JetPhotos.Net Aviation News

RAK Airways (Al Hamra Airways) (www.rakairways.com) (Ras Al Khaimah) finally launched scheduled operations on November 29 in the United Arab Emirates after a lengthy delay. The inaugural flight flew from the Ras Al Khaimah (hence the name of the airline) base to Dhaka with ex-Iberia Boeing 757-256 A6-RKA (msn 29311, ex EC-HIU) (previously leased to Atlasjet). The new airline will also serve Beirut, Colombo and Sofia. The full-service flag carrier, the fourth national airline in the UAE, was established in February 2006. It is underwritten by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. The company plans to serve at least 20 destinations within the Gulf, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. Airbus and Boeing representatives are probably now visiting this previously unknown corner of the UAE.

Qatar Airways (Doha) became a Boeing customer on November 28 when it took delivery of its first Boeing. 13 additional copies will follow. 777-3DZ ER A7-BAA (msn 36009) was handed over in a ceremony. It then flew nonstop from Everett to Doha arriving on November 29. Qatar also has six 777-200 LRs (Longer Range), seven 777F freighters and 30 787 Dreamliners on order.

Copyright Photo: A7-BAA arrives at Everett after a test flight. (Royal S. King)

Mauritania Airways (Nouakchott) as planned launched scheduled operations on November 7 with an Airbus A320-211 (TS-IMH, msn 402) leased from partner Tunisair. TS-IMH was painted in Mauritania Airways colors by Tunisair Technics in Tunis. It departed Tunis on November 7. Sevenair will also lease an ATR 72-500 to the new airline. Mauritania Airways replaces defunct Air Mauritanie.

Copyright Photo: TS-IMH is pictured on July 26, 2007 preparing to land at Toulouse when it was still in Tunisair colors. (Guillaume Besnard)

SBA Tunisia (SBA Airlines) (www.jetsba.com) (Tunis) has been founded in Tunisia as the country’s first low-cost carrier by Tunisian Sami El Aouini and Swede Bejae Taylor. The new airline has applied for its air operator’s certificate (AOC) and is planning to operate Airbus A320s and A321s on routes to Amsterdam, Lagos, Manchester, Nice and Warsaw.

Atlasjet Airlines’ (Antalya) flight KK 4203 operating from Istanbul (Araturk) to Isparta in southern Turkey crashed after midnight on November 30 on approach approximately one mile northwest of the Isparta Airport. All 59 passengers and seven crew on board McDonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83) TC-AKM (msn 53185, ex TC-FBB/N879RA) died in the crash. The ex-Reno Air/American airliner was leased from World Focus Airlines and was operated by World Focus cockpit crews in Atlasjet colors. It was also operating a sub-charter for Sky Airlines on this day.

Copyright Photo: TC-AKM diverted to Nuremberg on November 5 due to foggy weather conditions at Dresden while en route from Antalya. (Gunter Mayer)

Swiss International Air Lines (Zurich and Basel) as promised has unveiled its new Hopp Schwiiz/Hop Suisse (Go Switzerland) logojet to promote the Swiss National Team and the upcoming Euro 2008 football (soccer) championship.

Copyright Photo: Airbus A320-214 HB-IJM (msn 635) arrives at Geneva on December 1 on the first day of operations with the new markings. It is titled as the “Airline for all Fans". (R. Steiner)

Silverjet (London-Luton) has been renewed with a new investment by billionaires David and Simon Rueben (owners of the Oxford Airport). The Rueben brothers have invested over $20 million in the business-class only carrier. This will buy them 18.3 million shares in the new company. The airline is now negotiating with both Airbus and Boeing about a possible A350 or 787 Dreamliner order. The airline, which commenced operations on January 25, 2007, lost over $26.9 million in the six months ending on September 30.

Copyright Photo: Ex-Thomsonfly 100-seat Boeing 767-204 ER G-SILC (msn 24736) arrives at the Luton base in the revised livery which adds some welcome tail markings. (Marcus Jellyman)

VARIG (2nd) (VRG Linhas Aereas) (Sao Paulo) has now painted its first Boeing 767-300 in the new 2007 colors.

Copyright Photo: 767-3Y0 ER N204DN (msn 26204) taxies at Shannon. (Trevor Mulkerrins)

Aerovias DAP (Punta Arenas) has taken delivery of its first BAe 146-200. Ex-PSA/US Airways/Air Wisconsin/Flightline G-FLTD (msn E2042) arrived in Chile on November 30.

Copyright Photo: G-FLTD is pictured arriving in Santiago in this all-white condition. It will be operated between the Punta Arenas base in Southern Chile and the Chilean Antarctic Presidente Frei Base! (Alvaro Romero)

Vivaaerobus.com (Monterrey) has selected Austin, TX as the first U.S. city is plans to serve. It will be making a proving run to AUS on Monday, December 3 arriving at 1320 (1:20 p.m.) local time. It plans to fly from the Monetrrey hub to Austin on a regular basis starting in March 2008. The new lost-cost carrier (LCC) started operations on December 1, 2006 and is also considering a new order for Airbus A320s. It is also considering a second hub in Mexico.

Copyright Photo: Ex-US Airways Boeing 737-3B7 XA-UGL (msn 22958, ex N385US) poses for the camera in its distinctive festive livery at the Monterrey base. (Logan Sanchez Ontiveros)

SkyWest (SkyWest Airlines) (St. George) has ordered 18 additional 66-seat Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets (to be operated for United Express) and four additional 76-seat CRJ900s (to be operated for Delta Connection). The new order also includes 22 options. SkyWest Airlines and ASA (Atlantic Southeast Airlines) (Atlanta) are the world largest operator of CRJ jets. The fleet currently includes 244 CRJ200s, 102 CRJ700s and 17 CRJ900s. All newly-ordered aircraft will be operated by SkyWest.

Copyright Photo: One of the 17 CRJ900s (CL-600-2D24s) operated for Delta is N815SK (msn 15101). It is pictured in the 2000 livery preparing to land at Minneapolis/St. Paul. (Jan Petzold)

PSA Airlines (2nd) (US Airways Express) (Dayton and Charlotte) has now painted at least three Bombardier CRJ200s (CL-600-2B19s) in the new 2005 US Airways Express colors. It currently operates 35 CRJ200s and 14 CRJ700s for US from mainly the Charlotte hub.

Copyright Photo: CRJ200 N202PS (msn 7858, ex C-FMLF) is believed to be the first to be repainted. It arrives at Reagan National Airport in Washington. (Blendi Qatipi)

Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) on November 30 launched a new route from the DEN hub to San Jose, Costa Rica. The link will be operated initially four times a week with Airbus A319 aircraft. On January 5, 2008 it will add a fifth flight on Saturdays.

Copyright Photo: Airbus A319-111 N908FR (msn 1759) brings another load of vacationers to “Sin City” (aka Las Vegas). (Bruce Drum)

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) received a jolt when one of its largest stockholders, FL Group (Reykjavik), lowered its share of AA from 9.1% to only 1.1%. The group was pressing the airline to take steps to increase stockholder value but has become disenchanted with the actions so far.

Copyright Photo: Boeing 777-223 ER N760AN (msn 31477) lines up to land at New York (JFK). (Bruce Drum)

Air Arabia (airarabia.com) (Sharjah) has been named “Low-Cost Carrier of the Year” by the Aviation Business Awards 2007 in Dubai.

Copyright Photo: Airbus A320-214 A6-ABF (msn 2764) prepares to taxi at the Sharjah hub. (Oliver Kostinger)

One-Two-Go Airlines (Bangkok) is still trying to recover from its tragic September 16, 2007 crash at Phuket. Passenger patronage has not returned to the former levels. As a result the company will introduce a new business concept. On November 22 it will launch a new shuttle type of service on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route. It will increase the number of flights operated on the route from three to nine. The company wants customers to consider the frequent service as a “shuttle bus that gets off regularly with no fuss". The airline will also offer a 50% discount for the next purchase if a flight is delayed more than two hours.

Copyright Photo: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 HS-OMC (msn 49479) prepares to land at Chiang Mai. (Nitinut)

Sudan Airways’ (Khartoum) last Boeing 707 continues to operate cargo flights. It operates regularly on the Sharjah route.

Copyright Photo: 707-3J8C ST-AFA (msn 20897) taxies at Sharjah in the current livery. It’s sister ship, ST-AFB (msn 20898) remains grounded at Khartoum. This yellow sand and blue Nile livery ironically was introduced in 1974 when the first Boeing 707 arrived. (Oliver Kostinger)

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) will operate its Airbus A310 on a series of charter flights for Exim Tours from Prague to San Salvador this winter. The charters will operate from December through May.

Copyright Photo: Airbus A310-304 OK-WAB (msn 567) thunders to the ground at JFK in New York in the 1992 livery. (Kenneth M. Petersen)