Tag Archives: Reagan National

JetBlue and Amazon team up to offer Amazon Prime customers access to inflight movies

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Amazon (Seattle) today issued this joint statement:

Amazan and JetBlue announced that they will bring unlimited, on-demand entertainment to airline travel later this year through JetBlue’s free high-speed Fly-Fi broadband internet, the industry’s fastest complimentary inflight Internet service, to create an unmatched entertainment experience in the sky.

The collaboration will enable Fly-Fi for Amazon Prime members to instantly access tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including exclusive Amazon Original Series such as Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle and Bosch, at no additional cost to their membership. In addition, all JetBlue customers will be able to rent or purchase hundreds of thousands of titles in the Amazon Instant Video store, including new release movies and day-after TV programming, over the free broadband internet.

Fly-Fi uses satellite technology to give customers Internet speeds that feel like what they have at home or work. Amazon and JetBlue worked together to ensure that the inflight entertainment system met the premium experience expected by customers when streaming movies and TV episodes from Amazon. Access to Amazon’s entertainment library will be built into the JetBlue Fly-Fi Hub, giving customers instant access to watch titles from Amazon on their laptops, Fire devices, iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets—no pre-flight download needed. JetBlue’s free Fly-Fi broadband Internet will be available on all JetBlue’s Airbus A321 and A320 aircraft this year, and on JetBlue’s Embraer E190 aircraft in 2016.

“Just like at home, customers will be able to access movies and TV shows from Amazon from 35,000 feet in the sky over our super fast and free Fly-Fi,” said Jamie Perry, Vice President, Brand and Product Development, JetBlue. “Amazon’s customer focus aligns perfectly with the experience we have created for our customers, including the best inflight entertainment, free unlimited snacks and beverages, lots of personal space with the most legroom in coach and wide, comfortable seating. By teaming up with a category-leader like Amazon, we created a unique model where we can offer complimentary broadband Internet access.”

Prime members will be able to instantly stream binge-worthy Amazon Original Series, including the Golden-Globe award-winning series Transparent, the hour-long police drama Bosch, and the Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola comedy, Mozart in the Jungle, in addition to original kids series such as the Emmy and Annie award winning series, Tumble Leaf and the Emmy nominated live-action series, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. They can also enjoy top network series available on Prime Instant Video such as The Americans, Downton Abbey, Justified, The Good Wife, Grimm, Mr. Selfridge Orphan Black, Sons of Anarchy, Suits, Veronica Mars and Vikings.

On top of unlimited instant access to movies and TV episodes, Amazon Prime members will be able to access and listen to more than one million songs available on Prime Music. All JetBlue customers will be able to purchase and download songs from the Amazon Music store, eBooks from the Kindle store, and apps and games from the Amazon Appstore and earn TrueBlue points when they shop specific categories on Amazon over the free Fly-Fi broadband internet while inflight or through JetBlue promotions.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N258JB (msn 19000047) in the Tartan scheme turns on its final river approach to Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

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:

New videos from JustPlanes

Video Above: PilotCAM 717 into Pantelleria (close to hills)

Video Above: Washington Reagan National Airport.

Video Above: Washington Dulles International Airport.

Video Above: PilotCAM 777 Approach into Mexico City

Frontier dedicates Orville, the Red Cardinal, to the State of Ohio

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver), as previously reported, has painted its second aircraft in the new livery. The pictured Airbus A320-214 N228FR (msn 5526), named Orville, the red Cardinal, is also dedicated to the Buckeye State of Ohio where it has been expanding at Cleveland and Cincinnati. N228FR is also dedicated to aviation explorer Orville Wright. The cardinal is also the state bird of Ohio. The airline has now issued this new Orville and Wilbur Wright video and photo.

Above Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. N228FR arrives at Washington’s Reagan National Airport (click on the photo for the full size view).

Frontier Airlines (2nd) aircraft slide show:

Photo Below: Frontier Airlines. The two actors portraying Orville (1871 – 1948) and Wilbur (1867 – 1912) Wright.

Video: Frontier Airlines. We’d like to introduce the newest animal to our fleet, dedicated to the state of Ohio, Orville the Red Cardinal! Check out our video to meet Orville:

Frontier Airlines Route Map (click on map for the full size view):

Southwest Airlines launches nine new destinations from Dallas Love Field

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) yesterday (April 8) began operating more daily itineraries between Dallas Love Field and nine additional cities around the United States (Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Panama City Beach, Florida; Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; San Jose, California; and Seattle/Tacoma, Washington) and will launch Saturday-only flights between Dallas and Charleston, South Carolina, on April 11, 2015.

In addition, Southwest began additional flights between Dallas Love Field and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, Oakland (San Francisco Bay Area), and Santa Ana/Orange County. The carrier also initiated daily service between San Antonio and Cancun, and between Kansas City International Airport and New York LaGuardia.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8H4 N8646B (msn 36935) in the now old 2001 livery and also with Split Scimitar Winglets completes the river approach to Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (historic liveries):

Southwest Airlines aircraft slide show (new livery only):

Delta to add new Hawaii service from both Seattle/Tacoma and Portland, will introduce the 717 to SEA

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) next winter is adding two additional seasonal routes from the Pacific Northwest to Hawaii. According to Airline Route, the carrier will add daily Boeing 757 service from Seattle/Tacoma to Kona (Hawaii) and Portland-Honolulu flights starting December 19, 2015.

On February 23 Delta issued this statement:

Delta Air Lines is adding service from its hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Kona International Airport and will increase service from select seasonal markets beginning as soon as summer 2015.

The new and increased Seattle service will operate as follows:

One daily flight to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii beginning December 19, 2015

One additional daily flight to Palm Springs, California, for a total of two daily seasonal flights beginning December 19, 2015

One daily seasonal flight to Tucson, Arizona, which was previously Saturday service, beginning December 19, 2015

Extension of seasonal service to daily year-round service to Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, beginning May 15, 2015

Expanded seasonal service to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, beginning October 3, 2015

Service to Kona will be operated with Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Fairbanks, Juneau and Puerto Vallarta will use Boeing 737-800 aircraft, while Los Cabos will use Airbus A319 aircraft. Palm Springs and Tucson service will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines using two-class, 65-seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft.

Additionally, Delta will introduce Boeing 717 aircraft on some existing routes between Seattle/Tacoma and Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix starting on September 1.

As Seattle’s global airline, Delta offers customers access to a worldwide network of destinations throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S. with 85 peak-day departures to 31 destinations from Seattle. By summer, the airline will operate 126 flights to 35 destinations from its West Coast hub.

Delta will serve Seattle’s top 15 destinations in the Western U.S. when recently announced service to Boise, Idaho; Denver; and Sacramento, Calif., launches this spring. Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska, service will also launch in May, completing the top five destinations in Alaska.

During the summer, Delta offers 10 long-haul international flights from Seattle/Tacoma, providing as much long-haul international service from Seattle/Tacoma as all other airlines combined. This includes the top five destinations in Asia and three of the top four destinations in Europe. Delta is the only carrier to offer nonstop service from Seattle/Tacoma to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Ex-Northwest Boeing 757-251 N549US (msn 26496) completes its final approach into Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

JetBlue Airways to fly to Nantucket from Washington, D.C.

JetBlue Airways (New York) has announced it will launch new seasonal Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK) service this summer. The new nonstop route will be launched on June 19, 2015, and will operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September 6, 2015. Additional flights will be added for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Nantucket marks the 12th nonstop destination from Reagan National, where JetBlue has steadily increased its presence since it started serving the close-in Washington airport in 2010.

Flights will be operated on JetBlue’s 100-seat Embraer E190. It is the largest aircraft to serve Nantucket Memorial Airport.

JetBlue operates 30 daily flights at Reagan National Airport, making it the airline’s sixth largest city. JetBlue also serves the National Capital Region with flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N353JB (msn 19000576) completes the final river approach into Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA).

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

JetBlue Airways adds three new routes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport today

JetBlue Airways (New York) today (December 18) adds three more nonstop routes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), all to Florida: Fort Myers (RSW), Jacksonville (JAX) and West Palm Beach (PBI). Service to Jacksonville is twice daily, while Fort Myers and West Palm Beach will enjoy daily service. During the holiday season from December 19 to January 4, 2015, JetBlue will offer a second daily service to both Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.

This year, JetBlue has significantly increased its presence at Reagan National, adding a total of six routes and also increasing frequencies in existing markets. Earlier this year, flights to Charleston, SC (CHS), Hartford, Conn. (BDL) and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) were launched, and service to Tampa, Fla. (TPA), was boosted with a second daily flight.

JetBlue now offers nonstop flights to 11 cities: Boston, Charleston, Hartford, Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Nassau, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, as well as the only nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. To support its expanded flight schedule in Washington, JetBlue recently relocated its operations into Reagan National’s Terminal B.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N805JB (msn 5148) displays the Barcode tail design and also has the Sharklets.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-2/Airlines-UnitedStates-2/JetBlue-Airways

Routes from Washington (Reagan National):

Shuttle America to operate nine additional Embraer ERJ 170s for Delta Air Lines

Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (Indianapolis) has announced it has reached an amendment to its Capacity Purchase Agreement (“CPA”) with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) to operate nine additional 69-seat Embraer ERJ 170 (E170) aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be placed into service between the 3rd quarter of 2015 and the 2nd quarter of 2016 and will operate for a term of six years per aircraft. In addition, the Company and Delta have agreed to extend the term of the agreement for the existing 14 ERJ 170 aircraft by four years, or through October 2021, and the existing 16 ERJ 175 aircraft by approximately five years, or through February 2024. Both types are operated for Delta by subsidiary Shuttle America.

The nine additional ERJ 170 aircraft will either be sourced internally by the Company or with used aircraft available in the open market.

Republic Airways Holdings Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100SU N870RW (msn 17000138) arrives in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Connection-Shuttle America aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Delta-Connection-Shuttle

Delta to drop four more routes from Memphis

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) continues to dismantle the Memphis hub. According to The Commerical Appeal of Memphis, the airline will drop all service from MEM to Dallas/Fort Worth, New Orleans and Pittsburgh on January 5, 2015. The airline claims the MEM routes that are being dropped are “unprofitable” A fourth route, to Washington (Reagan National), will be dropped on April 7, 2015. 84 positions at the MEM station are being eliminated according to the report.

The routes are operated with Embraer 170/175s.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N215JQ (msn 17000270) prepares to land in Washington (Reagan National).

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):