Amsterdam will be JetBlue's third European destination

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. 

March traffic results show increases for Icelandair

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.  

Play records 80.6% load factor and carried 86,661 passengers during March

In March 2023, PLAY carried a total of 86,661 passengers with a load factor of 80.6%. The load factor was 67% and the passengers flown were 23,700. Passengers in PLAY’s network in March have therefore tripled between years. This is a significant growth from March of last year when the load factor was 67% and passengers flown were 23,700. Passengers in PLAY’s network in March have therefore tripled between years, signifying a momentous growth trajectory. 

Of the passengers in March 2023, 26% were travelling from Iceland, 39% were travelling to Iceland, and 35% were connecting passengers (VIA). March saw a significant year-on-year increase in the number of passengers travelling to Iceland. PLAY is committed to growing its market share in the important market segment of tourists coming to Iceland and this increase demonstrates a strengthening market position in the international markets.  

March was another record month in terms of ticket sales. Furthermore, the company sees a continuing growth trend in average yields and ancillary revenue. This growth in revenue further suggests that the airline’s increased capacity this year is well aligned with market demand. 

The average flight attendant in Canada works 35 hours every month for free......

Flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have launched the “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” campaign, a national effort to end the widespread abuse of unpaid work in the airline sector that sees the average flight attendant in Canada work 35 hours every month for free.

“Much of the Canadian public has no idea that when flight attendants are doing their pre-flight safety checks, or assisting passengers with boarding, or helping passengers when their plane is delayed at the gate after a long journey, that the flight attendant isn’t even being paid,” said Wesley Lesosky, a flight attendant with CUPE 4094 and president of CUPE’s Airline Division. “It’s a dirty secret in this industry and one that we’re determined to expose and end for good.”

“If we’re at work, in uniform, doing our jobs and taking responsibility for our passengers, we should be getting paid – simple as that,” Lesosky added.

The campaign will aim to raise awareness about the situation facing flight attendants – who are responsible for keeping the flying public safe and comfortable on the ground and at 30,000 feet – and will culminate in a National Day of Action to End Unpaid Work on April 25, with events in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.

Visit UnpaidWorkWontFly.ca for more information about the campaign, events, and the work that flight attendants do every day.

Quick facts

In December 2022-January 2023, CUPE surveyed its airline sector membership about the issue of unpaid work, receiving responses from over 9,500 of its members. The survey found that:

Flight attendants work an average of 34.86 hours unpaid per month. That’s almost a full week every month.

Flight attendants are not paid for boarding, which can take up to an hour.

Flight attendants are not paid for their pre-flight prep and safety checks.

99.5% of flight attendants aren’t paid when they’re checking in through security, even though they’re at work in uniform.

98.6% of flight attendants aren’t paid while passengers deplane after a flight, even though they are still assisting passengers disembark.

75% of flight attendants are only paid a partial wage for mandatory regulatory training, even though airlines and the federal government require several training days per year.

98.4% of flight attendants are not paid when the plane is being held at the gate after landing, even though they are still assisting passengers, often in elevated temperatures.

CUPE is Canada’s flight attendant union, representing approximately 18,500 flight attendants at ten airlines nationwide, including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Sunwing, Calm Air, PAL Airlines, Flair Airlines, Canadian North, PasCan, and Pivot Airlines.

Saab and Embraer sign memorandum of understanding for new opportunities

Saab and Embraer S.A. advised this week at LAAD, in Rio de Janeiro, they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen the collaboration between the companies in several areas, mainly related to business development and engineering opportunities.

The companies will collaborate to position the C-390 Millennium aircraft as the preferred solution to meet the Swedish Air Force tactical air transport requirements, and will also evaluate the integration of Saab equipment and systems into the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft.

The companies will also pursue new business opportunities, including potential future customers of the Gripen, in Brazil and Latin America, considering the use of the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN), the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC) and the final assembly line at Embraer, in Gavião Peixoto. By doing so, Embraer and Saab will collaborate to increase Embraer’s participation in future Gripen contracts.

