Using data to predict and support the future Royal Navy

Helping the Royal Navy maintain a skilled and capable workforce amid rapid technological advancements and demographic shifts.

The Royal Navy needs to maintain a skilled and capable workforce in the face of rapid technological advancements and demographic shifts so that it can draw on the right people with the right skills to meet the demands of modern warfare. 

The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) was asked to explore how available data – including open-source datasets - could be used to understand what the Navy’s workforce will look like over the next five to ten years as well as to aid reduction of staff turnover. This would allow procurement strategies and recruitment campaigns to be proactively adapted to address any emerging talent gaps in critical areas such as engineering and digital skills as well as ensure skilled and experienced personnel stay as long as possible. 

Over a seven-week commission, a joint team from Butterfly Data and Cranfield University were selected to conduct research into changing demographics. The team carried out interviews with Royal Navy human resources (HR) staff and analysed Navy and open-source data including the Office for National Statistics (ONS) population and community data, ONS labour statistics, Ministry of Defence statistics and jobs and skills data from the Department for Education.  

A changing world

PLAY achieves its highest ever load factor in August

PLAY Airlines carried 187,960 passengers in August 2024, marking a 1.8% increase from August 2023 when the airline transported 184,926 passengers. The load factor in August 2024 was 91.6%, setting a record for the highest load factor in a single month for PLAY. This represents a 2.7% increase from the 88.9% load factor recorded in August last year.

PLAY operated 32 destinations in August 2024, with 22 of these achieving a load factor exceeding 90%. In addition to the record load factor, PLAY also achieved an outstanding on-time performance of 91.5%, significantly higher than its main competitors. PLAY has therefore been the most punctual airline operating departures from Keflavík International Airport 13 months in a row.

Among the passengers flying with PLAY in August, 25.9% were departing from Iceland, 35.6% were flying to Iceland, and 38.5% were connecting passengers. PLAY continues to grow its share in the local market, with 48,694 passengers flying from Iceland in August 2024. This marks a notable increase from August 2023, when 41,112 passengers flew from Iceland, representing a 18.4% growth in the local market.

New Destinations and Positive Impact on Icelandic Society

In August, PLAY launched ticket sales to two new destinations: Faro in Portugal and Aalborg in Denmark. Faro will be PLAY’s fourth destination in Portugal, while Aalborg will be its third in Denmark. Additionally, PLAY has announced an increase in weekly services to Lithuania, expanding from one flight per week to two, starting in 2025.

PLAY was also recently recognized as the airline that Icelanders believe has the most positive impact on Icelandic society. This recognition came from a survey conducted by the Icelandic company Prósent, which gathered opinions from 15,000 Icelanders about the societal influence of various companies. PLAY earned an impressive score of 73, placing it at the top of the list among Icelandic airlines and landing in seventh place overall among all companies in Iceland.

UK to expand ETA entry requirement next year.....

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is being expanded next year, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed today.

Currently, nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are the only ones to need an ETA to get into the UK. However, starting on 8th January 2025, nationals from all other countries, except Europeans, will have to have an ETA to enter the country.  The ETA requirement will be extended to those from the EU from 2nd April 2025.

The ETA costs £10 to apply and everyone travelling will need to get an ETA, including babies and children to enter the UK by all means from the dates above. Adults will be able to apply for their children and others travelling with them. 

"Once fully rolled out, the ETA scheme will close the current gap in advance permissions and mean that for the first time, we will have a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the UK." the Home Secretary wrote to Parliament in a written statement. 

See below for who can apply and when.....

Qantas has launched flights between Brisbane and Port Vila....

The Australian airline Qantas has launched flights between Brisbane and Port Vila, Vanuatu for the first time in its history.   The new route offers three direct flights per week from the Sunshine State, and from 12 December 2024, the sister airline of Qantas, Jetstar will also offer up to four weekly flights between Sydney and Port Vila.  When that happens, the group says it will offer 150,000 new seats each year between Australia and Vanuatu.

The new flights are aimed at promoting tourism between Australia and Vanuatu, as well as strengthening economic ties between the two nations, adding a financial boost to the local communities and the greater region.

Qantas Group CEO International Cam Wallace says: "We are thrilled to expand our network with the introduction of direct flights between Brisbane and Port Vila. This new route will maintain connectivity between Australia and the South Pacific, opening new opportunities for leisure and business travel to the region. With its lush landscapes and crystal blue waters, Vanuatu is a truly remarkable destination and we are proud to offer our customers more ways to experience its natural beauty."

