JetBlue enters new partnership with UBS Arena & the New York Islanders

Long Term, Multi-Year Deal Names JetBlue the Official Domestic Airline Partner of UBS Arena and the New York Islanders

Celebration Activities Include a Takeover of JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy Airport and a ‘Light Up Long Island’ Activation

 

JetBlue announced a new multi-year partnership with UBS Arena and the New York Islanders as the Official Domestic Airline Partner. As New York’s Hometown Airline, JetBlue is proud to align with an award-winning arena and sports team that shares its customer-centric approach to partnerships and enhancements as the airline continues to underscore its commitment to its loyal TrueBlue and TrueBlue Mosaic customers.

“JetBlue is excited to lace up with the New York Islanders and UBS Arena for the ultimate New York power play as the Official Domestic Airline Partner,” said Marty St. George, president of JetBlue. “With new JetBlue service from Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) launching next month, we're excited to become an even bigger part of the Long Island community, home of some of our most loyal customers.”

Through the partnership, JetBlue is giving back to its loyal Long Island customers with exclusive access and benefits to TrueBlue and Mosaic members, including pre-sale access and special offers for select UBS Arena events and New York Islanders games. Mosaic members will also receive access to a designated priority lane at the main entrance of the UBS Arena. To enjoy these benefits, unlock travel perks and earn tiles toward Mosaic status, join the TrueBlue loyalty program at jetblue.com/trueblue.

UBS Arena’s ‘Northwest Terrace’ will become the TrueBlue Terrace by JetBlue, serving as an outdoor ‘front porch’ for TrueBlue members to socialize, relax and sip their favorite alcoholic1 and non-alcoholic beverages. JetBlue will also transform the UBS Arena’s event level to the JetBlue Runway Level, which will feature the JetBlue Mosaic Lounge (formerly the ‘Spotlight Club’) and the Mosaic Suites (formally the ‘Spotlight Suites’).

“JetBlue is one of the most iconic and innovative major U.S. airlines and we are grateful to have them partner with UBS Arena and the NY Islanders for a long time to come.” said Dan Griffis, President Global Partnerships at Oak View Group. “JetBlue’s incredible commitment to unique, high-quality experiences and passion for the communities they serve is congruent to our mission and values. I am confident that Belmont Park will be a better place with them involved.”

To kick off this partnership, activities will take place today across the region including:

New initiative to promote SAF use and decarbonize aviation begins in Japan

Sustainable aviation fuel - SAF is expected to contribute to the decarbonization of aviation by substantially reducing the volume of CO₂ emissions compared with conventional aviation fuel.

To encourage the use of SAF, a project aimed at building a new scheme for trading Scope 3 environmental value*2—the reduction effects of indirect CO₂ emissions resulting from SAF use—is being launched. As the first step, seven companies (listed below) have agreed to conduct a demonstration test of Scope 3 environmental value trading to verify the concept behind the new scheme.

Scope 3 Environmental Value Trading Demonstration Test to be Conducted at Narita Airport -

This represents the world’s first*3 initiative bringing together fuel suppliers, an airline, a forwarder, and an airport operator in an effort to jump-start trading in Scope 3 environmental value. Brisk trading in environmental value via this project’s scheme will make it possible to share the costs associated with SAF throughout the air transport value chain.

After a trial phase of trading, a full-scale demonstration project with a larger number of participating companies will be followed by efforts to achieve the social implementation of the established scheme. The use of this scheme by a large number of companies involved in air transport will generate substantial opportunities to drive the widespread uptake of SAF throughout Japan. 

Extending decarbonization efforts to encompass the entire air transport value chain will secure the sustainable growth of the aviation industry.

◼Information on and Comments from Each Company

ITOCHU Corporation

Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo   President & COO: ISHII Keita

ITOCHU’s management policy commits to the enhancement of corporate brand value, and positions “Enhancing our contribution to and engagement with the SDGs through business activities” as one pillar of this effort. Through this project and increasing the market prevalence of SAF in cooperation with leading partners, ITOCHU aims to make an even greater contribution to the achievement of a circular economy.

ENEOS Corporation

Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo   President: YAMAGUCHI Atsuji

ENEOS is moving forward with the construction of an integrated system covering everything from procurement of the raw materials for SAF to in-house manufacture and sales. Through its participation in this project, ENEOS will promote Scope 3 environmental value and SAF use, thereby contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions throughout the aviation industry value chain.

