Southwest Airlines will begin flying to Hawaii from a fourth city in California next spring, the airline announced.
Flights between San Diego and Kahului start on April 14, 2020, and San Diego and Honolulu flights will begin April 20, 2020.
More than a year after starting its Hawaii service in March, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) will finally meet its original stated Hawaiian goal of flying from each of its four California gateways.
Southwest currently flies to Hawaii from both Oakland and San Jose. The Dallas-based airline will begin flying out of Sacramento November 10.
Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly has also stated that Las Vegas is a possible Hawaii gateway, but the airline’s expansion has been slowed down by the grounding of its 737 Max fleet.
Hawaii flights have been operating above company expectations. Southwest is keen on keeping its existing market share and capturing more, which is why Hawaii flights were excluded from a recent system fare increase.
A Southwest Airlines jetliner taxis to a runway for take off at Denver International Airport as travellers deal with the effects of the new coronavirus Wednesday, June 10, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Southwest Airlines Company (NYSE: LUV) today published its initial flight schedules for both Chicago O’Hare International and Colorado Springs Municipal airports as the carrier continues expanding to bring the value and Hospitality of Southwest closer to more travelers and offers more destinations to fly for leisure and business travel.
“Our low fares and friendly policies, like no change fees* and bags fly free**, mean more today as they give people the peace of mind to book travel beyond 2020. We’re growing the reach of Southwest as we add more destinations across the United States while bringing our warm Hospitality and iconic Customer Service to more people than ever before,” said Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President. “These additional investments in Chicago and Colorado provide even more convenience for our current Customers while also making it more convenient for new travelers to choose Southwest as we begin service from their preferred airport.”
*Southwest has never charged change fees. A fare difference might apply. **Southwest allows travelers to check up to two bags for free (size and weight limits apply).
Chicago (O’Hare) service begins February 14, 2021 More than 35 years after landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, Southwest will expand its footprint in the Chicagoland area, adding complementing service from Chicago O’Hare International Airport starting Feb. 14, 2021. The carrier’s initial service will offer 20 departures daily from O’Hare, and the new service is available for purchase at Southwest.com with fares as low as:
– $39 one-way nonstop between Chicago (O’Hare) and Nashville (four times daily);
– $79 one-way nonstop between Chicago (O’Hare) and Baltimore/Washington (four times daily);
– $89 one-way nonstop between Chicago (O’Hare) and Denver (six times daily);
– $99 one-way nonstop between Chicago (O’Hare) and Dallas (Love Field) (four times daily)
– $109 one-way nonstop between Chicago (O’Hare) and Phoenix (twice daily).
The number of seats, days of week, and markets for these fares are limited. See full fares, and specific terms and conditions below and at Southwest.com.
During its more than three-decades of service to Chicago, Southwest has grown to become Chicago Midway’s largest airline while also employing more than 4,800 People in the city.
Colorado Springs service begins March 11, 2021 Southwest will also launch service from its fourth destination in Colorado when it takes off from Colorado Springs Municipal Airport on March 11, 2021. The new service links the Pikes Peak region nonstop with up to 13 flights a day to destinations across Southwest’s growing network. The new service is available now at Southwest.com with fares as low as:
– $29 one-way nonstop between Colorado Springs and Denver (four times daily);
– $59 one-way nonstop between Colorado Springs and Las Vegas (twice daily);
– $59 one-way nonstop between Colorado Springs and Phoenix (twice daily);
– $69 one-way nonstop between Colorado Springs and Dallas (Love Field) (three times daily)
– $89 one-way nonstop between Colorado Springs and Chicago (Midway) (twice daily).
Southwest continues growing across Colorado with new seasonal service to both Montrose (Telluride) and Steamboat Springs (Hayden) beginning Dec. 19, 2020. Just a few weeks later, on Jan. 3, 2021, Southwest will celebrate its 15th anniversary of service to Denver where it now employs more than 4,000 People and currently offers up to 220 nonstop departures per day during peak travel periods.
– 777 Freighter’s superior range and efficiency to complement Volga-Dnepr’s fleet
– Volga-Dnepr becomes the 19th operator of the large-capacity twin-engine freighter.
A Boeing [NYSE:BA] 777 Freighter today joined the Volga-Dnepr Group fleet of 24 Boeing freighters today, departing Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The fuel efficient twin-engine freighter will begin operations with AirBridgeCargo, a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr.
AirBridgeCargo will operate the airplane via a sale-leaseback agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE).
“We are delighted to welcome Volga-Dnepr Group as our newest customer as they introduce the 777 Freighter to their fleet,” said Firoz Tarapore, DAE’s Chief Executive Officer. “DAE Capital is the world’s largest lessor of the profitable and efficient 777 Freighter. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Volga-Dnepr Group as they continue to grow their successful operations.”
