WestJet to get three more Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets

The WestJet Group confirmed it would acquire three additional used Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, from SMBC Aviation Capital,  in addition to the six second-hand Boeing 737 MAX 8 earlier this summer.

"With our longstanding partner SMBC, we are thrilled to be adding three more Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to our growing fleet as we execute upon our mission of providing affordable air travel options to our guests," said Mike Scott, WestJet Group, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.

The acquisition of nine leased Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the last six months allows the airline to bolster its plan for fleet growth, while managing delays for direct-from-factory aircraft. Leveraging these additional aircraft and subsequent capacity expansion, the WestJet Group will continue enhancing critical air access for its guests across its growing network.

UK's CAA reminds drone users of new airspace notification system

UK Civil Aviation Authority reminds drone users about its new airspace notification system for making notifications of flight and drone activities.

Nearly one thousand remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) activities, such as drone swarm displays, have either been notified to airspace users, received permission or provided with exemption requests by the UK Civil Aviation Authority following the roll out of new technology.
The aerospace regulator’s system for airspace notifications - the Airspace Co-ordination Obstacle Management Service (or ACOMS for short) - has been designed to provide simpler, faster and more accurate processing.
Since being rolled-out to drone users in June this year, the regulator has processed more than 900 remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) activities on ACOMS from 351 different sponsors.
The system increases the capacity of active requests, helping support the growing number of drone users at a time when demand for access to UK airspace is increasing.

Central Japan Railway Company selects AWS for Yamanashi Maglev

One of Japan's leading railways to use AWS generative AI, machine learning, and IoT technologies to improve track maintenance and deliver high-quality passenger experiences on the world’s fastest trains.

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS)  announced that the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), which provides high-speed railway services to more than 170 million passengers through Tokaido Shinkansen annually, is using AWS technologies to enhance operations for its Yamanashi Maglev Line. By building critical IT infrastructure workloads on AWS and using AWS's Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning (ML), and generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, JR Central will advance its data-driven operations, drive operational efficiencies, and reduce maintenance costs.

JR Central is preparing to launch the next generation Super Conducting Maglev (SC Maglev), an ultra-high-speed train that travels at twice the speed of bullet trains by floating and propelling above the tracks using magnetic forces. This new high-speed train service, which is in trial operation in the Yamanashi Maglev Line and expected to travel at speeds of up to 500 km per hour, will cut train travel times in half. For example, Chuo Shinkansen, a new line that is currently under construction, uses the SC Maglev system to take passengers from Tokyo to Nagoya in 40 minutes (versus 86 minutes) and Tokyo to Osaka in 67 minutes (versus 134 minutes). The Chuo Shinkansen will serve as a backup route to the Tokaido Shinkansen in case of emergencies, such as major earthquakes, creating a dual high-speed rail artery.

AWS’s ML and IoT capabilities allow the Yamanashi Maglev Line to use railway infrastructure monitoring data, generated by power lines and electronic track inspection vehicles, to detect signs of impending failure and take corrective action. These insights allow JR Central to predict outages and equipment failure, optimizing the deployment of railroad maintenance workers. For example, the company built an ML model with Amazon SageMaker that identifies power transmission equipment abnormalities. The rail operator visualizes the data with Amazon QuickSight, a cloud-based business intelligence service, to identify machine irregularities, enabling preemptive maintenance to prevent outages and service disruptions. In the future, the Yamanashi Maglev Line plans to use Amazon Bedrock, the easiest way to build and scale generative AI applications with foundation models, to provide employees with recommended actions to take based on equipment manuals and maintenance records.

“By accelerating various innovations using AWS in the Yamanashi Maglev Line, we will realize the future vision of high-speed railway operations,” said Motoaki Terai, senior corporate executive officer, director general of the Maglev System Development Division of the Chuo Shinkansen Promotion Division, Central Japan Railway Company. “At JR Central, we're committed to delivering new transportation solutions for our passengers using innovative technology. Our next-generation SC Maglev train line will not only revolutionize travel between Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, but it will also set new global standards for efficiency and safety through data-driven operations.”

To drive cloud proficiency across its organization, JR Central’s Maglev System Development Division works with AWS to provide hands-on employee cloud skills training. In 2023, the AWS Professional Services ML Talent Development Support Program trained the division’s mechanical engineers to build and optimize an ML model that identifies power transmission equipment abnormalities.

