New order takes the total order by the Leeds, United Kingdom, based airline to 51 A321neos.The two aircraft orders reflect Jet2.com’s ambitious fleet expansion and renewal of its plans.New aircraft will be configured for 232 seats with an Airspace cabin featuring innovative lighting.
Jet2.com has placed a further order for 15 A321neos following its initial one for 36 placed in August 2021. It takes the total order by the Leeds, United Kingdom, based airline to 51 A321neos. The two orders reflect Jet2.com’s ambitious fleet expansion and renewal plans. Engine selection will be made at a later date.
New Jet2.com aircraft will be configured for 232 seats with an Airspace cabin featuring innovative lighting, new seating products and 60 percent larger overhead baggage bins for added personal storage.
The A320neo Family incorporates the latest technologies, including new generation engines and Sharklets, delivering a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption per seat. With an additional range of up to 500 nautical miles/900 km. or two tons of extra payload, the A321neo will deliver Jet2.com with additional revenue potential.
At the end of August 2021, the A320neo Family had won over 7,500 firm orders from over 120 customers worldwide.
Jet2.com Limited, also known simply as Jet2, is a British low-cost leisure airline offering scheduled and charter flights from the United Kingdom. As of 2019, it is the third-largest scheduled airline in the UK, behind EasyJet and British Airways.
The Airbus A320neo family is a development of the A320 family of narrow-body airliners produced by Airbus. The A320neo family is based on the previous A319, A320 and A321, which was renamed to A320ceo, for “current engine option”.
This event will bring together decision-makers from airlines, airports, and tourism authorities.More than 125 airlines will be present to develop recovery strategies.High-profile speakers include Wizz Air CEO; Ryanair Director of Commercial; Flair CCO; Discover Puerto Rico CEO; Gibraltar Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port; ACI World Director General; and ITA CEO.
With millions of jobs and national economies dependent on a strong restart of the air transport sector, this event will bring together decision-makers from airlines, airports, and tourism authorities in Milan this week from October 10-22 to rebuild global air connectivity.
More than 125 airlines will be present in Milan to develop recovery strategies including Air Canada, Air China, Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, easyJet, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Iberia Airlines, International Airlines Group, Jet2.com, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Wizz Air.
High-profile speakers include Jozsef Varadi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air; Jason McGuinness, director of commercial of Ryanair; Garth Lund, CCO of Flair; Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico; Vijay Daryanani, Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port of the Government of Gibraltar; Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World and Fabio Lazzerini, CEO of ITA.
Hosted by SEA Milan Airports, in partnership with the Lombardy Region, the Municipality of Milan, ENIT – Italian Tourist Board and Bergamo Airport, the event will deliver long-term growth opportunities for the city and wider region. Air transport’s contribution to the Italian economy is significant, supporting 714,000 jobs and contributing €46 billion to the economy – accounting for roughly 2.7% of Italy’s GDP in 2019. Following the impact of COVID-19, the positive catalytic effects of air connectivity in increasing trade, tourism, investment, labor supply, and market efficiency will be more important than ever in helping Italy to rebuild its economy.
Steven Small, director of Routes, said: “Our role has, and will always be, to bring together the world’s airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and route development stakeholders to build air services for the economic and social good of every destination.”
“By delivering a platform where these stakeholders can meet, World Routes will define the recovery of an industry profoundly impacted by COVID-19. The route development industry is about building relationships that create effective partnerships and successful networks. And it is those partnerships that this event will support. The innovation, resilience and cooperation demonstrated by the route development community throughout this unprecedented period will continue to be paramount in its road to recovery. By working together, we can accelerate the recovery and build back better.”
Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Milan Airports, said: “World Routes is an important appointment for our Industry, we can’t wait to meet in person once again with delegates from all over the world to share views on the future of the aviation industry and, of course, do business! In the next years, airlines need to select a network where there is a critical mass of passengers, which is important. And Milan offers this critical mass. Our goal is recovery of connectivity and traffic volumes. We need to work hard with all stakeholders involved to create the right preconditions for a proper restart especially of long-haul traffic with our priorities being America and Asia and first results already arriving. The city of Milan is bouncing back to its usual vibrant and dynamic mood, so we believe to be well placed to be at the forefront of recovery. Milan and Lombardy are the venues of major international events, one of Europe’s recognized centers for finance and business, and an extremely enjoyable city. The region surrounding Milan was the first in the western world to be hit by this devastating pandemic and we are glad that the first post-COVID World Routes event happens here to symbolically support the relaunch of aviation.”
#rebuildingtravel
Planned increases in charges by airports and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) will damage international connectivity. Confirmed airport and ANSP charges increases have already reached $2.3 billion.Collectively, ANSPs of the 29 Eurocontrol states are looking to recoup almost $9.3 billion (€8 billion) from airlines to cover revenues not realized in 2020/2021.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that planned increases in charges by airports and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) will stall recovery in air travel and damage international connectivity.
Confirmed airport and ANSP charges increases have already reached $2.3 billion. Further increases could be ten fold this number if proposals already tabled by airports and ANSPs are granted.
“A $2.3 billion charges increase during this crisis is outrageous. We all want to put COVID-19 behind us. But placing the financial burden of a crisis of apocalyptic proportions on the backs of your customers, just because you can, is a commercial strategy that only a monopoly could dream up. At an absolute minimum, cost reduction—not charges increases—must be top of the agenda for every airport and ANSP. It is for their customer airlines,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
A case in point is found among European air navigation service providers. Collectively, ANSPs of the 29 Eurocontrol states, the majority of which are state owned, are looking to recoup almost $9.3 billion (€8 billion) from airlines to cover revenues not realized in 2020/2021.They want to do this to recover the revenue and profits they missed when airlines were unable to fly during the pandemic. Moreover, they want to do this in addition to a 40% increase planned for 2022 alone.
Other examples include:
Heathrow Airport pushing to increase charges by over 90% in 2022.Amsterdam Schiphol Airport requesting to increase charges by over 40% over the next three years.Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) asking to increase charges by 38% in 2022.NavCanada increasing charges by 30% over five years .Ethiopian ANSP raising charges by 35% in 2021
Qatar Airways and RwandAir have signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement today.Customers of both airlines will benefit from convenient access to more than 65 global codeshare destinations.Rwandan flag carrier will also launch new non-stop flights between their Kigali hub and Doha from December.
