Samarkand is the second fastest growing airport since Covid in Europe and Central Asia

Samarkand International Airport (SKD) is the second fastest growing airport in Europe and Central Asia in the last five years and has just recorded its 22nd consecutive monthly increase in passenger numbers. 

New data released by the European airport industry organisation ACI Europe, show that SKD has grown passenger volumes by 191.6%% since the equivalent pre-Covid pandemic figures of 2019. This represents the second largest growth of any airport measured by ACI Europe, which represents over 500 airports in 55 countries. This was way ahead of the 9% average growth recorded between 2019-2024 across its airports in European / Central Asia, according to ACI Europe, whose airports stretch across Europe plus Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 

SKD has also revealed that July was its 22nd consecutive month of growth since October 2022, as volumes grew to 121,157 for the month, from 80,539 in 2023. This came after a record 647,085 passengers passed through the airport in the first six months of the year, up by 47% on the 2023 figure, with an additional 207,421 passengers using the new airport facility that acts as a gateway to Uzbekistan’s ancient and fast-growing city in the heart of the famous Silk Road. Average growth across the wider European region was just 5.8% in H1 when compared to 2023, says ACI Europe. 

Dmitry Martynenko, Commercial Director of Air Marakanda, says: “We have now achieved 22 consecutive months of passenger growth, driven by demand for domestic and international travel from Samarkand and the surrounding area, and by overseas carriers increasing the number of visitors to our incredible ancient city of Samarkand. Air Marakanda will continue to grow the route network and passenger numbers at Samarkand International Airport over the summer and for the remainder of 2024, as airlines increase capacity and open new city connections with Samarkand.”

H.I.S. broadens partnership with IBS Software to modernise the air shopping experience

 H.I.S., the leading Japanese travel agency specialising in affordable package tours, integrates IBS Software’s innovative technology solutions to modernise the air shopping experience for customers. 

Extending a 14-year strong partnership with IBS Software - a leading SaaS solutions provider to the global travel industry globally - H.I.S. will continue a transformative technology approach to travel. The renewed partnership allows H.I.S. to continue to create a modern customer experience using next-generation digital solutions. This is achieved by leveraging IBS Software next-generation technology solutions to integrate suppliers and/or partners within the customer offers process.

This shift towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning enabled automation will allow H.I.S. to deliver an enhanced shopping experience for customers, with heightened personalisation and targeted offers. The collaboration reflects H.I.S.’ ambition to meet the needs of the changing digital consumer. By continuing to implement IBS Software’s forward thinking technical solutions, H.I.S. will be ready to serve and adapt to their customers digital travel needs.

CDB Aviation Delivers First of Two A320neo Aircraft to Beibu Gulf Airlines

                       CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., announced the delivery of the first of two Airbus A320-200neo aircraft on lease to a new Chinese airline customer, Nanning-based Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines - “GX Airlines”.

The first LEAP-1A26 engine-equipped aircraft was delivered to the HNA Group-affiliated subsidiary in July 2024, with the second aircraft anticipated to be received by the carrier in September 2024. With the addition of CDB Aviation’s two A320neos, Beibu Gulf Airlines will now have 17 A320 Family aircraft, including eleven A320s and six A320neos.

“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with the HNA Group, while welcoming one of their subsidiary airlines as a new customer in China,” commented Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer. “These new technology aircraft, boasting lower fuel consumption and superior operating characteristics, will advance Beibu Gulf Airlines’ fleet growth.”

“China’s commercial aviation market demand is strong, while global aircraft resources are scarce. In this opportunity and challenge, Beibu Gulf Airlines is pleased to establish a friendly cooperative relationship with CDB Aviation,” said Li Rongkui, President of Beibu Gulf Airlines. “On the premise of continuously improving service quality, operational management capabilities, comprehensive service guarantee capabilities, as well as ensuring safety, Beibu Gulf Airlines will continue to introduce aircraft and open more routes to serve local economic development. We look forward to more cooperation with CDB Aviation in the future.”

