Virgin America and HBO today launched the airline’s new nonstop service from New York’s JFK airport to Las Vegas, Nevada and will unveil “Entourage Class” on the airline as well as the advance screening in flight of Season 5 of the HBO original series Entourage. Virgin America flies to seven cities, including: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, SFO to SEA, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, LAX to SEA, and now non-stop flights from JFK to LAS. HBO content will be available on Virgin from tomorrow through October 2009.
Midwest Airlines continues to attempt restructuring. Failure to restructure would mean this airline might cease to fly. We hope that doesn’t happen before we get our fresh-baked cookie. Midwest will be returning many of its Boeing 717s under lease to Boeing this fall, reducing its fleet size to a fraction of what it once was. Midwest will be charging for the first piece of checked luggage, furloughing employees, and will be added Embraer 170s to its fleet as soon as FAA approvals are given. Until then, these planes will be operated by Republic Airlines under the Midwest banner.
Southwest Airlines is transitioning to a cashless cabin beginning September 9th. We have to agree with airlines. Making change at 30,000 feet is a pain and a credit card system certainly will be smoother.
US Airways will begin nonstop service from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv starting in July 2009. Details are still forthcoming.
United Express will launch service from Portland, Oregon to both Klamath Falls, Oregon and North Bend, Oregon beginning October 12 twice daily using 30-seating Embraer 120s.
Alaska Airlines now has a Boeing only fleet, retiring the last of its MD-80s. Boeing and Alaska are both Seattle institutions. Alaska acquired its first MD-80 in 1985. Alaska’s history with the plane is marred by Flight 261 in January of 2000, which crashed as a direct result of the airline’s inadequate maintenance procedures. The greatest advantage of the conversion is an increase in fuel economy.
