Tag Archives: ZRH

Airberlin equips its first two Airbus A320s with Wi-Fi

Airberlin Group (Airberlin and Niki) (Berlin) has issued this statement:

The Airberlin Group has equipped the first two aircraft in its fleet with the new ‘airberlin connect’ Wi-Fi service. The two Airbus A320s, registered D-ABNJ and OE-LEL, now boast a Wi-Fi system from Panasonic Avionics Corporation, so passengers can access the internet with their own smartphone, tablet or laptop during the flight.
In addition, passengers on short and medium-haul flights will enjoy an entertainment offering with TV series, movies and music available for streaming to their own device with the new Wi-Fi service. Passengers will be able to choose their own personal entertainment from more than 180 hours of media. On long-haul routes, passengers will continue to enjoy the RAVE in-seat entertainment system.

The first two aircraft equipped with Airberlin connect will service the new Stuttgart-Abu Dhabi and Vienna-Abu Dhabi routes. The first flight from Stuttgart to Abu Dhabi takes off on December 1, 2014, bringing in-flight internet to passengers on this route for the first time. On the new Vienna-Abu Dhabi connection from Austrian subsidiary Niki, passengers will be able to use the new on-board Wi-Fi service as early as November 24, 2014.

Airberlin offers various time and data packages for airberlin connect: for just 4.90 euros, passengers get online above the clouds for 30 minutes, including 20 MB of data.

An hour of internet access, including 50 MB of data, costs 8.90 euros. The price includes use of the entertainment selection, which is available for the entire duration of the flight at no additional cost, even after the package time or data limits are used up. Passengers who wish to be online during an entire medium-haul flight can select the 13.90 euro package, which includes 90 MB of data, while the Full Flight Package for long-haul flights costs 18.90 euros, and includes 120 MB of data. Packages can be conveniently paid by credit card via the web browser on passengers’ own mobile device or laptop.

On the new Stuttgart-Abu Dhabi and Vienna-Abu Dhabi connections, passengers can enjoy the entertainment offered by Airberlin connect free of charge. Internet access during the entire flight to or from Abu Dhabi on these routes costs just 13.90 euros, including 90 MB of data.

Airberlin plans to complete equipping its fleet within three years.

Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Niki’s Airbus A320-214 OE-LEL (msn 2668) wears the former colors of OLT Express at Zurich.

Airberlin aircraft slide show:

Niki aircraft slide show:

airBaltic adds two new routes

airBaltic (airBaltic.com) (Riga) on October 30 launched a new route connecting Vilnius and Amsterdam. The new route will operate three days a week. Previously on October 28 the company started a new route connection between Tallinn and Paris (CDG). The Paris route will operate four days a week. Both routes are being operated with Boeing 737s.

Top Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by airBaltic). Ex-United Boeing 737-522 YL-BBM (msn 26680) arrives in Zurich.

airBaltic Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/airBaltic

Route Map for routes from Riga:

Finnair’s third quarter net profit declines by 38% to $20.8 million

Finnair (Helsinki) reported a third quarter net profit of €16.6 million ($20.8 million) ending on September 30, down over 38% from the amount of €27 million ($33.8 million) reported for the same quarter in 2013.

CEO Pekka Vauramo commented:

“Finnair’s passenger and cargo revenue for July–September declined year-on-year, causing our turnover to decrease to 622.7 million euros. The decline in unit revenue, caused primarily by the strengthening of the euro against key Asian currencies, continued in the third quarter, although at a slower rate than earlier in the year. Growth in passenger volume and the progress of cost reduction measures were not sufficient to compensate for the weak revenue development, as our operational result fell to 26.7 million euros.

In order for Finnair’s profitability to improve, it is essential that we increase unit revenues and maintain tight control over costs. By the end of September, we had nearly achieved the overall target for our 200-million-euro cost reduction program. The program will be completed by the end of the year. The savings agreements we concluded with pilots and cabin crew in September and October will contribute to our cost competitiveness from 2015 onwards. I am very pleased with the outcome of the negotiations, as they not only produce cost savings, but also enable us to continue to develop our operations together with our personnel.

In August, we announced a number of product upgrades with which we pursue additional revenue. We expect our first A350 aircraft, which join our fleet in late 2015, to show an impact on our profitability from 2016 onwards. A significant improvement in revenue before that, however, would require a substantial recovery in domestic market demand and a substantial decrease in the world market price of fuel.” –

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-112 OH-LVA (msn 1073) completes its final approach to the runway at Zurich.

Finnair aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Finnair

Video: Business class on Finnair:

Icelandair to resume operations at Orlando International Airport on September 4, 2015

Icelandair (Keflavik) will resume services to Orlando International Airport (MCO) starting on September 4, 2015. The airline is also adding an extra weekly flight to the sunny destination taking the service up to four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The carrier is moving from Sanford back to MCO. The airline drops Orlando service during the summer months.

Video: Just Planes video of the Icelandair Boeing 757:

Icelandair:

Korean Air decides to move ahead with its investment in Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has issued this statement concerning its new investor partner Korean Air (Seoul):

Czech Airlines management engaged in intensive negotiations with all company shareholders regarding their potential investments in the company immediately after the Czech Airlines shareholders unanimously approved a Czech Airlines restructuring plan at the beginning of September.

