Carrier

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    Delta Eliminates SkyMiles Expiration

    SkyMiles members gain new industry-leading benefit
    Feb 15, 2011

    ATLANTA, Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced it has eliminated the SkyMiles mileage expiration, creating a new industry-leading benefit for all members. This program change is effective for all accounts as of Jan. 1, 2011, and makes Delta the only major U.S. carrier without mileage expiration.

    Previously, miles expired 24 months after a member’s last qualifying mileage activity, which required a member to earn or redeem miles within that period.

    “Now that our massive frequent flyer program integration is complete, we are focused on smart ways to improve the SkyMiles program for all members,” said Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vice president – SkyMiles. “We know how much customers value their miles, so eliminating mileage expiration is a major win for them. This is yet another benefit that sets us apart from the pack, making Delta a clear leader in loyalty program benefits.”

    This change is the latest of several enhancements made to the SkyMiles program in the last year including the new Diamond Medallion tier with complimentary lounge access and Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles. These features complement other recent changes such as the elimination of all award redemption fees and a free first checked bag on Delta flights for Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles credit card holders from American Express.

    Members can look forward to more in 2011, including significant improvements to delta.com such as an upgraded award travel calendar, improved booking process and better flight information displays. Additionally, Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members can expect several new benefits when flying select alliance partner airlines – including Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Alaska Airlines.

    Now in its 30th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. Last year, frequent flyers redeemed more than 264 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 12 million award redemptions. In 2010, 8.3 percent of revenue miles flown on Delta were for award travel. Delta offers more ways to redeem frequent flyer miles than any other airline, including airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky Club memberships, merchandise and more than 30 types of gift cards. SkyMiles was named “Best Domestic Frequent Flyer program” for 2007 through 2010 by readers of Executive Travel magazine and “Best Frequent Flyer Program” for 2006 through 2010 by Business Traveler magazine. For more information on the SkyMiles program, Medallion status and mileage redemption options, visit delta.com/skymiles.

    Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 357 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

    All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits. The rules are subject to change. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Taxes for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Alliance partner airline benefits subject to change and subject to the terms and conditions of each partner. Offers and benefits subject to change without notice.

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    Southwest Airlines and Its Stock Clerks Announce New Tentative Agreement

    Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Airlines Division, representing the carrier’s Stock Clerks, announced today that the two parties have reached a tentative agreement. The tentative agreement is for a new, five-year contract through August 16, 2013. The current contract became amendable on August 16, 2008. One year ago, Southwest and the Teamsters agreed to seek assistance from the National Mediation Board through the mediation process as defined by the Railway Labor Act.

    “Hard work and persistence have definitely paid off during this mediation process,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “The negotiation teams worked together to address several work rule changes in reaching this mutually beneficial, forward thinking tentative agreement, which delivers wage and benefit enhancements in exchange for work rule improvements and contract flexibility.”
    In the upcoming weeks, the IBT membership will be given the full details of the agreement and have the opportunity to vote on ratification. IBT represents more than 170 Southwest Airlines Employees.

    In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers–offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines serves Milwaukee with 12 daily departures and is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Beginning March 13, 2011, Southwest will initiate service to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, and on March 27, 2011, service will begin to Newark Liberty International Airport. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.

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    Grounded: 757 Jets

    Uncompleted FAA safety checks have led to United’s 757 jet fleet to ground itself.

    The Federal Aviation Administration on June 22, 2004, ordered that the computers be replaced and that mechanics perform a check to ensure they were working properly. 2004. Did I read that correctly?

    The 757’s air data computer measures air pressure and other atmospheric conditions to determine speed and altitude. The units on these planes have been replaced but they haven’t undergone the required safety check. A flaw in the OLD computer caused pilots to believe they were flying too fast or too slow.

    United discovered the situation and informed the FAA that they were grounding their own fleet and performing the safety check after making the discovery on their own.

    Where was the FAA in this? Don’t they follow up their own directives to assure compliance? Did a follow-up team get hatched by a budget cut? Or is it just that the FAA is getting complacent or not taking its performance seriously?