SAS Traffic figures – July 2024

2.5 million passengers travelled with SAS in July

2.5 million passengers travelled with SAS in July, a 5 percent increase compared with the same month last year. SAS’ capacity increased by 4 percent and RPK increased by 6 percent, compared with July 2023. The flown load factor for July was 87 percent.

“We are pleased to see a continued increase in passenger volumes and a regularity rate of 99.3 percent in July. The load factor exceeded 87 percent, which marks one of SAS’ best months historically in terms of load factor. This month, we also announced broad partnership agreements with our future SkyTeam partner, Air France-KLM. This partnership will improve our connectivity and offer additional benefits to our loyal customers from September 1,” says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO of SAS.

SAS total traffic (scheduled and charter)	Jul24	Change1	Nov23- Jul24	Change 1
ASK (Mill.)	5,066	4.0%	32,874	9.0%
RPK (Mill.)	4,429	6.0%	25,588	11.8%
Load factor	87.4%	1.7 pp	77.8%	1.9 pp
No. of passengers (000)	2,535	5.0%	17,989	6.5%

1 Change compared to same period last year, pp = percentage points

Geographical development, schedule	Jul24           vs.          Jul23		Nov23-Jul24   vs.   Nov22-Jul23
	RPK	ASK	RPK	ASK
Intercontinental	6.8%	5.0%	13.2%	9.7%
Europe/Intra-Scandinavia	13.3%	9.9%	17.9%	14.8%
Domestic	-8.6%	-11.1%	-3.9%	-6.6%

Preliminary yield and PASK	Jul24	Nominal change1	FX adjusted change
Yield, SEK	1.00	-3.3%	-1.3%
PASK, SEK	0.87	-0.7%	1.3%
			Jul24
Punctuality (departure 15 min)			75.4%
Regularity			99.3%
Change in total CO2 emissions			9.7%
Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometre			-2.2%

Definitions:
RPK – Revenue passenger kilometres
ASK – Available seat kilometres
Load factor – RPK/ASK
Yield – Passenger revenues/RPK (scheduled)
PASK – Passenger revenues/ASK (scheduled)
Change in CO2 emissions per available seat kilometres – SAS passenger related carbon emissions divided with total available seat kilometers (incl non-revenue and EuroBonus tickets), rolling 12 months vs rolling 12 months previous year

From fiscal year 2020 we report change in CO2 emissions in total and per Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) to align with our overall goal to reduce our total CO2 emissions by 25% by 2025, compared to 2005.

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Air Canada's latest results

This week, Canada's leading airline, Air Canada reported its second quarter 2024 financial results.

Second quarter operating revenues of $5.5 billion, increased 2% year over year

Operating income of $466 million, decreased $336 million year over year

Adjusted EBITDA* of $914 million, decreased $306 million year over year

Leverage ratio* of 1.0 as at June 30, 2024, compared to 1.1 at end of 2023

"Air Canada today reported second quarter operating revenues of more than $5.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $914 million.  We saw healthy demand, with load factors remaining above historical averages. We remained sharply focused on our customers and operations throughout the quarter and experienced a 10-percentage point year-over-year improvement in our on-time performance, even with the increased flying. I thank our employees for their hard work in safely transporting 11.6 million customers in the quarter and I am pleased to see their efforts recognized as we were ranked the best airline in Canada and received five honours at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, the most of any Canadian carrier," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"When compared to the second quarter of 2023, we increased our capacity 6.5 per cent in the period.  Our adjusted unit cost was well contained, increasing 1.7 per cent. This was supported through rigorous cost discipline, which is always a top priority for us.  We will continue to adapt to market conditions, manage capacity proactively and contain costs through productivity and other initiatives. 

We further diversified our network, including with services to Singapore, Stockholm and India, and enhanced our operational flexibility by securing an additional eight Boeing 737-8 aircraft, set to enter service next year. These actions reaffirm our dedication to our customers, whom I thank for their continued loyalty.  We are proud of our role as Canada's leading global airline, connecting Canada to the world."

AGS Airports get top ranking in UK's Civil Aviation Authority’s annual accessibility report.

AGS Airports which owns and operates Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports, has welcomed the findings of the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) annual accessibility report.

The CAA has published its annual Airport Accessibility report, ranking every airport in the UK – with an annual passenger volume of more than 150,000 – on their accommodation and treatment of passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities. The report covers the 12-month period between April 2023 to March 2024.

Glasgow and Southampton airports both achieved a ‘very good’ rating and Aberdeen achieved a ‘good’ rating.

In addition to their overall survey provision, all airports were recognised for “effectively engaging with disability organisations through an Accessibility Forum”.

Ronald Leitch, Chief Operating Officer at AGS Airports, said: “We have committed significant investment and resources to ensure AGS continues to provide the highest level of assistance to passengers that require additional support. This has included investing in our facilities, delivering staff training and working with national charities, local access panels and our dedicated service providers to continually review our performance.

“We want everyone who travels through our airports to have a seamless journey so it is extremely pleasing and rewarding to see our efforts recognised by the CAA in this year’s accessibility report.”

Initiatives that AGS has implemented across its airports to enhance service levels for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities have included:

Big Airbus order from Cathay Pacific Group

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer-range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

13% Increase in the local market fir Icelandic budget airline PLAY.

improved forward bookings and yet again more punctual

Play carried 187.835 passengers in July 2024, achieving a load factor of 88.4%. Of these passengers flying with Play in July, 31.1% were flying from Iceland, 30.7% were flying to Iceland, and 38.2% were connecting passengers (VIA).

Play continues to gain market share in Iceland, with a 13% year-over-year increase in passengers flying from Iceland—58 thousand in July 2024 compared to 51 thousand in July 2023.

Play's on-time performance was 85.4% in July 2024, compared to 80.2% in July 2023.

"It is encouraging to see our number of passengers travelling from Iceland, our local market, rise by seven thousand year-over-year. We aim to have a wide selection of leisure destinations that people from Iceland want to visit, and we are seeing a good return from that decision. We feel that people in Iceland are happy with our services and the numbers reflect that.

As we reported in our Q2 result, the VIA market this summer has been soft due to growth in seat capacity on direct services across the Atlantic. This is reflected in our July traffic numbers. However, forward bookings are currently ahead of last year giving us the encouraging sign that the trend will reverse in the coming months. Also, we have adjusted our route network by reducing our seat capacity to/from North America for the fall and winter to reflect fluctuating demand better, and simultaneously, we are adding more seats to existing and new leisure markets in Europe and Africa, which have yielded higher returns for Play. This demonstrates the flexibility of our route network, allowing us to adjust based on demand. This adaptability would not have been possible without my outstanding colleagues at Play, who once again made Play the most punctual of the leading airlines operating flights from Keflavík International Airport. This significantly aids our operations and ensures our passengers enjoy timely and pleasant flights," says Einar Örn Ólafsson, Play's CEO.

Nasdaq Iceland has approved the application of Fly Play hf. for admission of its shares to trading on the Nasdaq Iceland Main Market. The Company’s shares will be admitted to trading on the Main Market on August 8, 2024 and correspondingly removed from trading on the First North Growth Market after the market closes on 7 August, 2024.

The prospectus, which is dated August 1, 2024, has been approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland. The prospectus is written in English, is accessible on the Company‘s website and is attached to this announcement. 

Arctica Finance acts as the manager of the admission to trading of the Company’s shares on the Main Market of Nasdaq Iceland.

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CDB Aviation Closes $700 Million Loan Aircraft Portfolio Financing

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., announced today that the lessor entered into a US$700 million facility agreement secured with a portfolio of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody and widebody aircraft on lease to various of the lessor’s airline customers.

The facility is financed by a group of leading MLA banks, including Natixis, CACIB, BNP Paribas, the Korean Development Bank, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Hong Kong Branch, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (acting through its offshore banking unit), CaixaBank, S.A., and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited.

