Tag Archives: SAN

DHL Express introduces sustainable solution for its U.S. aviation operations

DHL Express, the world’s leading provider of international express shipping services, today unveiled its first, innovative mobile charging cart at the International Ground Support Equipment Expo in Las Vegas. DHL Express will be the first international express package carrier to implement mobile charging carts at select U.S. airport facilities, which will reduce carbon emissions (C02) by nearly 800 tons per year.

DHL Express invested nearly $10 million in this sustainability initiative. Using a state-of-the-art cart which serves as a mobile charging platform for battery-powered ground support equipment (eGSE), the initiative addresses the charging demands that current airport infrastructures cannot meet. DHL will replace older combustion powered equipment with newly purchased eGSE, including K-loaders, pushback tractors, belt loaders, baggage tugs and ground power units (GPU), which will all be charged by the new mobile unit.

The DHL Express operation at San Diego International Airport (SAN) will be the first to roll out this charging cart equipment in October 2023, leveraging 100% electric power. The equipment will later be introduced to three major airports where DHL Express has aviation operations: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Designed by JBT AeroTech, the AmpCart™ mobile charging station includes four to six chargers with two output charging cables each, for a total of eight to 12 charging connectors. By enabling multiple charging stations from a single-grid power source, these carts offer unparalleled flexibility, optimizing the efficiency of electrical equipment operations at airports. The carts will also act as a backup system in the case of a power outage, allowing ground equipment to continue normal operations.

Southwest Airlines introduces a new “Disney Pixar Coco” logo jet

Coco plane. Southwest Airlines. Stephen M. Keller

Southwest Airlines is celebrating Disney∙Pixar’s all-new, big-screen adventure “Coco” in high-flying style this fall with a comprehensive program that includes a Boeing 737-700 aircraft emblazoned with the vibrant “Coco” logo and artwork inspired by the film.

The aircraft will fly among the carrier’s nearly 100 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean through the end of 2017. As the largest domestic carrier in the U.S. serving more than 115 million passengers yearly*, Southwest Airlines connects People every day to what is important in their lives. With Disney∙Pixar’s “Coco,” Southwest connects its Customers to an all-new story that’s both exciting and inspiring. The film opens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22, 2017.

*Based on latest U.S. Dept of Transportation data of O&D passengers.

Above Copyright Photo: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7L9 WL N7816B (msn 28009) (Disney Pixar Coco) SAN (James Helbock). Image: 939639.

“‘Coco’ is about a boy with big dreams and a strong connection to his family,” says Director Lee Unkrich. “These themes really lend themselves to teaming up with a company like Southwest. And after working for nearly six years to bring this story to life, we were all so excited to see ‘Coco’ on the side of an airplane.”

Customers are encouraged to spot the “Coco” plane and share their photos using #CocoAndSouthwest. Southwest is also giving families the opportunity to enter for a chance to send their family on an adventure of a lifetime by entering the Southwest Family Flyaway sweepstakes between October 1-25, 2017, to win roundtrip air travel for four to Los Angeles; four tickets to the Disney∙Pixar “Coco” U.S. premiere and party on November 8, 2017; a two-night stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood; and a $1,000 VISA® gift card for travel expenses. To view the full rules and to enter, visit familyflyaway.com.

Additionally, Southwest is sharing the adventures of “Coco” with Customers onboard flights beginning Nov. 1, with the launch of the Disney∙Pixar “Coco” OnDemand Channel, featuring complimentary movie clips and trailers to get everyone excited about “Coco” in 3D this Thanksgiving. Be sure to tune-in ahead of the film’s Nov. 22 theatrical debut.

Later this fall, the music of “Coco” will come to life onboard the “Coco” aircraft with a Live at 35® inflight concert performance by Anthony Gonzalez, who voices Miguel in the movie. Customers will experience the sounds and culture up-close and in-the-moment as Anthony sings a song from the upcoming film accompanied by a guitarist.

Photos: Southwest Airlines.

Video:

FedEx Express to acquire 50 additional Boeing 767-300F freighters

FedEx Express (Memphis), a wholly owned subsidiary of FedEx Corporation (Memphis), has agreed to purchase 50 additional 767-300F aircraft from The Boeing Company. In addition to the 50 confirmed orders, FedEx also has options to purchase a total of 50 767F aircraft.