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    Tragedy in Honduras


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Nelson Mejia

    What: Central American Airways – CAA Let L-410UVP-E20 en route from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin
    Where: Santa Ana, Cerro de Hula Honduras
    When: Feb 14 2011
    Who: 2 crew, 12 passengers, 14 fatalities
    Why: The Central American Airways flight from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa departed from San Pedro Sula at 07:04 for the 40 minute flight to Tegucigalpa and crashed at 8:02 in a forested area.

    Crash victims include labor leader, Israel Salinas Castellanos and Pedro Sula businessman Carlos Chahine, who served as minister Economy. The plane’s captain was Eduardo Ernesto Pach Pineda, and co-pilot Andersón Mejía. Salinas Elvir and Rodolfo Rovelo were also killed in the crash.

    CREW:
    1. Captain Oscar Anderson
    2. Captain Eduardo Pach
    PASSENGER LIST
    1. Plutarch Molina
    (Business Building)
    2. Peter Jhon
    3. Howar Jeams
    4. Chuk Tom Klein
    5. Joaquin Fernandez
    6. Leda Cabrera
    7. July Alvarenga
    8. Israel Salinas
    9. Carlos Chaín
    10. Alejandra Figueroa
    11. Rodolfo Rovelo
    12. Sara Villacorta

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    It Can’t Happen Again.

    The Ethiopian Airlines logo is now on a third B777-200LR with 34 more planes to come. It carried medical equipment and materials from Boeing and the Seattle Anaesthesia Outreach organization for the Black Lion Hospital in Ethiopia.

    Ethiopia Airlines is on the verge of joining the global Star Alliance.

    Remember Ethiopia Airlines? Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 was a scheduled international flight from Beirut, Lebanon, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. That plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly just take-off on 25 January 2010, killing all 90 people on board.

    I can’t look at that logo. It hurts my eyes. All I see are the names and the faces of the family members of the folks who lost their lives on Ethiopia Flight 409

    Let’s hope they don’t attempt to fly until they are totally checked out.

    The planes.
    The airline.
    And the pilots.

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    Noxious Landing in Ottowa


    What: Air Wisconsin/US Airways flight en route from Charlotte, North Carolina to Ottawa
    Where: Ottowa
    When: Feb 13, 2011
    Who: 49 passengers and three crew
    Why: Unidentified fumes in the Air Wisconsin/US Airways flight permeating the cabin and cockpit, forced an emergency landing. Several individuals were removed from the plane requiring medical assistance.

    The source of the fumes has not been released.

    (Deicing fluid?)

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    NY: A Bumpy Ride injures 1


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Patrick Kane

    What: Shuttle America/Delta Embraer ERJ-175 en route from Chicago to New York
    Where: New York
    When: Feb 4th 2011; 20:57
    Who: 1 injury
    Why: While en route, the flight encountered severe turbulence, injuring one person aboard.
    It is not indicated if that individual was an unbuckled passenger or a crew member.

    The flight did not divert, but continued to make a normal landing at La Guardia.

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    9 Minute Turbo-Prop Emergency Over Big Sur


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer

    What: Skywest Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turbo-prop en route from Santa Barbara to San Francisco
    Where: Big Sur
    When: Feb 11, 2011
    Who: 29 passengers
    Why: After losing pressure over Big Sur at around 1 pm, the Skywest flight diverted to Monterey Peninsula Airport and made an emergency landing at 1:09 pm. The landing was made under emergency conditions with crews on standby, but there were no injuries. Some passengers complained to paramedics of ear problems and were examined. After passengers disembarked and were transported to their destinations, the flight crew flew on to San Francisco alone.

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    Sabang Plane Crashes on Maintenance Test Flight; All Lost


    Pictured: A Sabang Merauke Raya C-212-100 Aviocar like the one in the crash
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Chaity

    What: Sabang Merauke Raya C-212-100 Aviocar en route from Batam to Batam
    Where: Bintan Island, Indonesia
    When: Feb 12th 2011
    Who: 5 aboard (flight crew of 2, 3 techs)
    Why: The plane had just undergone maintenance (engine replacement) and was on a test flight with 5 crew members aboard.

    Thirty minutes after takeoff, the plane disappeared from radar. The last contact was at 13:41 when the crew contacted Tanjung Pinang Approach.

    The plane crashed.