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan Graaff commented:  "This new Qantas route to Port Vila reinforces Brisbane Airport’s role as Australia’s Pacific hub.  The service offers Queenslanders an easy escape to paradise on our doorstep. It also provides the growing number of people from Vanuatu now living in Queensland, particularly those working in the agricultural sector, with direct access to home and family."

Vanuatu Tourism Office CEO Adela Issachar Aru says: "The launch of Qantas’ inaugural flight from Brisbane to Port Vila marks a significant milestone for Vanuatu’s tourism industry and strengthens our connectivity with Australia.

Vanuatu offers an unforgettable escape, where travellers can immerse themselves in stunning landscapes, rich kastom, and adventure. We can’t wait to welkam Qantas customers to our shores and share the beautiful experiences our 83 islands have to offer."

Qantas will operate the route with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft featuring 12 business class and 162 economy seats, on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. 

.

New spa opens inside the Etihad Lounge at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi

A new Be Relax spa opens inside the Etihad Lounge in the newly inaugurated Terminal A, at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi to provide a unique and convenient wellness experience for discerning travellers.

Accessible to both Etihad Lounge guests and all passengers passing by, Be Relax Spa invites everyone to experience the next level of in-transit relaxation without the need for advance booking or exclusive membership. Turky Al Hammadi, Director of Product and Hospitality at Etihad Airways, said: “Whether departing from Abu Dhabi or connecting between two flights, we’re delighted to welcome our guests to enjoy the Be Relax Spa located at our premium Lounge. When it comes to pampering, our partners, Be Relax are experts at creating an indulgent and rejuvenating spa experience. The services are flexibly timed to allow our guests to make the most of their time at the airport and arrive at their destination feeling relaxed and refreshed.”

Etihad’s Guests flying in The Residence and First class can enjoy a complimentary spa service when they fly, while all guests are invited to enjoy the facilities when they travel.

Record breaking passenger numbers for Manchester and London Stansted, as MAG delivers strong summer for passengers

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is celebrating a record-breaking summer season, as passenger numbers reached an all-time high.

7 million passengers travelled through a MAG airport across August

Manchester Airport and London Stansted both marked their busiest ever months on record

Operational performance remained strong offering passengers an enjoyable summer holiday experience

In August, nearly 7 million people travelled through a MAG airport, which was 6.6% higher than in the same month in 2023.

That meant that across the peak summer season – July to August – more than 13 million passengers chose a MAG airport to start their holidays or overseas trips.

Rolling 12-month traffic figures show the Group – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – has served 63.4 million passengers in the year to August 2024.

August was Manchester Airport’s busiest ever month on record, serving 3.4m passengers, which was up 8.8% on August 2023.

London Stansted also recorded its busiest-ever month with 3.1 million passengers flying through its terminal - an increase of 4.9% on August 2023. The month also saw the four busiest days in the airport’s history. The busiest day was 23 August with more than 103,000 passengers travelling through the airport, exceeding the previous busiest day on 24 August 2018.

East Midlands Airport served more than 540,000 passengers across August, which was up 2.8% on the same month in 2023. Over the summer season so far, more than two million passengers chose to fly from East Midlands Airport, benefitting from the recent improvements delivered as part of the five-year £120m investment into the airport.

Saudi Arabia showcases strategic tourism investments at IHIF Asia

Saudi Arabia is rapidly establishing itself as a global leader in tourism, with the Kingdom’s remarkable achievements in 2023 setting a new benchmark for the industry. This progress was on full display at the IHIF Asia International Hospitality Investment Forum in Hong Kong, where the Saudi Ministry of Tourism highlighted the vast potential for international investors to capitalize on the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding and diverse tourism sector.

Saudi Arabia’s strategic location at the crossroads of three continents and its strong economic ties with Asia underscore its potential as a global tourism hub. In 2023, the Kingdom welcomed over 20.9 million tourists from Asia, who collectively spent $25.7 billion. This significant influx highlights the increasing confidence Asian markets have in Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential and the lucrative opportunities it presents for investors. The Kingdom's appeal to Asian travellers is further evidenced by the substantial growth in tourism receipts, reflecting the strong demand for Saudi Arabia as a diverse and culturally rich destination.

AirAsia strengthens regional connectivity with new route from Kota Kinabalu to Ho Chi Minh City

                         AirAsia continues to strengthen its regional presence with the launch of a new route from Kota Kinabalu to Ho Chi Minh City starting 3 December 2024.

Ho Chi Minh City marks the airline’s 16th international destination operated by AirAsia Malaysia (AK) from Kota Kinabalu hub.

The introduction of this new route aligns with the increasing number of direct flights between Malaysia and Vietnam, supporting Tourism Malaysia’s goal of attracting 475,000 Vietnamese visitors this year and contributing to the broader objectives of the “Visit Malaysia 2026” campaign, which identifies Vietnam as one of the first-level priority markets.

