Tag: miles (Page 2 of 3)

Frontier Airlines Announces Nonstop Flights from Ontario to Seattle

February 25, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines today announces its continued expansion at Ontario International Airport (ONT) with new low-fare summer seasonal nonstop flights to Seattle. The new service is in addition to five new routes announced in Dec. 2019, which included international service to Guatemala and El Salvador. To celebrate this new service, Frontier is offering fares as low as $49*, which are available now at FlyFrontier.com.

“We’re proud to lead the unprecedented growth in air service from Ontario and further expand our network to nine routes from ONT with new nonstop flights to Seattle,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines. “Ontario International Airport’s convenience paired with Frontier’s low fares and friendly service have proven to be a combination for success and we look forward to enhancing our valued partnership.”

New route from Ontario International Airport (ONT):

Service is seasonal and frequency and times are subject to change, so please check FlyFrontier.com for the most updated schedule.

New routes from ONT announced Dec. 2019:

“We pride ourselves on becoming a low-cost airport and our approach is proving to be attractive to our airline partners,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “Ontario has capacity to grow which is advantageous to carriers adding new aircratt and our hallmark no-hassle experience continues to appeal to our traveling customers.”

Frontier is focused on more than low fares. The carrier offers customers the ability to customize travel to their needs and budget. For example, customers can purchase options a la carte or in one low-priced bundle called the WORKS. This bundle includes refundability, a carry-on bag, a checked bag, the best available seat, waived change fees, and priority boarding.

The airline’s frequent flier program, FRONTIER Miles, lets members enjoy many benefits as well as attain Elite status. Like the airline, FRONTIER Miles is family friendly, and the program makes it easy for families to enjoy the rewards together, including family pooling of miles. FRONTIER Milesis aptly named because you earn one mile for every mile flown – no funny formulas at Frontier. If a customer travels a little or a lot, they will find FRONTIER Miles rewarding.

Frontier operates over 95 A320 family aircraft and has the largest A320neo fleet in the U.S., delivering the highest level of noise reduction and fuel-efficiency, compared to previous models. The use of these aircraft, Frontier’s seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline’s average of 39% fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines (fuel savings is based on Frontier Airlines 2018 fuel consumption per seat-mile compared to the weighted average of major U.S. airlines), which makes Frontier the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline. More information about Frontier’s green commitments are available at FlyFrontier.com/Green.

With over 150 new Airbus planes on order, Frontier will continue to grow to deliver on the mission of providing affordable travel across America. Frontier’s young fleet also ensures that the company keeps fares low and that customers will enjoy a pleasant and reliable experience flying with the airline.

Brazil’s Gol Shares Jump on American Codeshare Agreement

February 4, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

SAO PAULO, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Shares in Brazil’s Gol rose as much as 5.5% on Tuesday after the budget airline said it had signed a codeshare agreement with American Airlines.

“When this is approved by Brazilian and U.S. authorities, Gol’s new codeshare will allow its customers to connect to more than 30 destinations in the USA,” Gol said in a statement, adding that American will now offer more U.S.-South American flights than anyone else.

The flights will operate from Gol’s hubs in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Fortaleza, and will be added to current regular flights to Miami and Orlando.

Investors cheered the news, pushing Gol’s shares up as much as 5.5% to 36.25 reais, making it one of the biggest gainers on the Ibovespa. At midday in Sao Paulo trading, Gol shares were up 4.6% and the benchmark index was up 1.5%.

“The partnership will increase the quantity and quality of its flights, offering the more daily flights between South America and the United States than any other partner,” analysts at Guide Investimento said in a client note on Tuesday.

The agreement will make it easier for customers to purchase flights for both airlines using a single reservation. It will also integrate check-in, boarding and baggage checking throughout the trip, and include the air miles program.

(Reporting by Paula Laier Writing by Jamie McGeever Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

American Airlines Donates $100,000 to Support Australian Bush Fire Recovery

January 28, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Airline partners with G’Day USA for Red Cross relief efforts

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines donated $100,000 to help Australia recover from devastating bush fires that have burned more than 27 million acres to date. The donation, which was made through the Australian diplomacy program G’Day USA, will benefit the Australia chapter of the Red Cross.

