Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services AS selects IFS Cloud to streamline operations and strengthen asset reliability

IFS Cloud's ERP, MRO solution to enable Kongsberg company to increase automation driving efficiency and build long-term asset resilience and reliability.

IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced that Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services AS (KAMS), a leading supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services within the aviation industry for both military and civil organizations has selected IFS Cloud to streamline operational efficiency and build long-term asset resilience.

The use of IFS Cloud will enable KAMS to improve turnaround time (TAT) and reduce costs, helping to facilitate business expansion and new customer acquisition.

The comprehensive functionality of IFS Cloud will also help KAMS optimize processes for enhanced productivity, allowing it to improve resource allocation, sourcing, planning, maintenance execution, and financial reporting. Additionally, the implementation will enable the defence supplier to automate its order-to-cash process, encompassing customer quoting, planning, maintenance execution and invoicing, and thereby removing operational silos and manual labour.

Andre Jægtvik, Acting President at KAMS, said "We look forward to partner with IFS utilizing their technology in the years to come. Our industry is rapidly changing with the introduction of new technology, and we must change with it."

United Airlines finds loose bolts during inspections of 737 MAX 9 planes....

United Airlines says it has found bolts in need of "additional tightening" during inspections of Boeing 737 MAX 9 which had been removed from service following the blowout of a doorplug on an Alaska Airlines aircraft last week. 

United Airlines said it believed these to be "installation issues" relating to door plugs and these will be "remedied" before the aircraft type can return to operational use. 

"Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug - for example, bolts that needed additional tightening." the statement said. 

The grounding of the 737 MAX 9 jets has caused United to cancel over 200 flights as of Monday and the U.S. mega-carrier expects a significant number of cancellations on Tuesday.  "We have been able to operate some planned flights by switching to other aircraft types, avoiding about 30 cancellations each on Monday and Tuesday,". 

Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 had three previous pressure warnings before blowout flight.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said today that the Boeing 737 MAX 9 that suffered a blowout had been restricted by the carrier, Alaska Airlines from doing long flights over water because of three previous warnings of potential pressurization problems

According to Homendy, the warning light illuminated on three different occasions - 7 December, 3 January and 4 January leading the airline to restrict it from operating flights to Hawaii or other long flights over water so the 737 MAX 9 “could return very quickly to an airport” if the warning light reappeared

Whilst it is unclear if the previous warnings were connected with the incident on Friday when a plug covering an unused emergency exit door blew off the plane as it flew over Oregon.  The door plug is 26 by 48 inches and weighs 63 pounds / 28.5 kilograms. The NTSB confirmed the lost door plug had been found in the garden of a teacher from Portland and would soon be examined by investigators.

Homendy also said that the depressurization and rush of air damaged a number of seats, pulled insulation from the walls, and caused the cockpit door to flew open. She said the force of air also ripped the headset off the co-pilot and the captain lost part of her headset. A quick reference checklist flew out of the open cockpit. The cockpit doors are supposed to be incredibly strong and locked at all times during a flight following the 9/11 hijackings, so shouldn't have been able to be opened by the wind. 

 Aviation services provider AAR Corp confirmed that it had worked on the aircraft for Alaska Airlines, but had not worked on that area of the aircraft.  "AAR was contracted by Alaska Airlines to perform a 2KU Modification (WiFi modification) on the aircraft that was performed from Nov. 27 to Dec. 7, 2023," AAR said in a statement on Monday. 

Airlines have now been cleared to carry out urgent checks on the 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets that are in service after Boeing issued detailed instructions on Monday, which were approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. These checks, rapidly introduced before the cause of the plug blowing out is known are said to take between 4 and 8 hours could be an indication of the pressure being brought by the manufacturer to stem the damage to the reputation of the MAX series of aircraft. 

 

Cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten.....

The cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten, U.S. authorities said, renewing attention on an industry call for longer in-flight recordings. By Valerie Insinna, David Shepardson and Lisa Barrington for Reuters. 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy said on Sunday no data was available on the cockpit voice recorder because it was not retrieved within two hours - when recording restarts, erasing previous data.

The U.S. requires cockpit voice recorders to log two hours of data versus 25 hours in Europe for planes made after 2021.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has since 2016 called for 25-hour recording on planes manufactured from 2021.

"There was a lot going on, on the flight deck and on the plane. It's a very chaotic event. The circuit breaker for the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) was not pulled. The maintenance team went out to get it, but it was right at about the two-hour mark," Homendy said.

The plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were sent to NTSB labs on Sunday to be read but no voice data was available, she said.

Air Canada reports strong operational performance over the peak holiday travel period

Air Canada today reported a strong operational performance for the year-end holiday travel period, during which nearly 2.6 million customers were transported safely. The airline achieved some of its best operational results in a decade, including completing 98 per cent of scheduled flights, with an on-time performance of 70 per cent.

"We thank our customers for entrusting their travel to Air Canada and I am proud that we delivered on our promise to transport them safely and conveniently. Over the holidays we carried about 2.6 million customers on more than 20,000 flights, with an on-time performance of 70 per cent. Our success was the result of extensive advance preparations and the hard work of our people, helped by moderate winter weather. With a clear focus on our customers and on improving the stability and resilience of our operation, we have implemented a range of initiatives to ensure we continue to improve our operational performance into 2024 and beyond," said Craig Landry, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada.

Operational Results

This holiday season, the peak travel period for Air Canada occurred between December 18, 2023, and January 6, 2024. Operational highlights include:

Approximately 2.6 million customers flew on Air Canada, about 10 per cent more customers than in the same period in 2022. This is equivalent to moving nearly the entire combined population of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, or everyone in Canada's Atlantic provinces.

On-time-performance (OTP), measured by the industry standard of arrival within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 70 per cent. This is a dramatic increase from 40 per cent in 2022, when severe winter weather disrupted travel, and well above the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019, when OTP was 54 per cent.

The average delay, when one occurred, was 37 minutes, which is a 43% reduction from 2022 and 10% better than the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019. There were 20,075 flights operated, with a completion rate of 98 per cent. This resulted in a 80% reduction in cancelled flights as compared to 2022, and an 71% reduction as compared to the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019.

The average delay, when one occurred, was 37 minutes, which is a 43 per cent reduction from 2022 and 10 per cent better than the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019. There were 20,075 flights operated, with a completion rate of 98 per cent. This resulted in a 80 per cent reduction in cancelled flights as compared to 2022, and an 71 per cent reduction as compared to the last pre-pandemic holiday period in 2019.

The volume of delayed or mishandled bags dropped by a sharp 58 per cent as compared to the prior year, translating into a baggage handling success rate of 98.6 per cent. This year, customers travelling domestically benefitted from a new tracking feature on the Air Canada Mobile App that lets them monitor the progress of their bag at key points in the journey.

For the period, excluding the peak pandemic year of 2020, Air Canada achieved its best results in a decade for flight arrivals within 15 minutes, flight completion, fewest cancelled flights and for baggage delivery.

Operational Improvements

Boeing 737 MAX - US grounds some Boeing MAX planes for safety checks following Alaska Airlines aircraft suffers blowout

U.S. regulators on Saturday temporarily grounded 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks following a cabin panel blowout that forced a new Alaska Airlines jet carrying passengers to make an emergency landing, reports Reuters. 

A piece of fuselage tore off the left side of the jet as it climbed following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, on Friday, forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all 171 passengers and six crew on board.

Several passengers suffered injuries. The plane had been in service for just eight weeks.

Late on Saturday, both Alaska Air and United Airlines (UAL.O) said they would halt use of some MAX 9 planes they had resumed using that day after inspections they believed would answer the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s concerns.

Alaska said it was in talks "to determine what, if any, further work is required before these aircraft are returned to service."

The FAA decision is well short of the global grounding of Boeing (BA.N) MAX jets almost five years ago after two crashes that killed nearly 350 people.

Still, it is a blow to Boeing as it tries to recover from back-to-back crises over safety and the pandemic under heavy debt.

The FAA did not rule out further action as a probe began into the apparent structural failure, which left a rectangular hole in an area of fuselage reserved for an optional extra door but which is deactivated on Alaska's aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9s fitted with a special door replacement "plug" cannot fly until they are inspected and repaired if necessary, the FAA said.

"The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight," FAA chief Mike Whitaker said.

Social media posts of the Alaska Airlines jet showed oxygen masks deployed and a portion of the aircraft's side wall missing.

A section of the fuselage reserved for the optional door had vanished, leaving a neat door-shaped gap. The seat next to the panel, which contained an ordinary window, had been unoccupied.

7 active holiday ideas for 2024, just one flight from Manchester

 If you’ve made a new year’s resolution, there’s a good chance that living more healthily comes into it. Research for Forbes showed that nearly two thirds of resolutions people make are connected to exercise or dietary changes, and becoming more active is the most common resolution made.

January is also one of the most popular times of year to book a holiday, with millions making plans for this summer – and if you’re looking to incorporate a health kick into your next sunny getaway, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you’re flying from Manchester. The northern hub boasts direct flights to more than 200 destinations and many of them offer holiday experiences that go far beyond the classic combination of sun, sea and sand.

Here are seven ideas to get your adrenaline pumping.

Climb a volcano in Italy

Mount Etna is something of an enigma; standing alone amidst the quiet rolling hills of Sicily, off the coast of the Italian mainland, is one of the world’s most active stratovolcanoes. It’s also one of the most visited, thanks in part to the fact it lies less than 25 miles from the popular Mediterranean resort of Catania.

Multiple tour operators lead expeditions up the volcano’s slopes, where you can circle the crater (safety permitting!) and see lava flows. Exploring volcanic caves also forms a part of many excursions, and some tours include visits to vineyards at the foot of Etna, which benefit from fertile volcanic soils. The return trip typically takes around 6 hours and requires a moderate level of fitness, but you don’t need to be an expert hiker. Once you’re finished on Etna, Sicily is a fantastic place to explore on foot, with dozens of trails and footpaths through unspoilt countryside.

Flights to Catania from Manchester are available with easyJet or Ryanair.

KLM Staying on course

Staying on course. KLM looks back to 2023, the sky unfolds a story of magical moments and complex challenges. Here's to the joy of shared experiences,  people rising to all challenges and to the memories we created together. 

Volaris scores 85%load factor in December

Volaris, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) serving Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America, reports its December 2023 preliminary traffic results.

In December 2023, Volaris' ASM capacity decreased by 3.1% year-over-year, while RPMs decreased by 2.3%; the result was a load factor increase of 0.7 pp YoY to 85.4%. Volaris transported 2.8 million passengers during the month, a 4.6% decrease compared to December 2022. Mexican domestic RPMs decreased by 11.1%, while international RPMs increased by 18.4%.

Enrique Beltranena, Volaris' President and CEO said: "Our December traffic results reinforced our confidence in the resilience of our network and the strength of our business plan for 2024. We are pleased with the demand we experienced during the holiday high season, which, along with the changes we have implemented to our network, helped us achieve high-single-digit year-over-year total unit revenue growth. Equally important, our booking curve gives us confidence that this trend will be sustained in the first quarter".

	Dec 2023		Dec 2022		Variance		YTD Dec 2023		YTD Dec 2022		Variance
RPMs (million, scheduled & charter)
Domestic	1,809		2,034		-11.1%		22,422		21,623		3.7%
International	1,020		861		18.4%		11,027		8,569		28.7%
Total	2,829		2,895		-2.3%		33,449		30,191		10.8%
ASMs (million, scheduled & charter)
Domestic	2,025		2,385		-15.1%		25,630		24,604		4.2%
International	1,286		1,034		24.4%		13,260		10,676		24.2%
Total	3,311		3,419		-3.1%		38,890		35,281		10.2%
Load Factor (%, scheduled, RPMs/ASMs)
Domestic	89.3%		85.3%		4.0 pp		87.5%		87.9%		(0.4) pp
International	79.3%		83.3%		(4.0) pp		83.2%		80.3%		2.9 pp
Total	85.4%		84.7%		0.7 pp		86.0%		85.6%		0.4 pp
Passengers (thousand, scheduled & charter)
Domestic	2,108		2,342		-10.0%		25,909		25,043		3.5%
International	706		606		16.4%		7,588		6,007		26.3%
Total	2,813		2,949		-4.6%		33,497		31,051		7.9%

The information included in this report has not been audited and does not provide information on the Company’s future performance. Volaris’ future performance depends on several factors. It cannot be inferred that any period’s performance or its comparison year over year will indicate a similar performance in the future.

Icelandair’s fleet renewal continues

Icelandair and SMBC have signed a long-term lease agreement for one Airbus A321LR aircraft scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026. This will be the fifth A321LR aircraft leased from SMBC. As previously announced, Icelandair signed a contract with Airbus for up to 25 Airbus A321XLR aircraft in July 2023 as well as a long-term lease agreement with SMBC for four new A321LR aircraft.

The Airbus A321LR and XLR aircraft will be the future replacement of Icelandair’s fleet of Boeing 757s. Deliveries of the LR aircraft will begin in 2024, and XLR deliveries will start in 2029.

Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair president and CEO:  “We are very pleased to announce the lease of one more aircraft from our long-term partner SMBC Aviation Limited. We have already started entry into service for these efficient aircraft that will replace our Boeing 757’s. They will provide exciting opportunities and possibilities to explore new destinations as well as further support our sustainability efforts.”

Increase in passenger traffic numbers for Finnair

In December, Finnair carried 878,200 passengers, which was 5.4% more than in December 2022 and 8.2% more than in November 2023. Month-on-month figures are not fully comparable as there was one day less in November.

December 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 December 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 December by 7.8% year-on-year and by 8.5% month-on-month. Finnair's traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs), increased by 5.1% year-on-year and by 8.4% month-on-month. The Passenger Load Factor (PLF) declined by 1.8% points year-on-year and by 0.1% points month-on-month to 70.9%.

The ASK increase in Asian traffic was 14.9% year-on-year explained e.g. by the additional capacity to Japan and South Korea. The North Atlantic capacity decreased by 9.1%. In European traffic, the ASKs were up by 8.3%. The Middle Eastern capacity grew by 4.8% as the flights between Helsinki and Doha related to the Qatar Airways cooperation commenced in mid-December 2022. The ASKs in domestic traffic increased by 1.0%.

East Midlands Airport has announced a £120 million investment programme

East Midlands Airport has announced an investment programme of more than £120m to improve all aspects of the passenger experience over the next five years.

Following an intensive period of planning and design, work is getting underway on the transformation to refresh the airport infrastructure, maintain safety and regulatory standards and help it operate more efficiently - making travel through the airport even more effortless than it already is for its more than 4m annual passengers.

Areas which will see improvements include:

·       Expanding the security hall to facilitate installing next-generation scanning equipment

·       Improvements to toilet facilities, customer seating and a programme of roof renewals

·       Improvements to heating and cooling in the terminal

·       Proposals to improve Rapid Drop-Off arrangements

·       Upgrades to air traffic control systems

·       Reconstruction of taxiways.

Works have started on the extension of the security hall, following planning approval from North West Leicestershire District Council. Internal improvements will include enhancements to the entrance portal to improve access into the main security area, as well as enhancements to the facility to improve its look and feel.

This will mean that next-generation body and baggage scanning technology can be installed to allow passengers to pass through security checks without the need to separate electronic devices from baggage. This will improve EMA’s already excellent timings for clearing security which is typically under 15 minutes. This security changes are part of new Government rules, which will also see the removal of the 100ml liquid restrictions.

Also underway are improvements to the main customer toilets in the Departure Lounge, next to the Castle Rock bar. This will involve replacing and upgrading the facilities to a modern standard with new fixtures and fittings. It will complement an extensive refurbishment of the bar area that Castle Rock is carrying out. Further upgrades to customer toilets will follow. It’s hoped that later phases of the investment programme will see the new look and feel in the security hall carried through into the Departure Lounge, where new and additional customer seating will be installed.

As part of the investment programme, EMA is also exploring a range of options for improving the Rapid Drop-Off area which will help to improve the flow of vehicles through the site, which could include installing cashless and barrierless operating systems.

In addition, work has begun to upgrade the terminal roof which due to the age of the building is in need of remedial work. The first phase will focus on the roof above the Departure Lounge area which during heavy rainfall can suffer from leaks.

Reconstruction and resurfacing of the taxiways will also be carried out. The size and number of aircraft using EMA has increased and this drives the need to invest in renewing and reconstructing some of the most heavily trafficked areas to better accommodate modern aircraft. This work will be carried out through carefully managed programmes of closures including overnight and at weekends and in consultation with airlines so disruption is minimised.

Global Airlines grows its Advisory Board with appointment of Margaret Dabbs OBE

Margaret Dabbs OBE, founder of the eponymous London-based, luxury wellness brand, Margaret Dabbs London, has been appointed to the Global Airlines Advisory Board.

As a leading British businesswoman, who was appointed OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours, Dabbs has grown her brand and product range globally and will now bring her extensive commercial and consumer experience to Global.

Working closely with CEO James Asquith and CCO Richard Stephenson, Dabbs will play a central role in the development of Global's partnerships, passenger experience and commercial strategy.

Since 2008, Dabbs' products and treatments have featured in some of London's most iconic department stores including Harrods and Liberty, and currently has nine clinics in the UK, a further four across Europe, the Middle East and soon to launch in the US.  

Dabbs will also bring her knowledge and sought-after luxury product range to the airline enhancing the onboard passenger experience across all cabins.

Margaret Dabbs OBE said this of her appointment, "The story of my company proves that if you see a gap in the market and produce exceptional products and services then it is possible to disrupt the market. I see a lot of parallels between Global Airlines and my company, and I am thrilled to be joining, as I can see scope to offer passengers a better experience when they fly.   

"I believe Global Airlines has an opportunity to not only showcase a range of luxury brands, from established to breakthrough, but also innovate in terms of how an experience can continue beyond the flight. I look forward to working with the team on the future strategy, to enhance the experience of airline travel and play a part in the future success of Global Airlines."

James Asquith, Global Airlines CEO, said, "2024 will be a huge year for our airline and it's fantastic that Margaret's appointment to the Advisory Board is our first major announcement of the year; it's further evidence of the laser focus this airline will have on offering the best way to fly which will be greatly enhanced by Margaret's experience.

"Margaret's business acumen is well known and rightly lauded, she will be an asset in a whole host of ways as a member of our Advisory Board and a key adviser to the senior leadership team. We will always strive for the highest standards across all aspects of our operations from safety to passenger experience, and our growing team of experts puts us in good stead to achieve our ambitious plans."

Global Airlines

Norwegian pilots happily taking more than 1.3 million people for a ride in December 2023.

In December, Norwegian had more than 1.3 million passengers and recorded a strong load factor of 83.6%, 6 percentage points higher than December 2022. Throughout 2023, Norwegian carried over 20 million passengers, a 16 percent increase from the previous year.

“With 1.3 million passengers in December, a total of more than 20 million passengers chose to travel with us in 2023. Our load factor has increased significantly from December 2022, and I am happy to see these solid results. It is also encouraging to see that the positive booking trend we saw through 2023 seems to continue into 2024. Our customers are now planning and booking their next travel adventure with many taking advantage of our New Year’s sale that was launched recently,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

Norwegian had 1,308,441 passengers in December, close to the same number as in December 2022. The capacity (ASK) was 2,013 million seat kilometres, down five percent from the same period last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 1,684 million seat kilometres. In December, Norwegian operated an average of 65 aircraft with a regularity, meaning the share of scheduled flights taking place, of 99.5 percent. Punctuality was affected by the winter storm Pia and the share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time was 70.4 percent. However, 93 per cent of all departed flights arrived on schedule or within one hour of scheduled arrival time.

For 2023 as a whole, Norwegian had 20.6 million passengers, an increase of 16 percent from the previous year, the capacity was up by a total of 18 percent, while the load factor increased by 2 percentage points to 84.7percent.

JetBlue starts Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport - Tallahassee International Airport service

JetBlue has started a new direct service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Tallahassee International Airport, using its Airbus A320 aircraft.  

This new route further enhances the carrier's expanding reach from Fort Lauderdale. JetBlue currently offers service in its focus cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as in Miami, West Palm Beach, Key West, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Sarasota/Bradenton and Tampa. Within the state, JetBlue currently offers flights from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville. With Tallahassee, JetBlue will now serve over 40 destinations from Fort Lauderdale.

“We are thrilled to introduce much-needed competition and relief to a route that has suffered from high fares for decades,” said Robert Land, head of government affairs, associate general counsel, JetBlue. “This new route further demonstrates our commitment to the Sunshine State and to providing low fares, great service and connectivity to customers in Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and beyond.”

United States Representative, Debbie Wasserman Schultz welcomed the launch:  "I am very pleased to see additional commercial options for Floridians to travel between South Florida and our state capital. I hope this is only the beginning of connecting all parts of our state to Florida’s critical seat of government and the rest of the region through the heart of South Florida here at FLL.”

 Mark Gale, FLL CEO/Director of Aviation said:  "We celebrate JetBlue's launch of nonstop jet service from Fort Lauderdale to Tallahassee as frequent fliers on this route have long desired more flight options for travel between these two Florida destinations. This is a great way to start 2024, and we look forward to continued collaboration with JetBlue as it eyes additional growth at FLL for the future."

Connecting South Florida to the State Capital

Convenient travel to Tallahassee is essential, given its critical role as the Florida state capital and as home to major universities; however, its distance from South Florida puts it just too far to easily drive. JetBlue’s daily service offers those travelling back and forth for business or education an affordable and comfortable option, while also creating opportunities for both leisure and business customers travelling from Tallahassee to connect in Fort Lauderdale to other JetBlue destinations.

“I am beyond elated that Broward residents have another option to travel to our State Capital without having to start in another county or travel to another state before getting there,” stated Florida State Representative, Chip LaMarca. “Those of us who represent the people of Broward can now get to Tallahassee on JetBlue at a reasonable cost, without contemplating a seven-hour drive.”

Tallahassee International Airport, owned and operated by the City of Tallahassee, is committed to delivering an exceptional way to fly with a fast, friendly and convenient travel experience. Focused investments by the City have grown Tallahassee International Airport into one of the largest economic drivers in the North Florida region. With the addition of new air service and major infrastructure projects underway, including the International Processing Facility, TLH is on track to serve one million passengers in 2024.

“I’m thrilled to celebrate the beginning of JetBlue’s direct, daily service between Florida’s capital city and Fort Lauderdale. We look forward to extending a warm welcome to passengers who enjoy this new air service option at Tallahassee International Airport,” said City of Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey. “Intra-state travel is a driver for our economy and our airport’s partnership with JetBlue provides a convenient connection to and from South Florida that will benefit residents and visitors alike.”

easyJet reopens its ‘Runway’ initiative to fast track university graduates into critical aviation roles....

With forecasts projecting the industry will need another 1.3 million new aviation professionals in the next 10 years on top of existing recruitment opportunities, easyJet has relaunched its flagship graduate programme after a three-year hiatus. 

The programme, which aims to attract a diverse group of individuals with a tenacious ambition of becoming future leaders in engineering, finance and management, has taken 16 students for 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and is now calling for more applicants for 2024. 

easyJet’s “Project Runway” strives to accelerate their career prospects in leadership roles as well as highlight the diversity of roles at the organisation beyond frontline airline operations including pilots, cabin crew and ground handling. 

Graduates entering the Engineering programme were required to have an engineering degree. However, the Finance and Management programmes will be filled by grads with a diverse range of degrees including Modern Languages, Art History and Visual Culture with History and Modern History and Politics from the University of Exeter, Birmingham and Manchester respectively, just to name a few.

Following an extensive four-week induction the cohort will spend two years rotating through a series of placements for different career ‘runways’ including management and engineering. On the other hand, those taking up the finance runway will spend a total of three years rotating different roles within that career path. 

Norse, Atlantic Airways extends direct flights from Oslo to Bangkok in Summer 2024

Norse Atlantic Airways, has confirmed the continuation of its highly successful direct flights from Oslo to Bangkok in the upcoming summer 2024 season. Following a highly anticipated launch in the winter of 2023, this route has quickly become a traveller favourite, connecting two vibrant cities and catering to the increasing demand for affordable direct flights to Thailand.

Due to demand Norse Atlantic Airways will continue to operate the popular Oslo to Bangkok route during the peak summer 2024 season.

Oslo – Bangkok will be served up to twice a week between 29th May 2024 and 7th September 2024.

“We are delighted to extend our direct flights between Oslo and Bangkok into the summer season. The positive response from our passengers affirms the demand for convenient and direct travel options between these two important destinations,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways.

Korean Air CEO: “2024 will be a year of change and innovation, a time to return to the fundamentals”

In a New Year’s message to the Korean Air team, Korean Air’s Chairman and CEO, Walter Cho, shared that he expected 2024 to be a big milestone for the aviation industry with various changes and innovations shaping the year. Cho emphasized safety and service, and asked his colleagues for their full support to successfully complete the acquisition of Asiana Airlines in 2024.

“In contrast to the difficult times we've faced, our valued passengers have rekindled their travel plans and airports buzz with activity. While we celebrate our victory over a significant crisis, a rocky road remains ahead,” shared Walter Cho in his New Year’s message that was posted on the company’s employee site on January 2.

In his message, Cho anticipated geopolitical risks, global supply chain disruptions, economic slowdowns and prolonged inflation to persist through 2024. He also expected intensified industry competition in regaining market share, and a slowdown of the lucrative cargo business.

In light of these uncertainties, Cho urged his colleagues to return to the fundamentals. “Innovation without a solid foundation is akin to a castle built on sand,” said Cho. “We must consistently cultivate and refine our strengths.”

CDB Aviation leases two Airbus A330s to Thai Airways

CDB Aviation, announced this week the signing of a lease agreement for two used widebody aircraft, Airbus A330-300s, with Thai Airways, the national airline of Thailand.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Thai Airways to our growing Asian Pacific customer base,” stated Jie Chen, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer. “The increased widebody fleet will strengthen the carrier’s position across its key intra-Asian markets, providing the extra capacity needed to meet the high season and rising travel demand in many regions.”

The aircraft will be delivered to the carrier in September and October 2024.

“We’re continuing to see the heightened demand from airlines amidst a tight supply of new and used aircraft, driven primarily by the need to meet growing passenger volumes. Our commercial team remains focused on comprehending and fulfilling the diverse needs of our customers, assisting them in addressing both immediate and longer-term fleet challenges that necessitate resolution,” concluded Chen.