São José dos Campos, Brazil, October 15, 2019 – Amaszonas Línea Aérea of Bolivia is the newest Embraer E-Jet operator. The airline started flying an E190 today between Santa Cruz de la Sierra’s Viru Viru Airport and La Paz. Amaszonas is adding a total of six E190s to its fleet. The airplanes will fly to several domestic and international destinations.
“We have been working with Amaszonas for a long-time. To see the E190 flying in the airline’s colors is really rewarding for Embraer,” said Reinaldo Krugner, Vice President, Latin America & Caribbean, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “The E190 is the ideal aircraft to support the airline’s growing capacity in a very disciplined way. Amaszonas is taking advantage of the E190’s low operating cost.”
The first two E190s are leased from GECAS and configured with 112 seats in a single class layout. The other four aircraft will be leased from CDB Leasing and have 110 seats in a single class layout. The airline will also operate the E190s at Montevideo’s Carrasco International Airport in the future.
“The range of the E190 allows us to replace our smaller regional jets and support our expansion plans in Bolivia and Uruguay,” Sergio de Urioste, President & CEO of Amaszonas Línea Aérea. “Our E-Jets give us the flexibility we need to add more frequencies and destinations. We know our passengers are going to love the comfort of the E190 cabin.”
Embraer and Amaszonas have also signed a Flight Hour Pool Program agreement until 2024 to provide repairable component support for the carrier’s fleet of up to six E190s. The multiyear program features both the Pool Program and repair management services for the carrier’s fleet of E-Jets, including material services engineering and advanced component exchanges from Embraer’s spare parts distribution center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft up to 150 seats with more than 100 customers across the world. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged more than 1,800 orders and 1,500 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleets of 80 customers in 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline network carriers.
In collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, Alaska Airlines reveals its latest special-edition aircraft livery, that offers a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier, a reimagined land at Disney California Adventure Park.
SEATTLE, Oct. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, Alaska Airlines showcased its latest special-edition aircraft livery today that offers a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier, a reimagined land at Disney California Adventure Park.
A trio of familiar Pixar characters span both sides of the aircraft: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie of Toy Story fame. For more added fun, one of the Aliens from the popular animated movie series can be spotted on both winglets, and even Rex the Tyrannosaurus makes a special appearance at the boarding door. The plane is named “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort.”
“There’s nothing better than landing happy on the way to The Happiest Place on Earth,” said Natalie Bowman, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of brand marketing and advertising. “The Disneyland Resort is one of our signature West Coast friendships, and we love that we can celebrate Pixar Pier by taking these iconic characters on a brand-new adventure.”
The unique design is a collaboration between the teams at Alaska, Disney and Pixar. The Pixar Pier-themed 737-800, tail number N537AS, begins flying throughout Alaska’s route network today, welcoming guests with its artistic flair for many years to come. To get the job done, the exterior of the plane required more than 2,800 work hours over 24 days using more than 50 gallons of paint — in 44 primary colors and custom shades — to completely repaint the aircraft with the vibrant new livery.
(Reuters) – A World War Two-era B-17 bomber trying to make an emergency landing at an airport near Hartford, Connecticut, crashed and burned on Wednesday, killing seven people on board and closing the airport for several hours, authorities said.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress took off from Bradley International Airport on Wednesday morning and the crew contacted the air traffic control tower five minutes later to report a problem, National Transportation Safety Board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.
During the crew’s attempt to land back at the airport, the plane struck stanchions near a runway and careened across a grassy area and a taxiway before striking a de-icing facility, said Homendy, whose agency sent a 10-member team to investigate the crash.
Rescue crews from numerous emergency response agencies raced to the scene where a plume of thick, black smoke billowed skyward after the crash.
Seven people died in the crash and six others, including a worker in the de-icing station, were treated for injuries ranging from minor to critical, James Rovella, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, told the news conference.
A total of 13 people were on board the plane, including three crew members, Rovella said.
The names of the seven people who died have not been released pending notification of all the victims’ families. All the victims were adults, Rovella said.
ESCAPE HATCH
Some people on the plane opened an escape hatch and helped others get out, he said.
