KLM: Πτήσεις στη Σαγκάη από 559€

Η προσφορά αφορά σε πτήσεις μετ’ επιστροφής της KLM από/προς Αθήνα προς Σαγκάη.
Αθήνα – Σαγκάη – Αθήνα από 559€

Οι ναύλοι περιλαμβάνουν όλους τους φόρους.



Κρατήσεις έως 06.07.2016

Πτήσεις από 01.09.2016 έως 31.01.2017

www.klm.com

Aegean: Πετάξτε από Λάρνακα σε όλους τους προορισμούς εξωτερικού με έκπτωση έως 40%!

Ισχύει για για όλες τις διαθέσιμες συνδέσεις από Λάρνακα σε προορισμούς του δικτύου εξωτερικού, μέσω Ελληνικών αεροδρομίων.

Κάντε κράτηση μέχρι 04.07.2016

Πτήσεις από 12.09.2016 μέχρι 20.12.2016 και από 10.01.2017 μέχρι 25.03.2017

12/09/2016 – 31/10/2016: 20%
01/11/2016 – 20/12/2016: 30%
10/01/2017 – 25/03/2017: 40%

ΚΑΝΤΕ ΚΡΑΤΗΣΗ ΕΔΩ

Όροι & Προϋποθέσεις: 
Η προσφορά ισχύει για όλους τους ναύλους πτήσεων με ενδιάμεσο σταθμό από/προς Λάρνακα μέσω Αθήνας, Θεσσαλονίκης, Ηρακλείου και Ρόδου προς όλους τους προορισμούς εξωτερικού του δικτύου της Aegean (εκτός από προορισμούς στην Ελλάδα) με απλή μετάβαση και με επιστροφή. Η προσφορά αφορά σε κρατήσεις που θα πραγματοποιηθούν έως και 04/07/2016 για πτήσεις με την Aegean από 12/09/2016 έως και 25/03/2017 (η περίοδος 21/12/2016 - 09/01/2017 δεν περιλαμβάνεται στην προσφορά). Έκπτωση 20% εφαρμόζεται στις πτήσεις με ενδιάμεσο σταθμό κατά τη περίοδο 12/09/2016 έως και 31/10/2016. Έκπτωση 30% εφαρμόζεται στις πτήσεις με ενδιάμεσο σταθμό κατά τη περίοδο 01/11/2016 έως και 20/12/2016. Έκπτωση 40% εφαρμόζεται στις πτήσεις με ενδιάμεσο σταθμό κατά τη περίοδο 10/01/2017 έως και 25/03/2017. Η έκπτωση 20%, 30% και 40% πραγματοποιείται επί των χρεώσεων: ναύλου εισιτηρίων πτήσεων με ενδιάμεσο σταθμό και επίναυλου καυσίμων. Οι χρεώσεις ναύλου και επίναυλου καυσίμων που εμφανίζονται στο σύστημα κρατήσεων κατά τη διάρκεια της προσφοράς είναι ήδη μειωμένες κατά 20%, 30% και 40%. Σε περίπτωση αλλαγής του εισιτηρίου υπάρχει χρέωση ανάλογη με την κατηγορία του ναύλου. Για συναλλαγές με χρεωστικές κάρτες ή πιστωτικές κάρτες δεν υφίσταται χρέωση κάρτας πληρωμής. Σε περίπτωση ακύρωσης ισχύουν οι κανονισμοί που αντιστοιχούν σε κάθε κατηγορία ναύλου. Υπάρχει η δυνατότητα δωρεάν μεταφοράς μίας χειραποσκευής έως 8kg στον ναύλο GoLight.

EgyptAir MS804 data shows evidence of onboard fire | ATWOnline

Initial evidence gleaned from the flight data recorder (FDR) of Egyptair flight MS804 indicates the Airbus A320 experienced smoke in two separate locations on the aircraft prior to its crash into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Egyptian investigating committee said that, following the successful cleaning and repair of the FDR in France, it has successfully downloaded the data and is now decoding and validating some 1,200 parameters. The committee added that the recovered data covered the entire flight from takeoff at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport to the point at 37,000 ft. over the Mediterranean “where the accident occurred.”

The EgyptAir A320 was en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Cairo May 19 with 66 people on board when itlost radar contact and crashed.

Work is now underway on the next phase of reading and analyzing the data.

There have been reports for some weeks that messages sent by the aircraft’s Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS), which sends data on any faults or deviations from the norm to an airline’s home base, indicated the presence of smoke in both a an avionics bay under the flight deck and a lavatory.

“Recorded data is showing a consistency with ACARS messages of lavatory smoke and avionics smoke,” the committee said in a statement, adding: “Some recovered wreckage  parts of the front section  of the aircraft showed signs of high temperature damage and soot.”

Work is now underway to identify the source and cause of those indications.

A recovery operation is continuing to retrieve the aircraft wreckage, which lies around 3,000 feet down in the Mediterranean. Recovery of human remains at the site will also continue until all are retrieved, it said.

The investigating committee said work is continuing at France’s BEA crash investigation bureau to repair the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder.

EgyptAir MS804 data shows evidence of onboard fire | Safety content from ATWOnline

Bombardier's First CSeries Delivered to SWISS • Airways Magazine

MONTREAL — Bombardier has marked today a major milestone in theCSeries family aircraft program, with the handover to launch operator SWISS of the first of 30 airliners on order.

The historic delivery took place in the premises of the manufacturer in Montreal, Canada, where both SWISS and Bombardier employees gathered with government representatives, suppliers and media to celebrate the event.

“SWISS is proud to be the first airline to take title of the CSeries (…) The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its acceptance flight, as expected,” said Thomas Klühr, Chief Executive Officer, SWISS.

Last March, SWISS and Bombardier carried out a 3-week long route-proving campaign in Europe, which included flights to several major cities.The campaign provided data on the behavior and performance of the new jetliner under a typical airline schedule to and from different airports. Thefirst SWISS CS100 flight is scheduled to enter service on July 15, 2016 from Zurich to Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

“The CSeries fleet will allow us to perfectly tailor our capacity to demand on various European routes, while providing an excellent travel experience for our passengers” Klühr said.

A “significant moment” for Bombardier

During the handover ceremony, Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft described the milestone as a “significant moment” for the airframer. Cromer also highlighted the dedication of the employees of both SWISS and Bombardier “to designing, building, marketing and defining the flight network for the CSeries aircraft as the first right-sized aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat market segment in nearly 30 years.”

The program, plagued by ever-increasing cost-overruns and a schedule running two years behind the intended date of Entry Into Service, has finally seen the light this year, first with two landmark orders from Air Canada for 75 CS300s, and Delta Air Lines for 75 CS100s, and then, the with the establisment of a partnership with the Government of Quebec, which will assure the required funding to continue with the program.

“A new aircraft program like the CSeries aircraft comes around once in a lifetime and it’s a proud achievement that belongs to many,” said Rob Dewar, Vice President, CSeries Aircraft Program, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

JetBlue Brings Mint to Ft. Lauderdale – Los Angeles Market in Mar 2017 :: Routesonline

JetBlue in Sabre GDS’ schedule listing has extended schedule listing into first week of May 2017 (02MAY17 inclusive), including the introductory date of Airbus A321 MINT service on Ft. Lauderdale – Los Angeles route.  Based on current schedule listing, B6701/700 will be served by MINT from 20MAR17, and all 2 daily flights will be served by MINT by 20APR17. Schedule from 20APR17 as follow.

B6701 FLL0900 – 1105LAX 32S D
B6101 FLL1704 – 2000LAX 32S D

B6700 LAX0800 – 1547FLL 32S D
B6100 LAX2255 – 0645+1FLL 32S D

Reservation will be available in the coming weeks.

JetBlue Brings Mint to Ft. Lauderdale – Los Angeles Market in Mar 2017 :: Routesonline

easyJet Plans New Routes in 16Q4 :: Routesonline

easyJet today (30JUN16) opened reservation for 20 new routes, scheduled to commence between October and December 2016. Planned new routes as follow.

Basel – Funchal eff 06DEC16 1 weekly
Berlin Schoenefeld – La Palma eff 01NOV16 2 weekly
Berlin Schoenefeld – Marseille eff 01NOV16 3 weekly
Berlin Schoenefeld – Zurich eff 31OCT16 6 weekly
Bristol – Turin eff 11DEC16 1 weekly
Geneva – Fuerteventura eff 01NOV16 2 weekly
Geneva – Inverness eff 05NOV16 1 weekly
Geneva – Munich eff 31OCT16 4 weekly
London Gatwick – La Palma eff 01OCT16 2 weekly
London Luton – Turin eff 10DEC16 1 weekly
London Southend – Gran Canaria/Las Palmas eff 06NOV16 2 weekly
Lyon – Luxembourg eff 01NOV16 3 weekly
Lyon – Stockholm Arlanda eff 19NOV16 2 weekly
Lyon – Vienna eff 02NOV16 3 weekly
Manchester – Gran Canaria/Las Palmas eff 02NOV16 2 weekly
Manchester – Turin eff 11DEC16 1 weekly
Newcastle – Berlin Schoenefeld eff 01NOV16 3 weekly
Newcastle – Gran Canaria/Las Palmas eff 01NOV16 1 weekly 
Paris CDG – Pristina eff 02NOV16 2 weekly
Zurich – Amsterdam eff 31OCT16 3 weekly

easyJet Plans New Routes in 16Q4 :: Routesonline

Condor US Flights Increase from July 2017 :: Routesonline

Condor in recent OAG Schedules Analyser update has extended schedule listing into July 2017, which includes a number of frequency increase on long-haul routes, previously not covered on Airlineroute.

Frankfurt – San Diego New route effective 01MAY17. Previously not covered, a 3rdweekly flight (Day 6) will be operating from 08JUL17
DE2058 FRA0940 – 1315SAN 76W 4
DE2058 FRA1120 – 1455SAN 76W 6
DE2058 FRA1220 – 1555SAN 76W 1

DE2059 SAN1455 – 1145+1FRA 76W 4
DE2059 SAN1640 – 1330+1FRA 76W 6
DE2059 SAN1740 – 1430+1FRA 76W 1

Munich – Seattle New route effective 05JUL17. Previous report highlighted the schedule discrepancy from Seattle on its web listing
DE2036 MUC1220 – 1425SEA 76W 7
DE2036 MUC1625 – 1830SEA 76W 3

DE2037 SEA1625 – 1155+1MUC 76W 7
DE2037 SEA2030 – 1600+1MUC 76W 3 

Previously reported on Airlineroute, a 4th weekly flight will be added on Frankfurt – Baltimore/Washington from 06JUL17, and Frankfurt – Minneapolis from 08JUL17.

30JUN16 Update – Condor US Flights Increase from July 2017 :: Routesonline

KLM Splits Curacao / St. Maarten Service in W16 :: Routesonline

KLM in this week’s schedule update has revised operations to the Caribbean for winter season, from 30OCT16 to 25MAR17. Latest changes see the airline discontinue triangle service connecting Curacao and St. Maarten. Planned operation as follow.

Amsterdam – Curacao 7 weekly flights operating as terminator service with 747-400. 3 of 7 weekly flights no longer operating via St. Maarten on outbound
KL735 AMS1000 – 1450CUR 744 D
KL736 CUR1705 – 0705+1AMS 744 D

In addition, extra service as KL737/738 with 747-400 is also scheduled on 24DEC16, 26DEC16, and 06JAN17.

Amsterdam – St. Maarten 3 weekly flights operating as terminator service, while Airbus A330-200 replaces 747-400. This temporary marks the end of Boeing 747 service in St. Maarten as scheduled service (Schedules on/after not yet updated)
KL729 AMS1250 – 1715SXM 332 257
KL730 SXM1905 – 0825+1AMS 332 257

KLM started Boeing 747 service to St. Maarten in October 1990.

KLM Splits Curacao / St. Maarten Service in W16 :: Routesonline

PHOTO Pegasus A320neo Revealed! | AIRLIVE.net

XFW Spotter on Flickr has taken a picture of the first Pegasus Airlines Airbus A320neo. She was seen today being pulled by a tug at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport! Make sure to check out his Flickr for more pictures from Hamburg!

PHOTO Pegasus A320neo Revealed! | AIRLIVE.net

Warner Bros. Pictures releases trailer of ‘Sully’ | AIRLIVE.net

MUST WATCH Warner Bros. Pictures releases trailer of ‘Sully’ | AIRLIVE.net

Συνεργασία Aegean Airlines με PayPal | Airnews

Η PayPal, μία από τις κορυφαίες παγκόσμιες πλατφόρμες online πληρωμών, ανακοινώνει τη συνεργασία της με την Aegean Airlines.

Από τώρα και στο εξής, η Aegean Airlines διασφαλίζει την ευκολία και την ασφάλεια των διαδικτυακών αγορών από μία από τις κορυφαίες πλατφόρμες online πληρωμών στον κόσμο – την PayPal. Οι πελάτες της Aegean μπορούν τώρα να ανακαλύψουν από πρώτο χέρι το πως δύναται η PayPal να κάνει την αγορά εισιτηρίων ακόμα πιο άνετη και απρόσκοπτη, καθώς η διαδικασία checkout είναι πολύ πιο γρήγορη, ομαλή και κυρίως ακόμα πιο απλή.

«Στο άμεσο μέλλον, οι πληρωμές θα γίνουν αόρατες. Δεν θα θεωρούνται πλέον ως μια κοπιαστική διαδικασία – αναφέρει ο Matt Komorowski, Managing Director της PayPal για την Κεντρική και Ανατολική Ευρώπη. Επομένως, με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό βοηθάμε την Aegean Airlines να αναβαθμίσει την εμπειρία του πελάτη, κάνοντας ακόμα πιο γρήγορη και εύκολη την διαδικασία πληρωμής. Είτε αγοράζουν μια πτήση εσωτερικού ή ένα ταξίδι κάπου στον κόσμο – χάρη στην PayPal ο πελάτης μπορεί τώρα να εστιάσει αποκλειστικά και μόνο στην ποιότητα της ταξιδιωτικής εμπειρίας του/της».

Η PayPal επιθυμεί να βρίσκεται στην πρώτη γραμμή διαμόρφωσης της νέας εμπειρίας πληρωμής για λογαριασμό των πελατών τηςAegean. Το μόνο που χρειάζεται προκειμένου να ανοίξουν έναν λογαριασμό PayPal είναι μια ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση και ένα password / κωδικό πρόσβασης, οπότε η εγγραφή διαρκεί λιγότερο από ένα λεπτό. Έχοντας κατά νου την διαρκώς αναπτυσσόμενη ζήτηση γιαmobile αγορές (το 2015 το 28% των 4,9 δισεκατομμυρίων πληρωμών μέσω της πλατφόρμας PayPal, διεκπεραιώθηκαν μέσω κινητών συσκευών), η PayPal παρέχει επίσης σε όσους ταξιδεύουν με αεροπλάνο την υπηρεσία πληρωμής με ένα μόνο κλικ – το One Touch.

«Στην PayPal γνωρίζουμε ότι στο m-commerce όσο πιο γρήγορη είναι η διαδικασία πληρωμής, τόσο υψηλότερος ο όγκος πωλήσεων – δηλώνει ο Matt Komorowski. Οι πελάτες που χρησιμοποιούν το One Touch, χρειάζεται να κάνουν log in μόνο μία φορά στον λογαριασμό PayPal, προκειμένου να πληρώσουν για αγαθά μέσω κινητών εφαρμογών. Μετά τη σύνδεσή τους, κάθε άλλη απόπειρα αγοράς ειδών στην εφαρμογή με χρήση PayPal δύναται να επικυρωθεί με ένα και μόνο κλικ.

Η Aegean Airlines έχει καταγράψει ισχυρή ανάπτυξη της επιβατικής κυκλοφορίας το 2015, έως και 15% σε σύγκριση με το 2014. Η εταιρεία-μέλος της Star Alliance παρέχει στους πελάτες της χαμηλότερες τιμές και σημαντικά βελτιωμένη διασυνδεσιμότητα. Η Aegeanδιπλασίασε το διεθνές δίκτυο εντός δύο ετών και το 2016 προσέθεσε 14 νέους προορισμούς από τον κεντρικό κόμβο του Διεθνούς Αεροδρομίου Αθηνών, συμπεριλαμβάνοντας νέες αγορές, όπως η Σαουδική Αραβία, η Ολλανδία, η Ιρλανδία, κ.α.

Τώρα, η Aegean Airlines έχει τη δυνατότητα να προσφέρει ακόμα περισσότερα στους πελάτες που πληρώνουν με PayPal, όπως ενδεικτικά το Buyer Protection Program / Πρόγραμμα Προστασίας του Καταναλωτή, το οποίο καλύπτει επίσης άυλα αγαθά, όπως μουσική και παιχνίδια, καθώς και αεροπορικά εισιτήρια.

Συνεργασία Aegean Airlines με PayPal | Airnews

Ο Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών στα Google Street View & Indoor Maps! | Airnews

Ο Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών έγινε το πρώτο αεροδρόμιο στην Ελλάδα που προσφέρει περιήγηση εικονικής πραγματικότητας στους χώρους του αεροδρομίου στο Google Street View και στα Ιndoor Μaps, παρέχοντας έτσι στους ταξιδιώτες περισσότερες πληροφορίες και πλεονεκτήματα όταν ταξιδεύουν. Διερευνώντας τις πραγματικές ανάγκες των ταξιδιωτών αλλά και τις αναδυόμενες τεχνολογικές τάσεις, ο Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών παρουσιάζει τις νέες αυτές δυνατότητες επικοινωνίας, που αντανακλούν τη στρατηγική επιλογή του να εντοπίζει και να υλοποιεί νέες καινοτόμες ψηφιακές υπηρεσίες και εφαρμογές.

• Με το Google indoor map δίνεται πλέον η δυνατότητα στους ταξιδιώτες να περιηγηθούν στις εγκαταστάσεις του αεροδρομίου βρίσκοντας τα σημεία που τους ενδιαφέρουν και είναι απαραίτητα για το ταξίδι του, όπως είναι τα σημεία ελέγχου των εισιτηρίων (Check – in), τις πύλες αναχώρησης, τα εμπορικά καταστήματα κ.α.

• Επίσης, μπαίνοντας στο Street View, ο Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών προσφέρει στους χρήστες, τη δυνατότητα εξερεύνησης και περιήγησης στους χώρους του αεροδρομίου, με φωτογραφίες 360 μοιρών σε υψηλή ανάλυση και αισθητική. 

Στο πλαίσιο της παρουσίασης των νέων υπηρεσιών, ο κ Γιώργος Δημητριάδης, Διευθυντής Επιχειρηματικής Μονάδας Συστημάτων Πληροφορικής & Τηλεπικοινωνιών του Διεθνούς Αερολιμένα Αθηνών, δήλωσε: «Σημαντική ιδιαιτερότητα των αεροδρομίων είναι ο πολύ περιορισμένος χρόνος που έχουν συνήθως οι επιβάτες σε σχέση με την πληθώρα των παρεχόμενων υπηρεσιών και των προσφερόμενων προϊόντων. Το χαρακτηριστικό αυτό καθιστά επιτακτική την προώθηση των υπηρεσιών και των προϊόντων με τέτοιο τρόπο ώστε να μπορούν οι επιβάτες ή και οι επισκέπτες να ενημερωθούν εύκολα και γρήγορα γι’ αυτά που τους ενδιαφέρουν πραγματικά, μέσα από κανάλια επικοινωνίας με τα οποία είναι εξοικειωμένοι να χρησιμοποιούν, όπως είναι το Google Maps και το Street View.»

Από την πλευρά της Google η κ Magdalena Filak, Programme Manager, τόνισε: «Είτε θέλετε να εξερευνήσετε χώρους ή μέρη που οι περισσότεροι από μας δεν θα επισκεπτόμασταν αλλιώς, το Street View σας δίνει την δυνατότητα να περιηγηθείτε μέσω της εικονικής πραγματικότητας σε αυτά τα μέρη. Έχουμε συνεργαστεί με το Διεθνή Αερολιμένα Αθηνών, για να βοηθήσουμε τους επιβάτες να δουν τους διαδρόμους, τα σημεία ελέγχου εισιτηρίων, το χώρο παραλαβής αποσκευών, τους τερματικούς σταθμούς και τα καταστήματα πριν προσγειωθούν, απευθείας από το κινητό τους, το τάμπλετ ή τον υπολογιστή.

Το χάρτη εσωτερικού χώρου του αεροδρομίου μπορείτε να τον δείτε εδώ

Για την εικονική περιήγησή σας στους χώρους του αεροδρομίου πατήστε εδώ  

Ο Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών στα Google Street View & Indoor Maps! | Airnews

Lufthansa A321 at Munich on Jun 29th 2016, engine problem

A Lufthansa Airbus A321-100, registration D-AIRB performing flight LH-2029 from Berlin Tegel to Munich (Germany), was descending through FL090 towards Munich when the crew reported a problem with the right hand engine (V2530). The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 26R about 10 minutes later.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Munich about 14 hours after landing.

Incident: Lufthansa A321 at Munich on Jun 29th 2016, engine problem

Vueling A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 28th 2016, rejected takeoff due to bird strike

A Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-HGZ performing flight VY-8318 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to Barcelona,SP (Spain), was accelerating for takeoff from Amsterdam's runway 24 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed due to an engine (CFM56) ingesting a bird. The aircraft slowed safely and stopped on the runway while the crew was assessing the aircraft status. The crew subsequently reported that all indications were normal, they would vacate the runway and return to the apron.

The aircraft was unable to depart for the flight, a replacement Airbus A320-200 registration EC-LLM reached Barcelona with a delay of 4:15 hours.

The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground about 14 hours after the rejected takeoff.

Incident: Vueling A320 at Amsterdam on Jun 28th 2016, rejected takeoff due to bird strike

Swiss NEW Bombardier CS100 Routes from July 2016

Fly with the new C Series from/to Zurich to the following destinations (summer flight schedule 2016):

First flight on July 15, 2016
Zurich - Paris (flight number LX638)

From July 15, 2016
Budapest, Manchester, Paris, Prague

From end of August 2016
Brussels, Warsaw

From September 2016
Bucharest, Florence, Hannover, Milan, Nice, Stuttgart, Venice

From October 2016
Düsseldorf

Thanks to innovation in cabin design, passengers can look forward to a significant increase in travel comfort. Further, in terms of human auditory sensitivity the new aircraft generates only half the noise level of its predecessor.

Special features

The new aircraft type applies the latest advances in engine, systems and materials technology to set new standards in terms of profitability and environmental compatibility. Fuel consumption compared to the Avro fleet will be reduced by as much as one quarter.

Meridiana reaches deal with unions | ATWOnline

Italian carrier Meridiana has agreed a redundancy package with its trade unions, a prerequisite to Qatar Airways taking a stake in the struggling Sardinia-based company.

After days of negotiations that at one point saw Qatar Airways walk away from the table, Meridiana’s unions agreed a package of job reductions and cuts to salaries.

Meridiana has a workforce of 1,600. This will be reduced by 396, consisting of 325 cabin crew with the remainder split between ground staff and maintenance personnel. A further 250 staff have already taken a voluntary redundancy package.

There will also be pay reductions of around 20% for pilots and cabin crew as part of a new, three-year labor contract.

The company—which operates a mixed fleet of Boeing 737-300s, -700s and -800s, 767-200ERs and -300ERs, plus MD-82s— has not made a profitsince 2008 and has been kept afloat by cash infusions from its parent organization, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.

Qatar Airways, which has been tight-lipped during the latest round of negotiations, is understood to see Meridiana as a way of increasing its European presence. Italy is a significant market for the big Gulf carriers, with Etihad Airways holding a 49% stake in flag carrier Alitalia.

“The [Italian] government, Meridiana and the unions have signed a framework agreement in which the unions agreed a new labor contract,” a Meridiana spokeswoman said. “This is one of the pillars to go into the future with Qatar Airways and formed one of the conditions of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) [between the two airlines].”

Meridiana had previously warned that, if the unions did not agree to the deal with Qatar and the accompanying redundancies, a far greater number—more than 900—would have to be laid off to give it a chance of operating as a standalone airline.

There is as yet no precise indication of when the MOU between Meridiana and Qatar Airways will be converted into a firm agreement.

Meridiana reaches deal with unions | Labor content from ATWOnline

Abu Dhabi Airports announces rise in passenger traffic | Arabian Aerospace

Abu Dhabi Airports has announced that passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport has increased by 5.6% for May when compared to the previous year.

1,982,010 passengers travelled through the airport last month, exceeding May 2015’s amount of 1,877,440.

Many destinations noticed a rise in passenger traffic when compared to the previous year.

The number of passengers that had Abu Dhabi International Airport as their final destination increased by 4.6% to 355,457 travellers.

Aarrival and departure transfers increased by 7.5% and 7.7%, with the total number of transfer passengers increasing by 7.6% to 1,279,599.

The most popular routes were Bombay, Doha, London Heathrow, Manila and Jeddah respectively. 

Arabian Aerospace - Abu Dhabi Airports announces rise in passenger traffic

Thomson Airways adds maiden B787-9 - ch-aviation.com

Thomson Airways (BY, London Luton) has taken delivery of its first of four B787-9s on order from Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) following the arrival of G-TUIJ (msn 44578) at Manchester Int'l on Tuesday, June 28. The remaining three are expected to be delivered by June 2019.

The UK leisure operator plans to use the twinjet for shorthaul flights from Manchester Int'l to Malaga on July 1 initially before deploying it onto longhaul flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica (again from Manchester) on July 15.

Thomson Airways adds maiden B787-9 - ch-aviation.com

American Airlines to serve Cuba from Charlotte starting this fall – Aviation Gazette

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Starting this fall, travelers will be able to catch a flight to Cuba originating out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Beginning Sept. 7, American Airlines will begin service from Charlotte to Miami and then to five Cuban cities — Cienfuegos, Camagüey, Holguín, Varadero and Santa Clara.
The airline is still waiting for U.S. Department of Transportation to grant slots to Havana.
Anyone headed from Charlotte to Cuba must make a connecting flight through Miami.
For many people here, this move makes them feel closer to home.
Cuban native Walber Diaz’s was joyful about having commercial flights from Charlotte where he now lives to Cuba.
“It will be easier,” Diaz said. “You have options.”
He came to Charlotte after the U.S. normalized relations with Cuba.
Commercial flights are back open for the first time since the two nations took two different political paths more than 50 years ago.
“It’s going to be good for his family,” Diaz’s translator said. “He is saying he has a lot of family here Cubans.”
They normally have to drive to Miami to catch a flight.
To promote the new service to Cuba, American has launched a fare sale with tickets out of Charlotte starting at $298. The sale applies to flights from Sept. 7 to Nov. 15. The sale ends July 11.
All flights under this fare sale will require a minimum of three nights or a Sunday, whichever is fulfilled first, and are subject to availability.
Passengers need a visa to travel to Cuba from the United States and can obtain one by falling under one of the 12 categories mandated by the U.S. government.
“This is a great opportunity for you to get down to visit your family,” Katie Cody, with American Airlines, said.
American Airlines has petitioned to get the one thing Diaz wants most: a daily direct flight to Cuba from Charlotte.
American Airlines believes Charlotte has a good chance of getting approval from the federal government this summer.
“This is a fantastic airport,” Cody said. “We have great air service here. It’s the second-largest hub for American Airlines.”