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. (NX)

Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo   President & CEO: HORIKIRI Satoshi

Expanding the use of SAF is crucial to the pursuit of decarbonization in the aviation field, and efforts throughout the supply chain are required. Participating in this project as a forwarder, the NX Group aims to contribute to the creation of a sustainable society.

SWISS to offer inflight delights from FAHR restaurant in Canton Aargau

WISS will be offering travellers on its long-haul services from Switzerland culinary delights from Canton Aargau for the next three months. The new First and Business Class meals are the creation of starred chef Manuel Steigmeier, chef de cuisine at the FAHR restaurant in the Aargau village of Künten. And for Premium Economy Class guests, this latest chapter in the ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme also brings selected Aargau specialities that include the canton’s famous ‘Rüeblikuchen’ carrot cake. 

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be serving First and Business Class guests on its long-haul flights from Switzerland culinary creations from Canton Aargau for the next three months. The FAHR restaurant in the Aargau village of Künten is the proud holder of one Michelin star and 17 GaultMillau points. And its kitchen is headed by 29-year-old chef de cuisine Manuel Steigmeier, with his wife Alexandra as the restaurant’s chef de service. Idyllically located between the River Reuss and the picturesque Reusstal recreational area, the FAHR is a byword for contemporary culinary fare that is hallmarked by its purist presentation and its extensive use of local and regional ingredients.

“The concoctions of Manuel Steigmeier blend classic elements with a fresh creative touch – a combination that fits excellently with SWISS,” says SWISS Head of Brand Experience Julia Hillenbrand. “And I’m delighted that we can now take our inflight guests, too, on this exciting culinary journey.”

“It’s a genuine honour for our FAHR culinary team to represent Canton Aargau aloft,” adds Manuel Steigmeier. “Our restaurant guests often see SWISS aircraft flying over from our garden terrace. And knowing that our meal creations will now be served so high above the clouds makes us all truly proud.”

Eight moments helping Hilton reach 8,000 hotels

Market entries worldwide, advancements in Hilton’s lifestyle portfolio and participating Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotels joining the portfolio are all contributing to Hilton’s growth trajectory

Just over two years after opening its 7,000^th hotel, Hilton now has more than 8,000 hotels operating globally. Following a series of additions to its portfolio, including NoMad, Graduate Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels of the World and Autocamp, Hilton is unlocking hundreds of new ways for guests and owners to benefit from the company’s expansive network.

Hilton celebrates 8,000 Hotels, Globally

This has been a significant year for Hilton’s development, marked by strategic partnerships and acquisitions, and continued organic growth from our existing brands,” said Kevin Jacobs, chief financial officer and president, global development, Hilton. “The Hilton network – led by our powerful brands – continues to be an engine of opportunity for guests, owners, team members and communities. We’re excited about the growth opportunities that lie ahead and our ability to spread the light and warmth of hospitality to every corner of the world"

As Hilton celebrates 8,000 hotels globally, these are eight moments so far this year that are helping Hilton accelerate its growth for the future.

Hilton’s Growth So Far in 2024

5% increase in visitor numbers for National Trust...

People are still prepared to spend money on a great day out despite the continued impact of the cost of living crisis, with the National Trust’s Annual Report revealing a 5% increase in visitor numbers to their pay for entry places in 2023/24 compared with the previous year. 

The 12% boost in paying visitors, an increase of 332,000 in numbers, reflects a trend seen across the tourist attraction sector. People are prioritising paying on the day for special days out, yet challenging external conditions contributing to rising inflation, higher costs and a large drop in household discretionary spend mean that they are finding it hard to commit to annual subscriptions or memberships.

Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust, said: “It’s really heartening that people still want to spend time in and support amazing cultural and natural places, whether that’s immersing themselves in art or wandering through our gardens and woodlands. We know the cost-of-living crisis is still biting and we’ll keep doing more to give everyone a great day out. We’ve designed a new Explorer Pass, and are offering free passes where we can, for people who can’t otherwise afford to visit the places in our care.”

As a result of these difficult economic conditions, National Trust memberships were reduced by 89,000 to 2.62 million memberships (5.38 million members) in 2023/24 as more people moved to paying on the day. This was largely due to a decrease in new recruits at a time when fewer households could commit to annual subscriptions. Young families, which have been hardest hit by the cost of living pressures, were the least likely to renew their membership in 2023/24. However there are early signs in the current 2024/25 financial year that these pressures could be easing; as of the end of June 2024, National Trust memberships were up to 2.65 million (5.46 million members).

