Tag Archives: Star Alliance

Air China to start Washington Dulles flights in June

Air China (Beijing) has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to commence nonstop service from its Beijing hub to its Star Alliance partner United Airlines’ (Chicago) hub at Washington (Dulles). The new route will operate four days a week with Boeing 777-300 ERs starting in June according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-39L ER B-2032 (msn 38671) in the Star Alliance motif departs from Los Angeles International Airport.

Air China:

Austrian Airlines to return to Tehran on March 11

Austrian Airlines (Vienna) will relaunch its services to the Iranian capital, Tehran, from March 11, 2014 onwards, depending on the final regulatory approval. The flights will be operated five times a week for the duration of the company’s summer schedule, using an Airbus A320 or A319 operating with the flight numbers of OS 871/2. The service will be bookable from January 15, 2014 onwards. Austrian served the capital of Iran since 1984.

Austrian Airlines dropped all flights to Tehran from its schedule in January 2013 for commercial reasons.

The following flight times will apply from 11 March 2014 onwards (local time):
OS871 Vienna – Tehran 20.10 – 03.00 +1

OS872 Tehran – Vienna 03.55 – 06.00

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 OE-LBX (msn 1735), now operated by Tyroelan Airways (with small titles), prepares to land in Zurich in the Star Alliance motif.

Austrian Airlines:

Air India gets another chance to join the Star Alliance

Air India (Mumbai) is getting another chance to join the Star Alliance. At their board meeting held in Vienna on December 13, the Chief Executives of the Star Alliance member airlines decided unanimously to recommence the integration process with Air India.

The Indian national carrier was originally accepted as a future member of Star Alliance in December 2007, but the integration process was halted in July 2011. The suspension was a joint decision which allowed Air India to focus on completing its merger with Indian Airlines, without the distraction of the work required for full integration into the Star Alliance network.

Copyright Photo: Yannick Delamarre/AirlinersGallery.com. The Boeing 777-300 ERs are now the mainstay of the international fleet. Boeing 777-337 ER VT-ALK (msn 36309) departs from Paris (CDG).

Air India:

Avianca Brazil is invited to join the Star Alliance, replacing TAM Airlines

Avianca Brazil (OceanAir Linhas Aereas dba) (Sao Paulo) has been invited to join the Star Alliance as part of Avianca (Bogota) membership. On December 13, the Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance agreed to extend Avianca’s membership of the Alliance to include its partner Avianca Brazil. The unanimous decision marks the first step in Star Alliance’s strategy to secure its position in the Brazilian market following current member airline TAM’s decision to leave the Alliance as a consequence of its merger with LAN.

As a first step in the integration process, experts from Avianca Brazil, the Star Alliance member carriers serving Brazil and Star Alliance management will jointly work on enhancing Avianca Brazil’s network. The aim is to facilitate seamless connections via the major hubs in São Paulo – Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro – Galeão/Antônio Carlos Jobim.

Avianca Brazil is expected to join the alliance in 2014.

Top Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Avianca Brazil’s Airbus A318-121 PR-ONG (msn 3438) departs from Sao Paulo (Guarulhos). Bottom Copyright Photo: Avianca Brazil.

Avianca (Brazil):

US Airways will leave the Star Alliance on March 30 and join oneworld the following day

US Airways (Phoenix) will join oneworld® on March 31, 2014, following completion of its merger with alliance founding member American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth). All its regional affiliates, operating under the US Airways Express brand, will also transition to oneworld at the same time.

The entry into oneworld on March 31, 2014 will follow immediately upon their exit from the Star Alliance with the final flights on March 30, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. The Boeing 757-200s and Airbus A319s currently in the Star Alliance color scheme are expected to receive the oneworld version shortly. Boeing 757-2B7 N936UW (msn 27244) arrives at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

US Airways:

Logojets Slide Show:

Lufthansa donates its Vickers Viscount 814 D-ANAF to the Museum of Technology in Speyer, Germany, will modify 157 Airbus A320 family aircraft

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has issued this statement:

Representatives of Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Technical Training officially handed over a Vickers Viscount 814 to the Museum of Technology in Speyer in southwest Germany. Lufthansa operated the aircraft on scheduled routes from 1962 to 1969, and in 1972 converted it into a technical training aircraft. To date, more than 2,000 young people in the Lufthansa Group have undergone basic training on this Vickers Viscount as an aircraft mechanic or electrician.

