Condor adds new fare concept: "Flex Plus" fare offers full flexibility

Germany's most popular leisure airline is introducing a new fare that gives guests maximum flexibility. With "Flex Plus," it is possible to accommodate any change of plans by rebooking and cancelling flights free of charge up to the day before the scheduled departure. Condor is thus not only adding another tariff to its fare concept but also responding to the increased demand for more flexibility. Flights with Condor can be booked with tour operators and at travel agencies. Flight tickets are available as usual at www.condor.com and by phone.

With "Flex Plus," guests can rebook or make a cancellation free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. The tariff is bookable immediately and completes the existing tariff range at Condor, which consists of the tariffs Light, Classic and Flex, which each provide for different product elements such as free baggage allowances, rebooking and cancellation conditions. Condor offers the Flex Plus fare in all classes of transportation on short-haul, medium-haul and long-haul routes, and thus in Economy Class and Business Class, as well as in Premium Economy Class on long-haul routes.

London Stansted grows to become the UK’s number one gateway to Europe in 10 years

London Stansted has just marked the 10th anniversary of Manchester Airports Group’s (MAG) acquisition of the airport which opened up a new era in its history.   London Stansted was added to MAG's portfolio of Manchester and East Midlands airports on February 28, 2013, from Heathrow Airport Holdings for £1.5billion.  Under MAG ownership, millions of pounds have been invested in revamping facilities, Jet2 and Emirates have been added to its list of carriers, and it has grown to become the UK's number one gateway to Europe.

Planning permission has been secured to handle 43 million passengers and long-term growth deals have been signed with airlines including its biggest carrier, Ryanair.

It has also welcomed Air Force One and the President of the United States numerous times, as well as being the airport of choice for the returning cast and crew members from the hit television series, Love Island.

Gareth Powell, Stansted Airport Managing Director, said:  "It has been a fantastically exciting and successful 10 years at Stansted and although it has been challenging at times, especially during the COVID pandemic, we should be proud of what we have accomplished over the decade.

How the passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion market took off

The passenger-to-freighter conversions market has experienced rapid and unprecedented growth over the last three years. Here, Jim Scott, owner of components solutions specialist Artemis Aerospace, discusses this impressive market expansion and how PTF conversions programmes are adapting to future demands.

	Photo by Niklas Jonasson on Unsplash When the pandemic pulled the plug on global air travel in 2020, the aviation industry was left reeling. Air passenger traffic was cut off overnight and billions were wiped from industry revenues. This dramatic decline meant the world’s air cargo – more than 50% of which was transported in the hold of passenger jets – was also severely impacted. Despite freight aircraft continuing to operate, the grounding of passenger fleets resulted in a huge gap for air cargo operations that relied heavily on the extensive route networks travelled by passenger airlines. Yet demand for air cargo capacity during this time was not waning. As well as the need to transport essential medical equipment and supplies, the sudden acceleration in e-commerce meant logistics providers, eager to take advantage of this growing sector, were searching for quick solutions to satisfy e-consumers’ appetites for fast and efficient deliveries. In response, airlines adapted quickly seeking to mitigate huge losses by redeploying their passenger aircraft as ‘preighters’. As passenger flights resumed, and demand for travel began to grow again, many of these ‘preighters’ have since returned to normal service. However, with global e-commerce sales expected to grow by 10.4% in 2023, and 57% of people reporting that they shop internationally, according to Forbes, the need for air cargo capacity remains strong. As supply chain logistics diversify and adapt to meet an ever-increasing list of customer expectations, the demand for new freighter aircraft has intensified with MROs working round the clock to fulfil orders. The PTF market faces numerous challenges and resolving these has become essential for airlines that require flexibility in a continuously evolving industry.

SWISS serves up St. Gallen gourmet specialities from the Neue Blumenau

SWISS is taking its Business and First Class guests on a gourmet trip to Canton St. Gallen in the latest phase of its ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme, which begins today. 

The new meals have been created by Bernadette Lisibach, starred chef at the reputed Neue Blumenau restaurant in the village of Lömmenschwil. SWISS’s Premium Economy Class passengers will also enjoy a three-course inflight meal that has been inspired by Canton St. Gallen specialities.

For the next three months Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be serving its First and Business Class guests culinary delights that have been concocted in collaboration with the Neue Blumenau restaurant in Lömmenschwil, Canton St. Gallen. The gourmet locale not far from Lake Constance is home to Michelin-starred executive chef Bernadette Lisibach, who is renowned for her down-to-earth creations using local regional ingredients.

Bernadette Lisibach has been delighting the Neue Blumenau’s patrons with her traditional yet freshly-interpreted cuisine for the past eleven years. Her skills and creativity have already earned her the GaultMillau 2015 Chef of the Year award, her first Michelin star (in 2019) and 17 GaultMillau points. For SWISS Taste of Switzerland she has put an even firmer focus on specialities from Canton St. Gallen, to help further acquaint SWISS’s premium travellers on long-haul services from Zurich with Switzerland’s vast culinary variety.

“The gourmet creations of Bernadette Lisibach are a byword for a sound and simple approach, sheer enjoyment and quality of the highest order,” says Julia Hillenbrand, SWISS’s Head of Brand Experience. “It’s a combination that is an excellent fit with our company. And I’m delighted that our inflight guests can now sample her skills and gain a taste of the culinary offerings of Canton St. Gallen.”

Advance Declaration now available at Ottawa International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is exploring safe, secure and innovative ways to deliver a better and faster border experience for travellers entering Canada.

Advance Declaration is available to all travellers arriving on international flights at the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Express lanes will also be available in both airports’ customs areas, allowing travellers who complete their Advance Declaration to skip long line-ups for Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK).

The Advance Declaration provides travellers with the option to submit their customs and immigration declaration, up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada. Travellers can now spend less time at PIKs when they arrive at the airport, resulting in shorter wait times at the border.

In an effort to modernize and expedite the travel experience, Advance Declaration is already available to travellers arriving on international flights at the following Canadian airports:

Toronto Pearson

Montreal-Trudeau

Winnipeg Richardson

Vancouver

Halifax Stanfield

Québec City Jean-Lesage

Calgary

The digital tool will also become available to travellers arriving at Edmonton International Airport in the coming weeks.  

Advance Declaration is part of CBSA’s Traveller Modernization initiative, which is being implemented over the coming years. Modernizing the travel experience includes the use of digital technologies and tools for both travellers and border services officers. 

Eric Lapierre, Regional Director General, Northern Ontario Region, CBSA and Lisa Janes, Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region, CBSA said: "With Advance Declaration and express lanes now available at Billy Bishop Toronto City and Ottawa International Airports, we are keeping our border secure while providing a better and faster experience for travellers. This is another example of how the CBSA is modernizing the border and we are happy to be working with Ports Toronto and Ottawa International Airport Authority to make this option available to travellers."

Traffic restrictions at Amsterdam Schipol Airport and plans new APU guidelines

Authorities in The Netherlands are again limiting the number of aircraft movements at the country's biggest and busiest airport, Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport to 460,000 take-offs and landings this year. 

This is a reduction of over 7%  compared to the pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and they say the aim is to reduce aircraft noise and air pollution. The airport operator is calling for new airport traffic regulations in the long term, to enable further growth by using quieter and more efficient aircraft.

APU use reduction for stationary aircraft

Schiphol has submitted an action plan, incorporating input from partners at the airport, to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) aimed at reducing the use of auxiliary power units (APU) by aircraft parked on the apron. Schiphol views reducing APU use as a priority in light of the concrete improvement this makes to healthy working conditions for apron workers. It also contributes to reducing CO2 emissions from aviation as a whole.