American Airlines to serve Cuba from Charlotte starting this fall – Aviation Gazette

Air Serbia's New Route to New York Reveals Minority Owner Etihad's Major Ambitions – Skift

As Etihad Airways seriously considered buying a stake in Serbia’s national airline about three years ago, the carrier was in rough shape.

Then called JAT Airways, it was controlled by the government, burdened by a small, older fleet incapable of flying longer routes and crippled by debts. But where others saw a bloated national airline, Etihad saw opportunity. It took a 49 percent stake.

As is Etihad’s usual approach, it drove a hard bargain. Despite not having a majority interest, it would need to actively manage the airline for five years. It would also fire many employees, and close the carrier’s home office. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad also refused to be responsible for JAT’s debts.

“When an airline is broken and it’s on the edge of vanishing forever, you have to be very hard nosed on how you intend to turn it around,” James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, said to Skift. “We weren’t part of the past. Why should we assume the debts going forward?

That airline now has a new name, an upgraded fleet and a fresh culture. It’s Air Serbia, and on June 23, it launched the first trans-Atlantic service from a Serbian airline since 1992, flying five times per week between Belgrade and New York.

In the short-term, Air Serbia will focus mainly on nonstop passengers. But over time, it expects it will carry more passengers from the United States to markets across the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

“The Balkans is a huge market and all the carriers in the Balkans are broken,” Hogan said.

Typical Etihad Strategy

This is business as usual for Etihad, which has made investing in troubled, smaller airlines a major part of its strategy. Elsewhere in Europe, Etihad owns pieces of Air Berlin and Alitalia, two carriers that have long struggled against larger competitors. Though Etihad has helped improve operations at both airlines, neither Air Berlin nor Alitalia is yet reliably profitable.

As with other carriers in its group, Etihad has called on Air Serbia management to change how it operates. Already, the airline has little in common with its predecessor.

“We are not bound by legacy thinking,” Hogan said. “In the past, it wasn’t a public utility, but it was treated like a government department.”

Relying on Etihad helped Air Serbia return to New York faster than normally would be possible. Air Serbia had no widebody jets, so it is leasing an A330 from Jet Airways, another airline in which Etihad owns a stake.

The pilots for the new international service were trained in Italy with Alitalia, while flight attendants were sent to Etihad’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

“Air Serbia in their own right wouldn’t be able to mount a long haul service,” Hogan said.

Air Serbia is also relying on Etihad as it renews its fleet, replacing older Boeing 737s with newer Airbus A319s and A320s. The smaller airline gets help from Etihad on many of its other contracts, too.

“One of the challenges of most airlines is that they duplicate the overhead,” Hogan said. “All of our contracts are cross-linked. “We work as one on cost and on purchases and sourcing. It makes us efficient.”

As it has with other airlines, including Alitalia, making it much hipper. As part of its trans-Atlantic flight launch, Air Serbia even bought a video advertisement in New York’s Time Square, an unusually bold approach for an airline with only one-long haul aircraft.

Etihad also has tried to install a new service ethos at Air Serbia.

“With some of the airlines, when they struggle, the shareholders were unable to invest in product or brand or service training,” Hogan said. “It’s like any business. You need to train and develop.”

But the goal is not to make Air Serbia an Etihad clone, Hogan said.

“We want all the businesses to maintain their own personality,” he said.

Limits of Ownership Laws

Etihad owns pieces of six larger airlines, and when possible, it tries to share resources. What makes the strategy unique is that Etihad does not have a majority interest in any other airline.

In addition to Air Serbia, Etihad owns 49 percent of Alitalia, 40 percent of Air Seychelles, 29 percent of Air Berlin, 24 percent of India’s Jet Airways and about 24 percent of Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia is more autonomous than the others, but most of the airlines rely on Etihad for considerable support, sharing aircraft, and suppliers.

Ideally, Etihad might own more of its partner carriers. But worldwide, airlines have some of the strictest ownership rules of any industry. It is generally impossible for an airline to buy a controlling interest in a carrier in another country, so Etihad often goes as far as laws allow.

“It’s one of the few sectors in the world that isn’t truly global,” Hogan said. “It is very difficult but I think the model that we have shows that, with the right agreements, you can win. You won’t have to have ownership over 51 percent.”

