Halt to Amsterdam Schiphol flight cuts welcomed by IATA and KLM

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), KLM and other operators have welcomed a decision by the Dutch courts to uphold the legal challenges lodged by IATA, KLM and other airlines against the Dutch government's reduction to Schiphol's flight limit.  

KLM issued the following statement,  'We would rather cooperate with the other parties than face them in court. We were unfortunately forced to file these preliminary relief proceedings to get clarity; the capacity for the coming winter will be determined at the beginning of May. With this verdict, we have clarity.

With our measures, we see a better alternative for achieving less noise and CO2 while meeting travellers' need to fly. We will demonstrate this in the next phase of this case, the EU’s Balanced Approach procedure. This will investigate whether noise levels can be reduced around Schiphol using methods other than those envisaged by the ministry. The balanced approach is about the best way to reduce the number of people affected by aircraft noise. To this end, we would like to continue cooperating with government, Schiphol and any other relevant parties.

We want to reiterate how important we believe it is to continue to strive for greater sustainability. That means less noise and fewer CO2 emissions. This is an important part of KLM’s strategy.'

IATA Director General Willie Walsh said: “We welcome the judge’s decision. This case has been about upholding the law and international obligations. The judge has understood that the Dutch government violated its obligations in shortcutting processes that would bring scrutiny to its desire to cut flight numbers at Schiphol. This decision gives vital stability for this year to the airlines using Schiphol airport and maintains the choice and connectivity passengers value.

Winning this vital reprieve is good news for Schiphol’s passengers, Dutch businesses, the Dutch economy and airlines. But the job is not done. The threat of flight cuts at Schiphol remains very real and is still the stated policy of the government. Schiphol airport themselves yesterday announced night flight cuts without consultation. Airlines understand the importance of resolving issues such as noise. The Balanced Approach is the correct EU and global legally-enshrined process for managing noise impacts. It has helped airports around the world successfully address this issue.” 

What was the legal challenge about?

Southampton International Airport starts runway extension work...

To mark the start of the construction process for Southampton International Airport Limited’s runway extension, a ground-breaking event took place last Friday between the airport’s leadership and senior local politicians.

 

The airport’s Operations Director Steve Szalay and Head of Planning and Development Steve Thurston were joined on the airfield by Paul Holmes, Member of Parliament for Eastleigh and Councillor Keith House, Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council. Together with James Hindes, Managing Director of VolkerFitzpatrick, the contractor for the runway, they broke ground on the extension site.

 

Eastleigh Borough Council approved the extension in April 2021, the 164m extension to the northern end of Southampton’s runway will allow the airport to host bigger aircraft and potentially attract new airlines to offer new routes and opportunities.  

 

The airport advised that work will be carried out mostly at night to avoid any travel disruption to the current flight schedule and they hope the works will be finished by the middle of August.

Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy......

Virgin Orbit Holdings and its U.S. subsidiaries have filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code following its recent failed launch from Cornwall. 

The firm founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2017 had already reduced its number of staff due to an inability to raise sufficient out-of-court funds to continue to operate as a going concern. 

“The team at Virgin Orbit has developed and brought into operation a new and innovative method of launching satellites into orbit, introducing new technology and managing great challenges and great risks along the way as we proved the system and performed several successful space flights – including successfully launching 33 satellites into their precise orbit. While we have taken great efforts to address our financial position and secure additional financing, we ultimately must do what is best for the business. We believe that the cutting-edge launch technology that this team has created will have wide appeal to buyers as we continue in the process to sell the Company. At this stage, we believe that the Chapter 11 process represents the best path forward to identify and finalize an efficient and value-maximizing sale,” said Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit.

To help fund the process and protect its operations, the Company has received a commitment from Virgin Investments Limited for $31.6 million in new money DIP financing. Upon approval from the Bankruptcy Court, the DIP financing is expected to provide Virgin Orbit with the necessary liquidity to continue operating as it furthers the marketing process commenced pre-petition to sell the Company and seek a value-maximizing transaction for the business and its assets.

The UK Space Agency confirmed that it had worked with Virgin Orbit for a number of years however the latest issues were of a commercial nature for the company to address and comment on.

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rockets were designed and manufactured in Long Beach, California, and were launched from the wing of a modified Boeing 747- 400 aircraft that used to fly on Virgin Atlantic's routes. It had succeeded in some launches with a number of small satellites delivered to orbit for NASA and other companies. However,   the recent failure of the launch from Cornwall's Spaceport sent the firm's shares spiralling and the future is hanging in the balance.  The relatively high cost and the slow launch rate have all had a negative impact on attracting new customers.   

Jacinda Ardern joins The Earthshot Prize as a Trustee

Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, has joined The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees.

Her lifelong commitment to sustainable development and climate action aligns powerfully with the optimistic ambition of The Earthshot Prize and its efforts to protect and restore our planet by 2030.

“It is an honour to welcome Jacinda to The Earthshot Prize. Her experience as Prime Minister of New Zealand, will bring a rich infusion of new thinking to our mission,” said Prince William, Founder and President. He added, “Four years ago, before The Earthshot Prize even had a name, Jacinda was one of the first people I spoke to, and her encouragement and advice was crucial to the Prize’s early success. I am hugely grateful to her for joining us as she takes the next steps in her career.”

In September 2022, Ms. Ardern attended The Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York where she spoke on behalf of Prince William as he remained in the UK following the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

She offered powerful remarks on the critical need for innovation to positively alter the course of our environmental trajectory and called on political leaders and the private sector to support and invest in solutions.

Jacinda Ardern said:  “I am humbled and excited to be working with the Earthshot team. Since its inception, I’ve believed Earthshot’s power to encourage and spread not only the innovation we desperately need, but also optimism. Solutions are within our reach if we invest, support and accelerate them globally.”

Prince William said:  “The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet, or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve.

People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.”

For more details on The Earthshot Prize, please visit earthshotprize.org

BAE Systems to manufacture advanced block 4 F-35 electronic warfare systems to defeat evolving threats

BAE Systems has received $491 million in contracts from Lockheed Martin to produce state-of-the-art Block 4 electronic warfare (EW) systems for future Lot 17 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, adding to the 1,200 F-35 EW systems it has delivered to date. The powerful Block 4 systems will accelerate the delivery of advanced EW capabilities to warfighters by combining adaptable hardware and incremental software updates.

“The Block 4 EW system will offer greater situational awareness, enhanced survivability and increased capabilities to counter modern threats, and is upgradable to address evolving threats,” said Lisa Aucoin, vice president of F-35 Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our adaptable EW system will help warfighters execute missions today and into the future, and will reduce engineering and sustainment costs for the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies.”

The Block 4 EW systems will include significantly upgraded hardware and software that improves sensing and signal-processing capabilities. New, high-performance sensors will boost the system’s ability to detect difficult-to-observe threats and more threats simultaneously.

“Our modern facilities allow us to manufacture complex, intricate electronics at scale to deliver an affordable EW capability,” said Chris Rossi, director of F-35 production at BAE Systems. “The flexibility of our active production line will allow us to seamlessly transition to the Block 4 design without skipping a beat.”

Jetcraft acquires CFS Jets; becomes largest international business aircraft specialist.

Jetcraft, the global leader in business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trading, has acquired Corporate Fleet Services (CFS Jets), a prominent business aviation firm specializing in the turboprop, light and midsize jet markets.

Peter Antonenko, President, Jetcraft, says: “For more than 60 years, Jetcraft has been setting the standard in business aircraft transactions, placing a sharp focus on super-midsize, large, and ultra-long-range jets. With the addition of CFS Jets, our product expertise is the most diverse in the industry, surpassing that of all other brokers and manufacturers, while bringing customers nearly a century of experience, more than 100 dedicated global advisors and the largest number of exclusive jet listings.”

Now “powered by Jetcraft”, CFS Jets is offering its client base greater access to the super-midsize and large jet categories. Both companies are continuing to operate individually, each benefiting from their respective capabilities, including being backed by Jetcraft’s industry-leading data to support transactions.

David Monacell, Partner, CFS Jets, adds: “Since 1984, CFS Jets has proven itself as a trusted private jet and turboprop broker. Powered by Jetcraft, we are now giving our customers access to the most robust market intelligence and widest range of aircraft in the industry.”  With nearly 40 years in the aircraft sales business, CFS Jets is one of the nation’s leading private aircraft sales and acquisition companies. Headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina, CFS Jets offers sales, market analysis, consulting, fleet planning, listing valuation, purchase support, and closing facilitation.

Finnair drops two domestic routes.....

Finnair is to discontinue two of its shortest domestic routes as it tries to stop losses and cites environmental considerations.  Europe's leading outsourcing airline will halt services between Helsinki and Turku and Tampere and replace them with outsourced bus services. The buses are said to run on biodiesel and have internet connectivity and USB charging possibilities for convenience.

Finnair has already replaced its mid-day flights from these cities with bus connections and will end the routes completely from 1st May this year.  tally sustainable option for connecting these cities to Finnair’s Helsinki hub.

