Lufthansa Group brings fans to the soccer European Championship

Europe is in soccer fever and Lufthansa is bringing soccer fans to Germany: From June 14 to July 14, the airlines of Lufthansa Group are recording around 200,000 additional bookings for flights to the venues of the European Football Championship. Numerous additional flights are being added, especially to and from Great Britain. Lufthansa is ready for the soccer event and is already getting fans in the mood for the European Championships on board.  "As a partner of the German men's national soccer team, we are eagerly awaiting the event. We are particularly looking forward to flying soccer fans from all over the world to Germany,” says Heiko Reitz, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufthansa Airlines.

On the road with the “Fanhansa”

For all those travelling with “Fanhansa”, the private summer fairytale can begin as soon as you take off: A total of six aircraft in the A320 proudly display the familiar lettering and emit a soccer atmosphere both inside and out - from special headrests to the food trays that say “Breakfast for Champions”. In addition, special EM chocolates will be served on all flights.

Live ticker on all European flights 

Another highlight is the live ticker on board domestic German and European flights: The match action is transmitted in real time via text. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines passengers can follow the matches live in German and English on their own electronic devices free of charge throughout the European Championships via the FlyNet® portal. This is also possible on Lufthansa A350 flights with the new Allegris cabin interior and in the FlyNet® portal on Discover Airlines long-haul flights. 

Those who want more information about the European Championships can watch videos of the players from the DFB team take part in a quiz or get information about the ten German host cities on channels of the new Lufthansa Insights content system. This can be done on board in the FlyNet® portal and on the ground at Lufthansa.com.

As far as possible, the Lufthansa crews on all Lufthansa flights will provide the score of the respective soccer match.

Lufthansa fan scarf 

Lufthansa's specially created European fan scarf, whose design symbolizes the airline's route network, is already a popular souvenir. During Germany matches, the scarf is distributed free of charge at the airports of the host cities. In an oversized form, it welcomes passengers on the facade of Terminal 2 in Munich and sets the mood for this summer's major events: The European elections, the European Football Championships and the Olympic Games in Paris. The fan scarf will be on display until mid-August.

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Hailstorm severely damages Austrian Airlines Airbus A320

An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 aircraft was badly damaged after flying into a heavy and intense hailstorm during a flight on Sunday afternoon.

Austrian Airlines confirmed the incident occurred after the aircraft flew into a thunderstorm "which was not visible on the weather radar", and advised that none of the passengers onboard had been injured during the incident. 

The carrier said that a technical team has been "tasked with assessing the specific damage to the aircraft - As of now, the hail has damaged the two front cockpit windows, the aircraft nose (radome), and some coverings,"

Pictures show the nose cone of the aircraft badly damaged, with most of it disintegrated and the windscreens cracked and marked with hailstone impact marks.  At this stage, it is unclear on how many panes of glass were damaged in the incident.  

The A320 was operating flight 0S434 from Majorca to Vienna on Sunday when the crew declared an emergency after flying through a storm that, according to passengers, shook the aircraft with some force as it started its approach to Vienna.

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WestJet statement on AMFA ratification results

 The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the certified union representing WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees under the bargaining unit, today announced that its membership did not ratify the tentative agreement, reached on May 5, 2024. The results of the ratification do not impact operations.

"The failed ratification of the tentative agreement by our Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech ops employees under the bargaining unit is deeply concerning after what was a lengthy and challenging negotiation process with the union," said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. "The tentative agreement was fair, offered substantial improvements and would have made them the best paid Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in the country. It was also reflective of our commitment to addressing their priorities, while balancing what is financially sustainable for our business."

"We are committed to meeting with AMFA to determine next steps, although it is important to realize that the financial scope of the first tentative agreement must remain intact. Our goal remains to find a viable and reasonable path forward," concluded Pen.

easyJet releases 60 new routes for winter 2024

easyJet has announced its largest release of new routes with 60 new routes now available to book including 33 routes launching from 11 UK airports, with flights taking off for the first time from this winter.

