MNG Airlines provides earthquake aid to Turkey and Syria

MNG Airlines, a global logistics provider and e-commerce enabler, is providing ground transport, logistics and air cargo services to aid victims of the devastating February 6th earthquakes. 

MNGA has mobilized a fleet of cargo trucks to support the Turkish Ministry of Interior Department of Disaster and Emergency Management to deliver supplies from Istanbul directly to Malatya and Gaziantep. Starting on February 7th, the MNGA’s trucks began delivering emergency aid to the region. On February 8th, MNG Airlines volunteered an A300-600 aircraft to transport relief goods including 44 tons of supplies donated by MNG Airlines staff. After the first flight, MNGA operated 4 flights to Malatya and 2 flights to Adana to provide transportation for donations from Beşiktaş JK, the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association and other donors.

MNG Airlines has also partnered with the Turkish Red Crescent to collect and transport emergency donations from across Europe to Malatya and Adana. Starting on February 9th, and working alongside international embassies and consulate staff, airport staff and our ground handling partner DNATA CGN, MNG Airlines loaded emergency relief donations at the Cologne, Amsterdam, and Charles de Gaulle airports for transport to Istanbul Airport. MNG Airlines’ collaboration with the Red Crescent is ongoing, and as of today, MNG Airlines has transported 240 tons of aid.

On February 8th, 16th and 23rd, MNG Airlines operated an A300-600 cargo plane on behalf of the World Health Organization (“WHO”) to transport 120 tons of emergency medical kits from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai to Istanbul, where the WHO’s emergency response teams began transporting the kits to areas most in need. On February 18th, MNG Airlines operated an A300-600 cargo plane on behalf of UNICEF to transport 37 tons of relief goods.

MNG Airlines and Golden Falcon Acquisition Corporation stand with friends, family, and fellow Turkish citizens whose lives have been impacted by the earthquakes, and will continue supporting our disaster relief and recovery partners during this difficult time.

Greg Smith appointed independent Chairman of American Airlines Group Board of Directors

American Airlines Group announced that Greg Smith has been named independent chairman of the company’s board of directors, effective April 30, 2023. Smith, 56, will succeed Doug Parker, who will retire from the board at that time. Smith’s appointment is part of the board’s long-term succession planning process.

“Our CEO transition has been flawless thanks to the great work of Robert Isom, his team and our board,” said Parker. “Now is the right time for our chairman transition and we are fortunate to have Greg Smith in place to assume that role. Greg has made outstanding contributions since joining American’s board, and his strong knowledge of the aviation industry and his decades of leadership experience will be invaluable going forward.”

Smith joined American’s board in January 2022 after a more than 30-year career at The Boeing Company. He most recently served as Boeing’s Executive Vice President and CFO, leading the company’s Enterprise Operations, Finance, Strategy and Shared Services organizations. He managed Boeing’s overall financial activities and had oversight of the company’s manufacturing, operations, supply chain, quality and program management teams.

“It’s an honour and privilege to serve as a board member and now as chairman of this iconic company,” said Smith. “Due to the leadership and dedication of Doug, Robert and the entire American team, we are well-positioned to take the airline to the next level of excellence. The board and I look forward to working with Robert and this great team as we lead American Airlines into the future.”

Norwegian Reward to be relaunched

The Norwegian Reward loyalty programme is getting a new look and with this comes new benefits. During springtime, several extra benefits for the most frequent flyers will be introduced.

Norwegian Reward is Norwegian's award-winning loyalty programme. Norwegian Reward is now being renewed with the same aim as before – to give Norwegian's customers cheaper flights and an even smoother journey. Earning CashPoints and benefits are still at the core of the programme. The more Reward members choose to fly with Norwegian, the more benefits they receive. Norwegian is also adding a range of new benefits for the most frequent flyers.

Greater freedom when choosing benefits

Reward members will receive a new benefit for every eighth flight taken within 12 months, including stopovers. The first benefit is always 2% extra CashPoints on all Norwegian flight tickets. After the next eight flights, members can choose which benefit they would like next. On top of choosing from free checked baggage, seat reservation, Fast Track or an additional 2% earning of CashPoints, members can now also choose to claim an overhead cabin bag as their next benefit.“Our members have told us that the benefits they can choose from are among the loyalty programme’s most important perks. In addition to greater flexibility when choosing benefits, we are now also adding free overhead cabin bag as a benefit to choose from,” said Christoffer Sundby, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer Norwegian.

