New Flights From Austin to Boston and San Jose Start This Spring

American Airlines is giving customers a treat this holiday season with the announcement of two new routes from the vibrant and eclectic city of Austin, Texas (AUS), to the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose, California (SJC), and to the historical city of Boston (BOS). These new routes will operate twice daily beginning in April.

The airline is also introducing unique service in support of special events like golf tournaments in Augusta, Georgia (AGS), music festivals in Palm Springs, California (PSP), and the annual visit to one of the nation’s biggest shareholder meetings with increased service to Omaha, Nebraska (OMA). Austin flights will be available for purchase starting Dec. 16 and special events flights will be available for purchase starting Dec. 22.

Alaska Air Group reports Fourth Quarter 2018 and full-year results

Alaska Airlines released its fourth quarter and full 2018 results this week showing the carrier reported net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2018 of $23 million, and $437 million. These results compare to fourth quarter 2017 net income of $315 million and full year 2017 net income of $960 million. The 2017 financial information has been adjusted to reflect changes associated with the implementation of new revenue recognition and retirement benefits accounting standards that became effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Qantas to launch direct Sydney - Nadi flights

Qantas is making it easier for customers to holiday in Fiji by launching new direct flights from Sydney, meeting a growing demand from customers wanting a premium travel option to the islands*.

From 31 March 2019, the direct service will operate four times per week to Nadi, the country’s main gateway, with a Boeing 737 aircraft, offering a checked baggage allowance, inflight entertainment and food and drinks all included as part of the fare, and the option to fly or upgrade to Business class.

The flights add to Jetstar’s direct services which also operate four times per week and will see the Qantas Group offer customers more than 75,000 seats on the route annually and the choice to fly to the popular holiday destination six days a week.

Queensland schedules enhanced says Qantas

Leading Australian airline Qantas announced recently that it will add more seats and frequencies across its Queensland network to meet growing demand for business and holiday travel.

From 31 March 2019, the national carrier will boost capacity on key routes in Queensland offering more than 2600 additional seats per week compared with the same time this year.

Eleven additional return flights will be added each week between Brisbane and Cairns.
Qantas will extend the use of larger Airbus A330s on selected flights from Cairns to Sydney and Melbourne. These aircraft offer 28 premium business seats dubbed ‘mini First Class’ by some frequent flyers, with fast, free wi-fi rolling out across the fleet.

Weekday flights between Sydney and Sunshine Coast will increase from daily to double daily, with the total weekly return flights increasing from 8 to 13.

Weekday flights between Brisbane and Mount Isa to return to a double-daily service in response to community feedback, operated by QantasLink’s 125-seat Boeing 717 aircraft, increasing the weekly return services from 9 to 13.

Six additional return flights between Brisbane and Townsville per week.

Peruvian Airlines 737 undercarriage collapses on the runway

Photo EPA

An investigation is underway into why a Boeing 737 carrying 127 people skidded and fell on its side on a runway at El Alto airport, west of the capital La Paz, in Bolivia on Thursday, November 22nd. 

The Peruvian Airlines 737 was performing a flight from Cuzco and came into land in El Alto at 1000 local time when the aircraft skidded and the landing gear appears to have collapsed.

According to officials, none of the 122 passengers or 5 crew was injured during the incident which caused the airport to close for a number of hours. The airline and Peruvian officials have confirmed an investigation is underway. 

Photo EPA

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Changes to Northern Territory air services from Qantas

The leading Australian airline Qantas is making a series of changes to its Northern Territory network with new routes, schedule changes, bigger aircraft and discounted fares for some residents. 

The changes include:

New routes

Qantas will launch two new routes to Uluru (Ayers Rock Airport) from both Darwin and Adelaide. Flights will operate twice per week on both routes with a Boeing 737 aircraft.

Network changes

In response to feedback from local businesses, government and the tourism industry, flights between Alice Springs and Darwin will be upgraded from a Boeing 717 to a 737 aircraft, an increase of up to 1,300 seats per week on the route. The change means customers will have the option to travel in Business Class and introduce in-flight entertainment, including fast, free WiFi on selected flights.

Flights between Perth and Darwin will operate daily, year-round (down from eleven per week during peak season), and flights between Perth and Alice Springs will move from daily to two per week.

Jetstar will increase flights between Cairns and Darwin from 4 per week to daily during peak season while Qantas will cease flights on the route.

Qantas will cease flights between Cairns and Alice Springs. Connections are available for customers to fly between Cairns and Alice Springs via Uluru.

These new routes and network changes will start from 31 March 2019 and are on sale now.

Ryanair's corporate private jet up for hire.

Ryanair private jet for hire Photo Ryanair

Never short of an idea to cash in, Ryanair is offering its own corporate jet up for hire again. The jet is back in service and available for hire for the winter period, but it's not your usual company private jet, it's a Boeing 737-700.

Ryanair configures the private jet with 60 leather seats with a generous 48-inch seat pitch in a 2 by 2  arrangement. The aircraft also has a full galley that is capable of rustling up a sausage roll or a full-on fine dining experience and is crewed by normal Ryanair air pilots.  

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said: “We are pleased to announce that our B737 corporate jet is again available for the winter season. It has enjoyed great demand since we first launched it in February 2016. In this past year, the Ryanair corporate jet was booked by many prestigious clients from Champions League soccer teams to world-famous pop stars, who enjoyed an unbeatable Ryanair corporate jet service and excellent rates.”

Photo Ryanair

Should you wish to hire the plane, you don't need to worry about looking out of place at the airport, for the Boeing 737 looks just like any other Ryanair jet, with the giant lettering all down the fuselage. So no one at the airport will know you've splashed the cash to such a large extent.  Thankfully, however, the bright yellow and adverts that are a predominate feature inside the cabin of a usual Ryanair plane are not continued inside the special corporate jet, which has a far more sophisticated interior, as you can see below. 

Jet Airways 737 turns back after crew allegedly forget to presurise the cabin

A Jet Airways Boeing 737, registration VT-JGS, operating flight 9W697 from Mumbai to Jaipur was forced to return to the airport after nearly 30 passengers started having ear and nose bleeds due to a pressure deficiency in the cabin.

According to financially troubled Jet Airways the aircraft had 166 passengers and 5 crew members on board at the time of the incident on Thursday. In a brief statement issued via social media, the airline claimed the aircraft turned back due to 'a loss of cabin pressure' and that the affected aircraft 'landed normally in Mumbai. All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc.'

Please refer to our official statement: pic.twitter.com/oCC77WVvfI

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) September 20, 2018

Jet Airways, part-owned by Etihad Airways, said the flight crew had been taken off flying duties while an investigation is ongoing.

SpiceJet embarking on cargo only project from next Tuesday!

SpiceJet Ltd confirmed today that it will be launching a dedicated cargo service from next Tuesday, 18th September.  

The move comes as the airline is desperate to boost income and expand its offering above and beyond the normal commercial passenger operations.  SpiceJet says they are working towards a separate pure air cargo fleet Boeing 737 jets and expects to be operating the first four in the early part of next year.  

The airline also expects air freight demand within India to increase by at least 60% during the next five years and as such the carrier wants to be ready to capitalise on this growth.  The airline said, it ideally wanted to increase its cargo capacity to up to 900 tonnes per day during 2019.  The current tonnage as approximately 500 tonnes per day. 

Jet2 increase service Bourgas in Bulgaria

The UK holiday airline Jet2 will be adding more flights to Bourgas in Bulgaria during summer 2019 the airline has said.

A new Saturday service will be taking off from Manchester and Leeds Bradford Airports next summer.  in Summer 19! The new flights will mean the carrier will operate up to 14 services a week to Bourgas from across its nine UK bases.

The two additional services will both operate on Saturdays, on the following schedule:

Pilot error to blame for Cuba crash says airline, but officials are still working

The Mexican airline involved in one of the most deadly air crashes in Cuban history has announced that pilot error was to blame for an air crash that killed 112 people in May. However,  the Cuban authorities have dismissed the findings as premature 

The commission investigating the incident issued a statement which indicated that it has not completed its analysis of “many factors” which could have contributed to the accident on the 18th May. “For that reason, any assertion about the possible causes that caused the fatal accident is premature.” the commission asserts.

Damojh Airlines the Mexican airline at the centre of the accident had said in a statement Monday that the pilots of the Boeing 737 took off too steeply, a much higher angle than is usual before the aircraft crashed near the runway of the international airport in Havana.

Damojh Aerolineas, which also operates under the name Global Air, says it had recreated the flight with the black boxes - the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder and a simulator, which demonstrated the pilots were at fault. 

Mexico’s civil aviation authority confirmed it was still investigating the crash with its own analysis and has not yet issued a finding.  Damojh is desperate to regain its air operators licence in Mexico so it can resume flying operations. 

Boeing, Jet Airways Announce New Order for 75 737 MAX Airplanes

Boeing and Jet Airways today announced a new order for 75 737 MAX aeroplanes as India's premier international airline looks to the new and improved 737 jet to power its future growth.

