Frontier Airlines’ CEO Barry Baffle is calling for the return of Rule 240 for cancelled flights. Rule 240?
Read the full story from the TheStreet:
https://www.thestreet.com/travel/frontier-airlines-ceo-proposes-a-passenger-friendly-law
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-251NX WL N603FR (msn 11032) (America’s Green Airline) FLL (Tony Storck). Image: 960579.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Air Moldova on May 2 suspended all operations as the company restructures its debts.
The airline issued this statement:
Air Moldova announces: Accelerated restructuring of the company, with the aim of saving it!
On May 2, 2023, the airline company Air Moldova, submitted to the court the application for the approval of the accelerated restructuring of the company, which is an action plan, which aims to avoid the bankruptcy of the airline, solve the existing problems and accept investments.
The restructuring requested in court by Air Moldova represents the use of a complex of instruments in order to overcome financial difficulties and restore the economic viability of the company.
The restructuring procedure is the solution identified by the company that would allow external investment.
Investors are ready to invest around $50 million dollars in Air Moldova. These investments would allow solving the company’s financial problems and replenishing its own fleet.
Investments in the company cannot be made without the accelerated restructuring procedure due to the increased risk of an attack by existing creditors.
The accelerated restructuring will allow the company to receive these investments strictly for the development of the company, so that later, in time, the existing debts will also be paid.
Thus, until the decision of the court, regarding the acceptance or rejection of the request submitted by Air Moldova, the company will suspend the operation of flights and ticket sales starting on May 2, 2023. The resumption of the activity will be possible within 3 days after the decision of to the court.
All the actions undertaken by the Air Moldova Company Management are aimed at saving the National operator from bankruptcy. Accelerated restructuring is a unique opportunity for Air Moldova, being an international practice.
Top Copyright Photo: Air Moldova Airbus A321-211 ER-AXR (msn 808) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 947537.
Air Moldova aircraft photo gallery:
American Airlines pilots are in negotiations with the company on a new contract.
Meanwhile the majority of the Allied Pilot Association have given the union permission to call for a strike vote if negotiations breakdown.
The union issued this statement:
The Allied Pilots Association, certified collective bargaining agent for the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines, announced that its membership has voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike.
“The summer travel season is almost here, and we’re all wondering whether this will be another summer of uncertainty for American Airlines,” said Capt. Ed Sicher, APA President. “Fortunately, there is an alternative. By embracing the win-win scheduling and work rule improvements APA has presented at the bargaining table, management can take steps to improve the airline’s operational reliability and efficiency.”
Capt. Sicher noted that APA has provided airline management with detailed data illustrating how the union’s proposals will drive improved reliability.
Strike authorization voting began on April 1 and ended at midnight Central on April 30. With more than 96 percent of the APA membership participating, more than 99 percent voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
“The APA membership has spoken. We will strike if necessary to secure the industry-leading contract that our pilots have earned and deserve – a contract that will position American Airlines for success,” Capt. Sicher said. “With more than 99 percent of participating pilots voting in favor of authorizing a strike, our pilots’ resolve is unmistakable. We will not be deterred from our goal of an industry-leading contract.”
In a demonstration of their resolve, APA members will be conducting informational picketing today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time at all 10 of the airline’s major hubs: Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX), and Washington, D.C. (DCA).
“The strike authorization vote is one of several steps APA has taken to prepare for any eventuality and use all legal avenues available to us for contract improvement and resolution,” he said. “The best outcome is for APA and management to agree on an industry-leading contract – achieved through good-faith bargaining – benefiting our pilots, American Airlines, and the passengers we serve.”
Top Copyright Photo: American Airlines Airbus A321-231 WL N902AA (msn 7519) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 105926.
American Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):
Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2023.
