Some real classics as seen at New York's La Guardia in 1977. Click for larger.
You might be an airline nerd if you spent a good chunk of your time looking at random photos of classic airliners on the internet. Well, I happen to do just that more than I want to admit. Every once in a while I come across one that really moves me for one way or another and I want to share.
I just love this photo with the Allegheny DC-9 (N964VJ) parked next to the Braniff International Boeing 727-100 (N301BN) and next to a Southern DC-9. I think the best part are the Boeing 737 and 727 in different United Airlines livery.
The Boeing 737 is in the Friend Ship livery and the Boeing 727 is in the newer tulip livery, that matches the United service truck. Also notice the Allegheny tug is sporting their “new” livery that was then used on USAir after their purchase.
A special thanks to George Hamlin for taking this photo and letting me use it.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the factory, to fly for ANA.
In a press release sent out today, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced they will, “that it will operate its first revenue flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as a charter international flight from Tokyo, Narita to Hong Kong.”
ANA stated that they expect the first revenue flight to occur about one month after they accept delivery of their initial Boeing 787 Dreamliner in September. Previously, Boeing has announced they plan to deliver the first 787 sometime in August or September.
The airline planes to also operate two domestic excursion flights departing and landing in Narita and lasting about an hour to allow more people to experience what it is like to fly on a Boeing 787.
The excursion flights will be made available to frequent flyers and ANA Mileage Card members (lucky folks). More information on the flights and how to try to secure your own tickets will be announced at a later date on ANA’s 787 Dreamliner website.
Europe Airpost Boeing 737-300 (F-GIXJ).
Europe Airpost is the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 737-300QC (Quick Change) aircraft with 14 in the fleet. That aircraft allows the airline to quickly change (hence the name) from cargo to passenger service quite quickly. Europe Airpost also operates two passenger only Boeing 737-700s, two all cargo Boeing 737-300s and four all cargo Fokker 27s.
The airline was founded in 1991, although its roots can be tracked back to L’Aeropostale in 1927. Europe Airpost is based out of Bà¢timent Le Squoia in France. They operate cargo operations and charter passenger services.
Their livery is unique and just looks cool, but I have always been a fan of yellow. It is hard to have so much solid color on a livery and make it look good and the swooping lines of gray and blue make it work.
Image: EL-RJD
As of midnight last night, part of the FAA shut down due to fun politics. Part of the shutdown was not having the ability to renew FAA taxes on airline ticket sales. Some airlines are taking advantage of this and offering lower fares, others are using this as a chance to earn a little extra dough.
It makes sense for airlines to go both directions. One is really just your classic sale promotion and using the timing of the taxes. For the others, I would assume that most consumers do not understand that there are no taxes and are not aware that even though the taxes are removed, most airlines have just raised fares to compensate.
UPDATE 1: I have confirmed that Spirit Airlines is passing the savings on to customers. I have heard rumors that Frontier is as well, but waiting to confirm.
UPDATE 2: Hawaiian Airlines is also sharing the love with customers.
UPDATE 3 (7/24 2pm PDT): Frontier Airlines is also sharing the love. American and JetBlue have raised their fares.
UPDATE 4 (7/25 7:45am PDT): It looks like some airlines might have had a change of heart. Working to confirm, but appears that Virgin America and Frontier might have stopped passing on their savings and have raised fares. For now I am changing Virgin America and Frontier to “unknown.” Also checking in with Alaska, Spirit and Hawaiian to see their thoughts.
UPDATE 5 (7/25 8:55am PDT): Spirit Airlines has confirmed they are still offering lower fares. Virgin America has raised some of their fares, but not all of them.
Currently, only a few airlines are passing the FAA tax savings to customers.
I am trying to talk directly to US airlines through out the day and will be updating. I am hearing somethings from reliable sources, others are more like rumors and I am being sure to indicate each:
ALASKA AIRLINES- Sharing the Love
Alaska Airlines is advertising on their main page that they are having cheaper prices due to no FAA taxes. A spokesperson with Alaska explained via email, “We’re not raising fares. We’ll continue to pass the savings on to customers.”
SPIRIT AIRLINES- Sharing the Love
I have confirmed directly with Spirit that they are passing down the savings and have no plans to stop.
As of 6:30pm PST on 7/24 there is no information about their “Spirit Airlines is Giving Customers Their Share of $200 Million Per Week in Tax Savings!” deal on their webpage, but an email was sent out to their VIP customers (thanks John B for sharing). In the email they state, “Spirit has become a model for transparency, ensuring customers are not impacted by hidden fees as practiced by other airlines and the government.”
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES- Sharing the Love
Hawaiian Airlines is promoting saving money via the FAA Taxes on Twitter: “Some major federal taxes on airline tickets have taken the weekend off. BOOK NOW.”
VIRGIN AMERICA- Sharing Some of the Love
Over the weekend, Virgin America ran a special “Evade Taxes. Take Flight,” campaign, but now the website is changed. As of 10:40pm last night they were advertising fares with lower federal taxes. As of Monday morning, they have raised some of their fares. “Yes, we were automatically passing on the equivalent discount (down to the decimal) across the board through the weekend ’“ and encouraging guests to grab the discount early,” Abby Lunardini with Virgin America Communications explained over email. But, given the dynamic nature of fares, with the Monday morning fare load ’“ some fares have changed and/or moved up, but some of the discounts have held.”
FRONTIER AIRLINES- Unknown
As of Monday morning I am hearing rumors that Frontier has raised their prices. Emails, calls and messages sent via Twitter have not yet been returned to confirm.
DELTA AIR LINES- Keeping the Money
It seemed earlier in the day that Delta was going to share the love, but it has been decided to raise fares.
SOUTHWEST AND AIRTRAN- Keeping the Money
“Southwest and AirTran implemented a system wide fare increase of $4 each-way to help offset industry cost pressures ’“ such as the rising expense of fuel,” Brad Hawkins with Southwest Communications explained over email. “Our current ticket prices will remain the same (Customers will not see an increase in fares), as the 7.5% excise tax will not be collected. These decisions were made in light of the recent industry change in aviation tax collections, and we made a business decisions to remain competitive in these economically challenging times.”
UNITED AIRLINES- Keeping the Money
United has decided to match the taxes and have increased fares.
AMERICAN AIRLINES- Keeping the Money
According to the LA Times, American Airlines and JetBlue have raised their fares and are keeping the extra FAA tax money. “So in effect the taxes are not being collected, but the price paid by the customer remains the same,” American’s Tim Smith told the LA Times.
JETBLUE- Keeping the Money
JetBlue has decided to raise fairs and a spokesperson told AirlineReporter.com, “We’re working with the Federal Government to determine how the recent expiration of the Federal Excise Tax, and other taxes, will impact our operation. We have participated in an industry-wide fare increase in order to remain competitive.”
Three years is a long time, but I can keep on going.
Three years ago today I made my first (and totally amazing) post — a lot has changed since then. It has been an unbelievable three years, but not without its challenges. Over the past three years I have also worked a “real” job and juggled personal life, work and the blog — but it has been worth it.
I have felt privileged to have been given so many rad opportunities and the ability to share them with you fine folks.
To celebrate the birthday of the blog, I want to SEND YOU FREE STICKERS. All you need to do is email me your mailing address to da***@*************er.com (do not worry, won’t do anything with you address, but mail stickers) and I will sending you some AirlineReporter.com stickers as a thank you for reading the blog.
