Tag Archives: Seattle

Delta names a new Boeing 737-900 ER “The Spirit of Seattle”

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) in another move to underscore its growing presence at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and in celebration of its 80th anniversary of service and growing presence in the Seattle/Tacoma area, unveiled at Boeing Field a new Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft (737-932 ER N809DN, msn 31915) as the ‘Spirit of Seattle,’ dedicated to the city of Seattle and the airline’s customers, employees and partners in the region.

The dedication took place in a ceremony at Boeing Field, the same location that Delta began service in Seattle on December 3, 1933, through Northwest Airways, which eventually became Northwest Airlines. The inaugural flight was flown from Spokane to Seattle and back to Spokane on a Waco JTO biplane carrying no passengers. Initial passenger service was a Tacoma-Seattle-Wenatchee-Spokane route using 7-passenger, 120-mph Hamilton H47 Metalplanes.

Today, Delta operates 35 peak-day departures to 15 destinations from its growing gateway in Seattle, including non-stop international service to Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda, Shanghai and Beijing. Additional international service is planned in 2014 to London-Heathrow as well as Hong Kong and Seoul, pending government approval. Delta will also expand Seattle service to Anchorage, Alaska; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; and San Francisco and also recently announced new service to Fairbanks, Alaska, and Vancouver, Canada, beginning in the summer of 2014.

More than 100 Delta Chairman’s Club honorees attended the dedication event along with local employees and corporate and community partners. The honorees are accompanying the aircraft on its delivery flight from Seattle to Atlanta prior to entering service later this month. Chairman’s Club is Delta’s highest honor in employee recognition, and honorees embody Delta’s values through their distinguished contributions and exceptional service to customers and the communities Delta serves.

The ‘Spirit of Seattle’ is the ninth of 100 new 737-900 ERs that will be delivered to Delta between 2013 and 2018 as it retires older mainline jets and upgrades its fleet. The 737-900 ER will be deployed on several routes to and from Seattle/Tacoma, among others, and has a range of 3,200 nautical miles, giving it the ability to operate any domestic route in Delta’s extensive network.

Delta will take delivery of three additional 737-900 ERs this year for a total of 12 aircraft in 2013, 19 aircraft per year in 2014 through 2017, and 12 aircraft in 2018. The 180-seat aircraft will replace older, less efficient aircraft on a capacity-neutral basis while providing customers with an industry-leading on-board experience.

As Delta’s first aircraft to feature Boeing’s new “Sky Interior,” the 737-900 ER offers the airline’s customers expanded carry-on baggage space, a roomier, more airy cabin and an LED lighting system that provides different color schemes, such as a soft blue sky and a relaxing pallet of sunset colors.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Sister ship Boeing 737-932 ER N805DN (msn 31913), the fifth, was delivered on November 1, 2013.

Delta Air Lines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. N809DN “The Spirit of Seattle” is seen at Boeing Field in Seattle.

Delta to add Seattle/Tacoma-Fairbanks flights on May 29, 2014

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will add new daily nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from Fairbanks International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, beginning May 29, 2014 and June 5, 2014, respectively. We previously reported the new Seattle-Vancouver route.

Delta will offer customers five daily flights between Vancouver and Seattle, operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines (St. George, Utah) using 76-seat, two-class Bombardier CRJ900s. Additionally, the airline will begin one daily summer seasonal flight between Fairbanks, Alaska and Seattle/Tacoma using a Boeing 737-800. Each aircraft is equipped with First Class and Economy Comfort seating as well as onboard Wi-Fi.

Delta recently announced expanded Seattle/Tacoma service to Anchorage, Alaska, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon,, San Diego and San Francisco to support its increasing international network which currently operates nonstop flights to Amsterdam, Beijing, Paris, Shanghai-Pudong and Tokyo. The airline will also operate new nonstop international service in 2014 to London-Heathrow in March, as well as Hong Kong and Seoul in June, pending government approval.

Every long-haul international Delta flight from Seattle/Tacoma now features full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, Economy Comfort seating and entertainment on demand in every seat throughout the aircraft.

Delta currently operates 35 peak-day departures to 15 destinations from Seattle/Tacoma, and every flight offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating as well as domestic Wi-Fi service. The airline has also invested $14 million in its facilities at Sea-Tac, including its recently completed lobby renovations, new Delta Sky Club, Sky Priority services, new gate area power recharging stations and expanded ticket counters.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-832 N387DA (msn 30374) climbs away from the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Holidays Video by Delta:

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Thai Lion Air to launch operations on December 4

Thai Lion Air (Bangkok-Don Mueang) has secured its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and is planning to launch scheduled low-fare passenger operations on December 4 with two new 215-seat Boeing 737-900 ERs. The first routes will be from Don Mueang to Chiang Mai, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur according to the Bangkok Post. The low-cost carrier will add Singapore, Guangzhou, Hong, Shenzhen, Delhi and Mumbai next year.

Thai Lion Air is part of the Lion Air Group.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-9GP ER N5515R (msn 38738) became HS-LTI when it was handed over on October 18, 2013 in Seattle.

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Will the Boeing 777X be moved out of the Seattle area after the IAM members vote down a long-term contract extension?

Boeing’s (Chicago) machinists rejected an eight-year labor contract extension yesterday that would have let Boeing build the company’s newest jetliner in Washington State. The IAM members voted down the extension by 67 percent. The extension would have secured an estimated 20 years of work building the proposed 777X. This vote may now permanently alter the relationship between Boeing and the Seattle area. The vote will now open a new opportunities for non-union areas like Charleston, South Carolina and other areas to build the new jetliner.

The driving issue for the union was the preservation of their pensions.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes quickly issued a statement from President and CEO Ray Conner after a long-term contract extension was voted down by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District 751.

“We are very disappointed in the outcome of the union vote. Our goal was two-fold: to enable the 777X and its new composite wing to be produced in Puget Sound and to create a competitive structure to ensure that we continue market-leading pay, health care and retirement benefits while preserving jobs and our industrial base here in the region. But without the terms of this contract extension, we’re left with no choice but to open the process competitively and pursue all options for the 777X.

I’d like to thank Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington state legislature for all their efforts in this process. We had hoped for a different outcome.”

Read the analysis by Reuters: CLICK HERE

Boeing delivers the 100th Next-Generation 737 to the Lion Group

Boeing (Chicago) and the Lion Group (Lion Air) (Jakarta), Indonesia’s largest airline group, yesterday (November 4) commemorated the delivery of the carrier’s 100th Next-Generation 737 at a special event.

The Lion Group’s 100th airplane, the pictured Lion Air 737-9GP ER (Extended Range) PK-LOF (msn 38741) features a special “100th Boeing Next-Generation 737 – Thank You Indonesia” livery commemorating the delivery.

Lion Air, which was established in 1999, was also the launch customer for the 737-900 ER. Lion Air mainline currently operates 67 737-900 ERs and 19 737-800s. The group’s other Next-Generation 737s are allocated to its full-service carrier in Indonesia, Batik Air, and to its overseas affiliates: Malindo Air in Malaysia and Thai Lion Air, a new carrier based in Bangkok.

All of the Lion Group’s new 737 deliveries feature the Boeing Sky Interior, the 787 Dreamliner inspired cabin.

Lion mainline and subsidiary Wings Air serve 76 destinations in Indonesia, giving the group the largest domestic network in Indonesia. Lion Air mainline has 580 flights a day and Wings Air has 180 flights per day.

Top Copyright Photo: The Boeing Company. Bottom Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com.

Lion Air:

El Al finalizes its order for two more Boeing 737-900 ERs

El Al Israel Airlines (Tel Aviv) and Boeing (Chicago) have finalized an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900 ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The order comes just two weeks after the Israeli flag-carrier took delivery of its first 737-900 ER. This order brings the total number of 737-900 ERs ordered by El Al to eight.

The order was finalized at a special event hosted by El Al at the carrier’s base at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to celebrate the recent arrival of El Al’s first 737-900 ER. The Boeing 737-900 ER has the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost of Boeing’s single-aisle family and will perfectly complement EL AL’s existing fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s.

El Al’s 737-900 ERs will also feature the innovative Boeing Sky Interior, enabling the airline to differentiate itself from its competitors by offering passengers a more comfortable travel experience. The 737 Boeing Sky Interior features modern sculpted sidewalls and window reveals, LED lighting to enhance the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead stowage bins.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Brand new Boeing 737-958 ER 4X-EHA (msn 41552) was delivered to El Al on October 9, 2013.

El Al:

Thai Lion Air takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-900 ER

Thai Lion Air (Bangkok-Don Mueang) is the new low-cost subsidiary of Lion Air of Indonesia. Lion Air has partnered with local Thai interests and is planning to launch operations later this year.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-9GP ER N5515R (msn 38738) with gray “Thai” titles before the main Lion titles, became HS-LTI when it was handed over on October 18, 2013.

Boeing delivers the first directly purchased Boeing 737-800 to UTair of Russia

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered to UTair Aviation (Khanty-Mansiysk), one of Russia’s leading national carriers, its first directly purchased Next-Generation 737-800. Boeing 737-8LP VP-BUL (msn 41707) was handed over yesterday (October 9). The airline currently has 40 Next-Generation 737s on order to be delivered in the next several years.