Volga-Dnepr Group is among the world’s largest Boeing freighter operators, flying 17 747 freighters and five 737 freighters, including 13 747-8F, four 747-400ERF, two 737-800BCF and three 737-400SF.
The 777 Freighter, which can fly 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 kilometers), can carry a payload of 224,900 lbs. (102,010 kg), more cargo capacity than any other twin-engine freighter. Of all production freighters, only the 747F and 777 Freighter are capable of carrying tall and outsized cargo loads on 3-meter (10-foot) tall pallets. This common main-deck pallet height capability enables interchangeable pallets for both models. In addition, the 777F main deck side cargo door is extraordinarily wide at 3.72 meters (146.5 inches), giving that airplane outsized carriage capability beyond tall payloads.
“We are honored to partner with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise and Volga-Dnepr Group to introduce the 777 Freighter to Volga’s customers,” said Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, The Boeing Company. “We look forward to introducing the unsurpassed efficiency and capability of the 777 Freighter to complement Volga’s existing fleet.”
Boeing provides more than 90 percent of the worldwide dedicated freighter capacity. Customers have ordered 231 777 Freighters since the program began in 2005. Volga-Dnepr becomes the 19th operator to date to use the large-capacity twin-engine freighter.
A QF-16 takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 4, 2020. The QF-16 was regenerated to flying status after being stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group to Boeing to become a full-scale aerial target. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)
A team from Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force completed the first QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target to undergo conversion from a modification line in Arizona. The aircraft was flown last month to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it will be used autonomously in future weapons training operations.
The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) located at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson teamed with Boeing under a public-private partnership to create a second modification line to supplement ongoing QF-16 work at Boeing’s Cecil Field site in Jacksonville, Florida.
“The delivery of this first AMARG modified QF-16 aerial target drone is a testimony of the cooperative, synergistic relationship we had hoped for when we created the private-public partnership with Boeing,” said Col. Jennifer Barnard, Commander of the 309th AMARG. “Though the installation of the drone conversion package is a relatively new venture for us, our hope is to leverage cost efficiencies and proficiencies benefiting both partners.”
Conversion of the F-16 A/C aircraft to the unmanned QF-16 configuration requires modification of the airframe and installation of major components. The QF-16 performs both autonomous maneuvers through autopilot and controlled maneuvers through ground stations.
“The partnership between Boeing and AMARG is crucial to expediting capability to the warfighters,” said Craig DeMeester, Boeing QF-16 program manager. “It’s an example of great teamwork, and completing this first jet is just the beginning as we have more deliveries planned this year and well into next year.”
Boeing began converting retired F-16s into QF-16s in 2015. More than 120 aircraft are on contract to be modified, with over 40 percent delivered to date.
A QF-16 takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 4, 2020. The QF-16 was regenerated to flying status after being stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group to Boeing to become a full-scale aerial target. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)
Currently traveling at some 105 million kilometres from Earth, the Airbus-built Solar Orbiter (SolO) is en route for an encounter to uncover the secrets of our closest star.
While humankind has been studying the Sun for hundreds of years, the research is limited because data was always collected from distances more or less equal to the star’s separation from Earth, according to Ian Walters, Airbus’ SolO Project Manager.
“Solar wind takes about two to four days to get from the Sun to Earth, and in that time, it transforms completely,” he explained. “We can better correlate what is seen with what is felt from the Sun if we can get up close. That’s the point of the Solar Orbiter mission…and it’s never been achieved before.”
Solar Orbiter was launched in February in a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Travelling closer to the Sun than its nearest planet – Mercury – SolO will make comprehensive measurements of the nascent solar wind.
Beating the heat
For the spacecraft and its 10 instruments to survive extreme temperatures of up to 600 deg. Centigrade, Airbus designed a protective heat shield with openings for SolO’s five telescopes to peek through during the trek.
According to Walters, the most critical heat protection technology is the Stand-off Radiator Assembly (SORA) – a set of radiators sitting on the spacecraft’s side that is always in shadow, enabling them to quickly transfer heat from the instruments into space. SORA’s thermal straps are made from pyrolytic graphite, which is five times more conductive than copper wire but flexible like paper.
To avoid any molecular contamination that could compromise imagery from the telescopes, Airbus also built Solar Orbiter to levels of cleanliness far exceeding any other spacecraft built in the UK to date. Every item on SolO has been heated to over 120 degrees to make sure no gases are emitted in the vacuum of space.
Predicting solar events
Data from Solar Orbiter can help make significant improvements to everyday life, particularly when it comes to predicting solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME) – the expulsions of plasma and its accompanying magnetic field from the sun, which can have a major impact on Earth.