“During the course of the next coming days, you’re going to hear about some heroic efforts from some of the individuals that were in or around that plane,” he said.
The airport, located in the town of Windsor Locks, was closed for about 3-1/2 hours after the crash.
The plane was operated by the Massachusetts-based Collings Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation and public display of automotive and aviation-related history.
“The Collings Foundation flight team is fully cooperating with officials to determine the cause of the crash of the B-17 Flying Fortress and will comment further when details become known,” the foundation said in a statement.
The vintage plane was one of only 18 B-17 aircraft still operating in the United States.
Reporting by Peter Szekely and Maria Caspani in New York, Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney
Comment: I have made several pilgrimages to see the Collings Foundation aircraft over the years, and some of my personnal photos of this aircraft can be seen below. Thank you
AirAsia X orders 12 more A330neo and 30 A321XLR aircraft
AirAsia X, the long-haul unit of the AirAsia Group, has finalised a firm order with Airbus for an additional 12 A330-900 and 30 A321XLR aircraft. The contract was signed by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman, AirAsia X Berhad and Guillaume Faury, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus in Kuala Lumpur today, in the presence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Group, who was present at the signing, said: “This order reaffirms our selection of the A330neo as the most efficient choice for our future wide-body fleet. In addition, the A321XLR offers the longest flying range of any single-aisle aircraft and will enable us to introduce services to new destinations. Together, these aircraft are perfect partners for long-haul low-cost operations and will allow us to build further on our market leading position in this fast-growing sector.”
Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Chairman of AirAsia X Berhad, said: “Today’s announcement is testament to our confidence and commitment to longer haul air travel. This is the future of our long-haul operations. The A330neo’s revolutionary new features and modifications will move our long-haul service sectors up to a higher level and allow AirAsia X to look at expanding beyond the eight-hour flight radius, such as to Europe, for example.”
Guillaume Faury, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus commented: “AirAsia X has been the pioneer of the long-haul low-cost model in the Asia-Pacific region. This new order for the A330neo and A321XLR is a true endorsement of the Airbus solution to meet mid-market demand with a combination of single-aisle and wide-body products. This powerful solution will provide AirAsia X with the lowest possible operating costs to expand its network and enable even more people to fly further than ever before.”
The new contract increases the number of A330neo aircraft ordered by AirAsia X to 78, reaffirming the carrier’s status as the largest airline customer for the type. Meanwhile, the A321XLR order sees the wider AirAsia Group strengthen its position as the world’s largest airline customer for the A320 Family, having now ordered a total of 622 aircraft.
AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 36 A330-300s on services to points within the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East. In addition, in August, the first A330neo joined the fleet of AirAsia’s Bangkok-based long haul affiliate, AirAsia X Thailand. The aircraft is the first of two leased A330neos joining the airline’s Thai affiliate by the end of the year.
The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step from the A321LR which responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700 nm – 15% more than the A321LR and with 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft.
The A330neo is a true new generation aircraft building on the A330’s success and leveraging on A350 XWB technology. It incorporates the highly efficient new generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, and a new higher span 3D optimised wing with new Sharklets. Together these advances bring a significant reduction in fuel consumption of 25% compared with older generation competitor aircraft of a similar size. The A330 is one of the most popular wide-body families ever, having received over 1,700 orders from more than 120 customers.
Saab today completed a successful first flight with the first Brazilian Gripen E fighter aircraft, 39-6001. At 2.41 pm CET on August 26, the Gripen E aircraft took off on its maiden flight flown by Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg. The aircraft operated from Saab´s airfield in Linköping, Sweden.
The duration of the flight was 65 minutes and included test points to verify basic handling and flying qualities at different altitudes and speeds. The main purpose was to verify that the aircraft behavior was according to expectations.
“This milestone is a testament to the great partnership between Sweden and Brazil. Less than five years since the contract was signed, the first Brazil Gripen has conducted her first flight,” says Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO of Saab.
This aircraft is the first Brazilian production aircraft and will be used in the joint test program as a test aircraft. The main differences compared to the previous test aircraft are that 39-6001 has a totally new cockpit layout, with a large Wide Area Display (WAD), two small Head Down Displays (sHDD) and a new Head Up Display (HUD). Another major difference is an updated flight control system with updated control laws for Gripen E. It also includes modifications both in hardware and software.