"Our new order for the additional 75 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will allow us to deliver a differentiated and world class customer experience to our guests," said "Vinay Dube, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airway. "This additional order reemphasizes our trust and confidence in Boeing and also reaffirms our commitment to operate extremely modern, reliable and fuel-efficient aircraft as part of our fleet. Jet Airways' partnership with Boeing goes back 25 years ever since the airline was conceived and took to the skies. This order underscores Jet Airways' commitment to the growth and sustainability of the Indian aviation market"

Jet Airways will be first Indian airline

 to take delivery of the new and improved 737 jet

Jet Airways announced its first order for 75 MAX aeroplanes in 2015 as part of a strategy to refresh its fleet with the most modern and environmentally progressive aeroplanes. The newest order adds 75 more MAXs to support the airline's future expansion. Jet Airways is set to take direct delivery of its first MAX aeroplane later this year.

Welcome to the 10000th Boeing 737

Thousands of Boeing employees gathered at the company's Renton, Wash. factory yesterday to celebrate the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line. With this aeroplane, a 737 MAX 8 for Southwest Airlines, the 737 has broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most produced commercial jet aircraft model.

"This incredible milestone is a testament to the work we do every day to build the most reliable and efficient single-aisle aeroplane in the world," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Kevin McAllister. "It represents more than 50 years of success and achievement on the part of thousands of Boeing employees past and present, our supplier partners, and our airline customers around the globe who put their confidence in the 737."

The 737 previously held this GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title in 2006 for the 5,000th aeroplane to come out of the Renton factory, a mark that took almost four decades to reach. Due to growing market demand and higher production rates, the 737 program reached the 10,000th aeroplane milestone only 12 years later.

"The speed at which Boeing achieved this new milestone is very impressive," said Michael Empric, official adjudicator for GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS. "We are excited to once again recognize the 737 and the important role it plays in commercial aviation." 

Southwest Airlines Honors Its New Orleans Service With State-Themed Tribute, Unveiling Louisiana One Aircraft

Southwest Airlines Co. celebrated the state of Louisiana, on Wednesday, thanking Customers and Employees for supporting its 39 years of service in New Orleans with the carrier's latest state-dedicated aircraft—Louisiana One—a Boeing 737-700, emblazoned with an artist's rendition of the Louisiana State flag.

"Southwest has been dedicated to the New Orleans community for 39 years," said Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Airlines. "I can't think of a better way to show our commitment to the state of Louisiana than with the dedication of Louisiana One, honouring our loyal Customers and Employees."

Boeing 737 MAX 9 Awarded FAA Certification

Boeing announced today that the 737 MAX 9 has received an amended type certificate (ATC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), officially certifying the aeroplane for commercial service.
Boeing's new 737 MAX 9 has received FAA certification and is now being prepped for first delivery. Paul Weatherman photo. This certification marks the culmination of a successful flight test program that began in March 2017 with two Boeing flight test aeroplanes. The FAA certification affirms that the aeroplane's handling, systems and overall performance all comply with required aviation regulations.
"Our teams built superior capabilities into the MAX 9 and proved them all the way through flight test. We're looking forward to bringing this aeroplane to market for our valued customers," said Keith Leverkuhn, vice president and general manager of the 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "I am proud of the entire team for helping us reach another important development milestone."

Alaska says goodbye to the combi

The combi 'Milk Run' came to an end on Wednesday of this week after decades of providing an invaluable service for numerous communities in rural Alaska.

Alaska Airlines have been operating the Boeing 737-400 Combis for a number of years on many routes in the state. These aircraft feature a passenger cabin in the rear of the aircraft, currently configured with 72 passenger seats. In the front is a cargo cabin that can take a number of full-size freight pallets. Over the years these aircraft have transported a large variety of cargos, from household items to horses, bags of flour to baby reindeer.

Jet orders 75 Boeing 737 Max aircraft

The Indian airline Jet Airways reported on Wednesday that it had agreed to buy 75 Boeing 737 Max aeroplanes. 

The full-service airline also advised that it could order a further 75 examples of the technologically advanced craft, to further bolster its position within the domestic Indian market. They expect the aircraft to start to be delivered from Boeing in mid-2018. The deal is thought to be valued at $9.3 billion based on list prices, however, such a large order would receive an estimated 25percent discount. 

737 Max for Norwegian

Norwegian took delivery of two new Boeing 737 Maxes on Thursday at a handover ceremony in Seattle. The first of the jets took off for Oslo at about 1:45 p.m. local time.

The deliveries were the first of the type to Norwegian Air, which has a total of 110 737 Maxes on order. The carrier expects to take four more of the jets – all the Max-8 variant – by the end of 2017.

Norwegian becomes just the second airline in the world get Boeing’s new 737 Max model. And, sometime next month, the airline will become the first to put the jet into regular service in the United States. 

"It’s a major milestone,” Norwegian founder and CEO Bjørn Kjos said about taking the new 737 Max at delivery ceremony in Seattle on Thursday.