Thai revises Bangkok-Melbourne route

Thai Airways International (THAI) has further delayed planned Airbus A350-900XWB debut on Bangkok – Melbourne route, currently scheduled to enter service on 01OCT16. Latest update sees A350 operates on TG465/466 service from 01OCT16, while TG461/462 service will continue to be operated by Boeing 777-200ER/-300/-300ER until 28OCT16 inclusive.

TG465 BKK0015 – 1305MEL 359 D
TG461 BKK0810 – 2100MEL EQV D

TG462 MEL0030 – 0600BKK EQV D
TG466 MEL1615 – 2145BKK 359 D

Routesonline

Virgin Australia resumes Melbourne-Los Angeles route from 04Apr17

Virgin Australia has announced that it will resume longhaul operations out of Melbourne Tullamarine during the second quarter of next year.

Effective April 4, 2017, the carrier will operate a 5x weekly Melbourne-Los Angeles Int'l, United States service using B777-300(ER) equipment.

The route, a codeshare with transpacific partner Delta Air Lines, will complement Virgin Australia's other Los Angeles flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Brisbane Int'l.

However, Virgin has noted that in order to resume the Melbourne-Los Angeles route, it will have to cease its current 3x weekly Sydney-Abu Dhabi Int'l, United Arab Emirates (UAE) service from February 4, 2017. In addition, it will also have to reduce Brisbane-Los Angeles flights from the current 7x weekly frequency, to 6x weekly from April 7, 2017.

In addition, Virgin Australia will launch its first long haul service from Perth Int'l, from where it will operate a three times weekly A330-200 service to Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi Int'l)'s hub in Abu Dhabi sarting June 9, 2017, subject to government approvals.

ch-aviation.com

Austrian begins flights to Los Angeles from 10Apr17

Austrian Airlines will add a new long-haul destination in North America to its flight schedule in the summer of 2017.

Starting on April 10, 2017, a Boeing 777 will take off for Vienna bound for Los Angeles, the largest city in California, up to six times each week.

“After Chicago, Newark and Miami, L.A. is now the fourth new flight destination and the so far biggest leap into the USA. We will fly to the West Coast with our existing fleet and are already very excited about this new venture”, says Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto.

In an initial step, the Vienna-Los Angeles route will be served seasonally in the summer 2017 flight schedule. The metropolis of Los Angeles with its millions of inhabitants is not only interesting for point-to-point but especially for transfer traffic. About two-thirds of the passengers will transfer flights at the Vienna flight hub.

In its summer 2017 flight schedule, Austrian Airlines will offer a total of up to 44 weekly non-stop flights to North America. This will encompass up to five times per week to Miami, a maximum of six weekly flights each to Los Angeles and Toronto, and up to one flight each day to Washington and Chicago. Austrian Airlines will continue to offer thirteen weekly flights to New York. However, flight times to New York JFK will be adjusted as of March 27, 2017. Of the six weekly flights to New York, four of the departures will be shifted from the morning to the afternoon. Flight schedule changes such as these will enable Austrian Airlines to free sufficient capacity in its existing aircraft fleet to offer flight service to Los Angeles and thus add another long-haul destination. Thanks to the new flight times, customers will have the advantage of being able to choose between a morning flight to Newark and an afternoon flight to New York JFK, and thus the opportunity to travel to New York at different times of day.

Aviation Tribune

The wing flap found in Tanzania came from MH370

A large piece of metal debris found off the coast of Tanzania has been confirmed as a part of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) made the announcement this evening, after examining the outboard flap at its facilities in Canberra.

In its findings, the ATSB said “a date stamp associated with one of the part numbers indicated manufacture on 23 January 2002, which was consistent with the 31 May 2002 delivery day for 9M-MRO.”

"Further examination of the debris will continue in hopes that evidence may be uncovered which may provide new insight into the circumstances surrounding flight MH370."

So far the confirmation does not appear to have offered any clues as to how the Malaysia Airlines aircraftwent down en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.

MH370 is believed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean on March 8, 2014, but an extensive deep-sea hunt off the coast of Western Australia is drawing to a close with nothing yet found.

The Australian-led operation to find MH370 is scouring the seafloor within a remote 120,000-square-kilometre belt of the Indian Ocean where authorities believe the passenger jet went down.

But as the search draws to a close victims' families fear it could be called off.

While the Australian-led search has been so far unsuccessful, several pieces of debris that apparently drifted thousands of kilometres towards Africa have been identified as definitely or probably from MH370.

Those finds have confirmed that the plane crashed in the ocean but have so far shed no light on why, which has lead to questions over whether the official search is focused in the right area.

An American amateur investigator, Blaine Gibson, handed other possible MH370 debris to Australian officials earlier this week, saying several pieces were blackened by flames, raising the prospect of a flash fire on board.

Mr Gibson, a lawyer, who has travelled the world trying to solve the MH370 mystery, told reporters the debris had washed up in Madagascar.

9news

To πτερύγιο που βρέθηκε στην Τανζανία ανήκει στο 777 των Μαλαισιανών Αερογραμμών

Το τμήμα πτερυγίου που εντοπίστηκε σε νησί κοντά στην Τανζανία φέτος τον Ιούνιο επιβεβαιώθηκε ότι προέρχεται από το Boeing 777 που εκτελούσε την πτήση MH370 της Malaysia Airlines, ανέφερε σε σημερινή ανακοίνωση ο υπουργός Μεταφορών της Μαλαισίας Λιόου Τιονγκ. Το πόρισμα αυτό βασίστηκε στην εξέταση του ευρήματος από εμπειρογνώμονες της αυστραλιανής Υπηρεσίας Ασφάλειας των Μεταφορών και της ερευνητικής ομάδας για την πτήση MH370, σύμφωνα με τον υπουργό. Ο Λιόου είπε ότι θα συνεχιστεί η περαιτέρω εξέταση του ευρήματος προκειμένου να εντοπιστούν νέα στοιχεία που ίσως ρίξουν φως στις συνθήκες εξαφάνισης της πτήσης MH370 το 2014.

Οι ερευνητές έχουν ήδη επιβεβαιώσει ότι τα συντρίμμια που εντοπίστηκαν στο γαλλικό νησί Ρεϊνιόν, στον Ινδικό Ωκεανό, τον Ιούλιο του 2015, προέρχονταν από το συγκεκριμένο Boeing 777 που εκτελούσε την πτήση MH370. Οι κυβερνήσεις της Μαλαισίας, της Αυστραλίας και της Κίνας ανακοίνωσαν τον Ιούλιο ότι οι έρευνες για την πτήση MH370 θα ανασταλούν μόλις ολοκληρωθεί η επιχείρηση στην περιοχή των ερευνών αλλά υποσχέθηκαν ότι θα εκκινήσουν και πάλι εάν προκύψουν νέα στοιχεία.

LiFO

B777 Non Type Rated First Officers Etihad in Abu Dhabi

Etihad is currently looking for B777 Non Type Rated First Officers to be based in Abu Dhabi.

Minimum requirements:

• A minimum of 2500 hours total flying time.
• ICAO current and unrestricted ATPL. We do not accept Frozen ATPL unless held by a UAE citizen
• A minimum of 1500 hours on multi crew glass cockpit (1) JET aircraft or high performance military Jet. Preference will be given to those on B737NG/EFIS, B757/767 or B744
• Endorsed, unrestricted and current ICAO ATPL with either the B737NG/EFIS, B757/767 or B744
• Unrestricted, current Class 1 medical.
• Maximum age limit is 50 years old.
• English Language Fluency ( written and verbal ) Level 4 or above.
• In case of hours accumulated on flights with inflight relief, 75% of the total hours shall be counted towards the required minimums.

If you are interested in this job APPLY HERE

PIA may switch five 777s order for eight 787s

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is in negotiations with Boeing to switch out five Boeing 777s from a 2012 order for eight 787-8s, PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand confirmed to ATW.

“The 777s offer a bit too much capacity for our needs,” he said, adding negotiations are ongoing. “But Boeing has to confirm to us if the 787s are able to operate nonstop from Pakistan to Toronto.”

PIA’s 777-200LRs currently operate more than 14 hours on nonstop flights from Karachi and Lahore to Toronto.

Hildenbrand also told ATW the Pakistan flag carrier is phasing out its last Airbus A310s. “We are looking for additional A319s and A321s to streamline load factors, but the market for these aircraft is quite empty,” he said.

PIA’s domestic market share has increased from 40% to 56%. “There are 200 million people living in Pakistan—a huge potential. The operations of two other Pakistani carriers are not as sustainable compared to ours.”

In addition, PIA has to grow quickly to a certain size, so-called critical mass, to have a better position in the industry. “The plan is to operate about 60 aircraft in 2020; 100 aircraft by 2025,” he said. The airline currently operates 38 aircraft.

PIA, which recently launched premier service to London, has received “outstanding positive feedback from our passengers,” Hildebrand said. “Our image is improving constantly.”

On Aug. 14, PIA signed a wet-lease agreement with SriLankan Airlines for one A330, used primarily on a 6X-weekly premier service to London Heathrow. Later, the wet lease will be switched to a dry lease.

From October, a second A330 will join the fleet. “This will be a dry-lease arrangement, [which will enable us to] increase the number of flights to London to 10X-weekly, [and possibly add] services to Paris,” he told ATW.

PIA is considering using a third A330 to operate a 3X-weekly service to New York-JFK via Leipzig/Halle airport, Germany, instead of the current Manchester, UK.

“Manchester is a very expensive airport. Leipzig would give us the possibility of a much-needed comeback in Germany,” he said. The new route could be launched from Jan. 1, 2017, contingent on approval. PIA is considering hiring flight attendants in Germany.

Hildenbrand said airlines from Pakistan are not allowed to operate nonstop services to the US. US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented security measures at certain overseas airports, focusing especially on the safety of Pakistan’s airports.

“That means we have to land in another country on the way to the US, and do all safety and security checks again—for passengers and cargo.”

PIA is also considering services to Barcelona, Bangkok, and upgrading its network to Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

ATWOnline

Alitalia starts flights to Havana, Cuba from 29NOV16

Alitalia in winter 2016/17 season is introducing service to Cuba, as the airline offers Rome – Havana service from 29NOV16. This route will be served twice a week on board Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

AZ632 FCO0905 – 1500HAV 772 2
AZ632 FCO1035 – 1630HAV 772 6

AZ633 HAV1700 – 0900+1FCO 772 2
AZ633 HAV1830 – 1030+1FCO 772 6

Reservation for this route opened yesterday (12SEP16).

Routesonline

Garuda Indonesia plans to fly to U.S. via Japan

Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to re-operate its flight service to the United States (US) from next year.

This plan follows the announcement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month that Indonesia complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been granted a Category 1 rating. With the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, Garuda Indonesia is now able to establish service to the US.

Vice President of Corporate Communications Garuda Indonesia, Benny S. Butarbutar, stated that the re-operation of the US flight service is a strategic response upon the FAA announcement, and indeed was one of the airline strategic plans.

“Our plan to re-operate the US flight service is expected to strengthen Garuda’s position as one of global aviation player. With the upgraded rating from FAA which recognizes the Indonesia aviation safety and security standard, we are trying to make plan realization even sooner,” Benny said.

Benny added, that in regard to plan, Garuda Indonesia has now already started to work on preparation, including feasibility study upon the market potency, profitable route, high-utilized aircraft, as well as transit permit from Japan aviation authority.

