17 November, 2022

Air Canada was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers 2022

 
(CNW Group/Air Canada)
Photo CNW Group/Air Canada
Air Canada was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers 2022, and as a company which provides excellent employment opportunities at local and international levels.

Air Canada was recently recognized by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers 2022, and as a company which provides excellent employment opportunities at local and international levels. 

"As a global carrier, we believe that creating a workplace culture that supports employee fulfilment, growth and development helps us attract and retain the best talent in Canada and globally. Air Canada continues to hire in various positions as it implements its strategic plan in restoring its international network, products and services, and we are thrilled to be recognized by Forbes as one of the world's best employers for the third consecutive year," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs.

According to Forbes, selection of the World's Best Employers 2022 is based on independent surveys by market research group Statistica of roughly 150,000 employees in more than 55 countries around the world. Participants were asked to rate employers according to various topics such as image, trust, gender equality, corporate social responsibility, culture and benefits. Over one million data points were analyzed.

The Forbes award is the most recent recognition Air Canada has received for human resources, corporate culture and employee engagement in 2022, which include:

One of Canada's Best Employers for Diversity 2022 by Forbes
One of Canada's Best Employers 2022 by Forbes
One of Montreal Top Employers 2022 by Mediacorp (for the ninth consecutive year)
Payworks Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy at the Canadian HR Awards 2022
 Interested in taking their careers to new heights with Air Canada may find more information here.






Finnair set to subcontract out inflight service on more long-haul routes

Finnair starts change negotiations with its cabin crew in Finland to discuss its plans to subcontract inflight service on routes to/from Thailand and the US to partners. Possible subcontracting would be implemented by the end of 2023.
The Helsinki-based Finnair is no stranger to outsourcing or subcontracting and is about to start change negotiations with its cabin crew in Finland to discuss its plans to subcontract inflight service on routes to/from Thailand and the US to partners.

Possible subcontracting would be implemented by the end of 2023. The plan is a part of the efforts to restore Finnair’s profitability by reducing unit costs and strengthening unit revenues. Finnair made considerable losses during the covid-19 pandemic, and the closure of Russian airspace significantly impacts Finnair’s ability to generate profit.

Finnair’s primary target has been to find solutions for decreasing unit costs together with its employees. During this autumn, Finnair has discussed with all its employees about possibility to achieve savings by changing employment terms. For cabin crew, Finnair proposed changes for example to crew utilization efficiency, layover hotel rules and to additional pay-per-hour rules for long flights, as the closure of Russian airspace has made the flight times to Asia considerably longer. A negotiation result was reached with some employee groups, but unfortunately, a solution was not found with the cabin crew in Finland. In this situation, Finnair must seek savings through alternative measures.

If realized, the subcontracting plan could result in reducing up to 450 jobs in Finnair’s Inflight services. Finnair currently employs approximately 1750 cabin crew members in Finland. The cabin service for Finnair’s Singapore, Hong Kong and India routes as well as for the Doha routes from Stockholm and Copenhagen is provided by Finnair’s partners already.

“Our target continues to be to find a savings solution together with our cabin crew. We now need a genuine will from the negotiators to find solutions that would allow us to continue inflight service with our own crew, and avoid redundancies. Discussion on alternative solutions is a vitally important part of the change negotiations process”, says Topi Manner, Finnair CEO.

The change negotiations will start on November 23 and are estimated to last at least six weeks. A social support program to help those who could lose their work in re-employment will be discussed in the negotiations.







Arajet launches new route between Santo Domingo and Kingston

Photo: Business Wire
Arajet, the Dominican Republic's new low-fare airline, has announced the launch of a direct route with two weekly frequencies to connect the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. 

The route’s first flight at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was attended by a rich representation of local government officials, including Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Rev. Kenneth Richards, Archbishop of Kingston; Senator Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Mark Golding, Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the People's National Party; and Angie Martínez, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Jamaica.

“This flight from Arajet opens a complete new and exciting chapter in the relations between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic,” said Senator Johnson Smith.

Derived from its wide range of international flights to Europe and the United States, Norman Manley International Airport is considered a key air connectivity centre in the Caribbean. The new route represents a significant opportunity for Arajet to stimulate the air and tourist traffic between Santo Domingo and Kingston, strengthen ties between the two regions and build a bridge that allows communication and transportation of national and international travellers.

"Achieving air connectivity between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica has long been one of our most important goals,” said Ambassador Martinez. “We are proud of how Arajet is leading the charge in democratizing aviation in the Caribbean, Latin, Central and North America, and putting the Dominican flag at the top.”

Arajet will offer two weekly frequencies to Jamaica on Mondays and Fridays with tickets starting at US $257 and flights departing from Santo Domingo at 17:20 and arriving at 17:55 in Jamaica and departing at 18:40 from Jamaica and arriving at 21:05 in Santo Domingo.

“My dream is that a tourist who visits the Dominican Republic from Europe or United States, can spend a few days in my country, learning to dance merengue and enjoying our wonderful white sand beaches,” said Víctor Pacheco Méndez, Arajet´s CEO and founder. “And later, from Santo Domingo, they can also take advantage of our new direct route to Kingston and get infected with their reggae and visit the waterfalls at Ocho Ríos, Montego Bay and all the other scenic destinations this beautiful country has to offer.”

Arajet’s first direct flight to Kingston is supported by an initial fleet of five new latest-generation Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft that provide a comfortable and safe flight experience in a cabin of 185 reclining seats with maximum comfort and enough personal space. The planes are the quietest on the market producing 40% less noise pollution per trip, while their LEAP-1B CFM engines save up to 14% more fuel compared to single-aisle planes, allowing the airline to save on operating costs that support low fares so everyone can fly with simple, direct bookings.

Since launching in September 2022, Arajet has inaugurated 15 destinations of its initial network. The airline connects Santo Domingo with point-to-point, non-stop flights to Mexico City, Monterrey and Cancun in Mexico; San José in Costa Rica; San Salvador in El Salvador; Guatemala City in Guatemala; Lima in Peru, Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador; Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Marteen in the Caribbean; and Cali, Barranquilla and Cartagena in Colombia.

In December, Arajet will continue inaugurating direct flights to Medellín and Bogotá in Colombia.







Space Perspective becomes the first global space travel experience company with a fleet of Marine Spaceports

Spaceship Neptune launches from the stern of MS Voyager. (Photo: Business Wire)


Space Perspective unveiled MS Voyager – the world’s first Marine Spaceport for human spaceflight, and the first in a planned fleet of this new class of spaceports globally. Spaceports are sites for launching and receiving spacecraft. Now with the capacity to launch from marine-based sites around the world, in addition to launching from land on Florida’s Space Coast, Space Perspective becomes the first global space travel experience company, offering safe and sustainable journeys to the edge of space from where Explorers live and play.

The name Voyager is a homage to the Voyager 1 Space Probe mission which, on astronomer Carl Sagan’s request, took a photo of Earth from across the solar system on February 14th, 1990. That photo, now known iconically as the Pale Blue Dot, inspired Sagan’s book of the same name and his call for humans to “preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known” – words that reverberate through Space Perspective’s mission today.

“Space Perspective will change your relationship with our planet by providing the quintessential astronaut experience of viewing Earth from the blackness of space,” said Jane Poynter, Space Perspective’s Founder and Co-CEO. “It’s imperative for us to think about our business with a global mindset. Removing geographic borders for launch and landing accelerates our mission of making this transformative experience more accessible to the world and international marketplace – safely, reliably and with minimal impact on our planet.”

Plans are underway to integrate marine-based launches into marquee global events, and conversations are active with several potential destinations across the globe to offer Explorers an awe-inspiring view of some of the world’s most iconic geography.

“We always imagined offering the opportunity to view the most incredible natural phenomena from space, including the Northern Lights, the boot of Italy, the sheer scale of the Nile Delta, and the deep blue seas around the Bahamas. Marine Spaceports like MS Voyager make this a reality,” said Poynter.

