easyJet study reveals airspace modernisation could save 18 million tonnes of CO2 a year from European aviation

In an industry first, easyJet has calculated the impact inefficient airspace across Europe is having on CO₂ emissions, in a bid to finally evidence why reform is so badly needed and long overdue. Using AI, the airline monitored every single one of its flights over a 12-month period* to understand how airspace inefficiency is impacting its operations and therefore the operations of airlines across Europe.

The results revealed that airspace inefficiencies increased CO₂ emissions by 10.62% – equivalent to 663,710 tonnes CO₂ – all because of the current airspace regime across Europe.  Applying its analysis to the whole of European aviation, easyJet estimates that airspace modernisation could help eliminate 18 million tonnes of CO₂** from European skies every year, a figure that reveals the size of this opportunity – and one that could be a significant route to creating an immediate and meaningful carbon emissions reduction across European aviation.

The analysis, conducted by leading experts in easyJet’s Flight Efficiencies team, found that a significant proportion of this inefficiency occurs around terminal airspace, particularly during descent, which is largely due to outdated or poorly designed lower airspace.

While airspace inefficiency is a universal issue across the whole of Europe, the greatest inefficiencies for easyJet’s operations were in the UK – with 7 of the 10 least efficient routes occurring inbound into London Gatwick, with the South East of the UK a particular problem area due to high demand and capacity constraints.

However, with the UK having jurisdiction over its airspace, and the new Government having pledged in its manifesto to support the modernisation of UK airspace , there is hope that these changes are closer to being achieved than ever before and that the UK can become an international leader in driving airspace reform.

 

The countries with the greatest need for improvement are the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland. For example, 19% excess emissions is typically produced on flights between London Gatwick and Malpensa.

The most inefficient route in each of these countries:

COUNTRIES / ROUTE

Spain/ UK - Palma de Mallorca to London Gatwick

Portugal/ UK - Faro to London Gatwick

UK/ Italy - London Gatwick to Malpensa

Portugal/ Switzerland Porto to Geneva

France / UK - Nice Côte d’Azur to London Gatwick 

Factors causing the greatest inefficiencies:

As part of this project, easyJet carried out a comprehensive evaluation of all airways*** utilised across its network, to pinpoint the areas of greatest inefficiency and where immediate reform is needed. The greatest inefficiencies include:

• Climb – The analysis identifies London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Geneva, Naples, and Paris Charles de Gaulle as having the most inefficient departures. To improve efficiency, airspace must be redesigned to support Continuous Climb Operations (CCO), enabling aircraft to reach cruising altitude more efficiently.
• Cruise – the upper airspaces over Italy, United Kingdom, France and Spain have been identified as some of the most problematic regions in Europe. These areas face significant inefficiencies due to outdated procedures, complex routing, and limited airspace flexibility. To improve efficiency in these upper airspaces, it’s crucial to expand Cross-Border Free Route Airspace (FRA) Operations to allow for more direct routing and reduce fuel consumption.
• Descent – Inefficiencies are particularly notable in the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland and France, where arrival procedures result in extended flight times and increased fuel consumption. Also notably, the recently redesigned arrivals in London the recently redesigned arrivals in London Luton (LTN) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) have proven to be less efficient than the previous procedures, adding an average of 10 minutes to planned flight times. These inefficiencies are often due to overly complex procedures that prioritise controller workload over operational efficiency. To improve descent inefficiencies, it is essential to redesign arrival procedures with a focus on reducing track miles, implementing Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs) and minimising level-offs.

 How to solve the problem?

In the UK, we need to complete the airspace modernisation programme in the UK with a focus on the south east and ensuring that there is a single entity responsible for the timely delivery of the programme. Across Europe, easyJet plans to collaborate with individual countries, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airports to identify ways to solve these inefficiencies.

It’s essential we also deliver the quick wins, for example, implementing Free Route Airspace in the UK and France – the last countries to implement completely across their regions and which would drive immediate efficiency improvements.