 Perttu Jolma, Vice President, Network said:  "The flights to Tampere and Turku are very short, and the relatively low passenger numbers – around 35 percent load factors – on these routes cause them to have a higher CO2 emission per passenger than many other short routes in our network. - Road, or rail, transportation is a more sustainable option for connections between Helsinki Airport and these cities."

DJI takes flight with new DJI Goggles Integra and DJI RC Motion 2

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, introduces DJI Goggles Integra and DJI RC Motion 2, the latest way to interact with DJI Avata. With advanced micro-OLED screen displays, ultra-low-latency DJI O3+ video transmission, and integrated design, DJI Goggles Integra provides a truly integrated, immersive flying experience. To complement these new goggles, DJI RC Motion 2 offers ergonomic construction and added features to enhance flight control. Together, these two new tools elevate DJI Avata to new levels.

“Get ready to experience a whole new level of flying with our latest products,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “DJI Goggles Integra and DJI RC Motion 2 offer unparalleled control and comfort for an immersive first-person flight experience, making it easier and more fun to fly DJI Avata.”

DJI Goggles Integra: Lightweight, Comfortable, and Ready to Soar

FPV Goggles boasts an integrated design that merges the headband and battery into one, freeing pilots from loose connecting cables and allowing them to take the goggles on and off with ease. The built-in battery headband is light, balanced, and incredibly comfortable, offering up to two hours of operating time.

Two HD 1080p Micro-OLED screens deliver true-to-life colours, and stunning highlights, and detailed shadows with an impressive brightness of 700 nits. The screens have a 100 Hz refresh rate and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable viewing experience. DJI O3+ video transmission technology offers ultra-low 30 ms latency and stable video transmission for high-speed aerial photography.

airBaltic to temporarily wet-lease additional aircraft

airBaltic is temporarily wet-leasing additional aircraft on a short-term basis to cover for Airbus A220 aircraft that are out of action because of delays with engine maintenance.

The carrier is leasing:

XFly Bombardier CRJ-900NG, with 88 seats.

Danish Air Transport -  Airbus A320-232 with 180 seats.

Carpatair - Airbus A319-100 with 150 seats.

Cyprus Airways - Airbus A320-232 with 180 seats. 

These are in addition to the four  Airbus A320-232 aircraft with 180 seats wet-leased for the whole summer season from Avion Express.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “We are strongly committed to our contractual obligations to passengers and partners. However, the extended turnaround times for Pratt & Whitney servicing the engines are causing operational disruption for airBaltic. They, as a long-term partner of airBaltic, could not keep the given promise again on the improved turnaround times. Therefore, airBaltic is contracting replacement capacity in form of ACMI wet-lease aircraft.”

"While we understand that this is an unfortunate situation, we remain optimistic that it will be resolved soon. Moreover, some of the wet-leased aircraft offer even more seats, allowing us to carry a greater amount of passengers. In the meantime, we are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that the majority of our passengers continue to be transported by the backbone of our operations – the Airbus A220-300 aircraft," Gauss concluded.

While the Latvian Government funded airline is wet-leasing in aircraft to allow it to operate its full summer schedule with 20 new destinations, it is still leasing out 14 of its own Airbus A220 planes during this summer season. 

Condor introduces auctions for the best seats..... pushing the price of air travel higher.

In a move to make more money from passengers, the German leisure airline Condor is introducing a way for customers to bid against each other to get better seats for more money.

The airline will auction off available seats in Business Class or Premium Economy Class on selected long-haul flights. Short-haul and medium-haul flights will be added soon.

Auctions will start 24 hours before and end approximately 60 minutes before departure. During this period, all participants can follow the auction live in the free SeatBoost app. To participate, Condor guests need the app, a credit card for payment and they should have checked in for their flight in advance. Online check-in is possible via the Condor app or online.

Within 24 hours before departure, guests can check the SeatBost app to see if an auction is available for their flight. The participant with the highest bid at the end of the auction is awarded the desired upgrade. Only the person winning pays the amount bid. The new boarding pass for Business Class or Premium Economy Class is displayed directly in the SeatBoost app.

Saab’s fourth GlobalEye conducted successful first flight

The first flight of the fourth GlobalEye is an important milestone in Saab’s Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) programme and highlights that Saab can rapidly and reliably deliver GlobalEye.

The aircraft took to the skies from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden on April 03, 2023, and performed several tests related to the aircraft’s capabilities.

“We are very satisfied with this successful first flight of another GlobalEye. This confirms that we have the infrastructure, the capabilities and the expertise necessary to support our customers with the most advanced AEW&C solution in a time frame that is unmatched in the market,” says Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab´s business area Surveillance.

GlobalEye is the most modern multi-domain Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in air, at sea and over land.

By providing real-time information to units in air forces, armies and navies, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats. It can also be used for non-military tasks such as leading and coordinating rescue missions during natural disasters or larger accidents at sea or on land.

Saab has the largest AEW&C customer base in the world, having delivered solutions over the last 30 years across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia for multiple mission roles.

RAF Akrotiri helicopter capability transfers from Griffin to Puma

Helicopter support to British Forces Cyprus has transferred from the Griffin HAR Mk.2 to the Puma HC Mk.2

The official transition to the Puma Force in Cyprus took place on 31 March. The final sortie by a Griffin saw it lead the newly tasked Puma over RAF Akrotiri with Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston and Commander British Forces Air Vice-Marshal Peter Squires aboard.

Since 2003, the Griffin has been an integral part of the capabilities for British Forces supporting joint UK/ Cyprus training and military exercises, and undertaking emergency response and firefighting duties. The Puma team will take over the capabilities from the Griffin from 1 April 2023.

Commander British Forces Cyprus Air Vice-Marshal Peter Squires, said:  “This is an important day for our helicopter capability as we welcome the Puma Force to British Forces Cyprus and bid a fond farewell to the Griffins who have done such incredible work here in Cyprus over many years, including emergency response for casualty evacuations, fighting the annual wildfire scourge – which in the last few years have been the biggest in a generation – and supporting military training and exercises."

SAS makes it easier to select biofuel tickets......

On April 3rd, SAS, Scandinavia’s leading airline, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm launched two ticket types that include biofuel. These will be available on all SAS domestic, Scandinavian and European flights.   

SAS aims to use fossil-free aviation fuel equivalent of all our domestic flights by 2030, a journey we make together with our passengers. We are, therefore, making it even easier for our travellers to be part of the journey toward more sustainable air travel by launching tickets that include the maximum allowed amount of biofuel.

Travellers buying Go Smart or Plus Pro tickets will be able to purchase these tickets with approximately 50%* of biofuel included to lower the CO₂ emission of their SAS flight.

airBaltic adds 20 new destinations to its summer season timetable.

airBaltic launches summer season with

20 new destinations

The Latvian national airline airBaltic has released details of its new summer 2023 flying programme which features 20 new destinations in total from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere. 

This is the largest number of new routes the Latvian government-owned airline has ever announced in a single season. The first flight of it departed from Riga to Istanbul today, on April 2, 2023.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “The opening of these 20 new summer destinations will provide our passengers with even more options when it comes to seamless travel experience. We continue to be committed to our home cities in the Baltics and improving connectivity to and from the region. Also, we are glad to expand airBaltic offering for this summer season both with new route additions and increased flight frequencies on our existing leisure and city break routes.”

airBaltic provides flights to more than 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East.

airBaltic's Top Destinations in February...................

Eight students graduate airBaltic Pilot Academy

 airBaltic is currently looking for a number of people to take up various positions at the growing airline. 

£161 million contract for F-35 jet maintenance supports 140 UK jobs

The UK’s fleet of F-35 Lightning stealth jets will be maintained and supported in a new £161 million contract, keeping them ready for global combat operations.

 

Based at RAF Marham, home of the UK Lightning Force, the investment sustains around 140 UK jobs – 130 directly at the Norfolk base, with around 10 more through the supply chain – delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy creating better-paid jobs and opportunities right across the UK.

A successor to a previous agreement due to conclude this year, the contract was signed by the US Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin as F-35 prime contractor, with BAE Systems to carry out the work as a sub-contractor.

Support contract awarded to Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems

Securing 140 UK jobs with majority at RAF Marham in Norfolk

Contract will see BAE Systems deliver technical support and training for UK’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets for next four and a half years

Providing support to the F-35 fleet until 2027, the arrangement offers the UK more freedom to operate the aircraft, increases the number of flying hours available and delivers important mission planning, training, and maintenance capabilities.

Minister for Defence Procurement, Alex Chalk KC, said:  "Our F-35 Lightning stealth jets are a formidable fighting force, putting us at the cutting-edge of air-borne military capability.

Supporting more than 100 jobs in the East of England, this investment will ensure our jets remain equipped for combat operations around the world."

Negotiated by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Lightning Air System National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) contract will provide technical support and training services for the UK’s F-35 fleet.

The F-35 Lightning is a multi-role, stealth aircraft containing cutting-edge technologies which is flown by both the Royal Navy and the RAF. Although based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, it also operates from the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and other land bases.