Tag Archives: SEA

Hawaiian is awarded the Honolulu and Kona to Tokyo Haneda routes

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/World-Airline-News/World-Airline-News-May-2016/i-QJT2Jxp/A

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 N395HA (msn 1469) SEA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 929072.

World Airline News report issued on May 14, 2016:

The U.S. Department of Transportation on May 13, 2016 approved Hawaiian Airlines’ application to serve Honolulu and Kona from Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The DOT has given Hawai’i’s largest and longest serving carrier until January 29, 2017 to start the new service.

The DOT must still decide which five of eight remaining applications by four U.S. air carriers for daytime slots at Haneda it will approve. The slots were opened as part of a February agreement between the U.S. Government and the Government of Japan. Hawaiian has asked that its existing daily Honolulu-Haneda service be among those five.

ANA is the first airline to fly the 100,000th 787 Dreamliner flight

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Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) yesterday (January 11) celebrated the airline’s 100,000th revenue flight with the 787 Dreamliner during a gate ceremony at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The milestone marks yet another record for ANA as it becomes the first airline in the world to reach 100,000 787 flights.

ANA was the launch customer of the 787 Dreamliner family and in 2011 became the first airline to introduce the innovative airplane to passengers around the world. Since then, the fuel-efficient airplane has enabled ANA to launch new routes worldwide, including North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. With this milestone, ANA has accumulated approximately a quarter of all 787 revenue flights.

ANA operates the world’s largest Dreamliner fleet with 44 787s, including both the 787-8 and the longer 787-9. The airline has 39 unfilled 787 orders, including for the longest and newest member of the 787 family, the 787-10, in addition to 20 777-9X airplanes.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner JA813A (msn 34521) taxies at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

ANA aircraft slide show:

Delta to restore the seasonal Portland – Anchorage route

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Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will restore the summer seasonal route between Portland, Oregon and Anchorage, Alaska on May 13, 2016. The restored route will be operated four days a week with Boeing 737-900s according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Delta has been building up its nearby Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hub so it is not surprising this route from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska is being restored. Boeing 737-932 ER N817DN (msn 31928) taxies to the runway at SEA.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines partners with Boeing and the Port of Seattle on a plan to supply sustainable aviation biofuel at SeaTac Airport

Alaska 737 Biofuel (Boeing)(LRW)

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma), the Port of Seattle and Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) are partnering to move toward a significant environmental goal: powering all flights by all airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with sustainable aviation biofuel. SeaTac is the first U.S. airport to lay out a long-term roadmap to incorporate aviation biofuel into its infrastructure in a cost-effective, efficient manner.

Alaska Fuel Farm SEA (Boeing)(LRW)

At the SeaTac fuel farm (above) today, executives for the port, Alaska Airlines, and Boeing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch a $250,000 Biofuel Infrastructure Feasibility Study that will assess costs and infrastructure necessary to deliver a blend of aviation biofuel and conventional jet fuel to aircraft at Sea-Tac, a crucial step toward routine biofuel use in the future.

The partners’ longer-term plan is to incorporate significant quantities of biofuel into SeaTac’s fuel infrastructure, which is used by all 26 airlines and more than 380,000 flights annually at the airport. SeaTac is the 13th busiest airport in the U.S. and will serve over 42 million domestic and international passengers this year.

Joe Sprague, senior vice president of communications and external relations for Alaska Airlines, Sea-Tac’s largest carrier and leader of the airport’s fueling consortium, said the airline wants to incorporate biofuel into flight operations at one or more of its hubs by 2020, with SeaTac as a first choice for the Seattle-based airline.

The Port of Seattle will manage the $250,000 study as the biofuel roadmapping process and, as SeaTac Airport’s governing authority, would handle the engineering and integration of biofuel infrastructure on Port property such as the airport’s fuel farm. An RFP for the infrastructure study will be issued in the spring of 2016, and the study is expected to be completed by late 2016. Currently, aviation biofuels are not produced in Washington state and must be imported by truck, rail or barge.

Boeing, which partners globally to develop and commercialize sustainable aviation biofuel, is providing expertise about approaches to develop a regional biofuel supply chain to serve the airport, including fuel types, fuel producers, processing technologies and integration with airplanes.

Alaska-Boeing SEA Biofuel Infographic

Approved “drop-in” aviation biofuel is blended directly with regular petroleum-based jet fuel and used in airplanes without any changes to the aircraft or engines. Using sustainably produced biofuel reduces lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional petroleum fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Since 2011, when biofuel was approved for commercial aviation, airlines have conducted more than 2,000 passenger flights with a blend of biofuel and conventional petroleum jet fuel.