Qatar Airways and RwandAir have signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement to offer travelers more choice, enhanced service and greater connectivity to more than 65 destinations across Africa and the rest of the world. As part of the deal, the Rwandan flag carrier will also launch new non-stop flights between their Kigali hub and Doha from December.
The agreement benefits travelers from across the globe who fly with both airlines, which expands each carrier’s route network. Passengers can enjoy the simplicity of purchasing connecting flights on both airlines using one seamless reservation system, that simplifies ticketing, check-in, boarding and baggage-check processes for the entire journey.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said “We share a very close and collaborative bond with Rwanda and welcome RwandAir’s new non-stop service between Kigali and our home in Doha. With this comprehensive codeshare agreement, we are committed to deliver greater choice and connectivity to our customers in Africa and around the world. The new partnership will help position Qatar Airways in the region and complement our African expansion strategy. As we brace ourselves to meet significantly increased demand for long-awaited travel, I see dynamic partnerships like this one helping to steer travel, tourism and trade firmly on the path to recovery.”
RwandAir Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Yvonne Makolo, said: “This is a major milestone for RwandAir and marks the beginning of an exciting new journey with Qatar Airways. We are also immensely proud to welcome Doha to our route network, connecting customers with Qatar’s hub and further expanding their flight map.
The FAA is thumbing its nose at Congress and passengers each day it refuses to act on these two important aviation safety issues.FlyersRights.org is planning to submit a new rulemaking petition if the FAA refuses to act soon.Out of the 43 emergency evacuations that the FAA oversaw, only one was conducted at 28 inch seat pitch.
FAA action on seat standards and emergency evacuations became two years overdue Tuesday, October 5, 2021, and the FAA has shown no evidence of making progress on either issue.
Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act on October 5, 2018. The law required the FAA to set minimum seat standards and evaluate its emergency evacuation standards by October 5, 2019. While the FAA convened the Emergency Evacuation Advisory Rulemaking Committee, the FAA has not released the Committee’s May 2020 report to Congress or to the public. The report contained 23 recommendations for updating and modernizing the evacuation certification process.
“The FAA is thumbing its nose at Congress and passengers each day it refuses to act on these two important aviation safety issues,” explained Paul Hudson, the President of FlyersRights.org. “The FAA needs to catch up to the times. Passengers are older and larger, seats continue to shrink, planes are fuller, more carry-on bags are brought on planes, and the FAA continues to allow the airplane manufacturers to rely on older data, assumptions, and simulations instead of newer data or conducting new tests.”
FlyersRights.org is planning to submit a new rulemaking petition if the FAA refuses to act soon. Its 2015 rulemaking petition, named “The Case of the Incredible Shrinking Airline Seat” by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, helped shine a light on FAA’s inaction and outdated standards.
In September 2020, the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report detailing the many flaws in the FAA’s emergency evacuation certification and testing process. Notably, the OIG revealed that the FAA misled FlyersRights.org in 2018 when, in denying the rulemaking petition for a second time, the FAA claimed that it had overseen multiple evacuation demonstrations at a 28 inch seat pitch. The FAA included three videos and declared they were conducted at 28 inches. But in reality, out of the 43 emergency evacuations that the FAA oversaw, only one was conducted at 28 inch seat pitch. The other demonstrations ranged as high as 38 inches, while 13 of the 43 demonstrations made no reference to any seat pitch, width, or size at all.
Air Canada discontinued its winter service to Saint Lucia in January 2021 during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.In 2019, Saint Lucia welcomed over 40,000 Canadian visitor arrivals to the island.Air Canada will fly nonstop service from Toronto to Saint Lucia once-a-week every Sunday, then increasing frequency to 2 weekly flights Friday & Sunday from October 31.
To commemorate the reopening of the Canadian market, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), along with tourism stakeholders were on hand at Hewanorra International Airport to welcome Air Canada Rouge flight (1878) on Sunday, October 3rd. The return of Air Canada signals the reopening of Saint Lucia’s fourth largest international source market.
Air Canada discontinued its winter service to Saint Lucia in January 2021 during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The first flight to Saint Lucia returns after nine months, following the Canadian Governments cancellation of all flights to Mexico and the Caribbean in February 2021.
To welcome Air Canada, a delegation led by Tourism Minister Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, comprised the Chairman of the Board of Directors -Thaddeus Antoine and staff of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), and President of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association – Paul Collymore.
The flight landed at 2:00 p.m. bringing a combined total of 148 returning nationals and visitors to the island. A commemorative plaque was presented to Captain, Christopher Clarke, and crewmembers who disembarked to greet the delegation. Air Canada’s return service to Toronto (YYZ) departed with 51 passengers and facilitated the exportation of 2,545 pounds of fresh produce to Canada.
Air Canada will fly nonstop service from Toronto (YYZ) to Saint Lucia (UVF) once-a-week every Sunday, then increasing frequency to (2) weekly flights Friday & Sunday from October 31st. The winter schedule will include (4) weekly flights as of Christmas, December 25th (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Saint Lucia is also set to welcome back Westjet and Sunwing in the weeks ahead.
In 2019, Saint Lucia welcomed over 40,000 Canadian visitor arrivals to the island. Keeping the destination and the diverse Canadian market top of mind, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority will continue to drive its robust, targeted marketing and public relations campaigns in the market, creating more awareness of the destination and access routes.
More airlines are joining Emirates Airline as IATA Travel Pass implementation pioneers.The announcement, made on the sidelines of the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting being held in Boston, follows eleven months of extensive testing by 76 airlines. IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that can receive and verify a range of COVID-19 test results and digital vaccines certificates.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Etihad Airways, Jazeera Airways, Jetstar, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian, will implement IATA Travel Pass in a phased rollout across the airlines’ networks. These five airlines join Emirates Airline as IATA Travel Pass implementation pioneers.
The announcement, made on the sidelines of the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting being held in Boston, follows eleven months of extensive testing by 76 airlines.
