Corendon Airlines partners with IBS Software to maximise operational efficiency

                                                 Corendon Airlines, one of Turkey's leading air carriers, has entered a strategic partnership with IBS Software to revolutionise its commercial operations. By leveraging IBS Software's iFly Res commerce platform Corendon will improve revenue streams and enhance operational efficiency. This move towards efficiency is fundamental as the airline is projected to process over 37 million passengers over the duration of the partnership.

IBS Software - a leading SaaS solutions provider to the global travel industry globally - was selected after an in-depth market evaluation which took over a year to complete. Corendon Airlines chose the iFly Res Passenger Service System (PSS) as it can uniquely unify Corendon's seat-only and tour operator business under a consolidated inventory. In turn, manpower requirements are reduced, and revenue dilution is prevented.

The partnership will see the integration of IBS Software's advanced Revenue Management solution delivering improvements to Corendon's bottom line. By providing a single, unified inventory that integrates both tour operator allotments and seat-only sales, the platform will empower revenue analysts to make consistent, data-driven decisions.

The collaboration also enables dynamic optimisation of pooled allotments, seat-only inventory, and pricing, all designed to maximise revenue. Additionally, iFly Res facilitates real-time data exchange with tour operator interfaces, ensuring seamless, uninterrupted operations.

Through NDC-based distribution, Corendon Airlines will now be able to offer dynamic pricing and more personalised options, enhancing passenger satisfaction and maintaining a competitive edge. These real-time dynamic and personalised pricing capabilities are a vital tool in delivering the most cost-effective fares and ensuring pricing is competitive with other regional leisure travel providers.

Speaking about the partnership, Burcu Par Güler, PSS Project Manager of Corendon Airlines, said: "At Corendon Airlines, our mission is to deliver exceptional travel experiences. By partnering with IBS Software, we are leveraging cutting-edge technology to refine our operations and elevate our service offerings. This partnership is a pivotal step in our growth strategy, and we are thrilled to be working with like-minded individuals who share our passion for innovation."

Ben Simmons, VP & Regional Head of Europe and Africa, IBS Software said: "We are delighted to welcome Corendon Airlines to our expanding family of airline partners in Turkey. The iFly Res platform is tailored to meet the unique needs of hybrid tour operators and charter airlines like Corendon. We are committed to helping Corendon Airlines achieve their goals of bringing more people to Turkish shores and drive commercial success. "

. /

Founded in 1997 in the Netherlands as a tour operator, Corendon has grown into a tourism group over time by adding airlines, incoming services, and hotels in Europe, Turkey, and the Caribbean to its portfolio. Corendon Travel, one of the leading tour operators in the Netherlands and Belgium, also operates in the Danish market. Corendon, particularly known in these markets for its association with the Turkey destination, is among the pioneering tour operators offering a wide range of products and destinations to its guests. Since entering the aviation sector with the slogan "Make a Difference" from its very first day, Corendon Airlines has introduced many exemplary practices and firsts in the industry. 

IBS Software is a global leader in SaaS solutions for the travel industry, managing mission-critical operations for clients in aviation, hospitality, tour & cruise, and energy resources sectors. IBS's aviation solutions encompass fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel, and air cargo management.

In the hospitality industry, IBS Software offers a cloud-native, unified platform for hotels and travel sellers, including central reservation (CRS), property management (PMS), revenue management (RMS), call centre, booking engine, loyalty, and distribution systems.

IBS Software - Airline Travel Software & Airline Reservation System - 

PLAY airlines carried 187,960 passengers in August 2024........

.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

New Garmin G5000 avionics upgrade now available for Cessna Citation XLS Aircraft

Textron Aviation announced customers can now upgrade their Cessna Citation XLS+ and Citation XLS Gen2 aircraft with the Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck following Garmin’s receipt of FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the avionics upgrade. Customers can have the upgrade installed at selected domestic Textron Aviation Service Centers to add significant technological advances and new capabilities to their aircraft.

“The G5000 avionics upgrade for the Cessna Citation XLS series modernizes the cockpit and addresses the evolution of FAA airspace, while also offering a lower cost of operation,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president of Customer Support. “We are continuously investing in new enhancements for our customers and their aircraft and expanding the G5000 avionics system to Citation XLS+ and XLS Gen2 operators supports our mission to deliver the best aviation experience for our customers.”

The G5000 integrated avionics suite features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), flight plan information, weather and more, increasing situational awareness for the flight crew. It also includes options for Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and fully automatic advanced weather radar and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) Out compliance and allows for future growth and expansion through software updates.

BOC Aviation places two Airbus A320neo's with Nouvelair

BOC Aviation is pleased to announce the placement of two Airbus A320NEO aircraft with new customer, Tunisia's first private airline, Nouvelair. Both aircraft are powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines and are scheduled for delivery this year.

“We are excited to welcome Nouvelair as a new customer as we build out our exposure to the rapidly-growing North African aviation market,” said Paul Kent, Chief Commercial Officer (Europe, Americas & Africa). “These latest technology aircraft will provide a significant boost to the modernity and operating efficiency of Nouvelair’s fleet as it develops further scale.”

Chokri Zarrad, General Manager of Nouvelair, emphasized: "We are enthusiastic about this collaboration with BOC Aviation and look forward to a long-term partnership. Adding our first environment friendly A320NEO to our fleet is part of our modernization strategy. We will reach a total of 15 aircraft by the third quarter of 2024. Our aim is to meet the growing expectations of our passengers regarding comfort and environmental sustainability, while maintaining the efficiency that has contributed to Nouvelair's success. The Airbus A320NEO, with its technological advancements, enables reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.”

.

PLAY airlines completes deal with Sabre

Sabre Corporation, a leading technology provider to the global travel industry, and Play airlines,  a fast-growing Icelandic low-cost carrier, today announced a multi-year distribution agreement. Through this partnership, Sabre-connected travel agencies will have seamless access to PLAY airlines' expanding network of affordable flights across North America and Europe.

This strategic agreement comes as PLAY airlines continues to grow its presence in key markets, including the Nordics, the United States, and Canada. The carrier's low-cost model offers travellers cost-effective transatlantic travel options, with Iceland serving as a hub for both North American and European travellers. The airline currently operates a modern all-Airbus fleet, connecting passengers up to 40 destinations in 2024.

This is in line with Sabre's ongoing investments in multi-source content and capabilities, and its commitment to addressing the growing content fragmentation challenge, enabling the efficient integration and normalization of content, and ensuring travel buyers retain the choice, transparency, and service standards they value today.

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.

. /

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.

.

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. 

.

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. 

.