Bernard Donoghue, Director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, commented on the Trust’s findings in light of the visitor attraction sector as a whole: [i"The economic consequences of the pandemic coincided with a cost of living crisis; UK consumers have been making tactical decisions about how they spend their leisure pounds and leisure hours, and this caution continues. Our members have been reporting that there has been a rise in the number of visitors, particularly families, who have been opting for single entry tickets, rather than taking out memberships.”[/i]

However, members were also shown to be getting more out of their membership and visiting National Trust places more frequently than during the year prior, attracted by a year-round calendar of programming and events. Spending in shops and cafés was up compared with 2022/23 and the charity’s overall income continued to grow year-on-year.

As well as more people visiting its places the National Trust has also been able to take the collections in its care to wider audiences through an ambitious loans programme, with more than 1.3 million people visiting exhibitions with Trust loans this year.

Frontier Airlines to launch 11 new routes across 15 airports

The U.S. ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines is launching 11 new routes across 15 airports in October and November. 

“As consumers look ahead to the fall and winter months and make their holiday plans, we are thrilled to once again expand our roster of convenient and affordable travel options,” said Josh Flyr, vice president of network and operations design, Frontier Airlines. “From warm weather destinations such as Southern California, Texas, and Florida or winter sports meccas Utah and Colorado, to popular metropolitan areas like New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., there are now even more exciting destinations to choose from when flying Frontier.”

Frontier Airlines has introduced sweeping changes to its product and customer service offerings, ushering in ‘The New Frontier’ for the airline. Underscoring its commitment to providing exceptional value and a superior travel experience, ‘The New Frontier’ provides more transparency through upfront pricing and options to meet various customers’ needs and budgets. Through no change or cancellation fees, a ‘For Less’ Price Guarantee, longer flight credit windows and more, America’s Greenest Airline is improving what customers can expect and delivering the best price for their travel needs.

Frontier now offers UpFront Plus, a new upgraded seating option with extra leg and elbow room in the first two rows of the aircraft. Customers in UpFront Plus will enjoy a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed empty middle seat.

Etihad Airways and Mumbai City FC agree new partnership deal

Etihad Airways has signed on to be the Official Front of Shirt Sponsor of Mumbai City FC in a multi-year partnership starting from the 2024-25 season. The move demonstrates Etihad's continued commitment to the Indian market and Mumbai City's profile as one of the top-performing professional sports teams in India having won two Indian Super League titles and two Indian Super League Cups.

The deal, which is a record in Indian football in terms of duration, coincides with Etihad celebrating 20 years of flying to India and will see the Etihad Airways logo feature prominently on the front of shirt of Mumbai City FC’s first and youth team match shirts and training kits from the 2024-25 season.

The partnership builds upon the decades-long connection between the home countries of the two organisations and reinforces the shared values of teamwork and excellence. Both club and airline aim to bring people together and give flight to ambition.

Kandarp Chandra, CEO of Mumbai City FC, says, "We are incredibly happy to bring Etihad on board as our Official Front of Shirt Sponsor. Their endorsement is a testament to the brand of football Mumbai City plays - one that is committed to performance and the pursuit of excellence on and off the field. Both Etihad and Mumbai City are proud to represent resilient global cities that balance tradition with modernity."

Qatar Airways creates World’s first airline commercial where 'you can be the star'

Qatar Airways has unveiled a new global ‘AI Adventure’ film which utilises state-of-the-art technology to reinforce its commitment to developing incomparable, immersive experiences for everyone.

In an industry-first, the campaign offers the opportunity to be part of its emotive story, by utilising advanced AI capabilities so you can place yourself within the film and become the star. This reaffirms the airline’s dedication to placing customers at its very heart.

As part of the innovative campaign, viewers can select from multiple scenes within the film to star as the leading roles. Thanks to cutting-edge AI technology, the characters will be an accurate reflection of the viewer's appearance, adapting to their facial features and skin tone. To be a part of the emotive AI adventure, visit: flyqatar.com and watch the film on the Qatar Airways YouTube channel.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: "At Qatar Airways, we go beyond simply meeting customer expectations - it's about anticipating their needs and crafting experiences that resonate on a personal level. The launch of this new brand campaign is a true testament to this and our ethos of providing incomparable superior customer experiences."

