Air Canada has revealed its 2024 Top 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada,

Montreal restaurant Sabayon ranks first overall, with Toronto's Mhel and Maison de Soma from Mont-Tremblant in second and third place 

More than 30 restaurants were visited in 2024 by a single anonymous reviewer, who assessed all aspects of the dining experience 

Celebrating 23 years, Air Canada's Best New Restaurants is the longest running and most respected Canadian restaurant ranking

Air Canada has revealed its 2024 Top 10 Best New Restaurants in Canada, with Montreal's Sabayon taking top spot. Led by acclaimed pastry chef Patrice Demers and sommelier Marie-Josée Beaudoin, Sabayon offers intimate afternoon tea and evening dinner services that showcase locally sourced seasonal ingredients.

The Top 10 restaurants were revealed at a special Air Canada's Best New Restaurants celebration held in Toronto on November 4, 2024. Chefs and teams from the Top 10 restaurants were invited to receive their awards and share dishes from their winning menus with industry professionals, Air Canada guests and invited members of the public.  The 2024 edition of Air Canada's Best New Restaurants is generously supported by Diageo Canada, as returning gold level sponsor. Air Canada thanks Diageo Canada for their ongoing commitment to enriching Canada's culinary landscape.            

In second place, Toronto-based Mhel, by co-owners Seung-min Yi and Young Hoon Ji, serves Korean-Japanese dishes with a touch of magic. Taking third place, Édith Foliot and Didier Lortie's Maison de Soma redefines farm-to-table dining from a 600-acre property in the Laurentian Mountains. 

"At Air Canada, we are thrilled to share the very best of our country with the world and for more than two decades, this program has shone a spotlight on Canada's vibrant, world-class culinary scene," said Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand at Air Canada. "Food is an enriching part of travel experiences and through this program which supports new businesses, we hope to inspire travellers with even more compelling reasons to explore our country."

Now in its 23rd year, Air Canada's Best New Restaurants reviews dining spots opened across the country between late spring 2023 and May 31, 2024. Judged by a single, anonymous reviewer, the Top 10 list evaluates all aspects of the dining experience, from culinary vision and quality of ingredients to service and overall team spirit.

This year's Top 10 restaurants were selected by award-winning cookbook author, Wall of Bakers judge and culinary journalist Tara O'Brady. Her gastronomic journey spanned over 30 restaurants in 16 cities nationwide, from a cliffside bed and breakfast in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland and Labrador, to a bustling kitchen in Victoria Public Market.

"Every restaurant I visited told an eloquent story about its community, championing local ingredients and diverse culinary traditions," said Ms. O'Brady. "Notably, this year is the 'year of the couple,' with five of the Top 10 (and each of the top three spots) run by restaurateurs who are partners in both life and business."

The 2024 Air Canada's Best New Restaurants program saw the return of special mentions including Dish of the Year, Dessert of the Year, Cocktail of the Year, Design of the Year, Sides of the Year and Concept of the Year.

The Top 10 Air Canada Best New Restaurants of 2024 in order are:

Skyborne has partnered with DHL, the world’s leading logistics company!

Skyborne has partnered with DHL, the world’s leading logistics company! 

DHL Air (UK) is offering a route to the flight deck for employees who support other parts of the operation. Successful applicants will complete Skyborne’s Integrated ATPL programme, which is fully sponsored by the airline. What an opportunity of a lifetime!

Skyborne says "We are delighted to have welcomed the first trainees to our Gloucestershire HQ and look forward to seeing them grow and excel on this exciting journey".

British Airways has been flying in and out of London City Airport for 25 years.......

The UK's leading legacy carrier, British Airways is celebrating 25 years of flying to and from London City Airport.

Well, actually, that's not quite accurate, British Airways itself hasn't been operating from the London docklands Airport all that time.  It was a BA franchise partner called British Regional Airlines that started flying on 5 November 1999, between Sheffield and London City. Since then, other BA subsidiaries or franchise partners have used the airport, welcoming more than 27 million passengers. 

BA Cityflyer, another subsidiary airline, began flying from London City in 2007 and has since flown to more than 50 destinations across Europe. Cities such as Frankfurt and Geneva have been some of the longest-serving routes, with Edinburgh being the most flown-to destination, closely followed by Glasgow, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. That airline currently has a schedule that includes 26 short-haul destinations – the furthest of which is Mykonos.

BA Cityflyer’s CEO, Tom Stoddart, said: “Not only is London City easily accessible from across the capital, but it’s a quick and seamless journey through the airport, from check-in to gate in 20 minutes. We’re proud to offer this experience to our customers, and reaching this quarter-century milestone is a testament to our team’s hard work in growing our operation over the years.”

Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, said: “We are delighted to celebrate 25 years of our special relationship with British Airways and its subsidiary BA Cityflyer, which represents a huge milestone in the history of London City Airport as our largest serving carrier.

As London’s most centrally located airport offering an unrivalled customer experience, we are excited for our passengers to take advantage of this fantastic anniversary offer to fly to a range of exciting holiday destinations.”

easyJet and easyJet holidays awarded Menopause Friendly Accreditation

The airline and holidays companies are some of the first in their industry to receive the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, recognising their efforts to provide support for colleagues affected by menopause.

easyJet is the first airline, while easyJet holidays is amongst one of the first holiday companies, to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation, following a thorough assessment.

The accreditation recognised the airline and holiday company’s strategy to foster an inclusive culture and provide meaningful support for colleagues impacted by perimenopause and menopause; both those who find it challenging to manage their menopause symptoms in the workplace and those who want to handle sensitive conversations with care.

The Menopause Friendly Accreditation was established by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, who lead the way in providing menopause support for organisations from line manager training and access to menopause specialists, as well as eLearning and policy support.

Henpicked recognises the proven practices and initiatives that embrace menopause in the workplace, making sure they provide industry-leading standards and recognition.

The Netherlands orders 12 Airbus H225M helicopters

The Dutch Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Airbus Helicopters for 12 H225Ms. The contract also includes an initial batch of support and services. The agreement was signed by  Vice-Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Head of the Netherlands Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) agency, and Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters during the Euronaval trade show in Paris. 

“We are very proud to see the Royal Netherlands Air Force and COMMIT renewing their trust in Airbus Helicopters. The H225M was selected by the Netherlands in June 2023 after a call for tender and an exhaustive evaluation, after which the Airbus helicopter was considered the best option for the very demanding special forces operations,” said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “The proven H225M is unmatched in terms of performance, versatility and range. It can carry extensive mission equipment that can be tailored to each customer's needs and will be serving its customer’s requirements for the decades to come,” he added.

The RNLAF currently operates Cougars from the H215M family. The H225Ms will be operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) 300 Special Operations Squadron. Airbus Helicopters and the RNLAF will work closely together on the development of the H225M adapted to the requirements of the users, enhancing capabilities and efficiency for special operations missions success, through tactical communication and a unique design of interaction of the aircraft and its systems. 

The H225M has proven its reliability and durability in combat conditions and crisis areas. Benefiting from Airbus’ continuous improvement policy, the H225M is now equipped with new avionics, an enhanced main gearbox, and airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system. The maximum take-off weight has been increased by 160 kg to reach 11,160 kg. 

There are more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service around the world, totalling more than 880,000 flight hours. Military customers include France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary.

 

JetBlue has launched a new service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Bonaire’s Flamingo International Airport

JetBlue has launched a new service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Bonaire’s Flamingo International Airport which will operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

David Jehn from JetBlue said: "Renowned for its natural beauty, pristine beaches, and warm hospitality, we are excited to launch service to Bonaire, introducing a new destination and more travel options to our customers looking for a Caribbean getaway. - Expanding our service in the Caribbean demonstrates our commitment to continue providing our customers exceptional travel options and experiences while promoting tourism and accessibility."

Located in the Leeward Antilles, Bonaire offers an authentic cultural experience for travellers. Earning its nickname “diver’s paradise,” Bonaire is known for its crystal-clear waters, exceptional scuba diving and snorkeling environment surrounded by vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. The Dutch island offers world-class gastronomy, luxurious stays, outdoor adventures, animal sanctuaries, national parks, cactus-filled deserts and year-round sunshine, making it the perfect getaway to attract travellers.

"We are excited to celebrate the launch of this new direct flight from New York's JFK to Bonaire," said Maarten van der Scheer, CEO of Bonaire International Airport. "Welcoming JetBlue to Flamingo Airport, with a twice-weekly, year-round service, has been made possible through the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of many partners working toward the same goal: increasing connectivity to Bonaire and making it easier than ever for travellers to reach our beautiful island."

A new survey from IAG Loyalty shows consumers want more flexibility and simplicity in their loyalty programmes.....

New research from IAG Loyalty, the home of Avios, highlights a significant shift in consumer expectations around loyalty programmes. The findings, based on a survey of 2,000 UK consumers and over 400 business leaders in retail and adjacent industries, indicate that both consumers and businesses recognise the value of evolving loyalty ecosystems. 

