New year, new goals: How to get the new AAdvantage year off to a rewarding start

The new AAdvantage status qualification year is underway. With many ways to earn Loyalty Points, the journey to status and rewards is simple.

Loyalty Points are earned toward status and can also unlock Loyalty Point Rewards starting at 15,000 Loyalty Points. The Loyalty Points balance resets to zero every March 1. This doesn’t impact AAdvantage® miles balances, which can still be used on future travel and experiences.

Each year, the Loyalty Points balance resets to zero March 1. Let the games begin: Members have 12 months to earn toward status and Loyalty Point Rewards.

Travel is better as an AAdvantage® member, and it’s even better with status. Reaching AAdvantage® status and Loyalty Point Rewards can level up travel with Priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, free checked bags and more.

This guide explores five easy ways to turn everyday spending into Loyalty Points and miles in addition to traveling on American and eligible partner airlines.

The AAdvantage program is the ultimate rewarding travel companion. If you aren’t already a member, sign up for free on aa.com.

NTSB investigating 'stuck' rudder pedals on United Airlines 737 MAX jet

Investigators at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board  -  NTSB are looking into another incident involving the troubled 737 MAX aircraft, following an incident when the rudder pedals stopped working on a United Airlines plane last month.

The aircraft was performing flight UA1539, from Nassau, Bahamas, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on 6th February 2024 when the incident occurred.  According to the preliminary report,  before the aircraft had reduced to taxing speed,  the rudder pedals for both the captain and the first officer stopped working. "The captain used the nose wheel steering tiller to keep the airplane near the runway centerline while slowing to a safe taxi speed before exiting the runway onto a high-speed turn-off," the report documented.  

The flight data recorder showed that the rudder surface position remained near its neutral position as the plane landed and during its rollout, despite the crew putting force on the rudder pedals, which was increasing.  The report said "Significant pedal force input was observed along with corresponding rudder surface movement. Afterward, the rudder pedals and rudder surface began moving as commanded and continued to function normally for the remainder of the taxi."  

737 MAX plane maker Boeing issued a statement this week,  "We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue observed during two 737-MAX 8 flights in early February. With coordination with United, the issue was successfully resolved with the replacement of three parts and the airplane returned to service last month."

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Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

easyJet to offer more flights from London Southend.

London Southend has announced that easyJet has put thousands of additional seats on sale to Paris and Palma de Mallorca this summer.

The airline will operate an extra Sunday service to Paris Charles de Gaulle between July and August; and an extra Thursday flight each week to Palma de Mallorca during peak season, June to October.

John Upton, CEO of the award-winning airport, said: “This increase not only enhances connectivity but also provides travellers with more convenient options to explore these two vibrant destinations. London Southend is committed to continually developing and evolving the travel experience for our passengers, and this expansion is a testament to that dedication."

The airport has a dedicated on-site rail station around 100 steps from the terminal, with trains taking less than an hour from central London. The airport is around 44 minutes from Stratford, with connections to the Elizabeth Line.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, added: "We are delighted to be increasing our flying across our routes from London Southend to Paris and Majorca this summer, providing customers more convenient, direct connections.

“Paris is proving popular with those looking for a city break or travelling for business, and the increase in frequency of our flights to Majorca from the airport provides additional options for customers’ summer holidays with more choice and great value fares.”

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Jet2 and Jet2CityBreaks announce Gdansk as brand-new Christmas Market destination for Winter 24/25

Following a significant expansion to their Winter 24/25 Christmas Markets programme just a few weeks ago, Jet2 and Jet2CityBreaks are announcing further good news for next winter, with the launch of a brand-new Christmas Market destination – Gdansk.  

The leading leisure airline and UK’s largest operator of European city breaks are continuing to respond to exceptional demand from customers looking to explore some of the most magical destinations in Europe throughout the festive season, and have now launched festive flights and city breaks to Gdansk in Poland for the first time in response. 

Jet2 and Jet2CityBreaks will operate scheduled services and dedicated trips to Gdansk from Birmingham and Manchester Airports from 29th November to 23rd December 2024. Two weekly services (Monday and Friday) will operate from the airports during this time, giving customers and independent travel agents plenty of choice and flexibility when it comes to enjoying an authentic festive experience over the Christmas season to the Polish city.  

The Gdansk Christmas Market is considered one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe, and from November the Targ Węglowy area transforms into a winter wonderland with fairy tale illuminations, fairground attractions, a food zone, handmade gifts and local delicacies, and live artistic events. With a short flight time of just over two hours, the compact city, which was voted the 2nd best Christmas Market destination in Europe*, offers a picturesque and historic festive experience. As well as boasting a beautiful Christmas Market, Gdansk offers many other attractions, including the Museum of the Second World War, Gdansk Old Town, and the Dlugi Targ (Long Market), and the city’s waterfront location and extensive history means there is plenty to see and do.  

As a result of this most recent expansion, Jet2 and Jet2CityBreaks will operate to eight Christmas Market destinations for Winter 24/25 – Gdansk, Berlin, Budapest, Cologne, Copenhagen, Krakow, Prague and Vienna from across eleven of their UK airports (Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon, Manchester, Newcastle International and London Stansted). The airline and tour operator’s Christmas Markets programme for next winter is their biggest to date, with more choices and destinations on sale than ever before. 

Bobby Schroeter becomes Senior Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer of Frontier Airlines

U.S. budget carrier Frontier Airlines confirmed the appointment of Bobby Schroeter to the position of Senior Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer with effect of 25th March.  

In his new role, Schroeter will oversee the airline’s commercial division which includes pricing and revenue management, network planning, and marketing. He will report to Frontier President James Dempsey.

Prior to joining Frontier, Schroeter spent nearly two decades at Spirit Airlines where he held several leadership positions, most recently serving as their Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. His earlier career also includes roles in revenue management, marketing, and e-commerce roles with various companies, including America West and US Airways.

“We are excited for Bobby to bring his exceptional talents to our team as we continue to focus on growing our revenues through product innovation, network expansion and deeper, more meaningful relationships with our customers,” said Frontier CEO Barry Biffle.  

Schroeter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Virginia.

NUAIR gets ready for Northeast for cross-border UAS operations

Following a string of critical approvals and operational readiness missions, NUAIR® is prepping the Northeastern United States for cross-border uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations. These operations will prove out safe integration of UAS into the national airspace with the opportunity for cross-border international collaboration and regulatory harmonization.

In 2023, NUAIR received a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) from Canada authorizing our team to perform UAS operations with U.S. pilots and U.S. aircraft in Ontario, Canada. And, throughout the course of the past year, NUAIR has been performing preliminary operations testing wireless coverage, flight opportunities, and more to ensure safe and efficient future travel from the United States into Canada and back. The team has also been working as international diplomats collaborating with multiple federal agencies on both sides of the border – the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and others from the United States as well as NAV Canada, Transports Canada and similar on the Canadian side.

Icelandair transported 234,243 passengers during February

In February 2024, Icelandair transported 234,243 passengers, a 17% increase compared to February 2023. During the month, 41% of passengers were travelling to Iceland, 20% from Iceland, 30% were via passengers and 9% were travelling within Iceland. Load factor was 76.6%. On-time performance was 84.6%, increasing significantly between years, by 12.6 ppt.  

Sold block hours in charter flights increased by 26%. Freight measured in Freight Ton Kilometers was similar to February last year.  

Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair's president and CEO said:   “Our traffic numbers were strong in February, with significant increase in the number of passengers both in our international and domestic operations. It is also great to have reached a higher load factor than in February last year on a 23% increase in capacity. During the month, we used the flexibility of our route network to meet increased demand on the via and from markets, driving strong sales in these markets and compensating for the slight decrease in demand in the market to Iceland compared to last year. At the same time, we achieved our best on-time-performance in February for years. This success is thanks to the excellent performance of our employees, who managed to maintain smooth flight operations, even despite the latest volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes area that impacted the infrastructure at the airport for few days.”  

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Joby Acquires Facility in Ohio, Begins Hiring to Support Initial Manufacturing Operations

Joby Aviation, a leading company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, confirmed this week that it has acquired an existing facility at Dayton International Airport and begun hiring in support of the Company’s initial manufacturing operations in Dayton, Ohio.

The facility acquired by Joby will be fitted out to support initial manufacturing operations in Dayton, which are expected to begin later this year. The facility will be used for the manufacturing of aircraft parts in support of Joby’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California.

Joby’s acquisition of the on-airport facility is the first step in the Company’s plan to develop facilities capable of building up to 500 aircraft per year in Dayton, which is expected to include the design and construction of a larger greenfield factory.

“We’re pleased to be able to acquire an underutilized facility at Dayton International Airport and repurpose it as a modern, high-tech manufacturing center to serve as our initial manufacturing footprint in the region. Later this year, we expect to begin subtractive manufacturing of titanium and aluminum aircraft parts as we continue to grow our workforce in Dayton,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

Wisk and ReD define accessibility recommendations for the advanced air mobility industry....

Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, and ReD Associates, a humanities and social science-based strategy consultancy, have released a whitepaper that explores the AAM industry’s potential for providing safe, fast, and affordable mobility solutions for people with disabilities.

Despite mobility's rapid evolution, many forms of transit still face challenges in providing consistent, efficient, affordable, and accessible services, and people with disabilities continue to encounter barriers to mobility. The rise of Advanced Air Mobility and the development of air taxis for passenger use presents an opportunity to address these barriers and improve the quality of mobility experiences.

The whitepaper, eVTOL Air Taxis: New Opportunities for Equitable Transport, synthesizes the most significant challenges for AAM around creating a valuable and equitable travel experience for everyone, and provides a call to action to mobility providers to place accessibility at the centre of the industry.

The paper also summarizes the research conducted by Wisk and ReD, as well as the key findings. The findings underscore the need for AAM to redefine accessibility and emphasize five distinct levels of accessibility:

Access: Ensuring physical and informational access for people with disabilities in mobility spaces and services

Physical Safety: Addressing concerns related to physical injury, exposure to illness, and discomfort during travel

Emotional Safety: Mitigating the stress and vulnerability experienced during travel, including invasive security checks and interactions with fellow passengers

Equal Expenditure & Efficiency: Streamlining processes and reducing waiting times, energy expenditure, and the need for extensive support

Joy & Inclusion: Promoting the emotional and social aspects of travel, avoiding feelings of isolation and marginalization

Millions of UK holidaymakers have chosen a destination based on a book they’ve read,

Millions of holidaymakers have chosen a destination based on a book they’ve read, with ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ by Frances Mayes the top inspiration. 

A study of 2,000 adults by Jet2holidays, undertaken to celebrate World Book Day - today, 7th March, found one in four have booked a holiday in order to visit a location referenced in a novel. 

Venice (‘The Thief Lord’ by Cornelia Funke), Barcelona (‘The Shadow of the Wind’ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon), Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (Kefalonia) and Paris (‘Les Misérables’ by Victor Hugo) are among the most popular. 

Others long to visit Rome thanks to ‘Angels and Demons’ by Dan Brown and Corfu which features in ‘The Corfu Trilogy’ by Gerald Durrell. 

The research also unveiled that 35 per cent have been influenced by TV shows, with Iceland, Spain, and Italy among the top countries to visit after seeing it on screen. 

A spokesperson for Jet2holidays, said: “A lot of holiday inspiration naturally comes from watching films or TV shows. But we were surprised to see how many have had the urge to travel somewhere based on a book they have read – which has no visual representation of the country or city it is set in. 

“Sometimes it’s difficult deciding on where to go for your next trip, so it’s nice knowing that books aren’t just good for unwinding and enjoying some much-needed downtime, but also for holiday help too.” 

flyExclusive announces $25 Million equity investment

flyExclusive, a provider of premium private jet charter experiences, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with an investment vehicle managed by EnTrust Global pursuant to which the Investor purchased 25,000 shares of Series A Non-Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $1,000 per share. The Company received approximately $25 million in cash proceeds in connection with the transaction, which closed on March 4, 2024.

“We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with EnTrust Global, a partner that recognizes the significant opportunity flyExclusive has to become the nation’s first vertically integrated private aviation company,” said Jim Segrave, Founder and CEO of flyExclusive. “Expanding our fleet will allow us to further build out our fractional program and bring greater reliability and convenience to our customers.”

Maun becomes Ethiopian's second Botswana destination

Ethiopian Airlines Group, one of the fastest-growing global airline brands and Africa’s largest airline, has confirmed it will launch a service between  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Maun, Botswana from  10th June 2024. 

Maun will be Ethiopian's second destination in Botswana after Gaborone, which has been served since 2016, the airline will fly the route three times a week. 

The new route will provide convenient and seamless connectivity for travellers from  Ethiopia and other parts of Africa to the popular tourist destination of Maun, which is the gateway to the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest inland deltas.  

Regarding the commencement of the new flight services, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said, “We are delighted to include Maun, the tourism capital of Botswana, to our ever-expanding African network. The addition of Maun into our African connectivity enables travellers from Maun to enjoy facilitated connectivity to Ethiopian vast global network that exceeds  135 destinations. Maun is a strategic addition to our network as it will enable us to offer our customers a unique opportunity to explore the natural beauty and rich biodiversity of Botswana.  Our new service does not only strengthen the tourism, trade and the overall socio-economic ties between Botswana and Ethiopian global destinations, it also enables us to strengthen our  contribution in realizing the development of air transport in the African continent.”

Ethiopian champions the largest network operating to more than 60 destinations in the continent. Ethiopian Airlines managed to establish a convenient intra-Africa and global connections via its main hub in Addis Ababa, playing its part in the growth of the aviation industry in Africa.  

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Air passenger demand up 16.6% in January

 

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2024 global passenger demand indicating a strong start for the year. 

•    Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 16.6%; total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 14.1%; and the load factor was 79.9% (+1.7pt)

•    International demand rose 20.8%; capacity was up 20.9% and the load factor remained at 79.7% (+0.0pt)

•    Domestic demand rose 10.4%; capacity was up 4.6% and the load factor was 80.2% (+4.2pt)

“2024 is off to a strong start despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. As governments look to build prosperity in their economies in the busiest election-year ever, it is critical that they see aviation as a catalyst for growth. Increased taxes and onerous regulation are a counterweight to prosperity. We will be looking to governments for policies that help aviation to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make progress towards net zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Air passenger market in detail - January 2024

January 2024 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Total Market 100% 16.6% 14.1% 1.7% 79.9% Africa 2.1% 18.1% 19.9% -1.1% 73.1% Asia Pacific 31.7% 31.8% 26.6% 3.2% 80.8% Europe 27.1% 10.0% 9.6% 0.3% 78.2% Latin America 5.5% 9.9% 5.5% 3.4% 85.0% Middle East 9.4% 16.2% 15.3% 0.6% 79.9% North America 24.2% 6.0% 4.1% 1.5% 79.9%

1% of industry RPKs in 2023

Hanwha Phasor targets US expansion with new senior hires

Hanwha Phasor, a UK-based satellite communications company, has announced two new key hires as part of the business’ expansion into the US market. Richard LePage joins the organization as a Business Development Director, United States Government (USG), and Scott McCobb joins as Hanwha Phasor’s Commercial Director, Aviation – both positions will include a seat on Hanwha Phasor’s leadership team. 

The new leadership roles will see LePage tasked with executing marketing strategies, plans, and programs aimed at key US Government prospects, whilst McCobb will execute marketing strategies, plans and programs aimed at key aviation organizations. Alongside this, both LePage and McCobb will support the R&D team with product roadmaps by providing market trends and analyzing competitors for business development. Both new members of staff will report directly to the Vice President of Business Development to ensure a seamless international strategy for Hanwha Phasor’s wide portfolio of satellite communications solutions, as Hanwha Phasor enters into the US market. 

LePage had a decorated 21-year career in the US Armed Forces, spending 16 years focusing on satellite communications and R&D for US Special Operations with his career culminating as part of the Joint Special Operations Command. Following this, he joined the industry with numerous senior business development roles in companies including Ultra Intelligence and Communications, and Envistacom. 

Riyadh Air and IBM move forward in their collaboration to redefine travel experiences

IBM announced this week, the next steps in their collaboration with Riyadh Air, the digital-native airline currently scheduled to commence operations in early 2025, to revolutionize the airline's travel experiences. The airline plans to introduce next-generation, channel-fluid guest and traveller interactions, tapping into IBM Consulting's open ecosystem of business partners and deep industry expertise spanning strategy, experience design, technology and operations.

IBM hosted a signing ceremony, announcing the collaboration at the 3rd edition of LEAP 2024, the international technology conference held annually in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; in the presence of Tony Douglas (Chief Executive Officer, Riyadh Air) and Arvind Krishna (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IBM) and executive management from both entities.

"We're on a mission to shape the future of air travel at Riyadh Air," said Tony Douglas, CEO at Riyadh Air. "By teaming up with IBM, we're pushing the boundaries of innovation to create a transformed passenger experience that is more seamless, personalized and sustainable. From AI-powered check-in systems to immersive in-flight entertainment, we're leveraging the latest technologies to make air travel more enjoyable and accessible for everyone."

Committed to delivering unique, intelligent and hyper-personalized guest journeys, Riyadh Air will harness IBM Consulting's expertise across generative AI, experience orchestration, marketing and customer engagement platforms, mobile, web and in-flight applications. All of these capabilities will be accelerated through the proven, collaborative engagement model of IBM Garage, to help craft guest experiences that are culturally enriching across the travel journey, on the ground or in the air.

Veryon and Rolls-Royce Deutschland enter long-term engine diagnostics platform agreement

Veryon, a leading provider of information services and software solutions for the aviation industry, recently signed a long-term agreement with Rolls-Royce Deutschland, the world's leading engine supplier in Business Aviation, for the Veryon Guided Troubleshooting product. Trusted by manufacturers, airlines and military worldwide, Veryon Guided Troubleshooting allows users to monitor, maintain and collaborate on all unscheduled maintenance. The cloud-based interactive and collaborative aircraft troubleshooting tool uses a smart diagnostic reasoning engine that continually optimizes the aviation troubleshooting process. By incorporating mechanic field experience into Veryon's troubleshooting engine, the solution dramatically improves first-time fix rates, reduces the time spent on unscheduled maintenance and facilitates aircraft to return to service more quickly.

Veryon's comprehensive fault isolation solution is used by the technical help desks and field support of Dassault, Gulfstream and Rolls-Royce, as well as service centres, aircraft operators and flight departments.

"We're honoured that Rolls-Royce has entrusted us with such an important part of how they support their global customers," said Norman Happ, chief executive officer of Veryon. "Our technology platform is ideal for customers like Rolls-Royce to accelerate return-to-service through our AI-powered continuous learning troubleshooting process. The platform is proven to support partners in reducing troubleshooting time by 50 percent and achieving a remarkable 90 percent success rate in first-time fixes."

The Norwegian Group had 1.5 million passengers in February

In February, Norwegian had 1,281,212 passengers, while Widerøe had 257,826 passengers, totalling 1,539,038 passengers for the group. Norwegian increased its load factor to 86 percent in February, up 2 percentage points compared to the same period last year and close to the highest-ever load factor Norwegian has recorded for the month of February.

“We are delighted to once again publish strong traffic figures, demonstrating the continued trust and value our customers place on the Norwegian product and our colleagues. A load factor of 86 percent is close to the highest ever recorded for the month of February. Booking trends continue to be solid across all markets and many flights are selling out for the Easter holiday period. We are grateful for the increasing number of passengers that choose to fly Norwegian, and look forward to welcoming them on board," said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

Norwegian had 1,281,212 passengers in February. The capacity (ASK) was 1,951 million seat kilometres, up 7 percent from the same period last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 1,676 million seat kilometres. In February, Norwegian operated an average of 68 aircraft with a regularity, meaning the share of scheduled flights taking place, of 99.4 percent. Punctuality, which is the share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 81 percent.

Norwegian and Widerøe cooperation bearing fruits

Icelandair selects Viasat for inflight connectivity on new Airbus fleet

The Icelandic carrier Icelandair has chosen Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, to provide inflight Wi-Fi systems for the airline's new fleet of Airbus A321XLR and A321LR aircraft. 

Icelandair is expecting to put the new jets on services between Iceland and major cities in Europe, as well as on transatlantic flights, to various destinations in the U.S. The Airbus aircraft are scheduled to start being delivered to the carrier in the last quarter of this year.

Viasat's satellite connectivity service will be configured to provide a high-quality, fast online experience on all routes Icelandair serves, including streaming entertainment, and real-time productivity tools, keeping passengers and crew connected throughout the flight.

While providing fast in-flight connectivity across popular flight corridors and busy airport hubs, Icelandair will benefit from Viasat's focus on serving the aviation market – which it does through a combination of high throughput satellite capacity and the ability to flex that capacity, to meet demand where it peaks and is most concentrated. Thanks to this, together Viasat and Icelandair can provide a consistently high quality, high-speed, and content-rich in-flight Wi-Fi experience, even during times of intense demand.

"For several years now, we have enjoyed a great partnership with Icelandair while servicing its complete Boeing 737 MAX fleet," said Don Buchman, VP and GM, Commercial Aviation at Viasat. "We understand the patterns of Icelandair's operation and passenger demand for in-flight Wi-Fi, and we are excited to extend this experience and trust to include fast and resilient connectivity on the new Airbus aircraft."

"By expanding our high-speed streaming Wi-Fi offering to the new aircraft, we are doubling down on the state-of-the-art connectivity that has become a highly sought-after element of the Icelandair passenger experience," said Helga Huld Bjarnadóttir, Director of Product and Service Management, Icelandair. "Viasat has proven to be an innovative and trusted partner for how we approach the future of Wi-Fi at Icelandair, and we look forward to continuing this into the future."

Earlier this month, Icelandair confirmed it had selected Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power the 35 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, comprising a mix of leased and purchased A321XLR and A321LR aircraft.  The carrier also selected an EngineWise agreement for the long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul of its GTF engines. Pratt & Whitney will provide support to facilitate smooth entry into service and efficient long-term operation of the engines.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

1200 MHz radar bandwidth in-orbit technology demonstrator enhances ICEYE’s expansive SAR satellite constellation

                  ICEYE, the global leader in persistent monitoring and natural catastrophe solutions, successfully launched three additional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites on March 4, 2024, including a 1200 MHz radar bandwidth in-orbit technology demonstrator that will enable 25 cm imaging. The satellites were integrated via launch integrator Exolaunch and successfully lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-10 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and early routine operations are underway. 

ICEYE strengthens its persistent Earth Observation capabilities with the successful launch of three new satellites.