The SpaceBalloonTM is inflated as Spaceship Neptune readies for launch from MS Voyager. (Photo: Business Wire)
MS Voyager and future Space Perspective Marine Spaceports give the company the operational flexibility needed to grow its business more quickly to reach a supply-constrained global market for commercial space travel that analysts recently estimated could reach over $8 billion by 2030[1]. Marine Spaceports create ideal launch conditions in two ways: by navigating to areas of good weather, which allows for year-round operations within a region, and by moving with the sea breeze, so there is virtually no wind across the deck. This enables more frequent launch opportunities, as well as more options for the time of day, including sunrise and sunset nighttime stargazing flights for Explorers.

“This is another important milestone and a proud moment for the Space Perspective crew both in terms of pioneering engineering and the ability to scale our offer quickly, globally. We are grateful to our extended crew of dynamic, best-in-class operational partners,” said Space Perspective’s Founder, Co-CEO and CTO Taber MacCallum.

16 November, 2022

Ascenda powers the new HSBC Star Alliance credit card

Ascenda, the global rewards technology company, today announced its partnership with Star Alliance, the world's first and leading airline alliance, to power the innovative customer value proposition for the anticipated new HSBC Star Alliance credit card.

As the first ever credit card from a major airline alliance, it combines the appeal of seven leading global airlines into a unified proposition. The back-end technology and fully digital user experience are powered by Ascenda's cloud-based loyalty platform. The new product is exclusively available to residents of Australia.

The HSBC Star Alliance credit card reimagines the loyalty experience for Australian residents with not only the ability to earn points, but also a fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status through everyday spending. Star Alliance Gold Status offers benefits such as lounge access, priority services and extra baggage allowance on eligible fares across all 26 Star Alliance member carriers.

Christian Draeger, VP Customer Experience, Star Alliance said: "The HSBC Star Alliance credit card is a unique proposition that brings together seven of our member carriers on a single platform. In line with our vision to enable a seamless customer experience, we needed a world-class technology solution to ensure quality delivery. Ascenda's advanced platform proved to be a suitable foundation that delivers efficient and secure interoperability among various systems.

"We are thrilled to bring this truly groundbreaking product to the market in collaboration with Star Alliance" added Kyle Armstrong, CEO at Ascenda. "As a company, we thrive on unlocking exceptional rewards value and access to inspiring experiences, both of which are embodied perfectly in this trailblazing project."

Ascenda is the global technology company that makes banking & payments rewarding - delivering digitally native, intuitive and easy-to-deploy rewards solutions that enable brands to grow revenue and build deeper customer connections across the entire financial relationship.

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.

VistaJet takes dining to new heights

The leading private aviation company redefines gastronomy in flight with expert scientific and artistic findings, signature seasonal menus and Michelin-starred partners





Photo VistaJet
At a table at 45,000 feet — higher than Mount Everest — is probably the highest you will ever dine. This is the unique experience offered by VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, allowing passengers to embark on a curated voyage through the finest delicacies in the world — on board and at their destination.

Even the greatest gourmand has to reset their senses when flying as the effects of altitude, lower humidity and increased noise and movement will have an effect, from metabolism to how we perceive different tastes. In particular, cabin air reduces the aroma that, together with taste, makes flavour — up to 80% of what people think is taste is, in fact, smell. Flying private, of course, does help to minimize the impact on the senses. At 45,000 feet, a VistaJet Global 7500 aircraft has an equivalent air pressure of only 4,500 feet and a controlled humidity level. But still, a difference can be noticeable.

Done well, food nourishes the heart and soul, body and mind. Why, then, is it so often the forgotten factor in the air — a necessity rather than a pleasure? Factors in flight are no reason to compromise.

“We have been on a journey to transform the private dining experience in the air — to make it something to savour”, says Diego Sabino, Vice President of Private Dining at VistaJet. “Simple things, big flavours and the best ingredients prepared and cooked to perfection will always travel well. We have explored the art and science of dining, so our Members can cherish time together on board, with the right taste, whatever the occasion.”

To ensure every passenger savours every bite, VistaJet’s expert eye to inspire the palate include:

Signature Seasonal Menus

VistaJet is focused on seasonality, health and wellbeing, continually evolving its menus for all — whether travelling for business, with family and friends, or celebrating a milestone — no matter where they are flying from.

Perception of salt and sweetness reduces by 30%; while humidity in the home is typically around 45%, in an aircraft it can be 20% or less, desensitizing taste buds. That is why VistaJet works with more than 7,000 trusted suppliers around the world: the finest producers and purveyors to source the freshest and highest quality ingredients and dishes. Every dish is prepared for in-flight, high-altitude dining.

Renowned Partners

Even top chefs need to change the way they think about food that will be served on board a flight. Many of our award-winning partners have reformulated their iconic dishes and created exclusive meals to taste perfect in a VistaJet cabin.

Working with over 100 of the most sought-after private chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants for those special moments both in the sky and on the ground, our renowned Private World partners include a gateway to the most enlightening dishes — the revered Nobu Matsuhisa offering a new and exclusive dish onboard flights from the U.S.; Michelin-starred Alex Dilling from his eponymous restaurant at Hotel Café Royal in London; the inspired Nuhma Tuazon in New York; the delectable Tosca di Angelo at The Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong; the specialist Bon Soirée onboarding dishes from England; the legendary Zeffirino in Genoa, Italy; Chef Ivan Alvarez at the picturesque Ithaafushi — The Private Island, Maldives; the considered Origin Grill at the Shangri-La in Singapore; and a partnership with Taj Hotels around the world, including their Michelin-starred Chef Sriram of London’s Quilon, Varq at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm Dubai, House of Ming at Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi, Wasabi by Morimoto at Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, and Thai Pavilion at the President, Mumbai.

The Little Book of Dining in the Sky

It is nearly impossible to recreate our favourite restaurant in the sky, and nor should we try — there are obvious limitations to space and cooking facilities, in addition to how food tastes, smells, looks and feels. But this is no reason to compromise.

The Little Book of Dining in the Sky explores the art and science behind eating well with VistaJet. Tasting notes, jet chef secrets, travel wellness, the jet kitchen and service suggestions for whomever you are dining with. The musings and expert advice are all aimed at helping you discover the pleasures of the table, at altitude.

The Process and Unparalleled Service

The story behind how food gets from the farm to fork in flight is one of attention to detail across the entire supply chain. It is impossible to recreate the environment of a world-class kitchen in the sky, but we aim to come as close as possible.

As soon as your flight is booked, VistaJet’s Private Dining team will propose bespoke menus for you to choose from.
Sourcing specific ingredients can take a full day, while up to six hours might be needed to take food from the kitchen to the aircraft. Menus are finalised at least 24 hours before departure to ensure sourcing and preparation standards.
The private chef or restaurant starts creating the dishes. At this point any allergies, intolerances or other dietary needs will have been checked several times.
Hot dishes are freshly prepared by hand and par-cooked. Ingredients are packed into over-ready containers, and then blast-chilled to lock in taste, texture and freshness.
The meals are couriered to the departure airport in refrigerated vehicles and loaded onto the jet around 90 minutes before departure. VistaJet flies from 1,900 airports in 187 countries — about 96% of the world.
In the air, the VistaJet Cabin Host will finish cooking the food before it is expertly presented and served to passengers. All VistaJet Cabin Hosts are trained by the British Butler Institute, certified up to Level 2 in wine and spirits training and are food-safety qualified. They have also received expert plating tutorials from chefs specializing in different cuisines.
For more information on VistaJet and its private dining offerings, visit vistajet.com/privatedining.

The leading private aviation company redefines gastronomy in flight with expert scientific and artistic findings, signature seasonal menus and Michelin-starred partners







United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Invest in Biofuel Refinery

United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Invest in Biofuel Refinery

NEXT's flagship facility will provide a unique strategic location and assets to distribute biofuel throughout the West Coast, could increase United's sustainable aviation fuel supply

United has invested in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any other airline in the world*


United Airlines
United Airlines Ventures (UAV) announced a strategic investment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT), which is permitting a flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward, Oregon, with expected production beginning in 2026. NEXT is a Houston-based company developing the biorefinery which, at full production, could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels. UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into NEXT, as long as the company meets certain milestone targets.

"Right now, one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply and lowering costs of sustainable fuel is that we don't have the infrastructure in place to transport it efficiently, but NEXT's strategic location and assets solve that problem and provide a blueprint for future facilities that need to be built," said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airline Ventures. "We believe this investment will not only bolster NEXT's ambitions and create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demonstrates our commitment toward producing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonize the aviation industry."

NEXT's biorefinery offers several unique benefits including access to a deep-water port, an existing industrial-grade dock, and multi-modal logistics options, which facilitates access to feedstock options and fast-growth SAF offtake markets on the west coast. NEXT has secured an agreement with BP for sourcing 100 percent of its feedstock, further de-risking supply issues smaller facilities have historically experienced. NEXT has also received a crucial air permit from the State of Oregon. Once all the necessary approvals and permits are obtained and the biorefinery is operational, it has the potential to be used as a platform to scale SAF and deploy additional future technologies.

"The clean fuels industry is taking off and our access to feedstocks, multi-modal distribution, and major industry players positions us to be a leading SAF supplier on the West Coast," said Christopher Efird, CEO and Chairperson of NEXT. "United's investment in NEXT strengthens our resolve to be one of the clean fuels leaders in the transportation sector."

Today's announcement marks UAV's fifth SAF-related technology investment, and its first investment directly in a biorefinery. United has been an industry leader in advocating for alternative jet fuel for years – including investing in more SAF production than any other airline in the world and flying the world's first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine. United also launched the Eco-Skies Alliance program, which among its 30 corporate participants, has collectively purchased more than 7 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel.

Launched in 2021, UAV is a first-of-its-kind sustainability-focused ventures fund that targets startups, upcoming technologies, and concepts that will complement United's goal of net zero emissions by 2050 – without relying on traditional carbon offsets such as voluntary offsets or planting trees. To date, UAV's portfolio includes SAF producers and other companies advancing technologies including carbon utilization, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.








VistaJet Extends Nobu Partnership


Photo VistaJet
VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, extends its longstanding partnership with Nobu by unveiling a new creation by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself. Only available to VistaJet clients, the dish is an exclusive pleasure prepared for passengers flying onboard the iconic fleet of silver and red aircraft.

To ensure a consistent and seamless fine dining experience, VistaJet carefully curates the menu on every flight with each dish prepared for high-altitude dining — considering the effects of elevation, lower humidity, and increased noise and movement on tastebuds and senses.

Members trust VistaJet for a superior end-to-end flying experience. With new client membership across the U.S. reaching the highest number in its history, the company continues to innovate its service by partnering with the world’s best chefs and restaurants — because like private aviation, a good meal can take you anywhere in the world.

Through its Private World portfolio, VistaJet Members have access to benefits offered by a network of hundreds of partners in every continent. And onboard a Members’ fleet of over 360 aircraft — including the Global 7500, which can fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Hong Kong — VistaJet clients flying from the U.S. region can enjoy an exclusive Nobu-style experience at 45,000 feet in the sky, focused on quality ingredients, exceptional service and inspired private dining.

Photo VistaJet
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa said: “I’m delighted to continue our partnership with VistaJet and to introduce Nobu Steamed Salmon Dry Miso — a new and exciting dish created exclusively for their clients. Like Nobu, VistaJet is a global brand dedicated to offering their guests an unparalleled experience in world-class service and I look forward to our continued partnership for many miles to come.”

Leona Qi, President of VistaJet U.S., said: “At VistaJet, we work to ensure our Members have the same level of quality and service in the sky as they would expect on the ground. We value our partnership with Nobu, a demonstration of our commitment to creating simple, perfectly executed and seamless experiences to be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.”







United puts kids' meals back onboard

Just in time for holiday travel, children can now enjoy special breakfast, lunch and dinner meal options on select flights  

Kids' meals will be available for pre-order in eligible cabins on select flights starting in 2023


Photo United Airlines
The U.S. mega carrier, United is putting kids' meals back on the menu just in time for the holiday season. From chicken tenders and grilled cheese to French toast and dessert, children can now enjoy both breakfast and lunch/dinner menus on select United flights where complimentary meals are served. To request a kids' meal, customers can choose the "Children's Special Meals" option when booking a ticket or add a request to an existing reservation using the United mobile app. Starting next year, kids' meals will be available for pre-order to customers travelling in eligible cabins on select United flights. With pre-order, our youngest travellers will be able to choose the kids' meal they want to enjoy onboard before departure of any United flight eligible for pre-order.

"We're committed to providing a great onboard experience for all of our customers, and we're thrilled to be able to offer our youngest flyers new, kid-friendly food options on select routes," said Aaron McMillan, United's managing director of hospitality and planning. "We know there's a lot to balance when traveling as a family – especially during the busy holiday season – and hope this helps to put parents' minds at ease as they prepare for travel with us."

United's kids' meals are available now on flights greater than 2,000 miles, in cabins where complimentary meal service is offered, and include kid-friendly breakfast and lunch/dinner options. For select domestic flights (including Hawaii) and international flights departing the U.S., the children's menu includes French toast with sausage, fruit and a croissant for breakfast, and chicken tenders with fruit, a dinner roll and dessert for lunch and dinner. For international flights returning to the U.S., children will also have the option of ordering the French toast meal for breakfast, but can order a grilled cheese sandwich with fruit, dinner roll and dessert for lunch and dinner.







Sun Country Airlines announces 15 new summer 2023 destinations from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport - MSP


Photo Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines has announced 15 new nonstop routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) beginning in summer 2023. Twelve new destinations are featured as the airline continues to expand its network. Sun Country has also extended its booking schedule so customers can now book travel through Labor Day 2023.

Sun Country’s summer schedule will connect travelers to Colorado Springs’ mountains, the Jersey Shore, Kansas City barbecue, the Black Hills and Louisville’s bourbon country, among other destinations. Sun Country will also resume service from MSP to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) for customers who want additional options to visit New York City, in addition to flying to Newark. Sun Country last flew to JFK in 2019.

Sun Country will add new, nonstop service from MSP to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Wilmington International Airport in N.C. (ILM), John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio (CMH), Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Richmond International Airport in Va. (RIC), Louisville International Airport (SDF), Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), Colorado Springs Airport (COS), Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Mich. (TVC).

The airline will also resume nonstop service from MSP to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). Sun Country last flew to MKE in January 2022 and to STL in October 2021.
Photo Sun Country Airlines

“We’re excited to continue our growth to top leisure destinations across the country,” says Grant Whitney, Chief Revenue Officer at Sun Country Airlines. “With these new routes, Sun Country will now fly direct from MSP to 86 unique markets across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada and the Caribbean. We look forward to connecting our guests to their favorite people and places to create lifelong memories and transformative experiences.”

Archer signs deal with Garmin to supply key avionic systems for Archer’s production aircraft - Midnight

      


Archer Aviation Inc and Garmin a leading provider of aviation technologies and solutions have entered into an agreement for Garmin to supply the G3000® integrated flight deck for Midnight.

This relationship represents yet another foundational supplier for Archer.

Sourcing avionic systems from Garmin further advances Archer’s strategy of establishing strategic relationships for the supply of components that are already being used on certified aircraft today, reducing Archer’s certification risk, as well as its development timelines and costs.



The Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck offers an ideal solution for the Midnight cockpit. The compact and lightweight system offers both an extensive certification pedigree and the configurability needed for Archer to bring its aircraft to market. The large format displays and intuitive controls will provide pilots with the situational awareness needed to operate Midnight. The extensive reach of Garmin avionics will make the Midnight aircraft familiar to a large swath of pilots.

Part of Archer’s commercialization strategy is to focus its in-house development on only the key enabling technologies that cannot be sourced from the existing aerospace supply base. The Garmin relationship further advances Archer’s approach of establishing strategic relationships for supply of components already being used on certified aircraft today. Archer now has more than 64% of our suppliers for Midnight’s bill-of-materials selected.
British Airways has become the first UK airline to trial the use of biometric technology for international flights, enabling customers taking part in the trial to travel through the airport ‘smartly’ without having to show their passport.


Customers who sign up to take part in the airline’s trial from London Heathrow Terminal 5 will be invited to scan their face, passport and boarding pass on their smartphone or tablet ahead of travel, with this information being kept safe and secure. 

When trial participants arrive at the airport, Smart Bio-Pod cameras verify their identity in under three seconds, allowing them to keep their passports safely in their pockets until they reach their destination.

David Breeze, Operations Transformation Manager for British Airways, said: “Not only is this the first time that our customers have been able to register their biometric information at home, but it’s the first time they can use it for British Airways’ international flights. This is a secure and efficient tool that makes for a smarter and smoother airport experience, which will reduce the time it takes us to board aircraft”

“The beauty of this technology is that it also frees our people up to look after more complex customer enquiries and deliver the best possible customer service.”

The trial will run for six months on British Airways flights to Malaga, Spain. Customers who opt-in will be invited to make use of the Fast-Track security lane and will receive complimentary priority boarding.

If the trial is successful, it’s expected to be extended to more international flights.

It follows the introduction of automated biometric technology on British Airways’ domestic flights in 2017, when the carrier became the first UK airline to introduce the technology, which records customers’ facial scans at Security and matches it to them at the boarding gate.

Select customers travelling from London Heathrow Terminal 5 are being invited to volunteer and will receive an email three days ahead of their flight.
Customers taking part in the trial can also register their identity at various touchpoints at Check-In Zone B
The technology used in the trial has been created by travel technology company Amadeus, customised for British Airways
Participants will be directed to a customer service representative if they have not been able to provide their Advanced Passenger Information or immigration requirements ahead of time
Participants are still required to carry their passport when travelling and will be required to show it when they reach their destination airport









U.S. aviation sector calls for 5G wireless deadline extension

An Alaska commercial aircraft flies past a cell phone tower as it approaches to land at
John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California U.S. January 18, 2022.
Photo REUTERS/Mike Blake
Air carriers will be unable to fully meet deadlines to retrofit planes to avoid interference from the latest generation 5G C-Band wireless service, the aviation industry said Tuesday, urging the White House to help avert a standoff, reported David Shepardson from Reuters. 

Concerns that 5G services could interfere with aeroplanes' altimeters, which give data on a plane's height above the ground and are crucial for bad-weather landing, led to disruptions at some U.S. airports earlier this year.


A letter signed by Airlines for America, Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, aviation unions and others backed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) request to mandate an extension of mitigation by wireless carriers as airlines retrofit radio altimeters.


"It is critical to extend these mitigations through the end of 2023 to allow airlines time to complete the retrofit," the letter said. Because of global supply chain issues "air carriers will likely be unable to fully meet either the December 2022 deadlines for smaller regional aircraft and many large transports nor the July 2023 retrofit deadline," it added.


"Our aviation coalition strongly believes that instead of once again waiting until the eleventh hour, now is the time for the leadership at federal agencies and the White House to implement a solution that allows 5G to move forward and avoid further flight delays and cancellations," the letter said.

FAA acting Administrator Billy Nolen urged a delay in some 5G C-Band transmissions from smaller operators over aviation safety concerns.

The aviation industry letter said that since January "the FAA has documented over 100 FAA incidents of potential 5G interference ... Unfortunately, the US government agencies do not appear to be on the same page with respect to these safety issues."

Bolloré Logistics becomes first cargo customer for Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Program

Bolloré Logistics to purchase 620,000 litres of SAF, enabling them to reduce their Scope 3 GHG emissions.




Photo Air Canada
Air Canada announced this week that Bolloré Logistics has become the first Air Canada Cargo customer to join the Leave Less Travel Program, which offers corporate and cargo customers effective options to offset or reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to business travel or freight transportation and reduce their carbon footprint. Bolloré Logistics has agreed to compensate a significant portion of its GHG emissions associated with its projected shipments with Air Canada Cargo with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which represents a purchase of 620,000 litres in 2022. This participation in Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Program will enable Bolloré Logistics to reduce its Scope 3 GHG emissions.

"We are very pleased to welcome Bolloré Logistics as our first cargo customer to participate in Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Program. Addressing climate change in aviation requires a multifaceted approach, together with the united efforts of many stakeholders.  The commitment of companies like Bolloré Logistics is a testament that environmentally-innovative business programs are mutually possible, further helping the aviation sector to build a long-term, sustainable industry," said Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada.