The 50 firm-order aircraft will be delivered from fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2023. Total capital spending for fiscal 2016 remains at $4.6 billion. The impact to capital spending in fiscal 2017 from this new order is immaterial. With this order, FedEx Express now holds a total of 106 firm orders for 767Fs from The Boeing Company through fiscal 2023.

The newer 767Fs will help the company retire its older aircraft. From this fleet plan as of May 31, 2015, the company was planning to retire the Airbus A310s in 2016 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-10-10s and MD-10-30s in 2021. This may now be expedited with this order.

The order will also help Boeing keep the 767 line going.

Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-3S2F ER N102FE (msn 42707) approaches the runway at San Diego.

FedEx aircraft slide show:

Horizon Air to offer free local beers in Alaska

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) issued this announcement about the upcoming Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) (Seattle/Tacoma) service in the state of Alaska starting on March 3:

Travelers on Alaska Airlines flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks and Anchorage and Kodiak will soon enjoy an extra infusion of local flavor in the form of Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co.’s Old 55 Pale Ale.

Passengers will have the opportunity to sample the moderately hopped, American-style pale ale free of charge beginning March 3, when Alaska Airlines introduces the Bombardier Q400 to the state of Alaska. The flights will be operated for Alaska Airlines by its sister carrier, Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon). These flights will feature complimentary soft drinks, Starbucks coffee, Northwest wine and microbrews (for passengers 21 and older), and A la Cart planeside baggage service.

The brewery, which has locations in Anchorage and north of Fairbanks, will bottle the beer in stainless steel “Kleen Kanteens,” (above) which are lighter, stronger and more environmentally friendly than traditional glass bottles.

Samples are about 6.5 ounces and will be offered to customers on flights operating after 11 a.m.

Travelers can pick up their very own Kleen Kanteens (or traditional glass growlers) filled with their favorite Silver Gulch beers at the brewery’s restaurant in the C Concourse at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport or at the brewery and restaurant in Fox, Alaska.

Horizon Air is a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group and flies to 39 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling was founded in Fox, Alaska, in 1998 by two lifelong Alaskans. Silver Gulch is America’s most northern brewery, located at the start of the “haul road” to Prudhoe Bay about 11 miles north of Fairbanks. Silver Gulch opened its first restaurant adjacent to the brewery in 2007, later opening a restaurant at Anchorage International Airport in 2012. Silver Gulch maintains a selection of 12 or more freshly brewed ales and lagers year-round, many of which are available at fine dining and drinking establishments throughout Alaska.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Alaska Airlines): James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Horizon Air’s Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N452QX (man 4459) arrives in San Diego in the special Employee Signatures color scheme.

Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon):

WestJet to return to Myrtle Beach on March 6

WestJet (Calgary) has announced it will resume its nonstop seasonal service between Toronto (Pearson) and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on March 6, 2014, nearly two months earlier than in 2013.

The twice-weekly service will operate on Thursdays and Sundays from March 6 to October 23, 2014, with a change in flight times effective April 27.

Details of the 2014 Toronto-Myrtle Beach service are:

March 6-April 24, 2014

Day	Flight	Departing	Arriving
Thursday	1154	Toronto at 6:45 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 8:50 p.m.
Thursday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 9:35 p.m.	Toronto at 11:30 p.m.
Sunday	1154	Toronto at 3:15 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 5:20 p.m.
Sunday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 6:10 p.m.	Toronto at 8:05 p.m.

April 27-October 23, 2014

Day	Flight	Departing	Arriving
Thursday	1154	Toronto at 9:35 a.m.	Myrtle Beach at 11:38 a.m.
Thursday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 12:25 p.m.	Toronto at 2:27 p.m.
Sunday	1154	Toronto at 9:35 p.m.	Myrtle Beach at 11:38 p.m.
Sunday	1155	Myrtle Beach at 12:25 p.m.	Toronto at 2:27 p.m.

Copyright Photo: James Helbock/AirlinersGallery.com. Sparkling in the California sun, Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSZ (msn 37092) in the new “Walt Disney World” scheme arrives in San Diego. The flashy logo jet is known as the “Magic Plane”. Click on the photo for the full size view.

