Porter Airlines to operate largest-ever summer schedule from Toronto

Porter Airlines is scheduled to offer travellers its most substantial summer schedule to date, featuring up to 176 daily flights to 27 destinations across North America taking off from Toronto. These flights will offer more passengers an elevated economy experience to more destinations than ever before.

By August, Porter will be the third-largest carrier flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport, with up to 74 daily flights to 16 destinations across Canada and the United States. Every flight from Toronto-Pearson is flown by the brand new, 132-seat Embraer E195-E2.

Routes from Toronto-Pearson feature destinations in the U.S. such as Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus Canadian cities such as Halifax, Québec City, St. John’s, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport remains a convenient gateway from downtown Toronto to Porter’s extensive Eastern Canada network and the Northeastern U.S., with up to 102 daily flights to 15 destinations.

Flights from Billy Bishop are operated by the 78-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft. Porter exclusively provides non-stop service to popular destinations from Billy Bishop that include New York-Newark, Chicago-Midway, Boston, Halifax, Washington D.C.-Dulles and Thunder Bay.

“Porter is offering passengers a level of generous economy service they will not receive from any other carrier serving Toronto and we’re continuing to provide passengers with more choice from both of the airports that serve the Greater Toronto community,” said Kevin Jackson, president, Porter Airlines.

“It was only last February that Porter started flying out of Toronto-Pearson, so to have grown to become the third-largest carrier this summer reinforces the fact that once passengers try our style of economy travel, we are seeing them choose to fly us again and to more destinations. We will continue to expand the number of destinations served as we take delivery of more of our Embraer E195 aircraft.”

Connecting flights within Porter’s own network, and globally through its partners are also available using Billy Bishop and Pearson. Through Toronto-Pearson, there is access to European cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam through the airline’s partnership with Air Transat.

“Porter’s growth over the last two years has been incredible,” said Kurush Minocher, executive director, customer experience and airline relationships, Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Swedavia’s traffic statistics for April 2024

Swedavia’s traffic statistics for April 2024

In April, more than 2.6 million passengers chose to fly via Swedavia's ten airports. This represents an increase of almost 1,5 per cent compared with April of last year. This trend continues to be driven by increased demand for international travel, primarily from Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The airlines that operate at Swedavia’s airports continue to strengthen Sweden’s connectivity. So far, this year's summer traffic programme has seen the launch of 25 new routes, including 10 brand-new destinations. Airlines have also strengthened their charter offerings ahead of the summer season at four of Swedavia's airports: Malmö Airport, Luleå Airport, Umeå Airport and Östersund Airport.

"Demand for international travel at our airports continues to increase, while the range of destinations has been strengthened through the summer traffic programme. At the same time, the weaker trend in domestic travel continues, although there are regional differences. Overall, we expect to see a continued increase in travel during the summer season", says Jonas Abrahamsson, Swedavia's president and CEO.

So far, 25 new routes have been launched for the 2024 summer season – including ten brand-new destinations. The charter offering has also been strengthened for the summer season at Malmö Airport, Åre Östersund, Umeå Airport and Luleå Airport.

New routes – May:

Stockholm Arlanda – Hannover with Eurowings

Stockholm Arlanda – Bari with Norwegian

Stockholm Arlanda – Zagreb with Croatian Airlines

Göteborg Landvetter – London (LGW) with Norwegian

Göteborg Landvetter – Nice with Norwegian

Göteborg Landvetter – Dubrovnik with Norwegian

In April, nearly 2.6 million passengers flew via Swedavia's ten airports, which is just over a 1 per cent increase compared to April 2023. International travel increased 4 per cent to nearly 2 million passengers, while domestic travel decreased 5 per cent to just under 660,000 passengers.

Total passenger traffic at Swedavia's airports in April was 82 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Swedish Space Corporation and Perigee Aerospace to launch satellites from Esrange

Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and South Korean rocket company Perigee Aerospace Inc. have signed a collaborative agreement to launch satellites jointly from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, starting 2025. Perigee’s Blue Whale 1 microlauncher will be the first-ever orbital rocket launched from Esrange.

“I’m very pleased to announce this historic collaboration, our first orbital launch partnership. The market demand for this service is huge and it’s needed now, by both European and international satellite owners. Perigee’s Blue Whale 1 rocket is an ideal match for our orbital launch complex at Esrange. With this partnership, SSC will be able to offer a competitive commercial European orbital launch service at our spaceport in Sweden. This is exciting news for us, and for the global space market,” says Charlotta Sund, CEO of SSC.