Choose benefits The ‘Rewards’ in our programme will be called benefits moving forward, and you’ll get a new benefit for every 8th flight you take within 12 months, including stopovers. The first benefit you’ll receive is always 2% extra CashPoints. After your next 8 flights, you can decide for yourself which benefits you’d like next. Choose from:

Free checked baggage Free standard seat reservation Another 2% extra CashPoints (can be selected up to 3 times) Free Fast Track NEW! Free overhead cabin baggage*

NEW! Exclusive benefits for frequent flyers Once you reach 32 flights in 12 months, you’ll receive all of the remaining benefits above that you hadn’t already chosen, plus a set of exclusive perks, reserved for our most frequent flyers! These benefits will be rolled out during spring 2023, and include:

Free coffee and tea on board** Priority Boarding Priority customer service No expiry date on CashPoints***

And more...

Earn CashPoints You still earn CashPoints every time you fly with us or make a purchase with one of Norwegian Reward’s partners. How many CashPoints you earn on your flights depends on your ticket type. You’ll earn: 1% CashPoints on LowFare tickets 2% CashPoints on LowFare+ tickets 5% CashPoints on Flex tickets Use your CashPoints to pay for part or all of your next Norwegian flight!

Two top leadership changes at Lufthansa

Two important leadership changes of commercial core functions at Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa Airlines: Heiko Reitz will be the new CCO of Lufthansa Airlines and Dr. Stefan Kreuzpaintner will now be responsible for network, alliance and partner management of Lufthansa Group.

Heiko Reitz has made several key strategy decisions for network, alliance and partner management in recent years and drove harmonization and further development of holistic commercial customer offerings, also with airline partners. He further developed the Lufthansa Group joint ventures and expanded important partnerships like with Deutsche Bahn. And as crisis manager during the Corona pandemic, he made a major contribution to stabilizing the company.

Looking forward, he will apply his strategic experience gained from Lufthansa Group to daily operations, at key customer interfaces while expanding and realigning Lufthansa Airlines' premium offers.

As a member of the Lufthansa Airlines Board Dr. Stefan Kreuzpaintner played a key role in further developing and strengthening core brand commercial structures and pushing ahead with the strategic premium positioning while coping with the very difficult Corona pandemic situation. Following crisis management, he pushed introduction of the new long haul Lufthansa premium product "Allegris". At the Lufthansa Munich hub, he reinforced the expansion of the successful strategic partnership with the airport. His prior experience in sales, revenue and marketing management positions will enable him to expand the links between Lufthansa and its Group partners. This will include network planning for all hub airlines and development of further commercial partnerships and joint ventures of the Group as well as continuing to represent Group interests in Munich as “Konzernbeauftragter”.

Lufthansa Group receives top grades in renowned CDP climate ranking

• Lufthansa receives the scoring result "A-" and is thus placed in the highest-ranking band
• Top grades for emissions reduction and in five other rating categories
• Proof of the Lufthansa Group's ambitious CO2 reduction path

In the global climate ranking 2022 of the non-profit organization CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), the Lufthansa Group received a top rating for its CO2 reduction strategy and its implementation, thus improving compared to the previous year. On a scale from "A" (best result) to "D-," the company was placed in the highest ranking band with "A-" (previous year "B"). The Lufthansa Group is thus among the top 5 airlines worldwide with the best rating. CDP gave the Lufthansa Group top grades in reporting in the following evaluation categories: Scope 1 & 2 (direct emissions & indirect emissions from purchased energy), Scope 3 (indirect emissions within the supply chain), corporate governance, risk management processes, targets and initiatives to reduce emissions.

"The top rating in the CDP ranking confirms our pioneering role in the industry.

I am proud that we were able to improve our ranking this year," says Christina Foerster, Member of the Lufthansa Group's Executive Board responsible for Brand and Sustainability.

CDP climate ranking regarded as global gold standard

CDP is a global platform for the disclosure of information on the sustainability of companies, cities and regions. The Lufthansa Group has participated in the CDP reporting since 2006 and thus informs relevant stakeholders continuously and transparently about its strategy and measures for CO2 reduction. Each year, CDP collects information on CO2 emissions, sustainability strategies and goals from more than 18,700 companies, representing more than half of the global market capitalization, in a standardized process.

easyJet and easyJet holidays launch February Payday Sale

easyJet holidays launches payday sale offering customers up to £200* off all holiday packages for Summer 2023

seven-night beach holiday packages from £319 per person and city breaks from £189 per person

10% off 100,000 seats on easyJet flights throughout March

The best thing about February, besides the heavily discounted chocolate from the 14th onwards, is that payday comes early, and this month easyJet and easyJet holidays have launched special sales with super savings to make the deal sweeter.