Finally, the companies will collaborate on engineering and technical future fighter studies, thus consolidating the transfer of technology carried out by Saab for the Brazilian defence industry within the current Gripen program for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). This work can support the future growth of Gripen E out to 2060 and other future fighter needs as they arise.

“Our two companies have worked together to deliver an outstanding capability for Brazil that will last for decades. This MoU is an important and gratifying step toward growing that cooperation into new areas between Saab and Embraer that goes beyond Brazil, while maximising our existing achievements,” said Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson.

“Saab and Embraer are two world leaders in the aerospace segment, recognized for the excellence of their engineering and products. I view this MoU with extreme optimism, as I am sure that the two companies together can further grow their business in various markets around the world,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, Embraer Defense and Security President & CEO.

Pan Am Flight Academy gets state-of-the-art Boeing 737 MAX-8 simulator

Pan Am Flight Academy, a leading aviation training provider, has acquired a new Level D B737 MAX-8 simulator to enhance its commercial pilot training programs. The state-of-the-art simulator is expected to be ready for training by July 2023 enabling Pan Am to incorporate a new aircraft sim to its extended offering.

The new simulator features the latest technology for a realistic and immersive training experience. It will be fully equipped with the latest L3 Harris RealitySeven technology. The new B737 MAX-8 sim will have all the latest features including the Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), TCAS II-7.1, weather radar, electric control loading and motion system and RSi EPIC visual system.

"We are excited to add the B737 MAX-8 simulator to our fleet of training devices," said Jeff Portanova, President of Pan Am Flight Academy. "This new simulator is a significant investment in our training programs and will provide our students with the highest quality training experience."

Skyservice Business Aviation opens Vancouver fixed-based operations

Skyservice Business Aviation, a North American leader in business aviation, opens its Vancouver International Airport, Fixed-Based Operations.   

"We are delighted to welcome customers to our newest FBO facility," commented Benjamin Murray, President, and CEO of Skyservice. "Vancouver is an essential hub for Canadian commerce and recreation and a key location for our clients. We intend to make further investments at the airport, including expanding our hangar footprint, providing on-site maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and operating sustainability initiatives."

Skyservice Vancouver is the company's eleventh fixed-based operation and sixth World Fuel Air Elite location in Canada, providing extensive ground handling, fueling, and hangarage services along with bespoke customer service, aircraft management, and private jet charter services.  Skyservice operates two additional locations dedicated solely to MRO services in Muskoka, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec, and is expanding into Napa, California this spring and constructing an additional private jet centre in Seattle, Washington to replace its existing facility.

"We are thrilled to announce our expanded relationship with Skyservice, a trusted leader in aviation services. Our new agreement marks an important milestone in our growth strategy, allowing us to invest and expand with Skyservice at Vancouver Airport", said Malcolm Hawkins, senior vice president at World Fuel Services. "As an essential location in the World Fuel Network, Skyservice's membership in Air Elite and commitment to providing the highest standard of service will allow us to deliver exceptional experiences to our flight department cardholders. We look forward to working together to provide unparalleled service and solutions to general and business aircraft operators."

AirAsia expands China network with direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shantou and Kota Kinabalu to Beijing

AirAsia Malaysia’s (AK) China expansion continues, with the resumption of direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shantou starting on 16th June and a new direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Beijing (Daxing) on 1 July this year.

AirAsia will reconnect Kuala Lumpur to Shantou starting with two weekly flights in June and will increase to four weekly flights in July. The airline will fly from Kota Kinabalu to Beijing (Daxing) for the first time with seven weekly flights. 

The new connections allow AirAsia to strengthen its position as the largest foreign low-cost carrier in China with a 45% market share, following the recent resumption of flights to/from Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Nanning, Wuhan, Kunming, Macao and Hong Kong served by AirAsia Malaysia (AK).

The rapid short-haul expansion is part of the airline’s strategy to align its international network, complementing the medium-haul connectivity to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing (Daxing) served by AirAsia X Malaysia (D7).

AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: “We are pleased to restart our service to Shantou, which was first introduced in 2016. Shantou is one of our most popular destinations, where we flew about 340,000 guests to/from the coastal city until the end of 2019. In addition, we are also thrilled to announce the commencement of the new route from Kota Kinabalu to Beijing (Daxing), of which we will be the only airline connecting Sabah state capital directly to the capital of China.

“China has always been one of our most important key markets. The two routes will contribute about 10% additional capacity to our China network, and we remain committed to expanding the connectivity to Malaysia further, which is a popular destination for Chinese tourists.

RAF Typhoons policing NATO's Eastern border

Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets have recently returned to Estonia to police the airspace of NATO’s Eastern border with a backdrop of conflict in Ukraine.

Operation Azotize began in March 2023 and is the second deployment of Typhoons to Eastern Europe since the Russian invasion in February last year. In March 2022 the RAF deployed to Romania for Operation Biloxi to cover the southern portion of NATO’s East border.

Both rotations were planned well before Russia’s incursion as part of an ongoing NATO commitment to provide air policing across its Eastern flank.

The 2022 Typhoon detachment to Romania contributed to 24/7 cover of the region’s airspace, but also took part in various exercises. These included a multinational tank exercise involving 250 armoured vehicles; a huge US-led training effort based in North Macedonia but stretching across Eastern Europe involving 17 nations; and travelling to Turkey to test pilot capabilities with the Turkish, Pakistani, Jordanian and Azerbaijani air forces.

Drury Hotels celebrates 50 years ......

Drury Hotels turns 50.....

Drury Hotels Company, the family-owned and operated hospitality group, celebrates fifty years of warm welcomes this month. 

In 1973, the Drury family opened the first Drury Inn in Sikeston, Missouri and the company has grown to 150 hotels in 26 states. Drury Hotels include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inns, Drury Plaza Hotels, and Pear Tree Inns.

"Since our founding, we've been guided by the simple promise to provide our customers with clean rooms, friendly service, and a good night's sleep at an honest price," said Chuck Drury, President & CEO. "Fifty years later, that promise still stands with almost 6,000 team members dedicated to ensuring our guests Travel Happy."

Drury Hotels continually focuses on providing the best value for guests. In 2003, they were among the first in the hotel industry to offer free hot breakfast to their guests and followed up in 2010 by introducing free 5:30 Kickback®, with dinnertime snacks and cold beverages. As its latest enhancement, Drury Hotels recently introduced The Kitchen + Bar for late-night dining options at 16 Drury Hotels, with plans to add eight more by the end of 2024.

In 2022, Drury Hotels earned a record-breaking 17th consecutive J.D. Power award for Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Mid-Scale Hotel Chains. Drury Hotels' J.D. Power distinction sets a record for the most consecutive wins in the travel and hospitality category.

Continued Growth

Last December, Drury Hotels opened the 604-room Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando located within the Disney Springs® Area, an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel. In the past five years, Drury Hotels has opened 16 new hotels including downtown Nashville Tenn., Milwaukee Wis., Richmond Va., St. Paul Minn., and Dallas Texas. In addition, three new hotels are currently under construction in Tallahassee Fla., Savannah Ga., and Arlington Texas.

Amos Kazzaz, Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to retire

Air Canada has confirmed this week that Amos Kazzaz, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will retire on June 30, 2023. Mr. Kazzaz will be succeeded by John Di Bert, who has an aviation background and is currently Chief Financial Officer of Clarios International Inc.

