Award-winning Air Carrier JSX launches new sun & ski routes to Florida and Salt Lake City from late 2024

The world’s only 5-star public charter jet service, JSX, is further expanding its flight network to some of the country’s best sun and ski destinations with the introduction of new seasonal sunshine routes to Naples, Florida (APF) and West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI), as well as the return of its seasonal service to Boca Raton, Florida (BCT), Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC), and Morristown, New Jersey (MMU), starting in late November and December 2024.

Perfectly timed for the holiday season and those seeking relaxation on the warm beaches of Florida or nature-driven activities in the outdoor adventure wonderland of Salt Lake City, Customers can soon enjoy a simple, crowd-free, and reliable air travel experience to these must-visit destinations with ease.

Dedicated to offering Customers streamlined and simplified service, JSX flies between dedicated crowd-free hangars on 30-seat jets featuring business class legroom, frictionless security, free onboard high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, in-seat power, and enhanced complimentary in-flight snacks and beverages. Customers can check in for most flights just 20 minutes before departure, avoiding the long lines and congestion of main airport terminals.

WestJet initiates flight cancellations in preparation for threat of strike by Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees

WestJet has started cancelling flights, as the airline reacts to its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Technical Operations employees plan to go on strike as of Friday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. MT. This action ensures the airline can safely park its aircraft in a controlled manner, while enabling proactive communication and preventing the stranding of WestJet's guests and crew.

WestJet has presented the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) with a Canadian industry-leading agreement that is better suited than the previously rejected tentative agreement. Just hours into day one of a mutually agreed to four-day bargaining period, the union served a strike notice. This timing could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 guests scheduled to travel over the July long weekend and appears to be an attempt to force an unreasonable contract.

"As we quickly approach the July long weekend, it is especially devastating that the strike notice we have received from AMFA forces us to begin cancelling flights and parking aircraft, for the second time in just over a week. As we are forced to make this painful decision, every one of us at WestJet feels the immense weight of the impact this will have on each of our guests and the communities we serve, counting on us to fulfill their travel plans this weekend," said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer.

In the coming 48-hours the WestJet Group will work to park aircraft, in a measured, phased and safe approach, resulting in the following cancellations.

Total cancellation summary

Thursday, June 27 – Friday, June 28, 2024

~25 cancellations

Guest impact*

~3300 guests impacted

*WestJet is making every effort to reaccommodate all impacted guests

"We remain at the bargaining table, committed to reaching an agreement; however, we have no choice but to hold strong on a reasonable outcome that protects our future and ability to provide Canadians with critical and affordable air travel. As we initiate flight cancellations across our network, we will continue to manage our operations to the highest degree of safety," concluded Pen.

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 Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport. Please visit WestJet's Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and more.

Bespoke Irish knitwear for Taylor Swift as her Irish ancestry revealed ahead of Dublin’s Eras Tour Dates

Taylor Swift fans are buzzing with anticipation for her upcoming Irish concerts from 28-30 June in Dublin, eager to know if she's already back on Irish soil. Taylor’s love for holidaying in Ireland and her passion for the humble Irish sweater are both well-documented, she created a global focus on the traditional Irish Aran jumper by wearing one to promote her album, “Evermore”.

In celebration of this and her love for holidays on the Emerald Isle, in collaboration with young Irish-designer, Gabrielle Malone, Ireland has created a bespoke cardigan for Taylor. It beautifully represents some of the locations in Ireland that Taylor has already visited.

Ahead of Taylor’s sold-out performances in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and their genealogy partners, The Irish Family History Centre, have uncovered details of the star’s ancestral ties to the island of Ireland and shared the research online, entitled The Love Story Before Love Story. It reveals that the pop superstar is a descendant of Susan Davis and Francis Gwynn, a couple who met while traversing the Atlantic aboard a ship which set sail from Derry-Londonderry in 1836. While in Dublin, visitors to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum can experience Taylor Swift’s journey through music, love and Irish heritage with special guided themed tours running daily.

Over the years, Taylor has been a frequent visitor to the island of Ireland, with subtle nods to places that she’s visited woven through her lyrics. This inspired the creation of the special cardigan. Its pattern has been released for anyone who wants to try their hand at creating their own version and is accompanied by top Swiftie things to do while in Dublin, on Ireland.com

Here are the Taylor Swift locations that inspired the cardigan and where fans can immerse themselves in the magic of Ireland - just like Taylor did.

‘Stay Stay Stay’ in the Wild Atlantic Way

Taylor Swift has enjoyed many stays along the Wild Atlantic Way. In 2021, she was pictured enjoying the sands under her feet at County Donegal’s Ballymastocker Bay in Portsalon, and it’s well-known she spent Christmas in 2018 in the historic and beautiful town of Glin in County Limerick, where she even purchased a Glin GAA Lotto ticket in a local pub.

The Wild Atlantic Way is represented in the cardigan with a Honeycomb stitch, a traditional Aran stitch – similar to the Aran jumper she wore to promote “Evermore” – inspired by beekeepers in Donegal, and beautiful West Limerick where the Shannon meets the Atlantic is represented by the wave stitch.

Escape to the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands for a “Folklore” inspired break

In 2021, it was rumoured that Ms. Swift nestled up in Cavan. Like Taylor, you can also enjoy the peace and tranquillity of County Cavan. CABÜ cabins in Killykeen Forest, located on the glittering shores of Lough Oughter offer woodland walks, bike rides, and forest bathing - the perfect respite for the mind, body, and soul. Also visit Cavan Burren Park where walking trails will take you by glacial boulders and spectacular dolmens.

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands is represented by a seed stitch reminiscent of the rich rural landscapes of this region, surrounded by tranquil paths, trails and waterways to paddle, stroll or pedal.

Create your own “Love Story” in Ireland’s Ancient East

Taylor has also visited many locations in County Wicklow while on a romantic holiday. Her admiration for the Garden County is keenly referenced in her song, "Sweet Nothings," where she reminisces:

“I spy with my little tired eye / Tiny as a firefly, a pebble / That we picked up last July / Down deep inside your pocket / We almost forgot it / Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?”

Ireland’s Ancient East is symbolized by a brick stitch, emblematic of the historic stone buildings that lie within this region, set against a backdrop of lush green landscapes.

The ‘Dublin’ Poets Department

Taylor Swift then made a discreet return from County Wicklow, successfully keeping a low profile while staying in a charming old coach house in Dublin, near the vibrant neighbourhood of Ranelagh.

For any budding songwriters or musicians, Windmill Lane recording studio is well worth a visit to learn about Ireland’s rich recorded music history, and where you can record your very own original song! Or visit MoLI – the Museum of Literature Ireland which has just launched a new collection dedicated to Dublin’s unique literary heritage, for some poetic inspiration.

Dublin is symbolized in the cardigan by the Hurdle stitch, evoking the cobblestones of the city.

The bespoke handknit is also adorned with hidden ‘Easter Eggs’: Taylor’s birth year and album title, '1989,' are subtly stitched into the collar, her lucky number '13' graces one sleeve cuff, and her initials 'T.S.' embellish the other. It’s a cardigan truly tailored for Taylor!

Taylor is no stranger to Northern Ireland either. The EPIC Irish Immigration Museum research has revealed her strong link to the city of Derry-Londonderry in the 1800’s and much more recently, in 2021, the star stayed in Belfast and was spotted in local spots like restaurant, Shu, and quirky cocktail bar, The Tipsy Bird. She fit right into the city, which was officially recognised as a UNESCO City of Music in the same year, reflective of Belfast's long history of producing some of the music industry's brightest stars. Production for re-release of her fourth studio album, “Red (Taylor's Version)” took place during this time too, with home studio “Kitty Committee Studio” (Belfast, UK) cited in the album's credits as the location where vocal tracks for mega-hits like the deeply emotional "All Too Well (Ten Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)," and “The Last Time" featuring Northern Ireland's own Gary Lightbody, were recorded.

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Tracy Lawlor takes on role of Chief People Officer at JetBlue permanently

JetBlue has confirmed that Tracy Lawlor will take on the job of chief people officer on a permanent basis at the carrier since being acting chief people officer since March 2024.

Reporting to CEO, Joanna Geraghty, Lawlor, who has worked for JetBlue for nearly 23 years, will be responsible for engaging JetBlue crewmembers and fostering its unique culture, overseeing teams such as compensation and benefits; diversity, equity and inclusion; crew relations; culture; values and labour relations; recruiting and talent management.

“Tracy is an experienced leader known for her ability to turn strategic visions into reality while fostering strong collaboration across the airline,” said Geraghty. “Her deep understanding of our business as well as her passion for our mission and values make her the ideal leader to help guide our people and culture as we execute our strategy and set up JetBlue for long-term success.”

Porter Airlines starts nonstop routes connecting Montréal and California

Porter Airlines is launching two new seasonal, nonstop routes connecting Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The YUL-LAX route offers four-times-weekly service beginning June 27, while the YUL-SFO route operates three-times weekly starting June 28.

The seasonal routes run until October 26, providing travellers with seamless connections between Eastern Canada and the Golden State’s vibrant west coast.

Passengers on these new routes will enjoy Porter's signature service, which includes complimentary premium snacks, free beer and wine served in glassware, and free, fast WiFi for all passengers. Fresh, healthy meals are also available on an all-inclusive basis with PorterReserve fares or can be purchased à la carte for those travelling in PorterClassic.

The flights are operated by the state-of-the-art 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, configured two-by-two which means no middle seats on any Porter flight. The E195-E2 is the most environmentally-friendly single-aisle aircraft, 65% quieter and up to 25% more fuel-efficient than previous-generation technology.

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The flight schedule is as follows:

Route	Service begins	Departure	Arrival
YUL-LAX (Mon., Wed., Thurs., Sat.)	June 27	7:40 p.m.	10:36 p.m.
LAX-YUL (Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sun.)	June 28	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.
YUL-SFO (Tues., Fri., Sun.)	June 28	8:00 p.m.	11:12 p.m.
SFO-YUL (Mon., Wed., Sat.)	June 29	6:15 a.m.	2:40 p.m.

All times are local.

The routes connect to Halifax, Toronto-Pearson and Toronto-City through Montréal-Trudeau, complementing existing daily non-stop service between Toronto-Pearson with both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Porter's joint venture partnership with Air Transat also facilitates convenient connections from YUL throughout Europe, including destinations such as Paris, London, Amsterdam and Marseille. Additionally, passengers flying into Los Angeles and San Francisco can connect to Alaska Airlines, accessing their broad U.S. West Coast network.

Kevin Jackson, president, Porter Airlines said: “These new routes open up exciting travel opportunities for our passengers. With our enhanced service offerings and strategic partnerships, we are committed to delivering an elevated travel experience across North America and beyond.”

Doug Webster, Interim Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer, Los Angeles World Airports commented: “ADM Aéroports de Montréal welcomes the addition of San Francisco and Los Angeles to Porter’s list of destinations. These new direct routes enhance the offering from Montréal and represent a great opportunity to develop air service to the United States. Whether for leisure or business, as a final destination or to connect to other cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco offer a range of possibilities, and these connections confirm once again the positioning of YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport as an international hub. Thank you to Porter for providing passengers with additional options that benefit our entire community!”

Air Canada updates winter schedule to offer 55 Caribbean and US Destinations.......

New Montreal-Saint Maarten*, Ottawa-Tulum*, Quebec City-Tulum* routes

Non-stop flights from Quebec City to Florida, Mexico, Caribbean

More flights from Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver to popular vacation destinations

Air Canada has updated its 2024-25 winter sun network, with increased frequencies and featuring new routes from Ottawa and Quebec City to Tulum and from Montreal to Saint Maarten. In addition, more flights are scheduled from Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to popular vacation destinations in Florida and the Caribbean. This winter, Air Canada plans to operate up to 50 flights departing Canada every day, serving a total of 55 Caribbean and US Sun vacation destinations.

"Air Canada continues to expand the breadth of its winter leisure network by adding new routes to in-demand leisure destinations, including Saint Maarten and Tulum. Air Canada was the first Canadian carrier to launch service to Tulum, the newest airport in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, and we are thrilled to expand our services to offer non-stop flights from both Ottawa and Quebec City to this exciting destination. With the addition of new services to SaintMaarten from Montreal complementing our services from Toronto, Air Canada offers the most weekly frequencies from Canada to this binational, multicultural Caribbean island," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning, at Air Canada.

"Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations will offer a multitude of travel options and increased frequencies from airports across Canada so customers can conveniently reach popular winter sun destinations. These flights are already available for sale and customers can make their winter travel plans now. We look forward to welcoming you onboard."

American Airlines welcomes Fiji Airways to the world of AAdvantage

American Airlines announced that Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, will join the award-winning AAdvantage travel rewards program in the coming year, offering members a host of benefits as well as earning and redemption capabilities when travelling on either airline.

This collaboration means that AAdvantage members will enjoy a seamless experience when traveling on Fiji Airways, receiving benefits such as priority check-in, priority boarding, complimentary baggage allowance, preferred seats and enhanced award redemption.     

“We are taking our partnership with Fiji Airways one step further by offering our mutual customers the opportunity to unlock more destinations and travel experiences through the AAdvantage program,” said Anmol Bhargava, American’s Vice President of Partnerships. “We look forward to welcoming Fiji Airways customers into the AAdvantage® program so they can experience all the ways we deliver on our commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage member.”

AAdvantage is the longest running travel loyalty program in the world — the program started in 1981 to reward frequent flyers. Now, AAdvantage is much more than a frequent flyer program — it’s a travel rewards program that gives members access to unparalleled experiences, with more ways to earn and use miles, and more rewards and status benefits.   

NASA picks SpaceX to bring down the International Space Station

SpaceX has been selected from very few other options to take the International Space Station out of its orbit and crash it into the sea at the end of its life during the early 2030s.

Elon Musk's California-based SpaceX is set to build a spacecraft capable of pushing the 430-tonne ageing space station from its position and directing it to an area of the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo.

Point Nemo is approximately 2,500km from land and is considered a safe place for the space platform to splash down. Its name was derived from the famous captain in Jules Verne's book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

It is understood the contract is up to $843m which is around £668m for SpaceX who will create a sort of tug to bring down the station when it reaches the end of its working life. The details of the designs have not yet been released by either NASA or SpaceX.  

Ken Bowersox, NASA's director of space operations said: "Selecting a US De-orbit Vehicle for the International Space Station (ISS) will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASA's plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth." 

ispace RESILIENCE lunar lander successfully achieves testing milestone in preparation for mission 2

ispace, inc. which is a lunar exploration company has announced today that the flight model of its HAKUTO-R Mission 2 RESILIENCE lunar lander has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing and remains on schedule for a Winter 2024 launch.

The testing was completed at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center in Tsukuba, Japan, where the agency operates a large testing facility. The flight model was assembled at the facility and all payloads or testing models were integrated into the lunar lander before testing began.

All Testing Success Criteria & Qualifications Attained

All test success criteria were met; ispace engineers are now reviewing the detailed data that RESILIENCE collected during the ten-day testing regime. The results will allow engineers to optimize the spacecraft thermally for spaceflight as well as improve flight operation procedures.

Thermal vacuum testing is conducted in a large chamber that allows the lunar lander to experience conditions similar to what it will face during its journey through outer space including extreme temperatures in a vacuum environment. Initial test results indicated successful operation of power systems, guidance, navigation and control (GNC) equipment, radio communications, and thermal control of the lander while simulating an actual spaceflight. During testing in the chamber, ispace operators utillized the lander’s onboard radio to assess connections, send commands to, and receive telemetry from the lander, further simulating actual flight operations.

Wisk Aero buys software company Verocel

Advanced Air Mobility company Wisk Aero has confirmed this week it has acquired Verocel Inc., a software verification and validation firm.  

Verocel’s unique expertise in supporting the certification of high-integrity aerospace software and the qualification of V&V tools will play a key role in Wisk’s ongoing effort to certify its Generation 6 autonomous, electric air taxi.

For the past 25 years, the Verocel team has been leading the V&V of high-integrity software products within the aerospace industry. The team has deep expertise in DO-178C and are members of industry standards committees for high-integrity software including RTCA/Special Committee, EUROCAE Working Group, and the FAA's Overarching Properties Working Group. Additionally, the qualified Verocel toolset – VeroTrace – provides a baseline for software certification requirements definition, tracking, and FAA submittals. This specialty expertise creates an enduring capability at Wisk that supports both the certification of the Generation 6 aircraft as well as future software developments at The Boeing Company.

JetBlue wants to fly between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Washington's Reagan National Airport twice a day.

New York's hometown airline, JetBlue wants to operate a second daily low fare nonstop flight between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico and is going to apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for slot exemptions.

The recently enacted Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 authorizes slot exemptions for five additional roundtrip flights at DCA beyond the airport’s 1,250-mile perimeter. JetBlue has operated the only daily nonstop service between DCA and SJU since the DOT awarded slot exemptions to the airline in 2012. Adding a second daily flight on this popular route underscores JetBlue's longstanding commitment to Puerto Rico and will provide additional easy capital-to-capital service in both directions.

This application is part of JetBlue's broader initiative to increase connectivity to and from Puerto Rico, including adding more domestic and international destinations, introducing the airline’s popular Mint premium service between New York and San Juan, and establishing a pilot and flight attendant crew base in San Juan. Additionally, adding a second daily flight on the route would support further connectivity to the U.S. Virgin Islands, including both St. Thomas and new service to St. Croix set to launch in December, as well as to additional destinations in the region.

Japan Airlines and Liverpool Football Club agree massive multi-year partnership

Liverpool Football Club and Japan Airlines have signed a global, multi-year partnership, which will see the award-winning airline become the club's official airline partner.

Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines Soar Together in Global Partnership

This partnership, which extends to both the men's and women's teams, aligns the global ambitions of two world-class brands, combining the passion and heritage of one of the world's most storied football clubs, with the exceptional service and reach of Japan's premier airline. Both organizations will work together to support and complement their ambitious global growth plans, leveraging their respective strengths to grow their global footprints.

Ben Latty, Chief Commercial Officer at Liverpool FC, said: "We are delighted to welcome Japan Airlines onboard. Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines are two premium market leaders, recognized for their winning mentality and shared commitment to connecting with either fans or flyers and communities worldwide."

"This partnership aligns our global ambitions, combining the passion and heritage of one of the world's most storied football clubs, with the exceptional service and reach of Japan's premier airline. The partnership will create opportunities for fans to engage with the club through unique activations and experiences."

"Partnering with Japan Airlines is another major step forward in our club's strategy to expand our international presence and engage more deeply with our diverse and dedicated global fanbase."

Liverpool FC is the most engaged club in the Premier League with over 1.5 billion fan engagements on social and the most viewed club on socials with 11.9 billion views. Liverpool FC is also the most watched European football club globally across domestic and league cup fixtures, with hundreds of millions of fans and over 330 Official Liverpool Supporters Clubs across the globe.

Junko Sakihara, Deputy Senior Vice President – Customer Experience at Japan Airlines, said: "This partnership is significant for us because it will allow us to deepen connections with our customers and develop new relationships with Liverpool FC fans around the world. We feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this exciting journey with the Liverpool FC and the LFC Foundation." 

Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines Embark on a Journey of Purpose

WestJet gets ready for more possible strike action.....

WestJet on Tuesday received a second strike notification, in the span of just over a week, from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union that represents WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) and other Technical Operations employees under the bargaining unit. The work stoppage, initiated by AMFA, could occur as early as Friday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. MT in advance of the long weekend, where more than 70,000 guests per day are booked for travel.

AMFA delivered strike notice less than one day into the parties' mutual agreement to return to the bargaining table across four days. WestJet presented a revised industry leading offer, which would see WestJet AME's receive a 22 per cent increase over four years, making them by far the best paid AMEs in Canada. The union's ask exceeds this mark by a long shot and remains unreasonable.

"Receiving a second strike notification from the union after they mutually agreed with WestJet in front of the CIRB to return to the bargaining table in good faith for an additional four days following last week's initial disruption, is disheartening and unacceptable for our guests, employees and the communities and businesses that rely on our service," said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Chief Operating Officer. "We sincerely regret the stress and uncertainty AMFA's tactics are causing Canadians, deliberately targeting the busy July long-weekend; however, we must hold strong on a reasonable outcome that protects affordable air travel for Canadians, for years to come."

Turkish Airlines named 'Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline' in World Finance's Sustainability Awards 2024

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Türkiye, continues to set an example in the aviation sector with its pioneering sustainability initiatives. Once again, Turkish Airlines has been honored with the 'Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline' award by World Finance, marking the prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year.

Amid the significant challenges posed by the climate crisis to the aviation industry, Turkish Airlines stands out with its voluntary carbon offset platform CO2mission, use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), sustainable in-flight products, waste management practices, and the sustainable travel experience it offers to its passengers.

Commenting on the award, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat, said: "Receiving the Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline award for the third-year running is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Turkish Airlines has set a strategic goal to become one of the world's top three airlines in terms of digitalisation. In line with our commitment to becoming a Carbon-Neutral Airline by 2050, we incorporated the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into our climate change mitigation plans in 2022, and we further expanded our use of SAF to new routes in 2023. We will continue to add new routes to our SAF-powered network and pursue our commitment to sustainable practices throughout our operations."

Hainan Airlines Holds Five-Star Rating for 13th Year, Secures Triple Win at World Award 2024

Alongside accolades for staff service and business class comfort, the carrier also celebrates a major safety milestone and expanded service offerings

On June 24, SKYTRAX, the global airline and airport service evaluator, unveiled the World Award 2024 in London, UK, with Hainan Airlines receiving the prestigious SKYTRAX Five-Star Airline accolade for its exceptional services and products for the thirteenth consecutive year. The carrier also triumphs in three categories: Best Airlines in China, Best Airlines Staff Service in China, and Best Business Class Comfort Amenities. Ding Yongzheng, Chairman of HNA Aviation Group, attended the World Award Ceremony.

Edward Plaisted, Chairman of Skytrax said: "We congratulate Hainan Airlines on the fabulous achievement of winning the Best Airline in China award for a remarkable thirteenth time. Their success in winning the Best Airline Staff Service in China award is a great reward for both the management and front-line staff of Hainan Airlines. Their final award for the Best Business Class Airline Amenities underlines the importance they place upon providing business class customers with the highest comfort levels onboard flights."

Mr. Zhu Tao, Chairman of Hainan Airlines said,"We are deeply honored to receive three prestigious awards at the 2024 World Award. This recognition is not only for Hainan Airlines' consistent efforts in product innovation, but also for our staff. With forward-looking concepts, Hainan Airlines works on innovative service models by technology and strives for eco-friendly operations. In the future, Hainan Airlines will promote this honour through five-star service, continuously pursuing excellence to provide travellers with safer, more convenient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly travel experiences."

Since joining the Liaoning Fangda Group, Hainan Airlines has begun a new chapter in its growth trajectory. By the end of February 2024, the airline had achieved a significant milestone of 10 million consecutive safe flight hours, earning the prestigious "Flight Safety Diamond Award" from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Hainan Airlines has also intensified its route recovery efforts, expanding its route network and enhancing its service offerings. Its commitment to safe, efficient, and high-quality aviation services has garnered widespread praise and favour among travellers.

Hainan Airlines continues to bolster the recovery of international routes and to broaden its network. For the 2024 summer and autumn seasons, the airline will operate nearly 500 domestic routes and over 40 international and regional routes, providing service to multiple cities across Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and beyond.

WestJet Cargo joins cargo.one to launch fully digital Canadian spirit to thousands more freight forwarders

 

                              WestJet Cargo, the cargo division of Canada’s second largest carrier, and cargo . one have launched the airline’s capacity on the market-leading air freight platform. For the first time, the global freight forwarding community gains instant and fully digital access to book WestJet Cargo’s services around the clock. WestJet Cargo has turned to the industry-leader to supercharge its digital distribution, rapidly gaining digital best practices and valuable new visibility in all its relevant markets worldwide.    

WestJet Cargo is renowned for fulfilling the diverse needs of the Canadian air cargo market with its unrivaled local expertise and an impressive network of 45 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. The airline offers freight forwarders great flexibility across its 180 aircraft fleet, including its modern Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, and substantial belly capacity within wide body long haul and narrow body passenger aircraft. 

Customers gain instant booking for WestJet Cargo’s impressive Canadian connectivity and extensive capacities throughout the Americas, Caribbean, Europe and Asia

Canada’s second largest carrier partners with category-leader cargo.one to boost its global reach, lower cost per sale, and guarantee a world-class digital experience 

Freight forwarders globally now enjoy seamless, user-friendly and 24/7 access to WestJet Cargo offers, with instant confirmation. Within a few clicks, forwarders can now discover, book, amend and track bookings, including import bookings, for general cargo and perishable shipments. cargo.one’s joyful booking process and WestJet Cargo’s famous Canadian care-driven approach combine to ensure that every customer receives an exceptional experience from end to end. 

Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo, comments, “This strategic partnership is a logical step in our digital transformation, accelerating our growth in digital bookings. Partnering with cargo.one aligns perfectly with our vision of delivering exceptional customer experiences.” 

“WestJet Cargo stands out as having a particularly strong alignment with cargo.one’s agility and mindset for prioritizing the customer experience. Our teams are together applying cargo.one technology and best practices to fully maximize WestJet Cargo’s digital sales journey”, adds Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one.  

European Airline Underperformance Highlights Consumer-Demand Risks, says Bloomberg Intelligence

European airlines will likely face lower earnings per share in the second half of the year, according to Bloomberg Intelligence’s Europe Airlines Midyear Outlook. Ticket prices might have peaked as demand from consumers decreases and flight capacity surpasses pre-pandemic levels. Although costs like wages and airport fees are rising, decreasing jet fuel prices could help mitigate these expenses. Major airlines like Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and IAG are expected to drive consolidation in H2 to boost efficiency, while budget airlines Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air are increasing competition in short- to medium-haul markets.

Other ongoing challenges for the industry include the slow return of business travel, persistent high interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainties such as conflicts and election outcomes.

Conroy Gaynor, BI Senior Consumer Analyst, commented: “European airlines' negative returns in Q2-to-date has significantly worsened the H1 underperformance vs. the Stoxx 600. This was partly driven by the largest low-cost carriers Ryanair and EasyJet reporting signs of more-fragile pricing this summer and is despite more upbeat profit outlooks from Wizz Air and Norwegian. Full-service carriers remain the biggest underperformers, with IAG's resilience failing to offset the decline in Lufthansa and Air France-KLM. Ryanair is the only peer trading above early 2020, as it came through the pandemic with its finances intact and a greater cost advantage, supporting its market-share ambitions.

“European airlines' valuation multiples reflect myriad challenges, including geopolitical risk, unions and competition, despite the buffer of protectionism for many full-service carriers. Virtual meeting platforms and lifestyle changes continue to stifle corporate travel, so premium leisure is being targeted for pricing mix. Meanwhile, the cost of carbon and environmentally friendly alternatives continue to threaten to push up air fares, driving short-haul demand to rail or other forms of travel.”

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Saudia wins The World's Most Improved Airline at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, was named ‘The World's Most Improved Airline’ and ranked number one for the Best Economy Class Airline Catering at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

The event was hosted by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization, known for its evaluation of the global airline industry. The World Airline Awards are based on a comprehensive global customer satisfaction survey conducted over several months, covering more than 375 airlines worldwide.

In recent years, Saudia has demonstrated unparalleled progress in its rankings, earning the title of ‘The World's Most Improved Airline’ for the third time. Saudia’s remarkable trajectory has seen its ranking surge over the past seven years, leaping from 82nd  place in 2017 to 23rd in 2023, and achieving the 20th position in 2024.

Saudia’s ‘SHINE’ transformation program has been instrumental in accomplishing this remarkable achievement as the initiatives are focused on elevating the guest experience, optimizing operational efficiency, and enhancing its service and product offerings, followed by the launching of Saudia’s new era of digital transformation and cutting-edge technologies. These efforts have propelled Saudia to rank among the top 10 airlines globally in On-Time Performance (OTP) throughout 2023, maintaining this position for six consecutive months. Notably, in May 2024, Saudia was ranked among the top five for arrival On-Time Performance (OTP-A) and first globally for the highest departure On-Time Performance (OTP-D).

Travelport Launches NDC Content and Servicing for Emirates on Travelport+

 Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, and Emirates, one of the world's largest international airlines, today announced that New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from Emirates and enhanced NDC servicing capabilities are now available in the Travelport+ platform.

With this launch, Travelport's agency customers will be able to easily view and compare more dynamic NDC offers and ancillaries from Emirates and create a more streamlined, personalized experience for travellers. Travelport's complete NDC solution for Emirates also provides agents the ability to service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations.