The UK’s fastest-growing tour operator, easyJet holidays, is offering customers up to £200* off their next holiday with a special payday promo. Customers can use the promocode FEBSAVER for £200* off with a minimum spend of £2000, and £100 off with a minimum spend of £800. The offer is valid on all bookings made until 23:00 on Tuesday 28 February 2023 and can be used on all packages available on the website for travel until 31 October 2023 (inclusive).

So, whether it’s a beach-front all-inclusive with its own waterpark for a fun family vacay this summer, or a mate-cation to an easyJet holidays adults-only luxury hotel for a boujee break, there’s a package perfect for every need. All easyJet holidays packages include 23kgs of luggage per person, flights and transfers on all beach holidays. On top of that, all packages are covered by the package provider’s industry-leading Protection Promise.

Air Canada and United Airlines to Offer More than 260 Daily Transborder Flights and Two New Routes this Summer

Air Canada and United Airlines announced this week that, through their enhanced transborder joint business agreement, they will offer industry-leading capacity and new routes between Canada and the U.S. for summer 2023 – including a new United-operated flight between Washington-Dulles and Calgary and a new Air Canada-operated flight between Washington-Dulles and Vancouver. 

The carriers have collaboratively optimized their schedules, subject to applicable government and regulatory conditions, and added more flights to provide customers greater connectivity and more flexible flight times, with over 80 transborder codeshare routes and more than 260 daily flights.

"Through our longstanding partnership with United Airlines, Air Canada has been able to offer customers ever-increasing and significant benefits. This summer, customers will have even greater choice and convenience with our joint summer schedule made possible by our airlines' new enhanced transborder agreement. Together we will offer more than 260 daily departures to the U.S, and new non-stop flights from Vancouver and Calgary to Washington-Dulles," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. "Our coordinated schedules will provide business travellers with the convenience of hourly service and the additional comfort of a business cabin on all flights between Toronto and New York and Chicago, as well as Vancouver and San Francisco."

New Non-stop Flights Between Vancouver, Calgary and Washington

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
AC 1036	Vancouver 8:15	Washington 16:16	Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
AC 1037	Washington 17:10	Vancouver 20:01	Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
UA 2221	Calgary 13:30	Washington 19:54	Daily
UA 1125	Washington 9:00	Calgary 11:59	Daily

Marriott Vacations Worldwide reports fourth quarter and full 2022 results....

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022 this week which showed the company had record of over $1.8 billion of contract sales.  

John Geller, president & chief executive officer said:  "2022 was a great year for Marriott Vacations Worldwide. We generated over $1.8 billion of contract sales, a new high for our Company, and returned more than $800 million in cash to shareholders. We also launched Abound by Marriott Vacations, added over 20,000 new owners in our Vacation Ownership business and grew active Interval International members by 21%. Looking forward, we expect occupancies in North America and Europe to remain strong this year and for Asia-Pacific to continue to improve. We also expect to grow contract sales this year by 5% to 9% compared to the prior year and for Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be between $600 million and $670 million, illustrating the continued demand for leisure travel and the strength of our business model."

Fourth Quarter 2022 Highlights:

Consolidated Vacation Ownership contract sales were $454 million, a 12% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, and VPG was $4,088. The Company estimates that hurricanes negatively impacted contract sales by approximately $13 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $88 million, or $2.08 fully diluted earnings per share.

Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders was $115 million, or $2.74 Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share. The Company estimates that hurricanes negatively impacted Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders by $5 million, or $0.12 per Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share.

Adjusted EBITDA was $239 million; excluding the impact of the Alignment (as defined below), Adjusted EBITDA increased 6% compared to the prior year fourth quarter to $232 million. The Company estimates that hurricanes negatively impacted Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The Company repurchased 1.2 million shares of its common stock for $173 million during the quarter at an average price per share of $139.90.

Full Year 2022 Highlights and 2023 Outlook:

Consolidated Vacation Ownership contract sales were $1.84 billion, a 34% increase compared to 2021, and VPG increased 1% to $4,421. The Company estimates that hurricanes negatively impacted contract sales by approximately $14 million in 2022.

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $391 million, or $8.77 fully diluted earnings per share.

Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders was $458 million, or $10.26 Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share.

Adjusted EBITDA was $966 million; excluding the impact of the Alignment (as defined below), Adjusted EBITDA was $915 million, an increase of 39% compared to the prior year. The Company estimates that hurricanes negatively impacted Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $8 million in 2022.

During 2022, the Company repurchased 5.1 million shares of its common stock for $701 million at an average price of $137.83 and paid $99 million in dividends.

The Company expects contract sales in 2023 to grow 5% to 9% compared to the prior year and for Net income attributable to common shareholders to be $405 million to $440 million, or $9.51 to $10.30 fully diluted earnings per share.

Excluding the impact of the Alignment (as defined below) in 2022, the Company expects Adjusted EBITDA to grow 4% to 9% in 2023 and Adjusted earnings per share - diluted to increase 14% to 23%.

Ethiopian Airlines to resume its direct flights between Abidjan and New York

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operating carrier in Africa, has confirmed it plans to restart direct flights between Abidjan and New York John F. Kennedy  Airport from 29 May 2023. 

Ethiopian first started serving New York from its main hub  Addis Ababa via Abidjan in June 2019. However, the route was suspended in March 2020  due to COVID-19. Later, the flight resumed serving New York via Lomé starting in  October 2020. 

The four times weekly flights will be operated between Addis Ababa and New York via  Abidjan on Boeing 787 aircraft. 

Regarding the resumption of the flight, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said “We are excited to bring back our direct flight between Abidjan and New York. We have long been offering flights with the best connectivity between the US and Africa. The resumption of our Abidjan-New York flight brings back the flexibility that our passengers love. We have been increasing frequencies and adding new destinations in Africa, Europe, Middle East, and Asia in the past couple of months and we are delighted that the  Abidjan-New York route is coming again.” 

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates to more than 130 international passenger and cargo destinations from its main hub Addis Ababa including to Abidjan, where Ethiopian provided 42 years of uninterrupted service since November 1980. Ethiopian will also be commencing a new passenger service to Atlanta, USA starting on 16 May 2023. Atlanta will be Ethiopian Airlines’ 6th destination in the US following its passenger services to New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington DC and cargo service to Miami. 

New York - the city that never sleeps has so much to offer the visitor, with attractions like ntrepid Sea Air Space Museum where you can take an interactive journey through history and innovation as you explore the legendary aircraft carrier "Intrepid", the space shuttle Enterprise", and the world’s fastest jets.

Of course, no trip to New York would be complete without a trip to one of the most iconic skyscrapers of all time - The Empire State Building. Without a doubt,  this is one of the most wonderful experiences one can do in New York,  the building is steeped in history, an echo of times gone by and of course the view from up on high. From the 86th floor Observation Deck you can enjoy a 360-degree unobstructed view of New York City.  You can even go even higher, up to the 102nd floor and down close to the ground,  on the second floor there is a museum.  Explore the site in the 1920s, Construction, Opening Day, Modern Marvel, Otis Elevators, World’s Most Famous Building, King Kong, and Celebrity exhibits oh and just be sure to see the building's iconic Art Deco Fifth Avenue lobby.

Crew Life: 6 Ways to Save Money as a Flight Attendant

Photo by Lukas Souza on Unsplash

When you're a flight attendant, feeling on top of the world comes with the job. One day you're lounging in a five-star hotel in Paris, the next you're watching a movie on a plane over the Atlantic with your new friends. But despite all those incredible experiences, money management can be tricky for flight attendants.

All too often, flight attendants find themselves overspending when they travel or even worse—losing out on potential savings opportunities entirely. With a little bit of financial savvy, though, it's possible to master the art of saving money as an air steward.

We're not here to tell you to take all the joy out of your amazing job—quite the contrary! We want you to keep soaring, like Icarus before his wax-melting demise, but this time, with the right money-saving tools in your arsenal.

To get you started on your journey to becoming a financial master of the skies, here are seven of the best strategies for saving money as a flight attendant that will help you keep your wallet in the clouds!

The Top 6 Ways Flight Attendants Can Save Money

1. Don't be ashamed of deals and discounts

Yes, we know that glitz and glamour are part of the job description, but when you're moving around as much as you do, the little things that come up with constant travel start to stack up.

For example, working a flight to a big city like Toronto or Tokyo means you get to enjoy the sights, but also means you need to factor in hotel and restaurant costs.

The 5-star hotel might be nice, but that doesn't mean you should deny yourself the chance to save on a more affordable option—especially if it's just for one night. Ditto for Michelin-starred restaurants—you don't want to miss out on an amazing experience, but if you can find a tasty, local spot with a cheaper menu, why not?

Do your research before you book a hotel or make dinner reservations: loyalty programs can offer great discounts, as well as group rates for large parties. And don't forget those coupon apps—they're a flight attendant's best friend!

You might think you're being a bit of a buzzkill if you opt for a discount option, but in today's world of hyper-connectivity and constant information sharing, it's becoming increasingly normal to make use of the deals that are out there.

2. Consider house sitting

House-sitting is the perfect way to get free accommodation while experiencing a new city or culture. It can also be incredibly rewarding if you're into having furry friends around.

Just make sure that the family whose home you'll be looking after is comfortable with their new arrangement, and remember to do some research to get a sense of the neighbourhood before committing.

And one more thing: if possible, look for house-sitting opportunities in cities where you already have contacts or know people who can vouch for the arrangement. That way, you'll have someone to turn to if there are any questions or issues that come up while you're away.

3. Make wise investments

Leidos to lead security technology enhancements at London Luton Airport

Leidos,  the science and technology company was recently named the principal contractor for technology upgrades across multiple security checkpoints at London Luton Airport (LLA). As one of the UK's busiest airports, LLA served over 13 million passengers in 2022.

"This is an exciting opportunity for our team, and we look forward to supporting these important initiatives at London Luton Airport," said Brad Buswell, Senior Vice President and Operations Manager at Leidos. "By focusing on end-to-end solutions versus individual systems, we will deliver a holistic security management solution, which can scale with the airport's future needs."

As the principal contractor, Leidos manages all subcontractors and associated consultants working on the project. This includes oversight of building modifications to create two central image processing rooms. The company will also install its security systems and other third-party security solutions at the checkpoints.

Under the agreement, Leidos will deploy 12 of its integrated ClearScan™ cabin baggage scanners and ProPassage™ automated tray return systems. ClearScan is a computed tomography (CT) scanner with advanced explosive detection algorithms. This capability eliminates the need to remove electronics and approved liquids from carry-on baggage. The large, automated ProPassage trays reduce the number of trays needed per passenger in the divest area and helps prevent sweep-outs, a common issue with light items in shallow trays. The combination of these two technologies will enable faster processing of passengers through the checkpoint.

FedEx delivers critical aid and commits more than $1 million for the earthquake crisis in Turkey and Syria

FedEx continues to support those affected by the catastrophic earthquakes that have devastated Southern Turkey and Northern Syria, committing more than $1,000,000 (USD) worth of in-kind shipping so far. Overnight, the company chartered a FedEx MD-11 of dedicated relief from Dubai, UAE, to Istanbul, Turkey. This was the fifth consecutive flight taking place from February 17 to 21 delivering approximately 230 metric tonnes of relief supplies including tents, blankets, baby items, household supplies, and hygiene kits from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“FedEx is committed to helping the many communities impacted by the earthquakes during this incredibly difficult time,” FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam said. “We are inspired by the heroic work of first responders and humanitarian organizations and grateful to use our global network to donate flights, logistics support, and aid to advance recovery, rebuilding, and relief in the region.”

To date, FedEx has also been able to help other non-profit organizations and governments respond during this crisis by utilizing its global network and logistics expertise.

FedEx donated $100k on February 8 to the American Red Cross to aid recovery efforts in Turkey and Syrian communities. The donation will provide support and aid, such as distributing essentials like first aid, food, water, and blankets; setting up temporary shelters; and providing psychological support and medical aid.

On February 8, FedEx delivered critical humanitarian supplies from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport to Malatya, Turkey on behalf of the Istanbul Governorship and local municipality, including food supplies from Umursan Un Ltd. and clothing donated by local residents.

During the week of February 13, FedEx provided shipping support for Canadian disaster-relief organization GlobalMedic, including the delivery of AquaResponse3 Water Purification Units to feeding centers in the impacted area of Turkey.

FedEx worked with U.S.-based World Central Kitchen to ship aid from Madrid, Spain and Capitol Heights, Maryland, U.S. to Adana, Turkey. The flights included a deployable kitchen unit, kitchen supplies, and operations kits.

FedEx continues to provide relief to regions impacted by natural disasters. FedEx relief moved for IFRC, GlobalMedic, and World Central Kitchen was a part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative, in which FedEx lends its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise to organizations with mission-critical needs and helps communities before, during and after crises. Learn more at FedExCares.com.

United Rallies Businesses and Consumers with New, First-of-its-Kind $100+ Million Sustainable Flight Fund

In an effort to rally businesses and consumers, United this week launched the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund SM, a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel by accelerating the research, production and technologies associated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The fund starts with more than $100 million in investments from United and its inaugural partners** Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell. Through the fund, these and potentially additional corporate participants will invest alongside United in SAF technology and production start-ups identified by United. In the past two years alone, United Airlines Ventures has invested in start-ups such as Cemvita, Dimensional Energy, and NEXT Renewable Fuels.

And in a first among U.S. airlines, anyone who buys a ticket on the United website or app now has the option to contribute to supplement United's investment in the fund. The first 10,000 people who choose to contribute will each receive 500 MileagePlus Miles as a thank-you.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. SAF, which currently must be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use within the aircraft, is being made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks including household trash or forest waste. To date, United has invested in the future production of over three billion gallons of SAF - the most of any airline in the world.***

"Solving climate change is doable but it requires hard work and real leadership," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "This fund is unique. It's not about offsets or things that are just greenwashing. Instead, we're creating a system that drives investment to build a new industry around sustainable aviation fuel, essentially from scratch. That's the only way we can actually decarbonize aviation."

UAV Sustainable Flight Fund

The UAV Sustainable Flight Fund is open to investment by corporations across industries and the fund will prioritize investment in new technology, advanced fuel sources and proven producers, all in an effort to scale the supply of SAF. Partners of the fund also have the potential to gain preferential access to environmental attributes associated with United's supply of SAF.

Companies interested in joining the fund can visit united.com/ventures.

Avolon completes delivery of 15 Airbus jets to IndiGo

Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, announces it has completed the delivery of 15 A320neo family aircraft to IndiGo, India’s largest passenger airline.

Delivery of the aircraft commenced in September 2022 and was completed in February 2023. The sale and leaseback transaction comprised a mix of six A320neo aircraft and nine A321neo aircraft.

Avolon now has a total of 21 aircraft on lease with IndiGo.

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon commented: “We are proud to support IndiGo through this sale and leaseback of fifteen fuel-efficient Airbus neo aircraft. We look forward to playing a central role with IndiGo as they continue to build on their position as a leading carrier in the Indian market.”

Riyaz Peermohamed, Chief Aircraft Acquisition and Financing Officer, IndiGo commented: “We are pleased to have completed this deal with Avolon, which is part of IndiGo’s broader expansion plans and the upgrading of our fleet. In 2023 we are committed to enhancing connectivity both within India and internationally.”

New JetBlue flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Tallahassee

JetBlue to launch a new service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) beginning on January 4, 2024, with tickets already on sale.  

“This route has long suffered from high fares and regional plane service and the response in Florida to this much-needed connection between the state capital and South Florida has been incredible. Customers can now travel much more easily and frequently with JetBlue’s low fares and award-winning experience,” said Dave Clark, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “We’ve laid out an ambitious growth plan for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, enabled by our planned combination with Spirit. This combination will allow many more choices for air travel in and out of South Florida in the years to come.”

Since making Fort Lauderdale a focus city, JetBlue – known for the most legroom in coach (a), free seatback entertainment, free Fly-Fi high-speed internet (b), free snacks, and friendly service – was quickly positioned as a preferred carrier in South Florida.

In support of the Broward County’s master plan to expand the airport’s facilities, JetBlue expects to reach more than 250 daily departures by 2027 after completion of its planned combination with Spirit. This growth will position Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood an even more compelling choice for South Florida customers against the dominant legacy carrier in Miami. While both carriers have had success in Fort Lauderdale, the combination between JetBlue and Spirit will unlock long-term opportunities to add domestic and international markets and routes that would not be possible otherwise.

.a) JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.

b) Fly-Fi® and live television are available on all JetBlue-operated flights. Availability and coverage area may vary by aircraft.