airBaltic and Tarom codeshare deal extended

The Latvian Government owned airline airBaltic and the Romanian national air transport company Tarom have extended a codeshare partnership starting from 1st May. 

This will provide passengers with new advantages – to connect each other networks via partner hubs Riga and Bucharest, and increased flexibility and seamless connections between both airline networks. airBaltic customers will benefit from increased frequency of flights to their desired destinations in the region (Budapest, Sofia and Chisinau), while Tarom passengers will have seamless connectivity to the Baltics and beyond to other airBaltic destinations.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “We are delighted to extend our fruitful codeshare partnership with Tarom, which will allow us to offer more travel options and flexibility to our customers. By joining forces, we can better serve our passengers, offering them seamless connectivity and more choices when planning their travels.”

JetBlue heads to Amsterdam.....

While various states and other airlines are fighting against JetBlue's takeover of Spirit, the New York based carrier is expanding its transatlantic offering, this time with flights to Amsterdam.

The airline will introduce a new service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol starting late this summer and a service between Boston and Amsterdam will follow.

"This route is long overdue for some competition,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “For too long the U.S. legacy carriers, backed by their joint ventures with other global airlines that enjoy immunity from antitrust laws, have locked customers in with very expensive fares and mediocre service. Just like we’re doing in London and Paris, we will bring fares down and improve the experience for customers flying between the U.S. and Amsterdam.”

Last week, a Dutch court ruled that the Dutch government failed to follow the law when it sought to reduce the cap on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s annual air traffic movements, giving JetBlue confidence there is room for it to enter the market.

“Our formula of combining a customer-centric experience and everyday low fares isn’t something you find in Europe,” Hayes said. “We’re confident that customers, Amsterdam airport officials, and the Dutch government will be delighted by JetBlue when they see first-hand the positive impact we can make and we look forward to working together with Dutch officials to ensure long-term success in the market.”

Flights will operate daily on JetBlue’s Airbus A321 Long Range (LR) aircraft with 24 redesigned Mint Suite seats, 114 core seats and the sleek and spacious Airspace cabin interior. The A321 platform – offering the range of a wide-body but with the economics of a single-aisle aircraft.

The airline’s Mint premium experience was reimagined for transatlantic flying and features  24 fully lie-flat private suites with a sliding door – including two Mint Studio seats – seat cushions developed by Tuff & Needle.

With just 114 core/economy seats – including 24 Even More Space Seats – customers enjoy a boutique-style experience no matter where they sit. All of the comforts JetBlue customers have come to expect are enhanced by the airline’s partnership with New York-based restaurant group Dig, to bring its signature build-your-own dining concept to tray tables at 35,000 feet – JetBlue’s complimentary meal in core. Core customers also enjoy a free selection of soft drinks, coffee, tea, beer, wine and liquor. 

looking for a new challenge where the sky is the limit.........Air Traffic Controllers Needed

24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, the special Air Traffic Controllers at NATS keep around 2.5 million flights and 250 million people flying above our heads in the UK safe. 

The UK, like many countries, has ‘controlled’ and ‘uncontrolled’ airspace. In controlled airspace, pilots take instructions from Air Traffic Controllers on where, when and how to position their aircraft. Most commercial aircraft operate in controlled airspace.

For the first time since before the pandemic, people can apply to join NATS’ student controller scheme, with basic training based at one of their two training facilities in Hampshire and Gloucester. Once passing an online assessment, successful candidates go through around nine months of vigorous initial training, before being posted to an airport tower or control centre to complete their learning and assessments.

Successful controllers come from all walks of life, but NATS is seeking to redress the gender imbalance that exists across the aviation industry, with the ambition that half of its new intake to be made up of women.

Helen Fuge, Head of Talent and HR Services at NATS, said: “Air traffic control should be a career anyone can aspire to, but along with the wider aviation industry, it has long been heavily male-dominated. We have many wonderful women controllers, but they make up only around only 30% of the total and we want to change that.

“We know businesses that are inclusive and diverse are more successful, they make better decisions and are more effective, but fundamentally we believe improving diversity across our organisation to better reflect the world around us is simply the right thing to do.”

NATS currently has around 1,600 controllers whose job is to safely manage the flow of aircraft through the UK’s busy and complex airspace, as well as at 15 of the country’s busiest airports - which include: Aberdeen, Belfast City, Belfast International, Bristol, Cardiff, Farnborough, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City (remotely via a Digital Tower arrangement), Luton, Manchester, Southampton, St Athan and Stansted.  NATS also look after Gibraltar International Airport. 

It's been around two years since London City Airport successfully transitioned to a digital tower and began controlling flights from a brand-new remote-control centre, based in Swanwick. You can read about the experience here. 

For more information and to apply,   visit NATS recruitment site. 

ASL Aviation buys Pionair, Australia’s leading independent provider of charter and ACMI services

ASL Aviation Holdings, the aviation services company with seven airlines based in Europe, South Africa and Asia has just taken over Australian airline, Pionair, Australia’s leading independent provider of charter and ACMI services. The acquisition of Pionair has received all required regulatory approvals and is effective immediately. 

 The Sydney-based Pionair will continue to operate as a proudly Australian airline and over time the carrier will emphasise its Australian identity and will be re-branded as ASL Airlines Australia in common with ASL Group’s European airlines ASL Airlines Ireland, ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France and ASL Airlines United Kingdom.

ASL’s investment in Pionair will be of significant benefit to the economy across the airline’s main bases in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns. Pionair is set to become a stronger and larger service provider in the Australian aviation market, particularly in the important express parcel and e-retail sectors.

There will be no job losses due to this acquisition with staff numbers set to increase in line with ASL’s growth and fleet plans. Pionair owner and CEO Steve Ferris will support ASL Airlines Australia with a continued leadership role in the airline.

The Pionair fleet of 12 aircraft, including Embraer E190-E2’s and Bae 146/Avro regional jets will join the ASL Group’s current fleet of 140 aircraft. ASL’s aircraft range from the Boeing 747 to the turbo prop ATR72-600 freighter and includes the largest Boeing 737 freighter fleet in Europe.

“Expansion into the Australian and Oceania markets was a logical step for ASL as we develop our services globally to meet the needs of our customers,” said ASL Aviation Holdings Chief Executive, Dave Andrew. “Pionair was a natural fit for us, with the same field of operations and a foundation of safety, reliability and quality that matches our fundamental customer service values aimed at providing a service that is better than our customers could have expected.”

ASL Aviation Holdings is halfway through a five-year fleet renewal programme that includes an agreement with Boeing for 40 B737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighters) conversion slots. Converted aircraft are allocated to ASL airlines in Europe, Thailand and India and ASL expects to allocate a first B737-800BCF to ASL Airlines Australia as part of this programme.

The 737-800BCF meets ASL customer requirements for a next generation freighter that offers higher reliability and lower fuel consumption and operating costs per flight. The aircraft can carry up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) of freight with a range of up to 3,750 kilometres (2,025 nautical miles). ASL is the world’s largest operator of the B737-800BCF which supports ASL’s commitment to sustainability and net-zero emissions by 2050. The B737NG emits 15% fewer carbon emissions than earlier versions of the B737.

Vaasa Airport celebrates the return of SAS as weekly flights to Stockholm resumed

Scandinavian Airlines has reinstated a flight connection between Vaasa and Stockholm after a break of three years. 

SAS resumed its regular scheduled flights early last week from Vaasa Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The airline operates three flights a week from Vaasa to Stockholm at the moment and will increase to five weekly flights later. 

“We are very happy that the route from Vaasa to Stockholm has been reopened. The connection between these two Nordic cities is an important part of Finavia airports’ growing route network,” says Petri Vuori , Finavia's Senior Vice President, Sales and Route Development.

The long-awaited first flight was celebrated at Vaasa Airport in sunny weather. In addition to Finavia's representatives, the opening was witnessed by Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa, and Niko Ek, SAS's Head of Sales Europe, among others.  “Good to be back! SAS has returned to Vaasa after a three-year wait. This is a great day and the welcome has been very warm. The return of the route is truly the result of co-operation. There is a very strong demand for the Vaasa–Stockholm route, and it enables good connections from around the world to Vaasa and from Vaasa to the world,” Niko Ek said in his opening speech.

The Stockholm route provides passengers with a number of smooth connections to Scandinavia and around Europe.

SAS operates the Vaasa–Stockholm connection with its CRJ-900 jet aircraft, which can accommodate 90 passengers. The estimated flight time is 45 minutes.

In March 2023 Icelandair carried 254,529 passengers

Icelandair has just reported its In March 2023 traffic data which showed the airline carried 254,529 passengers compared to nearly 184,000 people in March 2022.

Passengers on international flights totalled 229,800, compared to 160,981 last March, an increase of 43%. Passengers to Iceland were 118,162 and 44,901 from Iceland. Via passengers were around 66,700. On-time performance on international flights was 82%. The load factor on international flights was 81.8%, an increase of 8.2 ppt year-on-year. The load factor was especially high on flights to and from North America, 86.7%. This is a record load factor for North America flights in March.  

Passengers on domestic flights were around 25 thousand, compared to 23 thousand in March 2022. On-time performance was 90%. The load factor on domestic flights was 76.3%.  

Sold block hours in the leasing operation increased by 20%. Freight measured in Freight Ton Kilometers increased by 20% compared to March last year, due to increased capacity with the introduction of a Boeing 767 widebody into the cargo fleet at the end of last year.  

HK Express receives first A321neo

Airbus has announced the successful delivery of its first Airbus A321neo to the low-cost carrier HK Express, a member of Cathay Pacific Group based in Hong Kong.

This milestone marks the first of 16 A321neo aircraft for HK Express and features the airline’s latest livery, with vibrant shades of purple and white. In addition, the aircraft’s winglets and empennage spots an “e” shaped journey symbol, which evokes the start of a pleasant journey with HK Express.

"We are thrilled to welcome the first A321neo to our fleet," said Mandy Ng, CEO of HK Express. "As an operator of the A320 Family, we are confident in the A321neo’s game-changing ability to provide more capacity with greater sustainability. At HK Express, the A321neo is key in our efforts to reduce our impact on the environment."

“Airbus is proud to extend our relationship with the Cathay Pacific Group, and this new delivery represents a new milestone in our long relationship. The A321neo’s performance and efficiency will allow HK Express to expand its network, while reducing its carbon footprint,” said Anand Stanley, President Airbus Asia-Pacific.

Norwegian carried 1.5 million passengers in March

Norwegian carried 1.5 million passengers in March with a load factor of 81% the airline reported this week. 

“March has been very solid month for Norwegian in terms of traffic figures. It marks the return of the summer schedule with a considerable ramp up in capacity. We very much look forward to welcoming a growing number of passengers on board over the summer months of 2023,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

Norwegian had 1,502,366 passengers in March, up 60 percent from March 2022. The capacity (ASK) was 2,347 million seat kilometres, while actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 1,903 million seat kilometres. In March, Norwegian operated an average of 67 aircraft with a regularity, share of scheduled flights taking place, of 99.2 percent. Despite both challenging weather conditions and significant labour action affecting air traffic across Europe, punctuality was at 81 percent in March, measuring the number of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time. However, 95 percent of all departed flights arrived on schedule or within one hour of scheduled arrival time.

Strong booking rate exceeding 2022

Norwegian continues to experience solid demand for air travel with a persistently strong booking momentum.

The world’s first second-hand concept store located at an airport to open at Helsinki Airport

Finavia and the Finnish family firm Relove are bringing a unique second-hand concept store to Helsinki Airport. The concept combines recycling culture with a popular café.

“We are constantly developing the airport’s selection, following trends and the wishes of passengers. We have now signed an agreement with the Finnish company Relove that will introduce a second-hand concept store to Helsinki Airport. It’s one of this year’s most anticipated new services,” says Nora Immonen, Finavia’s VP and Director of the Commercial Services Business Unit at Helsinki Airport.

This is the world’s first second-hand concept store at an airport. The concept store combines high-quality second-hand clothing and accessories with a café that has become very popular.

“We are delighted with this unique and historic collaboration with Finavia. It gives us an opportunity to promote the circular economy with a larger target group. At the airport, we will also reach international customers. We will bring an enjoyable oasis to Helsinki Airport, where second-hand shop and café services are intertwined in a fantastic way that has never been seen before in an airport environment,” say Relove’s entrepreneur couple Noora Hautakangas and Eero Ukkonen.

