Tag Archives: ZRH

SAS to complete the acquisition of Cimber on March 1, will transfer the CRJ900s

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) has announced it has received approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority to finish the acquisition of Cimber (Sonderborg). SAS will complete the acquisition and will transfer its 12 Bombardier CRJ900s to Cimber. The airline issued this statement:

SAS is completing the acquisition of Cimber after meeting all of the terms of the transaction, including approval from the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority. SAS has appointed Kent Hansen as the new president of the airline. He will succeed the current president on March 1, 2015.

On December 8, 2014, SAS announced that it had agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Cimber, that the value of the transaction was MDKK 20 and that the transaction was subject to customary terms including receiving approval from the Danish competition authority.

The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has notified its approval of SAS’s acquisition of Cimber. In parallel, the remaining terms of the agreement have been met and, accordingly, SAS’s acquisition of Cimber can now be completed.

As previously announced, the acquisition means an opportunity for SAS to transfer production by its 12 Bombardier CRJ900s to Cimber, thereby, allowing more focused and flexible production to be achieved.

The transfer is planned to be completed on March 1, 2015.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) OY-KFI (msn 15242) of SAS taxies at Zurich.

SAS aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-3/Airlines-Europe3-QZ/Scandinavian-Airlines-SAS

Lufthansa to offer two more routes from Munich to the Canary Islands

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will offer new weekly service from its Munich hub to Fuerteventura starting on Saturday October 25, before the start of the autumn holidays in Bavaria, while flights to Tenerife will be offered from Sunday October 31.

Both destinations will be served by an Airbus A321 with 200 seats in a two-class configuration.

Lufthansa is also resuming flights to Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria, next winter.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-131 D-AIRY (msn 901) with “Die Maus” (The Mouse) markings at Zurich.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

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

SmartWings to add three new routes from Bratislava in June, will also start Prague-London Gatwick flights

SmartWings (brand of Travel Service Airlines) (Prague) is adding three new holiday routes from Bratislava starting in June: Olbia (June 14), Palma de Mallorca (June 13) and Rhodes (June 9) per Airline Route.

Routes from Bratislava:

In addition, the carrier will also start seasonal service to London (Gatwick) from Prague from April 2. The route will be operated four days a week with Boeing 737-800s.

Routes from Prague:

Smartwings aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-3/Airlines-Europe3-QZ/Smart-Wings

Niki to operate one of the shortest jet routes

Niki (FlyNiki) (Vienna) will introduce on April 1 one of world’s shortest jet routes, the 30-mile trip between its Vienna hub and Bratislava, Slovakia. The short route will be operated with Embraer 190s.

Niki is also adding service (six days a week) from Vienna to Athens in April. Niki already serves Crete, Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. The new route will operate daily (except on Saturday) with an Airbus A320.

Niki flight HG 8640 will take off from Vienna at 11:30 and land in the Greek capital at 13:35. The return flight HG 8641 will leave Athens at 14:25 and land in Vienna at 16:45.

Niki aircraft slide show:

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

Is Cyprus Airways facing a shut down in 2015?

Cyprus Airways‘ (Larnaca) management may be wanting that 2014 never ends. The airline could be facing a very uncertain future in 2015.

According to the Cyprus Mail, “Cyprus Airways could face imminent closure after the holidays if it fails to produce a credible restructuring program and prove its financial viability to the government, Kathimerini newspaper reported.”

The newspaper added further, “The airline must by January 8, 2015 present fully audited 2014 results to authorities, and provide evidence that it is a going concern for it to be allowed to continue to operate, Phileleftheros said in an unsourced report.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

The airline and the government are under review by the European Commission for alleged state aid in 2012 and again in 2013. The EC is expected to rule in 2015 if this alleged state aid violated EU rules.

The government of Cyprus controls 93.67 percent of the company’s shares.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. The Cyprus Airways fleet has shrunk to just six Airbus A320s. Airbus A320-232 5B-DCJ (msn 2108) arrives in Zurich.

Cyprus Airways aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-1/Airlines-Europe-1/Cyprus-Airways

Lufthansa to add a new route between Munich and Perugia next summer, will offer helicopter service via HTM Helicopter this winter to the ski resorts

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is launching a new route between its Munich hub and Perugia at the start of the 2015 summer schedule. From March 29, 2015, Lufthansa will offer twice-weekly flights to the capital of Umbria with an Embraer 195 aircraft. The new MUC – PEG service will take off from Munich on Sundays and Tuesdays under flight number LH 1924.

