Delta to introduce Boston - Edinburgh route and expand capacity to Dublin

A new international route between Boston's Logan International Airport and Scotland's Edinburgh International will be introduced next summer when US carrier Delta  Air Lines starts the service as part of its expansion programme.

The new route will be the eighth nonstop trans-Atlantic destination from Boston on Delta and its partners during the summer 2019 season. The Trump supporting airline already operates a direct service from Boston to London Heathrow along with joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic, of which it part owns, who also has a service to Manchester.

"Delta is Boston’s No. 1 carrier across the Atlantic, and we’re excited to be expanding our service to Edinburgh,” said Roberto Ioriatti, Delta’s Vice President - Trans-Atlantic. “Business and leisure travellers will both enjoy convenient nonstop service between Boston and Scotland, delivered with Delta’s unmatched reliability and renowned customer service.”

BA to give Heathrow staff iPads

London Heathrow's biggest airline, British Airways is handing out iPads to its customer service staff, known as 'Hosts', in an effort to provide a better experience for passengers.

Between now and next summer a huge training operation will get underway which will upskill all the hosts in a range of different areas – from ticketing to re-booking, changing reservations, finding delayed luggage or providing up to date flight information, with the iPads. The technology will be loaded with a number of specialist apps and the host will walk the terminal floor, reaching out to customers, rather than waiting at desks for passengers to come to them.  

Klaus Goersch, BA’s Chief Operating Officer said: “This will change the service we deliver at Heathrow, but at its heart, this is a really simple idea. It’s about trusting our people and empowering them - giving them everything they need to provide the very best service to our customers. We’re encouraging our hosts to treat customers as they would their own family and to own and resolve issues on the spot. It’s this exceptional customer service that will set us apart from other airlines.”

Some staff members have expressed concern that the enforced informality will alienate some passengers, especially those travelling on business and in premium cabins. Others see the upskilling of the hosts will also mean job losses in other areas of BA's operations in the Heathrow area. 

Norwegian to employ modern technology to reduce CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes each year

The low-cost airline that carries more than 5.8 million people from the UK alone will expand its cooperation with AVTECH Sweden AB to further reduce fuel consumption by around 5000 tonnes a year.

Norwegian had been running a test project with AVTECH Sweden AB, which uses Aventus Air weather service to provide Norwegian’s pilots with highly accurate wind and temperature information in accordance with their flight plan. Data is transferred to the aircraft’s systems, which makes it possible to optimise the flight path for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.  

A report by the Swedish Energy Agency, which partly financed the project, shows that fuel consumption was reduced by 22 kilos per flight. This equals an annual CO2 reduction of 16,000 tons - or a reduction of 5,000 tons of fuel per year, which in turn leads to reduced costs for Norwegian.

13.7 million passengers travelled with the Lufthansa Group during September 2018

Around 13.7 million people flew with the Lufthansa Group of airlines during September 2019 the latest figures from the European airline group shows. 

The airline is proud of that number, which is up by some 8.8% when compared to September 2017 figures month.  Also rising was the available seat kilometres, up 7.3% at the same time, sales increased by 8.3%. The airline groups average load factor was also up on last years figures to 84.5%.

The group also reported cargo capacity increased by 6.2% year-on-year, while cargo sales decreased by 1.6% in revenue tonne-kilometre terms. As a result, the Cargo load factor showed a corresponding reduction, decreasing by 5.0 percentage points to 63.4%. 

In total, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group carried around 108.5 million passengers in the first nine months of 2018 - a new record for this period. The seat load factor of 82.0 % also marks an unprecedented figure for the first three quarters of the year.

American Airlines appoints new officer to finance team

American Airlines announced on Thursday 18th October, the promotion of Greg Schwendinger to Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. Schwendinger replaces Heather Garboden, who will leave the company in November. He will report to Kenji Hashimoto, Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development.

In this role, Schwendinger will be responsible for the airline’s capital and operating budget, long-range financial planning and forecasting systems. He will also have oversight of the airline’s Labor Analysis, Financial Analysis and Fleet Planning teams.

“Greg’s experience across American prepares him well to lead our dynamic Financial Planning and Analysis team,” said Hashimoto. “Our group’s key function is to support our colleagues so they achieve their business goals while ensuring we have a financially healthy organization. Greg’s strong relationships throughout the airline, combined with his unique ability to see both the big picture and pay strong attention to detail, are tremendous assets to our team.”.

KLM embark on expansion and awareness programme

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is embarking on an expansion programme that will see the company increase capacity to its winter mid and long-haul network by at least 1.4%. The airline is also engaging in an impressive worldwide brand advertising campaign that will appear in many forms, including online and outdoors on billboards. The company is even having a billboard in Times Square in New York. The new campaign has been designed to show that a warm, personal approach really does make all the difference between a “pleasant” and a “memorable” travel experience for its passengers.

Pieter Elbers - KLM President & CEO explains: "KLM's total capacity both on the long-haul and medium-haul networks will increase by 1.4% over the coming winter season, compared to the winter season of 2017."

Elbers says the airline will look further into South American operations, "KLM will continue to focus on emerging markets in South America where, after a successful start in the summer season of 2018, we will continue to fly to Fortaleza. This third direct connection to a Brazilian destination strengthens our position as a major European airline in the Brazilian market, where we serve business and leisure passengers and cargo customers. We continue to watch the North Atlantic market with a keen interest and are increasing flights to the Canadian cities of Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto. From January 2019, KLM’s entire intercontinental fleet will be fitted with our full-flat seats in World Business Class. We will also continue to invest in our passengers’ comfort. Starting this winter season, we are introducing a number of lovely new products, including Douwe Egberts coffee and Rituals spa and cosmetic products."

Thomas Cook and Condor introduce flight only 'Economy Light' fare

To directly compete with the long-haul low-cost carriers, leisure airline Thomas Cook is launching a new 'Economy Light' flight only fare to its long-haul route network.

The new 'Economy Light' follows the typical budget carrier model in that they don't include any hold luggage and passengers can only use online check-in. The fare does include a small cabin bag up to 6kgs as well as a personal item and the onboard experience remains the same for all Economy customers.  

The new base economy light fares are being offered by both Thomas Cook Airlines in the UK and Condor in Germany, Henry Sunley, Commercial Director at Thomas Cook Airlines says, “We wanted to ensure that we provide fares that support the different needs of our customers, which can differ from trip to trip. Economy Light offers an option for those customers who want less amenities for their journey but want to benefit from fantastic cost savings. They are the first fares that we have introduced on a pan-European scale across Thomas Cook Group Airline for our seat-only business.”

American Airlines, Los Angeles World Airports Break Ground on $1.6 Billion Reimagining of Terminals 4 and 5

This week a $1.6 billion modernization project started at Los Angeles International Airport, thanks to  Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the USA's leading commercial air transport provider,  American Airlines.

On Wednesday 17th October they officially broke ground on the vast project to fully reimagine Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminals 4 and 5. It is a project that marks American’s largest individual investment at an airport in its 92-year history and reaffirms the airline’s commitment to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino and LAWA Commissioner Sean Burton and CEO Deborah Flint joined American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, Senior Vice President of Los Angeles Suzanne Boda and frontline team members for a ceremony to unveil the project and begin construction in Terminal 5.

“Los Angeles stands at a global crossroads — a place where the world comes to meet, innovate and create,” Garcetti said. “American’s commitment to the reinvention of Terminals 4 and 5 will create good, middle-class jobs and better connect Los Angeles to the world.”

SAF orders six new helicopters from Airbus......

Good news for Airbus Helicopters as French Alps-based civil operator SAF Group has ordered six new helicopters for emergency medical service (EMS) operations, mountain rescue, aerial work and passenger transport it was confirmed this week.

This order is for three light single and three light twin helicopters to be operated in Metropolitan France and in the Reunion Island, where SAF has recently acquired Hélilagon. Delivery of the six aircraft is planned for 2019.  “We are very proud of the long relationship we have with Airbus Helicopters, declared Tristan Serretta, CEO of SAF. “In such a rapidly evolving market, a close relationship with the manufacturer is crucial to guarantee the performance and profitability of our operations.”

The new aircraft will further expand SAF Group’s fleet of 44 Airbus’ helicopters operating seven days a week for all types of civilian rescue and protection operations, alongside safety services. SAF’s fleet is mainly composed of light singles and twins, including 24 helicopters of the H135 family type, making SAF one of the largest H135 commercial operator in France.

“I want to thank SAF for placing their trust once again in Airbus products”, said Olivier Michalon, Senior Vice President, Head of Europe at Airbus Helicopters. “We are certain these new helicopters will meet SAF’s stringent requirements for performance and reliability and will increase their capability to carry out critical missions.”.

British Airways to start a summer service between London and Charleston

Charleston will be on the timetable for next summer, confirms the UK's biggest airline British Airways.

From 4th April 2019, British Airways will launch a two times a week summer service from London Heathrow's Terminal 5 to Charleston and will be the only airline flying direct between Europe and the beautiful South Carolina city.

British Airways say the service will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner twice a week until 24th October. Flights are scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays with the BA221 departing from Heathrow at 1720 arriving into Charleston at 2120. The return flight BA220 will depart Charleston at 2250, arriving into London at 1150 the next morning. Fares start at £600 return for economy world traveller cabin, from £928 in the world traveller plus and £1920 in Club World.

 The new route will take the number of US destinations the airline flies to from London next summer up to 29, and the number of daily flights offered by British Airways and American Airlines as part of their transatlantic joint business up to around 73 per day. The airline is also launching a four per week service to Pittsburgh from April 2019.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Director of Network and Alliances, said: “You can’t help but get sucked in to the old-world charm of Charleston; its cobblestone streets, colourful houses and historical buildings make it a unique city. So we’re really pleased to be adding this charming city to our extensive global network and giving customers even more choice of holiday destinations.”            

For more information on Charleston visit:  https://www.charlestoncvb.com/


(Photos British Airways)

Lufthansa CityLine to fly the Airbus A319

Welcome news from Germany as Lufthansa CityLine and pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit confirm that they have agreed on a new set of employment conditions for their 650 or so pilots. The agreement sets the stage for the introduction of a new, future-proof aircraft type at Lufthansa CityLine. Come 2019, Lufthansa CityLine will start operating A320 family planes taken over from Lufthansa. The first A319-100 aircraft will depart from the Munich hub next spring. Another 5 aircraft will follow by the end of 2020.

Future-proof cockpit collective agreement opens the door for A320 family at 

Lufthansa CityLine for the first time

First Airbus A319 to take off from Munich in spring 2019

Spirit promotes Scott M. Haralson

Super low-cost carrier, Spirit Airlines, announced this week that it had promoted Scott M. Haralson to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Haralson takes over the CFO role from Edward Morgan Christie who was promoted to President earlier this year and will also become Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer from 1st January 2019.  

In this expanded role, Haralson will serve as a key member of the senior leadership team and oversee Treasury, Investor Relations, Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Corporate Real Estate.

"For the last six years, Scott has made significant contributions in helping Spirit improve its cost structure and grow its relative cost advantage.  Throughout his tenure at Spirit, Scott has been a key leader within the business, increasing the scope and complexity of his role.  I look forward to working with Scott in this expanded role,” said Ted Christie, Spirit’s President.

Delays in paying wages causes strife for Pakistan International Airlines staff

Staff wages are being delayed as financially troubled Pakistan International Airlines, the national carrier of Pakistan, struggles to survive amid mounting debts. 

Local media is reporting that most staff had not been paid on time, forcing the airline to publicly confirm there had been delays in paying the October staff salaries because of financial constraints, but officials assured that most people had been paid by October 7th.

"It has been very distressing, if we had been told in advance our pay was going to be late, we could have made other arrangements and budgeted for it." Ashok, a PIA employee told us today.   

The airline is said to be raking up losses in excess of PKR2 billion rupees, around  $15 million every month following higher fuel prices, the weaker exchange rates of the rupee, which has drastically dropped in value in recent times. The carrier has also had to cope with increased competition, top-level management changes, corruption, excessive over staffing and maintenance issues - at least five aircraft are out of service at the moment. Another worrying sign came from the Pakistan Stock Exchange which put PIA on warning for not submitting its audit report and convening annual general meetings.  

The future direction of the national carrier is uncertain, the government under the direction of new Prime Minister Mr Khan appointed an Air Vice Marshal from the Air Force, Arshad Malik, to the role of chairman to try and turn the company around.  “The new chairman of the national carrier has been directed to “immediately fix the institution’s economic condition,” the information ministry said after the appointment had been made. 

(Image PIA)

Donated C Series aircraft arrives at École nationale d’aérotechnique

C Series Aircraft Lands at École nationale d’aérotechnique to Start New Training Mission

Yesterday, one of the first and indeed, one of the last Bombardier CSeries aircraft landed for the first time at the St-Hubert airport, where it was officially handed over by Bombardier to the École nationale d’aérotechnique (ÉNA). Hundreds of students welcomed the newest addition to the ÉNA’s fleet at an event attended by professors, staff members and representatives from both Bombardier and Airbus. 

The CS100 aircraft donated by Bombardier was welcomed by hundreds of students at the École nationale d’aérotechnique

This aircraft will enhance aerospace technical training by giving Québec students access to the latest technology in commercial aviation

Atlantic Airways to get second Airbus A320-200neo

Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Islands is all set to get another Airbus A320-200neo on a long-term lease basis from Air Lease Corporation it has been confirmed this week.

This new deal for the A320-200neo is the second of two A320neo aircraft leased to Atlantic Airways and will be delivered in April 2020. 

“ALC is delighted to announce this second A320-200neo lease placement with Atlantic Airways,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “The A320neo will enhance the airline’s fleet operations and exceptional passenger service connecting the Faroe Islands with the world.”

“Atlantic Airways looks very much forward to the lease of the two modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A320-200neo from Air Lease Corporation,” said Jóhanna á Bergi, CEO of Atlantic Airways. “The A320-200neo will increase our seat capacity, enhance passenger experience and Atlantic Airways’ operations as a national carrier, air bridge and lifeline.”

Atlantic is a small local yet international airline that employs around 170 people and operates a current fleet of three aircraft and two helicopters. The airline provides a regular and vital service between the Faroes and a range of cities including Copenhagen, Billund, Aalborg, Bergen, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Mallorca, Lisbon, Malta and Gran Canaria. In addition, the company’s activities include leasing of aircraft of which half the revenue originate outside of the Faroes. The helicopter department provides a regular service to the outer islands, search-and-rescue activities and offshore transport in the North Atlantic.

(Photo Atlantic Airlines "Elinborg", Airbus 319 (OY-RCG) during the sunset by Ólavur Frederiksen)

Cobalt Collapse - Cypriot low-cost carrier suspends operations...........Blue Air to offer some rescue flights

The Cypriot low-cost airline Cobalt has suspended all operations indefinitely, stranding hundreds of passengers across Europe.   

The airline flew to 23 destinations around Europe - including the London airports of Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. The airline, that started in 2016, also flew to Manchester and destinations in the Middle East and Russia. 

Cobalt posted a message on its website shortly before midnight yesterday, Wednesday, October 17th advising passengers than it had cancelled all flights future flights and that they should contact their travel agents or credit card providers for a refund.  

According to local media, the airline had been trying to get extra finance for some time, both from its Chinese backers as well as new sources. However, the management had been unsuccessful in that attempt to save the company.  

The airline employed around 200 people and had grown rapidly in the two years since the start of its operations when it filled a gap in the market left when the former Cyprus Airways went bankrupt. However, the airline had faced greatly increased competition from low-cost rivals and the newly formed Cyprus Airways. 

Read on to find out details of Blue Air's special rescue flights and fares for stranded Cobalt passengers.

Ryanair to swtich handling agent at London Stanstead early next year....bad news for passengers!

The low-cost airline Ryanair announced this week that it was switching handling agents at its largest and perhaps most important bases, London Stanstead Airport.

From 1st February 2019, OmniServ will take over from Swissport and start providing all of Ryanair’s check-in, baggage and ground operations handling at Stansted. This is a massive undertaking for Omniserv, who will be operating under the name of Blue Handling, as Ryanair operates more than 200 flights a day from London Stanstead.

It isn't clear how, after an extensive tendering process OmniServ managed to steal the contract off Swissport, who will continue to handle Ryanair’s operations at over 40 other airports across Europe and the UK. OmniServ have an incredibly poor reputation, many passengers cite rude staff, lack of understanding, abandoning disabled passengers and incredibly slow service. The company has a one-star rating on Trustpilot, which might indicate why they are going to be operating under the name of Blue Handling! 

Flybe expects big losses this year, the share price dives and analysts fear for its future.

The UK's regional airline Flybe issued a profits warning on Wednesday, October 17th blaming a weaker British pound, higher fuel prices and a drop in demand for the fall in revenues.

Shares in the company slumped even further after the news broke, prompting many in the industry to question the airlines' long-term survival. By the close of business on Wednesday, the share price had dropped by 41% and could drop even further.

Whilst the airline has seen good revenue performance during the first part of the year,  it faces even more difficulties during the second half. Increasingly high fuel prices are just part of the story, the airline also cites unfavourable currency rates as having an impact on the company's bottom line, increased carbon costs are another issue.

Flybe has in recent times cut routes and capacity to focus on the more popular routes in wide UK network, which seemed to be working as the airline saw load factors were up to just over 86%. The airline had also started to get rid of some of its Embraer jets, which had high leasing contracts and were not as economically suited to the short, regional routes that FlyBe mostly operate. 

Planes grounded for up to three weeks if there is a no deal Brexit..........

STOP PRESS, hold the front page, don't press 'post now' just yet,  the boss of one of the largest airlines in Europe has issued a dire warning that planes could be grounded for up to three weeks in the event of a no deal Brexit!

This would be major news, it would lead all the news bulletins had the boss uttering those supremely pessimistic words not been Michael O'Leary, the aggressive boss of low-cost airline Ryanair.  

O'Leary has a long history of bashing Brexit and urging on the most pessimistic of predictions in the event of a no deal scenario. Back in September, he warned flights would be grounded for between a couple of days or a couple of weeks, all this, his latest outburst, made in Brussels on Wednesday, October 17th, does is extend the period of the grounding of flights could face. In August 2017 he said the UK was in denial over aviation. 

However, such a massive grounding of aircraft may have nothing to do with regulations or licencing, it could be because the airlines have chosen to voluntary ground the planes. O'Leary's said that his airline, Ryanair, may ground flights after Brexit anyway, just to teach voters a lesson and persuade them to "rethink" Brexit.  In an article in UK's Telegraph, it details how the outspoken CEO told the leaders of other European airlines, he wanted to "create an opportunity" for forcing Brexit supporters to learn they will "no longer going to have cheap holidays". Leading the call to other airlines to support a mass grounding of aircraft, he said: "I think it's in our interests - not for a long period of time - that the aircraft are grounded.". 

He wasn't alone in believing that the European airlines should punish the British for voting to leave the EU, Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr speaking at the same event said: "If we could use this industry to prove to the British how wrong the decision was, that might be a good thing."

Aeromexico cuts fleet and axes routes as losses bite

Aeromexico has confirmed today that it is cutting its fleet as its losses mount and costs continue to rise during challenging times for the aviation industry.

The company says it will retire three Embraer 170s and two Boeing 737-700s from service after a fleet review in an effort to ensure fleet flexibility and reduces its operational costs. Aeromexico has continued to deliver an operating profit, the company has delivered a net loss so far this year. 

As a result of this capacity reduction, these aircraft retirements will cause, the airline will suspend a number of routes, including - Mexico City to Boston, Washington Dulles & Portland; Monterrey to Las Vegas, Tijuana, Merida & Veracruz; and Guadalajara to Cancun and San Jose, California. Aeromexico has indicated that the affected routes will start to be halted during the spring of 2019.  

United Airlines releases latest results

The US leading mega-carrier, United Airlines has released its third-quarter 2018 financial results today which detailed a third-quarter net income of $836 million.

The airline saw impressive growth, despite the recent storms, although excessive fuel prices took a toll on the profits for the carrier. "Our stand-out third-quarter performance, which produced double-digit revenue growth as we more than offset the steep increase in fuel costs, is proof that United is building momentum," said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines. "Our growth plan has been essential to our success, and we're more confident than ever we'll achieve the ambitious adjusted earnings per share1 target of $11 to $13 we laid out for 2020.".

Air cargo to double in 20 years time.......

According to the latest projections from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, air cargo operators will need more than 2,600 freighters over the next two decades to keep up with increasing global freight traffic, which is expected to double with 4.2% growth annually.  

Apparently, there will be demand for 980 new medium and large freighters and a further 1,670 converted freighters which will go towards replacing older aircraft and growing the global fleets of cargo operators to meet demand. "The air cargo market continues to be a major element of commercial aviation's growth story," said Darren Hulst, managing director of Market Analysis & Sales Support at Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes. "Our new forecast indicates strong long-term air cargo trends, which coincide with the market recovery that we have seen over the last few years across Europe, North America, and Asia."

The World Air Cargo Forecast was released by Boeing today at The International Air Cargo Association's Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition which detailed how some of the main forces behind the rise in demand for cargo aircraft comes from China. The global rise of e-commerce is also a key factor in the growth in demand as that industry is expected to rise by around 20% each year. 

CTA releases What We Heard Report summarizing its air passenger protection consultations

The What We Heard Report from The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has been released today, which summarises what it was told by the Canadian travelling public during a three month long research period.

The CTA is rightly proud of the engagement travellers mdae in the consultation process as there were close to 31,000 visits to the website and, 4,923 online questionnaires were completed, 463 written comments were sent in through the website, 930 randomly-selected travellers filled out surveys in 11 different airports, 104 formal written submissions were sent to the CTA, 39 in-depth discussions were held with key stakeholders and experts, and 203 Canadians attended in-person consultation sessions in eight cities and a phone-in consultation session. 

Korean Air boss indicted on embezzlement charges...

The woes at Korean Air Lines continue as its Chairman Cho Yang-ho was indicted on Monday 15th October on a number of charges that include embezzlement and breach of trust.

The South Korean prosecutor's office advised on Monday said Cho Yang-ho pocketed 19.6 billion won that's around $17 million in commission between 2003 and 2018 after setting up a trading company to broker specialist aircraft equipment and in-flight duty-free goods purchase deals for Korean Air, which cost the airline the same amount. 

Preveza and Bastia become new destinations for British Airways in summer 2019

New routes from London Heathrow to Preveza in Greece and Bastia in Corsica are the headlines from the release of the UK's biggest airline British Airways' new summer schedule for 2019. 

Preveza is said to be ideally positioned as a gateway to both beach and mountain escapes, sitting just 20 minutes north of the island of Lefkada, a popular summer yachting haven and windsurfers’ paradise. Adventure seekers can also explore one of Europe’s great wildernesses as Preveza is located just 60 minutes away from the Pindus mountains, where travellers can trek the vast alpine trails or explore the UNESCO protected Vikos Gorge.  The new service from British Airways will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays between 26th May and 29 September from May 26 through to September 29, with fares starting at £71.

Flights to the Corsican gateway of Bastia are scheduled for every Saturday from 25th May to 28th September, next year. Bastia will then become the second destination the carrier will serve on the French island following the launch of a new service to Figari this year. Corsica is perfectly placed between France and Italy in the Mediterranean Sea and is fast becoming a must-visit destination for European holidaymakers, BA says the lowest economy fares will start from £48.  

Yakutia Sukhoi Superjet100 damaged beyond repair in runway overun incident

An investigation is underway into why a Sukhoi Superjet 100 of  Yakutia Airline overran the runway on 10th October at Yakutsk International Airport not long after three in the morning.

There were no fatalities during the incident although a small number of the passengers did require medical assistance according to the airline. The SSJ100, registration RA-89011 was on a flight from Ulan-Ude, in Buryatia and was carrying 91 passengers and 5 crew.

The runway at Yakutsk International Airport is undergoing a programme of repair and refurbishment at the time of the incident. According to local media the aircraft touched down and landed normally on part of the runway that has finished being reconstructed.  However, it failed to stop before continuing onto an unfinished part of the runway which included a hump, which caused the main landing gear to collapse. The crew deployed the emergency slides for passengers and crew to escape the aircraft on the runway.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has released a video of the damaged aircraft on the runway which shows the forward landing gear off the ground as the nose points skywards, the main gear collapsed forcing the rear fuselage on the ground.

Jetlines makes another step forward in the race to get airbourne

Canada Jetlines has taken another massive leap forward in its race to get in the air, the company announced this week that it has completed a second set of advance lease payments to leading aircraft leasing firm, AerCap.

These lease payments are for two Airbus A320 aircraft, that are currently flying with Air New Zealand and near the end of their lease term with the kiwi airline.  Delivery of Airbus A320 MSNs 2594 and 2663 which are around 12 years old and are expected by early in the second quarter of 2019. These two planes are virtually identical in design, features, and equipment, allowing Jetlines to expedite the necessary training and maintenance processes to commence operations at an earlier date. 

Jetlines has made another deposit to AerCap for USD $438,000 per the terms of the agreement and in a demonstration of the continued partnership. To date, Jetlines has made payments totalling USD $2,190,000 toward securing these aircraft. CEO Javier Suarez stated “Our operations team has worked diligently on securing quality aircraft, carrying out a meticulous vetting process to ensure that the aircraft are fit for Jetlines’ ultra-low-cost operation. As a part of the process, Jetlines retained Lufthansa Technik to accomplish the preliminary inspection prior to the lease agreement completion to ensure the aircraft suitability and condition. Both AerCap and Air New Zealand have been proactive in supporting the transfer of data and information to Jetlines in order to allow the early entry into service. We look forward to getting these aircraft off the ground and to finally bring low fares to Canada.”

Oscar Wilde takes to the skies (again) with Norwegian

The popular low-cost airline, Norwegian has proudly announced that Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde has become the second Irish ‘tail fin hero’, ahead of the anniversary of his birthday on the 16th October. The renowned writer’s portrait graces the tail fin of two Norwegian aircraft –a Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well as a Boeing 737 MAX. 

From the very start of the airline, it has honoured many iconic people on the tails of its planes, sometimes they have been literary geniuses of Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde, other times the airline has celebrated big players in the aviation world like Sir Freddie Laker, but all the time the celebrated figures chosen symbolise the spirit of Norwegian by pushing boundaries, challenging the norm and inspiring others.

To represent Norwegian’s growth in Ireland, the airline has launched a second Irish tail fin hero following the announcement of explorer Tom Crean who also graces a Boeing 737 MAX and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Born in Dublin on 16 October 1854, Oscar Wilde was a renowned Irish poet and playwright. He tried his hand at various literary activities throughout the 1880s and became one of London’s most popular playwrights. His imaginative works, in particular, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and his play The Importance of Being Earnest, are considered among the great literary masterpieces of the late Victorian period.

Matthew Wood, SVP Commercial Long haul and New Markets at Norwegian said: “Our ‘tail fin heroes’ offer us a perfect chance to pay tribute to some of the greatest Irish men and women of all time. Oscar Wilde has inspired generations and we are very happy to have one of the greatest poets of all time adorn our aircraft.”

(Photo  Norwegian)

Russian airline Aeroflot wins its first ever Business Traveller Award!

The leading Russian airline Aeroflot has been named Best Airline in Eastern Europe at the Business Traveller Awards,  this is the first time that the national flag carrier has scooped one of the annual awards voted for by readers of UK magazine Business Traveller.

"It is a special honour to receive this prestigious international award," said Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev. "The Business Traveller Awards are particularly valuable as they reflect the unfiltered opinions of our most discerning passengers. More and more international travellers are choosing to fly with Aeroflot, which reflects our consistently high standards of service, convenient route network and attractive prices. We will continue to focus on these competitive advantages as we seek to further strengthen our global market position."

The Business Traveller Awards are considered to be among some of the most prestigious awards within the travel media industry and have been going for more than 30 years. The results of the poll of the magazine's readers are authenticated by an independent auditing company, and are widely recognised as the market's benchmark for excellence.

Aeroflot is a regular winner of international awards based on passenger polls. The loyalty and high levels of satisfaction of the airline's passengers were reflected at this year's Skytrax World Airline Awards, when Aeroflot was named Best Airline in Eastern Europe for the seventh time, while users of TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel reviews site, named Aeroflot's business class service the best in Europe.

(Photo Aeroflot)

Massive route expansion for America's United Airlines - 22 new routes for 2019

The US mega-carrier United Airlines has revealed its latest domestic route network development plans today which will see the company offering more ways for customers to connect to 22 destinations from six of its U.S. hubs. 

United also announced it will begin nonstop service to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, from Chicago, New York/Newark and Washington, D.C. With the new service, United will offer more nonstop service from more cities to Hilton Head Island than any other airline. Tickets are available now for purchase.

United announces the only nonstop flights connecting New York and Pensacola, Florida,

and new daily service to Anchorage, Alaska

Strengthens connectivity at Washington Dulles with four new routes and

 expands service between New York/Newark and seven destinations

"With more than 40 new domestic routes added this year, we remain committed to expanding our network to offer customers even more choices in their travel destinations," said Ankit Gupta, United's vice president of Domestic Network Planning. "The expansion to Hilton Head Island from three of our hub cities and the introduction of New York's only nonstop service to Anchorage and Pensacola, are just some of the ways we are responding to customer interest and demand." 

Team UK heads off for Invictus Games in Sydney

The 2018 Invictus Games are about to get underway in Sydney, Australia and the UK's British Airways gave the nations 2018 squad, a heroes’ send-off at Heathrow ahead of their 10,558-mile flight down under.

The Invictus games were set up by His Royal Highness Prince Harry in 2014 and is a parasport event especially for wounded, injured or sick armed forces personnel and their associated veterans.  Some of the disciplines taking place at the games in addition to athletics are archery, rowing, powerlifting, cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

This year, Team UK comprises of 72 wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans who were photographed in front of a specially detailed British Airways Boeing 777.  The jet proudly displays a Good Luck message to the team and conveyed the team to Australia for the games which run from 20th - 25th October. 

Canada's Porter Airlines flies to Melbourne........

Canadian regional airline that is based at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport, Porter Airlines are hoping to attract more snowbirds to head south for the winter with its service to Orlando.

The airline flies down to Orlando-Melbourne International Airport nonstop with services from Toronto, Ottawa, and Windsor begin the week of 19th December and run until 13th April.  The Toronto service flies twice weekly, while the Ottawa and Windsor operates once a week each during peak periods. All three cities will have additional round-trip flights during March Spring Break.

"There is significant demand from Canadians to visit Florida throughout the winter months, and we're pleased to provide our passengers with service to the sunshine state," said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. "Continuing to offer non-stop service from Toronto, Windsor, and Ottawa means that more people can visit Florida directly from their own communities."

Orlando-Melbourne is a key gateway to Florida, located just 20 minutes from Port Canaveral – the world's second-largest cruise port. Just 30 minutes from Kennedy Space Center and less than 10 minutes from the beach. Popular entertainment venues, including theme parks, museums, and wildlife attractions are within an hour's drive.

Boeing Business Jets Delivers First BBJ MAX Airplane

US plane-makers Boeing announced today that it had delivered the first Business Jet (BBJ) has delivered the first BBJ MAX aeroplane to a customer. "We are excited to begin delivering a longer-range and more capable version of the world's most popular business jetliner," said Greg Laxton, head of Boeing Business Jets. "There has been great market interest and anticipation for the BBJ MAX and our valued customers will soon be able to see the new standard in business travel."

BBJ MAX offers customers unmatched range and comfort

Boeing unveils new BBJ MAX interior design concept

The aircraft is now scheduled to fly off to an interior finishing centre for complete luxury cabin fitting. Boeing Business Jets unveiled a new interior concept by award-winning aviation design firm SkyStyle. The concept, named Genesis by SkyStyle Co-Founders Max Pardo and Lucas Colombo, represents the company's debut in BBJ MAX design.  "From an aviation designer's perspective, the BBJ MAX is incredibly appealing because there is so much more interior space to realise one's vision," said Max Pardo. "And since the MAX flies ultra-long-distances, the owners are looking for a comfortable lounge, multi-function conference area and a large master suite to ensure the ultimate flight experience."

The BBJ MAX Genesis concept draws inspiration from nature's tranquillity, its voluminous clouds hanging over a white sand beach, smooth rolling hills and a starry night sky. "BBJ MAX interiors have always been a sharp departure from the cramped cabins of smaller business jets, and the Genesis design is yet another example of our exclusive cabin capabilities," said Laxton.

Norwegian will be presenting partner of National Basketball Association - NBA London Game 2019

Norwegian, one of the world's most popular airlines has announced this week that it has formed a partnership with the US National Basketball Association (NBA) which will see the award-winning airline be named as the presenting partner of the NBA London Game 2019. The regular-season game will feature the Washington Wizards and the New York Knicks at The O2 on Thursday, 17th January.

Washington Wizards and New York

Knicks to Meet at The O2 17th Jan 2019

S7 gets its first 737MAX

The US plane-maker Boeing, leasing company Air Lease Corp and the Russian airline S7 Airlines celebrated the delivery of the airline's first 737 MAX, via lease from ALC.  S7, operated by Globus Airlines, becomes the first Russian airline to fly the 737MAX.  

British Airways' Dreamflight takes off again......

It was chocks away again for another British Airways Dreamflight took to the skies making lifelong memories and smiles on the faces of the hundreds of children, who all have a serious illness or disability that had been welcomed onboard.

Every year Dreamflight raises funds to enable a British Airways 747 to fly almost 200 children to Florida to enjoy a fun packed ten-day trip. On the trip, they spend time at attractions including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Universal Studios. 

Singer-songwriter Una Healy mingled and took selfies with the children before they boarded the special jet. “It is a pleasure to be part of such an inspiring event at the British Airways hangar this morning. Dreamflight does amazing work and it’s great to meet the children, hear their stores and see the excitement on their faces. I’m sure they’ll have a trip to remember.” Una Healy said.

British Airways supports the Dreamflight team each year to help give the departure a party atmosphere. An army of volunteers donned superhero outfits, including dressing up as Stormtroopers to wow the children, while the Air Cadet National Marching Band performed popular hangar-roof-raising songs. British Airways cabin crew and pilots were also at Heathrow as the children boarded the superjumbo through a magical castle.

Airbus, Delta Air Lines partner on Skywise open-data platform and predictive maintenance services

The US mega-carrier Delta has signed a multi-year contract with European aerospace giant Airbus to continue using the Skywise open-data platform and related predictive maintenance services. The airline will expand the use of the tool to its A320 and A330 fleets – comprising around 400 aircraft – to track and analyse their operations and performance data and assess failure probabilities in order to anticipate maintenance tasks.

                             

.• As a recognized leader in innovation, Delta Air Lines partnered with Airbus to enhance Skywise

• Through the agreement, an additional 400 Delta aircraft will be connected to Skywise

Delta was one of the airlines involved in the development of Skywise Predictive Maintenance by co-designing, testing and making improvement recommendations about some of its key features.

Kuwait Airways orders eight A330neo

Kuwait Airways, the national carrier of the state of Kuwait, has ordered eight brand new Airbus A330neo's from Airbus today.

The A330 has become one of the most popular widebody twinjets ever, the European manufacturer has received over 1,700 orders from 120 customers over the years and the latest versions, the A330neo was launched in 2014 and has two variants, the -800 and -900, which share 99% commonality and share the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines which offer substantial savings over previous engine offerings.

  

“The A330-800 will seamlessly fit into our fleet expansion and growth plans. Its unbeatable operating economics and performance in addition to best in class passenger comfort make it a sound investment." Said Yousef Al-Jassim, Chairman Kuwait Airways, adding "We are confident that the A330-800 will support us to compete effectively on our expanding route network. Our relationship with Airbus extends beyond aircraft acquisitions and we look forward to further collaboration on technical fields.”

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer said, “We are delighted that Kuwait Airways has chosen the A330neo as a cornerstone of its future widebody fleet.  The A330-800 with its unique efficiency and versatility will support the carrier’s ambition to develop its expanding long-haul network.  The aircraft will seamlessly complement Kuwait Airways’  A320neos and A350 XWBs and deliver unbeatable operating economics, full operational commonality and unmatched passenger experience.”

The agreement was signed by Yousef Al-Jassim, Kuwait Airways Chairman and
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer,
at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. 

Gaining strength from her daughter … and music.......American Airlines flight attendant Patricia Bustamante going pink

When Lima, Peru based Flight Attendant Patricia Bustamante, felt weak, she looked to her daughter for strength. At her own pace (and with a little help from one of her favorite songs), she kicked breast cancer to the curb. Now, she’s added nine cancer-fighter sisters to her support system. 

This is her journey......

To recognize the US Breast Cancer Awareness Month, American Airlines, its team members and its customers are going pink, with a number of ways to raise awareness and critical funds for long-time partner Susan G. Komen.

United airlines announces additional matching funds for hurricane Michael

United Airlines has reaffirmed its commitment to lifting up communities in need by announcing the matching of an additional $100,000 for those affected by Hurricane Michael while continuing to award up to 5 million bonus miles for individuals who make donations of $50 or more for hurricane and typhoon relief efforts.

American Airlines flight attendant Winnie Su tells a pink and personal battle

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, American Airlines and its team members and customers are “going pink” this month to raise awareness and critical funds for long-time partner Susan G. Komen.

Winnie Su, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based Envoy Flight Attendant, is all too familiar with breast cancer. She loves her job, and her calm, positive demeanour is well known among customers and her colleagues. But when Winnie went from not knowing she had breast cancer to a stage 2B diagnosis overnight, she was shocked. Hear Winnie share her story of who helped her make it through to the other side of breast cancer in the video below...

Alaska Air Group reports its September 2018 operational results

Alaska Air Group today reported September and year-to-date operational results on a consolidated basis for its mainline operations operated by subsidiary Alaska Airlines Inc. and for its regional flying operated by subsidiary Horizon Air Industries Inc. and third-party regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and Peninsula Airlines.

On Jan. 11, 2018, Alaska and Virgin America consolidated their operations onto a Single Operating Certificate. Results for Alaska and Virgin America have been combined into a single mainline operation.

SpiceJet get first Boeing 737 Max 8

Photo Craig Larson photo

One of India's leading airlines, SpiceJet recieved its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from the US manufacturer on Friday, October 12th October   The new arrival to the SpiceJet fleet is the first of up to 205 examples of the 737 MAX family the carrier has ordered from Boeing.

SpiceJet will be using the aircraft to both standardise its fleet as well as expand its global route network, "We are excited to take delivery of our very first 737 MAX 8," SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said, adding, "The induction of our first MAX is a huge milestone in SpiceJet's journey. These new aeroplanes will enable us to open new routes while reducing fuel and engineering costs, as well as emissions.  The 737 MAX will dramatically reduce noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Passengers will benefit from a large number of premium seats and, for the first time in India, broadband internet on board."

"India is a fast-growing market for commercial aeroplanes and services," said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company. "The 737 MAX for SpiceJet is the perfect aeroplane for this market and it will become a key ingredient for long-term success, especially as oil prices continue to put pressure on airlines."

The new aircraft are arriving at a pivotal time in the Indian commercial aviation industry, back on June 20th the Indian Government confirmed it had failed to find a buyer for its stake in debt-ridden national carrier Air India. While Etihad Airways backed rival Jet Airways has been struggling to pay wages on time to staff as costs and fuel prices soar. 

Virgin Australia customers will be able to use voice check-in from next week

Virgin Australia has announced earlier this week that it will become the first airline outside North America to launch voice check-in through Amazon Alexa, allowing passengers to check-in to their flight with the power of their voice.

From next week, passengers who have linked their Velocity membership to Alexa can say, “Alexa, ask Virgin Australia to check me in” enabling a seamless start to their journey with Virgin Australia. Guests will then be sent their boarding passes to a nominated mobile number.