“After months of testing, IATA Travel Pass is now entering the operational phase. The app has proven itself to be an effective tool to manage the complex mess of travel health credentials that governments require. And it’s a great vote of confidence that some of the world’s best known airline brands will be making it available to their customers over the coming months,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
The app offers a safe and secure way for travelers to check the requirements for their journey, receive test results and scan their vaccine certificates, verify that these meet the destination and transit requirements and share these effortlessly with health officials and airlines prior to departure. This will avoid queuing and congestion for document checks—to the benefit of travelers, airlines, airports and governments.
IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that can receive and verify a range of COVID-19 test results and digital vaccines certificates. Currently vaccine certificates from 52 countries (representing the source of 56% of global air travel) can be managed using the app. This will increase to 74 countries, representing 85% of global traffic, by the end of November.
IATA Travel Pass is expected to play a key role in the aviation industry’s recovery from the impact of COVID-19. A digitalized solution to manage the paperwork of COVID-19 travel health credentials will support a return to travel when borders reopen. With many governments relying on airlines for COVID-19 document checking this will be critical in avoiding queues and congestion at check-in as travel ramps up.
The new nonstop seasonal flights are set to operate four-times weekly, beginning on May 15, 2022.WestJet’s inaugural service between Toronto and Dublin will operate on WestJet’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The flights will feature the airline’s newly redesigned Premium cabin, that offers new levels of privacy and comfort.
Starting this spring, WestJet will provide guests with more options to connect from the airline’s Toronto hub with new flights between Toronto and Dublin. The new non-stop seasonal flights are set to operate four-times weekly, beginning on May 15, 2022 and will increase to daily by June 2, 2022.
“As demand increases, we know travelers are looking for convenient and affordable options for travel between Canada and Europe,” said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. “As we continue to focus on expanding our network from our Toronto hub where we offer 33 international destinations, these flights will further strengthen business and leisure ties between Canada and Ireland and will increase connectivity between two key markets.”
With flights set to commence this spring, WestJet’s inaugural service between Toronto (YYZ) and Dublin (DUB) will operate on WestJet’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The flights will feature the airline’s newly redesigned Premium cabin, that offers new levels of privacy and comfort, including an enhanced inflight dining experience and wider 2X2 seat configuration.
Details of WestJet’s new seasonal service between Toronto and Dublin:
RouteFrequencyStart DateDepartureArrivalToronto – Dublin4x weeklyMay 15, 20229:10 p.m.8:45 a.m. (+1)DailyJune 2, 20224x weeklyOctober 1- October 28, 2022
Dublin – Toronto4x weeklyMay 16, 202210:05 a.m.12:40 p.m.DailyJune 3, 20224x weeklyOctober 2 – October 29, 2022
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian airline founded in 1994 that began operations in 1996. It began as a low-cost alternative to the country’s competing major airlines. WestJet provides scheduled and charter air service to more than 100 destinations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The airline’s headquarters is located adjacent to the Calgary International Airport.
Airbus is working towards supporting the digital transformation objectives of the GCC. Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding.Airbus is developing a detailed strategy to best address all mission- and business-critical requirements of GCC markets.
The Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai to boost cross-border security coordination and communication between GCC nations, starting with a first “proof of concept” implementation between 2 of the members.
The proof of concept (PoC) agreement, signed on the 3rd October at the GCC’s exhibition stand at the Expo, will allow Airbus to test the interconnection of Public Safety Critical networks on, and between the territories of two Gulf nations.
The MoU was signed by Maj. Gen. Hazaa Ben Mbarek El Hajri, Assistant Secretary of Security Affairs, Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Selim Bouri, Head of Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific for Secure Land Communications at Airbus.
“We will use the Inter-System Interface to connect the two Critical Communication networks and pave the way for better, faster, and more effective collaboration between border security forces from the GCC nations. We will leverage the modern features of our Tetra systems to strengthen cross-border communication between Public Safety agencies, which is crucial at a time when we are facing numerous border security challenges. Under our POC agreement, our team of experts will test the key technical and operational aspects of this endeavor while deploying the highest levels of availability, privacy, and security that we provide. We welcome our partnership with the Secretariat General of the GCC and we thank them for their trust in our technology.” Selim Bouri, Head of Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific for Secure Land Communications at Airbus explains.
“Airbus is working towards supporting the digital transformation objectives of the GCC. We are developing a detailed strategy to best address all mission- and business-critical requirements of GCC markets by building secure and seamless communication and collaboration networks. This latest MoU is a testament to this commitment,” Bouri added.
67% of survey respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage-points from the June 2021 survey.64% of survey respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021).73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions (up 6 percentage points from June 2021).
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that air travelers are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions. A survey commissioned by IATA of 4,700 respondents in 11 markets in September demonstrated confidence that the risks of COVID-19 can be effectively managed and that the freedom to travel should be restored.
67% of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage-points from the June 2021 survey.
64% of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021).
73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions (up 6 percentage points from June 2021).
“People are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions and even more have seen their quality of life suffer as a result. They don’t see the necessity of travel restrictions to control the virus. And they have missed too many family moments, personal development opportunities and business priorities. In short, they miss the freedom of flying and want it restored. The message they are sending to governments is: COVID-19 is not going to disappear, so we must establish a way to manage its risks while living and traveling normally,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Support grows for testing or vaccination to replace quarantine
The biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures. 84% of respondents indicated that they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at their destination. A growing proportion of respondents support the removal of quarantine if:
A person has tested negative for COVID-19 (73% in September compared to 67% in June) A person has been vaccinated (71% in September compared to 68% in June).
Jamaica’s Resilient Corridors, where most tourists vacation, are safe with relatively high vaccination rates and near zero infection rates.These meetings are being done to increase arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to foster further investment in the local tourism sector.Tourism is critically important to Jamaica’s economic recovery.
The flights will be operated by Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, Swoop and Transat with nonstop services from the Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, St. John, Ottawa, Moncton and Halifax.
Bartlett noted that the Canadian market currently has, “forward bookings hovering around 65% of 2019 levels and airlift for the winter season at around 82% of 2019 levels with around 260,000 seats locked in. This is positive news as Canada has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 related travel restrictions, which for several months literally shut down international travel. Now with more than 80% of eligible Canadians over the age of 12 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and a relative easing of international travel restrictions, we are cautiously optimistic. They are also excited by the fact that Jamaica’s Resilient Corridors, where most tourists vacation, are safe with relatively high vaccination rates and near zero infection rates.”
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (2nd R) is seen here with from L – R: Dan Hamilton, Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) District Sales Manager, Canada; Donovan White, Director of Tourism; Angella Bennett, JTB’s Regional Director, Canada and Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist, Ministry of Tourism in Toronto, Canada on Friday, October 1, 2021.
Bartlett was joined in the series of engagements with travel industry leaders in Toronto, Canada by the Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch; Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry, Delano Seiveright and JTB’s Regional Director for Canada, Angella Bennett. The high-level engagements follow similar meetings with leaders of major Airlines, Cruise Lines, and Investors, across Jamaica’s largest source market, the United States. This is being done to increase arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to foster further investment in the local tourism sector.
As is the case for everyone over the age of 12 traveling to Jamaica, Canadians must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
Meanwhile, in noting the critical importance of tourism to Jamaica’s economic recovery, Bartlett underscored that, “the industry plays a pivotal role in Jamaica’s post-pandemic recovery and for good reason. There is no better industry to drive the inclusive, shrewd and sustainable economic growth needed to move the country forward. There is no better industry to increase revenue, restore jobs and generate new opportunities in communities across Jamaica.”
Mr. Seiveright went on to summarize some of the challenges faced. He highlighted that: “The engagements across the United States and Canada brought to the fore a range of issues that Minister Bartlett will be troubleshooting with his Ministerial colleagues so as to mitigate obstacles to accelerated and sustained growth in the coming weeks and months. Among the issues on Jamaica’s end are the need to significantly step-up vaccination efforts, sort through public health logistics for cruise lines and other improvements to assure seamlessness for our key partners. Beyond that there are some obstacles and difficulties that are completely outside our control including Canada’s very stringent COVID-19 travel rules, which include the need for a PCR test in order to enter the country and logistics and itinerary challenges for Cruise lines.”
#rebuildingtravel
Lufthansa Group signs easing contracts for four additional Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft.Aircraft make major contribution to even greater sustainability through 30 percent fuel and CO2 savings.Lufthansa Group plans deployment of new Airbus A350-900 aircraft from first half of 2022.
The Lufthansa Group is accelerating the modernization of its long-haul fleet. The Group signed leases for four state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900 aircraft with the lessors Avolon, SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd. and Goshawk. As a result, the Group’s A350 fleet will grow to 21 aircraft at the beginning of 2022.
The Airbus’ A350-900 are scheduled to enter service with Lufthansa’s core brand from the first half of 2022, strengthening the five-star airline’s premium offering.
Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said:
“The Airbus A350 is one of the most modern aircraft of our time. Extremely fuel-efficient, very quiet and much more economical than its predecessors. Our customers appreciate not only the sustainability but also the premium flight experience with this aircraft. The lease agreements allow us to remain flexible in fleet planning and make the most of exceptional market opportunities.”
The twin-engine Airbus A350-900 aircraft consume only around 2.5 liters of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometers flown. That is around 30 percent less than their predecessors, with a correspondingly positive impact on the carbon footprint. The aircraft will primarily replace four-engine long-haul aircraft from the Airbus A340 family. By the middle of the decade, the proportion of four-engine aircraft in the long-haul fleet as a whole is expected to fall to below 15 percent. Before the crisis, the share was around 50 percent.
Furthermore, the new, fuel-efficient aircraft will reduce operating costs by around 15 percent compared with the types they will replace.
As part of its comprehensive, long-term fleet modernization program, the Lufthansa Group will take delivery of a total of further 177 short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft this decade.
This will be the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to its home city of Shanghai.The decision to host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit was made by the 77th AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Boston.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, on 19-21 June 2022.
This will be the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. The AGM was previously held in Beijing in 2012 and in Shanghai in 2002.
“We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th IATA AGM. China is a dynamic aviation market, with its domestic travel among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19. We are delighted to be able to bring the AGM to China again,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai. In the 20 years since the AGM was last held in Shanghai, the city has completely changed. We look forward to showcasing our vibrant city and warm Chinese hospitality,” said Liu Shaoyong, Chairman, China Eastern Airlines.
The decision to host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit was made by the 77th AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Boston.
Commercial aviation has begun the long, slow climb out of the travel trough created by the COVID-19 pandemic.Airline industry needs a secure, globally accepted digital tool that enables travelers to upload and carry with them their vaccine status, recent test results or COVID-19 recovery status.As travel picks up, airlines, security personnel and immigration and border control agents are likely to be faced with a bewildering array of testing and vaccine documents to process.
Flight Safety Foundation today called on the aviation industry, regulators and health authorities around the world to accelerate development of standardized and internationally accepted digital health certificates and to have them widely deployed within the next 12 months.
“Commercial aviation has begun the long, slow climb out of the travel trough created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even the most routine international trip is fraught with confusion and frustration about acceptable documentation, testing requirements and the specter of quarantines, never mind the risk of fake COVID test results or vaccine status fraud,” said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. “To maximize passenger health safety we need a secure, globally accepted digital tool that enables travelers to upload and carry with them their vaccine status, recent test results or COVID-19 recovery status, and that will be recognized and accepted wherever they go,” he said.
While dozens of airlines and countries have deployed digital health certificates and apps, the pace of adoption of these tools has been slow and uneven. The Foundation is concerned that as travel picks up, airlines, security personnel and immigration and border control agents are likely to be faced with a bewildering array of testing and vaccine documents to process.
“The only way the industry is going to be able to move forward safely and in a manner that instills confidence in travelers, aviation industry personnel, regulators and health authorities is if all the stakeholders pull together and prioritize development and adoption of these tools,” said Capt. Conor Nolan, chair of the Foundation’s Board of Governors. “We need solutions that are scalable, interoperable and that ensure sensitive information remains secure.”
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety.
Lufthansa adds 130 additional flights from Frankfurt and Munich to popular European holiday destinations.Lufthansa announces Further expansion of domestic flights from Frankfurt to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.Starting in October there will be up to eleven daily connections from Frankfurt to Berlin instead of nine daily connections.
A high demand for flights to leisure destinations continues into the upcoming autumn holidays. After August, October shows the highest increase in bookings to sunny, European destinations. As a result, Lufthansa is expanding its flight program to popular sunny destinations even further.
The most important European vacation destinations will now be served with more than 80 additional flights from Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport and over 50 additional flights from Munich.
Lufthansa destinations in Spain are particularly in high demand. Therefore, the airline is now offering additional flights to Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Seville. Portugal, Italy and Greece also remain particularly popular. Lufthansa is therefore offering additional flights to Faro and Madeira (both Portugal), as well as to Cagliari in Sardinia, Catania in Sicily, and Rhodes (Greece) during the fall vacation time period.
When planning, air travelers should always observe the relevant and current entry and quarantine regulations.
In addition, demand for air travel continues to grow strongly for business travel. Lufthansa will therefore continue to expand its domestic flight offer on routes that are particularly important for business travelers. Over the last few weeks, the airline had already expanded its services for October by 45 percent on routes from Frankfurt to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf, compared to July.
Now, additional connections are being offered at short notice. This means, among other things, starting in October there will be up to eleven daily connections from Frankfurt to Berlin instead of nine daily connections.
Furthermore, there will be ten daily flights from Frankfurt to Hamburg instead of eight daily connections. The situation is similar for Munich: Instead of six daily connections, the flight schedule from “MUC” will include up to nine daily connections to Düsseldorf starting in October.
Also, by expanding the flight schedule, more connections are now available throughout the day. Travelers who often want to fly in the morning or in the evening can now benefit from an improved flight schedule.
Net industry losses are expected to reduce to $11.6 billion in 2022 after a $51.8 billion loss in 2021 (worsened from the $47.7 billion loss estimated in April).Demand (measured in RPKs) is expected to stand at 40% of 2019 levels for 2021, rising to 61% in 2022.Total airline passenger numbers are expected to reach 2.3 billion in 2021.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its latest outlook for airline industry financial performance showing improved results amid the continuing COVID-19 crisis:
Net industry losses are expected to reduce to $11.6 billion in 2022 after a $51.8 billion loss in 2021 (worsened from the $47.7 billion loss estimated in April). Net 2020 loss estimates have been revised to $137.7 billion (from $126.4 billion). Adding these up, total industry losses in 2020-2022 are expected to reach $201 billion.
Demand (measured in RPKs) is expected to stand at 40% of 2019 levels for 2021, rising to 61% in 2022.
Total passenger numbers are expected to reach 2.3 billion in 2021. This will grow to 3.4 billion in 2022 which is similar to 2014 levels and significantly below the 4.5 billion travelers of 2019.
Robust demand for air cargo is expected to continue with 2021 demand at 7.9% above 2019 levels, growing to 13.2% above 2019 levels for 2022.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General
“The magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis for airlines is enormous. Over the 2020-2022 period total losses could top $200 billion. To survive airlines have dramatically cut costs and adapted their business to whatever opportunities were available. That will see the $137.7 billion loss of 2020 reduce to $52 billion this year. And that will further reduce to $12 billion in 2022. We are well past the deepest point of the crisis. While serious issues remain, the path to recovery is coming into view. Aviation is demonstrating its resilience yet again,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
The air cargo business is performing well, and domestic travel will near pre-crisis levels in 2022. The challenge is international markets which remain severely depressed as government-imposed restrictions continue.
“People have not lost their desire to travel as we see in solid domestic market resilience. But they are being held back from international travel by restrictions, uncertainty and complexity. More governments are seeing vaccinations as a way out of this crisis. We fully agree that vaccinated people should not have their freedom of movement limited in any way. In fact, the freedom to travel is a good incentive for more people to be vaccinated. Governments must work together and do everything in their power to ensure that vaccines are available to anybody who wants them,” said Walsh.
Poland is a year-round destination that offers an incredible array of experiences and unbeatable value compared with its European counterparts. With over 62 new hotel projects planned and 35 due to officially open in 2021, Poland is prioritizing on boosting its tourism growth in a post-pandemic era.Poland’s cities perfectly blend urban spaces with natural green spaces, and no city does this better than Warsaw.
With the announcement that the international travel traffic light system is being simplified in England with a single red list from October fourth, holidays to Poland, one of Europe’s best destinations for young travelers, are back on.
20170728_FlyDubai_737_MAX_Delivery_Seattle
Coming into effect from the 4th October, the announcement means people returning from Poland will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine, should the country remain off the red list. PCR tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travelers returning to England, and under the new testing regime, people who have had both jobs won’t need to take a pre-departure test before leaving any country not on the red list.
From the pristine Baltic coastline with its white sandy beaches, enchanting UNESCO-protected forests and the titanic Tatra mountains to a wealth of cities packed with history, green spaces and rich cultural heritage, Poland is a year-round destination that offers an incredible array of experiences and unbeatable value compared with its European counterparts. These factors make Poland the ideal destination for those young travelers that haven’t been able to experience quarantine-free travel for nearly two years.
With over 62 new hotel projects planned and 35 due to officially open in 2021, bringing 7,422 new rooms to Poland, the country is prioritizing on boosting its tourism growth in a post-pandemic era. From urban to rural tourism, this July, UNESCO announced that Poland’s Ancient and Primeval beech Forests have been awarded World Heritage Status. The Ancient Forests of the Carparthians span several countries, and Poland’s section is the otherworldly Bieszczady National Park.
Europe’s Best City Break Destination for Young Travelers
Immerse yourself in Krakow, Poland’s cultural capital
Krakow is emerging as one of Europe’s premier city break destinations, and for good reason. The city has a World Heritage pedigree, with the iconic Old Town, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz district all belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Krakow is also a former European Capital of Culture, with more than 100 festivals and world-renowned cultural events taking place here annually. You will also find a quarter of Poland’s entire collection of museum artifacts in the city. As if these prestigious accolades weren’t enough to entice you, the city has also been a European Capital of Gastronomic Culture. You will find a total of 26 restaurants holding a Michelin distinction here, and almost twice as many were honored by Gault & Millau. From high-quality produce to world-renowned chefs, Krakow’s foodie scene is rich and diverse.
