Canada Jetlines announces third Airbus A320 Aircraft

Canada Jetlines Operations confirmed it had signed a letter of intent for its third Airbus A320 aircraft, which will be provided by a global aviation lessor providing aircraft and capital to the world’s airlines. Delivery of the aircraft is expected by July 2023.

“I am pleased that we have identified our third aircraft,” stated Canada Jetlines CEO, Eddy Doyle. “We are seeing significant demand for the summer season and the addition of this aircraft will help support our existing customers and continue the Company’s growth plans.”

The aircraft is an Airbus A320-200, listed under the manufacturer’s serial number #3312, equipped with two CFM56-5B4/3 engines. The aircraft cabin will be configured with the new Recaro 3530 seats, in-seat usb power, and personal electronic device holder. The airline will also install the Flymingo Box system, which offers an enhanced passenger experience through its wireless inflight entertainment.

The delivery of the aircraft remains subject to customary conditions, including the execution of a definitive aircraft lease agreement and satisfactory inspection of the aircraft by the company.

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UK's AAIB appeals for dashcam footage of aircraft accident.....

AAIB dashcam footage appeal – Upminster, Essex

Appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage from drivers on Aveley Road following an accident on Tuesday 4 April 2023.

The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch is appealing to motorists that might have some dashcam footage of an aircraft accident that occurred shortly after takeoff at around Midday on 4 April near to Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster Essex. 

The aircraft involved in the accident flew over Aveley Road prior to the accident and the AAIB is looking for dashcam footage from vehicles driving on Aveley Road around this time which may help with the investigation.

If you have any information or witnessed the accident and have not already spoken to the AAIB please contact them during office hours on 01252 510300 or enquiries@aaib.gov.uk

Egypt – beach paradise all year round

Photo by Ahmed Elnokrashy on Unsplash

No matter what time of the year a holiday is planned - Egypt is definitely worth a trip. Even in winter, tourists can expect temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees in destinations on the Red Sea, such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. So, when the grey, wet, and chilly winter prevails in Germany, it could be a perfect time to escape the daily grind, soak up the sun, enjoy the endless sea, and absorb the country's rich culture in a hotel or all-inclusive resort in one of the country's up-and-coming cities.

To this end, the number of flights to Egypt will be increased in the spring. From 1 April onwards, there will be significantly more flights from Germany to Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Cairo. From Hamburg and Munich, there will be a daily flight to Hurghada. A total of 45 aircraft will take off every week from the DACH region to Egypt.

Hurghada

In Hurghada, tourists can not only relax on the mainland coast and soak up the sun all year round, but also on one of the small offshore islands - most notably Giftun Island, which is only a few kilometers from the coast. Dreamlike beaches and shallow, turquoise waters whisk travelers away to a carefree paradise. Around the sandy beach of Orange Bay or Paradise Island beach on the southern tip of the island, untouched coral reefs and large schools of fish can be explored while snorkeling and diving. Here, swings and hammocks hang over the water, shore-side cocktail bars allow visitors to let gentle waves lap their feet while they enjoy a drink; there are photo spots, and children's playgrounds while being basked in sunshine galore.

The city on the Red Sea is a popular destination because it offers the amenities of numerous renowned hotel chains with all-inclusive offers as well as luxurious resorts at a much lower price than in European tourist regions. At the same time, this city offers a wide range of opportunities to make the travel season exciting, for example with safaris into the nearby Sahara, in two large indoor aquariums, or on diving tours to impressive reefs off the coast.

Photo by Kévin et Laurianne Langlais on Unsplash

Aircraft under fire in Khartoum as coup rages in Sudan

A Boeing 737 of Ukrainian low-cost airline SkyUp caught on fire during a coup attempt in Sudan affected the international airport in Khartoum.   A number of other aircraft came under gunfire as the airport was seized by a special unit of the  Sudanese army. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said:  "During the aggravation of the situation, members of the Ukrainian air crew were at Khartoum International Airport. We managed to evacuate this group of people. They are now in a safe place. The Ukrainian Honorary Consul in Sudan is taking care of them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt keep the safety of Ukrainian citizens in Sudan under special control" - 

Other aircraft have been damaged and seen with thick smoke bellowing from the cabin as the attack unfolded. Saudi Arabian Airlines - Saudia confirmed that one of its aircraft had come under fire and that it had halted all flights to and from the country. The passengers, crew and staff were able to be moved from the airport to the Saudi embassy in Khartoum. EgyptAir has also suspended flights to Khartoum until there is a clearer picture of what is happening in the country.

The UK's  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office changed recently and now advises against all travel to the whole of Sudan. It said:  "We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan where there are on-going military clashes. We advise all British Nationals in Sudan to remain indoors and follow our travel advice for further updates."

Elsewhere, the Rapid Support Forces - RSF have taken over Merowe Airport, which is approximately 270 miles north of Khartoum. Videos show captured Egyptian troops crouched on the ground guarded by troops in RSF uniforms.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said "The UK calls on the Sudanese leadership to do all they can to restrain their troops and de-escalate to prevent further bloodshed. Military action will not resolve this situation." 

The embassy of the UAE in Khartoum said it "reaffirmed the UAE’s position on the importance of de-escalation, and working towards finding a peaceful solution to the crisis between the concerned parties.  Furthermore, the embassy stresses the importance of efforts aimed at supporting the political process and achieving national consensus towards the formation of a government."

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said:  "We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and avoid further escalations or troop mobilisations and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues."

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North Lake Tahoe’s only newly renovated boutique hotel to open this summer....

The Incline Lodge, a 38-room mountain modern-inspired boutique hotel, will debut early summer as Incline Village’s first and only boutique hotel property. Located adjacent to The Hyatt Regency Hotel on Lake Tahoe’s north shore, the family-owned Incline Lodge is poised to provide a new year-round accommodation option and is now accepting reservations with availability starting July 1, 2023 for Lake Tahoe travelers and locals alike.

Formerly The Parkside Inn, The Incline Lodge has undergone extensive renovations complete with a sophisticated mountain modern aesthetic, custom designed finishes, enhanced acoustical treatments, and AC in every room. The property will also feature three exceptional amenity spaces including a new 1,000-square-foot lobby offering beer, wine, and elevated grab & go food, a downstairs concierge lounge that can accommodate private parties of up to 39 people and an indoor heated pool. Guests will also enjoy a technology driven guest journey with contactless check-in along with kind and knowledgeable staff.

“The vision for The Incline Lodge is to create a place of inspiration where people can create lifelong memories in one of the most beautiful places, and one of the best communities, in the world,” said owners and Incline Village-based residents Natasha and Ali Warner.

After a gap of 15 years, the U.S mega-carrier, Delta has returned to London Gatwick with daily non-stop flights to New York-JFK.

After a gap of 15 years,  the U.S mega-carrier, Delta has returned to London Gatwick with daily non-stop flights to New York-JFK. 

“Delta started flying to the UK 45 years ago this month at Gatwick and so it is fitting that we are restarting our operations from Gatwick to the United States,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice president of Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India. “On board, customers will discover an elevated service and special touches to make their journey memorable.”

Stewart Wingate said:  “We are thrilled to welcome Delta Air Lines back to Gatwick. It means that we will expand furthermore our connectivity to the US. This trust from such a network carrier as Delta underlines the competitiveness and the operational capabilities of Gatwick.

Delta is a huge name in the transatlantic market and being able to offer passengers across London and the South East the opportunity to travel with them between Gatwick and New York City is fantastic, providing not only wider choice, but further competition. It also demonstrates the strong pull of Gatwick as an airport for big-name, long-haul airlines.”

The route is serviced by recently refurbished Boeing 767-300 aircraft featuring the luxury of a fully flat-bed seat in Delta One to Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin, customers will find an elevated onboard experience on board.

Customers in every cabin enjoy seat-back screens featuring hours of complimentary premium entertainment via Delta Studio, in-seat power, high-speed Wi-Fi (for purchase, with free Wi-Fi coming by the end of 2024) and free mobile messaging via iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

All flights between the UK and the US will be operated in cooperation with Delta's joint venture partners Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and KLM which ensures price fixing and mileage compatibility. 

Delta is launching the route in direct competition with JetBlue's recent embarkation on the transatlantic market and according to sources at Delta, the company expects the route to make a loss for 13 months and has launched measures to target JetBlue customers. 

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Latest results for Finnair.....

Robust demand in March as passenger load factor was on par with pre-pandemic levels; also solid cargo performance continued

In March, Finnair carried 953,000 passengers, which was 55.1% more than in March 2022 and 15.7% more than in February 2023. Month-on-month figures are, however, not fully comparable as there were three fewer days in February.

As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts are fading, March passenger traffic figures improved year-on-year. Further, Russian airspace was closed already during the comparison period, which resulted in route and frequency cancellations in Asian traffic. The negative impact of the Russian airspace closure on Asian passenger traffic figures was, however, visible in March 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic figures. The distance-based reported traffic figures do not take into account longer routings caused by the airspace closure as they are based on Great-Circle distance.

The overall capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased in March by 27.0% year-on-year and by 11.9% month-on-month. Finnair's traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 87.7% year-on-year and by 15.6% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) increased by 25.1% points year-on-year and by 2.5% points month-on-month to 77.7%. It was e.g. only 0.6% points lower than in March 2019.