The Port’s Century Agenda Goal is to reduce aircraft-related carbon emissions at Sea-Tac Airport by 25% by 2037. The key strategy to reduce these emissions is through aviation biofuel. Historically, the Port has been a leader in supporting research and development of aviation biofuels, and as models of other international airports and airlines using biofuel emerge, Sea-Tac is also developing a market-support role.

In the past five years, Alaska Airlines has become a leader in the pursuit of finding a sustainable supply of biofuels. In 2011, Alaska was the first airline to fly multiple flights using a 20 percent blend of sustainable aviation biofuel made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat.

In the next year, Alaska will partner with Gevo, Inc. to fly the first ever commercial flight on alcohol-to-jet fuel. In addition, as a partner in the Washington State University-led Northwest Advanced Renewable Alliance (NARA), Alaska plans to fly a demonstration flight next year using a new aviation biofuel made from forest-industry waste. Fuel for both demonstration flights must first be independently certified.

Photos: Boeing/Alaska Airlines.

Virgin America reports 3Q GAAP net income of $71.9 million

Virgin America (San Francisco) reported its financial results for the third quarter of 2015. Key highlights from the third quarter include:

Third quarter 2015 net income was $73.0 million excluding special items1, an increase of $31.3 million from the third quarter of 2014. Operating income and operating margin excluding special items were $75.0 million and 18.2 percent, respectively.
On a GAAP basis, net income was $71.9 million. Operating income and operating margin on a GAAP basis were $73.9 million and 18.0 percent, respectively.
Fully diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $1.64. On a GAAP basis, fully diluted earnings per share was $1.61.

“Virgin America continued its strong financial performance in the third quarter with record earnings and margins,” said David Cush, Virgin America’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe we are well-positioned to grow the airline while maintaining our low cost model, driving year-over-year industry unit revenue outperformance and improving ancillary revenue. We’re also investing in our product so that we can continue improving what is already the best, most consistent guest experience in the industry.”

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 N634VA (msn 3359) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Virgin America aircraft slide show:

SkyWest reports a 3Q net profit of $36 million

SkyWest, Inc. (SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines) (St. George, Utah) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

SkyWest generated $36 million of net income for Q3 2015, or $0.71 per diluted share. Excluding special items, SkyWest’s net income for Q3 2014 was approximately $26 million, or $0.50 per diluted share.

Operating income for Q3 2015 was $78 million, an increase of 32% from Q3 2014 of $59 million.

SkyWest reported $77 million of net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, or $1.49 per diluted share, a $88 million improvement from the corresponding period of 2014, which had net loss of $11 million, excluding 2014 special items.

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, SkyWest, Inc. President said, “Our third quarter results reflect continued progress in the optimization of our fleet and flying contract mix. These improvements, along with solid operating performance, have contributed to our increasing operating margins. Additionally, we look forward to operating the E175 aircraft with three of our major partners by mid-2016, and we believe our operating performance continues to create additional opportunities to improve our fleet mix and operating margins.”

Fleet Information:

Total aircraft in service at September 30, 2015 was 656, a net decrease of 84 aircraft from September 30, 2014 of 740 aircraft. Changes in SkyWest’s fleet mix are as follows:

Added 26 new E175 aircraft with United Airlines (“United”)
Added three new E175 aircraft with Alaska Airlines (“Alaska”)
Added twelve used CRJ200 aircraft with Delta Air Lines (“Delta”)
Added 16 used ERJ145 aircraft with American Airlines (“American”)

Combined, 57 aircraft were added year-over-year

Removed 36 EMB120 30-seat turbo-prop aircraft (“EMB120s”) from multiple partners
Removed 69 ERJ145/135 aircraft from service from United
Removed 36 CRJ200 aircraft from service with multiple partners

Combined, 141 aircraft were removed year-over-year

SkyWest’s aircraft in service decreased by 20 net aircraft from June 30, 2015 to September 30, 2015, with changes in fleet mix as follows:

Added five new E175 aircraft with United
Removed eleven ERJ145 aircraft from service with United
Removed 14 CRJ200 aircraft from service from multiple major airline partners

Under its fleet transition, SkyWest generated approximately 24,800 additional block hours with its dual class aircraft (CRJ700s/900s and E175s) during Q3 2015, compared to Q3 2014.

SkyWest also had a reduction of approximately 89,000 block hours with its less profitable 50-seat and smaller aircraft (CRJ200s, ERJ145s/135s and EMB120s) during Q3 2015, compared to Q3 2014.