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Thierry Antinori, said: "Featuring pioneering AI capabilities unseen elsewhere in the airline industry, our latest campaign not only showcases the innovative spirit driving our brand but also encapsulates our customer-centric approach, helping to turn every journey into an adventure. After all, there’s no limit to how far a dream can take you."

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Global Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mr. Babar Rahman, said: "With this latest campaign, we have been able to encapsulate our vision as an industry leader in innovation. Crafting an immersive brand experience where everyone can be the stars, has allowed us to create uniquely personalised connections with our audiences, ensuring every moment is truly unforgettable."

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In 2024, Hamad International Airport also received the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ accolade for 10 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the second year in a row.

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Qatar Airways recently announced a new interline partnership with Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives, providing passengers the option to book both Qatar Airways and Maldivian flights on its website.

Travellers planning their holidays at one of the Maldives’ beautiful islands can now incorporate both their Qatar Airways and Maldivian flights in one booking. Once Qatar Airways passengers arrive to Velana International Airport, they will be guided to the domestic terminal for their Maldivian flight.

Thierry Antinori, said: “We, at Qatar Airways, continue to expand our services to provide our passengers with innovative and inviting travel experiences. With our latest Maldivian interline partnership, we look forward to seeing our passengers enjoy a smooth start to their holidays, as well as benefit from the plethora of new travel benefits. We are proud to offer the option of a seamless process, allowing passengers to book one ticket that includes both their Qatar Airways flight to Male, and the connecting Maldivian flight to their beachside getaway.”

Maldivian Chief Commercial Officer, Ismail Amrah Umar, said: "We are thrilled to announce our interline partnership with Qatar airways, through which our customers will experience smooth connectivity with international baggage allowance while traveling within our network of 17 destinations across Maldives. By offering more choice and enhanced access to our strong and growing route network, we aim to boost tourism to the Maldives, showcasing our pristine islands to travellers from around the world.”

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Air101: Qatar Airways Acquires 25 per cent Stake in Airlink

Air101: Qatar Airways’ Announces Latest Interline Partnership with Maldivian

RF-A 24-3 168th Wing Refuels the Fight

Red Flag-Alaska 24-3, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise with approximately 1,800 service members joining together in unity, ramped up operations at Eielson Air Force Base, Aug. 15-29. The 168th Wing, a crucial part of the operations refueled combat fighters throughout the RF-A 24-3 exercise, enabling the mission to deliver lethal airpower in defense of National Military objectives, reports Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey.

Red Flag Alaska showcases combat tactics and synchronizes capabilities with U.S. and NATO partners, including the Royal Australian service members.

"Interagency cooperation is essential in everything we do,” said Lt. Col. Dean Thibodeau, 168th Air Refueling Squadron commander. “The exercise allows us to strengthen international partnerships, refine advanced tactics, push limits, and sharpen skills. Red Flag focuses on training for individual skills and intricate and large-scale joint engagements.”

The KC-135 boom operators and pilots fuel the fight, assuring air-combat maneuvering sorties are carried out in a realistic environment over the more than 77,000 square miles of airspace in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the world's most extensive combat training range.

US Department of Transportation approves AirExplore for U.S. operations.

AirExplore has received approval from the US Department of Transportation (US DOT) to begin commercial operations in United States airspace under conditional Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) provisions. 

This approval allows AirExplore to engage in scheduled and charter air transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail to, from, and within US territory, using wet-leased aircraft operated by operators certified by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) part 129 and are from countries which meet standards set forth in the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. Increased privileges are pending approval, which will further advance the air transport industry in Slovakia and the US.

“This is a fantastic moment for AirExplore to obtain the approval as the airline grows its international presence,” Martin Stulajter, Chief Executive Officer of AirExplore, said. “This approval reflects the benefits of being backed by the Avia Solutions Group.”

AirExplore reapplied for its FACP earlier this year after being acquired by Avia Solutions Group. The FACP stipulates that AirExplore will have full authority of an air carrier after Slovakia obtains its IASA certification, followed by the processing of FAA Part 129 Operations Specification for AirExplore.

The approval for operation in the United States follows other recent permits for the airline, as well as AirExplore’s placement of four 737NG aircraft with Air Peace in Nigeria. The airline has also recently announced the addition of three cargo aircraft to its fleet.

Brussels Airlines ranked amongst the most reliable major European airlines during a busy summer season

99% of the flights operated as scheduled, almost 3 out of 4 flights departed with less than 15 minutes delay so far this year.