To unlock the over 10% efficiency gain in airspace operations, easyJet’s model indicates we need to put in place structural changes that modernise outdated airspace and remove historic constraints. The quickest wins can be achieved by redesigning lower airspace procedures, such as Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) and Transitions, to better align with modern aircraft capabilities. Implementing Required Navigation Performance with Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) approaches at more airports will also bring significant improvements. These procedures, already successfully deployed in Scandinavia, offer highly predictable tracks that avoid overflying densely populated areas, reducing both noise pollution and environmental impact.

ANSPs should prioritise the implementation of ATS B2 Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract (ADS-C) to enable Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) well before the 2027 mandate, to meet the growing demands for airspace efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. The Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) has already successfully implemented this technology since May 2022, demonstrating its effectiveness in optimising air traffic management.

 

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:  “Airspace modernisation is the quickest and most cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions, but the process is being shackled by needless bureaucracy. Our data proves that the airspace corridors we use today, which were built in the 1950s, are simply no longer fit for purpose. Adapting them to be more efficient would not only be significant in terms of CO₂ reduction but for journey times and improving the experience of passengers.  This can can’t be kicked down the road any further. If we’re serious about achieving net-zero, policymakers and regulators need to come together to find a route to unlock these significant gains, and now.”

Aviation Minister Mike Kane said: “The aviation industry is set to undergo a green revolution, with airspace reform playing a crucial role. easyJet’”s modelling shows how a modernised airspace system will help ease delays, support decarbonisation and reduce noise – all supporting this Government’s plan to boost economic growth.”

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AirAsia to introduce new route from Kota Kinabalu to Kaohsiung

AirAsia is adding a new route from its second-largest hub in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu.  The carrier is introducing a new service to Kaohsiung which will operate four times a week from 17 November 2024.

Kaohsiung marks the 15th international destination operated by AirAsia Malaysia (AK) from the Kota Kinabalu hub. As the only airline operating this route, AirAsia will contribute to an impressive 105 weekly flights from Kota Kinabalu to numerous destinations in Asia and beyond by December 2024. 

This unique route by AirAsia follows the positive tourism demand between Kuala Lumpur and Kaohsiung, with more than 80,000 guests flown between these two cities since November 2022.

Kaohsiung is a city renowned for its vibrant arts and culture, and it takes just around 1.5 hours for tourists to travel to Taipei by High-Speed Rail. Visiting Kaohsiung guarantees the best OOTD spots, such as The Pier-2 Art Center - perfect for an art discovery adventure in public spaces or the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, which specialises in works by Taiwanese artists, sculptures, digital art, and more. For dramatic scenery, head to the Lianchihtan Scenic Area, where you can capture stunning content for your travels. If you prefer nature over art, visit the "Little Jeju Island" of Kaohsiung, Cijin Beach, for breathtaking sea views that will soothe your mind.

Hyatt hotels welcomes the opening of the Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has celebrated the opening of the Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport, the second Hyatt Place hotel in the state of Maharashtra and the eleventh Hyatt Place hotel in India.

The 150-room property exemplifies the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere, and elevated amenities.  It is located near both Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Airport and the city’s economic zones such as Shendra MIDC and Waluj MIDC, the hotel combines style, innovation and 24/7 amenities to create an easy-to-navigate experience for today’s multi-tasking traveler. The property is close to nearby tourist attractions such as historical landmark, Bibi ka Maqbara, and provides guests with easy access to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport delivers a seamless transition from work to relaxation and is the perfect base for guests traveling to the city of Aurangabad for business and leisure. The hotel’s extensive facilities include multiple dining options including Zing offering all day dining, Zing Bar and The Market, specialized event and meeting spaces, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.

“Hyatt Place Aurangabad is the seventh Hyatt-branded property in the State of Maharashtra, highlighting our commitment to this region. We are excited to continue our strategic expansion, extending our presence to destinations that align with our guests' preferences and offering owners and developers the opportunity to leverage our global distribution network and benefits of the World of Hyatt loyalty program,” said Dhruva Rathore, Vice President of Development, India & Southwest Asia, Hyatt.

