Building a hydrogen aeroplane.....KLM starts collaboration with AeroDelft student team.

On 1 April 2023, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines starts a collaboration with the AeroDelft student team to work on its Project Phoenix: building a hydrogen-powered aircraft. Developing and testing a hydrogen-powered aircraft will generate important insights into how hydrogen could be applied in aviation, including the design of liquid hydrogen tanks and crucial safety features. This puts KLM at the forefront of the development of new aviation technologies.

KLM and AeroDelft share the idea that air travel is essential for people and various sectors, but that innovation in aviation is vital. KLM is starting a collaboration with the AeroDelft student team in order to become part of various ecosystems around the technologies of the future, such as flying on hydrogen.

With this initiative, KLM and AeroDelft want to contribute to the development of hydrogen technology and the associated preconditions. This could include certification, regulations, and infrastructure. The technologies currently under development still face many challenges, such as the distribution and transport of liquid hydrogen.

About Project Phoenix

The aim of AeroDelft's Project Phoenix is to build a hydrogen-powered aircraft. The project involves developing a drone, the Phoenix-Prototype, which will serve as a steppingstone in the development of the first, manned, liquid hydrogen-electric aircraft, the Phoenix Full-Scale.

The Phoenix Prototype runs on an electric motor powered by liquid hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The drone has already completed its first flight, making an important contribution to AeroDelft's experience with hydrogen-powered flying. This involved testing whether the drone could fly on liquid hydrogen and if it could be controlled from the ground.

Vagner Finelli will join Howmet Aerospace from the start of next month

Vagner Finelli will join Howmet Aerospace as President, Howmet Fastening Systems (HFS) from 1st May this year.  In this role, Vagner will have responsibility for all HFS employees and locations globally. Vagner will be based in Torrance, CA, and will report directly to John Plant, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Vagner was most recently with Sigma Engineered Solutions as President and CEO. Sigma is a global manufacturer of complex metal castings and stampings, serving multiple industries including fluid motion and controls, aerospace, automotive, and medical. Prior to Sigma, he worked for Precision Castparts as President of different divisions including Engineered Products, Fasteners, Forgings, Aerostructures, and Industrial Products. He also worked for the automotive industry including Lear Corporation for 14 years in roles of increased responsibility from Plant Manager up to Managing Director of the South America region. During his tenure at Lear Corporation, he worked in different areas including Operations, Engineering, Program Management, Sales, and Supply Chain. Before joining Lear, he held various positions in manufacturing and supply chain management for Textron and Unilever.

Vagner holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from São Paulo State University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University, with honours from the Beta Gamma Sigma Society.

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Reliable Robotics and NASA complete first-of-its-kind flight tests to advance aviation safety

One of the leaders in safety-enhancing aircraft automation systems - Reliable Robotics, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), have this week announced the completion of flight tests to substantiate the use of existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) primary surveillance radar (PSR) data to improve the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). Reliable Robotics has been working with NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign since 2021 to advance the safe, secure and efficient integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems. Of note – the FAA granted NASA limited access to PSR data for these specific flights conducted by Reliable Robotics – a step towards utilizing existing radar infrastructure for Detect and Avoid (DAA) systems.

As part of the campaign, Reliable Robotics coordinated encounters of two of its aircraft in California while data was being collected by FAA ground-based radars as well as a commercial air-to-air radar. These flights will help NASA analyze and characterize the accuracy of surveillance radars, which will be used to develop a comprehensive safety case for DAA systems that utilize existing PSR data.

“We appreciate the close collaboration with the FAA and Reliable Robotics to collect meaningful data from flights to improve our collective understanding of using radar for DAA,” said Brad Snelling, Partner Chief Engineer for the AAM National Campaign at NASA. “These landmark flights will help the entire AAM industry further their understanding and future use of PSR data to enhance aviation safety.”

Making high quality PSR data available to pilots in the cockpit, along with certified alerting and guidance features, will significantly improve situational awareness and prevent mid-air collisions. Automatic Dependent-Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) technology will continue to play an important role in the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in the NAS, but it requires that all aircraft install and operate equipment. Secure access to the FAA’s medium and long-range PSR network will expand these safety benefits and provide accurate position data on aircraft, even for those without ADS-B.

“We believe PSR data can save lives today,” said Robert Rose, Co-Founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. “We are honoured to partner with NASA on a campaign focused on making the airspace safer for everyone.”

Andaz Nanjing Hexi celebrates official opening

Hyatt Hotels in association with Sun Hung Kai Properties have confirmed the opening of Andaz Nanjing Hexi, the fourth Andaz property in the region. It is located in the rapidly developing Hexi central business district area and is ideal for exploring the city and local area. 

Andaz Nanjing Hexi boasts stunning views of the city and Yangtze River from its prime position atop Nanjing Metro Yuantong station of Line2 and Line10. As part of the most sought-after landmark Nanjing IFC, the hotel, together with two super grade-A office towers and the luxury shopping mall with top-notch international brands in the complex, create a one-stop destination of premium business, shopping, dining, entertaining and living experiences. With its perfect blend of Nanjing’s eclectic spirit, rich culture, and the vibrant character of the modern neighbourhood the property resides in, Andaz Nanjing Hexi serves as an exciting new destination for curious travellers and locals to explore and experience.

“SHKP has always been committed to developing and operating premium landmark projects. As an integral part of the Group’s flagship project Nanjing IFC, the newly opening Andaz Nanjing Hexi, along with two world-class office towers and the luxury IFC mall in the complex, will further reshape the business dynamics and economic vitality of the city, renewing a sense of glamour to this culturally rich destination,” says Albert Lau, Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties.

“We are very pleased to have an Andaz hotel join our hotel portfolio. It is a new-generation luxury brand created for the young and the young at heart. We believe the hotel will inject color and vibrance to the whole IFC complex and Hexi as we welcome people from all over China and the world to spend a memorable time in Nanjing,” says Tasos Kousloglou, CEO - Hotel division of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited.

“We are thrilled by this introduction of the vibrant Andaz brand to the Hexi CBD area,” said Stephen Ho, president of growth and operations for Asia Pacific, Hyatt. “This location is perfect for our inspiring Andaz brand, providing guests the opportunity to experience Nanjing’s rich culture. We sincerely appreciate our hotel owner, Sun Hung Kai Properties, for their support with entrusting Hyatt for this new hotel.”

Contemporary Design Rooted in Local Culture

Special Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight Departs Halifax

                                   This morning, the first Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight from Atlantic Canada since 2019 took off from Halifax International Airport with 144 children to Orlando to experience the trip-of-a-lifetime. Thanks to the numerous Air Canada employee volunteers, support of the Air Canada Foundation and the work by the Dreams Take Flight organization, eight flights operate annually, providing over 1000 children each year with an unforgettable day at a theme park in Florida or California.

The flight from Halifax left in the early hours of the morning and transported 144 kids to Orlando, accompanied by a crew of current and retired Air Canada employee volunteers focused on creating the most magical experience possible. By generously donating their time, pilots, flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes offer children facing mental, physical, or social adversity the chance to take a break from their everyday to make memories and see new possibilities.

Vmo Aircraft Leasing and H55 to collaborate on developing leasing programmes for electric aircraft

Vmo Aircraft Leasing and H55, an innovator in the field of electric propulsion technology for aviation, announced against the backdrop of the Revolution Aero Dublin 2023 conference their commitment to working together to develop leasing solutions for new clean aviation products.

As part of the envisaged collaboration, teams from both companies are engaged in providing leasing programs targeted to support the nascent market for financing electric aircraft, battery storage energy and management systems.

Vmo and H55 share the same vision: reducing the air transport industry’s environmental footprint and enabling it to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Vmo provides liquidity and fleet solutions to airlines, lessors and OEMs, with the goal of increasing operational and capital efficiency. H55 is uniquely positioned with its product and service offerings, combining propulsion, energy storage and management, controls, and integration services. With H55’s 20 years of experience in electric aviation (well advanced in terms of reaching certification) and Vmo’s decades of expertise in aircraft leasing, this partnership brings together complementary competencies and has all the right prerequisites for accelerating the adoption of clean aviation technologies.

“Technology and innovation are rapidly changing the aviation industry’s landscape, with emission-free aircraft designs on track to revolutionize airline fleets. With the giant addressable market, lessors will play a key role in financing electric and hybrid-electric aircraft,” said Robert Brown, Executive Chairman of Vmo Aircraft Leasing. “We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting industry development. Working together with H55 to explore bespoke leasing models will enable us to pursue fast-growing business opportunities in the burgeoning field of clean aviation technologies and bolster our leadership position with regards to sustainability.”

Hongyuan Group partners with cargo.one in a landmark deal to offer its capacity online

Hongyuan Group and cargo.one today announced a partnership that will see Hongyuan capacity available for instant booking on the market-leading air cargo marketplace. Hongyuan Group is rapidly becoming an important operator for air cargo services between destinations in China and across Europe and South America. Partnering with the established, go-to marketplace for thousands of active freight forwarders will enable Hongyuan Group to boost sales and gain valuable ground rapidly in its digitalization of sales processes.

With over 20 years of professional cargo logistics service experience, Hongyuan Group is well known to freight forwarders globally for its high-frequency air cargo flights between China, Europe and the United States. In addition to its self-owned capacity resources such as B747-8F and A330-200F, Hongyuan is significantly expanding its available capacity for the coming years to meet future air cargo demand.

Hongyuan Group kick-starts digital distribution by marketing to thousands of freight forwarders globally using cargo.one

Hongyuan Group can now rapidly broaden its reach, achieve an industry-leading digital offering and accelerate its multichannel progress

For the first time, thousands of freight forwarders will gain real-time digital access to Hongyuan’s routes and rates, with the new choice of instantly bookable offers and confirmation, all within a few minutes. For example, due to its front-loaded aircraft, Hongyuan Group offers forwarders the exciting option of booking up to 6 meter shipments - soon with cargo.one’s digital booking speeds. 

Customers using cargo.one also benefit from valuable booking management and collaboration functionality, combined with cargo.one’s renowned expert customer support. The addition of Hongyuan Group capacity reflects cargo.one’s strong diversity of supply options for all important air cargo markets.

Air Lease Corporation Extends $7.2 Billion Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility

Air Lease Corporation amended and extended its senior unsecured revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent whereby the company extended the final maturity date of the facility from May 5, 2026 to May 5, 2027 and amended the total revolving commitments to approximately $7.2 billion across 49 financial institutions as of May 5, 2023.  The senior unsecured revolving credit facility accrues interest at adjusted term SOFR plus a margin of 1.05% per year with a 0.20% facility fee, each subject to adjustments based on the company’s credit ratings.  

“We are pleased to announce the extension of our senior unsecured revolving credit facility by one year to 2027, and we’d like to thank our bank partners for their continued support” said Gregory B. Willis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Air Lease Corporation.  “The ongoing success of this facility reflects ALC’s strong investment grade credit metrics and platform, and it remains a key component of our cost-efficient funding strategy.”

Air Lease Corporation is a leading global aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. 

Emirates to start flights to Montreal in July

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash

The Dubai-based mega-carrier Emirates has confirmed it plans to launch a new daily service from Dubai to Montréal, starting 5 July. Montréal becomes Emirates’ second gateway in Canada, complementing its passenger services to Toronto, which have been operating to Ontario’s capital city since 2007.

From 5 July, daily flights to Montréal on widebody Boeing 777-300ER to complement daily A380 services to Toronto

The launch of services to Montréal comes as the UAE and Canada aim to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations and stimulate benefits to the aviation and tourism sectors, in addition to enhancing trade flows and commercial links. The daily flights to the new destination will help cater to the huge demand for direct flights between Dubai and Canada, particularly to its two largest metropolitan hubs, and provide more choice for travellers when flying to Canada.

Passengers from Montréal can enjoy the airline’s award-winning services to and through Dubai, and connect safely, seamlessly and efficiently to Emirates’ global network of over 130 destinations in over 70 countries and territories. The daily flights between Dubai and Montréal will operate as EK243/244 with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration, offering a premium travel experience across its cabins. Passengers can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning travel experience aboard its wide-body aircraft with 8 First Class suites, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 seats in Economy Class. 

Tickets to Montréal go on sale today for flights starting 5 July and can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via travel agents.

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Photo by Jamshed Khedri on Unsplash

Experience the charisma of Hong Kong's unique pop culture with legendary icons

Hong Kong has one of the most influential pop cultures among Asian cities, especially its pervasive Cantopop and movies from the 1980s to the 1990s, which gave birth to a lot of superstars who were well-known internationally. The timeless influence of those masterpieces can still be found in the pop culture of Hong Kong and even the rest of Asia.

The first-ever “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival” kicks off in April, with over 20 exciting events scheduled throughout the year. An array of experiences await visitors to relive the golden age of Hong Kong superstars, including Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, who reigned in the music and movie industries.

Some pop culture classics will be reinterpreted with unconventional modern elements, including makeovers of some one-of-a-kind melodies with new components, like jazz and a cappella. With fresh presentations of Hong Kong classics, these events pay tribute to the legendary trendsetters who have assiduously contributed to the local pop culture.

Here are four recommended experiences for visitors to savour and reminisce about the old days, paying tribute to the legends.

Passing on the Legend with a Brand New Interpretation

Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Leslie Cheung (“Gor-gor”) this year, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum has organised an exhibition, with Cheung’s close friends Florence Chan, William Chang and Wing Shya as guest curators. Featuring his stage costumes, vinyl records, music and film work, awards and personal collections, the exhibition presents Cheung’s legendary achievements in music and film, as well as his influence on popular culture.

Movie Tram – Tales Told by Cinematic Storytellers
Movie Tram

** Tickets available online for registration

A quintessential Hong Kong symbol on the move, the tram is a vessel of the city’s unique scenery and memories, making it an ideal backdrop for a lot of Hong Kong movies. The Festival will present “Movie Tram” tours, in which the participants will take a walking tour around film locations in Central & Western District before hopping onto a tram, where famous filmmakers, including Stanley Kwan and Kearen Pang, will share behind-the-scenes stories and inspirations for cinematic creativity, uncovering the gems of the city’s moving pictures.

In the Mood for Qipao – A Showcase of the Flourishing Era of Hong Kong Cinema
Cinderella and Her Qipao Exhibition

The qipao (cheongsam) is a fashion symbol of Chinese culture, as well as a key styling element for female leads in a lot of Hong Kong movies. This exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive, with over 30 qipaos from a selection of films spanning different eras will be on display, recreating the cultural landscapes of the past with pieces worn by iconic actresses such as Maggie Cheung and Brigitte Lin.

Out of Thin Air: Hong Kong Film Arts & Costumes Exhibition

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Hong Kong Film Arts Association will jointly present the exhibition. Through the display of iconic costumes, props, sets, paraphernalia and workshop scenes, the exhibition will take visitors behind the scenes to explore the nature of Hong Kong’s film culture, as well as the highly adaptable professionalism and creative inclusiveness of film industry workers.

More riveting activities will debut soon. Make these experiences part of your itinerary and embark on a distinctive pop culture journey in the footsteps of legendary Hong Kong superstars.

For more information about the “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival”, please visit https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

easyJet opens applications for its 2023 Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme

This World Pilot’s Day, Europe's leading airline easyJet has announced that it has reopened its renowned Generation easyJet Pilot Training programme for the 2023 intake of approximately 200 aspiring pilots.

easyJet is searching for the next generation of pilots and recruitment is now open for 200 cadets to join its pilot training programme

The airline has ambitious plans for 1000 new pilots in total to train with and join the airline by 2027

The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is delivered in partnership with CAE and provides aspiring airline pilots the highest standards of training to become qualified commercial airline pilots in around two years. Ground training is delivered at CAE’s European aviation academy locations in Gatwick, Milan, Brussels, or Madrid, and flight training at CAE Phoenix in the US. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates begin their careers flying as a Second Officer with easyJet.

A cohort of cadet pilots selected when the programme re-opened in January 2022 is already in training. Applications are now being accepted for programmes beginning as of December 2023 and graduating as of 2026.

Over the next five years, over 1000 new pilots are expected to join easyJet. The airline continues to encourage those from diverse backgrounds, including having a focus on driving more female pilots to apply, as part of its commitment to increasing diversity in all forms across the airline and continue to create an inclusive culture for all.

easyJet has pledged its support for CAE Women in Flight, providing one European candidate access to their first employment opportunity. CAE funds and provides pilot training for the successful candidate at one of CAE’s aviation academies. The successful recipient becomes a CAE Women in Flight ambassador, encouraging more girls and women to consider a career in aviation by dreaming big and having no limits.

Loganair is connecting Dundee with the south and north of the UK like never before with the launch of its new London to Orkney route.

Photo by Zack Davidson on Unsplash

Loganair is connecting Dundee with the south and north of the UK like never before with the launch of its new London to Orkney route.

For the first time ever, passengers will be able to fly from Kirkwall to London City with a stop-off in Dundee thanks to a new, twice-weekly service that started earlier this month. 

The new same-flight service operates via the City of Discovery, giving passengers the option to split up their journeys in Dundee or stay on board for a seamless, unrivalled connection from either end of the country.

The three-and-a-half-hour service is ideal for those looking to explore the famous archipelago of Orkney off the north-east coast of Scotland or visit Dundee, famed for jute, jam and journalism. The tourism-boosting connection also offers business commuters a seamless route into the heart of the UK’s capital.

Fares start at £62 one way with ADS discount for Orkney-boarding passengers and are inclusive of 15kg luggage.

 

Loganair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove, said:  “Connecting Dundee with Kirkwall is a logical step for us after the success of the Sumburgh service, and we look forward to welcoming our customers on this new route from today.

After 60 years of operating from Dundee, we are still firmly committed to the city. The new route will extend on to London, providing additional opportunities for those wishing to fly from Kirkwall to London and vice versa.’’

Mark Flynn, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said:  “This announcement is a clear vote of confidence from Loganair, not only in Dundee Airport but in the city itself.

By expanding services to Kirkwall, it will be even easier for people who may not have considered coming to the city before to get here, and vice versa, opening up a previously untapped visitor base.”

Hotel giant Hilton releases first quarter results which show net income reached $209 million

The hotel and hospitality giant, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, has just released details of its first quarter 2023 results which show the firm amassed a net income of $209 million.  The company added 9,200 rooms to Hilton's system in the first quarter, resulting in 5,300 net additional rooms in Hilton's system during the period and approved 24,900 new rooms for development, bringing Hilton's development pipeline to 428,100 rooms as of March 31, 2023

Hilton repurchased 3.2 million shares of Hilton common stock during the first quarter, bringing total capital return, including dividends, to $487 million for the quarter and more than $602 million year to date through April

Full-year 2023 system-wide RevPAR is expected to increase between 8 percent and 11 percent on a comparable and currency-neutral basis compared to 2022; full-year net income is projected to be between $1,331 million and $1,385 million; full-year Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $2,875 million and $2,950 million. Full-year 2023 capital return is projected to be between $1.8 billion and $2.2 billion.

Christopher J. Nassetta, President & Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, said, "We carried strong momentum into 2023, exceeding the high end of our guidance for system-wide RevPAR, driving strong bottom-line results and delivering meaningful free cash flow available for return to our shareholders. As a result of our strong performance and positive outlook, we are raising our Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the full year."

In the first quarter of 2023, Hilton opened 64 new hotels totalling 9,200 rooms and achieved net unit growth of 5,300 rooms. Additionally, Hilton started construction on over 19,000 hotel rooms during the first quarter, continuing the positive momentum from the end of 2022, particularly in China. Further, Hilton continued to achieve development milestones during the first quarter, opening the 100th Tapestry Collection by Hilton, as well as its 500th hotel in China. 

May - a month for explorations and short breaks.

Thanks to the Coronation, this year there are three Bank Holidays in May, making it the perfect month for a short break.

With daily domestic and European flights to a range of fantastic leisure destinations, East Midlands Airport (EMA) is the ideal airport of choice for a quick hop.

If a European city break appeals, then the 06:00 Ryanair flight to Rome on Saturday 29 April might suit. With a flight time of just over 2.5 hours, the “haunting ruins, awe-inspiring art and vibrant street life” (Lonely Planet) of Italy’s capital city is within easy reach. Or if you’re after an “enchanting seaside city with boundless culture and fabled architecture” (Lonely Planet) then perhaps Barcelona would be preferable? The 06:45 departure on Saturday 29 April will get you there with plenty of time to soak up the Mediterranean vibe.

Thanks to Eastern Airway’s new services out of EMA, a stroll along on the Champs-Élysées could feature in your weekend plans. The 06:30 departure to Paris means that France’s capital is even doable as a day trip if your budget won’t stretch to an overnight stay.

But if sea air is what you’re craving, and closer to home, then now’s the time to dust off your wetsuit for a quick surf in Newquay. With a flight time of just over one hour, the 12:40pm departure to Newquay will give you an afternoon on the beach.  

Also within easy reach is Belfast, now served by Aer Lingus Regional and Ryanair. As well as spending time in this fascinating city – the Titanic Museum is a must – it is a great destination for exploring Northern Island, and the iconic World Heritage Site that is the Giant’s Causeway.

ATSG delivers its first Boeing Converted Freighter to Amerijet

 

                               Air Transport Services Group, the world's largest lessor of freighter aircraft, recently announced the addition of two newly converted Boeing 767-300 freighters to their leasing fleet, one of which is the company's first Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF). The second aircraft was converted by Tel Aviv-based Israel Aerospace Industries.

ATSG's leasing subsidiary, Cargo Aircraft Management, will lease both aircraft to Miami-based Amerijet International, which currently leases nine other aircraft from CAM. This dual delivery is a demonstration of ATSG's successful supply chain diversification in meeting market demand for full freighter conversions.

“Today we acknowledge an important milestone in the history of our company,” said Paul Chase, the chief commercial officer of ATSG, “a milestone that signifies not only our ability to execute on a clear corporate vision, but also demonstrates yet another step we’ve taken to establish ourselves as the global leader in freighter leasing.”

The leadership teams of ATSG and Amerijet addressed employees of ATSG subsidiaries, thanking them for their accomplishments and referencing the companies' shared histories.