WestJet:

WSJ: American-US Airways merger is in the final stages, could come before February 15

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and US Airways (Phoenix) continue to negotiate a very delicate merger proposal that could fall apart at any time. Negotiators are rushing to meet a February 15 deadline according to this report by the Wall Street Journal. The proposal, according to their sources, would be a stock deal with AMR’s creditors holding 72 percent of the new company and US Airways stockholders holding the other 28 percent. US Airways’ Doug Parker would take control of the “new American”. Still to be resolved, what role will American’s CEO Tom Horton play?

This merger, if approved, will create the world’s largest airline.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Read the analysis of a prospective AA-US merger by the WSJ: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: James Helbock. With US Airways’ CEO Doug Parker taking control, was the American new livery approved by Doug? Will this new brand survive the takeover? The first Boeing 737-800, 737-823 N908NN (msn 39238), taxies to the runway at San Diego.

American Airlines:

US Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. The US Airways’ 2005 livery and brand will be phased out in any merger. Airbus A321-231 N535UW (msn 3993) climbs away from the runway at the Charlotte hub.

Japan Airlines to operate the Tokyo Narita-San Diego route again on January 30

JAL-Japan Airlines (Tokyo) will operate a Boeing 777 flight on the Tokyo (Narita)-San Diego route on January 30. It is unclear at this time if the flight will continue beyond this single roundtrip flight. The route has been suspended since the Boeing 787-8 was grounded.

Read the full report from U-T San Diego: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: James Helbock. Tokyo meets San Diego. Flying over an appropriate JAL advertising billboard about the new service, Boeing 787-8 JA827J (msn 34837) completes its final approach over downtown San Diego.

JAL-Japan Airlines:

Sun Country to fly from Lansing to Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta

Sun Country Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) announced today details of their 2013 winter schedule out of the Lansing Capital Region International Airport. Sun Country’s newest additions to the schedule include twice weekly nonstop service to Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning December 27, 2012, as well as weekly nonstop service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during the winter season, beginning February 1, 2013.

The airline will also resume nonstop service to popular winter destinations: Cancun, Punta Cana, and Orlando via Orlando International Airport (MCO).

In addition, Sun Country has nonstop service to Washington D.C. six days per week and connections through Minneapolis/St. Paul to Phoenix, San Diego, Palm Springs, Fort Myers, Seattle/Tacoma, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Sun Country Airlines:

Frontier to start Orlando-Greensboro flights on November 17

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) today announced new nonstop service between Orlando, Fla. (MCO), and Greensboro, N.C. (GSO), with three weekly nonstop flights beginning on November 17, 2012.

Following is the schedule for Frontier’s Greensboro service:

Orlando-Greensboro (beginning Nov. 17, 2012)

Route	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
MCO-GSO	8:30 a.m.	10:05 a.m.	Mon/Sat	A319
MCO-GSO	8:00 a.m.	9:35 a.m.	Wed	A319
GSO-MCO	10:45 a.m.	12:15 p.m.	Mon/Sat	A319
GSO-MCO	10:15 a.m.	11:45 a.m.	Wed	A319

The new service will operate on 138-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: James Helbock. Airbus A319-111 N950FR (msn 3028) with Bob, the Bottlenose Dolphin, climbs away from scenic San Diego.

Frontier Airlines:

SkyWest orders 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jets

SkyWest Airlines (St. George) has placed a firm order for 100 Mitsubishi Regional Jets for deliveries between 2017 and 2020.

Read the full full story from Reuters: CLICK HERE

SkyWest Airlines is celebrating 40 Years of flying in 2012. SkyWest cooperates and flies for United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and Alaska Airlines. With a fleet of 314 aircraft, SkyWest’s more than 11,000 aviation professionals operate more than 1,800 flights each day to 162 destinations throughout North America (see route map below).

SkyWest Current Fleet: CLICK HERE

SkyWest Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: James Helbock. SkyWest currently operates 159 Bombardier CRJ200s which will be the first aircraft to be replaced in addition to the 42 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias, 92 Bombardier CRJ700s and 21 CRJ900s also operated.

Video on the MRJ: