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Hello and welcome to the The Atlantic Update for Wednesday 11 April 2018, providing a weekly bulletin on developments on transatlantic travel between Europe and North America. The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday morning at 06:00 BST.
American Airlines Boeing 787 Order
American Airlines has confirmed it has placed a new order for 47 Boeing 787 aircraft.
The order comprises 22 Boeing 787-800 aircraft which will be delivered from 2020 and 25 Boeing 787-900 aircraft which will be delivered from 2023.
The new Boeing 787-800 deliveries will replace the Boeing 767-300. The Boeing 787-900 will replace Airbus A330-300 and older Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
American Airlines has also cancelled an order for 22 Airbus A350 which was originally placed by US Airways. The two airlines merged in 2014.
Norwegian suspends Scotland routes
Last year, Norwegian gained a huge amount of PR with the launch of Boeing 737 MAX 8 flights from Edinburgh (and other airports in the UK & Ireland) to New York (Stewart Airport), Hartford Connecticut, and Providence.
Having already suspended Edinburgh – Hartford, Norwegian has also confirmed that flights from Edinburgh to Providence will be suspended for the winter from the end of October. Flights from Belfast, Cork and Shannon to Providence will also operate in the summer only.
Edinburgh to New York (Stewart) will also operate in the summer only.
Low cost long-haul airlines have opened up many new secondary destinations but this does lead to the question as to whether they are sustainable year-round without the feeder traffic, cargo and business class passengers of traditional network carriers.
Separately, Bloomberg reports that Norwegian has deferred the launch of flights from Europe to Canada until 2019, citing delays to the delivery of new aircraft. (Bloomberg)
The curse of Norwegian flight DI7013
Staying with Norwegian, pity the passengers of Norwegian flight DI7013 from London Gatwick to New York JFK.
As if an early morning departure for New York JFK wasn’t bad enough (it is utterly brutal for jet lag) many flights have been operated by an Airbus A330 / A340 aircraft chartered from Hi Fly, instead of a shiny new Norwegian Boeing 787.
And if that wasn’t enough, the flight has been subject to some stonking delays – close to 24 hours in some cases. A cursory of scan of data from Flightradar24 shows the following delays over the past week:
Date Scheduled Departure – Actual Departure
2 April 07:45 – 10:33
3 April 07:45 – 09:36
5 April 06:30 – 16:19
6 April 07:45 – 12:21
7 April 07:45 – 15:40
8 April 06:05 – 15:27
9 April 07:45 – 12:06
10 April 07:45 – 08:55
Not once for the dates above has the flight taken off within an hour of its schedule departure time.
Primera Air
Next week, Thursday 19 April 2018, Primera Air will launch its inaugural flight from London Stansted to New York Newark.
Flights to Boston will follow from Friday 18 May, Toronto from Thursday 31 May, and Washington Dulles from Wednesday 22 August 2018.
Primera Air had planned to launch services using brand new Airbus A321 aircraft. However, the New York Newark route will be operated with a chartered Boeing 757 from launch on Thursday 19 April 2018 to Friday 4 May 2018. After little more than a week of Airbus A321 operations, the flight reverts to a chartered Boeing 757 from Sunday 13 May until Sunday 5 August 2018.
Boston will also be operated with a Boeing 757 from launch on Friday 18 May until 28 May 2018. Toronto Pearson and Washington Dulles are currently due to operate with Airbus A321 from launch.
Air Canada begins Boeing 737 MAX 8 operations at London Heathrow
Air Canada has begun operating the Boeing 737 MAX 8 at London Heathrow.
Air Canada’s daily flight to Halifax has been operated with the Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Thursday 5 April 2018, replacing a Boeing 767.
Air Canada will also operate the London Heathrow – St John’s route with the Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Tuesday 1 May 2018, replacing an Airbus 319 aircraft.
Fellow Canadian airline WestJet is also due to operate the Boeing 737 Max 8 on London Gatwick – Halifax from Monday 30 April 2018.
Separately, Air Canada has announced a new fare structure for flights within North America, introducing a new “Comfort” economy fare. (Air Canada)
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has announced a new route from New York JFK to San Jose from Friday 6 July 2018. The airline will also increase frequencies from New York JFK to Seattle from this date to three times daily.
Alaska Airlines also expects to open a new lounge for premium passengers at New York JFK Terminal 7 later this month. (Alaska Airlines)
Also of note this week:
CNBC looks back at the 2008 merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines. (CNBC)
Delta to launch new staff uniforms (using a familiar colour scheme) on Tuesday 29 May 2018. (Delta)
Andy Byford joins the New York City Transit Authority and takes charge of fixing the New York Subway. (BBC News)
Virgin Atlantic’s new and much-vaunted three tier economy product has officially taken to the skies from yesterday, Monday 9 April. (Virgin Atlantic)
The Atlantic Update is published every Wednesday at 06:00 BST. If you have any comments, suggestions or tips then please drop us a line at mail [@] londonairtravel.com