According to the research, 67% of consumers prefer consolidated loyalty programmes, allowing them to pool points from multiple brands and services for easier redemption. Flexibility was another key demand, with 74% of consumers wanting more options for collecting points and 76% seeking greater freedom in how they spend them. Additionally, 40% of respondents said they would be more loyal to brands offering consolidated currencies, a figure that rises to 48% among Gen Z consumers. 

Despite the widespread use of loyalty programmes, with 65% of consumers being members of at least three programmes, many find the complexity off-putting. In fact, 36% of respondents said the complexity of current loyalty programmes discouraged them from engaging fully. On average, consumers report losing £28 annually in unused loyalty points, often due to expiration or the perceived hassle of redemption. 

Travel-related rewards remain the most popular, with 30% of consumers ranking discounts on holidays and travel as their preferred reward, ahead of other incentives such as experiences (21%), upgrades (14%) or car hire (3%). This preference aligns with consumer spending behaviour, as 76% of respondents said they are willing to spend more on their weekly shopping if it helps them accumulate points for travel-related rewards. 

Loft Dynamics unveils VR instruction from World-renowned pilots to increase access and quality of training, elevate safety standards and address the pilot shortage

Loft Dynamics, the global leader in qualified virtual reality (VR) flight simulation training devices (FSTDs), today announced a suite of industry-shaping features to more efficiently and effectively address the global pilot shortage and high rates of training-related accidents. Central to this is LofTWIN, a virtual demonstration mode that digitizes flight instruction from world-renowned pilots and instructors from aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This tool makes their expertise immersive, accessible, and scalable across Loft Dynamics' global network of simulators. Additionally, Loft Dynamics is introducing new simulations—including Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and Whiteout/Brownout conditions— that make skill- and scenario-based training safer and make simulations more realistic.  

The Next-Gen Solution: Immersive Hardware and Instruction 

"Our VR FSTDs have made realistic and safe pilot training drastically more accessible and affordable, but hardware alone isn't enough," said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. "The industry faces a global pilot shortage, pandemic-related retirements, and rising demand for air transport—issues compounded by the high costs and limited availability of safe yet effective training solutions. LofTWIN addresses these challenges on a new level by making world-class instruction more accessible and scalable. More than just a tool, LofTWIN is a powerful knowledge-sharing platform that captures and disseminates invaluable expertise to improve training for the next generation of exceptional pilots. It's the first in a series of upcoming software innovations aimed at democratizing the best pilot training resources."

Introduction to LofTWIN 

LofTWIN records and transforms expert flight instruction into an immersive VR experience for deployment across Loft Dynamics' cloud-connected simulator fleet. Its ever-expanding catalogue of demonstrations features legendary pilots and instructors, including Glenn White, an experienced EMS pilot and former factory instructor at Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters); Gerold Biner, former CEO of Air Zermatt and a rescue pilot in the Himalayas and the Alps; Scott Urschel, one of the world's few aerobatic helicopter pilots; and Yann Guérin, head of pilot training at Airbus Helicopters. With LofTWIN, pilots build essential skills safely and more efficiently, while OEMs benefit from consistent and accurate demonstrations that lead to safer aircraft operations in real-world flight.  

The Pilot and Operator Experience 

Pilots and operators choose their scenario-based demonstration through Loft Dynamics' training device, immersing themselves in a realistic VR cockpit with expert virtual instructors. The instructors' movements are visually replicated by a full-body avatar that provides real-time guidance, while haptic feedback from the controls enhances the experience. After a LofTWIN demo session, pilots can apply learnings to their simulator training, where advanced eye and body tracking monitors responses during each manoeuvre. The data captured in these sessions equips pilots with insights to track progress over time and benchmark performance against experts. The gamified approach promotes regular skill development and helps usher in a new generation of digital-native pilots. Additionally, LofTWIN allows operators' chief pilots and instructors to produce high-quality lessons in a standardized way, educating everyone in the organization more efficiently.

Ethiopian Airlines takes delivery of Africa’s first Airbus A350-1000

Ethiopia’s national flag carrier and largest Airbus operator in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines, has taken delivery of its first of four A350-1000s from Airbus in Toulouse, France. The first of its kind to be operated by an African-based operator. The A350-1000 jet will enable Ethiopian Airlines to enhance its premium service to key destinations including Washington D.C., London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 21 A350 family aircraft and a total of 14 additional A350 aircraft are set to join the airline’s fleet in the coming years, including 11 A350-900 and three additional A350-1000. The A350-1000 will provide great operational commonality with the A350-900 fleet, ensuring seamless integration with shared pilots and mechanics simplifying training and maintenance processes.

