Avolon and Cebu Pacific agree sale and lease back deal on four Airbus A330neo jets....

This deal supports Cebu’s expansion and transition to a new fleet

Widebody delivery slots expected to be sold out to 2030 by year-end

 

One of the leading global aviation finance companies, Avolon confirmed this week that it has done a sale and leaseback deal with the Philippines low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific for four new Airbus A330neo aircraft.

The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 2024 with the final delivery planned in 2026. The new aircraft will support Cebu’s expansion of its route network in Asia and the Middle East and its goal to transition to a fuel-efficient, new technology fleet with lower carbon emissions. Compared to the previous generation A330ceo, the A330neo has an increased range of range of over 13,300km (7,200 nautical miles) and 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Cebu has been an Avolon customer since 2012 and Avolon already has 11 aircraft on lease to the airline: five A320ceos, three A320neos, and three A330neos.

Avolon continues to experience strong customer demand for its aircraft and orderbook given the undersupply of new aircraft. The widebody production recovery is lagging behind narrowbodies resulting in a tighter market and longer wait times for twin-aisle aircraft. Avolon’s 2024 Outlook: New Horizons paper forecasted that the remaining delivery slots from manufacturers for widebody aircraft will be sold out to 2030 by the end of this year.

Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Avolon commented: “The Cebu team is doing a fantastic job expanding the airline’s operations and we are delighted to use our balance sheet to support the addition of four new A330neos to their fleet. With the continuing recovery of air travel in Asia we look forward to further opportunities to support customers on sale and leaseback transactions, or through our order book, as the availability of widebodies out to 2030 continues to tighten.”

Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer, Cebu Pacific commented: “These new A330neos support our goal of transitioning to a more fuel-efficient fleet and will support our continued expansion of routes both in and to the Middle East. We appreciate Avolon’s continued support of our growth strategy as we further strengthen our position as one of Asia Pacific’s leading low-cost carriers.”

 

British Airways has increased capacity to Barbados.....

The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc has welcomed the newest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, to the island, the 787-10 Dreamliner.  BA will use the jets to operate the route from London for the summer 2024 season.

Barbados welcomes increased British Airways

capacity to the island

The inaugural British Airways 787-10 Dreamliner flight to Barbados took place on Sunday 31 March, 2024 and increases capacity by 10 percent.  The four-class aircraft features an exclusive eight seat First class cabin, the airline’s newest business class seat the Club Suite, in a 48-seat forward-facing cabin, while the World Traveller Plus cabin will offer 35 seats and BA's economy World Traveller cabin with 165 seats..

Cheryl Carter, Director, UK for BTMI said: “We are truly honoured that British Airways has chosen to deploy its prestigious Dreamliner 787-10 aircraft to Barbados. This shows BA’s confidence in the robust passenger demand for travel between the UK and Barbados. We eagerly anticipate welcoming passengers to our beautiful island paradise, and are delighted with the enduring partnership we share with BA.”

Neil Chernoff, British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said: "As British Airways celebrates its 70th year of connecting London and Barbados, we are thrilled to be increasing capacity on the route with a larger aircraft and the launch of a new double daily service from Heathrow. This is a testament to the popularity of the route from a leisure and business perspective, and its importance as a link for visiting friends and relatives. Our commitment to this special destination remains as strong as ever, and we are proud to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience for our customers."

Priority Pass Named "Official Airport Lounge Partner" for Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

                                       Collinson, a global leader in the provision of airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement solutions, and owner and operator of Priority Pass, the world's original and market-leading airport experiences programme, announces its partnership with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), which sees them become the Official Airport Lounge Partner for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Paris 2024).

In a commitment to supporting Hong Kong, China athletes, Collinson will be providing one-year complimentary Priority Pass digital memberships with four complimentary airport lounge and travel experiences visits per membership for the athletes of SF&OC National Sports Associations (NSAs). Present to witness the agreement signing were Timothy Fok, President of SF&OC, Edgar Yang, Honorary Secretary General of SF&OC, Dr. Brian Stevenson, Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to Paris 2024 and Vice-President of SF&OC; and Todd Handcock, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Asia Pacific President, Collinson; and Ian Lee, Managing Director, North Asia, Collinson.

"The development of sport in Hong Kong SAR has come a long way, witnessing remarkable achievements in both regional and international competitions; in particular, the recent historic wins at the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games. To further encourage this success, we are extremely proud to partner with SF&OC to support their athletes heading to Paris," said Todd Handcock, Global Chief Commercial Officer and Asia Pacific President, Collinson. "As athletes are increasingly required to travel internationally, it often results in travel fatigue and jet lag[1]. By providing them with access to Priority Pass airport lounges and travel experiences globally, we hope that they can "switch off", enjoy a better rest before their flights and arrive at their destinations feeling more refreshed and focused on achieving their best on the world stage."

Korean Air completes order for 33 Airbus A350s

                                                        Korean Air has become a new customer for the A350 Family following the signature of a firm order with Airbus for 33 aircraft. The order covers 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s. 

Offering the longest range of any aircraft, the A350 will be able to operate any of the airline’s current intercontinental routes with a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous generation aircraft. The additional range of the A350 will also enable the carrier to evaluate new long haul destinations. 

“The A350’s exceptional range, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort make it a great fit for our global network,” said Jason Yoo, Chief Safety and Operating Officer and EVP at Korean Air. “We are confident that the introduction of the A350 to our fleet will drive operational efficiencies and elevate the overall travel experience for our passengers.”

Benoit de Saint Exupéry, EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus said: “This order from Korean Air is another major endorsement for the A350 as the world’s long range leader. The airline will benefit from new levels of efficiency across its operations, with significantly reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The A350 will also be the perfect platform for the carrier to take its in-flight product and world class service to new heights. We thank Korean Air for its ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products, and look forward to seeing the A350 flying in the carrier’s iconic livery.”

The A350 Family is the world’s most modern widebody product line and is firmly established as the world’s long range leader, with passenger versions able to fly up to 9,700 nm / 18,000 km non-stop. Powered by latest generation Rolls-Royce engines, the airframe uses 70% advanced materials such as composites, titanium, and modern aluminium alloys to create a lighter and more cost-efficient aircraft. All of which results in an average reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions of around 25% compared with similar sized previous generation aircraft.

At the end of February, the A350 Family had won 1,240 orders from 59 customers worldwide.

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!

Rocket Lab prepares to launch mission for KAIST and NASA to deploy satellites to two separate orbits

Rocket Lab USA has set the launch window for its next Electron launch.

The ‘Beginning Of The Swarm’ mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a 14-day launch window that opens on April 24th. Electron will carry two satellites for two separate customers: NEONSAT-1, an Earth observation satellite for the Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and NASA’s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3).

The launch will broadcast live at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream

The primary payload for this mission, NEONSAT-1, is an Earth observation satellite with a high-resolution optical camera designed to monitor for natural disasters along the Korean Peninsula by pairing its images with artificial intelligence. NEONSAT-1 is the first satellite developed under the NEONSAT program by SaTReC and KAIST, Korea’s leading university in science and technology, which developed and operated Korea’s very first satellite KITSAT-1 more than 30 years ago. Other NEONSAT satellites are planned to be launched in 2026 and 2027 to build out the NEONSAT constellation. The program is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions including SaTReC in KAIST, which is leading the program’s system design and engineering; the SaTReC Initiative, a Korean satellite manufacturer that has successfully developed seven previous remote sensing satellites for low Earth orbit; and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), which is managing the mission’s ground segments and technology supervision for the NEONSAT program. NEONSAT is funded by the Koren government’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

Taxiing For Takeoff: The Promise of eVTOLs

By Shazan Siddiqi, Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx

Flying cars are very easy to hype. Most images of the future almost always include mass mobility in the air. It is one of the staples of any depiction of advanced modern societies and a trope of almost every science fiction movie or book (however dystopian). It is an exciting time where the level of technological advancement is reaching the stage of making electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft a feasible reality. By Shazan Siddiqi, Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx. 

However, considerable advancements, such as in battery energy density and charging capabilities, distributed electric propulsion systems, composite materials, and mass aircraft manufacture, are still required to make widespread deployment a reality. There are also many challenges not related to the technical feasibility of making an eVTOL fly, which will also need to be addressed, including certification of aircraft and parts, regulation of operations, public acceptance, and the development of ground infrastructure. IDTechEx’s new report “Air Taxis: Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft 2024-2044: Technologies, Players” is intended to help companies understand the exciting emerging urban air mobility (UAM) market. 

Many of the world’s largest aerospace and automotive companies are ramping up their interest in eVTOL aircraft, recognizing it as a potentially disruptive new transport mode. The major aerospace suppliers, RTX Corporation, GE, SAFRAN, and Honeywell, are all investing in eVTOL-related technologies, including electric and hybrid-electric powertrain components, systems for autonomous flight, and advanced air traffic management systems. Furthermore, composite material manufacturers like Toray and Hexcel have been working with OEMs on the advanced lightweight materials required for several facets of eVTOL design. The automotive industry is also taking an interest, with Toyota, Hyundai, Stellantis, XPeng, Suzuki, and Honda all funding, collaborating on, or conducting their own eVTOL projects.

Etihad Airways celebrates two decades of flights between London and Abu Dhabi.

      Etihad Airways – the national carrier of the UAE – is today celebrating two decades of flights between London and Abu Dhabi. 

The airline’s first service to Heathrow Airport using an Airbus A340 landed on 28 March 2004, heralding the start of thrice-weekly flights between London and Abu Dhabi and establishing a highly sought-after route renowned for its excellence. 

Etihad now operates four daily flights between London and Abu Dhabi using a combination of Airbus A380s, which feature the legendary The Residence suite in the sky, and state-of-the-art Boeing 787s.  

Eligible guests can also use the luxurious Etihad lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 4, which offers a sumptuous start for their flights and interiors inspired by the carrier’s Abu Dhabi home. Guests can enjoy specially curated menus along with quick and convenient boarding for departing flights. 

Jeremy Pollock, Etihad Airways Country Manager UK and Ireland, said: “Introducing flights from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi was a key part of the airline’s strategy following the carrier’s launch in 2003. 

“To celebrate 20 years since our inaugural flight is a fantastic achievement for everyone connected with Etihad Airways – especially our dedicated workforce across the UK and Ireland.  

“Etihad now operates four daily flights from London, highlighting the strong demand among UK-based customers to explore Abu Dhabi and the Middle East following a flight travelling in style and comfort, looked after by our excellent, award-winning cabin crew.” 

Henry Naya, Etihad Airways Airport Manager London Heathrow, joined Etihad just before flights to London began. He recalls the excitement surrounding the airline's first flight into Heathrow. It touched down at Etihad’s former home in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, with the founder Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan and a range of dignitaries on board to celebrate the start of the new route. 

Celebrating 20 years of flights between Norway and Italy

On April 2. 2004, the first ever Norwegian flight bound for Italy, took off from Oslo at 16.20 with 144 passengers of board headed to Pisa. Since then, Norwegian have flown more than 3,5 million passengers between Norway and Italy.

Historical and vibrant cities, magnificent beaches, beautiful lakes and the world’s best pizza, pasta and ice cream is reason enough to visit the Mediterranean country.

“Italy has so much to offer tourists from the Nordic countries and based on a growing interest from our customers we launched several new routes last year. This summer we will fly to 11 destinations, operating 19 routes with 13 daily flights to and from Italy,” said Magnus Thome Maursund, Chief Commercial Officer at Norwegian.

Since the first flight to Pisa, Norwegian have since expanded its route network. This summer Northerners and Italians can fly between Milan, Rome, Verona, Naples, Sardinia, Sicilia, Venezia, Bergamo, Bologna and Bari.

Michelle Freyre appointed to the board of directors at United

U.S. mega-carrier United Airlines has this week confirmed that Michelle Freyre is joining its Board of Directors. Freyre currently serves as President, Global Brands, Clinique and Origins, at The Estée Lauder Companies, where she is responsible for guiding the brands' overall strategic vision and driving global growth.

"Michelle's extensive experience in business and product strategy will make her an excellent addition to our already strong Board of Directors," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "In each of her previous roles, Michelle has deftly balanced modernizing and celebrating the historic brands she has overseen."

"We are excited to welcome Michelle to the Board of Directors and look forward to the valuable insight and experience she will bring to United," said Ted Philip, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "For the last two decades, Michelle has guided some of the most prominent brands in corporate America and her sophisticated understanding of large brands to serve the needs of customers is valuable experience that will benefit United and our Board of Directors."

Gogo Business Aviation and Atlas Air Service will join forces to develop the first European Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Gogo Galileo HDX antenna for the Cessna CitationJet

Gogo Business Aviation and Atlas Air Service will join forces to develop the first European Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Gogo Galileo HDX antenna for the Cessna CitationJet series of light jet aircraft and another STC for the Embraer Phenom 300.

"For the first time ever, a true global broadband service will be available to thousands of aircraft operators in Europe and around the world," said Radu Grigore, deputy director of MRO commercial for Atlas Air Service AG. "For many years our customers have been asking for a small and affordable broadband solution for their aircraft. We wanted to be among the first to partner with Gogo to develop these STCs and bring true broadband inflight Wi-Fi for every segment of business aviation."

The STCs will cover more than 2,600 total aircraft in operation today worldwide, comprised of more than 1,850 Citations and 750 Phenom 300s.

Highlighting the small form factor and ease of installation, beginning in April, Atlas Air Service will focus its initial STC on the Cessna Citation 525 series of aircraft encompassing the CJ1, CJ2, CJ3, and CJ4, with hardware installations expected this summer on a CJ1+.

US authorities tell Google to hand over the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and user activity of YouTube viewers.

Federal authorities in the U.S. have reportedly been asking the parent company of YouTube, Google for the names, telephone numbers, addresses and the activity of users that have watched certain YouTube videos, U.S. news agency Forbes has reported.

In what some media commentators are saying is a terrifying move the FBI also want the IP addresses of those users that weren't even logged in when they watched the totally legal videos. part of this investigation revolves around a case of suspected money laundering by an account under the name of “elonmuskwhm”. As part of the investigation, agents sent the suspect links to tutorials on YouTube about mapping via drones and augmented reality software. Then they asked YouTube to send them data about the people who watched that video.  But those video tutorials were not private and had been watched over 30,000 times by the time the agents asked YouTube’s parent company Google for information about the viewers.

The FBI is also demanding the details of viewers of eight selected live streams that related to a bomb threat, including one that had over 130,000 viewers subscribers.  The papers filed at court appear to ask Google to keep details of the request private and it is unclear if the firm has complied with the demands. However, in previous cases of its kind,  with much smaller amounts of user data, Google has handed over all information, despite maintaining a public persona of "pushing back" on overreaching law enforcement demands. 

Maybe the best advice is to not sign in to watch YouTube and to use a VPN 

Air Canada Wins 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America

Unparalleled offering includes Live TV, Apple TV+, Audible, Disney+ and Hayu among thousands of hours of content.

Air Canada is honoured to have earned the 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America for its in-flight entertainment (IFE) offering, presented last night at the APEX Awards in Lisbon. This is the first time the airline has won this APEX award, which is based on ratings the organization received from thousands of passengers who flew with Air Canada.

Air Canada’s complimentary and extensive in-flight entertainment programming features more than 1,400 hours of movies, 1,900 hours of television shows and more than 600 hours of music and podcasts, and a selection of live tv stations. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

"I am extremely proud of the recognition as 2024 APEX Best in Entertainment Award in North America, reflecting the unparalleled entertainment offering onboard our aircraft. With thousands of hours of movies, TV shows and audio podcasts available, our customers clearly are appreciative of the wide variety of options during their flights. I thank our customers for their loyalty. We're continuing to add content to our on-demand and live IFE offerings, so stay tuned as more exciting products will be rolled out soon!" said John Moody, Managing Director, Onboard Product at Air Canada.

easyJet and UNICEF launch ‘Every Child Can Fly’ campaign

 easyJet and UNICEF are partnering to support UNICEF’s education programmes and help every child access their right to a quality education 

 ‘Every Child Can Fly’ campaign will support UNICEF's aspiration to achieve the universal right of quality education for all children by 2030

 Customers flying with easyJet over the Easter holiday period have the opportunity to raise funds with easyJet cabin crew collecting donations onboard around 40,000 flights

 To date, through the partnership, easyJet customers have already raised almost £17 million towards UNICEF’s appeals

easyJet and the world’s leading children’s organisation UNICEF have announced the new phase of their partnership to support UNICEF’s goal of ensuring all children at primary and lower secondary levels are enrolled in school by 2030.

easyJet and UNICEF’s ‘Every Child Can Fly’ campaign will raise vital funds to change millions of children’s lives, including contributing to UNICEF's target of providing access to learning opportunities for 114 million children and digital education for 148.6 million children around the world. 

The onboard collection by easyJet’s cabin crew is now running in time for the busy holiday period, which will see the airline fly over five million customers across its network, who will have the opportunity to donate onboard around 40,000 flights towards the ‘Every Child Can Fly’ campaign and support UNICEF’s work in education.

In 2022, 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries could not read and understand simple text. This figure has worsened by 13% since COVID-19 school closures.

IDTechEx release new global market report on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft

IDTechEx Research, a trusted provider of independent market intelligence, announces the availability of a new report, "Air Taxis: Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft 2024-2044: Technologies, Players".

This report is intended to help companies understand the exciting emerging urban air mobility (UAM) market. Comprehensive analysis is included, from an assessment of the pros and cons of the different electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft design architectures, through to more nuanced detail on opportunities in key enabling technologies, such as aviation grade batteries, advanced electric motors and propulsion systems, composite materials and eVTOL ground infrastructure.

Along with information and insight into the eVTOL air taxi market, this report contains IDTechEx's 20-year outlook for eVTOL air taxi sales, market revenue, battery demand and battery market revenue. IDTechEx research reveals the market for eVTOL air taxis will grow to just under US$20 billion by 2044.

Manchester City and Etihad Airways announce launch of community football projects across India

Manchester City and global partner Etihad Airways are flying towards a better future for young people in India, with the announcement of a brand-new community football initiative in cities across the country.

The joint initiative will see Manchester City work in collaboration with Etihad Airways, Club charity City in the Community and non-governmental partner organisation (NGO) Magic Bus India Foundation, to deliver health and life skills training for local young people through football.

Manchester City and Etihad Airways are launching a new community football initiative in April in Bangalore, Kolkata and New Delhi with more cities to follow.

Supported by Etihad, the initiative will use football to uplift the health and life skills of local young people

The project will launch this April in three cities from the airline’s network: New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, with more locations to follow.

This marks the latest in a series of impactful community collaborations between Manchester City and Etihad since the launch of the Official Partnership between the two organisations in 2009, including global and regional summits in Manchester and Abu Dhabi, which upskill young leaders in community football coaching and leadership.

