SWISS promotes Swiss innovation and invests in Synhelion

SWISS has acquired a financial interest in Swiss-based technology company Synhelion in a further step to help bring solar fuels to market. Synhelion will be using the funds raised by this latest financing round to scale up and commercialize its technology. Alternative fuels such as the solar fuel being developed by Synhelion are essential to the achievement of the aviation sector’s ambitious climate goals.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has invested in the Swiss-based Synhelion company in the ETH spinoff’s latest financing round. The investment further underlines SWISS’s firm commitment to sustainability and to helping accelerate the process of bringing solar fuels to market. Switzerland’s biggest airline is putting a particular focus on such fuels in view of their strong scalability. Synhelion’s technology also offers sizeable development potential, and holds many strategic advantages over other technological approaches. To take one example, the Synhelion plant’s inbuilt heat storage facility enables the plant to be operated 24/7 with no need to draw on further renewable energy from the existing electricity grid.

“Synhelion, SWISS and the Lufthansa Group have been collaborating very constructively on bringing solar fuels to market for the aviation sector for more than two years now,” explains SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “And we are delighted that, with our new financial involvement, we can now make a further substantial contribution to helping Synhelion scale up and commercialize its innovative alternative fuel product.”

Synhelion will use the funds generated by this latest financing round to expand its solar fuel production plant to industrial dimensions and operate it accordingly. The company has also set itself an ambitious timetable for the scale-up concerned.

“Our strategic collaboration with SWISS and the Lufthansa Group and the synergies this generates are hugely valuable and enable us to tailor our technology, our products and our business model perfectly to the market,” says Philipp Furler, Synhelion’s co-founder and CEO. “It’s great to see SWISS and the Lufthansa Group underpin their confidence in Synhelion through this investment, and to see them lead the way in the aviation sector by making this key contribution to scaling up our production. And we’re delighted to welcome SWISS to our network of investors.”

Sustainable fuels essential to achieving aviation’s climate goals

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) such as Synhelion’s solar fuel are essential to the achievement of the ambitious climate goals within the aviation sector. So helping to bring such fuels to market in sufficient volumes is a top priority. Doing so will require new forms of alliances and collaborations. “In teaming up with Synhelion, we’re not only helping to bring solar fuels to market,” SWISS CEO Vranckx adds. “We’re promoting Swiss innovation, too.”  

Decades of commitment from the Lufthansa Group

As a member of the Lufthansa Group, SWISS is further building on decades of experience in trialling and using sustainable aviation fuels. By participating in research programmes, pilot projects and alliances, the Lufthansa Group has steadily accumulated an extensive expertise in SAF technologies and their market development. SWISS and the Lufthansa Group are also evolving specific SAF initiatives for their private customers and corporate clients to further accelerate and finance the refinement of these technologies and bring their products to market in sufficient quantities. The resulting volumes of SAF should help send tangible global signals of demand for such products in the form of long-term procurement agreements. The Lufthansa Group is presently Europe’s biggest user of sustainable aviation fuel.

London Stansted records best month yet as strong recovery continues in November

1.83 million passengers travelled through Stansted in November 

12-month rolling total now stands at 22.3 million

London Stansted recorded its strongest recovery in passenger volumes yet in November.

The airport welcomed 1.83 million passengers during November, representing 97% of the passengers served in the same month in 2019, the highest proportion of traffic seen at Stansted throughout the recovery period.

In the 12 months ending November 2022, the airport served more than 22.3 million passengers, an increase of 247% on the same period in 2021.

Stansted’s recovery has been driven by its wide range of popular European destinations which continue to prove extremely popular with passengers, with traffic at some points outstripping demand seen before the pandemic.

Operational performance also remained positive with 99% of passengers passing through security in less than 15 minutes.

Ciaron Brannigan, London Stansted’s Commercial Director, said:  “We’re delighted with the continuation of the strong traffic trends in the winter season.  This recovery has been underpinned by the introduction of new routes from Ryanair, including Catania (Italy), Asturias (Spain), Klagenfurt (Austria), Leipzig (Germany and Edinburgh, as well as capacity increases from Play to Reykjavik and Pegasus to Istanbul.

With a busy festive season soon to be upon us, we expect to see passenger demand at the airport remain very strong over the period.”

Jetstar announces direct services from Auckland to Brisbane

Jetstar Airways has announced new direct flights from Auckland to Brisbane, with support from the Queensland Government’s Aviation Attraction Investment Fund, the service will operate four times a week by an Airbus A320 aircraft, bringing thousands of Kiwis to the Sunshine state each year supporting local tourism and hospitality businesses.

The low-cost carrier’s first return flight will take off on Monday 27 March 2023* with the route expected to be popular with holidaymakers as well as Australian expats living in New Zealand keen to return home to visit family and friends.

Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully, said it was exciting to launch a new route that expanded Jetstar’s Trans-Tasman network.  “This is the first time we’ve offered direct flights between Brisbane and Auckland, and we’re confident this new return service will be extremely popular with our customers,” 

“Queensland offers holidaymakers everything from beautiful beaches, tropical islands and the outback to some of the best fine dining and shopping experiences in Australia. Our amazing low-fares mean New Zealanders will be able to spend more on enjoying those incredible activities and we thank the Queensland Government for their support of the new route.” 

Queensland Tourism Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe said New Zealand was an important part of Queensland’s international tourism recovery plan.  “Jetstar’s deals from Auckland are predicted to bring more than 35,000 Kiwis across the ditch to Brisbane a year, contributing $44 million and 430 jobs to Queensland’s visitor economy.  We know many New Zealand families have relatives and friends living in Southeast Queensland and that’s why we’re backing Jetstar’s new, convenient direct flights to Brisbane.

As one of Queensland’s traditional top five nations for holiday arrivals, we’re excited to partner with Jetstar to welcome Kiwis to Brisbane for family reunions and world-class visitor experiences.  With Brisbane temperatures consistently in the high 20s for Easter, it’s the perfect time for New Zealanders to come in out of the cold and claim a spot in the warm Queensland sun.  From koalas and island adventures in Moreton Bay to the Gold Coast theme parks, Queensland is the place to be for an extended holiday with family and friends this Easter.”      

Rocket Lab Prepares to Launch First Mission from Wallops Island

Rocket Lab USA,  a leading launch and space systems company, is preparing to launch the Company’s first Electron mission from U.S. soil on December 18 between 6-8pm ET. The mission will take place from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility – a launch pad developed to support U.S. Electron missions for government and commercial customers.

The “Virginia Is For Launch Lovers” mission will deploy three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360. The mission is the first of three Electron launches for HawkEye 360 in a contract that will see Rocket Lab deliver 15 satellites to low Earth orbit between late 2022 and 2024. These missions will grow HawkEye 360’s constellation of radio frequency monitoring satellites, enabling the company to better deliver precise geolocation of radio frequency emissions anywhere in the world.

While “Virginia Is For Launch Lovers” will be Electron’s first launch from the U.S., Rocket Lab has already conducted 32 Electron missions from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, delivering 152 satellites to orbit for customers including NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, DARPA, the U.S. Space Force and a range of commercial constellation operators. Electron is already the most frequently launched small orbital rocket globally and now with the capacity of the pads at Launch Complex 1 and 2 combined, Rocket Lab has more than 130 Electron launch opportunities every year.

The launch window extends through December 19 to allow for weather or technical delays if required. Follow Rocket Lab on Twitter (@RocketLab) for real time mission updates.

Where to watch launch:

Launch fans eager to watch Electron take to Virginia skies for the first time can visit viewing locations including Robert Reed Park on Main Street or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Atlantic beaches also provide good viewing locations. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will be open for this launch. A live launch webcast will also be available at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream from around T-40 minutes.

World’s first net zero transatlantic flight to fly from London in 2023

Virgin Atlantic wins competition to receive government funding for the first ever net zero transatlantic flight.

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World first as Virgin Atlantic wins UK government funding to operate historic net zero London to New York flight

Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and ICF also form part of an iconic British-led consortium  

Heralds future of low carbon aviation, with the wider sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry potentially creating thousands of UK jobs while supporting delivery of net zero aviation emissions by 2050  

The first ever net zero transatlantic flight will take off from the UK next year, with Virgin Atlantic receiving government funding to fly across the pond using solely sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

In 2023, one of Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, will take off from London Heathrow and make the journey to New York’s John F Kennedy Airport – a journey made by thousands of people for business, family and leisure every week. But this will be no ordinary journey.   