There has been a significant shift in negotiations with Korean Air. Czech Airlines management has received a letter from Korean Air confirming the company’s decision to become financially involved in the Czech Airlines stabilization process and a proposal of its capital contribution to Czech Airlines.

Czech Airlines management has been reviewing Korean Air’s proposal thoroughly and will present it to Czech Aeroholding management at the earliest date possible. Czech Aeroholding has promised to review Korean Air’s proposal and is also ready to provide Czech Airlines with a capital contribution in the capacity of a private investor.

Czech Airlines appreciates the decision made by Korean Air and views it as a demonstration of strong support by a private shareholder and a positive signal regarding Czech Airlines’ future. Czech Airlines management is convinced that this important move will help stabilize Czech Airlines in the immediate future.

Korean Air has conditioned its capital contribution to Czech Airlines by implicit execution of all measures outlined in the company’s restructuring plan. Czech Airlines management will negotiate additional strategic investments in Czech Airlines with all shareholders upon completion of the entry of Travel Service into Czech Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Czech Airlines’ ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) F-GRPK (msn 727) with the special 90 Years – 1923-2013 emblem blocks at the gate.

Korean Air:

Czech Airlines:

Airberlin celebrates 25 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall with special flights over Berlin on November 8, will cut another 200 jobs

Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin-Tegel) is planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with three Bombarider Q400 special flights over the city of Berlin on November 8:

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Airberlin is offering three sightseeing flights over Berlin during the evening of November 8, tracing the course of the former Wall. The flights are being conducted using a Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) with a seating capacity of 76 and will operate between 5.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. from Berlin-Tegel Airport. They are accorded flight numbers AB 1989, AB 1990 and AB 1991, thus evoking the year of the fall of the Wall, the year of reunification, and the year of the relaunch of Airberlin as a German airline following the watershed events. From the particularly low flying altitude of approximately 1,000 meters (3,000 feet), the special flight passengers will be able to view the 15-kilometer-long ‘illuminated border’ made up of 8,000 luminous balloons stretching from Bornholmer Strasse to the Oberbaum Bridge. The light installation will illuminate a section of the former course of the Wall from November 7-9. An experienced city guide will accompany the special flights and narrate the history of the divided city of Berlin.

On the ground, too, Airberlin is represented within a section of the ‘illuminated border’ at the East Side Gallery. In keeping with the airline’s anniversary, 35 balloon sponsorships were raffled via its social media channels, on its website, via international media and among staff. The sponsors will be present in person along this stretch during the evening of November 9 to release their helium-filled balloon from its mooring and, thus, to gradually give wings to the ‘illuminated border’.

A further highlight on the afternoon of November 9 is to be the painting of two original sections of the Wall for Airberlin by the well-known French artist Thierry Noir. As early as in 1990, the artist designed sections of the East Side Gallery, nowadays considered protected monuments. Thierry Noir will complete work on the 3.6-meter-tall T-shaped sections live on the spot. The sections of the Wall will then be exhibited at the Berlin-Tegel Airport for a period of six months.

The fall of the Wall is synonymous with a specific milestone in the 35-year history of Airberlin: while Germany was divided, only airlines of Allied nations were permitted to fly to West Berlin. Thus Airberlin, founded as an American charter airline named Air Berlin USA, was able to offer flights from West Berlin from 1979. Upon German reunification, the situation changed radically and Airberlin lost its air traffic rights. Only upon relaunch as a German airline in 1991 were the foundations laid for continued development to the status of the second largest German airline.

Tickets for the special flights are available online at airberlin.com/fallofthewall at a price of 99 euros per person and can also be reserved around the clock via the company’s Service Center by calling +49 (0)30/3434 3434 (local rates apply).

In other news, on October 26 Airberlin started flying to Milan’s downtown Linate Airport as previously reported. Airberlin issued this statement:

Since Sunday, October 26, 2014 all Airberlin Group flights have been taking off and landing at Milan Linate airport. The crew of flight AB 8406 from Dusseldorf, Alitalia employees and Airberlin ground crew greeted the first flights with an official “Benvenuto Linate”. The codeshare agreement between the Airberlin Group and Alitalia allows the airlines to offer their passengers a total of all the 412 nonstop flights of Airberlin, Niki and Alitalia between Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy under a joint flight number.

Additionally Airberlin increased service on the Berlin-Abu Dhabi route:

Airberlin now operates two flights a day between the German capital and Abu Dhabi. On Sunday, October 26, Captain Christoph Runge and his crew manned the first of these doubled-frequency flights. At 11:30 o’clock, the Airbus A330-200 took off from Berlin-Tegel Airport with 226 passengers and 10 crew members on board with destination of Abu Dhabi.

Finally in other news, Airberlin plans to cut another 200 administrative and ground staff in 2015. As previously mentioned Airberlin will continue to phase out its Boeing 737s and go to an All Airbus fleet.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Operated by LGW, Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) D-ABQH (msn 4256) arrives at Zurich.

