Direct flights between Fiji and Japan for Fiji Airways - Bula Japan

Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Airline, today announced the launch of direct flights between Nadi and Tokyo Narita three-times a week, subject to regulatory approvals.

Starting 3 July 2018, the new, nine-hour flights will operate from Nadi International Airport to Narita International Airport. Each week, flights will be scheduled for Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, offering over 80,000 seats per year between Fiji and Japan aboard Fiji Airways' state-of-the-art planes, the Airbus A330-200/-300.

To celebrate the new flights, the airline will offer special celebratory launch fares from Nadi to Tokyo, starting from F$999 (includes taxes & surcharges) from 06th – 12th December 2017.

Narita Schedules

Effective July 3^rd, 2018

Flight Number	Origin	Destination	Departure Time (local)	Arrival Time (local)	Day of Week	Aircraft Type
FJ 351	Nadi	Narita	01:25 p.m.	07:30 p.m.	Tuesday, Friday, Sunday	Airbus A330- 200/-300
FJ 350	Narita	Nadi	09:25 p.m.	09:05 a.m. +1 days	Tuesday, Friday, Sunday	Airbus A330- 200/-300

*Schedule times are local. ** Subject to regulatory approval.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen said the three-times-weekly flights make Fiji and the South Pacific more accessible to Japanese tourists than ever before.

"We are excited to share with Japan the untouched beauty of our 333 islands. Fiji's unparalleled hospitality and warmth offers Japanese tourists a unique, culturally immersive experience – much more than just another beach getaway," Mr Viljoen added.

The holidays come early as Alaska Airlines offers early boarding for flyers wearing holiday sweaters

They do things differently in Alaska!   In celebration of National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day, Alaska Airlines passengers who pull on their festive holiday sweaters and wear them to the airport are able to board early. The one-day promotion will be celebrated by flyers and employees alike across Alaska's 115-city network and includes all Alaska, Virgin America and Horizon Air flights. Festive holiday-themed boarding music will play all month long to help get guests into the holiday spirit.

Alaska Airlines to let guests board early on 15th Dec. for wearing an "ugly holiday sweater"

"Travel during the holidays can be stressful for guests, especially those who do not travel often. This fun promotion not only allows guests to board early on that day, but gives people another opportunity to dust off that ugly holiday sweater hanging in the back of their closet," said Natalie Bowman, managing director of marketing and advertising at Alaska Airlines.

This is the first year that Alaska Airlines has participated in National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day. All guests are invited to join in the merriment of the holiday season and share their memories on Twitter by tagging their photos and videos using the hashtags: #UglySweaterDay and #MostWestCoast. All Guests travelling during the holidays are encouraged to arrive to the airport at least two hours before their flight given anticipated congestion at the airport due to the holidays.

To follow our guests' journey on National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day, visit the Alaska Airlines page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

AirBaltic 737 skids off taxiway at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow

Passengers on an Air Baltic flight had a lucky escape when their Boeing 737-500 aircraft skidded off the taxiway in snowy conditions at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport earlier today.

The aircraft had arrived from Riga operating flight BT428 and due to heavy winds, snow, ice and slippery conditions skidded off the taxiway.

The airports emergency services attended the incident and passengers were disembarked the aircraft via steps and transferred to the terminal.  No injuries were reported and the aircraft didn't appear to be damaged according to initial inspections and investigations. 

AirBaltic issued the following press release

New Airbus A320neo is the 100th aircraft Delivery for CALC to Frontier

CALC the aircraft provider for global airlines celebrated its 100th aircraft delivery with the debut delivery of an Airbus A320neo passenger jet to Frontier Airlines.

This is the first new engine option aircraft that CALC has added to its fleet, and the first that the Group has delivered to a US airline, Frontier Airlines, owned by Indigo Partners, a US-based private equity firm specialized in airlines investment and operations. Including this first Airbus A320neo, CALC will deliver four aircraft to airlines belonging to Indigo Partners before the end of the year, namely two A320neo aircraft to US-based Frontier Airlines and two A320ceo aircraft to the Chilean airline JetSMART. These deliveries mark an important milestone for CALC as the lessor continues to expand its global customer base. On the basis of its current fleet and signed agreements, over 30% of CALC's fleet will be on lease to non-Chinese airlines. CALC has clients across the world in North America, South America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Air Cargo Market to Reach US$130.12 bn by 2025, Globally

Transparency Market Research observes the global air cargo market is highly fragmented. With a strong presence of combination airlines, chartered services, and all-cargo airlines the overall market faces some tough competition.

According to the research report, the global air cargo market is projected to be worth US$130.12 bn by the end of 2025. All throughout 2025, the global market is expected to exhibit a steady CAGR of 4.9%. From an end user perspective, the pharmaceuticals and healthcare segment is expected to show tremendous growth. Geographically, Asia Pacific is expected to remain the largest market in the coming years as it surges at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2017 and 2025.