“In 1859, one such episode took down the world’s telegraph network,” Walters said. “A similar event today would severely disrupt our power grids, mobile phone towers, navigation systems and many other critical technologies.”
He added: “If we could predict the CME was coming our way, we’d have about two days’ notice for emergency government committees to be activated and react, instead of the few minutes’ notice we receive today.”
Super Hornet to become the fourth Boeing platform for the flight demonstration team.
Boeing has modified Blue Angels since 2008 and delivered 23 aircraft to date.
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has delivered the first Super Hornet test aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angel flight demonstration squadron. The unpainted aircraft now enters the flight test and evaluation phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. Boeing expects to deliver a total of 11 aircraft for the squadron in 2020.
“The Super Hornet is an iconic representation of excellence in naval aviation,” said ret. Admiral Pat Walsh, vice president of U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Services for Boeing. Walsh flew with the Blue Angels from 1985 to 1987 as the Left Wingman (#3) and Slot Pilot (#4). “As Boeing continues to support the operational fleet of Navy Super Hornets, we are excited to see this platform enter a critical phase of its journey to joining the team.”
The flight demonstration squadron has flown Boeing or Boeing-heritage aircraft for more than 50 years, starting with the F-4J Phantom II in 1969, and then moving to the A-4F Skyhawk. The team currently operates the F/A-18A-D Hornet.
Boeing converts F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets into Blue Angels at the company’s Cecil Field facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Major modifications include the addition of an oil tank for the smoke-generation system, fuel systems that enable the aircraft to fly inverted for extended periods of time, civilian-compatible navigation equipment, cameras and adjustments for the aircraft’s center of gravity.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.
Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced the successful first flight of its new twin utility turboprop, the Cessna SkyCourier. The milestone flight is a significant step toward entry into service for the clean-sheet aircraft, and it kicks off the important flight test program that validates the performance of the Cessna SkyCourier.
“Today was an exciting day for our employees, our suppliers and our customers. The Cessna SkyCourier performed exactly as we expected, which is a testament to the entire team of men and women who worked together to prepare for this day,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “I’m proud of the way the team has persevered through disruptions caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic and remained focused on getting us to this point. The Cessna SkyCourier will be an excellent product in its segment due to its combination of cabin flexibility, payload capability, superior performance and low operating costs. Our customers will be very pleased with what they experience from this aircraft.”
The Cessna SkyCourier took off from the company’s east campus Beech Field Airport, piloted by Corey Eckhart, senior test pilot, and Aaron Tobias, chief test pilot. During the 2-hour and 15-minute flight, the team tested the aircraft’s performance, stability and control, as well as its propulsion, environmental, flight controls and avionics systems.
“We were very pleased with how the Cessna SkyCourier performed throughout its first flight,” Eckhart said. “It was particularly impressive to see how stable the aircraft handled on takeoff and landing. The Cessna SkyCourier already displays a high level of maturity in its flight characteristics, especially for a first flight. We were able to accomplish everything we wanted on this flight, and that’s an excellent start to the flight test program.”
The prototype aircraft, along with five additional flight and ground test articles, will continue to expand on performance goals, focusing on testing flight controls and aerodynamics.
Relentless capability
The Cessna SkyCourier, featuring Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65SC engines, will be offered in various configurations including a 6,000-pound payload capable freighter, a 19-seat passenger version or a mixed passenger/freight combination, all based on the common platform.
The Cessna SkyCourier is designed for high utilization and will deliver a combination of robust performance and lower operating costs. Cessna SkyCourier will feature the popular Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite and offer highlights such as a maximum cruise speed of up to 200 ktas and a maximum range of 900 nm. Both freighter and passenger variants of the Cessna SkyCourier will includer single-point pressure refueling as standard to enable faster turnarounds.
Three hour, 51 minute flight marks new phase for rigorous test program
Largest and most fuel efficient twin-engine commercial jet expected to deliver in 2021
The new Boeing (NYSE: BA) 777X jetliner took to the skies today, entering the next phase of its rigorous test program. Based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, the 777X took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a.m. local time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle’s Boeing Field.
“The 777X flew beautifully, and today’s testing was very productive,” said Capt. Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot for Boeing Test & Evaluation. “Thank you to all the teams who made today possible. I can’t wait to go fly your airplane again.”
Capt. Chaney and Boeing Chief Pilot Craig Bomben worked through a detailed test plan to exercise the airplane’s systems and structures while the test team in Seattle monitored the data in real time.