Commenting on the opening, Amit Jain, General Manager at Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport said, “We are thrilled to bring the Hyatt Place brand to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), offering a global level of comfort and convenience to both business and leisure travelers. Our dedicated team looks forward to providing exceptional service and ensuring every guest's stay is memorable and enjoyable.”

Hyatt Place Aurangabad features 150 spacious rooms, each designed and outfitted with the latest amenities and features to meet the needs of the modern-day traveler.  Every room has a state-of-the-art media and work center, a 55-inch Smart TV, a comfortable Cozy Corner Sofa and beautifully designed bathrooms. The property also boasts five suites each with a balcony, one King Suite and elevated décor and furnishings to let guests rest and unwind as well as their own private outdoor space with a pool view.

The property offers guests a variety of culinary options to enjoy on the premises. The on-site restaurant Zing offers an extensive buffet and a’la carte menu with inspired Asian, Italian and Indian offerings. Zing Bar located in the hotel lobby provides an ideal space to relax while sampling a selection of spirits and cocktails. Guests on the move can also stop by at the grab n’ go café The Market for a freshly brewed coffee, sandwich, or bakery item. Guests can also order in-room dining from the menu available.

SWISS to add Berlin to its Geneva network

SWISS is to further expand its Geneva-based route network this winter with the addition of new daily service to Berlin. The company will also be putting a particular emphasis on its services between Geneva and Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo in the coming winter schedules to better meet the growing demand for travel to Switzerland among Scandinavian winter sports enthusiasts. Elsewhere, SWISS will also be increasing its frequencies between Geneva and numerous destinations in Southern Europe to offer its customers in the markets concerned with greater travel flexibility.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be expanding its Geneva-based route network with the introduction of new daily service to and from Berlin from 28 October. The capital of Germany is well known as both an economic and a cultural hub, and the new Geneva-Berlin route should thus appeal to both business travellers and leisure visitors keen to experience one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. The new service further strengthens SWISS’s presence in Northern Germany, which it already serves from Geneva with four weekly Hamburg flights.

More flights for Scandinavia

Swiss-based travellers increasingly attracted to Scandinavia’s magical winter landscapes will be able to choose from even more SWISS services between Geneva and Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo in the coming winter season. In raising its frequencies on these routes, SWISS is also responding to the growing demand among Scandinavian winter sports enthusiasts to experience Switzerland’s various ski resorts.

More frequencies for Southern Europe, too

SWISS will also be looking after the sunseekers among its customers this winter, with added weekly frequencies between Geneva and Athens, Marrakech, Valencia and Malaga.

The 2024/25 winter timetable period runs from 27 October 2024 to 29 March 2025. SWISS’s winter schedules will offer 21 short-haul destinations from Geneva along with services on the Geneva-New York route.

European destinations for winter 2024 can be booked starting from 10 September 2024.

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The latest from Volaris

Volaris, the ultra-low-cost carrier serving Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America, reports its August 2024 preliminary traffic results.  In August 2024, Volaris' ASM capacity decreased by 15.1% year-over-year due to the accelerated Pratt & Whitney engine inspections and the resulting aircraft groundings. Volaris transported 2.6 million passengers during the month at a load factor of 87.0%, flat against last year’s levels. RPMs for the month decreased by 15.3%, with Mexican domestic RPMs down by 22.0%, while international RPMs were effectively flat.

Enrique Beltranena, Volaris’ President and CEO said: "Our strategic fleet mitigation plan is on track and continues to deliver favorable outcomes. We have met our goals since the engine inspections began, and we are managing the situation with almost 30% of our fleet on the ground. We reaffirm our annual capacity guidance, which indicates an approximate 14% reduction. Volaris concluded the summer high season with a very solid operational performance and strong demand, which drove high load factors. Please note that comparable load factor figures from August through December of last year already include the consolidation of flights driven by the first round of accelerated P&W engine inspections."