“A big mahalo to our team who continue to make us a stronger, better airline. The demand for leisure travel remains strong in the domestic markets we serve, and we see similar conditions in most of our international markets,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. “In recent days, our team completed a significant technology initiative, one of many projects underway in 2023 that position us for a bright future. We look forward to sustaining momentum on these initiatives and returning Hawaiian to profitability.”
| First Quarter 2023- Key Financial Metrics and Results | ||||||||
| GAAP | YoY Change | Adjusted (a) | YoY Change | |||||
| Net Loss | ($98.3M) | +$35.0M | ($111.8M) | +$18.5M | ||||
| Diluted EPS | ($1.91) | +$0.69 | ($2.17) | +$0.37 | ||||
| Pre-tax Margin | (20.5) % | +14.3 pts. | (23.0) % | +11.4 pts. | ||||
| EBITDA | ($70.3M) | +$37.2M | ($85.4M) | +$20.1M | ||||
| Operating Cost per ASM | 14.85¢ | 0.19¢ | 11.04¢ | (0.03)¢ | ||||
| Operating Revenue per ASM | 12.46¢ | 1.27¢ | N/A | N/A | ||||
| (a) See Table 4 for a reconciliation of adjusted net loss, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted pre-tax margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cost per ASM (CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items) to each of their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. |
Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had:
Revenue Environment
Hawaiian benefited from continued robust leisure demand from North America to Hawaiʻi and the restoration of its international network excluding Japan. International traffic was buoyed by strong U.S. point of sale activity. Demand remained strong for premium products both domestically and internationally. The Company’s overall operating revenue for the first quarter 2023 was up 28.4% from the first quarter 2022 on 15.4% higher capacity as Hawaiian recovered from the effects of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which impacted results in the first quarter 2022.
Other revenue was down 12.4% compared to the first quarter of 2022 driven by a decrease in cargo revenue.
Operational Environment
Several challenges continued to negatively affect the environment in which the Company operates. Constraints on the availability of A321 aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney engine delays, ongoing runway construction at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu (HNL), and delays related to air traffic control protocols disrupted Hawaiian’s on-time performance, impaired its scheduling, and adversely affected its financial results.
Limitations on Hawaiian’s A321 fleet availability necessitated the substitution of A330 aircraft, which are less fuel efficient, on some A321 routes. Fuel consumption for the first quarter 2023 was up 21.4% as compared to the first quarter of 2022 due to higher capacity and inefficiencies resulting from these challenges.
First Quarter 2023 Highlights
Technology Advancement
Routes and Network
Guest Experience
People
Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance
Second Quarter 2023 Outlook
The table below summarizes the Company’s expectations for the quarter ending June 30, 2023 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.
| Item | Second Quarter 2023 Guidance | GAAP Equivalent | GAAP Second Quarter 2023 Guidance | |||
| Available Seat Miles (ASMs) | Up 10.5% to up 13.5% | |||||
| Operating Revenue per ASM (RASM) | Down 8.5% to down 11.5% | |||||
| CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a) | Flat to up 3% | Costs per ASM | Down 8.2% to down 10.2% | |||
| Gallons of Jet Fuel Consumed | Up 16.5% to up 19.5% | |||||
| Economic Fuel Price per Gallon (a)(b) | $2.62 | Average fuel price per gallon, including taxes and delivery | ||||
| Effective Tax Rate | 21.0 % |
Full Year 2023 Outlook
The table below summarizes the Company’s updated expectations for the full year ending December 31, 2023expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2022.
| Item | Prior Full Year 2023 Guidance | Full Year 2023 Guidance | |||
| Gallons of Jet Fuel Consumed | Up 10.5% to up 13.5% | Up 12.5% to up 15.5% | |||
| Economic Fuel Price per Gallon (a)(b) | $2.92 | $2.70 |
| (a) See Table 3 and Table 4 for a reconciliation of CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items and economic fuel price per gallon to each of their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. |
| (b) Fuel Price per Gallon estimates are based on the April 11, 2023 fuel forward curve. |
Statistical information, as well as a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.
Top Copyright Photo: Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A321-271N WL N204HA (msn 7959) LGB (Michael B. Ing). Image: 942740.
Hawaiian Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
JetBlue Airways Corporation today reported its results for the first quarter of 2023.