Brussels Airlines is looking back to a successful summer. Numerous efforts to ensure reliable operations have worked out well, ranking Brussels Airlines in the top 5 of most punctual major airlines in Europe. The Belgian national airline will keep investing together with its partners to improve reliability even further in the future.

During the summer months, July and August, Brussels Airlines transported more than 1.7 million passengers on almost 12,000 flights. As always, summer is the busiest season in the aviation industry. This year, Brussels Airlines is happy to announce improved regularity and punctuality numbers.

99% of all Brussels Airlines flights operated as scheduled during July and August. Some cancellations occurred, mainly due to external factors like the tensions in the Middle East that led to flight cancellations on the route to Tel Aviv.

72% of all flights departed within 15 minutes from the scheduled departure time so far this year. Amongst all major European airlines, Brussels Airlines is in the top 5 most punctual airlines so far in 2024 according to data from aviation analytics agency Cirium.

Flight delays were mainly caused by weather (e.g. thunderstorms), shortage of Air Traffic Control staff in some European countries and occasionally long lines at border control at Brussels Airport.

Tilman Reinshagen, Chief Operating Officer, Brussels Airlines said: “At Brussels Airlines, we want to be the most reliable airline operating from the most reliable hub. We’ve taken numerous initiatives together with all our partners such as Brussels Airport and the Belgian federal police to improve our regularity and punctuality. I’m happy to see that our efforts paid off. There are still areas of improvement such as the further roll out of the electronic gates for passport control for flights to Sub-Saharan Africa. This will lead to shorter waiting times at border control and thus less flights we have to delay while waiting for some passengers.”

Not only did more flights leave as scheduled and on-time, Brussels Airlines and its partners also improved other parameters. The number of delayed luggage has dropped by 14% compared to last year. Less than 0.8% of all checked bags didn’t get to their destination on-time.

Many passengers transfer in Brussels, for example to one of the 18 sub-Saharan African destinations of Brussels Airlines. 96.6% of the transfer passengers made their connection, which is an improvement of 26% compared to last year.

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Digital innovations to take care of passengers

Despite an already very high regularity, Brussels Airlines remains committed to continue decreasing the number of cancelled flights and taking care of passengers who are confronted with irregularities.
During summer, some digital innovations have been rolled out in the Brussels Airlines’ app, in order to better assist passengers at all stages of their journey, and certainly during irregularities.
Chatbot “Charlie” on brusselsairlines.com has been enhanced with new features, allowing the chatbot to assist guests better during irregularities. The easier people can find answers to their questions via these digital tools, the more customer care agents are available for more complicated cases, leading to shorter waiting times.
Brussels Airlines is also implementing a new system that automatically detects changes in flights and sends messages to guests. Soon, passengers will receive notifications for events such as gate changes, boarding times, and delayed baggage.

AirAsia continues low-cost travel leadership with wins at the World Travel Awards Asia

AirAsia celebrated a double victory at the 2024 World Travel Awards Asia and Oceania ceremony in Manila last night, securing recognition as Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for the ninth consecutive year and Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew for the eighth year in a row.

Air Asia recognised as Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for the ninth year in a row and Asia's Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew for eight consecutive years

AirAsia’s leading edge in the two major categories was secured once again, as voted by consumers, industry and travel professionals across the region. 

Building on its 23-year legacy of transformative multi-hub operations in Asia, AirAsia continues to enhance customer experience while maintaining its commitment to low-cost travel. Through ongoing improvements in booking processes, journey touchpoints, and innovative ancillary services, AirAsia ensures that affordability and quality go hand in hand. The reactivation and planned growth of its new fleet will not only support the airline’s expansion into new destinations but also enable the introduction of routes across different continents, all while staying true to its low-cost model.

Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited said: “It is incredibly rewarding to be recognised by the voters which has led to this winning streak at the World Travel Awards. It is a clear sign that we are hitting the mark with our guests. Having flown over 800 million guests since day one, our journey of growth is built upon innovation and improvement.

“In 2024, we expect to operate 440,000 flights. Our growing momentum with new aircraft and routes is accompanied by an unwavering focus on operational resilience and customer experience and this has kept our Net Promoter Score robust as our flight operations expanded more than sixfold since 2021. Looking ahead, we are thrilled about our plans to connect more continents and deliver more choice, value and great service to our guests, as we embrace a greater degree of sustainability in our operations."

Virgin Atlantic to add Riyadh, Accra and Toronto to next year's schedule.