Silver Airways on the brink of being evicted for non-payment of rent

The Floridian boutique airline Silver Airways could soon lose its home base in Florida over unpaid bills.

Local media WPTV is reporting that Broward County commissioners may soon be voting on whether to terminate the carrier's leases at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport over its failure to pay its bills since  2021.

The commission will be meeting next week and is seeking permission to terminate the agreement between the airport and the airline. Another possible move that the airport may take following the termination of the agreement is to impound one or more of the airline's ATR aircraft to recoup losses and it is understood legal representations have already been made on the issue. 

The airline once had a great reputation, however, in recent times it seems the airline has fallen down in terms of service and reliability. The carrier has just a two-point rating on TripAdvisor with over 900 Terrible ratings by unhappy customers who say the airline is 'Worst Airline Ever',  'Unreliable and no staff to handle problems', 'They are not to be trusted'  'FAKE airline. Do NOT book with them!!!!! you will not get your money refunded.'

It is a similar situation on SkyTrax where mostly verified passengers have rated Silver Airways just 2 out of 10  and hardly anyone would recommend the airline to other people.  On Yelp out of 514 reviews the airline scores just 1 and a half stars with many customers reporting long delays, last-minute cancellations, lack of transparency and poor service. 

Staff reviews seem to focus on low pay and lack of management direction or ability to perform satisfactorily on sites light indeed and glassdoor.

Many feel the airline is on the brink of bankruptcy as getting refunds from the airline for cancelled trips has proved to be very difficult and the amount of cancellations due to 'technical reasons' are mounting, so much so that concerns have been raised to the U.S. regulators the FAA. 

We have approached the airline for comment. 

Katie Loughlin from Silver Airways responded with the following:    "We saw your comment, and it is patently false. If you print this, you will be sued."

 

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Airbus and China aviation industry sign next phase in partnership

Airbus and China aviation industry sign next phase in partnership

General Terms Agreement to allocate 160 aircraft to Chinese airlines

Expanding capacity at Tianjin A320 Final Assembly Line to contribute to global rate 75

Upscaling the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels

During a French state visit to China, Airbus signed away various rights in a new cooperation agreement with its China Aviation industry partners.

Witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron, Airbus CEO, Guillaume Faury signed with the Tianjin Free Trade Zone Investment Company Ltd., and Aviation Industry Corporation of China Ltd., an agreement to expand A320 Family final assembly capacity with a second line at its Tianjin site. The agreement will contribute to Airbus’ overall rate objective of 75 aircraft per month in 2026 throughout its global production network.

Currently, Airbus has four A320 Family final assembly sites worldwide: Hamburg (Germany), Toulouse (France), Mobile (USA) and Tianjin (China). The Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FAL Asia) started operation in 2008 and has assembled over 600 A320 Family aircraft to date. In March 2023 the first A321neo aircraft was delivered from the line, marking a new era of enhanced A320 Family production versatility.

In addition, Airbus also signed General Terms of Agreement (GTA) with the China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) covering the purchase of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft. The GTA comprises earlier announcements for 150 A320 Family aircraft and for 10 A350-900 widebody aircraft orders, reflecting the strong demand in all market segments by Chinese carriers.

Boeing delivered the third and fourth O3b mPOWER satellites

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.”

Coastal Mississippi... a delight just waiting to be explored.....

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 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.

"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."

London Gatwick sees the return of Delta to compete with JetBlue.

After a gap of 15 years,  the U.S mega-carrier, Delta has returned to London Gatwick with daily non-stop flights to New York-JFK. 

“Delta started flying to the UK 45 years ago this month at Gatwick and so it is fitting that we are restarting our operations from Gatwick to the United States,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice president of Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India. “On board, customers will discover an elevated service and special touches to make their journey memorable.”

Stewart Wingate said:  “We are thrilled to welcome Delta Air Lines back to Gatwick. It means that we will expand furthermore our connectivity to the US. This trust from such a network carrier as Delta underlines the competitiveness and the operational capabilities of Gatwick.

Delta is a huge name in the transatlantic market and being able to offer passengers across London and the South East the opportunity to travel with them between Gatwick and New York City is fantastic, providing not only wider choice, but further competition. It also demonstrates the strong pull of Gatwick as an airport for big-name, long-haul airlines.”

In Canada, the average flight attendant 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.

China opens up..... Kuala Lumpur to Shantou starting on 16th June and Kota Kinabalu to Beijing starting on 1st July.

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 1st 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.

Worcester gets two new routes to Florida

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.”

Bringing More Travel Opportunities to Central Massachusetts