Stories

Air Serbia Expands Route Network to Tel Aviv and Ankara, Receives New A320

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

Air Serbia Airbus A320
An Air Serbia Airbus A320. (Photo: Air Serbia)

Air Serbia launched two new routes from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to the Middle East. The airline landed in Tel Aviv (Israel) and Ankara (Turkey) in early April.

The Belgrade-Tel Aviv route was inaugurated on April 6. Flight JU812, which departed at 1:30 PM local time, was the first service on a route that will operate three times a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. A fourth flight will be added on Mondays starting on May 8. The Airbus A319 aircraft is scheduled for this route.

“Tel Aviv is one of the most modern centers in the Middle East. By adding this cosmopolitan city to our destination network, we have opened the doors of Israel to all who wish to visit it. Just 50 kilometers away is Jerusalem, a city whose history dates back to the fourth millennium BC, making it one of the oldest in the world. The average flight time to Tel Aviv is two hours and fifty minutes and will be operated by Airbus A319 aircraft,”said Bojan Aranđelović, Air Serbia’s Head of Network Planning and Scheduling.

The service to Ankara (ESB) was inaugurated on April 7, departing from Belgrade at 12:30 AM local time. This itinerary will be operated with four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, also with Airbus A319 aircraft.

“The introduction of direct flights between the two capitals will strengthen Serbia and Turkey’s great economic, social, and cultural cooperation and further improve the mobility of people and goods. In one week, specifically on April 15, in addition to Istanbul and Ankara, Air Serbia will also begin operating flights to Izmir, while in the upcoming summer season, we will offer charter flights to Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, and Dalaman,” said Boško Rupić, Air Serbia’s Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer.

The addition of Tel Aviv and Ankara to Air Serbia’s route network increases its offering to the Middle East. Customers can make connections to Central and Western Europe, the Balkans, and the United States via Belgrade.

A new A320 for Air Serbia

The airline announced that it received its third Airbus A320, registered as YU-APS, on April 12. The aircraft is 11 years old and previously belonged to low-cost carrier WizzAir. It was painted in Air Serbia’s colors in the Netherlands and has a cabin equipped with Recaro Slim seats, with a capacity for 180 passengers.

“With the arrival of the new Airbus A320 YU-APS, our company will have three aircraft of this type in its fleet. The continuous modernization of our fleet, management system, technical support, and crew training are the strategic objectives of the Serbian national airline,” said Marijan Kocić, Air Serbia’s Director of Operations.

“Last year we expanded our fleet with eight new aircraft. An Airbus A319 and an A320 were added to our fleet, our regional aircraft fleet was rejuvenated with the addition of five ATR 72-600s, and since December, our second Airbus A330-200, which bears the image of the famous Serbian scientist and inventor Mihajlo Pupin, has taken off. This is the second addition to our fleet since the start of 2023, and we are very proud of it,” continued Kocić.

Air Serbia’s fleet consists of:

  • 5 ATR 72-600
  • 10 Airbus A319
  • 3 Airbus A320
  • 2 Airbus A330-200

Overall, Air Serbia’s expansion of its route network to Tel Aviv and Ankara is a significant milestone in its growth strategy, providing passengers with greater connectivity and convenience. The addition of the third Airbus A320 to the fleet also demonstrates the airline’s commitment to modernization and innovation.

This article was originally published in Aviacionline, as part of current syndication agreement.

Aviacionline

Late Takeoff, Excess Weight Cause Near-Miss for Boeing 737-200 in Colombia

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

Aerosucre Boeing 737-200
Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 (Photo: Aerosucre)

Aeronáutica Civil de Colombia, the state body in charge of regulating civil aviation in the South American country, has published the final report on the serious incident involving an Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 that occurred in February last year at Germán Olano Airport in the city of Puerto Carreño.

See also: FAA Takes Action Following Recent Incidents in U.S. Commercial Aviation

The Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 incident

On 3 February 2022, the Aerosucre Boeing 737-200 registered as HK-5192 was performing a non-scheduled air cargo transport operation between the aforementioned aerodrome and El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Five occupants were on board: the two pilots in charge of flying the aircraft, an observer first officer, an aeronautical technician and an operations dispatcher.

The Boeing 737-200 experienced a near-miss incident after taking off from Germán Olano Airport, with the late rotation and excess weight cited as primary factors. The plane struck a tree approximately 250 meters from the runway’s end, causing the number 1 engine to lose thrust. Security cameras captured the aircraft narrowly clearing power lines and residential houses.

After reaching an altitude of 2,500 feet and flying roughly 30 nautical miles from the airport, pilots requested to return, activating established ground handling protocols. The plane landed safely without further assistance, and all five occupants exited unharmed.

Colombian investigators determined the late rotation resulted from the aircraft’s extreme weight and atmospheric conditions during takeoff. The calculated weight was 49,240 kilograms, while the actual weight should have been limited to 48,965 kilograms due to rising outside temperatures. The excess weight caused a delay in acceleration and increased distance to reach rotation speed, reducing the margin for avoiding obstacles.

The pilot-in-command pulled the yoke back at 138 knots, but the aircraft only lifted off the ground at 151 knots. The final Aeronáutica Civil report cited “overconfidence on the part of the crew” in assuming weight reduction during taxiing and the “low situational awareness” to anticipate performance-affecting changes. The operations dispatcher’s influence to proceed despite limited performance conditions was also noted.

Furthermore, the weight and balance calculation failed to account for the weight of the three occupants accompanying the pilots, adding to the excess weight during takeoff.

Aviacionline

Wingo Suspends Flights between Bogota and Mexico City: Impact and Options for Passengers

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

A Wingo Boeing 737-8 at Bogotá Airport
A Wingo Boeing 737-8 at Bogotá Airport (Photo: Pablo Diaz- Aviacionline)

Wingo, Copa Holdings’ low-cost airline, has announced that it will suspend its flights between Bogota (BOG) and Mexico City (MEX) starting from April 16. Until then, the company will continue to operate up to three flights per week.

The low-cost airline began operations in Mexico on December 1, 2016, when it inaugurated its flights between Bogota, Mexico City, and Cancun. Prior to the change in corporate image and model, Aerorepublica operated these links.

Wingo and its flights to Mexico

The decision of the low-cost airline to cease its flights between Bogota and Mexico City is a response to the need to add new offers of seats in other destinations. In the coming weeks, Wingo will add three new routes in the domestic market of Colombia: Barranquilla (BAQ), Bucaramanga (BGA), and Pereira (PEI) from Bogota.

Currently, the company has nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with a capacity of 186 passengers.

However, Wingo will maintain its operations in Mexico by connecting:

Cancun-Cali, with three flights per week. Cancun-Medellin, with four flights per week. Cancun-Bogota, with seven flights per week.

According to the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) of Mexico, in 2022, Wingo transported 250,282 passengers between the two countries.

What to do if you had tickets with Wingo?

According to a statement, Wingo will comply with what is established by aeronautical regulations. In the first instance, it informed the competent authorities of the decision to cease that link, in addition to initiating a protection plan for travelers.

For tickets for flights after April 19, passengers can choose the following options:

Change route without penalty Request a refund of 100% of the ticket value and obtain additional compensation equivalent to 30% of the airfare. This payment can be obtained in a voucher or in the form of payment of the ticket. April travelers can request the endorsement option through Copa Airlines to fly to the destination.

Colombian airlines continue to dominate flights between Mexico and Colombia

The market between Mexico and Colombia has been severely affected by the recent events of 2023. The disappearance of VIVA and the decrease in Wingo’s offer of seats will affect the offer of seats between the two countries. Colombia and Mexico were among the few countries in the region with few sanitary restrictions due to COVID-19, which made them attractive to tourists from both states.

The airlines of both countries took advantage of the demand to expand massively between 2021 and 2022. According to information obtained through Cirium, Colombian airlines (Avianca, Wingo, and VIVA) have dominated with more than 60% of the share the monthly flight offer in 2022.

However, Mexican airlines will take advantage of the gaps left by other airlines: Viva Aerobus recently added two new routes, connecting Bogota with Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Aviacionline

Silver Airways’ $1M Lease Debt Threatens Operations at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Zach Cooke
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

A Silver Airways ATR 42 600 on display at the Farnborough Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Silver Airways, a Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida regional airline, is facing issues at its home airport. Broward County commissioners, the county that oversees the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, announced in 2022 that the airline was delinquent on lease payments owed to the county since 2021. 

While airlines operate into and out of airports, they do not own the space. Just as a business may lease out an office from a landlord, airlines lease out gate and terminal space and pay landing fees to the airport or governing body. Since 2021, Silver hadn’t paid fees to the county which included badges, gate use, joint use and landings among others. According to the county, the amount had come to a total of just under one million dollars. An agreement was made in 2021 to pay a reduced amount to the county, however, Silver did not act on this according to Alexander Williams, one of Broward County’s attorneys. 

Silver Airways’ future hinges on Board vote

While this issue arose last year, the board of commissioners has an upcoming vote next week in which the Fort Lauderdale-based carrier’s lease future is on the table. The board will vote on whether to terminate Silver’s lease at the airport or further await repayment and allow the carrier to continue operating. Both parties want to achieve a solution that is mutually beneficial to the company, county and taxpayers of Broward County. 

The regional carrier operates ATR 42s and 72s combining to make up a fleet of 18 strong. The ATR 42-600s offer 46 seats while the 72-600s offer 70 seats. Silver primarily operates into and out of Florida and the Caribbean, with hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Their route structure spans as far north as Greenville-Spartanburg and east to Dominica in the Caribbean. The company recently began operating ATR 72-500Fs on behalf of Amazon Air as well. 

See Also: Fort Lauderdale Airport Closes Amid Flood Emergency, 700 Flights Canceled

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

Fort Lauderdale Airport Closes Amid Flood Emergency, 700 Flights Canceled

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

Fort Lauderdale Airport Flood
An image of the Fort Lauderdale Airport, affected by heavy rains and flooding. (Photo: @WPBF_BROOKE - Twitter)

On Wednesday night (April 12), South Florida was hit by a severe storm system that brought heavy rainfall, leading to the declaration of an emergency in the region. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) was forced to cancel flights as taxiways, aprons, runways, and main access roads became flooded.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the alert for torrential rain, strong wind gusts, and even tornadoes remains in effect. An estimated 300 to 500 millimeters of rain fell in the last 12 hours.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport closed

The severity of the storm compelled the closure of the airport due to the flooding of several access points for passengers, vehicles, and aircraft. The airport announced that it will remain closed until noon on Thursday (April 13). However, the reopening depends on weather conditions and the rapid drainage of the floodwaters.

As per Flightradar24, the last flight to land was a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320neo, registration N937NK, arriving from St. Thomas (STT) at 20:02 local time. By that point, around 60 flights had been diverted to nearby airports or returned to their departure points.

While most flights continued to be canceled, the only two flights that managed to take off from Fort Lauderdale were Air Transat’s two Airbus A321neos, bound for Montreal (YUL) and Toronto (YYZ), departing at 20:55 and 22:05 respectively.

FlightAware, a flight tracking platform, reported nearly 700 flights canceled between Wednesday and Thursday.

The most affected carriers are JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Silver Airways, all of which have significant operations at FLL. Consequently, their flight schedules for the coming days will also be impacted, as dozens of aircraft remain stranded at the airport.

Airlines urge passengers to contact their call centers for information on flight statuses and possible solutions, as airport confirms that is expecting to reopen no earlier than 12pm on Thursday. April 13.

Aviacionline

Delta Returns to London Gatwick after 11-Year Hiatus

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

Delta's newest transatlantic route will be operated by a 767-300 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

On April 10, Delta Air Lines began nonstop service between New York (JFK) and Gatwick (LGW), bringing back service to London’s two main airports. The reactivation of this route coincides with the airline’s 45th anniversary of the start of operations between the United States and United Kingdom.

See also: After three years, Delta resumes non-stop flights to Cuba

The company’s last scheduled service to Gatwick (LGW) was on April 17, 2012 with a daily flight from Atlanta (ATL) on Boeing 767s. Delta is the only U.S. legacy airline to operate at London’s second major airport.

Flight DL 62 was operated on a Boeing 767-300ER registered to registration N196DN, which took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 23:54 local time and landed at Gatwick Airport (LGW) at 11:24 the following day, after six hours and 30 minutes.

 

“Delta began flying to the U.K. 45 years ago this month at Gatwick, so it is fitting that we are starting our operations from Gatwick to the U.S.“, said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice president for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.