“SSC has an impressive 50 years of launch heritage and the new orbital launch infrastructure at Esrange is laying the foundation for the years to come. By bringing our Blue Whale 1 rocket, soon ready for orbital missions, we will partner with SSC to create a state-of-the-art orbital launch service, including further delivery through SSC's ground service offering. After a successful orbital launch from South Korea next year, we look forward to beginning this historic journey at Esrange,” says Yoon Shin, CEO and Founder of Perigee.

The two-stage launch vehicle has the capacity to place up to 200 kg into a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit. Together, SSC and Perigee will develop a service concept with a shared payload space onboard the rocket to make room for both companies’ customer bases. Enforced by SSC’s global satellite ground station network, this service could also be supplemented by additional space-to-ground services.

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Perigee aims to provide the fastest and closest opportunity for all who wants to go to space. Established in 2018, Perigee is dedicated to developing Blue Whale 1 (BW1), a small launch vehicle offering the most affordable ride for small satellites to Earth orbit. BW1 is a two-stage launch vehicle capable of placing up to 200 kg payload into a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Featuring high-performance liquid methane engines, lightweight carbon fiber composite structures, and reliable flight control systems, BW1 ensures efficient launch services worldwide.

Norse Atlantic Airways promotes cultural exchange between Berlin and New York City in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut.

Norse Atlantic Airways announces partnership with the Goethe-Institut New York

The #NorseCulturalExchange project will support cultural exchanges between the Berlin and New York City throughout this summer.

The #NorseCulturalExchange, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut New York, underscores the airline’s commitment in supporting cultural projects across the Atlantic by facilitating travel for artists between Berlin and New York.

Norse is supporting the institute with flights for artists travelling to New York from Berlin for cultural projects and events. Norse Atlantic operates up to four direct weekly flights between the two cities.

Partnership projects include:

The Artist Talk series “Art & Weise”. Previous participants have included Raphaela Vogel, Tobias Zielony, John Miller, and Anna Ostoya.

The “Helen und Kurt Wolff Prize“. The formal award ceremony takes place in early October, bringing together authors, translators, and representatives of the publishing industry.

Das “festival neue literatur“, a festival showcasing German-speaking authors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The German Film Office at the Goethe-Institut will be showcasing filmmakers and actors at various events across the USA.

"We are very pleased to be able to support these projects in partnership with New York Goethe-Institut by facilitating the sharing of cultural diversity and the works of these esteemed artists. We take pride in enabling more people to explore the world and experience other cultures first-hand thanks to our affordable fares, “ said Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO and founder of Norse Atlantic Airways.

The Goethe-Institut, Germany's global cultural institute added: "We are delighted with this collaboration that will create a vibrant cultural exchange. Through cooperation with Norse Atlantic, we can further advance our mission to increase international cultural awareness and we look forward to welcoming many artists to New York this summer," says Jörg Schumacher, Director of the Goethe-Institut New York.

About Goethe-Institut New York:

IFALPA, The Global Voice of Pilots, Opens Conference in Mexico City

The 78th Conference of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) opened on Friday, in Mexico City. Hosted by IFALPA and ASPA de México, the Conference brings together the IFALPA Executive Board and hundreds of pilot leaders representing their national Member Associations from all regions of the world to deliberate on crucial decisions for the Federation and present key activities and campaigns.

Invited to provide a State of the industry, Mr. Christopher Barks, ICAO Regional Director North American, Central American, and Caribbean discussed the history and 80th anniversary of ICAO, problems and issues around the introduction of the concepts of Reduced Crew Operations, (RCO), and Single Pilot Operations (SiPO), new challenges of integration of new UAS+ technologies and stakeholders into shared airspace, and meteorological issues and turbulence in the context of climate change.

Highlighting the importance of IFALPA’s strategic partnerships in the world of work, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) addressed the opening plenary underscoring the unprecedented challenges faced by the aviation sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting the need for sustainable and just recovery policies. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the ILO and ICAO to ensure a green and inclusive future for aviation, Houngbo closed with hopeful words; “I would like to welcome you onboard as we aim to cruise at the higher altitude to attain a better social justice for all."

His Majesty King Charles III announced as Patron of the Royal Aeronautical Society

The Royal Aeronautical Society is honoured to announce that His Majesty King Charles III has graciously agreed to become our Patron. His Majesty’s patronage underscores the Society’s commitment to the advancement of aeronautical art, science, and engineering around the world.

The Society are proud of our longstanding Royal association over the last century. In 1918 King George V awarded the “Royal” prefix to the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, which became the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 1920 Prince Albert, the Duke of York, later King George VI, became the Society’s Patron. Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II then assumed the role from her father. In 1966 HRH the Duke of Edinburgh became the Society’s Honorary President for the Society’s Centenary Year, followed in 2016 by the then Prince of Wales in the same role for the Society's 150th anniversary.

The Royal Aeronautical Society would like to thank His Majesty King Charles III for continuing to support and recognise the work of the Society across the fields of Aerospace, Aviation and Space.

The Society is the only global organisation serving the entire aviation and aerospace community as both a learned society and a professional engineering institution. As such, the RAeS is independent, evidence-based and authoritative, relying on a body of knowledge going back more than 150 years.

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2018 Leicester City Football Club helicopter disaster inquest resumes

H.M. Senior Coroner for Leicester City & South Leicestershire has resumed the inquests into the deaths of five people who were killed in a helicopter crash at King Power Stadium on 27 October 2018.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (Chairman of Leicester City Football Club), Eric Swaffer, Izabela Lechowicz, Nusara Suknami and Kaveporn Punpara all lost their lives in this major aviation accident, now five and a half years ago.

UK law firm Stewarts’ aviation team, partners Sarah Stewart and Peter Neenan, are instructed by the families of Khun Vichai, Eric and Izabela and have instructed Philip Shepherd KC and Bajal Shah as counsel for the family of Khun Vichai.

Professor Catherine Mason held a pre-inquest hearing today in Leicester Town Hall in order to hear submissions on a number of procedural issues.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) carried out an investigation into the accident and these inquests have been on hold pending the investigation’s final report which was published on 6 September 2023. The court heard arguments over the status of the AAIB investigation and whether it was in any way “incomplete, flawed or deficient” such as to warrant the Senior Coroner carrying out her own further investigation or whether she could and should adopt and accept the findings therein.

Concerns were raised on behalf of three of the bereaved families represented by Stewarts over the length of time taken by the AAIB to produce their final report, and the cause of that delay, which has in turn impacted the progress of the inquests and prolonged their suffering.

A further PIRH will be listed towards the end of 2024 with the final inquest hearing likely to take place over 2-3 weeks in early 2025.

Air101: Leicester City Football Club helicopter disaster...... an accident just waiting to happen. AAIB Report published.

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Saudia's plans for 2024 Hajj season.....

Saudia Group announces its operational plan for the 2024 Hajj Season, aimed at facilitating the transportation of pilgrims from around the world, streamlining all procedures and providing top-notch services at various service locations. Over 1.2 million seats have been allocated through optimal investment in its fleet of more than 150 aircraft, distinguished by operational efficiency and quality services. This initiative is in line with the directives of Saudi leadership, supported by collaboration with various entities involved in serving Hajj pilgrims.

The operational period for the national flag carrier during Hajj Season 2024, encompassing both inbound and outbound stages, spans 74 days starting from May 9th. Saudia Group has proactively formed specialised teams distributed among performance monitoring, terminal operations, follow-up, and coordination with other sectors. Additionally, operational resources have been allocated across the lounges of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and an emergency plan has been developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, numerous virtual simulations have been conducted across both Jeddah and Madinah international airports.

Saudia Group will welcome Hajj pilgrims through five domestic airports, including Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Yanbu, with more than 11,000 frontline employees and aircraft maintenance technicians, ensuring smooth flow of movement at the airports as well as operational efficiency. Additionally, 120,000 pilgrims will be served through the “Makkah Route” initiative which is designed to streamline the immigration process for pilgrims to Makkah. Saudia will also continue its “Luggage First” service, and 270,000 bags will be handled as well as 240,000 Zamzam bottles.

Transair plane suffered runway excursion on take off in Senegal

A Boeing 737 jet suffered a runway excursion in Senegal, injuring at least 10 people, 4 of them seriously with 6 others taken to hospital for checkups. 

The aircraft belonged to Transair, operating a charter flight for  Air Senegal was carrying 78 passengers plus a flight crew of 6 at the time of the incident. The jet was headed for the Malian capital Bamako and according to initial reports, the jet left the runway during its take-off run around 1:00am GMT.  

Early reports indicate the aircraft may have experienced a hydraulic leak during the acceleration as it commenced its take-off run at Blaise Diagne International Airport, approximately 30 miles from Dakar.  

The near 30-year-old aircraft, registration 6V-AJE had originally been delivered Tarom of Romania in 1994 and joined the Transair fleet towards the end of December last year. 

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Another Boeing 737 also suffered damage today, Thursday 9 May, when an aircraft belonging to Corendon Airlines, registration 9H-TJF arrived at Gazipasa experienced a burst tyre on its nose gear. The aircraft was operating flight XC1031 between Germany and Turkey Gazipasa, Turkey and the wheel was damaged during the incident. 

A Boeing 767-300ER was approximately four hours into a transatlantic rotation from London To Newark when the flight crew declared an emergency today and the plane returned to London. The aircraft, of United Airlines, registration N685UA is understood to have suffered a broken windscreen during the flight, which required a turnaround. The crew landed the aircraft safely at Heathrow just after 15:00 this afternoon. 

Yesterday, a cargo Boeing 767-300F of FedEx operating a flight between Paris and Istanbul experienced a nose gear issue, when the wheels failed to deploy prior to landing.  The crew performed a low pass over the runway and a visual inspection took place.  The front gear could not be lowered and the crew performed a textbook landing with the nose gear retracted. 

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David Chinn FRAeS elected President of the Royal Aeronautical Society

The Royal Aeronautical Society has announced David Chinn, FRAeS as new President of the Society at its AGM on 9 May 2024.

The AGM also elected Richard Gearing FRAeS as President-Elect of the Society.

The President provides leadership of the Council and of the Society in pursuit of its objectives. They uphold the values, and reputation of the Society as well as the interests of the members. The President is an ambassador of the Society representing it at key engagements, influencing the global standing of the Society in furthering the advancement of aeronautical art, science, and engineering.

"It is an honour to take over as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society for 2024-25. I am looking forward to meeting as many members as I can in the course of the next year.

In my year as President my themes will focus on:

Design Build Fly – encouraging the next generation to bring together the art and science of aeronautics in the spirit of the Charter of the Society. This idea is inspired by the German Akaflieg movement, and the community which has developed around it.

Supporting the professionalisation of space – with the growth of the space sector in the UK, the Society has a leading role to play in its professionalisation and recognition in the same way as it has done for the aeronautical community over the last century.

Finally, supporting the Society’s engagement in the sustainable aviation debate which remains central for the long-term activity of the Society.

I look forward to engaging with you all over the next year." – David Chinn FRAeS, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Cessna SkyCourier gets type certification in Australia

Textron Aviation announced the Cessna SkyCourier twin utility turboprop has been awarded type certification by the Australia Certification & Accreditation Service Agency (ACASA), paving the way for the aircraft to serve remote communities, improve regional connectivity in Australia and cater to the region’s diverse aviation needs. This certification comes three months after the first SkyCourier order in Australia was announced at the Singapore Airshow.

“The SkyCourier’s incredible performance makes it a reliable business tool for customers all over the world,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Global Sales and Flight Operations. “This certification marks yet another milestone in the SkyCourier program. With the ability to load, fly, unload and repeat — along with low operating costs and maximum cabin flexibility — the SkyCourier is a game-changer in reaching remote destinations.”

The Cessna SkyCourier is meticulously designed to deliver unparalleled performance, unwavering reliability and cost-effective maintenance. With the ability to be operated by a single pilot and a generous payload capacity, the SkyCourier is the ultimate solution for air freight, passenger and special mission needs. The aircraft is highly adaptable and can easily adjust configurations to effectively complete virtually any mission, supporting a significant return on investment.

About the Cessna SkyCourier

The Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, high-wing turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators. It’s available in both freighter and passenger versions, as well as equipped with a gravel kit option. The 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both configurations offer single-point pressure refuelling to enable faster turnarounds.

The freighter variant features a large door and a flat floor cabin that is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with an impressive 6,000 pounds of payload capability.

The aircraft is powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines and features the McCauley Propeller C779, a heavy-duty and reliable 110-inch aluminum four-blade propeller, which is full feathering with reversible pitch, designed to enhance the performance of the aircraft while hauling tremendous loads. The SkyCourier is operated with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and has a maximum cruise speed of more than 200 ktas. The SkyCourier has a 900 nautical-mile maximum range.

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British Airways starts new customer access advisory panel

British Airways has held the first meeting of its new Customer Access Advisory Panel, aimed at engaging with members of the community to improve the end-to-end experience for its customers with accessibility requirements. The airline is committed to delivering a seamless experience for everyone and is dedicated to ensuring that its accessibility offering meets the diverse needs of its customers.

The independent panel, comprised of individuals with both visible and non-visible disabilities, met in person for the first-time and will come together every few months to provide invaluable feedback and discuss and review new initiatives, to ensure that British Airways’ products and services are designed and built with accessibility and inclusion front of mind. From IT solutions to airport and onboard experience, the panel will play an important role in shaping improvements within the airline and provide practical recommendations on best practices for inclusivity, informed by evidence and supported by lived experiences.

The panel is chaired by Mary Doyle, who is dedicated to providing organisations with practical support around inclusivity. Mary is also a proud wheelchair user and accessible aviation consultant, with a 25-year service delivery management background, which took her worldwide.

Other panellists include:

• Simon Houghton, a behaviour change consultant who was born deaf. Simon launched ‘WeSupportDeafAwareness’ during COVID and is the founder of UnseenAware, a movement designed to create an inclusive experience for customers and employees with disabilities that people don’t see
• Paul Hayman, an international Chief Financial Officer with more than 30 years’ experience. Paul is a frequent traveller and as someone with autism who finds air travel challenging, he is keen to help members of the neuro-diverse community by educating others
• Dom Hyams, Global Client Director at Purple Goat, the world’s first and only social-first inclusive marketing agency. Dom is the founding editor of the Disability Power100 - Power List of Disability, which showcases some of the most influential disabled changemakers in society
• Neil Barnfather MBE, a renowned entrepreneur and accessibility advocate. As a blind entrepreneur, Neil understands the challenges faced by disabled travellers. He couples this lived experience with an impressive background in technology, innovation and business transformation across sectors including telecommunications, fintech and aviation

Saudi Arabia’s aviation investment showcase will profile $100b in investment opportunities for airports, airlines, cargo, logistics and aviation services

The world's largest aviation investors are set to descend on Riyadh next month for the Future Aviation Forum (FAF24), where Saudi Arabia will showcase more than $100 billion in investment opportunities to enable its ambitious Saudi Aviation Strategy (SAS). 

The Forum's Investment Showcase from 20-22 May will highlight projects and incentives to attract investment into the Kingdom's booming aviation sector across airports, airlines, ground services, cargo and logistics. 

As part of the $100 billion of investment opportunities, airports account for more than $50 billion, new aircraft orders around $40 billion, while the remaining $10 billion is comprised of other projects, including $5 billion in special logistics areas around the three main airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. 

His Excellency the Minister for Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh-Al-Jasser, who will open FAF24 said: “Saudi Arabia is presenting aviation investment opportunities that are unmatched globally, as the Saudi Aviation Strategy triples passenger numbers, connects to more than 250 destinations and handles 330 million passengers and 4.5 million tons of cargo by 2030." 

Delta best for First/Business, Premium Economy Passenger Satisfaction; No. 1 in airline staff according to J.D. Power

One of the world’s most respected consumer intelligence organizations is recognizing the extraordinary care and skill of Delta people, the airline’s premium experiences and operational excellence that earns the trust of customers every day. Delta is the top-ranked airline in the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airline Satisfaction Study for both First/Business Class and Premium Economy segments –marking the second year in a row for the premium economy segment. 

“This is a wonderful reflection of our elevated customer experience, fueled by the unparalleled service of our 100,000 Delta people worldwide,” said Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines. “I’m incredibly proud of our team for continuously raising the bar for our customers.” 

Delta’s placement at the top of those segments was propelled by the airline’s consistent, industry-leading performance – powered Delta people -- across six of seven dimensions that J.D. Power evaluates, including: 

Day of travel pre-/post-flight experience 

On-board experience 

Ease of Travel with airline 

Digital tools 

Airline staff 

Level of trust with airline 

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Delta has been frequently recognized for its operational excellence and reliability, innovation and as one of the best companies to work for. The factor that regularly drives that recognition is Delta’s people.1

Should creating fake news be illegal? 85% say yes....

New research from digital identity security specialists, ID Crypt Global, reveals that an overwhelming majority of the UK public believe those who create and spread fake news should have their social media accounts banned, with 85% also believing that it should be made illegal. 

The survey of 1,121 members of the UK public, commissioned by ID Crypt Global, looked at concerns over the rise of fake news and mass disinformation and the repercussions that should be implemented in order to tackle it. 

The survey reveals that 73% of people report being concerned about the growing threat of fake news and disinformation that is spreading through social media. 

Due to this concern, 93% say more must be done to flag social media posts that contain fake news as to avoid them being widely spread.

In terms of identifying who is most responsible for stemming the flow of fake news, 73% of people think it’s the social media platforms who need to take charge; 17% say it’s down to the news providers whose stories are being falsified; and 11% say it’s the job of the government. 

On this point, ID Crypt Global is in disagreement with most of the UK public, believing that it’s the job of news outlets, not social media platforms, to ensure that fake news is stopped at the source and therefore impossible to spread. 

That’s why ID Crypt Global has created its leading Authenticated Media Protection (AMP) product, which creates an invisible cryptographic watermark that can be used to validate videos, photos, and other relevant media. A news or picture agency can embed their true images with this watermark and if the image is ever tampered with or doctored, it will be automatically flagged to everyone who sees it. 

Once fake news has been flagged, there is almost universal agreement that it should then be taken out of circulation with 93% of people saying it should be immediately removed from social media platforms. 

Bristow Helicopter pilots strike in battle over pay

Pilots and technical crews working for Bristow Helicopters supposedly providing essential emergency air service for HM Coastguard are on strike in a battle over pay.

Members of the BALPA union have selected strike in a long-running feud with the helicopter company for better pay and conditions which have been frozen for years.  The union claims the striking staff have given years of loyalty to the company during hard times, now the company is doing better,  they should be valued and fairly rewarded.

The company, already reeling after the crash of one of its Sikorsky S-92 helicopters at the start of March, said it was disappointed by the strike action, especially after an offer which "provides significant enhancements to pay and conditions”  had been put on the table. It urged the unit to rejoin it at arbitration service ACAS.

BALPA said the company was “failing to listen and come forward with a fair pay offer that is acceptable to members”. The helicopter crews voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action back in February of this year with a 96.31% YES vote on a 92.74% turnout. The union claims it called off an earlier planned strike as a mark of respect following the Sikorsky S-92  crash off the coast of Norway. However, other commentators indicated that in the wake of the crash, some craft had been grounded for checks and to go ahead with the strike would have had little impact on the company. 

Bristow said it had put comprehensive mitigation plans in place to support its customers, including the coastguard, but at this stage, it is unknown how many lives had been put at risk around the UK due to a lack of air support in a search and rescue capacity. 

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AerCap confirmed new engine order

AerCap Holdings has confirmed the purchase of 150 new CFM LEAP spare engines valued at approximately $3 billion at list prices. The engines will be managed by SES. SES is a 50/50 joint-venture company between Safran and AerCap. The additional engines will deliver in line with the growing fleet of in-service Boeing 737MAX and Airbus A320neo Family aircraft.  

The Board has declared the initiation of the company's first quarterly dividend on its common stock of $0.25 per share. This initial quarterly dividend is to be payable on June 13, 2024, to shareholders of record at close of business on May 22, 2024. The Board of Directors has also authorized a new $500 million share repurchase program through December 31, 2024. 

AG Cargo opens Dublin - Denver route

IAG Cargo has announced a new route between Dublin and Denver for the first time in its history.  From 17th May 2024, IAG Cargo customers will have the opportunity to transport goods directly between Dublin and Denver with a frequency of four times per week, utilising an Airbus 330-200 aircraft.

Additionally, services between Dublin and Toronto will also see a boost in capacity due to a wide body Airbus 330-200 now being used four times a week on the service.

This new service and additional capacity further support IAG Cargo’s Dublin hub as a gateway to North America, boasting over 80 weekly wide-body rotations - the additional services are essential to facilitating the movement of pharmaceutical products. This is incredibly important for Ireland as the Central Statistics Office revealed that medical and pharmaceutical items are the largest export for the country and have increased by €2,908 million (+48%) to €8,993 million in January 2024 compared with January 2023.[1]

Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at the cargo division of International Airlines Group said: “We are really pleased to be introducing additional direct routes for our customers, connecting Ireland and the US. Ireland’s strategic location and business friendly environment have established it as a key hub for the pharmaceutical industry. The additional capacity adds to our strong network offering in North America, giving local businesses a vital connection to global markets.”

. Special discount for a limited time! Save up to 30% now. 
 

ATSG Expands Operations in the Amazon Air Network

Air Transport Services Group, a leading provider of medium wide-body cargo aircraft leasing, air cargo transportation and related services, today announced an agreement to operate ten additional Boeing 767 freighters for Amazon.com Services LLC in the Amazon Air network by the end of 2024. The operating agreement through which ATSG’s airlines operate those aircraft will be extended to May 2029, with extension rights for five additional years.

“We’re pleased to further expand our leading role in the Amazon Air network that we started in 2016,” said Joe Hete, Chairman and CEO of ATSG. “Our operating capabilities will continue to support Amazon’s customer-centric commitments for years to come.”

Key features of the new and amended agreements include:

ATSG airlines to operate the initial ten Boeing 767-300 freighters provided by Amazon beginning in Summer 2024, with the potential to add up to ten more aircraft.

Operating agreement extended to May 2029, with the option to extend for an additional five years.

ATSG has also agreed to extend the exercise period for vested warrants for 21.8 million shares it previously issued to Amazon, amend the vesting conditions and extend the exercise period for unvested existing warrants for 2.9 million shares, and issued new warrants for up to 2.9 million additional shares to Amazon.

“These additional aircraft will allow us to leverage our existing infrastructure and capabilities for expanded operating revenues. This expanded and extended operating agreement is a testament to the dependability of our employees and the reliability we bring to the Amazon Air network,” Hete said. “Our mission is to continue to provide Amazon with exceptional service while creating value for all of our shareholders.”

Additional information about these agreements is provided in a Form 8-K that ATSG expects to file with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.

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JetBlue and Etihad Airways confirmed loyalty partnership as part of codeshare deal

JetBlue, New York's Hometown Airline, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced the addition of loyalty benefits starting today, May 8, 2024, as part of its long-standing codeshare partnership. The agreement between the two airlines was celebrated at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market today.

As part of the partnership, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program and members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, will now be able to earn and redeem points in the program of their choice when flying across the network of either airline.

“JetBlue has been an important partner for Etihad for almost a decade and we’re thrilled to be extending this partnership to our loyalty programmes, benefitting both of our airlines’ valued members. We look forward to welcoming and rewarding TrueBlue members,” said Mark Potter, managing director, Etihad Guest. “This also further bolsters Etihad’s commitment to the U.S. market, following the recent launch of our direct service connecting Abu Dhabi and Boston, as well as introducing our popular A380 onto the New York route, expanding capacity.”

“As a successful partner since 2014, we are excited to introduce loyalty benefits as part of our codeshare partnership with Etihad,” said Christopher Buckner, vice president of loyalty and partnerships, JetBlue. “This partnership extension delivers both JetBlue TrueBlue and Etihad Guest members more ways to earn and redeem on travel, making exploring either airline’s network of top global destinations even more rewarding.”

KLM Global Research says peoples priorities shifted post covid......

As travel will be at historic levels this summer accompanied with rising costs, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is launching its new brand platform Travel Well to promote and encourage meaningful travel to its 30.3 million passengers flying each year. KLM launched Travel Well to share the belief that travel is more than transportation. It is about making meaningful connections along the journey and that destinations are not just dots on a map to be collected. According to the global survey, Americans share this overall sentiment already but differ in other ways.

As part of its new platform, KLM tapped into the mindsets of 8,000 travelers across the globe in key markets including US, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Germany, The Netherlands, The UK, Denmark, and China to determine what their travel priorities are and to gain insights into shifts in various attitudes and their take on what meaningful travel means to them.

"Traveling not only helps us reach new places, but also introduces us to unique experiences, leading to greater inspiration and understanding. This, I believe, is one of the most wonderful aspects of travel. Each journey offers a chance not just to unwind, but also to reflect and gain richness from the diverse encounters we have," says Barry ter Voert, CXO & EVP Business Development at KLM.

"It's about valuing meaningful connections with destinations, people, and experiences. Quality, not quantity, defines each journey, where you consistently come back to KLM's personal and hospitable atmosphere."

Airbus finalises acquisition of Aerovel and its UAS Flexrotor

Airbus finalises acquisition of Aerovel and its UAS Flexrotor

Airbus has finalised the acquisition of U.S.-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, in a move to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.

"We see more and more armed forces and parapublic agencies around the world looking to investigate how unmanned aerial systems can strengthen their intelligence and surveillance capabilities. The Flexrotor, as a vertical takeoff and landing UAS, fits into our strategy to expand our UAS offerings. Together with the VSR700, we will continue to develop manned-unmanned teaming to offer our customers the enhanced and expanded mission capabilities that they require to monitor and safeguard their communities and critical infrastructure, while preserving essential assets such as helicopters,” said Mathilde Royer, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Airbus Helicopters.

Budget airlines easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz air join forces to warn European Commission against limiting scope of non-CO2 MRV

easyJet has teamed up with Ryanair and Wizz air to send a letter to the Director Generals of the European Commission, urging them to maintain the full geographical scope of its Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for non-CO2 emissions.

The airlines have appealed to the Commission that it must hold firm and ignore attempts being made by other industry actors to restrict the scope of the research to Intra-European flights only - arguing if pushed through this would be a huge missed opportunity to enhance understanding about non-CO2 effects in global regions.

In a joint statement, the three European airlines said:  “easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air today (3rd May) submitted a joint letter to the EU commission calling on them to reject the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) attempts to restrict monitoring of non-CO2 effects to intra-European flights.

Given long-haul extra-EEA flights account for c.70% of Europe’s aviation emissions, limiting the geographical scope of this research would not only undermine the EU’s proposed Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) programme but would be a huge missed opportunity to enhance understanding about non-CO2 effects in regions such as the North-Atlantic, where a high concentration of contrails are formed by long-haul flights.

We believe increased funding, data gathering, and research are necessary to build increased understanding of non-Co2 effects and how to best mitigate any negative impact they might have.”

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Turkish Airlines' loyalty programme does tie up with travel tech company utu

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles has joined the growing roster of international airline loyalty programs taking advantage of travel tech company utu's 40% tax refund boost for travellers.

Sanjay Chinchwade, Chief Commercial Officer, Partnerships, said, "Our goal is to transform tax-free shopping by providing travellers with the best value for their overseas purchases. This partnership not only allows Turkish Airlines' Miles&Smiles members to earn 40% more on their VAT refunds but to enjoy their travel more as well, as they collect bonus Miles from their tax-free Shopping."

Turkish Airlines Director of Marketing Arif Ali Gezmişoğlu stated: "At Turkish Airlines, we continuously strive to enhance our passengers' travel experience. This partnership with utu allows us to offer our Miles&Smiles members even more value on their journeys, transforming their tax-free shopping into rewarding travel benefits. It's another step in our commitment to making every trip with Turkish Airlines a truly rewarding experience."

From today, members of Miles&Smiles can use their utu Tax Free Card to receive an upsized value of USD 125 (4,167) worth of air Miles for every USD 100 in tax-free refunds claimed while shopping overseas - allowing travellers to earn and grow their Miles as they shop.

1,892,362 passengers flew with Norwegian in April, while Widerøe had 315,495 passengers

In April, Norwegian had 1,892,362 passengers, while its regional subsidiary,  Widerøe had 315,495 passengers, totalling 2,207,857 for the group. Capacity for Norwegian was up 18 percent compared to April last year, while the load factor was 80.3 percent. The airline operated an average of 81 aircraft this month, up from 73 in March, as the summer programme gets up to full speed. Regularity was negatively impacted in April, in large part due to ATC issues in Norwegian airspace.

“April marked a significant ramp up in capacity and we had on average 14 more aircraft in operation compared to the same month last year. The passenger numbers show an increase of 13 percent compared to the same period last year. We are pleased that many customers now book their summer holiday with us and advise customers that have specific dates in mind to book early,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

The capacity (ASK) was 3,155 million seat kilometres, up 18 percent from the same period last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 2,533 million seat kilometres, an increase of 14 percent from April 2023. The load factor for April was 80.3 percent, down three percentage points, in part due to the early Easter that this year predominantly fell in March. In April, Norwegian operated with a regularity, meaning the share of scheduled flights taking place, of 98.8 percent. 51 percent of all cancelled flights took place on 25 April, with both ATC strikes in Europe and the closure of airspace in Norway having large impacts on Norwegian and other airlines’ operation. The punctuality, share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 81.3 percent, down two percentage points from April last year.