Tag Archives: San Francisco

Richard Branson helps Virgin America launch flights to Hawaii

Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (November 2) celebrated the launch of new daily nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) with a series of festive events in San Francisco and Honolulu.

On December 3, the airline’s Hawai’i schedule grows again with daily nonstop flights from SFO to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG).

Virgin America will fly to Hawai’i with its newest Airbus A320 aircraft, equipped with fuel-saving ‘sharklet’ wingtip devices. Earlier this year, the airline completed the Federal Aviation Administration’s Extended Operation certification in order to operate longer range overwater flights. The first of Virgin America’s aircraft to fly to Hawai’i was named “Pineapple Express” (above) by the airline’s teammates and features a surfer girl image created by street/tattoo artist Si Scott.

Photos: Virgin America.

Virgin America aircraft slide show:

Hawaiian announces a cabin redesign of its Airbus A330 fleet with lie-flat seating, reports 3Q adjusted net income of $78.4 million

Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu) has announced it plans to introduce new luxury design elements and enhanced service options in its Airbus A330 premium cabins, including the addition of 180-degree lie-flat seats. The airline has developed its new seats in partnership with Optimares, an Italian manufacturer focused on traveler-centric design.

The airline continued:

The 180-degree seats will use an innovative seat platform to fold into 76-inch beds, maximizing living space for travelers while providing options for both privacy and a shared flight experience. They will also feature an advanced in-flight entertainment experience powered by the next generation of large-format tablets and equipped with a telescoping tablet arm that adjusts to optimize viewing angle and comfort.

Hawaiian Airlines Announces Premium Cabin Redesign of its Airbus A330 Fleet with Lie-Flat Seating (PRNewsFoto/Hawaiian Airlines)

Hawaiian worked with West Coast-based brand and design consultancy PaulWylde to translate the airline’s signature design language, rooted in the natural colors and forms of the island landscape, into the cabin experience. The cabin design will incorporate flowing curves evocative of the winds and ocean, while marrying organic textures, pops of bright saturated color, and luxury materials like leather from Poltrona Frau.

Hawaiian, PaulWylde and Optimares collaborated intensively to ensure the seat and cabins are uniquely tailored to the needs of the Hawaii traveler. The seats will be installed in a 2-2-2 configuration ideally suited for couples and families traveling to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.

The first newly outfitted aircraft is expected to enter Hawaiian’s long-haul network in the second quarter of 2016. The airline will begin installing lie-flat seats in the remaining 22 A330 aircraft in September of 2016 through 2017.

As part of the cabin redesign, Hawaiian also announced it will add 28 additional Extra Comfort seats on each A330 aircraft in response to growing demand for its popular premium economy service. The Extra Comfort option features 36 inches of seat pitch; priority boarding at the gate; complimentary on-demand in-seat entertainment; and a personal power outlet.

Today, Hawaiian’s wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus 330-200 aircraft seat 294 passengers, with 18 in Business/First Class, 40 in Extra Comfort and 236 in the Main Cabin. In the new configuration, the aircraft will seat 278 passengers, with 18 in Business/First Class, 68 in Extra Comfort and 192 in the Main Cabin. Seat pitch in the Main Cabin will remain a roomy 31 inches.

Hawaiian operates its A330 aircraft on the majority of its North American and international routes. Amenities include personal on-demand entertainment system, comfortable legroom, and a roomy interior.

On the financial side, Hawaiian reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2015:

GAAP net income of $70.0 million or $1.15 per diluted share.
Adjusted net income of $78.4 million or $1.29 per diluted share, an increase of $28.9 million or $0.50 cents per diluted share year-over-year.
Adjusted pre-tax margin of 20.0% compared to 12.6% in the prior year period.
Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $611 million.
Achieved leverage target at 3.1x.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 N375HA (msn 1606) carries special Oakland Raiders logo at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Hawaiian Airlines aircraft slide show:

United Airlines to add three new international routes from the San Francisco hub

United Airlines (Chicago) is adding three new routes from its San Francisco (SFO) hub. The airline issued this statement:

United Airlines, the U.S. airline with the most comprehensive route network and the most trans-Pacific service, will further expand its global reach with new nonstop service from San Francisco to:

Tel Aviv, Israel, with service three times each week beginning March 30, 2016;
Auckland, New Zealand, with service three times each week beginning July 1, 2016, expanding to daily service in October; and
Xi’an, China, previously announced, three-times-weekly service beginning May 8, 2016, for the summer season.

Each new service is subject to government approval.

The airline intends to operate the new flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world’s most advanced passenger airplane.

San Francisco-Tel Aviv: Linking High-Tech Markets

As part of United’s evaluation for serving San Francisco (SFO) to Tel Aviv (TLV) nonstop, the airline considered the opinions of thousands of customers who petitioned for the service through the SFOTLV.ORG petition effort.

Flight From To Departure Arrival
UA954 SFO TLV 8 p.m. We/Fr/Su 8:10 p.m. the next day
UA955 TLV SFO 12:55 a.m. Tu/Fr/Su 6 a.m. the same day

Flight times will be 14 hours, 10 minutes eastbound and 15 hours, 5 minutes westbound.

United has served Israel since 1999. The airline currently offers twice-daily Boeing 777 nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and New York/Newark.

San Francisco-Auckland

United’s three-times weekly service to Auckland (AKL), New Zealand’s largest city and main transportation hub to other points throughout the country, will launch July 1, 2016, with 787-8 aircraft. The schedule will expand to daily flights operating with 787-9 aircraft on Oct. 28, 2016, in time for the peak-winter travel season.

The Auckland flights will operate in partnership with United’s Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand.

Flight From To Departure Arrival
UA917 SFO AKL 10:45 p.m. 6:55 a.m. two days later
UA916 AKL SFO 1:20 p.m. 6:40 a.m. the same day

Flight times will be 13 hours, 10 minutes westbound and 12 hours, 20 minutes eastbound.

United in San Francisco

From its San Francisco hub, United operates nearly 280 daily flights to more than 90 destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

United’s 787 Fleet

United currently has 22 787 Dreamliners in its fleet and expects to take delivery of three more by the end of 2015.

Copyright Photo: AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N27957 (msn 36409) taxies to the gate at the nearby Los Angeles (LAX) hub.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Air India announces the world’s longest air route will start on December 2

Air India (Mumbai) has announced the launch of the world’s longest route starting on December 2 from Delhi (DEL) to San Francisco (SFO) with Boeing 777-200 LRs (Longer Range). The new long-range route will be operated three days a week.

The company is also reportedly considering new service to Amsterdam and Barcelona.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-237 LR VT-ALB (msn 36301) taxies at JFK International Airport in New York.

Air India aircraft slide show:

Read the full report from firstpost.com:

United Airlines to add seasonal New York LaGuardia – Montrose flights

United Airlines (Chicago) is planning to add weekly Airbus A319 “ski service” from New York (LaGuardia) to Montrose, Colorado starting on December 19.

The carrier is also adding United Express Bombardier CRJ700 from the San Francisco hub to Fayetteville (Northwest Arkansas) on October 25 per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-131 N818UA (msn 882) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show:

Delta increases the number of flights on its trans-continental flights from New York-JFK, offers more Boeing 767-300 flights

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has announced as of November 2015, it will increase service between New York-JFK and Los Angeles International Airport from nine to 10 daily peak-day flights. Four flights will be operated with Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft, which provide direct aisle access for all Delta One customers, and six flights will use Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring new interior modifications that have been completely refurbished from nose to tail.

Delta will also be upgrading three of its eight daily flights between New York-JFK and San Francisco to Boeing 767-300 widebody aircraft, making the airline the only carrier to operate widebody service on both routes.

This network expansion, which will allow Delta to offer the most seats of any airline between New York-JFK and Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A new Delta Sky Club in San Francisco will open in August.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-322 N140LL (msn 25988) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show:

JetBlue to introduce Mint service at Boston, will also add Boston-Nashville

JetBlue Airways (New York), already the largest airline in Boston, has announced plans to enhance service at Logan International Airport.

As part of the expansion, JetBlue will introduce Mint service to San Francisco and Los Angeles. JetBlue will also add Nashville as its 60th nonstop destination from Boston and will increase service frequency on more than a dozen existing routes to U.S. and Caribbean destinations.

Mint service will take off between Boston and San Francisco beginning in March 2016 with up to three daily roundtrips. Mint service to Los Angeles is set to begin in fall 2016 with up to three daily roundtrips.

Additionally, JetBlue will offer Mint seasonal service to the Caribbean beginning in March 2016 with a weekly Saturday roundtrip between Boston and Barbados, one of the airline’s most luxurious leisure destinations.

All customers traveling on the additional flights will benefit from JetBlue’s new Airbus A321 aircraft (above).

JetBlue also announced its intent to serve Nashville International Airport (BNA) from Boston with two daily roundtrips.

JetBlue also plans to launch daily nonstop service from Nashville to its Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood focus city. Service will begin in spring 2016.

All flights to Nashville will be operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft.

In addition, JetBlue will soon offer even more flights from Boston to 12 cities in its route network.

In January 2016, JetBlue will offer an average of 118 daily departures in its winter schedule with even more frequencies in the peak travel season – up to 140 daily departures in summer 2016. This is up from 54 average daily departures in 2008 when the airline began to significantly grow its presence in Boston.

The increase comes from a series of added flights on existing routes. Many of the flight frequency additions will be to JetBlue’s Florida and Caribbean focus cities and to other popular destinations in these regions. Additional flights are being added to the following destinations in the U.S. JetBlue network:

Additional daily flights between Boston and:

Orlando, Ft, Lauderdale, Tampa, San Juan, Raleigh/Durham, New York (JFK) and Cleveland

Additional weekend flights between Boston and:

Barbados (d), Aruba, Cancun, Turks and Caicos, Punta Cana, St. Maarten and Liberia, Costa Rica.

JetBlue has helped connect more international carriers in Boston through agreements with 15 carriers. El Al to Tel Aviv and Hainan Airlines to Shanghai are two of the newest routes. Emirates also plans to introduce a second daily flight to Dubai this fall.

Over the last three years JetBlue has attracted five new international partners to Boston including El Al, Emirates, Hainan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

JetBlue’s impressive list of airline partnerships grew from its very first agreement with Massachusetts-based Cape Air in 2007. Cape Air is one of the largest independent regional carriers in the U.S. and enhances the JetBlue network with easy connections from San Juan and Boston to destinations in Cape Cod and the Caribbean.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N934JB (msn 6130) in the Prism livery departs from Los Angeles International Airport.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

In the wake of United’s JFK announcement, JetBlue adds more Mint flights from JFK to Los Angeles and San Francisco

JetBlue Airways (New York) today announced that it will add additional flights of its acclaimed Mint experience from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Beginning October 25, JetBlue will offer up to six daily Mint flights between New York and San Francisco. JetBlue will also add additional service between New York and Los Angeles beginning October 25, with up to 10 daily flights by February when the airline takes delivery of its newest A321 Mint aircraft.

JetBlue launched Mint service in June 2014.

According to the carrier, “JetBlue’s top-notch inflight service is matched by the Mint aircraft itself, which includes private suites, the widest seat and longest fully-flat bed in the U.S. domestic market (a), tapas-style dining, custom amenity kits, a 15-inch flat screen with 100+ channels of DIRECTV® programming and more than 100 channels of SiriusXM® satellite radio, and free broadband connectivity with their acclaimed Fly-Fi service. Additional frequencies will be available for purchase starting June 21, 2015.”

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 N945JT (msn 6390) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

New videos from JustPlanes

Above: San Diego.

Above: PilotCAM Boeing 787 out of Hong Kong.

Above: San Francisco.

Cathay Pacific adds three additional weekly nonstop flights to and from San Francisco

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) this week added three weekly nonstop flight from San Francisco International Airport to Hong Kong, bringing the total number of nonstop weekly flights from San Francisco to 17. San Francisco was the airline’s first destination for nonstop service to the USA which launched on July 1, 1986 (below) (Photo: Cathay Pacific Airways).

The added frequencies from San Francisco arrive on the heels of Cathay Pacific’s new four-times-weekly service from Boston to Hong Kong, which launched on May 3, 2015.

Flight CX893 from San Francisco to Hong Kong departs every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1:30 am, arriving in Hong Kong the following day at 6:40 am. This early morning arrival was strategically coordinated to allow passengers to connect with every Cathay Pacific flight across Asia – including Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and over 22 gateways in mainland China – without a lengthy layover in Hong Kong. The return flight, CX892, will depart Hong Kong at 6:45 pm (local time) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in San Francisco at 4:30 pm (same day).

All of Cathay Pacific’s 17 flights from San Francisco are operated by Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. Flight CX893 offers a three-class cabin configuration on Wednesdays and Fridays: the award-winning Business Class, the newest cabin, Premium Economy, and the new long-haul Economy Class; Sunday departures also include First Class for a four-cabin configuration.

Details of the new flights are included in the schedule below (all times local):