Virgin Atlantic has announced additions to next year's schedules from its home base of London Heathrow. The UK airline that's 49% owned by Delta Air Lines is adding two new destinations Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Accra, Ghana to its network for summer 2025 and also returning to Toronto, Canada.  

New route to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 

For the first time, the airline will launch a daily service to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The service aims to participate in the growth expected from Saudi Vision 2030. In 2023, annual trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia was worth £17.1 billion with an ambition to reach £30 billion of trade by 2030. Accordingly, air travel between the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is forecast to grow 24% between 2019-2035.  

Riyadh is in growth mode, with an expanded downtown business district, F1 circuit, theme park, shopping and entertainment complexes. The city is also the perfect base to explore cultural attractions across this vast country including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of historical Jeddah, the gateway to Mecca, Al Ula, Al Ahsa, and the stunning Rock Art in Hima.  

Saudi Arabia is the world’s 20th largest economy, the largest in the Middle East with a population of 37 million. The market is expected to have a predominantly Saudi Arabian point of sale, which will see customers visiting the UK, as well as seamlessly connecting to twelve destinations throughout North America, on Virgin Atlantic and Delta networks, including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Boston and Detroit.  

Alongside business travellers, the route will serve the ‘visiting friends and relatives’ (VFR) market, which has seen a fivefold increase in Saudis living in the UK between 2000 and 2018. 

Flights to Riyadh will operate daily on the airline’s state-of-the-art A330neo, the newest aircraft in Virgin Atlantic’s fleet, with the first flight departing London Heathrow on 30 March 2025. Virgin Atlantic will offer 30 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight for companies looking to export and import goods, such as fresh produce and specialised goods, including pharmaceuticals, between Riyadh and prime markets in the UK and US. 

Riyadh is also home to the airline’s SkyTeam partner, Saudia. The partnership will offer onward connections to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with further destinations within Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh and China to follow as the airline continues to grow its strategic partnership with Saudia. Flying Club members will earn and redeem Virgin Points across Saudia’s flying programme, alongside SkyTeam partners. All Saudia-operated flights from London Heathrow and Manchester to Riyadh and Jeddah are already marketed by Virgin Atlantic, and on sale across all sales channels, offering multi-daily departures between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Return to Accra, Ghana 

Virgin Atlantic will return to Ghana for the first time since 2013, with daily flights to Kotoka International Airport in the nation’s capital, Accra, from May 2025.  The airline will provide much-needed competition on the route, which currently lacks a choice of routes between the two countries.    

The UK is home to the third largest Ghanaian diaspora in the world and the new service will respond to demand to visit friends and relatives. Around 10% of customers are also expected to connect through London onto Virgin Atlantic’s New York JFK service.  

Launching on 1 May 2025, the daily service will operate on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft boasting the airline’s Upper Class, Premium and Economy Delight, Classic and Light cabins, as well as an onboard bar. Accra is expected to be a very strong cargo route and Virgin Atlantic will offer 30 tonnes of capacity on each flight carrying goods, such as fresh produce, between Ghana and key markets in the UK and US. 

O Canada! 

A4E welcomes new team members

Airlines for Europe (A4E), Europe’s leading airline trade association, confirmed the appointment of Davide Maistro as Policy Director and Beatrice Pepe as Communications Officer.

They bring with them extensive knowledge and experience of the Brussels landscape. Davide has previously spent many years working as a consultant, advising companies and trade associations in the transport and travel, energy and technology sectors. Beatrice previously worked in several Brussels-based trade associations in the chemicals and energy sectors.

Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said, “I am delighted to welcome Davide and Beatrice to the A4E team. They join at an important time for A4E as we work to ensure our members continue to thrive and connect millions of Europeans across Europe and with the rest of the world while accelerating our industry towards more sustainable flying for
the years to come.”

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Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s largest airline association. Based in Brussels, A4E works with policymakers to ensure aviation policy continues to connect Europeans with the world in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner. With a modern fleet of over 3,600 aircraft, A4E airlines carried over 718 million passengers in 2023 and served nearly 2,100 destinations. Each year, A4E members transport more than 5 million tons of vital goods and equipment to more than 360 destinations either by freighters or passenger aircraft.

Etihad's A380 arrives in Mumbai starting anniversary celebrations

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, landed its iconic A380 in Mumbai on Sunday evening, signalling the start of its celebrations marking 20 years of flying to India. The airline is operating its superjumbo between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi for a limited time only, with three flights per week until the 31 December.

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