To commemorate the launch of the route, AirAsia is rolling out special fares for flights between Kota Kinabalu and Ho Chi Minh City starting from RM199 all-in* one way and from VND 1,399,000.00* all-in one-way from Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu. The promotional fares are available from today until 22 September 2024 exclusively on the AirAsia MOVE app (formerly airasia Superapp) or airasia.com for the travel period between 3 December 2024 to 29 March 2025.

Ho Chi Minh City, more popularly known as Saigon, is Vietnam’s vibrant heart, blending old-world charm with modern dynamism. Nestled in the south, this bustling metropolis of over nine million residents is a lively mix of trendy shopping centres, iconic eateries, and hip cafes. Beyond its bustling streets, Saigon pulses with culture and creativity, hosting countless festivals, art shows, and live performances making it a must-visit destination for travellers around the world.

.

Air France will inaugurate a new non-stop service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Manila

3 flights a week on Airbus A350-900 as of December 7, 2024

Air France is expanding its Asian network, starting 7th December 7, 2024, the French national carrier will link Manila in the Philippines to its global hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Manila is also a KLM destination, with 4 flights a week from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. By coordinating their respective flight schedules, Air France and KLM ensure a combined daily service to Manila.

Air France will operate an Airbus A350-900 on the route, featuring  34 seats in the Business cabin, 24 seats in Premium, and 266 in Economy. The schedule will see three flights a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The outbound flight, AF208 will leave Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 23:20 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, arriving in Manila the next day at 19:30.  The return flight, AF209 departs at 21:50 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 05:50am. 

Manila, the Pearl of the Orient Seas

The vibrant capital of the Philippines, Manila, offers a skilful blend of tradition and modernity. Sleek new skyscrapers rise above the remains of the country's long colonial past, including Fort Santiago and the baroque San Agustin Church. This cultural melting pot has also produced a unique and renowned culinary tradition. Forming an archipelago of 7,000 islands, the Philippines also offers breathtaking scenery, turquoise lagoons, limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and emerald rice terraces.

"We are delighted to add three weekly non-stop Air France flights between Manila and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, complementing KLM's four weekly flights from Manila to Amsterdam offering a daily service", says Femke Kroese, General Manager Air France KLM South East Asia & Oceania. "This will allow our customers from Manila to benefit from our strong network in Europe and beyond."

In addition to Manila, Air France will also serve the following Asian destinations this winter: Tokyo Haneda (up to 15 flights a week), Osaka (up to 3 flights a week), Beijing (up to 7 flights a week), Shanghai (up to 7 flights a week), Hong Kong (up to 7 flights a week), Seoul (up to 7 flights a week), Bangkok (up to 13 flights a week), Singapore (up to 10 flights a week), and Ho Chi Minh City (3 flights a week).

The introduction of Manila marks Air France's 5th new route for the winter 2024-2025 season. During this period, the airline will inaugurate new routes to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil, 3 flights a week from October 28, 2024), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, 3 flights a week from November 18, as an extension from Zanzibar), Malé (Maldives, up to 2 flights a week from December 20) and Kiruna (Sweden, 1 flight a week from December 21).

.

‘Swiss all the way’ – SWISS’s new marketing campaign

SWISS is launching a new ‘Swiss all the way’ marketing campaign which highlights the seamless and genuine travel experience that it offers its customers. The campaign, which has been developed in collaboration with the thjnk agency, puts a particular emphasis on SWISS’s Swiss service quality and is centred on a series of emotive visual worlds, including a film illustrating the sheer lightness of the SWISS travel experience.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is launching a new marketing campaign under the ‘Swiss all the way’ claim. The campaign, which has been developed in collaboration with the reputed thjnk agency, puts the spotlight firmly on Switzerland’s leading airline’s comprehensive product promise of a unique travel experience that begins long before departure and extends well beyond landing. SWISS has also refined its brand identity to put its Swiss service quality USP firmly centrestage.

“With this campaign we are affirming our credentials as a host that offers every traveller its utmost attention and its warmest hospitality down to the finest detail,” explains SWISS Head of Marketing Stefan Vasic. “‘Swiss all the way’ means a seamless, comfortable and genuine travel experience – from the booking on the app to moments of delight on board and all the way through to a warm ‘Uf Wiederluege’ goodbye.”

SWISS has been working for some time now on substantially further enhancing its customer experience both in the air and on the ground. ‘Swiss all the way’ is an expression of these endeavours and a promise to the traveller.

