BOC Aviation places three 747-8 cargo planes with Atlas Air

BOC Aviation Limited confirmed today,  the placement of three Boeing 747-8 freighters with new customer Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. All three aircraft are powered by General Electric GEnx engines and are scheduled for delivery in 3Q 2024.

“Atlas manages the world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft and is ideally placed to partner with us in the operation of these latest-generation aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. “As global airfreight volumes hit record highs this transaction highlights our ability to provide capacity solutions to a wide variety of airline customers.”

“As the world’s largest operator of 747 freighters, we are delighted to work with BOC Aviation to expand our widebody fleet with these three 747-8Fs,” said Michael Steen, Atlas Air Worldwide Chief Executive Officer. “Our growth in this aircraft type underscores Atlas’ commitment to the 747-freighter platform and the value it provides our customers, including significant payload capacity and unique nose-loading capability. Through our ongoing investments in innovation and our fleet, we continue to create additional operational flexibility, providing world-class service and acting as a trusted partner to our customers."

The 747-8 freighter excels as the most capable, technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly widebody freighter on the market. The 747-8F provides the largest load capacity in the market, with a 20% increase in payload capacity over the 747-400F, along with 25% more capacity than the 777-200LRF. The 747-8 has a 16% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the 747-400F. Additionally, the 747-8 freighter is the only factory-built freighter with nose-loading capability, meeting the long-term demands of the airfreight sector. Atlas stands out as the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft, with a fleet that includes 65 aircraft, consisting of 17 747-8Fs, 39 747-400Fs, 4 Large Cargo Freighters (LCFs) and 5 passenger 747-400s

Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers the broadest array of Boeing 747, 777, 767 and 737 aircraft for domestic, regional and international cargo and passenger operations.

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Iberia and SEPLA reach an agreement on pilot profit share deal

Iberia and SEPLA signed an agreement this week that marks an important development in the current 10th Agreement and that involves extending its validity until 31 December 2027. As a result of the negotiations carried out, the company will be able to better share its profits with employees.

Thanks to this agreement, pilots will receive additional income based not only on economic results, but also when objectives linked to operational excellence are achieved: punctuality, NPS (level of customer satisfaction) and productivity.

According to Marco Sansavini, the president of Iberia, “the agreement with SEPLA is a key piece for building the company's future. Sharing financial and operational successes with people allows us to feed our virtuous circle, which is built on achieving excellent results to be able to invest even more in retaining our talent, in improving customer service and in working toward environmental sustainability.”

 

Main aspects of the agreement
Some of the key elements in the agreement are:

VistaJet celebrates 20 years of making dreams reality

As VistaJet marks two decades as the global leader in private aviation, the company celebrates their rich history and their commitment to discovering all the planet can offer with its ever-expanding Private World program. Private World is a gift for all VistaJet Members, to fully immerse in the iconic silver and red legacy.

Luxury Evolves, Private World Responds

Luxury travel is undergoing a paradigm shift. As highlighted in a recent McKinsey & Company report, “Ultra-high-net-worth individuals prefer quiet luxury with personalized service — targeting remote, private destinations accessible via private airports that feature tailored experiences available nowhere else.”1 VistaJet Private World sits at the forefront of this trend, designing moments as individual as the travelers themselves.

A World of Enthralling Discoveries

VistaJet Members can fly to destinations in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. And as Members, they can also unlock the world with the experiences crafted by the Private World’s team and its network of hundreds of trusted partners. In fact, in 2023 Member requests more than doubled from the previous year, and 2024 is on track to surpass this, demonstrating the profound interest in exploring the world and meeting the incredible people that inhabit it. Requests are as unique as the Members themselves, including:

Exclusive Access: Witnessing the heart-pounding action of Formula 1 races worldwide thanks to VistaJet's exclusive partnership with Ferrari and private dinners with drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Expert Experiences: From personalized wine tours through rolling vineyards around the world to embarking on rejuvenating wellness retreats across breathtaking locations in Sweden, Peru, or Ibiza.

Unforgettable Celebrations: Bespoke itineraries that turn visions into reality, ensuring every milestone is marked — from special birthdays to life-changing IPOs.

A Brand to Accompany a Life's Journey

Private World is a testament to VistaJet’s commitment to continuously exploring the future with its Members and rewarding their preference to fly silver and red. Matteo Atti, Chief Marketing Officer at Vista says: “We see Private World as an enriching service for our Members’ lives. They trust in us as they fly to the world, and we want to ensure every second, from booking a flight to experiencing an unforgettable moment, is exceptional. The future is out there, and we want to discover it with them.”

The newest curated experiences and events for VistaJet Members include:

Administrators want more time to find a buyer for Australia's troubled Rex Group.

The administrators of the Rex jet operation are asking for more time to find a buyer, according to Australia's ABC News.  The firm Ernst & Young filed court documents on Wednesday, requesting the convening period be extended until 25th November in order to give them more time to secure a buyer and finalize the sales process for the airline.

Rex entered voluntary administration on  30 July with an estimated debt of around $500 million and has 4800 creditors, among which includes some of its hard-hit staff, who now have to wait even longer before getting paid.  

In a notice to creditors, ey stated:  "Whilst it remains the Administrator's intention to convene the meetings of creditors of the Rex Group at the first opportunity, it is our current view that the greatest return to creditors is likely to be derived from a sale or recapitalisation of the business as a going concern.  -  More time is required to achieve such an outcome.  We expect to have a more informed view as to what time is required in the next two weeks."

Early indications are that two 'large' companies are said to be 'somewhat' interested in taking on part of the Rex Group, however, nothing has been announced thus far and any negotiations would be at a preliminary stage. 

Jetstar linking Singapore and Sri Lanka from November

From 21st November this year, Qantas Group's budget carrier Jetstar Asia will link Singapore and Sri Lanka, with a new service to Colombo five times a week.  The airline will operate the route with Airbus A320 aircraft on a split schedule that offers morning and evening departures from Changi Airport providing choice for those starting their journey in Singapore and easy connections for those travelling via Singapore on Jetstar Airways’ daily service from Melbourne or the up to six weekly flights from Perth.

Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone said Colombo was the gateway to Sri Lanka and the perfect holiday escape, "Sri Lanka is a vibrant destination known for its stunning scenery and warm hospitality and is must-visit place for many.-  With our incredible low fares, we’re excited to enable more people to experience this wonderful country with its stunning beaches, delicious food and fascinating history and culture.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Chalaka Gajabahu said Jetstar Asia’s direct flights between Singapore and Sri Lanka was set to supercharge the growth of the tourism industry.  "Jetstar Asia is making history as the first low-cost carrier to offer direct flights from Singapore to Colombo opening up exciting opportunities for travellers to visit Sri Lanka. On behalf of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, we congratulate Jetstar Asia and look forward to a successful partnership that ensures memorable journeys for all our valued customers.”

From Thursday 21 November 2024^#

Flight #	Frequency	From	To	Depart	Arrive
3K331	Mon, Wed, Sat	Singapore	Colombo	2100	2230
3K332	Mon, Wed, Sat	Colombo	Singapore	2330	0600 +1

3K333	Thu, Sun	Singapore	Colombo	0855	1030
3K334	Thu, Sun	Colombo	Singapore	1130	1800

^#Subject to government and regulatory approval.

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Qantas was the most punctual major Australian domestic airline in July......

Qantas was the most punctual major domestic airline in July, with the latest Government data showing Qantas flights (Qantas and QantasLink) departed on time 74.1 per cent of the time, compared to 73 per cent for its main competitor.

From April to the end of July, almost 80 per cent of Qantas flights departed on time, nearing long term averages.

It was the highest July result for Qantas since 2021 but down slightly on recent months with airlines impacted by severe weather events.

Challenging weather conditions including strong winds created delays and cancellations around the network on 27 of 31 days last month and airlines were limited to just one runway at Sydney Airport on 9 separate days.

3.2 per cent of Qantas domestic flights were cancelled in July, slightly lower than June’s result of 3.3 per cent.

Jetstar was severely impacted by the global Crowdstrike outage with close to 150 flights cancelled as a result. In total, 3.7 per cent of Jetstar’s domestic flights were cancelled in July and 65 per cent of flights departed on time.

Cessna SkyCourier gains type certification in the Philippines

Textron Aviation confirmed this week that its Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop has been awarded type certification by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).  This will greatly expand the aircraft’s ability to support operational activities in remote areas of southeast Asia. The first SkyCourier in the region – A 19-seat passenger variant – is planned to be delivered in the second half of 2025 to Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR), a wholly owned subsidiary of ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative in the Philippines.

“Demand for the SkyCourier continues to grow throughout the APAC region due to the aircraft’s outstanding performance and reliability,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations for Textron Aviation. “The SkyCourier features maximum cabin flexibility with low operating costs and has quickly proven to be an excellent business tool for customers and their missions. We’re excited to celebrate this great milestone for the program.”

With the ability to be operated by a single pilot, and also equipped with a generous payload capacity, the SkyCourier is an ideal solution for air freight, passenger and special mission needs. The aircraft is highly adaptable and can easily adjust configurations to effectively complete virtually any mission, supporting a significant return on investment. The aircraft also has capabilities to support a wide range of operational activities in remote areas.

IAG Cargo opens new operations control centre at London Heathrow

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), today announces the opening of its brand new, cutting-edge control centre sitting at the centre of its largest hub at London Heathrow. The new London Operations Control Centre will significantly improve on the day decision making with comprehensive real-time data and workload forecasting tools used by teams managing over 2,000 freight movements per day allowing them to take proactive action to mitigate risks to the operation. 

IAG Cargo has opened its new London Operations Control Centre, a major step forward in its plan to drive operational performance improvements for its customers

The new facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology for real-time cargo monitoring, is designed to manage over 2,000 freight movements per day

At the heart of this facility sits the latest in audio-visual and data visualisation technology at every workstation, along with a new digital wall to improve the control team’s coordination, situational awareness and visualisation of key operational data. This investment will support positive changes in operational efficiency, allowing teams to quickly view real-time positioning of all freight and equipment across the vast London Heathrow hub, as well as key data from various operational systems, all within a centralised platform.

David Rose, Director of London Operations at IAG Cargo said, “The opening of our new London Operations Control Centre is the latest example of IAG Cargo’s investment in our commitment to be a customer-led and operationally efficient business and a great place to work for our teams. This brand-new facility represents a major leap forward for our operational management in London and will totally change how we oversee our day to day operations, giving our teams the tools to boost our operational quality and equip them with technology that allows us to anticipate and mitigate potential issues before they arise. This is a significant step forward as part of our broad and ambitious transformation plan at IAG Cargo.”

Alongside this investment in new technology, IAG Cargo is also introducing six new senior management roles to lead day to day operations in its new control centre, ensuring consistent high quality performance for customers around the clock. Teams working in the new London Operations Control Centre have also played an active part in the development of the new facility, with their feedback being used to shape the final design.

 

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Airborne Capital closes its debut investment-grade corporate note financing

Airborne Capital Limited, a leading global aircraft asset manager, announced the closing of a US$20.0 million investment-grade rated corporate note financing offered through its U.S. subsidiary Airborne Capital USA LLC. Proceeds from the transaction will be used to refinance existing debt and for growth capital.

Airborne Capital currently manages in excess of US$2 billion of aircraft assets for a wide variety of institutional investors and airlines across the globe. 

“This new capital raise paves the way for further growth and allows us to continue expanding our asset management business. This financing reflects our strong commercial position, and better positions us to serve our clients in the increasingly evolving aviation space” said Hari Raghavan, Partner at Airborne Capital. “This transaction marks a significant milestone for Airborne. It represents the confidence that institutional investors have in Airborne Capital.”

Brean Capital, LLC served as Airborne Capital’s Exclusive Financial Advisor and Sole Placement Agent in connection with the transaction.