In cooperation with the workshop team at the Museum of Technology in Speyer, Lufthansa Technik trainers and apprentices have now restored the Viscount 814 with the registration D-ANAF for exhibition purposes. Before being transported to Speyer, the plane had to be dismantled. It was then re-assembled at the museum and repainted in its original livery with its 1960s registration. The Lufthansa Technik apprentices completed the work in a total of 2,096 man-hours, and visitors to the museum can now admire the results.

In the 1960s, the Vickers Viscount 814 was the workhorse on European routes and was one of the most popular propeller aircraft ever deployed on short and medium-haul routes. Since 1958, Lufthansa has operated a total of eleven of these aircraft on its domestic German and European scheduled services.

A close friendship has developed between the Museum of Technology in Speyer and Lufthansa Technik, which is an honorary member of the Museum Association. For many years, both companies have collaborated successfully on joint projects. Back in 2003, Lufthansa handed over a retired Boeing 747-200 with the registration D-ABYM to the museum for the symbolic price of one euro. There was an outburst of applause as “Yankee Mike” (the phonetic designation used by pilots for the last two letters “YM” in the aircraft registration) taxied to its final parking position. And now the Vickers Viscount 814 has also found a new home.

While the Lufthansa Group is currently investing 36 billion euros in new, even more environmentally friendly aircraft as part of the largest fleet renovation process in the company’s history, the Vickers Viscount represents a “historic fleet renewal” at Speyer’s Museum of Technology.

In other news, Lufthansa has announced it will add vortex generators to reduce noise for its 157 Airbus family aircraft. The company issued this statement:

Lufthansa is an active proponent of noise abatement and is investing in the nationwide modification of 157 aircraft from its Airbus A320 family. These planes connect Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich with the destinations in its closely meshed European route network.

The manufacturer, Airbus, has even developed vortex generators especially for the A320 family. These are based on the findings of research carried out by Lufthansa and the German Aerospace Center. Flyover measurements showed that the vortex generators eliminate two unpleasant tones and therefore reduce the total noise generated by the approaching plane by up to two decibels. They can be fitted both to aircraft already in service as well as to the new Airbus A319, A320 and A321 models, which are still to be delivered.

“By fitting these vortex generators to our Airbus short and medium-haul fleet, we are continuing to invest in active noise protection”, says Kay Kratky, Member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board, Operation & Hub Frankfurt. “In addition to the extensive modernisation of our fleet over the next few years, this is one of several steps that we are taking to reduce noise. It shows our commitment to working towards a balance between the interests of aviation and local residents, especially at our hubs.”

The tons that the vortex generators will eliminate are created on the underside of the wing by the pressure equalisation vents for the fuel tanks. Airflows passing over them in flight have an effect like blowing across the mouth of a bottle. The new components create a vortex in front of these vents and so prevent the noise. The modification of the existing fleet is to start in early 2014. All new deliveries of the A320 and A321 for Lufthansa will be fitted as standard with the vortex generators in future.

Top Copyright Photo: Lufthansa.

Lufthansa:

Have you seen the “new look” AirlinersGallery.com photo library website?

Bottom Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 D-AILF (msn 636) (Star Alliance) arrives in Zurich.

SAS operates its last McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) flight, ending a long relationship with Douglas airplanes

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) operated and quietly retired their last McDonnell Douglas DC-9. The last MD-80 was operated on October 26, 2013 on flight SK403 from Stockholm-Arlanda to Copenhagen. This is the first time SAS will be without a Douglas aircraft in its fleet. SAS has operated every Douglas and McDonnell Douglas type since the DC-3 (except the DC-5 and the MD-11).

The last revenue flight (flight SK 403) was operated by McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) SE-DIR “Nora Viking” (msn 53004) between Stockholm (Arlanda) and Copenhagen on October 25. A special employee-only farewell flight was flown by DC-9-82 (MD-82) LN-RMM (msn 53005) on October 26 over Denmark.

DC-9-82s SE-DIR, OY-KHE (msn 49604) and LN-RMM all operated on the last day of revenue operations (October 25).

