Top marks for EVA Air

Travel + Leisure readers voted EVA Air in the Top-10 International Airlines of the magazine’s recent  25th annual World’s Best Awards reader survey. Based on personal travel experiences, readers were invited to rate airlines for cabin comfort, ground and inflight service, food and value. Survey results are available on the Travel + Leisure website now and will appear in the August 2020 print edition. 

The magazine points out that 4th ranked EVA moved up one spot from last year as readers praised its service, food and premium economy seats. One reader had even higher praise for flying in sitting up front: “My business class trip from Chicago to Taipei was the best airline experience I’ve ever had. Steak cooked to order, hot food options between mealtimes, plush down comforters and tons of legroom. Some business-class seats have a very narrow spot for your feet when the seat is laying flat but EVA’s seats had enough space for rolling over and getting a great night of sleep.”

Hawaiian Airlines has cancelled Sunday's flights ahead of hurricane Douglas

The Honolulu based Hawaiian Airlines has cancelled all of its inter-island flights for this Sunday as the islands get ready to face Hurricane Douglas the carrier has confirmed.

A number of other services for this evening have also been cancelled because of the expected weather.  Passengers are being advised that will be able to rebook cancelled flights using one of the following travel waivers:

 No change fees or fare difference:

Reschedule your reservation by Aug. 4, 2020 for new travel that commences no later than Oct. 31, 2020.

No change fees, but a fare difference may apply:

Cancel now and make changes to your reservation after Aug. 4, 2020. You’ll keep the unused value of the ticket until the ticket expires* and upon rebooking, no change fees will be charged, but a fare difference may apply.

Passengers should also be aware of the current restrictions about travelling to and from the islands:

Inter-island travellers:

Complete the required Travel and Health form prior to TSA screening.

We encourage you to submit the form online prior to arriving at the airport. If you’re unable to complete it in advance, paper forms will also be available at the airport.

Mainland and International travellers:

The mandatory 14-day self-isolation quarantine has been extended through August for all travellers arriving into the state. Those travelling into the state will need to use the Safe Travels web-based app to complete the required travel information prior to departure.

The state's pre-travel testing program has been delayed to now launch on Sept. 1, 2020. This will allow travellers arriving from the U.S. Mainland to be exempt from the 14-day quarantine by taking a valid COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to their flight and providing proof of a negative test result upon arrival. The mandatory quarantine will remain in place for those who choose to not take a pre-travel test.

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U.S. Air Force delivers aid to Honduras

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California, off-load a T6 container July 18, 2020, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. The T6 container held 17,000 pounds of COVID-19 medical supplies for Honduras communities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathon Carnell)

Airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron at the U.S. Travis Air Force Base, delivered humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 18, writes  Senior Airman Jonathon Carnell.

The mission was in support of the Denton Program, a Department of Defense transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by U.S. based non-governmental organizations, to developing nations.

The Airmen transported 58,000 pounds of cargo in a C-5M Super Galaxy. The cargo consisted of eight pallets, two vehicles , two excavators and a 40-foot container filled with medical supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.

“A lot of what is on this aircraft will go to COVID-19 response,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Uherka, Joint Task Force-Bravo civil military operations director at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. “The 40-foot container is heading to Intipuca, which is an underserved community.”

AirAsia assures safety of guests while traveling

As AirAsia gradually resumes its services to select domestic and international destinations, guests are assured of enhanced safety measures which are in place to ensure their health and wellbeing throughout their entire journey.  

AirAsia adopts a multi-layered approach to safety in the current global health situation to provide a safe, affordable and convenient experience for guests from check-in to arrival. 

Much emphasis is placed on safety on board with the installation of powerful High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that effectively clean cabin air. The airline is also introducing new technology to make contactless flying a reality.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said, “AirAsia has always put people and their safety first. Our innovations have gone beyond new products and digital solutions to include new protocols for a safer journey. Over and above local and international travel regulations, guests can confidently fly with us again.”

Paving the way for the turnaround of Brussels Airlines

• Stabilization package enables Belgium’s home carrier to overcome the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and to create a sustainable future.
• €290 million loan from the Belgian state and €170 million capital injection by Lufthansa.
• Agreement between the Belgian federal government and Lufthansa ensures the position of Brussels Airlines as one of the hub airlines of the Lufthansa Group based in Brussels.
• Lufthansa’s financial support allows Brussels Airlines to implement its turnaround plan and herewith to create a long-term and structurally profitable future for the company.
• The entire financing package is subject to the approval of the Economic Stabilisation Fund (WSF) of the Federal Republic of Germany and the consent of the EU Commission.