When fully replacing kerosene, SAF can slash lifecycle carbon emissions by over 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel. This flight is expected to be fuelled by SAF made primarily from waste oils and fats, such as used cooking oil. The use of 100% SAF on the flight, combined with carbon removal through biochar credits – a material which traps and stores carbon taken from the atmosphere – will make the flight net zero.

Not only will SAF be key in decarbonising aviation, but it could create a UK industry with an annual turnover of £2.4 billion by 2040, and which supports up to 5,200 UK jobs by 2035. 

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:  

"For decades, flying from London to New York has symbolised aviation’s ability to connect people and drive international progress. It’s now going to be at the forefront of cutting carbon emissions from flying. 

Not only will this flight pave the way for future generations, but it will demonstrate just how much we can achieve when we work together on a shared goal – bringing together some of the best businesses and academics in the world and led by a British airline."

Shai Weiss, Virgin Atlantic CEO said:

"As an airline founded on and committed to innovation, we’re proud to lead a cross-industry consortium of partners to make aviation history by operating the first ever 100% SAF flight across the Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight in 1984 was to New York and today it continues to be one of our most popular routes. It will be an honour to pave the way for this important business and leisure route to become even more sustainable.

This challenge recognises the critical role that SAF has to play in decarbonising aviation and the urgent collective action needed to scale production and use of SAF globally. The research and results will be a huge step in fast-tracking SAF use across the aviation industry and supporting the investment, collaboration and urgency needed to produce SAF at scale. Our collective ambition of net zero by 2050 depends on it."

Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise and without urgent collaborative action it could be one of the highest-emitting sectors for greenhouse gases by 2050. To tackle this, the government published the Jet Zero strategy in July 2022 which sets out our approach for decarbonising the sector and champions SAF as one of the main tools for achieving Jet Zero. 

Challenges remain, however, including the need to scale up SAF production and the existing limit on how much SAF is permitted in jet engines by current fuel specifications. Today, a maximum of 50% SAF blended with kerosene can be used in commercial jet engines. By using 100% SAF, the consortium will demonstrate the potential to decarbonise long-haul routes and bring us a step closer to net zero aviation. 

It comes hot on the heels of the world’s first sustainable fuel military transporter flight using 100% SAF, completed by the RAF last month using the iconic Voyager aircraft. 

Other challenges preventing a higher uptake of SAF include high fuel production costs, technology risk at commercial scale and feedstock availability. To address these, the government is working to set the UK up to be a global leader in the development, production and use of SAF, allowing us to progress towards net zero flying, and creating thousands of green jobs.  

The government will introduce a SAF mandate requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to be made from sustainable sources by 2030 to create secure and growing demand, continue to invest in a domestic SAF industry through the £165 million advanced fuels fund, and work with the industry and investors to understand how to secure long-term investment into the sector. Along with this ground-breaking flight, these measures will support a growing role for SAF within the future of everyday flying.

Rachael Everard, Head of Sustainability, Rolls-Royce said:

"Congratulations to Virgin for winning the net zero transatlantic flight fund competition. This represents an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.

We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% SAF across the Atlantic. SAF will play such an important role in decarbonising long-haul flight in particular and is a key element of our sustainability strategy.

The Trent 1000 can already be flown with a 50% blend of SAF on commercial flights and by the end of 2023 we will have proven that our whole family of Trent engines and business aviation engines are compatible with 100% SAF."

Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Boeing said:

"Boeing is proud to support the Department for Transport and Virgin Atlantic in this endeavour. Our longstanding sustainability partnership with Virgin dates back to the historic 2008 commercial SAF test flight on a Boeing 747.

Together, as we add another SAF ‘first’ to our partnership and to the benefit of the industry, we know we are one step closer to a sustainable future of flight that will have zero climate impact."

As well as delivering cleaner skies, the development of a domestic industry for the production of SAF has the potential to improve fuel security and support thousands of green jobs. In 2020, it was estimated that a UK SAF industry could generate a gross value added (GVA) of up to £742 million annually and support up to 5,200 UK jobs by 2035. A further 13,600 jobs could be generated from the growing market for SAF through global exports – helping to level up the UK and boost the economy.

Delivering the transatlantic flight will help to gather the data needed to support ongoing and future work to test and certify higher blends of SAF and its non-CO2 impacts, while exploring how operational efficiency improvements, flight optimisation and carbon removals can contribute to achieving net-zero flights – not just in the UK, but for the global aviation industry.  

Dr Marc Stettler, Imperial College London said:

"We’re delighted to be part of this project to advance understanding the non-CO2 effects of flying. As we adopt sustainable aviation fuels to decarbonise aviation, it’s essential that we also evaluate these non-CO2 climate impacts and demonstrate ways to reduce them."

Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Head of the University of Sheffield Energy Institute, said:

"We are delighted to be working on this prestigious and timely project to deliver the first transatlantic net-zero flight. Through this partnership of world-leading aviation experts from industrial and academic backgrounds, we’re going to help make sustainable aviation fuels a reality for long-haul flights.

The facilities at the University of Sheffield – including the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Innovation Centre (SAF-IC) – are at the cutting edge of SAF development, characterisation and testing. We’re excited to join this project to deliver the fuel which will drive the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, and secure greener, cleaner flights for the future."

Alastair Blanshard, ICF Sustainable Aviation Lead said:

"Flying over an ocean at nearly the speed of sound without producing any net climate impact will be an inspiring step towards a net zero aviation industry. ICF is delighted to partner with Virgin Atlantic to make this milestone a reality in 2023.

We will draw on our decades of experience in sustainable aviation to develop, apply and critically assess methods to estimate and measure the life-cycle climate impact of transatlantic operations, and apply these to achieve a net zero flight."

UK Passengers to benefit from biggest shake-up of airport security rules in decades

The rules around taking liquids and large electrical items through airport security are set to change by 2024 with the installation of new technology at major airports across the UK. 

Over the next 2 years, most major airports will introduce cutting-edge systems into their security checkpoints, ushering in a new era of improved security and passenger experience when going through departures. 

Not only will it mean greater convenience for travellers – as people will no longer need to spend time taking items out of their bags – but it will also enhance passenger safety, as security staff will have more detailed images of what people are carrying.

The government is laying new legislation today (15 December 2022) which will make it easier to streamline the processes that apply to UK airports in the future. By allowing us to take advantage of the latest advancements, such as developments in screening technology, it will help us to further improve the already high-security standards in the UK. 

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: 

"The tiny toiletry has become a staple of airport security checkpoints, but that’s all set to change. I’m streamlining cabin bag rules at airports while enhancing security.  

By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats.  

Of course, this won’t happen straight away – this is going to take 2 years to be fully implemented. Until then, passengers must continue following the existing rules and check before travelling."

Passengers are currently required to remove tablets, laptops and liquids from their cabin baggage, while liquids have been limited to 100ml and must be in a clear plastic bag. This requirement will eventually be lifted, and the 100ml liquid container limit will be extended to 2 litres. 

KLM Group’s CO2 emission reduction targets for 2030 approved by SBTi

KLM is committed to reducing its environmental impact as part of a transparent and responsible sustainability policy. An important part of this relates to its commitment to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions by 30% per revenue tonne kilometre (RTK) by 2030 compared to 2019. Together with Air France-KLM and Air France, this target was submitted and recently approved by SBTi’s Target Validation Team. SBTi has determined that it complies with the well-below 2°C trajectory set for the airline industry, as determined by the Paris Agreement signed in 2015.

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The Air France-KLM Group designed a coherent approach developed within the Group’s Destination Sustainability strategy with the ambition of CO₂ emission reduction based on three main pillars. The SBTi targets approval is a key element for the Group to ensure that Air France-KLM decarbonization strategy is coherent with scientific objectives. 

Ben Smith, CEO Air France-KLM Group

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Together with Air France-KLM and Air France, KLM has strong ambitions when it comes to making aviation more sustainable and balancing the development of our network with the environment. This requires major and fundamental decisions regarding our fleet, operations and our fuel use. The Science Based Targets and the associated CO₂ reduction trajectory provide clarity and at the same time entail major challenges. To make them feasible and possible, we work closely with each other and with our sector partners to come up with technical solutions and innovations that support the energy transition in aviation. 

Marjan Rintel, CEO KLM

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Titan Aircraft Investments and Georgian Airlines confirm long-term lease deal for a Boeing 737

Titan Aircraft Investments today announced the placement of one Boeing 737-800SF converted freighter on long-term dry lease with Georgian Airlines to support its network. Titan Aviation Holdings, a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc, will manage this asset.

“We are delighted to welcome Georgian Airlines and appreciate their trust in Titan as we support their growing business,” said Michael Steen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Titan Aviation Holdings and Chief Commercial Officer of Atlas Air Worldwide.

“As we expand in the airfreight market, we are honoured to partner with Titan Aircraft Investments to bring more air cargo capacity to the region with the addition of the 737-800 freighter. We look forward to a strong partnership with Titan’s excellent team as they help us meet market demand and capitalize on cargo flows between Asia and Europe,” said Irakli Mezvrishvili, General Director of Georgian Airlines LLC.

Georgian Airlines is a fast-growing and development-oriented company established in 2020. The cargo carrier commenced operations in February 2022. The operating range includes air cargo transportation by charter and regular flights across Europe, Baltics, Caucasus, Black Sea Region, the Middle East, Eastern, and Southern Asia. Currently, Georgian Airlines operates one 737-800BCF and one 737-800SF. With its headquarters in Georgia in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region, a key transit and trade corridor for Eurasian countries, Georgian Airlines supports the country's potential to become an important hub for the aviation industry.

Titan Aviation Holdings is a freighter-centric leasing company that provides dry leasing solutions to airlines worldwide. Titan’s fleet of cargo aircraft support customers, including international flag carriers, express operators, e-commerce providers, and regional and domestic carriers. Titan’s deep airfreight domain expertise and innovative asset management solutions help customers quickly ramp up their aviation operations while minimizing capital investment.

Airbus achieves key milestone on EGNOS European satellite-based navigation augmentation system

EGNOS V3 to support safety-critical aircraft, maritime and land applications

EGNOS V3 System CDR passed on schedule on 7 Dec 2022

 

Airbus has successfully achieved the System Critical Design Review (CDR) on the EGNOS V3 satellite-based augmentation system. The EGNOS V3 (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) is designed to add key security features for the most safety-critical applications such as aircraft navigation and landing, and will provide entirely new services for maritime and land users. EGNOS V3 is the second generation of the overlay system and will improve the performance of GPS and Galileo.

The new V3 generation of EGNOS being developed by Airbus will introduce new services based on multiple frequencies of multiple constellations (GPS, Galileo), and will embed sophisticated security protection against cyber-attacks. The System CDR covers the functional design, external interfaces, operations, security, integration verification, qualification and deployment.

François Gaullier, Head of Telecommunications & Navigation Systems at Airbus said: “EGNOS is a key service across Europe that many people have never heard of, but it is essential for so many applications from air traffic control to maritime operations, and Airbus is committed to further developing the service. Achieving this key milestone on target by the end of the year brings improvements in the performance of navigation satellite systems for safety-critical applications one step closer.”

Javier Benedicto, Director of Navigation at ESA comments: “The successful review confirms that the multi-constellation, multi-frequency EGNOS V3 will be a significant push forward in satellite augmentation. The coming EGNOS V3 will mark a significant step forward enlarging EGNOS accuracy, robustness and overall coverage, thanks to its use of multiple frequencies from both GPS and Galileo.”

H3 Dynamics adds hydrogen-electric propulsion to unmanned airships of HyLight

First successful hydrogen-powered airship flight took place in Milan, Italy

H3 Dynamics and HyLight have joined forces to bring new long range, sustainable and quiet unmanned airships to a range of commercial applications. Traditionally, airships use combustion engines for their propulsion power. With new hydrogen propulsion system developments at H3 Dynamics, HyLight’s new breed of airships will now offer long-range zero emission flight and open a whole new category in air mobility. The two companies share a common goal, to decarbonize the aerial industry.

Hydrogen-electric airships can fly or hover quietly for days, with zero C02 emissions

HyLight and H3 Dynamics started working together several months ago in France, and HyLight have now achieved a first successful hydrogen-electric flight test campaign in Milan, Italy. HyLight is an up and coming french start-up and one of the very few companies in the world that was able to demonstrate hydrogen as a viable power supply for small unmanned airships in real conditions. This was made possible with H3 Dynamics’ aerospace-grade hydrogen fuel cells - the smallest and lightest in the world - have pioneered hydrogen flight research from as early 2006.

HyLight’s unmanned airships move slowly but don’t need to consume any power to stay aloft. They can operate for days at a time with heavier payloads compared to conventional drones, to conduct long range inspection of critical energy assets like power-lines & pipelines or scan industrial infrastructure over long distances. Airships could also hover around specific areas to provide critical connectivity for large scale industrial sites - or provide vital communications after a natural disaster.

Based in Toulouse, H3 Dynamics is set on decarbonizing air mobility with clean hydrogen-electric propulsion, starting with enabling smaller unmanned systems - whether fixed wing, multi-rotor or VTOL platforms. Its ultra-light power technology is bringing new long electric flight durations to the global unmanned aviation market, which is set to reach $38 Billion by 2027.

Earlier this year H3 Dynamics flew the world’s first distributed hydrogen-electric nacelles on a small unmanned platform, proving the potential for larger size systems in bigger aircraft. H3 Dynamics has since become part of the “Toulouse Pioneers” group linked to the Aerospace History Museum “L’Envol des Pionniers”. The company plans to scale its solutions to larger unmanned and manned aviation platforms over the coming years.

HyLight will leverage H3 Dynamics’ international presence covering Europe, North and South America as well as Asia and Australia to bring “made in France” hydrogen-electric airships to the global market.

Is Europe’s Future Combat Air System on its way to the first flight?

Europe’s Future Combat Air System: on the way to the first flight

•   Industry awarded € 3.2 bn by France, Germany and Spain

•   FCAS Phase 1B Contract for R&T and flying Demonstrators Global Design

On behalf of the governments of France, Germany and Spain, the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) has awarded to Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra, Eumet and their industrial partners the contract for the Demonstrator Phase 1B of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This landmark contract, amounting to € 3.2 billion, will cover work on the FCAS demonstrator and its components for about three and a half years.

Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra and Eumet welcome this major step forward that reflects the determination of France, Germany and Spain to develop a powerful, innovative and fully European weapon system to meet the operational needs of the countries’ armed forces.

This contract notification comes on the heels of the signature of the industrial agreements supporting the demonstrator Phase 1B by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Indra and Eumet as prime contractors of the programme and by their industrial partners from the three nations. Discussions held over the last months have enabled the creation of a solid basis for cooperation between industry and the three governments.

Samarkand International Airport joins Airports Council International.

 Air Marakanda, the operator of Samarkand International Airport announces it received silver membership at the European branch of Airports Council International, the only global membership organization for airport operators and associations. 

ACI Europe currently represents over 500 airports in 55 countries. Its member airports serve 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe – 2.3 billion passengers, 18.4 million tons of cargo, and 21.2 million flights annually. 

Anton Khodzhajan, General Director of airport management company Air Marakanda LLC, said: “Silver membership in the International Council of Airports Europe is an important acknowledgement of Samarkand International Airport, and the next step towards a truly international profile for Air Marakanda. Here at our airport, in all areas of aviation business. I am convinced our cooperation will lead to improved service quality and an experience of international standards for travellers using SKD. Samarkand International is ready to be part of ACI Europe’s global community of excellence.”

ACI Europe represents its member airports, facilitates cooperation between airlines, airports and other aviation businesses, and works as network to ensure success for the entire aviation industry. The organisation also promotes the interest of airport operators towards regulators and legislatures, and aims to inform public opinion about the airport business.

ACI Europe membership is regarded as a validation of Air Marakanda’s efforts in developing SKD and also offers new opportunities for a continued improvement.

Air Marakanda’s membership aligns with the company’s continued development of new routes to Uzbekistan’s historic gem - the ancient city of Samarkand. Air Marakanda and its state partner Uzbekistan Airports JCS have re-developed and expanded SKD for US$80 million. The new airport will serve the region’s population of 3.9 million and act as a hub for international transit flights. 

Serving visitors to Uzbekistan’s most frequented tourist sites in, and around, the historic Silk Road city - the modern facility will be able to handle four times the number of passengers than it could previously. Independent research by market research firm, Lufthansa Consulting, forecasts an increase in annual passenger traffic from 480,000 to two million.

American Airlines to offer AAdvantage members more rewards......

AAdvantage® membership is the only way to experience some of the best that American Airlines offers, and unlocks access to some of the airline’s best partner experiences

AAdvantage members continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points for everyday activities, making it easy to earn flights, customize their travel and achieve status

American introduces Loyalty Point Rewards, which members earn to unlock further benefits and choose rewards to customize their travel experience

AAdvantage members can earn new benefits and rewards before reaching status and between and beyond status levels

American Airlines continues to evolve its AAdvantage® program to deliver more value for all members throughout their journey. Members will enjoy new benefits and earn rewards before, between, and beyond status levels.

“We’re creating a more meaningful travel rewards program for our AAdvantage members,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Only our members will have access to everything American has to offer. Achieving status will unlock an even wider world of unique experiences with the airline and our partners. With these and other innovations to come, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment that travel is better when you’re an AAdvantage member.” 

Introducing more AAdvantage benefits and Loyalty Point Rewards

In March 2023, American will introduce opportunities to receive benefits and earn rewards more often and give members more options to customize their travel experiences.

For example, members will unlock their first Loyalty Point Reward — formerly known as Loyalty Choice Rewards — after earning only 15,000 Loyalty Points and before reaching AAdvantage Gold® status. These members will receive the benefit of Group 5 boarding for the membership year and the choice between two Loyalty Point Rewards:

Priority check-in, security and Group 4 boarding for one trip.

Five preferred seat coupons.

As members continue to advance toward higher levels of status by earning Loyalty Points, they will receive new benefits such as Loyalty Points bonuses for shopping with some of American’s partners and status with the airline’s preferred car partner.

Unlocking AAdvantage 2023 status and more

As a reminder, Loyalty Points are all that members need to achieve status and reset each program year. AAdvantage members earn miles and Loyalty Points when they fly, use an AAdvantage credit card for purchases or engage with more than 1,000 AAdvantage partners.

Members then redeem those miles to elevate their travels and reach status and rewards through Loyalty Points.

AAdvantage Status	Loyalty Points
Gold	40,000
Platinum	75,000
Platinum Pro	125,000
Executive Platinum	200,000

Updating mileage earn and redemption

American is removing the previous 75,000 limit on miles that a member could earn on a single ticket, making flying with American even more rewarding. Members earn miles for flights based on the ticket price and AAdvantage status.

Also, on American and eligible partner flights, AAdvantage members will earn two miles per dollar spent on Basic Economy fares for all tickets issued on or after Jan. 1, 2023, for travel starting March 1, 2023.

Accessing everything American has to offer

AAdvantage® membership is the only way to experience some of the best that American Airlines offers and unlocks access to some of the airline’s best partner experiences. Starting in March 2023, only AAdvantage members will be able to book and redeem miles for American Airlines Vacations™ packages, which brings customers deals on flights, hotels and car rentals. Also starting March 2023, U.S. American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card holders can redeem miles toward Mastercard® Priceless® Experiences* such as private dinners, sporting events, food festivals, theatrical performances and so much more.

All members will continue to enjoy everyday mileage redemption opportunities. In addition to redeeming miles for flights, members can redeem miles to personalize their travel through experiences like Main Cabin Extra Seats, Five Star Service™ experience and more.

American plans to continue to create more opportunities for AAdvantage members to redeem their miles so they can personalize their travel. Members can learn more about the AAdvantage program’s evolution at aa.com/newaadvantage.

*Subject to experience terms and conditions

Delta Cargo Selects IBS Software to Power Digital Transformation

Delta Cargo has selected IBS Software’s iCargo platform to digitally transform its operations, increase profitability and provide better service to customers and partners. The full iCargo management suite will be implemented to provide Delta Cargo with an end-to-end view of its air value chain, delivering real-time operational insight to enable proactive data-led business decision-making.

The partnership with IBS Software is the latest milestone in Delta Cargo’s mission to deploy innovative technology platforms that create new and differentiated experiences following a record revenue year in 2021. Key functions that will be improved include sales and inventory, cargo terminal operations, air mail management, customs and security, quality management and mobile applications. To ensure the success of this large and complex transformational program for Delta Cargo, IBS Software’s Consulting and Digital Transformation group will also play a key role in enabling transformation from a people, process and technology perspective. 