First flight of AlMasria Universal Airlines arrives from sunny Sharm el-Sheikh to Moscow Domodedovo Airport.AlMasria Universal Airlines operates two weekly flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesdays and Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively. Currently, Egyptian destination is one of the most popular among the passengers of Moscow Domodedovo Airport.
Moscow Domodedovo Airport welcomed first flight of AlMasria Universal Airlines, which has arrived from sunny Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Carrier operates two weekly flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesdays and Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively. Arrival at Domodedovo airport at 09:20, departure at 10:20.
Currently, Egyptian destination is one of the most popular among the passengers of the air harbor. During the first month after the resumption of flights to the resorts of Egypt, the passenger traffic exceeded 20 thousand people.
AlMasria Universal Airlines is a private Egyptian airline. The Carrier operates regular and charter flights to 14 destinations, has 13 years of experience in the field of passenger service.
Domodedovo, formally “Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov International Airport” is an international airport located in Domodedovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia, 42 kilometers south-southeast from the center of Moscow. Moscow Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport is one of the largest air hubs in Russia. In 2020, the airport served 16.4 million passengers. Members of the world’s leading airline alliances including Star Alliance and oneworld have chosen Moscow Domodedovo Airport for their flights to Moscow.
AlMasria Universal Airlines is an Egyptian private airline based in Egypt. The airline operates scheduled and charter services from Egypt. ‘AlMasria’ is derived from the Arabic word for ‘Egyptian’.
Travel restrictions bought governments time to respond in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.In the last months, several key markets that had previously been closed have taken steps to open to vaccinated travelers.Among markets that were previously closed, Europe was an early mover, followed by Canada, the UK, the US and Singapore.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for an end to wildly inconsistent COVID-19 travel restrictions that are stalling the recovery of air transport. It urged governments to implement simplified regimes to manage the risks of COVID-19 as borders re-open to international travel.
“Travel restrictions bought governments time to respond in the early days of the pandemic. Nearly two years later, that rationale no longer exists. COVID-19 is present in all parts of the world. Travel restrictions are a complex and confusing web of rules with very little consistency among them. And there is little evidence to support ongoing border restrictions and the economic havoc they create,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Testing results for UK arriving passengers demonstrate that travelers are not adding risk to the local population. “Of the three million arrivals between February and August only 42,000 tested positive—or fewer than 250 a day. Meanwhile, the daily case count in the UK is 35,000 and the economy—apart from international travel—is wide open. People should be just as free to travel,” said Walsh.
In the last months, several key markets that had previously been closed have taken steps to open to vaccinated travelers. Among markets that were previously closed, Europe was an early mover, followed by Canada, the UK, the US and Singapore. Even Australia, which has some of the most draconian restrictions, is taking steps to re-open its borders to vaccinated travelers by November.
IATA supports these moves and encourages all governments to consider the following framework for re-opening borders:
Vaccines should be made available to all as quickly as possible.Vaccinated travelers should not face any barriers to travel.Testing should enable those without access to vaccines to travel without quarantine.Antigen tests are the key to cost-effective and convenient testing regimes.Governments should pay for testing, so it does not become an economic barrier to travel.
Wizz Air to launch Eight new routes into the Kingdom of Jordan.The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez, announced during a press conference held on Sunday, October 3rd, 2021, the conclusion of a new agreement between the Kingdom and the international low-cost airline Wizz Air, during which the airline plans to operate eight new routes into and from Jordan.The inauguration of the agreement came in the presence of the Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Abed AlRazzaq Arabiyat, the representative of Wizz Air Group in the press conference, Mr. Owain Jones, and H.E. Eng. Nayef Ahmad Bakheet. The Chairman of ADC Board The Chief of Commissioners of ASEZA Board at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and a number of media representatives.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez said during the press conference: “We are pleased to launch the agreement with the international low-cost carrier Wizz Air, confident that the airline will have a great impact on increasing the number of tourists coming into the Kingdom in the upcoming period.”
Al-Fayez noted that before the pandemic, low-cost flights coming in and out of the country gave new impetus to Jordanian tourism sector, which enabled the country to achieve a great leap, allowing the Kingdom to win its bet on the sector and seize its share of a highly competitive market in the Middle East region.
Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Abed Alrazzaq Arabiyat, affirmed the importance of launching this agreement with Europe’s fastest-growing airline, Wizz Air.
Arabiyat added that this achievement came as a result of the continuous efforts made over the past few years, as it is expected that the Wizz Air operations into the Kingdom will positively affect the tourism sector and also increase the number of tourists, noting that the airline will carry tourists of various European and Middle Eastern nationalities into the Kingdom.
Arabiyat gave a detailed explanation during the conference on the importance of this agreement, indicating that the agreement will include the launch of many marketing campaigns through all the airline’s highly established platforms including the website in addition to the different Social Media platforms, Arabiyat also noted that the expected number of tourists entering the Kingdom during the first year of operation will be around 167,000 tourists.
Regarding the entry into force of the agreement, Arabiyat said that the first landing of Wizz Air into the Kingdom is scheduled on the 15th of December 2021.
Speaking at the press conference Owain Jones Chief Supply Chain and Legal Officer of Wizz Air Group said: “I am delighted to announce the start of our operations in the Kingdom. I am convinced that the today announced connections will support the ramp up of the tourism industry by offering low fare and high quality flights for passengers.
Flying the very latest aircraft technology has always been a cornerstone of WIZZ’s business, with the benefits of lower fuel consumption and lower noise delivering benefits for our customers and the environment. Our brand new aircraft as well as our enhanced protective measures will ensure the best possible sanitary conditions for travellers while operating with the lowest environmental footprint.
We look forward to welcoming passengers on board with great service and a smile.”
Arabiyat indicated that the eight different destinations will be launched by Wizzair airline, including four (year-round) routes coming into Amman through the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), which are,
Budapest – HungaryRome – ItalyMilan – ItalyVienna – Austria
In addition to Four seasonal routes to Aqaba, landing at King Hussein International Airport (KHIA)
Budapest – HungaryBucharest – RomaniaVienna – AustriaRome – Italy
Regarding the booking method of seats onboard Wizz Air’s flights, Arabiyat added that bookings can be made through the company’s website (wizzair.com) or its app.