"At a time when climate awareness is at the heart of the strategy of many companies, Bolloré Logistics is proud to join a program that is financing the future of low-carbon air industry. Through this initiative with our partner Air Canada, we contribute our scope 3 CO2 reduction targets and offer more sustainable transport solutions to our clients," said Patrick Lafrance, Managing Director of Canada at Bolloré Logistics.

About Air Canada's Leave Less Travel Program
The Leave Less Travel Program, launched in October 2021 allows corporate and cargo customers to choose the offering they want through a customized approach using SAF, carbon offsets, or a combination of both, through four core actions. To date, five companies have signed to participate.

For cargo customers:

Calculate: Air Canada tracks and calculates the GHG emissions associated with the cargo customer's freight transportation.
Select: The cargo customer can choose how they want to mitigate their GHG emissions associated with their freight transportation:  SAF and/or carbon offsets.
Purchase:
SAF: Air Canada purchases the required SAF volumes and ensures the cargo customer can claim the benefits of its investment.
Carbon Offset: Air Canada facilitates the purchase of carbon offsets through CHOOOSE.
Reduce: The cargo customer contributes to their sustainability goals
The Program supports the airline's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, notably Goal 13: Climate Action. Through its Climate Action Plan, the airline has committed to investing $50 Million in SAF, and carbon reductions and removals.

Air Canada has committed to net-zero GHG emissions from all its global operations by 2050, with absolute midterm GHG net reduction targets by 2030 for both its air and ground operations compared to its 2019 baseline.











United the first U.S. airline to invest in Biofuel refinery

United Becomes First U.S. Airline to Invest in Biofuel Refinery


NEXT's flagship facility will provide a unique strategic location and assets to distribute biofuel throughout the West Coast, could increase United's sustainable aviation fuel supply

United has invested in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any other airline in the world*


United Airlines
United Airlines Ventures (UAV) announced a strategic investment in NEXT Renewable Fuels (NEXT), which is permitting a flagship biofuel refinery in Port Westward, Oregon, with expected production beginning in 2026. NEXT is a Houston-based company developing the biorefinery which, at full production, could produce up to 50,000 barrels per day of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other renewable fuels. UAV could invest as much as $37.5 million into NEXT, as long as the company meets certain milestone targets.

"Right now, one of the biggest barriers to increasing supply and lowering costs of sustainable fuel is that we don't have the infrastructure in place to transport it efficiently, but NEXT's strategic location and assets solve that problem and provide a blueprint for future facilities that need to be built," said Michael Leskinen, President of United Airline Ventures. "We believe this investment will not only bolster NEXT's ambitions and create near-term solutions to expand our SAF supply, but further demonstrates our commitment toward producing SAF at the scale necessary to decarbonize the aviation industry."

NEXT's biorefinery offers several unique benefits including access to a deep-water port, an existing industrial-grade dock, and multi-modal logistics options, which facilitates access to feedstock options and fast-growth SAF offtake markets on the west coast. NEXT has secured an agreement with BP for sourcing 100 percent of its feedstock, further de-risking supply issues smaller facilities have historically experienced. NEXT has also received a crucial air permit from the State of Oregon. Once all the necessary approvals and permits are obtained and the biorefinery is operational, it has the potential to be used as a platform to scale SAF and deploy additional future technologies.

"The clean fuels industry is taking off and our access to feedstocks, multi-modal distribution, and major industry players positions us to be a leading SAF supplier on the West Coast," said Christopher Efird, CEO and Chairperson of NEXT. "United's investment in NEXT strengthens our resolve to be one of the clean fuels leaders in the transportation sector."

Today's announcement marks UAV's fifth SAF-related technology investment, and its first investment directly in a biorefinery. United has been an industry leader in advocating for alternative jet fuel for years – including investing in more SAF production than any other airline in the world and flying the world's first passenger flight using 100% SAF in one engine. United also launched the Eco-Skies Alliance program, which among its 30 corporate participants, has collectively purchased more than 7 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel.

Launched in 2021, UAV is a first-of-its-kind sustainability-focused ventures fund that targets startups, upcoming technologies, and concepts that will complement United's goal of net zero emissions by 2050 – without relying on traditional carbon offsets such as voluntary offsets or planting trees. To date, UAV's portfolio includes SAF producers and other companies advancing technologies including carbon utilization, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.








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