Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for July 2024

Cathay Pacific has just released its traffic figures for July 2024, which showed that the airline achieved a new milestone by carrying more than two million passengers in a single month for the first time since the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,008,225 passengers in July 2024, an increase of 15.1% compared with July 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 16.1% year on year. Passenger load factor decreased by 3.8 percentage points to 85.5%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 21.2% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 32.5% to a total of 12,667,826, against a 39% increase in ASKs and a 31.6% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

The airline carried 126,797 tonnes of cargo in July 2024, an increase of 9.6% compared with July 2023. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.5% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.5 percentage points to 58.3%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1% year on year. In the first seven months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 10.3% to a total of 846,261 tonnes, against a 9.9% increase in AFTKs and a 3.8% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

 

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Marking the start of the traditional summer travel peak, July was a milestone month for Cathay Pacific as the airline carried over two million passengers for the first time in a single month since our rebuild, while the 85.5% load factor was the highest of any month so far this year.

“Such robust demand was driven by the increased popularity of long-haul flights to and from Hong Kong in the first half of the month among students and those visiting friends and relatives. This was followed by a surge in demand for travel to popular short-haul destinations in Japan and Southeast Asia in the second half of July. In addition, we saw strong demand for flights to Paris due to the Olympic Games, and we were delighted to carry a significant number of athletes and spectators to attend this momentous sporting occasion.

 

Cargo

Lufthansa Airbus takes off in fall with special ’helping hands’ livery

Exactly 25 years ago, Lufthansa Group employees in Frankfurt am Main founded the Help Alliance, Lufthansa Group’s aid organization. To mark this anniversary, Europe’s largest aviation company is sending a clear sign of support across the continent: an Airbus A321neo with the lettering ’help alliance’ and many colourful “helping hands” will be flying in Lufthansa’s European route network from autumn.

The aircraft with the help alliance sticker pays tribute to all the people who have shown great commitment to the aid organization over the past 25 years and collects donations. Those who hurry can symbolically leave a colourful handprint on the plane. There is space for a total of 300 handprints on the aircraft - they can be purchased at helpalliance.org. The money will be used to provide children in Africa and India with school books and meals, among other things.

Vivian Spohr, patroness of Help Alliance, says:  “It makes me proud and grateful that Lufthansa is sending out a strong and highly visible signal on the 25th anniversary of Help Alliance. The aid organization would be inconceivable without people who care for those who need support - either actively in projects around the world or as donors. The ”helping hands“ on the plane are a tribute to their great work. Every donation helps to give children all over the world a better future. With help alliance, we are taking responsibility - in the past and in the future, because we still have a lot to do.”

Interested parties can find more information and make a donation on the Help Alliance website. Link to the donation website: Helping Hands - help alliance

About Help Alliance:

help alliance was founded in 1999 by dedicated Lufthansa employees in order to bundle the commitment of many individual coworkers. To date, the organization has developed into a driving force and central pillar of the social commitment of the entire Lufthansa Group. With a focus on education, training and work, the help alliance is currently involved in over 60 projects in 29 countries, working together with competent local partners and using the strengths of the Lufthansa Group to create future prospects for children, young people and young adults.

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Alaska Airlines believes in JetZero's flying wing design for the future of passenger flight....

Alaska Airlines has set its sights on future aircraft development at JetZero's blended-wing body aircraft that will, according to the hype, provide up to 50% less fuel burn and lower emissions. The innovative design in which the fuselage and wings are merged into a single shape will, they say, greatly reduce aerodynamic drag. This will result in lower fuel costs and also lower carbon emissions. Plus, the carrier will be able to come up with unique seating arrangements that are simply not possible with the tube and wings design of the current aircraft designs. 

Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-founder, JetZero, "The biggest challenge for airlines is lowering fuel burn and emissions. Of all the great new technologies in work, the BWB design delivers the biggest impact by far. Airlines will see immediate benefit in cost savings, dramatically lower emissions and improved customer experience, compared to aeroplanes flying today. We’re thrilled to welcome Alaska to our team of innovators, and our belief that this aircraft will reshape aviation."

Diana Birkett Rakow, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines said: "At Alaska, we are always looking for ways to innovate and shape the future of air travel for our guests, employees, and industry. - We are proud to invest in JetZero’s development of this innovative next-generation aircraft, with a significant step-change in fuel efficiency. We and JetZero share a vision for more sustainable aviation, and we are excited to partner with them in creating that future."

The investment in JetZero, which includes options for future aircraft orders, was made through Alaska Star Ventures (ASV), the airline’s investment arm whose purpose is to influence the future of the aviation industry.

 

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RAF defends UK's skies using sustainable aviation fuel

The Royal Air Force is ensuring Britain is secure in a more sustainable manner by using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with normal jet fuel on routine operations for the first time.

Aircraft including Typhoon and Poseidon submarine hunters, operating from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, have been using a blend of conventional and SAF in a first for the air force as they take to the skies to defend the UK and allies.

Between November 2023 to February 2024, four million litres of blended sustainable aviation fuel were delivered to the Royal Air Force through a contract with World Fuel Services. A further five million one hundred and fifty thousand litres of fuel are being delivered over the period July to October 2024.

The fuel is used to power aircraft operating from Lossiemouth in Morayshire, northern Scotland. RAF Lossiemouth is one of the UK’s busiest RAF stations and is home to Typhoon aircraft that are ready to deploy 24/7, 365 as part of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert – keeping Britain secure.

Sustainable fuel sources include hydrogenated fats and oils, wood waste, alcohols, sugars, household waste, biomass and algae. As aviation currently accounts for nearly two-thirds of fuel used across defence, this first for the RAF demonstrates the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions with no compromise to national security.

In 2020, the Ministry of Defence updated aviation fuel standards to allow up to 50% sustainable sources to be used in fuel mixes for defence aircraft. Using blended SAF can cut aircraft carbon emissions by up to 80% and it is a significant step towards bolstering both operational capability and climate change and sustainability efforts.

The RAF has been trialling different types of fuel since the update to fuel standards. In November 2021, an RAF pilot flew a microlight aircraft powered by synthetic fuel created from air and water in a world first. In Spring 2022, a drone was flown on synthetic kerosene made by genetically modified bacteria and the RAF has tested an electric aircraft flown at RAF Cranwell.

In November 2022, an RAF Voyager successfully trialled the use of 100% sustainable aviation fuel, flying for 90 minutes from RAF Brize Norton – a world first for a wide-bodied military aircraft, a joint endeavour between the RAF, DE&S and industry partners Airbus, AirTanker and Rolls-Royce, with the fuel supplied by Air bp.

In 2023, the Royal Air Force successfully used SAF to achieve the first SAF blend air-to-air refuelling of a Typhoon and C-130 Hercules aircraft. This was followed by the RAF’s display typhoon being powered on blended SAF at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, the first time this aircraft has been displayed to the public on this fuel.

This work has helped to pave the way for the use of sustainable aviation fuels in the commercial sector, including a Government-funded transatlantic flight by Virgin Atlantic last year.

The use of sustainable aviation fuel represents a significant milestone in the RAF’s journey towards helping mitigate against climate change. By integrating sustainable practices into our operations, we are not only enhancing our ability to protect the nation and deliver excellence on operations, but also contributing to a more sustainable future for generations to come."

Group Captain Sarah Brewin

Station Commander, RAF Lossiemouth

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United Nigeria Airlines scores 98% reliability in July and passes IATA Operational Safety Audit

United Nigeria Airlines recently confirmed it successfully achieved its second IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.  IOSA certification is a globally recognized benchmark for operational safety, and this achievement demonstrates United Nigeria Airlines' dedication to maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality in its operations.

July Performance

In July the airline achieved 98% schedule reliability, operating 599 out of 610 scheduled flights, however, on-time performance was down to 67%, which the carrier was mainly due to adverse weather conditions.

Only 15 flights were cancelled, and 199 flights experienced delays. Of these delays, 80 percent were under one hour. The delays were mainly caused by unfavourable weather and unscheduled aircraft maintenance.

Current routes include;

Lagos-Abuja-Lagos

Lagos-Asaba-Lagos

Abuja-Asaba-Abuja

Lagos-Owerri-Lagos

Abuja-Owerri-Abuja

Lagos-Port Harcourt-Lagos

Abuja-Port Harcourt-Lagos

Lagos-Yenagoa-Lagos

Abuja-Yenagoa-Abuja

Lagos-Enugu-Lagos

Abuja-Enugu-Abuja

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Alaska Airlines celebrates the opening of Portland’s new terminal....