The release includes a new winter service to Tromso in Norway for the very first time with departures from London Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester, as well as a year-round service from London Gatwick to Strasbourg, a brand new French destination for the airline.

New twice-weekly flights to Tromso will launch on 11 November from London Gatwick with departures on Mondays and Fridays, from Manchester on 19 November with departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays and from Bristol on 5 December on Thursdays and Sundays throughout winter, so customers can plan an arctic adventure in one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.

Flights to London Gatwick to Strasbourg will operate three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays throughout the year, giving customers the choice of a week or weekend break to explore this historic French city.

The airline has launched three routes from London Luton to Athens and Basel which both start on 7 November and Djerba in Tunisia which will start on 11 November. The new route to Athens will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, complementing the airline’s existing four UK routes to Athens and as a year-round route, customers can also benefit from this being a gateway to the beautiful Greek islands. The new route to Basel will operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and the new route to Djerba will operate year round on Mondays and Fridays.

United Airlines adding almost 200 flights for political conventions

U.S. mega carrier United confirmed today it has added nearly 200 new flights to make it even easier for convention attendees and political enthusiasts to travel to this summer's national political conventions. United will increase its Milwaukee flying by more than 75% for the Republican National Convention in July and will fly its largest schedule from its Chicago O'Hare hub since 2019 for the Democratic National Convention in August, including a 40% increase in flying between Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan.

In total, the airline will add 72 flights to and from Milwaukee in July and 118 flights to and from Chicago in August.

"These conventions are steeped in tradition and have now evolved to become a weeklong celebration of our political process," said Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. "We're proud to give people even more options to visit two great cities, and participate in these historic events and make their voices heard."

Republican National Convention Schedule

United is flying a 75% larger Milwaukee schedule for the Republican National Convention, enabling nearly 5,000 more people to attend the historic event. In total, United will have more than 280 flights to and from Milwaukee the week of the convention including:

A new, nonstop flight between Milwaukee and Washington Reagan Airport.

72 additional flights from United's hubs in Chicago O'Hare, New York/Newark, Denver, Washington Dulles and Houston.

20 roundtrip flights on larger aircraft.

Democratic National Convention Schedule

United will fly its largest Chicago O'Hare schedule since 2019 for the Democratic National Convention, with more than 530 flights per day on peak days. The schedule includes:

38 additional flights between Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan. All flights between the airports on peak convention days will be on Boeing 737 MAX 8, with United's signature interiors.

More than 80 added flights between Chicago O'Hare and cities like Albany, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle.

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Arajet takes delivery of its 10th Boeing 737 MAX

Arajet’s 10th Boeing 737 MAX arrived today in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic as the airline continues to grow its fuel-efficient fleet. This 737 MAX 8 delivery through a lessor supports Arajet’s growth strategy throughout the Americas as the airline plans to more than double its routes in the next few years.

“This tenth aircraft is unique, not only because it has a special Dominican ribbon painted on the fuselage, but because it will increase the number of connections we make with the continent. We are reaffirming our commitment to democratize the skies and be able to connect all our countries with the lowest possible prices,” said Victor Pacheco Méndez, CEO and founder of Arajet.

Since launching in 2022, Arajet has grown its all-737 MAX fleet to serve 23 destinations in 16 countries, including Canada, Mexico and Argentina. Arajet’s performance earned it recognition as the Startup Airline of the year at the World Aviation Summit in 2023.

JetBlue expands New York metro presence with service from Long Island MacArthur Airport

JetBlue has confirmed it will launch services for the first time from Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP). Starting this October, JetBlue will begin offering flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). This new service aims to help better serve the many loyal JetBlue customers living on Long Island, providing them with more convenient travel options to popular destinations in Florida.

Strengthening New York's Hometown Airline

As New York’s Hometown Airline for more than 24 years and the only major U.S. airline based in New York City, JetBlue’s expansion onto Long Island underscores its commitment to enhancing connectivity for New Yorkers. This new service will bolster JetBlue's presence in the New York Metro area, complementing its existing operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

"Long Island is an integral part of the New York Metro area, and we are excited to bring our award-winning service to customers in this community," said Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships. "The addition of Long Island MacArthur Airport to our network will offer more options and greater convenience for customers, and we are proud to provide new opportunities for more Long Islanders to experience our unique combination of low fares and great service."

WestJet and Virgin Atlantic confirm significant expansion of codeshare relationship

Beginning this winter, WestJet guests will gain access to an extensive list of unique international destinations via London's Heathrow Airport, through the expansion of WestJet's codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic. Through this expansion, WestJet will sell itineraries including flights operated by Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow (LHR) to destinations within Virgin Atlantic's international network for winter 2024/2024. By summer 2025, WestJet will also provide domestic connectivity to Virgin Atlantic's newly announced route between Toronto-Pearson and London Heathrow.

Earlier this week in Las Vegas, alongside Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet announced the expanded relationship. The agreement was signed last week at the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dubai, where WestJet's John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, was joined by Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, to expand the current codeshare agreement between both airlines. WestJet and Virgin Atlantic have had an established codeshare partnership since 2019.

"Through the expansion of our existing partnership with Virgin Atlantic, we are unlocking amazing opportunities for our guests to access an extensive list of new destinations and to experience Virgin Atlantic's innovative products and services beyond London," said Weatherill. "With daily flights from our global hub in Calgary to London, Canadians have never had better international access from across Western Canada to the United Kingdom and beyond."

Virgin Australia commences flights between Melbourne and Uluru

For the first time in history, Virgin Australia commences flights between Melbourne and the nation’s Spiritual Heartland, Uluru, with the airline’s maiden Brisbane-Uluru service set to take flight from tomorrow.

Launched in partnership with the Northern Territory Government and Voyages Indigenous Tourism (operators of Ayers Rock Resort, Uluru), the new services will add 62,000 seats to the Red Centre each year, while supporting the growth of the Indigenous tourism sector which contributes almost $6bn^ to the national visitor economy.

The increased access and tourism will also benefit Indigenous employment and training at Ayers Rock Resort, where over 30 per cent of the workforce identifies as Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander - making it one of the largest Indigenous employers in the Australian tourism sector.

Connecting the world to Uluru

Virgin Australia’s Uluru services will also create a new convenient gateway for travellers from Victoria and Queensland, while opening one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks to more than 600 cities around the world through Virgin Australia’s codeshare partnerships with major airlines including Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and more. Codeshare flights to Uluru will also mean international tourists can travel on a single ticket, creating a seamless journey to the Red Centre when they visit Australia.

The flights will be operated using Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737 aircraft, with up to 182 seats on every flight, including three seating choices (Business Class, Economy X (extra leg room Economy) and Economy).

Virgin Australia CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said the launch of Virgin Australia Uluru services marks a very special milestone for the airline.

Air France launches a new cadet pilot recruitment campaign

Air France is now accepting applications for its cadet pilot programme. Designed to train and launch the careers of the next generation of pilots, candidates of all ages and levels of flying experience are encouraged to apply.

The candidates chosen after a rigorous selection process will benefit from a full 24-month training programme entirely paid for by Air France and provided by the airline’s partner schools. At the end of the training, they will start their careers as First Officers:

- on Air France’s Airbus A220 and A320 aircraft

- on Transavia’s Boeing B737 and Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Becoming an Air France pilot means joining an airline with over 90 years of history. Air France pilots carry out their mission with the highest level of flight safety, technical expertise and eco-responsible piloting, with a constant focus on customer satisfaction.

Air France is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion and gender equality. The company actively encourages women to take up technical professions. The previous cadet pilot graduates were made up of 10% women (compared with 9% of women pilots within the company as a whole).

The recruitment campaign is now open and runs until 15 July 2024. To find out more about the programme’s eligibility requirements and selection process, go to https://corporate.airfrance.com/en/airline-pilot

In partnership with the Fédération Française Aéronautique (FFA) and the Fédération Française de Vol en Planeur (FFVP), Air France is offering aspiring pilots the chance to find out more about the cadet programme recruitment and training process at webinars on Thursday 6 June at 6pm (FFA) and Thursday 13 June at 6pm (FFVP).

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More flights to Bali with Air New Zealand.

Air New Zealand has made a change to its schedule and turned a seasonal route into an all-year-round operation.  The carrier will now be flying a minimum of two flights per week to Bali all year long and in peak season ANZ will fly up to seven times a week. 

The move aims to provide year-round flight options following an increased demand for the popular holiday hotspot.  Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said:  “Bali has become an increasingly popular destination for Kiwi holidaymakers. With something to offer every type of traveller – from culture to incredible food, surf, relaxation, and adventure – expanding our Bali services made sense.  

As the only airline offering a direct connection between Aotearoa and Bali, Kiwis heading off on a Bali break over the summer months no longer need to fly with a stopover. Holidaymakers can book a Bali Christmas or New Year holiday with direct flights to warm weather through the day and long balmy nights.

With more than 800 seats available to Bali each week between November and February there are more options than ever to explore the popular Indonesian islands and all they have to offer.”

Volaris scores 86% load factor in May....

Volaris, the ultra-low-cost carrier serving Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America, has reported its May 2024 preliminary traffic results. 

In May 2024, Volaris' ASM capacity decreased by 17.5% year-over-year due to the accelerated Pratt & Whitney engine inspections and the resulting aircraft groundings. However, load factor increased by 1.6 pp YoY to 86.1%, as RPMs decreased by less than capacity. Mexican domestic RPMs decreased by 22.0%, while international RPMs decreased by 3.6%. Volaris transported 2.4 million passengers during the month.

Enrique Beltranena, Volaris’ President, and CEO said: “Despite limitations in capacity growth due to fleet availability, we have successfully increased capacity in the U.S.-Mexico transborder market while optimizing our entire network. The international market now represents over 40% of our total capacity, leveraging our ability to generate US dollar sales. Further, our strategic adjustments to the domestic network are yielding promising results. Booking trends for the remainder of the second quarter are meeting our expectations and showing robust performance.”

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Volaris offers low base fares to build its market, providing quality service and extensive customer choice. Since the beginning of operations in March 2006, Volaris has increased its routes from 5 to more than 197 and its fleet from 4 to 134 aircraft. Volaris offers more than 460 daily flight segments on routes that connect 44 cities in Mexico and 29 cities in the United States, Central, and South America, with one of the youngest fleets in Mexico. Volaris targets passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, cost-conscious business and leisure travelers in Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America. Volaris has received the ESR Award for Social Corporate Responsibility for fifteen consecutive years. 

Increased capacity leads to more passengers for PLAY

Passenger Numbers and Load Factor Rising Amid Increased Capacity

The Icelandic budget airline PLAY carried 146,692 passengers in May 2024, a 14% increase from May last year when PLAY carried 128,847 passengers. PLAY´s load factor in May 2024 was 86.4% compared to 84.8% in May 2023. PLAY continues its trend of increasing its load factor while increasing available seat kilometers (ASKs) between years by 11%. Revenue per passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased between years by 13%.

Of the passengers flying with PLAY in May 2024, 29.9% were travelling from Iceland, 22.4% were travelling to Iceland, and 47.7% were connecting passengers (VIA). May 2024 proved to be a strong month for traffic from Iceland, including the VIA share. Historically, demand for flights to Iceland in May has not been high, but the results demonstrate the flexibility of PLAY's network to adapt to seasonal changes.

PLAY´s on-time performance was 86.8% in May 2024, which is a good result and above our annual target of 85% on-time performance.

New GDS agreement and expansion of partnership with Dohop

PLAY airlines has expanded its partnership with Dohop to become a retail partner with the launch of PLAY Connect. Tapping into new demand by connecting with launch partners Norwegian, Azores Airlines and SKY Express, with more partner airlines to join soon. This allows PLAY to offer its customers hundreds of weekly flight connections worldwide.

With 80 new destinations available, PLAY Connect enables travelers to conveniently book flight connections across multiple airline partners including ancillaries in a single booking process, complementing the 40 destinations that PLAY already serves in Europe and North America.

PLAY has also partnered with GO7, a global leader in airline technology, to broaden its distribution capability.  PLAY is now activated in the major global distribution systems (GDSs) worldwide through GO7, enabling travel agencies around the globe to book PLAY‘s flights.

Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO of PLAY airlines said:  "We are showing adequate results for May. Our passenger numbers and load factor are trending higher while we increase our available seat kilometers. This is a positive sign but we want to do even better for the coming peak season, and we are determent to do so.

We see significant demand for flights from Iceland, and our VIA flights have allowed us to maintain a decent load factor, despite the demand for flights to Iceland having wavered a bit.

Harbour Air seaplane collides with boat in Vancouver...

A number of people were injured over the weekend then a Harbour Air aircraft collieded with a recreational boat in Coal Harbour, Vancouver. 

Harbour Air, North America’s leading seaplane airline, confirmed the seaplane had been in the take-off stage of a scenic tour with five passengers on board when it came into contact with the boat. The airline revealed that all of the passengers and the pilot were uninjured in the incident.

The local Vancouver Police Department said a number of people were treated for minor injuries with two taken to hospital. BC Emergency Health Services told local media that none of the other 10 people required transport to hospital. 

Harbour Air has a fleet of 45 aircraft and offers up to 300 daily scheduled flights, scenic tours, adventure packages, and private flights. With over 12 scheduled destinations connecting downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle (WA), Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Vancouver Airport/Richmond, Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Powell River and Comox, B.C. Harbour Air transports around 500,000 passengers every year.

The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver registration C-FFHA is currently underweater and attached to a barge at the Main Street Dock.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed and investigation was underwayt an d that it had already begun conducting witness interviews and was working with an aircraft recovery team to understand its plans. "In the next few days, the investigation team will attend the aircraft recovery, examine the wreckage, continue gathering information, and conduct more interviews," a TSB spokesperson confirmed. 

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Sirius Aviation AG to Unveil Revolutionary SiriusJet at MOVE Expo in London

Sirius Aviation announced the official global unveiling of the SiriusJet, a groundbreaking hydrogen-powered luxury business jet will occur at the MOVE Expo in London on Thursday, June 20, 2024. As the world's premier tech mobility event, MOVE Expo unites innovators and leaders shaping the future of mobility.

Sirius Aviation AG's CEO Alexey Popov will spearhead the presentation alongside co-speaker and design partner BMW Group Designworks, highlighting the groundbreaking jet's cutting-edge features and unveiling the official promotional video.

Event Highlights:

Official Presentation: The SiriusJet will be officially introduced to the world on June 20, 2024, at 2 p.m., during the MOVE Expo in London. The event will take place on the main stage, featuring a comprehensive presentation by Sirius Aviation AG's CEO, Alexey Popov.

Historic Partnership with BMW Group Designworks: This launch marks a significant partnership between Sirius Aviation AG and BMW Group Designworks, blending state-of-the-art technology with elegant design.

Innovative Hydrogen-Powered Aircraft: The SiriusJet sets a new standard in aviation with its hydrogen propulsion system paired with luxurious business jet features. This pioneering approach signifies a major leap towards sustainable aviation.

Lithuanian Airports are looking for a duty-free shop operator

Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) is launching an international lease tender to select a duty-free shop operator for Vilnius and Kaunas airports. The selected partner is expected to start operations at Vilnius and Kaunas airports in 2025. LTOU representatives say that the tender is expected to attract the attention of international market players and applications are expected by the second half of September. 

The future duty-free operator will lease and operate in a total of 2,574 sqm of space at the airports in the capital and Kaunas. 

Currently, both Vilnius and Kaunas airports have Heinemann Duty Free stores operated by Travel Retail Vilnius. 

It is recalled that a total of four international tenders for the selection of leasing partners have been announced or will be announced in 2024. The first one was announced for the operator of an everyday convenience store, and now the selection of a duty-free operator has been announced. 

One tender has also already been launched for the selection of a catering operator, which will set up and operate six catering outlets at Vilnius Airport. Later this year, another tender for a catering operator will be launched for the installation and management of three catering facilities. 

Strategic infrastructure development

UK airports forced to reintroduce restrictions on carrying liquids over 100ml.....

Following updated guidance from the UK's Department for Transport, a temporary 100ml restriction on liquids has been reintroduced for passengers travelling from a number of regional airports that had invested in Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC).

The Department for Transport said the reintroducing restrictions was not in response to a specific threat and  would "enable further improvements to be made to the new checkpoint systems" 

The change came into effect on Sunday morning and affects regional airports around the UK including including London Southend, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, London City, and Aberdeen. It has also been introduced at Jersey Airport in the Channel Islands.

The larger and busier airports, including London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester are not affected by the change as they still have the restrictions on liquids in place as the new scanners have not yet been installed there. 

London Southend Airport stated "passengers travelling through London Southend Airport can still keep everything, including all liquids and large electrical items, in their cabin baggage when passing through security.  Any liquids above 100ml will not be permitted to travel and must be voluntarily abandoned. Water bottles can be refilled after Security."

Ports of Jersey advised passengers would need to put all liquids, aerosols, gels and pastes carried in their hand luggage into the security trays for screening, adding that there was "no need" to place them in a plastic bag.

Nick Barton, the chief executive of Birmingham Airport condemned the temporary reinstatement of restrictions saying he was "very disappointed" by the news.  He also blamed passengers for the long queues at the airport, telling local media "A non-compliant bag with liquids over 100ml can add up to 20 minutes to each passenger's journey through security."

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Yahsat contracts Airbus for the construction of Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites

Fully flexible, software-defined payloads will allow in-orbit reconfiguration of coverage area, capacity and communication frequencies

Contract includes two Airbus ARROW spacecraft platforms for future deployment in low Earth orbit

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider announced today that it has contracted Airbus Defence and Space, a leading satellite manufacturer, for its new geostationary telecommunications satellites, Al Yah 4 (“AY4”) and Al Yah 5 (“AY5”).

The significant step follows the signing of an Authorisation-to-Proceed with Airbus in Q2 2023 to commence initial activities in relation to the AY4 and AY5 satellite programme.

Airbus will design and build the AY4 and AY5 satellites based on the Eurostar Neo platform, with each having flexible payloads and benefitting from the strong heritage of the Eurostar family. The flexible multi-band payloads can be fully reconfigured while in orbit, capable of adjusting the coverage area, capacity and frequency “on the fly” to meet evolving mission scenarios.

Both AY4 and AY5 satellites will offer secure governmental communications over a wide geographical area across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. The new advanced satellites will eventually replace Al Yah 1 and Al Yah 2, which were launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and based on a previous version of the Airbus-built Eurostar platform.

Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, said: “Today marks a real milestone with Yahsat selecting our pioneering fully flexible satellite technology. Sixteen years ago, we signed our first contract with Yahsat, bringing the first sovereign telecommunications satellite to the UAE. And now, our long-standing relationship is moving up a gear with this contract for two Eurostar Neos, further strengthening Yahsat’s in-orbit resources.”

Ali Al Hashemi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Yahsat, commented: “We are delighted to sign this contract with Airbus as part of our continuous efforts to enhance our satellite communications capabilities with the next generation of satellites. This is a significant step in Yahsat’s growth trajectory. The Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5 satellites will enable us to provide the UAE Government with new cutting-edge solutions. Additionally, the two new LEO satellite platforms will support Yahsat’s future direction of providing multi-orbit satellite solutions to its customers.”

British Airways customers invited to travel to London City Airport by boat

From the Thames to the terminal

British Airways has teamed up with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to offer a scenic journey to the airport with 25% off tickets and a complimentary drink on the Thames.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is London’s River Bus service, stopping at 24 piers across the capital between Putney Pier in the west and Barking Riverside in the east.

Whether travelling from Putney to Palma or Battersea to Berlin, the offer is available to those flying with BA Cityflyer, British Airways’ subsidiary airline based at London City Airport.

Customers disembarking at Royal Wharf Pier will find themselves just a short DLR ride from London City, making it smooth sailing to the airport complete with up close views of landmarks such as Big Ben, The London Eye, The Shard and The Cutty Sark.

Porter starts another new route..............Ottawa - St. John’s

Porter Airlines is inaugurating service between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and St. John’s International Airport (YYT), becoming the only airline to connect the two destinations with non-stop flights.

The new route starts with daily service on the brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which carries up to 132 passengers. With a two-by-two configuration and no middle seats, the toughest choice for anyone flying Porter is choosing between a window or an aisle seat.

Free and fast WiFi on all E195-E2 flights helps keep passengers connected in the air, while complimentary premium snacks paired with free beer and wine, served in glassware, ensures that everyone who flies Porter can actually enjoy economy.

PorterReserve passengers enjoy extra legroom and priority boarding on all flights, and fresh, healthy meals on longer flights - all available à la carte to PorterClassic passengers.

Ottawa is a Porter hub, offering passengers flights to over a dozen destinations in Canada and the U.S. This includes regional centres like Fredericton and Thunder Bay, Western Canada cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and locations in the United States like Orlando, Boston and New York.

United Airlines launches first media network

United Airlines announced this week, the launch of Kinective Media by United Airlines - the first media network that uses insights from travel behaviours to connect customers to personalized, real-time advertising, content, experiences and offers from leading brands.

The new technology platform gives marketers the opportunity to scale their reach across a wide range of channels including United's award-winning mobile app and inflight entertainment screens. And the airline expects its MileagePlus® members will receive additional value through more personalized and real-time offers and experiences that drive even greater loyalty.

Kinective Media is already working with brands such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Macy's, Chase United Co-Brand Credit Cards, TelevisaUnivision, IHG Hotels & Resorts, as well as agency groups like Dentsu. The focus is on premium brand relationships across key verticals such as retail, luxury goods, financial services, automotive, media brands and travel.

Kinective Media plans a formal commercial launch at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

"We've built a first-of-its-kind, real-time, adtech-enabled traveller media network where brands have already started connecting to premium audiences at an unmatched scale," said Richard Nunn, CEO of MileagePlus. "Unlike some commerce media platforms, United gives brands across a wide range of industries the ability to reach engaged customers throughout the entire marketing funnel – from brand consideration to conversion – in a way that's highly personalized and relevant, and we're already seeing impressive results. There has been a huge strategic shift within this high growth sector in the past five years where advertisers and brands have come together to determine how best to connect with consumers in a way that's valuable, effective and personalized."

Another Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft for WestJet

The WestJet Group has confirmed it will acquire a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from aviation leasing company, AerDragon. The aircraft is expected to integrate into the WestJet Group's fleet and operations in 2024. The aircraft received from AerDragon will add to the growing list of new-to-WestJet aircraft, joining the Group's fleet this year. 

"In partnership with AerDragon, we are adding to our Boeing 737 MAX family and building momentum towards supporting our capacity growth plans for 2024," said Mike Scott, WestJet Group, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. "Every aircraft added to our fleet means critical air access for Canadians and today's announcement further reaffirms our mission to provide affordable air travel."

While WestJet guests will benefit from the additional capacity across the airline's network, the aircraft will not immediately reflect the interior cabin experience, synonymous with the WestJet Group. Updating and refreshing the interior cabins of the aircraft will be prioritized as part of the airlines' existing fleet reconfiguration plans, to ensure a consistent experience for guests across its operation as soon as possible.

"We are pleased to welcome WestJet to AerDragon's growing list of customers. We look forward to continuing to support WestJet's development and building a long-term partnership with the airline." said Gang Li, AerDragon's Chief Executive Officer.

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World’s first in-flight study of commercial aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel show significant non-CO2 emission reductions

In-flight measurements from an A350 aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) show a significant reduction in soot particle emissions and formation of contrail ice crystals compared to using conventional aviation fuel

Global model simulations estimate 26% reduction in contrails' climate impact when using 100% SAF

Results from the world's first in-flight study of the impact of using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on both engines of a commercial aircraft show a reduction in soot particles and formation of contrail ice crystals compared to using conventional Jet A-1 fuel. 

The ECLIF3 study, in which Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and SAF producer Neste collaborated, was the first to measure the impact of 100% SAF use to emissions from both engines of an Airbus A350 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and followed by a DLR chase plane.

Compared to a reference Jet A-1 fuel, the number of contrail ice crystals per mass of unblended SAF consumed was reduced by 56%, which could significantly reduce the climate-warming effect of contrails.

Global climate model simulations conducted by DLR were used to estimate the change in the energy balance in Earth’s atmosphere - also known as radiative forcing - by contrails. The impact of contrails was estimated to be reduced by at least 26 percent with 100% SAF use compared to contrails resulting from the Jet A-1 reference fuel used in ECLIF3. These results show that using SAF in flight could significantly reduce the climate impact of aviation in the short term by reducing non-CO2 effects such as contrails, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions over the lifecycle of SAF.

“The results from the ECLIF3 flight experiments show how the use of 100 percent SAF can help us to significantly reduce the climate-warming effect of contrails, in addition to lowering the carbon footprint of flying – a clear sign of the effectiveness of SAF towards climate-compatible aviation”, said Markus Fischer, DLR Divisional Board Member for Aeronautics.

New Lapland flights launching this winter

British Airways has added Lapland to its list, and checked it twice, as it prepares to launch new flights to Santa Claus’s home region this winter.

Departing from London Gatwick, new twice-weekly flights will launch on 3 December 2024 and fly customers to Ivalo, which is home to Finland’s most northerly airport.

Ivalo is a village on the Ivalo River in Lapland, located in the Arctic Circle. It welcomes visitors from all over the world, particularly during the winter months, to enjoy cold weather and Christmas activities. It is known as a gateway to Saariselkä, a resort village attracting those who enjoy winter sports from skiing and snowmobile safaris to toboggan rides and snowshoeing.

easyJet to serve Costa Coffee onboard all flights from this summer

easyJet and Costa Coffee launch a new collaboration that will see two of the UK’s leading brands take flight together. Serving millions of customers across Europe, Costa Coffee will be available onboard all easyJet flights from this summer.

Set to launch late summer 2024, the new offering will see a range of Costa Coffee’s hot beverage options take to the skies, with easyJet customers able to choose from Cappuccino, Latte, Salted Caramel Latte, as well as a Decaf option, crafted specifically for tasting great at 30,000 feet.

The collaboration is set to further enhance the range of onboard refreshments easyJet offers through its EAT.DRINK.SHOP range, served across easyJet’s entire network of nearly 1000 routes to more than 155 airports across 35 countries, through easyJet’s catering and retail partner dnata. 

easyJet has also recently launched its new summer EAT.DRINK.SHOP range onboard, including new fresh food and snacks, as well as a selection of children’s products that return for the summer, providing customers with more choice onboard than ever before.