Delta will compete on the New York (JFK) – London Gatwick (LGW) route with British Airways, Norse Atlantic Airways and JetBlue Airways. This segment moved 699,766 passengers in 2019 according to data obtained through UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Delta’s schedule to Gatwick

  • New York – London/Gatwick Flight DL 62 JFK 23:35 – LGW 12:00+1 daily flights.
  • London/Gatwick – New York Flight DL 63 LGW 14:10 – JFK 17:00 daily flights.

The route is operated on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 226 seats in three classes (26 Delta One/35 Comfort+/165 Main Cabin) and promotional fares are available from USD 752 round trip.

The carrier’s service to Gatwick (LGW) offers convenient connections to New Orleans (MSY), Nashville (BNA), Miami (MIA), Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Salt Lake City (SLC) and Seattle (SEA). All of the carrier’s U.K.-U.S. flights will be operated in cooperation with Delta’s joint venture partners Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM.

“Delta is a big name in the transatlantic market and to be able to offer passengers from London and the South East the opportunity to travel with them between Gatwick and New York City is fantastic, providing not only greater choice but also greater competition. It also demonstrates Gatwick’s strong appeal as an airport for major long-haul airlines“, said Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport.

In addition to its services to Gatwick (LGW), Delta also operates at Heathrow (LHR), London’s main airport where it has non-stop flights from New York (JFK), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA) and Salt Lake City (SLC). The airline has scheduled 40,716 seats per week between the United States and the United Kingdom for the summer season.

Aviacionline

Aerolíneas Argentinas Changes Boeing 737 MAX to Airbus A330 for Cuba and Punta Cana Flights

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

An Aerolineas Argentinas A330-200 (Photo: BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada (Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A330-200 LV-FNL) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Aerolíneas Argentinas recently modified its reservation system with new changes in its operations to Punta Cana and Havana. Currently, the company serves five times a week in the case of the Dominican city, and twice weekly services to the Cuban capital. The aircraft currently used for these operations are the Boeing 737-8, with capacity for 170 passengers in two classes.

See also: Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo incorporates its first Boeing 737-800(SF)

Starting July 1st, Aerolíneas Argentinas will operates its flights to Punta Cana with the 265-seater Airbus A330-200 aircraft, while on July 7th it will do the same with Havana. According to the reservation system and Cirium platform information, the A330 operations are scheduled for the rest of the year. In addition to this change, the carrier will stop operating between Punta Cana and Havana, starting to fly to the Cuban city via Cancún.

See also: Aerolíneas Argentinas reduces flights to Punta del Este as high season ends

Aerolíneas Argentinas – Punta Cana schedule

Flight From ETD To ETA
AR 1324 Buenos Aires (EZE) 2:50 a.m. Punta Cana (PUJ) 9:35 a.m.
AR 1325 Punta Cana (PUJ) 11:35 a.m. Buenos Aires (EZE) 8:20 p.m.

Flight frequency

  • AR 1324/1325: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Aerolíneas Argentinas in the Caribbean – July onwards

  • Cancún (CUN)
  • Havana (HAV), vía Cancún
  • Punta Cana (PUJ)

On June 30th will be the last flight of the route Buenos Aires – Punta Cana – Havana and return.

See also: Aerolíneas Argentinas statistics in the Argentina – Brazil market (January and February)

Aviacionline

Aerolíneas Argentinas Initiates Sale of its Last Airbus A340-200

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A340-211 LV-ZRA
Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A340-211 LV-ZRA at Ezeiza Airport. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Aerolíneas Argentinas has initiated the sale of its last Airbus A340-200, with registration LV-ZRA (msn 85), which has been stored in Buenos Aires since 2014. Potential buyers are encouraged to request more details via an email provided on the airline’s website, and offers for the aircraft will be accepted until May 1st.

The airplane, grounded since March 2, 2014, retains all essential components despite its extended storage period. The Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Argentine flag carrier is aimed at lessors and financial institutions, suggesting anticipation of a possible return to service for the A340.

The Airbus A340 is a wide-body, long-range commercial aircraft that debuted in the early 1990s. It was designed to compete with Boeing’s 747 and McDonnell Douglas’ MD-11 in the global market for long-haul flights.

Over the years, the A340 has undergone several modifications, resulting in the A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 variants. However, the A340’s popularity waned as the industry shifted toward twin-engine aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, which offer better fuel efficiency. Production ceased in 2011 after delivering 377 aircraft.