Airborne Capital is a specialist aircraft leasing and asset management business headquartered in Ireland and with a presence in Shannon, Dublin, London, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Airborne Capital manages approximately US$2 billion of aircraft assets through active relationships with a global set of investors. Airborne Capital is substantially owned by the management of the group.

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Sierra Space takes artificial intelligence to U.S. Space Systems Command’s Space Domain Awareness TAP Lab Accelerator

Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defence tech prime that is Building a Platform in Space to Benefit Life on Earth has been selected to participate in the U.S. Space Systems Command’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab Apollo Accelerator Cohort 4. 

Sierra Space will be working on AI and Machine Learning capabilities to proactively detect potentially dangerous events that could threaten friendly satellites in orbit.

The accelerator program is dedicated to enhancing space domain awareness and advancing space defence capabilities. It provides a vital platform for collaborating with industry experts, defence agencies and technology partners with the goal of improving the safety and security of space operations.

By joining Cohort 4, Sierra Space will work in parallel with other forward-thinking companies to address the key challenges in space defence. Throughout the program, Sierra Space will develop new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities, ensuring that our country remains at the forefront of space domain awareness and defence innovation. Sierra Space shares the SDA’s commitment to safeguarding the future of space operations and exploration.

“At Sierra Space, we are deeply committed to revitalizing the U.S. defence industrial base,” said Sierra Space Chief Executive Officer, Tom Vice. “Our participation in the SDA TAP Lab underlines the work we are doing to develop and deploy Sierra Space Black OS, the next generation, highly scalable and secure software operating system powered by advanced AI.”

Viking gets another new ship.

Viking has just taken delivery of the company’s latest ship for the Nile River, the Viking Hathor. The delivery ceremony occurred when the new ship was presented at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt. The 82-guest Viking Hathor joins the company’s growing fleet of state-of-the-art ships for the Nile River and will sail Viking’s popular 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.

"We are proud to welcome the Viking Hathor to our award-winning river fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “With its abundance of cultural treasures and ancient antiquities, Egypt has always been a destination of great interest to curious travellers, including our guests. We believe our ships are by far the most elegant vessels sailing the Nile River, and we look forward to introducing even more explorers to this fantastic destination in the years to come.”

The Viking Hathor & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet

Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new Viking Hathor is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. An identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris and the Viking Aton, the Viking Hathor features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Additional ships in the Egypt fleet include the Viking Ra and the MS Antares.

Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary

During the 12-day Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or the Grand Egyptian Museum. Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day roundtrip cruise on the Nile River, featuring visits to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan, and a visit to a colorful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.

CDB Aviation delivers an Airbus A330-300P2F to MNG Airlines

CDB Aviation, announced this week the delivery of one Airbus A330-300 Passenger to Freighter (“P2F”) aircraft to a new customer in Türkiye, MNG Airlines.

The high-in-demand A330 P2F aircraft, which offers more cargo volume and lower cost-per-ton than other available freighter aircraft types with a similar range, will help advance MNG Airlines’ ambitious growth and fleet modernization targets.

“We are delighted to welcome MNG Airlines as our newest customer in the EMEA region, as we continue to grow our fleet of efficient medium-sized freighters that provide airline customers with the needed capacity to modernize their fleets and enhance cargo operations,” commented Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer.

Ali Sedat Özkazanç, Chief Executive Officer of MNG Airlines, stated: “As part of an ongoing transformation in the aviation industry, cargo transport is playing an increasingly critical role. We are further enhancing its capacity to adapt to the industry’s dynamic environment by adding new aircraft to our growing fleet. At the same time, while we are modernizing our fleet, we are expanding our regional and international network by improving our service quality with this new aircraft and the other already existing A330 P2Fs in our fleet. This delivery by CDB Aviation to MNG Airlines represents a strengthening of the cooperation between the two companies and an essential step for MNG Airlines' growth strategy. The delivery of the Airbus A330-300 P2F aircraft increases our cargo operations capacity and contributes to our sustainability goals by reducing our carbon footprint with lower fuel consumption and emission levels. Therefore, we believe this collaboration can set an example for other airlines in the industry.”