Next summer, in addition to the new service to Perugia, Lufthansa is launching new routes to the Icelandic city of Keflavik, to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete, to Seville in southern Spain and to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow.

Additionally Lufthansa is continuing to expand its route network with new destinations. The airline will offer nonstop flights to popular holiday destinations in Mexico, the Maldives and Mauritius. During the winter months, between December 8, 2015 and April 11, 2016, passengers will be able to choose between two weekly flights each from Frankfurt to Cancún, Malé or Mauritius on Airbus A340-300 aircraft with a total of 298 seats in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The seats in the new Business Class can be transformed into a comfortable bed with a horizontal lying surface of 1.98 meters in length, while increased legroom and a greater seat pitch await those in the recently introduced Premium Economy Class. The twice-weekly flights to Cancun will start December 8, 2015 , Male on December 9, 2015 and Mauritius on December 10, 2015.

As previously reported, LH is also launching Airbus A340-300 service to Tampa starting on September 24, 21015,

This will be operated by Lufthansa Cityline and with the Lufthansa Cityline Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Lufthansa will transfer in 2015/2016 a total of six Airbus A340-300s in configuration of C18/E19/Y261 to Lufthansa Cityline under the new “Jump” project.

Lufthansa is launching a new helicopter service to the slopes this winter. Lufthansa customers will be able to reach the ski slopes even faster this winter. A new helicopter service from Munich will commence on January 1, 2015. The carrier will serve Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Zillertal, Kitzbühel, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental or other resorts in the Alps – as long as there is a helipad on site. The service can be booked now and will operate until the end of April. The company HTM Helicopter Travel Munich GmbH will operate the new service.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Lufthansa CityLine’s Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) D-AEBG (msn 19000423) taxies at Zurich.

Lufthansa aircraft slide show:

Lufthansa Regional-Lufthansa CityLine aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Lufthansa-Regional-CityLine

Alitalia begins new service to Berlin and Dusseldorf due to its new relationship with Airberlin

Alitalia (2nd) (Rome) yesterday (December 15) began new service from Rome (Fiumicino), Milan (Linate) and Venice to Berlin (Tegel) and Dusseldorf. The first Alitalia flights to the two German cities took off from Milan Linate Airport at 6.30 am (flight AZ 418 to Dusseldorf) and 6:35 am (flight AZ 406 to Berlin), while the new flights from Rome and Venice departed later in the day.

The new daily service to Berlin and Dusseldorf will operate, for the winter season, with an Embraer 175 aircraft configured in two classes of service: “Ottima” – Alitalia’s business class on international flights, and “Classica”, the economy class. During the summer season, which will begin in March 2015, these routes will be operated with higher capacity aircraft.

The new service between Italy and Germany is very important for Alitalia from a strategic point of view. With the introduction of the new flights to Berlin and Dusseldorf, Alitalia will offer 370,000 more seats to Germany in 2015, an increase of +66%, compared to 2014, expanding its network, which was limited to flights from Rome to Munich and from Rome and Milan Linate to Frankfurt.

All new flights launched are in codeshare with Airberlin, the second largest German airline, in accordance with the codeshare agreement between the two companies launched on October 26, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) EI-RDC (msn 17000333) taxies at Zurich.

Alitalia aircraft slide show:

Blue Islands decides to codeshare with CityJet

Blue Islands (Jersey, UK) as we previously reported, is dropping its services to Amsterdam, Paris (CDG), and Zurich. Instead it will start a new codeshare agreement with CityJet (Dublin). Amsterdam (January 4, 2015), Paris (CDG) (January 5) and Zurich (December 31, 2014) are being eliminated from Jersey as the company slims its network.

London City Airport reported on their site:

“Blue Islands, the Channel Islands airline, is joining forces with one of Europe’s leading regional airlines, CityJet. This new partnership will provide those travelling from the Channel Islands with easy access to major European cities on hundreds of connecting codeshare flights every week from London City Airport through the CityJet network.”

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

In a statement on wharf.co.uk, CityJet’s chief commercial officer Patrick Lukan said: “This codeshare opens a number of new European destinations for Blue Island passengers through our extensive network from London City Airport, together with increased choice, convenience and flexibility.”

Blue Islands’ managing director Rob Veron said: “Just one booking takes care of everything, passengers can check in bags to their final destination across Europe, improving the overall customer experience. Also, the extra flight to London City means there is more choice when visiting London for half day trips to the City when needed.”

The connecting flights to Amsterdam and Paris will begin on January 5, 2015.

