Condor and Bentour transport relief supplies to Turkey

The airline Condor and the tour operator Bentour have jointly organized a special flight with relief supplies for the earthquake region in Turkey and Syria. In cooperation with the Turkish Embassy in Berlin and with the Turkish Consulate General in Frankfurt, flight DE8120 took off at 8:00 this morning. On board the Boeing 767 were, among other things, generators, winter jackets and sleeping bags.

"The scale of the disaster is so indescribably huge that every possible help is needed here," said Deniz Ugur CEO Bentour Reisen.

Christian Schmitt, COO of Condor: "After the terrible earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Condor has examined all possibilities to support at short notice. Numerous employees have been working flat out to set up this special flight and a great many have volunteered to offer their help. We remain in constant contact with relief organizations on the ground to explore the possibility of additional flights." 

The flight lands at Adana Airport, in the western part of the major city of the same name. It is currently being used to transport incoming aid supplies from there to the crisis regions.

JetBlue to offer more than 250 daily flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood.... New route to Tallahassee

JetBlue has announced a new service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) beginning in January 2024, as the airline lays out new plans for more low-fare, high-value flights in South Florida. After its planned combination with Spirit, JetBlue expects to reach more than 250 flights a day at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood by 2027.

“As a customer-centric alternative to the high-fare legacy airline that dominates South Florida, we have achieved rapid growth in Fort Lauderdale and are ready to turbocharge further expansion once we combine with Spirit,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “You shouldn’t have to choose between a low fare and a great experience. JetBlue offers both, and that’s why we are uniquely positioned to challenge the Big Four airlines and boost competition in Florida and across the country.”

Broward County’s master plan for further development of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport would enable JetBlue to grow to more than 250 daily flights. JetBlue has already committed support for a new Terminal 5 and is ready to partner with the airport on further expansion to increase capacity.

“We commend JetBlue for expanding and providing more direct flights between the capital and South Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These new low-fare flights will further benefit Florida’s thriving economy by bringing more jobs to our communities, and adding more choices for affordable air travel within the state. We look forward to JetBlue’s continued expansion in Fort Lauderdale.”

For the seventh year, Delta has been ranked the top airline on Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work" list.

For the seventh year, Delta has been ranked the top airline on Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work" list.

Each year, Glassdoor reviews the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback on their daily jobs, benefits, interview experience and work environment to determine the top 100 large companies.

"Delta’s place on this list is a testament to our people, who are the Delta Difference,” said Joanne Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. “We’re powered by our people and strive to put those words into action by centring the employee experience in our business.”

Glassdoor determines which companies make the list during a year-long eligibility period, where employees must meet certain criteria. Employers considered for the U.S. large companies list must have received at least 75 ratings for each of the nine workplace attributes – overall company rating; career opportunities; diversity and inclusion; compensation and benefits; culture and values; senior management; work-life balance; recommend to a friend; and six-month business outlook. The final list is compiled using Glassdoor's proprietary awards algorithm, led by its Economic Research Team, and takes into account the quantity, quality and consistency of reviews.

This year, Finavia celebrates the major anniversaries of two of its airports. Ivalo and Oulu airports will celebrate their 80th and 70th anniversaries, respectively.

This year, Finavia celebrates the major anniversaries of two of its airports. Ivalo and Oulu airports will celebrate their 80th and 70th anniversaries, respectively.

“The airports of Oulu and Ivalo have served passengers and airlines for decades and have developed into important hubs for tourism and business. Both airports ensure good connections and accessibility for the area,” says Jonna Pietilä, Finavia’s VP Northern Finland airports.

Over the past ten years, Finavia has made significant investments in the development of both Ivalo and Oulu airports. The company has invested tens of millions of euros in improving the infrastructure and services at its airports.

Ivalo Airport – the northernmost airport in Finland

“Ivalo Airport is the northernmost airport in Finavia’s airport network and in all of Finland. The Christmas season is the busiest time of the year at our airport, as tourists from all over the world come to admire the magic of Lapland,” says Jarmo Pyhäjärvi, Finavia’s Airport Manager of Ivalo Airport.