As for future investments, Hogan said none are imminent. But he noted that India has recently changed its foreign ownership rules, which could permit Etihad to take a bigger stake in Jet Airways. “We are reviewing the change in aviation policy,” he said.

Air Serbia's New Route to New York Reveals Minority Owner Etihad's Major Ambitions – Skift

London Stansted airport runway closure | AIRLIVE.net

London Stansted airport was closed and all inbound flights were diverting due to emergency work on runway.

• UPDATE 2111UTC Operations resuming at London Stansted airport. Ryanair #FR2815 from Cologne is landing.
• UPDATE 2106UTC Operations resuming at London Stansted airport. Ryanair FR905 to Cork just took off.
• UPDATE 2052UTC Operations expected to resume in one hour or so at Stansted airport after resurfacing work.
• UPDATE 2041UTC Resurfacing in progress at Stansted airport due to holes in runway.
• UPDATE 2016UTC Flights to London Stansted are diverting to London Luton or Birmingham.

*Earlier today, part of the airport was evacuated after safety alarm triggered.

BREAKING London Stansted airport runway closure | AIRLIVE.net

SriLankan Ends Paris / Frankfurt Service in W16 :: Routesonline

SriLankan Airlines in winter 2016/17 season is cancelling 2 European routes, including Frankfurt and Paris CDG. The airline currently operates 5 weekly Colombo – Frankfurtand 4 weekly Colombo – Paris CDG flights. Existing schedule as follow.

Colombo – Frankfurt Last flight on 29OCT16
UL553 CMB0005 – 0705FRA 333 1
UL553 CMB0025 – 0730FRA 333 357
UL557 CMB1215 – 1920FRA 333 6

UL554 FRA1520 – 0450+1CMB 333 x246
UL558 FRA2050 – 1020+1CMB 333 6

Colombo – Paris CDG Last flight on 06NOV16
UL563 CMB0130 – 0900CDG 333 x124
UL564 CDG1500 – 0450+1CMB 333 x124

SriLankan Ends Paris / Frankfurt Service in W16 :: Routesonline

Korean Air Schedules one-time 747-8I Los Angeles Service in July 2016 :: Routesonline

Korean Air in July 2016 plans to operate Boeing 747-8I aircraft on Seoul Incheon – Los Angeles route, on one-time basis only. The 747-8I is scheduled to operate KE011/012, instead of A380, on 13JUL16.

KE011 ICN2000 – 1540LAX 74H 
KE012 LAX2330 – 0415+2ICN 74H

Korean Air Schedules one-time 747-8I Los Angeles Service in July 2016 :: Routesonline

Kuwait Airways Schedules one-time 747 London Service in July 2016 :: Routesonline

Kuwait Airways in recent schedule update has scheduled a Boeing 747 operation onKuwait – London Heathrow route, on one-time basis. The 747 is scheduled to depart Kuwait on 11JUL16, London Heathrow on 12JUL16, replacing A330-200.

KU103 KWI1210 – 1700LHR 747
KU104 LHR1030 – 1900KWI 747

Kuwait Airways Schedules one-time 747 London Service in July 2016 :: Routesonline

Air New Zealand Switches Osaka to 787 Service in NW16 :: Routesonline

Air New Zealand in today’s schedule update has adjusted planned operational aircraft for Auckland – Osaka Kansai route, when it resumes operation on 04NOV16. Operating as seasonal routes, this 3 weekly flights will now be operated by Boeing 787-9, instead of previously planned 767-300ER. Operational schedule as follow.

NZ097 AKL1030 – 1725KIX 789 357
NZ098 KIX2100 – 1135+1AKL 789 357

Air New Zealand Switches Osaka to 787 Service in NW16 :: Routesonline

EVA Air W16 Istanbul Frequency Changes :: Routesonline

EVA Air in today’s schedule update has adjusted planned winter 2016/17 operations for Taipei Taoyuan – Istanbul Ataturk route, with frequency adjustment. From 30OCT16 to 25MAR17, the Star Alliance member will operate 3 weekly flights, instead of 4. This route is operated by 777-300ER aircraft.

BR079 TPE0020 – 0710IST 77W 146
BR080 IST1235 – 0505+1TPE 77W 146

EVA Air W16 Istanbul Frequency Changes :: Routesonline

Wow Air Adds Newark Service from late-Nov 2016 :: Routesonline

Wow Air in winter 2016/17 season is launching service to New York area, as the airline opens reservation for Reykjavik Keflavik – Newark route. From 25NOV16, Airbus A321 aircraft will operate this route on daily basis.

WW103 KEF1515 – 1625EWR 321 D
WW104 EWR1735 – 0440+1KEF 321 D

Wow Air Adds Newark Service from late-Nov 2016 :: Routesonline