Under an agreement announced in Q3 2015, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to place 18 additional new E175 aircraft into service with United, with anticipated scheduled delivery dates from Q4 2016 to Q2 2017. SkyWest Airlines is currently scheduled to have a total of 58 E175s in service with United by the end of Q2 2017.

Under a previously announced agreement, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of twelve new E175 aircraft for Alaska from Q4 2015 to Q4 2016. SkyWest is currently scheduled to have a total of 15 E175s in service with Alaska by the end of Q4 2016.

Under an agreement announced last week, SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to take delivery of 19 new E175 aircraft for Delta from Q3 2016 through mid-2017.

The following reflects expected E175 aircraft that SkyWest anticipates will be placed into service by period:
Airline Q4 2015 2016 2017   Cumulative Total End of 2017
United – 7 11 58
Delta –   13 6 19
Alaska   2   10 –   15
Total 2   30 17

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. SkyWest Airlines is already operating the Embraer 175 for Alaska Airlines. Alaska Skywest-titled Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N170SY (msn 17000483) taxies at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Alaska SkyWest aircraft slide show:

Emirates and Alaska Airlines to codeshare

Emirates (Dubai) today (October 26) announced a new codeshare and lounge agreement with Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma).

Emirates continued:

Pending governmental approval, Emirates will begin marketing up to 300 daily Alaska Airlines flights, which will give customers the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one reservation, and a seamless ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage check experience during the entire journey. In addition, the new codeshare agreement will feature several other new benefits including reciprocal lounge access and priority boarding and check-in for elite fliers.

With two daily flights now departing from Dubai to Seattle/Tacoma, the enhanced codeshare agreement gives passengers easy connections to 49 cities including Honolulu, Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, Phoenix, Pullman, Sacramento, Spokane, Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks as well as Canadian destinations such as Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Emirates Boeing 777-36N ER A6-EBC (msn 32790) taxies to the gate at Amsterdam.

Below Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990 ER N474AS (msn 40715) with the revised titles and winglet markings arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show:

Emirates aircraft slide show:

United Airlines and the Teamsters reach a tentative agreement

United Airlines (Chicago) has announced that it has reached an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) to put a proposed joint collective bargaining agreement out for ratification. The proposed agreement will bring together the airline’s more than 8,600 technicians and related employees under a single contract.

United and the union worked with the assistance of the National Mediation Board to reach the agreement.

United has joint collective bargaining agreements covering the majority of its represented employees, including pilots, dispatchers, fleet service, passenger service, reservations and storekeeper workgroups. The company is engaged in mediated negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and recently entered into discussions with its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, to consider an extension of their current collective agreement.

The proposed agreement is subject to ratification and covers mechanics and related employees located throughout the United States.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-924 ER N69835 (msn 60087) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta to connect its Seattle/Tacoma hub with Orange County

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will added Embraer 175 Delta Connection service (operated by Compass Airlines) between its Seattle/Tacoma hub and Orange County (John Wayne) starting on May 1, 2016.

The airline made this announcement:

Delta Air Lines’ hub at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will continue to grow next spring with the launch of four daily flights to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport beginning May 1, 2016.

In all, Delta will launch service to ten destinations from Seattle/Tacoma between November 2015 and May 2016: Billings, Montana.; Boston; Cancun, Mexico; Edmonton, Alberta; Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island; Missoula, Montana; Orange County; Orlando; Pasco, Washington; and Victoria, British Columbia. Some service may be operated by Delta Connection carriers SkyWest Airlines and Compass Airlines.

Delta’s Seattle/Tacoma to Orange County flights will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines using Embraer 175 aircraft.

In other news, Delta will operate weekly Boeing 737-800 Cuban charters from Atlanta to Havana starting on April 2, 2016.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N612CZ (msn 17000201) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Delta Connection-Compass aircraft slide show:

Alaska Airlines starts Seattle/Tacoma – New York service tonight

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) inaugurates new service from Seattle/Tacoma to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport tonight.

Alaska has served the New York metropolitan area since 2002 and currently offers twice-daily flights to Newark Liberty International Airport from Seattle/Tacoma.

Summary of new service:

Start date City pair Departs Arrives Frequency

Sept. 16 Seattle/Tacoma – New York City (JFK) 9:35 p.m. 6 a.m. Daily
Sept. 17 New York City (JFK) – Seattle/Tacoma 7:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Daily

Flight times based on local times zones.

Alaska is operating the new flights with fuel-efficient, next generation Boeing 737 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-890 N513AS (msn 35192) departs from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hub.

Alaska Airlines aircraft slide show: