easyJet to save on emissions as it continues its transition to electric maintenance vehicles across key UK and European bases

easyJet is set to make a saving of 54 tonnes of CO2e per year* thanks to an ongoing fleet renewal programme for its engineering and maintenance vehicles at several of its major bases across the UK and Europe.

The vehicles have been rolled out at the airline’s major bases including Berlin Brandenburg, London Luton, Bristol and Liverpool Airport

Replacing older petrol and diesel-fuelled vans with new electric vans will see easyJet reduce its engineering fleet emissions by 28%

This is part of a wider fleet renewal programme which will be implemented at all easyJet engineering bases across the UK and Europe.

Replacing traditional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles for engineering and maintenance teams across its operations. The new fleet of active vans, 36 in total, has been rolled out at easyJet’s engineering bases including Berlin, Luton, Bristol and Liverpool airport.

The airline is planning to continue this rollout across other engineering bases in FY25, at which point 80% of easyJet’s bases will be using fully electric maintenance vans.

Speaking on the initiative, Jane Ashton, Director of Sustainability said: “After a successful, small-scale trial at Berlin Airport last year, which saw the conversion of a number of maintenance vehicles to electric our immediate step was to expand on a much bigger scale across our UK and European bases.

This small but critical move will help us further reduce the impact of our ground operations and we continue to try and find new ways to do this every day through the integration of operational efficiencies including fleet renewal both for aircraft and maintenance vehicles as well as fleet optimisation through various new technologies.”

easyJet continues to work towards its Net Zero ambition, outlined in its Net Zero roadmap launched two years ago, and already achieved a 5% improvement in carbon intensity in 2023 vs the baseline year of 2019.

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Overview of vehicle distribution across easyJet’s bases

Base	Number of Electric Vehicles	Status/ date expected
Belfast	2	2025
Berlin	11	Active
Birmingham	2	FY25
Bristol	10	Active
Edinburgh	4	2025
Glasgow	2	2025
Liverpool	4	Active
Luton	11	Active
London Gatwick	TBD	TBD
Manchester	TBD	TBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JetBlue plans to introduce airport lounges

The U.S. airline JetBlue is seeking to get more high-revenue premium passengers to travel with the carrier that is struggling to get back into profitability since its failed takeover bid of budget carrier Spirit, by introducing executive lounges.

The airline says it will be opening lounges at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 5 in late 2025 and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Terminal C soon after. These new lounges will be a new perk to its top-level TrueBlue Mosaic members and a benefit to the new premium credit card soon to be announced.

Marty St. George, president of JetBlue said: "Customers have asked for a JetBlue lounge for years and we can’t wait to unveil our take in New York and Boston. Lounges have become an essential offering for the growing numbers of customers seeking premium experiences, and JetBlue’s lounges will further boost the value of our TrueBlue loyalty program as we expand our portfolio of JetBlue credit cards."

At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue’s lounge will span 8,000 total square feet and 11,000 square feet at Boston Logan International Airport. Both lounges will feature the airline’s iconic blue brand elements weaved together with local and regional artwork, personal touches and functional amenities, designed around three unique areas:

Play: Unwind and socialize as JetBlue brings the ‘fun’ in functionality to the lounge experience while customers can also relax as mixologists shake and stir their favorite complimentary alcoholic 1 and non-alcoholic beverages at a full-service bar.

Work: Stay connected and fully charged with private workspaces featuring fast and free Wi-Fi, an abundance of outlets to plug in and free barista-made coffee bar beverages.

Lounge: Enjoy familiar hospitality with complimentary food and beverage offerings. Kick back alone or with groups throughout the lounge in comfortable, cozy seating areas.

The lounges will also come complete with the airline’s standard of incredible customer service delivered by hospitality-trained crewmembers.

JetBlue says that airport lounges have, in recent times, become overcrowded due to their popularity and thus passengers no longer feel special going into them, especially if they are shared access lounges.  

New York's hometown airline says its two lounges will only be available to:   

Holders of a new premium JetBlue credit card (details soon to be announced)

TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members

Transatlantic Mint customers

TrueBlue Mosaic 4 members and the new premium JetBlue credit cardmembers will also receive complimentary access for an accompanying guest. Day passes and guest passes will be available for purchase by additional eligible customers based on space availability. 

All customers will be able to purchase an annual pass, making the lounges accessible to even more travellers seeking to get the most out of their award-winning JetBlue experience. More details about the lounge access policy will be shared in the future.

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Cathay Pacific A350 engine fire may be linked to cleaning process

Europe's aviation regulator on Thursday linked a recent engine fire on a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 to a possible problem with the maintenance of its Rolls-Royce engines.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) earlier this month ordered airlines to carry out visual inspections on Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engines after the incident involving a Zurich-bound Airbus A350-1000 on 2nd September 2024, reports Tim Hepher and Tassilo Hummel from Reuters.

"In-service and in-shop inspections since then have identified that a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment may lead to fuel manifold main fuel hose degradation", the agency said in a statement.  The announcement came after Hong Kong investigators confirmed they had found a hole in a fuel hose after leaking fuel caught fire in one of the Rolls-Royce engines of a Cathay Pacific, Airbus A350-1000 jet, forcing it to turn back to base. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Southeast Asia air traffic to more than triple through 2043

Boeing claims that Southeast Asian airlines will need 4,720 new aeroplanes over 20 years, with single-aisle jets making up 80% of projected deliveries.

Passenger air traffic in the region will grow 7.2% annually, as carriers connect fliers across Asia-Pacific

BALI, Indonesia.

The U.S. planemaker Boeing predicts Southeast Asia passenger air traffic to more than triple over the next 20 years, driven by above-global average economic growth and a rising middle class. The region’s aeroplane fleet is also projected to more than triple to 4,960 jets to meet the rising air travel demand, according to Boeing’s 2024 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), the company’s long-term demand forecast for commercial aeroplanes and services.

Through 2043, passenger air traffic in Southeast Asia will grow 7.2% annually – well above the 4.7% average annual growth rate globally – according to the CMO.

Boeing furloughs thousands as no progress made to resolve strike

The U.S. manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday it will temporarily furlough tens of thousands of employees after about 30,000 machinists went on strike on Friday, halting production of its 737 MAX and other aircraft.

"We are initiating temporary furloughs over the coming days that will impact a large number of US-based executives, managers and employees," CEO Kelly Ortberg said in an email to employees. "We are planning for selected employees to take one week of furlough every four weeks on a rolling basis for the duration of the strike."

The strike, Boeing's first since 2008, adds to a tumultuous year for the planemaker which began when a door panel blew off a new 737 MAX jet in mid-air in January.

Ortberg also said he and other Boeing leaders "will take a commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike."

Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers held two days of discussions in the presence of federal mediators. The union, which said on Tuesday it was frustrated with the first day of mediation, said late on Wednesday it had concluded another day of talks with "no meaningful progress."

KLM-BCG partnership announces Singapore Airlines as new customer

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced that Singapore Airlines is leveraging Pathfinder, one of the AI-based tools in the comprehensive suite developed by KLM and BCG under their partnership to improve digital airline operations worldwide.
Pathfinder is a customizable, state-of-the-art solution based on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced optimization. The solution for intelligent aircraft assignment optimization, that has been tailored to SIA’s needs, has allowed the airline to strengthen its operational resilience, improve on-time performance and utilize its aircraft resources more efficiently.
Tan Wei Qi, Divisional Vice President Operations Control at Singapore Airlines said:  "Pathfinder facilitates quicker data-driven decisions for Singapore Airlines, enabling us to optimize our operations, realize sustainability benefits from reduced fuel burn, and reduce flight disruptions as part of our commitment to providing a world-class experience to all our customers."
Maarten Stienen, COO KLM and Dirk-Maarten Molenaar, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG commented: "Over the last six years, the KLM-BCG Partnership has established itself as the leading player in digital airline operations with unparalleled offerings in the market. As the needs of airlines evolve, we look forward to further collaboration with top carriers worldwide to support their digital transformation in operations. We're delighted to partner with Singapore Airlines."

SAS is building a global hub in Scandinavia

SAS has announced an extensive expansion from Copenhagen starting with the summer traffic programme for 2025, positioning the main hub as a key international gateway to and from Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Today, SAS presents 15 new routes from Copenhagen, including a new long-haul route to Seattle. Adding several new direct flights from Copenhagen to popular European and Intercontinental destinations will support greater growth for both SAS and all of Scandinavia as a global hub.

