- American Airlines will be upgrading Boeing 757 aircraft, of which it has 124 in its fleet, over the next two years. The enhancements will include new economy cabin suits, new sidewalls, new LCD monitors to replace the CRTs for inflight entertainment, and new digital media file servers for better in-flight audio and video entertainment quality. Work is scheduled to begin in 2008. The airline already has plans to refit its 777, 767-200s and 767-300s, some of which are already in progress.
- Air Canada announced new daily nonstop service from Halifax to Gander. Flights will be operated by Air Canada Jazz using a combination of 50-seat CRJs and 37-seat Dash-8-100s this summer, and all CRJs in the winter. As the President of Gander Airport put it, “Air Canada has remained committed to Gander International Airport since its inception as Trans-Canada Air Lines over 70 years ago and we look forward to a productive, prosperous relationship.”
- Air Canada has exercised existing options and purchase rights for an additional 23 787 Dreamliners. The revised order will allow them to replace nearly all of its 767s leased aircraft when their leases expire.
- Boeing announced today that Virgin Atlantic will be buying 15 787 Dreamliner jets. The order includes options for additional eight 787-9s and purchase rights for an additional 20. Boeing will also cooperate with Virgin on a demonstration of biofuels in jet engines sometime next year.
- Northwest officially acquired Mesaba Airlines today.
- Aeroflot introduced President, a new executive travel class on its 767 transatlantic flights, and flights to Asia lasting six hours or longer. It includes dedicated check-in desks, priority baggage handling, access to executive lounge facilities. Onboard, it includes reclined lie-flat soft seats, blankets, cushions, extra space and privacy.
- Horizon ordered 15 additional new Q400s and 20 options from Bombardier. Delivery is scheduled to begin in October 2008 and continue through August 2009. As they are delivered, Horizon will phase out its 37-seat Q200s from its fleet and operate only Q400s and 70-seat CRJ-700 jets. Horizon was the North American launch customer for the Q400 in 2001, and when it finishes this delivery, it will operate 48 of them, the most in North America.
- Flights will be resuming to Parkersburg, Clarksburg, and Morgantown, West Virginia on May 1st when Colgan Air, operating as US Airways Express, takes over Essential Air Service to these airports. It will operate its service to Pittsburgh. Colgan already operates service to Dulles Airport from Beckley, Bluefield, and Charleston in West Virginia.