UTair’s new 737-800 seats 162 passengers and features the new Boeing Sky Interior. This interior is the latest in a series of enhancements for both airlines and passengers. It introduces LED lighting and curved architecture that welcomes passengers onboard and creates a greater sense of spaciousness and comfort in the cabin. The interior also features modern, sculpted sidewalls and overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling, yet carry more bags.

The Next-Generation 737 family has won orders for more than 6,500 airplanes, while the whole 737 family has surpassed 11,000 orders to date.

Based in Russia, UTair is an integrated air carrier and aircraft services company with over 40 years of experience. Today, UTair operates one of the largest aircraft fleets in Russia and ranks among the top three largest Russian carriers by passenger volume.

Top Copyright Photo: OSDU/AirlinersGallery.com. Acquired in the aircraft market, sister ship Boeing 737-8GU WL VQ-BQP (msn 37553) arrives at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.

UTair (Russia):

Bottom Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. Brand new Boeing 737-8LP VP-BUL (msn 41707) is pictured at Boeing Field in Seattle before the hand over.

Delta Air Lines takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-900 ER

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) on Friday (September 27) quietly took delivery of its first new Boeing 737-900 ER. The aircraft, the pictured 737-932 ER N801DZ (msn 31912) (fleet number 3801) with Blended Winglets, arrived at the Atlanta base yesterday morning (September 28).

On August 25, 2011, Delta announced it had ordered 100 Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft for delivery between 2013 and 2018 as it retires older mainline jets and upgrades its fleet.

According to Delta, “the order will enable Delta to add 100 fuel-efficient, state-of-the-art 180-seat aircraft to its fleet, replacing on a capacity-neutral basis older technology aircraft that will be retired from the fleet. The new aircraft will improve the company’s profitability while providing customers with an industry-leading on-board experience. With a range of 3,200 nautical miles, the Boeing 737-900ER can operate on any domestic route offered by Delta.”

As previously reported, Delta will take delivery of 12 737-900 ER aircraft in 2013, 19 aircraft per year in 2014 through 2017, and the remaining 12 aircraft in 2018. Each aircraft has committed long-term financing.

As a result of maintenance efficiencies and a 15 to 20 percent improvement in fuel consumption per seat, the Boeing 737-900 ER will have lower unit costs than the older technology Boeing 757 and 767 and Airbus A320 aircraft that it will replace. The aircraft will be equipped with CFM56-7B engines produced by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Company of the U.S. and Snecma of France.

The 737-900 ER will be Delta’s first aircraft to feature Boeing’s new “Sky Interior,” which offers expanded carry-on baggage space, a roomier, more airy cabin and an LED lighting system that provides different color schemes, such as a soft blue sky and a relaxing pallet of sunset colors.

Update: On Monday, September 30, 2013 Boeing issued this statement:

Boeing and Delta Air Lines celebrated the delivery of the carrier’s first Next-Generation 737-900 ER (Extended Range). The delivery is part of Delta’s 100-airplane order placed in 2011 to renew its single-aisle fleet with more fuel-efficient airplanes.

The Boeing 737-900 ER is the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 airplane family. It has the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost of Boeing’s single-aisle family. The 737-900 ER will fit seamlessly into Delta’s existing fleet of 737-700 and 737-800 airplanes, allowing Delta to efficiently match capacity to market demand with industry leading economics.

Delta’s new 737-900E R seats 180 passengers and features the new Boeing Sky Interior. This interior is the latest in a series of enhancements for both airlines and passengers. It introduces new LED lighting and curved architecture that welcomes passengers onboard and creates a greater sense of spaciousness and comfort in the cabin. The interior also features modern, sculpted sidewalls and overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling, yet carry more bags.

Top Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-932 ER N801DZ (msn 31912) lands at Boeing Field (King County) in Seattle after a test flight.

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Bottom Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp/AirlinersGallery.com. Another view of N801DZ at Boeing Field.

Aeroflot is set become a Boeing 737 operator once again

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is on the verge this month of taking delivery of its first new Boeing 737-800. This will be the return of the Boeing 737 type to the Aeroflot fleet. The Russian carrier operated the 737-400 in 1998. Aeroflot will join a growing list of airlines operating both the Airbus A320 Family of aircraft and the Boeing 737 Next Generation Family of aircraft.

Aeroflot intends to eventually operate 65 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft through Russian Technologies including 25 Boeing 737-800s with Winglets as well as the 737-700 and 737-900 ER.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-8LJ VP-BRF (msn 41195) at Boeing Field in Seattle will be the first and is named S. Obraztsov.

Aeroflot:

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