frequent flyer program partnership between both airlines enables Finnair Plus customers to earn and use points throughout BRA’s network.

BRA flies to 13 destinations in Sweden.

BRA has a fleet of nine AVRO (BAe) RJ100s and two AVRO RJ85s.

Germania returns to Berlin Tegel

Germania issued this statement on November 1, 2017:

The aircraft with the green and white livery are once again taking off from Berlin-Tegel Airport (below). After a three year absence, the independent German airline Germania has returned to the airport in north Berlin, holding an inaugural flight to Gran Canaria.

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Germania now offers flights from Tegel in addition to Berlin-Schönefeld, giving Berlin’s inhabitants an even greater choice of flights to sunny destinations. The airline will continue to utlilize its hangar on the south side of the city, ensuring quick aircraft maintenance.

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New routes from Tegel include 6 destinations in Egypt, Israel and Spain. In May, another 7 destinations will be added to the schedule, totally 13. Moreover, the Canary Islands, Faro and Madeira/Funchal in Portugal, will be served, along with Marsa Alam in Egypt. Several Greek islands like Kos, Corfu, Crete and Rhodes, will also be included. In addition, Germania will provide a daily connection from summer 2018 to Palma de Mallorca from Berlin-Tegel.

Top Copyright Photo Germania Fluggesellschaft Boeing 737-75B WL D-AGEN (msn 28100) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 923545. (all others by Germania).

SkyWork Airlines secures a new AOC, resumes operations today

SkyWork Airlines (Bern) has demonstrated sufficient financial backing and has secured a new Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The airline resumed operations on November 1, 2017 with its winter schedule.

Route Map:

Air Europa to enter the inter-island Canary Islands market tomorrow

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On Monday, October 30, 2017, AIr Europa is entering the inter-island market in the Canary Islands.

The airline will offer flights between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (LPA) and Tenerife Nord (TFN), Fuerteventura (FUE) and Lanzarote (ACE) with over 25 daily flights operated by its subsidiary Air Europa Express with two 68-seat ATR 72-500s.

Copyright Photo: Air Europa Express (2nd) ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) EC-MSN (msn 918) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 939430.

easyJet signs agreement with Airberlin for Berlin Tegel operations and 25 Airbus A320s

easyJet on October 27, 2017 signed an agreement with Airberlin to acquire part of its operations at Berlin Tegel Airport for a purchase consideration of €40 million. This excludes potential start-up and transitional operating costs. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in December 2017.

The acquisition will result in easyJet entering into leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft, offering employment to Airberlin flying crews and taking over other assets including slots. easyJet has launched a recruitment campaign to attract around 1000 of Airberlin’s pilots and cabin crew who will be recruited over the coming months and will then be trained on easyJet’s safety and operating procedures. In line with easyJet’s business model they will be employed on local, German contracts under collective labor agreements negotiated with ver.di.

This agreement is consistent with easyJet’s strategy of purposeful investment in strong number one positions in Europe’s leading airports (or number two to a legacy incumbent). This will enable easyJet to operate the leading short haul network at Tegel connecting passengers to and from destinations across Germany and the rest of Europe. This is in addition to easyJet’s existing base at Berlin Schönefeld and would mean that easyJet would be the leading airline in Berlin.

easyJet will make announcements on the new routes and services to be flown to and from Tegel in due course. easyJet will operate a reduced timetable at Tegel during the winter season but plans to operate a full schedule from the summer season 2018.

easyJet looks forward to building on the strong, customer focussed platform it already has in Berlin to fly more passengers, employ more people and support more economic growth in both Berlin and Brandenburg.

With Brexit, its is likely the new Tegel operation will be put under easyJet (Europe).

Top Copyright Photo: easyJet (UK) Airbus A320-214 G-EZTG (msn 3946) PMI (Ton Jochems). Image: 933720.

Thomas Cook Group Airlines creates a new airline based in Majorca

Thomas Cook Group Airlines has launched a new airline, based in Majorca, to supplement its existing operations. Currently operating ongoing airlines in Germany, the UK and Scandinavia, Thomas Cook Group Airlines has applied for a new Airline Operator Certificate (AOC) in Majorca with the aim of scheduling the first flights from early 2018.

The new airline, Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics, is part of Thomas Cook Group Airlines’ growth plans, giving it a new base in its most popular destination from which it can provide flights to support its other airlines, according to seasonal demand. The new base in Majorca will provide the Group with greater operational flexibility at a competitive cost, while allowing it to maintain closer control over the quality and customer experience than its current third-party lease arrangements.

The new airline will commence operations with at least three Airbus A320 aircraft which previously operated for Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium. These aircraft will initially take over short and medium-haul flights for Thomas Cook’s German airline Condor to replace third party aircraft leases.

Christoph Debus, Chief Airline Officer Thomas Cook Group, said: “The new airline and base will provide us with the right platform to better manage the seasonal demand in our business, giving us more control at lower cost as we continue to expand the choice of destinations we offer our customers. With more than one million Thomas Cook customers flying into Palma every year, we have a strong existing infrastructure on which to build.”

This announcement of the new AOC follows the recent agreement with Air Transat for the exchange of aircraft on a seasonal basis to better balance the seasonal demand for short and medium-haul aircraft in the European and Canadian leisure airline markets.

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Monarch Airlines shuts down completely

Monach Airlines (London-Luton) on October 2, 2017 announced it was ceasing all operations and would no longer be doing any further business, stranding thousands of passengers. Monarch started operations on April 5, 1968.

Above Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com

The airline issued this statement:

Monarch has confirmed that the following companies have ceased trading and now entered administration:

Monarch Airlines Ltd
Monarch Holidays Ltd (ATOL Number 2275)
First Aviation Ltd (ATOL Number 4888) previously trading as Monarch Airlines
Avro Ltd (ATOL Number 1939)
Somewhere2stay Ltd

As a result, we are sorry to inform you that, as of October 2, 2017, all future holidays and flights provided by these companies have been cancelled and are no longer operating.

This is an unprecedented situation and because there are up to 110,000 passengers abroad, the UK Government has asked the CAA to coordinate flights back to the UK for all Monarch customers currently overseas. These new flights will be at no extra cost to you.

If you are already abroad you will find all the information you need about your new flight on this website.

If you are due to depart from a UK airport with Monarch Airlines today or in the future, please do not travel to your UK airport as your flight will not be operating.

Customers already abroad

If you are currently abroad and due to return to the UK on or before 15 October 2017 we are making arrangements for you to return home to the UK on a new flight, at the end of your holiday. These new flights will be at no extra cost to you.

We will of course prioritise vulnerable passengers, including unaccompanied minors, and make sure that family groups travel on the same flights.

For further advice and details of your new flight please read I am currently abroad.

If you are currently abroad and due to return to the UK after this date, please read the additional information section.

Customers yet to travel out of the UK

We are sorry to inform you that all future holidays and flights booked with Monarch are now cancelled as of 2 October 2017.

If you are booked on a Monarch Airlines flight, please do not go to your UK airport, as your flight will not be operating.

Further information is available at I have a future booking and have not travellled yet.

Air Nostrum promotes the Cies Islands

Air Nostrum has painted one of its Bombardier CRJ1000 (EC-MNQ) in a Cies Islands promotional special livery.

The Cíes Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Pontevedra, in the region of Galicia (Western Spain) in the mouth of the Ria de Vigo.

They belong to the municipality of Vigo. They were declared a Natural Reserve in 1980 and are included in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park.

Javier Rodriguez reporting from Spain.

Copyright Photo: Air Nostrum-Iberia Regional Bombardier CRJ1000 (CL-600-2E25) EC-MNQ (msn 19051) (Islas Cies) PMI (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 939314.

Azur Air Germany commences operations

Azurair GmbH, trading as Azur Air Germany (Dusseldorf), is a new German charter airline. The airline is owned by tour operator Anex Tourism Group.

The new airline received its AOC on June 30, 2017.

Operations commenced on July 4, 2017 with a flight from the DUS base to Palma de Mallorca with the pictured Boeing 767-33A ER D-AZUB (msn 28043, ex VQ-BUP).

SAS to establish a new airline (AOC) in Ireland with bases in London and Spain

SAS issued this statement:

SAS’s strategy is to focus on those customers who travel frequently to, from and within Scandinavia. SAS continuously develops its offering and network to meet this customer group’s needs. The air travel market in Europe is experiencing intense price pressure and rising demand for leisure travel. To secure the company’s long-term competitiveness and to take an active role in the growing leisure market, SAS is now taking a further step to reduce the cost differential to newly established competitors.

If SAS is to secure the long-term profitability of key traffic flows and actively participate in the growing leisure market, SAS must have the same preconditions as other market participants. Therefore, SAS has decided to establish a new AOC in Ireland with operational bases in London and Spain. The aim is for the new operations to be up and running from winter 2017/2018, providing a smaller number of departures as a complement to SAS’s existing production.

“In line with SAS’s strategy of focusing on those customers who travel frequently to, from and within Scandinavia, the majority of SAS’s airline operations will continue to be based in Scandinavia moving forward. The establishment of new bases means we can complement our Scandinavian production and, in time, build an even broader network with a superior schedule to the benefit of our customers,” says Rickard Gustafson, SAS President and CEO.

The aircraft based in London and Spain will have the same customer offering and appearance as other airline operations at SAS and with corresponding requirements in terms of safety and standards.

At the start, smaller start-up costs for the new AOC and new bases are expected to impact earnings. Initially, the financial effects from operations at these bases will be small, but will gradually increase as operations grow.

In parallel with establishing the new AOC, SAS has planned further structural measures for its operations, in line with those announced in the 2015/2016 year-end report.

Route Map:

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