Arabiyat said that The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board’s main goal is to work on the government’s priority program for 2021-2023 that aims to attract tourists through supporting low-cost airlines in addition to Charter flights.
Arabiyat also indicated that the sector had previously declined due to the restrictions imposed on air travel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which resulted in the loss of Millions of Dollars due to the lack of tourists coming into the country, noting that the Kingdom is going through a new stage during which (JTB) seeks to increase the number of tourists entering the Kingdom, in addition to increasing the rate of tourists overnight stay and tourism receipts, hoping to achieve the desired goals set by restoring the numbers achieved pre-pandemic.
Arabiyat also confirmed that the Ministry and the Tourism Board are working on developing, promoting and marketing the Jordanian tourism product in an optimal manner.
About Wizz Air
Wizz Air, the fastest growing European low-cost airline, operates a fleet of 140 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. A team of dedicated aviation professionals delivers superior service and very low fares, making Wizz Air the preferred choice of 10.2 million passengers in the financial year ending 31 March 2021.
Wizz Air is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker WIZZ. The company was recently named one of the world’s top ten safest airlines by airlineratings.com, the world’s only safety and product rating agency, and 2020 Airline of the Year by ATW, the most coveted honour an airline or individual can receive, and a most sustainable company in the airline industry in 2021 by World Finance Magazine.
Condor’s first flight of the season to the Seychelles islands carried 164 passengers onboard.The passengers each received as part of a warm creole welcome a souvenir from the Tourism Department and were entertained with live traditional music.The German market is one of the best performing source markets for Seychelles.
Resuming its non-stop flights from Frankfurt, Condor’s first flight of the season to Seychelles carried 164 passengers who received as part of a warm creole welcome a souvenir from the Tourism Department and were entertained with live traditional music.
Present for the arrival of the aircraft and to greet the 164 passengers as they disembarked, the Department of Tourism’s Director General for Destination Marketing, Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, stated that with the resumption of its services, Condor joins other airlines who are contributing to the recovery of the tourism industry and the economy of the islands.
“With the resumption of its services, Condor joins 12 other airlines. It definitely gives us great pleasure to see another airline partner back on our shores. A direct flight from a European city is always an added value for the destination. This is a great step in our recovery especially as the German market is one of the best performing source markets for Seychelles. The resumption of the flights comes at a right time as well as the German government eases travel requirements for German nationals and residents travelling to Seychelles,” Mrs. Willemin said.
Mr. Ralf Teckentrup, Chief Executive Officer of Condor, expressing his confidence in the destination, said, “The Seychelles in the Indian Ocean belongs to the Condor flight schedule and is a popular destination with our guests. The archipelago delights with unique beaches, coral reefs and rainforests and we are very much looking forward to flying our guests on holiday after such a long period of wanderlust. We have been working very successfully with the Tourism Seychelles for a long time to enable our guests to enjoy their dream holiday.”
Tourism Seychelles will be working with airline, travel industry partners, media and as well as stepping up its consumer campaigns to win back visitors from its key source markets. “Our efforts are now concentrated on getting back our visitors from Germany and neighboring countries. With the arrival of Condor, we are eagerly anticipating a boost in visitor arrival numbers,” said Mrs. Willemin.
Germany was the leading source market for Seychelles in 2019, when the destination recorded 72,509 visitor arrivals from Germany, almost a quarter of whom travelled on Condor. 8,080 visitors have visited Seychelles in the first nine months of 2021.
Aeromexico files the Joint Plan of Reorganization, a disclosure statement to the Plan and a motion to approve solicitation procedures with respect to the Plan.Aeromexico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, its voluntary financioal restructuring through Chapter 11.Aeromexico will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity and protect and preserve its operations and assets.
Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V. informed that it filed, together with its subsidiaries that are debtors in the Company’s Chapter 11 voluntary financial restructuring process, the Joint Plan of Reorganization, a disclosure statement related to the Plan and a motion to approve solicitation procedures with respect to the Plan.
Aeroméxico intends to file one or more supplements to the Plan on the schedule set forth in the Plan or as otherwise ordered by the Court. A hearing to approve the Disclosure Statement is expected to be held on or about October 21, 2021. Upon entry of an order approving the Disclosure Statement, the Company intends to begin the process to solicit votes on the Plan.
The filing of the Plan is a key milestone on Aeroméxico’s path to emergence from its Chapter 11 process, and the Company looks forward to continue to engage with its stakeholders to finalize the Plan on a consensual basis.
Aeroméxico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, its voluntary financial restructuring through Chapter 11, while continuing to operate and offer services to its customers and contracting from its suppliers the goods and services required for operations.
Aeroméxico will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, protect and preserve its operations and assets, and implement necessary adjustments to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.
Aerovías de México, S.A. de C.V. operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico, based in Mexico City. It operates scheduled services to more than 90 destinations in Mexico; North, South and Central America; the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
India called Britain’s decision not to recognize Indian version of AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, “discriminatory”.Vaccinated UK nationals arriving in India will be subjected to a 10-day mandatory quarantine.Starting on Monday, all UK arrivals will have to present a negative COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure.
In apparent tit-for-tat, India’s Foreign Ministry officials today announced that all UK nationals, including fully vaccinated ones, will be subjected to a 10-day mandatory quarantine upon their arrival in India.
The new requirement seems to be introduced in response to similar measures imposed on Indian nationals by the UK.
The new policy announcement comes after India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Britain’s decision not to recognize the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, “discriminatory”.
The minister had warned of reciprocal measures should London fail to reconsider.
Starting on Monday, all British arrivals – irrespective of their vaccination status – will have to present a negative COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure, undergo a second test on arrival and a third eight days later.
A mandatory quarantine period of 10 days will also be enforced, according to a foreign ministry official.
The British government announced last month it would allow fully vaccinated travelers to skip quarantine and take fewer tests, but only recognized vaccination under the American, British or European programs or those authorized by an approved health body.
More than a dozen countries in Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East made it to the list, but India’s program was not included. Also, no African program was accepted.
The vast majority of Indians have been vaccinated with Indian-made AstraZeneca shots, which has been produced by Serum Institute of India. Others have received COVAXIN, a vaccine produced by an Indian company that is not used in Britain.
