Emirates shows of new livery.

Third iteration of its main brand identity as the UAE’s international airline since 1985

The distinctive livery of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates, has undergone a refresh.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: “Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world. We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.”

Eagle-eyed plane spotters and fans will immediately notice changes to the tailfin and wingtips.  In this latest design, the UAE flag on the Emirates tailfin is much more dynamic and flowing with a 3D effect artwork, and the wingtips have been painted red with the Emirates logo in Arabic calligraphy “popping” out in reverse white. Passengers onboard with a window view will see the UAE flag colours painted on the wingtips facing the fuselage.

The signature gold “Emirates” lettering across the main body in English and Arabic is also bolder, and 32.5% larger. On the aircraft belly, Emirates has retained its iconic red branding which it introduced in 2005.  The website URL “Emirates.com” has been dropped from the design.

This is the 3rd iteration of Emirates’ official aircraft brand colours. The original livery unveiled with the airline’s launch in 1985 had its first refresh 14 years later, with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing 777-300 at the 1999 Dubai Airshow.

The first aircraft to sport Emirates’ newest livery is A6-EOE, an Airbus A380, which has rolled out of Emirates Engineering this week after its makeover. Its first deployment will be to Munich on 17 March as flight EK51.

The new livery will be gradually applied across the rest of the existing Emirates fleet with 24 aircraft, including 17 Boeing 777s, expected to sport the refreshed livery by the end of 2023.  All new Emirates aircraft, from the first Airbus A350 entering the fleet in August 2024 will be delivered in this new livery.

Emirates’ original livery in 1985 was designed by UK design company Negus & Negus. All of the airline’s subsequent aircraft colours were created by its inhouse design team. Over the years, Emirates’ numerous colourful and eye-catching aircraft livery have included bespoke designs to drive sponsorship brand association, and for special occasions such as the UAE’s 50th Jubilee livery, and Expo 2020 Dubai.

Oman Air welcomes 5th Boeing 737 MAX jet

Earlier this month, Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, took delivery of a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 from CDB Aviation. The aircraft is the last in a series of five deliveries contracted as part of a sale and leaseback transaction with the global aircraft lessor, which is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (CDB Leasing).

Designed to offer exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, the 737 Max 8 is equipped with the CFM Leap 1B27 engines and configured with 12 Business and 150 Economy Class seats to support the carrier’s expanding network. Oman Air has been introducing routes throughout the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, as well as several cities in Europe, South Asia, and Africa, in recent years and is focused on growing additional connectivity to North and South America and Australia through strategic codeshares with its partner airlines.

Eng.Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “As air travel demand continues to grow post-pandemic, Oman Air has the opportunity to expand progressively. The latest addition to our fleet will serve both domestic and short-to-medium international sectors, further extending our seamless connectivity to a growing number of destinations.”

He added, “We are glad to have CDB Aviation as our partner in growth and continue to place ourselves at the forefront of aviation technology, enhance our operational efficiency, as well as provide our guests with an exceptional on-board experience.”

Ethiopian Airlines to Reconnect Malaysia

Ethiopian Airlines to Reconnect Malaysia

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has confirmed it will resume its services to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as of 25 March 2023. The flight will be operated four times a week with the ultramodern Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Regarding the flight resumption, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are excited to bring our Kuala Lumpur flights back to service. The resumption of the flights reopens convenient and seamless travel options between Kuala Lumpur and more than 60 African destinations. Kuala Lumpur is a destination of choice for both business and leisure travelers, and we are proud to provide a convenient travel option that is suitable for passengers traveling for either of the purposes. These flights are also one of the channels easing the diplomatic and socio-economic ties between Malaysia and Africa thus, the resumption of the service plays a significant role in the relationship of the two regions.”

Ethiopian Airlines first commenced its service between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a thrice-weekly service back in 2012. However, the flight was suspended later in 2021.

Georgia Tech and Florida State University to contest 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic

                                   Georgia Tech and Florida State University have been revealed as the two teams set to contest the 2024 edition of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 24th August 2024. 

With over 20,000 people expected to travel to Dublin from America for the highly anticipated clash between two leading US colleges, research from Fáilte Ireland and Grant Thornton estimates that the Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2024 fixture will be worth €69 million to the Irish economy. 