Pyhäjärvi says that the 80th anniversary is an important milestone for the airport. Ivalo Airport was originally completed in 1943 but was destroyed in the Lapland War in 1945. After the war, the airport was rebuilt. The gold rush in Lapland in particular gave an impetus to the rebuilding of the airport.

“Over the years, we have extended Ivalo Airport several times to serve the growing number of passengers. In 2016, 1,000 square metres of extra space was added to the terminal, and in 2018, the apron was extended, which doubled the number of aircraft stands, among other things. The latest extension took place in 2019, when the arrivals hall was completed.”

Airbus selects Thomas Toepfer as future Chief Financial Officer

Airbus selects Thomas Toepfer as future Chief Financial Officer

Airbus has appointed Dr. Thomas Toepfer, 50, to succeed Dominik Asam, 53, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Thomas Toepfer, currently CFO of Covestro AG – a DAX40 company and one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium polymers – will join Airbus on 1 September 2023.

Dominik Asam will leave Airbus on 3 March. Xavier Tardy, Executive Vice-President Finance for Airbus Defence and Space, will ensure continuity during the interim period in addition to his current role.

“We are very pleased to have Thomas joining Airbus as CFO at this important time for the Company. Thomas is a highly regarded CFO in the DAX40 and I am looking forward to working with him on the Airbus Executive Committee as we continue to ramp-up production and secure our long-term ambitions in a complex operating environment,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. “I sincerely thank Dominik for everything he has brought to Airbus. Together with his team he helped the Company navigate the most severe crisis of its history, ensuring we are well positioned to manage the recovery and prepare our sustainable future. I wish Dominik all the best for his new challenges at SAP.”

London Stansted kicks-off 2023 with strongest passenger performance since pandemic

Stansted served 1.82 million passengers in January, equal to 94% of pre-pandemic levels

Highest percentage achieved since the lifting of travel restrictions last year

12-month passenger total now stands at more than 24.4 million

London Stansted began the new year as it ended 2022 with another strong passenger and operational performance.

The airport welcomed more than 1.82 million passengers in January 2023, up 173% on the same month last year.

The monthly total was equivalent to 94% of the passengers passing through the airport in January 2019, and the highest monthly percentage achieved in its rapid recovery from the impacts of the pandemic.

The number of passengers using London Stansted in the 12-months ending January 2023 reached 24.4 million, up 217% on the previous year.

Operational performance in January also remained strong, with 99% of departing passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:  “I’m really pleased the team here at London Stansted delivered yet another the strong passenger performance in January, achieving 94% of passenger volumes for the same month pre-pandemic, and building on the positive growth we experience last year after travel restrictions we lifted.

 I’m equally delighted we continue to provide a smooth and efficient security operation for our passengers, which we aim to maintain as we welcome many more passengers this week as they head off on half-term breaks, and as we build up to the peak summer months.

To meet rising passenger demand, we are recruiting even more colleagues to join our teams, as are many of our business partner across the airport. Last week’s jobs fair proved to be huge success, attracting hundreds of eager job seekers, so our plans to offer the best passenger experience and service as we continue to bounce back are well on-track.”

Air Canada Cargo joins Pharma.Aero collaboration platform

Air Canada Cargo has become a member of the Pharma.Aero cross-industry collaboration platform. Working with other key stakeholders in the pharmaceutical transportation sector, Air Canada Cargo will contribute to and benefit from the group's knowledge and expertise to further develop its handling of pharmaceutical shipments.  

“As we continue to expand our freighter fleet and with the continued enhancements to our cold chain handling capabilities, this participation in a new avenue for critical insight into pharmaceutical shipments is an important step forward. Pharma.Aero will increase our ability to collaborate with an ever-growing list of industry experts to share ideas and gather knowledge on ways to further strengthen our expertise in shipping this vital cargo,” said Matthieu Casey, Managing Director – Commercial at Air Canada Cargo.

Babcock has been awarded a six-year contract to manage and operate Skynet, the MOD’s military satellite communications system.

As part of the £400 million Skynet Service Delivery Wrap (SDW) contract, Babcock and their partners will operate and manage the UK MOD’s constellation of military satellites, ground stations and integrate new user terminals.

Skynet operations deliver information to UK and allied forces around the world, enabling a battlefield information advantage anywhere, anytime.

Delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country, this contract is expected to support around 400 UK jobs in Corsham, Bristol and Plymouth. Those benefiting will include engineers, scientists, space technicians and administrative staff.

Their work will ensure that our deployed forces have a world-leading capability to communicate back to the UK, whether on the battlefield, onboard a ship or in the air.

The SDW contract is part of the wider satellite communications SKYNET 6 programme which will provide space-based communications to 2041 and beyond, with an overall government investment of £6 billion.

Airbus reported consolidated Full-Year 2022 financial results and provided guidance for 2023.

Airbus reports Full-Year (FY) 2022 results

661(1) commercial aircraft delivered in FY 2022

Revenues € 58.8 billion; EBIT Adjusted up 16% to € 5.6 billion

EBIT (reported) € 5.3 billion; EPS (reported) € 5.40

Free cash flow before M&A and customer financing € 4.7 billion

Dividend proposal: € 1.80 per share

2023 guidance issued

Airbus reported consolidated Full-Year (FY) 2022 financial results and provided guidance for 2023.

"The industry continued its recovery during 2022, with air traffic increasing and airlines turning to their long-term fleet planning. We delivered solid financials despite an adverse operating environment that prevented our supply chain from recovering at the pace we expected. The Company had to adjust its operations accordingly, which led to lower commercial aircraft deliveries than originally planned. We are adapting our production to match supply,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “As we move forward in 2023 we are focused on our industrial activities and the longer-term transformation of the Company. The solid 2022 financial performance and our confidence in the future lead us to propose a higher dividend payment this year.”

Gross commercial aircraft orders increased to 1,078 (2021: 771 aircraft), with net orders of 820 aircraft after cancellations (2021: 507 aircraft) corresponding to a net book-to-bill ratio significantly above 1. The order backlog amounted to 7,239 commercial aircraft at the end of 2022. Airbus Helicopters registered 362 net orders (2021: 414 units), with a book-to-bill above 1 both in units and value. Helicopter orders were well spread across programmes and included 12 H160s. Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake by value was € 13.7 billion (2021: € 13.7 billion), corresponding to a book-to-bill of around 1.2. Key orders included Demonstrator Phase 1B of the Future Combat Air System, the Eurodrone unmanned aerial system and 20 latest-generation Eurofighters for the Spanish Air Force.

Icelandic airline PLAY turned over USD 140 million last year.

Icelandic budget airline PLAY has released its latest results for last year, which show the carrier turned over USD 140 million, delivered a negative EBIT and experienced strong revenue growth.

PLAY carried 241 thousand passengers in Q4. For the full year of 2022 PLAY carried 789 thousand passengers.

The load factor in Q4 was 80.3%. The load factor was improving throughout 2022 and resulted in 79.7% for the full year.

Q4 was operationally successful with an on-time performance of 91%.

Revenues in Q4 were USD 37.9 million compared to USD 9.7 million in Q4 2021. Full year revenues in 2022 were USD 140 million compared to USD 16 million in 2021.

Positive trends in ancillary revenues in Q4.

Negative effect of weather disruptions in Iceland in December resulted in USD 2.2 million in lost revenues and additional expenses.

The financial position of the company is healthy. Cash on December 31 amounted to USD 36.2 million including restricted cash. The equity ratio was 11.6% and the company has no external interest-bearing debt.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were negative in 2022 by USD 44 million compared to negative USD 25 million in 2021.

Net income was negative by USD 45.5 million in 2022 compared to negative USD 22.5 million in 2021.

Shareholders’ equity was increased by USD 16 million in Q4 2022.

PLAY’s cost target of being under 4 US cents a unit (CASK ex-fuel), was reached in Q4 and was in line with the target for 2022.

36 destinations are currently on sale.

Strong sales momentum at the beginning of 2023 resulting in forward unit revenue (RASK) being higher than in 2022.

Birgir Jónsson, CEO of PLAY said:   "We are pleased to report strong growth in our revenue base and load factor in the fourth quarter of 2022. For the past months we have been achieving a higher load factor than most of the airlines we compare ourselves with at the same time as our punctuality is world-class. The quarter was operationally successful, with almost 250,000 passengers flown and a load factor of 80.3%. These metrics make all of us at PLAY really proud and confirm that we are being well-received in the market. PLAY has a healthy financial position and a healthy cash balance. In 2022 we were still running the company at a loss but that is to be expected given the fact that we are a start-up company in a steep growth period as adding aircraft, destinations, and staff as well as introducing a new brand into the market is time consuming and capital intensive. We do however see clear and positive signs that show we are on the right track and that we will soon see a return on our investments as we become more established in the market. We have been very successful in controlling our cost level and it is great to see that the revenue is now beginning to grow, creating the perfect cocktail for success. We saw a very positive trend in ancillary revenues in the quarter with airport sales per passenger increasing, the successful ramping up of our cargo operations and have now launched new digital solutions designed to increase our ancillary revenue as well as our service level. The year begins with very strong booking trends and increased unit revenue making us confident that our revenue base is maturing and developing positively. Our capacity in summer 2023 is growing by close to 77% compared to summer 2022 and we are adding four new aircraft to our fleet as well as welcoming around 200 new team members. It is a real pleasure to see the PLAY team continuously growing stronger and working hard on reaching our goals for the year. We enter the new year filled with energy and ambition and a laser focus on reaching our goals. I believe our great team of Players is only just beginning to show the world what they are made of and I am both humble and glad to be a part of this great team of people.”

KLM offers passengers more Thalys seats to and from Brussels

KLM has purchased additional seats on four Thalys trains for transfer passengers travelling between Amsterdam and Brussels this summer. The extra seats form part of KLM’s efforts to scale down its four daily flights still operated between Amsterdam and Brussels. The extended air/rail product will be available from 26 March.

This capacity expansion follows the KLM-Thalys pilot project (July to October 2022), when the airline replaced one of its daily flights between Amsterdam and Brussels with a rail service. Starting 26 March, passengers transferring between Amsterdam and Brussels will enjoy more opportunities to travel by rail instead of air on this route, with the integrated air/rail product being offered on five different trains.

Action Plan for Rail and Air Services

KLM is a staunch advocate of the Dutch Action Plan for Rail and Air Services, aimed at improving international train travel as an alternative to flying at six priority destinations (Brussels, Paris, London, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Berlin). The Action Plan was drawn up in late 2020 by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Dutch rail network operator ProRail, KLM and NS Dutch Railways. KLM’s approach to sustainability focuses on reducing emissions and noise impact, and the ongoing development of its air/rail product forms part of these efforts.

Evaluation of pilot

During the 2022 pilot, customer surveys showed that several improvements were needed such as easier transfers for air/rail passengers at Schiphol, assists for rail customers with luggage, and communication with customers – especially non-European passengers, who are often unfamiliar with Thalys. These obstacles must be removed before KLM can permanently replace flights to and from Brussels with rail capacity. To accomplish this, KLM will need all of its Action Plan partners to cooperate. After all, it has no control over the trains, the railway platforms or the airport.

Boet Kreiken, Executive Vice President Customer Experience KLM said:  "We’re proud to be expanding this air/rail product. We remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth customer journey, making the train an ever-better alternative to air on short‑haul routes in Europe. We’re working closely with our partners to achieve the necessary improvements for our customers."

American Express opens new Centurion lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

American Express has opened a new Centurion Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). The new lounge is nearly triple the size of the original Centurion Lounge at SEA and now located in the newly created mezzanine level of the Central Terminal post-security. 

It features spectacular views of the airfield and iconic Olympic mountains, ample room for guests to relax or work before their flight, and a locally-inspired menu from Seattle-based Communion Restaurant and Bar Executive Chef Kristi Brown. Plus, the new location includes “Blue Roast by American Express,” a coffee bar serving speciality coffee, espresso drinks, and cold brew from local Seattle roaster Caffè Umbria, and a one-of-a-kind mural of the Seattle skyline made from coffee beans by celebrated artist Harold Caudio.

“The new Centurion Lounge at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport delivers exactly what Card Members want while travelling – more space to relax and recharge and fantastic food and drink,” said Pablo Rivero, Vice President & General Manager, Global Lounge Experiences. “Inspired by the vibrant Seattle dining and coffee scene, this lounge showcases the best of what Seattle has to offer, including a custom menu from the talented Chef Kristi Brown and our first full-service coffee bar with locally-roasted beans Seattle is known for.”

A Taste of “Seattle Soul”

Chef Kristi Brown, James Beard Award semifinalist and owner and chef of Seattle-based Communion Restaurant and Bar, will bring her signature “Seattle Soul” cuisine to the lounge. Her cuisine uses fresh local ingredients honouring traditional soul food and flavours from communities represented in the Pacific Northwest, including Southeast Asia and East and West Africa. The menu at the Centurion Lounge at SEA will feature dishes like Trinidadian Spiced Pork Belly, Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad, and "Peach Cobbla” French Toast, her twist on the traditional breakfast treat.

Glassdoor names Delta one of its ‘Best Places to Work’ for 7th year

For the seventh year, Delta has been ranked the top airline on Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work" list.

Each year, Glassdoor reviews the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback on their daily jobs, benefits, interview experience and work environment to determine the top 100 large companies.

"Delta’s place on this list is a testament to our people, who are the Delta Difference,” said Joanne Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. “We’re powered by our people and strive to put those words into action by centring the employee experience in our business.”

Glassdoor determines which companies make the list during a year-long eligibility period, where employees must meet certain criteria. Employers considered for the U.S. large companies list must have received at least 75 ratings for each of the nine workplace attributes – overall company rating; career opportunities; diversity and inclusion; compensation and benefits; culture and values; senior management; work-life balance; recommend to a friend; and six-month business outlook. The final list is compiled using Glassdoor's proprietary awards algorithm, led by its Economic Research Team, and takes into account the quantity, quality and consistency of reviews.

Virgin Orbit Update on UK Mission Anomaly

Virgin Orbit Update on UK Mission Anomaly

On 9 January 2023, during the first attempted orbital launch from the United Kingdom, Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne experienced an anomaly, leading to a premature shutdown of the rocket and failure to reach orbit.

Virgin Orbit began its investigation into the failure within hours of the conclusion of the mission, under the leadership of distinguished aerospace veteran Jim Sponnick and Virgin Orbit Chief Engineer Chad Foerster. The failure investigation team received immediate access to extensive telemetry data collected during the mission from the ground stations in the UK, Ireland, and Spain, as well as systems onboard its carrier aircraft, providing a robust dataset that the investigation team has thoroughly examined.

The investigation includes oversight by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (acting as the Space Accident Investigation Authority (SAIA) for the United Kingdom) and also participation by personnel from the Department of Defense, National Transportation Safety Board, and the National Reconnaissance Office. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority will also be involved in investigation process.

Avinor ANS, the air navigation service provider (ANSP) of Norway, this month, began using Aireon's market-leading, space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data to support air traffic operations across the entire Bodø Oceanic Flight Information Region

Avinor ANS, the air navigation service provider (ANSP) of Norway, this month, began using Aireon's market-leading, space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data to support air traffic operations across the entire Bodø Oceanic Flight Information Region (OFIR).

In April 2022, Avinor ANS started using Aireon ADS-B data for the Bodø OFIR in oceanic environments, below FL 100, with the primary intention of serving the robust helicopter operations and search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea. Since then, Avinor ANS reported the Aireon space-based ADS-B helped improve safety and drive operational efficiencies in the region, including the ability to reduce separation for helicopters. In addition, Avinor concluded that space-based ADS-B performed as well as their ground-based systems over terrestrial airspace.

"We were extremely pleased with the reliability and operational performance of the data in the lower-level airspace," said Tormod Rangnes, Director En-Route Services, Avinor ANS. "Expanded use of the Aireon data will allow Avinor ANS to achieve new levels of safety and operational efficiencies in 2023 and beyond."