Keith Anderson, named as Chief Information Security Officer at JetBlue

JetBlue has confirmed the appointment of Keith Anderson to chief information security officer. Anderson will oversee JetBlue’s information security program to ensure the company’s data, systems, and other digital assets remain protected. Reporting to Carol Clements, JetBlue’s chief digital and technology officer, Anderson will oversee all strategies, policies and procedures designed to minimize information security risk and proactively detect and address new threats that pose risk to JetBlue.

“The safety and security of our airline is our number one focus, and this applies to all aspects of our business including our information, applications and data,” said Clements. “Keith has a proven record as a cyber security practitioner and will be a valuable leader in this continuously evolving technology landscape.”

Keith comes to JetBlue from Warner Bros. Discovery, where he served as chief information security officer. Previously, he held security leadership roles at AT&T, Goldman Sachs, and Citi. Anderson holds a master’s degree in cybersecurity from New York University and a master’s degree in management information systems from Stevens Institute of Technology.

“I am excited to join the team during such an exciting time of growth and innovation,” said Anderson. “I was drawn to JetBlue’s values as well as its commitment to the highest standards of security, compliance, and digital transformation to protect our customers and crewmembers.”

Lufthansa orders 15 Airbus A350 jets

Lufthansa orders 10 Airbus A350-1000 and 5 more A350-900 aircraft

Lufthansa Group has signed an agreement with Airbus to expand its fleet by 10 Airbus A350-1000s and 5 Airbus A350-900s. With this firm order for the latest generation widebody aircraft, the airline will continue its decarbonisation trajectory. Compared to the previous generation of aircraft, the A350 consumes significantly less fuel, with a corresponding reduction in emissions. Passengers will benefit from the latest state-of-the-art cabin amenities and comfort on board.

In addition to the agreement on the purchase of the new aircraft, Airbus and Lufthansa have also signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to further strengthen their cooperation in the field of sustainability and future technologies. This includes the intensified use of sustainable aviation fuels, the further optimisation of operations through a more efficient flight management and exploration into the use of hydrogen.

 

"We are honoured to see Lufthansa topping up its A350 order book to a total of 60 aircraft, joining the increasing number of A350-1000 customers around the world. With economic and sustainability pressures becoming a measurable reality as international flying increases again, so do the massive advantages of the A350 as the only clean sheet design and therefore the most efficient solution," said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International. “By  adding the largest A350 family member to its fleet, Lufthansa will benefit from Airbus’ full fleet commonality, offering unmatched operational flexibility and vast economic benefits.”

United names Oscar the Grouch as First Chief Trash Officer......

United launches first-of-its-kind consumer education campaign focused on driving awareness of the benefit of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Oscar's five decades of trash experience on full display in original video, digital, social and out-of-home content that shows how garbage can help fuel the future of air travel

United customers can do their part too by tracking the estimated carbon footprint of their flight and contributing to supplement United's investment in the new UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM when buying a ticket

United has already invested in the future production of more than three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world*

         United Airlines named Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch as its first Chief Trash Officer as he and the airline celebrate his love of rubbish. United Airlines' new, consumer education campaign is designed to promote the expected benefit of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more broadly.

The new campaign – which features Oscar in more than 30 pieces of the original video, digital, social and out-of-home content – follows the iconic character's journey from job listing to c-suite office starring alongside real United employees.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. SAF 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.* 

Consumers can take action too – in a first among U.S. airlines, United now shows an estimate of each flight's carbon footprint on a per economy seat passenger basis on its app and website, and travellers have the option to contribute to supplement United's investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, 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 SAF.

"United has invested in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any airline in the world, by far," said United Chief Communications Officer Josh Earnest. "Every airline burns jet fuel to run their business, but no airline will solve climate change on its own. So United has enlisted Oscar to help us educate the travelling public of all ages about SAF and rally them to the cause of fighting climate change. From banana peels to fryer grease, Oscar is uniquely qualified to help us explain why trash could be the treasure that fuels the jets of the future."

Flight capacity reductions at Toronto Pearson Airport

The number of flights arriving and departing Toronto's Pearson International Airport is set to be limited during peak times to try and avoid delays from occurring. 

In a statement, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said there were a number of measures to be taken "These include hard limits on the number of commercial flights that can arrive or depart in any given hour along with limits on business/general aviation flights. In addition, measures have been applied to cap the number of passengers that can arrive internationally, or depart to the United States through each terminal, in a given hour." 

The airport said it would be working to 'flatten' daily travel peaks, "As opposed to limiting the total number of flights that Toronto Pearson can accommodate over a given period, this work has been predominantly focused on limiting flight activity during certain peak hours, thereby spreading demand out over the course of each day."

One of the leading airlines at the airport, Air Canada, issued the following statement Air Canada was first advised of the GTAA's plans in August 2022, and so it designed its 2023 winter schedule with these limitations taken into account and anticipates no significant changes to its schedule for the March Break travel period. It subsequently received information about GTAA's plans for summer 2023 and similarly designed this coming summer's schedule to meet those parameters. 

It is Air Canada's policy to work with its industry partners to meet the requirements of airports and other third parties to drive operational improvements and support the smooth running of Canada's air transport system. This includes, as in this case, adapting its schedule as required to ensure operational stability, and is a normal process."

Airbus Helicopters and International SOS join forces to launch a next-generation emergency medical system improvement programme

Airbus Helicopters and International SOS join forces to launch a next-generation emergency medical system improvement programme

Airbus Helicopters has partnered with International SOS to launch a next generation emergency medical system improvement programme, LifeSaver, which enhances healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes. Estonia is the first country to work with International SOS and Airbus Helicopters to launch a national innovation programme dedicated to improving their emergency medical system (EMS) through LifeSaver. Estonia is at the forefront of technological innovation, including in the medical sector. By being the first to implement the LifeSaver solution, the country is taking a medium to long-term view on enhancing their EMS response capabilities.

The programme has been created to improve, modernise and support healthcare systems worldwide, many of which have faced significant pressure in the recent years from the pandemic. The approach puts people at its heart by being designed to deliver improved medical outcomes and to save more lives. This medically led programme maximises the use of modern technology by optimising results and creating equitable access to EMS regardless of location within a country. It works based on the efficient and effective use of existing resources and optimises EMS processes to ensure efficiencies in delivery.

Etihad Airways Engineering partners with Ramco Systems

Etihad Airways Engineering, one of the world's leading aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions providers, has partnered with global enterprise aviation software provider Ramco Systems to implement its Aviation Suite V5.9. The project was officially announced at the 2023 edition of MRO Middle East, held at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.

With modules covering Contract & Quote Management, Maintenance Planning, Hangar Maintenance, Component Maintenance, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Quality, Digital Task Cards, ePublications, and Customer Billing, Ramco's integrated Aviation Suite will streamline multiple operations across Etihad Airways Engineering, offering the organisation a single source of information with real-time visibility. In addition, Ramco's digital tools such as Ramco Anywhere mobile apps, dashboards, and integrated customer portals, will seamlessly digitise Etihad Airways Engineering's operations, enhance process efficiencies, and help them go paperless.

Abdul Khaliq Saeed, CEO, Etihad Airways Engineering, said, "At Etihad Airways Engineering, we are passionate about integrating next-generation technologies in today's emerging aerospace trends in readiness for the future. By deploying Ramco's state-of-the-art Aviation Suite, Etihad Airways Engineering will be able to deliver innovative solutions and services that will not only provide outstanding customer experience but will also optimise our cost and turnaround time by efficient resource utilisation. We are all set to leverage the power of automation with Ramco."

Etihad Airways Engineering is a part of ADQ, offering industry-leading aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions including airframe maintenance, component repair, overhaul services and technical training, with a team of around 2,000 professionals from around the world. The organisation takes pride in the reliability and on-time delivery of its services and is driven by a dynamic culture of excellence in everything they do. The company has vast experience in providing total maintenance solutions for Airbus and Boeing aircraft including advanced composite repair, cabin refurbishment and component services around the clock from its facility adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Cutting-edge processes and solutions are used at the facility from a dedicated centralised planning and control (CPAC) facility for heavy maintenance to automated tool management and live dashboards across the business to monitor the progress of every project in real-time.