View Report Preview at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/air-cargo-market.html

Read On For More On Open Skies Policies to Consistently Boost Air Cargo Market

​Norwegian reports 11 percent passenger growth in November

Norwegian carried 2.5 million passengers in November, an increase of 11 percent compared to the same month last year. Norwegian’s long-haul routes had a 52 percent passenger growth. The overall load factor was 83.7 percent.

A total of 2,520,220 passengers chose to fly with Norwegian in November. This is 255,075 (11 percent) more passengers than the same period last year. The total traffic growth (RPK) and the capacity growth (ASK) both increased by 28 percent.

Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos said: “We are pleased that more passengers are choosing to fly with Norwegian. The demand is stable and the growth is highest on our intercontinental routes. Global expansion is important to position ourselves in a market with such strong competition, but also for creating economic value in the markets we operate.”

Norwegian operated 99.1 percent of the scheduled flights in November, of which 80.2 percent departed on time.

This month, Norwegian’s 150th brand new aircraft from Boeing, a 787-9 Dreamliner, arrived at Oslo airport, closely followed by a brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. These were the last new aircraft the company will take delivery of this year. Norwegian has introduced 32 new aircraft to its fleet during 2017; six Boeing 737 MAX, 17 Boeing 737-800 and nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. 

Delta and WestJet to combine on transborder operations.

Delta Air Lines and WestJet have announced they are agreed on further deepening their existing partnership deal by entering into a comprehensive transborder joint venture that will increase travel choices between the US. and Canada.

According to a statement issued by the airlines they have 'entered into a preliminary memorandum of understanding'  over their intentions to form a joint venture arrangement, which will, they say, offer passengers an extensive transborder route network with enhanced frequent flyer benefits, shared airport facilities and amenities, and a more seamless travel experience.

Highlights of the planned joint venture arrangement, subject to board approvals, execution of definitive agreements and applicable regulatory approvals, in the United States and Canada, include:

Coordinated flight schedules for new nonstop flights to new destinations, expanded codesharing and seamless and convenient connections to the airlines' extensive networks in the U.S. and Canada.

Enhanced frequent flyer benefits including reciprocal benefits for top-tier members of both airlines.

"With its strong brand and employee- and customer-centric culture, WestJet is the perfect partner for us in the U.S./Canada transborder segment and together we will produce great results for our respective employees, customers and investors," said Steve Sear, Delta's President – International and Executive Vice President – Global Sales.  "We look forward to applying Delta's experience building successful joint venture partnerships to this important segment of transborder travel, the second largest international segment for U.S. travel."

"This agreement will bring heightened competition and an enriched product offering to the transborder segment, both of which will benefit our guests," said Ed Sims, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial. "This is an important step in WestJet's mission to become a global airline. We are delighted to be working with the premier U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines, in this joint venture."

Virgin and Japan Airlines go Boom!

Virgin Atlantic and Japan Airlines are going boom!  Or rather they have expressed an interest in Boom, the US aerospace company that is hoping to build a “baby" Concorde.

The US company promises that supersonic flight for commercial passengers is going to be coming back, following a major investment from Japan Airlines.

Boom Technology has agreed to a special partnership with Japan Airlines, who are investing $10m that's around £7.4 million into the company and the airline is ordering 20 of the faster-than-the-speed-of-sound aeroplanes.  Blake Scholl, the founder of Boom, said the agreement was a “historic” milestone for the company and for supersonic passenger flight.

Boom believes it can make the economics of supersonic flight work by using new technology and designs and utilising JAL's experience. “JAL is the first airline in history to make a material financial commitment to a faster future,” Mr Scholl said. “Concorde had dozens of pre-orders — but none carried any financial commitment, and ultimately British Airways and Air France got their Concordes for just £1 apiece.”

Mr Scholl told media: “Decades ago, Concorde delivered a headline feature: speed. JAL is helping Boom deliver something further: a mainstream supersonic airliner, which is practical, reliable, and economic. Their decades of experience as a world-class operator, expertise in everything from passenger experience, to safety, to technical operations will help us build an airliner not just with marquee speed, but also with the practicality required to truly change the way millions travel.”

interCaribbean launches new Tortola flights.

interCaribbean Airways celebrating 25 years of continuous service is pleased to announce new schedule services from Tortola to five new cities this winter season, making 22 cities served. 