“We are all affected by the heartbreaking images of the wildfires in Australia,” said American Airlines President Robert Isom. “American is proud to do what we can to assist in the recovery.”

This year, G’Day USA brought awareness and raised funds to assist with the Australian bush fires. The event is typically a celebratory dinner that honors the special relationship between Australia and the United States.

American also activated the airline’s disaster response fundraising platform, where customers and team members can assist those in need. From now through Jan. 31, AAdvantage® members can earn 10 miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross with a minimum $25 donation.

“One of the best things Americans can do to support our friends in Australia is keep their travel plans and make new ones,” Isom said. “The Australian economy relies on its tourism business and nearly all the popular sites in Australia are unaffected by the fires.”

You can make your donation to the Australian bush fire recovery efforts by visiting the Red Cross website.

*** BE SURE TO SELECT – “AUSTRALIA BRUSHFIRES” BELOW THE – “I WANT TO SUPPORT” QUERY TO ENSURE YOUR DONATION REACHES TO CORRECT RECIPIENT!!! ***

First of Its Kind Jet to Shuttle Travelers Between the Beltway and the Big Apple

January 16, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

13 daily flights between Washington’s Reagan National and Newark Liberty mostly aboard the world’s only two-cabin 50-seat regional aircraft – the Bombardier CRJ-550 starting March 29

New jet offers first class seating, Wi-Fi, more leg room and enough space for every customer’s roller bag

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines today announced a new hourly shuttle service between Washington’s Reagan National Airport and New York/Newark Liberty International Airport. United will operate the world’s only two-cabin 50-seat regional aircraft – the Bombardier CRJ-550 on most flights. The CRJ-550 is designed for business and leisure travelers who want true-first-class seating, Wi-Fi, more leg room and enough space for every customer to bring a roller bag on board.

With this new shuttle service, United will now offer more travel opportunities between these two cities than any other airline in the world. Tickets for the 13 daily flights between New York/Newark and Washington, D.C. will be available for purchase beginning January 18 and service starts on March 29.

“Our customers who regularly travel between Washington, D.C. and New York – one of the busiest routes in the country – have told us they value convenient flights and a comfortable ride above all else,” said Sarah Murphy, United’s senior vice president of United Express. “With our new shuttle service aboard the one-of-a-kind CRJ-550, United Airlines is the only carrier to deliver both.”

The CRJ-550 is a first-of-its-kind jet boasting a wide variety of premium amenities, including:

10 seats in United First, 20 seats in Economy Plus, and 20 Economy seats
Space for every customer to bring a roller bag on board.
A self-serve refreshment center for United First customers featuring a wide assortment of snacks and beverages.
More overall legroom per seat than any other 50-seat aircraft flown by a U.S. airline.
The ability to stay connected while in flight with United Wi-Fi.

Every customer. Every flight. Every day.

United continues to strengthen its commitment to its customers, looking at every aspect of its business to ensure that the carrier keeps customers’ best interests at the heart of its service. In addition to today’s announcement, United recently:

Announced that MileagePlus award miles will never expire
Committed $40 million toward a new investment initiative focused on accelerating the development of sustainable aviation fuels and other decarbonization technologies
Established Miles on a Mission, a first-of-its-kind crowdsourcing platform which gives customers a simple way to donate miles to non-profit organizations and charities in need of air travel
Launched ConnectionSaver, a digital tool dedicated to improving the experience for customers with connecting flights
Instituted PlusPoints, new upgrade benefits for MileagePlus Premier members
Gave Economy customers a choice of complimentary snacks on domestic flights
Made DIRECTV free for every customer on more than 200 aircraft

United Airlines logo. (PRNewsFoto/United Airlines)

United Airlines Announces Leadership Transition

December 8, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

CHICAGO, Dec. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) today announced that Oscar Munoz, Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. in May 2020. As CEO, Munoz has transformed United’s culture and set new standards of operational and financial performance. J. Scott Kirby, President, will succeed Munoz as Chief Executive Officer.

“With United in a stronger position than ever, now is the right time to begin the process of passing the baton to a new leader,” Munoz said. “One of my goals as CEO was to put in place a successful leadership transition for United Airlines. I brought Scott to United three years ago, and I am confident that there is no one in the world better equipped to lead United to even greater heights. It has been the honor of my career to lead the 95,000 dedicated professionals who serve United’s customers every day. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Scott in the months ahead and supporting the company’s ongoing success in my new role.”

