The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released updated Policy and Finance Net Zero Roadmaps

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released updated Policy and Finance Net Zero Roadmaps, containing expanded and deepened analyses, bringing into focus four key conclusions:

•The air transport industry’s energy transition is feasible on the 2050 horizon.

•The amounts of investments needed to make that possible are comparable to those engaged in previous creations of new renewable energy markets.

•Success in the transition depends critically upon policymakers’ unity of purpose.

•The time left for joining forces in air transportation’s energy transition is shrinking by the minute. Every action delayed is an opportunity missed. 

"The updated IATA Policy and Finance Net Zero Roadmaps make it clear that decarbonization by 2050 is possible. They also sound a warning bell that, to achieve this, all stakeholders, particularly policymakers, must collaborate more broadly and act with greater urgency. To be successful, we need clear policy and financial frameworks that will support air transportation’s needs in a way that is realistic and coherent with the massive changes that must take place simultaneously in all economic sectors,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.  

The Policy Roadmap emphasizes the importance of strategic policy sequencing and addresses the need for global collaboration, including beyond the aviation sector. The recommendations recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and policies must ensure that all countries can participate in the future global Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) market.

Highlights include:

•    Immediate Action is needed to unlock the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) and prioritizing SAF in the product mix at refineries.

•    Strategic Policy Sequencing combining technology-push and demand-pull measures will be critical. Moreover, governments must foster global, liquid, and transparent markets for cleaner aviation energy.

American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program

American Airlines and JetSMART announced this week that customers can earn AAdvantage miles when flying on JetSMART-operated flights throughout South America. This is one of many new customer benefits that are part of JetSMART joining American’s award-winning travel rewards program, AAdvantage.

JetSMART customers can join the AAdvantage program for free when purchasing tickets on JetSMART’s website, enabling them to earn miles on both domestic and international flights operated by JetSMART. Later this year, AAdvantage members will also be able to redeem miles for JetSMART-operated flights.

“We are excited to welcome JetSMART and their customers to the AAdvantage program, the most valuable travel rewards program,” said Scott Chandler, American’s Senior Vice President of Revenue Management and Loyalty. “This is a significant milestone in our partnership that offers customers more low fares and more travel options throughout South America.”

The strategic partnership between American and JetSMART launched in 2023 with codeshare itineraries between the United States and Chile and recently expanded to flights in Peru and Argentina. Together, the airlines are creating the broadest network in North and South America, offering more ways for customers to earn and use their miles. The partnership enables American to strengthen and expand its South American network, uniquely providing customers with enhanced travel options and ultra-low fares.

“From the beginning, we have been innovators in South American aviation, offering ultra-low fares and an extensive route network, often connecting cities for the first time. By deepening our partnership with American, we are continuing to make history, furthering our mission of bringing air travel to every corner of the continent. Our customers will now be able to earn miles when they fly on the JetSMART network and connect to American's global network. As the fastest-growing airline in South America, this alliance strengthens our position as we work toward our vision of reaching 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028," said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

Uzbekistan Airways sign lease deal for 2 Airbus A321neo jets

SMBC Aviation Capital has confirmed a new leasing agreement with Uzbekistan Airways for two Airbus A321neo aircraft.  The jets will be delivered during 2026 and will come from SMBC's existing order book with Airbus. 

These Airbus A321neo aircraft are a new aircraft type for Uzbekistan Airways and will allow the airline to expand its routes into Europe and South East Asia. Shukhrat Khudaykulov, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Airways, said: “Uzbekistan Airways has set an ambitious goal to become a leader in air transportation on Central Asia region. It is planned to constantly expand the route network, increase the number of flights and efficiently operate them on new Airbus A320/A321 NEO family. This type of aircraft will help to provide the necessary conditions for a comfortable flight and exciting journey. We will undoubtedly achieve all these goals thanks to receiving the new aircraft from SMBC Aviation Capital.”

Conor Stafford, Head of Airline Marketing, SMBC Aviation Capital said:  “We are delighted to welcome Uzbekistan Airways as a new customer to SMBC Aviation Capital and we look forward to many successful years of partnership together. These new tech, fuel efficient A321 NEO aircraft will support Uzbekistan Airways as they expand their route network through South East Asia and Europe.”

First sustainable aviation fuel arrives at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

The Minnesota SAF Hub announced that the first 7,000-gallon shipment of blended SAF made from Minnesota/North Dakota-grown winter camelina arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport fueling facility. Delta Air Lines has designated flight DL 2732 from Minneapolis to New York on Sept. 25, 2024, as the symbolic first flight to be fueled in part by SAF from MSP Airport.

This SAF is made from the winter camelina plant that produces an oil rich seed, which can be crushed, refined and used to produce SAF. It has one of the lower carbon intensity scores of the many feedstocks being used for SAF production today. Also, it is one of the many feedstocks found in Minnesota that can be used to produce SAF, including corn, soybeans, canola, continuous living cover crops, agricultural biomass, woody biomass, hydrogen, waste oils, fats and more.

On the heels of an earlier announcement of major milestones from the Minnesota SAF Hub, this latest development is a prime example of why the Minnesota SAF Hub’s focus on the entire SAF value chain is so important. For the winter camelina SAF-fueled flight to come to fruition, many stakeholders and partners were involved.

Cargill worked with Minnesota and North Dakota growers last fall to plant 2,000 acres of winter camelina, which was harvested this summer and used as a feedstock for the SAF.

The camelina was processed at Cargill’s West Fargo crush plant and then sent on to Montana Renewables, where it was refined and blended into SAF.

The camelina SAF was sold to Delta and transported by Shell Aviation directly to the MSP Airport fueling facility where it will enter the fuel supply.

Turkish Airlines introduces really really old bread.....

Turkish Airlines Introduces the World’s ‘Oldest Bread’ to Select Business Class Flights

Turkish Airlines, has introduced ‘The Oldest Bread’ to its in-flight service menu, It is made of Einkorn and Emmer Wheats, which are considered to be the oldest types in Anatolia.

The menu item was officially introduced on flight TK3 flying from Istanbul to New York on September 22, 2024. During the flight, the carrier premiered a film which was shot in the Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Euphrates River regions with the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

Served heated and in a special bag with butter and olive oil before meal service, the bread will be available for Intercontinental Business Class passengers. Prepared fresh by the airline’s Istanbul-based catering company, Turkish DO&CO, The Oldest Bread received additional consultancy of award-winning Turkish culinary historians Ömür Akkor, and academic Çetin Şenkul.

Hawaiian Airlines offering fast and free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Airbus fleet

Hawaiian Airlines confirmed it is now offering Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi free of charge to guests onboard all Airbus-operated flights between the islands and the continental U.S, Asia and Oceania.

Hawaiian, which became the first major U.S. carrier to debut Starlink in February on its Airbus A321neo aircraft, has now completed Starlink installation across its 24 A330 fleet.

Guests can easily connect to Starlink the moment they step onboard the aircraft – just as they would connect to their home internet, and experience internet at speeds suitable for working, streaming video and gaming.

“Becoming the first major airline to offer travellers Starlink at no cost is a remarkable achievement for our team, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response from guests who have been enjoying our industry-leading connectivity onboard,” said Evan Nomura, director of inflight entertainment and connectivity and onboard products at Hawaiian Airlines.

Cathay Pacific to launch new route to Dallas Fort Worth

Cathay Pacific is pleased to announce it is further expanding its North America network with the launch of non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for the very first time. The new service, scheduled to commence on 24 April 2025, marks Cathay Pacific’s sixth passenger destination in the United States and eighth in North America, further reinforcing the airline’s presence on the continent while bolstering the global connectivity of its home hub, Hong Kong.

Cathay Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “With our unique position of having deep roots in Hong Kong, being proudly part of China, and connecting the world, Cathay continues to build Hong Kong as a leading international aviation hub that connects people to the most exciting places in the world.

“Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports. With our Cathay Pacific codeshares as well as other flight options, customers can connect to over 190 domestic destinations in the United States, as well as 11 destinations in Central and South America via DFW, further enhancing Hong Kong’s connectivity with North America and important Belt and Road Initiative participating countries.”

Currently, Cathay Pacific operates 88 return passenger flights per week to destinations in North America, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. To complement its existing network in North America, the airline will operate four return flights per week between Hong Kong and DFW using its modern Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Flights for Cathay Pacific’s DFW service are open for booking with the following flight schedule (all times local, subject to regulatory approval):

Human-Centered design in Sasaki’s Xuhui Runway Park

A 30-meter stretch of lawn on the south side of Xuhui Runway Park in Shanghai has attracted significant attention. The sloped lawn, dotted with reclining visitors overlooking a sunken basketball court, has emerged as an oasis for office workers in busy Shanghai. The destination went viral on Little Red Book, one of the most popular social media platforms in China.

The lawn’s central location and gentle slope—almost like a lounge chair— makes it a popular lunchtime getaway for office workers to nap or people-watch. Dubbed the “Workers’ Sanctuary,” the spot has drawn hundreds of daily visitors from the nearby towers to unwind together outside in the grass—such opportunities are rare in the dense city. The phenomenon has sparked a hashtag “20-Minute Park Effect” on Chinese social media to describe the recharging effect of lounging outside, even for a short interval.

Sparking extensive discussion on social media, more and more people noticed this hidden gem and wondered, who proposed this genius idea?

CitizenPlane launches new operating system to shape the future of airline growth

CitizenPlane, a leading distribution software company for airlines and tour operators, today announced the launch of the CitizenPlane Operating System (OS) for mid-tier carriers and fast-growing airlines. To realize new levels of commercial opportunity with solutions that are only a click away, the modular, all-in-one platform enables airlines to control offer creation, revenue optimization, distribution, and delivery.  The industry-first offering leverages CitizenPlane's recent acquisition of Passenger Service System (PSS) provider Travel Technology Interactive's (TTI) Zenith software. Looking ahead, CitizenPlane plans to enhance its OS capabilities, to include for example, revenue accounting and crew management solutions, through acquisitions and product innovation.

Simplifies operations, unlocks revenue opportunity, and enables the end-to-end customer journey for mid-tier carriers and fast-growing airlines; Recent acquisition of Travel Technology Interactive kick-starts the realization of the company's vision.

The CitizenPlane OS extends and modernizes the traditional PSS concept by breaking down monolithic technology into easy-to-innovate cloud-based applications. The result is a modular platform that focuses on simplifying complexity. The CitizenPlane OS will quickly deliver innovation across the airline business and reduce the overhead of running disparate software solutions.

The CitizenPlane OS features a market-first flight distribution solution - AIR. The AIR module enables airlines and tour operators to instantly distribute inventory, outside of the GDS, to a host of online travel agencies (OTAs) and metasearch websites. This solves a major pain point for smaller airlines without easy, low-cost access to large-scale distribution channels. "Our vision is that all airlines will be able to benefit from effective innovation," said Charles Rajjou, CEO at CitizenPlane. "We are building on the technology foundations laid by the pioneers who have delivered the industry to the thriving business it is today and bringing to the table a laser-focus on elegant simplicity that has become our hallmark."

The new CitizenPlane OS enables airline business users to easily define and control their retailing strategy from creation of flight content, ancillaries and bundled offers, to distribution through any point-of-sale, in alignment with industry standards including IATA NDC.

American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage programme

American Airlines and JetSMART announced today that customers can earn AAdvantage miles when flying on JetSMART-operated flights throughout South America. This is one of many new customer benefits that are part of JetSMART joining American’s award-winning travel rewards program, AAdvantage.

JetSMART customers can join the AAdvantage program for free when purchasing tickets on JetSMART’s website, enabling them to earn miles on both domestic and international flights operated by JetSMART. Later this year, AAdvantage members will also be able to redeem miles for JetSMART-operated flights.

“We are excited to welcome JetSMART and their customers to the AAdvantage program, the most valuable travel rewards program,” said Scott Chandler, American’s Senior Vice President of Revenue Management and Loyalty. “This is a significant milestone in our partnership that offers customers more low fares and more travel options throughout South America.”

The strategic partnership between American and JetSMART launched in 2023 with codeshare itineraries between the United States and Chile and recently expanded to flights in Peru and Argentina. Together, the airlines are creating the broadest network in North and South America, offering more ways for customers to earn and use their miles. The partnership enables American to strengthen and expand its South American network, uniquely providing customers with enhanced travel options and ultra-low fares.

“From the beginning, we have been innovators in South American aviation, offering ultra-low fares and an extensive route network, often connecting cities for the first time. By deepening our partnership with American, we are continuing to make history, furthering our mission of bringing air travel to every corner of the continent. Our customers will now be able to earn miles when they fly on the JetSMART network and connect to American's global network. As the fastest-growing airline in South America, this alliance strengthens our position as we work toward our vision of reaching 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028," said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

Low-cost carriers reach ancillary revenue records..........while traditional airlines stumble

The 2024 edition of the CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany, released today, describes ancillary revenue activities and results for 68 airlines in 2023, revealing divergences in trends and providing an assessment of the industry as a whole. Key findings include: 

 LCCs post record-breaking performance: Spirit Airlines achieved ancillary revenue of 56.4% of total revenue, which is a global record. Ancillary revenue for Jet2.com was $95.83 per passenger, which represents another global record.  

 Ancillary revenue surges above pre-pandemic levels: For 2023 the top 10 airline companies generated $54.1 billion, which is far in excess of the $38.4 billion result for the top 10 companies for the pre-pandemic year of 2019.   

 Traditional airlines were challenged: Total ancillary revenue was up for the category, but declined on a per passenger basis. Other revenue, which includes passenger fares, declined by a larger amount, which hints at competitive troubles. 

 Frequent flyer program revenue jumped:  Total loyalty revenue for the top 10 programs was $32.2 billion, which was 18.6 % higher than 2022. 

 United Airlines sets new ancillary revenue record: United reported $9.5 billion in ancillary revenue, a record 20.9% increase from 2022, although its per-passenger increase was a modest 6.2%, with loyalty revenue representing 58% of total ancillary revenue. 

Read the full report here.

While total ancillary revenue for the top 10 airlines surpassed pre-pandemic levels by over 41%, the report highlights the changing fortunes among air carriers.  LCCs, which have a good share of their income powered by fees associated with optional extras, enjoyed solid gains on a per passenger basis.  Traditional airlines have an advantage to boost ancillary revenue through their loyalty programs and co-branded credit card portfolios.  Carriers in every category can become even better travel retailers, if they create destination-oriented websites that divert consumers from online competitors and airlines that rely upon a travel-as-a-commodity approach.   

Hyatt expands its luxury and lifestyle brand across the Americas region

One of the globe's leading hotel companies, Hyatt Hotels is rapidly expanding its luxury and lifestyle hotels in the Americas region with the news that more than 20% of planned openings are across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.

This planned growth will expand Hyatt’s brand footprint in several new regional markets, allowing Hyatt to care for guests and World of Hyatt members in more places and on more stay occasions.

It is no secret that Hyatt has been on an upward trajectory since 2017, as it has doubled the number of luxury rooms, tripled the number of resort rooms, and quintupled its number of lifestyle rooms globally. This growth marks out Hyatt as the fastest-growing luxury portfolio with the largest number of luxury-branded rooms in resort locations worldwide.

Crystal Vinisse Thomas, vice president and global brand leader for Hyatt's luxury and lifestyle brands said: "We are engaged with our guests and World of Hyatt members and taking in their feedback helps us strengthen our understanding of the key markets and leisure experiences that resonate with and excite them the most. -  From Deer Valley to Miami to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico, our luxury and lifestyle brands’ expansion in new and key markets is driven by our desire to offer travellers more opportunities to explore the unique communities our hotels are a part of and the chance to embark on incredible experiences with Hyatt.”

Looking ahead, Hyatt will offer guests more iconic lifestyle brands and experiences through the planned acquisition of lifestyle pioneer Standard International. Enhancing its position as a leading lifestyle hospitality leader, Hyatt will launch a new dedicated lifestyle group that will include The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands, as well as many of its world-class restaurant and nightlife affiliates (The Boom Boom Room, The Standard Grill, Le Bain, and more). Following the transaction’s close, Hyatt is planning to welcome Standard International properties into World of Hyatt, bringing even more celebrated lifestyle options to its 48 million loyalty members.

See below for newly opened and coming soon properties from Hyatt.

Emirates opens new premium lounge at London Stansted Airport

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has opened the doors to its new lounge at London Stansted Airport. The airline has invested more than GBP 4 million to design a spacious 900-square-metre lounge that can accommodate up to 125 guests, including First and Business Class customers, as well as Emirates Skywards members.

The new lounge is Emirates’ sixth dedicated lounge in the UK, complementing the airline’s world-class facilities available in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester. All London airports served by Emirates now provide access to premium on-ground experiences for customers to unwind and enjoy elevated dining experiences ahead of their journeys.

Emirates is one of few airlines that have invested in its on-ground experiences including its own network of 40 dedicated lounges around the world and complimentary chauffeur drive services for premium customers.

Mohammed Mattar, Divisional Senior Vice President Airport Services at Emirates said: “Emirates has been serving London Stansted since 2018, and the airport remains a very important gateway for our customers across the southern region of the UK.  The new lounge is a testament to our brand promise of always flying customers better – in the air and on-ground. And it also marks a major milestone for us as we now proudly offer dedicated lounge facilities across six airports in the UK – underscoring our ongoing commitment to one of the most important markets in our network. We look forward to taking the premium travel experience to new heights and to offering customers a chance to unwind and dine with Emirates’ renowned signature hospitality.”

Gareth Powell, Managing Director at Stansted Airport, said: "The opening of Emirates’ new world-class lounge is fantastic news for London Stansted and passengers using Emirates services to Dubai and beyond, and once again demonstrates the airline's commitment to the airport and the wider region. Offering an experience of luxury and comfort for the airline’s First and Business Class customers, its location in Satellite 1 boasts excellent views over the airport and allows boarding access to the aircraft directly from the lounge. The 14 weekly flights between London Stansted and Dubai have been extremely popular with travellers since day one, not just to the Middle East, but right across the globe thanks to the airline's huge worldwide route network.”

Taking premium travel to new heights

Located in Satellite 1, adjacent to the departure gates – customers can look forward to a spacious lounge with new furnishings and dedicated seating areas to dine and unwind in before a flight. Customers will also enjoy an exceptional food and beverage selection, complimentary Wi-Fi, and refreshing shower facilities and amenities.

The Emirates lounge also offers customers a short walk for boarding access to the aircraft, with a short 2–3-minute walk to the aircraft.

new route for Air Samarkand......

                                      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).

 

Delta and Scandinavian Airlines System sign codeshare deal

The U.S. mega-carrier Delta and Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS, the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, have signed a codeshare agreement to come into effect tomorrow, Wednesday 25th September. 

The codeshare agreement will improve connection opportunities for customers flying between North America and Scandinavia and will offer reciprocal codeshare and frequent flyer benefits including the ability to earn and redeem SkyMiles or SAS EuroBonus points across both carriers. 

Delta and SAS customers will enjoy extended travel options within their networks in Europe and North America. Delta customers flying from North America will gain additional access to 50 destinations in Northern Europe beyond SAS’s hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm. Meanwhile, SAS customers will gain access to more than 150 destinations in North America via Delta’s hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. 

Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s Senior Vice President Alliances said: “As part of Delta’s mission to connect people around the world, our new partnership with SAS will strengthen our presence in Northern Europe by offering customers improved access to destinations throughout Scandinavia and a better overall flying experience.”   

Paul Verhagen, Chief Commercial Officer from SAS, said: “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Delta through this new codeshare agreement, enhancing travel options between Scandinavia and North America. With our new direct route from Copenhagen to Seattle, we’re strengthening connections to the Pacific Northwest offering more travel options for our passengers. As a proud new member of SkyTeam Alliance, this collaboration offers great opportunities to provide seamless connectivity and benefits across our global network. We are excited about the possibilities and committed to delivering an elevated travel experience for our customers."