Etihad Airways Engineering is the first organisation in the Middle East to be granted an extended Part 21J Design Organisation Approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to undertake major cabin design and modification.

JetBlue to start New York JFK - Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington route

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 route 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

The first ”Mallorca Airbus” has arrived for Eurowings

Airbus' largest medium-haul jet, with 230 seats, now serves popular holiday destinations such as Mallorca, Crete and the Canary Islands.

Eurowings to receive delivery of ten Airbus A321 aircraft in the next few months

Fleet swap with Lufthansa: The first A321ceo is already wearing Eurowings colours

Eurowings is relying heavily on Airbus A321 aircraft in the summer, internally nicknamed the ”Mallorca Airbus”: Germany's No. 1 holiday carrier will deploy Airbus' largest medium-haul jet specifically to top holiday destinations in order to better serve the high demand to Palma de Mallorca, Crete or the Canary Islands, for example. With around 230 seats, the A321 can carry about a third more passengers than its A320 family relative.

Four brand-new A321neo join the Eurowings fleet in summer

First travel season without restrictions generates strong catch-up effects

A321 brings significantly more capacity per flight to top holiday destinations

The first A321ceo, which is coming from Lufthansa as part of a fleet swap, is already wearing Eurowings colours. After the end of the transformation work, six A321ceo are to be successively deployed in Eurowings flight operations from May 2023. In addition, four brand-new Airbus A321neo will join the fleet by the end of 2023. They are part of a roughly 1.5-billion-euro investment package in 13 jets of the Airbus ”neo” family. The ”neo” are considered the most modern, efficient and by far the quietest medium-haul jets in the world. All A321s will be operated by Eurowings in a 16-seat BIZclass configuration.

2023: Comeback of the freedom to travel

With the additional capacity, Eurowings is responding to the noticeably strong pent-up demand – especially for holiday travel. For the first time, there will be a year without travel restrictions, and there will no longer be a test and mask requirement. For many travellers, a reliably plannable and, above all, relaxed holiday was not possible for years – this is different in 2023 with the comeback of freedom to travel and also reflected in the increasingly long-term bookings showing confidence in air travel.

With more than 140 destinations in 37 countries, Eurowings offers an attractive flight programme with a total of more than 380 different routes, seamlessly continuing the pre-Covid travel season 2019. Holiday favourites in 2023 will again be Greece, Italy and Spain: Eurowings offers direct flights to around 50 regions in these countries only. The clear front-runner remains the Balearic Island of Mallorca, which Eurowings flies to more frequently than any other destination, with around 400 flights a week from over 20 airports.

Cathay Cargo rebrands

Cathay Cargo rebrands along with exciting news for customers

Aligning with Cathay’s vision to become one of the world’s greatest service brands

Cathay is excited to announce the launch of Cathay Cargo, a rebrand of its cargo business, and a change of name from Cathay Pacific Cargo. The change aligns with the airline’s overarching brand redesign, and reinforces the existing strong brand association and perceptions held by its customers. Cathay Cargo aligns with the same purpose, vision and values of our master brand Cathay and all of its subsidiary brands, including Cathay Pacific, the passenger airline, and Cathay, the everyday lifestyle offering. 

Cathay Cargo is united behind Cathay’s vision to become one of the world’s greatest service brands, and plays an integral role in helping to fulfil that aspiration through its world-class air cargo network, which transports products that facilitate trade across the entire Cathay network and beyond. Shipping directly to more than 70 destinations worldwide, Cathay Cargo is committed to advancing the development of all destination countries served by Cathay’s more than 200 aircraft.

Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Cathay’s cargo business has played a vital role in the success of the Cathay Group since 1946, when we carried our first shipment between China and Australia. Our cargo services operate out of our home base of Hong Kong, which is also the world’s busiest international air cargo hub.

“This is an opportune moment to align our cargo business with the master brand as we continue our cargo investments in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area for a promising future. This rebrand reflects our Cargo business’ commitment to the same ‘Move Beyond’ ambition as the Group, while building on a strength that the Cathay brand has long been known for – offering leading-edge services to our customers.”

New meals on SWISS flights..... a new taste of Switzerland

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

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.”

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."