Kirby was recruited to United Airlines by Munoz in August 2016, after a three-decade career in the commercial airline business. His appointment reflects a commitment from Munoz and the Board to preserve leadership continuity and demonstrates confidence in the airline’s strategy and current trajectory.

“When I joined United as CEO, I laid out ambitious goals to build a new spirit of United by regaining the trust of our employees and customers – and I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” Munoz said. “Along with the successful implementation of the plan our team laid out in January 2018, United’s operational and financial performance isn’t just better – it’s better than ever. By instilling a culture of ‘proof not promise,’ we have transformed United even faster than we expected and there’s an incredible sense of excitement about the future.”

Kirby, a highly-regarded industry leader, has played a pivotal role in enabling United’s cultural transformation and successfully executing the company’s strategic growth plan.

“I am honored to be named the next CEO of United and to succeed Oscar, whose leadership has been truly transformational for United Airlines,” Kirby said. “I look forward to working with Oscar, the Board, our established leadership team and every United employee as we drive forward our proven strategy and focus on being the airline customers choose to fly and return to time and again.”

Munoz will serve as Executive Chairman for a one-year term and will continue to work closely with Kirby, the Board and the United team in shaping United’s employee and customer-centric culture. He will also lead the company’s Board and continue to engage on behalf of United with a range of external stakeholders.

As part of this transition, United’s current Chairman, Jane Garvey, will retire from the Board in May 2020 after more than a decade of exceptional service, including serving as Chairman since May 2018. At the request of the Board, Garvey agreed to remain in her role for a year beyond the Board’s mandatory retirement age.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I cannot thank Oscar enough for his outstanding leadership and commitment to United, and we are pleased that we will continue to benefit from his expertise and experience in his role as Executive Chairman,” Garvey said. “Oscar became CEO at one of the most challenging points in United’s history, and his focus on putting customers and employees first has transformed United’s culture today and successfully positioned the company for tomorrow. One of Oscar’s greatest legacies is the best-in-class leadership team he has built, and we have full confidence that Scott is the ideal candidate to lead United into the bright future that lies ahead.”

The company also announced that Ted Philip will become Lead Independent Director following the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Philip joined the Board in July 2016 and chairs the Nominating/Governance Committee. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hasbro, Inc. and BRP Inc.

“I could not be more excited about the opportunity that we have at United over the next several years to fulfill this airline’s incredible potential,” Philip said. “I am proud to work alongside Oscar in guiding United’s Board and leadership team, and I am eager to get to work on delivering for all of our stakeholders. The entire Board and I want to thank Jane for her many contributions to United over the last decade, including her highly successful tenure as Chairman.”

All of the changes announced today will take effect following the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for May 20, 2020.

Every customer. Every flight. Every day.

In 2019, United is focusing more than ever on its commitment to its customers, looking at every aspect of its business to ensure that the carrier keeps customers’ best interests at the heart of its service. In addition to today’s news, United recently announced that MileagePlus miles will now never expire, giving members a lifetime to use miles on flights and experiences. Customers now have more free on board snack options as well, with a choice of Lotus Biscoff cookies, pretzels and the Stroopwafel. The airline also recently released a re-imagined version of the most downloaded app in the airline industry, introduced ConnectionSaver – a tool dedicated to improving the experience for customers connecting from one United flight to the next – and launched PlusPoints, a new upgrade benefit for MileagePlus premier members.

SWISS Opens New Alpine Lounge at Zurich Airport

November 11, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

SWISS opened a new-style lounge with alpine flair and a modern food and beverage concept in Zurich Airport’s Terminal A today. The new SWISS Alpine Lounge is available to Miles & More Senators and Star Alliance Gold Members, along with Business Class travelers on SWISS and other Lufthansa Group airlines.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) opened a new lounge at its Zurich hub today that offers its visitors a multi-sensual airport lounge experience. The 500-square-metre SWISS Alpine Lounge occupies the former location of the First Class Lounge in the airport’s Terminal A, and can accommodate up to 100 travelers.

A mountain hut with quality Swiss materials
Zurich’s new SWISS Alpine Lounge blends all the charm of a rustic yet contemporary mountain hut with the comforts and the style features of the familiar SWISS lounges. Of particular note are the light-wood elements and the bespoke furniture, much of it hand-made by Swiss craftsfolk. The quality alpine-style carpets and cushion covers are also hand-crafted and sourced from small Swiss manufacturers. Large communal wooden tables underscore the hut-like ambience, while the high windows offer fabulous views of the apron area and its flight activities.

A modern food and beverage concept around a rustic oven
SWISS has taken a new direction with the lounge’s food concept, too. The centrepiece of the new SWISS Alpine Lounge is a rustic oven in which seasonal dishes are prepared. Guests are additionally offered a range of further ingredients to tailor their food to their particular taste. These individualization options also help to reduce food waste. The beverages on offer include a selection of local Swiss wines and spirits. And the wines are served using a new and more ecofriendly dispensing system that enhances both the quality of the wine and the lounge’s recycling credentials.The new SWISS Alpine Lounge is open Mondays to Fridays from 05:30 to 18:30. The lounge is available to Miles & More Senators, Star Alliance Gold Members and Business Class travellers on SWISS and other Lufthansa Group airlines.

Lufthansa Group Welcomes More Than 14.1 Million Passengers in August, 2019

September 12, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Number of passengers rises by 2.9 percent year-on-year
Capacity utilisation up by 0.8 percentage points to 87.2 percent
Strongest passenger growth at Zurich hub

In August 2019, the Lufthansa Group airlines welcomed more than 14.1 million passengers. This shows an increase of 2.9 percent compared to the previous year’s month. The available seat kilometres were up 1.8 percent over the previous year, at the same time, sales increased by 2.7 percent. In addition as compared to August 2018, the seat load factor rose by 0.8 percentage points to 87.2 percent.

Cargo capacity increased by 8.9 percent year-on-year, while cargo sales increased by 1.5 percent in revenue tonne-kilometre terms. As a result, the Cargo load factor showed a corresponding reduction, decreasing by 4.2 percentage points to 58.8 percent.

Network Airlines with around 10.2 million passengers

The Network Airlines including Lufthansa German Airlines, SWISS and Austrian Airlines carried around 10.2 million passengers in August – 3.3 percent more than in the prior-year period. Compared to the previous year, the available seat kilometres increased by 3.1 percent in August. The sales volume was up by 4.0 percent over the same period, with an increasing seat load factor by 0.7 percentage points to 87.3 percent.

Strongest passenger growth at Zurich hub

In August, the strongest passenger growth of the network airlines was recorded at the Zurich hub with 7.0 percent. The number of passengers increased by 4.7 percent in Vienna and by 4.5 percent in Munich. In Frankfurt the number of passengers on the contrary decreased by 0.9 percent. The underlying offer also changed to varying degrees: In Munich the offer increased by 12.1 percent, in Zurich by 2.6 percent and in Frankfurt by 0.3 percent. In Vienna the offer decreased by 1.0 percent.

Lufthansa German Airlines transported more than 6.6 million passengers in August, a 1.8 percent increase compared to the same month last year. A 4.0 percent increase in seat kilometres corresponds to a 4.8 percent increase in sales. The seat load factor rose by 0.7 percentage points to 86.8 percent.

Eurowings increases supply and sales on short-haul routes

Eurowings (including Brussels Airlines) carried around 3.9 million passengers in August. Among this total, around 3.6 million passengers were on short-haul flights and 309,000 flew on long-haul flights. This corresponds to an increase of 1.8 percent compared with the previous year, resulting from an increase of 2.8 per cent on short-haul flights and a reduction of 8.1 per cent on long-haul flights. A 3.5 percent decrease in capacity was offset by a 2.3 percent decrease in sales, resulting in an increase of seat load factor by 1.0 percentage points to 87.0 percent.

In August, the number of seat-kilometres offered on short-haul routes was increased by 1.5 per cent, while the number of seat-kilometres sold increased by 3.5 per cent over the same period. This results in a seat load factor of 87.1 per cent, which is 1.7 percentage points higher on these flights. On long-haul flights, the seat load factor decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 86.6 per cent over the same period. The 13.4 per cent decrease in capacity was offset by a 13.8 per cent decrease in sales.