Natixis, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (“CACIB”), and BNP Paribas acted as Coordinators and Sustainability Structuring Advisors. CACIB also acted as the Facility Agent, Security Trustee, and Sustainability Agent.

Emirates' first retrofitted 777 aircraft featuring its latest cabin interiors takes off to Geneva

Highly anticipated new Business Class seats and Premium Economy Class cabins debut for the first time on the 777

The first Emirates Boeing 777 with a nose-to-tail cabin refresh sporting a new look has rolled into service, as it prepares to take off to Geneva this afternoon as EK 83. The aircraft took a total of 37 days for a complete revamp and will be entering service four days ahead of its officially announced deployment schedule.

Watch this timelapse video offering a glimpse into how the first Emirates 777 cabins were gutted, fitted and refurbished by the airline’s seasoned in-house engineering team.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: “Emirates continues to carry out our commitment to deliver an unmatchable onboard experience with the introduction of our latest Boeing 777 with new signature interiors, raising the industry benchmark when it comes to premium travel. Our latest Business Class cabin offers customers a sense of exclusivity and privacy, complemented by our best-in-class suite of onboard products. The addition of our popular Premium Economy cabin, rated one of the best in the industry, injects modern sophistication to the flying experience and is carefully designed for more comfort.  With more Boeing 777s and A380s refreshed to sport our latest generation onboard products, customers can consistently have the very best experiences in the sky across both aircraft types.” 

The Emirates Boeing 777 entered refurbishment in early July, with a planned reconfiguration of the aircraft to make way for a new Premium Economy cabin consisting of 24 seats set in three rows in a 2-4-2 abreast layout. The cream leather seats, accentuated by wood panel finishings across the cabin, offer enhanced comfort with a 38-inch pitch, 19.5-inch-wide seats that recline 8 inches providing more space for stretching and relaxing, in addition to 6-way adjustable headrests.

Air Lease Corporation confirms the delivery of first of ten Boeing 787-10 aircraft to Korean Air

 Air Lease Corporation announced the delivery of one new Boeing 787-10 to Korean Air. This aircraft is the first of ten 787-10s confirmed to deliver to the Korean flag carrier from ALC’s orderbook with Boeing.

“ALC is thrilled to announce delivery of the first of ten new Boing 787-10 aircraft leased to our longtime customer, Korean Air. We are honoured to continue to build on our strong relationship with Korean and support its exciting and transformational growth as one of the world’s premier airlines,” said John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President of Air Lease Corporation.

“Korean Air is excited to extend our strong relationship with ALC,” said Walter Cho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air. “Korean Air has been a longtime loyal customer of ALC, and this addition will strengthen the future relationship. The 787-10 from ALC will be part of Korean Air's flagship aircraft, serving many key destinations around the world. With competitive and sustainable aircraft such as the 787-10, ALC and Korean Air will continue to strengthen the already strong relationship between the two companies.”

ALC currently has five Boeing aircraft on long-term lease to Korean Air, including two 777-300ERs and three 737-800s.

Korean Air is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of South Korea, with global headquarters located in Gonghang Dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air's international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together serve 130 cities in 45 countries, while its domestic division serves 20 destinations. It is among the top 20 airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried and is also the top-ranked international cargo airline. Incheon International Airport serves as Korean Air's international hub.

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Cathay Group orders 30 new Airbus A330neo jets

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer-range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Expanded codeshare partnership between British Airways and Bangkok Airways will allow seamless travel from the UK to destinations in Thailand and Cambodia

British Airways is offering a wider choice of Southeast Asian holiday destinations, thanks to an increase in flights from London to Bangkok, and an expanded codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways.

The airline announced earlier this year that its direct route from London Gatwick to Bangkok will return on 28 October 2024, operating three times per week to the Thai capital. As of this week, the service will increase to up to five times per week between January and March 2025.