“Japan’s world-leading transportation sector is leveraging the cloud to make high-speed rail safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable for passengers,” said Jaime Vallés, vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific and Japan at AWS. “Built on AWS, JR Central has the resiliency and innovation needed to offer one of the world’s fastest and most advanced train services operation, using the power of generative AI, machine learning, and data to drive unmatched efficiency. Our partnership is just getting started, and we look forward to pushing the bounds of what’s possible in train travel.”

The Yamanashi Maglev Line was completed in March 1997 and began conducting tests in April of the same year. Its main features are as follows: 26.6 miles in length, a maximum 40% gradient, minimum curve radius of 8000m.  SCMaglev rides on wheels up to 93 mph and then almost imperceptibly starts floating about 4 inches above the track for a super smooth and comfortable ride that becomes even more stable at 311 mph.

Principles of the Superconducting Maglev system

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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency orders inspection of Rolls Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on Airbus A350-1000 jets

Following a serious engine issue on a Cathay Pacific 5-year-old Airbus A350-1000 on 1st September, The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated inspections on all Airbus A350-1000 that are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. This is, according to EASA a precautionary measure and focuses on a flexible fuel hose connections inside the engines to check for damage. The inspections need to take place over the next 3-30 days, depending on the individual engine history. In total, 86 A350-1000 aircraft are in service worldwide, Cathay Pacific has already checked all of its affected aircraft and found the same issue on a small number of other aircraft.

“This action is a precautionary measure, based on the information received from the initial investigation of the recent Cathay Pacific serious incident and on the airline’s findings in its own subsequent inspections,” said EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet. “We will continue to follow closely all information that will be made available through the ongoing safety investigation.”

Cathay Pacific was operating a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich with an Airbus A350-1000 on 1st September when it experienced an in-flight engine fire shortly after take-off. The fire was promptly detected and extinguished, and the aircraft returned safely to Hong Kong after dumping fuel. The aircraft was powered by Trent XWB-97 engines.

This event was classified as a serious incident, and an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex-13 investigation was opened by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of Hong Kong.

EASA is the State of Design airworthiness authority for the A350 aircraft and for the Trent XWB engines. The current measures are mandated for Trent XWB-97 engines. Trent XWB-84 engines, installed on the A350-900, are similar but differ in design and service history. On the basis of the available information, an extension of the measures to these engines is not warranted at this stage.

EASA Safety Publications Tool (europa.eu)

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Airbus delivers 47 aircraft in August....

In August, European planemaker made 47 commercial aircraft deliveries to 31 customers, taking the yearly total planes delivered to 447 to 75 customers.   The company also confirmed it had taken orders for 46 aircraft during the month. 

Among the airlines getting new aircraft were: Air France, Breeze, IndiGo, Frontier Airlines, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Jet2, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Korean Air, Starlux and China Eastern Airlines. 

The airlines ordering planes during August included Airbaltic with 10 A220 jets, Cathay Pacific with 30 A330-900 models, plus 3 A320neo and 3 A350-900s which are currently attributed to private customers.    

On 27th August 2024 the Dutch national carrier KLM took delivery of its first A321neo as part of their fleet modernisation with the latest generation, fuel-efficient aircraft. With the aircraft, KLM joins the community of successful A321neo operators.

By selecting the A321neo, KLM brings on-board the latest technology to lower decibels and to reduce the noise footprint during take-off, approach and landing. Together with its advanced fuel efficiency, the A321neo will play a key role in KLM’s environmental ambition. 

The newly delivered A321neo for KLM seats 227 passengers in a two-class layout. The cabin features Airbus’ Airspace cabin with XL bins. The larger bins provide 60% more luggage capacity for a more relaxed boarding experience for passengers and cabin crew. In addition, USB-C ports are available for passengers at every seat, and the latest lighting system enhances the overall passenger experience.

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Boeing offers CH-47 Chinook for Poland’s heavy transport helicopter needs

                             Boeing is offering the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to Poland. The announcement was made at the annual MSPO International Defence Industry Exhibition where Boeing is highlighting advanced defence systems, capabilities and services.

