British Airways heading back to China with services to Beijing and Shanghai....

It has been two years since British Airways last operated scheduled flights between the UK and mainland China, but now that absence is set to end, the carrier will resume services on 23 April.

The airline has announced tickets have gone on sale for the new flights,  UK  to Shanghai from 23rd April and Beijing from 3rd June.

British Airways first flew to China in 1980 and continued to do so until the pandemic. The airline has been working hard to reintroduce these crucial routes to enable customers to reunite with family and friends.

From 23 April, flights will operate daily between London Heathrow and Shanghai Pudong International Airport – flight numbers BA168/BA169. From 3 June, flights will operate four times per week between London Heathrow and Beijing Daxing Airport – flight numbers BA88/89.

Noella Ferns, British Airways’ Head of Sales, Asia Pacific, said: “We can’t wait to welcome our customers back on board our flights from Shanghai and Beijing. We know they’ve been looking forward to reuniting with family and friends, coming to study in the UK and resuming business between China and the UK. We have an incredibly rich history of flying to mainland China, having connected the two countries for more than 40 years. We look forward to resuming these routes again."

Safety has always been at the heart of everything British Airways does and the airline has a number of measures in place at the airport and on board to look after the safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew. The air on all British Airways’ flights is fully recycled once every two to three minutes through HEPA filters, which remove microscopic bacteria and virus clusters with more than 99.9% efficiency, equivalent to hospital operating theatre standards. Additionally, British Airways always follows local regulations to ensure customers experience safe and smooth travel.

Aer Lingus Regional to Commence Flights to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City Airport

Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, today announces two new services to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City. All domestic regional points vacated by Flybe at Belfast City Airport will now be reestablished by Aer Lingus Regional.

 

With fares starting at £34.99* the Belfast City to Nottingham East Midlands service is to commence on the 26th of March, initially as a daily service, and will increase up to double daily from mid-April. The daily flights between Belfast City-Newcastle will commence on the 28th of April. Tickets are on sale now at www.aerlingus.com

 

Already providing connectivity to Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, and Southampton from Belfast, the two new services to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands, in addition to the airline’s Summer services to Jersey and Newquay, further cements its intention to provide efficient, great value, and sustainable air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said:  "We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport.  As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, these two new routes will no doubt be warmly welcomed. Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue to grow these services in the months ahead.”

 

With more flights and more choice for the travelling public, the airline is progressively bolstering its Summer 2023 Schedule. Emerald Airlines will add 180,000+ extra seats this Summer from Belfast City Airport, operating over 400 weekly flights this Summer to and from Belfast.

 

Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, said:  “Following the collapse of Flybe, East Midlands and Newcastle were the airline’s only destinations not served by other carriers from Belfast City Airport. Having Emerald Airlines step-up and operate the Aer Lingus Regional services on both routes, in addition to its already extensive network from Belfast City, is therefore excellent news as it leaves no Flybe destination unserved.

 

Maintaining a robust route network and ensuring connectivity to and from Northern Ireland remains our priority, and we look forward to continuing and developing our successful partnership with Emerald Airlines.”

 

For industry colleagues who have been adversely impacted by the Flybe administration announcement, Emerald Airlines is holding open interviews on Thursday and Friday, 2nd and 3rd of February in Maldron Hotel, Belfast. Based in Belfast City Airport, these roles include Direct Entry Captains, Co-Pilots, and Cabin Crew.

 

Heathrow boss stepping down.....

After nine years the CEO of London's Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye is stepping down, the airport confirmed today.  His last day at the helm of the UK's busiest airport has yet to be confirmed, but will be this year the board has said.

The Chair of Heathrow Airport, Lord Deighton said:  “John has been an extraordinary leader of Heathrow. During the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with shareholders, Ministers, airlines and other stakeholders to ensure the country can be proud of its 'front door'. The Board would like to put on record our gratitude to John for his dedication and commitment to Heathrow throughout his tenure as CEO.”

The hunt for a replacement has now been started, but in order to ensure a smooth handover, John Holland-Kaye will remain as CEO until his successor starts in post.

In a statement, the airport's board said it 'would like to thank John for his exceptional leadership since 2014, building a strong management team, developing a consumer-focused culture, improving cost efficiency and putting Heathrow at the forefront of global aviation’s decarbonisation. The transformation of the airport during John’s time as CEO has been recognised as Heathrow won a number of significant awards including: Sunday Times top 30 employer; one of the top 10 airports in the world (voted by passengers); and edie’s Sustainable Business of the Year Award.

Three of the most significant successes of John’s tenure were the development of the plan for Heathrow expansion that secured overwhelming Parliamentary approval, successfully navigating the business through the COVID-19 crisis and the recovery in demand, and his leadership in putting aviation firmly on course for net zero by 2050.'

IAG Cargo transports world’s largest dinosaur to the UK.....

Skeleton cast of the world’s largest known dinosaur transported from Argentina to the UK by IAG Cargo

 

                                 The cargo division of International Airlines Group - IAG Cargo has safely delivered one of the largest dinosaurs to walk the Earth on a shipment from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow. The titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum is around the same length as a British Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft or four double decker buses.

The Natural History Museum confirmed IAG Cargo as its official exhibition logistics partner for its upcoming exhibition Titanosaur: Life as the biggest dinosaur back in November 2022. Now on UK soil, this will be the first time the magnificent titanosaur will be displayed in Europe.

The dinosaur’s journey started in Trelow, Argentina, from where the cast travelled to Buenos Aires before it moved onto London. In Trelow, Argentina, Patagotitan was dismantled into more than 40 crates – to be flown in the bellyhold of two British Airways B787-9 passenger aircrafts. Upon landing at London Heathrow, the unique freight was transported to a special facility ahead of its journey to the Natural History Museum where it will be re-assembled ready for public display in March.   

IAG Cargo has many years of experience in transporting high-value, unique and precious consignments via its dedicated ‘Secure’ product, ensuring total peace of mind when it comes to moving cargo like the awe-inspiring titanosaur.

John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer at IAG Cargo commented: “It is a privilege to partner with the Natural History Museum as the custodian of some of the world’s most important scientific artefacts. I want to thank our teams in Argentina and the UK who made this colossal task of transporting a 37-metre dinosaur a reality.”

Alex Burch, Director of Public Programmes at the Natural History Museum commented: “We’re pleased to have IAG Cargo as our exhibition logistics partner on this exhibition. As one of the largest dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth, it is so important that we are able to showcase this cast to the public, connecting our visitors with nature and inspiring them to care for the large animals we share the planet with today.”

British Airways’ Captain Simon Boswell, said: “I and the entire team felt honoured and privileged to fly this unique artefact from Argentina to the UK, and it was really very special to have been able to carry this precious cargo on a British Airways’ aircraft.  Working with our sister company IAG Cargo, we’re delighted to have been able to play our part in its safe onward journey.”

 

UK interest rates to highest in 14 years

From London, the Bank of England has raised UK interest rates to what is their highest level for 14 years as it fights the cost of living crisis that has gripped the nation in recent months. It has lifted interest rates for the tenth time running, to 4%.

The rise will be bad news for those with loans and mortgages, however, savers may benefit in time from the rise in the interest rate. 

According to the bank,  the recession that the UK is set to expected to enter later this year will be far shorter than previously thought.  The bank expects the economy to fall slightly in 2023, as energy costs continue to increase.

Hawaiian Holdings reports 2022 fourth quarter and full year financial results

 

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022, showing that it operated at 91% of its 2019 capacity, comprised of 115%, 79%, and 44% capacity on its North America, Neighbour Island, and International routes, respectively

"A heartfelt mahalo to our team as they tirelessly worked through a year in which we had multiple projects in motion that make us a stronger, better airline," said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. "I am incredibly proud of what our team members do to care for our company, our guests and each other. We saw continued strong demand in our domestic markets and recovery in our international markets illustrating that Hawaiʻi is a top destination and we are the carrier of choice.  I am excited to see what we can accomplish in 2023 as we continue to build a solid foundation for our future."

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022 the Company had:

• Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1.4 billion
• Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $1.7 billion
• Air traffic liability of $590.8 million
• Liquidity of $1.6 billion, including an undrawn revolving credit facility of $235 million

Revenue Environment

The strength of the leisure market was evident as Hawaiian saw robust demand in its U.S. Mainland to Hawaiʻi routes and international routes excluding Japan.  Demand remained strong for premium products and there was positive momentum in sales of its Extra Comfort product and newer preferred seat option.  The Company's overall operating revenue for the fourth quarter 2022 was up 3.2% compared to the fourth quarter 2019 on 6% lower capacity.  The Company's overall operating revenue for 2022 was down 6.7% from 2019 on 9.3% lower capacity as the impacts of Omicron were experienced industry-wide in most of the first quarter.

Other revenue for fourth quarter 2022 was up 35.1% compared to the same period in 2019 and for the full year 2022 up 30.4% compared to 2019 driven by cargo revenue and sales of HawaiianMiles.

2022 Highlights

Routes and scheduled services

• Operated at 91% of its 2019 capacity, comprised of 115%, 79%, and 44% capacity on its North America, Neighbor Island, and International routes, respectively
• Resumed international flights, between Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Auckland, New Zealand, and Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Tokyo Haneda Airport
• Signed agreement with Amazon to operate and maintain an initial fleet of 10 Airbus A330-300 freighters to move cargo between airports near Amazon's distribution facilities starting in the fall of 2023
• Announced a new nonstop flight between Honolulu and Rarotonga, Cook Islands, which will launch in May 2023, providing travellers from Hawaiian's 15 U.S. Mainland gateway cities convenient one-stop connection to the Cook Islands

Aer Lingus shifts London - Knock service from Gatwick to Heathrow

Aer Lingus has announced a shift away from London Gatwick to London Heathrow for its Ireland West Airport Knock service, which aims to support connectivity for the West and boost the local economy and tourism. The change takes effect from 26th March 2023 and will operate daily. Customers already booked on this route to/from Gatwick will be automatically rebooked on a same-day flight.*

The majority of visitors to Ireland are from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%), and this new route aims to boost direct and connecting inbound tourism to the West.[1] Aer Lingus aims to take advantage of the growing trend of screen tourism, which Tourism Ireland has identified as a key opportunity for 2023, with films like the Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the West of Ireland to a global audience.[2] Ireland West Airport is also a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, with nine of the fifteen signature discovery points located within a 60-80 minute drive from the airport.

The announcement reinforces Aer Lingus’s commitment to Ireland West Airport Knock, as the airport continues to rebound after Covid, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% last year, reaching 89% of the record-breaking year of 2019[3].

Aer Lingus expects that the convenience of London Heathrow’s location will drive additional point-to-point demand and increased connecting traffic.  Reid Moody Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus said: "With a direct service to one of Europe’s busiest airports, customers from the West will now be able to easily connect from Heathrow to destinations right across the globe. The service will also drive inbound tourism at a time when interest in visiting the West of Ireland is very high, with the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the beauty of the West of Ireland to millions of people globally.”

Welcoming the news, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, of Ireland West Airport commented:   "This is a major development for the West and Northwest regions as it opens up key onward connectivity, through one of Europe’s biggest hubs, to over 80 destinations worldwide. The hub status of Heathrow for businesses to connect with the global marketplace is a potential game changer for this region, and from a tourism perspective, the service will deliver a significant increase in tourism visits from all corners of the globe. I have no doubt the service will get huge support from the business community and leisure travellers both here and abroad and we thank Aer Lingus for this strong vote of confidence in the airport and West of Ireland region.”

[1] https://www.tourismireland.com/docs/default-source/visitor-facts-and-figures/visitor-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=d5913554_1

[2] https://www.tourismireland.com/news-and-press-releases/press-releases/article/tourism-ireland-launches-2023-marketing-plans

[3] https://www.irelandwestairport.com/news/ireland-west-airport-reports-strong-performance-in-2022-as-722k-passengers-use-the-airport

German airline Condor launches its Ab-Initio Program (CAP) for 7th time with TFC Käufer flight school in Essen

In two years to the Multi Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) including a type rating: To make this possible for prospective pilots, Germany's most popular leisure airline is offering pilot training in cooperation with the TFC Käufer flight school in Essen for the seventh time as part of the Condor Ab-Initio Program (CAP).

In recent months, a total of 12 applicants have been offered a training position. During the two-year training, which started yesterday, a theoretical and practical phase awaits them. In addition, the training includes type rating, i.e., type training, in this case for the Airbus A320 aircraft type.

Condor and the flight school TFC Käufer are focusing on CO2 reduction: for the first time, an electric aircraft and a corresponding virtual reality simulator will be used as part of the training. Photovoltaic systems on the roof of the flight school building will also cover the simulator's electricity requirements. In total, 70 percent of the training will be conducted on electric aircraft. Photovoltaic systems on the roof of the flight school will also cover the simulator's power requirements. The Velis Electro electric aircraft from the manufacturer Pipistrel that will be used is the first electrically powered aircraft licensed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for training operations.