“Delta Cargo plays a vital role in Delta's future, and we have high ambitions to guarantee world-class experiences for every customer and partner,” said Rob Walpole, Vice President, Delta Cargo. “Fundamental to achieving that goal is investing in the technology platforms that allow us to deliver differentiated products and services while creating seamless processes for our team and partners. The iCargo platform is crucial to our goal to build on our momentum in air cargo and cements our position as a world-leading, technology-first carrier.”

iCargo’s cloud-based platform will seamlessly unify all aspects of sales and operations functions, modernize its technology toolkit with innovative capabilities and enable efficient communication with customers, partners and service providers via APIs.

“At Delta Cargo, our main priority is to continuously improve our processes and better our teams’ performance to provide an industry leading customer experience. In an effort to provide transparency and boost flexibility for our customers, we will replace our legacy operating system with iCargo from IBS Software” said Vishal Bhatnagar, Managing Director of Cargo Operations, Delta Cargo. “The new platform also allows Delta Cargo to align closer with JV partners.  With the conversion, we will improve our global operation including Delta and vendor managed locations.” 

“Delta Cargo is of great strategic significance to Delta Air Lines, one of the biggest and most progressive airlines in the world, and it is an honor to be selected to power such a major step in its digital transformation. By putting digital technology at the core of their operations, Delta Cargo is ideally positioned to optimize its services and provide a customer and partner experience that will drive growth for years to come. We’re thrilled that Delta has chosen us to be their partner in this transformation journey,” said Sam Shukla, Americas Region VP at IBS Software.

JetBlue and Peacock soar to new heights with first-of-its-kind partnership

 

JetBlue, the only major U.S. airline with free high-speed Fly-Fi® and seatback screens at every seat, on every plane, is continuing to lead the industry in inflight entertainment by launching a first-of-its-kind partnership with NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock. Beginning Spring 2023, Peacock will become the exclusive streaming partner of JetBlue.

Customers will be able to tune into a selection of Peacock Originals, including breakout hits “Bel-Air,” “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin,” and upcoming series including Rian Johnson’s “Poker Face” and Malcolm Lee’s “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” for free from their on-demand seatback screens. In addition, using JetBlue’s free high-speed Fly-Fi®, customers will be able to stream Peacock’s full offerings from their own devices including original series, live sports, movies, fan-favorite shows, and news. This approach builds on JetBlue’s ongoing commitment to delivering a multi-screen experience onboard, which allows customers to use a range of devices simultaneously, including HD seatback entertainment, just as they would in their own living room.

As a further extension of the partnership, Peacock perks will be integrated into the airline’s revamped TrueBlue® loyalty program. TrueBlue members will have access to special offers on Peacock subscriptions, allowing them to earn points for subscribing to the streaming service, and will be gifted a one-year Peacock Premium subscription, included with eligible TrueBlue Mosaic status. The partnership will also offer customers innovative promotions including personalized marketing communications, experiential activations and additional surprise and delight moments.

“We’re excited to partner with Peacock, another fun, witty brand born in NYC to help raise the bar on what inflight entertainment can look like and bring in new ways of delighting our customers in the air and on the ground,” said Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty, JetBlue. “JetBlue has a long history of providing industry leading inflight entertainment and connectivity, and our partnership with Peacock will seamlessly integrate into our TrueBlue program giving customers access to content throughout their travel journey and beyond.”

“As we were working to bring Peacock to viewers at 30,000 feet, JetBlue emerged as the perfect like-minded partner – a brand that puts its customers first, prides itself on innovation and believes that you can do it all and have some fun in the process,” said Annie Luo, EVP, Global Partnerships and Strategic Development, Peacock. “From a partnership perspective, we know the sky is literally the limit as our teams come together and bring our viewers new experiences from departure to arrival in ways that only our two brands can.”

JetBlue is known for having the most legroom in coach (a), complimentary snacks and soft drinks and great customer service. JetBlue has also long been a leader in consistent, seamless connectivity and entertainment. JetBlue is the only US carrier with free high-speed Fly-Fi® on every plane (b), providing customers with the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices and stream, surf, or chat during the entire flight, from gate to gate. The airline also offers live television and on-demand entertainment on every seatback.