Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 receiving a nice farewell. Photo from Hawaiian Airlines.
This past week, Hawaiian Airlines launched another new route to its network: Honolulu to Auckland, New Zealand. The new service will use their 294-seat Airbus A330-200.
The new service will be three days a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Honolulu (HA 445) and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Auckland (HA 446). This new route makes Hawaiian the only US carrier to serve Auckland.
’œWe have been delighted by the interest in our new service, both here at home and in New Zealand,’ said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO. ’œThe deep cultural connections between our islands and the islands of Aotearoa make New Zealand a natural destination for Hawaiian and for our singular brand of authentic Hawaiian hospitality.’
Hawaiian Dancers celebrate the New Zealand flight. Photo from Hawaiian Airlines.
’œThe United States is a vital market for New Zealand leisure and business travel, and is a key focus for our marketing efforts given the significant potential for growth that exists,” Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler stated.
This is the first of three new services announced to launch this year, along with Sendai, Japan and Taipei, Taiwan. In the last couple of years the airline’s aggressive expansion has included numerous routes to Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Tahiti, American Samoa and increased service to Australia.
The inaugural flight of HA 445 was celebrated with gate side festivities that included Hawaiian music and hula, a performance honoring the Maori culture and a traditional Hawaiian blessing
Hawaiian Airlines Maori Dancers during inaugural celebration. Photo from Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines has also announced that it plans to move up its Portland to Honolulu Airbus A330-200 launch date as it is taking earlier than expected delivery of new aircraft. The route is currently flown using a Boeing 767. Portland can now expect the A330 to start service on April 20th, which is about three weeks early.
The airline has been in the process of replacing their aging Boeing 767-300’s and has also announced orders for the Airbus A321neo as they continue their rapid expansion across the Pacific.
This story written by…Brandon Farris, Correspondent.
Brandon is an avid aviation geek based in Seattle. He got started in Photography and Reporting back in 2010. He loves to travel where ever he has to to cover the story and try to get the best darn shot possible.
I have almost gotten over my addiction with Gangnam Style (don’t judge me), sung by South Korean author Psy. It does not help when SpeedbirdHD recently posted a video highlighting Korean Air flights to/from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the song Gangnam Style. Two of my favorite things combined, equals I want to share. The video shows Korean Air’s Airbus A380, A330, Boeing 747-400 and 777-300ER at LAX.
Even if you are sick and tired of the song, hit mute or put on your own tunes and watch this video.
HI-RES IMAGE (click for larger). Air Pacific’s new livery and name (Fiji Airways) seen on an Airbus A330. Image from Fiji Airways.
Air Pacific, the national airline of Fiji, is not doing too shabby. During the financial year 2011/2012, they recorded their highest revenue ever of $362.4 million and it is time for the airline to start spending that money.
Not only is the airline changing their look and ordering new aircraft, they are totally revamping their brand and changing their name to Fiji Airways. The name is not new, it was what the airline was called from 1951 to 1970 before changing to Air Pacific.
HI-RES IMAGE (click for larger). Underbelly and engine cowling design of Fiji Airway’s Airbus A330. Image from Fiji Airways.
The airline will take delivery of three brand new Airbus A330 aircraft in 2013 (one in March, one in May and the final in November), which will show off their new Fiji Airways livery. The A330s will be used to replace Air Pacific’s Boeing 747-400’s.
Air Pacific / Fiji Airways will phase out their Boeing 747-400’s. This shows their current livery. Image by AirlineReporter.com
From the company’s press release: “To help evoke its classic heritage as the national carrier of Fiji, the new Fiji Airways brandmark is a new Masi symbol designed by a renowned Fijian Masi artist, Makereta Matemosi. Masi is a traditional local art form that has been a respected part of Fijian culture for several centuries. The distinctive Masi symbol is a Teteva motif; symbolizing the airline, its values and the spirit of Fiji. The Teteva will also represent the connection that Fiji Airways will offer between the country’s 333 islands and the rest of the world.”
HI-RES IMAGE (click for larger). Fiji Airway’s new economy interior. Image from Fiji Airways.
’œThe unveiling of the new look and features of our soon-to-arrive A330s is the latest milestone in a series of initiatives that are a part of the Air Pacific’s restructuring and rebranding,’ said Dave Pflieger, Air Pacific’s Managing Director and CEO. “We have made significant progress with our turnaround plan during the last 30 months, and have taken great strides to ensure everyone who steps aboard Fiji Airways in 2013 will be able to start their holiday when they step aboard. Service and comfort are top priorities, and these state-of-the-art aircraft promise the best of both worlds.”
HI-RES Image (click for larger). Fiji Airway’s new business class product is by Zodiac Aerospace/Weber. Image from Fiji Airways.
Fiji Airways will offer a new interior product as well, featuring the Panasonic eX2 IFEC in-flight entertainment (IFE) option. This is the same system that I was able to try out on LAN’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner and let me tell you it is slick.
The 249 economy seats on-board will offer a 7.5″ recline, 9″ IFE screens and access to power outlets and USB connections. The 24 business class will have a 60″ pitch, a bed length of 76″ and a 15.4″ IFE screen. Unfortunately, the business class seats do not fully recline, but quite close with a 8 degree angle.