With a total capacity of 395 seats, the A350-1000 will increase Ethiopian Airlines’ passenger capacity and provide enhanced passenger experience in the largest business class cabin in the airline’s fleet. Ethiopian Airlines will also introduce Airbus' new HBCplus satcom connectivity solution, offering seamless, high-speed gate-to-gate connectivity.

Toyota and Joby Complete First Air Taxi Flight in Japan

Toyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation confirmed the completion of Joby’s first international exhibition flight which took place at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Centre in Shizuoka, Japan earlier this week.

The flight, completed within sight of Mount Fuji, marked an opportunity to demonstrate the low acoustic footprint of Joby’s emissions-free aircraft and celebrate nearly seven years of collaboration between the two companies, during which time Toyota has supported Joby by providing insights from its extensive automotive manufacturing and technology expertise. Toyota engineers now work side-by-side with the Joby team in California and, in 2023, the two companies signed a long-term agreement for Toyota to supply key powertrain and actuation components for the production of Joby’s aircraft.

The flight took place at Toyota’s facility in Shizuoka

Marks Joby’s first international exhibition flight

"Our first overseas flight marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “We share Toyota’s vision for the future of mobility and are honoured to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our flight in Japan.”

A wide range of stakeholders gathered at the test facility for an event to celebrate the exhibition flight and historic milestone, including Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, and representatives of Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau.

At the event, Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “Air mobility has the potential to change our ‘sense of distance and time,’ and open a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people.”

easyJet Big Seat Release sees millions of seats on sale for autumn 2025 including October half term

Thousands of flights for autumn 2025 including October half term are now on sale with easyJet’s Big Seat Release

Nearly 19 million seats are available to book across almost 105,000 flights between 1 October 2025 and 14 December 2025 including more than 10 million UK seats from just £22.99*

Customers can book early and get great value fares for their autumn getaway to over 100 destinations across easyJet’s network at easyJet.com and via the mobile app

Thousands more packages now available with easyJet holidays




 

Europe’s leading budget airline easyJet has launched its Big Seat Release, with nearly 19 million seats between 1 October 2025 and 14 December 2025 now on sale.

This means more than 10 million seats across 56,000 flights to and from the UK are now available, so customers can get a great deal by booking early with seats available from just £22.99*.

With nearly 500 routes to choose from across Europe and North Africa from 21 UK airports, customers have an unrivalled choice when looking to book their autumn holiday or half term break. From vibrant cities steeped in culture to pristine beaches and renowned adventure destinations, there is something for everyone.

96 Hours to Explore Saudi Arabia

 A stopover visa with Saudia allows for a

 four-day discovery of the Kingdom

Passengers of the national carrier of Saudia can explore the wonders of Saudi Arabia for up to 96 hours, with the government’s stopover visa programme. A collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier allows for passengers to seamlessly obtain this stopover visa during the booking process.

With up to four days in the destination, Saudia’s guests have the perfect opportunity to experience a taste of Saudi Arabia. Direct flights to Jeddah & Riyadh transport guests into the heart of the Kingdom and provide perfect bases to experience the cultural and historical highlights surrounding these vibrant cities. The stopover duration and ideal locations also allow for visits to unique tourist attractions, sacred sites and the opportunity to perform Umrah.

Saudia’s streamlined booking process allows guests to pay for their tickets and obtain their visas in one step on the Saudia website. The improved pathway is a digital extension of the world-renowned Saudi hospitality, which continues to be a touchstone for the Saudia brand.

The programme is applicable to all Saudia flight routes, including the new route to Phuket in Thailand that launches in December 2024.

Visitors can take advantage of the Saudia stopover visa programme and experience all that Saudi has to offer:   

• November:  As winter approaches, visitors can explore Jeddah and see the historical district of Al Balad (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and visit the new digital art museum presented by teamLab Borderless Jeddah. Along the waterfront, visitors can walk, cycle or relax and enjoy the sunset in the Jeddah waterfront also known by the locals as Al Kornaish. A new yacht club and marina, nearby Red Sea Mall and spectacular King Fahd’s Fountain are other great itinerary options.
• December: On 15 December, the new entertainment zone BLVD Runway will open in Riyadh, featuring unique experiences on stationary aircraft designed to provide sky-high luxury. The zone promises to bring brand-new entertainment horizons including gaming events and thrilling aircraft-related experiences. The new zone will have three converted Boeing 777 aircraft, once belonging to Saudia, that will be transformed for experiences, restaurants and more activities for the whole family. In addition, the undisputed world heavyweight boxing championship showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take place in Riyadh on Saturday 21 December 2024. International visitors will flock to the modern capital to experience the world-class sporting showcase. Riyadh will again host the Middle East's largest music festival, MDLBEAST Soundstorm, bringing together more than 100 international DJs and big-name musicians

Using the stopover visa, guests can then fly on using Saudia’s network of domestic services to some of the other iconic Saudi sights – or beyond to destinations in Asia, Africa and North America.

