CDB Aviation Closes $700 Million Loan Aircraft Portfolio Financing

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., announced today that the lessor entered into a US$700 million facility agreement secured with a portfolio of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody and widebody aircraft on lease to various of the lessor’s airline customers.

The facility is financed by a group of leading MLA banks, including Natixis, CACIB, BNP Paribas, the Korean Development Bank, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Hong Kong Branch, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (acting through its offshore banking unit), CaixaBank, S.A., and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited.

Natixis, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (“CACIB”), and BNP Paribas acted as Coordinators and Sustainability Structuring Advisors. CACIB also acted as the Facility Agent, Security Trustee, and Sustainability Agent.

Emirates' first retrofitted 777 aircraft featuring its latest cabin interiors takes off to Geneva

Highly anticipated new Business Class seats and Premium Economy Class cabins debut for the first time on the 777

The first Emirates Boeing 777 with a nose-to-tail cabin refresh sporting a new look has rolled into service, as it prepares to take off to Geneva this afternoon as EK 83. The aircraft took a total of 37 days for a complete revamp and will be entering service four days ahead of its officially announced deployment schedule.

Watch this timelapse video offering a glimpse into how the first Emirates 777 cabins were gutted, fitted and refurbished by the airline’s seasoned in-house engineering team.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline said: “Emirates continues to carry out our commitment to deliver an unmatchable onboard experience with the introduction of our latest Boeing 777 with new signature interiors, raising the industry benchmark when it comes to premium travel. Our latest Business Class cabin offers customers a sense of exclusivity and privacy, complemented by our best-in-class suite of onboard products. The addition of our popular Premium Economy cabin, rated one of the best in the industry, injects modern sophistication to the flying experience and is carefully designed for more comfort.  With more Boeing 777s and A380s refreshed to sport our latest generation onboard products, customers can consistently have the very best experiences in the sky across both aircraft types.” 

The Emirates Boeing 777 entered refurbishment in early July, with a planned reconfiguration of the aircraft to make way for a new Premium Economy cabin consisting of 24 seats set in three rows in a 2-4-2 abreast layout. The cream leather seats, accentuated by wood panel finishings across the cabin, offer enhanced comfort with a 38-inch pitch, 19.5-inch-wide seats that recline 8 inches providing more space for stretching and relaxing, in addition to 6-way adjustable headrests.

Air Lease Corporation confirms the delivery of first of ten Boeing 787-10 aircraft to Korean Air

 Air Lease Corporation announced the delivery of one new Boeing 787-10 to Korean Air. This aircraft is the first of ten 787-10s confirmed to deliver to the Korean flag carrier from ALC’s orderbook with Boeing.

“ALC is thrilled to announce delivery of the first of ten new Boing 787-10 aircraft leased to our longtime customer, Korean Air. We are honoured to continue to build on our strong relationship with Korean and support its exciting and transformational growth as one of the world’s premier airlines,” said John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President of Air Lease Corporation.

“Korean Air is excited to extend our strong relationship with ALC,” said Walter Cho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Korean Air. “Korean Air has been a longtime loyal customer of ALC, and this addition will strengthen the future relationship. The 787-10 from ALC will be part of Korean Air's flagship aircraft, serving many key destinations around the world. With competitive and sustainable aircraft such as the 787-10, ALC and Korean Air will continue to strengthen the already strong relationship between the two companies.”

ALC currently has five Boeing aircraft on long-term lease to Korean Air, including two 777-300ERs and three 737-800s.

Korean Air is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of South Korea, with global headquarters located in Gonghang Dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air's international passenger division and related subsidiary cargo division together serve 130 cities in 45 countries, while its domestic division serves 20 destinations. It is among the top 20 airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried and is also the top-ranked international cargo airline. Incheon International Airport serves as Korean Air's international hub.

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Cathay Group orders 30 new Airbus A330neo jets

Hong Kong’s Cathay Group has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A330-900 widebody aircraft. The order follows a thorough evaluation by the airline under its mid-size widebody fleet renewal programme.

The newly-ordered aircraft will enable Cathay to modernise its earlier generation A330-300 fleet and expand its operations on high-capacity regional routes. The aircraft will also offer flexibility to serve longer-range destinations. As with all A330neo aircraft, the fleet will be powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said: “As Cathay completes the final stretch of its rebuilding journey, we are turning the page to modernisation and growth, both in terms of scope and quality. We are delighted to announce this new order for state-of-the-art A330neo aircraft. This substantial investment reflects not only our immense confidence in Hong Kong’s leading international aviation hub status, but also represents our commitment to fostering our home city’s ongoing development.”

“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel  efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Expanded codeshare partnership between British Airways and Bangkok Airways will allow seamless travel from the UK to destinations in Thailand and Cambodia

British Airways is offering a wider choice of Southeast Asian holiday destinations, thanks to an increase in flights from London to Bangkok, and an expanded codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways.

The airline announced earlier this year that its direct route from London Gatwick to Bangkok will return on 28 October 2024, operating three times per week to the Thai capital. As of this week, the service will increase to up to five times per week between January and March 2025.

Furthermore, its existing codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways has been expanded to open up five new destinations across Thailand and Cambodia, allowing customers to connect seamlessly in Bangkok onto:

Phuket (HKT), Thailand

Koh Samui (USM), Thailand

Chaing Mai (CNX), Thailand

Phnom Penh (PNH), Cambodia

Siem Reap (SAI), Cambodia

Customers will have the option to incorporate a stopover in Bangkok into their journey before continuing onto their final destination on the same ticket.

Bangkok Airways, known as Asia’s Boutique Airline, operates an extensive domestic network in Thailand, as well as to destinations across Cambodia, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Laos, and Singapore. It operates a fleet of more than 20 aircraft, each decorated in different liveries of its exotic destinations.

This agreement means British Airways customers travelling from or transiting through London will be able to connect to their final destination in Thailand or Cambodia on a single ticket. Customers can expect more choice and flexibility when travelling to one of these five popular holiday destinations.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, will also collect Avios and earn Tier Points when flying on Bangkok Airways on a British Airways codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, as well as hotel stays, car hire and more. Tier Points help Members earn status to unlock benefits such as lounge access and free seat selection.

Air Canada's Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Air Canada today reported its second quarter 2024 financial results.

Second quarter operating revenues of $5.5 billion, increased 2% year over year

Operating income of $466 million, decreased $336 million year over year

Adjusted EBITDA* of $914 million, decreased $306 million year over year

Leverage ratio* of 1.0 as at June 30, 2024, compared to 1.1 at end of 2023

"Air Canada today reported second quarter operating revenues of more than $5.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $914 million.  We saw healthy demand, with load factors remaining above historical averages. We remained sharply focused on our customers and operations throughout the quarter and experienced a 10-percentage point year-over-year improvement in our on-time performance, even with the increased flying. I thank our employees for their hard work in safely transporting 11.6 million customers in the quarter and I am pleased to see their efforts recognized as we were ranked the best airline in Canada and received five honours at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Awards, the most of any Canadian carrier," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

"When compared to the second quarter of 2023, we increased our capacity 6.5 per cent in the period.  Our adjusted unit cost was well contained, increasing 1.7 per cent. This was supported through rigorous cost discipline, which is always a top priority for us.  We will continue to adapt to market conditions, manage capacity proactively and contain costs through productivity and other initiatives. 

We further diversified our network, including with services to Singapore, Stockholm and India, and enhanced our operational flexibility by securing an additional eight Boeing 737-8 aircraft, set to enter service next year. These actions reaffirm our dedication to our customers, whom I thank for their continued loyalty.  We are proud of our role as Canada's leading global airline, connecting Canada to the world."

Turkish Airlines to offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi over its fleet

Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to more countries than any other, is committed to enhancing its in-flight experience through the integration of latest developments and innovative technologies. In line with this strategy, the national flag carrier is working to provide all passengers with free, unlimited, uninterrupted and fast connectivity service within two years, starting from the end of 2025.

As part of this initiative, Turkish Airlines plans to retrofit its existing fleet with the latest in-flight connectivity (IFC) technologies and equip the new aircraft with the most efficient IFC technologies available. This will enable the carrier to extend the IFC service currently offered in the majority of its fleet to the entire Turkish Airlines’ fleet, providing all passengers with unlimited, uninterrupted, and faster IFC service free of charge.

With the integration of the new IFC technologies, Turkish Airlines aims to meet the expectations of its passengers regarding their digital consumption habits during travel. Therefore, Turkish Airlines is open to collaboration with all suppliers, and the carrier is actively negotiating with local and international suppliers that can offer the best IFC service solutions for its entire fleet. In addition, Turkish Airlines provides support to Turkish companies in the development of solutions for this connectivity service. In this regard, Turkish Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TCI Aircraft Interiors, a certified aviation products provider, and Turksat, a regional leader in satellite technologies. The signing of the MoU highlights Turkish Airlines’ is considering leveraging national capacity and the carrier helps support Turkish companies in establishing a presence in the IFC sector.

Following the necessary feasibility studies, all stakeholders will work to develop an understanding and endeavour to transform the MoU into a definitive agreement. Turkish Airlines remains committed to ensuring the highest level of passenger experience and advancing the Turkish aviation industry.

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Air Canada partners with Elevate Aviation for ACE week to promote women in aviation

Last month, Air Canada proudly took part in the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) week with Elevate Aviation in Edmonton, Alberta. A group of 17 women from diverse backgrounds in the Edmonton area were introduced to the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) profession by Berlyn Siscar and Carina Dung, Air Canada AMEs based in our Vancouver hub, as part as the Women Employment Skills training program.  

“The Aviation Career Exploration program is designed and built to introduce people to careers in aviation by giving them a hands-on immersive experience about various careers in aviation,” said Christine Merrick, Director, of Elevate Aviation Learning Centre. “Everybody knows what a pilot is, what a flight attendant is, but not everybody knows what an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer does and not everybody knows what a de-icing technician does, so our goal is to expand that reach and education about these careers.”  

The ACE program is not just for adults. Elevate Aviation organizes field trips for students from grade 6 to grade 12, hoping to ignite a passion for aviation in children. 

Air Canada solidified its partnership with Elevate Aviation in 2023 by signing an agreement that includes extensive support for many of their initiatives including the annual gala, the Cross Country Tour which took place earlier this year, as well as the ACE program.  

“The Air Canada partnership is very important to us. We would not be able to do this without the support of our partners in aviation. Not only the monetary support but also having professionals in the industry taking the time to come here and talk to our students, like during the ACE week. We are very grateful for that, and it does make a difference in these women’s lives,” said Christine Merrick.  

Finavia’s renovation of Kuopio Airport completed

Airport company Finavia has completed the exceptionally extensive runway and taxiway renovation of Kuopio Airport. The renovation, which cost almost EUR 20 million in total, enables the continuation of smooth and safe air traffic at Kuopio Airport.

Finavia has extensively renovated the airport area for three summers in a row. During the summer 2024 renovation, the asphalting of the runway was redone, the taxiways were widened and resurfaced and the airport lighting system was modernised.

“Over the past three years, Finavia has made significant investments in the development of Kuopio Airport’s air traffic areas. Thanks to the good planning work, the project was completed within the original budget and schedule,” says Mari Nurminen, Finavia’s Vice President responsible for Central and Eastern Finland airports.

The summer 2024 renovation project at Kuopio Airport employed about 80 people in the local area, and several local companies were involved in its implementation. Finavia’s environmental, electrical and earthworks experts were involved in the planning of the project. In addition, planning work was carried out in close cooperation with the companies and authorities operating at Kuopio Airport.

Finavia’s environmental goals guide the planning and implementation

Kuopio Airport is surrounded by water, which is why the approach lighting line used by aircraft is built in water. As part of the summer 2024 renovation, both the approach lighting line and the associated support structures were replaced according to a detailed plan. The condition of the body of water was monitored throughout the project by flying drones, among other things. With the help of a drone flying high up in the air, it has been possible to monitor that the currents do not move the soil in the renovation area in the lake away from the areas limited by filter nets.

Vietnam Airlines takes delivery of its 5th Boeing 787-10

At the end of July, Vietnam Airlines took delivery of its 5th Boeing 787-10 aircraft, which is also the 30th wide-body plane to join the carrier’s growing fleet.  The latest addition was welcomed with a grand celebration at Noi Bai International Airport. 

The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is the largest in the 787 family with a length of over 68 metres, a payload of 56-60 tonnes and can cover a maximum distance of nearly 12,000 km. Vietnam Airlines operates the aircraft in a two-class configuration with 24 seats in Business Class and 343 seats in Economy Class.

Dang Anh Tuan, Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, said:  “Being a flag carrier of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines is committed to upgrading and expanding our fleet. We aim not only to provide the highest levels of passenger comfort but also to fulfil our mission of connecting Vietnam with the world, therefore significantly supporting economic and social development."

The Boeing 787-10 boasts a range of technological advancements and modern amenities tailored to enhance passenger experience. Highlights include a spacious cabin, comfortable seats, large overhead bin and windows, modern entertainment system, adjustable LED lighting, lower cabin altitude, cleaner air, higher humidity, improved temperature control.

For availability and reservations on Vietnam Airlines please see here.

Turkish Airlines increased its passenger capacity by 7.7% in the second quarter of 2024, carrying 22.1 million passengers

Turkish Airlines increased its passenger capacity by 7.7% in the second quarter of 2024, carrying 22.1 million passengers and recording a Profit From Main Operations of 591 million USD.

Despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions, bottlenecks in aircraft production, and engine problems, Turkish Airlines continued its growth uninterruptedly thanks to its agility and extensive flight network, carrying a total of 22.1 million passenger in the second quarter of the year. According to data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), while global passenger capacity in the second quarter of 2024 has just reached pre-pandemic levels, our Incorporation exceeded 2019 passenger capacity by 38% as one of the leading airlines in the industry amid intensifying competition.

Through its operations at Europe's largest air cargo facility, Smartist, Turkish Cargo captured a significant share of the accelerated e-commerce growth in the second quarter of this year. Additionally, it provided a major alternative for shippers who did not want to be affected by the disruptions in the Suez Canal. As a result, Turkish Cargo increased the amount of cargo carried in the first six months of 2024 by 32% annually and became the third-largest air cargo carrier in the world, as reported by IATA figures.

Delta extends corporate priority benefits to LATAM Airlines

The new benefits will be available on LATAM flights beginning this month, offering corporate travellers even more reasons to choose Delta and its partners for their travel needs. 

Delta Air Lines is expanding its Global Corporate Priority benefits program to include LATAM Airlines, further enhancing the travel experience for business customers. This initiative marks another milestone in Delta's commitment to offering unparalleled service and benefits to corporate travellers worldwide. 

Since becoming the first U.S. global airline to align benefits globally for its corporate customers with Air France and KLM in 2018, and subsequently with Aeromexico and Virgin Atlantic in 2019, Delta continues to lead the way in providing seamless and enhanced travel experiences for business travelers.  

Corporate passengers traveling on Delta and LATAM flights between South America and the U.S. on their travel day will enjoy exclusive benefits such as: 

Priority Boarding: Corporate travellers will be prioritized according to each carrier's boarding process.  

Denied Boarding Prioritization: If every confirmed passenger cannot be accommodated on a flight, corporate travelers receive priority status in involuntary denied boarding situations.   

Downgrade Prioritization: In the unlikely event we cannot accommodate every ticketed passenger in a cabin of service, corporate travelers take priority over nonbusiness travelers of comparable status.   

Priority Service Recovery: Corporate travelers will be prioritized above other passengers during rebooking for flights and seats when loyalty status and booking class are the same.   

This expanded Global Corporate Priority benefits program builds on Delta's Corporate Priority program, initially launched in 2014. Inspired by feedback from hundreds of Delta customers and its partners' joint corporate customers, the program has been continually refined to meet the evolving needs of business travelers. 

"We are thrilled to extend our Global Corporate Priority benefits to LATAM Airlines, offering our corporate customers even more value and convenience," says Luciano Macagno, Delta’s Managing Director for Latin America, the Caribbean and South Florida. "This expansion is a testament to our commitment to providing superior service and benefits to our business travelers, ensuring they receive the best possible travel experience." 

The new benefits will be available on LATAM flights beginning this month, offering corporate travellers even more reasons to choose Delta and its partners for their travel needs. 

DELTA-LATAM 

The expansion of the Global Corporate Priority benefits program is a key component of the broader Delta-LATAM Joint Venture. This partnership aims to enhance connectivity and provide a seamless travel experience for passengers travelling between North and South America. 

Delta-LATAM is the leading airline partnership for travel between the U.S./Canada and South America. The Joint Venture between the two award-winning airlines is transforming travel between the two continents by offering an improved customer experience for its passengers and cargo customers through benefits such as the joint accumulation of miles/points in frequent flyer programs and faster connections to access more than 300 destinations through the partner hubs in Atlanta, Miami, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Bogota, Lima, Santiago, and Sao Paulo. The joint venture applies to select markets between North and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay).  

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Joby applies for certification in Australia

Joby Aviation has formally applied for its revolutionary aircraft to be certified for use in Australia, the company confirmed this week. The application to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (“CASA”) for the validation of an FAA (“Federal Aviation Administration”) type certification builds on a bi-lateral agreement between the U.S. regulator and CASA, and it lays the groundwork for the introduction of quiet, emissions-free air taxis in Australia.

“We’re incredibly excited about the potential for air taxis to offer new and more sustainable ways to travel around Australia’s global cities,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “With commercial powered-lift operations already considered in CASA's regulatory frameworks, we’re pleased to be working with Australian authorities using a regulatory path to market that is actively being pursued by numerous countries around the world.”

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

Merlin kicks off KC-135 in-flight data collection with SNC for the United States Air Force

Merlin, a developer of safe, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, has announced this week that together with its partner, global aerospace and defence leader SNC, it recently conducted the first three test flights in Merlin’s ongoing KC-135 Stratotanker test program at the Pittsburgh Air National Guard Base. 

From 22 July, Merlin and SNC were granted a temporary military flight release by the United States Air Force (USAF). The team conducted real-time data collection and analysis to inform the Merlin Pilot’s integration design and flight control tuning for military aircraft.

The flights support an ongoing agreement with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to design, integrate, test, and demonstrate aspects of the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135. Merlin engineers also joined USAF pilots on data collection flights at MacDill Air Force Base in May 2024. The flights helped the team better understand crew workload drivers for military use cases. Together, these milestones signify Merlin’s progressive system design and integration work to achieve its goal of an in-flight demonstration of the Merlin Pilot in the next year, as well as support broader product alignment to help inform the planned Next Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS).

“Autonomous capabilities are essential to increasing operational capacity for the USAF and enhancing national security, emphasizing the importance of these data collection flights to properly inform the integration design ahead of flight demonstrations,” said Matt George, CEO and founder, Merlin. “Over the last few months, we’ve achieved important milestones on the KC-135 that allow us to strengthen the relationship between the pilot and the aircraft as well as enhance safety and operational efficiency aboard a vital military aircraft. These are foundational and critical steps that get us closer to advancing and scaling autonomous capabilities across the USAF’s fleet.”

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Turkish Technic and Citilink sign a component support agreement

Turkish Technic, one of the largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies worldwide, has recently signed Component Support Agreement with Citilink, a leading budget airline in Indonesia.

This new Component Support agreement covers Citilink’s Airbus A320 fleet. This cooperation will allow Citilink to benefit from Turkish Technic’s component support and solution services including component pooling, repair, overhaul, modification, home base kits and logistics services.

Turkish Technic has been providing component support and solution services to Citilink for many years. Turkish Technic also added landing gear overhaul services to the list of services it provides for operator, solidifying the long-standing partnership further.

Commenting on the agreement Mikail Akbulut, CEO of Turkish Technic, said: ‘‘This agreement is a testament to Citilink's trust in our expertise and capabilities. We are excited to consolidate our long-standing partnership with our comprehensive component support services for their Airbus A320 fleet. We are confident in our ability to continue providing reliable and high-quality component services for the operator. We thank Citilink for trusting us as their solution partner over the years and look forward to many more successful years together.”

Avelo Airlines to introduce a new route between Wilmington and Atlanta

Plus the return of three popular Florida destinations 

The fledgling carrier, Avelo Airlines is adding a new route from Wilmington Airport to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Plus it has confirmed the return of three popular Florida destinations and a second-based aircraft coming back to Wilmington Airport. This expansion enables Avelo to significantly expand its convenient, affordable and reliable air service in the Delaware Valley.

Beginning early November, Avelo will operate these routes twice weekly utilizing Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Specific route information and start dates below. 

Last month, Avelo announced nonstop service to Charlotte / Concord, N.C. (USA) and Central Florida’s Orlando / Lakeland (LAL), bringing the total number of routes at ILG to 13.

Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said, “Avelo is proud to be the Philadelphia / Delaware Valley region’s airline of choice and continue growth at ILG with a new route to Atlanta, the return of Daytona Beach, the Palm Beaches and Sarasota-Bradenton and adding back our second based aircraft. Our Customers tell us they love the convenience, affordability and reliability of flying Avelo at ILG. I appreciate the support Avelo has received from community leaders across the state and send special thanks to our awesome ILG Crewmembers who make it all happen.”

China Eastern starts flights between Beijing and Xi'an with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China C919 jets

China Eastern Airlines has started operating flights between Beijing and Xi'an of Shaanxi province with the C919 regional jet. This marks the fifth commercial regular flight operated by China's first self-developed narrow-body jet, reported China Daily.

China Eastern has expanded its Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China C919 fleet to seven and operates them on various routes between Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Beijing, Chengdu, Xi'an and Guangzhou. 

As of Saturday, the C919 fleet has conducted 3,133 commercial flights, safely carrying nearly 420,000 passenger trips.

Taylor on Strings: A free open-air classical concert on 13 August

City String Ensemble to play over a dozen innovative interpretations of famous Taylor Swift songs

Just days before Taylor Swift returns to Wembley Stadium for her August concert dates, Wembley Park presents an enchanting open-air concert featuring some of her most famous songs.

Taking place at The Sound Shell in Wembley Park’s Samovar Space from 6.30pm on Tuesday 13^th August, the dynamic string quartet, City String Ensemble, will deliver their innovative interpretations of more than a dozen Taylor Swift hits at the one-off ‘Taylor on Strings’ event. 

Wembley Park – Northwest London’s renowned entertainment district – has already hosted hundreds of thousands of Swifties for the superstar’s June concerts at Wembley Stadium. Now, fans will be treated to an exquisite evening of original performances of her songs. Tickets are free but must be booked online in advance as spaces are limited.

“We are excited to bring our unique interpretations of Taylor Swift's music to life at Wembley Park,” comments Sophie Poteratchi, Founder and Violinist of City String Ensemble. “This concert offers an opportunity for Swifties to experience Taylor’s music in a more intimate setting - with our signature style of bringing each song to life with string instruments.”

London-based City String Ensemble began as a quartet but has grown into a dynamic string orchestra. The classically trained musicians are renowned for their innovative interpretations of contemporary and classical music. Formed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the group released its debut EP, ‘Twenty Twenty,’ in 2020, followed by further releases in 2021 and 2022. Live performances span genres including modern pop, anime soundtracks and classical favourites.

The enchanting interpretations delivered by City String Ensemble at ‘Taylor on Strings’ will include Love Story, Fortnight, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Anti-Hero, Shake It Off, Cruel Summer and many other famous Swift songs.

MAG launches Little Book of Travel Tales in time for the school summer holidays!

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has launched its latest Little Book of Travel Tales to entertain young travellers this summer. 

 The book will be handed out by airport colleagues across terminals at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports over the summer holiday period.  

It was created as part of a World Book Day competition earlier this year, which was held at schools surrounding all three airports, with schoolchildren given the chance to share their stories with passengers. 

Seven schools were involved in submitting their stories with themes including flights, aircraft, holidays and working at the airport. In addition to 13 different stories, the book includes puzzles, activities and a holiday diary.  

 The book has been published as part of MAG’s newly launched ‘Little Flyers Club’. The Club, set up for MAG’s young travellers, is made up of five animated characters – Jet, Porter, Casey, Carrie and Finn. With a dedicated webpage on all of MAG’s airport websites, parents can access both digital and print-out activities for their children (London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands). The Club aims to educate and entertain children about travel and aviation as they fly off for their holidays. Young people can also find the characters as they travel through the airport and pose for a photo with their favourite. 

Ethiopian MRO Services to set up ATR aircraft maintenance and training capabilities

ATR, the world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, and Ethiopian MRO Services, a world-class maintenance and training provider, part of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, announced the signature of a Letter of Intent aimed at developing Ethiopian MRO Services’s ATR aircraft maintenance and training capabilities. This strategic agreement marks a significant milestone in expanding ATR’s presence in Africa and the Middle East, enabling enhanced support to local operators and fostering market growth.

The cooperation would cover the development of Ethiopian MRO Services’s maintenance capabilities for ATR aircraft types and the establishment of a local spares’ stock to reduce response time for ATR operators in the region. It would also explore collaborative ways to train new ATR pilots with the Ethiopian Aviation University, the most modern aviation guru.

With its extensive aircraft maintenance and repair capability, an international network for seamless spare parts delivery, multiple hubs across the continent, and an aviation training university, Ethiopian MRO Services is a key player in the aftermarket and the ideal local partner to cater to the needs of the 36 airlines operating 131 ATR aircraft across Africa and the Middle East. 

Air Europa Cargo partners with cargo . one to propel its global digital sales

Air Europa Cargo and cargo . one today unveiled a global partnership that brings the popular Spanish carrier’s cargo capacity to the leading platform for digital air cargo bookings. cargo.one will soon launch Air Europa Cargo’s services to its substantial global community of freight forwarders. Air Europa Cargo has turned its attention to cargo.one as a fully digital, truly global platform partner to improve visibility of its offers, reduce its cost of sale and guarantee customers a robust and user-friendly booking experience.

Building on more than 30 years of air transport experience, Air Europa Cargo offers the forwarding industry flexible and reliable capacity, with 130 cargo destinations spanning Europe, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Middle East and Africa. The airline leverages hubs in Madrid and Barcelona and offers forwarders particularly strong Latin American connectivity. Its modern fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 aircraft enable both large and varied load capacity.

In the coming weeks, thousands more freight forwarders will be able to secure Air Europa Cargo capacities digitally, using the most high quality, user-friendly experience on the market. The cargo.one platform equips forwarders with rapid access to supply, as well as cutting edge tools for winning and processing shipments. Forwarders can soon discover, quote and book Air Europa offers for general cargo, perishables and pharma shipments up to 1.5 tons.

Jordi Pique Dalmau, General Manager, Air Europa Cargo, comments, “Our extensive cargo services have evolved greatly and now is the ideal time to broaden our global reach and digital growth by working with cargo.one. The partnership enables us to apply the latest digital best practices and double-down on the valuable strategic gains from digital distribution”.

Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one, adds, “We are delighted to take Air Europa Cargo’s digital sales to the next level and expand its digital footprint to many more forwarders across the world. In preparation for Peak Season, it makes every sense for Air Europa Cargo to enhance its booking experience and build new sales muscle for all its relevant markets.”

Norwegian group with record of 2.85 million passengers in July

In July, Norwegian had 2,526,093 passengers while Widerøe had 331,035, totalling 2,857,128 for the group. For Norwegian, this represents a passenger growth of 9 percent from July last year and the highest number of passengers since 2019. Unit revenue equalled the record figure from July last year.

“I am very pleased with the incredible job all our colleagues have been doing during the busiest travel month of the year. Their hard work is reflected across all our numbers, including a record high number of passengers who have chosen to travel with the group. For Norwegian, I am particularly pleased that we that we delivered an improved load factor versus last year while at the same time increasing capacity by 10 percent. We are excited to see a solid booking momentum for August and further into the autumn season,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

Norwegian’s capacity (ASK) was 4,068 million seat kilometres, up 10 percent from the same period last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) was 3,763 million seat kilometres, an increase of 10 percent from July 2023. Load factor increased by 0.1 percentage point from July 2023 to 92.5 percent, an increase of more than 8 percentage points from the previous month. In July, Norwegian operated with a regularity, meaning share of scheduled flights taking place, of 99.5 percent. The punctuality, meaning share of flights departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, was 67.6 percent, down 5.6 percentage points from July last year. However, 93 percent of all flights arrived within 60 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. During July, European air space was heavily congested with several air traffic control (ATC) restrictions. This resulted in a lower than usual punctuality across European airlines. The airline operated an average of 87 aircraft in July.

Strong month for Widerøe

Widerøe delivered strong traffic numbers for the month of July with a significant improvement from last year. Load factor for the regional airline increased by 4 percentage points compared to July last year, resulting in a load factor of 83.5 percent.

Passenger Demand Up 9.1% in June

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for June 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:

International demand rose 12.3% compared to June 2023. Capacity was up 12.7% year-on-year and the load factor improved to 85.0% (-0.3ppt on June 2023).

 

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was up 9.1% compared to June 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 8.5% year-on-year. The June load factor was 85.0% (+0.5 percentage points (ppt) compared to June 2023).

Domestic demand rose 4.3% compared to June 2023; capacity was up 2.1% year-on-year and the load factor was 85.0% (+1.7ppt compared to June 2023).

“Demand grew across all regions as the peak Northern summer travel season began in June. And with overall capacity growth lagging demand we saw a very strong average load factor of 85% achieved in both domestic and international operations. Operating with such high load factors is both good and challenging. It makes it even more important for all the stakeholders to operate with equal levels of efficiency to minimize delays and get travellers to their destinations on schedule,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“As the Olympic Games unfold in Paris there is pride across the aviation industry for its continuing role in supporting the Olympic story by bringing many of the athletes, fans, and officials together. It is a great reminder of how aviation transforms our very big world into a global community. We wish France every success as the host of the games and cheer all the athletes who will demonstrate the best of human endeavour over the next weeks,” said Walsh.

Regional Breakdown - International Passenger Markets

Sustainable Skies: Ethiopian Airlines' sings MoU with Satarem for a new era of eco-friendly travel

Ethiopian Airlines Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Satarem America Inc. to partner on production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Ethiopia. Satarem shall produce SAF in the country, and Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to acquire the SAF from Satarem. With this MoU, Ethiopian Airlines Group has solidified its commitment to sustainability. This strategic partnership marks a significant step Ethiopian Airlines is taking towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

The MoU with Satarem America Inc., a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions, will enable Ethiopian Airlines Group to incorporate SAF into its operations, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions and supporting global efforts to combat climate change. SAF is a cleaner alternative to traditional jet fuel, produced from sustainable feedstocks that can lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Regarding the move, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group said, "We are excited to partner with Satarem America Inc in our journey towards a greener and more sustainable future. The adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel is not just a business decision; it reflects our commitment to combating climate change and investing in innovative solutions that support a sustainable industry.”

This partnership with Satarem America Inc. reaffirms Ethiopian Airlines’ position as a pioneer in adopting eco-friendly aviation solutions, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining high standards of environmental performance and contributing to the broader sustainability goals of the aviation industry.

Qantas joins new alliance to accelerate global sustainable aviation fuel supply

Qantas has joined an alliance of airlines, an aircraft manufacturer, and energy and financing companies to help accelerate global production of aviation biofuel.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance (SAFFA) fund has been formed with anchor-investor Airbus as well as Air France-KLM, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., BNP Paribas, Associated Energy Group, and Burnham Sterling Asset Management (as fund manager).

The initial partners have committed around $US200 million, with Qantas initially committing US$50 million (AU$75 million1) from its Climate Fund, which was established in 2023 and includes the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) partnership with Airbus.

SAF is one of the most effective tools that airlines currently have to reduce their emissions, with low and zero emissions aviation technology decades away, but local and global demand far outstrips supply.

Through SAFFA, the partners will invest in SAF technology development and production projects with an initial focus on opportunities that repurpose existing infrastructure. Investments will be initially focused in the United States, but in time are expected to be diversified across various SAF production pathways and regions.