“Due to the initial preparation, we are planning to operate our wide body Boeing 777-300ER to serve the US flight. With some consideration especially on commercial aspect, the flight will transit at Tokyo Narita prior flying to the US from Jakarta. Up until now, Japan still grants the ‘Fifth Freedom Right’ to Indonesian carriers, which allows Garuda Indonesia to fill up the seats – and further increase the passenger load factor – for our flights to the US,” he explained.

The Indonesia potential market to the US is quite remarkable, reaching up to 400,000 passengers every year. Capturing the potential, Garuda Indonesia targeting its US flight to Los Angeles or New York, as two cities with highest potential market.

In 2014, Garuda Indonesia announced its codeshare partnership with Delta Airlines – as the same member of SkyTeam alliance – for flight service to Los Angeles and Seattle via Tokyo Haneda.

“We are trying our best to realize the plan earlier, as well as ensuring that all preparations running comply with all procedures and regulations,” Benny concluded.

Aviation Tribune

New International routes from American Airlines

American Airlines in today’s schedule update (11SEP16) opened reservation for planned new International routes, which was announced by the airline on Thursday (08SEP16). Planned new routes, as well as cancelled service as follow.

Chicago O’Hare – Barcelona eff 05MAY17 NEW 1 daily 787-8 service
AA040 ORD1715 – 0915+1BCN 788 D
AA041 BCN1145 – 1445ORD 788 D

Dallas/Ft. Worth – Amsterdam eff 05MAY17 NEW 1 daily 767-300ER service
AA220 DFW1530 – 0825+1AMS 763 D
AA221 AMS1025 – 1435DFW 763 D

Dallas/Ft. Worth – Rome eff 05MAY17 NEW 1 daily 777-200ER service
AA238 DFW1505 – 0920+1FCO 777 D
AA239 FCO1120 – 1700DFW 777 D

Cancelled Routes:
Chicago O’Hare – Dusseldorf Seasonal service will not be resumed in summer 2017, previously scheduled daily from 11MAY17 with Boeing 767
New York JFK – Birmingham Service to be cancelled from 06JAN17 (JFK departure), currently served by Boeing 757
Philadelphia – Brussels Seasonal service will not be resumed in summer 2017, previously scheduled daily from 05MAY17 with Boeing 757
Philadelphia – Zurich Seasonal service will not be resumed in summer 2017, previously scheduled daily from 04MAY17 with Boeing 767

Routesonline

Delta resumes Atlanta–Seoul service from 03JUN17

Delta during the weekend’s schedule update has filed operational schedule for Atlanta – Seoul Incheon service resumption, announced by the airline earlier this week. It plans to operate this route from 03JUN17 with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, on daily basis. The airline last operated this route in August 2009, with 4 weekly flights.

Reservation for this route will be available soon.

DL089 ATL1305 – 1645+1ICN 77L D
DL088 ICN1830 – 1940ATL 77L D

Routesonline

Emirates EK432 B773 diverted to Adelaide, engine leak

An Emirates Boeing 777-300, registration A6-EGA performing flight EK-432 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Brisbane,QL (Australia) with 328 people on board, was enroute at FL350 about 370nm northnorthwest of Adelaide,SA (Australia) when the crew decided to divert to Adelaide reporting a possible leak at the left hand engine (GE90). The aircraft landed safely on Adelaide's runway 05 about one hour later, vacated the runway and stopped on the adjacent taxiway for an inspection for any leaks by emergency services.

The aircraft subsequently taxied to the apron.

Passengers reported the crew announced a technical problem required them to divert to Adelaide. After landing the aircraft was surrounded by firemen, a couple of firefighters with torches were checking the left hand engine with other firemen aiming with a hose at the engine. After arrival at the apron maintenance attempted to fix the engine for a number of hours, then the captain announced the engine could not be fixed, due to a large conference in the city no hotel accomodation was available and the passengers would need to spend the night at the airport or on the aircraft while being rebooked onto other (domestic) flights.