The 2024 game will be the third consecutive American college football game held in Ireland since the game series was announced and the eighth Division 1 College Football game to be played in Ireland.

Like in 2022 and Notre Dame and Navy this August, the 2024 game will be the opening fixture for the College Football season and is an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game. The game is played on "Week Zero" and is to be televised on ESPN to an estimated 4 million plus US live audience.  

Georgia Tech will return to Ireland next year for the second time since 2016, when they defeated Boston College by 17 points to 14 in the Aviva Stadium. 

In 2024 the Yellow Jackets will hope to call on Ireland's own David Shanahan, a member of the 2017 Kerry panel that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. David, who is studying at Georgia Tech, is a punter, which is a special teams or 'kicking team' player. During his first football season at Georgia Tech, David appeared in all 12 games and handled all 61 of Georgia Tech's punts despite having never played in an American Football game prior to this. He is the first Irishman ever to receive a full scholarship to play American college football.

London Gatwick Airport recovers strongly in 2022

Airport remains cautiously optimistic about full recovery with popular short and long haul routes performing strongly.

Passenger demand at 70.4% of pre-pandemic levels, with 32.8 million passengers in 2022

London Gatwick Airport to invest over £250 million in reducing carbon emissions and becoming net zero for its buildings and vehicles (known as its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions[1]), 10 years ahead of its previous commitment

“Thank you to all colleagues across our airport, who supported the operation last year as travel restrictions eased and passengers started to travel. This year we will have even more choice of airlines and destinations for travellers, whether flying for business or leisure” Stewart Wingate, CEO.

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This week, London Gatwick Airport published its financial results for 2022, and recognising the urgent need to make net zero a reality has accelerated its commitment to be net zero for its own Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030, 10 years ahead of its previous commitment. This commitment is aligned with both VINCI Airports’ environmental action plan, which aims for all its EU airports to be net zero by 2030, and GIP’s strong commitment to decarbonisation action.

This will be achieved by investing over £250 million to reduce carbon emissions, such as moving to an electric vehicle fleet and replacing gas boilers and refrigerants with low-carbon alternatives. The airport will also continue to reduce overall energy use, invest in on-site renewable energy, including solar power, and source renewable electricity through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to further continue London Gatwick’s role in helping the UK to decarbonise.

London Gatwick will share more details on plans to deliver against its climate goals in the coming months. 

2022 results include:

Passenger demand at 70.4% of pre-pandemic levels, with 32.8 million passengers passing through the airport in the year ending 31 December 2022.

Revenue at £776.6 million, driven by a strong and steady recovery in passenger numbers throughout 2022. This includes aeronautical income (£405m), retail income (£159m) and car parking income (£102m).

Returned to a profit of £196.5 million in 2022, after over £830 million of losses from 2020 and 2021.

EBITDA at £446.3 million.

 

Despite returning to profitability the airport remains cautiously optimistic about a full recovery, given the current economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures.

Looking back at 2022, the gradual removal of travel restrictions, and the return of discipline to UK airport slot regulations put London Gatwick in a good position 

As widely reported the rapid upturn in demand during Q2 2022 drove significant operational challenges across the aviation sector. In response, London Gatwick took early and decisive action working closely with the airport’s partners, including the airlines, to ensure passenger disruption was minimised during the peak summer months.  

In 2022, London Gatwick made a significant investment by completing an innovative project to resurface its main runway - in half the time and for half the cost of traditional methods, improving the airport’s operational resilience and allowing a saving of embodied carbon during the construction phase. Further investment will also see a fully redeveloped airport train station completed later this year, work beginning to upgrade the North Terminal international departure lounge, and the airport is continuing the preparation of its planning application (Development Consent Order) to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use.

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for February 2023

Cathay Pacific has just released its traffic figures for February 2023, as the airline’s positive momentum at the start of the year continued and a number of exciting new developments were introduced in its cargo business.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 1,114,727 passengers last month, an increase of 3,467% compared with February 2022. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 4,720% year-on-year. Passenger load factor increased by 38.6 percentage points to 86.2%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 2,562% year-on-year. In the first two months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 3,737% against a 2,071% increase in capacity and a 4,227% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

The airline carried 103,932 tonnes of cargo last month, an increase of 59.6% compared with February 2022, when our cargo capacity was significantly reduced due to stricter aircrew quarantine measures. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 153.9% year-on-year. The cargo load factor decreased by 13.7 percentage points to 66.7%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), increased by 206.1% year-on-year. In the first two months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 42.8% against a 201.3% increase in capacity and a 147.4% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “We are pleased to see that our positive start to 2023 continued in February. Passenger numbers further improved after the Lunar New Year holidays; we carried more than 1.1 million passengers last month averaging almost 40,000 per day. We continued to add more flights and destinations, with February seeing passenger flight capacity increase about 6% month-on-month as well as the resumption of our Wenzhou flights.

“Travel demand overall remained strong across our network, especially traffic to and from the Chinese Mainland via the Hong Kong hub. We also saw strong demand on our Taipei and Kaohsiung routes in the last week of February after the lifting of all travel restrictions on Hong Kong and Macau residents. We are pleased to see that demand is also growing for premium travel for both business and leisure purposes.

Cargo

Southwest Airlines named in Forbes' Best Employers in America

Southwest Airlines is celebrating earning a spot on Forbes' 2023 America's Best Employers list. This year marks the eighth time that Southwest® received this recognition.

"We've recruited, hired, and trained more Employees over the last year than ever in our history, and we're dedicated to maintaining our People-first Culture as we continue to welcome new Cohearts to the Company," said Lindsey Lang, Vice President People at Southwest Airlines. "It's only possible because of the Employees who serve our Customers—and one another—with Southwest Heart and Hospitality."

Forbes partnered with Statista to select 2023 America's Best Employers through an independent survey from a sample of more than 45,000 American employees working for large or midsize companies. Survey participants were asked to anonymously rate their willingness to recommend their employers to friends and family. Employee evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out positively or negatively. The survey has been conducted on companies across 25 industry sectors employing more than 1,000 employees in the United States.

Southwest is committed to fostering a welcoming, supportive workplace where every Employee feels equipped to succeed. Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on current job opportunities from the LUV airline.

Egypt beats classic holiday destinations for UK customers in both attractiveness and price says Egyptian Tourism Board

The most popular foreign destinations for British holidaymakers are Italy and Spain. However, what many travellers do not know: For the price they spend on a holiday in these countries, they could experience more luxury and adventure in Egypt.

What Brits pay for their holidays abroad

Brits love to travel, but how much do they actually spend on their holidays? According to the National Institute of Statistics (Ine), the British invested an average of £1,0001 per person on a trip in 2021. However, a one-week stay including meals in a three-star hotel in Italy, for example, can cost up to £1,300 even in the low season. And that doesn't even include sightseeing, theatre tickets or museum visits.

In Egypt, two people can spend seven nights in a five-star hotel for less than the average price of a holiday in an Italian coastal region - all-inclusive, of course. The return flight from a major UK city is also included here. This leaves a lot of the budget for excursions and activities.

From paradisiacal beaches to the impressive expanse of the desert

Egypt has a lot to offer for all travellers - whether they are sun worshippers looking to relax on the beautiful coasts or culture vultures in search of ancient sites steeped in history. "Over the past two years, when we had restrictions on travel due to the pandemic, Egypt has been improving its travel infrastructure and working to expand what it has to offer visitors," says Amr El-Kady, managing director of the Egyptian Tourism Authority. "Even tourists who have visited Egypt before will now be able to discover many new options for things to do and interesting things to see. There are numerous, fantastic new accommodations available as domiciles."

STARLUX Airlines launches first transpacific flight to Los Angeles

STARLUX Airlines, a Taiwan-based luxury carrier has confirmed it will launch its first transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles on 26th April this year. Initially starting with five weekly flights, the service is expected to ramp to daily in June. STARLUX also announced the establishment of its first US office based in Los Angeles and its new designation as the “Official International Airline Partner of the LA Clippers” as part of a multi-year partnership with the NBA team.

“As a brand-new airline to the US market, STARLUX is excited to help create memorable journeys by providing unique and exquisite service to customers traveling to and from Los Angeles to Taipei, and other Asian cities,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai. “With Los Angeles being the sister city of Taipei, along with our partnership with the LA Clippers, the city of angels is our airline’s perfect starting US destination.”

