ZeroAvia Completes $150m Series C Financing

Scottish National Investment Bank joins financing round alongside American Airlines, IAG and ITOCHU Corporation 

Financing accelerates progress towards certification of first powertrain and supports sale of in-house components to other electrified aviation innovators 

This week ZeroAvia announced that it has extended its Series C financing to a total of $150m, with a £20m investment from Scottish National Investment Bank coming alongside recent investments from American Airlines, International Airlines Group and ITOCHU Corporation.  

The round was co-led by Airbus, Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and NEOM Investment Fund (NIF), with UK Infrastructure Bank joining as a cornerstone-level investor, and with strong support from existing shareholders including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Horizons Ventures, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Summa Equity, Alaska Airlines, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and AP Ventures.  

This is the Bank’s first investment in hydrogen-based technology and the sustainable aviation sector and will bolster the burgeoning aerospace supply chain in Scotland as ZeroAvia looks to create a manufacturing facility in the country. 

ZeroAvia has already extensively flight-tested a prototype of its first ZA600-engine aboard a Dornier 228 aircraft at its UK base, and the application for certification is underway with the CAA. The company has also performed advanced ground tests in the US and UK for the key building block technologies for the ZA2000 system, including cryogenic tanks for LH2 and proprietary high-temperature PEM fuel cell and electric propulsion systems. ZA2000 will support up to 80-seat regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR72 and the Dash 8 400. The company is also selling its component technology, including electric motors and fuel cell power generation systems, to other electric aviation innovators.  

Val Miftakhov, Founder and CEO, ZeroAvia said: “We have closed an exceptionally strong financing round to help us deliver the clean future of flight for the entirety of aviation. As a purpose-driven impact investor, the Bank is an ideal partner for ZeroAvia. Scotland’s ambitious net zero targets, its strategic focus on hydrogen and its strong existing aerospace skills base make it an attractive place for ZeroAvia’s UK production operations as we scale into a major aerospace manufacturer.” 

Robin Tayal, Investment Director at the Bank said: “Decarbonising aviation is one of the key environmental challenges we face, and it is fundamental to the net zero transition. We are pleased to address it by investing in ZeroAvia, enabling critical research and manufacturing. We are particularly encouraged by the potential of its technology to provide sustainable connectivity in the Highlands and Islands.” 

 

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Etihad Airways announces new routes to Warsaw and Prague

The national airline of the UAE, Etihad Airways is launching two new European routes next year as it continues to expand its global reach. 

In June next year, the airline will start services to Warsaw in Poland and Prague in Czechia, for the first time.  Etihad will fly four times a week to both destinations, with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 28 Business Class and 262 Economy Class seats. 

Warsaw

Warsaw, the dynamic capital of Poland, blends a rich historical legacy with modern energy. Its meticulously restored Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, standing as a testament to the city's resilience. With its vibrant cultural scene, impressive palaces, and contemporary architecture, Warsaw is a thriving metropolis that offers visitors a deep dive into both Poland's storied past and its forward-looking future.

Prague

Prague, the capital of Czechia, is a city of fairy-tale charm and architectural splendour. Known for its Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque buildings, including the world-famous Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, it’s a haven for history buffs and culture enthusiasts alike. From the enchanting Old Town Square to its thriving arts scene, Prague is a city where past and present blend seamlessly, making it one of Europe’s most captivating destinations.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are proud to introduce Warsaw and Prague as our newest destinations, reflecting our commitment to expanding into new and exciting markets. These routes not only enrich our network but also offer a great opportunity to strengthen ties with these countries and attract more visitors to Abu Dhabi. We see this as a key part of our growth strategy, helping to drive tourism and support the UAE’s vision for the future."

Tickets for these new routes are available now, plus passengers booking on Etihad's website can take advantage of a complimentary stopover in Abu Dhabi, transforming one holiday into two and enjoying a free stay for up to two nights at their preferred hotel in the vibrant capital of the UAE.

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Prague flight schedule – all times local. From 02 June 2025

Flight No,	Departure airport	Arrival airport	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Frequency
EY155	Abu Dhabi AUH	Prague PRG	02:50	07:15	4x week
EY156	Prague PRG	Abu Dhabi AUH	11:20	19:05	4x week

Warsaw flight schedule – all times local. From 03 June 2025

Flight No,	Departure airport	Arrival airport	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Frequency
EY159	Abu Dhabi AUH	Warsaw WAW	02:45	06:50	4x week
EY160	Warsaw WAW	Abu Dhabi AUH	11:15	19:00	4x week

Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft

Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft to arrive in Australia next year.  As part of Qantas’ fleet renewal programme, 28 of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft have been ordered which will replace the Australian carrier's fleet of Boeing 737  jets over the next decade.

The A321XLR is the longest-range variant of the Airbus A320 family, which will allow Qantas to open up new non-stop routes that aren’t currently viable with its planes. Qantas says the new fleet will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with a quieter cabin, deliver more reliable operations and generate fewer emissions per seat than the aircraft they replace.

Inside Qantas A321XLR passengers will experience a wider economy seat than on the 737  planes, with extra comfortable seat cushioning.  The new planes feature the largest overhead bins of any single-aisle aircraft that allow for 60 per cent more bags and there is a sense of spaciousness in the long cabin with higher ceilings and large windows, and a wider cabin than the aircraft it is replacing.  

The new  A321XLR aircraft will be configured for 197 passengers across two cabins, with 20 Business seats in a 2-2 layout and 177 Economy seats in a 3-3 placement. Although, the first three Qantas A321XLRs will arrive configured with 180 Economy seats.  Plus Qantas is also installing fast, free  Wi-F to the aircraft, allowing all customers in-flight connectivity to stay connected across multiple devices, as well as the improved Qantas Entertainment App for streaming content to their own device.

Training

Ahead of the arrival of the first A321XLR, Qantas pilots have started training on a new CAE 7000XR Series A320 simulator that was shipped from Montreal, Canada, to Australia earlier in the year over a 34-day journey. The simulator is fitted with the latest technology and will be one of the few in the world fitted with a dual head-up display. The A320 simulator is based in the new Sydney Flight Training Centre that is expected to be fully operational with more flight simulators and training equipment to be added by the end of the year.

More than 240 Qantas pilots are expected to be trained on the A321XLR aircraft over the next three years, opening up new career pathways and promotional opportunities. Pilots will spend up to 60 hours in the new simulator as part of their broader training program, and then return each year for four recurrency training sessions. 

In addition, around 2,000 cabin crew will also be progressively trained on the new aircraft type as they enter the fleet.

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Qantas’ A321XLR is five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will be configured to seat 197 people (20 business, 177 economy) – a 13 per cent increase across the whole cabin with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.

It can fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 (at 8,700km) and opens up a wider range of direct domestic and short haul international routes (e.g. South East Asia, Pacific islands).

Qantas’ A321XLR will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines (PW1100G-JM).

The A321XLR improves noise levels compared to previous generation aircraft.

On a per seat basis, the A321XLR is expected to burn less fuel than the 737 aircraft it replaces.

Qantas employees are helping name the new fleet of aircraft under the theme of Walks, Rivers and Roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond. The first aircraft to arrive will be called Great Ocean Road.

 Fact Sheet Qantas Group Fleet Renewal.

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. 

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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.

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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).

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‘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.

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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.

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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.