An auxiliary power unit (APU), which is normally mounted in the tail of an aircraft, provides autonomous starting power for the main engines, supplies electricity in the aircraft and provides pneumatic pressure, which is needed for various functions including air conditioning on board. The APU runs on kerosene and causes harmful emissions as well as noise nuisance for apron workers when operating.

Alan Mangels joins Aviation Capital Group as new Vice President of Marketing

Aviation Capital Group has confirmed that Alan Mangels has joined the company as Vice President of Marketing for ACG. Mr. Mangels was previously with CDB Aviation and also spent a number of years at Rolls-Royce and Airbus. Mr. Mangels will be responsible for covering the North American region.

ACG is delighted to announce the appointment of Alan Mangels as Vice President, Marketing,” said Carter White, Chief Revenue Officer. “Alan has an impressive track record of developing aircraft lease placement and sale-leaseback opportunities in the marketplace and we look forward to his future contributions to ACG. This appointment also continues to reflect the strong emphasis ACG places on the recruitment of top industry talent as we maintain a global sales and marketing team with experience across the core competencies of the aircraft operating leasing business to deliver long-term sustainable growth.”

“I am both humbled and honoured to be joining a team of such accomplished aviation professionals at ACG. I am also excited to work with our airline customers and further contribute to ACG’s growth and success,” said Alan Mangels.

AAdvantage members earn more rewards, more often

Beginning today,  1st March 2023, American Airlines AAdvantage members can receive benefits and earn rewards more often — including before and beyond reaching status — and have more options to customize their travel experiences through Loyalty Point Rewards.

Announced in December, the program’s continued evolution provides more value for members, including more opportunities to achieve rewards even before reaching status. Learn more about the AAdvantage program below:

Rocket Lab plans two launches from two continents this month

Rocket Lab USA, a leading launch and space systems company, today announced it is preparing to launch two dedicated missions in March from the Company’s launch sites in the United States and New Zealand - within days of each other.

One Electron rocket is ready and in position at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand to deploy satellites for Spaceflight Inc. customer BlackSky, a real-time geospatial intelligence company. Meanwhile, a second rocket is simultaneously undergoing final launch preparations at Launch Complex 2 in Virginia to deploy satellites for American space tech company Capella Space, the world’s leading provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery.

Both launches are scheduled to take place in March with the launch windows to be finalized based on individual customer and range requirements; however, both missions are expected to launch within days of each other. Capella Space’s two satellites have been integrated to Electron at Launch Complex 2 and are ready for launch, while BlackSky’s two satellites are undergoing final check outs before integration to Electron at Launch Complex 1. Rocket Lab has also completed a Wet Dress Rehearsal at Launch Complex 2 and the mission is now awaiting range clearances from NASA and the FAA to proceed with launch. Meanwhile, Launch Complex 1’s Wet Dress Rehearsal is scheduled to take place in the coming days.

Running simultaneous launch campaigns across two continents once again demonstrates Rocket Lab’s ability to deliver responsive and flexible launch solutions to the small satellite market. The upcoming missions are expected to best Rocket Lab’s previous launch turnaround record set at Launch Complex 1 in 2022 when Rocket Lab launched the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA followed by a dedicated mission for the National Reconnaissance Office 15 days later.

Intelsat completes multi-orbit inflight Wi-Fi tests

Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), today announced the successful completion of inflight testing of its new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna. This antenna enables global streaming-fast Wi-Fi service and is available to airlines around the world.

Intelsat’s ESA is the only commercially available antenna in the aviation industry that can operate between low Earth orbit satellites and geostationary satellites. Announced in June 2022, the new antenna has been accumulating flight hours with Ball, Stellar Blu Solutions, Intelsat and OneWeb engineers validating antenna and network performance.

In early 2023, Intelsat successfully demonstrated the new system to global airlines on the company’s Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet outfitted with the new antenna and inflight Wi-Fi system. With peak inflight download speeds exceeding 275Mbps, airline customers were able to participate in live virtual meetings, stream media and stay connected without interruptions.

