Ryanair issued with criminal warning over breach of court order to cease denigrating eDreams ODIGEO

eDreams ODIGEO - ‘eDO’, the world’s leading travel subscription business and one of Europe’s largest e-commerce companies has welcomed the landmark decision by Barcelona Commercial Court No. 12 to issue a formal criminal warning to Ryanair Holdings plc for its non-compliance with the Court’s order to cease denigrating eDreams ODIGEO and its Prime programme.

This court action follows the urgent interim measures imposed on Ryanair Holdings plc earlier this summer, which mandated the airline to immediately cease its denigrating statements against eDreams ODIGEO and its Prime programme.

Despite the Court’s clear and binding directive, Ryanair continued its denigrating misconduct on repeated occasions, prompting the Court to escalate the matter. In response to Ryanair's non-compliance, the Judge agreed with eDreams ODIGEO’s request to put the airline on formal notice that any further disobedience may result in criminal consequences under Article 556 of the Spanish Criminal Code (Código Penal), which contemplates potential criminal penalties.

AM Green acquires Chempolis Next-Gen 2G Bio-Fuel Technology

             AM Green Technology and Solutions B.V. (part of AM Green Group), one of the world's leading energy transition solutions providers has announced the signing of binding agreements to acquire Chempolis Oy and Fortum 3 B.V. entities.
This acquisition highlights AM Green's commitment to develop innovative technology-enabled solutions. AM Green will establish large-scale bio refineries that utilize multiple feedstocks & produce high-value green products enabling global decarbonization in aviation, fuels, chemicals and other industrial sectors.
Chempolis's technology will enable the processing of multiple 2G waste feedstocks and the production of high-value green chemicals and products such as ethanol, furfural, and pure lignin, accelerating AM Green's vision to become the world's leading industrial decarbonizations platform.
Chempolis Oy is a pioneer in lignocellulosic feedstock processing with research, technology capabilities and product development expertise spanning 15+ years with strong R&D teams.

United Airlines celebrates longest serving employee based in the UK

United Airlines is celebrating a remarkable milestone achieved by one of its most dedicated employees based in the UK, Alan Temple, who marks his 55th work anniversary at the airline this year. This extraordinary achievement makes Alan Temple, United's Plant and Equipment Manager, not only United’s longest-serving UK employee but also one of the longest-serving employees out of all companies based at Heathrow Airport, reflecting a population of approximately 90,000.

Today, Alan joined his colleagues, past and present, as well as family, at United’s EMEIA Regional headquarters at London Heathrow, for a special celebratory event, including speeches, a cake cutting, and the presentation of a framed Pan Am menu from 1970.

Alan began his journey at Pan Am in 1969 as a Ground Equipment Mechanic, troubleshooting and repairing Ground Service Equipment. During Alan's lengthy and successful career, he has witnessed many memorable moments in aviation history, from the arrival of the very first Boeing 747 at London Heathrow in 1970 and United's acquisition of Pan Am’s LHR routes in 1991, through to the first flight into Heathrow’s newly opened Terminal 2 in 2014 and the final farewell to the Queen of the Skies, with United's last Boeing 747 flight departing Heathrow in 2017.

More routes being axed by JetBlue.

JetBlue was incorporated in Delaware in August 1998, commenced service on February 11, 2000, the carrier is ranked as the sixth-largest airline in the U.S. and calls itself New York's hometown airline.  It is a leading carrier in Boston and has significant operations from Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and San Juan.

Since its failed takeover of budget carrier, Spirit, JetBlue has had to make a number of changes has it strives to return to profitability.  The latest incantation of that is the new JetForward initiative.  The new strategy for the carrier is to "be loved, be profitable for crewmembers, customers and owners". The new culture says the airline is bringing back humanity to air travel, although it isn't really clear how that will do that as well as making the airline profitable for both customers and owners.

Part of the plan is to axe a number of routes in January, which are in addition to the 15 bases they already announced were being dropped.  The next round is dropping more than 50 routes in January 2025.  These include, New York LaGuardia to Charleston, LaGuardia to Nashville,  LaGuardia to Jacksonville, JFK to Burlington, LaGuardia to Denver and more.  