Alaska Airlines has been celebrating the grand opening of its beautifully renovated, world-class terminal at Portland International Airport, which has been years in the making. 

The carrier has also confirmed that Portland is the first location where they are using new proprietary and innovative technology and processes to transform the airport experience and move passengers more seamlessly through the lobby and into security in five minutes or less. 

Shane Jones, senior vice president of fleet, revenue products and real estate at Alaska Airlines stated:  “As our second largest hub, Portland is an essential part of Alaska’s future. Our deep collaboration and joint investment with the Port of Portland on this new world-class terminal highlights our focus on improving how our guests travel.”

Charu Jain, senior vice president of innovation and merchandising at the carrier remarked: “With nearly 90% of our passengers now checking in before they arrive at the airport, we’ve launched our lobby of the future experience in Portland which simplifies dropping off bags and gets guests quickly through the lobby so they can enjoy everything the new terminal has to offer,”

Alaska Airlines has been the largest carrier in Portland for more than 20 years and the presence at the airport continues to expand — Alaska and Horizon Air flights have increased by 17% from 2023 to 2024. That translates to 110 peak daily flights to 55 nonstop destinations from PDX, with 29 of those locations served exclusively by Alaska, providing a crucial transportation link to smaller cities and communities. The airline recently started a new nonstop service to Miami and Nashville from PDX, and in the coming months, they will be adding nonstop flights to Atlanta and New Orleans. 

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Maxar’s Third and Fourth WorldView Legion Satellites Performing Well After Launch

Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial intelligence, has confirmed that its third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier today from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

The satellites are successfully communicating with Maxar’s ground teams. They are now going through the commissioning process, with first images expected in the early fall.

These two spacecrafts were launched into mid-inclination orbit (MIO), greatly expanding the capabilities of Maxar’s industry-leading Earth imaging constellation and enabling dawn-to-dusk collection. With this successful launch, Maxar’s constellation now includes eight satellites on orbit, including four next-generation WorldView Legion satellites. The first two WorldView Legion satellites were launched in May 2024, with first images released by Maxar in July 2024.

“Maxar is on a mission to push the geospatial industry forward through secure solutions that deliver more real-time insights for our government and commercial customers, and this successful launch plays a pivotal role in that journey,” said Maxar Intelligence CEO Dan Smoot. “Having multiple WorldView Legion satellites in MIO dramatically increases our ability to collect high-resolution, 30 cm-class imagery across more times of day and gain more visibility in areas that face frequent weather events like morning fog.”

Archer Delivers First Midnight Aircraft To The United States Air Force

Archer Aviation Inc. confirmed this week that it has delivered its first Midnight aircraft to the USAF to evaluate as part of its AFWERX Agility Prime contract valued at up to $142M*.

The delivery comes after the U.S. Department of Defense accepted Midnight’s military airworthiness assessment, a critical approval that confirms Midnight’s readiness for flight testing by AFWERX. This allows AFWERX to conduct government-directed testing of the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and validate operational and military-specific mission concepts.

A team of USAF personnel worked alongside Archer’s flight test team to ramp up operations with Midnight at Salinas. Together, these teams executed simulated medical evacuation, cargo, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights.

"This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation," said Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation. "Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology."

"Archer's Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities," said Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force. "We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission."

With its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, proprietary electric powertrain and low noise profile, Archer's Midnight aircraft is well-suited for military aviation operations.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft is expected to provide a much safer, cost-effective and quieter alternative to existing internal combustion engine options. As such, it holds the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles.

*The “up to” contract value is subject to certain conditions being met as defined in the contracts.

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Lufthansa Airlines has opened its new premium lounge in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport

Lufthansa Airlines has opened its new premium lounge in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey. Guests can relax or work in the 600 square meter space before their flight. 

The centrepiece of the lounge is the central Skyline Bar. There, passengers will find a large selection of cocktails, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks. Plus craft beer on tap from New Jersey, the “Garden State”. On the culinary front, the Lufthansa Group offers its guests a selection of fresh regional products in the bistro area. In summer, the menu includes cornbread from Jersey with candied tomato jam and sandwiches with trumpet mushrooms, bacon, crisp lettuce and tomato chutney on sourdough bread. 

First Class passengers and HON Circle members have the opportunity to enjoy an à la carte menu in a private dining area. They can also choose from a selection of top wines and champagne. 

A total of around 10 million euros was invested in the new lounge.

Victoria Schuster, Vice President Product & Customer Experience Lufthansa Airlines, says: “We are proud to be able to present our guests in Newark with a new lounge that sets new standards. It offers private travellers cozy retreats for relaxation and our business customers generous workspaces. This lounge is a testament to our commitment to the customer as we strive to continually improve the experience for our guests, on the ground and in the air. That’s why we continue to invest in our offering around the world, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere, to meet Lufthansa’s premium standards and, above all, those of our guests.”

American Express to open a new Centurion Lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport in 2025

American Express has released its plans to open a new Centurion Lounge at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in 2025.

Inspired by Utah’s breathtaking topography, the nearly 16,000 square foot lounge will give eligible Card Members a place to relax, work and enjoy a delicious meal before boarding their flight, an outdoor terrace with views of the Wasatch Mountains, a full bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages1, a full-service coffee bar featuring beans from a local roaster, a dedicated wellness room, and other signature Centurion Lounge amenities. The newly constructed lounge is scheduled to open in the new Concourse B in 2025 as part of Phase 4 of The New SLC Airport Redevelopment programme.

“American Express has strong roots in the Salt Lake City community. It’s home to many of our colleagues and Card Members and a popular vacation destination for US and global Card Members” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “The new Centurion Lounge will give eligible Card Members a taste of what this beautiful destination has to offer and feature premium amenities for all types of travelers.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the Centurion Lounge to The New SLC International Airport,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director, Salt Lake City International Airport. “Guests will enjoy what promises to be an inviting atmosphere to relax and refresh during their journey. We’re excited to work with American Express to bring this never before seen offering at SLC to life.”

The Centurion Lounge at SLC will feature local design elements and artwork, luxury amenities, and premium food and beverage offerings, including:

An Outdoor Terrace with Picturesque Mountain Views: The outdoor seating area will be equipped with heaters and fans for use year-round, providing guests with views of the airfield and the Wasatch Mountains.

Delicious Food from an Award-Winning, Resy Chef featuring Fresh, Local Ingredients: Guests will be able to enjoy a hot breakfast, a rotating selection of main courses, sides, salads, and soups throughout the day, and freshly made desserts.

“Blue Roast by American Express” Coffee Bar: A coffee bar with counter service featuring espresso beverages, cold brew, and rotating seasonal specialty coffee drinks from a local roaster.

Full Bar with Bespoke Cocktail Menu and Wine List: A wide selection of drinks will be available to order from two bars, including a locally inspired cocktail menu featuring alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages designed by Centurion Lounge Mixologist Jim Meehan and a selection of wines hand-picked by Anthony Giglio, Centurion Lounge Wine Director and sommelier.

Comfortable Seating Areas All Types of Travelers: Guests will have a wide range of seating options to choose from, including cozy armchairs, cafe seating and dining banquettes, quiet workspaces, a dedicated wellness room, and more.

A Longstanding Supporter of the Salt Lake City Community

American Express has strong ties to the Salt Lake City area and is committed to continuing to support the local community. The American Express National Bank headquarters is in Sandy, Utah. Since 2019 the American Express Center for Community Development has provided over $500 million in community development loans, investments, and grants to support small business resilience and growth in the state of Utah. Salt Lake City is home to many Card Members and a popular travel destination for those looking to enjoy all that the area has to offer, from world famous ski resorts and national parks to cultural and sporting events. Delta Center, the home of the Utah Jazz NBA franchise and Utah Hockey Club of the NHL, is the region’s premier sports and entertainment venue and part of the American Express Venue Collection™, where eligible Card Members can enjoy on-site benefits including dedicated entrances or fast lanes and 10% off concessions (excluding alcohol) when they use their eligible Card, plus special ticket access to select events (while supplies last).

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Iraqi Airways renews its contract with SITA

Iraqi Airways has renewed its partnership agreement with SITA, the leading provider of information technology services in the air transport sector, to maintain its track record of continuous innovation in passenger and baggage management systems, boosting the travel experience on board the Green Bird and its partner airlines.

Key in upgrading the travel experience will be the implementation of SITA’s Flex Hybrid system. This will speed up passenger processing at Baghdad and Basra airports, providing staff quick and secure access to airline systems and applications through cloud infrastructure with high flexibility and scalability to meet fluctuating demand.