Luxury Service and a Taste of Taiwan

While the last few years have seen a plethora of budget airlines come onto the scene, STARLUX is bucking the trend — a luxury airline expanding in a world of no-frills carriers. With a philosophy that luxury should not be the exclusive experience of the elite but readily available to everyone, the company is experiencing impressive growth.

With eyes to the skies and “luxury” embedded in its brand, STARLUX strives to achieve the highest standards in operations, service, safety, and management. The airline operates the TPE-LAX route with its new-generation Airbus A350 configured in a premium four-class layout, with four seats in First, 26 in Business, 36 in Premium Economy, and 240 in Economy. Travelers in First and Business will have a cozy private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom Premium Economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar. Economy Class seats are also built for utmost comfort, equipped with leather headrest and wide seat pitch. In addition, the A350 offers nose-to-tail seatback entertainment featuring 4K personal large screens.

February U.S. Travel Agency Air Ticket Sales Increase 54% year on year......

Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) has released data showing U.S. travel agency air ticket sales totalled $8.4 billion in February 2023, a 54% year-over-year increase from February 2022.* The February 2023 results represent the second-highest post-pandemic monthly sales total, behind May 2022.

Total passenger trips settled by ARC in February 2023 increased 13% year over year to 22.3 million. International trips increased 29% while domestic trips increased 4% over the same period. The average U.S. round-trip air travel ticket price was $571 in February, a 23% increase from the previous year ($464) and an 8% month-over-month increase from January ($528).

Month over month, February 2023 results showed:

Total sales were flat.

Total passenger trips decreased 7%.

U.S. domestic trips decreased 9%.

International trips decreased 3%.

“Despite flat sales and decreases in passenger trips month over month, overall demand remains stronger than what we saw last year with international travel showing continued strength,” said Steve Solomon, chief commercial officer at ARC. “February followed pre-pandemic seasonality trends, which could indicate further industry normalization as airlines prepare for the busy spring and summer travel months.”

Ancillary sales increased 134% year over year to $21,777,658. Ancillary transactions increased 84% to 325,093 over the same period.**

*Ticket Sales

Results are based on monthly sales data ending February 28, 2023, from 10,485 U.S. retail and corporate travel agency locations, satellite ticket printing offices and online travel agencies. Results do not include sales of tickets purchased directly from airlines.

The average ticket price (USD) is for a round-trip ticket settled through ARC for an itinerary that included only U.S. domestic travel.

Passenger trips include the total number of passengers taking a trip from one airport to another using direct or connecting flights. Newly issued trips are added, and refunded trips are deducted to provide a net view of traveling passengers.

U.S. domestic passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where the itinerary is wholly within the U.S. International passenger trips include the total number settled through ARC where some or all the travel occurs to airports outside the U.S. or originates outside the U.S.

Total sales are equal to the total amount paid for a ticket, which includes taxes and fees.

**Ancillary sales

Includes fees for products and services such as upgraded seats, checked bags, an unaccompanied minor, pet-in-cabin, etc.

Australia’s Hypersonix selected by US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for test vehicle

Australia’s aerospace company Hypersonix Launch Systems has been selected to provide hypersonic vehicles to the United States’ Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for testing.

The Australian start-up was selected from a field of major international aerospace companies competing for the DIU contract under the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT1) program.

The Silicon Valley-headquartered organization that taps into ‘non-traditional’ innovators, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and its U.S. Air Force and Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (USD R&E) partners, selected Hypersonix Launch Systems to provide a hypersonic vehicle for its Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT1) program. DIU’s contract with Hypersonix demonstrates the United States’ increased willingness to source commercial technologies from allied countries to meet urgent strategic challenges.

DIU selected Hypersonix from the 63 respondents to the agency’s September 2022 HyCAT solicitation seeking vehicles usable for high cadence long-endurance testing of hypersonic platforms and components; sensors for detecting and tracking; and systems for communications, navigation, guidance and control. Specifically, DIU requested a vehicle capable of operating in a ‘representative environment’ that can maintain speeds above Mach 5 with a manoeuvrable/non-ballistic flight profile and at least a 3-minute flight duration with near-constant flight conditions. DIU also wishes the flights to be repeated at short intervals.

Hypersonix responded with its DART AE (Additive Engineering) vehicle. DART AE makes significant use of 3D-printing and is powered by a hydrogen-fuelled SPARTAN scramjet engine, capable of flying non-ballistic flight patterns at speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 7 and up to 1000 kms in range (400 seconds flight time). The DART AE has a modular payload bay of up to 20 lbs and Hypersonix plans to fly it in early 2024.

“Our vehicles are capable of non-ballistic flight patterns to at least Mach 7, which exceeds the HyCAT1 specification,” David Waterhouse, Managing Director, Hypersonix Launch Systems.”

Rocket Lab successfully launches 34th Electron Rocket.

Rocket Lab USA, a leading launch and space systems company has announced it has successfully launched its 34th Electron rocket and second mission from its launch site on Wallops Island, Virginia deploying two spacecraft to low Earth orbit for Capella Space.

he “Stronger Together” mission lifted off at 22:38 UTC, March 16 2023 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. Rocket Lab successfully deployed two 100-kg class Capella Space satellites to low Earth orbit.

"Congratulations to Capella Space and well done to the Rocket Lab team for another flawless launch from Virginia,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “This year we’re really picking up the launch pace so while one Electron was on the pad at Launch Complex 2 for Capella Space, the team in New Zealand has been preparing the next rocket at Launch Complex 1 to enable two launches from two continents within days of each other. Dedicated and responsive space access for small sats is here now, made possible by Electron.”

ATSG ends 2022 with over $850,000 raised for charity

Air Transport Services Group, Inc has reported that it gave over $850,000 during 2022 to charities and good causes, an increase of more than 65 percent over the 2021 total. 

ATSG has a long history of charitable giving in the communities where its companies operate and its more than 5,300 employees live. Increased funding was realized by amplifying the charitable contributions of ATSG’s employees, vendors, and customers around the globe. Fundraising events throughout the year included golf outings, corporate donations, and pledge drives by employees of each of the company's subsidiaries to support charities important to them.

Among the organizations benefiting are the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, ATSG Cares, 4H Youth Programming, Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, River Parks Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, as well as the most recent addition to the company's charity recipients, Folds of Honor, which provides life-changing scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled U.S. military service members and first responders.

Millions of pounds owed to UK customers ......

The UK’s consumer champion,  Which? says the airline industry, including carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair owe millions of pounds to passengers in the form of refunds, compensation and expenses. 

According to the campaigning group, the airlines owe more than £4.5m and the current system was fundamentally flawed in passenger protection rules, with many people taking legal action via country court orders.

"The scale of court judgments piling up against major airlines is a result of a system where the odds are stacked against passengers and airlines feel empowered to routinely ignore their legal obligations to pay out refunds and compensation." Said Rocio Concha of Which?.   

The Guardian newspaper reports that Wizz Air is responsible for the total amount owed, according to the consumer group’s analysis of the Registry Trust, which is a record of court documents and fines in England and Wales. 

Best and worst airlines - Which?

Air France-KLM announced the full repayment of its bank loan guaranteed by the French State

Air France-KLM announced the full repayment of its bank loan guaranteed by the French State (“PGE”), making a final step towards the full repayment of States support liquidity measures.

Air France-KLM has fully repaid the remaining €2.5 billion from its initial €4 billion Bank loan guaranteed by the French State, granted during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Group’s solid cash position combined with the €1 billion proceeds of the Sustainability-Linked Bond issued in January 2023, has enabled to accelerate and close the repayment in full of the outstanding “PGE”.

This full repayment will contribute to smoothing the Group’s debt profile, reduce financial costs and limit residual exposure to floating rates.

In 2022, Air France-KLM recorded a strong rebound of its revenues, an improved operating result and a positive net income resulting in a strong cash position of €10.6 billion by the end of 2022. On the back of this robust operational performance, the Group successfully issued in January 2023 an inaugural Sustainability-Linked Bond for a total aggregate amount of €1.0 billion.

Given this context, Air France-KLM has now reached an agreement with the French State and the syndicate of nine banks participating in the “PGE” to proceed with the full repayment of the outstanding €2.5 billion, as announced during the FY 2022 results presentation on February 17th, 2023. To do so, the Group used the €1.0 billion proceeds of the Sustainability-Linked Bond and €1.5 billion of its available cash. This full repayment will contribute to smoothing the Group’s debt profile, reduce financial costs and limit residual exposure to floating rates, and marks a final step towards the full repayment of the current French State liquidity support measures.