New services will begin from February 1, 2018 with nonstop flights from Tortola's Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) to: -

St Thomas (STT) (Cyril E. King Airport
2 flights daily
St Croix, (Henry E Rholsen Airport)
1 flight daily
Sint Maarten (SXM) (Princess Juliana International Airport)
2 flights daily
Dominica (DOM) (Douglas-Charles Airport
3 flights weekly
One stop to Castries, St Lucia (SLU) continuing from Dominica (DOM)
3 flights weekly

Today interCaribbean provides competitively priced nonstop flights between Tortola and Antigua, San Juan, and Santo Domingo, with same day connecting flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Bahamas.

"We believe interCaribbean is the first schedule airline to offer 7 nonstop destinations from the British Virgin Islands," said Mr. Trevor Sadler, CEO for interCaribbean. "Our planned connections current and new are designed to minimize layover times."

Revamp for Finnair's business class

In conjunction with its annual Press Day, Finnair has today announced the launch of a new business class service concept and new Marimekko design elements for both cabin classes, celebrating its Nordic roots and offering customers a unique Nordic customer experience.  

Inspired by pure essentials, Nordic design and meaningful encounters, Finnair’s new service concept will offer a wider range of dining and wine options, served on-demand and at a customer’s preferred time, just as if you were in a restaurant.  

“More than ever, our Business Class customers enjoy the opportunity to customize their travel and dining experience,” says Piia Karhu, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Finnair. “Our objective is to create an unspoken bond with our guests, every time they fly. We have dedicated cabin crew personnel for business class passengers, providing a more individual service, with the aim of setting new standards for comfort and overall well-being onboard Finnair flights.  

As part of its new concept, Finnair is also introducing the classic Finnish tradition “Kahvikutsut”  - a coffee serving with seven different treats - for long-haul flights departing Asia in the morning. This exclusive coffee service allows customers to spend quality time enjoying traditional Finnish treats like Carelian pies, cinnamon buns, coffee cake and traditional Finnish chocolates between the two meal services.  

Finnair’s new business class service concept will commence as of February 7, 2018, on flights to Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai, with a gradual roll-out of the remaining long-haul destinations during the spring and summer.   

Finnair adds flights to top European destinations for summer 2018 and to Lapland for winter 2018/2019

In line with its growth strategy, Finnair continues to grow its traffic and will add frequencies to popular destinations in Europe for summer 2018 and winter 2018, as well as increase flights to the popular winter destinations in Finnish Lapland for the peak season in winter 2018/2019. The additions are fueled by the increasing number of Asians travelling to Finnair’s European destinations.  

The 10 best long-haul airlines, according to Telegraph readers

As you may have seen with the short-haul airlines, the readers of the UK's Telegraph newspaper have been offering up their opinions of airlines, both long and short haul.  This has resulted in the newspaper producing its annual awards listings of the top ten in each category.   

Swiss took the top slot in the short-haul sector which seems to be wholly deserved, with Icelandair coming in a close second. It surprised some commentators that British Airways didn't even break into the top ten this year and some are hoping for a better showing in the long-haul awards. 

Here's the top ten according to Telegraph readers. 

1   Singapore Airlines
2   Emirates
3   Qatar Airways
4   Air New Zealand
5   Virgin Atlantic
6   All Nippon Airways
7   Korean Air
8   Thai Airways International
9   Cathay Pacific
10  Etihad

Nick Trend, Telegraph Travel's consumer expert, said: "Telegraph readers are enthusiastic long-haul fliers - many of your favourite destinations are many hours away, and so this category is one of the most crucial. Singapore Airlines and Emirates have been trading places at the top of the table since 2012. Last year, Emirates took the prize, but in 2017, Singapore has wrestled it back once more."

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SWISS top poll of short-haul operators

The readers of the UK's Telegraph Newspaper have been sending in their opinions of airlines and the airlines topping the polls may surprise you.

Considering the Telegraph.co.uk is a London based British Newspaper you might well have thought British Airways, once the claimed to be The Worlds Favourite Airline, would be in the top ten, if not taking the number one spot. However, that is not the case and the full listings of the airlines making the top ten may very well surprise you.

Looking at European or short-haul services, taking the top slot was SWISS, followed rapidly by Icelandair and tiny little Channel Island's operator Aurigny Air scoped third in the awards, compiled by the Telegraph from the opinions of 90,000 readers! 

Here is the short haul top ten.

1   Swiss

2   Icelandair

3   Aurigny Air

4   Jet2 

5   KLM 

6   Austrian Airlines 

7   Lufthansa 

8   Air Malta

9   Aer Lingus

10 CityJet 

Nick Trend, the Telegraph's travel consumer expert said: "No-frills airlines may continue to expand, but they have yet to win over readers’ hearts. Instead, Swiss - the national carrier for Switzerland -  tops the table."

"Of course, this result is a tribute to that old cliche of 'Swiss efficiency' but there is no doubt that service on board is slick and passenger-focused and it is this which has helped Swiss maintain its distance from the no-frills carriers."

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Vancouver - Melbourne service starts for Air Canada on 787 Dreamliner

Air Canada's inaugural flight, AC037 Boeing 787 Dreamliner service, departed Vancouver on 1st December in the late evening, and arrived Sunday morning to a water cannon welcome salute at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. This arrival marks the only non-stop service linking Canada and Melbourne, Air Canada's third destination served in Australia. Seasonal service now operates four times weekly between Vancouver and Melbourne until February 4, and year-round service begins June 1, 2018.

"We are delighted to welcome customers onboard our flights to Melbourne, our newest destination in Australia.  Our seasonal service will be of particular interest to Australians travelling for a Canadian winter vacation and North Americans travelling to enjoy Australia's summer season.  The launch of year-round service next June will provide additional options for business and leisure travellers between our two continents," said Benjamin Smith, President – Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.  "Our Melbourne flights complement our daily flights from Canada to Sydney and to Brisbane, solidifying our market-leading position as the airline providing the most service between Canada and Australia.  The seamless connections through in-transit pre-clearance facilities combined with our extensive domestic Canada and USA network at our Vancouver hub positions YVR to be the preferred trans-Pacific gateway for business and leisure travellers travelling between North America and Australia."

Blazing tug effects Singapore Airlines aircraft

An aircraft towing tug caught fire as it was towing a Singapore Airlines aircraft to a departure gate at Singapore's Changi Airport early Wednesday 29th November. 

There were no passengers aboard the aircraft as it was being moved into position when the incident occurred in the early morning. 

According to local reports, there was one person from the towing/positioning crew in the aircraft's cockpit at the time of the fire and they were evacuated down an emergency slide as the airport's fire service tackled the blazing tug.

Singapore Airlines are investigating the incident.

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens team up for electric future Partnership launches E-Fan X hybrid-electric flight demonstrator

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens team up for electric future Partnership launches E-Fan X hybrid-electric flight demonstrator Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens have formed a partnership which aims at developing a near-term flight demonstrator which will be a significant step forward in hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial aircraft.

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Siemens have formed a partnership which aims at developing a near-term flight demonstrator which will be a significant step forward in hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial aircraft.

The three companies together announced the groundbreaking collaboration, bringing together some of the world’s foremost experts in electrical and propulsion technologies, at the Royal Aeronautical Society in London.

The E-Fan X hybrid-electric technology demonstrator is anticipated to fly in 2020 following a comprehensive ground test campaign, provisionally on a BAe 146 flying testbed, with one of the aircraft’s four gas turbine engines replaced by a two megawatt electric motor. Provisions will be made to replace a second gas turbine with an electric motor once system maturity has been proven.

“The E-Fan X is an important next step in our goal of making electric flight a reality in the foreseeable future. The lessons we learned from a long history of electric flight demonstrators, starting with the Cri-Cri, including the e-Genius, E-Star, and culminating most recently with the E-Fan 1.2, as well as the fruits of the E-Aircraft Systems House collaboration with Siemens, will pave the way to a hybrid single-aisle commercial aircraft that is safe, efficient, and cost-effective,” said Paul Eremenko, Airbus’ Chief Technology Officer. “We see hybrid-electric propulsion as a compelling technology for the future of aviation.”

LOT gets first Boeing 737 MAX

Planemaker Boeing and LOT Polish Airlines celebrated the delivery of the first 737 MAX for the European carrier, and the first entry of the type into the eastern European market. 

LOT, the Polish flag carrier, plans to take delivery of additional MAX aeroplanes as part of its development strategy to grow the airline.  The aircraft will be on a lease deals with the major aircraft leasing specialists Air Lease Corporation.

"We are proud to be one of the first carriers in the world with the state-of-the-art Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in our short- and middle-haul fleet," said Rafal Milczarski, chief executive officer, LOT Polish Airlines. "We are already one of the fastest growing European airlines and I am certain that this big step forward will help us achieve our goals of increasing our operational effectiveness and improving our service.

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'Bomb on board' wi-fi network causes Turkish Airlines flight to be diverted

A Turkish Airlines flight from Nairobi to Istanbul had to be diverted after the detection of a wi-fi network called “bomb on board” that alarmed the passengers and cabin crew, the airline said on Thursday.

In a statement, Turkish Airlines said the flight made an emergency landing at the Khartoum airport in Sudan, but the flight was safely resumed after security inspections on all passengers and the aircraft.

“Experts said the wi-fi network in question was created on board. No irregularities were seen after security procedures were carried out, and passengers were brought back on the plane once boarding restarted,” Turkish Airlines said.

Individuals can create personal wi-fi networks on devices such as mobile phones and name them what they want, such as 'pretty fly for a wi-fi',  'kurt lines his air', 'I dance when ip' and many others too rude for us to expand here! 

The airline said all 100 passengers were brought back on board the flight, but did not say whether authorities had identified the passenger who had created the wi-fi network.  With a diversion costing the airline at least £13,000 it's a very expensive joke for the carrier, roughly a grand a character!.

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Air Canada Rouge to Launch Non-Stop Montreal-Victoria Flights for Summer 2018

Air Canada today announced non-stop, seasonal service between Montreal and Victoria, B.C. starting in June 2018. The new domestic transcontinental route complements Air Canada's U.S. transborder expansion announced Wednesday with new non-stop year-round Montreal-Baltimore and Montreal-Pittsburgh routes beginning in Spring 2018. All new flights are now available for purchase at www.aircanada.com and through travel agents.

"We are expanding our domestic network with our flexible fleet, products and services to capitalize on the growing seasonal demand to and from Vancouver Island during the peak summer travel period and will offer vacation travellers from Eastern Canada more convenient travel options. With the addition of new year-round Montreal-Baltimore and Montreal-Pittsburgh services, our customers will have unparalleled access to the most cities of any carrier in the United States, and provide U.S. travellers a convenient option to access our growing international network from Montreal," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "This underscores once again the strategic importance of building our Montreal hub as Air Canada continues its global expansion. Since 2012, our ever-growing presence at Montreal-Trudeau Airport has increased by 83 per cent with the introduction of 29 new routes."

"Today's announcement solidifies Montreal's role as a hub for business travel in North America. Montreal's business community will greatly benefit from more direct flights to major economic cities, so I commend Air Canada's commitment to contribute to Montreal's economic development," said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

"The announcement of these direct flights to Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Victoria demonstrates the dynamism of Air Canada, which is contributing in a major way to the development of Montréal-Trudeau's air service," said Philippe Rainville, President and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal. "We are constantly looking to offer our passengers the best possible service, both for business and for leisure travel. These new destinations will enhance the range of flight options from Montreal."

All flights are timed to connect conveniently with Air Canada's global schedule, and provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits, and for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at mainline airports, priority boarding and other benefits.

Montreal-Victoria Begins June 22 until Oct. 9, 2018	Tuesday, Friday, Sunday		AC1685 departs Montreal at 7:45 a.m.	AC1684 departs Victoria at 11:05 a.m.	Air Canada Rouge 136- seat A319, Premium and Economy class
Montreal-Baltimore		Daily	May 17, 2018	Year-round	Air Canada Express 50- seat CRJ
Montreal-Pittsburgh		Daily	May 17, 2018	Year-round	Air Canada Express 50- seat CRJ

Air Canada at Montreal-Trudeau airport  flights to 23 U.S. cities, the most of any airline, it has never been easier to connect in Montreal to Air Canada's global network including Paris, Lyon, Geneva, Brussels and Casablanca. With the introduction of our new international services from Montreal to Europe, Asia and North Africa, international travelers are increasingly finding that connecting through Montreal on Air Canada is the most convenient way to fly to and from the U.S. on North America's Best Airline as rated by Skytrax.

Air Canada's has announced seven new destinations from Montreal for 2018: Tokyo-Narita (Japan), Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Baltimore (U.S.), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal) and Bucharest (Romania).

In 2017 Air Canada started service to Shanghai (China), Marseille (France), Dallas/Ft. Worth (U.S.), Washington/Dulles (U.S.), Keflavik (Iceland), Tel-Aviv (Israel), Algiers (Algeria) and in December to Lima (Peru).

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Airbus deliver an A350-900 to China Airlines using biofuel

China Airlines of Taiwan has become only the second airline to join a programme to use a blend of traditional and sustainable biofuels to power aircraft for delivery flights from Airbus. 

The aircraft involved is the tenth A350-900 for China Airlines, which left the manufacturer’s delivery centre in Toulouse today for its new home in Taipei with a 10 percent blend of sustainable jet fuel in its tanks.

The sustainable fuel option for delivery flights has been developed by Airbus in association with Air Total, the aviation subsidiary of the global energy operator. In order to stock the eco-friendly product, Air Total has installed the first ever biofuel station adjacent to the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse. A total of 21 aircraft have so far been delivered by Airbus since the facility was inaugurated in May 2016.

“China Airlines is proud to have taken delivery of its first aircraft to be partially powered by sustainable biofuel,” China Airlines Chairman Ho, Nuan-Hsuan said.  “This reflects our clear commitment to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment and to be among those airlines leading the way to use alternative fuel sources. With the A350 XWB in our fleet we are already significantly reducing our carbon footprint and we are excited that this can be extended even further with the use of new biofuels.”

Crying Thomas Cook Cabin Crew Tell Passengers They Are Lucky To Be Alive.

Photo from Mr Swan a passenger on the flight

Passengers on a Thomas Cook flight from Holguin in Cuba to Manchester were left trembling and frightened for their lives when the aircraft they were on developed an engine problem at take off.

The flight MT2653 had been scheduled to depart on Monday 27th November but had to abort its take off after flames were seen coming from the engine at the point of rotation following a loud bang from the power plant.  

One of the passengers on the aircraft said he could see flames through the window on the right-hand side.  “It was evident there had been some sort of explosion,” he said. The nose gear was already off the ground, “The pilot dropped the plane straight back down and applied the brakes so everybody was thrown forward and then back, and the plane skidded for some distance.” 

Mr Swan, the passenger then told media that the pilot then announced over the intercom that it was an emergency situation to the crew. "As he came back on you could hear that he was verbally shaken to the point where his voice cracked and he sounded like he was going to burst into tears. At that point, I realised it was very serious.”  He says the cabin crew were “visibly shaken” so much so that "One was actually crying,” adding  “That doesn’t fill you with a lot of confidence. I could hear crew saying to passengers that it was really serious and we were lucky to still be alive.”

Miami International Best For Transinting

Miami International Airport has been ranked the most transit-accessible airport in America, according to a study released this week by transportation technology firm TransitScreen. MIA received a TransitScreen MobilityScore of 66 (on a scale of one to 100). The study analyzed the 20 busiest U.S. airports in passenger traffic and their access to buses, trains and taxis, in addition to ride-sharing, bike-sharing and car-sharing options.

The study highlighted that Miami Central Station - the ground transportation hub connected to MIA - provides nine bus routes to various neighbourhoods, while transit options at other U.S. airports mostly carry passengers straight to downtown. Miami Central Station also houses stations for Metrorail, Tri-Rail and inter-city buses, and is adjacent to a full-service Rental Car Center with 14 companies – all within one intermodal complex. MIA is connected to the Miami Central Station by a 1.25-mile automated people mover system.

Lufthansa makes concessions in its Air Berlin bid

The German airline Lufthansa has offered a number of concessions in an attempt to allay competition concerns over its plans to buy Air Berlin assets, according to EU antitrust regulators.

The European Commission expressed concern regarding Lufthansa’s potential dominance in Germany as a result of the takeover plans and extended its deadline for a decision on the deal to 21st December. The previous deadline was 7th December. The regulators would not elaborate on what or how many concessions Lufthansa had . 21 from Dec. 7. It did not provide details of Lufthansa’s concessions.

Some industry insiders believe the German mega carrier will offer up some of the slots owned by Air Berlin along with its subsidiary Niki. 

It was back in August that Air Berlin filed for insolvency in August and was subsequently carved up, with Lufthansa buying Niki and LGW, plus some short-haul planes, for 210 million euros ($249 million) to expand its Eurowings budget brand.  However, many fear the deal gives Lufthansa too much dominance in the domestic market as well as in Austria.

The Commission determined Lufthansa, Niki and LGW’s activities overlapped on more than 100 routes. On around half of those routes, the combined market share would be above 60 percent, while on some routes Lufthansa would also have a monopoly.

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Wizz Air whizzes in to snap up Monarch's Luton slots

The Hungarian based Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe will be rapidly expanding it's UK operations after it announced this week it had snapped up former Monarch' Airlines slots at Luton.

The super budget carrier purchased a large number of take-off and landing slots at London Luton and will also increase its based aircraft there from five to seven.

This new investment will see Wizz Air’s capacity in its London Luton base increase by 18% year on year, to a total of 7.1 million seats in 2018.  There will be more than 10,000 additional low fare seats available on 28 new additional flights departing every week from London Luton airport to some of Europe’s most exciting and less-discovered destinations.  Wizz Air will also be recruiting an addition 70 members of staff for the expanded base at Luton. 

Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi commented: “We continue to develop our business in the United Kingdom. Following the announcements of establishing Wizz Air UK and our accelerated growth plan, just a few days ago here we go again. Acquiring airport slots and airport nightstands at Luton Airport will enable us to enhance our presence and competitive position in the London market. In summer Wizz Air UK will operate a fleet of 7 A320/A321 aircraft, to grow the overall WIZZ capacity by 18% in 2018. While BREXIT will certainly pose challenges to the airline industry, we see it as an opportunity for Wizz Air, as our highly efficient low fare model will prevail even more under the new circumstances.”

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More new routes for Air Canada

Air Canada today announced new non-stop, seasonal services will begin next June from Toronto to Nanaimo and to Kamloops, and Montreal to Victoria, British Columbia.  All new flights are now available for purchase at www.aircanada.com and through Travel Agents.

"We are strategically expanding our domestic network with our flexible fleet, products and services to capitalize on the growing seasonal demand to and from Vancouver Island and the Thompson Okanagan areas during the peak summer travel period," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "We are pleased to offer vacation travellers to and from Victoria, Nanaimo and Kamloops the convenience of non-stop Toronto and Montreal flights, where customers also have unparalleled access to our far-reaching North American and global network."

The Hon. Lisa Beare, BC Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture stated, "Air Canada's additional flights to Victoria, Nanaimo and Kamloops reflect the rising popularity of Vancouver Island and the Thompson-Okanagan as tourism destinations. I'm excited by Air Canada's extension of service to our province. This investment will make it easier for Canadians to visit these beautiful regions of BC, and further enhance connections between British Columbia and Central Canada."

Jonview Sold

Transat A.T. Inc, Air Transat's owners, have concluded the sale of its Jonview Canada business unit today,. They have flogged off Canada's leading incoming tour operator, for $44 million Cdn to Japanese multinational H.I.S. Co. Ltd., which specializes in travel distribution. The price could be adjusted on the date of final closing of the accounts. On November 10, the Competition Bureau of Canada said the transaction did not warrant its intervention.  

"The sale of Jonview Canada completes our strategic refocusing around three main pillars: air transportation and travel distribution, which make up our leisure travel operations, as well as hotel operation," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat. "This transaction is the latest in a series of initiatives we have implemented in recent years to carry out the company's new development strategy and ensure its long-term prosperity."

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Air Transat fined over two delayed flights

The Canadian Transportation Agency issued its final ruling today in respect of the tarmac delays of two Air Transat.

The two flights,  from Brussels and Rome, 157 and 507, were severely affected in Ottawa on 31st July this year.  The CTA found that during the tarmac delays affecting the flights the airline, Air Transat, did not properly apply its own tariff rules related passenger disembarkment – because aircraft commanders did not consider the option to disembark passengers when the delay exceeded 90 minutes – and to the distribution of drinks and snacks.

The CTA also found that the air carrier was not relieved of its obligations to passengers simply because events beyond its control required diversion of the flights to Ottawa or because the actions of other parties contributed to the length of the delays. 

Finally, the CTA found that it was unreasonable for the tariff's Force Majeure rule to be as broadly worded as it was, and for pilots to have such wide discretion to decide whether or not to allow passengers to disembark, no matter how lengthy the tarmac delay.

Based on these findings, the CTA has ordered Air Transat to:  

Compensate all passengers of the two flights for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the carrier's failure to apply its tariff.

Ensure that its employees are properly trained on tariff provisions, policies, and procedures related to tarmac delays and that employees understand these are legal obligations the air carrier is bound to respect.

Amend its international tariffs to incorporate the terms and conditions of its Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays at US Airports, which create a positive obligation for the air carrier to deplane passengers if a tarmac delay reaches four hours – unless there are safety, security, or air traffic control issues that prevent it– and require that during the delay, the air carrier provide passengers with updates every 30 minutes, working lavatories, and needed medical assistance.

tighten the definition of Force Majeure in its tariffs.

Following this determination, a CTA  issued a fine of $295,000 against the AirTransat.

Air Transat responds  - 

Omni Air Cabin Crew Agree Contract

 Flight Attendants at charter airline Omni Air International, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today voted by 78 percent to ratify a first contract. The agreement provides immediate pay raises, defined schedule and work rules as well as job security with due process.

"Omni Flight Attendants provide safe passage and unique service all over the world as one of America's premier charter carriers. Flight Attendants stood together to achieve a contract that respects our role as aviation's first responders and our contributions to the success of the airline," said Bradley Butterfield, AFA Omni Air President. "This contract will make a real difference in our compensation and it provides a secure future with protections on the job. I am proud of my flying partners and fellow AFA members. This is only the beginning of what we will accomplish together."

Omni Air International, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates international and domestic passenger charters. In addition, Omni Air also provides cargo and troop airlift for the U.S. military.

Joon Flies Tomorrow

The Air France 'youth' airline Joon designed for 'Millenials' takes to the skies for the first time tomorrow to Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon and Porto.  Plus they've also released plans to start another 7 new medium-haul and long-haul destinations on departure from Paris CDG.

The low-cost airline will take the under 30's to Rome, Naples, Oslo, Istanbul, Cairo, Cape Town and Tehran. The flights start from 25th March 2018 with prices starting at €39 including tax, plus fees

Istanbul  7 weekly flights
Naples  14 weekly flights
Oslo  18 weekly flights
Rome 49 weekly flights

Cairo  7 weekly flights
Cape Town 3 weekly flights
Tehran 3 weekly flights

Joon is supposedly a new generation travel experience by Air France and is designed to meet the expectations of new generations of travellers. On the schedule: flexibility, personalized and tailor-made services. Joon is an airline for anyone under 30 who wants to enjoy a new casual kind of travel experience.  

The airline flies from Paris-CDG using former Air France Airbus A320's with 174 seats and A321's seating 212 people and A340's on the longest routes The carrier offers a Business class which gives passengers a free meal, snacks and beverages! In Economy class, customers can choose from a free selection of low-quality beverages at any time of the day. But, if you want something more substantial then you'll have to buy it from the crew at prices 24% more expensive than are available from the departure airport of Paris. However, one benefit for the passenger is the ability to get free access to YouJoon, the in-flight streaming system on their own smartphone, tablet or laptop.

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Malaysia Airlines Welcomes A350

Malaysia Airlines welcomes its first super economic advanced Airbus A350 today and marked the occasion with a special welcome ceremony as well as updating the delivery flight on its social media feeds.

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Norwegian signals growth potential at Singapore Norwegian

Norwegian has signalled its intent to expand into Asia following the launch of its Singapore-London route at an event hosted by the airline in Singapore this week.

Norwegian is the world’s sixth largest low-cost airline and Skytrax 2017 ‘Best low-cost long-haul airline’, an award it has won three years consecutively. The Scandinavian carrier currently operates the world’s longest nonstop route by a low-cost carrier between Singapore Changi Airport and London Gatwick, flying four times a week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

This week, Norwegian Global Head of Sales, Lars Sande and Head of Sales UK & Ireland, Dominic Tucker delivered presentations to Singapore’s travel community to explain the airline’s low-cost long-haul model and its plans for future expansion. More than 65 agents from travel and trade organisations attended the event and received information about how it can work with Norwegian and sell the airline’s high-quality products on board brand new aircraft.

Air Canada

Air Canada announced yesterday several new non-stop year-round transborder routes will begin Spring 2018 from Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver.  All new flights are now available for purchase.

"We continue to strategically expand our already extensive North American transborder network to offer the only services from Canada to Sacramento, Omaha, Providence, and flights from additional Canadian airports to Baltimore, Pittsburgh and San Francisco," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "As the largest foreign carrier serving the USA, we are pleased to offer customers even more non-stop travel choices between Canada and the US, as well as the ability to conveniently connect onward through our extensive global network at our Canadian hubs on North America's Best Airline as rated by Skytrax."

All flights are timed to connect conveniently with Air Canada's global schedule and provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits, and for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at mainline Canadian airports, priority boarding and other benefits.

Surf Air Now Accepting Payment Via Bitcoin And Ethereum

Surf Air, the world's largest "All-You-Can Fly" air travel club has announced it will accept Bitcoin and Ethereum as a form of payment for its monthly membership and charter offerings. This marks a major milestone in aviation as this will be the first time a travel provider has been able to successfully execute the acceptance of cryptocurrency. Beginning on November 29, 2017, Surf Air members can quickly and securely pay for Surf Air services using the purely digital currency and unlock the growing network of flights within the United States and Europe, including over 70 daily flights in California between cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area, 30 daily routes spanning across Texas, including Dallas, Houston and Austin and recently launched service in Europe between London, Ibiza and Zurich.

CemAir buys two Q400's

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced yesterday CemAir of South Africa has concluded a firm purchase agreement for two new Q400 turboprops, and has also signed the lease of a used Q400 aircraft that was delivered this month, paving the way for the new aircraft to be delivered afterwards. The letter of Intent (LOI) from CemAir, which was signed on June 21 at the 2017 Paris Air Show, has now been converted into a firm order.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $66 million US.

“We are delighted that CemAir has selected the Q400 aircraft to expand its fleet”, said Jean-Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle-East and Africa at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 is the next natural step in the growth of CemAir’s fleet of Bombardier CRJ Series and Q Series aircraft, as it brings more flexibility to increase the capacity on key routes while their aircraft’s superior performance and unbeatable economics support CemAir’s growing market position against competitive forces. The Q400 will open several market opportunities to CemAir on domestic and future regional routes.” 

Chorus Aviation announces leasing transaction with Ethiopian Airlines

Chorus Aviation announced this week agreements to purchase two new Bombardier Q400 aircraft and lease them to Ethiopian Airlines Group ('Ethiopian Airlines'). The aircraft will be purchased new from Bombardier by a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Capital and are expected to be delivered and placed on lease to Ethiopian Airlines in December 2017.

"Ethiopian Airlines is a premier, award-winning international airline with a terrific history of innovation, growth and economic success. We are absolutely delighted to welcome them as a customer of Chorus Aviation Capital and look forward to building this important relationship," commented Steve Ridolfi, President Chorus Aviation Capital. "Ethiopian is one of the largest and most profitable airlines in Africa, a member of the Star Alliance airline network, and the winner of numerous awards for airline management and customer service. We are honoured to add them to our growing portfolio of regional aircraft lessees and very pleased to extend our global reach to our sixth continent: Africa," he added.