Thursday, April 26, 2012

JetBlue considering Worcester Regional Airport, among others

WORCESTER —  JetBlue Airways Corp. is looking at Worcester Regional Airport.

Dave Barger, president and chief executive officer of the low-cost airline, visited the Worcester airport earlier this month, Massachusetts Port Authority spokesman Richard Walsh said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Barger said on his Twitter account Tuesday: “As for ORH (the federal designation for Worcester Airport), had a very nice visit with Massport 10 days ago. More soon!”

Mr. Barger and other JetBlue executives were at the airport April 13.

“We're definitely looking at it, but we're not ready to announce anything,” said Mateo Lleras, a spokesman for JetBlue, which has a major regional hub at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Mr. Barger's tweet was in response to a tweet from Worcester businessman Bill Randell, who closely follows the airport on his Worcester Blog. Mr. Randell congratulated Mr. Barger on JetBlue's 10-year anniversary of trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange.

The Worcester airport, which MassPort purchased in 2010, suffered the departure of its only commercial carrier, Direct Air, last month.

Direct Air has since filed for bankruptcy, leaving numerous creditors, including passengers who had bought tickets and vouchers.

City and Massport officials have been trying to woo new airlines to the airport in the wake of Direct Air's departure.

JetBlue has previously expressed interest in coming to Worcester, but the airline executives' recent visit is the first development since Mr. Barger said after a September speech at Boston College that Massport had “put Worcester on our radar screen.”

Mr. Barger, however, noted that expanding to Providence was a higher priority and suggested that the Worcester airport, located on a plateau atop a hill near the Paxton border, presents technical challenges because the location is often foggy, The Boston Globe reported at the time.

MassPort will conduct its regular monthly meeting at Worcester Regional Airport tomorrow morning.

Mr. Lleras, the JetBlue spokesman, confirmed that JetBlue is interested in the airport, but said it is only one of many the carrier is considering at any given time, and that the airport selection process is complex and takes from six months to three years.

“We're looking at many airports as well as your airport,” he said.

Mr. Lleras also noted that Mr. Barger, the JetBlue president and CEO, is an enthusiastic corporate leader known for visiting many potential locations.

“Dave's around a lot. He travels a lot. He's on the ground a lot,” Mr. Lleras said. “He gets excited. He wants us to fly everywhere.”

Mr. Barger's Twitter commentary and visit have left some local officials optimistic about the future of an airport that has had many losses of commercial airline service over the years and whose spotty record has led some critics to call for shutting it down.

“We've been building toward a big-time airline for a long time,” said Councilor-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton, chairman of the council's Economic Development committee. “Population growth, our centralized location and the near capacity of Logan has pointed toward an interest like this, like JetBlue.”

Vision Airlines Announces New Non-stop Jet Service to Myrtle Beach From 8 Markets Beginning May 31, 2012

SUWANEE, Ga., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Vision Airlines announced today new, non-stop 737 jet service to Myrtle Beach, S.C., from the following cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Louisville; Nashville; and Springfield, Ill. Seats are on sale now for flights, beginning May 31, 2012, through October 31, 2012. 

Vision Airlines' low-cost fares to Myrtle Beach start at just $109* each-way (including all taxes and fees). Tickets and complete vacation packages may be purchased at www.VisionAirlines.com or through the Vision Airlines Call Center at 1-877-FLY-A-JET (1-877-359-2538). Customers may also contact their local travel agent for more information. 

"We are excited to welcome Vision Airlines to MYR and we are confident that the markets that they've chosen will provide terrific opportunities for both Vision Airlines and our destination," said Mike La Pier, Director of Airports, MYR. "It's been our goal, along with the Chamber and Golf Holiday, to continue to work to bring new visitors to our destination with increased air service. We are pleased to partner with Vision Air to introduce all that Myrtle Beach can offer to a new and much greater audience," added La Pier.

In the past, passengers traveling to Myrtle Beach have had to endure long layovers, hours in the car, very expensive fares, and flying on cramped regional jets. Vision Airlines' non-stop, big jet, Boeing 737 service will save passengers time and money. 

"Vision Airlines' new, non-stop flights to Myrtle Beach are another step in providing low-cost air service to fantastic vacation destinations. The great golf courses and family-friendly beaches make Myrtle Beach an excellent vacation value," said David Meers, Senior Vice President of Vision Airlines. "Vision Airlines' non-stop, big jet, Boeing 737 service will save passengers time and money, making flying a more attractive option for traveling to Myrtle Beach this summer." 

For decades, Myrtle Beach has maintained its status as an award-winning destination. Many leisure travelers choose Myrtle Beach because of attractions that include 60 miles of beautiful beaches, top hotels and vacation rentals, championship golf courses, thrilling water sports, live entertainment, amusement parks and an abundance of dining options. Approximately 14 million visitors vacation in Myrtle Beach each year, and now Vision Airlines' new flights will make it more affordable and convenient to fly there. 

