- Virgin Atlantic became the first airline to fly a plane on biofuel, as it partnered with GE, Boeing, and Imperium Renewables. If babassu and coconut oil is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than jet fuel, then we’re all for it.
- Alitalia will launch nonstop Rome-Los Angeles service on June 1st. The service, the only nonstop between Italy and California, will operate five days a week usuing a Boeing 777 aircraft.
- JetBlue will launch daily nonstop service from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas beginning May 1st, with its Airbus A320 aircraft. Once daily is not that much service for this short route, especially compared to Delta’s service on the route, but it will certainly help the JetBlue reservations staff unwind for the weekend.
- JetBlue also announced new service from Austin, which it appears to be building into a focus city. Beginning May 1st, they will launch service to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and San Francisco, complementing previously announced Long Beach service. Service will be operated exclusively by Embraer 190 regional jets.
- Delta has adjusted its international schedule to accommodate increased demand. It’s new New York-Lyon, France service will begin June 3rd instead of July 15th; its New York to Capetown via Dakar will increase to four times weekly, beginning June 3rd, as will its service from New York to Malaga, Spain. New York to Orly, France will increase to five times weekly on June 2nd, going daily in July. Atlanta to Venice will increase to four times weekly and a second flight from Atlanta to Sao Paulo will operate five times weekly from June 15th through August 15th.
- Delta announced the beginning of service from Atlanta to St. Kitts.
- Delta will also be serving Georgetown, Guyana from JFK, a route currently operated by North American Airlines, who will be vacating the route as it withdraws from all scheduled service on May 19th. Delta’s service will begin on July 2nd, operating four times weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday .
- Delta Airlines wants to remind passengers about its continuing Saturday only Boston to New Orleans nonstop, as well as other vacation options for the Boston traveler. Daily service to Quebec City, Quebec and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island resumes June 13th. On May 3rd, weekend nonstop service to Myrtle Beach, SC begins. All service operated by Comair.
- AirTran Airways announced plans to begin service to Burlington, VT. Effective May 21st, they will begin three daily flights to BWI, using their Boeing 717-200 aircraft.
- AirTran also added transcontinental flights from its focus city at BWI. Seasonal service will resume to Seattle, as well as new flights to Los Angeles, and service to Dallas/Ft. Worth on May 6th.
- AirTran also began seasonal Florida service last week, adding service between Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh, Penn., and the following destinations: Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., and Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, Fla; as well as flights between LaGuardia Airport in New York, N.Y., and both Daytona Beach and Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla. Additional options include flights between Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News, Va., and Tampa; flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minn., and Tampa; flights between Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Buffalo, N.Y., and Ft. Myers; and flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport near Raleigh, N.C., and Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla.