Icelandair to move away from Boeing to Airbus......

Icelandair is turning away from Boeing as it signs up for 13 Airbus A321XLR aircraft to replace its ageing Boeing 757 fleet and long-term plans will see the carrier slowly transition away from Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

The deal the Icelandic carrier has signed with Airbus also has options for a further 12 aircraft and the planes are scheduled to start arriving in 2029.  However,  Icelandair is currently in negotiations for leasing four Airbus A321LR to arrive in 2025.   Further additions can be expected in the years thereafter. With the acquisition of the Airbus aircraft, Icelandair will complete the replacement of the Boeing 757.

The agreed purchase price of the 13 aircraft is confidential, however, is understood to be 20% less than the current list prices. Whilst the financing of the aircraft is yet to be determined, Icelandair will explore financing options closer to the delivery dates which is expected to include a sale and lease back deal with two aircraft leasing firms. 

The A321XLR and A321LR aircraft are part of the Airbus A320neo Family of narrow-body aircraft that provide an excellent range, fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The implementation of the aircraft will reduce operating costs, further support Icelandair’s sustainability targets and offer exceptional customer experience through the aircraft design and unique features. The aircraft has around 190 seats in Icelandair’s layout. In comparison, the Boeing 757-200 aircraft has 183, whereas the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9 have a passenger capacity of 160 and 178, respectively.

JetBlue and Massport confirm two new Florida routes from Worcester

JetBlue and the Massachusetts Port Authority-Massport confirmed two new nonstop flights to popular Florida destinations from Worcester Regional Airport (ORH): daily year-round service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) launching this summer and winter seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (RSW) launching next winter. 

“We are proud to introduce even more options to connect our Massachusetts customers to the places they want to fly with more nonstop Florida service from Worcester,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “Customers can now much more easily travel back and forth to Florida with JetBlue’s low fares and award-winning service, including with daily flights to Fort Myers during the Red Sox Spring Training.”

“Worcester Regional Airport is an important economic asset for the entire state, and these new routes will help deliver even more growth and connectivity for our businesses and residents,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. “I congratulate Massport and our federal, state, and city partners for securing this expansion with JetBlue and building on the economic and tourism benefits for Central Massachusetts.”

“These new and returning JetBlue flights to Florida from Worcester Regional Airport are a great addition for passengers in Central Massachusetts,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “I’m excited about these services and grateful to Massport, JetBlue and our team of local, state and federal partners who are working together to expand travel options for people in this region.”

Sun Country Airlines to get 5 Boeing 737-900ERs

Sun Country Airlines will acquire five 737-900ERs that will expand its passenger fleet in late 2024 and 2025.

Under the terms of the deal, Sun Country will acquire current leases for the five aircraft which will remain on lease to Oman Air until the leases begin to expire in late 2024 and through 2025. Sun Country will take delivery of one aircraft in late 2024 and the other four throughout 2025.

Purchasing the aircraft under their existing leases is advantageous to Sun Country for several reasons:

This transaction demonstrates Sun Country’s ability to opportunistically acquire aircraft in a tight market at favorable economic terms while providing fleet growth certainty through 2025.

Acquiring five aircraft of the same variant guarantees sufficient scale to be efficient in Sun Country’s existing fleet of 737-800s.

The 737-900ER has more seat capacity than 737-800s and can fly a longer range.

Sun Country will deploy capital to acquire the aircraft today while receiving lease revenue though 2025.

Finally, used aircraft induction lead times have been challenged by supply chain constraints and engineering support. This transaction allows Sun Country to minimize the transition time of modifying the aircraft and induction into revenue service.

“The 737-900ER will be a great addition to our fleet,” said Jude Bricker, CEO of Sun Country. “Relative to our 737-800 aircraft, it will increase the number of seats without a reduction in range or take-off performance. This transaction demonstrates our ability to find creative ways to source the right aircraft in any market environment.”

The acquisition will be financed through a credit facility with MUFG Union Bank.

Understanding the Basics of a Configurable Analytical AI Agent for Threat Detection

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Businesses should pay close attention to their cybersecurity, regardless of their size and industry. With the growing complexity of the digital landscape, the need for more sophisticated and adaptable tools has never been greater. Leveraging a highly configurable analytical AI agent for threat detection can help organizations stay one step ahead of cyber threats.

What is a Configurable Analytical AI Agent?

A configurable analytical AI agent is an advanced software system that leverages machine learning algorithms to identify and respond to potential threats in real-time. These AI-driven tools can be tailored to meet the unique needs of your organization, making them highly adaptable and scalable. This flexibility allows businesses to fine-tune their security measures and ensure that they are prepared for any cyber threat that may come their way.

How AI is Transforming Threat Detection

Traditional cybersecurity measures rely on static rules, signatures, and patterns to detect potential threats. While these methods can be effective in certain situations, they often struggle to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of cyber threats. AI technology offers a more dynamic and proactive approach, enabling businesses to stay one step ahead of potential risks.

Some key benefits of using AI in threat detection include:

Speed

AI-driven systems can process and analyze large volumes of data at lightning speeds, enabling them to detect and respond to threats more quickly than their human counterparts.

Adaptability

Machine learning algorithms can adapt and evolve as new threats emerge, ensuring that your organization remains protected even as cybercriminals develop new strategies.

Precision

AI technology is capable of identifying patterns and anomalies that may be indicative of a threat, reducing the likelihood of false positives and ensuring that resources are focused on genuine risks.

Use Cases for Configurable Analytical AI Agents

Configurable analytical AI agents can be applied to a wide range of industries and sectors, demonstrating their versatility and value in threat detection. Some notable examples include:

Financial Services

AI-driven systems can be used to detect and prevent fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes, helping businesses protect their assets and reputation.

Healthcare

Analytical AI agents can help safeguard sensitive patient information and ensure the integrity of electronic health records.

Cybersecurity in Aviation

AI technology can be used to secure aircraft systems, safeguarding passenger data and protecting critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks.

Retail

AI-powered tools can help retailers identify and mitigate risks associated with inventory theft, credit card fraud, and other forms of cybercrime.

Air Lease Corporation latest results.

Air Lease Corporation has announced an update on aircraft investments, sales, and significant financing activities occurring in the first quarter of 2023.

As of March 31, 2023, ALC’s fleet was comprised of 437 owned aircraft and 86 managed aircraft, with 376 new aircraft on order from Boeing and Airbus set to deliver through 2029.  

Aircraft Investments

Delivered 22 new aircraft from ALC’s order book including six Airbus A321neos, two Airbus A330-900neos, one Airbus A350-900, five Boeing 737-8s, and eight Boeing 737-9s.

Aircraft investments in the quarter totalled approximately $1.4 billion.

Sales

Sold two aircraft to third-party buyers.

Financing

Issued $700 million of 5.30% senior unsecured medium-term notes due 2028.

Completed inaugural US$600 million sukuk offering, consisting of 5.85% trust certificates due 2028.

ALC is a leading global aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. 

Air Canada and Amadeus Expand Strategic Partnership

Air Canada and Amadeus Expand Strategic Partnership

New, multi-year distribution agreement includes full range of NDC-sourced content

Travel sellers to benefit from long-term roadmap offering additional features and new content

Air Canada to implement Altéa NDC to optimize distribution via the Amadeus Travel Platform

 

As New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology continues to create new retailing opportunities for airlines around the world, Air Canada and Amadeus have expanded their long-standing partnership. Air Canada will enable access to its full range of NDC-sourced content through the Amadeus Travel Platform by leveraging Altéa NDC, Amadeus’ IT solution that enables airlines to provide enhanced travel retail experiences by distributing personalized and tailored offers. Additionally, the airline’s traditionally sourced content (EDIFACT) will be available worldwide to travel sellers and corporations that utilize the Amadeus Travel Platform. 

“Amadeus and Air Canada have a long-standing history of partnering to improve the travel experience and empower travel sellers. We’re proud to take this significant next step by offering our NDC content for the first time through a GDS. Now Agencies and Travel Buyers will have access to our most complete range of content and be well-equipped for the introduction of new products and capabilities,” said Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products, Marketing & eCommerce at Air Canada. “For buyers and travellers, this means their preferred agency, whether a local independent or large travel management provider, will be able to offer a broader range of rich Air Canada content, travel options and services via the Amadeus Travel Platform at the most competitive prices.”