British Airways celebrates its silver anniversary at London City Airport

The UK's leading legacy carrier, British Airways is celebrating 25 years of flying to and from London City Airport.

On 5 November 1999, British Airways’ Manchester-based franchise partner British Regional Airlines started a three per day weekday operation from Sheffield to London City. Since then, more than 27 million customers have flown on British Airways’ livery – including former subsidiary airlines such as BA Connect - to and from the capital’s most central airport.

BA Cityflyer began flying from London City in 2007 and has since flown to more than 50 destinations across Europe. Cities such as Frankfurt and Geneva have been some of the longest-serving routes, with Edinburgh being the most flown-to destination, closely followed by Glasgow, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. 

Today, BA Cityflyer is the largest airline flying from London City Airport and flies direct to 26 short-haul destinations – the furthest of which is Mykonos.

BA Cityflyer’s CEO, Tom Stoddart, said: “Not only is London City easily accessible from across the capital, but it’s a quick and seamless journey through the airport, from check-in to gate in 20 minutes. We’re proud to offer this experience to our customers, and reaching this quarter-century milestone is a testament to our team’s hard work in growing our operation over the years.”

To mark this special period, BA Cityflyer, the British Airways subsidiary airline based at London City Airport has put on a special offer of up to 25% off a wide range of city break destinations. Bookings must be made by 11 November 2024, and travel must be before 31 March 2025.

Alison FitzGerald, CEO of London City Airport, said: “We are delighted to celebrate 25 years of our special relationship with British Airways and its subsidiary BA Cityflyer, which represents a huge milestone in the history of London City Airport as our largest serving carrier.

As London’s most centrally located airport offering an unrivalled customer experience, we are excited for our passengers to take advantage of this fantastic anniversary offer to fly to a range of exciting holiday destinations.”

Russia behind freight plane bomb plot......

There is little doubt that Russian intelligence operatives were behind a cunning yet flawed plan to place incendiary devices in packages scheduled to be carried on cargo aircraft heading to North America. 

European security authorities advised that over the last few months, Russian agents had been behind a series of acts that could have caused widespread damage and threatened the lives of thousands of people on the ground. 

Polland said last month it has arrested four people suspected to be linked to a foreign intelligence operation that carried out sabotage and is searching for two others

Lithuania’s prosecutor general Nida Grunskiene said Tuesday there were an unspecified number of people detained in several countries, no further elaboration was forthcoming.

The ABW - Poland’s Internal Security Agency, advised that incidents in Poland, along with incidents in other EU and NATO member nations, had rapidly increased in 2024. The ABW advises that these incidents have been initiated and coordinated by the Russian special services. 

Approximately,  20 people have thus far been charged in investigations led by Poland's prosecutor’s office, the ABW and police.

Western security officials are seeing an intensification of a hybrid war of sabotage by Russia targeting Ukraine’s allies, including election disinformation along with arson attacks in Europe in 2024, which they believe is the work of Russia's GRU.  

Packages bound for DHL flights in July were a key part of the plan, one such package caught fire at a courier hub in Germany. One at a transport firm in Warsaw caused a major fire and another ignited in a warehouse near Birmingham. Plus there have been attacks on warehouses and railway networks in Sweden, the Czech Republic and other locations.

The global Aerospace testing market was valued at USD 5.29 billion in 2024

The global Aerospace testing market was valued at USD 5.29 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 6.68 billion by 2029; it is expected to register a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™. Aviation technology advancements, such as lightweight composites, new avionics components, and autonomous and electric aircraft, are the primary drivers of aerospace testing market. 

As regulatory and safety standards grow, so does the need for intensive testing throughout all phases of product design and manufacture, as well as periodic maintenance, to validate reliability and safety. In addition, the growing frequency of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities due to increasing international commercial and defence fleets aggravates the demand for testing services. Along with environmental concerns and meeting sustainability goals, manufacturers are developing fuel-efficient, low-emission systems and therefore testing services are necessary to meet industry standards and ensure safety in next-generation aerospace systems.