"During his 13-year career at Air Canada, Amos has held the two most senior financial roles, and has made a tremendous contribution to the overall success of our company. He has been a strong partner to me and a positive representative of Air Canada to many external stakeholders," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"Helped by Amos' guidance and decisions, Air Canada has made material progress in many areas, including fleet management, cost reduction and efficiency, and business and strategic planning and execution. He also played a leadership role in strengthening our balance sheet and cash flow, positioning us to withstand COVID's impact and ensure we had the resilience to spring back quickly by allowing us to invest for our future growth. Almost as much as his financial and leadership skills, his sense of humour, energy level and commitment will be missed by everyone at Air Canada, who all join me in wishing Amos a long, happy retirement."

New CFO Announced

Coastal Mississippi spotlights sustainable travel experiences for Earth Month

The Gulf Coast region of Mississippi invites travellers to enjoy and preserve its natural beauty with dozens of outdoor adventures, educational offerings and environmentally conscious programmes.

As travellers plan their Earth Month activities, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is excited to offer guests a variety of opportunities to volunteer, explore and protect its natural resources while they visit. With 62 miles of scenic coastline, several nature reserves – like the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf Island National Seashore – cypress swamps, bayous and salt marshes to explore, sustainable travel is important to preserve these diverse ecosystems, throughout April, and all year long.

As travelers plan their Earth Month activities, the Mississippi Gulf Coast is excited to offer guests a variety of opportunities to volunteer, explore and protect its natural resources while they visit.

"Attractions, businesses and tourism partners along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are committed to sustainability and the preservation of our abundant natural resources. Many have taken major strides with new sustainable programs including oyster shell recycling, dozens of farm-to-table restaurants to choose from, and endless ways to immerse yourself in nature," said Pattye Meagher, Director of Communications and Engagement at Coastal Mississippi CVB. "We at Coastal Mississippi hope that visitors not only have a fantastic experience in our destination, but that they also learn a little bit about our unique environments and wildlife, and feel inspired to help us keep them healthy, so we've curated a list of sustainable experiences they can enjoy during Earth Month, but also year-round."

Sustainable Programs, Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Opened on March 1, The Collective Ocean Springs is a mixed-use entertainment property with big plans for a sustainable future. Owned and operated by Rain Residential, the property serves as a hub for community makers, growers, chefs and entrepreneurs to share their talents in a collaborative and eco-conscious way. At the centre of The Collective is a sustainable garden and organic chicken farm that will provide fresh foods and resources for a new restaurant and development. Within the next year, the development plans to open an amphitheatre, nano-brewery, bookstore and a farm-to-table restaurant called Apple Pear Restaurant and Farm, helmed by Ocean Springs native and renowned chef Alex Perry, a 2023 James Beard Award Finalist and chef/owner of nearby Vestige restaurant. Visitors can also stop by every Wednesday from 3-6 p.m., for a community Farmers Market with live local music, a pop-up bar and more.

This year, The Nature Conservancy of Mississippi is launching a pilot oyster shell recycling program called Save Our Shells (SOS) to help conserve oyster reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. The program officially launched during the 7th Annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-off and Festival in March, with many top local restaurants, hotels, and businesses participating like White Pillars, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Keg & Barrel. Visitors can feel good patronizing partner businesses, knowing that oyster shells are delivered to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to be processed and integrated into restoration projects.

Plastic Free Gulf Coast is an organization dedicated to eliminating single-use plastic before it becomes part of the waste stream through partnerships with local schools, businesses and restaurants. Visitors can stop by plastic-free partners like Mockingbird Café in Bay St. Louis, Greenhouse Biloxi and more, for delicious eats and a sustainable experience. Some of the coast's top museums are also plastic-free partners, including the Walter Anderson Museum of Art and The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. The program provides tips and resources and even organizes regular beach clean-up events for residents and visitors alike.

The Mississippi State University Monthly Coastal Clean-Up program is another great way for visitors to make an impact and help keep the coast healthy and beautiful. In honour of Earth Day on April 22, the program will host an Earth Day Celebration at the Biloxi West Beach Boardwalk. Volunteers are encouraged to sign-up ahead of time and will be provided with the necessary gear and materials needed upon arrival.

