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Summit Air to operate its Avro (BAe) RJ85s on two routes for First Air and to the Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine

Summit Air (Yellowknife) will begin operating its 90-seat Avro (BAe) RJ85s on two routes for First Air (Ottawa). On January 27 the company will begin operating on the Yellowknife – Edmonton route and on February 2 it will begin operating on the Yellowknife – Norman Wells – Inuvik route.

On January 20 Summit Air announced the purchase of a second Avro RJ85 jet to meet market demand for remote destination crew movements and ACMI (aircraft, crew maintenance and insurance) contracts.

Summit Air is part of the Ledcor Group of Companies and operates a fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest and Yukon Territories.

According to the company release, “The Avro RJ85 is a 100-seat high performance, short-haul passenger jet, offering modern, efficient operations on flights up to 1500 nautical miles (2,800 kilometers). Rugged and versatile, its high wing design is capable of operations on both paved and gravel runways and is equipped with self-contained boarding air stair and auxiliary power unit to provide independence at remote airfields.”

“In partnership with the Det’on Cho Logistics, our Avro RJ85 operations will service the Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine from Edmonton,” said Rob Mauracher. “We have also inked a partnership agreement with First Air, flying commercial passenger services for them under a long term ACMI contract from Edmonton and Yellowknife.”

Summit Air’s second AVRO RJ85 is scheduled to be delivered in late April 2015.

Summit’s AVRO RJ85 is a UK-built aircraft equipped with auto throttle, EFIS flight deck, WAAS/LPV capable and is the only next generation jet certified in Canada for operations onto gravel runways. With a long-range cruising speed of 720 km/hr (450 mph), and a maximum operating speed of 763 km/hr (475 mph), the Avro has a 43,000 kg (97,000 lbs.) maximum takeoff weight.

The aircraft is powered by four Honeywell LF507-1F high bypass FADEC engines capable of 7000 lbs of thrust each. The engines feature low noise levels and low emissions, making it one of the quietest and greenest aircraft in its class.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Summit Air BAe (Avro) RJ85 is pictured as G-CHKP (msn E2302) at Southend which became C-FLRJ on delivery.

First Air aircraft slide show:

Summit Air aircraft slide show:

Routes to be operated by Summit Air:

JOTA Aviation acquires its first BAe 146 for charters

JOTA Aviation (Southend) has acquired its first BAe 146. Previously the company operated King Air 90s for ad hoc passenger and cargo charter flights.

The new BAE 146-200 is pictured arriving at Southend from Manston. Manston is being closed.

This could well be the last commercial aircraft to depart from Manston unless the African DC-8 does fly out as per the photo of mine you kindly used.

This airliner was delivered to Pacific Southwest in 1985 as N364PS and was last operated by Flightline as G-OZRH and stored at Southend. It then became N880PA and flew to Manston in February 2013.

The aircraft has now been re-registered as G-SMLA (msn E2047) recently.

Allegiant announces five new routes to Florida

Allegiant Air (Las Vegas) has announced new, nonstop jet service on five new Florida routes, including one route each to Punta Gorda and Sanford (near Orlando) and three to St. Petersburg/Clearwater (Tampa Bay).

New routes announced include:

Nonstop service to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) from:

Belleville, Illinois – begins November 19, 2014
Bloomington, Illinois – begins November 21, 2014
Concord, North Carolina (near Charlotte) – begins November 13, 2014

Nonstop service to Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB) from:

Peoria, Illinois – begins November 14, 2014

Nonstop service to Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) from:

Huntington, West Virginia – begins Nov. 20, 2014

Allegiant differs in many ways from other U.S. airlines. The company is focused on low-cost, nonstop leisure travel, providing customers with low base fares while giving passengers the option to pay for the amenities they want, like luggage, seat assignments and priority boarding, without including the cost of things they don’t need in the price of the ticket.

Allegiant’s innovative business model has allowed it to grow from one airplane and one route 15 years ago, to offering access to low-cost, nonstop travel in more than 90 communities nationwide. This year, Allegiant has inaugurated service on 16 new routes to popular U.S. vacation destinations. Additionally, the company recently announced its 46th consecutive quarter of profitable operation while keeping its average one-way fare under $100.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. The Airbus A319s and A320s are based at Sanford. Former easyJet Switzerland Airbus A319-112 HB-JZN (man 2387) became N302NV with Allegiant.

Allegiant:

Routes from Sanford. Allegiant operates nonstop routes to SFB from small underserved markets from the eastern half of the United States to the vacation Orlando area destination.

Air Astana to resume operations to Dubai on September 1

Air Astana (Almaty) will restart services from Almaty to Dubai from September 1, 2014.