The Aviation Herald

Business Class on Virgin Australia's B773 and A330

Virgin Australia’s award-winning¹ Business Class experience, ‘The Business’, is now flying on the airline’s entire wide-body fleet of Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Guests departing for Sydney out of Abu Dhabi on VA30 will experience ‘The Business’, a new Business Class Bar and an upgraded Premium cabin for the first time. In conjunction with alliance partner Etihad Airways, Virgin Australia flies three times per week from Sydney to Abu Dhabi with three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Domestically, Virgin Australia operates the world’s longest and widest Business Class fully lie-flat bed on its fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft which fly between the East Coast of Australia and Perth, between Sydney and Melbourne during peak travel periods, and internationally to Fiji from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. ‘The Business’ has been available on Virgin Australia’s five A330 aircraft since August 2015, and the final Boeing 777 aircraft to be refitted has reentered service.

Business Class guests travelling on Virgin Australia’s wide-body aircraft will have a consistent superior customer experience, with a reverse herringbone cabin layout that maximises privacy and enables 100 per cent direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration.

All guests of ‘The Business’ dine on Luke Mangan-designed menus paired with premium wines delivered in a fine dining experience through a la carte or Express Dining options to suit each guest’s preference.

Key features of ‘The Business’ on Virgin Australia’s Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-300ER fleet:

• Individual and private suites in a 1-2-1 configuration that convert into the length of a queen size bed at 80 inches;
• The latest in in-flight comfort, with a customised triple-layer seat cushion supported by a hammock sub-frame and a turndown service with memory foam mattress toppers and high-grade cotton pillows and doonas;
• A restaurant-style, hand-delivered fine dining experience enabling guests to dine when they want, with new Luke Mangan-designed menus and premium Australian wines;
• A world-first collaboration with Nespresso which aims to deliver the finest coffee in the sky; and
• A great entertainment experience, with the largest in-flight entertainment screen (18-inch High Definition touch screen) flying between Australia and North America on the 777 aircraft, and a large 16-inch High Definition touch screen on the A330 aircraft.

Guests travelling to Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles can enjoy the new Business Class Bar and Lounge on board our 777 aircraft, which accommodates 10 guests and is serviced by a cabin crew member throughout the flight. There are 37 suites on board Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and 20 on the Airbus A330.

Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft now also feature a refreshed and intimate Premium cabin of 24 seats with the longest seat pitch of any Australian airline at 41 inches, a roomy 19.5 inch seat width and nine inches of recline.

¹ ‘The Business’ was awarded a 2016 Good Design Award and 2016 Red Dot Award and was a finalist in the Cabin Concepts category at the Crystal Cabin Awards 2016. 

TravelDailyNews

Virgin Australia has resumed Abu Dhabi flights

Virgin Australia has resumed its 3x weekly Sydney Kingsford Smith to Abu Dhabi Int'l, United Arab Emirates, route following the return of its fifth B777-300(ER), VH-VOZ (msn 35302), to active service on August 31.

According to Australian Aviation, Virgin has now completed the refurbishment of its entire B777 fleet's Business Class cabins.

The flight to the UAE, Virgin Australia's sole Middle Eastern service, was suspended in February this year on account of the B777 fleet's partial absence.

ch-aviation.com

Delta opened Minneapolis–Tokyo reservation - Flights will begin 29OCT16

Delta on Thursday (01SEP16) opened reservation for planned new Minneapolis/St. Paul – Tokyo Haneda service, scheduled to commence on 29OCT16 (HND on 30OCT16). This flight will operate during the daytime hours at Haneda, with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

Operational schedule is effective from 06NOV16 to 10MAR17.

DL111 MSP1131 – 1520+1HND 777 D
DL103 HND1735 – 1332MSP 777 D

At time this post goes to press, the airline is still accepting reservations for Minneapolis – Tokyo Narita route.

Routesonline

Nigeria fuel crisis forced Emirates to add Ghana for a technical stop

Emirates has added an additional sector to its Dubai Int'l-Abuja, Nigeria-Dubai Int'l route amid an ongoing jetfuel shortage in Nigeria.

