quarta-feira, 28 de abril de 2021

Alaska Airlines takes education and equity to the skies with newest aircraft

We are on a journey to make Alaska Airlines a place where everyone belongs and has opportunity. We also believe education is the key to equity and representation, with the power to transform the lives of young people––opening doors to careers in aviation and beyond. In partnership with UNCF, this special aircraft is a symbol of our commitment to education and advancing racial equity at Alaska Airlines, and we hope it inspires others as well.

One of our diversity, equity and inclusion commitments is to help create career pathways for young people by supporting programs like UNCF, the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, who we’ve been working with for more than 15 years. Today, we are proud to reveal a special aircraft that symbolizes our support for education and equity – called “Our Commitment.” We know there is much more to do, and this airplane is a flying reminder of the journey.

“The time is always right to do what is right.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

“When you learn, teach, when you get, give.” – Dr. Maya Angelou

Cameron, Ron, his wife and Brandon.

London, her mom Sherry and Kim Ford.

Inspired by these words and designed in partnership with Alaska’s Black employees, allies and UNCF, Our Commitment aircraft features profiles of the next generation of leaders — the children, grandchildren and mentees of Alaska’s employees along with teachings from extraordinary social activists. Because when we create belonging, we can be our best and soar together.

“As a company, we know we are not yet where we need to be when it comes to diversity, but we are inspired and guided by our value to do the right thing. With this aircraft, we are doing the right thing by amplifying the conversation around education, equity and belonging and taking it to the skies,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO. “This aircraft will continue to be an inspiration for us on the journey.”


Education has the power to transport us from where we are to where we want to go.’

This aircraft will fly throughout Alaska’s network, inspiring conversation, raising awareness and spreading the word about UNCF, an organization dedicated to enabling under-represented students to become highly qualified college graduates.

In 2017, UNCF became one of our LIFT Miles partners, enabling guests to contribute airline miles alongside the company to ensure travel does not hold young people back from pursuing their dreams. Today, our company and guests have contributed more than 13.4 million Alaska Airlines miles to fly students to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for college tours, career development events, and other UNCF programs.

As part of our commitment, Alaska will donate one million miles annually to support students attending HBCUs. We’ve also established a scholarship fund through UNCF to help students overcome the financial obstacles of getting a college education. Learn more about donating miles here.

Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF says, “While small in number, our HBCUs are landmarks to our past and keys to our future. They enable us to keep a legacy — by their very existence. HBCUs are much more than schools. They are places where Black students can feel safe, welcomed, and embraced by the college community. Additionally, the nation’s HBCUs make up just 3% of America’s colleges and universities, yet they produce almost 20% of all African American graduates and 25% of African American graduates in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics  —  the critical industries of the future.”




We are proud to reveal a special livery to celebrate our commitment to equity in education – introducing the “Our Commitment” aircraft. Revenue service for the aircraft begins on April 27, with an inaugural flight from Seattle to Washington D.C.

Our Commitments



Earlier this year, we shared our commitments to racial equity.

Our commitments are not simply a statement of values, they are a statement of actions and accountable goals we believe are essential to making our guests feel welcome and our employees feel valued, respected and seen.

Based on input from employees, we set three areas of focus:
Representation: Increasing the racial diversity of our leadership to reflect the diversity of our frontline employees.
Culture: Cultivating an inclusive culture so employees feel welcomed and that they belong.
Public Leadership: Working with community-based organizations to positively impact the lives of young people through education and career development.

We are expanding our programs for outreach, recruitment and career pathways to cultivate and support diverse talent and continue to work closely with our employee business resource groups and external partners to learn and improve. See our latest DEI progress.

About the aircraft
Where did the idea come from?


As an airline with the unique asset of aircraft, we have a long history of wearing our values on our wings, including our “Honoring those who serve” aircraft, which honors the brave men and women of the U.S. military. We use our aircraft to drive awareness and inspire conversation around topics of importance to our company and the communities we serve.

Alaska employees inspired the aircraft following conversations with Alaska’s Black business resource group known as ABEA or Alaska Air Group Black Employees, Allies & Advocates, around last summer’s civil unrest.

De Marco Best, a Duty Manager of Simulator Operations in Seattle, who has been an ABEA leader since its inception in 2006, says this aircraft is a small part of Alaska’s equity and inclusion efforts. It represents the most visible part of its commitment for the next decade and holds us accountable for creating an equitable future, says Best—for our children, our grandchildren, and us all.

“This airplane supports kids and education. I happen to have an affinity for education and kids, especially underserved youth and those who look like me. I think all kids could be inspired by this plane to find a career that they’ll love. If every child can find a career—not a job— that they are passionate about, it could propel them and create lasting change that instills the power of education,” said Best.

We focused on one key question: How can Alaska do something lasting, inspirational and impactful? With aircraft as our biggest tool, we realized we could create a flying reminder of the work toward equity.



Who are the faces?

The custom-painted Boeing 737-900 ER features artistic renderings of 14 students connected to Alaska’s employees, along with quotes from legendary social activists, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and former South African President Nelson Mandela, whose leadership and words continue to drive our commitment. Learn more about the students represented on Our Commitment aircraft.




Who are the designers?

The typography and color palette on the aircraft were created by Adé Hogue, a Chicago-based artist and designer who found inspiration in Civil Rights Movement-era imagery.

“At the beginning, my mind went to protest posters from the 60s and the shape of the design slowly shifted into what you see today,” Hogue said. “A lot of the sort of lettering pieces I do, especially with things like this, I try to use the subject matter as a basis for things I’m creating. I think we integrated something that feels strong and impactful.”

Hogue worked with designer Jonny Mack, who has previously designed ten of Alaska’s special aircraft, to take our employees’ vision and make it a reality.

“Designing artwork for an airplane is incredible. It’s a big challenge and there’s lots of things that go into it. We knew we wanted to illustrate actual people instead of generic profiles that didn’t mean anything—we decided ‘let’s feature real people and have a real story to tell,’” said Mack.

The type treatment, he added, was a critical piece.

“The quotes from activists, thinkers and world changers on the plane are just as important as the people … and are a heavy weight to put on somebody—Adé was the first person I thought of for this project because I’ve seen his work and saw what he was doing in this space for social justice,” said Mack.

Adé Hogue and Jonny Mack met in 2019 at a Letter West design conference in Salt Lake City, sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

What can flyers expect onboard?

Onboard, guests will be able to learn more about the aircraft through a custom seatback card and digital resources featuring bios of the students on the aircraft, details on Alaska’s DEI commitments, and information about UNCF, including how to donate miles to support college students.
Alaska

terça-feira, 27 de abril de 2021

World Cargo Airlines - B737-81Q (BCF)(WL) - 9M-WCA

World Cargo Airline Sdn Bhd is a rebranding of the formerly known Pos Asia Cargo Express Sdn Bhd or more popularly known in its abbreviation as “POS ACE". It is an airline company in Malaysia holding an approve AOC for the operation of cargo aircraft under the purview of Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).


Waiping
Kota Kinabalu - International (BKI / WBKK) Malaysia 

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg - 04/2021

















Paul Bannwarth
 

domingo, 25 de abril de 2021

WORLD2FLY / A350-900 / F-WZHI / msn 448


 Alain Charpentier

Los Angeles International Airport - USA - 04/2021















hsckcwong
 

IndiGo Airlines to add four A321(P2F)s


 

IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi Int'l) has announced that it will add four A321-200(P2F) converted freighters, with the first delivery scheduled for the first half of 2022.

The Indian low-cost carrier said that it had already signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with an undisclosed lessor for the first two A321-200s and was in the process of sourcing the other two aircraft. The narrowbodies will be converted for the airline by Elbe Flugzeugwerke, a joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus.

IndiGo said that the deliveries of all four aircraft would conclude within a year of the first delivery, i.e. by mid-2023. It indicated that it remained open to adding more freighters in the future.

"IndiGo was already the largest carrier of cargo in domestic India before COVID-19, and we expect the market to continue to grow after the pandemic," Chief Executive Ronojoy Dutta said.

The airline underlined that the A321(P2F)s would be operationally well-integrated into its all-Airbus passenger fleet. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the LCC currently operates eighty-seven A320-200s, 121 A320-200Ns, thirty-nine A321-200NXs, and twenty-six ATR72-600s. It has a further 570 A320neo Family aircraft on firm order from Airbus, making it the world's largest customer for the family, as well as a further twenty-four ATR72-600s from Avions de Transport Régional.

Rival LCC SpiceJet (SG, Delhi Int'l) was active on the cargo market even before the pandemic. The airline's freighter fleet, excluding makeshift freighters, comprises three B737-700(BDSF)s and two B737-800(BCF)s. India's third large LCC, GoAir (G8, Mumbai Int'l), does not operate any freighters.

ch aviation

Bamboo Airways (Vietnam) plans to launch flights to new destinations including the US, Australia, Germany, Japan and the UK in 2021 if the pandemic situation improved. Following charter flights to the US in July, the carrier plans commercial service between Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco in September


 

Caribbean Airlines (Trinidad) has opted not to exit its contract to lease 12 B737-8s, after being presented the opportunity without penalty. All leases for the nine existing aircraft have been extended for at least another year until the carrier can take receipt of the MAX aircraft


 

Smartavia takes delivery of 1st A320neo


 

Follow our report from 27 November, Smartavia has now taken delivery of its first A320neo. The aircraft, VP-BOS (7523) arrived at Moscow-Domodedovo on 16 April after a long ferry flights from Phoenix-Goodyear (AZ) (with stops at Portsmouth (NH) and Reykjavik. The Neo was previously operated by Interjet as XA-JRM and was ferried to Moscow by Jet Test and Transport (we highly recommend to follow its Managing Partner Steve Giordano on social for his adventures!).