Iraqi Airways will also boost its baggage management capabilities with SITA Bag Manager Online, which offers advanced visibility of each bag’s journey. The solution tracks every bag that is loaded onto a plane, a ULD, or a cart, matching each bag with departing passengers, tracking them in real time throughout the airport, and ensuring they are loaded onto the correct plane, offering passengers peace of mind and allowing staff to focus on more complex tasks.

Introducing Toronto-Pearson - Thunder Bay new route with Porter Airlines Embraer E195-E2 jets

The Canadian regional carrier, Porter Airlines is introducing the newest route with its Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Thunder Bay International Airport. Flights will operate with three roundtrips per week.

Porter has been serving the Thunder Bay community since 2009, currently with up to five times daily roundtrip flights between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and twice daily flights between Ottawa using the 78-seat Dash 8-400 aircraft.

Toronto-Pearson service begins October 16, 2024.

Flying on the new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2, all passengers will enjoy Porter’s elevated economy experience with no middle seats, complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, free premium snacks, and free, fast WiFi.

“This new Toronto-Pearson service will increase our passenger capacity in Thunder Bay by more than 10%, providing everyone with more options to fly with Porter,” said Kevin Jackson, president, Porter Airlines. “Thunder Bay has been very loyal to Porter, and we are committed to providing the community with a variety of service options at competitive fares. We hope to increase flights on this route as we introduce more new E195-E2s into our fleet next year.”

Air Canada to resume Ottawa to London Heathrow service

Air Canada has confirmed it will be resuming scheduled service between Ottawa and London Heathrow from 31st March 2025.  The airline will operate the route four times a week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

"We are very pleased to solidify Air Canada's leadership serving our country's capital with the resumption of trans-Atlantic services beginning next spring. In addition to London being a top global destination, Heathrow is one of the world's primary global gateways as well as home to Air Canada's largest international operations. Conveniently located together with our Star Alliance partner airlines in The Queen's Terminal, Air Canada offers customers easy connections to a vast array of more than 30 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa with our airline partners. With continued demand for visiting friends, relatives, leisure and tourism, as well as supporting business and corporate travel, this route gives customers from both the National Capital Region and abroad direct, convenient international travel options to and from Ottawa," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President – Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada.

"We are looking forward to the future delivery of Air Canada's new Airbus A321XLR fleet. The economics, optimum cabin size and range of the XLR which is expected to begin arriving in late 2025, will enable us to consider operating this important international route with greater frequencies and potentially with year-round service," concluded Mr. Galardo.

Surf Air Mobility reports second quarter financial results.....

Surf Air Mobility, has its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, showing a net loss of $27million.

“Our financial results for the second quarter demonstrate strong execution by the Surf Air Mobility team. Revenue exceeded our expectations and Adjusted EBITDA was materially higher than our initial plan. We remain focused on executing our strategy and on our unwavering commitment to expand our footprint and leadership position in the regional air mobility market,” said Deanna White, Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of Surf Air Mobility.

She continued, “In the last 90 days, we have moved rapidly to implement operational improvements and stringent management of operating expenses. These efforts resulted in second quarter positive adjusted EBITDA for our regional airline operations, formerly known as Southern Airways, reversing a longstanding trend. In addition to driving substantive improvement in those operations, we are simultaneously advancing our Technology operations, including the ‘SurfOS’ technology platform and our EP1 Caravan electrification initiative.

She concluded, “We are fundamentally improving our operating model and refining strategies to reduce our cost of operations. In addition, we plan to sub-capitalize key initiatives to drive efficiencies and more effectively manage capital. To that end, we recently announced a ground-breaking new venture, Surf Air Technologies, powered by Palantir Technologies. Together with Palantir, we will develop, market and sell AI-powered software tools to create a category-defining operating system for the advanced air mobility industry. This venture uniquely places Surf Air Mobility at the forefront of innovation in our industry.”

Unical expands European sales & support with new office in Surrey, UK

Unical Aviation, a leader in the commercial aerospace Used Serviceable Material market, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Surrey, United Kingdom. This expansion underscores the company's commitment to strengthening its footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), allowing for enhanced service delivery and closer client engagement in these vital markets.

Located in the scenic town of Dorking in Surrey, the new office will serve as a strategic hub for sales and regional support operations. The new office will support stronger relationships with partners and customers throughout the EMEA region.