“Thanks to our team’s collective hard work, our first quarter financial results came in better than expectations, and we are forecasting strong sequential pre-tax margin improvement into the second quarter. We remain well on track in executing our comprehensive plan to enhance our long-term profitability and restore our historical earnings power,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s Chief Executive Officer.
“For the second quarter, we expect strong revenue growth to continue as demand remains robust and as we see continued momentum from our commercial initiatives. We are forecasting a solidly profitable quarter, and we remain confident in our full-year earnings outlook.”
First Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
First Quarter 2023 Key Highlights
Outlook
“Demand trends remain robust into the second quarter, with strong demand for leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) travel particularly during peak periods. We’re also pleased with the continued improvement in revenue and financial performance at our largest focus city, New York,” said Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s President and Chief Operating Officer.
“Our TrueBlue Loyalty program continues to show encouraging trends with strong growth in co-brand card spend. In addition, the Northeast Alliance (NEA), which is already a significant revenue generator, is driving meaningful margin improvement as our service matures.”
| Second Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Outlook | Estimated 2Q 2023 | Estimated FY 2023 | |||
| Available Seat Miles (ASMs) Year-Over-Year | 4.5% – 7.5% | 5.5% – 8.5% | |||
| Revenue Year-Over-Year | 4.5% – 8.5% | High Single Digits to Low Double Digits | |||
| CASM Ex-Fuel(2) (Non-GAAP) Year-Over-Year | 1.5% – 3.5%(3) | 1.5% – 4.5%(3) | |||
| Estimated Fuel Price per Gallon(4) | $2.75– $2.90(5) | $2.95 – $3.15 | |||
| Interest Expense | $40 – $50 million | $200 – $210 million | |||
| Adjusted Earnings per Share | $0.35 – $0.45 | $0.70 – $1.00 |
| Notes | |
| (1) | Non-GAAP financial measure; Note A provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in this release and explains the reasons management believes that presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors regarding JetBlue’s financial condition and results of operations. |
| (2) | With respect to JetBlue’s CASM ex-fuel guidance, JetBlue is unable to provide a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to GAAP because the excluded items have not yet occurred and cannot be reasonably predicted. The reconciling information that is unavailable would include a forward-looking range of financial performance measures beyond our control, such as fuel costs, which are subject to many economic and political factors. Accordingly, a reconciliation to CASM is not available without unreasonable effort. |
| (3) | Includes the impact from the new Pilot Union agreement of approximately 3% points for the second quarter and full year 2023. |
| (4) | Includes fuel taxes and hedges. |
| (5) | JetBlue utilizes the forward Brent crude curve and the forward Brent crude to jet crack spread to calculate the unhedged portion of its prompt quarter. As of April 14, 2023, the forward Brent crude per barrel price was $86 and the crack spread averaged $16 per barrel for the second quarter of 2023. |
Top Copyright Photo Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 WL N905JB (msn 5854) (Prism) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 960435.
JetBlue aircraft photo gallery:
Icelandair and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purchase of 13 Airbus A321XLR aircraft with purchase rights for additional 12 aircraft. The aircraft deliveries will start in 2029.
Icelandair, however, plans to start operating Airbus aircraft in 2025 and is currently in advanced stage of negotiations in relation to four leased Airbus A321LR for that purpose. Further additions can be expected in the years thereafter.
With the acquisition of the Airbus aircraft, Icelandair will complete the replacement of the Boeing 757s.
The agreed purchase price of the 13 aircraft is confidential. The financing of the aircraft is yet to be determined but the Company will explore financing options closer to the delivery dates.
The A321XLR and A321LR aircraft are part of the Airbus A320neo Family of narrow-body aircraft that provide excellent range, fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The implementation of the aircraft will reduce operating costs, further support Icelandair’s sustainability targets and offer exceptional customer experience through the aircraft design and unique features. The aircraft has around 190 seats in Icelandair’s layout. In comparison, the Boeing 757-200 aircraft has 183, whereas the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9 have a passenger capacity of 160 and 178, respectively.