Copenhagen Hub Expansion

The new routes introduced in the summer schedule are Krakow, Madrid, Budapest, Lyon, Valencia, Malta, Bucharest, Milan Linate, Seville, Turku, Billund, Kristiansand, Harstad/Narvik and Bodø. Furthermore, there will be a frequency increase on 15 of the existing routes, including key destinations such as Stockholm, Oslo, Prague, Berlin and Helsinki, solidifying Copenhagen's position as a global hub.

With the recent entry into SkyTeam, SAS is focusing on global reach and will continue to develop Copenhagen as its main hub for international travel. Copenhagen’s attractive location in continental Europe allows for efficient same-day travel across Northern, Central, and Western Europe. The hub will also serve as a key transit point for long-haul travel, connecting Europe with North America and Asia. 

“Following new ownership and the successful completion of our restructuring, SAS is emerging as a competitive and financially strong airline. By enhancing Copenhagen as our main hub and expanding our network, we are boosting connectivity and driving economic growth not only in Denmark but across Scandinavia. As we focus on building a global hub in Scandinavia, Copenhagen will become a central gateway, bringing the region even closer together,” says SAS CEO Anko van der Werff.

“For our passengers, this means more travel options, improved convenience, and a seamless experience across a growing number of destinations”, van der Werff continues.

Saab delivers fifth GlobalEye to the United Arab Emirates

The recent delivery is the fifth in the series of five GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft delivered to the UAE since 2020.

“In close partnership with the UAE Air Force, Saab has developed, produced and delivered a fleet of five state-of-the-art GlobalEye aircraft, all in a period of less than 10 years. This further reinforces Saab’s position as leading provider in the airborne early warning and control segment,” says Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s business area Surveillance.

GlobalEye is an advanced multi-domain AEW&C solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in the air, at sea and over land. By providing real-time information to units in the air force, army and navy, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats. 

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East Midlands Airport welcomes new cargo aircraft

A new cargo aircraft was welcomed to East Midlands Airport (EMA) this week as the airport grows its capacity and British cargo airline One Air boosts its fleet operating from the airport.

EMA is the UK’s number one air fright hub, supporting cargo-only aircraft carrying goods around the world.

One Air moved its operation from Heathrow Airport in April and is now based at EMA, running regular flights between Hong Kong and the UK. One Air’s move to EMA provided favourable availability for flight slots including night flying and fewer restrictions for all-cargo aircraft.

The latest aircraft brings its total fleet at EMA to three 747s – with the new arrival boasting a nose door as well as side door for loading and unloading. The original Boeing-built freighter also has a higher payload capacity of up to 124,000 kgs. It follows the second 747-400 which arrived at EMA in December to support One Air’s growing programme between China/Hong Kong and Europe. This represents rapid growth from a company which ran its first flights in July 2023 after receiving its AOC certification from the UK Civil Aviation Authority

easyJet to compete directly with British Airways on new route to Tbilisi in Georgia.

easyJet has announced this week that it plans to compete with British Airways when it introduces a new service to Tbilisi in Georgia next year.

The budget carrier will start the route on 1st April 2025 with the service operating twice a week from the carrier's home base of London Luton Airport. 

When we checked yesterday, the basic seat-only fare on easyJet for a return from Luton flight on 22nd April back 6th May was £222.98. British Airways fare from Heathrow for similar dates - 22nd April returning on 5th May was £274.09.  The main difference is the taxes, while the net fare was £101 on BA and on easyJet was £134.98.

Tbilisi offers a rich blend of history, diverse architecture, and culture. The city’s picturesque Old Town streets, historic sulphur baths, and a lively arts scene, alongside opportunities to sample traditional Georgian and Russian cuisine plus award-winning wines.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said:  "We are delighted announce a new route to a brand-new destination on our network today, and to be providing  direct connectivity between the UK and Tbilisi in Georgia for the first time from next summer, providing even more choice for our customers flying from London Luton who choose us for our unrivalled network which we continue to strengthen, our crew and their fantastic service, and of course our great value fares.”