“The Chinook has been a key part of the European defence and humanitarian relief missions for more than five decades and would enhance Poland’s cooperation with allied forces, and support the country’s defence needs,” said Tim Flood, senior director, International Business Development for Europe and Americas. “In addition, the Chinook would deliver additional benefits to Poland through job creation, economic growth and greater autonomy for the Polish defence industry.”

The CH-47F Block II is the newest iteration of the Chinook, providing increased lift and range. Chinook Block II is a modernized and ready now solution that provides increased operational flexibility, improved performance, and enhanced survivability. It builds upon the proven capabilities of the CH-47 Chinook, offering an upgraded platform that meets the capability that militaries need today and serves as a strong foundation for affordable future upgrades.  

Removal of Swedish ticket tax is good news for consumers and aviation decarbonisation

The Swedish government’s decision to abolish its airline ticket tax from June 2025 is a win for both consumers and the decarbonisation of aviation. A4E welcomes this move, acknowledging the Swedish government’s recognition that the tax undermined the competitiveness and connectivity of Swedish aviation. The tax did little to advance decarbonisation; it was a blunt instrument that ignored factors like aircraft fuel efficiency, passenger numbers, and load factor, offering no incentives to improve environmental performance. The revenues from the tax were also not reinvested in the decarbonisation of aviation. Instead, it increased costs for consumers and weakened the competitiveness of Swedish aviation.

Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said, “Too often, governments impose additional taxes on aviation that do little to advance decarbonisation, fragment the European single aviation market, and weaken Europe’s aviation competitiveness. The Swedish government deserves praise for recognising this and taking a step that will boost Swedish aviation and enhance Sweden’s competitiveness. Only by ensuring we have a strong and competitive airline industry in Europe can we accelerate the sector’s transition to a more sustainable future.”

JetBlue launches flights between Boston and Presque Isle

JetBlue has launched a daily service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Presque Isle International Airport (PQI). The new service from Presque Isle will operate daily, giving travellers in Northern Maine and New Brunswick added convenience when travelling to Boston and beyond.

“We are happy to bring the long-desired Boston flights back to Presque Isle and the surrounding communities,” said Dave Jehn, vice president of network planning and airline partnerships at JetBlue. “This new service exemplifies our commitment to providing customers throughout New England with high quality service to the places they most want to go. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for selecting JetBlue for this Essential Air Service route.”

“Maine’s regional airports play a critical role in connecting Maine people, local businesses and communities to the same services and destinations as those in higher population areas,” said Senator Angus King. “Serving as the gateway to Northern Maine, Presque Isle is home to a vibrant culture and a bustling industry. Essential Air Services flights out of and into Presque Isle International Airport will give the Maine people living and working there access to worldwide destinations for travel they need or choose.”

Presque Isle, Maine - Visit Maine - Visit Maine

Norwich Airport rated one of the top three airports in the UK

Norwich Airport has been rated one of the top three airports in the UK for customer experience and has received ‘Recommended Provider’ status by consumer champion Which?

The prestigious recognition comes as part of Which?’s annual airport survey of its members, seeking their feedback on a variety of airport experiences.
A customer score is calculated based on a combination of overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend to others.
Norwich Airport had a customer score of 78%, ranking it third in the UK overall. Norwich’s sister airport Exeter Airport was ranked fourth with 77%, with London City taking second place (80%) and Liverpool (John Lennon) Airport ranked number one with a score of 81%.
In April this year, Which? surveyed almost 5,000 members about their experiences at UK airports in the previous 12 months. Respondents were invited to rate the airports across 11 categories, including seating, staff, toilets and queues at check in, bag drop, passport control and security.
On the whole, the consumer champion found smaller airports once again performed better than their larger rivals this year – with respondents reporting shorter queues, and a generally less stressful experience. 

Airbus built Sentinel-2C satellite successfully launched

         The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite has been successfully launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The Airbus-built Sentinel-2C satellite will enter service in low Earth orbit at 780 km following initial testing and commissioning. Then, it will replace Sentinel-2A, which will retire and operate in tandem with Sentinel-2B.

Marc Steckling, Head of Earth Observation, Science and Exploration at Airbus, said: “This launch gives the world another important sensor to monitor our changing planet and provides crucial continuity since the first Sentinel-2 satellite launch in 2015. Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral imager the satellite will collect vital imagery for a myriad of applications from agriculture to water quality monitoring.”