The A321XLR aircraft has a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km), allowing Icelandair to operate it on its long-range destinations with opportunities to enter new markets. The A321LR aircraft has a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) and will thus be able to service Icelandair’s current route network.
The Boeing 757,767 and 737 MAX aircraft will continue to be important for Icelandair’s operations in the coming years. Icelandair has had a successful relationship with Boeing for decades and the aircraft have been a key to Icelandair’s success in the past. Until 2025, Icelandair will continue to operate a full Boeing fleet but following the first deliveries from Airbus, the Company will operate a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Finnair is adding new routes for the summer season.
Along with Milan Malpensa Airport, the airline is now also flying to Milan Linate Airport.
From April 10 onwards, Finnair will fly to Ljubljana and from May 27 onwards to Bodø in Norway.
Top Copyright Photo: Finnair Airbus A321-231 WL OH-LZI (msn 5922) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 937005.
Finnair aircraft photo gallery:
Finnair is shifting its sustainability efforts up a gear with the launch of a new range of environmentally focussed initiatives.
The new projects are aimed at helping the airline reach its target of being carbon neutral by the end of 2045 and will contribute towards reducing Finnair’s overall carbon footprint.
This month, the Nordic airline introduced 105 new electric-powered ground equipment vehicles, as part of its plan to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve net-zero emissions in non-flight operations by the end of 2023.
The investment includes dedicated Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric vans, which will support Finnair’s Technical Operations on the ground in Helsinki and reduce CO2 emissions.
Following this move, 45% of Finnair’s motorised ground equipment will be electric or hybrid – a testament to the airline’s commitment to sustainability.
While the airline has made great strides towards transforming its ground handling equipment to become totally electrically powered, some vehicles will remain conventionally powered for operational and risk reduction reasons, especially during Finland’s demanding winter conditions.
After reaching its goal to halve single-use plastic waste onboard by 2022, Finnair is also taking actions onboard to reduce single-use plastic and increase its recycling rate.
From today, customers can enjoy bamboo toothbrushes and mint toothpaste, developed for Finnair by the Swedish sustainability-focused company, The Humble Co.
The newly designed toothbrush and toothpaste are available to customers travelling in Business Class and Premium Economy upon request.
The flag carrier also recently announced the purchase of 750 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from its partner, Neste, for use on flights departing from Helsinki Airport.
This week, Finnair was ranked by Finns as the most sustainable brand among the airlines included in the Sustainable Brand Index 2023.
This follows the airline’s recent move to switch shorter domestic flights to buses, the launch of carbon offsetting, and also the additional investment in setting a science-based target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Top Copyright Photo: Finnair Airbus A321-211 OH-LZB (msn 961) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 941814.
Finnair aircraft photo gallery:
Play Airlines has announced it will start a new route linking its Keflavik hub with Amsterdam.
The airline made this announcement:
PLAY, the low-cost carrier from Iceland, has announced the addition of Amsterdam to its summer schedule in 2023. The airline’s first flight to Schiphol Airport is scheduled for June 5, with up to five flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
As a transatlantic carrier between Europe and North America, PLAY operates from its hub at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, perfectly positioned between the two continents. With Amsterdam as its newest destination, passengers can travel between Amsterdam and four U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Washington DC, and Baltimore, as well as Toronto in Canada via Iceland.
Since its first flight in June 2021, PLAY has expanded its fleet from three Airbus A320neo aircraft to six in 2022 and will operate 10 Airbus A320/321neo aircraft in 2023. The average age of PLAY’s aircraft is just 2.3 years, making our passengers’ journey comfortable, safe and reliable. With a network of nearly 40 destinations and over a million passengers flown since its launch, PLAY has a solid track record of an impressive 87% on-time performance in 2022.
Top Copyright Photo: PLAY Airlines Airbus A321-251N WL TF-AEW (msn 8008) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 959519.
PLAY aircraft photo gallery:
EgyptAir took delivery of its first Airbus A321 (the pictured SU-GFR) on February 27, 2023. The new airliner is now in revenue service.