The carrier said in a statement that since August 18 and until September 7, the return sector to Dubai has incorporated a technical stop in Accra, Ghana to allow the operating B777-200(ER) to take on additional fuel.

Airlines serving Nigeria have been facing difficulties obtaining aviation fuel owing to a shortage of US dollars on the official market. Despite being Africa's largest exporter of petroleum products, Nigeria has to import refined Jet A1 from neighbouring countries owing to the dilapidated state of its own infrastructure.

ch-aviation.com

Etihad EY423 B773 returned to Manila, smoke in cabin

An Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300, registration A6-ETF performing flight EY-423 from Manila (Philippines) to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), was climbing out of Manila when the crew stopped the climb at FL260 reporting smoke in the cabin, requested vectors back to Manila and emergency services on standby. The aircraft dumped fuel on the way back and landed safely back on Manila's runway 24 about one hour after departure. Following landing the crew advised they could taxi to the apron, emergency services followed the aircraft to the stand.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for about 3:10 hours, then departed again and reached Abu Dhabi with a delay of 4.5 hours.

The Aviation Herald

India's DGCA has given the green light to Air India to begin flights over the Pacific Ocean

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given the greenlight to Indian carriers to begin transpacific flights provided they meet all regulatory and operational requirements.

Air India  has hailed the move which, it says, will help it improve flying times on its Delhi Int'l-San Francisco, CA route.

Quoting members of the airline's pilots corps, India's Deccan Chronicle said transiting the Pacific, while further than flying over the Arctic as it presently does, will actually result in a shorter flight given the presence of strong Jet Stream tailwinds.

"Reducing the flying time to SFO from an hour in summer to three hours in winter (due to high tailwinds then) will mean huge fuel saving. So it will be a win-win for fliers and the airline as passengers will reach San Francisco faster while the airline will burn less fuel," a senior pilot told the paper.

Air India currently serves San Francisco 3x weekly using its B777-200(LR)s.

ch-aviation.com

United adds Boeing 777 service to San Juan in Winter 2016/17

United in winter 2016/17 season is adding Boeing 777-200ER operations to Puerto Rico, scheduled on Newark – San Juan route. Initially the 777 operates once a week in November and December, and gradually increasing to up to daily service for peak travel season. Planned operation as follow.

UA1523/1173 (From 02MAR17 to 24MAR17, Day x67 operates as UA1994 from SJU)

05NOV16 – 10DEC16 Day 6
16DEC16 – 09JAN17 Day x2
10JAN17 – 27JAN17 Day x67
28JAN17 – 11MAR17 Daily
12MAR17 – 26MAR17 Day x2

Routesonline

KLM starts flights again to Tehran from 30OCT16

KLM says it will resume service to Tehran from October 30. Tehran will be the 14th new destination the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands has added to its network in 2016, Bahrain-based online business news and information portal Trade Arabia reported.

Four weekly services will be operated between Schiphol and Tehran, supplementing the Paris-Tehran service operated by Air France since April 16, 2016.

“KLM has further strengthened its network with a new destination – the 14th to be added this year. This confirms that our strategy is starting to bear fruit. On the one hand we are improving our efficiency and productivity, while on the other we are investing in growth,” said Pieter Elbers, KLM president and CEO.

The flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-200. KLM will meet passenger needs by offering three different travel classes on board: 34 seats in World Business Class, 40 seats in Economy Comfort, and 242 seats in Economy Class.

In the past, KLM operated service to Tehran from July 1991 through April 2013.

Including the new flights to Tehran, KLM now offers 37 flights to nine destinations in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa recently announced plans to launch 3X-weekly Vienna-Isfahan services from September 4 as part of a new bilateral air transport agreement between Austria and Iran. In March Austrian expanded its Iran operations with the launch of a second daily Vienna-Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport service.

Lufthansa itself resumed flying non-stop from Munich to Tehran. Starting on July 4, the connection under flight number LH 602 began three times a week.

Financial Tribune