“For me as a pilot it has been a great honour to fly the first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft as I know how much this means for the Brazilian Air Force and everyone at Saab and our Brazilian partners. The flight was smooth and the aircraft behaved just as we have seen in the rigs and simulators. This was also the first time we flew with the Wide Area Display in the cockpit, and I am happy to say that my expectations were confirmed,” says Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg.
39-6001 will now join the test programme for further envelope expansion as well as testing of tactical system and sensors.
39-6001 will be designated F-39 in the Brazilian Air Force and will have the tail number 4100.
NEWARK, N.J. Aug. 27, 2019 – Low Fare carrier, Frontier Airlines, today announces new low-cost service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with 15 nonstop routes, including two international destinations: Cancun**, Mexico and Punta Cana**, Dominican Republic. To celebrate this new, low-cost service, Frontier is offering fares as low as $15* in addition to allowing customers to take advantage of the airline’s unique Kids Fly Free offer — both are available at flyfrontier.com.
The new routes include the only low-cost, nonstop options from EWR to Cancun**, Mexico; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Miami; Punta Cana**, Dominican Republic; Phoenix; Raleigh, N.C., and San Juan**. In addition, Frontier will offer the only nonstop, cross-country option to Ontario, Calif., opening an affordable, convenient option for travel to the Los Angeles area.
“We’re excited to make flying more affordable for the Garden State with 15 new routes from Newark,” Barry Biffle, President and CEO of Frontier Airlines said. “With fares as low as $15, we hope we inspire more people to fly and are delighted to meet that demand with our ‘Low Fares Done Right’ promise. This includes a focus on serving families as well as the environment with a more sustainable approach to flying.”
Frontier’s flights from Newark will operate entirely outside the delay prone afternoon hours, ensuring the airline can deliver its signature ‘Low Fares Done Right’ service – combining a great low fare with an outstanding flight experience. “We’d like to thank our partners at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the FAA for helping to establish Frontier as an effective low fare option at Newark Liberty Airport, without further contributing to delays in the most congested hours,” Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial for Frontier Airlines said.
New routes from EWR beginning Nov. 14, 2019:
TO/FROM
SERVICE FREQUENCY
INTRO FARE
APPLICABLE DAYS FOR INTRO FARE:
McCarran International Airport (LAS)
Daily
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Twice Daily
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Daily(Twice Daily eff. Dec. 10, 2019)
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
San Juan Airport (SJU)**
Daily
$29*
Tuesday, Wednesday
New routes from EWR beginning Dec. 10, 2019:
TO/FROM
SERVICE FREQUENCY
INTRO FARE
APPLICABLE DAYS FOR INTRO FARE:
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
Daily
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Daily
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Daily
$15*
Tuesday, Wednesday
Service to Palm Beach is seasonal, frequency and times are subject to change, so please check FlyFrontier.com for the most updated schedule.
New routes from EWR beginning March and April 2020 with tickets going on sale at a later date:
TO/FROM
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)**
Cancun International Airport (CUN)**
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
“We are proud to be considered America’s Greenest Airline,” Biffle continued. “Frontier is the most fuel-efficient airline in the U.S., offering passengers both the most affordable and sustainable approach to flying.”
Frontier operates over 90 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). More information about Frontier’s green commitments are available at FlyGreener.com.
Frontier is committed to families. One of the most popular family offers is Kids Fly Free whereby one kid can fly free for every adult with Discount Den travel club membership on select dates and flights. Additional information about Kids Fly Free is available at https://www.flyfrontier.com/kidsflyfree. In addition to Kids Fly Free, Frontier offers special rewards and status benefits for the whole family. Plus, every Frontier aircraft features a unique animal on its tail — from Griz the Bear to Otto the Owl, to Flo the Flamingo — kids will enjoy getting to know their new animal friends.
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 the ability to 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 Miles is 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.
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.
Delta introduces its first daylight trans-Atlantic flight, and airlines join forces at London’s Gatwick Airport for first time.
