Boeing to donate $300,000 for Indonesian earthquake relief efforts

The Boeing Company today announced a $300,000 donation (equivalent to IDR 4.6 billion) from the Boeing Charitable Trust to assist those who have been impacted by the recent Indonesian earthquake.

"The damage caused by this earthquake is devastating, and Boeing stands ready to assist our Indonesian colleagues, friends and neighbours who have been affected by this tragic event," said Ziad Ojakli, executive vice president of Government Operations. "We are committed to partnering with organizations that will quickly bring relief to the communities hardest hit so they can begin to heal and start the rebuilding process."

Boeing funding will support the following organizations:

$100,000 to GlobalGiving, in partnership with IDEP Foundation, to address immediate humanitarian needs across the region.

$100,000 to CARE International to provide emergency relief supplies and support.

$100,000 to CERDAS Foundation to support health, hygiene and food distribution for displaced persons.

"With the severity of damages caused by the recent earthquake, it will likely be months before many families can return to their homes," said Bonaria Siahaan, CEO of Yayasan CARE Peduli, CARE International's affiliate in Indonesia. "We appreciate the rapid support from Boeing, which will help 550 households meet their daily needs, including providing uniforms to elementary school students so they can stay in school and have a sense of ongoing normalcy."

As part of the Boeing Gift Match program, the company will match dollar-for-dollar monetary donations made by Boeing employees to charitable organizations supporting earthquake recovery and relief projects in Indonesia. This will extend the reach of assistance being provided to the Indonesian people.

"Boeing has been honoured to do business in Indonesia for over 73 years. Our Boeing teammates based in Jakarta and others around the world are actively supporting relief efforts on the ground. We are hopeful that Boeing's donation can further support the people of West Java, Governor Ridwan Kamil, and his staff during this challenging time," said Alexander Feldman, president of Boeing Southeast Asia.

Disaster relief efforts in Indonesia align with Boeing's ongoing commitment to the communities where Boeing employees live and work. Boeing's presence in Indonesia spans more than 73 years. Over the past decade, Boeing has contributed more than $3.1 million in charitable giving in the country.

Our Indonesia Presence (boeing.com)

Air Serbia starts flights to China......

Last Friday, 9th December, at 14:10, Air Serbia's JU702 flight took off from Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport to Tianjin, and after a pause of 22 years, the national airline had thus again commenced direct flights to China. 

Flights on this route will be operated using wide-body A330-200 aircraft from Air Serbia’s long-haul fleet. Belgrade-Tianjin flights will be operated on Friday, with an average flight duration of 10 hours, while flights from Tianjin to Belgrade would be carried out on Sunday, and will last an average of 12 hours.

The official send-off ceremony was attended by Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, Minister of Construction, Transportation, and Infrastructure Goran Vesić, Minister of Tourism and Youth Husein Memić, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Serbia Chen Bo, as well as media representatives.

"We opened a new chapter in our operations by enabling our passengers to fly directly to China, and we believe it will make their travels to this distant destination much easier. For some time, Belgrade has already provided good connectivity of the broader Balkan region to numerous destinations in the world. As of today, it’s possible to fly from Belgrade to China, too. Our company is one of the few in Europe which offer direct flights to this Asian country. We are now flying to Tianjin, and in the future, we hope that we will be flying to other important Chinese cities as well", said Jiří Marek, CEO of Air Serbia.

Air Serbia is also launching flights to Heraklion & Chania (Crete from 23 April 2023), Rhodes (from 23 June 2023) and Corfu (from 23 June 2323). Flights for Heraklion and Rhodes will be operated four times a week.

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Rhodes is known for its endless beaches surrounded by pine forests, villages embedded in the mountains, archaeological sites and a spear-like shape. This Mediterranean gem is a famous tourist destination, special both in Greece and in the whole world. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the renowned Colossus, originated nowhere else but on the island of Rhodes. 

The old part of the city features the 14th-century Kastello Palace  - The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a remarkable clock tower, Archaeological and the Byzantine museum, all of them witnesses to the rich history of the island. The new part of the city is just as interesting, with the National Theatre and the Church of the Annunciation standing out in particular among the many buildings dating from the period of Italian rule. Not far from the village of Theologos, there is the well-known Valley of Butterflies, where millions of butterflies appear from June to September. There is so much to see and do in Rhodes that you'll be spoilt for choice. 

The second largest in Crete, the port city of Chania is more than 5,000 years old. The rich cultural heritage full of colours, smells, tastes and music intertwines with the big and open hearts of the locals, making this city special for tourists from around the world. Culture aficionados will undoubtedly enjoy the many remains of the Minoan civilization.

In other news about Air Serbia....

Air101: A wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft in Air Serbia’s fleet, registered as YU-ARC has arrived at the Belgrade Airport.

Air101: Air Serbia forms a strategic alliance with DIDWW, the global telecoms operator

Air101: Air Serbia commences direct flights to Ankara, Izmir and Budapest

Air101: Air Serbia starts flights to Malaga next month

Air101: Air Serbia to launch flights to Chicago

American Airlines appoints Devon May as new Chief Financial Officer

Derek Kerr to Step Down From CFO Role at End of Year Following Long-Planned Succession Process; Kerr to Remain at American as Vice Chair, President of American Eagle and Strategic Advisor

American Airlines Group Inc. announced that Devon May has been named Chief Financial Officer following a long-planned succession process. May, who is currently the airline's senior vice president of Finance and Investor Relations, will assume the CFO role effective Jan. 1, 2023. He will report to American's CEO Robert Isom.

American's current CFO Derek Kerr will remain at the airline as Vice Chair, President of American Eagle and Strategic Advisor. He will continue to lead American's Regional and Cargo teams and serve as a strategic advisor to the company.

“Derek Kerr is quite simply the best CFO in the history of the airline industry,” said Isom. “He is a great friend and has been a trusted advisor throughout my career, and his 20-year stint as CFO of America West, US Airways and American is unparalleled. He was instrumental in bringing together American and US Airways and ensuring American remained on solid footing during the global pandemic. American is well-positioned because of Derek's leadership and stewardship, and he has spent years readying Devon for his new responsibilities.”

“I have had the privilege of calling Derek a friend and colleague for more than 30 years,” said American's Chairman Doug Parker. “He is truly one of a kind — an airline CFO who has served in the role for two decades and made certain his airline met every single one of its commitments over that time. Derek has played a key role in building American into the airline it is today, and his leadership was critical in helping us get through the challenges brought on by the pandemic. On behalf of the entire board of directors, I want to thank Derek for his tremendous contributions to our airline as CFO.”

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as CFO of American, US Airways and America West the past 20 years,” said Kerr. “I'm incredibly proud of what we accomplished over that time — particularly over the past three years during the pandemic as we faced a crisis unlike any our industry had ever seen. We have the best finance team in the industry, and given we are back to profitability and well on our way to reducing our debt levels, it's the ideal time to make this transition. As we move forward, the Finance organization is in great hands with Devon.”

May, who joined America West in 2002, has more than 20 years of airline industry experience across finance, operations, network planning and alliances. In his current role, he leads the airline's financial planning and analysis, corporate development, and investor relations work. He previously served as senior vice president of Finance and American Eagle and senior vice president of Network Strategy, where he led American's regional operations as well as its network planning and alliances work. May holds an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and a Bachelor of Management in finance from the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada.

“Devon is the perfect person to lead our finance organization going forward as we continue to focus on achieving sustained profitability and reducing debt,” added Isom. “He is a world-class executive who has built a great team around him, and he has played a critical leadership role inside American for many years. This move follows a long-planned succession process, and the entire senior leadership team is looking forward to working alongside Devon even more closely in his new role.”

“I'm truly honored to be taking on the role of CFO at American,” said May. “Derek has been a close friend and mentor to me for more than 20 years and our airline is set up well for the future because of his leadership. I look forward to leading our finance team as we build on the progress we have made on our return to sustained profitability and our debt reduction plan. The best is yet to come for American.”

United Airlines unveils historic order to buy up to 200 Boeing widebody jets

Firm order for 100 new 787 Dreamliners - plus options to add 100 more - represents largest widebody aircraft order by a U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history

Airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebody aircraft by 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and three a week in 2024

Order builds on United's strengths: leading U.S. international gateways, robust domestic network supporting the global fleet, premium onboard experience and most widebodies among North American carriers

The U.S. mega carrier United Airlines has just announced a massive aircraft order that is the largest widebody order by a U.S. carrier in commercial aviation history.  The firm is ordering 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options to purchase 100 more.  This massive order is part of the carrier's ambitious United Next plan to take the airline to a leadership role in global travel for many years to come.

United expects to take delivery of the new widebody planes between 2024 and 2032 and can choose among the 787-8, 9 or 10 models, providing flexibility to support a wide range of routes.

United also exercised options to purchase 44 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for delivery between 2024 and 2026 - consistent with the United Next 2026 capacity plan - and ordered 56 more MAX aircraft for delivery between 2027 and 2028.

The airline now expects to take delivery of about 700 new narrow and widebody aircraft by the end of 2032, including an average of more than two every week in 2023 and more than three every week in 2024.

Additionally, United continues its unprecedented effort to upgrade the interiors of its existing fleet. More than 90% of the carrier's international widebodies now feature the United Polaris® business class seat, as well as United Premium Plus® seating – upgrades for the remaining aircraft will be completed by the summer of 2023. United also will retrofit 100% of its mainline, narrow-body planes with its signature interior - about 100 aircraft are scheduled to be completed in 2023 with the remaining expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Approximately 100 planes of the new widebody order are expected to replace older Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with all 767 aircraft removed from the United fleet by 2030, resulting in up to an expected 25% decrease in carbon emissions per seat for the new planes compared to the older planes they are expected to replace.

"United emerged from the pandemic as the world's leading global airline and the flag carrier of the United States," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "This order further solidifies our lead and creates new opportunities for our customers, employees and shareholders by accelerating our plan to connect more people to more places around the globe and deliver the best experience in the sky."

"With this investment in its future fleet, the 737 MAX and 787 will help United accelerate its fleet modernization and global growth strategy," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The Boeing team is honored by United's trust in our family of airplanes to connect people and transport cargo around the world for decades to come."

Driving Bottom Line Value

The firm order for 787 aircraft addresses United's current widebody aircraft replacement needs through the next decade – their greatly improved maintenance and fuel burn economics will further United's efforts to improve its overall cost profile. In partnership with Boeing, this order also helps United maintain flexibility with the timing of widebody aircraft retirements.

At the same time, the 787 options allow United to continue to grow its global network and would help maintain the airline's industry-leading margins in international flying among U.S. carriers.

"This order solves for our current widebody replacement needs in a more fuel-efficient and cost-efficient way, while also giving our customers a best-in-class experience," said Gerry Laderman, United's EVP and Chief Financial Officer. "And if the future of long-haul flying is as bright as we think it will be, United is able to capitalize on those opportunities by exercising these new widebody options - I look forward to the incremental margin and earnings these aircraft will generate."

The exercised options for MAX aircraft are consistent with the 2026 capacity and two margin targets associated with the United Next plan. United also has started to build the order book for 2027 and beyond with the firm order for 56 additional MAX aircraft.

The Flag Carrier of the United States

With hubs in the nation's largest cities, United provides strategic gateways to international destinations across the Atlantic, Pacific and Latin America.

In the last two years alone, United added 13 new international destinations, 40 new international routes and extra trips to 10 existing international routes. This expansion includes service to London-Heathrow, where the airline added five new daily flights, for a total of 23 daily flights planned for summer of 2023, including an hourly shuttle there from New York/Newark.

United now serves double-digit international destinations from each of its U.S. hubs:

78 via Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

56 via George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

45 via Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

41 via Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

32 via San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

18 via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

17 via Denver International Airport (DEN)

"Our widebody fleet will be re-energized by these new 787 deliveries and further strengthen what we do best: connect people and unite the world with modern, customer friendly and fuel-efficient aircraft," said Andrew Nocella, United's EVP and Chief Commercial Officer. "United is uniquely positioned to capture international travel demand thanks to our global network, fleet size and gateway hubs. This combination represents a significant advantage for our business for years to come and another reason for business and leisure customers to choose United."

#1 Across the Atlantic

This past summer United became the largest airline between the U.S. and the Atlantic region, consisting of Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

Earlier this year, United kicked off the largest transatlantic expansion in its history with the launch of ten new flights – including to several places no other North American carrier serves like Amman, Jordan; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Ponta Delgada, Azores and Mallorca, Spain.

Next summer, United's Atlantic expansion will continue with new service to three cities – Malaga, Spain, Stockholm, Sweden; and Dubai, UAE – as well as six more flights to some of the most popular destinations in Europe, including Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin and Shannon.

In total, United will fly nonstop to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East next summer, more than all other U.S. airlines combined.

Cathay Pacific’s First class is back

 As Cathay Pacific continues to add more flights and more destinations for its customers, the airline’s elevated First class service is also making its much-anticipated return, initially on select flights to and from London Heathrow followed by Paris and Tokyo (Haneda) over the coming months.

Since 5 and 6 December, customers can now travel First class with Cathay Pacific on the airline’s prime daily London Heathrow flight, CX251/CX252 respectively. This coincides with the addition of even more flight frequencies to and from London Heathrow.

First class will then be returning to Cathay Pacific’s Paris flight CX261/CX260 from 18 January 2023, followed by its Tokyo (Haneda) flight CX548/CX549 from 1 February 2023.

General Manager Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo said: “We are extremely excited to be bringing back our First class service after an extended absence as the world’s appetite for travel comes roaring back. We know our customers have been eagerly anticipating being able to fly First class with us again, and we are delighted to be offering it on routes that we know are incredibly popular with them.

“We are very proud of the elevated First class experience we provide, which has been thoughtfully curated to offer our customers a bespoke journey centred on enjoying inspired flavours, calming fragrances and refined textures whenever they travel. We very much look forward to welcoming our First class customers on board and delivering the very best of what Cathay Pacific has to offer.”

A celebratory cellar

To mark the return of its First class service, Cathay Pacific is introducing a celebratory limited edition Krug 2004 Vintage Champagne from the House of Krug as well as a special celebratory edition of Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2018 and Château Lynch-Bages 2000 – both superb vintages from Bordeaux. Available in First class on flights to and from London in December, this special offering celebrates Cathay Pacific’s long-standing partnerships with House of Krug and Château Lynch-Bages, with whom it has partnered since 1986 and 1989, respectively.

In addition to the airline’s extensive wine cellar, beverage options also include teas from JING, cold pressed juices from Bless and the airline’s own Betsy craft beer produced by expert Hong Kong brewery, Gweilo Beer.

A fresh take on fine dining

Cathay Pacific’s First class service allows customers to dine at their preferred time choosing from a wide variety of fresh flavours and contemporary dishes that include not just hearty favourites, but more nutritious wellness options and authentic Hong Kong dishes.

The airline has sourced some of the best ingredients from producers that support sustainable and ethical practices. This includes award-winning pork from Dingley Dell Farm, certified sustainable Nordic Skrei cod, organic free-range eggs from Sunny Queen Farms in Australia, and more.

Customers flying First class from Hong Kong before 31 December will also be able to enjoy Cathay Pacific's special Christmas-themed menus.

The First class dining service is complemented by contemporary tableware, including chinaware from Noritake, cutlery from Robert Welch and restaurant-range wine glasses from Riedel.

Soft bedding and premium amenities

Cathay Pacific has also partnered with Bamford to provide First class passengers with exquisite bedding and amenities, including 600-thread-count sustainably sourced cotton bedlinen, men’s and women’s natural skincare products, and amenity kits.

Customers can also select their choice of pillow from the pillow menu and when they are ready for their turndown service, cabin crew will transform their space into the softest bed in the sky. This starts with laying down their mattress and duvet, followed by their pillow of choice with lavender-scented Bamford Pillow Mist. A cotton sleep suit, slippers and eye mask from Hong Kong brand PYE completes the sensory experience.

Superior service

To offer customers an even more elevated First class experience, Cathay Pacific has its Premium Ambassador programme. Working with Hong Kong hotel The Upper House, the programme provides specialised hospitality training for Cathay Pacific’s cabin crew to enable them to become ambassadors for its elevated First class offering.

All these elements come together to relax the mind, body and spirit, and give customers a complete, personalised journey as lavish as any experience they would enjoy on the ground.

Southwest Airlines Announces Leadership Promotions

Southwest Airlines has announced two Leadership promotions within its Internal Audit and Legal Departments, both effective immediately.

Internal Audit

Ted Gordon was promoted to Vice President Internal Audit where he will be responsible for leading Internal Audit functions. Gordon will provide strategic and tactical leadership of audit plan development; delivering assurance on the design and operating effectiveness of the Company's governance, accounting, financial, operational, and IT controls. Gordon was most recently a Director within the airline's Network Planning Team and has held leadership positions within the Finance and Internal Audit departments.

Gordon joined Southwest Airlines® in 2005. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from the University of Missouri.

"Throughout his career, Ted has displayed a knack for streamlining processes, finding efficiencies, and developing practical solutions to support Southwest's continued growth," said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines' Chief Administration and Communications Officer. "We are immensely proud of Ted's accomplishments and are thrilled to promote him into his new role."

Gordon moves into the position held previously by Colleen Russell who stepped down from her office role this month. She will continue to serve the Company as an Executive Advisor until June 30, 2023.

Boeing delivers first P-8A Poseidon to Royal New Zealand Air Force

Last week New Zealand received the first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft direct from the manufacturer during a ceremony at the Museum of Flight.

“As a maritime nation, delivery of the P-8A will ensure New Zealand maintains a patrol and response capability that will protect and support law enforcement in our Exclusive Economic Zone and the Southern Ocean,” said Sarah Minson, acting Deputy Secretary Capability Delivery, New Zealand Ministry of Defence. “The P-8A will also assist our South Pacific neighbours and deliver long-range search and rescue capability.”

The milestone comes four years after the New Zealand Government entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy for the P-8A.

“The unmatched, multi-mission maritime patrol capabilities of the P-8 will provide New Zealand the ability to extend their reach into the Pacific and beyond,” said Philip June, vice president and program manager, P-8 Programs. “New Zealand joins eight other global customers including nearby Australia that have selected or already operate the P-8 and benefit greatly from its long-range maritime surveillance and warfare capabilities.”

Matternet launches World’s longest urban drone delivery route

New test route will showcase the potential for more efficient patient care through the on-demand delivery of diagnostic samples and will serve as a template for expansion networks in Europe, the U.S., and beyond.

                               Matternet, the developer of the world’s leading drone delivery system, announced it has begun test operations on a five-kilometer BVLOS (beyond-visual-line-of-sight) route over the city of Zurich, Switzerland. This route is the world’s longest drone delivery route over a major city and will be used to transport diagnostic samples between the Triemli and Waid Hospitals – both a part of Stadspital Zürich, a municipal central hospital owned by the city of Zurich.

“Launching this new service for Stadspital Zürich is an important moment for Matternet, but also for the future of both health care and logistics services,” said Andreas Raptopoulos, founder and CEO of Matternet. “Leveraging the longest urban BVLOS route to transport biological samples for diagnostic testing on-demand changes the way that hospitals and hospital systems can approach patient care, all while creating new efficiencies that can improve patient experiences and ensure that they keep pace with the demands of the 21st century.”

Using Matternet’s unmanned aircraft, transportation between the two hospitals and their laboratories takes just seven minutes. This test is demonstrating the potential for drones to provide fast, on-demand delivery for individual urgent shipments, without congesting Zurich roads or emitting CO2. Matternet drones to transport medical items with secure end-to-end chain of custody and operate autonomously with remote supervision through Matternet’s Mission Control centre in Zurich.

Norse Atlantic Airways offers flights to Oslo from New York for just $179 one-way

With direct flights to Oslo as low as $179 one-way, holiday travellers can make the most of their winter trip by exploring north to experience the natural wonders of Norway. By day, one could go for a hike and take in the majesty of the fjords. By night, travellers can gaze at the beauty of the northern lights moving across the artic sky. Norse’s affordable fares allow passengers to not only do more but see more. 

In Norway, the peak season for the Northern Lights is between September and March. Towns in northern Norway, like Tromso, Svalbard, Trondheim and Alta are perfectly situated for viewing the Northern Lights.   

For those dreaming of a white Christmas, Oslo is your top destination. Visit the big Winter Wonderland Christmas market for a taste of local holiday treats, go gift shopping, go ice skating, or ride the Ferris wheel. The Christmas spirit is also alive and well in several Norwegian cities including Bergen, Tromso, Lillehammer, Henningsvaer and Roros to name a few. These cities offer everything from Christmas lights, dog sledging, the world's biggest gingerbread town, top-notch ski resorts, Christmas concerts and lights in the evening. 

All these holiday locations can be reached by train, scenic drive, or short flight. Those looking to get the full holiday experience in Norway can connect via Norwegian to Northern Norway via our connectivity platform powered by Dohop, at https://connections.flynorse.com. Our partnership with Norwegian allows customers to easily book flights to domestic, Scandinavian and European destinations with connections to Norse’s services to New York JFK and Fort Lauderdale. 

“Northern Norway offers so many unique winter experiences from ice-fishing, snowmobiling, the Northern Lights and more. Fortunately, the US dollar is still strong therefore in Norway your travel money will go a long way for activities, shopping, dining, and hotel stays – the perfect recipe for an affordable winter wonderland getaway,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways.  

One-way flights from New York to Oslo start from $179.  

One-way flights from Ft. Lauderdale to Oslo start from $190. 

Norse Atlantic offers two cabin choices, Economy and Premium. Passengers can choose from a simple range of fares, Light, Classic and Plus, that reflect the way that they want to travel, and which options are important to them. Light fares represent Norse’s value option while Plus fares include the maximum baggage allowance, two meal services, an enhanced airport and onboard experience and increased ticket flexibility.   

The large and spacious Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin offers passengers a relaxed and comfortable travel experience with each seat including a personal state-of-the-art entertainment experience. Our Premium cabin offers an industry-leading 43” seat pitch and 12” recline allowing passengers to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to explore their destination.   

SAS expands schedule for next summer......carrier opens 20 new routes which means more than 5000 weekly flights to over 100 destinations.

SAS opens 20 new routes in the summer of 2023 which means more than 5000 weekly flights to over 100 destinations.

The new summer program includes more than 200 routes, and the number of flights will continue to rise on major domestic, Scandinavian and international routes as demand for travel is expected to continue to increase.

In light of strong customer demand for particularly popular destinations, SAS’ overall capacity to the Mediterranean is set to exceed pre-pandemic levels. SAS is adding flights to long-time favourites in Spain from all three Scandinavian capitals as well as a fourth destination in Croatia with the start of a Copenhagen-Zadar service.

The summer traffic program includes a major capacity expansion to Italy. SAS will have up to 156 weekly flights on sale between Scandinavia and Italy with the new service from Oslo to Catania, Florence and Venice as well as from Bergen to Milan. In addition, SAS is adding flights to existing destinations such as Milan, Bologna and Rome. Milan will be served up to three times daily from Copenhagen, up to twice daily from Stockholm, and daily from Oslo. The expansion to Italy also includes more flights from Copenhagen to Florence as well as to Catania and Palermo on Sicily.

SAS offers nine new European destinations and one new domestic route in Norway this summer. SAS is flying from Oslo to Antalya, Florence, Catania, Venice, Larnaca and Stuttgart, and from Bergen to Milan and Nice. Additional new routes from Haugesund-Trondheim and Haugesund-Copenhagen is also introduced, as well as increased frequency between Ålesund and Copenhagen – in total providing even better connections in the western part of Norway.

More flights to Shanghai from Copenhagen

SAS is now adding a second departure to Shanghai making it two weekly departures from Copenhagen.

Starting December 16th, SAS offers more frequent departures between Copenhagen Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. After operating the second weekly flight for the first time on the 16th of December, SAS will fly from January 6th from Copenhagen to Shanghai every Tuesday and Friday and from Shanghai to Copenhagen every Thursday and Sunday, throughout the winter season.

The flights are conveniently timed with late evening departures from Copenhagen and early morning arrivals back in Copenhagen to ensure full connectivity for passengers and air cargo with the SAS network.

SAS operates the Shanghai route with the Airbus A350. Apart from offering passengers a unique travel experience, this aircraft has a much lower fuel consumption and up to 30 percent lower CO2 emissions than previous comparable aircraft.

SAS, Scandinavia’s leading airline, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, flies to destinations in Europe, USA and Asia. Spurred by a Scandinavian heritage and sustainability values, SAS aims to be the global leader in sustainable aviation. We will reduce total carbon emissions 25 percent by 2025, by using more sustainable aviation fuel and our modern fleet with fuel-efficient aircraft.

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SAS opens 20 new routes the summer of 2023 which means more than 5000 weekly flights to over 100 destinations.

The new summer program includes more than 200 routes, and the number of flights will continue to rise on major domestic, Scandinavian and international routes as demand for travel is expected to continue to increase.

In light of strong customer demand for particularly popular destinations, SAS’ overall capacity to the Mediterranean is set to exceed pre-pandemic levels. SAS is adding flights to long-time favourites in Spain from all three Scandinavian capitals as well as a fourth destination in Croatia with the start of a Copenhagen-Zadar service.

The summer traffic program includes a major capacity expansion to Italy. SAS will have up to 156 weekly flights on sale between Scandinavia and Italy with the new service from Oslo to Catania, Florence and Venice as well as from Bergen to Milan. In addition, SAS is adding flights to existing destinations such as Milan, Bologna and Rome. Milan will be served up to three times daily from Copenhagen, up to twice daily from Stockholm, and daily from Oslo. The expansion to Italy also includes more flights from Copenhagen to Florence as well as to Catania and Palermo on Sicily.

SAS offers nine new European destinations and one new domestic route in Norway this summer. SAS is flying from Oslo to Antalya, Florence, Catania, Venice, Larnaca and Stuttgart, and from Bergen to Milan and Nice. Additional new routes from Haugesund-Trondheim and Haugesund-Copenhagen is also introduced, as well as increased frequency between Ålesund and Copenhagen – in total providing even better connections in the western part of Norway.

Adding to an already extensive international network of both intercontinental and European destinations out of Copenhagen, SAS offers seven new routes this summer by flying from Copenhagen to Porto, Larnaca, Antalya, Haugesund, Newquay/Cornwall and Zadar as well as JFK in New York.

SAS also has a continuous focus on domestic routes in Denmark and Sweden with the aim to provide better connections between the Danish and Swedish airports and European destinations. The summer program includes additional morning departures from Aalborg to Copenhagen, adding up to eight daily. SAS will serve Aarhus-Copenhagen with up to five daily flights. SAS is increasing the number of departures between Stockholm and the largest domestic destinations in Sweden, such as Luleå, Gothenburg and Umeå. In addition, SAS offers four new routes from Stockholm to Antalya, Ibiza, Montpellier and Vaasa.

During the summer there will be a continuous increase in flights to major European capitals in order to provide travellers with the best connectivity.

We are pleased to present our program for this summer, and we are delighted to see a continuous increase in demand for travel. The summer offering includes several new destinations as well as expanded capacity to already existing popular summer destinations. SAS will continue to add to our already extensive network during the coming months with several exciting new destinations. We look forward to a busy summer and to welcoming our passengers onboard,” says Erik Westman, EVP & CCO, Network and Revenue management.

The arrival of electric air taxis – will exert an immense influence on air travel over the next decade......

Several powerful megatrends – from young, highly connected travellers to the arrival of electric air taxis – will exert an immense influence on air travel over the next decade, forcing industry, governments, and technology to adapt rapidly. This is according to “Meet the Megatrends,” a new report from SITA that examines 12 emerging technological, societal, traveller, and economic trends that will significantly morph the travel landscape by 2033.

These megatrends do not exist in silos but operate in an evolving ecosystem where emerging technologies interconnect the trends and help drive them forward. Data is at the heart of this ecosystem. The increasing willingness of providers to share data across the wider travel industry will help further accelerate these trends and pave the way to the more connected, seamless travel experience that passengers want.

Ilkka Kivelä, VP Strategy and Innovation, SITA, said: “The air transport industry is at a post-pandemic crossroads, facing challenges from all sides. While the travel recovery accelerates globally, airports and airlines are scrambling to provide the seamless travel experience passengers expect, often with slashed workforces and squeezed budgets. The climate crisis demands swifter and more decisive industry action to make travel more sustainable. We now have an opportunity to reimagine the world of travel, connect the dots and transform travel with bold solutions that cross sectors and exploit the latest technologies.”

One of the key trends identified in the report is Gen Z and millennial travellers driving a digital transformation of the transport industry, demanding a more integrated digital journey, and accelerating the digital way of life. Privacy, digital identity rights, and controls for passengers will be a priority for passengers opening the door to a future where we can travel from everywhere to anywhere without the need for physical documents or being stopped for identification. 

Another power trend is the automation and emergence of smart airports, which will reshape the workforce, give rise to a new flattened business organization, and streamline operations through technology. By 2030 metaverse operations will be commonplace at leading airports and play a vital role in optimizing processes, avoiding disruption, and facilitating intuitive, immersive control of intelligent airports. This in turn will require new skills and create new opportunities for employees in the industry.   

Meanwhile, electric air vehicles are expected to be ubiquitous at major international airports by the end of the decade, operating as an effective auxiliary service and revenue stream for airports and airlines. This year alone, investment in the Urban Air Mobility industry has skyrocketed, with $4.7 billion committed to the development of eVTOL vehicles.

Ilkka Kivelä said: “These trends are shaping SITA’s own innovation agenda. We’re excited to be working across many of these areas and look forward to collaborating with partners to drive positive change across the industry.”

The report was spearheaded by the SITA Lab innovation team and draws upon insights from across the transport industry, SITA’s global research, and the latest cutting-edge proof of concepts to identify the most powerful shifts that will drive the travel industry’s evolution by 2033.