Stenger Rechtsanwälte Joins BARIG as New Business Partner

From legal details regarding the recruitment of foreign skilled workers to passenger rights and the General Data Protection Regulation: The demand for legal expertise in the aviation industry is becoming more and more complex. Therefore, the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG), which represents the interests of the national and international airlines operating to and from Germany, offers its members the opportunity to discuss such aspects with experts from the association’s partner network. With the law firm Stenger Rechtsanwälte, which is located in Hamburg and Berlin, BARIG welcomes a new business partner in the field of “Legal / Advocate / Notary.” 

As a specialist in aviation law, Stenger Rechtsanwälte focuses, inter alia, on legal disputes concerning the rights of air passengers and assists in the settlement of conflicts with arbitration boards or the Federal Aviation Authority. Furthermore, the team of Stenger Rechtsanwälte offers legal advice on the establishment of German subsidiaries by foreign airlines, on issues relating to employment and real estate law as well as consulting services in the field of cyber security. 

Emirates adds sustainable aviation fuel on flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Emirates has commenced the activation of its fuel agreement with Neste this month at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Over 2 million gallons of blended SAF will be supplied into the fuelling system at Schiphol Airport over the course of 2024.  

The airline will track the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems and environmental benefits using standard industry accounting methodologies. Emirates’ partnership with Neste, announced late last year, represents one of the largest volumes of SAF that the airline has purchased to date. 

Once fully supplied into Amsterdam Schiphol’s fuelling system, the blended SAF will have been comprised of over 700,000 gallons of neat SAF. The airline is also working with Neste to supply SAF into the fuelling systems at Singapore Changi Airport in the next few months.  

Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer, Emirates said: “Collaborating with committed partners like Neste is one of the practical steps we are taking to reduce our emissions, and it’s an all-important milestone in our own sustainability journey as an airline. Strong partnerships like this, especially at major air transport hubs such as Amsterdam, lay the foundation for how we can work with partners and airports to increase access to and availability of SAF across our network.” 

IFS Cloud Selected by Joby Aviation to Shape the Future of eVTOL Aircraft

The IFS Cloud for Aviation Maintenance platform was chosen to accelerate Joby Aviation's ambitious growth plans to manufacture and deliver eVTOL aircraft for commercial passenger service on a global scale

IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, has announced that Joby Aviation, the leading manufacturer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for commercial air taxi services, has selected the IFS Cloud for Aviation Maintenance solution for its pioneering eVTOL aircraft maintenance processes.

Joby continues to lead the way on the development of eVTOL aircraft, launching production in June 2023 and recently completing a series of piloted test flights, including an exhibition flight in New York City. Joby's all-electric aircraft has a maximum range of 100 miles and can carry a pilot and four passengers, giving it unparalleled flexibility to serve communities worldwide. Joby plans to start commercial operations in 2025, as it continues its progression from prototype to a fully operational fleet.

As part of its ambitious growth plans, the company recently announced plans to construct a scaled manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. The establishment of the company's ground-breaking new facility, which will be capable of producing up to 500 eVTOL aircraft per year, represents a significant milestone in the field of advanced air mobility, and will lead to the creation of up to 2,000 high-quality manufacturing jobs. Joby also plans to expand its existing manufacturing facility in Marina, CA where aircraft production was launched last year.

Saudia offers stopover visa programme for all travellers to Saudi Arabia

Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is offering a stopover visa programme for passengers flying from Europe. In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudia has made it possible for passengers to obtain a stopover visa immediately during the booking process.

Passengers with stopover visas can stay for up to 96 hours in Saudi Arabia. Within this window, guests can perform Umrah, see sacred sites and visit top tourist destinations such as the nation’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites – from the stunning desert landscape of AlUla, bustling Historic Jeddah and the lush greenery of the Al-Ahsa Oasis.

Photo by Mohammed Ajwad

Saudia’s streamlined process allows passengers to pay for their ticket and visa in one step on the Saudia website. The improved pathway is a digital extension of the world-renowned Saudi hospitality, which continues to be a touchstone for the Saudia brand. The move is the latest initiative by Saudia to bolster travel and tourism to the Kingdom as part of Vision 2030, the transformative economic and social campaign that seeks to open Saudi to the world. As part of the initiative, Saudi has outlined goals to have 150 million annual visits to the county by 2030.

Mr. Arved Muhlen, Chief Commercial Officer, Saudia said: ‘We are very proud to be bringing the world to Saudi Arabia with our stopover visa initiative. The seamless digital journey for our guests embodies the hospitality that defines flying with Saudia.

Hainan Airlines plans to resume the Brussels to Shanghai (Pudong) flight route on 18th June.

Hainan Airlines has confirmed it plans to resume direct flights between Brussels and Shanghai Pudong from 18th June this year.  

After Brussels-Beijing and Brussels-Shenzhen, this is Hainan Airlines' third route to China from Belgium, now double Daily flights from Belgium to China by Hainan Airlines. With additional options for travel between Europe and China, the Brussels-Shanghai (Pudong) route's resume will promote deeper cultural contact and collaboration between the two regions, the airline affirms.

Hainan Airlines reportedly intends to operate four international flights per week between Brussels and Shanghai (Pudong) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The outbound flights are expected to take 11 hours to complete, take off from Brussels International Airport at 12:00 local time and landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:00 local time the following day. The inbound flights are scheduled to depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 02:10 local time and arrive at Brussels International Airport at 08:10 local time, with an estimated flight duration of 12 hours.

New digital tools to aid wheelchair users book the correct flight on United.....

New digital sizing tool helps customers determine the right aircraft for their wheelchair; airline will refund the fare difference if they have to pay more for an alternative flight with a larger cargo door

Industry-first initiatives, developed in collaboration with accessibility advocates and experts, reflect United's ongoing commitment to make the travel experience more accessible for everyone

One of the leading airlines in the U.S.  United, has launched a new digital tool on its app and website that aims to make it much easier for customers who use wheelchairs to find flights that can best accommodate the specific dimensions of their personal mobility device.

United also says that eligible customers may be able to seek a refund of the fare difference if they need to pay more for a specific flight that can accommodate their wheelchair.

In addition to working with the airline's Accessible Travel Advisory Board, United collaborated with United Spinal Association and Numotion to develop these industry-first initiatives.

"The more we know about a customer's device, the more likely their experience will be a good one – from booking and check-in to the flight itself," said Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for United. "These new tools and policies also set our employees up for success, especially those working on the ramp or at the gate."

"United Spinal Association appreciates this strong first step toward improving the air travel experience for wheelchair users," says Vincenzo Piscopo, Chief Executive Officer and President of United Spinal Association, the largest disability-led membership organization representing our nation's 5.5 million wheelchair users. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with United Airlines to ensure that all wheelchair users can book a flight to their next adventure, business meeting, or visit with family or friends on the flight they choose, trusting they will arrive safely with their equipment intact."

Bombardier’s Global 7500 jet sets over 30 speed records

Record-setting flights include Farnborough to Muharraq and Phoenix to Paris which took place on Feb 28 and March 6

Records set as Global 7500 aircraft are actively flying worldwide on customer and demonstrations missions, showcasing this immaculate jet to the public

The Global 7500 business jet fleet has surpassed more than 100,000 flying hours and has celebrated more than 165 deliveries 

With an impressive top speed of Mach 0.925 and a range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), the Global 7500 business aircraft continues to push the boundaries of business travel

Bombardier has celebrated more impressive speed records on the Global 7500 aircraft, this week,  bringing the total to more than 30 and counting. The most recent records, including travelling from Farnborough to Muharraq and Phoenix to Paris, mark the latest accomplishment for the Global 7500 business jet, the undisputed leader in the ultra-long-range class – the most luxurious, reliable and productive business jet in the skies today. 

These records – pending approval by the FAI, the World Air Sport Federation – build on earlier speed and distance records already bestowed on this truly remarkable business jet, including an 8,225 nautical mile flight in October 2019 from Sydney, Australia to Detroit, Michigan – the longest-range flight ever in business aviation. The Global 7500 also set more than 20 new flight records (1) in the fall of 2023, including routes from Singapore to Anchorage, Alaska and Montreal to Geneva.

“The Global 7500 aircraft is in a class by itself when it comes to performance – an immaculate business jet that was made to set and shatter records,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President, Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Defense. “With its impeccable design attributes and technological advancements, the Global 7500 aircraft offers customers precisely what they need to enhance their operations – unmatched reliability, productivity and style.”

With a top speed of Mach 0.925 and an industry leading range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), the Global 7500 aircraft features outstanding performance capabilities. Its Smooth Flĕx Wing is designed with a sophisticated slats and flap system that generates exceptional lift on takeoff and approach, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency and boosting performance while improving safety and offering a smoother, more restful ride. It also reduces fuel burn and lowers emissions and produces excellent short-field and high-speed performance.

My Freighter leases third 767 from ATSG

Air Transport Services Group, Inc confirmed this week that it has delivered a newly converted Boeing 767-300 freighter to My Freighter Cargo Airlines of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

This delivery marks ATSG’s fourth newly converted Boeing 767-300 dry-lease delivery this year, as outlined in its fourth-quarter investor release on February 26, 2024.

ATSG's subsidiary, Airborne Global Leasing, executed this delivery in alignment with ATSG's Lease+Plus strategy, which provides freighter capacity and associated aviation services to meet demand within established and emerging global freight markets.

“Our expanding relationship with My Freighter exemplifies the tangible value of our Lease+Plus strategy,” said Paul Chase, chief commercial officer of ATSG. “The Boeing 767-300 continues to be the freighter of choice among e-commerce integrators and express carriers as it provides the operational flexibility and efficiency to build those networks.”

ATSG continues to focus on global market opportunities in Central and Southeast Asia to enhance its global leasing network. ATSG's freighter offering, including the Airbus A321 and A330 freighters, is poised to meet increased capacity growth demands in these growing global markets.

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SWISS new non-stop service from Washington D.C to Zurich starts this week

SWISS will connect Washington D.C. with Zurich with daily flights from this Thursday, 28th March.  The flights take around eight hours and offer a wide range of connecting cities from the centre of Europe.

Flights are on one of the carrier's 14 Airbus A330-300 aircraft. These jets can carry a maximum of 236 passengers. The capacity is divided into 183 Economy seats, 45 Business seats and 8 First Class armchairs. Following the introduction of the A330-300, SWISS was the first airline in the world to offer First Class tickets on all long-haul flights.

The innovative pneumatic seat technology provides maximum comfort in First and Business Class. The jets are powered by two Rolls Royce 772B-EP (enhanced performance) engines.

Special features -   The new SWISS Business seat on the A330-300 is probably the lightest of its kind. The air cushion alone makes the seat four kilograms lighter than the conventional version with foam padding. This weight reduction alone will help SWISS to save over 650 tonnes of kerosene a year. It will reduce the company's annual CO2 emissions by more than 2000 tonnes.

Flight times Washington to Zurich  20:45 - 10:50*

Flight times Zurich to Washington  12:55 - 16:15

Technical details

Engines	2 Rolls-Royce Trent 772B EP
Max. thrust per engine	32,250 kg
Wingspan	60.3 m
Length	63.7 m
Height	16.8 m
Crew	2/10
Passenger seats	236 (3 classes)
Max. take-off weight	235,000 kg
Max. landing weight	187,000 kg
Maximum speed	880 km/h
Max. range with a full load	8,400 km