Top Copyright Photo: EgyptAir Airbus A321-251NX WL SU-GFR (msn 11164) MAD (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 960317.
EgyptAir aircraft photo gallery:
JetBlue Airways and Shell Aviation have announced a new collaboration bringing additional supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), targeting commencement of delivery in the first half of 2023.
Within the terms of the agreement, JetBlue is expected to take delivery of 10,000,000 gallons of blended SAF at LAX over the next two years and an option to purchase up to 5,000,000 gallons more in the third year, either at LAX or other airports in JetBlue’s network.
SAF is a type of renewable fuel that exists today that drops directly into existing aircraft and infrastructure with no impact to safety or performance. SAF can be produced from a wide array of renewable sources such as agricultural wastes and used cooking oils and can lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 80% in its neat form when compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels.
Top Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 WL N929JB (msn 6031) (Ribbons) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 929267.
JetBlue aircraft photo gallery:
PLAY Airlines has launched ticket sales for flights from Iceland and the U.S. to Glasgow International Airport in Scotland.
The airline’s inaugural flight to Glasgow from Keflavik will take off on Friday, May 26, 2023.
With flights scheduled four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, Glasgow will now be fully connected to PLAY’s North American routes.
PLAY currently operates flights to Boston, Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York in the United States, as well as Toronto in Canada. Passengers can enjoy a comfortable journey on Airbus A320neo with 180 seats, and this summer, PLAY’s fleet will consist of 10 Airbus A320/321neo, with an average age of approximately 2.5 years.
Top Copyright Photo: PLAY Airlines Airbus A321-251N WL TF-PLB (msn 7945) STN (Antony J. Best). Image: 959313.
PLAY Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Turkish Airlines made this announcement:
Global aviation industry went through a year of increasing geopolitical tensions and global inflationist pressures while facing operational problems following the Covid-19 pandemic. Turkish Airlines closed 2022 with $2.7 billion USD net profit standing out from its competition thanks to its operational agility, wide flight network and highly skilled workforce it maintained during the pandemic. Our company managed to complete its sixth quarter in a row with a net profit despite the difficult operating environment that persisted since 2020.
Total revenue of our company during 2022 was $18.4 billion USD, surpassing that of 2019 by 39% and marking a record high. Constituting 20% of the total revenues, cargo revenues increased by 120% compared to the same period in 2019 and recorded as approximately $3.7 billion USD.
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “As Turkish Airlines we are continuing to overcome every obstacle we encounter with our 90 years of experience. Every single one of our colleagues and their team spirit contributed to our post-pandemic success.
With the responsibility and awareness of being the flag carrier, we are standing with our nation just as we did during previous crises. In the aftermath of the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, we utilized all of our resources to operate over 2,400 flights in order to transport 433 thousand search and rescue teams and 16 thousand tons of aid materials to the region while evacuating 430 thousand of our citizens to date.
We are doing our part when it comes to mending the wounds caused by the earthquakes our country faced and we will continue to do so as the aftermath of the disaster continues to unfold. Apart from the 2 Billion TL cash aid donated to Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), we started the work with Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change to provide the necessary support for the construction of 1,000 homes for those rendered homeless due to the earthquakes. We will also plan to employ 1,000 personnel from 1,000 families affected by the earthquakes.”
With one of the youngest and most modern fleet of 394 aircraft, Turkish Airlines carried around 72 million passengers with 85.8% domestic and 80.1% international load factor. In spite of the inflation pressures on the global scale, the flag carrier maintained its effective cost management in 2022 by lowering its unit expenses excluding fuel by 2% compared to 2019. As a result, EBITAR (Earnings before interest, taxes, amortization, and rent), which demonstrates the cash generation potential of the company, realized as $5.4 billion USD.
According to the data published by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, while the global air passenger capacity in 2022 was 28% behind that of 2019, Turkish Airlines became the pioneer of the sector by exceeding its 2019 capacity by 7.5%. As Europe’s leading network carrier in terms of daily number of flights operated for the last three years according to The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), Turkish Airlines recorded remarkable success on a global scale in 2022 by becoming the network carrier offering more international seat capacity than any other. As a result of our country’s investments towards aviation infrastructure, İstanbul Airport was also the busiest airport in Europe.