The Sentinel-2-mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites, flying in the same orbit but 180° apart for optimal coverage and revisit time. The satellites orbit the Earth every 100 minutes covering all Earth’s land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal waters every five days.

Offering "colour vision" for the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2C – like its precursor satellites Sentinel-2A and -2B – will deliver optical images from the visible to short-wave infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The 1.1 ton satellite will enable continuation of imaging in 13 spectral bands with a resolution (per pixel) of 10, 20 or 60 metres and a uniquely large swath width of 290 km.

Exeter Airport rated as one of the best airports in the UK by Which?

Exeter Airport has been rated one of the best airports in the UK for customer experience and has received ‘Recommended Provider’ status by consumer champion Which?

The prestigious recognition comes as part of Which?’s annual airport survey of its members, seeking their feedback on a variety of airport experiences.

A customer score is calculated based on a combination of overall satisfaction and likeliness to recommend to others.

Exeter Airport had a customer score of 77%, putting it among the top five airports in the country and fourth overall. Exeter’s sister airport Norwich Airport was ranked third (78%), with London City taking second place (80%) and Liverpool (John Lennon) Airport ranked number one with a score of 81%.

In April this year, Which? surveyed almost 5,000 members about their experiences at UK airports in the previous 12 months. Respondents were invited to rate the airports across 11 categories, including seating, staff, toilets and queues at check in, bag drop, passport control and security.

On the whole, the consumer champion found smaller airports once again performed better than their larger rivals this year – with respondents reporting shorter queues, and a generally less stressful experience. 

American Airlines debuts summer 2025 schedule with new routes to Europe

American will offer customers five new routes to Europe starting in summer 2025.

While autumn is on the horizon, American Airlines is gearing up to bring more travelers to Europe next summer with five new routes. As the airline continues to grow its trans-Atlantic service, American will resume flights to Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI), for the first time since 2019 and add new routes to Athens, Greece (ATH); Madrid (MAD); Milan (MXP) and Rome (FCO).

“We look forward to providing customers more ways to visit their favorite destinations in Europe next summer,” said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning. “Resuming service to Edinburgh and adding new routes to other popular destinations across the continent will offer customers convenient access from American’s industry-leading domestic network to all that Europe has to offer.”

Tickets will be available for purchase starting 9th September on aa.com and American’s mobile app.

More new ways to explore Europe

From Philadelphia (PHL), customers will be able to connect from more than 80 destinations across the U.S. to 17 trans-Atlantic destinations, including new service to EDI that will give travelers convenient access to visit the towering castles and stunning natural landscapes of Scotland.

American will expand its schedule to Italy next year with new service from Miami (MIA) to FCO and PHL to MXP. American will serve FCO from six U.S. airports in 2025 — more than any other U.S. airline — and provide customers with the most one-stop itineraries from across the U.S. to experience Italy’s rich history and delectable cuisine.

With new service from Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), to ATH, American will offer four daily flights to Greece in 2025, providing access to Greece from more U.S. airports than any other airline next summer.

For the first time ever, American will connect its Chicago (ORD) hub with MAD. American offers the most service of any U.S. airline to Spain, and customers will be able to expand their travel horizons with connections on American’s partners to onward destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Airbus completes acquisition of infodas, strengthens cybersecurity portfolio

Airbus Defence and Space has finalised the acquisition of infodas, a German company that provides cybersecurity and IT solutions in the public sector including for defence and critical infrastructures, and which is now becoming an Airbus subsidiary. This follows receipt of the required regulatory approvals.

“This acquisition supports Airbus’ strategic ambition to strengthen its cybersecurity portfolio for the benefit of its European and global customers,” said Karen Florschuetz, Executive Vice President of Connected Intelligence at Airbus Defence and Space.

With the exponential growth of cyber threats, along with the increasing digitalisation and connectivity of defence and aerospace products and systems, cybersecurity is an important component of Airbus’ development. Over the last years, the company has continuously developed its cybersecurity capabilities and expertise, ensuring the best possible protection for its products, operations, customers, and ecosystem, including in the perspective of major military programmes such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). 

Infodas with around 250 employees and annual revenues of about 50 million euros is headquartered in Cologne, it has additional offices in Germany in Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Munich and Mainz. The company has been certified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as an IT security service provider in the areas of information system auditing, consulting and penetration tests. The infodas Secure Domain Transition (SDoT) Security Gateway product family is approved for classification levels up to secret. The products are also certified in accordance with the Common Criteria (CC) and have other country-specific certificates. 

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Widerøe sees passenger numbers rise in August and signs codeshare deal with Lufthansa

Widerøe continues to fill the planes better than last year. The load factor for August ended at 76.5 percent. Up almost four percentage points from the same month in 2023. The load factor on the short-haul network was similar to last month, with 64%. 

In total, Widerøe flew 340,995 passengers in August. This is more than eight per cent more passengers than the same period last year. Widerøe will reopen the route with daily departures between Tromsø and Leknes from April 2025 and is pleased to be able to present an improved route structure at Andenes and Evenes.

The last month of summer concluded in many months with a great summer for Widerøe. In total, 8.5 percent more passengers flew with the company in August compared to the same month last year. Sales of airline tickets in August have been good and the recently concluded sales campaign ended up as one of the best in the company's history. The firm, now part of the Norwegian Group, sold 32% more tickets in the period ahead compared to the same period in 2023. Sales of airline tickets on tender routes are up by 48% and on commercial routes an increase of 24%.

Malaysia Airlines Group showcases cutting-edge travel innovations at international travel fair

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is honoured to once again be appointed as the Official Airline Partner and Premier Sponsor for Malaysia’s largest international travel fair, MATTA Fair 2024. Taking place from 6 to 8 September 2024 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), this landmark event organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) will showcase MAG’s largest ever participation with an extensive range of travel promotions and unique offerings from airlines to travel and lifestyle products including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings, Journify and Enrich.

Passengers can take advantage of discounts of up to 30% on airfares for both Economy and Business Class on all Malaysia Airlines flights, and on all seats on Firefly. This exclusive offer is available from 5 to 16 September 2024 on the airline’s online platforms, for immediate travel until 31 August 2025. In addition, Enrich members can take advantage of priority booking on 4 September 2024, a day before the sale begins and also get a discount offer of 5,000 points off when you fully redeem with Enrich points on Enrich Hotels. For further cash savings, EnrichMoney card holders, and AmBank Enrich Visa Credit Card holders can enjoy an additional 5% discount, 5X EnrichMoney Points, and 2X Bonus Enrich Points, respectively.

What to Expect at the MAG Arena:

Beyond flight promotions, attendees can look forward to unique experiences when visiting the MAG Arena spreading across 11,000 square feet of space:

Signature product display in virtual high definition: Explore our A330neo cabin in Virtual Reality (VR), featuring the innovative Collins Aerospace Elevation Business Class seats and the award-winning Recaro CL3810 Economy seats. Plus, enjoy a surprise Augmented Reality (AR) filter on your phone at our booth and immerse yourself in our first 360° cabin walk-through.

Up-close and personal with sports legends: Come and meet Manchester United Legends exclusively at the MAG Arena! Don’t miss this exclusive chance to connect with your heroes and enjoy fun games at Malaysia Airlines’ Global Sports Partners zone.

Unlock the future of travel: Step into our AI photobooth and instantly appear at your dream destinations powered by Google Gemini’s advanced technology. What’s more, create your perfect itinerary effortlessly with our AI-powered trip planner. Just enter your travel details - destination, companions, duration of stay, budget and receive a personalised itinerary.

The MAG Arena will also include meeting spaces that can accommodate over 100 visitors and industry partners at any point in time. This year, the airline is planning to seal deals and deepen cooperation with a multitude of tourism boards, trade partners, technology providers and other entities within the travel and tourism eco-system, signalling its confidence in the future of the industry.

As the premier sponsor, the MAG Arena promises an unparalleled experience, featuring a multitude of engaging activities, exclusive developments, and the chance to win exciting prizes. Attendees will be among the first to discover exciting new developments from MAG, with a variety of experiences designed to captivate and delight visitors throughout the event.

A highlight of the event would be the much-anticipated Buyers Contest, jointly organised by Malaysia Airlines and MATTA, where a total of 23 return tickets will be awarded, including Business Class tickets to London and Da Nang, and Economy Class tickets to Japan and Vietnam, among other exciting destinations.

The MAG Arena is located on Level 3 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from 6 – 8 September. Join us at MATTA Fair 2024 for an exceptional experience for an unforgettable journey and exclusive offers!

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