Education, Outdoors & Eco-tours

Sabre launches United Airlines' New Distribution Capability (NDC) offers to its global network of travel buyers

United's New Distribution Capability (NDC) content will be available via Sabre Red 360, Sabre APIs and GetThere

Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider to the global travel industry, and United Airlines, today announced the availability of United's NDC offers through Sabre's global distribution system (GDS).

Sabre-connected travel buyers, agencies and developer partners will be able to shop, book, and service United's NDC content through Sabre's Offer and Order APIs, the agency point-of-sale tool, Sabre Red 360, and the online booking tool, GetThere.

"We are so pleased to launch United Airlines' NDC content this week, marking the 10th airline with whom we have completed integration and made content available through NDC to agencies around the world," said Kathy Morgan, vice president, NDC and airline supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. "In delivering a suite of NDC solutions and enabling air content in our NDC channels, we are helping airlines go from where they are today to a new modern approach to travel retailing – a key step in the evolution of retailing and distribution in the travel industry."

Travel buyers connected to the Sabre GDS will be able to choose enhanced offers from United such as United's continuous pricing content with the lowest fares available in these channels. They will also have access to more descriptive information on United's flight offers as well as seat selection enabled in the booking path. NDC offers from United are currently available in over 70 countries, with more coming soon.  

Sabre Offer and Order APIs are the foundation of a modern retailing marketplace that allows airlines to dynamically create and distribute tailored offers across any channel, while being seamlessly fulfilled and delivered as orders. Sabre Red 360 unlocks a full spectrum of bookable content and insightful information to efficiently create tailored trip experiences that travel buyers can sell and service.

Sustainable fuel technology aircraft boost for UK's Royal Air Force

Two brand new experimental aircraft with ground-breaking technologies will be created by the Royal Air Force in the latest step towards a sustainable aviation future.

The commencement of Project Monet, a joint initiative between the Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) and Industry, will see the development of two experimental flying test aircraft to showcase the capabilities and potential of a range of sustainable technologies.

Using the aircraft as the testing focus, Project Monet will draw together expertise from across the RAF and industry to evaluate how technologies can meet key military requirements and the whole-life environmental impact of operating such a fleet of aircraft.

The range of sustainable aviation technologies include the potential for all-electric battery power, synthetic fuelled internal combustion engines, hydrogen cell, and hybrid.

Group Captain Hackett, Military Head of Flight Test on Team Tempest said:  "Monet will be an exciting journey into the future of sustainable flight for the RAF. We will develop and understand the technologies to enable future military aircrew and air cadets to begin their journey into aviation, and yet not adversely impact the world we all share, I can’t think of a better motivator to push us all onto success."

The two-year partnership with Babcock and Swift Aircraft using light training aircraft will also deliver additional benefit by providing a means to evaluate a broader range of factors including logistics, ground operations, human factors, and certification. In so doing, the work will provide important information which can be readily transferred to other environmentally conscious capability projects and developments.

Boeing delivers second pair of O3b mPOWER satellites to SES

Boeing delivered the third and fourth O3b mPOWER satellites to content connectivity service provider SES, with the duo embarking for Cape Canaveral, Florida. The pair will launch to medium Earth orbit (MEO) to provide fibre-like broadband connectivity to people around the world, joining the first two satellites on orbit.

“As we get ready to launch the next pair of O3b mPOWER satellites in the coming weeks, we are excited to have them join the first two satellites which are currently undergoing rigorous testing as they arrive at their target medium earth orbit,” said Ruy Pinto, Chief Technology Officer at SES. “The early indications from our test program are that the O3b mPOWER system will more than fulfill the expectations of our customers. We will be delivering networks that offer the industry’s best throughput, high availability and predictable performance that are essential for our customers' critical applications and creating new business opportunities for SES.”