Three new flights will see Delta increase capacity between the U.S. and U.K. by 15 percent
New 767-400 and A350 aircraft flying on key JFK, Boston and Los Angeles routes
Delta is boosting its transatlantic schedule between London-Heathrow and its coastal hubs in Boston and New York-JFK next summer, adding 15 percent capacity compared to 2019. Alongside joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic, the two airlines will increase capacity across the Atlantic by nearly 10,000 seats per week compared to this year, offering customers unrivalled customer experience and more choice than ever before.
“Delta and its partners offer an unmatched global network that’s capable of taking Boston and New York customers to more worldwide destinations than ever before,” said Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Network Planning. “Our investment at these airports and in these communities continues to deepen as we grow our flight offerings and live up to our commitment to connect the world better than any other airline.”
More flights to Heathrow
Beginning March 28, 2020, Delta will increase its JFK-Heathrow services to three daily year-round frequencies, with Virgin Atlantic operating five, maintaining a convenient eight-flights-daily schedule. The new Delta frequency will mark the airline’s first-ever daylight trans-Atlantic flight and will complement the existing daylight service offered by Virgin Atlantic.
Delta to become largest U.S. carrier serving Haneda in 2020, with full transfer of U.S.-Tokyo services from Narita airport to Haneda
Airline will offer industry leading product, with unparalleled operational reliability and service on seven daily flights to Haneda from cities throughout the U.S.
Additional changes to intra-Asia flying include new Delta-operated Seoul-Manila service
Under a final decision announced by the U.S. Department of Transporation today, Delta will become the largest U.S. carrier serving Haneda, with seven daily flights between Haneda and Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Honolulu, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. With this change, Delta will transfer its full operation of U.S.-Tokyo services from Narita to Haneda, the city’s closest and most convenient airport, beginning in March 2020.
“We have proudly served Japan for more than 70 years and our commitment to our Tokyo legacy remains strong,” said Steve Sear, President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales. “This new service is a game-changer for Delta’s ability to offer competitive and comprehensive access to the city, which is one of the world’s most important business markets. It’s a win for our customers, giving them much quicker access to the city center, and it complements our overall strategy of growth across the Pacific.”
As part of its long-term Asia-Pacific network strategy, Delta will also adjust its network of flights beyond Narita. Effective March 2020, the carrier will suspend its NRT-MNL service and launch new daily ICN-MNL service operated by Delta. Serving Manila through Seoul will offer our customers superior connectivity via our industry-leading trans-Pacific hub in Seoul with our JV partner Korean Air.
While Delta will suspend Narita-Singapore service beginning Sept. 22, 2019, Delta customers can continue to reach Singapore – and more than 80 other destinations throughout Asia – through Seoul-Incheon via the airline’s partnership with Korean Air.
These moves are contingent upon securing viable operational slots.
Featuring state-of-the-art widebody aircraft and award-winning reliability, product and service, delivered by Delta people
All Delta aircraft between the U.S. and Tokyo feature the carrier’s premium Delta One experience, which includes a dedicated in-cabin flight attendant; a 180-degree flat-bed seat with direct-aisle access; extra-wide inflight entertainment screens; and seasonally rotating, chef-designed Delta One menus with the option to pre-select first choice of entrée, paired with wines hand-selected by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson.
Aircraft on flights between Haneda and Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles and Atlanta also feature Delta Premium Select, Delta’s newest cabin experience that brings the “premium” back to premium economy with more space including a wider seat with additional recline and leg rest; elevated service including pre-departure beverage service; and distinguished amenities including a wider in-flight entertainment screen.
In addition to Delta’s award-winning operational reliability and service, all cabins of service on flights between the Haneda and the U.S. will include complimentary meals, snacks and beverages, including meals for all customers created in partnership with Michelin consulting chef Norio Ueno. This November, Delta is launching a first-of-its-kind bistro-style international Main Cabin experience featuring welcome cocktails, hot-towel service and mix-and-match options for premium appetizers and larger entrees.
All seats on all flights from the U.S. to Tokyo-Haneda will offer personal entertainment systems with free entertainment, free mobile messaging, high-capacity overhead bins, Wi-Fi, upgraded amenity kits and more. More international onboard enhancements are coming soon, like refreshed ear buds and headsets, to further demonstrate the airline’s commitment to creating a best-in-class experience all customers can look forward to.