In recent months, a complete reevaluation of the relationship the U.S. has with Georgia was ordered by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State. Financial aid and military cooperation from the U.S. has also been frozen and the European Union also followed suit.  Indeed, in Europe, there is talk that more sanctions from the EU could be imposed.  Georgia had also previously wished to join NATO and was, for a while described by the organisation as a 'prospective member state'. Now, that has been dropped from recent NATO declarations.  

Georgia signed a deep strategic partnership agreement in 2023 with China which has seen Tbilisi awarding a Chinese-led consortium the exclusive rights to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Not only that, according to Carnegie Politika Georgia also embarked towards energy cooperation with Turkey and has developed warmer ties to Iran following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Forthcoming elections in October could further cement diplomatic, financial and emotional ties with Russia, China and Iran or an attempt to resuscitate the relationship with the West. According to the Financial Times Western leaders need to brace for a full-blown Georgian crisis and a plan needs to be ready. 

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ATSG Charitable Foundation to support STEM education......... Inspiring future aviation professionals

The ATSG Charitable Foundation has announced its financial support for three elementary school book fairs and the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future program, reinforcing its commitment to STEM education with the goal of engaging more students in aviation and related career fields.

“We are focused on fostering a passion for STEM subjects, especially aviation,” said Mike Berger, CEO of Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) and member of the Foundation’s board of directors. “By supporting programs that inspire an interest in science and technology, we are helping to create a pipeline of young talent who will one day shape the future of aviation.”

The Foundation will sponsor book fairs at Broward Elementary School in Tampa, Florida; Hamilton Elementary School in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Putnam Elementary School in Blanchester, Ohio near the ATSG Corporate Headquarters. The book fairs, provided by Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, will offer every student the opportunity to take home three books of their choice free of charge, while the schools will receive an additional 300 books for classroom and library use. These initiatives are part of ATSG’s broader effort to spark curiosity and learning in STEM fields from an early age.

Why LAX, LAS, and LHR Should Invest in LH2

IDTechEx predicts the hydrogen aeroplane market will grow to US$28.4 billion, but only with strategic airport investment.

 

IDTechEx’s new report, “Sustainable Future Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts”, finds the hydrogen aeroplane market will be worth US$28.4 billion in 2045. The largest part of this will be coming from hydrogen-powered narrow-body commercial airliners. However, this can only happen with strategic infrastructure investment at the right airports. 

Hydrogen is a promising option for the future of aviation. Unlike batteries, it has enormous gravimetric energy density, allowing the plane to carry plenty of energy without becoming too heavy. The limitation of hydrogen is its volumetric energy density – the space it takes up. Because hydrogen is light, it occupies far more space than jet fuel for the same amount of energy. At room temperature and pressure, a hydrogen tank would need to be more than 3,000 times the size of a jet fuel tank to hold the same energy.

 

Compressing hydrogen helps to get more energy into a smaller volume. Most companies looking at compressed hydrogen are considering 700 bar. Pressurizing hydrogen to 700 bar increases its density by a factor of 470, meaning the tank needs to be just over 7 times bigger for the same energy, but also that anybody looking to make use of hydrogen will need to invest in 700 bar hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. 

 

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is even more dense. At 71g/L, it still weighs nearly ten times less than jet fuel for the same volume but now contains ~25% of the energy. So now, if a plane could be refuelled with liquid hydrogen and got similar efficiency out of the engines, it could expect to get around 25% of the range. For something like an Airbus A320, or Boeing 737max, this would mean around 1,500km of range. This might not sound like much, but a surprising amount of flights are less than 1,500km.

 

IDTechEx’s report, “Sustainable Future Aviation 2025-2045: Trends, Technologies, Forecasts”, found that around 60% of all flights in the US (domestic and international) are less than 1,500km.

 

49ers and United Airlines launch SAF pilot project to reduce carbon emissions from air travel

United and the San Francisco 49ers announced today that the team has become the first in the NFL to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). As an initial step toward addressing emissions concerns, the team has purchased enough SAF to cover its game-related flying on United from San Francisco to Los Angeles this Sunday.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% on a lifecycle basis – from production to end use – because it is made from renewable materials rather than oil. United's SAF is certified by an independent third party as meeting several sustainability criteria, including its carbon intensity.

United was the first airline to create a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050, without relying on voluntary carbon offsets, and remains a U.S. industry leader in the purchase and use of SAF. The airline purchased more sustainable fuel than any U.S. airline in 2023 and has used a blend of SAF at five airports in the U.S. and Europe including San Francisco International Airport – among the most locations of any U.S. airline.

"SAF has the potential to be a powerful tool to help reduce carbon emissions from flying, but the industry is still in its infancy, supply is limited, and most people don't know what it is," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "We're proud to partner with like-minded organizations like the 49ers to demonstrate and elevate to a broader audience why it's important to support real solutions like SAF."

Alaska Airlines take-over of Hawaiian Airlines completes

This week Alaska Air Group confirmed it had completed its acquisition of Hawaiian Holdings. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines now begin the work to secure a single operating certificate with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will allow the two airlines to operate as a single carrier with an integrated passenger service system. 

In the interim, the airlines will continue to operate as separate carriers with no immediate changes to operations and will maintain separate websites, reservation systems and loyalty programmes until later in the integration process. The management structure at Hawaiian Airlines has already been changed and according to sources at the airline, the company will transition to 80% Alaska Air leaders by the end of 2025.   

The Alaska Air Group features:  

Fly nearly 1,500 daily flights to 141 destinations including 29 international markets in the Americas, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific. This expanded network feeds the more than 1,200 destinations available through the oneworld Alliance.

Maintain hubs in Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, San Diego and Anchorage, with Honolulu becoming the second largest behind Seattle.

Operate a fleet of 350 aircraft, which includes 2 Boeing 787, 24 Airbus A330, 18 Airbus A321neo, 235 Boeing 737, 19 Boeing 717, 44 Embraer E175, and 8 dedicated freighters (3 Boeing 737-700, 2 Boeing 737-800 and 3 Airbus A330).

Employ more than 33,000 people across North America, Asia and the Pacific.

Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles retain their full value at the moment, however, HawaiianMiles will be absorbed into Mileage Plan within a year and a time limit to redeem or exchange HawaiianMiles will be introduced. Later this month, Alaska Airlines promises members will be able to seamlessly transfer miles between Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles on a 1 - 1 basis.  

British Airways announces direct flights to Georgian capital, Tbilisi

British Airways will launch flights from London Heathrow to Tbilisi, Georgia next year, operating four times per week from 30 March 2025.

Despite recent moves more towards Russia and away from the West, political unrest and aggressive anti-western attitudes, the UK's leading airline has decided to launch flights to Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia.   

Located at the crossroads where Europe meets Asia, Georgia is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, traditional cuisine and picturesque scenery. The country proudly lays claim to being the birthplace of wine, with an 8,000-year-old history of winemaking that remains a predominant part of its culture today. The nation is also home to a large number of Russians who have set down roots in the country since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

In recent months, a complete reevaluation of the relationship the U.S. has with Georgia was ordered by Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State. Financial aid and military cooperation from the U.S. has also been frozen and the European Union also followed suit.  Indeed, in Europe, there is talk that more sanctions from the EU could be imposed.  Georgia had also previously wished to join NATO and was, for a while described by the organisation as a 'prospective member state'. Now, that has been dropped from recent NATO declarations.  

Georgia signed a deep strategic partnership agreement in 2023 with China which has seen Tbilisi awarding a Chinese-led consortium the exclusive rights to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. Not only that, according to Carnegie Politika Georgia also embarked towards energy cooperation with Turkey and has developed warmer ties to Iran following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. Forthcoming elections in October could further cement diplomatic, financial and emotional ties with Russia, China and Iran or an attempt to resuscitate the relationship with the West. According to the Financial Times Western leaders need to brace for a full-blown Georgian crisis and a plan needs to be ready. 

Tbilisi is located on the banks of the Mtkvari River, surrounded by hills with the Caucasus Mountains to the north. The city attracts visitors looking to soak up the charm of the cobbled streets of its historic city centre, its unique blend of architecture, and diverse cuisine, which has been influenced by its history and surroundings. The canyons and caves near Kutaisi and multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites are within easy reach for avid explorers.