Quadrupling its market share in air freight market in the last 10 years, our company bolstered its success by ranking fifth among the world’s top air cargo carriers according to IATA’s 2022 data. After moving to SMARTIST, the new cargo operations centre built with high-tech features in İstanbul Airport, Turkish Cargo is aiming to further enhance its position among the leading air cargo brands of the world.
Employing over 75 thousand staff with its subsidiaries, Turkish Airlines is standing by its nation in this challenging period and will continue to proudly fly Türkiye’s flag on the 90th anniversary of its establishment and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
We sincerely share the pain of our country, express our deepest condolences for our citizens and wish a quick recovery to those injured by the earthquakes.
Top Copyright Photo: Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-231 TC-JRY (msn 5083) (Star Alliance) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 960176.
Turkish Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlines on February 25 launched seasonal nonstop service from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
With the new service, Frontier serves a total of 12 nonstop destinations from MDW.
Service from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Feb. 25, 2023 | 1x/week | $159* |
Frequency and times are subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-251NX WL N604FR (msn 11086) (America’s Green Airline) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 960049.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
American Airlines will launch daily nonstop seasonal flights from its Charlotte hub to Orange County strating on July 5, 2023.
Top Copyright Photo: American Airlines Airbus A321-253NX WL N436AN (msn 10564) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 105912.
American Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlineson February 24 launched seasonal nonstop service from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
Frontier is the only carrier offering nonstop service from DEN to Jamaica. With the new service, Frontier serves a total of 67 nonstop destinations from DEN.
Service from Denver International Airport (DEN):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Feb. 24, 2023 | 3x/week | $179* |
Frequency and times are subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-211 WL N715FR (msn 7313) (Cactus, the Coyote) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 105911.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Frontier Airlines on February 23 launched seasonal nonstop service from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
With the new service, Frontier serves a total of seven nonstop destinations from STL.
Service from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL):
| SERVICE TO: | SERVICE START: | SERVICE FREQUENCY: | INTRO FARE: |
| Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Feb. 23, 2023 | 3x/week | $149* |
Frequency and times are subject to change.
Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-211 WL N710FR (msn 7179) (Fallon, the Falcon) LAS (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960123.
Frontier Airlines aircraft photo gallery:
Lufthansa has decided to transfer some of its Airbus A321s to its lower-cost leisure airline Eurowings.
The aircraft are now being painted in the full Eurowings livery.
So far three A321s have been assigned to Eurowings:
D-AIDP
D-AIDQ
D-AIDT
On February 1, 2023 Eurowings celebrated its 30th anniversary withn this message:
The mid-1970s, two pilots, one dream. Independently of each other, Hans Rudolf Wöhrl founds Nürnberger Flugdienst (NFD) and Reinhard Santner founds Dortmund Reise- und Industrieflug (RFG). The portfolio of the two companies is similar and includes air taxi services, ambulance and cargo flights, seaside resort services – so-called on-demand air transport. Today’s Eurowings was formed on February 1, 1993 from the merger of the two regional airlines. The name “Eurowings” was suggested by an employee who won an ideas competition with 500 Deutsche Mark for the winning entry. The logo introduced in the course of the launch was designed by students of the Nuremberg Academy of Arts.
At that time, the airline started with just under 1,000 employees and ATR 72 propeller aircraft. Although 32 destinations in eleven countries were already served in the founding year, the focus was on domestic connections. For quite some time, Eurowings had to fly under the flight numbers of NFD and RFG, because the code that Eurowings needed had been assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to a subsidiary of Papua New Guinea-based Janlyn PTE. Through intensive negotiations, it was finally possible to get the EW code for Eurowings’ flights. The first flight, with the number EW733, went from Nuremberg to Paris in 1994. In the 1990s, Eurowings took over feeder flights for the Dutch airline KLM, among others, and was en route to Amsterdam with 13 aircraft at times – initially as a competitor of Lufthansa.