“Our Boeing team has taken the most successful twin-aisle jet of all time and made it even more efficient, more capable and more comfortable for all,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Today’s safe first flight of the 777X is a tribute to the years of hard work and dedication from our teammates, our suppliers and our community partners in Washington state and across the globe.”
The first of four dedicated 777-9 flight test airplanes, WH001 will now undergo checks before resuming testing in the coming days. The test fleet, which began ground testing in Everett last year, will endure a comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in the air over the coming months to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the design.
The newest member of Boeing’s market-leading widebody family, the 777X will deliver 10 percent lower fuel use and emissions and 10 percent lower operating costs than the competition through advanced aerodynamics, the latest generation carbon-fiber composite wing and the most advanced commercial engine ever built, GE Aviation’s GE9X.
The new 777X also combines the best of the passenger-preferred 777 and 787 Dreamliner cabins with new innovations to deliver the flight experience of the future. Passengers will enjoy a wide, spacious cabin, large overhead bins that close easily for convenient access to their belongings, larger windows for a view from every seat, better cabin altitude and humidity, less noise and a smoother ride.
Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021. The program has won 340 orders and commitments from leading carriers around the world, including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Since its launch in 2013, the 777X family has outsold the competition nearly 2 to 1.
About the Boeing 777X Family
The 777X includes the 777-8 and the 777-9, the newest members of Boeing’s market-leading widebody family.
LONDON/CHICAGO (Reuters) – Boeing Co’s new chief executive has sent the aerospace giant back to the drawing board on proposals for a new mid-market aircraft, effectively shelving in their current form plans worth $15 billion-$20 billion that had been overtaken by the 737 MAX crisis.
A decision on whether to launch a New Midsize Airplane (NMA) seating 220-270 passengers, which seemed imminent barely a year ago, had already been postponed as Boeing gave all its attention to the grounding of the smaller 737 MAX after two fatal crashes.
But days after taking the helm with a mandate to lift Boeing out of its 10-month-old reputational crisis, Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said the competitive playing field had changed.
“Since the first clean sheet of paper was taken to it, things have changed a bit … the competitive playing field is a little different,” he told journalists on a conference call on Wednesday.
“We’re going to start with a clean sheet of paper again; I’m looking forward to that,” Calhoun said.
He also spoke of a fresh approach to the market.
A Boeing spokesman said Calhoun had ordered up a new study on what kind of aircraft was needed. New aircraft typically take 6-7 years or more to bring to market once a decision is made, though Boeing aims to shorten that in part through digital technology and new business models designed around the NMA.
Calhoun “has asked the team to do an assessment of the future market and what kind of airplane is needed to meet the future market,” spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
Noting that the original assessments on the NMA were made about two and a half years ago, he said the new study would “build upon what has been learned … in design and production.”
In further evidence of a change of pace, people familiar with the matter said a meeting between Boeing and a major potential supplier, originally scheduled for next week, had been abruptly cancelled with no new date set.
That contrasts with the approach just weeks ago when Boeing was still presenting new details of the NMA to some airlines, including a working logo – “theNMA” – and details of an “advanced composite” structure, according to a slide seen by Reuters.
The NMA had been designed to address a slender gap between single-aisle workhorse jets like the 737 MAX and long-haul wide-body jets like the 787.
But most of the effort revolved around a new production system designed not only to support the NMA but to lay the groundwork for the next single-aisle aircraft after the 737 MAX.
Calhoun said he expected the MAX, whose return to service was delayed again earlier this week, to resume its previous place in the market and remain in service for a generation.
Traditionally toe-to toe-with Europe’s Airbus SE, Boeing has fallen behind in sales for the largest category of single-aisle planes, such as the 200-240-seat Airbus A321neo, which overlaps with the niche being targeted by the NMA.
By delaying a decision on the NMA, Boeing already risked losing the sweetest part of the market, especially after Airbus seized contracts with two major U.S. airlines, analysts said.
Analysts have also questioned whether Boeing, facing costs equivalent to a new programme to repair the MAX crisis, as well as delays on its large new 777X jet whose maiden flight is set for Thursday, would have appetite for such a costly project now.
(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Tim Hepher in London; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
An Ethiopian Airlines aircraft has suffered a runway excursion at Juba International Airport this evening. Wet conditions are being blamed for the accident, which has caused extensive damage to the aircraft. All passengers and crew are said to have deplaned safely.
The Dash 8 can be seen on the grass away from the runway. Photo: Twitter with permission
What happened?
Images are circulating online of a worrying incident in South Sudan. An Ethiopian Airlines aircraft has ended up some way off the runway, embedded in a grassy field and listing to one side. Close up images appear to show some damage to the landing gear and fuselage.
Damage can be seen to various parts of the plane. Photo: Garanovich PuTin