Flights will be operated by Airbus A320 family aircraft. Flights from Almaty to Dubai International Airport (DXB) will depart at 07:55 and arrive 10:25 at Terminal 1. Dubai-Almaty flights will depart at 11:40 arriving at Almaty at 17:55.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 P4-XAS (msn 4519) arrives at Southend after a test flight.

Air Astana:

Discovery Air to commence operations on June 9 in Nigeria

Discovery Air (Lagos) will start scheduled passenger operations on June 9 with three Boeing 737-300s. The company’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was issued on June 3. The first route will be between Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria. Services to Port Harcourt will also be operated.

The company was incorporated on July 23, 2008 as a private limited liability company. The name comes from its primary owner, First Deepwater Discovery.

Copyright photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Discovery Air). Boeing 737-36N 5N-BQO (msn 28571) departs from Southend.

Discovery Air:

Video:

EasyJet to launch five new routes from London’s Gatwick Airport

EasyJet (UK) (easyJet.com) (London-Luton), the UK and London Gatwick’s largest airline will see the launch of five new year-round services from London Gatwick this month.

The airline’s inaugural flights to Brussels, Paris (Charles de Gaulle), Jersey, Newcastle and Strasbourg take off for the first time on March 30, 2014.

The frequency of EasyJet’s services between Gatwick and Inverness will also double from one to two return services each day with the launch of EasyJet’s first evening flight from London Gatwick to Inverness and early arrival into London Gatwick. This will further strengthen the airline’s comprehensive network of routes from the airport and is expected to be popular with business travellers.
2.3 million passengers flew easyJet on business in and out of London Gatwick in 2013 and over 800,000 passengers are expected to use the five new services annually. This will increase the number of passengers who fly easyJet to and from the airport by 5% and to a total of 108 destinations to further extend the airline’s ongoing commitment to providing easy and affordable business links across Europe.

Previously on March 19, EasyJet commemorated the deal it agreed to last June with Airbus for 135 Airbus A320 aircraft in Paris, with an official signing ceremony.

EasyJet is the fourth largest airline in Europe with a current fleet of 217 Airbus A319s and A320s and has taken delivery of 245 Airbus aircraft in total. EasyJet’s Airbus order is the largest placed by any European airline to date.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. EasyJet is saluting William Shakespeare with this newly painted Airbus A319-111 registered G-EZBI (msn 3003). G-EZBI is appropriately named “Romeo Alpha Juliet”.

EasyJet (UK):

Aer Arann to become Stobart Air

Aer Arann (Dublin) on March 19, 2014 announced it would be changing its name to Stobart Air by the end of this year to better reflect its new ownership.

According to Stobbart Group, “Stobart Air is operator of two complementary airport facilities, London Southend Airport and Carlisle Lake District Airport. The Group intends to grow Stobart Air significantly following the completion of London Southend Airport. London Southend Airport has developed new routes with major operators including Aer Lingus Regional, easyJet, Thomson Airways and First Choice with the ultimate aim of servicing up to two million passengers annually by 2020.

The Group is also pursuing air freight, maintenance and airport service opportunities at London Southend Airport, including airport retail, private facilities, lounges and fees generated from the rail terminal, which provides up to eight services an hour direct to London’s Liverpool Street Station.”

According to Wikipedia, “Aer Arann is owned by Everdeal Holdings Limited, which is 45% owned by the Stobart Group; 42% owned by Invesco; 8% owned by Cenkos Securities; and 5% owned by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann’s former Chairman. Stobart Group has an option to acquire complete control of the airline, by increasing its shareholding by a further 55% to 100%.”

Aer Arann was established in 1970 by James Coen and Ralph Langan to operate regular flights between Galway and the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Operations began in August 1970 with a single Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.

Besides operating for others as Stobart Air, the company will also continue to operate under the Aer Lingus Regional name as part of the franchise agreement with Aer Lingus.

Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212 EI-SLN (msn 405) in Aer Arann livery departs from Southend Airport (near London). Both entities are controlled by the Stobart Group.

Aer Arann:

Aer Lingus Regional:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212 EI-SLM (msn 413) in Aer Lingus Regional franchise colors arrives at Southend.

EasyJet to expand EasyJet Holidays to become a pan-European tour operator with Hotelopia, unveils a Tartan logo jet

EasyJet Holidays (EasyJet) (London-Luton) has announced that it will become a major pan-European tour operator through a new partnership with the online travel agency Hotelopia.

Six new websites are planned in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands as easyJet holidays re-launches itself across the main European countries where the airline has a large presence. This will open up easyJet holidays to up to 100 million people across Europe, all fully protected according to the industry standard local regulations of each source markets such as ATOL in the UK or ATOUT in France.

EasyJet Holidays will continue to offer competitively priced, flexible holidays across the airline’s extensive network including city breaks, beach and ski holidays. In addition, a brand new range of activity holidays such as cycling and golfing breaks will also be added and for the first time ever, excursions will be on offer in all major destinations. The three year and five month deal with Hotelopia SLU commences in May.