Boston will also see JetBlue exit at least four routes in January,  this include services to Charlotte, Minneapolis St Paul, San Antonio and Baltimore-Washington. It is expected another four routes will be axed in April 2025 from Boston which will be announced in December. 

As previously announced JetBlue is streamling operations by operating two aircraft types, the Airbus A220 and the A320 family of jets. That has meant the carrier is axing the Embraer Ejet fleet ahead of schedule. JetBlue says the E190s will exit the fleet completely by end of 2025.  

In July 2024, JetBlue deferred the delivery of 44 Airbus A321neo aircraft from 2025 –2029 to 2030+ totaling ~$3.0B of savings, to help restore balance sheet and improve cash flow.  

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Air Samarkand launches new route from Tashkent to Al Ain

                                      Air Samarkand has launched a new once-weekly service between the Uzbek capital of Tashkent and Al Ain, the ‘Garden City’ of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

 

The first flight, carrying a near capacity of 195 passengers and lasting three hours and 40 minutes, took place yesterday (Sunday), using an Airbus A321 aircraft. The aircraft offers 12 spacious business class seats and 182 comfortable economy class seats to ensure a pleasant travel experience. 

Al Ain is the fourth-largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the largest inland city in the UAE. It is a significant cultural centre, playing an important role in the country’s history. 

“We are excited to add another destination and a new country to our flight map, which we are confident will become popular among both tourists and business travellers,” said Zafar Butaev, CEO of Air Samarkand. 

This latest development follows the expansion of services to Istanbul earlier in September, to three return flights a week, and 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. 

Flights to Al Ain are operated in partnership with the tour operator EasyBooking, which is providing quick and convenient transfers from Al Ain Airport to selected hotels in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. At the initial stage, flights will operate once a week on Sundays:

 

Departure from Tashkent: 10:40, arrival in Al Ain: 13:20 (local time).

Departure from Al Ain: 15:00, arrival in Tashkent: 19:40 (local time).

 

British Airways announces new carbon removals partnerships to become the largest carbon removals purchaser in the UK and the largest airline purchaser of carbon removals

British Airways has signed a deal to purchase more than £9 million worth of innovative carbon removal credits in the United Kingdom and overseas as part of a six-year agreement. The deal is part of an ambitious drive to accelerate the airline’s climate change efforts between now and 2030.

One ground-breaking scheme in Scotland will see CO2 emissions captured from whisky distilleries and repurposed into building materials. Another, spread across multiple locations in the UK, uses an enhanced rock weathering technique to lock away carbon for thousands of years. The airline will also purchase carbon removals credits from two companies specialising in high-durability reforestation projects, increasing the amount of forested land in Scotland and Wales.

The airline’s portfolio also includes Canadian carbon capture projects, which focus on carbon removal from rivers and oceans using alkaline rock particles, while in India, the airline is backing a biochar project that empowers female farmers while enhancing soil biodiversity and farm yields.

British Airways joined forces with CUR8, a UK-based company that specialises in sourcing high-quality carbon removal credits. The airline has purchased 33,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits through its CUR8 portfolio, a small but important step to help scale-up and advance this critical sector. Carbon removals are recognised by scientists, governments and regulators as a vital tool in helping to address climate change, but the sector needs to be scaled up urgently.

Sitting pretty – the evolution of the passenger airline seat

A comfortable seat to sink into, when you board a plane, wasn’t always a given for air travel. Artemis Aerospace investigates – take a seat and find out more! 

You’ve made it to the airport, checked your luggage in, browsed the shops and finally got on the plane. You’ve bagged a window seat, stowed your bag in the overhead locker and perused your fellow passengers, hoping you won’t end up with a seat-kicker behind or seat recliner in front . . . what you’re probably not thinking about is the design of your seat. However, there’s an interesting history behind the evolution of airline seats. Here we delve into it … 

Today, the comfort of travellers during their journey is a top priority for airlines competing for business; designers battle it out to provide the most relaxing experience. This is quite a change from the very first seating arrangements for passengers in the 1920s, which were plain wicker chairs – and these weren’t even fastened to the floor, so any in-flight turbulence had the potential to cause an untidy heap of wicker and people. The wicker chairs lasted for around ten years and were subsequently fitted to the floor as well as having extra padding and being lined with leather. Leather was a practical option as it was easy to clean back in the day when air travel was a much dustier experience. By the end of the thirties, velour covers were making their way in. 

In 1930, the Aluminum Company of America designed an aluminium passenger seat which was light and adaptable. Fast forward to the present day and nearly all airline seats are still manufactured in aluminium. This first seat may have been a state-of-the-art invention, but there was still no means of adjusting it, although foam-filled rubber seats were introduced to prevent discomfort from sitting on a hard metal chair. 

Initially, seats were usually arranged in a 2+1, 2+2 or 3+3 formation as aircraft grew in size. As longer flights gradually became possible, the recliner chair was introduced in 1929, thus igniting the age-old issue of whether to recline and possibly annoy the person behind or remain upright. Some airlines introduced seats which converted to beds for an overnight flight, and the move towards the comfort of passengers began to grow in momentum, with improved shock absorbency in the seats and the introduction of head and footrests. 

Some of the first seating arrangements involved seats configured around a table, as they are in trains, and when food began to be served on aircraft, it was brought to the traveller on a real tray. One can imagine the mess if the plane hit a rough patch! The tray tables which fold down from the back of the seat weren’t introduced until 1973. 

In 1952 multi-fare flights were permitted by IATA (International Air Transport Association) and that was the beginning of the airline class system, with standard class seats being roomier than those in coach class (which became economy), but still with all the seats facing the front.

In the 21st century, with increased emphasis on customer experience, airlines are experimenting with different seating configurations, such as reverse or staggered herringbone set-ups, which give more privacy and enable people to access the aisle without clambering over their fellow passengers.

Cathay Cargo and NorthLink Aviation sign agreement for cargo terminal capacity at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport from 2025

Cathay Cargo will operate from new modern terminal with freighter parking bays that will add more resilience to winter weather operations.

Cathay Cargo has announced a long-term agreement with NorthLink Aviation (“NorthLink”) to use NorthLink’s “state-of-the-art” air-cargo terminal and aircraft stands at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, scheduled to start from October 2025. This investment in the airport that serves as a vital technical stop for its transpacific Boeing 747 freighter and cargo operations will strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.

The new deal will grant Cathay Cargo access to cargo terminal capacity with customs clearance for cargo entering the United States, 11 power-through hardstands for aircraft to park and depart without ground-tug assistance, and four additional push-back hardstands. Each of the parking stands will offer dual-hydrant fueling systems, lighting towers for enhanced ground safety and ground power systems that will use renewable energy. Importantly for winter operations there will be infrastructure in place to support the recovery and recycling of de-icing fluid. ​

The access to guaranteed stand parking will help minimise disruption and strengthen schedule resilience during periods of intense winter weather that are inevitable for operations at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Cathay Cargo currently uses stands provided by the airport authority that are shared with other carriers operating to/from Anchorage. During disruptions that are typically caused by inclement weather, these stands can become occupied and blocked leading to diversions and flight cancellations. ​ ​

UK, US and Canada to collaborate on cybersecurity and AI research

Military science and technology organisations agree to partner on critical research areas in support of defence and security.

The Ministry of Defence, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Canadian Department of National Defence will collaboratively pursue research, development, test and evaluation technologies for artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, resilient systems and information domain-related technologies.

The methodologies, algorithms, capabilities and tools created will be exploited by developing new concepts of operations that focus on real-world challenges.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be the lead agency for the UK. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) will be the lead organisation on behalf of Canada.

The collaboration has been driven by the rapid pace of technology development and the future challenges in an ever-changing geopolitical environment. This effort will further leverage relevant research programmes among all nations and reduce duplication of efforts.

Dr Nick Joad, Director Science and Technology at UK Ministry of Defence, said:

Our international research collaborations with both the US and Canada are some of our most vital and enduring partnerships.

This agreement cements our collective commitments to advancing emerging cyber security technologies such as cyber security and artificial intelligence to enhance the defence and security of our nations.

General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia hosts special event on youth development in the aviation sector

More than 300 people from 30 countries have taken part in a side event designed to attract and develop young people into the aviation sector on the sidelines of the United Nations Future Action Days.

The Youth Empowerment and Development in the Civil Aviation Sector event was hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

GACA’s leadership of the event provided an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s efforts to empower youth, in line with Vision 2030, and to demonstrate the authority’s role in equipping younger people with the necessary skills and training to contribute to the civil aviation sector.

The event featured an opening speech by His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, the President of GACA, which addressed the role of youth in the future of civil aviation in the context of the rapid transformation faced by the aviation industry.

Delta’s record 2025 trans-Atlantic expansion in Italy and beyond

Delta to fly its largest-ever trans-Atlantic summer schedule, with new routes to Catania, Sicily, Naples, Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Dublin, Brussels and more.

Delta is gearing up for an unforgettable summer in 2025, offering more opportunities than ever to explore Europe’s most captivating destinations, from the sun-soaked beaches of Catania, Sicily, to the historic charm of Rome. Highlights include Delta’s most expansive trans-Atlantic schedule from key hubs such as New York-JFK, Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Detroit, along with an enhanced travel experience featuring the debut of Delta One Lounges, free international Wi-Fi, and increased premium seating on the A330-900 and A350-900 aircraft. 

“With over 700 weekly flights to 33 European destinations and beyond, we’re expanding access to key cities like Barcelona and Dublin with new routes, while introducing our first-ever nonstop service to Catania, Sicily,” said Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Network Planning. “We’ve also recently opened a stunning Delta One Lounge at JFK, with more to come at LAX, BOS, and SEA. Alongside the rollout of free international Wi-Fi and increased premium seating across our fleet, we’re ensuring our customers enjoy the best in connectivity and comfort from the moment they arrive at the airport to when they touch down.” 

With Delta’s enhanced Summer 2025 schedule, Italy—a land of timeless beauty and rich cultural history—has never been more accessible. As the largest U.S. carrier in the Italy market, Delta is boosting its service by over 10% year-over-year, providing even more ways for customers to experience la dolce vita.  

Additionally, Delta Vacations offers a wide selection of accommodations across the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Milan, and Venice, from top international hotel chains to boutique properties. Travelers can also book private tours of historical sites like the Duomo in Milan and Pompeii near Naples, as well as experiences like chef-guided cooking lessons and private drivers for local exploration. 

The first flight of the first Boeing E-7 Wedgetail for the RAF conducted.

The U.S. planemaker Boeing completed the first flight of the E-7 Wedgetail destined for the Royal Air Force on Friday last week.

The E-7 Wedgetail aircraft will provide the RAF with advanced Airborne Early Warning & Control capabilities.  These jets that are highly modified commercial 737 NG aircraft that will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where Boeing's local suppliers and contractors are nearing completion of the infrastructure facilities to support its introduction into service.  

The aircraft is currently unpainted and is one of three 737 NG aircraft on British soil which are undergoing modification by 100 people at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham. The first flight checked the functionality of the aircraft alone, which seems to have performed as expected.

"This safe and systematic Functional Check Flight is an important step for Boeing and the RAF as part of our rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation," said Stu Voboril, Boeing vice president and E-7 program manager. "Our team is committed to ensuring the E-7 delivers the safety, quality, and capabilities we've promised to our customer as we prepare for delivery of the UK's first E-7 Wedgetail to the RAF."

The E-7 Wedgetail RAF programme is already overdue and instead of getting the five aircraft the RAF originally wanted, they will only get three and the cost is just over £1.90 billion for the programme. The price tag for all five was £2.1 billion, which isn't perhaps the best deal or considered and the reduction for three isn't very much.  The RAF will continue to get all five of the special Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radars, which they will use to ensure that it always has one E-7 available. 

Other countries that have ordered the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing have also experienced problems and delays. The Royal Australian Air Force experienced initial delays and a number of technical challenges during the early stages of the E-7 Wedgetail programme, including integration issues with the radar and critical mission systems. Additionally, some systems failed during two operations, which raised questions about the ongoing suitability of the aircraft. As a result, technology upgrades were instigated and updates continue to be made. The Turkish Air Force has also encountered delays in delivery and operational readiness of their E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. Some of these were due to technical issues, extra testing and modifications. The Republic of Korea Air Force reported some initial technical issues with the aircraft’s radar and communication systems, these needed further adjustments, testing and modification.

Group Captain Richard Osselton, RAF Programme Director for Wedgetail said, "Achieving the first flight of Wedgetail is a significant milestone, representing an outstanding effort from the RAF programme team, DE&S, Boeing and STS Aviation. We will now build on this success and look forward to continuing the Test & Evaluation phase as part of our preparations for the aircraft to enter into service."

DE&S Director Air Support, Richard Murray, said, "This first flight marks a significant milestone for the programme and for our team who have worked tirelessly with our partners to progress what is a hugely complex endeavour. We are moving forward and will be delivering this critical capability to the RAF."

"We're proud of the robust E-7 modification line we've stood up in the UK to deliver the RAF's future Airborne Early Warning & Control fleet," said Maria Laine, president of Boeing UK, Ireland and the Nordics. "We are committed to delivering this crucial capability to support the UK's national security and contribute toward regional stability."

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Flightkeys confirms investment from Insight Partners for strategic growth plans

Flightkeys, the cloud-based flight planning and optimization software built specifically for the most innovative global airlines, has announced a strategic growth investment from global software investor Insight Partners.

Founded in 2015 by a team of passionate aviation experts with a combined 200 years of experience, Flightkeys offers the most modern, cloud-based solution for dynamic flight planning and optimization. FLIGHTKEYS 5D enables innovative airlines to maximize airline network throughput, increase on-time performance, minimize greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint, and ensure compliance with the highest safety standards. Built entirely from the ground up using modern software standards, Flightkeys has powered 291 million trajectories and generates 380,000 flight plans daily.

"At Flightkeys, we set out to build the best flight planning software solutions to help the airline industry deliver better performance for passengers all over the world," said Flightkeys Co-Founders Christoph Prinz and Raimund Zopp on behalf of Flightkeys' seven co-founders. "We are delighted to be working with Insight Partners, who supports our vision of building world-class software solutions for airlines that make dispatchers and pilots more effective and allows airlines to improve operations for the benefit of their customers." The founders of Flightkeys retain majority control and management of the Group.

PLAY Airlines launches twice-weekly Valencia flights

PLAY airlines has launched ticket sales for scheduled flights to Valencia. PLAY will operate flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays next summer, with the first flight departing from Valencia on May 24. The schedule will continue until the end of September.

As a low-cost carrier connecting North America and Europe, PLAY uses Iceland as its central hub. Passengers have the option of a stopover in Iceland, allowing them to explore the country for up to 10 days at no additional cost before continuing their transatlantic journey.

In North America, PLAY operates flights from Baltimore, Boston, New York, Washington D.C., and Toronto. Iceland offers travelers breathtaking natural wonders, including waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, and unique wildlife—all within a short distance from Reykjavik, the vibrant capital known for its rich culture, diverse dining, and lively nightlife.

Cathay Pacific releases traffic figures for August 2024

Cathay Pacific released its traffic figures for August 2024, this week, showing that the airline carried more than two million passengers for the second consecutive month. ​

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,068,979 passengers in August 2024, an increase of 15.9% compared with August 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 15.9% year on year. Passenger load factor decreased by 2.9 percentage points to 85.2%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 19.8% year on year. In the first eight months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 29.9% to a total of 14,736,805, against a 36.1% increase in ASKs and a 29.2% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

The airline carried 124,236 tonnes of cargo in August 2024, an increase of 6.3% compared with August 2023. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 0.9% year on year. The cargo load factor decreased by 1.7 percentage points to 57.1%, while available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 2.1% year on year. In the first eight months of 2024, the tonnage increased by 9.8% to a total of 970,498 tonnes, against an 8.8% increase in AFTKs and a 3.2% increase in RFTKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.