About Vision Airlines 

Vision Airlines has been in operation for more than 18 years offering low-cost flights to the most popular leisure destinations. Vision Airlines is an ETOPS certified Part 121 Air Carrier. The company's fleet consists of 19-passenger and 30-passenger Dornier turboprops, Boeing 737's and wide-body Boeing 767's. Vision Airlines offers both scheduled and charter flights to international and domestic destinations. Additionally, the company continues to offer popular tourist flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Vision Airlines has offices in Las Vegas, Atlanta and Washington DC. For more information please visit www.visionairlines.com

*Terms and Conditions 

$109 each-way is not available in all markets. Check www.VisionAirlines.com for all fares. Fares include full taxes and PFCs. Fares are subject to availability at the time of purchase. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. If purchased prior to check-in, customers may check their first standard size bag for $15 each-way and $20 each-way for any additional pieces. If customers are paying for checked luggage at the airport, their first standard size bag is $25 each-way and $30 each-way for any additional pieces. 

Axis Jet receives FAA approval to use iPads in cockpits

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Axis Jet, a Sacramento-based aviation company, has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to utilize Apple's iPad tablet by the company's flight crews as electronic chart and digital flight manual readers.

"Traditional paper flight chart binders are large, heavy, unwieldy and difficult to update," says Axis Jet Chief Pilot Scott Malandrone.  "The iPad allows us an advantage is terms of safety and efficiency in the cockpit with the most up-to-the-second critical flight information."

Axis Jet operates jets and turboprops for charter and management based in Sacramento, Napa and Scottsdale, AZ. It is the first aviation company in the area to receive FAA approval. Since its inception in 2004, Axis Jet has remained committed to state-of-the art technology, including online scheduling and quoting for clients through the company's website. "There is an eco-friendly component of this move as well. Flight charts are large, heavy manuals that need to be updated monthly," said Axis Jet co-owner Matt Bosco. "Eliminating the paper charts means less weight, less fuel burn and less paper. We're excited to offer this environmentally-responsible program and safety enhancement to our clients."

Axis Jet is an aircraft sales, management and Part 135 air charter company headquartered at the Sacramento Jet Center at Sacramento Executive Airport (KSAC) with aircraft based in California and Arizona.  Axis Jet is a division of Axis Aviation Group, Inc., privately-owned company founded in 2004 by award-winning aviation leaders Matt Bosco and Dan Kimmel.  Axis Jet is FAA-authorized to fly throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico and ARG/US Gold approved.

KLM’s Delicious designed Sandwich Packaging on European Flights

KLM Royal Dutch Airline’s sandwiches on European routes will have new packaging from 1 June. This has been designed by students of the Avans/St Joost Schools of Art & Design in Breda, the Netherlands. At the beginning of this year, KLM announced the competition “Delicious Art”. The students were asked to come up with a design that is culinary, surprising, inspirational and energetic, and which corresponds to KLM’s distinctively Dutch character.

Together with its Facebook fans, KLM assessed the entrees. Silvie Buenen, Tom van der Pijl and Agnes Loonstra produced the winning designs. Soon the three winners will board a KLM flight where they will be able to admire their own products. The three designs will be used for six months on a total of five million packets.

Paul Elich, EVP KLM Inflight Services: “To inspire our passengers during their journey, KLM has been working for many years with established names in Dutch design, such as Marcel Wanders, Mart Visser and Viktor&Rolf. The Netherlands is full of young, undiscovered talent. By asking students of the Avans/St Joost Schools of Art & Design to design new sandwich packaging, we are offering young talent the opportunity to show their work to the whole world. We are thrilled that the winning designs relate so well to KLM.”

The KLM Inflight product label is called “Delicious”. This is printed on many of KLM’s Economy Class inflight products, such as snacks, meals, sandwiches and hot towels. The “Delicious Art” packaging will be used on board KLM and KLM Cityhopper European flights which last between 100 and 170 minutes. On flights shorter than 100 minutes they will be served until 09:00 hrs.

WestJet launches westjetcargo.com

CALGARY, April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - WestJet this week launched a new stand-alone website, westjetcargo.com, allowing guests to better utilize the airline's cargo shipping services.

The site's new features include the ability to:
  • book, trace and track cargo shipments individually and in real time through an online tool
  • access the most up-to-date shipping guidelines
  • view a current list of shipping restrictions and embargoes
  • request waybills and make claims online
  • receive answers to frequently asked questions
"We are so pleased to introduce a new tool to serve guests looking to use WestJet's cargo services," said Henry Nizynski, WestJet Director of Business Development. "Since 1996 WestJet Cargo has leveraged the airline's commitment to on-time performance and a great guest experience, which extends to how we ship their items through our network." 

The launch of a dedicated website is a natural next step for WestJet Cargo, which began working with Exp-Air Cargo Ltd in 2010. This new relationship triggered a number of developments including a new payment structure, a system upgrade and a new sales team. WestJet Cargo currently serves 21 domestic stations with plans to expand into the U.S. and Mexico in the near future. 

For more information on WestJet Cargo, please visit westjetcargo.com

About WestJet
 
WestJet is Canada's preferred airline, offering scheduled service throughout its 76-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted into Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named one of Canada's best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in Canada. Named a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion, WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its modern fleet of 98 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future confirmed deliveries for an additional 37 aircraft through 2018, WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.