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), in partnership with Discovery Channel, launched a campaign bringing the fun of Shark Week to flying fans this summer. The carrier is celebrating Shark Week throughout July, ahead of Shark Week on Discovery beginning Sunday, July 28.
“Our Shark Week partnership brings fun through unique offerings for our Customers and Employees,” said Brandy King, Director of External Communication who oversees the airline’s Brand Partnerships and Entertainment Public Relations initiatives. “Whether on the ground with augmented reality experiences and gate games hosted by our Employees, to inflight exclusive content on our Shark Week On-Demand Channel, or through our social channels with engaging content and a special sweepstakes, we’ll be celebrating Sharks all month.”
Southwest brings Shark Week to fans through all phases of travel and, this year, extends the immersion straight into their homes. Through an augmented reality experience, Shark Week fans engaging with Southwest through the carrier’s social channels and in airports across the country will be encouraged to “swim with sharks” by using the augmented reality experience, accessible via swa.is/sharkweek. Fans can download a filter on their cell phones to select from the five most-popular sharks featured in Shark Week programming (Great White Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Mako Shark, Tiger Shark, and Bull Shark) to swim across their screens, and share a photo or video of the experience to their social channels using #SharksTakeFlight.
Customers traveling this summer will be able to experience the fun of Shark Week in a variety of ways. While inflight, Customers can enjoy jawsome content via the Onboard Entertainment Portal’s custom Shark Week TV Series Channel. The Shark Week TV Series Channel houses a library of Shark Week episodes that Customers can sink their teeth into, plus a never-before-seen episode, Extinct or Alive: The Lost Shark, which Customers can watch nearly 30 days ahead of its premiere during Shark Week. The feeding frenzy continues as Southwest Customers tune in to Shark Week on Discovery Channel beginning Sunday, July 28, and continuing through Sunday, August 4, via Live TV onboard Southwest WiFi-equipped flights.
Southwest Employees also are getting in on Shark Week fun! Beginning July 8, Employees in 40 Southwest airports will display Shark Week materials in gate areas with which Customers can interact. Delivering on Southwest’s legendary Customer Service and Hospitality, Southwest Employees will host gate games to entertain fliers and celebrate the 31st anniversary of Shark Week, one of the most popular and longest-running televised summer events in history.
For fans who want to experience a diving excursion, Southwest is hosting a Dare to Dive sweepstakes from July 1-31 giving a chance to land a trip to Nassau, Bahamas, to enjoy a diving experience*. Anyone may visit Southwest.com/sharkweek for a chance to win roundtrip air travel (does not include taxes and fees of at least $5.60 per one-way flight) for winner and three guests, a $3,000 gift card to The Island House, a boutique hotel, and a $375 gift card to Stuart Cove’s for a diving excursion.
One of the most popular and longest-running televised summer events, Shark Week has celebrated cartilaginous creatures for more than 30 years. This year, viewers can enjoy hours of new content that will answer some of your most pressing shark-related questions. This year’s programming will immerse fans in the lives of sharks all around the world, from the Caribbean Sea to the island of Guadalupe, and many places in between.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 50 United States and the District of Columbia, excluding Alaska, age 19 years or older at time of entry. Limit one entry per person per day. All fields must be completed. Approximate retail value of prize: $4,975.00. For complete details and Official Rules, visit http://www.southwest.com/sharkweek. By submitting an entry, you agree to the Official Rules. By entering, information collected will be used in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy at Southwest.com. Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., 2702 Love Field Dr. Dallas, TX 75235. Enter by July 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. E.T. Air travel does not include taxes and fees of at least $5.60 per one-way flight.
Kitty Hawk,the flying car company backed by Google’s Larry Page and led by Udacity co-founder Sebastian Thrun, has struck a deal with aerospace giant Boeing.
The terms of the strategic partnership are vague. But it appears the two companies will collaborate on urban air mobility, particularly around safety and how autonomous and piloted vehicles will co-exist.
Kitty Hawk’s portfolio of vehicles includes Cora, a two-person air taxi, and Flyer, a vehicle for personalized flight. The partnership is focused on the fully electric, self-piloting flying taxi Cora, according to the announcement.
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