The Belgian Federal Government, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines have reached an agreement securing the future of Belgium’s home carrier and herewith the long-term development of the airline.

The stabilization package of €290 million from the Belgian Federal government and the €170 million financial support of Lufthansa cover parts of the losses incurred by Brussels Airlines as a consequence of the crisis and secures at the same time tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs that are linked to the activities of Brussels Airlines. Thanks to Lufthansa, the airline can finance its restructuring plan and herewith offer the company a long-term and structurally profitable future. The financial support of Lufthansa shows that the German airline has full trust in the capabilities of Brussels Airlines to reach its turnaround.

European Aviation Associations and EASA join for harmonised safe air travel during COVID

European Aviation Associations and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) agreed to strengthen efforts to ensure a consistent and safe travel experience for passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions have had a devastating impact on air traffic and put at risk millions of jobs that rely on air connectivity. As Europe seeks to reopen, it is essential that operations are marked by consistent implementation of passenger safety procedures across the continent.

EASA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have developed protocols for the measures airports, airlines and operators should adopt to ensure a safe return to normal operations.

Air France gets its 10th and final Boeing 787

Air France’s tenth Boeing 787-9 landed at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to join the airline’s long-haul fleet.

The aircraft, registration F-HRBJ, is the tenth and last to join the Air France fleet. The forthcoming deliveries of new-generation aircraft will concern the A350s on the long-haul network followed by the A220s on the short and medium-haul network.

With this new-generation aircraft, Air France is continuing to modernize and renew its fleet with more modern, more efficient and more environmentally-friendly aircraft.

This is a major contribution to the airline’s sustainable development strategy. Like the A350s, the Boeing 787 offers operational and environmental benefits with a lower fuel consumption than previous generation aircraft and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions (around 20%) as well as noise emissions.

On board, comfort is optimum, with a bright cabin with windows that are 30% larger than those of previous generation aircraft, more space in the various cabins, better air pressure and humidity levels which make the flight even more comfortable. This aircraft is also equipped with Wi-Fi, allowing customers to stay connected throughout their trip.

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Scottish home for Poseidon fleet reaches major milestone

Facilities to house the Poseidon MRA Mk1 fleet have been handed over to Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), marking a major milestone in the Poseidon programme.

DE&S, the MOD’s procurement arm, will take control of the £100 million strategic facility at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.

Clocking in at over 33,000 square metres, the facility includes a three-bay hangar and accommodation for two squadrons, as well as state-of-the-art training equipment and facilities for those working on the fleet of nine Poseidon aircraft.

Designed and built by Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) and local construction partner Robertson, more than 300 employees worked on the building at Lossiemouth during the peak of the two-year project.

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said:

The new Poseidon fleet will reassert the UK in the maritime patrol arena. It will play an invaluable role in our national security for decades to come. The state-of-the-art Lossiemouth facility provides the fleet with an ideal base while helping to create and sustain jobs in Scotland.

Once operational in the autumn, the facility will be the workplace for 470 additional military and civilian personnel, taking the total number of people working out of the coastal base to about 2,200.

East Midlands Airport says hello to Stobart Air, operator of Aer Lingus Regional

Stobart Air, operator of Aer Lingus Regional, will launch a new service from East Midlands Airport to Belfast City in October.

The three daily return flights will begin on 1 October. This will be the only service connecting EMA to Belfast and it will be operated by an ATR72-600 aircraft.

The flight times allow for easy access to Belfast and Northern Ireland whether visiting for the day or for longer.

Following guidance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stobart Air, has implemented a number of enhanced health and safety measures to protect staff, crew and passengers. New measures include:

• Enhanced aircraft cleaning: To ensure the wellbeing of our passengers and crew, enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures have been introduced for the aircraft cabin, which are in addition to the existing aircraft cleaning schedule. Each aircraft, including seats, armrests and tray tables will be subject to a daily disinfection process which provides surface protection from viruses for 24 hours.

• On board measures: Face coverings or masks are mandatory on all flights operated by Stobart Air for customers and cabin crew respectively, with the exception of small children and those who are unable to wear a face mask for medical reasons. The face coverings can be in the form of a reusable cloth mask or a disposable mask and it is recommended that these are worn from the time passengers enter the departure airport to the time they leave their destination airport.

Delta's Ed Bastian talks about keeping passengers safe whilst travelling

Delta CEO Ed Bastian emailed the message below to customers Thursday.