One of the aircraft will be donated to the SAS Museum outside of Oslo.

According to a Danish newspaper, the SAS MD-80s operated 3,134,900 flights with the 66 aircraft in the fleet. 2,977,195,000 km were flown since the type was introduced in October 1985.

All of the above information is from Airliners.net.

In other news, SAS recently finalized its Airbus long-haul order. On June 25, 2013, SAS and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the order of 12 new long haul aircraft.

This month, SAS and Airbus signed the final long haul aircraft order agreement comprising 4 A330-300 Enhanced and 8 A350-900 plus 6 options for A350-900. The Airbus A330 will be delivered 2015/16 and the Airbus A350 will be delivered from 2018.

Copyright Photo: Moritz Riemer/AirlinersGallery.com. DC-9-82 (MD-82) OY-KHE (msn 49604) in the Star Alliance livery arrives at Copenhagen.

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS:

Video:

EVA Air takes delivery of its first Airbus A321 with Sharklets

EVA Air (Taipei) of Taiwan has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped Airbus A321 aircraft, on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The aircraft was handed over during a ceremony in Hamburg attended by Chang Kuo Wei, Chairman of EVA Air, and Norman Liu, President and CEO of GECAS.

This A321 is the first of eight A321s with Sharklets that will be operated by EVA Air under lease agreement from GECAS.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-211 D-AVZG (msn 5806) painted in the Star Alliance color scheme became B-16206 when it was handed over to the carrier on October 22.

EVA Air:

Aegean Airlines receives EC approval to acquire Olympic Air

Aegean Airlines (Athens) today won approval from the European Commission to acquire rival Olympic Air (3rd) (Athens). The company issued this statement:

The European Commission announced today its decision to approve the acquisition of Olympic Air by Aegean.

The rationale of the European Commission decision supports the absolute necessity of economies of scale to achieve viability within the Greek aviation market. The acquisition creates the conditions for the establishment of a sustainable Greek carrier, competitive within the Region and capable of supporting a growth momentum which will benefit Greek Tourism and the local economy.

Following EU approval, the acquisition of the shares of Olympic Air and the assumption of management by Aegean is expected to be completed by October 18, 2013. The total consideration for the transaction has been set at €72 m., of which €20 m. have already been paid. Upon the completion of the acquisition, Olympic Air will become a subsidiary of the listed Aegean, while the process of unification of the support functions will begin immediately. The two brands and logos of the companies will remain with each one retaining distinct aircraft and flight activity.

The Chairman of Aegean Mr. Theodore Vassilakis said:

“As of today our obligation and commitment to serve our passengers and our country become even greater. While growing in size we also have to further improve our services to be more effective in the support of all Greek regions and ensure competitive access even to the smallest Greek island. The economies of scale will allow us to offer more competitive fares on our domestic network, especially for the small islands. At the same time, the synergies will allow us to support an improved growth rate for our international network, both from Athens and the periphery, contributing substantially to the development of Tourism and the Economy “.

The company will host a press conference on October 23, 2013, following the share purchase, to present its customer offering and development plan as well as its 2014 network plans.


	AEGEAN	Olympic Air	Total
Fleet (10/2013)	30	15	45
Personnel (10/2013)	1480	610	2090

Passenger traffic ( 2013 estimation in million)	6,50	1,90	8,40
Domestic	2,50	1,65	4,15
International	4,00	0,25	4,25

Turnover (in million € – 2013 estimation)	630	170	800

Top Copyright Photo: Robbie Shaw/AirlinersGallery.com. Aegean’s Airbus A320-232 SX-DVQ (msn 3526) painted in the Star Alliance colors departs from London (Heathrow).

Aegean Airlines:

Olympic Air (3rd):

Bottom Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Olympic Air has been reduced down to mainly a Bombardier DHC-8/Q400 operator. Operated by Flybe, DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECV (msn 4148) prepares to land at London (Heathrow).

United to add seasonal Denver-Fort Myers service on December 16

United Airlines (Chicago) will start weekly Denver-Fort Myers seasonal service with Boeing 737-800s on December 16, 2013. The route will go to daily service on January 7, 2014 per Airline Route. The flights will end on April 7, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-824 N26210 (msn 28770) in the Star Alliance livery soars into the Southern California skies from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

United Airlines: