Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand new codeshare deal agreed

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman cooperation to start again as new codeshare agreement has been authorized by regulators in both Australia and New Zealand.

Under the agreement, Virgin Australia customers will be able to directly book Air New Zealand flights into Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, complementing Virgin Australia’s Queenstown services. Velocity members will also be able to earn and redeem Velocity Points, and eligible members and guests will have access to lounges when flying across the Tasman.

Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the long-awaited partnership would give Virgin Australia’s customers access to a comprehensive network between Australia and New Zealand.

“Australians share our love of New Zealand and its national carrier and we can’t wait to reignite this partnership before the end of the year,” he said.

Exeter Airport returns to profit as passenger numbers grow

Exeter Airport has returned to profit for the first time since the pandemic on the back of continued passenger growth, with numbers up 8% year-on-year.

In the 12 months to the end of March 2024 the airport recorded a profit of just over £1m, representing a £2m turnaround on the year before. Passenger numbers stood at 435,000, up 8% on the previous year’s 402,000.

Further growth is expected following the launch of a new Ryanair service to Palma in Majorca in May this year.

Meanwhile TUI, the airport’s biggest operator, has already confirmed that it will base a second aircraft at Exeter Airport next summer. This will provide an extra 80,000 seats including a new route to Ibiza and more flights to a range of popular sunshine destinations including the Canaries, Greek Islands and Turkey.

The figures contributed to a 15% increase in passenger numbers for parent company Regional & City Airports (RCA), which saw more than 1.75m passengers use its airports during the year.

The group also owns Bournemouth and Norwich Airports and holds a management contract for Solent Airport.

Japan Airlines "JAL Fantastic Journey Express" to begin domestic flights in late october

Japan Airlines has confirmed that its President and Group CEO Mitsuko Tottori and Oriental Land Co. President and COO Kenji Yoshida will launch the “JAL Fantastic Journey Express” special liveried Boeing 767-300ER, which will begin domestic flights in Japan for a limited period starting in late October. 

The aircraft’s design is inspired by the new Fantasy Springs-themed port that opened at Tokyo DisneySea Park on June 6, 2024, at Tokyo Disney Resort.  Japan Airlines is an official sponsor which marks the sixth collaboration since JAL first teamed up with Tokyo DisneySea when it opened in 2001.

Fantasy Springs is the only themed port of its kind in the world, featuring three areas inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios films Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan, as well as the latest Disney-themed hotel, Tokyo DisneySea Fantasy Springs Hotel.

The aircraft design evokes magical springs that lead to a world of Disney fantasy, featuring Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and Peter Pan against backdrops inspired by locations from Fantasy Springs, such as Arendelle Castle, Rapunzel’ s Tower and Captain Hook’s ship, the Jolly Roger.

Inflight Experience

Passengers will enjoy special designs on headrest covers and paper cups, immersing themselves in the world of Fantasy Springs as they travel aboard the "JAL Fantastic Journey Express" aircraft.

Additionally, the “JAL Happy Dream Campaign 2024"* is currently underway, offering participants a chance to win prizes, including invitations to JAL’s exclusive party events at Tokyo DisneySea.

Guests are invited to take this opportunity to travel to various destinations across Japan on JAL Group flights.

Rescued chimp finds new home via East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport (EMA) played a vital part in bringing a chimpanzee rescued from poachers to its long-term home in Dorset’s acclaimed Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre.

Chocolat the female chimp was flown to EMA by DHL Express from Nairobi via Bahrain in a custom-built crate and supported by a team of specialist keepers, aircraft engineers, cargo handlers, security personnel and pilots. Throughout the trip Chocolat snacked on fresh fruit, nuts and sweet potato. From the airport, she was transported by road to her new home at Monkey World.

Chocolat’s family was hunted and killed when she was an infant, as part of the illegal bushmeat trade in the Republic of Congo. She had injuries from shotgun pellets that have left her with a paralysed hand and foot. She was rescued and cared for in Kenya for twenty years before finding her new home at Monkey World, which provides specialist care for chimpanzees that have been smuggled from the wild or suffered abuse or neglect.

To accommodate her needs, her new enclosure has been treated to upgrades such as lower platforms, new nesting areas and cargo nets, all designed to make Chocolat’s new home as accessible as possible. The 65-acre sanctuary is home to over 230 primates of 25 different species, with Chocolat joining 52 other chimpanzees.

Contaminated breathing air on passenger aircraft............

Airline crews and passengers have been complaining of health effects from exposure to contaminated air on aircraft (Aerotoxic Syndrome) for over 4 decades. The first documented case of aircrew impairment from exposure to contaminated air dates back to the early 1950s on military aircraft.

 

The breathing air supply on commercial jet aircraft, known as ‘bleed air’, is known to become contaminated with engine oil, engine oil decomposition products and/or hydraulic fluids.

 

Over the last 20 years, there have been over 50 recommendations and findings made by 12 air accident departments globally, directly related to contaminated air exposures on passenger jet aircraft. The British Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), has twice called for contaminated air warning systems to be installed on all large passenger transport aircraft. However, these critical safety recommendations, endorsed by the Global Cabin Air Quality Executive (GCAQE) (gcaqe.org), have been ignored by aircraft manufacturers and aviation regulators such as the FAA, EASA and the UK CAA.

 

Dr Susan Michaelis, a qualified air accident investigator and Head of Research for the GCAQE commented:

 

“Aviation is the safest form of travel but it’s totally unacceptable that the industry continues to ignore vital safety recommendations and ignore the evidence that crew impairment is happening. Many chemicals known to contaminate the breathing air supply are odourless and colourless and yet aircraft are flying with no form of contaminated air warning system. The introduction of contaminated air warning sensors and air cleaning technologies would enhance flight safety and the flying experience for thousands of crews and millions of passengers who fly every day.”

 

The GCAQE has previously called on aviation regulators to mandate the installation and operation of effective ‘bleed air’ air cleaning technologies on all passenger aircraft but aircraft manufacturers and aviation regulators have failed to take such steps.

 

The industry-supported '2024 Aircraft Cabin Air Conference' due to take place on 17 and 18 September 2024, at Imperial College London, will include presentations that will take our knowledge of the issue to a new level.

 

Presentations and discussions will cover:

 

China's commercial aircraft fleet to more than double by 2043 for growth and modernization

Boeing estimates air travel in mainland China will grow 5.2% annually!

U.S. plane maker Boeing says China will more than double its commercial aeroplane fleet by 2043 as its aviation industry expands and modernizes to meet the growing demand for passenger and cargo air travel.

In the Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) Boeing contends:

Air travel in China is forecast to become the world's largest traffic flow, driving growth in the single-aisle fleet, which accounts for more than three-quarters of deliveries.

China will have the world's largest widebody fleet, with demand for 1,575 new widebody airplanes.

China's freighter fleet – including dedicated and converted models – will nearly triple with demand stimulated by its booming e-commerce sector.

 Chinese carriers will need aviation services worth $780 billion to support the growing fleet, including digital solutions, maintenance and modifications.

Its airline industry will need to hire and train nearly 430,000 new personnel to support new pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew.

"China's commercial aviation market for passengers and cargo continues to expand, driven by economic growth and airlines building their in-country networks," said Darren Hulst, Boeing vice president of Commercial Marketing. "As this forecast shows, China's airlines will see strong demand, requiring further growth of their modern fuel-efficient fleets."

China's commercial fleet will grow 4.1% annually, from 4,345 to 9,740 aeroplanes by 2043, and its annual passenger traffic growth of 5.9% will exceed the global average of 4.7%, according to the CMO. Passenger volumes will receive a boost as airlines grow their networks by connecting major hubs to smaller cities.

New deliveries (2024-2043)
Regional	365
Single Aisle	6,720
Widebody	1,575
Freighter	170
Total	8,830

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Ollie Air launches Asia-Pacific charter operations

New luxury charter company Ollie Air has launched charter operations across Asia-Pacific.

Currently based in Hong Kong, Ollie Air’s Bombardier Global XRS has already completed its first set of charter flights and is now available for flights from Hong Kong as well as from other parts of the region.

Registered in San Marino as T7-OLLIE, the Global XRS can fly for up to 12.5 hours, making it possible to connect city pairs including Hong Kong to London, Seoul to Los Angeles and Jakarta to Rome without the need to stop en route.

Before being delivered the aircraft underwent a full transformation to bring it up to Ollie Air’s exacting standards. The expertly crafted cabin was designed to exude luxury and features a theme of warm neutral colors that flow effortlessly and logically throughout the cabin. The aircraft features as forward fully appointed gally along with flight attendant rest area, and a main cabin that is split into three distinct zones, which can seat up to 13 passengers during day, whilst at night can be configured with two beds in the main cabin and a further two beds in the aft area.

JetBlue adds flights and introduces Mint Service to Bozeman

JetBlue will add its premium Mint service each weekend to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) during the height of the Montana ski season. Starting in February, JetBlue, the only airline offering nonstop service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Bozeman, will offer Mint service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from both Boston and New York, providing customers with an unparalleled flying experience to one of the most sought-after destinations in the Rocky Mountains. Tickets are now available for sale at jetblue.com.

With the introduction of Friday, Saturday and Sunday Mint service, JetBlue will not only elevate the travel experience for customers, but also increase the frequency of flights to the destination. Until now, JetBlue has operated late-winter seasonal service to Bozeman from New York and Boston on alternating days with its core service, which will continue during the week. The addition of Mint on these routes reflects JetBlue’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its customers by offering superior travel options with an elevated in-flight experience and reinforces the airline’s position as a leader in premium leisure travel in the Northeast.

Japan Airlines and Liverpool Football Club celebrate the grand opening of the Japan Airlines Lounge at Anfield Stadium

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Liverpool Football Club (LFC) are pleased to announce the grand opening of the Japan Airlines Lounge at Anfield Stadium, marking a key milestone in their new multi-year partnership announced in June 2024. The Japan Airlines Lounge, accessible through purchased hospitality packages, offers a vibrant space with a three-course menu and exceptional matchday service.

Officially opening hours ahead of LFC's first home match on August 25, the new lounge design offers a fresh and unique experience that blends Japanese hospitality with the excitement of English football. Reflecting the serenity and luxury of JAL's service, the lounge design was inspired by elements of Japanese nature and architecture, seen in the use of timbers, soft lighting, and clean lines with modern contemporary furnishings throughout. 

The Japan Airlines Lounge, occupying the former 1892 hospitality space, will be open during Liverpool FC home matches. 

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.