The year 2001 marks a milestone in the history of Eurowings. With the Lufthansa Group’s participation, the company’s strategy changes: the turboprop aircraft are replaced by CRJ jets, and Eurowings operates flights in the Lufthansa Regional network.
Just one year later, Eurowings launches a low-cost pioneer for Germany, Germanwings, which, in tandem with Eurowings, soon breaks the 10-million passenger mark. The great era of low-cost airlines begins (slogan: “Fly high, pay low”), to which Germanwings contributes the flexible fare model BASIC, SMART and BIZclass. The concept quickly becomes the industry standard and is still used at Eurowings today. In 2011, Eurowings moves to Düsseldorf, the largest air traffic location in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In 2014, the company gets the look and brand identity it is known for today, with the leading colors “Light Sky Blue” and “Burgundy”. The new strategy includes, among other things, a significant expansion of Germanwings and Eurowings in line with growing travel: the previous Eurowings fleet of smaller CRJ aircraft will be replaced by 23 aircraft from the Airbus A320 family.
Inseparably linked to the company’s history, however, is the accident of Germanwings flight 4U9525 on March 24, 2015, which claimed the lives of 150 people. An event that will remain in collective memory forever.
Eurowings subsequently begins to expand away from German airports, soon opening a base on Mallorca and founding the Eurowings Europe flight operation for pan-European routes outside Germany. And the dynamic development continues: after the end of Air Berlin in 2017 and the takeover of a large part of the fleet, hundreds of new jobs are created – many of which are filled by former AirBerlin colleagues.
Today, Eurowings explicitly sets itself apart from the ultra-low-cost carrier segment with its clear positioning as Europe’s value carrier for private and business travelers. The Lufthansa subsidiary combines inexpensive and flexible flying with innovative and customer-friendly services – a strategy with which it is expanding its leading position in the German market. In doing so, it focuses on the core needs of today’s air travelers: more flexibility, affordable comfort and sustainability.
“There are very few airlines in Germany that have succeeded for 30 years in a difficult market environment and have repeatedly mastered dynamic changes. It is all the more wonderful that we can celebrate our 30th birthday as Germany’s largest holiday airline,” said Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof. “We owe this success first and foremost to our more than 4,000 employees from 60 nations who have found their professional home with us. This diversity makes us strong. Because what has always distinguished Eurowings is the very special team spirit and the ability to react quickly to ever new market changes. We say thank you, Team Eurowings – here’s to the next 30 years!”
The Eurowings fleet includes more than 100 aircraft that fly to 140 destinations in more than 50 countries. In addition to its bases in Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Berlin, Eurowings also has major operations in Palma de Mallorca, Salzburg, Prague and Stockholm. This makes the Lufthansa subsidiary one of the largest leisure airlines in Europe. Every minute, a Eurowings aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in Europe.
Eurowings combines its passion for flying with corporate responsibility for the environment. It aims to cut its carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. An important step towards this was the introduction of the world’s most efficient medium-haul jet, the Airbus A320neo, into the fleet in 2022. Each new aircraft of this type emits 4,500 tonnes less CO2 per year compared to its predecessor. In addition to this, more than 50 projects with the aim of conserving resources and protecting the environment are underway at Eurowings.
Carbon compensation at the click of a mouse, punctual flights, friendly services, the most flexible rebooking options in the industry or a free middle seat starting at ten euros – these are just a few of the many examples of the modern value concept with which Eurowings presents itself as young, modern and innovative, even after 30 years.
In other news, Eurowings and the Spanish airline Volotea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enter into a sales partnership. The cooperation is set to cover more than 140 European routes operated by both airlines without overlap, including more than 100 routes operated by Eurowings and around 40 operated by Volotea.
The connections also include plans for eight new routes flown by Volotea, connecting German airports such as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Stuttgart directly with French and Italian cities. As a result, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Florence and Verona will also be reached with direct flights in the future. With this, the two airlines are significantly broadening their pan-European portfolio for customers.
