Aviation Capital Group Closes $1 Billion Unsecured Facility

 Aviation Capital Group LLC confirmed the closing of a $1 billion unsecured facility (the “Facility”) entered into by a wholly owned subsidiary of ACG, ACG Aircraft Financing Ireland DAC, as borrower and guaranteed by ACG.  The Facility, which is comprised of a $500 million term loan facility and a $500 million revolving credit facility, was syndicated to 23 lenders and matures in October 2029.Amounts under the term loan facility must be drawn within one month of the closing date of the Facility.

Together with ACG’s $2.5 billion revolver and $1.2 billion line of credit from its parent company, Tokyo Century, ACG on a consolidated basis has access to $4.2 billion of unsecured revolving credit. All amounts borrowed under the Facility will be utilized by ACG Aircraft Financing Ireland DAC and, through on-lending, ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ACG, for general corporate purpose, including capital expenditures, payment or repayment of outstanding debt, working capital, and expenses in relation to the Facility.

The Facility was arranged by DBS Bank Ltd., Bank of China Limited, London Branch, CTBC Bank Co., Ltd, The Korea Development Bank, Singapore Branch, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Limited, New York Branch.

“We are thrilled with the closing of ACG Ireland’s inaugural financing and the tremendous support of our lead arrangers and lending banks,” said Eric Blau, Senior Vice President, Head of Capital Markets and Treasurer of ACG.  “This facility adds significant new relationships to ACG’s banking group and expands ACG’s presence in the APAC market.”

 

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Canada's flight attendant union applauds NDP bill to end unpaid work in the airline sector

CUPE, the union representing 18,500 flight attendants nationwide, is applauding an NDP bill that would end the abuse of unpaid work in the airline sector. As it currently stands, most airlines in Canada only pay flight attendants when aircraft are in motion, leaving flight attendants performing an average of 35 hours of unpaid work every month, much of it safety-related.

Bill C-415, tabled this morning by NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo, would require airlines to pay flight attendants their full rate of pay for all hours worked. Several CUPE members from the airline sector were on hand to support the tabling of the legislation in the House of Commons.

"Canada's flight attendants have been sounding the alarm about the abuse of unpaid work in our industry, and we applaud the NDP for answering the call with this legislation," said Wesley Lesosky, an Air Canada flight attendant and President of CUPE's Airline Division. "We're calling on the government and other opposition parties to back this NDP bill that sets the standard for what flight attendants need going forward, and get it passed before the next election."

In 2023, CUPE's Airline Division launched the Unpaid Work Won't Fly campaign, which has been raising awareness about unfair working conditions in the industry.

"For decades, our employers have tried to convince us that the practice of forcing employees to perform hours and hours of free work is normal – because that’s just the way it’s always been," said Rena Kisfalvi, a Sunwing flight attendant and Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE's Airline Division. "Well, those days are over. We simply won't accept it any longer."

   

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Unpaid work won't fly

Behavioural science research reveals key spending drivers for airline passengers in 2025

                     A new in-depth study, conducted by London-based brand experience studio NewTerritory, has uncovered key passenger behavioural patterns that will shape airline spending trends in 2025 and beyond, with feeling valued, moments of pleasure, and novelty emerging as top factors influencing passengers' choice of airline.

Extensive new research has identified the key behavioural patterns that will shape passenger spending trends on major airlines in 2025 and beyond

Feeling valued, moments of pleasure and novelty were the most important overarching motivations influencing passenger's airline choice

Trust and reliability were seen as less important and had the least bearing on passenger's choice and spend

 

The research, grounded in behavioural science, surveyed over 250 passengers who travelled in the past 12 months across five major international airlines. During over 400 hours of quantitative research, the NewTerritory team engaged with participants, analysing 16* defined attributes across four groups, to identify how airline brands can establish repeat purchasing behaviour amongst their customer base.

Feeling valued was found to have one of the strongest links to passenger spending behaviour, with 73 per cent of respondents believing empathy to be the most meaningful way for brands to achieve this - specifically, airlines understanding and addressing the negative impacts of the journey, such as fatigue, jet lag and the emotional toll of travel on passenger wellbeing.

 

Furthermore, 49 per cent of passengers felt that personalised moments were also influential in their decision making, citing examples like a personal greeting from the pilot, a customised note from the crew, or a tailored menu catering to dietary preferences as important in influencing who they choose to fly with.

 

Brands finding ways to make the journey more pleasurable for passengers has also emerged as another key driver behind passenger choice, with 66 per cent of respondents finding that this can be achieved through unexpected moments of delight during a monotonous flight. While 55 per cent linked how differentiated the overall experience feels, as having an influence on their decision making.

 

The study's most striking discovery is the diminishing impact of traditional trust and reliability factors on spending behaviour. Contrary to long-standing industry assumptions, trust and reliability are much less likely to influence repeat purchase when it comes to the major airlines.

 

Former head of design for Virgin and NewTerritory founder, Luke Miles, is calling for airlines to embrace a new era in air travel design and customer experience, warning that this is essential if they are to survive and prosper in 2025 and beyond. "Airline carriers must adapt their in-flight experience to keep pace with what customers are now demanding - a differentiated, human-centred journey that makes them feel like a valued customer. Carriers that want to win in the future need to put their passengers' emotions and feelings at the heart of their business model. The ability to make passengers feel genuinely valued, will make or break major airlines in the future.

 

We need to think of air travel as a hospitality experience - much like we think of high-end hotels. Just as we dine and sleep in a hotel, passengers expect a similar level of care and comfort in the sky. To survive and thrive, airlines must re-prioritise a hospitality-first approach, where human emotions and feelings form the foundation of the experience."

 

Vietjet Thailand wins the 2024 'Best International Low-Cost Airline Brand, Thailand' award at the esteemed Global Brand Awards

                                       The prestigious Global Brand Awards conducted by Global Brands Magazine (GBM) based in the United Kingdom, honour excellence across diverse industries. After a comprehensive evaluation of factors like customer satisfaction, innovation, market impact, and engagement, Vietjet Thailand emerged as a standout, earning remarkable recognition for its exceptional achievements and industry leadership.

Jay Reddy, CEO, of Global Brands Magazine, commented, "On behalf of Global Brands Magazine, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Vietjet Thailand for being recognized as the 'Best International Low-Cost Airline Brand, Thailand.' This achievement is a testament to your continued drive for excellence, cutting-edge innovation, and exceptional service delivery. Vietjet's dedication to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality air travel while continuously expanding its international presence is truly commendable. We are proud to honour Vietjet Thailand which is reshaping the low-cost carrier landscape in Thailand and beyond."

"Since our first commercial flight in Thailand in 2016, Vietjet Thailand has operated 36 domestic and international routes, serving over 28 million passengers. We've expanded our international network to top destinations across the region including Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia…This award truly reflects the hard work we've put in over the past eight years to earn our passengers' trust by delivering safe, on-time, friendly & fun, and affordable services. We're so proud to be recognized as the fastest-growing low-cost airline, and we couldn't have done it without the ongoing valued support of our passengers. Our fleet, with young and modern aircraft, has grown much stronger, infused with advanced technologies in our operations to ensure the safety of every flight, and we're committed to caring for the environment by incorporating Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).  As we continue to grow, we're dedicated to making every flight a safe, enjoyable, and pleasant experience while further expanding our flight network across the region and enhancing our quality service to serve our passengers" said, Mr. Woranate Laprabang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand.

Vietjet Thailand 

Established in 2014, Vietjet Thailand has been cooperating with Vietjet to extend its flight network and provide more opportunities for travellers to discover Thailand and many other countries with its hospitable and enjoyable service. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations, and performance, the airline offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers' demands.

The 'Fastest Growing Airline Brand – Thailand, 2023' by Global Brand Awards 2023, Vietjet Thailand has been continuously expanding its young and modern fleet, featuring Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. Currently, Vietjet Thailand operates 11 Thailand domestic routes, including flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani, cross-regional flights including from Phuket to Chiang Ma and Chiang Raii. The airline is also actively expanding its international flight network to many destinations across Asia-Pacific, connecting Thailand with Vietnam, China, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Taipei and other top destinations in the region.

Further information at th.vietjetair.com

   

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New air defence laser engages multiple missiles at once

RAF pilots are one step closer to being equipped with a cutting-edge air-protection laser self-protection system, following 100% successful live-fire trials.

Air protection laser defeats 100% of targets in live firing trial.

Equipment being fitted to UK military aircraft to defeat missile threats. 

Collaboration between Dstl scientists and UK industry partners help support 1950 jobs across Scotland. 

  

The laser is being designed to be fitted to a range of RAF aircraft including the intelligence gathering Shadow R2 and A400M transporter, ready to rapidly detect and defeat threats such as missiles.  

During the trial at the Vidsel Test Range in Sweden, the operational system defeated a range of infrared heat-seeking missiles being fired simultaneously. 

100% of threats were quickly defeated using a laser with pinpoint accuracy, which has been designed and developed by the Team Pellonia partnership between Leonardo UK, Thales UK, and the MOD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Defence Secretary, John Healey said:  "Identifying, tracking and defeating threats from the air in seconds is crucial to having the edge over those who try to do us harm.  

We’re equipping our Armed Forces with the very latest technology to keep them safe and give them the advantage on operations. 

This high-tech laser is another excellent example of joint working between our Dstl experts and the UK’s defence industry."

The system works by Thales’s Elix-IR threat warning system quickly detecting and identifying the launch of missiles, using a series of algorithms to filter out background clutter so that only valid threats are tracked, classified and declared.  

Once the threat(s) has been classified, an alert is sent to the Leonardo’s Miysis directed infrared countermeasure which moves to track the incoming missile and directs a jamming laser onto the missile with ultimate precision. 

Threats are defeated faster than the time it takes to read this sentence. This UK engineered capability gives the MOD the latest generation of best-in-class protection, whilst enjoying full operational independence, and offering the same freedoms to export customers. 

The live tests were witnessed by senior military officers from a number of NATO nations.  

Dstl’s Chief for Air Survivability, Mark Elson, said: "The UK defensive aids system is the culmination of MOD’s detailed understanding of changing threats alongside years of sustained defence investment in science and technology nurtured within Dstl. This has been aligned with the development capabilities of our commercial partners through Team Pellonia.  

The design of the system has the agility to protect platforms now and into the future, providing long-term operational advantage to the UK and our allies. This is enabled through Spiral Development which provides capabilities such as the Dstl developed jamming waveform that defeats the guidance of the missile threat."

Owls, wands and making snow vanish

Meet the wizards of East Midlands Airport’s airfield team

At East Midlands Airport, a team of 35 working on different shifts have the responsibility of ensuring the airfield is safe for planes to take off, land and manoeuvre so passengers, as well as cargo, experience a smooth and safe transition through the airport, 365 days - and nights - a year.

The team is one of a number at EMA which will feature in the first episode of a new Notts TV documentary series next month, taking a look behind the scenes at various local landmarks. 

The team’s work involves spending a lot of time out on the airfield, carrying out frequent inspections. The runway, taxiways and ‘aprons’ where aircraft stand – 100 football pitches’ worth of concrete - are inspected to check the surfaces are fit for purpose and clear of any debris. Special equipment on board Airfield Ops vehicles provide accurate readings of surface and weather conditions, backed up by computer monitoring capabilities in the office.

When the weather turns to below freezing, the winter operations plan is put into action, with Airfield Ops overseeing de-icing the runway, taxiways and aprons and if necessary, clearing them of snow, to keep any disruption to a minimum.

Some duties require a real hands-on approach, none more so than monitoring wildlife with the potential to disrupt operations. With three times the amount of grassed area as concrete across the airfield, East Midlands Airport is home to a wide range of species - from rabbits, foxes, badgers and deer to 26 types of birds including crows, kestrels, buzzards, wood pigeon, gulls, ducks, geese and owls.

New plans for quicker, quieter and cleaner flights on the horizon

Have your say on proposals to establish a UK Airspace Design Service.

Biggest shake up to airspace design in 70 years could see quicker, quieter, cleaner flights 

Consultation launched on how to deliver plans to cut flight delays, reduce carbon emissions and deliver growth

Fewer delays and reduced bottlenecks could help millions of passengers each year and deliver economic growth as the Department for Transport (DfT) today, 22 October 2024 unveils new plans to modernise UK airspace design.   

In a critical step towards delivering a manifesto pledge to support airspace modernisation, a consultation launched today will seek views on proposals to establish a UK Airspace Design Service – a new team of aviation experts who will lead the charge and work with UK airports to improve the way planes fly in, out and over the UK, starting by looking at London’s airspace. 

By facilitating upgrades of the ‘highways of the sky’, the plans could reduce delays, emissions and noise pollution – making the industry more efficient and delivering important economic growth for the whole of the UK.  

In July, UK airspace experienced some of its busiest days on record with over 8,239 flights. With over 2.6 million aircraft flying through the UK every year, both DfT and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are seeking views on how a UK Airspace Design Service could deliver on airspace modernisation – utilising new technology to meet demand and ultimately help pave the way for incorporation of new technologies, such as drones and spacecraft. 

Mike Kane, Minister for Aviation, said: "UK airspace is one of the nation’s biggest invisible assets, but it’s been stuck in the past – a 1950s pilot would find that little has changed.

Our once-in-a-generation creation of a UK Airspace Design Service will not only drive forward airspace modernisation and create a system that’s fit for the future, but it will help create quicker routes, ease delays and reduce harmful emissions – making air travel a better experience for all."

Much of our current airspace was designed in the 1950s when there were fewer flights and aircraft navigated using a series of ground-based beacons.

By enabling aircraft to use advanced navigation technologies, the UK Airspace Design Service will be able to plan the more efficient use of the finite amount of airspace in the UK, including the use of continuous climb and descent profiles and reduced need to hold aircraft.

London airspace is the busiest and most congested in the UK and delays in London often have a knock-on effect for the rest of the UK. The first phase of the UK Airspace Design Service would focus on the complex and busy airspace around London and the South East.  

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive at the CAA, said:   "Modernising our airspace is crucial to delivering a more efficient, sustainable and resilient system. The proposals we’ve outlined today set out the next steps in our ongoing efforts to progress the modernisation of UK airspace.  

This builds on the important work already done across the industry towards a more streamlined, sustainable airspace system that benefits passengers, airlines and local communities."

The UK Airspace Design Service would create a holistic and integrated design, simplifying the process and bureaucracy in coordination with airports, airlines and air navigation service providers to deliver benefits for passengers and local communities impacted by aviation noise. 

Airspace modernisation will reduce disruption as airlines utilise more efficient flight paths. It could also cut harmful emissions with planes spending less time in the air, supporting our mission to create a greener industry alongside the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the upcoming SAF mandate.

Management changes at KLM E&M and Ground Services

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announces management changes at its divisions Engineering & Maintenance (E&M) and Ground Services. Ton Dortmans, Executive Vice President at E&M, will reach retirement age next year, marking his retirement from KLM after an impressive 40 years of service. His successor as of 1 January 2025 is Mathieu Essenberg, who currently heads the Ground Services division in the role of EVP Hub Operations. As of 1 February 2025, Mathieu will be succeeded by Koen Bolster, who is currently responsible for KLM’s global cargo operations as Vice President (VP) of Worldwide Operations Cargo. 

Management changes at KLM E&M and Ground Services

Ton Dortmans began his career at KLM on August 1, 1985, and has since held various positions within E&M, Ground Services, Flight Operations and the Operations Control Center. In 2012, he was appointed EVP E&M, a position in which he is responsible for the aircraft maintenance of the KLM fleet and about 200 external Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) customers worldwide. In addition to his role within E&M, Ton has a number of secondary activities in which he represents KLM, for example as Chair of EPCOR B.V. and Board member of KLM UK Engineering Ltd.

Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM: "Timely and safely maintaining aircraft, engines, and components, that’s what E&M is all about. Ton Dortmans has carried out that great responsibility with zeal, showing a passion for the technology, but above all for the people behind it. He managed to lead E&M through challenging circumstances in recent years, when we had to let go of many engineering colleagues during COVID and then had to scale up again. I want to sincerely thank Ton Dortmans for everything he has brought to KLM and wish him the best of luck.”

Mathieu Essenberg, currently EVP Hub Operations at Ground Services, will take over the role of EVP E&M from January 2025. Mathieu started his career at KLM in 2002 and has since held various management positions within KLM Cityhopper, Flight Operations, and E&M. He is also still qualified as a captain on the Boeing 737.

Marjan Rintel: "The maintenance and thereby the availability of our fleet has our highest attention. Mathieu has proven that he can lead major changes while also paying attention to daily challenges. His strategic vision and pragmatic result-oriented approach make him the right person to lead E&M."

Koen Bolster, currently Vice President Worldwide Operations Cargo, will take over the role of EVP Hub Operations at Ground Services from February 1, 2025. Koen started his career at KLM in 2006 and has since held various positions within Ground Services and Cargo, as well as in network planning and passenger revenue management. He also worked for KLM in Frankfurt and Paris.

Maarten Stienen, COO of KLM: “With his broad KLM knowledge and experience, Koen can make a significant contribution to the further growth and future of Ground Services. Koen has shown at Cargo that he can find the balance between daily operations and long-term goals, while also keeping an eye on the human side of processes. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to our collaboration.”

   

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It is with sadness that we learned that Martin Schröder passed away earlier this month at the age of 93. With him passed away an aviator, aviation pioneer and entrepreneur. Martin's passion for aviation led to an airline that was the foundation of today's cargo transport but also at the cradle of the modern flight holiday. With Martinair, he made numerous (distant) holiday destinations accessible to the Dutch. His tenacity and foresight paved the way for the close cooperation with KLM and ultimately for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. His commitment was unparalleled.

XO strengthens World's largest private aviation network and boosts instant booking options by over 55%

XO, the private aviation network of the Vista group, announces major advancements in private aircraft booking on its platform.

Responding to this marked trend in client demand, XO has grown access to the number of jets available for instant booking by over 55% year-to-date and continues to grow this number — unlocking instantaneous options to fly between the most in-demand cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Dallas, London, and Nice. Clients can choose any aircraft type, from light jets to midsize, super-midsize, and above.

XO has secured its place in aviation history as the first to allow clients to book a private flight, in as little as 10 seconds. This revolutionary solution provides transparent pricing for a vast fleet of business aircraft, transforming what was once a complex and time-consuming process. The feature has proven incredibly successful – recording a 3X conversion rate compared to other digital booking solutions, and even higher when compared to traditional brokerages.

Booking a private aircraft traditionally required multi-day coordination across various locations, arranging bespoke aircraft, crew, catering, and ground transportation. Flyers were faced with endless back-and-forth communication and quotes that lacked price guarantees. Removing the complexities of private aviation, XO reduced the process from days to mere seconds and, with over 2.3M downloads of the XO app, it has one of the largest user bases in the world.

Its technology lets clients instantly book flights across the Vista Members’ fleet and a growing selection of top-tier operators. The XO alliance network offers access to over 2,100 hand-picked aircraft globally from operators known for their dedication to safety and service excellence.

Nauru Airlines becomes an IATA member

Nauru Airlines, the national carrier of the Republic of Nauru has become a member of the International Air Transport Association.  

Based in Brisbane, Australia, it currently operates scheduled services to Nauru, Kiribati, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau as well as offering passenger and freight charter services across Australia, New Zealand, and the South/Central Pacific.

It operates a fleet of Boeing 737s with 4 passenger aircraft and 3 pure freight aircraft. It has been flying the Central and South Pacific for over 50 years serving the various communities, businesses, and governments for their travel, trade and communication needs.

 

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As well as scheduled and cargo flights, Nauru Airlines also offers charters to clients in various locations in Australia, New Zealand, the South/Central Pacific, and Asia.

The airline has an Australian Air Operators Certificate and operates to the highest aviation standards using the trusty and reliable Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline has been offering air travel solutions to clients for many years and has the flexibility to organise flights often at short notice. Nauru Airlines has provided charter services to the Australian Defence Force, other government departments, student movements, church groups, emergency services, corporate accounts and natural disaster relief efforts.

The carrier operates a two-class configuration on its aircraft:

Economy

Standard check-in service at all airports

Standard boarding

Comfortable seats with more legroom than most other carriers

Full meal service including drinks on all flights

23kg checked baggage allowance

7kg hand carry allowance

Business

Priority check-in

Priority boarding

Extra legroom and wider seating on board

Full Business Class meal service on all flights

45kg checked baggage allowance

7kg hand carry allowance

Access to Business Lounges where applicable for full-fare passengers

Current Fleet

Registration	Type	Seating Configuration
VH-PNI	B737-300	18J/108Y
VH-XNU	B737-300	8J/104Y
VH-INU	B737-700	8J/120Y
VH-AN2	B737-800	186Y

Cargo Fleet

Registration	Type	Configuration
VH-ONU	B737-300F	8 x PAG ULD's 10-12m3 EA
VH-YNU	B737-300F	8 x PAG ULD's 10-12m3 EA
VH-8TG	B737-800F	1 x ULD 88" x 53" 11 x ULD 88" x 125"

Five more 777Fs for Emirates SkyCargo

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Boeing and Emirates SkyCargo confirmed this week that Emirates was the mystery customer for more of Boeing's 777 Freighters. 

The deal was finalized back in September and listed as unidentified customer on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website, only to be released when the US planemaker needed some good publicity. 

With these new aircraft, Emirates' order book to 249 Boeing widebody aeroplanes, including 14 Boeing 777 Freighters.

As the cargo division of the world's largest international airline, Emirates SkyCargo plans to operate 21 777 Freighters in the coming years ─ nearly doubling its current fleet of 11 freighters as the carrier continues to expand capacity.

"We're investing in new freighter aircraft to meet surging demand and provide our customers around the world with even more flexibility, connectivity and options to leverage market opportunity," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, of Emirates Airline and Group. "Demand for Emirates' air cargo services has been booming. This reflects Dubai's growing prominence as a preferred and trusted global logistics hub, and also the success of Emirates SkyCargo's bespoke solutions that address the needs of shippers in different industry sectors."

Fly Khiva will soon be flying 2 U

Uzbekistan-based cargo start-up Fly Khiva will soon be flying 2 U. The carrier has been assigned the new IATA two-digit identifier code - 2U, after previously sharing one with Daallo Airlines from the UAE.

According to CentralAsiaPlusAero the carrier's commercial director Farhad Mukhutdinov announced the news and the code will now be deployed on the carrier's future flights. The carrier currently operates a Boeing 767-300 BCF aircraft on lease. 

Fly Khiva made its first-ever flight to mainland China on 18th September, a key milestone for the fledgling airline and another step forward to more operations.   

On September 12, 2024, the airline also participated in the "6th Central Asia Aviation Summit," demonstrating its commitment to the growth and development of the aviation industry in the region. The summit served as an important platform for aviation leaders, stakeholders, and enthusiasts to exchange ideas, explore new opportunities, and discuss the latest trends.

Fly Khiva aims to improve transport connectivity and develop cargo services in Central Asia, with a greater emphasis on collaboration and partnerships within the aviation sector, contributing to the region's economic growth and development.

Overall, the 6th Central Asia Aviation Summit provided "Fly Khiva Group" with a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and strengthen its position as a leading player in the Central Asian aviation market.

   

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Jet2 and Jet2holidays celebrate 48 high-flying apprentices in their biggest ever graduation ceremony

Jet2 and Jet2holidays have celebrated 48 apprentices graduating from the companies’ apprenticeship scheme, its biggest cohort of graduates ever, at a special ceremony in Leeds.

The successful apprentices from across Customer Service, Engineering, Finance, Operations Control, Ground Operations, HR, IT, Marketing, Procurement, Planning and Product marked the completion of their apprenticeships at the graduation ceremony, which took place at The Centenary Pavilion.

This third annual ceremony marked the largest graduation that Jet2 and Jet2holidays have ever held for their apprentices, after a record number of graduations. The exciting celebration has become a staple event each year as the companies’ apprenticeship programme continues to grow.

The successful cohort of apprentices passed their end point assessments first time, including many colleagues proudly achieving distinctions for their outstanding submissions.

In recognition of their achievements, each of the high-flying apprentices were presented with their certificate by their department Director. Apprentices’ families, colleagues, training providers and mentors were also in attendance to celebrate their success.

In addition, the ceremony included speeches from Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 and Jet2holidays, and Miriam D’souli, HR Director, to acknowledge the apprentices’ commitment and achievements. Graduates Cerys Glynn and Tanveer Bajaj also shared their personal experiences of successfully completing an apprenticeship.

Gold level certification for mental health at work from Excellence Canada to Air Canada

One of the leading Canadian airlines, Air Canada has been granted Gold Level certification in the category of Mental Health at Work from Excellence Canada.

The award is recognizing the airline's dedication to a workplace culture that promotes well-being. The airline is committed to making a difference for its employees by providing the resources, training, and support needed to raise awareness about mental health.

"I am incredibly proud of Air Canada for achieving the Excellence Canada - Gold Level Certification. This recognition highlights our deep commitment to fostering a mentally healthy workplace culture where wellness is not just a program but an integral part of who we are and part of our daily lives. Through engagement and innovation, we are able to ensure that the mental and physical well-being of our employees and their families remain at the forefront of everything we do," said Dr. Jim Chung, Chief Medical Officer at Air Canada.

Air Canada offers an extensive health and wellness program for its employees, called Unlock the Best in You (UBY). Since it launched a Mental Health First Aid program in 2022, over 900 employees have received their certifications which gives them the skills to support their colleagues in times of need.

All Canadian-based employees and their families have access to unlimited and confidential counselling, as well as telemedicine, providing convenient access to healthcare support. Air Canada also introduced a Mental Health 360 workshop and a Mental Health Champions program for all our colleagues.

GACA represents Saudi Arabia in Malaysia at ICAN 2024

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has showcased its strategy and vision for global connectivity today at the 16th ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2024) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

With more than 80 states in attendance, ICAN 2024 is a unique platform for global aviation leaders to conduct bilateral, regional or multilateral air services negotiations. 

GACA, represented by Executive Vice President of Air Transport and International Cooperation Ali bin Mohammed Rajab, highlighted the Kingdom’s progress during a panel discussion held at the start of the event. 

“The Kingdom’s aviation journey has been nothing short of transformative,” said Ali Rajab. 

“The hosting of ICAN last year in Riyadh demonstrates the unprecedented opportunities for investment in Saudi aviation, bringing the Kingdom a step closer to achieving the ambitions set out by Vision 2030.”