Britain’s refusal to accept certain vaccine certificates has led to concerns that it could exacerbate vaccine hesitancy.
Countries that received hundreds of thousands of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the British government were left wondering why their vaccination programs were not good enough in the eyes of its provider.
Midair collision between a helicopter and a fixed wing plane happened near McQueen and Queen Creek in Arizona.The plane was able to land safely but the helicopter crashed and caught fire, killing 2 people on board.The tragic crash came three months after another smaller plane accident at Chandler Municipal Airport.
A helicopter and a small plane collided midair near Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona.
The downed chopper near Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona
The airplane managed to land safely, but the helicopter crashed and burst in flames.
Both occupants of a helicopter were killed, while plane passengers walked away unhurt.
The midair collision took place on Friday morning near Chandler Municipal Airport, located in a suburb of Arizona‘s state capital city of Phoenix.
Chandler Fire Battalion Chief Keith Welch confirmed that two people aboard the helicopter were killed, while the passengers of the plane, a light propeller-driven aircraft, did not require medical attention.
Nobody on the ground was hurt.
The circumstances of the crash are unclear, and Chandler police have put out a call for witnesses and video footage of the incident.
Images shared by local reporters in the immediate aftermath show the plane at a standstill just off a runway, apparently fully intact.
Separate footage shows the remains of the helicopter on what appears to be a patch of waste ground, partially covered with a tarpaulin by emergency workers.
The tragic crash came three months after a smaller plane accident at Chandler Municipal Airport. Back in July, a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza B36 with four people on board crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff, sending one occupant to the hospital and injuring the three others.
Mauritius completely closed its borders to foreign tourists at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.Mauritius reopened its borders on July 15, 2021, but all new foreign arrivals have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.Russian-made Sputnik V is one of eight vaccines against coronavirus approved on the island.
Mauritius’ authorities announced that beginning on October 1, all restrictions on the movement of tourists inoculated with one of eight vaccines against coronavirus approved on the island have been lifted.
The borders of Mauritius were completely shut to foreign tourists with the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. They were reopened on July 15, 2021 but, the new arrivals had to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Currently, the conditions of stay for foreign tourists inoculated with vaccines approved by the local authorities have been relaxed.
According to the representative of the Russian Embassy in Mauritius, Russian-made Sputnik V is among eight COVID-19 vaccines approved on the island.
Russian tourists inoculated with Sputnik V arriving in Mauritius won’t have to observe a quarantine starting today and can move freely about the territory of this island nation, said the diplomat.
“Earlier, they had to spend a two-week quarantine on the premises of hotels,” said, adding that it is expected that direct flights between Mauritius and Russian cities will resume in the near future.
Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine is widely used in Mauritius. Its first batch arrived in the country on June 30. Beginning on July 12, Sputnik V has been used in Mauritius’ national vaccination drive along with other shots.
Mauritius is one of the leaders in Africa in terms of the number of those inoculated against coronavirus. Some 1.63 million doses of shots against COVID-19 have been used on the island, 788,000 people or 62.2% of the population have completed the full vaccination course.
The pandemic wreaked major havoc on the nation’s economy. During the last financial year, its GDP sank 15%. Every fourth job in Mauritius is related to tourism, with its share of the GDP reaching 24%. The country’s government is aiming to attract about 650,000 tourists to Mauritius in the next 12 months.
Budapest Airport marks flydubai’s inaugural connection to Dubai from Hungary’s capital city.The four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East will operate year-round.The arrival of flydubai significantly expands the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Dubai’s hub.
Celebrating the arrival of its latest new airline partner, Budapest Airport has marked flydubai’s inaugural connection to Dubai from Hungary’s capital city. The four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East will operate year-round and significantly expand the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Dubai’s hub.
At the launch, Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport commented: “Serving both business travelers and tourists alike, the arrival of flydubai on our carrier rollcall will boost our capacity to a hugely important international hub. Code-sharing with Emirates on this route opens up more than 190 destinations to our passengers including Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US.”
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said: “We have seen growing demand for travel this summer and with the start of flights to Budapest, we are expanding our network over the winter schedule to offer our passengers more choice for travel. Our newly launched operations to Hungary will also strengthen links with the UAE.”
Flydubai, legally Dubai Aviation Corporation, is a government-owned budget airline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with its head office and flight operations in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport. The airline operates a total of 95 destinations, serving the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe from Dubai.
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and still commonly called just Ferihegy, is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and by far the largest of the country’s four commercial airports.
Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, the one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight
The relaxation of the restrictions will allow citizens to travel abroad when their state’s vaccination rate hits 80% Currently, people are only able to travel out of Australia for exceptional reasons, including necessary work or to visit a family member who is terminally ill.Return to Australia is currently restricted by strict arrival quotas and those returning to the country have to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.
Australia initially closed its border back in March of 2020, banning its citizens and residents from traveling abroad without official permission and leaving thousands of Australians stuck abroad.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison
“It’s time to give Australians their lives back,” the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today, announcing that Australia would begin to ease the severe border restrictions it had enacted early in the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing vaccinated citizens to travel internationally.
The easing of the COVID-19 border restrictions will allow Australian citizens to travel abroad when their state’s vaccination rate hits 80% – a goal set nationwide to ensure that an outbreak of the virus would not overwhelm medical facilities.
Currently, New South Wales is the closest state to that threshold, being set to reach it in a matter of weeks, while Victoria is expected to be the second to meet the requirement.
At this time, people are only able to travel out of Australia for exceptional reasons, including necessary work or to visit a family member who is terminally ill. Return to Australia is restricted by strict arrival quotas and those returning to the country have to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine.
Morrison also said that, as well as making it easier for vaccinated people to travel, the hotel quarantine measure – which costs AUS $3,000 ($2,100) – will be wound down and replaced with a seven-day at-home isolation.
The relaxation will not immediately apply to foreign inbound individuals, although the government stated that it was working to ensure the country could soon be “welcoming tourists back to our shores.”
Australia’s partial relaxation of its travel restrictions comes despite its two biggest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, and its capital, Canberra, remaining in lockdown due to a surge in cases that occurred in those urban hubs earlier in the year.
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