Norse Atlantic to start service between New York JFK and Athens.

Norse Atlantic Airways, will be offering a new long-haul route linking  Athens, Greece, to New York's JFK airport. The flights will operate up to five times a week throughout the busy summer season from 30th May 2024 until 26th October 2024.

Athens International Airport offers unparalleled connectivity and world-class facilities, the airport ensures a smooth and enjoyable journey for passengers transiting between the United States and across the Greek islands. This connection not only opens doors for tourism but also enhances cultural and economic ties between the two nations.

 Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways said: “We are thrilled to announce the commencement of ticket sales for our Athens to New York JFK route. This launch underscores our commitment to meeting the evolving travel needs of our passengers. We believe this route will not only cater to the demand for travel to Greece but will also create opportunities for cultural exchange and business collaborations between these two vibrant destinations,”.

On behalf of Athens International Airport, Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing said:” We are very excited with Norse Atlantic Airways’ announcement for the launch of their Summer 2024 direct operations on the Athens – New York / JFK route. This is a truly spectacular development for our airport, our city and our country, enhancing connectivity and offering a wide range of travel options to the wider public. The US has traditionally been the most dynamically developing market for Athens and especially in 2023, passenger numbers between ATH and all US destinations have been soaring, demonstrating double-digit increases vs the pre-pandemic era, with New York topping the list. We are absolutely certain that the route will be a tremendous success, as passengers will enjoy the excellent product offered by Norse Atlantic Airways. We are committed to working closely together in order to substantially contribute to and enhance the successful performance of this new route.”

Norse Atlantic exclusively operates modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with a two-cabin configuration, featuring the Norse Premium cabin with a 43” seat pitch.  

American Airlines reports strong performance over peak holiday season.

The U.S. mega-carrier, American Airlines has delivered another strong operational performance for its customers during the winter holiday travel period, canceling the fewest flights among the major carriers while operating significantly more on-time flights than last year’s holiday period. American was able to achieve this strong performance despite the weather in many parts of the country and a significant volume of non-scheduled, non-air carrier operations that resulted in increased air traffic control delays.

“When customers purchase tickets on American, they place their trust in us to deliver a safe and reliable operation, and I’m proud to say that thanks to the hard work of our team members, we delivered on that commitment — despite holiday headwinds, including some challenging weather and increased air traffic control congestion,” said David Seymour, American’s Chief Operating Officer. “We appreciate our federal partners — the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — for their critical roles in making this holiday travel period a success.”

American’s winter holiday operational highlights

American has welcomed nearly 7.8 million customers across more than 71,000 flights since between 20 December and 8 January.

To date, American has led its major competitors in completion factor, canceling the fewest number of flights. American didn’t cancel a single mainline flight for the first six days of this travel period (with nine total days without a mainline cancellation) and just 16 mainline flights have been canceled this holiday period.

American’s on-time departure and arrival performance both improved by around 15% compared to 2022’s holiday period.

American’s continued investments and focus on baggage handling across our network are paying off, with the key metric that measures mishandled baggage improving 66% compared to last year’s holiday period.

Prohibition of Supersonic, Transonic and Hypersonic Flight over land up for review in UK

Prohibition of supersonic, transonic and hypersonic flight over land is up for review in the UK as the nation's Civil Aviation Authority launches a public consultation on a number of changes.   

Post Concorde, there have been no commercial aircraft capable of hypersonic or supersonic flight and therefore the current policy hasn't been reviewed for a number of years, simply because it wasn't needed. Yet now, with several manufacturers actively working on the development of commercial aircraft capable of supersonic and hypersonic speeds, the CAA now believes an update to the policy is required.     

The issue is the sonic boom that flights at hypersonic or supersonic speeds create when hitting the speed of sound. This is the manifestation of the shock wave created by the aircraft flying at supersonic or hypersonic speeds and the environmental implications on the ground of such flights are potentially significant. The CAA says that the "effects of a sonic boom can vary dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, the sensitivity of the individual on the ground, weather, surrounding background noise and whether someone is likely to be anticipating a sonic boom.  Without the ability to predict or control these factors, the only way to prevent the impacts of sonic booms is to prohibit flights which have the potential to create such events."

The CAA thinks it is important that everyone is given the opportunity to voice their opinion on matters that could affect them. They are currently inviting members of the general public, government agencies and all sectors of the aviation industry, whether as an aviator, aviation consumer and/or provider of related products and services to take part in the consultation. 

Prohibition of Supersonic, Transonic and Hypersonic Flight over land - Introduction - Civil Aviation Authority - Citizen Space (caa.co.uk)

Ryanair calls online travel firms 'Pirates' and some drop the carrier from their sites.

The bullying European budget airline Ryanair has hit out at online travel agents after getting dropped by a string of them in the run-up to Christmas. Multimillionaire boss Michael O'Leary called the online retailers 'Pirates' in a bitter attack on them after news broke that a growing number of online agencies had dropped sales of the airline. 

The airline confirmed sales and load factor will be hit in the short term by being dropped by the online sales sites, by as much as 2% in January alone. However,  the carrier thinks long-term profits or load factors will not be materially affected. 

A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Ryanair will respond to this welcome removal of our flights from OTA [online travel agent] pirate websites, by lowering fares where necessary to encourage all passengers to book directly on Ryanair.com where they are guaranteed to always get the lowest air fares...   In the meantime, Ryanair continues to make its fares available to honest/transparent OTA's such as Google Flights".

The aggressive way Ryanair is attacking those online retailers is nothing new, the company takes great pride in breaking the mould in decency when dealing with any company or person it doesn't like or criticise the airline, frequently taking to social media to bully, insult or otherwise denigrate. 

The online travel agents that have dropped Ryanair have thus far remained silent on the issue. 

AerCap's major results....

AerCap, is one of the global leaders in aviation leasing with approximately 300 customers around the world released details of its fourth quarter and full-year transactions of 2023. 

Full Year 2023 Transactions

Signed 592 lease agreements, completed 173 purchases and 188 sale transactions.

 

Received cash insurance settlement proceeds of approximately $1.3 billion.

Repurchased approximately 44 million shares, at an average price of $59.09 per share, for a total of approximately $2.6 billion.

 

Signed financing transactions for approximately $13.3 billion.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Transactions

Signed 179 lease agreements, including 11 widebody aircraft, 89 narrowbody aircraft, 3 regional jets, 57 engines and 19 helicopters.

Completed 52 purchases for 24 aircraft (including 4 Airbus A220 Family aircraft, 11 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 6 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 3 Boeing 787-9s for AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio), 23 engines and 5 helicopters.

 

Completed 36 sale transactions for 20 aircraft (including 3 Airbus A220 Family aircraft, 4 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, 3 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, 1 Airbus A330, 3 Boeing 737NGs, 1 Boeing 737-300SF, 2 Embraer E190s and 3 De Havilland Canada DHC-8s from AerCap's owned aircraft portfolio), 9 engines from AerCap's owned engine portfolio, 1 engine from AerCap's managed engine portfolio and 6 helicopters.

 

Received cash insurance settlement proceeds of approximately $609 million.

Repurchased approximately 10 million shares, at an average price of $62.86 per share, for a total of approximately $649 million.

 

Signed financing transactions for approximately $1.7 billion.

Korean Air releases a new safety video featuring virtual humans

Korean Air has released a new inflight safety video featuring virtual humans, taking the AI world a little further. The video features a virtual human in a Korean Air flight attendant uniform giving safety instructions within a virtual setting.

By introducing the new concept of virtual humans in its safety video, the airline seeks to reach out to its diverse customer base of all ages and cultural backgrounds. The sleek visual presentation is expected to garner passengers’ attention and increase viewers’ engagement levels.

This is the first time an airline has created a safety video featuring virtual humans: virtual human Rina and the virtual girl group of four, MAVE, are both creations of Metaverse Entertainment of Netmarble F&C.

The video takes place in the “Korean Air Safety Lounge” designed with airplane motives. The virtual space was created to make it easier to explain and understand the inflight safety rules. Rina, who gives safety instructions in the flight attendant uniform, is a virtual human who has completed safety training at Korean Air's Cabin Crew Training Center and was appointed as an honorary flight attendant. MAVE members play the role of passengers following the safety instructions.

The UK's AAIB has sent an investigation team to Tokyo

A team of inspectors has been sent to Tokyo to join the investigation into the fatal aircraft accident at Haneda Airport, 2 January 2024

The AAIB has sent a team of inspectors to Tokyo to assist the Japan Transport Safety Board investigation into the tragic aircraft accident which occurred on 2 January at Haneda Airport, Tokyo. The investigation is being led by the Japan Transport Safety Board, and the AAIB as State of Manufacture of the Rolls-Royce engines fitted to the Airbus A350 has appointed an accredited representative.

Japan Airlines A350 crash latest....

Local authorities in Japan issued confirmation that the Japan Airlines A350 had been cleared to land at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo. Seconds later it collided with a Coast Guard  Bombardier Dash-8 and erupted in flames, which should not have been on the runway, having been instructed to taxi to the holding point C5 and not cleared to enter the runway area. 

Five of the six crew members on the Coast Guard aircraft were killed in the crash, and the sixth,  the pilot escaped with some injuries.  The aircraft had been due to transport aid to regions hit by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Monday. 

 

The Ministry of Transport in Japan released a transcript that confirmed the A350 crew had been cleared to land:

JAL516:              17:43:02   "Tokyo Tower, JAL516 Spot 18"

Control Tower:    17:43:02    "JAL516 Tokyo Tower, good evening, Runway 34R, continue approach, wind 320/7, we have departure"

JAL516:              17:43:12    "JAL516 continue approach 34R"

Control Tower:    17:44:56    "JAL516 Runway 34R cleared to land, wind 310/8

JAL516:              17:45:01    "Cleared to land, runway 34R, JAL516"

JA722A:              17:45:11    "Tower, JA722A, C"

Control Tower:    17:45:11    "JA722A, Tokyo tower, good evening, No:1 taxi to holding point C5"

JA722A:              17:45:19    "Taxi to holding point C5, JA722A No:1, thank you" 

Japan Airlines flight details: 

Date and Time: January 2, 2024 (Tuesday) around 17:47 (JST)

Location: Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), Runway C

Flight Number: JL516

Departure: New Chitose Airport - Scheduled departure time: 15:50 - Actual departure time: 16:15

Arrival: Haneda Airport - Scheduled arrival time: 17:35 - Actual arrival time: 17:47

Number of Passengers: 359 adults + 8 infants = 367 in total

Number of Crew: 3 cockpit crew members + 9 cabin crew members = 12 in total

Passenger Situation: 1 person with bruising, 13 people requested medical consultation due to physical 

discomfort

Aircraft Type and Registration: Airbus A350-900, Registration Number JA13XJ

Aircraft Condition: Total loss

The carrier released the following summary:

After departing from New Chitose Airport at 16:15 on January 2, the aircraft flew smoothly (*1), and after landing at Haneda Airport Runway C at 17:47 (*2), the aircraft collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and caught fire. All passengers and crew members on our flight successfully performed an emergency evacuation (*3). Support is being provided to each passenger in terms of their condition and assistance for their return home.

Universal Studios looks at Bedford for first European resort.

Universal Studios is assessing the feasibility of opening its first European resort in the UK, following the purchase of a former brickworks in Bedfordshire.

The theme park operator has confirmed it’s in the “very early stages of exploring the possibility of a potential park and resort experience in Bedford.”

Parent company, Comcast Corporation has purchased the 480-acre site, which previously had planning permission for 1,000 homes. Universal Destinations and Experiences has also had positive conversations with various local and national stakeholders, including Bedford Borough Council and the Mayor of Bedford Borough. However, the company has stressed plans are still in the early stages and it is likely to be many months before a decision is made.

Universal Destinations and Experiences has cited the UK’s large population, creative industries, strong tourism industry, transportation infrastructure and close proximity to Europe as making it an attractive proposition for a resort.

The Bedfordshire site is just 45 minutes from London, within easy reach of tourism magnets Oxford and Cambridge and has half of the UK’s population – including the Leisure Media/Attractions Management HQ – within two hours. As well as being close to the A1 and M1, Luton Airport is nearby.

With the Harry Potter Studios located just 40 minutes away in Watford, Bedford is an ideal destination for touring theme park enthusiasts.

SAS is getting ready for the summer season and will fly to over 130 destinations in more than 40 countries.

SAS is getting ready for a busy summer season with over 130 destinations in more than 40 countries.

The Scandinavian Airline SAS, currently under reconstruction and review has released details of its forthcoming summer schedule.

From Copenhagen there will be direct flights to Ibiza, Salzburg, Genoa, Tromsø and the Dalaman/Turquoise coast in Turkey. From Bergen SAS will start flights to London and from Oslo to Geneva, Milan and Tivat at the coast of Montenegro.

Erik Westman, Chief Revenue Officer at SAS said: “In addition to seamless connectivity to major cities and capitals, our summer traffic program offers new holiday destinations like Ibiza, Genoa, and Tivat. For those seeking familiar favorites, we've boosted capacity to destinations such as Malaga, Florence, Palma, and Alicante. Our passengers can discover a multitude of inspiring options with SAS as they plan their upcoming summer adventures. We look forward to a busy summer and to welcoming our passengers on board”,

South European favourites

SAS is adding flights to long-time favorites in Spain and Italy from all three Scandinavian capitals. From Stockholm and Copenhagen there will be up to 20 weekly flights to Malaga and from Oslo up to 17 flights to Alicante. Milan will enjoy four daily services from Copenhagen, there will be daily flights to Florence from Copenhagen and up to 25 weekly flights to Nice.

Oslo will have 14 weekly departures to Split, and it will be possible to fly with SAS from Stockholm twice a day to Milan and Paris during peak summer. Oslo and Copenhagen also have year-round operations to another Scandinavian favorite, Gran Canaria.

North Europe

From Copenhagen there will be five daily frequencies to Düsseldorf, four daily flights to Brussels and Gdansk and three daily flights to Warsaw and Vilnius. SAS will fly from Stockholm to Tallin up to six times per day and to Vilnius three times a day. Additionally, Stockholm will increase to two daily flights to Berlin, up to six daily flights to Helsinki, and increased frequencies to both Turku and Vaasa.

Domestic and Nordics

SAS has continuous focus on domestic routes and is increasing the numbers of departures between Stockholm and Visby, Kiruna, Skellefteå, and Östersund. Furthermore, there will be up to seven daily flights from Copenhagen to Bergen during peak summer, while Oslo will feature up to two daily flights to Aalborg and four weekly flights to Billund, and increased frequencies to Northern Norway.

Bournemouth Airport on track for 1million passengers

Bournemouth Airport expects to handle more than one million passengers in 2024 as Ryanair confirms its 19th destination from the airport.

And to cater for the expected passenger growth, airport owners Regional and City Airports is investing more than £5m in new facilities, equipment, staff and training.

Ryanair has confirmed it will start twice weekly flights to the beach destination of Agadir in Morrocco from 1st April next year.

The expanded network brings to 19 the number of destinations that Ryanair now offers from Bournemouth.

It follows the success of Ryanair’s 2023 season which saw it base a second aircraft at the airport for the summer, increasing the number of flights by 30% to 120 a week.

And tour operator TUI has already announced it will add a second aircraft at Bournemouth in 2024 with an extra 60,000 seats available, a 33% increase on its 2023 schedule. TUI has 14 destinations from Bournemouth with increased frequency planned on many routes next year.

The growth in destinations and frequency means the airport, which employs more than 250 people, expects to exceed one million passengers in 2024. The last time it hit that milestone was in 2008, 15 years ago.

Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “We’ve embarked on a major investment programme to cater for the anticipated growth in passenger numbers. Before the pandemic we saw 800,000 passengers. Having exceeded that this year, we are confident of seeing more than one million in 2024.

LATAM to halt newly introduced Lima-London service.

LATAM is to halt its newly introduced London service after just a month in service, the UK's TTG travel paper reported this week.  The airline only started flying to London from Lima on 1st December and will halt their service on 2nd February.  

Apparently, the airline says the halt is only temporary and it will resume flights on 30th March and passengers will be re-protected via LATAM’s daily Sao Paulo - London Heathrow route or via Madrid using partner Iberia.

 

The TTG reports the airline blames UK regulators for the suspension of the route as they require only aircraft from the carrier's Peruvian fleet.  The service is usually operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in a two-class configuration, with 30 business class and 217 economy seats.

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways mark 10 years of partnership success

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic are celebrating 10 years of joint venture partnership since the two carriers joined forces to enhance consumer benefits between the U.S. and the U.K. in 2014. The partnership has grown even stronger through the expanded joint venture with Air France-KLM launched in 2020, forming the leading joint venture across the Transatlantic. 

Since the partnership launched, the two global airline brands have grown their shared network, adding more routes and flights between the U.K. and in the U.S. and transporting nearly 40 million customers seamlessly across the Atlantic between the two countries. 

“Since we brought together our two iconic brands, the partnership has gone from strength to strength thanks to a shared focus on customer service and making flying fun," said Matteo Curcio, Delta’s S.V.P.-EMEAI. "Back in 2014, the partnership deal was a game changer for Delta enabling us to up competition on the most popular business routes between London Heathrow and the U.S., offering customers greater choice, while providing Virgin Atlantic unparalleled access to Delta’s network across North America.”  

Additionally, Delta and Virgin Atlantic customers have enjoyed an increased number of benefits while travelling between the U.K. and the U.S., including: 

Jet2 is getting ready for Liverpool John Lennon Airport launch

The UK’s largest tour operator and third-largest airline, Jet2 will start operating flights and holidays from Liverpool John Lennon Airport with a service to Tenerife.

The airline and tour operator have put 20 sunshine destinations on sale for Summer 24 from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, including six destinations that are exclusive to Jet2 from Liverpool. The company has said that such was the demand and early booking from Liverpool for this coming summer, it will offer a much bigger schedule for summer 25.  

In their first summer of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Jet2 and Jet2holidays will operate up to 54 weekly flights, including 12 weekly flights to both the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. A fleet of four based aircraft will fly customers to a wide choice of destinations across Mainland Spain, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Portugal, Madeira and Cyprus (full list of destinations below). 

This is a significant programme for the company’s first summer of operations from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, representing 565,000 seats on sale. The programme includes six exclusive summer routes to Gran Canaria, Menorca, Rhodes, Zante, Madeira, and Bourgas (Bulgaria). With multiple weekly flights to many destinations, it means that customers can enjoy fantastic flexibility when it comes to choosing the duration of their holiday. 

Passengers flying from Liverpool check-in quickly and pass through the terminal with ease compared to many larger airports, with average security queue times of just 12 minutes last Summer and more on time departures than most other UK airports. 

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ Summer 24 Programme from Liverpool John Lennon Airport: 

Jetstar Asia starts Singapore to Wuxi service

Jetstar Asia has launched a new flight between Singapore and Wuxi, with the first service taking off on 28th December making it the carrier’s second direct route to mainland China.

The flight to Wuxi’s Sunan Shuofang International Airport makes Jetstar Asia the only airline to fly from Singapore to the historically, culturally, and commercially important city in China’s southern Jiangsu province.

Operated by Jetstar’s expanding fleet of Airbus A320s, the service will commence with two weekly return flights before increasing to four weekly services from 15 January 2024 to meet growing demand, with the airline offering more than 70,000 low fare seats between the two destinations, Wuxi and Singapore, each year.

Jetstar Asia CEO, Barathan Pasupathi said “This year has seen us increase our fleet, expand our network and grow our Jetstar family, so launching a brand-new route to such an important destination is a fitting way to end the year. China is a critical market for Jetstar and our customers, so it’s great to start flying to Wuxi, our second Chinese port following the successful launch of flights to Haikou early this year.

We’ve seen strong demand for this route since we announced it in October, especially as borders are open and COVID travel restrictions have been removed.

Our low fares will ensure our customers in China and Singapore can enjoy seamless and affordable connectivity between these two cities, bridging access to the Yangtze River Delta region. This will not only enhance travel experiences for business and tourism, but also enable families and friends to reconnect.”

Japan Airlines A350 collides with DHC-8 whilst landing in Tokyo.

The crew of a Japan Airlines aircraft are being hailed as heroes after all 367 passengers and 12 crew evacuated their Airbus A350 aircraft that burst into flames following a collision with another aircraft at the point of landing at  Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, earlier today.

Dramatic pictures and videos are flooding social media following the incident that clearly shows the aircraft erupting into flames as it travels down the runway. The initial fear from those on the ground, witnessing the disaster unfold from various points all over the airport would have been the certain death of all those onboard. However, whilst the videos and images show how the aircraft seemed to lose its nose gear, the plane came to a halt and all passengers and crew managed to escape the burning craft. 

Video from inside the A350 shows the orange glow of flames lighting up the windows and the cabin start to fill with light smoke as the stricken aeroplane continues down the runway.  Passengers seemed on the whole to be calm initially and then the evacuation took place. According to officials, nobody suffered serious injury during the crash or the evacuation.

The A350-900 operated by Japan Airlines was operating flight JAL516 from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Haneda International Airport when it collided with a Coastguard DHC-8 aircraft whilst landing in Haneda.  The incident occurred shortly after 17:47 local time on 02 January 2024 and all 367 passengers and 12 crew members on board evacuated the A350,  whilst Japanese authorities have now confirmed five of the six people on board the DHC-8 did not survive.

The A350 aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number JA13XJ, was MSN 538, and delivered to Japan Airlines from the production line on 10 November 2021. It was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Japan Airlines issued the following statement:  "We regret to inform you that on the evening of January 2nd, JL516 was involved in a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft during its landing at Haneda Airport, resulting in a fire on the runway. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased members of the Japan Coast Guard. We want to assure you that all passengers and crew on our flight were safely evacuated.

We would like to extend our sincerest apologies for the distress and inconvenience caused to our passengers, their families, and all those affected by this incident. We would like to assure you that we will provide our full cooperation in the investigation of this unfortunate event."

Plane maker Airbus issued the following statement "In line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 recommendations, Airbus will provide technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of France and to the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) in charge of the investigation. For this purpose, Airbus is presently dispatching a team of specialists to assist the Authorities.

Further updates will be provided as soon as consolidated information is available and Airbus is authorised to release them.

Our concerns and sympathy go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident."

The remarkable evacuation of all passengers and crew from the A350 is amazing and is a testament to the way the A350 is constructed.  With its carbon fibre composites and different manufacturing, the plane seems to have held up very well following the collision and subsequent fire which undoubtedly gave those on board more time to escape down the evacuation chutes.  According to local news outlets, only 17 people sustained minor injuries during the evacuation. 

Whilst the exact cause is not yet known and an investigation has been started, preliminary reports indicate the pilots of the Japan Airlines flight did not spot any other aircraft on the runway prior to landing.  Tadayuki Tsutsumi, Japan Airlines senior vice president of corporate safety and security commented the plane “entered the runway as normal and began landing as normal and that there was an impact, which led to the accident, but we are still investigating further details.”

Senior Vice President of Japan Airlines Noriyuki Aoki appeared to blame the flight crew for the disaster at a press conference on Tuesday evening, saying “However, I can't say at this time if they [Japan Airlines crew] were cleared to land, or if they communicated with ATC, because that is a fundamental factor in the cause of the accident, and we are still trying to confirm that,” 

Video content from BBC News

First Airbus A220 arrived for Qantas in December

The first QantasLink Airbus A220 aircraft landed in Sydney on 20th December marking the next phase in the Group’s fleet renewal programme.  The aircraft, which features a special indigenous livery, was ferried from Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, and touched down at midday after stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi (Fiji).

It is the first of 29 A220s that will be delivered to QantasLink as part of the Group’s domestic fleet renewal program. A further 36 widebody aircraft are also on order.

The A220s have double the range of the Boeing 717s they replace, giving them the ability to fly non-stop between any two points in Australia. As the first aircraft of their type in Australia, the 137-seat aircraft are expected to open up new (direct) domestic and short-haul international routes as more enter the fleet.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A220 would unlock improvements ranging from lower emissions to less noise and better passenger comfort.  “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome this new A220 aircraft, along with the benefits it will bring to our customers and career opportunities for our people.  The size and range of the A220 means we can add new direct routes to our network that may not have been commercially viable before.

More fuel efficient aircraft is one way we’re working towards net zero and the A220 generates around 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions than the previous generation as well as being much quieter.  This arrival marks the start of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history as the Group takes delivery of one new aircraft every three weeks on average over the next few years.

On the back of this fleet investment we’re recruiting more pilots, cabin crew and engineers and expect to create around 8500 local jobs over the next decade,” 

As the first A220 to be operated in Australia, the aircraft, registered as VH-X4A, will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness and crew familiarisation and training activities before it commences flying on the Melbourne-Canberra route in the first quarter of 2024. A dedicated A220 flight simulator for pilot training is based in Melbourne.

Airbus to send specialists to Japan in wake of A350 crash

The European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has confirmed it will be sending specialists to Japan after one of its A350 jets burst into flames on the runway following a collision with another aircraft.

The A350-900 operated by Japan Airlines was operating flight JAL516 from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Haneda International Airport when it collided with a DHC-8 aircraft whilst landing in Haneda.  All 367 passengers and 12 crew members on board evacuated the A350,  whilst Japanese authorities have now confirmed five of the six people on board the DHC-8 did not survive.

The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number JA13XJ, was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines from the production line on 10 November 2021. It was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Airbus said in a statement "In line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 recommendations, Airbus will provide technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of France and to the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) in charge of the investigation. For this purpose, Airbus is presently dispatching a team of specialists to assist the Authorities."

Adding "Our concerns and sympathy go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident."

Fifth A320neo for Austrian Airlines arrives in Vienna

Austrian Airlines welcomed another aircraft from the Airbus factory in Toulouse on the New Year’s Eve weekend. It was the fifth Airbus A320neo to join the fleet and will save up to 3,700 tons of CO2 per year compared to the respective predecessor model, the first four A320neo aircraft were already integrated into the Austrian fleet between August 2022 and July 2023.

“The arrival of our fifth A320neo is a wonderful end to the year for Austrian Airlines and a gift for our passengers, who can look forward to even more travel comfort on board. In the coming years, Austrian Airlines will modernize both its short and medium-haul fleet as well as its long-haul fleet. The use of modern and fuel-efficient aircraft is, alongside the use of sustainable fuels, the greatest lever for achieving our ambitious climate targets,” says Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino.

Innovative Airspace Cabin increases comfort

The fifth aircraft, which now has a capacity of 180 seats, will further enhance travel comfort on short and medium-haul routes. Thanks to the innovative Airspace Cabin and slimmer side walls, passengers are offered even more personal space, particularly in the shoulder area. Compared to the previous design, the new cabin concept is also characterized by an up to 60 percent larger capacity for hand baggage. In addition, a new, flexible lighting system that adapts to passengers’ natural biorhythms increases their sense of well-being on board. Depending on the flight phase and time of day, the cabin and washrooms are bathed in warm red or cooler blue tones.

SWISS to serve new European destinations in Summer 2024

SWISS will be making further additions to its short-haul route network in its 2024 summer schedules. Service between Zurich and Bremen will be newly offered in summer, too. Oslo will be added to the Geneva-based network; and the existing Geneva destinations of Copenhagen and Stockholm will also be newly served in the summer timetable period.

SWISS will be offering travellers an even wider range of short-haul destinations in its 2024 summer schedules. “We are very pleased to be further expanding our portfolio of European destinations to give our customers an even broader selection of air travel options,” says SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “And in doing so, we’re underlining our commitment at SWISS to offering both top-notch services and extensive travel choices.”

Bremen, which already enjoys winter SWISS service from Zurich, will now see this continued in the summer timetable period. The North German city boasts an Old Town and historic sights such as the Roland Statue and its fabled Town Musicians, along with a lively arts and culture scene. Attractively located on the River Weser and further featuring extensive shopping and dining options, Bremen is a truly appealing travel destination.

As previously announced, Cluj-Napoca and Košice will also newly join the SWISS short-haul network in the summer 2024. Elsewhere, further frequencies will be added between Zurich and various existing European destinations including Alicante, Madrid, Naples, Venice and Vilnius.

New Oslo service from Geneva

Pegasus Airlines get new Airbus A321neo jet at new Toulouse final assembly line

Airbus has successfully delivered its first Airbus A321neo assembled at its newest A320 Family Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse.

The A321neo, which will be operated by Pegasus Airlines, the leading low-cost carrier (LCC) in Türkiye, is the first delivery from Airbus' latest state-of-the-art production facility. Located in the former A380 "Jean-Luc Lagardère" building, the assembly line reflects Airbus' commitment to modernise and meet the growing global demand for the A321neo, which now accounts for nearly 65% of Airbus' A320 Family order backlog.

The A321neo is the largest member of the Airbus A320neo Family, offering unmatched range and performance. Equipped with new-generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo delivers a 50% reduction in noise footprint and more than a 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO₂ compared to previous-generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky. More than 5,600 A321neos have been ordered by over 100 customers worldwide.

Pegasus Airlines' current Airbus fleet stands at 93 aircraft, including 6 A320ceo, 46 A320neo and 41 A321neo. The airline also has 68 A321neos on order.

The delivery of the aircraft to Pegasus Airlines marks the start of the ramp-up of the new Toulouse FAL, which together with the other A320 Family FALs in Hamburg (Germany), Mobile (USA) and Tianjin (China), will contribute to Airbus' objective of producing 75 A320 Family aircraft per month in 2026.

passenger terminal expansion construction set to begin in early 2024

Lithuanian Airports has signed a contract with INFES, which has won a public tender and will carry out the expansion of the Kaunas Airport passenger terminal. The value of the contract is EUR 17.7 million (excluding VAT). The contractor is expected to start work in the first quarter of 2024 and finish in mid-2025.

The terminal expansion will double passenger capacity at Kaunas Airport to 2 million passengers per year.

"Kaunas Airport is demonstrating very strong passenger growth rates that far exceed the design capacity of the existing terminal building, so expansion is essential. The expanded terminal will be able to handle twice as many passengers - around 2 million travellers per year in total. This will respond to current travel trends and future growth prospects. Passengers will have more space and more technological advances, which means faster procedures and more comfortable waiting for flights," says Arnas Dūmanas, Director of the Development Department of Lithuanian Airports.

According to the data of this year, passenger flows at Kaunas Airport are at a record high: it is expected that this year the airport will handle about 1.3 million passengers.

Air Samarkand Receives Air Operator Certificate (AOC)

Carrier readies services from the country's second city

Air Samarkand has moved nearer to the launch of charter flights and scheduled services after receiving its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The announcement confirms the airline's compliance with the requirements of the country's aviation legislation and with international standards and requirements for flight safety under the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. It follows a thorough audit of the airline's technical documentation, equipment and aircraft systems, preparation for flights, as well as the qualifications of flight and ground personnel by inspectors of the Uzbekistan Ministry of Transport.

Anton Khojayan, CEO of Air Samarkand, said:  "We thank the Ministry for Transport and the UzAviation Agency for their thorough assessment of our preparation for flights. Air Samarkand is now a further step nearer to the commencement of services from this incredible, historic city of Samarkand. Everything is now ready for this."

The airline has also officially received its own 'UZS' code from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as the radio call sign 'Samarkand'.

Samarkand International Airport welcomes millionth passenger as traffic doubles in a year

Air Marakanda, the management company operating Samarkand International Airport, announced in December the doubling of passenger traffic for the year, compared with 495,000 passengers in 2022, and welcomed its one-millionth passenger. 

The milestone not only represents the booming tourism appeal of Uzbekistan's second city, but also highlights the successful growth strategy being pursued by the company.

The record-breaking passenger was Tajikistan resident Mr Dilshod Rakhimov, who flew to Abu Dhabi on Wizz Air flight 5W7164.

To celebrate the event, Dmitry Martynenko, Air Marakanda's Commercial Director, presented the millionth passenger with souvenirs and a voucher for the airport's VIP lounge. Wizz Air also congratulated the passenger and presented him with a voucher covering the cost of a flight to Abu Dhabi.

Anton Khojayan, CEO of Air Marakanda, said: "Serving our first millionth passenger has capped off a landmark year for our company. We opened new destinations in cooperation with partner airlines, increased the frequency of flights of existing air carriers, and developed Samarkand's airport infrastructure - all of which led us to the cherished figure of one million. We are especially pleased today to congratulate a record-breaking passenger and end the year with a celebration. We are eager to push our growth trajectory even higher, and I am confident that next year we will achieve even better results."

BOC Aviation orders six Airbus just to lease to German airline Condor

BOC Aviation Limited has confirmed it has agreed to purchase four new Airbus A321NEO and two new Airbus A320NEO aircraft from Airbus, and then these modern jets will be leased to German holiday and leisure carrier Condor. The aircraft have a scheduled delivery date in 2027 and 2028 and will be placed on long-term lease arrangements with Condor as it seeks to embark on a massive expansion programme. 

“We are delighted to be working with Condor once again, supporting its fleet growth and renewal with these six latest technology aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, of BOC Aviation. “This transaction adds to our delivery pipeline of the world’s most advanced aircraft models, which will enable our Company to continue on its path of long-term sustainable growth.”

“The successful deal with BOC Aviation Limited is another important step to becoming the operator of one of the most modern and efficient fleets in Europe. The partnership is extremely important for us and we are grateful for the continuous support and trustful cooperation with our new partner”, said Björn Walther, Chief Financial Officer, Condor.

One of the newest members of the fleet landed at Düsseldorf Airport from Toulouse on the 18th of December and started operating scheduled flights a few days later on Friday with a flight first to Frankfurt and then on to a long-haul service. The A330neo, registration D-ANRT is dedicated to Ralf Teckentrup with a special livery that had been unveiled at an exclusive event attended by representatives from the fields of politics, aviation and industry as well as employees from Condor.  The A330neo also bears the words "thank you, tecke" - a dedication to Ralf Teckentrup in recognition of 20 years of tireless commitment.

.

BOC Aviation