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Austrian Airlines takes off with sharkskin.......

Starting in December 2024, Austrian Airlines will be the first airline globally to equip their Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with innovative “AeroSHARK” surface technology. 

On a total of four Boeing 777-200ERs the fuselage and engine nacelles will be covered with the “sharkskin” film developed by Lufthansa Technik and the company BASF. The significantly reduced frictional resistance resulting from the film will reduce the CO2 emissions of Austrian Airlines’ long-haul fleet and fuel consumption.

As of winter 2024 four Boeing 777-200ERs will be equipped with innovative Lufthansa Technik film

Less frictional resistance reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions

Austrian Airlines to be the first airline with “sharkskin” on B777-200ERs

Savings of over 8,000 tons of CO2

By applying a total of 830 square meters of Riblet film per aircraft to the surface of the fuselage and engine nacelles, a saving of around one percent of the total fuel consumption per flight can be achieved. Applied to four B777s, the technology can achieve savings of around 2,650 tons of fuel and over 8,300 tons of CO2. This corresponds to around 46 flights from Vienna to New York.

“We take our responsibility seriously and take every possible step to reduce CO2 emissions within our flight operations. At one percent, the sharkskin’s efficiency potential may not sound like much, but in total it will save thousands of tons of CO2 per year on long-haul flights,” says Austrian COO Francesco Sciortino. “Even though our B777s are in their final years of service, we take this investment to get one step closer to our CO2 reduction targets.”

“The fact that we are rolling out the fuel-saving sharkskin technology on another aircraft type with Austrian Airlines is also good news for other Boeing 777-200ER operators,” emphasizes Harald Gloy, COO at Lufthansa Technik. “These are the first of hopefully many more aircraft of this type that will have lower fuel consumption and an improved carbon footprint thanks to AeroSHARK.”

Thai AirAsia X ready to fly direct between Sydney and Bangkok

Thai AirAsia X beckons everyone back to Thailand ahead of the peak end of year travel season with direct Sydney-Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) flights, now available six  times a week starting from Sydney from 2 December 2024 to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) with an enhanced variety of Fly Thru connecting routes. 

Seats are on sale now starting from just AUD$333* direct to Bangkok - or Fly Thru via Don Mueang Airport to reach many Australian leisure favourite destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi in Thailand and internationally to Da Nang in Vietnam, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad in India  and many more destinations starting from only AUD$422.43* each way.  

Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia X, commented: “Thai AirAsia X is  returning to Sydney with a better network, schedule and enhanced connectivity spanning over 50 Aussie favourite destinations in Thailand and beyond to meet strong demand. 

“At the same time,  we are increasing the number of flights between both destinations to fly six times weekly every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (2 flights), and Saturday. Arriving at Don Mueang Airport (DMK) makes the route even more convenient, placing passengers just 30 minutes from central Bangkok via public transport options such as the sky train (Red Line), airport bus, and taxi cabs. Outbound travellers with connecting services will also save time at the airport by being able to quickly pass from check-in through immigration to their gate at the same airport with no need to change airport terminals like before. 

American Airlines CR Smith Museum inspires the next generation of aviators

On National Aviation Day, American Airlines honours the incredible achievements of the aviation industry and reflects on the boundless potential it holds for the future. In a field where innovation and exploration are fundamental processes, American is committed to building a diverse pipeline of future aviation professionals.

Empowering the next generation is crucial to the continued progress and advancement of modern flight. American supports several endeavours that offer hands-on instruction and interactive learning for young minds, including the American Airlines CR Smith Museum’s award-winning Aviation STEM Summer Camp.

With a focus on STEM, the week-long summer camp provides a robust, in-depth curriculum and exposure to inspiring industry professionals. This summer, American sponsored 56 students from Clinton P. Russell Elementary School and Girls Inc. of Tarrant County for a fully funded summer camp opportunity. Students were immersed in STEM concepts and aviation with the goal of helping them build confidence and recognize that career opportunities in these industries are within reach. By providing impactful educational programming to children of all backgrounds, American and the CR Smith Museum are broadening the aviation community.