The history of Aerolíneas Argentinas’ last four-engine aircraft

Delving into the history of the LV-ZRA Airbus A340-211 (c/n 085), it first took flight on March 3, 1995, with the registration F-WWJP in its pre-delivery test series. Cathay Pacific Airways (PAL) received it with the registration VR-HMU on April 4, 1995.

Following a series of temporary storage, cancellations, and repaints, the aircraft donned Aerolíneas Argentinas colors on August 6, 1999, and was registered as LV-ZRA on August 12, 1999. Ultimately, the ZRA was stored in Buenos Aires in April 2008 and withdrawn from service on March 2, 2014.

The A340-211 LV-ZRA can be seen in the background, with its engines covered, in the hangar area of Ezeiza Airport. (Photo: Maximiliano Miranda)

Considering its 28 years of age, this high-fuel consumption four-engine aircraft has little chance of returning to the skies, and if it does, it is unlikely to be with a top-tier airline.

This article was originally published in Aviacionline, as per our syndication agreement.

Aviacionline

JetBlue Targets Europe: Amsterdam Joins Transatlantic Network

Aviacionline
Verified

Edited By:

Pablo Diaz

JetBlue Airbus A321 departing London Heathrow [AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale]

JetBlue has recently announced plans to expand its transatlantic services, introducing a new route between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) later this summer.

The airline also plans to introduce a service between Boston and Amsterdam, contingent upon receiving government authorization to operate. The Dutch capital follows London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports, which JetBlue has been servicing since 2021, and Paris, where the airline will arrive in June.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes commented, “This route has long been in need of some competition. For too long, traditional US airlines have cornered customers with high fares and mediocre service. As we’ve done in London and Paris, we’ll lower fares and enhance the customer experience for those flying between the US and Amsterdam.”

Amsterdam’s challenges for JetBlue operation

A recent Dutch court ruling determined that the Dutch government had not adhered to the law when attempting to reduce Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s annual air traffic movement limit. This decision has bolstered JetBlue’s confidence in entering the market. Hayes added, “Our formula of combining a customer-focused experience with consistently low fares is not something found in Europe. We’re confident that customers, Amsterdam airport officials, and the Dutch government will be delighted with JetBlue when they witness firsthand the positive impact we can have.”

Flights will operate daily on Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft, featuring 24 redesigned Mint Suite seats, 114 basic seats, and the Airspace cabin interior.

In June, the New York-Amsterdam market will see forty weekly flights in each direction, operated by three airlines:

  1. Delta Air Lines: Fourteen weekly flights (seven on A330-300 and seven on A330-900).
  2. KLM: Nine weekly flights on B777-200, five weekly flights on B787-9, and five weekly flights on B787-10.
  3. United Airlines: Seven weekly flights on B777 (operating from Newark).

JetBlue’s expansion into Amsterdam demonstrates the airline’s determination to disrupt the transatlantic market, offering competitive prices and superior customer service. As the airline continues to broaden its reach, industry experts and passengers alike will be closely watching JetBlue’s impact on the European market.

Aviacionline

Atlantic Airways To Begin Flights To New York in August

Joey Gerardi
Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

Atlantic Airways A320neo
An Atlantic Airways Airbus A320neo in Vágar, Faroe Islands (Photo: Atlantic Airways)

Faroe Islands-based Atlantic Airways has announced in a press release that it will begin operating very limited flights from the Faroe Islands to New York this summer.

Flights will begin on Aug. 22 and will only operate for six weeks until Oct. 4. The once weekly flights will leave the main airport in the Faroe Islands, named Vágar, on Tuesdays, and the return flight back will leave the U.S. on Wednesdays. Flight time will be roughly six-hours according to the airline.

Another thing to note is the airline isn’t operating directly into John F. Kennedy International Airport, but has instead noted that they plan on operating into Stewart International Airport, which is located around 70 miles north of the city, but the airline will offer a bus between Stewart and New York that passengers can book separately when getting the flight to Stewart.

Currently the airline only operate flights to 10 destinations outside of its main hub all of which are in Europe, and all of which operates less than daily and most of which aren’t year round either. However this does makes sense given the company only has three aircraft: a single Airbus A320 and two Airbus A320neos, along with two helicopters that are used for domestic hops within the islands.

The new service to New York has been teased and rumored for many years, and the very short timespan of flights looks like it could be a test to see if the service is viable for a longer period of time in the future. Flights are expected to go on sale May 15.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.
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