"Agencies using Travelport+ will now have access to better, more enriched content that is only available via the Emirates NDC channel," said Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates. "The integration of our systems will strengthen the expansion of our reach across the global travel retail community and allow them to offer travelers more choice among our best-in-class products and services."

"We are leading the way in delivering Emirates' NDC content to travel retailers and giving agents the ability to compare and book the best offers and ancillaries available from Emirates on Travelport+," said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. "This pivotal NDC milestone with Emirates proves Travelport is at the forefront of modern retailing with our ability to provide the best content and cutting-edge tools that agents require to create superior booking and servicing experiences for their customers."

Travelport's NDC content and servicing solution for Emirates has first become available to all agency customers located in Australia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Access to Emirates NDC solution in Travelport+ will expand to agency customers located in additional countries in the coming weeks.

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Liverpool Football Club and Japan Airlines enter into multi-year partnership as club's official airline partner

Liverpool Football Club and Japan Airlines have signed a global, multi-year partnership, which will see the award-winning airline become the club's official airline partner.

Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines Soar Together in Global Partnership

This partnership, which extends to both the men's and women's teams, aligns the global ambitions of two world-class brands, combining the passion and heritage of one of the world's most storied football clubs, with the exceptional service and reach of Japan's premier airline. Both organizations will work together to support and complement their ambitious global growth plans, leveraging their respective strengths to grow their global footprints.

Ben Latty, Chief Commercial Officer at Liverpool FC, said: "We are delighted to welcome Japan Airlines onboard. Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines are two premium market leaders, recognized for their winning mentality and shared commitment to connecting with either fans or flyers and communities worldwide."

"This partnership aligns our global ambitions, combining the passion and heritage of one of the world's most storied football clubs, with the exceptional service and reach of Japan's premier airline. The partnership will create opportunities for fans to engage with the club through unique activations and experiences."

"Partnering with Japan Airlines is another major step forward in our club's strategy to expand our international presence and engage more deeply with our diverse and dedicated global fanbase."

Liverpool FC is the most engaged club in the Premier League with over 1.5 billion fan engagements on social and the most viewed club on socials with 11.9 billion views. Liverpool FC is also the most watched European football club globally across domestic and league cup fixtures, with hundreds of millions of fans and over 330 Official Liverpool Supporters Clubs across the globe.

Junko Sakihara, Deputy Senior Vice President – Customer Experience at Japan Airlines, said: "This partnership is significant for us because it will allow us to deepen connections with our customers and develop new relationships with Liverpool FC fans around the world. We feel incredibly fortunate to be embarking on this exciting journey with the Liverpool FC and the LFC Foundation." 

Liverpool FC and Japan Airlines Embark on a Journey of Purpose

Finnair voted again as the Best Airline in Northern Europe

Air travellers have again voted Finnair the Best Airline in Northern Europe at the World Airline Awards by Skytrax in 2024. This is the 14th consecutive time that Finnair has received this recognition.  

The World Airline Awards by Skytrax is the world’s largest, annual airline passenger satisfaction survey, also known as the Oscars of the aviation industry. The survey analyses customer satisfaction for the overall airline customer experience, at both the airport and on board the aircraft.   

”We are honoured to receive this recognition, which is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our Finnair team who strive to ensure the smoothest possible travel experience for our customers every day across our customer touchpoints. We continue investing in seamless customer journey, starting from our digital channels and customer care to the inflight experience and cabin design,” says Ole Orvér, Finnair’s Chief Commercial Officer.

Finnair was also named Best Cabin Crew in Northern Europe, and awarded Cleanest Airline in Europe, which measures the standard and quality of aircraft cleanliness. Finnair also ranked within the top 25 airlines globally and moved up one place to 23rd place worldwide.

Finnair continues to work for customer experience with special focus on operative reliability, enhanced digital services and increased customer choice. Finnair has recently announced that the airline completed the rollout of its new 200-million-euro long-haul cabin renewal, with all long-haul aircraft now refurbished and the opening of a new, larger Finnair Lounge at Helsinki Airport Schengen area. In the coming months, Finnair will continue to invest in its customer experience and fleet, having announced the upcoming renewal of the cabins of its regional E190 aircraft.

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