A creative interpretation and an emotive visual world

The new campaign is being brought to life through a warm and cinematic visual language. At its heart is a film that captures the sheer lightness of flying with SWISS: a couple dancing from home via the SWISS Lounge and all the way to their flight to New York, symbolizing the smooth and effortless SWISS travel experience. Five shorter films serve to spotlight various SWISS services.

A series of 26 different motifs emphasize the variety and the quality of the SWISS service product and make the new ‘Swiss all the way’ claim a perceptible customer reality at numerous touchpoints along the travel chain.

.

IBS Software transforms airline operations for Fuji Dream Airlines with Cloud Native Partnership

Fuji Dream Airlines Japanese regional carrier and IBS Software, a global leader in SaaS solutions for the travel industry, have collaborated to transform and seamlessly migrate airline operations to a cloud-native platform. This partnership is a significant step in IBS Software's mission to modernise airline operations in APAC and underlines its commitment to cloud nativity and innovation in aviation technology.

With a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and scalability for the airline, IBS Software has championed the migration of Fuji Dream Airlines to the AWS cloud. This migration from the on-premises Tokyo data centre to the AWS environment unlocks a multitude of benefits for Fuji Dream Airlines. It ensures higher availability, reliability, and business continuity through multiple zones of availability in the region with AWS's public cloud infrastructure.

. /
The move to the cloud also facilitates dynamic hardware and software resource availability required to support flexible business operations, and provides reliable central monitoring of KPIs, visibility, and control over technical disruptions, thus enabling proactive management of issues. Additionally, it offers enhanced performance and responsiveness during mission-critical business operations, giving Fuji Dream Airlines the tools to deliver on-time performance to passengers and reduce operational costs.
IBS Software's Aviation Operations Solutions (AOS) team accomplished the SaaS uplift for Fuji Dream Airlines with minimal disruptions to the operations, wrapping up the entire process within just 48 hours without any outages.
Mr. Satoshi Unno, General Manager, Flight Operation Department, Fuji Dream Airlines, said, "IBS Software's commitment to excellence and expertise has played a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless migration process. We eagerly anticipate harnessing the advantages of cloud nativity to elevate our operations and provide extraordinary experiences for our passengers. It's a pleasure to embark on this journey with a partner who shares our unwavering passion for innovation."

At IBS Software we are actively working to phase out our physical data centres, as we transition our infrastructure towards public cloud. With these steps, not only will we enhance operational efficiency for our customers, but we will have a positive impact on the individual passenger," said, Julian Fish, IBS Software's Senior Vice President & Head of Aviation Operations Solutions. "Through cloud-native delivery and collaborations, IBS Software equips airlines to focus on their customers, while we handle the maze-like complexity of aviation technology ecosystems."

Fuji Dream Airlines Co., Ltd. (FDA) is an airline headquartered in Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture. As a regional airline directly connecting various regions, FDA began operations in July 2009 with two Embraer aircraft. Currently, FDA operates 15 Embraer aircraft on 26 routes nationwide, with 94 regular flights daily, based at Nagoya Airport, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport, and Matsumoto Airport. Additionally, FDA operates up to 1,400 charter flights annually, ranging from Wakkanai in Hokkaido in the north to Yonaguni Island in Okinawa in the south. One of the FDA's unique features is that each of its 15 aircraft has a different colour.
To learn more about how iFlight is transforming aviation operations management, visit webpage.

Inauguration of the upgrade work at Belgrade airport

On 30 August 2024, the French President, Emmanuel Macron and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vučić, celebrated the official completion of the work to extend and upgrade Belgrade airport.

The project has furthered the airport’s transformation to become a major air hub in south-east Europe, where passenger numbers have risen 42% since 2018. Financed and designed by VINCI Airports (VINCI Concessions), the work began in 2019 and was conducted in partnership with VINCI Construction Grands Projets in order to increase capacity, improve the quality of service and enhance comfort at the airport. The work involved refurbishing and extending the terminal (40,000 m2), adding 12 boarding gates, installing 11 additional aircraft parking bays, as well as reconfiguring access routes to the city, parking facilities, the promenade and the retail offer. A second 3.5-km runway was also built to renovate the main runway. In addition, a new boiler room, photovoltaic production unit, wastewater treatment plant and solid waste separation centre were built.

Cathay Pacific introduces complimentary Wi-Fi for First and Business class passengers

Cathay Pacific keeps its customers connected with complimentary Wi-Fi in First and Business class

Free Wi-Fi services will also soon be extended to Cathay Diamond members

Customers travelling in First or Business class onboard connected Cathay Pacific aircraft can now enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi service on their flight – the latest enhancement the airline is making to the inflight customer experience.

Cathay Pacific has been providing complimentary Wi-Fi services to First class customers since 2022. Following successful trials on selected flights, the airline has now extended complimentary Wi-Fi to Business class customers on all connected aircraft, and will be further extending it to Cathay Diamond members travelling in all cabins in November this year.

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “At Cathay Pacific, we are committed to investing in and further elevating the experience we provide for our customers. With complimentary Wi-Fi now available to customers travelling in First and Business class, and coming soon to our Cathay Diamond members, they can stay connected in the air whether travelling for business or leisure.’’

Customers using Cathay Pacific’s complimentary Wi-Fi service can enjoy the same experience as paid Wi-Fi, enabling them to check emails, browse the internet, stream audio, use social media and messaging apps, and access cloud storage services and other professional applications. Customers can connect with one device at a time, and can switch between devices at any time during their flight.

Customers in all cabins can enjoy complimentary access to all pages on cathaypacific.com and the Cathay Shop during their flight.

​Over 90% of Cathay Pacific’s fleet is already equipped with Wi-Fi, including all long-haul aircraft. The airline plans to extend connectivity across its entire fleet by mid-2025.

.

American welcomes fall travel season with specialty Stand Up To Cancer kits

Summer fun may be ending, but it doesn’t mean the travel memories have to stop. During the next few weeks, customers flying on American Airlines will enjoy a new limited-edition specialty kit highlighting the airline’s longstanding fundraising campaign with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).

Customers traveling in premium cabins on Flagship® long-haul international and transcontinental flights will receive the limited-edition SU2C specialty amenity kit featuring new skincare brands and products. This kit marks the second limited-edition specialty kit in a line of rotating amenities American introduced earlier this year.

These specialty kits further celebrate the SU2C fundraising campaign that launched last month. American’s customers and team members have supported the organization and its life-saving cancer research since 2016.

What’s in your kit?

In addition to featuring a QR code that gives customers an opportunity to donate to the SU2C campaign, the specialty kits introduce customers to new designer and skincare brands that have not flown with American before.

American collaborated with sustainable fashion brand Raven + Lily and the SU2C team to create the unique design of these kits. Featuring SU2C’s well-known colors of red, orange, yellow and black, along with the organization’s logo, the kits are a standout item customers will use well beyond their flight.

The limited-edition kits feature skincare brands Macabalm and Pholk Beauty.

Customers in Flagship® Business and Premium Economy will receive Pholk Beauty hand lotion and Macabalm lip balm, while customers in Flagship® First will receive hand lotion and facial mist from Pholk Beauty and lip balm and a towelette from Macabalm.

Inflight skincare routine? We’ve got you covered.

These exclusive products support a growing trend in travelers emphasizing the importance of inflight skincare routines to hydrate and nourish the skin.

The Pholk hand lotion featured in all kits is a vegan, multi-tasking and lightweight lotion that hydrates and smooths the skin with lasting moisture that won’t clog pores.

Customers flying in Flagship® First Class can take their inflight skincare one step further by using the Pholk facial mist, which is deeply hydrating, soothing and rich in Vitamin C.

The Macabalm lip balm featured in all kits can be used to hydrate lips, soften hands and cuticles, eliminate dryness, tame eyebrows, highlight cheekbones and temples, soothe irritations and protect the skin barrier thanks to hero ingredients such as shea butter, rosehip and jojoba.

.

Air Samarkand to increase services to Istanbul, starting this Saturday

Air Samarkand is adding a third weekly scheduled return service from Samarkand to the Turkish capital of Istanbul, starting on Saturday, 14th September.

The new weekly Saturday service will regularly use an Airbus A321 aircraft, adding to existing scheduled return services operating every Monday and Thursday from Samarkand International Airport (SKD) to Istanbul International Airport (IST). These are operated with the airline’s Airbus A321neo aircraft on the scheduled 5 hour flight.

Air Samarkand’s Airbus A321 provides 12 Business Class and 182 Economy Class seats.

Zafar Butaev, CEO of Air Samarkand, says: “This third weekly rotation on the Samarkand-Istanbul service will deliver increased flexibility to our customers and help to satisfy the growing demand from business and leisure travellers on this route, with further increases likely very soon.”

The expanded service to Istanbul marks the continued and steady expansion of Air Samarkand’s route network. In late July the carrier began flying to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to support religious pilgrims, increasing the frequency to five per week by September – with two services departing from Samarkand and one each week from the Uzbek cities of Termez, Fergana and Namangan. Air Samarkand also serves Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and Nha Trang in Vietnam, using Airbus A321neo and A330-300 aircraft.

. /