Quick Takes – Mitsubishi, SATA, AE, CO Ex, Horizon, Jetstream, Porter

MHI Joins Regional Organizations Just before it announced the launch of its MRJ regional airliner with ANA’s order, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) joined three major international aviation industry associations - the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), U.S. Regional Airline Association...

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MHI Joins Regional Organizations
Just before it announced the launch of its MRJ regional airliner with ANA’s order, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) joined three major international aviation industry associations - the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), U.S. Regional Airline Association (RAA) and International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s Strategic Partnerships program - as part of its effort to establish a firm position within the industry. See related story, this issue.
In October 2007, MHI announced its formal decision on authorization to offer (ATO) the MRJ to potential customer airlines worldwide and began related sales activities. As a company aiming to enter a new business phase of manufacturing and marketing its own passenger jets, and in a quest to contribute to the development of the aviation industry, MHI hopes its involvement in the three international associations will help the company better understand the needs of airlines and also provide access to the latest developments in the industry.

Q400 to Grupo SATA of Portugal
Grupo SATA (Sociedade Acoriana de Transportes Aereos, S.A.) of Ponta Delgada, Portugal signed a contract to acquire four Q400 NextGen aircraft for its SATA Air Acores regional airline.
Based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the value of the contract is approximately $113 million. The order increases firm orders for Q400 aircraft to 300, with 190 delivered as of January 31, 2008. Grupo SATA is the fifth new customer for Bombardier this year.
SATA Air Acores has been in operation for more than 60 years and serves all nine islands of the Azores as well as Madeira and the Canary Islands. Its Q400 aircraft will be configured with 80 seats.
"Our current aircraft have been in service for a number of years and it is time to replace them with new-technology, more economical aircraft," said Chair Antonio Gomes de Menezes. "The Bombardier Q400 aircraft meets all of our requirements for increased passenger and cargo capacity, cabin comfort, lower fuel consumption and improved environmental compatibility."

AE Expands with News Service
American Eagle began service recently between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and Tampico, Mexico (TAM). The addition of this new route increases American Airlines offerings to 15 cities throughout Mexico. American Eagle will fly the route daily with its 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets.
At the same time, the regional airline began Grand Junction-Dallas/Fort Worth service using 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145s.
Finally, American Eagle adds three daily nonstop flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Central Wisconsin Airport in Wausau, Wis. (CWA), beginning June 1 using 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets.

New Continental Express Service from CLE
Continental Express on Sunday begins new daily nonstop service from its Cleveland hub at Hopkins International Airport to four new cities - Birmingham, Ala., Charleston, S.C., Green Bay, Wis. and Tulsa, Okla. The new service will use 50-seat regional jets. The new cities are part of Continental's expansion program underway at Cleveland that adds new domestic nonstop destinations. New service from Cleveland to Greensboro, N.C., Omaha, Neb. and Savannah, Ga. began in March. The new service from CLE to Birmingham and Charleston will be operated by ExpressJet Airlines, and the service to Green Bay and Tulsa will be operated by Chautauqua Airlines. All will be on 50-seat Embraer 145 regional jets.

Horizon Air to Serve New Flagstaff/Grand Canyon Service
Horizon Air will offer twice-daily nonstop service from Los Angeles to Flagstaff/Grand Canyon, Ariz., starting June 23. Introductory one-way fares from Flagstaff will start as low as $89 to Los Angeles, $139 to Seattle, and $129 to Portland, Ore., with similarly low fares to other cities throughout the West, including Mexico. Horizon's flights will use 74- to 76-seat Bombardier Q400s.
"Travelers from Flagstaff can say goodbye to missed connections or the long, unpredictable drive to another airport," said Dan Russo, Horizon's director of marketing and communications. With Horizon's new flights, Flagstaff-area residents will gain an easier way to travel to Southern California and beyond. Similarly, the service is expected to boost tourism to Northern Arizona by facilitating inbound travel from a wide variety of national and international airlines.
Flagstaff, 80 miles from the Grand Canyon, is home to several natural, cultural and scientific attractions including the world renowned Lowell Observatory, the prestigious Museum of Northern Arizona and the Arboretum at Flagstaff, which houses one of the nation's largest collections of high-desert wildflowers. Flagstaff is also the ideal spot to take-off for a northern Arizona adventure. Visitors will enjoy exploring many other impressive natural wonders in the area, including the Red Rocks of Sedona, the San Francisco Peaks, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments and numerous Native American communities. The city is also home to Northern Arizona University, as well as a diverse group of Fortune 500 companies.

Jetstream for Scottish Airline
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft sold a 29-seat Jetstream 41 regional turboprop airliner to Inverness-based Highland Airways. The aircraft (msn 41041) was delivered to Inverness in late March for customization. Entry into service is planned for early summer.
Established originally in 1991, Highland Airways provides passenger, corporate, oil exploration and freight charters, and fishery protection services. It also operates scheduled Western Isles Council Public Services Obligation (PSO) services to destinations such as Stornaway, Benbecula and Sumburgh. In addition, the airline flies a twice-daily Welsh PSO route between Anglesey and Cardiff and also provides daily newspaper distribution flights to the Northern and Western Isles.
The airline flies five 19-seat Jetstream 31s and a number of smaller Cessna light transports. In addition to its scheduled and charter services, Highland Airways operates two Jetstream 31s on dedicated corporate shuttle work. The newly acquired Jetstream 41 also will be used for this role, ferrying staff for a UK company between Scotland and the English southwest.
Highland Airways is an EASA 145-approved engineering organisation and has Jetstream 41 line maintenance capability at Inverness.

Porter Launches TCCA-Newark
The long-awaited launch of Porter Airlines’ new service between Toronto and New York began last week with the first Bombardier Q400 service from Porter’s Toronto City Center Airport (TCCA). The Toronto-based airline enters the U.S. market with the launch of seven daily roundtrip flights to Newark Liberty International. The ceremonial first flight for the new route was greeted by the airport’s traditional fire truck water salute.
As part of the airline’s expansion into the U.S., Porter has already taken delivery of six new aircraft with six additional aircraft expected to be delivered in the next 12 months to broaden the route network from Toronto to destinations such as Boston, Chicago, Washington and Philadelphia.
“The introduction of Porter’s Toronto-New York route makes air travel between two of North America’s most important business and cultural centres easier than ever,” said Don Carty, Porter’s chair. “We’ve seized an opportunity to redefine short-haul air travel and offer passengers more than transportation. Our commitment to service is reflected in our schedules, fare structure and complimentary amenities.”
“With our location at TCCA, we can save passengers up to two hours or more of travel time compared to what they would experience flying out of busy, congested Pearson Airport,” said CEO Robert Deluce. “That’s a great proposition for time-sensitive business travellers.”