United Airlines Announces MileagePlus Miles Never Expire

August 28, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines announced that effective immediately, MileagePlus award miles never expire, giving members a lifetime to use miles on flights, experiences, hotels and more.

“We want to demonstrate to our members that we are committing to them for the long-haul and giving customers a lifetime to use miles is an exceptionally meaningful benefit,” said Luc Bondar, vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United. “Our MileagePlus program provides customers more ways to earn and use miles than any other U.S. airline. More customers used miles to book award trips in 2018 than in any year before, and we expect with today’s announcement that even more will use miles to travel the world in the years to come.”

United continues to enhance its award-winning MileagePlus program, making it more beneficial for customers. Highlights include:

Recently announced partnership with CLEAR that includes free or discounted CLEAR membership pricing for U.S.-based MileagePlus members.
Award travel to more destinations than any other U.S. airline with service to more than 1,300 destinations through United and Star Alliance partners, and ability to book award travel on United and all Star Alliance partners through the United mobile app.
Most low-priced economy award availability of any global U.S. airline.
Everyday opportunities to use miles starting as low as 1,000 miles for eGift cards when purchasing through MileagePlusX.

Every customer. Every flight. Every day.

In 2019, United is focusing more than ever on its commitment to its customers, looking at every aspect of its business to ensure that the carrier keeps customers’ best interests at the heart of its service. In addition to today’s announcement, United recently announced that customers on all domestic flights can now choose from three complimentary inflight snack items, announced that luxury skincare line Sunday Riley will make products exclusively for United customers to experience in amenity kits, released a re-imagined version of the most downloaded app in the airline industry, introduced ConnectionSaver, a new tool dedicated to improving the experience for customers connecting from one United flight to the next and made DIRECTV free for every passenger on 211 aircraft, offering more than 100 channels on seat back monitors on more than 30,000 seats.

Canadian Pacific Railway Reports 33% Rise in Profit

July 16, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: The Canadian Pacific railyard is pictured in Port Coquitlam.

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) today announced record second-quarter revenues of $1.98 billion, an increase of 13 percent from last year, and record earnings per share (EPS) with reported diluted EPS of $5.17 or $4.30 on an adjusted diluted EPS basis.

“I commend the team for this record second-quarter performance,” said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. “These results demonstrate the strength of precision scheduled railroading and are a testament to our collective commitment to deliver for our customers and the broader economy.”

SECOND-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Revenues increased by 13 percent to $1.98 billion from $1.75 billion last year
Reported diluted EPS of $5.17, a 70 percent increase from $3.04 last year, and adjusted diluted EPS of $4.30, a 36 percent increase from $3.16 last year
Operating ratio was a second-quarter record 58.4 percent, a 580 basis point improvement over last year’s second-quarter operating ratio of 64.2 percent

“This quarter, we saw revenue growth across every line of business, strong operating metrics, and our best-ever second-quarter performance from a workload perspective, as measured by Gross Ton-Miles,” said Creel. “As has been proven time and again, our operating model can perform well in all economic conditions and we will remain disciplined in controlling our costs and doing what we said we would do. Our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth is working and we look forward to a strong finish to 2019.”

CP will discuss its results with the financial community in a conference call beginning at 9:30 a.m. eastern time (7:30 a.m. mountain time) today.

Conference Call Access

Toronto participants dial in number: 1-647-427-7450

Operator assisted toll-free dial-in number: 1-888-231-8191

Callers should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call.

Webcast

We encourage you to access the webcast and presentation material in the Investors section of CP’s website at investor.cpr .ca
A replay of the second-quarter conference call will be available by phone through to July 30, 2019 at 416-849-0833 or toll-free 1-855-859-2056, password 8144989.

Alaska Air Group to Announce Q2 2019 Financial Results

July 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

SEATTLE, July 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Alaska Air Group Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries, Inc., will announce its second quarter 2019 financial results on Thursday, July 25, 2019. A conference call is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time/1:30 p.m. Pacific time. Interested parties may listen to the call via webcast at www.alaskaair.com/investors.

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners fly 46 million guests a year to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners, guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America” in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 12 consecutive years from 2008 to 2019. Learn about Alaska’s award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

SECOND-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Conference Call Access

Webcast

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