Airberlin (Germany) Aircraft Slide Show:

Air Berlin USA Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Airlines-UnitedStates-1/Air-Berlin-USA

Air Serbia launches its new “The new wings of Europe” advertising campaign

Air Serbia (Belgrade) yesterday (October 27) launched a multi-channel advertising campaign to boost awareness of the airline and position Belgrade as a convenient European air transport hub. The airline continued;

“The campaign, which carries the end line: “Air‎ Serbia – The new wings of Europe”, also promotes Serbia and its capital city as a vibrant leisure destination, and is part of the next phase of growth for Serbia’s national airline beyond the Balkan region, including Europe and North America.

Chief Executive Officer of Air Serbia, Dane Kondić, said: “Air Serbia has already achieved strong growth in Serbia and the region. However, if we are to be truly successful with the implementation of our business plan, we need to strengthen our presence across Europe as we connect our network with those of our partners. There is no point in having the best product and service or most connected network, if people don’t know who you are, where you fly or what you stand for”.

The multi-media campaign will include television, print, outdoor billboards and a strong online component.

All the imagery for the campaign was shot on location in Serbia.

Mr Kondic said he was very happy with the campaign. “This campaign is as much about Serbia and Belgrade as it is about Air Serbia. As we proudly share the brand of Serbia, the campaign captures the best that we have to offer as an airline and as a country.It promotes the natural beauty of our country and the fresh, distinctive flavours of Serbian cuisine; highlights a city with rich history and a vibrant nightlife, and promotes Air Serbia as an airline that exemplifies service and quality. This campaign will attract more business to Air Serbia, and this will in turn support the growth of the airline leading to the creation of more jobs for Serbian nationals. I am very excited about the launch, knowing that by making Air Serbia successful, we are continuing to make a significant contribution to the economy of Serbia”, Mr Kondić said.

The campaign will initially air for a month in the Balkan region, Russia, Poland, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria with the goal of maximizing exposure for the Air Serbia brand and building awareness for its offer.”

Air Serbia:

Video: The new advertising campaign:

Adria Airways retires its last Airbus A320

Adria Airways (Ljubljana) on October 21 operated its last Airbus A320 flight with the pictured A320-231 S5-AAS (msn 444). The aircraft has been returned to the lessor according to EX-YU. The carrier now only operates two Airbus A319s, six Bombardier CRJ900s and two CRJ200s which are being phased out.

Adria Airways Aircraft Slide Show:

Adria Airways to phase out its last two Bombardier CRJ200s in March

Adria Airways (Ljubijana) will phase out its last two Bombardier (Canadair) CRJ200s from scheduled airline service in March 2015 per EX-YU.

With the winter timetable on 26 October 2014, adria will continue to serve 17 destinations from Ljubljana: Amsterdam, Belgrade, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Moscow, Munich, Paris, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana, Vienna, Warsaw and Zurich. Adria will also continue the scheduled services connecting Pristina with Frankfurt and Munich, Tirana with Frankfurt and Munich with Lodz.

Adria currently operates a fleet of two Airbus A319s, one A320, six Bombardier CRJ900s and two CRJ200s.

Adria plans to wet lease A320-family aircraft in 2015 while a total of five or six jets will join the fleet by 2016 according to EX-YU.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. A nice ramp portrait of Bombardier CRJ200 (CL-600-2B19) S5-AAJ (msn 8010) at Zurich.

Adria Airways Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/adria-airways

Adria Airways:

Edelweiss Air increases the frequencies on its routes to Havana, Las Vegas, Tampa and Vancouver for next summer

Edelweiss Air (Zurich) is expanding operations for the summer of 2015. The airline is increasing the number of long-range flights to Havana, Las Vegas, Tampa and Vancouver. The airline is also expanding its schedule to other European destinations next summer.

The airline issued this statement:

Edelweiss is continuing to grow and invest in its core markets. With its 2015 Summer Timetable, the airline is introducing new destinations in Europe and expanding its flight offering in North America and the Caribbean.

More flights to North America and the Caribbean

With its 2015 Summer Timetable, Edelweiss is increasing the number of flights to Las Vegas, Tampa and Vancouver. These holiday destinations will be served with three weekly flights.

As well as the additional flights to North America, Edelweiss will be operating more flights to the Caribbean. Starting in summer 2015, there will be two weekly flights to Havana.

New destinations and more flights to existing holiday destinations in Europe

With the 2015 Summer Timetable, Edelweiss is also expanding its offer to include the up-and-coming cities in Southeast Europe. To that end, new destinations such as Banja Luka and Podgorica are being included in the route network and the number of flights to Pristina, Skopje and Split is being increased.

The choice of flights to the region of Greece/Turkey is also being expanded. Edelweiss will be serving the new destination Corfu and upping the number of flights to Heraklion und Dalaman. Furthermore, the airline will be strengthening its existing offer in Spain and Italy with additional flights to Alicante, Palma de Mallorca and Catania.

The 2015 Summer Timetable is valid from March 29 until October 24, 2015.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Edelweiss Air’s Airbus A330-343 HB-JHQ (msn 1193) arrives back at the Zurich base.

Edelweiss Air: