MOD signs infrastructure contracts at RAF Waddington – the new home of the Red Arrows

The MoD has signed contracts to provide new and refurbished infrastructure for the Red Arrows at their new home of RAF Waddington.

These contracts, signed with construction company Galliford Try, also include work to build or refurbish facilities at three other RAF stations. The Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team (RAFAT), better known as the Red Arrows, moved to RAF Waddington in October last year. New facilities are now required for the team and their distinctive red Hawk fast jets.

The project is part of the MOD’s wider Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Portfolio, which is investing £5.1bn in the infrastructure needed by our service people through construction activity, unit and personnel moves, and the release of sites that are no longer suited to the needs of our modern military.

Air Officer Airbases, Air Commodore Portlock welcomed senior leaders from DEO, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and representatives from Galliford Try to RAF Waddington. They signed four contracts to deliver a project which spans RAF Leeming, RAF Saxton Wold, both RAF Boulmer sites and RAF Waddington.

Speaking at the signing, Air Commodore Portlock said:  "This significant milestone marks an exciting transition into the much-awaited design and build phase of the project. Providing this essential infrastructure will enable the RAF to make best use of its estate, whilst also delivering our capabilities which are critical to defence."

Earlier this year, multiple contractors from the construction industry were awarded packages of work across the DEO Portfolio in a landmark move to speed up project delivery. The move will also provide a more collaborative way of working, and a consistent approach to sustainable building practices.

More changes to Gatwick's expansion plans

Since submitting its Northern Runway plans to the Planning Inspectorate,  London Gatwick has refined its proposal and identified three discrete changes to reduce its environmental impact even further, while also providing additional design flexibility. 

 

Before submitting these changes to the Planning Inspectorate, the airport will next week on 13 December 2023, open a consultation so that the public, landowners and other stakeholders can give their views on the proposed changes.

These views will be taken into account before the airport submits a request to amend its DCO application to the Planning Inspectorate. It will be for the Planning Inspectorate to decide if the changes can be made to the application and included in the examination.

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 21 January 2024.

The airport proposes making the three separate changes to the Project below. Further detailed information on these changes and information on how to submit responses to the consultation will be available on the London Gatwick website once the consultation is live.

Project Change 1: Increase to the design parameters for the North Terminal International Departure Lounge proposed southern extension

Project Change 2: Reduction in the height and change in the purpose of the replacement Central Area Recycling Enclosure (CARE) facility

Project Change 3: Revision to the Surface Water Treatment Works system

London Gatwick’s application to bring its Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway, was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate on 3 August 2023.

The airport’s Northern Runway plan would create around 14,000 new jobs and inject £1 billion into the region’s economy every year from increased tourism, trade, supply-chain, and other business opportunities.

Top level changes at SWISS

SWISS has announced an imminent change in its top management: Heike Birlenbach, presently Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Lufthansa Group Airlines, is to become SWISS Chief Commercial Officer with effect from 1 January 2024. She succeeds Tamur Goudarzi Pour, who will take over responsibility for the Lufthansa Group’s Customer Experience division. In addition to this role, he will also assume responsibility for a Lufthansa Group-wide taskforce with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction in the next year.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has announced an imminent change on its Management Board. After five years with the company, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Tamur Goudarzi Pour is to assume a Lufthansa Group position. In his new capacity, he will take over responsibility for the Lufthansa Group’s Customer Experience division. In addition to this role, he will also assume responsibility for a Lufthansa Group-wide taskforce with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction in the next year.

“I would like to thank Tamur Goudarzi Pour for all his work and all his commitment to our company,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “He successfully introduced our SWISS Premium Economy Class. He was instrumental in helping our company recover so swiftly from the coronavirus crisis years and regain its position as one of Europe’s most profitable airlines. Under Tamur’s leadership, we have prudently pursued our long-term capacity planning, and are now the stablest airline in Europe. Tamur has further advanced our fleet renewal with our new long-haul Airbus A350s; and in ‘SWISS Senses’ he has laid the foundation for our future SWISS product. We wish him all the best and every further success in his new Lufthansa Group capacity.”

Bas Brouns named as next CFO of KLM

KLM announced this week its intention to appoint Bas Brouns as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Managing Director of KLM, effective 24 April 2024. He succeeds Erik Swelheim, who will step down at the 2024 shareholders’ meeting at the end of his current term, after 12 years as KLM’s CFO. Bas Brouns (52) is currently Senior Vice President of Corporate Controller at KLM. He has worked at KLM for almost 27 years in various financial positions.

Cees 't Hart, chairman of the KLM Supervisory Board said:  "We are very pleased to be able to nominate someone from KLM to this important post on the Executive Committee. Bas is a highly experienced and passionate professional who has led both Finance & Treasury and Controlling at KLM. I warmly congratulate him on this nomination and wish him all the very best in his new role. I would like to thank Erik for his three terms as CFO. He has played a vital role on the KLM Executive Committee and has impressively shaped KLM’s financial strategy."

Vetster and Air Canada celebrate new partnership for on the go pet care.

Vetster, the world's fastest-growing veterinary telehealth and pet care marketplace, this week announced its partnership with Air Canada to provide around-the-clock access to Vetster’s virtual veterinary services for pets travelling in cargo. Vetster aims to set a new standard for quality care, safety and peace of mind for millions of travelling pet parents.

Trained Air Canada personnel can now use Vetster on behalf of pet parents to connect with licensed veterinarians, who can support pets travelling in cargo and in need of medical assistance. Following the trip, pets’ medical files are sent to the parent’s local vet, underscoring the companies’ shared commitment to continuous, transparent communication and care – whether on the ground or in the air.

At no additional costs, specially trained staff can connect with Vetster’s expert veterinarians to help mitigate both common and uncommon pet travel issues, including heightened anxiety and stress, dehydration, respiratory issues, motion sickness, and more.

“Air Canada is committed to offering safe and reliable transportation for all animals in our care,” said Janet Wallace, Managing Director, Operational Excellence and Transformation at Air Canada Cargo. “As one of the only airlines to partner with a pet telehealth company, we are significantly enhancing the experience for passengers and their pets, providing care and comfort throughout their travels.”

First ever long-haul Avios-Only flights go on sale for October half term 2024

British Airways has announced that Dubai will be the destination of its next Avios-Only flight, offering more than 200 half term return Reward Seats from just £100 + 60,000 Avios. The flight is available to book now.

The BA105 from London Heathrow to Dubai will offer 214 Reward Seats across three cabins on 26 October 2024. The BA108 will return a week later on 2 November 2024 with 256 up for grabs across four cabins, perfectly in time for a half term getaway. 

This is the first time that the airline has offered a long-haul Avios-Only flight, and it brings the total number to more than 30, including Geneva, Nice, Ibiza and Corfu. Avios-Only flights were launched earlier this year, on which 100% of the seats are exclusively available to British Airways Executive Club Members as Rewards Seats. 

Avios only seats are sold as normal Reward Seats, which means that customers with British Airways American Express Credit Cards will also have the option to use their Companion Vouchers. These entitle Members to a second seat for just the taxes and charges, or one seat for half the amount of Avios. 

Reward Seats are those that can be purchased using Avios at static rates. British Airways guarantees a minimum of 12 and 14 Reward Seats on standard short and long-haul flights respectively, whereas Avios-Only flights mean that every seat is available to purchase using Avios. 

Avolon continues to drive growth with orders for additional 140 aircraft

Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, has agreed to order 100 A321neo aircraft from Airbus and 40 737 MAX aircraft from Boeing. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery out to 2032.

Avolon has added 200 new technology aircraft to its orderbook this year direct from OEMs, building on previous orders for 20 Airbus A330neos in September and 40 737 MAXs from Boeing in June. The orderbook expansion increases Avolon’s owned, managed and committed fleet from 897 at September 30 2023 to 1037 aircraft.

Orders for 100 Airbus A321neos and 40 Boeing 737 MAXs

A total of 200 aircraft were ordered directly from Boeing and Airbus this year

The A320neo and 737 MAX family of aircraft reduce fuel use and carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to the older generation aircraft that they will replace.

The scale of these new commitments supports Avolon’s ability to provide customers with fuel-efficient aircraft into the next decade.

Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon, commented:  “Today’s orders strengthen our delivery pipeline and reflect our confidence in the long-term outlook for aviation. We have committed to direct orders for 200 new, fuel-efficient aircraft this year, supporting the transformation of our fleet to lower-emissions aircraft. The scale of our orderbook reflects the strength of Avolon’s balance sheet, our proven ability to execute swiftly, and the longstanding relationships we have with both Airbus and Boeing.”

Both orders are binding contracts subject only to approval by shareholders of Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd., Avolon’s 70% shareholder, which is anticipated before year end.

Avolon is a leading global aviation finance company connecting capital with customers to drive the transformation of aviation and the economic and social benefits of global travel. We pride ourselves on our deep customer relationships, our collaborative team approach, and our fast execution. We invest with a long-term perspective, diversifying risk and managing capital efficiently to maintain our strong balance sheet. Working with 147 airlines in 65 countries, Avolon has an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 897 aircraft, as of 30 September 2023.

Air New Zealand announces BETA’s ALIA as launch aircraft for Mission Next Gen Aircraft programme

Air New Zealand selects BETA’s ALIA CTOL as its first next generation aircraft

The electric aircraft has been purchased to meet the airline’s goal of flying a commercial demonstrator by 2026

NZ Post announced as cargo partner for commercial demonstrator

Announcement in early 2024 revealing the two frontrunner airports to be home to next-generation aircraft

Air New Zealand has announced the ALIA as the airline’s first purchase of a next-generation aircraft in its Mission Next Gen Aircraft programme.

Designed by electric aerospace company BETA Technologies, the battery-powered all-electric aircraft is expected to join Air New Zealand’s fleet in 2026. Air New Zealand is purchasing the conventional take-off and landing version of the ALIA.

The announcement follows an 18-month period of evaluation and diligence by Air New Zealand. Through the airline’s Mission Next Gen Aircraft programme, it sought and received ideas and insights from 30 organisations, selecting four partners to work closely with on its goal of launching commercial flights using next generation aircraft in 2026. BETA’s ALIA is the first commercial order in the programme. 

Air New Zealand will initially operate the aircraft as a cargo only service in partnership with New Zealand Post, on a route being selected through an expressions of interest (EOI) process with airports across Aotearoa.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says the purchase cements Air New Zealand’s commitment to flying lower-emissions aircraft in New Zealand.

“This is a small but important step in a much larger journey for Air New Zealand. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are incredibly committed, and this purchase marks a new chapter for the airline.”

2-REG, Guernsey’s aircraft registry is 10 years old.

2-REG, Guernsey’s Aircraft Registry is 10 years old!  The anniversary follows a momentous journey of growth and success as one of the world’s leading aircraft registries since its inception in December 2013.

2-REG’s commitment to safety excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, coupled with the strong backing of the States of Guernsey, has been at the heart of its growth. With a strong focus on customer needs and feedback, 2-REG has consistently developed cutting-edge solutions that have addressed industry challenges and elevated standards.

"As the strategic partner of the States of Guernsey, our vision for 2-REG is rooted in the seamless synergy between private enterprise and regulatory excellence,” reflected Paolo Lironi, Chief Executive Officer of SGI Group. “We recognize that in the dynamic realm of aviation, a robust public-private partnership is not just beneficial – it is imperative. By combining the agility of the private sector with the regulatory precision of our esteemed public counterparts, we are not only registering aircraft; we are propelling the industry forward, fostering trust, and setting a global standard for efficiency and safety."

Damon Hackley, States of Guernsey Director of Operations, elaborated that having worked alongside SGI Guernsey Ltd (“SGIG”), a subsidiary of SGI Group, “I am delighted to see the registry go from strength to strength and provide economic and social value to Guernsey. It has become a significant player in the aircraft registry arena, and I look forward to seeing it grow even further in the future.”

Finnair Traffic Performance in November 2023

Increase in passenger traffic numbers year-on-year, expected seasonal decline month-on-month

In November, Finnair carried 811,900 passengers, which was 8.1% more than in November 2022. This is 11.8% less than in October 2023 due to normal seasonality. Further, month-on-month figures are not fully comparable as there was one day less in November.

November passenger traffic figures improved year-on-year as the COVID-19 pandemic impacts have mostly faded and as the Russian airspace was closed during the comparison period. The negative impact of the Russian airspace closure especially on Asian passenger traffic figures was, however, still visible in November 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic figures. The distance-based reported traffic figures do not take into account longer routings caused by the airspace closure as they are based on Great-Circle distance.

The overall capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK), increased in November by 14.4% year-on-year but decreased by 7.4% month-on-month. Finnair's traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 13.6% year-on-year but declined by 14.9% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) declined by 0.5% points year-on-year and by 6.3% points month-on-month to 71.0%.

The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 20.5% year-on-year explained e.g. by the additional capacity to Japan and South Korea. The North Atlantic capacity decreased by 3.2%. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 11.9%. The Middle Eastern capacity grew by 27.8% as the flights between Helsinki and Doha related to the Qatar Airways cooperation commenced only in mid-December 2022. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 5.6%.

RPKs increased in Asian traffic by 25.9% year-on-year but decreased in North Atlantic traffic by 7.0%. They increased by 6.1% in European traffic, by 35.4% in Middle Eastern traffic and by 1.7% in domestic traffic.

In November, the PLF was 71.2% in Asian traffic, 63.8% in North Atlantic traffic, 73.8% in European traffic, 68.7% in Middle Eastern traffic and 65.6% in domestic traffic.

Passenger numbers increased in Asian traffic by 22.3% year-on-year but decreased in North Atlantic traffic by 6.5%. The number of passengers increased by 7.3% in European traffic, by 32.2% in Middle Eastern traffic and by 0.3% in domestic traffic.

Many cargo figures increased year-on-year in November due to Qatar Airways cooperation and increased Asian capacity. Cargo carried on flights as a part of the cooperation with Qatar Airways, where cargo capacity is fully allocated to and sold by Qatar Airways, is reported by Finnair under Middle East cargo figures. Available cargo tonne-kilometres increased by 24.8% and revenue cargo tonne-kilometres by 21.0% year-on-year. The total cargo tonnes increased by 20.5% year-on-year but decreased by 3.2% month-on-month due to a shorter month.  

In November, 79.3% of all Finnair flights arrived on schedule (86.8%).

British Airways to return to London Stansted for Summer 2024

Travellers choosing to fly from London Stansted next summer have a new premium airline option, as British Airways returns to the north-east London airport. 

Launching on 18 May 2024, weekend flights from London Stansted to Florence, Ibiza and Nice will join BA Cityflyer’s operations for the summer season on its Embraer 190 aircraft. 

BA Cityflyer is a subsidiary of British Airways, which operates from London City Airport during the week to nearly 30 short-haul destinations. The new Stansted services will complement the existing weekday services from London City, plus recently added weekend services from Edinburgh to San Sebastian, Spain and Olbia, Sardinia.  

This will be the first time that British Airways has offered scheduled flights from Stansted since before the global pandemic, and it will become the fourth London airport to be served by the flag carrier. 

Each flight will offer two cabins: Club Europe (business class) and Euro Traveller (economy). Customers in Club Europe are offered a full meal service with drinks from the bar, priority board and additional baggage allowance.

Flights will be available from £41 each way to Florence, £36 each way to Ibiza and £43 each way to Nice. Flights are now live. 

Start date	Flight number / days of week	Departing destination	Arriving STN		Flight number	Departing STN	Arriving destination
Florence
18 May 2024	BA7016  Saturdays	14:15	16:30		BA7017  Sundays	06:30	08:45
Nice
18 May 2024	BA2332  Saturdays	09:20		11:20	BA2333  Sundays	06:55	08:55
Ibiza
18 May 2024	BA7308  Saturdays	09:35		12:05	BA7309  Sundays	12:50	15:15

 

Air India axes data centres in favour of the cloud.

Air India, India’s leading global airline, has successfully migrated to a cloud-only IT infrastructure, having closed its historic data centres located in Mumbai and New Delhi. This makes Air India one of the first major global airlines to have moved all computational workloads exclusively to the cloud.

The move brings remarkable technological agility and scalability to Air India, enabling it to accelerate its digital transformation effort and roll out new digital innovations and applications to enhance operational efficiencies, customer and employee experiences. The closure of the data centres will further result in net savings of nearly a million dollars every year.

Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India, said: “At Air India, we have adopted ‘cloud-only’ as our computational infrastructure philosophy. For us, cloud is not just about cost savings and operational efficiencies but is a fundamental way to reimagine computing itself and a critical lever to accelerate innovation. We have adopted a strategic mix of Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service methodologies in Air India’s transformation journey, allowing us to innovate faster and provide a flexible and reliable computational and networking infrastructure for the company.”

Given the heavy interdependency on a variety of other systems in the data centres, the entire process of migration to cloud was skillfully and carefully strategized, mapped out, and managed by Air India’s top architects and engineers in Silicon Valley in the U.S., and Gurugram and Kochi in India. The exercise required the migration of all computational workloads from several mainframes, hundreds of servers, a large amount of data, and hundreds of equipment to the cloud.

 

Christmas all wrapped up, up and away at East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is preparing for a busy end to the year, with more than 100,000 passengers set to fly through its terminal in the last two weeks of the year.

More than 5,000 people will travel through on Friday 22 December alone, which is set to be its busiest day of the festive period.

The bumper Christmas travel season comes on the back of a strong November, with fresh figures revealing 188,556 passengers passed through EMA during the month – up by 29% on last year.

That brings the airport’s annual total to 3.2m, with it on course to break through the 4m mark by the end of March.

EMA’s Customer and Planning Director Mike Grimes said: “We’re delighted to welcome thousands of customers to the airport during the festive period – it’s a really special time of the year for people to get away. Our staff love to make the whole experience convenient and hassle-free.

“A strong performance this winter on top of a busy summer is expected to boost overall passenger numbers to above 4m by the end of the financial year, taking us to pre-Covid levels and giving us the promise of 2024 being a very Happy New Year. We also have a programme of improvements getting underway which will make the experience of flying from EMA even more comfortable and effortless.”

·       Passengers are attracted to EMA by its effortless travel experience and frequent low-cost flights to destinations at this time of year offering Christmas Markets, Alpine skiing or winter sun

·       On Friday 22nd December alone, 5,068 are expected to travel to a range of European destinations

·       Overall, the airport’s passenger numbers are up by almost 567,000 compared to November last year, showing an ongoing post-pandemic confidence among holidaymakers.

WestJet service to shore diving destination, Bonaire takes flight from Toronto

The Canadian airline, WestJet celebrated the commencement of service between the beautiful island of Bonaire and Toronto, with the departure of WS2550 at 10:10 ET. Growing Eastern Canada's leisure travel options, WestJet will be the only airline offering direct flights between the Canadian metropolis and the stunning Dutch Caribbean Island.

The addition of Bonaire to WestJet's growing network furthers the airline's commitment to bolstering its presence in Eastern Canada through connectivity to popular sun and leisure destinations. Through the airline's winter schedule, WestJet will operate weekly service between Toronto and Bonaire.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the departure of our inaugural flight between Toronto and Bonaire today as we continue to champion the WestJet Group as Canada's leading coast-to-coast leisure travel provider," said WestJet Vice-President of Airports, David Powell. "With the departure of today's flight, we look forward to providing this new connectivity to Toronto that will offer unforgettable experiences and tourism opportunities in both destinations." 

"We looked forward with great excitement to the arrival of our guests from Canada, and the much-anticipated day is finally here with the first WestJet flight landing in Bonaire," expressed Miles Mercera, CEO of Tourism Corporation Bonaire. "Canada remains one of our top 10 markets, and this historic new connection signifies a major step in accommodating the increasing desire for tourism on our picturesque island."

As part of the Dutch Caribbean, Bonaire is in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea and is accessible through The Flamingo International Airport. Known for its globally acclaimed shore diving and wind surfing, Bonaire is the ideal destination for warm weather, adventure-seeking Canadians.

AirAsia extends support for FLYsiswa 2024, allowing students to fly home affordably on 45 routes

As the people’s airline, AirAsia is proud to continue supporting the FLYsiswa programme next year, an initiative driven by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia to provide an opportunity for students to fly back to their hometowns affordably.

AirAsia’s e-voucher for the FLYsiswa programme applies for flight bookings across 45 routes in 10 destinations between Peninsula Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu and East Malaysia to Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kuching, Bintulu, Miri, Sibu, Labuan. It is also applicable for flights between Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

This initiative not only demonstrates the airline’s commitment to ensuring affordability with great value fares and accessibility with a vast network but also enables students to benefit from its ecosystem. This includes airasia rewards points, inflight offerings, and more.

Boeing Names Stephanie Pope Chief Operating Officer

Boeing has named Stephanie Pope as executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Boeing Company. In this newly created position, effective January 1, 2024, Pope will report to Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun. 

As Boeing COO, Pope will oversee the performance of the company's three business units with responsibility for driving supply chain, quality, manufacturing and engineering excellence across the company. The business unit Chief Executive Officers, the Boeing Chief Engineer and the President of Boeing Global will report directly to Pope. Senior corporate functional leaders will continue reporting to Calhoun.

"Stephanie brings tremendous operational, financial and customer experience to this role, as well as a proven record of performance across our commercial, defence and services business units," said Calhoun. "Next year will be a significant transitional year in our performance as we continue to restore our operational and financial strength; and Stephanie will help drive the stability and predictability necessary to ensure we deliver on our customer, employee, regulatory, investor and other stakeholder commitments."

JetBlue celebrates 10 years of free unlimited fly-fi

JetBlue celebrates its 10-year anniversary of Fly-Fi—the airline’s fast, free and unlimited broadband satellite internet service. With this bold move that made JetBlue the first major U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi on every flight, Fly-Fi highlights JetBlue’s commitment to a customer-centric onboard experience with great service at low fares.

While Wi-Fi has now become ubiquitous in public spaces, providing free high-speed connectivity to aircraft travelling 500 mph at 35,000 feet was a unique challenge in 2013. To set a new standard of onboard connectivity, JetBlue worked with satellite internet provider Viasat to integrate the highest speeds offered inflight, making it possible for customers to have the bandwidth to stream video and use multiple devices at once—a radical capability that many airlines are just now integrating into their service. Through product testing and evolution, and the launch of second-generation satellites, JetBlue and Viasat were able to expand high-speed coverage across JetBlue’s network, paving the way for its transatlantic expansion.

“JetBlue has been a disruptor to legacy carriers and a trailblazer in onboard technology since its inception with seatback entertainment at every seat, and we have continued to raise the standard with our unparalleled inflight Wi-Fi,” said Mariya Stoyanova, director of product development, JetBlue. “Recently, we’ve seen other airlines adopt products and services that JetBlue has had onboard for years—legacy carriers realize that when we’re in-market, they can’t offer bare-bones service. We’re pushing the entire U.S. airline industry to provide a better inflight experience for travellers.”

British Airways to start Gatwick - Agadir route.....

Agadir has become the latest destination to join British Airways’ route network from London Gatwick.  

The four-times weekly flight will be operated by British Airways’ Gatwick short-haul subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, from 31 March 2024.  On sale now, Agadir joins Marrakech to become the second Moroccan destination on British Airways’ route map. This will be the first time in more than a decade that Agadir has been available to British Airways customers. 

Tom Stoddart, CEO of BA Euroflyer, said: “Agadir is a coastal destination that enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year, so we know it will see strong demand from our leisure customers and particularly those seeking holiday packages. It offers beaches, golf courses and water sports alongside the opportunity to experience cultural landmarks, such as Agadir Kasbah.”

Customers will have the choice of two cabins on every flight: Club Europe (business class) and Euro Traveller (economy). Euro Traveller customers enjoy a complimentary drink and snack, while Club Europe customers will have lounge access, a full meal service with drinks from the bar, priority boarding and additional baggage allowance is included in their ticket. 

Day of the week	Flight number	Departing LGW	Arriving  AGA	Flight number	Departing AGA	Arriving LGW
London Gatwick (LGW) to Agadir, Morocco (AGA): Summer 2024
Wednesdays	BA2664	08:15	12:00	BA2665	13:10	17:00
Fridays	BA2664	06:45	10:30	BA2665	11:45	15:35
Saturdays (from 25 May 2024)	BA2664	15:25	19:10	BA2665	20:10	00:00
Sundays	BA2664	08:25	12:10	BA2665	13:20	17:10

All timings are local 

United Airlines’ U.K. Fantasy Flight Supports Children from Honeypot to meet Santa at the ‘North Pole’

First time United Airlines partners with The Honeypot Children’s Charity for its U.K. Fantasy Flight

Children and young people supported by The Honeypot Children’s Charity in London enjoyed a special onboard experience this weekend at Heathrow Airport and met Santa at a unique ‘North Pole’ type setting at the Renaissance Hotel, courtesy of United Airlines. 

It is the first time United Airlines, which has been running the festive initiative in the U.S. and other countries across its global network for more than 25 years, has partnered with The Honeypot Children’s Charity for its U.K. Fantasy Flight. The children, many of whom had never been on a plane before, were brought together by the charity through the services it operates across the UK. 

Employees from United Airlines at Heathrow Airport, including customer service staff and flight attendants, worked together to organise the day of adventure at the airport. The United team, with support from the charity, collaborated to ensure a magical day for all of the children involved. 

Air India introduces new uniforms....

New Air India uniforms......

Introducing our new Pilot and cabin crew uniforms, an ode to Air India’s rich history and a promise of a bright future.

These uniforms, envisioned by India’s leading couturier Manish Malhotra, feature three quintessential Indian colours – red, aubergine and gold, representing the confident, vibrant new India.

Air India has appointed Hirsch to update lounges.....

Bedner Associates (HBA), a world-renowned hospitality interior design firm, to refurbish Air India lounges at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and Terminal 4 of JFK Airport in New York. This marks a significant milestone in Air India’s transformation plan to enhance customer experience at every step of the customer’s journey.

Air India Lounges at Delhi and New York will emerge as signature lounges after the extensive refurbishment and rebuild which is planned to commence shortly, extending a world-class lounge experience to over four lakhs premium guests flying with Air India.

The lounges will be designed to reflect the rich cultural heritage of India with world-class state-of-the-art amenities embodying the vibrant spirit of the new Air India – a global airline with an Indian heart. In sync with India's rich culinary traditions, the lounges will offer a diverse and delectable selection of Indian and international cuisine wrapped in class and comfort.

The partner, HBA, has been known for creating award-winning signature projects for leading global institutions like the Taj group, Marriott, InterContinental, Hilton as well as Singapore Airlines. The collaboration with HBA will allow Air India to redefine new standards in comfort and aesthetics of its lounges and offer the best-in-class lounge experience for its guests. “We are committed to offer the highest standards of service to our guests as part of opur transformation journey, and the association with HBA will help us extend a warm and welcoming lounge experience that embodies the essence of Air India's commitment to excellence. In the last one year, we have taken several initiatives to enhance customer experience, including digital channels, airports, inflight services, and contact centres. The redesigned lounges will further strengthen our customer proposition,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

"We are honoured to partner with Air India and are dedicated to delivering an exceptional hospitality design experience. Our primary focus is to create a meaningful environment for Air India passengers allowing them to experience the airline’s inspirational brand and lounges in a fresh and innovative way," said Ian Carr, Co-CEO, HBA.

Flight Safety Foundation Calls for Global, Coordinated Action on Runway Incursions

Runway incursions are one of the most persistent threats to aviation safety, and the risk of incursions is likely to increase as air traffic grows, unless robust, coordinated safety defenses are implemented, Flight Safety Foundation said today in releasing the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Incursions (GAPPRI).

"Despite efforts over the years to prevent incursions, they still happen," said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. "The risk of runway incursions is a global concern, and the potential consequences of an incursion are severe. Airport operations are complex and involve multiple parties, including operators, air traffic control and ground service providers. It is critical that all stakeholders work collaboratively to eliminate the risk of serious incursions."

GAPPRI was developed by an international task force of 200 aviation professionals from 80 organizations around the world. The findings and recommendations in the report are based on an analysis of multiple global and regional datasets, combined with insights from real-world experience and operational expertise.

In analyzing the data, the task force found that variability in human performance and breakdowns in communication and coordination play a role in incursions. Also, the absence of systemwide collision-avoidance barriers and technologies, combined with increased surface operations, is creating unfavourable conditions with increased risk of runway incursions. Many of the serious incidents could have been avoided through better situational awareness technologies that can help air traffic controllers and pilots detect potential runway conflicts.

Textron Aviation announces new SustainableAdvantage carbon offset program for Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker owners

Textron Aviation has announced a new ProAdvantage program, SustainableAdvantage℠, to provide owners with an additional option for reducing their carbon dioxide emissions from operating aircraft. In collaboration with 4AIR, the program is set to launch in January 2024 and is available to eligible customers who own and operate Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker turbine aircraft worldwide.

Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron Aviation Inc. through its global network of service and part centres, mobile service units and 24/7 1CALL AOG support.

“Owners have increasingly become interested in solutions that mitigate the carbon footprint of operating their aircraft,” said Brad White, senior vice president, of Global Parts and Programs, Textron Aviation. “SustainableAdvantage provides them the opportunity to have a seamless option to offset their carbon emissions through a Textron Aviation approved program and supplier.”

The SustainableAdvantage portfolio currently managed by 4AIR supports four projects around the globe:

• Rainier Gateway Forestry Project
• Cookstove Project
• Bundled Solar
• Solar Energy – Renewable Power by Adani

Heike Birlenbach named new SWISS Chief Commercial Officer

SWISS has announced an imminent change in its top management: Heike Birlenbach, presently Senior Vice President of Customer Experience Lufthansa Group Airlines, is to become SWISS Chief Commercial Officer with effect from 1 January 2024. She succeeds Tamur Goudarzi Pour, who will take over responsibility for the Lufthansa Group’s Customer Experience division. In addition to this role, he will also assume responsibility for a Lufthansa Group-wide taskforce with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction in the next year.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has announced an imminent change on its Management Board. After five years with the company, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Tamur Goudarzi Pour is to assume a Lufthansa Group position. In his new capacity, he will take over responsibility for the Lufthansa Group’s Customer Experience division. In addition to this role, he will also assume responsibility for a Lufthansa Group-wide taskforce with the aim of increasing customer satisfaction in the next year.

“I would like to thank Tamur Goudarzi Pour for all his work and all his commitment to our company,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “He successfully introduced our SWISS Premium Economy Class. He was instrumental in helping our company recover so swiftly from the coronavirus crisis years and regain its position as one of Europe’s most profitable airlines. Under Tamur’s leadership, we have prudently pursued our long-term capacity planning, and are now the stablest airline in Europe. Tamur has further advanced our fleet renewal with our new long-haul Airbus A350s; and in ‘SWISS Senses’ he has laid the foundation for our future SWISS product. We wish him all the best and every further success in his new Lufthansa Group capacity.”

JetBlue names Dawn Southerton, Vice President Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

JetBlue has announced the appointment of Dawn Southerton to vice president, controller and principal accounting officer. Southerton will oversee the company’s accounting, accounts payable, credit card fraud, payroll and tax teams. She will report to Ursula Hurley, JetBlue’s chief financial officer.

Southerton comes to JetBlue from PepsiCo, where she held a number of finance leadership roles over the course of nearly two decades at the company. Most recently, Southerton served as vice president and controller, of Pepsi Beverages Company. Southerton began her career at the public accounting firm KPMG before holding a number of accounting and finance roles with TransCanada Pipeline, Heinz and Neiman Marcus Group.

“Dawn brings extensive financial acumen, a track record of creating positive change for complex, large-scale organizations, and a passion for supporting and developing talent,” said Hurley. “I’m looking forward to working with her and our entire team as we continue to drive the business forward.”

Southerton added, “JetBlue has always stood out to me as both an innovative and purpose-driven company. I’m thrilled to join the team and help support JetBlue’s next phase of growth.”

Southerton is a graduate of the University of Alberta, where she earned a bachelor of commerce degree and is a chartered professional accountant.

Bloomberg Intelligence’s 2024 European Airlines Outlook

Even if strong leisure demand holds, European airlines' scope for earnings per share upgrades is more limited in 2024 vs. a bumper 2023, given capacity could temper yields as it climbs above pre-pandemic levels. 

According to Bloomberg Intelligence’s 2024 European Airlines Outlook, jet-fuel pricing is volatile, and peers would welcome relief amid persistent cost hikes elsewhere, such as wages and airport fees. Large network operators Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and IAG are driving consolidation to improve efficiency. Meanwhile, budget brands Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air are intensifying short- to medium-haul competition, though Pratt & Whitney engine issues have temporarily hamstrung the latter.

The slow return of corporate and international Asian travellers, potential economic pressure from inflation and interest rates, and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East remain industry risks, adds BI. 

Overall, BI sees three key trends in 2024:

Cost Inflation. Wage inflation, airport and route fees, carbon costs and maintenance may feed into higher costs. Jet fuel prices are relatively high again vs. history, and while this can be volatile, hedges may prove important in the short term.

Demand Normalization. Higher fares may be tougher to pass on as pent-up demand unwinds and consumer budget pressures continue, with the slow return of corporate travel unable to provide much of an offset.

Consolidation. Consolidation may eventually combat some structural profitability headwinds. The Lufthansa-ITA and Air France-SAS (as part of a consortium) minority deals are in process, together with IAG’s pursuit for the remainder of Air Europa. A controlling stake of TAP Air Portugal is also up for grabs.

 

Conroy Gaynor, BI Industry Analyst, commented: “European airline consolidation progress in 2024 may pave the way to offsetting some margin threats. Pending deals include Lufthansa's minority stake in ITA and IAG's Air Europa purchase. Air France-KLM, meanwhile, is helping rescue SAS. Ryanair can boost intra-region share as Wizz Air stumbles on engine issues and EasyJet remains tepid on expansion. 

“IAG, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have either bought, or are buying, minority stakes in Air Europa, ITA Airways and SAS, respectively. If their midterm ownership ambitions are realized, our calculations show a boost to pro forma available seat kilometres (ASK) of up to 18% vs. their combined 2023 consensus of 944 billion. Still, antitrust reviews may force slot sales. IAG's Iberia and Vueling share the top four spots in Spain with Air Europa, while Lufthansa-ITA may have to cede territory, including in Munich and Milan.” 

Ryanair, EasyJet to Drive 2024 Europe Budget Airline Penetration

Ryanair and EasyJet are set to push European market share for budget airlines in 2024, believes BI, with Wizz Air giving up capacity gains on engine inspections. BI’s scenario analysis shows the three exceeding 45% of intra-region air traffic by 2025 as Wizz retakes the lead on growth rate. EasyJet is targeting a disciplined 5% annualized seat expansion from 2023-28.

Conroy Gaynor, BI Industry Analyst, commented: “European discount airlines are adding to their fleets more quickly than legacy counterparts, with newer aircraft and labour productivity proving an advantage. Wizz Air had 19% annualized passenger growth from fiscal 2015-20, boosting operating leverage and bringing unit expenses closer to larger rival Ryanair, which achieved 10% in the same period. The same figure for Ryanair was 5% in the 12 months to October vs. the equivalent in 2018-19, and 11% for Wizz, despite the pandemic. These are taking advantage of rivals exiting or restructuring. In the UK, Thomas Cook collapsed in 2019, followed by Flybe in 2020.”