By using the Intelsat and OneWeb satellite networks together, Intelsat can offer the benefits of LEO’s low latency along with the redundancy GEO provides to address network hotspots that LEO networks on their own cannot address. Whether aircraft are flying polar regions or over the most populated cities in the world, the ESA antenna will offer seamless coverage from takeoff to touchdown.

At just 90 pounds and with no moving parts, the new antenna stands just 3.5 inches tall on the top of the aircraft. The terminal’s low profile has the lowest drag of any product Intelsat has ever offered, reducing CO2 emissions for airlines.

Hong Kong drops face mask rules

Photo by Ruslan Bardash on Unsplash

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced they will drop the mandatory mask-wearing rule starting today - 1st March for all visitors travelling to Hong Kong.  This means that travellers will no longer be required to wear masks indoors and outdoors and can enjoy Hong Kong’s iconic and new experiences to the fullest.

The announcement comes as the city prepares to host a line-up of large international events in the coming month, such as Clockenflap (March 3-5), Art Basel (March 23-25) and the Hong Kong Sevens (March 31 – April 2). Travellers from near and far are invited to dance and sing along to the performers at Clockenflap, cheer for their favourite teams and party with cool drinks at the celebrated Hong Kong Sevens; and meet with world-class gallerists at the Art Basel Hong Kong.

.

Try afternoon tea!  

The Murray Hong Kong (1969) Hong Kong, China

The Murray Hong Kong, a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2019, dates to 1969 and is a monument to midcentury modern architecture located in Hong Kong, China’s Central District. Winner of the Historic Hotels Worldwide Awards of Excellence Best Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotel in Asia/Pacific in 2022, The Murray Hong Kong boasts some of the city’s best restaurants offering the most memorable dining and lifestyle experiences in the city. 

Air Canada Named One of Montreal's Top Employers for the 10th Consecutive Year

Air Canada Named One of Montreal's Top Employers for the 10th Consecutive Year

Air Canada today was recognized as one of "Montreal's Top Employers" for 2023 in Mediacorp Canada's annual employer survey, marking the 10th consecutive year that the airline has received this award. With more than 10,000 employees in Montreal and up to 1,094 weekly flights at its Montreal-Trudeau global hub connecting Montreal to 89 destinations across Canada and internationally, Air Canada is a significant contributor to Montreal's economic success. Air Canada is Canada's largest private sector company offering bilingual services across Canada and is proud to offer services in both Official Languages, demonstrating true leadership among major Canadian companies in promoting bilingualism. 

"Air Canada's global headquarters is firmly established in the greater Montreal area, and we are very pleased to be recognized as a top Montreal employer for the 10th year. Our more than 10,000 employees based in this vibrant metropolitan area range from C-suite executives to innovative leaders in commercial strategy, technology and specialized operations, to several hundreds of professionals responsible for safely transporting customers at our Montreal-Trudeau international hub. We continually advance our employee workplace programs to attract and retain global talent, and to create a supportive environment that fosters wellness, growth opportunities and meaningful connections," said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs.

JetBlue launches three new routes......

Three New Routes Include Highly Requested JFK-DCA Flights and New Summer Seasonal Flights from Westchester County

JetBlue today announced three new routes launching this summer – enabled in part by its Northeast Alliance (NEA) with American Airlines – which will further increase competition and choice for travellers across the Northeast. Seats are out for sale starting today with fares as low as $59^(a).

“As we prepare for the summer travel season, we are introducing more choices for our customers in the Northeast with the addition of new alternatives for customers travelling between New York and the fabulous destinations of Washington DC, Martha’s Vineyard and Charleston,” said David Jehn, vice president, network planning and partnerships, JetBlue. “These new routes are part of our ambitious growth strategy as we work to bring our unique combination of low fares and award-winning service to more customers.”