Meet the Megatrends (sita.aero)

SWISS and kapers conclude new collective labour agreement

SWISS and the kapers union of its cabin personnel have reached an agreement on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA). With effect from 1 January 2023, the starting salary for cabin crew members will be raised to CHF 4,000, all further salaries will be increased by at least four per cent and actions will be adopted to enhance the social lives of the company’s cabin personnel in plannability terms. Kapers will submit the proposed new CLA23 to a referendum of its members for their approval.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and kapers, the union of its cabin personnel, have reached an agreement after robust negotiations on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA). The accord, which follows agreements with the company’s social partners for its ground and cockpit personnel, marks a further major achievement for all the parties involved. “I am very pleased that, with this new agreement, we have laid the last building block to give ourselves a firm foundation with all our personnel groups for the years ahead,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “With this new collective labour agreement, we aim to pay due tribute to the exceptional performance and commitment of our cabin personnel over the past few years, and simultaneously to provide the requisite stability and attractive prospects and perspectives for a successful future in 2023 and beyond.” CLA23 will remain in effect for at least five years.

New CHF 4,000 starting salary and increases to existing salaries of at least four per cent

One key element in the new CLA23 is the substantial across-the-board increases to cabin staff salaries. With effect from 1 January 2023, the monthly starting salary will be raised to CHF 4,000, and existing salaries will be increased by at least four per cent for all salary levels. The highest increases here will be seen with cabin crew members in the lower salary categories; but long-serving cabin staff, too, will see a sizeable rise in their monthly salaries.

Brand-new Duty Free shop opened at Helsinki Airport

“We are excited about the opening of the new duty-free shop. The shop is centrally located in the heart of the gate area of the airport. We believe that the new concepts will delight our air passengers,” says Nora Immonen, Finavia’s Director of Commercial Services at Helsinki Airport.

Finavia and Dufry have developed their product range together, taking into account the preferences of both Finnish and international passengers.

“We are delighted that at Helsinki Airport we are opening this new shop, which offers a perfect combination of local and international brands. Our excellent collaboration with Finavia and these brands has allowed us to create a new shopping experience that will add to customer satisfaction while travelling,” says Margareta Le Calvé, Dufry’s Managing Director for the Nordic Countries.

Dufry will open its first Mind.Body.Soul well-being concept in Europe in the nearly 1,400-square-metre shop. Only two similar concepts have been opened in the world, in Brazil and Jordan.

“Well-being, a natural lifestyle and domestic products are important to our passengers. Our goal is to develop our product range to meet their needs,” says Immonen.

The shop focuses on products for the well-being of the body and mind.

The opening of the duty-free shop is part of a wider upgrade in the gate area, which is included in Finavia’s development programme at Helsinki Airport. The development programme will be completed in 2023.

Remote Carrier demonstrator released and operated from flying A400M for the first time

Remote Carrier demonstrator released and operated from flying A400M for the first time

Germany’s Bundeswehr, Airbus, the German Aerospace Center DLR, and German companies SFL and Geradts have jointly carried out the world’s first successful launch and operation of a Remote Carrier flight test demonstrator from a flying A400M. Multiplying the force and extending the range of unmanned systems will be one of the future roles of Airbus’ military transport aircraft in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

“The excellent collaboration with our German customer and partners on the A400M UAV Launcher campaign is further evidence of how the development of FCAS will take innovation and technologies to the next level,” said Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn. “FCAS as a system of systems is starting to take shape now.” The device for launching Remote Carriers from a flying A400M was developed in just six months. For the test flight, it was loaded onto the ramp of a Bundeswehr A400M, from which the Remote Carrier demonstrator, a modified Airbus Do-DT25 drone, was launched. After the release, the Do-DT25’s engines were started and it continued in powered flight mode. The crew on board the A400M then handed over control to an operator on the ground, who safely commanded and landed the drone.

 

Remote Carriers will be an important component of FCAS. They will fly in close cooperation with manned aircraft and support pilots in their tasks and missions. Military transport aircraft such as the A400M will play an important role: as motherships, they will bring the Remote Carriers as close as possible to their areas of operation before releasing up to 50 small or up to 12 heavy Remote Carriers. These will then join manned aircraft, operating with a high degree of automation although always under a pilot’s control.

 

Getting the A400M UAV Launcher ready for testing

To get the A400M UAV Launcher ready for the test campaign, Airbus, the Bundeswehr Technical Centre for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment (WTD 61), DLR, SFL and Geradts applied new ways of working such as rapid prototyping and a joint flight testing approach. This enabled the multidisciplinary team to develop and integrate the system, bringing it into the needed systems-of-systems context in a very short time, ready for flight testing. Throughout the development, this flexible industrial setup and new collaborative ways of working were supported by the German procurement office, BAAINBw.