Furthermore, its existing codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways has been expanded to open up five new destinations across Thailand and Cambodia, allowing customers to connect seamlessly in Bangkok onto:

Phuket (HKT), Thailand

Koh Samui (USM), Thailand

Chaing Mai (CNX), Thailand

Phnom Penh (PNH), Cambodia

Siem Reap (SAI), Cambodia

Customers will have the option to incorporate a stopover in Bangkok into their journey before continuing onto their final destination on the same ticket.

Bangkok Airways, known as Asia’s Boutique Airline, operates an extensive domestic network in Thailand, as well as to destinations across Cambodia, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Laos, and Singapore. It operates a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, each decorated in different liveries of its exotic destinations.

This agreement means British Airways customers travelling from or transiting through London will be able to connect to their final destination in Thailand or Cambodia on a single ticket. Customers can expect more choice and flexibility when travelling to one of these five popular holiday destinations.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, will also collect Avios and earn Tier Points when flying on Bangkok Airways on a British Airways codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, as well as hotel stays, car hire and more. Tier Points help Members earn status to unlock benefits such as lounge access and free seat selection.

Air Canada's Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Air Canada today reported its second quarter 2024 financial results.

Second quarter operating revenues of $5.5 billion, increased 2% year over year

Operating income of $466 million, decreased $336 million year over year

Adjusted EBITDA* of $914 million, decreased $306 million year over year

Leverage ratio* of 1.0 as at June 30, 2024, compared to 1.1 at end of 2023

"Air Canada today reported second quarter operating revenues of more than $5.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $914 million.  We saw healthy demand, with load factors remaining above historical averages. We remained sharply focused on our customers and operations throughout the quarter and experienced a 10-percentage point year-over-year improvement in our on-time performance, even with the increased flying. I thank our employees for their hard work in safely transporting 11.6 million customers in the quarter and I am pleased to see their efforts recognized as we were ranked the best airline in Canada and received five honours at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, the most of any Canadian carrier," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"When compared to the second quarter of 2023, we increased our capacity 6.5 per cent in the period.  Our adjusted unit cost was well contained, increasing 1.7 per cent. This was supported through rigorous cost discipline, which is always a top priority for us.  We will continue to adapt to market conditions, manage capacity proactively and contain costs through productivity and other initiatives. 

We further diversified our network, including with services to Singapore, Stockholm and India, and enhanced our operational flexibility by securing an additional eight Boeing 737-8 aircraft, set to enter service next year. These actions reaffirm our dedication to our customers, whom I thank for their continued loyalty.  We are proud of our role as Canada's leading global airline, connecting Canada to the world."

Turkish Airlines to offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi over its fleet

Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to more countries than any other, is committed to enhancing its in-flight experience through the integration of latest developments and innovative technologies. In line with this strategy, the national flag carrier is working to provide all passengers with free, unlimited, uninterrupted and fast connectivity service within two years, starting from the end of 2025.

As part of this initiative, Turkish Airlines plans to retrofit its existing fleet with the latest in-flight connectivity (IFC) technologies and equip the new aircraft with the most efficient IFC technologies available. This will enable the carrier to extend the IFC service currently offered in the majority of its fleet to the entire Turkish Airlines’ fleet, providing all passengers with unlimited, uninterrupted, and faster IFC service free of charge.

With the integration of the new IFC technologies, Turkish Airlines aims to meet the expectations of its passengers regarding their digital consumption habits during travel. Therefore, Turkish Airlines is open to collaboration with all suppliers, and the carrier is actively negotiating with local and international suppliers that can offer the best IFC service solutions for its entire fleet. In addition, Turkish Airlines provides support to Turkish companies in the development of solutions for this connectivity service. In this regard, Turkish Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TCI Aircraft Interiors, a certified aviation products provider, and Turksat, a regional leader in satellite technologies. The signing of the MoU highlights Turkish Airlines’ is considering leveraging national capacity and the carrier helps support Turkish companies in establishing a presence in the IFC sector.

Following the necessary feasibility studies, all stakeholders will work to develop an understanding and endeavour to transform the MoU into a definitive agreement. Turkish Airlines remains committed to ensuring the highest level of passenger experience and advancing the Turkish aviation industry.

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