New York City

Enabled by the NEA, JetBlue’s new service between New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) will deliver a customer-centric alternative for travellers across the busy Northeast Corridor that has historically been dominated by high-fare legacy carriers.

"As a very frequent flyer from JFK in New York’s 5th Congressional District to our nation’s capital, I am excited to see new low-fare competition on this route,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks. “JetBlue has been part of our community in Queens, New York, and JFK for more than 23 years, setting the bar on low fares and customer service. I look forward to even more growth with this long-sought addition to their network.”

Daily Schedule between New York (JFK) and Washington DC (DCA)

Beginning June 15, 2023

JFK - DCA Flight #1887			DCA - JFK Flight #1888
7:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.			6:30 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
JFK - DCA Flight #2487			DCA - JFK Flight #2488
1:15 p.m. – 3:01 p.m.			2:10 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
JFK - DCA Flight #2587			DCA - JFK Flight #2588
7:15 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.			5:00 p.m. – 6:48 p.m.

Westchester County

JetBlue Travel Products teaming up with Briggs & Riley and Solo to launch first retail offering on Paisly

Industry-First Partnership Gives Customers Even More Ways to Earn TrueBlue Points

JetBlue Travel Products, a subsidiary of JetBlue announced this week, an industry-first partnership with United States Luggage Company. The launch marks JetBlue Travel Products’ first foray into retail, furthering JetBlue’s dedication to being a trusted travel partner rather than just an airline. Starting today, customers can purchase travel bags from Briggs & Riley and Solo on Paisly.com, JetBlue Travel Products’ homegrown travel booking website, and earn Mosaic-qualifying TrueBlue points along the way. By purchasing a travel bag on Paisly.com, customers will also have access to a 24/7 dedicated phone line to Paisly’s helpful humans, should they want to repair or replace their travel bag, plus, free shipping and returns on all purchases.

“Giving customers the option to purchase luggage and bags on Paisly.com gives them a one-stop-shop solution to all their travel needs, and offers customers even more ways to earn TrueBlue points," said Andres Barry, President, JetBlue Travel Products. “U.S. Luggage Company’s commitment to making travel more seamless and sustainable is in perfect harmony with JetBlue’s brand, and we're thrilled to join forces to continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences across all segments of our customers’ journey.”

How the passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion market took off

The passenger-to-freighter conversions market has experienced rapid and unprecedented growth over the last three years. Here, Jim Scott, owner of components solutions specialist Artemis Aerospace, discusses this impressive market expansion and how PTF conversions programmes are adapting to future demands.

	Photo by Niklas Jonasson on Unsplash When the pandemic pulled the plug on global air travel in 2020, the aviation industry was left reeling. Air passenger traffic was cut off overnight and billions were wiped from industry revenues. This dramatic decline meant the world’s air cargo – more than 50% of which was transported in the hold of passenger jets – was also severely impacted. Despite freight aircraft continuing to operate, the grounding of passenger fleets resulted in a huge gap for air cargo operations that relied heavily on the extensive route networks travelled by passenger airlines. Yet demand for air cargo capacity during this time was not waning. As well as the need to transport essential medical equipment and supplies, the sudden acceleration in e-commerce meant logistics providers, eager to take advantage of this growing sector, were searching for quick solutions to satisfy e-consumers’ appetites for fast and efficient deliveries. In response, airlines adapted quickly seeking to mitigate huge losses by redeploying their passenger aircraft as ‘preighters’. As passenger flights resumed, and demand for travel began to grow again, many of these ‘preighters’ have since returned to normal service. However, with global e-commerce sales expected to grow by 10.4% in 2023, and 57% of people reporting that they shop internationally, according to Forbes, the need for air cargo capacity remains strong. As supply chain logistics diversify and adapt to meet an ever-increasing list of customer expectations, the demand for new freighter aircraft has intensified with MROs working round the clock to fulfil orders. The PTF market faces numerous challenges and resolving these has become essential for airlines that require flexibility in a continuously evolving industry.