Empowering the RAF NextGen: Affinity attends National Air and Space Camp Industry Day

Affinity Flying Training Services (Affinity), the innovative aircraft servicing provider, yesterday attended the Air Cadet National Air and Space Camp (NASC), hosted at RAF Syerston. The annual Industry Day brings together cadets nationwide to connect with civil and military organisations, with the aim to inspire them to explore careers in aerospace. Building on last year’s success, which saw a record turnout of cadets, Affinity expanded its presence, engaging with top young talent in aviation, alongside industry giants BAE, Thales and Raytheon.

The NASC is a key event as it provides a unique opportunity for industry to engage directly with the future of the Royal Air Force (RAF), many of whom go on to become pilots, aircraft engineers, air traffic controllers and take up other key roles within the aerospace sector. The event gives the cadets the unique opportunity to participate in a range of STEM-based training. In robotics, aircraft engineering and satellite communications training, as well as other activities such as flight simulation training and gliding. The breadth of activities highlights the extensive range of career opportunities not only within the UK Armed Forces, but also in industry, for the young cadets to consider.

As a provider of procurement and maintenance services, Affinity plays a vital role in advancing pilots through the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), with the business recently achieving the 70,000 flying hours milestone. Given its strong presence across the UK, operating across RAF Barkston Heath, RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire and the RAF Valley in North Wales, Affinity recognises the importance of supporting young talent within the cadets. This commitment is reflected in Affinity’s active participation in NASC, where it connects with the next generation of aerospace leaders.

Speaking on the event, Business Operations Director at Affinity, Alex Davison said:  “The NASC is always an important feature in our calendar, as it provides an invaluable opportunity for us to engage with the local cadet communities across the UK, allowing us to share knowledge, provide guidance and showcase the vast opportunities within the aerospace sector.

At the event, we had insightful conversations with some of the brightest young minds in the cadet force and are excited to continue these discussions by organising future tours and visits for local cadets and education establishments. At Affinity we are glad to support the RAF Cadets 2040 vision of a leading, progressive and diverse RAF.”

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Norwegian Reward offers Status Match with SAS EuroBonus

Norwegian’s award-winning benefits program Norwegian Reward offers this autumn a shortcut to the top-level Priority for all SAS EuroBonus members with gold and diamond cards.

        - In recent years, Norwegian has adapted to business travellers and others who fly frequently, and now we want to invite even more people to take part in our top level. We therefore offer all EuroBonus gold and diamond members a shortcut to Norwegian Reward Priority. We see that our route network in Norway and the Nordics appeals to those who travel a lot with work, and we receive positive feedback that we have few cancellations and deliver on punctuality, says Magnus Thome Maursund, Chief Commercial Officer at Norwegian.

As of today, SAS EuroBonus gold and diamond members, can take a shortcut to the top level at Norwegian Reward. In Norwegian Reward Priority, members receive many benefits on their travels, such as free baggage, fast track, priority boarding, free seat selection and priority customer service.

To use status match, customers must fill in a form on Norwegian's home pages and prove their gold or diamond membership with EuroBonus. After approval, customers receive Norwegian Reward Priority for a trial period of 60 days. During this period, one must book and complete two flights with Norwegian in order to continue the status for a full year from the date the status was approved.

Airbus ships the third European Service Module to Cape Canaveral on behalf of ESA

Moon mission awaits - ESM-3’s essential support for astronauts and vital contribution to NASA’s lunar exploration programme

 

Orion’s third European Service Module (ESM-3) is leaving Airbus’ facilities in Bremen, Germany, and heading to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, where it will be assembled and tested with the Crew Module. This third mission of NASA’s Artemis programme will mark the first human return to the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972.

ESM-3, built by Airbus under contract to the European Space Agency (ESA), will play a critical role in supporting four astronauts during their three-week mission aboard the Orion spacecraft: from the moment they leave Earth, their journey into lunar orbit, docking with the lunar landing system Starship HLS, and their safe return to Earth.

Ralf Zimmermann, Head of Space Exploration at Airbus, said: “Today’s delivery of the third ESM marks the beginning of yearly ESM deliveries, underlining the importance and reliability of Europe in this transatlantic partnership.” Airbus Defence and Space is under contract up to ESM-6 and long lead items procurement up to ESM-9.

Space is an incredibly harsh environment with temperatures dipping as low as -200°C. To keep the astronauts safe and comfortable Airbus has developed comprehensive thermal energy control systems to keep the crew module between 18 and 24°C by radiating excess heat out of the ship but also keeping the cold at bay.

Pacific Air Cargo joins the Freightos' platform

Freightos announced the addition of Pacific Air Cargo to its leading WebCargo digital air cargo booking and payment platform. This collaboration expands WebCargo's offered capacity to include key routes from Los Angeles to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, complementing recent advancements in its domestic US air cargo capacity.

Pacific Air Cargo, renowned for its network and reliable service, operates over 600 annual flights and transports more than 100 million pounds of cargo a year. The airline offers shipping for a diverse range of products, from construction materials and military goods to perishables and aircraft parts. In addition, Pacific Air Cargo offers ad hoc charters for disaster relief and medical supplies, and other critical cargo.

"We are excited to welcome Pacific Air Cargo to the WebCargo platform," said Manel Galindo, Chief Revenue Officer of Freightos. "This partnership not only enhances our capacity offering in the Hawaii and Pacific Islands regions but also underscores our commitment to providing seamless and efficient digital booking and payment solutions for our customers. The integration of Pacific Air Cargo's extensive network and specialized shipping capabilities will offer significant value to freight forwarders and shippers."

Three more cargo 747-8s for 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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JetBlue joins with Little Free Library to take ‘Soar with Reading’ initiative to Puerto Rico

                                 JetBlue has launched its fourteenth annual Soar with Reading initiative, this year in partnership with Little Free Library, with a commemorative book-sharing event at Centro Tau Community Center in Loíza, Puerto Rico. Proud to be Puerto Rico’s largest airline, JetBlue together with Little Free Library have placed seven library book-sharing boxes across Puerto Rico, creating increased access to literature for all ages.

"We are excited to bring our beloved Soar with Reading program to the island for the first time, helping connect more youth with the joys of reading and imagination," said Icema Gibbs, vice president of CSR and DEI, JetBlue. “With seven physical Little Free Library book-sharing boxes placed within key community centres across Puerto Rico, we demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to valuable educational resources for our crewmembers, customers and the communities we serve.”

Since 2015, JetBlue’s award-winning Soar with Reading initiative has tackled the issue of book availability in underserved communities where access to age-appropriate books for children is often limited. JetBlue and Little Free Library book-sharing boxes or ‘libraries’ are now available to residents within Puerto Rico’s Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan communities. Each time someone visits a book-sharing box, they will have the opportunity to both leave and take home an assortment of new books, completely free of charge. The libraries, housed within local, high-traffic community centres, hold a varied selection of titles in both English and Spanish and allow visitors the opportunity to browse and choose a book with representative titles, authors, as well as suggested reading levels. To date, JetBlue, through its Soar with Reading initiative, has donated more than $4 million worth of books to children in need.

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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