Two of the three SAR satellites launched on the mission are manufactured by ICEYE US, while one is an in-orbit technology demonstrator manufactured by ICEYE in Finland. The in-orbit demonstrator model features an upgrade to ICEYE’s unique X-band antenna, increasing radar bandwidth to 1200 MHz. This enables higher-resolution imagery, up to 25 cm, and will be initially assigned to engineering tests before being made available to ICEYE customers. 

“Our growing constellation provides an objective and reliable source of intelligence, enabling a faster, more accurate response to changes taking place anywhere on the planet,” Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE. “The launch of the 1200 MHz bandwidth technology demonstrator delivers 25 cm resolution SAR imaging, unlocking a new level of clarity and detail for high-priority decision-making.” 

The satellites launched include an advanced radar that enables major improvements in image quality, faster downlink speeds for more agile imagery collections, and better integration with ICEYE’s global network of ground stations. 

Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US, said: “Our partners require dependable and persistent change detection to address emergent, time-critical needs. We are proud to add two additional U.S-built satellites to our constellation, strengthening our commitment to deliver strategic insights for our defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial customers.” 

ICEYE has now successfully deployed 34 spacecraft since 2018 and operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites, which can image any location on the Earth’s surface in any environmental condition, day or night. SAR data provides precise insights for ICEYE’s government and commercial customers in near real-time.

 

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines agree deal for 8 Boeing 777-9 jets.

Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to purchase eight Boeing 777-9 passenger aircraft with options for 12 additional jets.

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines confirmed the agreement on Tuesday,  Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO said:  "We are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions," 

He added: "We are grateful to Boeing for their long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the 777-9 across the African skies and beyond."

Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fibre composite wings and engines that will enable the aeroplane to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than the competition. The 777-9 will support Ethiopian Airlines' plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the Board of Airline Representatives in the Netherlands (BARIN) agree to the publication of the Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA) by the Ministry of Infrastructure & Wat

In a letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management today, KLM and BARIN (which represents 50 airlines in the Netherlands) approved the publication of the Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA), which they commissioned jointly with the Royal Schiphol Group last year. The study was commissioned to ensure a better understanding of the various policy choices that would come into play if flight numbers are cut at Schiphol.

It was agreed at the time that the report would only be published jointly and with the consent of all the respective parties. It has since emerged that the contents of the report have already been made public. This has understandably led to questions being raised. Transparency is very important to KLM and BARIN, which is why they have now agreed to the publication of the SCBA by the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management.

KLM and BARIN initially chose not to publish the report, because they have many reservations about the methodology used and the conclusions drawn. As a result, the findings are incomplete and lack balance. The objections boil down to the following:

In the Social Cost-Benefits Analysis, the effects on climate are calculated at a global level, while the negative effects for passengers and the airline industry are calculated for the Netherlands only. Consequently, the positive outcomes predicted in the Environment & Noise Variant are greatly exaggerated and do not present a realistic scenario.

The report does not consider the effects of air traffic moving away from Schiphol to other airports in the world.

The report ignores the risks that the proposed scenario (Environment & Noise Variant) poses to the future of the airline industry in the Netherlands, to employment, the business climate, and to the continued existence of KLM. None of these important factors are sufficiently reflected in the report's calculations and conclusions.

KLM and BARIN will continue to work hard to strike a balance between the airline industry and the environment. KLM has emphasized this in its sector plan “cleaner, quieter and more efficient” and in the “10 Commitments” that KLM and 30 other industry parties and research institutes have signed up to. Together, these highlight the need for greater improvement and a further toughening of measures across the airline industry, which should be implemented globally, or at the very least at a European level.

The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management is expected to submit the SCBA to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands in the near future. The letter and attachment from KLM and BARIN to the Ministry are enclosed as a download.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Reimagining Loyalty to Forge Deeper Connections in a World of Choice Overload

Loyalty strategies are undergoing a period of transformation in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace as brands vie for the attention of consumers amid an ever-increasing number of loyalty programmes. 

Loyalty market projected to quadruple in growth by 2030, as programmes in travel and retail sectors show high levels of ancillary income and maintaining of customer loyalty.

IAG Loyalty report ‘Reimagining Loyalty to Engage Today’s Consumers’ looks at how brands can build emotional connections, simplify reward experience and extend value across customer journey.

Expert insights from senior figures at Sainsbury’s, Finnair and IHG One Rewards confirm a “golden age of loyalty”.

With a shift away from programmes that solely focus on consumers earning points through purchase, to ones that integrate into the life and routine of consumer spending, the global loyalty management market is set to grow from $6.47 billion in 2023 to $28.65 billion by 2030. 

IAG Loyalty’s ‘Reimagining Loyalty to Engage Today’s Consumers’ looks at how brands can win this war for attention and provide a loyalty programme experience that harnesses future-proofing techniques and strategies to not just attract customers, but create a deeper, more meaningful connection with them. 

Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Hempel Real Estate and Robinson Park Close Acquisition of Loews Minneapolis Hotel

The 251-room property will be rebranded as The Lofton Hotel under the Tapestry Collection by Hilton flag; Marcus Hotels & Resorts to manage the property.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized owner and management company and division of The Marcus Corporation announced this week that it, Hempel Real Estate, and Robinson Park have closed on the acquisition of the Loews Minneapolis Hotel. The property will be managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, effective today, and will be rebranded immediately as The Lofton Hotel under the Tapestry Collection by Hilton flag, making it the first Tapestry Collection hotel in Minnesota. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Since 1993, Marcus Hotels & Resorts has been invested in elevating the travel and leisure experience in Minneapolis, a city we greatly admire and appreciate,” said Michael Evans, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “The Lofton Hotel’s chic design, incredible location, and ample amenities create a welcoming destination for travellers visiting the Twin Cities and experiencing all they have to offer. With The Lofton Hotel now part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton platform, we look forward to welcoming our new associates to the Marcus Hotels & Resorts family and providing our guests with the high-quality service and experience for which Hilton and we are known. We also look forward to playing an active part in the continued resurgence of the downtown business and social community.”

Bahrain Airport Services launch investment programme to renovate ground service equipment.

Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has confirmed a significant investment of BHD 4.5 million for the renovation of its ground service equipment (GSE) fleet over 3 years. This substantial commitment marks a milestone for BAS and underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional services to its esteemed airline and cargo partners, by enhancing the process of developing Bahrain International Airport’s operations, as BAS is one of the only companies that provides ground handling services.

The fleet renovation project for GSE was carried out in two phases by the Central Support Division. Phase 1, which was completed earlier in 2023, included a successful assessment of over 1386 equipment. These GSE underwent evaluations on technical competency, training & development, maintenance practices, technology and tools, fleet conditions and asset valuation.

As a part of the replacement program, BAS awarded bids for over 220 new ground support equipment, some of which have already started operation, whilst others shall arrive in early 2024. The equipment included: Lower Deck Loader LDL & Electrical Push Back Tugs, Catering High Loaders, Conveyor Belts, Passenger Buses, Electrical Forklifts, Electrical Golf Carts, Baggage Carts, and Dollies. The addition of the new equipment will bolster BAS’s operational capacities, resulting in elevated service standards and heightened operational effectiveness and sustainability.

Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to purchase eight Boeing 777-9 passenger aircraft

Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to purchase eight Boeing 777-9 passenger aircraft with options for 12 additional jets.

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines confirmed the agreement on Tuesday,  Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO said:  "We are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation by adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions," 

He added: "We are grateful to Boeing for their long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the 777-9 across the African skies and beyond."

Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fibre composite wings and engines that will enable the aeroplane to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than the competition. The 777-9 will support Ethiopian Airlines' plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

"Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its growing fleet," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.

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