Amid all that is going on across the world, you can continue to expect an unmatched level of care from Delta. When you travel, you can be confident in our steadfast commitment to getting you where you need to go safely. Health experts agree that a multi-layered approach provides the greatest opportunity to slow the spread and stop the virus. Our approach to protecting you and Delta employees includes the following layers:

Employee testing
You want to know that the people caring for you while traveling are healthy. Delta has partnered with Quest Diagnostics and Mayo Clinic to create a program to test virtually all employees in the next four weeks. This first round of testing ensures any infected individuals are identified quickly and given time to recover at home, reducing exposure to others. The results will also help design strategies to keep you and our people safe in the months ahead. The infection rate among our customer-facing employees is below the national average and exemplifies that the layers of protection in place are working.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Receives Official Classification

Following a live press conference organized by the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT), Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) is announcing full support for newly established designations for hyperloop technology in the U.S. During the press conference the US DOT revealed that hyperloop will now fall under the purview of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), paving the way for funding and regulation for hyperloop systems nationwide.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to open 31 October 2020

For the opening of the (BER), the corporate communications department of the airport company is offering numerous media reporting opportunities between 25 October and 8 November.

With the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport BER Airport, all air traffic in the German capital region will be concentrated in one location. Berlin is a tourist magnet, a political centre, and a trade fair city. Brandenburg is an up-and-coming economic region with global players such as Tesla and attracts holidaymakers from around the world with sights such as the Sanssouci Palace. The new airport location is thus an important hub for linking the strong economic and tourism region to more than 150 destinations worldwide.

In the period between 25 October and 8 November, there will be multiple press events surrounding the opening of BER Airport and the closure of Tegel Airport, which is rich in traditions. Trial operations at the new airport, the move from Tegel to BER, the start of airline flight operations and the reactions of passengers to the new terminal are other potential topics. In addition, we will also give you the opportunity to report on partners from all areas of the airport, such as gastronomy and shopping, airport services and mobility.

Look out for more details coming soon!

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Finnair releases its latest results for 1 January – 30 June 2020 and the boss sees a glimmer of hope...

The European airline Finnair has released its latest figures coving half a year in which the carrier saw revenue decrease by over 91%.  With losses mounting due to the current COVID-19 crisis has seen the airline management make a lot of changes behind and in front of the scenes.

Key numbers - April–June 2020

Earnings per share were -0.25 euros (0.04).

Revenue decreased by 91.3% to 68.6 million euros (789.1)*.

Fuel costs decreased by 147.3 million euros (-81.6%) due to the COVID-19-related decline in capacity although it was partly netted by the impact of changes in fuel prices**.

The comparable operating result was -174.3 million euros (47.2). The operating result was -171.2 million euros (47.9).

Financial net expenses were 46.0 million euros (19.7) and they increased significantly, with c. 29 million euros of the increase related to jet fuel and foreign exchange hedging that was reclassified from other comprehensive income.

Net cash flow from operating activities was -463.7 million euros (176.8) and net cash flow from investing activities was 262.1 million euros (-147.0).***

The number of passengers decreased by 97.5% to 0.1 million (3.9).

Available seat kilometres (ASK) decreased by 97.2%.

Passenger load factor (PLF) was 33.1% (-49.4 points).

Sasha Johnson appointed to Vice President Corporate Safety at United

United Airlines has confirmed that Sasha Johnson will become the company's Vice President of Corporate Safety following Michael Quiello's retirement from United, effective October 1. Johnson, who currently serves as United's managing director of International Regulatory and Policy, will report to United's Chief Operations Officer Jon Roitman.

Singapore Airlines Raises Additional S$750 Million From Secured Financing

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced this week that the Company has successfully raised an additional S$750 million through long term loans secured on some of its Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

With the completion of these transactions, SIA has now raised a total of S$1.65 billion from secured financing since the start of financial year 2020/2021.

The total liquidity raised during the same period now stands at approximately S$11 billion. This comprises S$8.8 billion from SIA’s successful rights issue, S$1.65 billion from secured financing, and more than S$500 million from new committed lines of credit and a short-term unsecured loan from financial institutions.

Separately, all existing committed lines of credit that were due to mature during the course of 2020 have been renewed until 2021 or later. Together with the new committed lines of credit, this ensures continued access to more than S$2.1 billion in committed liquidity.

For the period up to July 2021, the Company also retains the option to raise up to S$6.2 billion in additional mandatory convertible bonds that would provide further liquidity if necessary.

During this period of high uncertainty, SIA will continue to explore additional means to shore up liquidity as necessary.

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