17 Sep 2018

USA Aviation Industry Newsletter 17 September

Air France launches new Paris CDG - Dallas-Fort Worth Route Air France will fly from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Dallas-Fort Worth its thirteenth US destination operated by an Airbus A330 with a capacity of 224 seats and equipped with the latest long-haul travel cabins, with 36 seats in the Business cabin, 21 seats in the Premium Economy cabin and 167 seats in the Economy cabin. Throughout the summer 2019 season, up to 5 weekly flights will connect the two cities commencing 31 March. Alaska Airlines promotes Shane Tackett to executive vice president, planning and strategy Alaska Airlines announced 11 September the promotion of Shane Tackett to executive vice president of planning and strategy. Tackett will lead the newly created division within the airline as it moves to the next phase of its strategy of refining and optimizing the market and financial performance of its expanded route network following Alaska's 2016 acquisition of Virgin America. Boeing, Air Peace Announce Order for 10 737 MAX Airplanes Boeing and Air Peace of Nigeria on 13 September announced a new order for ten 737 MAX 8 airplanes during a signing ceremony in Lagos. The airline, which recently added Boeing 777s to its fleet, is looking to soon launch its international flight operations. "We are excited to add the 737 MAX to our fleet as we expand our network to offer more destinations and serve more passengers," said Allen Onyema, Chairman and CEO, Air Peace Limited. "The fuel efficiency and superior operating economics of the 737 MAX will ensure that the aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come." Hawaiian Airlines to fly nonstop to Boston Logan International Airport starting in April Hawaiian Airlines will begin a new five-day-a-week service on 4 April 2019 between Boston Logan International and Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International airports using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Boston is the largest U.S. market without nonstop service to Hawai'i with nearly 500 people flying between eastern New England and the islands on any given day, last year generated about $76 million in ticket sales. Introducing Delta’s first A220 Delta’s first Airbus A220-100 saw the light of day this week after rolling out of the paint shop at the A220 assembly line in Mirabel, Quebec. The painting process took nine days, 200 rolls of masking tape and 165 gallons of paint to complete. Larry Cato, a program manager on Delta’s Fleet Management team, was onsite for the occasion. “There’s nothing like seeing years of planning come together in the shape of a freshly painted aircraft,” Cato said. “It’s a major milestone for the future of our fleet.” Delta’s first A220 is scheduled to begin service in early 2019. Mesa Air Group Announces Exercise of Underwriters’ Overallotment Option Mesa Air Group Inc announced 12 September that the underwriters of its previously announced initial public offering of 9,630,000 common shares of the Company, which closed on August 14, 2018, have partially exercised their overallotment option to purchase an additional 1,344,500 common shares at a price of $12.00 per share. The exercise of the underwriters’ option closed on September 11, 2018, with 723,985 of the common shares purchased directly from the Company and the remaining 620,515 common shares purchased directly from the selling shareholders. The Company has now sold a total of 10,353,985 common shares in connection with the offering, raising gross proceeds of approximately $124,247,820. Primera Air announces transatlantic flights from Madrid Primera Air announced 12 September the launch of transatlantic flights from Madrid to New York (EWR), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Flights will be operated by Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Primera Air has placed an order for 20 aircraft to serve these new routes. Currently Primera Air’s transatlantic fleet consists of 5 brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft. Spirit Airlines’ International Expansion Continues with 5th Colombian Destination Spirit Airlines announced the launch of a new route between Fort Lauderdale and Cali, Columba commencing 20 December. The city of Cali and the Valle de Cauca Department region serves as home to more than three million people, and will mark Spirit’s 68th service station in its growing network. Cali joins the other vibrant Colombian cities of Cartagena, Bogotá, Medellín, and Armenia currently served by the airline. Cali will be Spirit’s 17th destination in Latin America and 28th destination outside the continental United States. Turkmenistan to order three B737 MAX 7s from Boeing Turkmenistan government approved an order of three B737 MAX 7s from Boeing for its civil aviation needs, according to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. One of the aircraft will be used for VVIP use. The new aircraft will be purchased with a view to modernizing the fleet, likely including that of Turkmenistan Airlines. Acumen Aviation © 17 September 2018 All Rights Reserved.