Tag Archives: PMI

Finnair’s first quarter loss doubles from last year

Finnair Group (Finnair) (Helsinki) reported a first quarter loss of €34.2 million ($47.3 million). The loss doubled from a loss of €17.5 million ($24.2 million) in the same quarter in 2013. The decline was attributed to a falloff in leisure travel and a new weakness in business travel.

Read the full report from the Helsinki Times: CLICK HERE

In other news, Finnair is set to open a new Premium Lounge directly adjacent to the award-winning Finnair Lounge near Gate 36 in the non-Schengen area of Helsinki Airport. The Premium Lounge, designed by the Helsinki firm dSign Vertti Kivi & Co, complements the original Finnair Lounge and will be ready for Platinum and Gold Finnair Plus members and other oneworld top-tier customers by July 1, 2014.

The Premium Lounge showcases classic Nordic design in harmony with Finnish nature, with dynamic changes in light, colors and video projections synchronized with the seasons and time of day to create a calm atmosphere for travelers. High-quality complimentary meals and drinks, including wines and spirits, are plated on Marimekko tableware or served in Iittala Ultima Thule glasses – first designed for Finnair in 1968 by Tapio Wirkkala. The lounge features carefully selected furniture including legendary Tulip and Womb chairs created by Eero Saarinen. The 4380 foot space can comfortably seat up to 122 guests providing them with separate areas for work and relaxation.

As part of the overall upgrade in lounge services, the customers of both the Premium Lounge and the original Lounge will also enjoy access to completely new private shower suites and Finnish sauna. Towels and forest berry-based shampoos, shower gels and lotions from Finland will be provided.

“This new and exclusive lounge takes Finnair’s long association with Finnish design to a new level,” says Markku Remes, Finnair’s Manager of Lounge and VIP Services. “We will be delighted to welcome our most loyal and regular customers into this special space before their flight.”

“Our aim was to create a high-quality, even emotional experience for Finnair’s demanding clients,” says designer Vertti Kivi. “Different zones for work, refreshment, silence or bathing are unified with a light Scandinavian design touch, creating a space that clients won’t forget.”

The Premium Lounge is open to Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members and their guests, as well as to frequent flyer cardholders with equivalent status at a fellow oneworld airline, including Finnair’s joint business partners American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airlines.

Other Business Class passengers are welcome to the original Lounge, which is directly adjoining the Premium lounge and is regularly featured in lists of the world’s top airline lounges.

Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Newly-delivered Airbus A321-231 OH-LZL (msn 6083) with Sharklets lands in the leisure market of Palma de Mallorca.

Finnair:

Airberlin introduces its “Fan Force One” logo jet in association with Bitburger

Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin) has introduced its new “Fan Force One” Airbus A320 logo jet in association with the Bitburger brewery to promote the upcoming World Cup.

German Bitburger brewery has started a promotional bottle cap collection campaign. Qualifying beer drinkers will be entered into a contest for 100 free tickets for you and a friend for the upcoming World Cup championship in Brazil with Airberlin being the advertising partner.

The beer maker issued this statement:

“Collect the Bitburger bottle caps with the national flags and win with a little luck
a place in the Fan Force One ® or another great football prizes.”

Bitburger TV commercial (in German):

Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 D-ABFK (msn 4433) climbs away from Palma de Mallorca today in the new World Cup design.

Airberlin:

Germania has a different way of promoting newcomer Kassel Airport

Germania Fluggesellschaft (Berlin) is taking a different approach to advertising a new airport. The pictured Airbus A319-111 registered as D-AHIL (msn 3589) is promoting the Kassel Calden Airport

Kassel Airport is a small international airport served by Germania. According to Wikipedia, Kassel Calden Airport (German Flughafen Kassel-Calden) (IATA: KSF, ICAO: EDVK) serving the German city of Kassel in the state of Hesse. KSF is located 1.9 km (1.2 miles) west of Calden, 16.7 km (10.4 miles) northwest of Kassel and is mainly used for business and general aviation.

A completely new regional airport was built next to the old airport to accommodate scheduled carriers as well as the business and general aviation from the old airport. The new airport was officially opened on April 4, 2013 with the arrival of a Germania flight from Frankfurt.

Germania announced that flights to Palma de Mallorca will resume for the 2014 summer season.

Copyright Photo: Javier Rodriguez/AirlinersGallery.com. No, the Airbus A319 does not have two left rear exit doors and it is not open in flight! The inscription by the fake open door says “See You in Kassel – Kassel Airport”.

Germania:

Cronus Airlines to add its first Boeing 737

Cronos Airlines (Malabo, Equatorial Guinea) plans to introduce later this month its first Boeing 737, operated by the Spanish ACMI specialist Calima de Aviación. Boeing 737-436 EC-LTC (msn 25439) is pictured departing from Palma de Mallorca with the new titles.

The airline, which started operations in 2010, currently operates two daily flights between Malabo and Bata in Equatorial Guinea, three weekly flights between Malabo and Douala and three weekly flights between Malabo and Cotonou as well as charter flights. It operates BAe 146s.

The carrier will soon open new regional routes to Port Harcourt and Abidjan.

Current Route Map:

Monarch partners with visitlondon.com to bring more Italian and Spanish tourists to London

Monarch Airlines (London-Luton) has announced it is partnering with visitlondon.com on their campaign, ‘The London Story’ (http://www.visitlondon.com/story). The partnership will last until the end of February. The partnership between Monarch Airlines and visitlondon.com aims to encourage Spanish and Italian travellers to come and explore the diversity of what London has to offer.

The London Story brings the city to life with a series of films featuring proud Londoners, who work in the capital, talking about what they love about London. The microsite, hosted on visitlondon.com and available in Spanish and Italian, showcases iconic parts of the capital as well as the lesser-known inspiring places which are dotted all around the city.

Each story is told in a two minutes video, allowing visitors to get to know the real people of London. They include iconic characters behind some of London’s best known landmarks and unsung heroes who bring the city to life: Mark, park manager for the Royal Parks; Alex, pier manager on the Thames; Barney, Yeoman of the Ward from the Tower of London; and Rebecca, colouring artist at Madame Tussauds.

One of the Londoners telling his ‘London Story’ is Monarch cabin crew member Jairo Chinea Santos who stars as Monarch’s ambassador for the campaign and tells why he likes calling London home. In the video, Jario explains how he treats each of his customers like a guest, welcoming them on board Monarch’s aircrafts with a big smile.

Editor’s Note: All airlines interested in increasing the number of passengers they carry should be partnering with their home city to promote their home town as an undiscovered destination. There are million of stories at each destination. Well done Monarch and visitlondon.com.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 G-ZBAB (msn 5581) with Sharklets taxies at Palma de Mallorca.

Monarch:

Video: One of the video segments about the London Underground:

Germanwings adds two more routes to London Heathrow

Germanwings (2nd) (Cologne/Bonn) yesterday (January 20) added two former Lufthansa routes to London (Heathrow) from both Berlin (Tegel) and Hamburg.

Germanwings:

Air Algerie firms up an order for three new ATR 72-600s

Air Algerie (Algiers) has signed a purchase agreement for 3 new ATR 72-600s. The contract value is $74.1 million at current list price. The entry into service is expected from end of 2014 through 2015. When delivered, the 68 seat new-comers will join an existing ATR fleet at the airline that currently includes 12 ATR 72-500s flying primarily on domestic and short regional routes. The new order will take Air Algerie’s ATR fleet to 15 ATR 72s consolidating its position of the largest ATR operator on the African continent.

Copyright Photo: Michael Stappen/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) 7T-VUO (msn 901) prepares to land at Palma de Mallorca.

Air Algerie:

Monarch Airlines’ last Airbus A300 G-OJMR to be retired on April 13, 2014

Monarch Airlines (London-Luton) has announced the retirement of its last Airbus A300 with a special “retirement flight”. The company issued this statement:

Monarch Airlines is pleased to announce details of the very last commercial flight service on its long serving Airbus A300B4-605R. The type has been in service with the airline since 1990, and has carried more than 20 million holiday makers while in Monarch colors.

The final A300 airframe in the fleet, G-OJMR (msn 605), will be retiring on Sunday, April 13, 2014, having served the airline for 23 years after being delivered new 1991. In a fitting end to this aircraft’s service, the final flight will be piloted by the Chief Pilot of Monarch Airlines, Martin Pound. Martin has served Monarch for over 36 years and in 1991, was the pilot charged with flying the first A300 into service.

Monarch’s A300s are the final passenger-carrying examples in service with a European airline, and with its impending retirement from service, the passenger variant of Airbus’ first entry in to the commercial airliner market, will become a very rare sight in European skies. To celebrate the life of this workhorse of the airline industry, Monarch will be giving enthusiasts one last chance to book on the aircraft by opening up the last commercial flight from London’s Gatwick Airport to Birmingham.

On Sunday April 13, 2014, this special Monarch flight ZB300 will depart Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal at 2.40 pm (1440), for a leisurely flight to Birmingham International Airport, arriving at 3.40 pm (1540).

The aircraft, in 347-seat configuration, will be sold to capacity, with seats bookable via the Monarch website, www.monarch.co.uk

Seats on the flight will be priced at £74 per person, inclusive of airport taxes and charges.

Customers can select a seat at the point of purchase, or afterwards if you choose, subject to availability. Seating will be priced as follows ;

Window Seats: £25 per person

Aisle Seats in window row: £15 per person

Middle Seats in window row: £11 per person

Aisle Seats in middle row: £5 per person

Middle Seats in middle row: £1 per person

This flight will operate as a hand luggage only flight and normal hand luggage restrictions will apply.

Refunds will not be offered to passengers booking window seats if the weather is inclement, or if visibility is poor.

If passengers choose not to reserve a specific seat, one will be allocated free of charge at check-in on the day of the flight.

Booking fees will apply to bookings made with a credit card.