Saudia tops on-time performance for the second consecutive time

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, continues to top the global list for on-time performance (OTP), achieving this milestone for the second time consecutively, according to a report by the independent aviation tracking site, Cirium, for July 2024.

The report indicates that Saudia has achieved an on-time arrival rate of 88.12% and an on-time departure rate of 88.15%, operating 16,503 flights across its network of over 100 destinations in four continents.

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “At Saudia Group, achieving a high OTP has been a shared objective, as it directly impacts guest satisfaction. We’ve successfully maintained it during this year’s peak seasons, a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire Saudia Group and relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry. Sustaining our leadership in this area requires continuous dedication and resilience in overcoming the numerous challenges within the aviation sector globally.”

In the coming years, Saudia will take delivery of 103 new aircraft, aligning with the airline’s strategy to double seating capacity, expand to new global destinations, as well as its commitment to bring the world to the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030.

Finnair Traffic Performance in August 2024

Once again over a million passengers as capacity increased year-on-year, strong cargo performance
In August, Finnair carried 1,062,400 passengers, which is 9.5% more than in August 2023.

The overall capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased in August by 9.3% year-on-year as additional narrow-body capacity was deployed by Finnair after the wet lease outs to British Airways ended in March 2024. In addition, the capacity growth in Asian traffic was strong. If wet lease outs are included, capacity increased by 10.9% due to the co-operation with Qantas. Finnair's traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 7.5%. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) declined by 1.3% points to 78.6%. The distance-based reported traffic figures do not take into account longer routings caused by the airspace closure as they are based on Great-Circle distance in accordance with the industry practice.
The ASKs in Asian traffic were up by 11.2% year-on-year due to increased capacity to Japan, including added frequencies to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In North Atlantic traffic, ASKs increased by 2.6% due to added frequencies to Dallas. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 11.8% as majority of the increase in narrow-body capacity was allocated to Europe. The Middle Eastern capacity declined by 5.1% mainly due to temporarily ceased operations to Israel. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 16.9% due to the additional narrow-body capacity.
RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 11.8% year-on-year. They increased by 6.0% in North Atlantic traffic, by 7.9% in European traffic and by 10.3% in domestic traffic whereas they decreased by 12.3% in Middle Eastern traffic.
In August, the PLF was 85.4% in Asian traffic, 84.5% in North Atlantic traffic, 74.0% in European traffic, 72.2% in Middle Eastern traffic and 62.6% in domestic traffic.
Passenger numbers increased by 11.5% in Asian traffic, by 5.1% in North Atlantic traffic, by 11.0% in European traffic and by 10.0% in domestic traffic. They decreased by 14.0% in Middle Eastern traffic.
The total cargo tonnes increased by 11.5% year-on-year in August due to growth in all traffic areas exclusive of Middle Eastern and domestic traffic. Revenue cargo tonne kilometres increased by 11.9%.
In August, 76.7% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (81.3%). The on-time performance decline was due to airspace and air traffic control capacity restrictions across Europe.

Philippines shines as host of World Travel Awards 2024

Tourism royalty from across Asia and Oceania convened in Manila, Philippines to recognise the travel brands pushing the boundaries of excellence and innovation. The World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony, hosted at City of Dreams Manila, World Travel Awards Official Hotel Partner, proved a fitting showcase for the fascinating city destination.

The red-carpet reception marked the fourth leg of WTA’s Grand Tour 2024, a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations, covering six continents.

Winners at the VIP reception included Vietnam, which took the title for ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’. The beautiful Ha Giang province was named ‘Asia’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination’, and Ho Chi Minh City collected ‘Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination’. Hong Kong Tourism Board took to the podium as ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’. Cebu, Philippines was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination’. Bali claimed the title for ‘Asia’s Most Romantic Destination’.

New Zealand confirmed its reputation as the land with it all to secure ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’. Sydney won ‘Oceania’s Leading City Destination’. Fiji Tourism lifted the trophy for ‘Oceania’s Leading Tourist Board’. The fusion of ancient storytelling with a technological twist helped Wintjiri Wiru – Ayers Rock Resort, Uluṟu to win the title for ‘Oceania’s Leading Tourist Attraction’.

In the hospitality sector, W Osaka was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Hotel’, with Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort taking ‘Asia’s Leading Resort’. InterContinental Grand Stanford emerged victorious as ‘Hong Kong’s Leading Hotel’. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts claimed ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand’.

The Ascott Limited enjoyed a double celebration, winning ‘Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ and Ascott Makati, Philippines voted ‘Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments’. Vietravel claimed ‘Asia’s Leading Tour Operator’ and Discovery Primea, Philippines took ‘Asia’s Leading Business Hotel’.

In the hotly-contested newcomer categories, Japan’s The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka claimed ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’, Nha Trang Marriott Resort & Spa, Hon Tre Island, Vietnam collected ‘Asia’s Leading New Resort’, whilst W Sydney reigned supreme as ‘Oceania’s Leading New Hotel’.

A tragic end to the first week of school for Ukraine’s children...........

More than two years of destruction and displacement, violence, separation from family members and friends, as well as disrupted schooling, health care and social services, have led to a mental health crisis and a learning crisis among Ukraine’s children. 

Despite their resilience, for many children inside and outside Ukraine the war has wiped out two years of schooling, playtime with friends, and moments spent with loved ones, robbing them of their education and happiness, wreaking havoc on their mental state. 

 

John Marks, UNICEF Representative a.i. in Ukraine tells us how this past week has been difficult for children the the war ravaged country.

“This week marked the start of a new school year for children across Ukraine. Seven-year-old Emilia was one of them. Tragically she didn’t make it back for the third day.  

“Emilia was killed in the early hours of 4 September, along with her older sisters, 18-year-old Dariia and 21-year-old Yaryna, and their mother, Yevhenia, when an attack in Lviv devastated their apartment block. The family were among the many reported casualties, which included other children.

“The three sisters were all just starting out in life. After finishing school, Yaryna found a job with the organization, Lviv - European Youth Capital 2025, a UNICEF partner, which conducts activities to empower young people through life skills training. Our colleagues told us about her inspiring and dedicated work to tackle the pressing issues affecting her young people, including the impact of living through war.

“This tragic story reflects the reality for children and young people across Ukraine today as attacks continue to hit populated areas.

“During the first week of the new academic year, educational facilities in areas including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Lviv and Sumy were reportedly damaged in attacks. Evacuations across areas closer to the frontline are also ongoing with education once again disrupted as children flee their homes.

“On 9 September, the world marks the fourth ‘International Day to Protect Education from Attack’ and the third since the escalation of the war in Ukraine. We use this moment to once again call for educational facilities to be protected from attack, for parties to refrain from the military use of educational facilities and for the right to education to be respected, upheld and enjoyed by children across Ukraine. Schools must be safe and provide nurturing learning environments for every child to develop and thrive.

“UNICEF continues to work with the Ukrainian government and partners across the country to help keep children learning, to support their mental health, and to maintain some semblance of childhood.

“This work includes the rehabilitation of shelters in schools and kindergartens, providing learning supplies and equipment, conducting remedial education classes, and equipping teachers with skills to provide mental health and psychosocial support to their students.

“Transit centres and mobile teams of psychologists and social workers are also supporting children and families who are being evacuated from frontline areas to help children to better cope and to resume their learning in their new locations.

“Children in Ukraine have suffered enough; they must be protected from attacks. Like Emilia, they all just want to go to school, to learn, have fun and be children again.”

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Delta recruiting roadshows for future cabin crew

Delta’s talent team and flight attendants will visit Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington throughout the coming weeks to answer aspiring flight attendants’ questions about the role, the application process and work schedules, along with benefits like travel opportunities, the lifestyle of a Delta flight attendant and more.  