    “KNKT TUGASKAN TIGA INVESTIGATOR SELIDIKI KECELAKAAN PESAWAT CASSA 212 PK-ZAI
    PUSAT KOMUNIKASI PUBLIK, 12/02/2011
    (Jakarta, 12/02/11) Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi (KNKT) menugaskan tiga investigatornya untuk menyelidiki penyebab jatuhnya Pesawat Cassa 212 dengan registrasi PK-ZAI di daerah Berakit, Batam, Sabtu (12/02).”
    src=http://www.dephub.go.id

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    AirTran Flight Attendants Announce Six-Week Picketing Schedule in Six Cities

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AirTran Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today announced a “Six Cities in Six Weeks” picketing tour. As frustrations escalate over management’s continued stalling of contract negotiations, AirTran Flight Attendants will begin a series of public protests on Monday, February 14 in Atlanta and conclude on April 1 in Baltimore. If a tentative agreement is not reached by April 1, then picketing will continue in six additional cities.

    Six Cities in Six Weeks Picketing Tour
    Monday, February 14 – Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
    Tuesday, March 1 – Orlando International Airport (MCO)
    Wednesday, March 9 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
    Thursday, March 17 – Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
    Wednesday, March 23 – Orlando – AirTran Shareholders Meeting
    Friday, March 25 – General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
    Friday, April 1 – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

    Following the announcement of the acquisition by Southwest Airlines, AirTran management approached AFA requesting an abbreviated list of the Flight Attendants’ greatest concerns in order to expedite negotiations. When presented with the union’s “short list” proposal, company management responded with a minimal counterproposal that failed to address the most basic work, duty and rest provisions. AFA rejected management’s proposal and filed for mediation services from the National Mediation Board the following day.

    “While we do not want to have to take our struggle to the street, our Flight Attendants deserve fair work rule improvements now,” said Stephen Grimaldi, AirTran Flight Attendant and AFA Chairperson of Flight Attendant Mobilization. “Management has been dragging their feet for too long – enough is enough.”
    Ready to begin focusing on the transition to Southwest Airlines, AirTran Flight Attendants may continue to work under the AFA contract for at least another two years. Under the Railway Labor Act, this future change in ownership does not negate the carrier’s obligation to negotiate now with its Flight Attendants in good faith.

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    National Airlines Authorized to Operate Passenger Charters Internationally

    YPSILANTI, Mich., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — National Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Air Cargo Holdings, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted new international passenger charter authority allowing National to expand its global reach.

    “This authority represents a very significant milestone in National’s two-track strategy to augment and modernize our already substantial international cargo carrying capacity with market-leading international passenger charter operations,” Steven Harrison, president, National Airlines said. “Ours is an ambitious plan, and I’m extremely proud of our team’s world-class performance in safely bringing it closer to fruition.”

    The United States Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary, Washington, D.C. issued a foreign charter certificate of public convenience and necessity to National Air Cargo Group, Inc. d/b/a National Airlines. This order authorizes National to engage in foreign charter air transportation of persons, property and mail in addition to the domestic and international all-cargo transportation offered for twenty-five years.

    The order was issued by Susan L. Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, and approved by the White House.

    National Airlines is currently undergoing FAA certification for Boeing 757-200 passenger operations. When complete, National intends to offer worldwide passenger charter services with its B757-200 aircraft. The newly outfitted modern cabin has 152 extended comfort coach seats and 12 business class seats. This effort represents the next step of National’s ambitious business plan whereby it is augmenting its DC-8 fleet with 747-400 freighter operations, 757-200 passenger operations and 757 -200 Combi (10 pallet positions and 46 passengers) worldwide. National’s a-la-carte catering choices provide flexible business or leisure cuisine to our guests intent on personal and responsive long range, intercontinental charter service.

    The world just became a smaller place. National is ready and able to complete any mission, anytime, anywhere.

    About National Air Cargo:
    Since 1991, National Air Cargo has provided high quality and efficient freight forwarding services for many military and industrial customers. The company offers airlift operations with appropriate aircraft with payload options ranging from four tons to 250 tons to countries throughout the world. For more information please visit www.nationalaircargo.com.

    About National Airlines:
    Founded in 1985, National Airlines currently operates three long range intercontinental 45 ton capacity jet freighters. National Airlines is based in Ypsilanti, MI and operates scheduled and on demand cargo charter services.

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    Pet Airways Announces Expansion of Flight Operations to Orlando

    DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pet Airways Inc. (OTCQB: PAWS), the world’s only airline designed specifically for safe and comfortable pet travel, announced today that it is expanding to Orlando, Florida. Orlando becomes the tenth city serviced by Pet Airways.

    Dan Wiesel, Chairman and CEO of Pet Airways said, “based on unprecedented customer demand, we have decided to accelerate our expansion plans and will be opening operations in Orlando. Orlando is one of the fastest growing population areas in the U.S. and it is only natural that we provide service to such a large and growing population. In addition to size of the population, approximately 50 million visitors come to Orlando each year.”

    The Orlando facility will be the first of a new style of pet lounge and will offer enhanced services, such as grooming and ground transportation. Pet Airways will be adding the Orlando flight service for the summer vacation period and will announce specific details regarding the Orlando location shortly.

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    Five Years – No Contract: US Airways Flight Attendants are Fed Up

    PHOENIX, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — After five years of protracted contract negotiations and the announcement of US Airways’ second biggest profit in the airline’s history, the members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) have had enough of management delay tactics and attempts to negotiate a concessionary merged contract.

    Yesterday, the AFA Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) broke off talks with US Airways management. Tempe-based America West Airlines merged with US Airways in September 2005 and the Flight Attendants have been in merged contract negotiations since January 2006. US Airways management’s latest proposals contained no meaningful wage increases, concessions in healthcare and sick benefits and gutted scope and merger protections for Flight Attendants.

    AFA MEC Presidents Mike Flores (East) and Lisa LeCarre (West) say US Airways CEO Doug Parker has no interest in completing the merger and resolving labor unrest. The two groups of Flight Attendants are unified in frustration and anger at the airline’s management. AFA wants to reach a merged agreement but management has failed to put into a contract the financial resources necessary to do so.

    “For five years, US Airways CEO Doug Parker has financed his merged airline off the backs of the Flight Attendants, saving millions by paying Flight Attendant salaries that differ by up to 45 percent,” said AFA US Airways-West President, Lisa LeCarre. “When you merge two companies, the goal is to combine all employee groups and pay them the same wage for the same work. That has not happened. US Airways recently announced historic profits, yet management refuses to negotiate contract improvements and wage increases after years of promised benefits from this merger.”

    AFA US Airways-East President Mike Flores said, “US Airways East Flight Attendants have been working under concessionary wages and benefits since 2005 and have provided the means for this airline to not only survive, but prosper. It is high time for all Flight Attendants to share in the company’s success through meaningful wage and benefit improvements.”

    In the first of a series of events, AFA is holding a system-wide Day of Action on February 17, in all Flight Attendant bases, to show management and the public that Flight Attendants are united in their effort to reach a fair merged contract.

    For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants at 21 airlines come together to form AFA, the world’s largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.

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    United Ranks Highest For On-Time Performance Among Network Peers For 2010

    CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2011 – United Airlines today announced the company was — for the second consecutive year — first in on-time performance for domestic scheduled flights among America’s five largest global carriers* for 2010. United ended the year with 85.2 percent of flights arriving at their destinations within 14 minutes of the scheduled arrival time, according to data published by the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Air Travel Consumer report released today.

    United’s top performance in 2010 follows the airline’s leading position among this group for 2009.

    “We outperformed our network peers through a continued focus on delivering reliable service to every customer, every day, everywhere we fly,” said Pete McDonald, executive vice president and chief operations officer.

    For the month of December, United finished first for on-time performance and had the fewest number of cancelled flights among America’s five largest global carriers, according to data from the monthly report. United also ranked second among all 18 carriers whose arrival data is published in the report.

    In 2010, for each month that United ranked first or second in on-time performance among the nation’s five largest global carriers, frontline co-workers received a performance incentive bonus. For the year, each eligible frontline co-worker earned a total of $1,240 in performance incentive bonuses.

    About United Airlines
    United Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL), operates more than 3,300 flights a day on United and United Express to more than 230 domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries.

    United Continental Holdings, Inc. became the holding company for both United and Continental upon close of the merger transaction. The two airlines will operate separately as they begin to integrate key customer services, marketing activities and airport processes. For more company information, go to united.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

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    Turbulence over Pittsburgh

    What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Cincinnatti to New York
    Where: Pittsburgh
    When: Feb 7th 2011
    Who: 2 injured
    Why: While en route from Cincinnati to New Your, the flight encountered turbulence severe enough to injure two passengers. The flight diverted to Pittsburgh and made a safe landing.

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    Hawaiian Airlines Appoints Susan Donofrio as Senior Director of Investor Relations

    HONOLULU, Feb. 7, 2011 — Hawaiian Airlines (Nasdaq: HA) today announced the appointment of Susan Donofrio as the company’s Senior Director of Investor Relations, effective immediately. Ms. Donofrio will be responsible for interacting with Hawaiian Airlines’ global investor. She will report to Peter Ingram, Chief Financial Officer, and will be located in New Jersey.

    “We are delighted to have Susan join our team. Her wealth of experience as a financial analyst and her deep knowledge of the airline industry will be invaluable as we look to enhance our communication and engagement with investors and analysts. Susan’s addition to our team underscores Hawaiian’s commitment to open communication with investors during this time of our Company’s rapid, focused growth,” said Peter Ingram
    .
    Prior to joining Hawaiian Airlines, Ms. Donofrio was a Director level Analyst at Cathay Financial where she was responsible for the Aviation, Aerospace and Trucking industries. She also has held similar roles at Fulcrum Global Partners (Soliel Securities), as well as Deutsche Bank. Ms. Donofrio was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a top airline analyst for stock picking for 2005-2007. She was also ranked #1 in stock picking according to Forbes in 2007.

    Donofrio received her MBA in Finance at The Lubin School of Business, Pace University. She received her BA from Rutgers University.

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    Urgent Evacuation From Politically Unstable Area

    DUBAI, UAE, February 7, 2011 — In the past few weeks the world watched with pride and shock as the citizens of Middle Eastern Egypt stood up in unison to the almost thirty years of dictatorship from the existing government.

    This political unrest caused a panic among expats in the country and official consulates began making arrangements for the evacuation of their citizens in Egypt.

    Air Charter International was commissioned to transport these passengers from Alexandria to Prague and Washington DC. The Commercial Sales team at Air Charter International worked 24/7 on making sure that all passengers were transported safely out of Egypt.
    “Because of the urgency of the situation, it was imperative that we get our clients out of Egypt immediately,” said Commercial Sales Manager Claire Brugirard. The first flight to Prague departed on the 31st of January and the second flight to Washington DC departed on the 1st of February.

    “Since the first priority was to get the passengers to a safe point outside Egypt, both flights were sent to Prague,” said Ms. Brugirard. She further explained that the second flight reached Prague and was then rerouted to Washington DC from there.

    Air Charter International’s Commercial Sales team sourced a Boeing 737-800 for the journey. “We sourced two of these proven passenger aircraft for the trip because they were the safest and most economical for our clients.”

    Ms. Brugirard further stated that the Boeing 737-800 is also spacious enough to accommodate last minute passengers, common during emergency evacuations.

    “It happened on these flights as well. On the first flight we had an additional 13 passengers and on the second we had 1 more passenger, all which joined at the last minute. In anticipation of these additional passengers we enlisted a B737-800 for these flights.”
    The Commercial Sales team at Air Charter International did encounter some challenges while organizing these flights. “Due to the ongoing political unrest in Egypt, there was difficulty in establishing a steady communication with the local authorities.”

    This, Ms. Brugirard explained, made obtaining permits, that were also requested on short notice extremely difficult. “Our team worked around the clock to ensure that all the paperwork was in order so that the US citizens and students were safely evacuated out of Egypt.”

    Experts in crisis management, Air Charter International’s Commercial Sales team monitored both emergency charter flights from start to finish. “At all times we kept an eye on status of these flights and the clients fully informed on their progress.”

  • Aveos and Canadian North sign new five-year, full-service maintenance agreements

    MONTREAL, Feb. 7 – Aveos is pleased to announce that it has signed two new five-year, full-service maintenance agreements with Canadian North. The agreements provide airframe, engine, component and line maintenance, as well as inventory, engineering, fleet management and records services for the carrier’s B737-300 aircraft that provide passenger and cargo service to Northern communities, remote sites and destinations across Canada.

    “Aveos is proud to further cement its strong partnership with Canadian North by supporting the growth of the carrier into the 737-300 aircraft type. These agreements underscore the continued confidence in Aveos’ capabilities as a premier nose-to-tail provider of integrated maintenance services to the aviation community,” said Ron Elvidge, Vice President, Maintenance Solutions.

    The new 737-300 aircraft entered into service in January 2011 and are powered by CFM56-3C1 engines, part of the engine offering for which Aveos has garnered a global reputation for excellence.
    Steve Hankirk, Vice President of Operations at Canadian North, commented “We are pleased to be expanding our relationship with a proven service provider such as Aveos. We continue to enjoy a strong partnership where we depend on them to be an extension of our airline as they help us reach our goals of on-time performance and maintenance reliability.”

    “Aveos’ customized, full-service solutions offer Canadian North the service levels and flexibility the carrier requires to operate in a highly challenging environment. It is a great example of the value-added offering we bring to our customers,” continued Ron Elvidge.

    Aveos upholds the highest standards in quality and has the supporting systems in place to offer complete maintenance packages to airlines at a superior value. “We are able to bring our customers cost-effective solutions due to our technical airline knowledge and by leveraging strong relationships with the aviation supplier community,” continued Elvidge. “Our focus is to always provide our customers quality, on-time service at competitive prices.”

    About Aveos
    Aveos is a full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider of airframe, engine, component and maintenance solutions to the aviation industry. From maintenance facilities across Canada and in El Salvador, we provide integrated services to over 100 customers, while leveraging a robust network of strategic alliances. Over 4,000 employees are committed to a tradition of providing world-class quality and expertise to customers across the Americas.

    About Canadian North
    Canadian North is a major provider of scheduled passenger and cargo services from Edmonton and Ottawa to points throughout the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Extending beyond Northern Canada as well, they offer non-scheduled charter flights for industrial clients, sports teams, and large groups. Canadian North is a member of the NorTerra Group of Companies whose parent corporation, NorTerra Inc., is owned equally by Nunasi Corporation, representing the Inuit of Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, representing the Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic.

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    Aircastle Delivers the First of Six New Airbus A330-200 Aircraft to South African Airways

    STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 7, 2011 — Aircastle Limited (the “Company” or “Aircastle”) announced today that it delivered to South African Airways (“SAA”) the first of six new Airbus Model A330-200 aircraft scheduled for delivery this year. The aircraft will be equipped with latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines.

    Debt financing for this purchase was arranged and provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and supported by a guarantee from Compagnie Francaise d’Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur (COFACE), the French export credit agency. This debt bears interest at a rate of 3.78% per annum and will be repaid over twelve years.
    Ron Wainshal, Chief Executive Officer of Aircastle, said: “We are building a significant relationship with South African Airways and are proud to support its fleet modernization program with these six new A330-200s. These aircraft will provide the airline with significant improvements in fuel efficiency and operating costs and its passengers with a comfortable, state-of-the-art cabin.”

    Wainshal added: “With this delivery, we’re beginning to benefit from approximately $700 million of attractive built-in asset growth from our Airbus program over the next 15 months. This expansion of our asset base — combined with approximately $500 million of new investments we completed during 2010 — positions us to grow our earnings in 2011 and beyond. With our strong balance sheet and proven access to diverse sources of capital, we are poised to pursue new transaction opportunities and capitalize on the steadily improving demand for passenger and cargo aircraft.”

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    Delta Adding New ‘Economy Comfort’ Section on Long-Haul International Flights

    Investment builds on plans to install full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, enhanced in-flight entertainment on all international widebody aircraft

    ATLANTA, Feb. 7, 2011 / — Delta Air Lines today announced a major investment in its international fleet with plans to introduce a premium economy section – “Economy Comfort” – on all long-haul international flights in summer 2011. The new seats will feature up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than Delta’s standard international Economy class seats.

    The product, which is similar to upgraded Economy services currently available on flights operated by Delta’s joint venture partner Air France-KLM, will be installed in the first few rows of the Economy cabin on more than 160 Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft by this summer.

    Customers who have purchased an international Economy ticket on Delta will be able to choose Economy Comfort seats for an additional fee of $80-$160 one-way through delta.com, kiosks and Delta reservations beginning in May for travel this summer. Complimentary access to Economy Comfort seats will be available to all SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallions; up to eight companions traveling in the same reservation with Diamond and Platinum Medallions; and customers purchasing full-fare Economy class tickets. Gold and Silver Medallions will enjoy 50 and 25 percent discounts on the Economy Comfort seat fees, respectively.

    “Just as Delta is investing in BusinessElite, which is among the industry’s most competitive premium products, it makes sense to offer enhancements to our Economy Class service that provide additional comfort,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president – Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing. “Economy Comfort is one of many elements Delta is committed to delivering to our customers as part of a more than $2 billion investment we are making in the air and on the ground to improve the customer experience and position Delta as a leader in customer service.”

    In addition to more leg room and recline, customers seated in Economy Comfort will board early and enjoy complimentary spirits throughout the flight. These benefits are in addition to Delta’s standard international Economy class amenities, including complimentary meals, beer, wine, entertainment, blankets and pillows. In-seat power will also be available on aircraft equipped with personal entertainment systems which come with free HBO programming and other for-fee content(1). The seats will be designated with a specially designed seat cover.

    Full flat-bed seats on all international widebodies by 2013

    In addition to investing in the international Economy cabin, Delta today announced it now plans to install 34 horizontal flat-bed BusinessElite seats with direct aisle access in each of its 32 Airbus A330 aircraft by 2013. With this announcement, Delta now plans to offer full flat-bed seating in BusinessElite on all international widebody flights, or more than 150 aircraft, by 2013.

    Business Elite
    The new A330 seat, manufactured by Weber Aircraft LLC, will be 81.7 inches in length and 20.5 inches wide, similar to the flat-bed product currently offered on Delta’s 777 fleet. It also will feature a 120-volt universal power outlet, USB port, personal LED reading lamp and a 15.4 inch personal video monitor with instant access to 250 new and classic movies, premium programming from HBO and Showtime, other television programming, video games and more than 4,000 digital music tracks.

    Today’s announcements are the latest in Delta’s previously announced plan to invest more than $2 billion in enhanced global products, services and airport facilities through 2013. In addition to adding the Economy Comfort product and offering full-flat bed seats on its entire international widebody fleet, Delta is upgrading its domestic fleet with more First Class seats and in-seat entertainment; adding personal, in-seat entertainment for both BusinessElite and Economy class customers on all long-haul international flights; adding in-flight Wi-Fi service to all domestic aircraft with a First and Economy class cabin; and building new terminal facilities for international customers at its two largest global gateways – Atlanta and New York-JFK.

    Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 357 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

    (1) HBO programming to begin in July 2011 on select aircraft with personal video-screens; In-seat power and personal entertainment being installed through 2013

    Economy Comfort seating will be offered on Delta’s Boeing 747, 757, 767 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft flying long-haul intercontinental routes between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and South America (Lima, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago only). Economy Comfort seating is limited and may not be available on all flights. The Economy Comfort Medallion travel companion benefit is applicable for up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation as the Medallion member. Group reservations are not applicable. For companions of Gold Medallion members, fees apply per seat. All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits, respectively. To review the rules, please visit Membership Guide & Program Rules.

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    American Airlines and The New York Pops Announce Major Relationship in New York City

    NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2011 — American Airlines today announced a significant new relationship with The New York Pops, the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music.

    As part of the three-year agreement, American Airlines will provide opportunities for The New York Pops to reach a wider audience through special inflight programs, live music in American Airlines Admirals Clubs, and New York Pops recordings being played in American’s terminals at JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. American Airlines is also a sponsor of The New York Pops’ concert series at Carnegie Hall.

    American Airlines has been a strong supporter of arts and entertainment for decades. As a leading cultural institution, The New York Pops offers significant contributions to the New York community. Through this new relationship, The New York Pops will be able to expand its presence in the community, with American’s support of the orchestra’s extensive education programming for New York City schoolchildren.

    “American is an active and ardent supporter of many arts and cultural organizations in New York,” said Art Torno, American Airlines Vice President – New York. “This new relationship with The New York Pops is extremely important to us as it allows us to strengthen our ties within the community as well as connect with our customers and share in their interests.”

    American Airlines will also be a major sponsor of a planned New York Pops tour later this year.

    “We are proud to partner with American Airlines to bring great music to New York City and the world beyond,” said James M. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of The New York Pops. “With the support of American Airlines, we will continue to play before sold-out audiences at Carnegie Hall as well as bring our musicians into New York City public schools to inspire the next generation of music lovers.”

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    FAA and JetBlue Reach NextGen Agreement

    For Immediate Release

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that the FAA and JetBlue have signed a NextGen agreement that will allow the airline to fly more precise, satellite-based flights from Boston and New York to Florida and the Caribbean beginning in 2012.

    NextGen is the transformation of the U.S. national airspace system from a ground-based system of air traffic control to one based on satellites, which will enhance safety and reduce aviation congestion. Today’s NextGen announcement follows President Obama’s State of the Union Address last week, in which he stressed the importance of targeted investments to foster American innovation that will make our nation more competitive globally and strengthen our economy here at home.

    “In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for targeted investments that harness American innovation to strengthen our nation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “NextGen is a critical investment in the future of our transportation system, one that uses the latest technology to transform our airspace to make aviation safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.”

    Under the agreement, as many as 35 of JetBlue’s A320 aircraft will be equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics over the next two years, enabling them to fly in two major routes off the East Coast even if traditional radar coverage is not available. The improved accuracy, integrity and reliability of aircraft surveillance under ADS-B will allow JetBlue to take advantage of these routes at all times since the satellite-based system tracks the precise position of aircraft.

    The agreement will also allow JetBlue to fly a new route to the Caribbean, and could lead to the development of two new, shorter ADS-B-only routes to the Caribbean from Boston, New York and Washington. The FAA will collect valuable NextGen data by observing and conducting real-time operational evaluations of ADS-B on revenue flights.

    “NextGen will help improve the travel experience for passengers and give airlines more flexibility to find the most efficient way to reach their destinations,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This agreement will allow us to collect important data to further demonstrate the benefits of NextGen.”

    “As the youngest major airline in the United States, with a majority of our operations in the Northeast – arguably the most congested airspace in the world – JetBlue enthusiastically joins the FAA in this effort to begin rebuilding the skyways,” said JetBlue Airways CEO Dave Barger. “Our investment today will yield dividends far into the future, not just for JetBlue but for all airlines. Our customers and crewmembers deserve our best efforts.”

    The FAA has agreed to pay $4.2 million for the ADS-B avionics. JetBlue will provide flight operations, pilots, and aircraft maintenance and will pay for the cost of aircraft downtime while the ADS-B avionics are installed. JetBlue will also fund the necessary training for dispatchers and flight crews, including simulator time. The airline will demonstrate the cost savings of ADS-B technology and potentially equip the rest of its A320 fleet at its own expense with ADS-B avionics.

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    KLM: Flat Tire


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andreas Mueller – Spotterteam Graz

    What: KLM Boeing 777-200 en route from Atlanta,GA to Amsterdam
    Where: Amsterdam
    When: Feb 3
    Why: After a successful flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam, the flight crew reported a flat tire prior to landing.

    * (The plane’s indicators include a tire pressure indicator. As a rule, when 5 of the 6 main landing gear tires are correct, the pressure is adequate for landing.)

    However, they made a successful landing and taxied to the gate.

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    China: Airbus Leak Aborts Takeoff

    What: Air Macau Airbus A321-200 en route from Beijing to Macau
    Where: Beijing
    When: Feb 4th 2011
    Why: Takeoff was aborted when fluid started leaking (described evocatively as a fierce spray, large fluid spill, massive spray). The plane aborted takeoff, and stopped on the runway. Passengers disembarked on the runway, (hopefully were bussed or carted back to the airport) and repairs were made on the plane.

    The plane had suffered a broken seal, causing an oil leak. The leak did not affect runway operation which was not cancelled/

    The flight took off again nine hours later after repairs and testing.