Note to all airlines: As Delta Air Lines discovered last night with the retirement of the last Douglas DC-9, there is a sizable market of eager and enthusiast customers wanting to ride on the last revenue flight of a retiring aircraft type. Many airlines are now discovering this new revenue source.

Update: Monarch confirmed flight ZB 300 from London Gatwick to Birmingham was the last official ZB Airbus A300 flight on April 13.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A300B4-605R G-OJMR (msn 605) taxies past the camera at Palma de Mallorca on a holiday flight.

Monarch Airlines:

Danube Wings is unable to resume operations, lays off all employees

Danube Wings (VIP Wings dab) (Bratislava) was forced to suspended all flight operations from both Bratislava and Kosice on November 20. Since then the airline has now ceased all business operations and laid off all of its employees.

Operations commenced in August 2008.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Danube Wings ATR 727-202 OM-VRA (msn 373) is pictured in operation at Palma de Mallorca.

Danube Wings:

Monarch Group returns to the black for its fiscal year

Monarch Group (Monarch Airlines) (London-Luton), the UK’s leading independent travel group, has announced its unaudited results for the Financial Year ended October 31, 2013.

Commenting on the Group’s 2013 performance and the outlook for 2014, Executive Chairman, Iain Rawlinson, said:

“I am delighted to announce the return to profitability of The Monarch Group in 2013. This was the outcome targeted by our 2011 refinancing, which was based on a clear plan that combined the achievement of business efficiencies and intra group synergies with growth strategies for each business area. All these elements have been delivered in tough markets.

“Whilst we are encouraged by the more positive recent economic news of late, in the short-term there remains overcapacity in the aviation industry and we believe many travel customers are cautious about the economic outlook. However, our Group structure, combining the three mutually supporting business areas of the scheduled airline, tour operations and aircraft engineering, each with its own independent growth strategy, provides us with resilience in this very competitive market environment.

“The actions we have taken in the last two years provide strong foundations from which to plan the next phase of growth and development. Our steady investment in this period – in strengthening the group and divisional management, raising awareness of our trusted travel brands, improving distribution, introducing business efficiencies, and answering the needs of customers – provides a strong platform from which to complete our modernisation agenda. ”

Summary (October 31 year-end)

KEY STATISTICS	2013 Unaudited Statutory	2012 Statutory	Change
Gross turnover (£m)	1,237.5	1,071.5	+15.5%
Monarch Airlines (£m)	763.2	683.5	+11.7%
Tour Operations (£m)	336.4	291.4	+15.4%
Monarch Aircraft Engineering (£m)	107.2	86.3	+24.2%
Other (£m)	30.7	10.3	+198.1%
Turnover, net of intra-Group sales (£m)	960.5	825.1	16.4%
Web traffic – unique visitors (m)	21.9	20.0	+9.5%
Gross e-commerce revenue (£m)	520.0	479.0	+8.6%

2013 Group Highlights

All trading divisions profitable for the year on a pre-exceptionals basis
Successfully delivered efficiency programs, achieving annualised cost savings of £52 million and increase in intra group turnover of an additional £31 million
Investment of some £20 million in aircraft engineering facilities, and systems to increase operating capacity and improve efficiency
Significant increase in unique visitors to the Group’s e-commerce platforms, up 10% to 22 million
Group-wide roll out of Olympics-inspired ‘WorldHost’ Customer Service programme
Launch of The Monarch Foundation, providing focus for charitable and CSR activities

Monarch Airlines in FY2013

11.7% increase in gross revenues to £763.2 million
10.1% increase in capacity to 8.1 million sector seats and on track to deliver 10 million sector seats by end 2016
9.5% increase in airline passenger volumes to 7.0 million
Advanced plans to order up to 60 new narrow body aircraft in Q1 2014 (valued at US$6 billion at list prices) to continue fleet renewal program
New base at Leeds-Bradford Airport established
UK network development so that over two thirds of the UK population lives within a 90 minute drive of one of Monarch’s six bases[1]
New advertising campaign to be launched Christmas 2013 emphasising Monarch Airlines’ customer service heritage and commitment to providing “Superior Customer Experience at Competitive Price”

Tour Operations in FY2013

15.4% increase in gross revenues to £336.4 million
12% growth in passenger volumes to 911,000, substantially out-performing the market
18% growth in Package Holiday volumes, continuing the trend for consumers to seek ‘care, convenience and financially protected holidays’[2]
5.6% increase in unique visitors to package holiday websites to 9.3 million
Successful migration to new, flexible enterprise technology platform
Continued investment in differentiated offer for customers

Monarch Aircraft Engineering in FY2013

24.2% increase in revenues to £107.2 million
26% growth in revenue from 3rd party customers
80% increase in maintenance capacity following the opening of a new state-of-the-art facility at Birmingham Airport
Introduced Bombardier and Embraer type aircraft servicing capability

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Monarch Airlines is reviewing tender offers from the manufacturers and is expected to place a large aircraft order up to 60 aircraft in early 2014. A new order with Airbus is expected. Airbus A321-231 G-ZBAF (msn 2730) is seen in action at Palma de Mallorca.

Monarch Airlines: