More premium seats are expected in the Alaska Airlines fleet, including a proper premium ecnomy cabin for long-haul, but not for a few years yet.
A330-200
Alaska Airlines launches long-haul hub at Seattle, pushes premium
Tokyo will be the first long-haul market for Alaska Airlines from its Seattle hub, with a dozen new markets planned by the end of the decade.
Qantas extending free Wi-Fi to international fleet from late 2024
More than a decade after its first attempt, Qantas will bring inflight internet to its long-haul fleet. And it’ll be free for everyone on board.
Qantas making big moves, looks to restart international travel
The financials are, expectedly, not great for Qantas. But with the carrier’s latest earnings report it also expressed optimism in the reopening of international markets later this year. And, potentially, a return of the A380 to service sooner than expected.
Finnair adds A330 cargo conversion with Lufthansa Technik, Airbus
A handful of markets show signs of recovery for passenger traffic. But airlines typically focused on long-haul international service are nowhere close to calling it a recovery. With air cargo capacity still depressed around the globe Finnair is the latest to add more cargo capacity to its operations, bringing a temporary conversion online for its A330s in partnership with Airbus and Lufthansa Technik.
RwandAir plans JFK service launch (again)
Previously tipped for a 2019 launch, RwandAir is once again planning flights to the USA. The carrier filed its application with the US Department of Transportation this week to operate service to New York on its own A330s. It anticipates beginning the operations in December 2021.
American, Delta confirm accelerated fleet retirements
Looking to fly on an American Airlines 767 or E190? It is too late. Both aircraft types, already slated for retirement, had that process accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 induced demand drop. They will not return to passenger service from their current groundings. And those aren’t the only cuts.
Virgin Atlantic’s Fleet Substitutions Detailed
How will Virgin Atlantic handle the extended engine repair times for its 787fleet? Four Airbus A330-200 planes will fill in according to new schedule details released today. And they may be in service longer than expected.