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SFO gains more service to China, Canada but loses routes to UK, India
A United Airlines plane takeoff from SFO on March 17, 2023. In the latest air travel news, United Airlines has placed a massive order for new aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus; but loses some to the U.K. and India; ; the Delta/Aeromexico partnership ramps up with a revival of code-sharing and 17 new transborder routes; Avelo, Alaska and Southwest begin new California routes; ; a major European carrier will leave United’s Star Alliance and switch to Delta’s SkyTeam; passengers on Japan Airlines’ newest long-haul aircraft type won’t need headphones; Delta plans to open dedicated lounges for Delta One customers at two key airports; Chicago Midway will get its first premium lounge next year; . . Its latest buy relies on Boeing for wide-body aircraft and Airbus for single-aisle planes, with an order for 50 Boeing 787-9s and 60 Airbus A321neos (and options to buy up to 50 additional 787s and 40 A321neos in the future). Deliveries of all the new aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2030 and 2031, United said. Added to earlier orders, the purchase means the carrier will have 800 new aircraft — both wide- and narrow-bodies — coming online from 2023 through 2032. Besides 787s and Airbus narrow-bodies, the orders also include 370 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Advertisement Article continues below this ad The company said a “key component” of its long-term planning “is growth in gauge, essentially flying larger planes with more available seats on the same route. Given that United currently operates out of the largest markets in the country — Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/NYC, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. — upgauging also boosts overall connectivity domestically and internationally.” Like other carriers, United is gradually removing smaller regional jets from its network. It said that in 2019, it averaged 104 seats per departure within North America, and it expects that to increase by 40%, to more than 145 seats, by 2027. All the new single-aisle planes will come with seatback screens at each seat, larger overhead bins, Bluetooth connectivity and fast Wi-Fi, United said, while new 787s will have Polaris business class with lie-flat seats and 16-inch seatback screens. Travellers at Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai, China, on Aug. 20, 2023. . United this week , and it is due to resume SFO-Beijing flights next month. Last week, with two flights a week starting Nov. 1, and now a schedule update from China Eastern Airlines , with westbound flights on Tuesdays and Sundays, according to Aeroroutes.com. Meanwhile, , operating three weekly flights. . The low-cost European carrier Norse Atlantic this week . It might have decided to operate the route as a summer-only seasonal service, but so far it has given no indication that it plans to resume SFO flights next year. And United is putting off the planned revival of some transpacific service. According to Simple Flying, , Newark-Hong Kong and Newark-Mumbai flights through March 28 of next year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad | | | | ? It’s a small Canadian carrier that has long operated from Toronto to points in the eastern U.S. and Canada, but it has embarked on a growth strategy as it acquires longer-range aircraft, and now it has announced its first West Coast service, to both San Francisco and Los Angeles. And Porter is promising some in-flight enhancements for passengers. and from LAX on Jan. 16. It is slated to fly the routes with 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft featuring an all-economy configuration with 2-by-2 seating — i.e., no middle seats. Passengers will get free high-speed Wi-Fi so they can stream preferred content to their personal devices, as well as free snacks and complimentary beer and wine “served in glassware,” the airline said. Customers who buy the airline’s higher-priced PorterReserve fares or make a la carte purchases can also get extra-legroom seats, premium cocktails and “ ,” Porter said. Left to right, Aeromexico Chairman Alfonso Pasquel and Delta Air Lines Chairman Leo Mullin join hands to announce an alliance between the airlines called “Sky Team.” now that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has upgraded Mexico’s air safety rating from Category 2 to Category 1. (Under Category 2, code-sharing arrangements between U.S. and Mexican carriers were not allowed, and Mexican airlines were not permitted to add flight frequencies or new routes to the U.S.) Aeroroutes.com reports that , putting Delta’s code and flight numbers onto dozens of transborder Aeromexico flights. That includes Aeromexico service to Mexico City from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Austin, Denver, San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, New York JFK, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando; to Monterrey from Los Angeles; and to Guadalajara from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Fresno. Delta will also code-share on a number of Aeromexico domestic routes out of Mexico City. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What’s more, the two airlines said this week that under their Joint Cooperation Agreement, . That includes plans by Aeromexico to gradually introduce 17 new transborder routes from seven Mexican airports to nine U.S. destinations. It plans to begin flying from Mexico City International to Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Boston and Detroit; from Monterrey to Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, New York JFK and Atlanta; from Guadalajara, Queretaro and Bajio to Atlanta and Detroit; from Merida to Atlanta; and from Mexico City’s new second airport, Felipe Angeles, to Dallas/Fort Worth and McAllen, Texas. “All of these flights will be supported by Delta code-share,” the airlines said. , low-cost Avelo Airlines this week , with two flights per week on each route. Alaska Airlines has launched its newest transcontinental route, . And Southwest Airlines , with weekend flights (Saturday and Sunday) on both routes. Delta plans to scale back its Seattle-Juneau, Alaska, service for the winter, until it resumes daily flights next June. A TSA officer at National Airport in December 2015 works with a dog to sniff out explosives/firearms carried by travelers. , the Transportation Security Administration said this week that its airport officers intercepted 5,072 guns during passenger screenings in the first three quarters of this year, putting it on track to blow past last year’s 12-month record of 6,542. That includes 1,820 guns caught during this year’s third quarter, or an average of almost 20 a day — “ ,” TSA noted. Travelers can put a weapon in their checked luggage if it is unloaded, stored in a locked hard-sided case, and declared to the airline — but never in their carry-ons. What happens if they’re caught? The TSA officers “will contact local law enforcement to safely unload and take possession of the firearm,” the agency said. “The law enforcement officer may also arrest or cite the passenger, depending on local law. TSA may impose a civil penalty up to almost $15,000, and passengers who present with a firearm at a security checkpoint will lose TSA PreCheck eligibility for five years.” Advertisement Article continues below this ad . Financially troubled , and it said this week it has arranged for $1.2 billion in new financing, including a substantial investment from Air France-KLM that would give that airline a 19.9% equity stake in the Scandinavian carrier; an investment firm called Castlelake would get a 32% stake in SAS and the Danish government would hold 25.8%. “As part of the transaction, SAS is intended to eventually join the SkyTeam Alliance, of which Air France-KLM is a founding member, and exit the Star Alliance, subject to any relevant approvals and emergence from the Chapter 11 process,” SAS said. . This week, the carrier revealed details of its plans for the Airbus A350-1000, which it said “ .” The first of the new planes is expected to start flying before year’s end between New York JFK and Tokyo Haneda. The company said the new planes will have in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment systems provide by Panasonic Avionics, as well as redesigned seats throughout. JAL will continue to offer a first class section, with six suites in a choice of three seating modes: sofa, sofa and single bed, or double bed. Both first class and business class seating will feature privacy doors, along with a new amenity that JAL says is an industry first: stereo speakers built into the headrests, eliminating the need for headphones. In the premium economy and regular economy sections, seat pitch will be a generous 42 inches and 33 to 34 inches, respectively. Airport passengers arrive at Oakland International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015. separate from their paid-membership United Clubs and Admirals Clubs. And next year, Delta Air Lines plans to follow suit. According to Executive Traveller, , with a similar lounge due to make its debut at Los Angeles International by the end of next year. Executive Traveller said it was told by a Delta official that the new lounges “will be exclusive to Delta One customers,” and will not admit top-level elites like SkyMiles Diamond Medallions unless they are booked in the Delta One cabin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad . Midway is dominated by Southwest Airlines, which doesn’t have an airport lounge program, but airport officials announced that Midway will open its first lounge — called Club MDW — in the fall of 2024. The new lounge won’t be affiliated with any specific carrier but will be open to “ .” It will be available through Priority Pass, the airport lounge membership program, and will also offer access to any MDW passenger with a boarding pass for $50 per visit. Located in Midway’s Central Market where Concourses A and B come together, the 3,300 square foot lounge will offer free food and beverages to guests. . Called Southie, it’s based on the restaurant of the same name on Oakland’s College Avenue. The quick-service outlet is in , serving up salads, soups, sandwiches, and breakfast along with a big coffee and espresso menu from Highwire Coffee Roasters. Southie is operated by High Flying Foods. Advertisement Article continues below this ad
Publish Date : 2023-10-07 11:00:00
Image and News Source : sfgate