Yes. The building is designed to look like an airliner. Only in Dubai.
It was surreal pulling up to the Emirates Airline training facility in Dubai to find that part of the building was designed to look like an airliner — engines and all. In retrospect, it shouldn’t be too surprising, since this is the land of bigger and better and Emirates Airline seems to fit right in.
Emirates currently has a fleet of over 175 aircraft, flying to 120 destinations and they have no plans to slow down their growth. The airline hopes to hire around 4,000 additional cabin crew by the end of 2012.
Emirates is not an airline that cares only about the number of employees, but also the quality. They hire people from around the world to train to be some of the best flight crew in the world and Emirates Aviation College in Dubai is where every new hire will start.
A Majlis, where students learn about the Emirates culture and the cultures of others.
Each week, about 80-120 near new trainees will start their seven week long educational journey. Each class is comprised of people from around the world, making Emirate’s employees some of the most diverse. At any given time, there are about 130 nationalities represented among the trainees and about 70 among the the trainers.
One of the first steps of every trainee is learning about Arabic hospitality and about the other cultures represented among the company and passengers in a themed roomed call the Majlis room. The crew’s diversity helps them easily interact with many of the passengers that will be flying on the airline.
Flight Stewardesses train how to properly serve passengers in this Airbus A380 mock interior trainer.
One can only learn so much by reading out of a book or being lectured to. That is why each trainee is given hands on experience in one of the interior cabin mock-ups. From greeting passengers to learning what order to serve them food, to pointing out how to operate the on-board showers, the mock ups provide opportunities for students to learn new ways of doing things and to learn from their mistakes.
Each trainee is taught how each cabin is designed to give their passengers a unique experience. Emirates tries to make first class passengers feel like they are on a private jet, where business class passengers will receive a “my retreat” experience and finally a “surprising treat” type encounter for economy.
Part-time Emirates Trainer and Senior Flight Stewardess Lisa Williamson works the bar in the Airbus A380 trainer.
One part of the training is learning when it might be best to start weaning a passenger off alcohol, when they have had one too many. This can be more of a challenge when that passenger is in a public space, like the business and first class bar on board an Emirates Airbus A380. Unlike a bar on the ground, a drunk person cannot be kicked out. It takes a certain skill level to cut a person’s alcohol without insulting them. Lisa Williamson, part-time Emirates Trainer and Senior Flight Stewardess, explained how Emirates follows a delay, distract, dilute and then, deny strategy.
Every flight stewardess learns how to properly wear their uniform and wear make-up.
A group of Emirates flight crew walking in an airport garners attention — and for good reason. Their outfit is one that stands out and each trainee must go through training on how to wear their uniform, style their hair, apply their make up and of course on how to properly wear their signature red hat.
Emirates Boeing 777 safety trainer is able to move on three axis, providing realistic scenarios inside the cabin.
Although learning how flight crew should properly wear make up is interesting enough, getting to the training pool with a mock up for the Boeing 777, Airbus A380 and A330/A340 is much more aligned with my interests.
Unlike other safety training mock-ups I have seen, both the 777 and A340/A330 trainers are able to move on 3-axis. Due to the size of the larger A380 trainer, it did not move and was stationary.
New trainees practice helping a passenger who is passed out down the slide.
In the aircraft training room there is a pool that is surrounded by all three aircraft mock-ups. On one side, crew are able to practice water evacuations, where on the the other side, slides allow trainees the ability to practice sliding to the ground. This can be a mentally and physically challenging part of training and those flight crew that are not able (or un-willing) to go down the slide, are unable to continue the overall training program.
Emirates Airbus A380 and A340/A330 Safety Trainer.
Like most other things in Dubai, the aircraft training room was huge — it has to be. There was no shortage of eye candy watching both the A330/340 and Boeing 777 trainers rocking and rolling, hearing trainees yell for their training and seeing them jump out of the slides. I probably could have stayed in that room all day — heck probably all week.
Unfortunately during out visit, there was no one who jumped into the pool.
Who needs Disney Land, when you can take a ride on an Airbus A380 upper-deck slide.
The photo above does not accurately convey how steep and long the upper deck slide on the Airbus A380 is from the top to the ground. It made me feel a bit nervous just standing on the ground and I could imagine that some trainees would have some hesitation sliding down for the first time. At first glance, the facility might seem like fun and games, but crews are practicing worse case scenarios on how to keep passengers safe and how to save lives.
From providing the best customer service as possible, to helping passengers in a disastrous situation, the Emirates Airline Crew Training facility prepares everyone to have a successful career with the airline.
F-GZCP, the Airbus A330 involved in Air France flight 447, taken in March 2007. Photo by Pawel Kierzkowski / Wikipedia.
I have read quite a bit about Air France flight 447 that crashed on June 1, 2009. I think a recent story from Popular Mechanics is the best and really paints a picture about what really happened in the cockpit of that Airbus A330 the day of the accident.
The story shows what was said on the voice recorder and explains what it all means, very interesting and worth the time to read it.