Delta is accepting flight attendant applications for its upcoming 2025 hiring classes, with openings for English-speaking and bilingual roles.

“As we wrap up our busy summer schedule, our sights are now set on 2025,” said Rachel McCarthy, VP – IFS ATL Operations, CX, Hiring and Learning. “We’re seeking candidates who exemplify Delta’s values and have what it takes to provide our customers with the welcoming, elevated, and caring service that sets Delta apart.”

If you have a passion for people, adventure and creating memorable moments, this is the opportunity for you. Note that candidates who previously applied but were not selected to advance must wait three months from the time of receiving a previous disqualification email and for a new job number to be posted to reapply.

Each information session is hosted for two consecutive days in each city where candidates will learn more about what it’s like to be a Delta flight attendant. Interested candidates can sign up and choose the day and time that works best with their schedule. 

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A Career Filled with Adventure

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Flight Attendant Careers 

GREATER ORLANDO AREA 

• Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

GREATER NEW JERSEY/NEW YORK AREA 

• Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. 
• Sept. 11 at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.  

GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA 

• Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  
• Sept. 13 at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

GREATER MINNEAPOLIS AREA 

• Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  
• Sept. 13 at 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Boeing's troubled Starliner returns to earth

Boeing's troubled Starliner spacecraft has completed its journey from The International Space Station, weeks later than planned and without its key payload -  the crew!

The empty spacecraft, which developed many faults on and just after liftoff and during the flight to the ISS, completed the journey in autonomous mode,  unmanned because it was considered too dangerous for the two crewmembers to use.  

NASA said the Starliner craft's return took place over six hours. After it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, controlled parachutes were deployed to slow its descent at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico on Saturday. Some believe NASA brought the stricken craft back earlier than its contingency plans after the craft was reported to be making strange noises. 

The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams that originally went up on Starliner for what was planned to be an 8-day star on the ISS, remained in space, and after not due to come back now till February next year.  NASA say they are in good spirits and in regular contact with their families. But,  such a long deployment of 8 months rather than 8 days is bound to have some psychological impact on them and their loved ones. 

Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew programme manager, said: "We are excited to have Starliner home safely. This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system, There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success. I want to commend the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the past three months."

Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington commented:  “I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return. Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible. NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station."

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Iraq Ministry of Defence orders 12 Airbus H225M helicopters

Airbus Helicopters has been awarded a contract for 12 H225M multi-role helicopters by the Republic of Iraq. The contract was signed in Baghdad by the Minister of Defence of Iraq Mr Thabet al-Abbassi in the presence of the French Ambassador Patrick Durel. These helicopters will be operated by the Iraqi Army Aviation command replacing older Mi-17s for a wider range of missions: counter-terrorisim, special operations, tactical troop transport, attack, ground fire support, MEDEVAC and combat search and rescue. Deliveries will start in 2025. Iraq already operates a fleet of Airbus helicopters from the H125, H135 and H145 families. 

“We are very pleased to welcome a new member in the H225M family,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H225M is a combat-proven platform used around the world by many operators, including the French Air Force, for combat search and rescue missions. It has proven its worth and saved many lives since entering into service,” he added. “The H225M is unmatched in terms of range, payload and also mission systems. It has been designed to operate challenging missions in the most demanding environments. We are looking forward to seeing the H225M contribute to Iraq’s safety and sovereignty.”
The H225M has proven its reliability and durability in combat conditions and crisis areas. Benefiting from Airbus’ continuous improvement policy, the H225M is now equipped with new avionics, an enhanced main gear box, airborne communication systems and can be equipped with the HForce weapon system. The maximum take off weight has been increased by 160 kg to reach 11,160 kg. 
There are more than 350 H225s and H225Ms in service across the world, totaling more than 880,000 flight hours. Military customers include France, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and Hungary. 

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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