Blue Islands is also ending its twice-weekly Zurich service on that date. Future dates for connecting flights are to be announced.
The new service between Jersey and London City will take off at 1pm and return to the island at 2.40pm.

Flight capacity between London City and Jersey will also increase by 45% when Blue Islands launch an additional lunchtime service to the capital.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Report by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock from Manchester.

Blue Islands:

Helvetic Airways to lease the seven Niki Embraer 190s

Helvetic Airways (Zurich) is planning to lease the seven 112-seat Niki (flyniki.com) (Vienna) Embrear ERJ 190-100LRs from lessor Bernina Aircraft Leasing which acquired the aircraft according to ch-aviation. This will be a new type for the carrier. The first four will be operated by Helvetic for Swiss replacing four Swiss European Air Lines RJ100s. The other three will be operated by Helvetic on expansion routes.

Helvetic will operate the following routes for Swiss using the new Embraer 190s starting late this month:

Zurich to Dusseldorf, Prague and Warsaw starting on December 22.

Zurich to Belgrade starting on January 3, 2015 per Airline Route.

Niki is retiring the Embraer 190 from its fleet.

In other related news, the company has announced new services next summer season to Olbia (from Bern), Brindisi (from Bern), Bordeaux (from Zurich), Calvi (from Zurich), Lamezia Terme (from Zurich), Shannon (from Zurich), Palma de Mallorca (from Bern/Zurich), Greek Islands (from Bern/Zurich) and the Canary Islands (from Zurich).

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-100LR OE-IXG (msn 19000435) at Zurich will soon transition to Zurich-based Helvetic Airways.

Helvetic Airways aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Europe-2/Airlines-Europe-2/Helvetic-Airways

United details its new Newark-Venice flights and seasonal Chicago O’Hare-Dublin summer service

United Airlines (Chicago) today announced new trans-Atlantic summer-season service between Newark and Venice, Italy, along with new service between Chicago (O’Hare) and Dublin, both subject to government approval.

In addition, the airline will offer a second daily nonstop flight between Washington (Dulles) and Paris (CDG) for the summer season.

Newark to Venice

Flight UA 170 will depart United’s New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport daily at 6:45 p.m. (1845), arriving in Venice at 9:05 a.m. (0905) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 169 will depart Venice Marco Polo Airport daily at 10:55 a.m. (1055), arriving at Newark at 2:25 p.m. (1425) the same day. Flight times will be eight hours 20 minutes eastbound and nine hours 30 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate with Boeing 767-400 ER aircraft with a total of 242 seats – 39 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 203 in United Economy, including 70 Economy Plus seats with added legroom and increased personal space.

United has served Italy since 1992. The airline currently operates nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Milan and, on a seasonal basis, New York/Newark and Washington Dulles to Rome.

The new Venice flights will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015, through Sept. 23, 2015.

Chicago O’Hare to Dublin

Flight UA 152 will depart United’s Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport daily at 6:05 p.m. (1805), arriving in Dublin at 7:35 a.m. (0735) the following day (all times local). On the return, flight UA 153 will depart Dublin Airport daily at 9:50 a.m. (0950), arriving in Chicago O’Hare at 12:15 p.m. (1215) the same day. Flight times will be seven hours 30 minutes eastbound and eight hours 25 minutes westbound.

The flights will operate using Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats.

Chicago O’Hare will be the third United hub with nonstop service to Dublin, after Newark and Washington Dulles.

The Chicago O’Hare-Dublin service will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015 through Aug. 17, 2015.

Washington Dulles to Paris CDG

Flight UA 140 will depart United’s hub at Washington Dulles International Airport daily at 10:10 p.m. (2210), arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris at 12:20 p.m. (1220) the following day (all times local). The return flight UA 141 will depart Paris CDG daily at 4:30 p.m. (1630), arriving at Washington Dulles at 7:30 p.m. (1930) the same day. Flight times will be eight hours 10 minutes eastbound and nine hours westbound.

United will operate the flights with Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total of 169 seats – 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst and 153 in United Economy, including 45 Economy Plus seats.

United’s current service between Washington and Paris departs Washington Dulles daily at 5:20 p.m., arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport at 6:55 a.m. the following day (all times local). The return flight, 914, departs Paris daily at 11:55 a.m., arriving at Washington Dulles at 3 p.m. the same day. The current flights operate with 214-seat Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

United has served France since 1987. The airline operates nonstop flights to Paris from its Chicago O’Hare, Newark and San Francisco hubs, in addition to the Washington Dulles service.

The second Washington-Paris frequency will operate seasonally from June 4, 2015 through August 17, 2015.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):