8% UK and US passengers experienced travel disruption since COVID
83% still planning a festive or early 2023 break
66% expect travel chaos to taint their upcoming trips
55% will boycott an airline if their next holidays are similarly disrupted
93% of passengers say reputation for arriving on time is a major factor in their decision to buy a ticket
New data from travel technology company IBS Software reveals that despite more than two thirds (68%) of passengers being inconvenienced by disrupted journeys since COVID travel restrictions were lifted and 66% expecting more of the same during upcoming trips, most (83%) still plan on flying for a break in the next six months.
The research, which polled 2000 recent travellers in the UK and US*, warns that holiday providers have one more chance to get it right; if holidaymakers experience disruptions again during their upcoming trips, over half (55%) will avoid booking with the airline in the future. When asked who they blame for their poor experiences, 50% said it was the fault of the airlines when flights were delayed, with just 13% blaming the airport. However, when it comes to lost luggage the jury is out - 42% say it’s the airport’s responsibility and 40% are seething at the airline.
Delayed flights or missed connections was the most common holiday hurdle, affecting over a third of all passengers (35%), followed closely by waiting in longer than normal queues (31%) and cancelled flights (15%). Lost luggage, which dominated the news headlines in the Summer, is confirmed by the research as a major annoyance, blighting nearly 1 in 7 passengers’ holidays over the last 18 months.
Despite a clear desire to travel, passengers won’t accept more disruption without protest. If passengers find out their journey is going to be disrupted, 53% will complain to the airline and 38% will use social media to broadcast their annoyance. And if an airline doesn’t have a reputation for punctuality they’re likely to lose out with 93% of travellers saying this is an important factor when deciding which airline to buy from.
However, there is still an opportunity for airlines to win back the loyalty of their passengers. When terminal turmoil occurs, passengers can be placated by automatic refunds when eligible; proactive customer support to suggest alternative routes; and automatic alerts on their phone when something goes wrong. As one passenger who took the survey commented: “Just actually organise yourselves properly, there’s no excuse for all the disruption”.
Philip Hinton, SVP, IBS Software, comments: “The pent-up desire to travel was always going to put airlines and airports under extreme pressure - and so it proved, with widespread disruption plaguing many long-anticipated journeys. Airlines know this is a major issue but there is a window of opportunity to put a greater focus on improving performance and customer satisfaction. We see that airlines are prioritising operations because the widespread issues have directly impacted business performance.”
About the research
*The survey was conducted online by Censuswide between Monday 28th November and Wednesday 30th November. 1000 consumers who have travelled by air for leisure in the last 18 months in both the US and UK responded.
A4E statement on EU agreement reforming the Emissions Trading System (ETS) for aviation
During their meeting in Brussels which began on 6th of December 2022, European negotiators agreed on a reform of the carbon market for aviation (“ETS in Aviation”). This reform is part of the broader Fit for 55 package of climate proposals currently making their way through the EU’s legislative process.
The decarbonisation of aviation is a global challenge. The deal reached today on the scope of the ETS shows that work towards an effective global carbon price for aviation has only started. This will build on the outcome of the 41st Triennial International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in October 2022.
We must not forget that airlines have been paying for their emissions through the EU ETS since 2012. The cost of compliance for the ETS is likely to have increased five times in size by 2025 to over EUR 5 billion annually.
A4E is extremely disappointed about the decision to phase out free ETS allowances currently granted to airlines by 2026. This is well before truly effective decarbonisation solutions will be available at the scale needed for them to be effective.
A4E welcomes the decision to better support decarbonisation in civil aviation. The creation of a novel system of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) allowances to help stimulate the rapid deployment of SAF and the earmarking of allowances under the Innovation Fund of the ETS are welcome. They will help lower the cost of the energy transition for airlines and give Europe a unique opportunity to become the leader in green aviation.
The future competitiveness of European aviation and the European SAF industry is clearly at stake. In a globally competitive environment where countries, such as the US through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), are willing to use public funds to incentivise the use and production of clean energies, it is essential that Europe finds the optimum level of incentives in order to maintain a level playing field. It is therefore crucial that the review of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2027 considers the impact of policies such as the EU ETS on air transport services.
easyJet will begin flying three times a week between BHX and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in June 2023.
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: “Whether they’re on their holidays, visiting friends and family or on business, the addition of Milan to our Birmingham network provides yet another convenient direct connection and even greater choice for customers looking to book a great-value trip to one of Europe’s most popular city destinations.”
Tom Screen, aviation director at BHX, added: "We're thrilled easyJet is adding further connectivity between the second cities of Britain and Italy. I have no doubt these regular BHX-MXP flights will be well subscribed by customers from both countries."
This is the UK-based carrier’s 11th route from Birmingham. Its flights to MXP will go on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays from 26 June 2023.
New Program Offers More Choice and Customization With ‘Perks You Pick’ For Everyone From Occasional Travelers to The Most Loyal Customers
JetBlue has today announced a new TrueBlue loyalty program that offers new perks and more choices as an increasing number of customers look to JetBlue as a trusted source for travel beyond just flights. The new program maintains most of TrueBlue’s signature perks that customers have come to love while also allowing TrueBlue members new opportunities to earn perks and status along the way. The more ways customers interact with JetBlue, the more perks they can earn. From JetBlue Vacations hotel and cruise packages, to cars, stays and activities from Paisly, to many JetBlue flight extras and add-ons, and purchases on all JetBlue credit cards, everyone from infrequent travellers to road warriors can find ways to earn and redeem in JetBlue’s loyalty program.
Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has confirmed that its members working for the UK's Border Force workers will strike at six major UK airports for at least eight days over the Christmas period screwing up travel plans for millions.
The union has called strike action between 23rd and 26th December, and then from 28th to 31st December and will affect the UK's major airports London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff. A strike will also impact the south coast port of Newhaven, which would have devastating consequences for the only loss-making route to Dieppe by Transmanche Ferries / DFDS. These dates have been chosen by the union, it says, to have the maximum impact by causing the most disruption to passengers.
PCS Mark Serwotka told media that 40,000 of its members were having to use food banks, while 45,000 were claiming in-work benefits. Although, union reps couldn't say how many of those going on strike were included in those numbers. The union are calling for a 10% pay increase, better job security, with no cuts to pensions or redundancies.
eGates should remain operational throughout the strikes for those with biometric passports from EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA.
Most civil servants have received just a 2% pay rise this year and after a pay freeze for a number of years. PCS said 86% of its 100,000 members across 124 government departments and public sector employers have voted in favour of strike action and promised more strikes - over all departments would be called next year. So far only a few jobcentres and benefits offices will take strike action in the coming weeks, however, the union is already making plans for most Universal Credit service centres to see crippling walkouts in the new year.
The Christmas action will affect millions of people who had been planning getaways over the festive period and to reunite with relatives from overseas. Robert Jenrick, the Immigration Minister called the strike "unjustifiable and will ruin the plans of thousands of families and businesses across the country. - While we are working closely with all UK ports and airports and have robust plans in place to minimise any delays if strike action goes ahead, passengers should be prepared for their plans to be severely disrupted."
Gatwick Airport said it will deploy extra staff on strike days to help with the welfare of stranded passengers and were in consultation with Border Force over mitigation however, delays of between 4 and 6 hours should be expected.
The Business Travel Association warned "The entire travel support system will once more be plunged into dealing with cancellations and disruptions rather than bookings with no financial recompense. - further strike action puts British workers’ Christmases at risk. Hard workers up and down the country will be stranded, struggling to get home."
A spokesperson for London Heathrow Airport claimed that "Our priority is to ensure passengers get through the border safely and as quickly as possible. We are working closely with airlines and Border Force on mitigation plans for potential strike action by Border Force officers and these plans will now be implemented for the notified days."
Manchester Airport said "It is hugely regrettable that the PCS Union has chosen to disrupt one of the most important times of the year for international travel by calling a strike by Border Force officers at several UK ports, including Manchester Airport, for 23-26 December and 28-31 December. We urge union and Government representatives to work together to find a solution to avert this strike action."
It added: "We will be working with our airlines to provide passengers with as much advance notice of cancelled services as possible, so that people have the chance to rebook their travel around the strike days. Arriving passengers should also be prepared for much longer immigration queues on strike days, owing to reduced Border Force staffing levels. Those due to travel during the affected period should look out for communications from their airlines over the coming days."
On the heels of a record-setting year of hiring that brought 4,300 new flight attendants on board since the fall of 2021, Delta will keep the momentum going with the addition of between 4,000 and 6,000 more in 2023. Interested candidates should apply soon — the job won’t stay published for long.
“Our flight attendants have a unique opportunity to make a profound, lasting impact on the 200 million customers we serve every year,” said Jennifer Martin, Managing Director – IFS CX, Learning and Hiring. “We can’t wait to grow our team of highly skilled, safety-focused professionals who bring the Delta spirit to life on every flight.”
Interested candidates can apply starting today. If you have a passion for people, adventure, and creating memories, this is the opportunity for you! Note that candidates who previously applied but were not selected to advance must wait three months from the time of disqualification to reapply.
Applicants must have a high school degree or GED, the ability to work in the U.S., speak English fluently and be at least 21 years of age by the date of application submission. Prior to their training start date, all new-hire flight attendants must be fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated is two weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two weeks after one dose of the J&J vaccine.
Delta flights operate daily, overnight year-round; therefore, flight attendants must be flexible and willing to fly both international and domestic routes. With a global network spanning over 300 destinations, Delta is also seeking language of destination applicants who have fluency in English and one of the following languages: Danish, Dutch, French, Italian, Greek, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech, Swedish and Hebrew.
The top priority for every Delta flight attendant is to ensure the safety and comfort of all customers while providing exceptional service. See the 2023 Hiring Process Guide for an overview of the flight attendant role, application steps and answers to some frequently asked questions.
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable.
Since Delta Air Lines' flights operate day and night and all year-round, Flight Attendants must work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when needed.
Delta's compensation package is competitive and our benefits program includes health and insurance coverage, 401(k) with a company match, a profit-sharing program, and worldwide travel privileges.
Prior to beginning work in the Flight Attendant role, new hires must successfully complete six weeks of training located at our World Headquarters in Atlanta, GA. During this time, participants receive a training wage and some meals, as well as lodging for those who do not live within 2 hours from the training facility.
Once training is complete, Flight Attendants will report to their base to join their 25,000+ colleagues in In-Flight Service. Delta Flight Attendants operate out of 14 bases across the United States including Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale/Miami, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Orlando, Minneapolis, New York, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
Key Responsibilities:
Ensure the safety and comfort of our passengers while providing exceptional customer service, at an altitude of at least 8,000 feet
Provide assistance lifting and stowing luggage into overhead bins and soliciting assistance when needed
Demonstrate the use of safety and emergency equipment and ensure safety requirements are met
Prepare, serve, and sell beverages (including alcohol) and meals (which may include beef, pork, seafood, peanuts, etc.)
Answer questions and assist passengers when necessary, particularly those with special needs
Actively seek to ensure the safety and comfort of customers when an aircraft experiences delays or hits turbulence
Administer and coordinate emergency procedures or provide emergency care (e.g., performing CPR and basic first aid) when needed
Respond to and provide clear and accurate directions (verbally or non-verbally) to passengers in the event of an emergency
Make decisions to address issues keeping in line with Delta policies, procedures, and core values
Work both independently and as part of a team to accomplish work tasks
Meet deadlines and manage unexpected changes in a time-sensitive and stressful environment
Practice safety conscious behaviors in all operational processes and procedures
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED (MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS)
Eligibility to work in the U.S.
Be at least 21 years of age at time of application
Have a high school diploma or GED
Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently
Ability to acquire and keep current a passport and travel documents to freely enter and exit places where Delta flies prior to training start
Complete a pre-employment Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test, and comprehensive background check, including government-required fingerprint-based criminal history record check
This is a physically demanding role that requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, and lifting (i.e., pushing/pulling beverage or food carts and lifting and opening emergency aircraft doors)
Ability to sit in an assigned jump seat with seatbelt and shoulder harness fastened
Ability to open emergency exits and close aircraft doors weighing up to 60 pounds and use of a food/beverage cart requiring 32lbs of force when pushing or pulling
Demonstrates that privacy is a priority when handling personal data
Embraces a diverse set of people, thinking and styles
Consistently makes safety and security, of self and others, the priority
Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when needed
Ability to work in a physically demanding role which requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, and lifting (i.e., pushing/pulling beverage or food carts and lifting and opening emergency aircraft doors)
Ability to retrieve and store items in the overhead bins which can be as high as 74" from the floor
Willingness to accept assignment to any Flight Attendant base after graduation from training, as dictated by the needs of the operation
Flexibility to relocate or commute (i.e. standby travel) to and from your assigned base location and able to fly both International and Domestic routes
Must be willing to change and adapt to meet the demands of the job, including dealing with scheduling changes on short-notice
Where permitted by applicable law, must have received or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by date of hire to be considered for U.S.-based job, if not currently employed by Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Grön Fuels GigaSystem to Produce Carbon Negative Sustainable Aviation Fuel Through Diverse Slate of Renewable Feedstocks and the Incorporation of Biomass Energy, Carbon Capture & Storage.
JetBlue Continues to Build Promising SAF Partnerships as It Advances Its Goal to Reach 10% SAF by 2030
JetBlue and Fidelis New Energy, LLC (Fidelis) today announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide JetBlue at least 92 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Fidelis’ Grön Fuels GigaSystem™ at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge in Louisiana. This SAF is expected to be delivered over the five-year term with a targeted start date of 2025.
With this MOU, Fidelis’ negative carbon intensity SAF is helping JetBlue advance toward its goal to reach 10 percent of its total fuel usage as SAF on a blended basis by 2030. JetBlue is the only US carrier to be flying regular domestic flights using both available SAF producers delivering today and continues to support the emerging SAF market with significant commitments as the airline continues to grow its SAF mix. The SAF from the Grön Fuels GigaSystem is innovatively designed to achieve negative lifecycle carbon intensity by integrating carbon capture & sequestration (CCS) and biomass energy with CCS (BECCS).
Designed to be the largest and highest efficiency purpose-built renewable fuels facility in North America, the Grön Fuels GigaSystem will produce an estimated 1 billion gallons per year (65,000 barrels per day) of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and other low carbon products. Grön Fuels further enhances its efficiency and industry-leading carbon intensity by capturing waste process heat to generate power, producing biogas from byproducts and using its highly flexible processing capabilities to produce carbon negative SAF from a wide array of existing and emerging low carbon intensity feedstocks.
“JetBlue is proud of our work to champion a more sustainable aviation industry and fly regularly using SAF today. But with SAF being less than 1% of our total fuel usage, we need significantly more supply to reach our 2040 net zero target,” said Sara Bogdan, director of sustainability and environmental social governance, JetBlue, “With partners like Fidelis and their carbon negative Grön Fuels GigaSystem, we are not only supplying our own growing SAF needs, we’re sending a powerful signal that significant demand for SAF exists. By introducing negative carbon intensity SAF to our network, we are also taking steps towards reaching true carbon neutrality as an airline.”
EU Transport Ministers should seize the opportunity for a strong and sustainable European airline industry
Ahead of today’s transport ministerial meeting in Brussels, Airlines for Europe (A4E) is calling on transport ministers to turn words into action and focus on policies that can help to maintain a strong and competitive European airline industry.
Europe has faced multiple crises this year which has highlighted the need to ensure airlines can operate in a cost-efficient manner within a robust single market for aviation.
This week marks an important milestone for European aviation with key negotiations due to take place on ReFuelEU, the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and on the Single European Sky. These files will have a significant impact on the future of Europe’s aviation industry so it is crucial to get them right.
A4E has written to EU transport ministers outlining key recommendations such as a single Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate to go with ambitious but achievable quotas for SAF, as well as pricing mechanisms to close the gap between SAF and fossil fuel. We also continue to urge member states to seize the opportunity of Single European Sky and its potential 10% reduction in emissions.
Commenting ahead of the meetings of ministers and other policymakers this week, Managing Director of A4E Thomas Reynaert said, “Aviation is a critical mode of transport for millions of Europeans and we urge policymakers to focus on implementing policies that can help airlines achieve their ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050 while also maintaining a robust and competitive aviation market in Europe.”
Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider was unveiled on Friday, 2nd December at the company’s site in Palmdale, California, marking the first time the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft was seen by the public. Delivered to the U.S. Air Force, the B-21 now joins the nation’s strategic triad as a visible and flexible deterrent, supporting national security objectives and assuring the nation’s allies and partners.
When it comes to delivering America’s resolve, the Raider provides the Air Force with long-range, high survivability and mission payload flexibility. The B-21 will penetrate the toughest defences for precision strikes anywhere in the world.
Here are 10 key facts about Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider:
1. Sixth Generation.
The B-21 Raider benefits from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology. It is the next evolution of the Air Force strategic bomber fleet. Developed with the next generation of stealth technology, advanced networking capabilities and an open systems architecture, the B-21 is optimized for the high-end threat environment. It will play a critical role in helping the Air Force meet its most complex missions.
2. Stealth.
Northrop Grumman is continuously advancing technology, employing new manufacturing techniques and materials to ensure the B-21 will defeat the anti-access, area-denial systems it will face.
3. Backbone of the Fleet.
The B-21 Raider forms the backbone of the future of U.S. air power. The B-21 will deliver a new era of capability and flexibility through the advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, the B-21 will be one of the most effective aircraft in the sky, with the ability to use a broad mix of stand-off and direct attack munitions.
4. A Digital Bomber.
The B-21 is a digital bomber. Northrop Grumman uses agile software development, advanced manufacturing techniques and digital engineering tools to help mitigate production risk on the B-21 program and enable modern sustainment practices. Six B-21 Raiders are in various stages of final assembly and testing at Northrop Grumman’s plant in Palmdale, California.
5. Cloud Technology.
Northrop Grumman and the Air Force successfully demonstrated the migration of B-21 ground systems data to a cloud environment. This demonstration included the development, deployment and test of B-21 data, including the B-21 digital twin, that will support B-21 operations and sustainment. This robust cloud-based digital infrastructure will result in a more maintainable and sustainable aircraft with lower-cost infrastructure.
6. Open Architecture.
To meet the evolving threat environment, the B-21 has been designed from day one for rapid upgradeability. Unlike earlier generation aircraft, the B-21 will not undergo block upgrades. New technology, capabilities and weapons will be seamlessly incorporated through agile software upgrades and built-in hardware flexibility. This will ensure the B-21 Raider can continuously meet the evolving threat head-on for decades to come.
7. A National Team.
Since the contract award in 2015, Northrop Grumman has assembled a nationwide team to design, test and build the world’s most advanced strike aircraft. The B-21 team includes more than 8,000 people from Northrop Grumman, industry partners and the Air Force. The team consists of more than 400 suppliers across 40 states.
8. Sustainment.
Long-term operations and sustainment affordability has been a B-21 program priority from the start. In partnership with the Air Force, our team has made maintainability an equally important requirement to stealth performance to ensure we’re driving more affordable, predictable operations and sustainment outcomes.
9. Global Reach.
The B-21 Raider is pivotal to supporting our nation’s strategic deterrence strategy. In addition to its advanced long-range precision strike capabilities that will afford Combatant Commanders the ability to hold any target, anywhere in the world at risk, it has also been designed as the lead component of a larger family of systems that will deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic attack and multi-domain networking capabilities. In a dynamic global security environment, the B-21 will provide the flexibility and deterrence critical to the security of the U.S. and our allies.
10. Raider.
The B-21 Raider is named in honour of the Doolittle Raid of World War II when 80 airmen, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the course of World War II. The actions of these 80 volunteers were instrumental in shifting momentum in the Pacific theatre. This marked the raid as a catalyst to a multitude of future progress in U.S. air superiority from land or sea. The courageous spirit of the Doolittle Raiders is the inspiration behind the name of the B-21 Raider.
The B-21 Raider forms the backbone of the future for U.S. air power, leading a powerful family of systems that deliver a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Its sixth-generation capabilities include stealth, information advantage and open architecture.
“The B-21 Raider is a testament to America’s enduring advantages in ingenuity and innovation. And it’s proof of the Department’s long-term commitment to building advanced capabilities that will fortify America’s ability to deter aggression, today and into the future. Now, strengthening and sustaining U.S. deterrence is at the heart of our National Defense Strategy,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. “This bomber was built on a foundation of strong, bipartisan support in Congress. And because of that support, we will soon fly this aircraft, test it and then move into production.”
The B-21 is capable of networking across the battlespace to multiple systems, and into all domains. Supported by a digital ecosystem throughout its lifecycle, the B-21 can quickly evolve through rapid technology upgrades that provide new capabilities to outpace future threats.
“With the B-21, the U.S. Air Force will be able to deter or defeat threats anywhere in the world,” said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. “The B-21 exemplifies how Northrop Grumman is leading the industry in digital transformation and digital engineering, ultimately delivering more value to our customers.”
The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raids of World War II when 80 men, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the course of World War II. The designation B-21 recognizes the Raider as the first bomber of the 21st century.
Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.
Archer Aviation Inc. announced on Friday that Maker successfully completed its first transition to full wing-borne flight on November 29, 2022. Maker has 12 propellers attached to six booms on a fixed wing. All 12 propellers provide vertical lift during take-off and landing. The forward 6 propellers tilt forward to cruise position to provide propulsion during forward flight, with the wing providing aerodynamic lift like a conventional airplane. During this flight, Maker’s tilt propellers were locked in cruise position for the first time and the aircraft flew at a calibrated airspeed of 91 knots (105 mph).
Full transition occurs when the aircraft “transitions” from lift generated by the propellers at low speeds to lift generated by the wing at higher speeds, and the tilt propellers are locked forward in the cruise position
Maker is one of a small number of full scale eVTOL aircraft in the world to achieve this feat
This is yet another significant building block as Archer continues its push to be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA
Achieving this full transition milestone is critical to validating the flight physics of Archer’s proprietary 12-tilt-6 propeller configuration that it uses on Maker as well as Midnight, which is the aircraft Archer recently unveiled at its Open House on November 16th and is working to certify with the FAA in late 2024. The success of the Maker flight testing program also demonstrates a number of the key enabling technologies for Midnight, such as the aircraft’s flight control system. The Maker flight test program has generated invaluable data that Archer has leveraged in the development and certification process for Midnight. Archer has made rapid progress on Maker’s flight testing program, completing this transition to fully wing-borne flight in less than 12 months after its first hover flight.
“From day one, Archer’s strategy has always been about finding the most efficient path to commercializing eVTOL aircraft,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO. “The data and experience we’ve gathered from Maker’s rigorous flight testing program has been invaluable to the development and certification path of Midnight, and lends further confidence to our belief that Archer will be the first company to certify an eVTOL aircraft in the US with the FAA.”
“This significant achievement is a testament to the countless hours of design, simulation and wind tunnel testing that our team has conducted behind-the-scenes,” said Dr. Geoff Bower, Archer’s Chief Engineer responsible for overseeing Maker’s flight test campaign. Dr. Bower has over a decade of experience in the eVTOL aircraft industry, during which he has helped design and build four full-scale eVTOL aircraft that have successfully completed flight test campaigns. More technical details from the flight can be found in his recent blog here. “Looking forward to the commercialization of Midnight, we’ll continue to draw upon the incredible findings and lessons learned from Maker’s flight testing program.”
Only Non-Stop Service Between North America and Thailand
Four-times weekly, seasonal flights from YVR until Mar. 26
Air Canada has started a service from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Bangkok, with the first flight departing yesterday, 2nd December.
"We are thrilled to launch Air Canada's first non-stop service to Southeast Asia and the only non-stop flights between North America and Thailand. Bangkok is also one of the most visited destinations globally, and we have optimized connections to and from our trans-pacific hub at YVR to give customers convenient travel options to explore this exciting city renowned for its history, cuisine and culture, or to conduct international business trade. This new service from YVR is another step in our ambition to develop this hub into one of the most important trans-pacific gateways in North America. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President – Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.
"Improving access between countries is crucial to a successful Canadian aviation sector. These flights will allow more travellers to get to their destinations, and will promote growth and prosperity for both Canadian and Thailand's travel industries," said The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport - Government of Canada.
"We are thrilled that Air Canada continues to grow its transpacific hub at YVR with the introduction of their new route to Bangkok — the only direct service from North America to Thailand," said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. "This new service will provide passengers with incredible tourism options and a broad range of business opportunities in the region. And here in British Columbia this new route will generate $2.8 million in tourism spend and $1.5 million in GDP."
To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3rd December 2022), British Airways has announced that it is working with Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF). By working with QEF, which supports children and adults with physical and learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries to increase their independence, the airline is showing its continued commitment to improve its customer experience for people with additional assistance requirements.
QEF offers a range of expert services, including supporting people to fly so that people with disabilities are more informed and confident about the choices available to them. The charity offers a two-stage Tryb4uFly consultation and assessment service, allowing apprehensive travellers the chance to try out real cabin seating donated by British Airways or to try a virtual, immersive experience of what it’s like to travel from their home to their destination. The experience helps identify any equipment or additional assistance to make travel easier for customers with additional requirements.
Based in Surrey, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is a charity working with almost 10,000 disabled children and adults every year with physical or learning disabilities or acquired brain injuries. Expert teams provide a range of services that support people to increase their independence; whether that’s gaining new life skills, rebuilding a life affected by brain injury, supporting people to travel by air or acquiring the skills to drive a specially adapted car, QEF enables disabled people to achieve their potential.
British Airways has also been working with QEF to assess and pre-approve seat support devices recommended by the charity for use on BA flights, and this information can be found on the British Airways website or when customers get in touch with the airline’s dedicated accessibility team.
The airline’s colleagues are also supporting some of QEF’s training sessions for clinicians across the country, both at QEF’s centre in Carshalton, South London and at London Heathrow Airport. The sessions give medical professionals insight into the layout and functionality of British Airways’ aircraft cabins, as well as the customer journey through the airline’s main hub, Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, to ensure they have the best knowledge to prepare and support people with disabilities ahead of their journey.
Carrie Harris, Director of Sustainability at British Airways, said: “Almost half a million customers who require additional assistance fly with British Airways each year. We’re committed to doing everything we can to support these customers as part of our BA Better World programme and by working with expert organisations like Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People, we’re taking another positive step to improve our service.”
Michelle Giles, QEF Mobility Services Manager said: “QEF provides a range of expert services that support disabled people to be as independent as possible. Advance knowledge of equipment and support available at the airport and from airlines can make a journey much more comfortable.
“We’re grateful to British Airways for its support in improving our mock cabin with updated seating, so that everyone, no matter who they are flying with, can have a more realistic cabin experience before they commit to a flight. British Airways has also supported our professional training courses with valued insight and access to Heathrow Airport, which has been really beneficial for all involved. We’re looking forward to working closely with BA in the future to improve the experience of air travel for all disabled passengers.”
Aiming to become the airline of choice for customers with invisible and visible disabilities, British Airways is committed to ensuring a seamless travel experience and has introduced a number of initiatives as it builds towards this.
In a series of firsts, British Airways was the first UK airline to be awarded the renowned Autism Friendly Award by the National Autistic Society, the first to formally recognise the sunflower lanyard scheme (partnering with Hidden Disabilities Sunflower), the first to produce a Visual Guide to Flying to help customers prepare for their flight and the first UK carrier to embed British Sign Language (BSL) in its customer engagement centres by partnering with Sign Live. The airline has empowered all airport colleagues to help customers with additional accessibility requirements through its ‘Beyond Accessibility’ training programme and digital learning resources, providing information about invisible disabilities and practical advice on how to support customers at each stage of their journey*. It also provides a dedicated team of accessibility experts to assist with customer enquiries **.
More information on all of these initiatives can be found here
*The digital learning library has been produced by customer experience and employee experience experts Ethos Farm ltd and Open Doors Organization and the training videos help raise awareness amongst our colleagues on several disability types, such as deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visual impairments or non-visible disabilities like autism.
**Each member of the customer care team has passed an intensive specialist training course, which included sessions with expert accessibility charities including Open Doors Organization.
Largest business jet maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in the UK
The spacious new hangar features 22 service bays, capable of accommodating up to 14 Global 7500 aircraft at the same time
Bombardier has expanded its London Biggin Hill Service Centre, the latest addition to the company’s extensive and growing worldwide customer service network. Located at the bustling London Biggin Hill Airport, the newly enhanced London Biggin Hill Service Centre has grown to nearly 250,000 square feet (approximately 23,225 square metres), adding a suite of new maintenance and modification capabilities and full-service interior finishing capacity for its family of Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
With its new, sought-after service capabilities and additional hangar space, Bombardier’s gleaming service centre – the largest business jet MRO facility in the UK – is the perfect oasis for customers of the OEM’s growing fleet of business jets. Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill Service Centre is the largest tenant at the London Biggin Hill Airport, providing customers with complete heavy maintenance capabilities, wheel and battery shops, a component paint shop and much more. The new hangar has transformed from eight to 22 service bays, increasing on-site capacity to accommodate a wide array of aircraft, including up to 14 Global 7500 aircraft at one time – as well as Bombardier’s newly launched Global 8000 business jet when it enters into service in 2025.
“With the expansion of the London Biggin Hill Service Centre, we are taking another step in showcasing our unwavering commitment to our European customers with industry-leading services on a global scale – OEM expertise that customers demand and expect from Bombardier,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy. “The European market is a very important one for Bombardier and this expansion perfectly underscores our ongoing commitment to the region, allowing us to be closer to our customers and offering them even more world-class services and support.”
Originally inaugurated in 2017, the London Biggin Hill Service Centre, provides a shining example of how Bombardier is enhancing the accessibility of its OEM expertise for customers worldwide and redefining its position as a leader in aftermarket services. This expansion will bring the facility’s workforce to more than 250 employees, with the expectation to grow this number given increasing demand for support.
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