Singapore Airlines shows you what contributes to its cabin crew’s world-class service?

Singapore Airlines has launched a new advertising campaign that artistically focuses on the service the renowned carrier has offered for years.  

If you've ever wondered what contributes to Singapore Airlines cabin crew’s world-class service?

It’s their interactions with various local cultures around the world, creating diverse experiences that build a unique combination of attributes such as empathy, confidence and passion.

Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President of Commercial, Singapore Airlines, said: “At Singapore Airlines, service excellence is deeply ingrained in our DNA, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. This campaign highlights our unwavering commitment to delivering a world-class travel experience, no matter the duration of the journey. Our award-winning cabin crew are central to this promise, with their rich and diverse experiences, as well as their dedication to customer service, having a positive impact on everyone around them.”

Directed by filmmaker Liz Murphy, the uplifting video was filmed in Singapore, Auckland in New Zealand, Barcelona in Spain, Mumbai in India, and Shanghai in China. The Airline conducted in-depth research to measure its global brand perception and used the findings to create a campaign that aims to resonate with customers around the world.

  

Welcome to World Class | Singapore Airlines

Finnair to end in-flight and pre-order sales of gifts and goods......

The Helsinki-based Finnair has announced it will drop all in-flight and pre-order retail sales of goods at the end of the month.

From 28th February 2023 the airline will discontinue in-flight and pre-order retail sales of cosmetics, accessories, gifts and other retail products. Pre-ordered products can still be delivered to flights up to 18th April 2023. 

"Onboard and pre-order shopping has become a less important service among our customers”, says Valtteri Helve, Head of Product Offering at Finnair.  "Already in spring 2020, we announced that we discontinue in-flight sales on our flights within EU as part of our goal to reduce the overall weight of the aircraft, and now it is time to take the next step. Food and beverage sales on flights will continue, of course, and we will continue to develop our service."

Removing this service also paves the way for an easier move to outsource more cabin crew services to other companies as well as outsourcing the whole flight operations. The airline is struggling to return to profitability and is trying to stem losses by cutting costs before axing even more of the individual aspects that differentiate Finnair from any other European budget carrier. 

"Together with our partners, we have been able to offer a wide range of products, and many Finnish brands have also been well represented on our flights", says Tiina Tissari, Vice President of Customer Experience and Products at Finnair.

During the final phase and to dump stock, Finnair is offering a 40% discount on products onboard or pre-order items. In-flight shopping is available on our long-haul flights, and flights to the Canary Islands, Dubai, Egypt, Iceland, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. 

48 graduates of the Pilot Academy joined airBaltic in 2022

48 graduates of the Pilot Academy joined airBaltic in 2022

The Latvian airline airBaltic announces that 48 airBaltic Pilot Academy students have joined the company as First Officers after graduating in 2022. Overall, there are 67 active students for now, and four new study groups will be formed in 2023 – in February, May, September and November.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “The previous year has been rich for the Pilot Academy and I am delighted to see that it becomes more and more noticed and respected internationally. Specifically, this achievement of the recent graduates, who have joined airBaltic, absolutely highlights the Pilot Academy's quality of training and the students' dedication in pursuing their careers as commercial airline pilots. They will play a crucial role in the growth and success of our company, and we wish them all the best in their new positions.”

Altogether 48 airBaltic Pilot Academy graduates started their career at airBaltic in 2022. They represent such countries as Latvia (24), France (7), Germany (5), Lithuania (4), Spain (3), Finland (2), Estonia (1), Sweden (1) and the Netherlands (1). Six of the graduates, joining airBaltic, are female.

During previous 12 months, students have flown 4 202.3 hours, but the most time spent in the air was in March, August and September.

In total, 49 people began their studies in the Pilot Academy in 2022. However, there are 67 active students for now. Most of them are from the Baltics, while also other EU member states, such as Germany, France, Finland, Spain and Italy, are represented. More than 10% of students are female.

Finnair modifies Airbus A350s to increase passenger and cargo loads on longer routes

Finnair has modified ten of its flagship A350s to carry more customers and cargo as it continues to increase capacity across its Asian routes. Finnair has worked with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to increase the maximum take-off weight for a specially selected number of its aircraft as demand for flights to and from Asia has risen.

Finnair says the modifications made involve changes and updates to the aircraft’s software system, placards and manuals in cooperation with the planes maker Airbus. The aircraft software compensates for the centre of gravity change and maintains the same handling characteristics which allows for an increase in maximum take-off weight by around eight tonnes and that then enables Finnair to carry more customers and cargo on long-haul routes to Asia. 

With these modifications each aircraft can carry more customers and cargo, but also more importantly extra fuel to fly the longer flight times between Finland and South Korea and Japan that have resulted in the closure of Russian airspace to Finnair and other European and US carriers since the start of the war in Ukraine. Finnair hopes these changes will help it restore profitability to the routes and the airline as a whole.

Leena Niemi, Finnair Compliance Manager for Technical Operation, said: “Usually we do everything we can to make our aircraft lighter, but for our flights to Tokyo and Seoul we’ve increased their maximum take-off weight to fly around Russia and meet the demand for increased customers, cargo and kerosene. While making the modifications, the safety and security of our aircraft and customers remained our number one priority.”

“In addition, the weight and balance data for the modified aircraft have been updated, the noise certificates of the aircraft have been renewed, and the aircraft maintenance program and life limits of the main landing gear parts have been updated.”

Qatar Airways and Airbus reach an amicable settlement in legal dispute

Qatar Airways and Airbus reach an amicable settlement in legal dispute

Qatar Airways and Airbus have announced they have reached an amicable and mutually agreeable settlement in relation to their legal dispute over A350 surface degradation and the grounding of A350 aircraft.

A repair project is now underway and both parties look forward to getting these aircraft safely back in the air.

The details of the settlement are confidential and the parties will now proceed to discontinue their legal claims.

The settlement agreement is not an admission of liability for either party.

This agreement will enable Qatar Airways and Airbus to move forward and work together as partners.

Tom Zheng appointed as Vice President of Technical Operations Business Planning and Services at Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines announced this week the appointment of Tom Zheng as vice president of technical operations business planning and services. In his new role, Zheng will lead a growing portfolio of technical operations initiatives, including expanded aircraft maintenance, dedicated freighter service for Amazon and a new fleet of Boeing 787-9s.

“Tom has offered invaluable leadership to advance significant initiatives within our growing technical operations team,” said Jim Landers, senior vice president for technical operations at Hawaiian Airlines. “His trusted voice and guidance will continue to make us a better, stronger airline as we diversify and grow our business.”

Zheng joined Hawaiian in 2009 as a senior project manager before becoming a director of strategic initiatives. He previously served as managing director of business planning and initiatives in technical operations. Prior to Hawaiian, Zheng was a management consultant for Deloitte and also worked for American Savings Bank and AT&T where he was a distinguished member of the technical staff and principal engineer.

He holds a Master of Business Administration degree with honours from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

More service cuts at Finnair.......airline dropping in-flight and pre-order retail sales......

The Helsinki-based Finnair has announced it will drop all in-flight and pre-order retail sales of goods at the end of the month.

From 28th February 2023 the airline will discontinue in-flight and pre-order retail sales of cosmetics, accessories, gifts and other retail products. Pre-ordered products can still be delivered to flights up to 18th April 2023. 

"Onboard and pre-order shopping has become a less important service among our customers”, says Valtteri Helve, Head of Product Offering at Finnair.  "Already in spring 2020, we announced that we discontinue in-flight sales on our flights within EU as part of our goal to reduce the overall weight of the aircraft, and now it is time to take the next step. Food and beverage sales on flights will continue, of course, and we will continue to develop our service."

Removing this service also paves the way for an easier move to outsource more cabin crew services to other companies as well as outsourcing the whole flight operations. The airline is struggling to return to profitability and is trying to stem losses by cutting costs before axing even more of the individual aspects that differentiate Finnair from any other European budget carrier. 

"Together with our partners, we have been able to offer a wide range of products, and many Finnish brands have also been well represented on our flights", says Tiina Tissari, Vice President of Customer Experience and Products at Finnair.

During the final phase and to dump stock, Finnair is offering a 40% discount on products onboard or pre-order items. In-flight shopping is available on our long-haul flights, and flights to the Canary Islands, Dubai, Egypt, Iceland, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.