In total, Smartavia is expecting two more A320neos this year, joining a fleet of three B737-700s and nine B737-800s.
Scramble
Photo Smartavia

Uzbekistan Airways to expand fleet and create LCC


 
According to the Uzbekistan Presidential News Service, Uzbekistan Airways is planning to expand the fleet with three leased A321-200NX(LR)s and will also establish an LCC (Low Cost Carrier).

The three A321-200NX(LR)s will be used to boost the airline's long-haul fleet, which currently consists of five B757-200s, six B767-300ERs and five B787-8s. It is, however, expected that the three will be used to replace the airline's four B757-200s, which are almost 22-years old.

Next to the Boeings, Uzbekistan Airways also operates a fleet of eleven A320s and three A320neos. Four of the A320s, however, will be transferred to the airline's new LCC. The new, for now unnamed airline, is due to launch in the third quarter of this year and will launch with domestic flights only.
Photo: Uzbekistan

Sky High Dominicana starts flights to Venezuela.


 

As of this Friday, a new airline will start operations between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. It is Sky High, which will offer flights between Santo Domingo and Maracaibo twice a week (Mondays and Fridays).

The company will also start flights to Valencia from May 16, with two weekly frequencies (Wednesday and Sunday), and plans to start operations to Maiquetia, airport that serves the city of Caracas, as from June, as informed to Aviación al Día by Capt. Ernesto Maita, the airline’s legal representative in Venezuela.

See also: The unusual case of triple air hijacking in Venezuela.
These routes will be operated with an Airbus A321, with capacity to carry 220 passengers.

Sky High will allow Venezuelans to connect with eight destinations currently operated by the airline in the Caribbean via Santo Domingo, such as Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, Antigua, Bonaire, St. Kitts, Tortola and Anguilla. They will also be able to make connections from the Dominican capital to destinations in Europe and North America through other airlines.

The company plans to form alliances with different local airlines and operate flights to South America through Venezuela using the fifth freedom, Maita added.

For the moment, tickets are already on sale through travel agencies.

Aviation el dia

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Orders 15 Boeing 737 MAX Jets



- Lessor's 737-8 portfolio grows to 37 airplanes

- New order follows DAE's successful 737-8 agreement with American Airlines

SEATTLE, April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) today announced the aircraft lessor is growing its 737 MAX portfolio with an order for 15 737-8 jets. DAE had been investing in the 737 MAX by buying jets from existing customers and leasing them back to the carriers. The new order is DAE's first direct 737 MAX purchase from Boeing as it modernizes its portfolio for better economic and environmental performance.

The order will appear on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website once finalized.

Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE, said: "We are delighted to deepen our already strong relationship with Boeing. Including this order, we own and manage 162 Boeing aircraft. An increasing number of global aviation regulators are returning the MAX to the skies. We are confident in the success of these aircraft as domestic and regional air travel are seeing strong signs of recovery."

The new purchase is DAE's second investment in the 737 MAX in the past year. In the third quarter of 2020, the lessor signed an agreement with American Airlines to purchase and lease back 18 new 737-8 airplanes. Since the agreement, the lessor has delivered 17 of the jets to the U.S. carrier. DAE previously completed a similar purchase-leaseback deal with Brazilian carrier GOL for five 737-8s.

"DAE has been instrumental in helping its customers realize the operating economics and environmental performance of the 737-8. We are delighted that they have come back to add more 737 aircraft to its growth plan as it positions itself for the recovery in commercial passenger traffic," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "We are honored by DAE's trust in the 737 family and we look forward to partnering with them to serve the fleet requirements of airlines around the world."

The 737-8 is a member of the 737 MAX family which is designed to offer more fuel efficiency, reliability and flexibility in the single-aisle market. The airplane can fly 3,550 nautical miles – about 600 miles farther than its predecessor – allowing airlines to offer new and more direct routes for passengers. Compared to the airplanes it replaces, the 737-8 also delivers superior efficiency, using 16% less fuel and significantly reducing CO2 emissions and operating costs.

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries, leveraging the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd. is a global aviation services company headquartered in Dubai. DAE serves over 170 airline customers in over 65 countries from its seven office locations in Dubai, Dublin, Amman, Singapore, Miami, New York and Seattle. DAE's award-winning Aircraft Leasing division has an owned, managed, committed and mandated to manage fleet of approximately 425 Airbus, ATR and Boeing aircraft with a fleet value exceeding US$16 billion. DAE's Engineering division serves customers in Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia from its state-of-the-art facility accommodating up to 15 wide and narrow body aircraft. It is authorized to work on 13 aircraft types and has regulatory approval from over 25 regulators globally. More information can be found on the company's web site at www.dubaiaerospace.com.