Hotelopia, which is part of TUI Travel PLC, one of the world’s leading leisure travel companies will provide their extensive portfolio of hotels across the seven countries where easyJet holidays is operating. This extensive product choice on easyJet holidays website specially selected by Hotelopia will be augmented by the already very popular Spanish Paradores and Disneyland Paris Hotels as well as more than 27,000 self-catering accommodation options with Interhome.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-111 G-EZBF (msn 2923) was painted in this special Tartan color scheme. The airliner was rolled out this morning at Southend and is now named “Inverness”.

EasyJet (UK):

International Airlines Group returns to profitability for 2013

International Airlines Group (IAG) (British Airways, Iberia and Vueling Airlines) (London and Madrid) today (February 28, 2014) presented Group consolidated results for the year to December 31, 2013.

IAG period highlights on results:

Fourth quarter operating profit €113 million (2012: operating loss of €40 million) before exceptional items
At constant currency and excluding Vueling and one-offs, fourth quarter passenger unit revenue up 2.7 per cent, and non-fuel unit
costs down 2.7 per cent
Operating profit for the year to December 31, 2013 of €770 million (2012: operating loss of €23 million) before exceptional items
Revenue for the year up 3.1 per cent to €18,675 million and passenger unit revenue for the year up 0.6 per cent (3.7 per cent at constant currency)
Fuel costs for the year down 2.5 per cent to €5,951 million (2012: €6,101 million). Fuel unit costs down 5.0 per cent at constant currency
Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for year down 0.7 per cent at €11,954 million. Non-fuel unit costs down 5.6 per cent, down 2.7 per cent at constant currency

Cash of €3,633 million at December 31, 2013 was up €724 million on 2012 year end (December 2012: €2,909 million).
Adjusted gearing down 1 point to 50 per cent

Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said:

“In 2013, we strengthened the Group by acquiring Vueling, embarking on Iberia’s transformation and enhancing British Airways’ revenue performance. This has led to a strong financial recovery and return to profitability with a turnaround of nearly €800 million. Our operating profit was €770 million before exceptional items, with passenger revenue up 5.8 per cent and non-fuel costs down 0.7 per cent.

“British Airways continued its solid revenue performance this year and we’re seeing cost improvements, resulting in an operating profit of €762 million. This is the first full year that it’s benefited from the additional Heathrow slots and greater network flexibility created by bmi’s integration. Both the A380 and Boeing 787 were introduced into the airline’s fleet successfully. The new aircrafts’ economic and environmental performance has been excellent and customers love them.

“Iberia has made huge progress on cost control as its restructuring takes shape and great credit should be given to all those involved. It has reduced its losses in the year, reporting an operating loss of €166 million. The recent pay and productivity agreements between Iberia and its pilot and cabin crew unions are key to reducing the airline’s costs further and providing the foundation for profitable growth.

“Vueling is a great asset and provides a new cultural dimension to IAG. The airline reported an operating profit of €168 million from April 2013, when we acquired it, and expanded its network across continental Europe. To increase capacity while improving profit margins is a tremendous achievement and underlines Vueling’s value to the Group.

“We have shown strong financial management this year. Despite buying Vueling and increasing our capital expenditure, cash was up €724 million versus last year and adjusted gearing was down 1 point to 50 per cent.

“Quarter 4 saw an improved financial performance from all our airlines and we are reporting an operating profit of €113 million before exceptional items. Passenger revenue was up 4.0 per cent and non-fuel costs were down 4.1 per cent”.

Trading outlook:

In 2014 we expect to make steady progress towards our 2015 Group operating profit target of €1.8 billion, with relatively flat unit revenue growth, and margin expansion driven by falling unit costs.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Vueling has been a good buy for IAG. Formerly operated by Belle Air Europe, Airbus A320-214 EI-LIS (msn 3492) has been repainted at Southend.

British Airways:

Iberia:

Vueling Airlines:

Air France-KLM to sell CityJet to Intro Aviation

Air France (Paris) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam) have received a firm offer from Intro Aviation of Germany to acquire CityJet (Dublin) and VLM Airlines for an undisclosed amount. The sale is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014. CityJet is expected to continue to fly for Air France.

The group issued this short statement:

On December 19, 2013, Air France-KLM received a firm offer from Intro Aviation GmbH to purchase CityJet and its subsidiary, VLM.

This offer provides for an ongoing commercial co-operation with Air France as part of a new industrial plan.

Employee representative bodies of the various entities will be informed and consulted.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. CityJet’s BAe RJ85 EI-RJJ (msn E2347) climbs away from the runway at Southend.

CityJet (Ireland):