Mesa to end American Airlines 0-erations while it expands deal with United Airlines

Mesa to Expand Relationship with United Airlines, Winds Down Contract with American

Mesa Air has released details of a significant restructuring of its operations with American Airlines and United Airlines. As a result of ongoing unprofitable operations with American Airlines, driven primarily by higher pilot wages and block hour utilization penalties driven by the ongoing industry-wide pilot shortage, Mesa initiated and has finalized a consensual wind down of its American operations. Mesa is finalizing a new five-year agreement with United Airlines that would place the associated aircraft into United Express operations and compensate Mesa for the higher costs associated with regional jet flying. The new agreement would cover all of Mesa’s existing flying at American and could increase to 38 CRJ-900 aircraft, dependent upon the number of E-175s that Mesa is operating.

Operations with American will cease on April 3, 2023. The expected agreement with United anticipates Mesa would begin to place aircraft with United in March 2023 and continue to utilize all of its crew and maintenance locations currently operated for American Airlines in Phoenix, Dallas, El Paso, and Louisville through the transition and beyond. The agreement also provides for Mesa to open a CRJ-900 crew base in Houston and a new pilot base in Denver, CO, with the potential for other incremental crew bases.

“I’d like to thank our long-time friends at American Airlines,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa Chairman and CEO. “Our relationship with American began in 1992 when Mesa initiated flying as a codeshare partner with America West after investing in its reorganization. Over the last 30 years, we’ve been through a lot together and we will always appreciate the opportunity to work as America West Express, US Air Express, and American Eagle.”

“Once finalized, our expanded agreement with United is expected to both solidify our operations and, in conjunction with our amended agreements with key stakeholders, significantly improve our financial position. Most importantly, after years of reduction in service to smaller and rural communities, this agreement will help turn the tide and is expected to add over 100 regional jet flights into the United network,” Ornstein continued. “This will be a win-win for both companies and will provide a more financially stable and focused enterprise for our shareholders and employees. This new agreement would allow us to transition to higher revenue-per-block hour operations and create more opportunities and job security for our people. Importantly, current and future pilots at Mesa will benefit from the anticipated new agreement with United, which is poised to offer the best combination of the highest pay rates and fastest career path to a major airline in the industry. I’d like to thank our employees and our ALPA and AFA labour union leadership whose hard work and dedication has been and will continue to be the core of Mesa’s success.”

To further enhance liquidity, Mesa is finalizing the previously announced sale of its remaining 8 CRJ-550s to United. Mesa has also reached an agreement to sell 11 surplus CRJ-900 aircraft to a third party. Once completed, the proceeds of these two transactions will significantly reduce debt and improve liquidity. Further, Mesa is pursuing other avenues to increase liquidity through the sale of additional surplus aircraft, spare parts, and spare engines. Additionally, Mesa recently negotiated improved terms and conditions with RASPRO, a Canadian special purpose finance company, on its leases for 15 CRJ-900 aircraft, and is finalizing an agreement with EDC, the Economic Development Corporation of Canada, and MHI RJ Aviation on debt associated with seven NextGen CRJ-900 aircraft.

East Midlands Airport welcomes Christmas travellers

East Midlands Airport (EMA) will welcome more than 80,000 Christmas travellers over the next two weeks. Monday 19 December is the busiest day for pre-Christmas travel.

Destinations favoured by travellers this Christmas period are those offering an escape from the cold, such as the Canary Islands, or festive city breaks in Dublin, Belfast, Riga, Amsterdam, Budapest and Berlin.

And the airport has given those due to travel this festive season its top tips for ensuring their time at the airport is as smooth as possible. Passengers who want to retain some element of a traditional Christmas should pack wisely. Those wishing to take Christmas crackers with them should check with their airline before flying as policies do vary. However, the airport is advising against items such as party poppers and snow globes. Gifts should also be left unwrapped if they’re taken through security in hand luggage.

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We look forward to welcoming passengers to East Midlands Airport during this festive season as people travel to be with friends and family or take well-earned breaks. It’s been a momentous year for the aviation sector as it found its feet after such a prolonged period of uncertainty and disruption. Here at EMA there is a very strong foundation to build on as we plan for 2023 and prepare to welcome even more passengers as demand for travel continues to grow. Having had a few months of stability this year, we can now plan with more certainty for next year as we strengthen our friendly and customer focused offer.”

EMA’s reputation as an easy-to-use airport got a boost this week as the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) rated its accessibility provision as “Very Good”. It is one of few UK airports to maintain this score throughout the year. In its report, the CAA references EMA as a leading example of how these services should be delivered. The full report can be found here. 

The festive season marks the end of a year that saw passengers return to air travel following two years of pandemic disruption. Twelve months ago, travel restrictions were still in place and concern around the Omicron variant dampened enthusiasm and demand for overseas travel. As restrictions lifted, passengers numbers returned to 75% of pre-Covid levels.as people took their first trips this year.

Looking ahead, the airport hopes to build on this success and continue to grow the operation into 2023 when more passengers are expected. In readiness for this, the airport has already launched its recruitment drive for customer-facing roles in security, car parking and assisted travel teams. More than 100 vacancies are currently available to job seekers.

EMA continues to play a key role in ensuring parcels and gifts find their way under Christmas trees around the world in time. December is the airport’s ‘peak season’ for cargo when a surge in demand is driven by consumers. One million individual items pass through the airport each day with goods ranging from manufactured components to household items, and personal electronic devices to medical supplies pass through the airport every day.

Canada Jetlines gets final FAA approval for U.S. flight operations

Canada Jetlines has been granted the authority to operate and fly to and from the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

"The U.S. is a major market for Canadian travellers and we are looking forward to expanding our international network. Jetlines is ready to start flying to the Melbourne/Orlando International airport in Florida and to the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, with both inaugural flights scheduled for January 19, 2023,” stated Eddy Doyle, President & CEO Canada Jetlines.

This update follows Canada Jetlines’ confirmation of nonstop service to Vancouver, which officially launched with the inaugural flight on December 9, 2022. In addition to its regular service, Canada Jetlines will operate numerous charter flights throughout December. Canada Jetlines will also be welcoming a second Airbus A320 aircraft as of December 19, 2022, which will help meet demand during peak travel season.

Sustained recovery in total passenger traffic reaching 87.4% of November 2019 levels reports Corporación América Airports S.A.

Corporación América Airports S.A.  a leading private airport operator in the world, reported today a 34.5% YoY increase in passenger traffic in November 2022, reaching 87.4% of November 2019 levels.

Passenger Traffic Overview

Total passenger traffic grew 34.5% compared to the same month of last year, supported by a continued recovery in travel demand following the lifting of travel restrictions, as reflected by higher load factors and the gradual resumption of routes and frequencies across all countries of operations. Overall passenger traffic reached 87.4% of November 2019 levels, from 88.3% in October, with international and domestic passenger traffic reaching 90.6% and 84.4% of November 2019 levels, respectively.

In Argentina, total passenger traffic continued to recover increasing 67.8% YoY and reaching 91.7% of November 2019 levels, slightly down from the 93.0% posted in October. International passenger traffic reached 81.7% of pre-pandemic levels, in line with the level recorded in October, showing a continued recovery since the full re-opening of borders on November 1, 2021 and the lifting of travel requirements. Domestic passenger traffic reached 96.9% of November 2019 levels, slightly down from the 99.0% posted in October.

In Italy, passenger traffic grew 26.9% YoY reaching 82.7% of November 2019 levels, down from the 87.6% posted in October, with international passenger traffic, which accounted for almost 75% of total traffic, reaching 85.0% of November 2019 levels.

In Brazil, total passenger traffic increased 8.8% YoY, and reached 86.3% of November 2019 levels, up from 84.5% recorded in October. Domestic traffic, which accounted for 57% of total traffic, improved to 80.4% of pre-pandemic levels whereas transit passengers reached 97.8% of November 2019 levels.

Total passenger traffic in Uruguay, where traffic is largely international, increased 44.5% YoY and improved to 87.9% of November 2019 levels, up from the 83.5% posted in October, reflecting a gradual increase in frequencies after the re-opening of borders on November 1, 2021.

More computer issues at BA delay flights.

British Airways has apologized after a technical glitch disrupted a number of long-haul flights and other services around the world overnight.

The airline says the problem has now been rectified which first came to light when passengers due to leave the US reported problems, some taking to social media to complain about the lack of assistance from the carrier.    

Among those disrupted by the technical issues the airline experienced was actress Liz Hurley who had been delayed in Antigua for more than 20 hours.  

The technical issue surrounded the carrier's flight planning systems, although the root cause has yet to be established. It is believed that some delays could continue through today. 

In a statement issued during the night, the airline said "Our flights due to depart the USA tonight are currently delayed due to a technical issue with our third-party flight planning supplier, which we are urgently investigating." It was later reported that the issue was fixed. 

Finnair adds flights between Helsinki and Asia for summer 2023 in response to demand

Finnair adds flights between Helsinki and Asia for summer 2023 in response to demand

Finnair adds flights between its Helsinki hub and key destinations in Asia for summer 2023. Finnair resumes flights between Helsinki and Osaka with three weekly flights and adds frequencies to Tokyo Narita Airport. Finnair also adds frequencies to Hong Kong and Delhi, operating daily to both of these cities during the 2023 summer season.  

The Helsinki–Osaka route is operated on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and Osaka–Helsinki on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays as of 26 March. Helsinki–Tokyo Narita flights are operated on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and Tokyo Narita–Helsinki on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays as of 27 March. Finnair also flies to Tokyo Haneda airport daily during the summer season.  

“We are happy to be able to respond to the increasing travel demand between Europe and key Asian destinations. In summer 2023, we will be operating altogether 14 weekly connections between Finland and Japan, and we have daily connections to Delhi and Hong Kong,” says Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer at Finnair. “The Helsinki Airport with its spacious new facilities offers an excellent experience both for customers visiting Finland and for those who continue onwards to one of our many European destinations.”   

Finnair flight schedules connect smoothly to Finnair’s vast network in Europe. Finnair’s flights between Helsinki and Japan are operated in codeshare with Finnair’s long-term partners Japan Airlines and British Airways, offering more choice and flexibility for customers travelling between Europe and Japan.  All the flights can be booked at Finnair.com or with travel agents.   

German leisure airline Condor takes delivery of its first A330neo

German Airline Condor Flugdienst GmbH has taken delivery of its first A330-900 widebody aircraft out of an order of 16 A330neo aircraft. 

The A330neo will replace previous generation aircraft in their fleet to reduce Condor’s operating costs as well as fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 25 percent. 

Condor’s A330neo will offer unrivalled passenger comfort and will accommodate 310 passengers, featuring 30 seats in Business, 64 seats in Premium Economy and 216 seats in Economy class.

The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, providing passengers with a high level of comfort, ambience and design. This includes offering more personal space, larger overhead bins, a new lighting system, and the ability to offer the latest in-flight entertainment systems and full connectivity. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A330neo also features a state-of-the-art cabin air system ensuring a clean and safe environment during the flight.

Condor has selected in July 2022 the A320neo Family to modernise its Single-Aisle-fleet. By operating the A320neo and A330neo aircraft side by side, Condor will benefit from the commonality economics these two aircraft Families offer.

 

The A330neo is the new generation version of the popular A330 widebody. Incorporating the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, new wings and a range of aerodynamic innovations, the aircraft offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The A330-900 is capable of flying 7 200 nm / 13 334 km non-stop.

At the end of November, the A330 Family had registered a total of over 1,700 firm orders of which 275 are A330neos from 24 customers.

AirFi deploys portable streaming solution across easyJet’s continental European fleet of 108 aircraft

Following a successful trial involving easyJet’s full fleet of 27 Swiss-registered aircraft, inflight technology provider AirFi is pleased to announce the further deployment of its revolutionary portable streaming solution across the remainder of the airline’s continental European fleet.  

In October 2022, the airline trialled AirFi’s technology onboard as part of an ongoing campaign to deliver an industry-leading digital onboard experience to its customers across Europe. Having deemed the initial trial to be a success, the airline has now equipped an additional 108 aircraft with AirFi’s streaming technology, which powers a customised wireless engagement portal enabling passengers to access games, journey-specific content and airline information, plus browse inflight retail offerings using their own mobile phones, tablet or laptops.  

To access the content, passengers simply connect to a local Wi-Fi network created onboard by AirFi’s flexible and powerful hardware solution. Aircraft do not need to be taken out of service for this digital upgrade. Access to the content is free, and there is no requirement for passengers to download an app before the flight or share personal information to get connected.  

With the addition of all easyJet’s remaining continental EU-registered aircraft to the program, the majority of the airline's fleet is now offering this digital platform to passengers throughout their flight. 

Commenting on the extension of the deployment, easyJet’s Director of Inflight Retail Simon Cox commented: 

“We saw with the trial program in October that AirFi has got the right stuff to support us as we introduce digital solutions for the convenience and benefit of our customers. AirFi has been able to meet our ambitious timelines for this project and have integrated well with our existing partners. As a bonus, we’ve been able to save a lot of paper by digitising materials like menus and magazines that were once found in the seatback pocket. It’s always a win when you can reduce waste while simultaneously improving the passenger experience!” 

Job Heimerikx, CEO of AirFi added: 

“We’re thrilled to have been able to expand our work with easyJet and to help deliver engaging digital experiences to passengers all around Europe. Having blazed the trail for portable IFE with the launch of our first system in 2014, AirFi remains the leader in this market. We’re always challenging ourselves and we never stop innovating to deliver value to airlines and passengers around the world.” 

 

British Airways has appointed a full-time Master of Wine to elevate the premium experience for its customers both on the ground and in the air

British Airways has appointed a full-time Master of Wine, Tim Jackson MW, to elevate the premium experience for its customers both on the ground and in the air.

British Airways’ Master of Wine will play a vital role in selecting and tasting potential new wines, curating menu descriptions, developing the airline’s wider drinks strategy and sourcing a diverse range of wines from across the globe for customers to enjoy. 

As well as carefully selecting fine wines and sparkling options, the Master of Wine will also lead the selection of the airline’s drinks portfolio across its lounges and on board.  This includes championing the best of British beers, promoting classic gins and rolling out innovative non-alcoholic alternatives. A large part of the role will also include a sustained focus on taking into consideration differences in flavours, as well as taste and structure changes of beverages at altitude.

Sajida Ismail, Director of Onboard Experience at British Airways, said: “We are really excited to have Tim at British Airways. His knowledge and expertise play an integral role in our efforts to continue to deliver the premium experience that our customers look for when they fly with us and offer products that our colleagues are proud to serve.

Saab and the Swedish Armed Forces sign new maintenance contract for Gripen

Saab and the Swedish Armed Forces have entered into a contract and Saab has received an order for support and maintenance services for Gripen. The order value amounts to approximately SEK 3.4 billion and relates to the period 2023 to 2025. The contract also contains options for the Swedish Armed Forces to place additional orders in support and maintenance services until 2027.

The contract includes support and maintenance of Gripen and is a replacement of the previous contract from May 2017 with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, who has also represented the Armed Forces regarding the new contract.

The contract encompasses support and maintenance services that are of importance for Gripen's flight operations. It includes design and support, component maintenance, logistics services, technical system support, publications, spare parts, repairs, ground support equipment, pilot equipment, and training.

“With this contract, Saab will continue to deliver efficient operations to provide a high level of availability for Gripen. It gives us the opportunity to support our customers in the new global situation, both now and in the future,” says Jonas Hjelm, Head of Saab business area Aeronautics.  

Services will be provided at Saab's facilities in Linköping, Arboga, Järfälla, Huskvarna, Gothenburg and Östersund.

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

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. 

Saab receives order for upgrade of Gripen C/D

Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) have signed a contract and Saab has received an order to ensure the continued operability of and provide capability enhancements to the fighter aircraft JAS 39 Gripen C/D. The order value is approximately SEK 3.5 billion and the contract period is 2023-2029. The contract also includes options that enable FMV to place additional orders for capability enhancements during 2023.

The enhancements will provide Sweden with a more effective and powerful fighter capability. The aircraft will be equipped with a new version of the engine, which will enhance flight performance. A more effective electronic warfare system will also be introduced and the upgrade will create conditions for increased attack capability with a new payload.

 

The order encompasses an upgrade to Saab’s latest fighter radar, which provides increased performance with emphasis on enhanced fighter capability and extended detection and tracking range. It also includes an upgraded and future-proof avionic system which, among other features, enables fast software updates of the sensor function.

“This upgrade will provide the Swedish Air Force with a significantly stronger fighter capability. The contract is a big leap ahead in terms of radar performance and functionality, both for the hardware and software, and will future-proof the operational capability of Gripen C/D,” says Jonas Hjelm, Head of Saab’s business area Aeronautics.

The capability enhancement will enable better interoperability between Gripen C/D and Gripen E, for example by the upgrade of support systems and data links. Interoperability is a prerequisite as the platforms will be used in parallel over many years.

London City submits a planning application for longer weekend hours and more flights.....

London City Airport today submitted an application to the London Borough of Newham to make changes to its existing planning permission. The application follows an extensive 10-week local consultation carried out by the airport and includes: 

Increasing the current planning cap on the number of passengers from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers per annum by 2031  

An extension to the operating hours on Saturday from the current closing time of 12.30pm to 6.30 pm, with an additional hour in Summer for arriving flights only, up to a maximum of 12

Allowing three additional flights in the first half hour of operations on Mondays to Saturdays (6.30am-6.59am) with a new limit of 9 flights instead of the current limit of 6 flights

A requirement that all aircraft operating in the newly extended hours on Saturday or additional flights in the first 30 minutes must be cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft, operating to the highest noise and emissions standards 

 

What will not change as part of the application: 

The airport is not seeking any increase to the annual number of permitted flights, which will remain at 111,000 

No change to the existing 8-hour nightly curfew  

No additional infrastructure  

Sunday operations will be unchanged, commencing from 12.30pm until 10.00pm 

No change to the restrictions in the last 30 minutes of operations which will remain capped at 400 per annum for late departing or arriving aircraft 

In a first for a UK airport, London City will mandate that only cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft will be allowed to operate in any newly extended hours on a Saturday, and for any new flights in the first half hour of the day.  

 

This will result in airlines replacing their older fleets with new generation aircraft in order to benefit from any increased flexibility, which in turn will accelerate the benefits of quieter aircraft for local residents throughout the week as the airport becomes home to one of the youngest, most modern, aircraft fleets in the country.  

 

The proposals have been developed in close consultation with the airport’s major airlines who support the sustainability ambitions in the plans.

 

With East London, and Newham in particular, facing up to the stark challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, the airport will, as part of the plans, offer a new Community Fund of £3.8 million over ten years to be distributed directly to local good causes via the established Trust. Currently, the airport’s Community Fund awards £75,000 per year. The growth in passenger numbers to 9 million annually and increased flexibility will also create almost 2,200 additional jobs across London, with 1,340 being created at the airport itself.  

 

The plans include further enhancements to the airport’s sound insulation scheme, which is already one of the most generous in the UK.

 

In addition, the airport plans to create a Transport Fund which could be used to improve bus connections between the airport and the Elizabeth Line and enhanced DLR operations in the mornings, benefiting staff, passengers, and local residents.  

 

Commenting on the plans, the airport’s Chief Executive, Robert Sinclair, said: “As we bounce back from the pandemic and demand increases, we need to ensure London City can accommodate the increase in business and leisure passengers forecast over the next decade or so, particularly as East London grows, and more and more passengers choose to fly through London’s fastest and most convenient airport. Most importantly, the proposals have been very carefully designed with input from our airlines to ensure that flying from London City becomes more sustainable, with more new generation aircraft, reducing noise impacts and emissions per passenger. 

 

“We are committed to working with our local community to ensure our plans work for residents as well as our airlines and passengers. We have listened to the feedback provided in our extensive consultation, and have adjusted the proposals to reflect concerns raised, including reducing the proposed increase in operating hours on Saturdays, reducing the proposed increase in flights in the first 30 minutes and retaining the existing limit on flights in the last 30 minutes. Our proposals will create more jobs, invest more money into the local community, fund better transport connections and improve sound insulation for local residents.” 

 

More detail on the proposals will be available once the London Borough of Newham have checked the application details and publicise their statutory consultation on the proposals. This is expected to run from mid-January 2023.

 

Marriott Hotels opens Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, on Palm Island

Marriott Hotels has opened the  Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Situated along the island’s golden West Beach across over 75,000 square feet of the white sand seafront, the beachside haven is a sophisticated destination for travellers seeking exclusive escapism, featuring 10 dining concepts, a shimmering expansive pool, kids club, spa, fitness centre, water sports, and marine activities.

’’As one of the world’s most lively leisure destinations and a hub for business travellers, Dubai is an ideal location for a flagship Marriott Hotels property,” said Drew Iddings, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, at Marriott Hotels. “With the opening of this resort, we continue to live our legacy of wonderful hospitality, and build momentum for the brand’s evolution and modern appeal that is tailor-made for our guests to empower their every pursuit.”

Reflecting Marriott Hotels’ continued evolution, guests are welcomed into sophisticated, comfortable spaces beginning with the Greatroom lobby – a stylish hub where guests can connect and relax. Featuring ocean and sand hues transitioning seamlessly from the outside inwards, the resort’s 608 contemporary guestrooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling ocean views, private balconies, and thoughtful in-room comforts including a pillow menu, mood lighting, a top-of-the-range entertainment system, and large bathtubs. Interconnecting rooms reflect the resort’s flexibility and focus on family stays, and the spacious two-bedroom suites offer separate living, sleeping, and dining spaces.

Air France unveiled its fully redesigned lounge in terminal 1 at Munich-Franz Josef Strauss International Airport

Air France unveiled its fully redesigned lounge in terminal 1 at Munich-Franz Josef Strauss international airport in Germany. The airline is continuing the move upmarket of its products and services by offering its customers a redesigned airport space celebrating the French-style travel experience, a haven of peace ideal for relaxing, working or having a bite to eat before their flight.

Dedicated to Air France, KLM and Skyteam partner airlines’ Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers, the lounge is open daily from 5.15 am to 8.30pm. It has a surface area of 227 m2 and 75 seats. Customers travelling in the Economy and Premium Economy cabins can also purchase lounge access for 25 euros or 6,000 miles, subject to space availability.

Elegant and warm, the entire space features the Air France colours - shades of blue, grey and touches of red - as well as the accent, the company’s brand symbol, and the winged seahorse, the historical emblem reminding us of its rich history. Champagne-lacquered metal screens structure the various different areas. The furniture has been carefully chosen and includes the iconic Egg armchair and creations by French designers such as Pierre Paulin, Patrick Jouin and brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Air France also favours noble and natural materials such as oak and leather.

The lounge has a large dining area that promotes French cuisine. A comfortable couch and leather seats are reminiscent of Parisian brasseries. The dining offer changes throughout the day and is based on savoury or sweet dishes, inviting guests to discover seasonal flavours. Healthy and vegetarian meals including soup and gourmet salads are also available. A range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available, including wines as well as local beers. Water fountains are provided to limit the consumption of single-use plastic.