Volotea is one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe: founded in 2011, the Barcelona-based company now flies to more than 100 destinations in 16 countries. In Germany, the airline has been operating the weekly Airbus-internal factory shuttle between the Hamburg and Toulouse locations since 2019. With the sales partnership, Volotea is also offering scheduled flights in Germany for the first time.
At the same time, Eurowings intends to open its distribution channels to Volotea with its focus on smaller and medium-sized destinations in France and Italy. With the planned mutual distribution agreement, both Eurowings passengers and Volotea customers would benefit from the visibility of more than 140 connections on the websites of both airlines. This way, Eurowings and Volotea would improve the offer to their passengers, providing access to a significantly wider range of travel options throughout Europe.
In the context of the planned connections, Volotea will open eight new routes to/from Germany, connecting Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Stuttgart directly with its bases in Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes (all in France), Florence and Verona (both in Italy). These new routes will operate twice weekly and have a capacity of around 60,000 seats.
Top Copyright Photo: Eurowings Airbus A321-231 D-AIDV (msn 5413) SEN (Keith Burton). Image: 960097.
Eurowings aircraft photo gallery:
Alaska Airlines continues to move towards an all-Boeing mainline fleet again.
After the retirement of the last 12 Airbus A320s and the Horizon Air Q400s, the airline operated the following aircraft:
The 10 Airbus A321neo aircraft will be retired this year.
The airline will add its first Boeing 737-800F freighter this year.
The carrier will also add its first Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 in 2023.
By the end of 2023, Alaska expects to have:
Boeing 737-700F freighters – 3
Boeing 737-800F freighter – 1
Boeing 737-700 – 11
Boeing 737-800 – 59
Boeing 737-900 – 12
Boeing 737-900ER – 79
Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 – 3
Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 – 71
Embraer E175 operated by Horizon Air – 41
Embraer E175 operated by SkyWest Airlines – 42
Top Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Airbus A321-253N WL N929VA (msn 8819) SEA (Brian Worthington). Image: 96071.
Alaska Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):
On February 9, 2023 SAS launched its new route between Copenhagen Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
The new route enables SAS customers to travel easily to and from both the West and East side of New York as SAS continues to offer departures from Scandinavia to Newark.
The inaugural flight takes place with SAS’s latest addition to their fleet – the Airbus A321 Long Range which offers a more comfortable and sustainable way of traveling.
JFK service begins with five weekly flights from Copenhagen, ramping up with daily flights for the summer schedule. SAS operates into terminal 7 at JFK.
US destinations continue to generate demand for more and frequent departures. SAS will offer about 130 departures per week on a total of 12 routes this winter.
Schedules to and from JFK:
Winter 2022
Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
CPH-JFK: 18:25 – 21:30
JFK-CPH: 23:00 – 12:55
Summer 2023
Daily
CPH-JFK: 19:20 – 22:00
JFK-CPH: 23:55 – 13:45
Facts about Airbus A321 Long Range (A321LR)
The Airbus A321 Long Range is part of the latest generation of aircraft and is expected to reduce climate-impacting emissions by 15-18 percent compared to similar previous-generation aircraft. This latest addition to the fleet means travelers get access to more intercontinental routes with fewer stopovers, and shorter travel times to and from Scandinavia.
The aircraft has 22 Business, 12 Plus and 123 Go seats, meaning a total of 157 seats in a single aisle aircraft. The seats are especially chosen for the A321LR to optimize the comfort in all three travel classes. Seats in SAS Business are fully flat seat beds and there are different mood light scenarios in the cabins, as well as hi-speed WiFi. Every seat is equipped with IFE screens, PC power and/or hi-power USB. The reduced noise level inside the cabin will further enhance the travel experience on board. The A321LR is part of SAS’ ongoing fleet renewal and will reduce climate-impacting emissions compared to previous generations of similar aircraft.
Top Copyright Photo: Scandinavian Airlines-SAS Airbus A321-253NX WL SE-DMO (msn 9541) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 956922.
SAS aircraft photo gallery:
