On October 12, Hawaiian Airlines moves from Terminal 5 and begins welcoming travelers at Terminal B at Los Angeles International Airport.Hawaiian Airlines’ guests traveling to and from Hawai’i via LAX will enjoy a modern and comfortable facility.Hawaiian offers six daily fights between LAX and the Hawaiian Islands, including thrice-daily service to Honolulu, and once-daily service to Kahului on Maui, Kona on the Island of Hawaii, and Lihue on Kauai. Hawaiian Airlines will have a new home at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) effective Tuesday, October 12, when it moves from Terminal 5 and begins welcoming travelers at Terminal B, also known as the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Hawaiian’s guests traveling to and from Hawai’i via LAX will enjoy a modern and comfortable facility featuring more amenities, expanded dining and shopping options and a spacious gate area. Hawaiian Airlines offers six daily fights between LAX and the Hawaiian Islands, including thrice-daily service to Honolulu, and once-daily service to Kahului on Maui, Kona on the Island of Hawaii, and Lihue on Kauai. “We appreciate the support of Los Angeles World Airports in our relocation to Terminal B, which will provide our guests a superior experience whether they are beginning their Hawaii vacation or returning home,” said Jeff Helfrick, vice president of airport operations at Hawaiian Airlines. “When Hawaiian Airlines moves into its new home at the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal, passengers will enjoy one of the most modern and technologically advanced airport facilities in the world,” said Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. “LAX became Hawaiian Airlines’ first U.S. mainland destination more than 35 years ago, and we look forward to continuing our long relationship connecting Hawaii with Southern California.” Guests departing to Hawaii from LAX should set aside approximately 15 minutes to transit from the third-floor check-in counters inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal to its West Gates via an underground walkway. Hawaiian’s guests arriving at LAX from Hawaii will pick up checked bags at the first-floor baggage claim. Travelers can also connect between the West Gates and Terminals 4-8 through a sterile corridor without the need to clear additional security.

December schedule includes new connections between the Midwest and warm weather cities like Las Vegas and Orlando.New schedule includes nearly 70 daily flights to ski destinations, including new service between Orange County and Aspen.According to United Airlines, holiday travel flight searches on United website and the airline’s app are up 16%, compared to 2019. United Airlines today announced that it will fly its biggest domestic schedule since the start of the pandemic to meet an expected surge in holiday travel, with an emphasis on connecting the Midwest to warm weather cities like Las Vegas and Orlando as well as offering nearly 70 daily flights to ski destinations, including new service between Orange County and Aspen. According to United Airlines, holiday travel flight searches on united.com and the airline’s app are up 16%, compared to 2019. The airline expects the busiest travel days for the Thanksgiving holiday will be Wednesday, November 24 and Sunday, November 28, while popular days for winter holiday travel are expected to be Thursday, December 23 and Sunday, January 2.  The airline plans to offer more than 3,500 daily domestic flights in December, representing 91% of its domestic capacity compared to 2019. “We’re seeing a lot of pent-up demand in our data and are offering a December schedule that centers on the two things people want most for the holidays: warm sunshine and fresh snow,” said Ankit Gupta, vice president of network planning and scheduling at United Airlines. “We know families and friends are eager to reunite this holiday season, which is why we’re thrilled to add new flights that will help them connect and celebrate together.” In December, United will begin new direct flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix from Cleveland, and to Orlando from Indianapolis. The carrier also will resume eight popular direct flights from Midwest cities, including routes to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa, offering the most departures the airline has flown from Cleveland since 2014 including direct service to Nassau and Cancun. United will offer up to 195 daily flights to 12 destinations in Florida this winter, the most flights to the Sunshine State in company history. United is also resuming direct flights from Columbus, Indianapolis, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh to Fort Myers – which were some of the airline’s most popular point-to-point flights last winter. Customers who prefer fresh powder can enjoy more flights to ski destinations with United than any other carrier. The airline offers 66 daily flights to over a dozen ski destinations across the U.S., including brand new service beginning this December between Orange County and Aspen. This winter season, United will have flights to Aspen/Snowmass, Mammoth, Bozeman/Big Sky, Eagle/Vail, Kalispell, Gunnison/Crested Butte, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Jackson Hole, Montrose/Telluride, Reno/Tahoe, Sun Valley from its hub airports.

Mehmet T. Nane will serve as the first ever Turkish Chair of the IATA Board of Governors.Mehmet T. Nane will succeed the current Chair of the Board of Governors Robin Hayes.Mehmet T. Nane will serve until the conclusion of the 79th Annual General Assembly in 2023. Mehmet T. Nane, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, has been appointed Chair of the IATA Board of Governors at The International Air Transport Association’s 77th Annual General Assembly, to commence his term in June 2022. Mehmet T. Nane, who will serve as the first Turkish Chair of the IATA Board of Governors, will commence his term at the 78th Annual General Assembly to be held in Shanghai on 19-21 June 2022, succeeding the current Chair of the Board of Governors Robin Hayes. Mehmet T. Nane will serve until the conclusion of the 79th Annual General Assembly in 2023. With this appointment, Mehmet T. Nane will also become a Member of the IATA’s Chair Committee and this Chair Committee Membership will last three terms as an elected, active and former Chair of the Board of Governors. Commenting on his appointment, Mehmet T. Nane said: “I am very proud to be taking on such an important role. This is also a great indicator as to how far Turkish aviation has come…” and continued: “The aviation industry, which propels many other sectors in addition to its own critical role, is going through one of the most challenging times in its history. As IATA, which today represents 82 percent of total air traffic, equating to 290 member airlines from 120 countries, the biggest task ahead of us is to work so that our industry, which is a driving force of world economies, returns to pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible and continues its sustainable growth. I will work tirelessly towards these goals. We will overcome these challenging times by joining our forces together”. Pegasus Airlines’ CEO, Mehmet T. Nane, who served as Chair of IATA’s Audit Committee during the previous term, continues to be a Member of IATA’s Board of Governors since his appointment in 2019. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is a trade association of the world’s airlines founded in 1945. Consisting in 2016 of 290 airlines, primarily major carriers, representing 117 countries, the IATA’s member airlines account for carrying approximately 82% of total available seat miles air traffic. IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards. It is headquartered in Canada in the city of Montréal, with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland. Pegasus Airlines is a Turkish low-cost carrier headquartered in the Kurtköy area of Pendik, Istanbul with bases at several Turkish airports.

Canada requires COVID-19 vaccination across the federal public service and federally regulated transportation sectors.The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, today announced details of the government’s plans to require COVID-19 vaccination.Employers in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors will have until October 30, 2021 to comply. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made a commitment to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. That is why we worked hard to deliver safe and effective vaccines and set the stage for a recovery that benefits everyone. Thanks to the millions of Canadians who rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, and now with 82 per cent of eligible Canadians fully vaccinated, Canada is a world leader on COVID-19 vaccinations. As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada will continue to play a leadership role in protecting the safety of our workplaces, our communities, and all Canadians by ensuring that as many of them as possible are fully vaccinated. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, today announced details of the government’s plans to require COVID-19 vaccination across the federal public service and federally regulated transportation sectors. Under the new policy, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration, including members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will be required to confirm their vaccination status by October 29, 2021. Those who are unwilling to disclose their vaccination status or to be fully vaccinated will be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as November 15, 2021. Employers in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors will have until October 30, 2021, to establish vaccination policies that ensure employees are vaccinated. Effective October 30, 2021, travelers departing from Canadian airports, and travelers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, will be required to be fully vaccinated, with very limited exceptions. The government is working with industry and key partners to put a strict vaccine requirement in place for cruise ships before the resumption of the 2022 cruise season. Crown corporations and separate agencies are being asked to implement vaccine policies mirroring the requirements announced today for the rest of the public service. The Acting Chief of the Defense Staff will also issue a directive requiring vaccination for the Canadian Armed Forces. The government will keep working with employers in other federally regulated workplaces to ensure vaccination is prioritized for workers in these sectors. By requiring vaccination from federal public servants, travelers, and employees in federally regulated transportation sectors, the Government of Canada will reduce the risk of COVID-19, prevent future outbreaks, and better protect the health of Canadians. Vaccination continues to be a priority for the government as we work to ensure a strong economic recovery and build a safer and healthier Canada for everyone.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

Four times weekly service to Luxor starts 23 November 2021, and twice weekly service to Sharm El-Sheikh begins 3 December 2021.The new routes will be operated by the airline’s Airbus A320 and offer seamless connectivity to many destinations in Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America.Qatar Airways will also increase its Cairo service starting from 1 October 2021, increasing flights to the capital to triple daily. Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will launch a new service to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 3 December with twice weekly flights, this new route will follow the resumption of operations to Luxor on 23 November with four weekly flights. In a further expansion of services to Egypt, Qatar Airways will also increase its Cairo service starting from 1 October 2021, increasing flights to the capital to triple daily. The resumption of operations to Luxor and launching of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh sees Qatar Airways now operate a total of 34 weekly flights to Egypt via Hamad International Airport (HIA). The new services will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in First Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. The resumption of operations to Luxor and the launch of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh will enable passengers flying to and from these destinations to enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas. Qatar Airways also features flexible booking policies that offer unlimited changes in travel dates and destinations, and fee-free refunds for all tickets issued for travel completed by 31 May 2022. The upcoming expansion of services in Egypt will further provide Egyptian football fans more travel options to attend the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 in Qatar, enjoy the finest Qatari hospitality and follow their national team in person. The region’s showpiece tournament will take place from 30 November to 18 December 2021. Flight Schedule – Luxor: Starting 23 November Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (all times local) Doha (DOH) to Luxor (LXR) QR1321 departs: 08:25 arrives: 11:00 Luxor (LXR) to Doha (DOH) QR1322 departs: 12:10 arrives: 16:05 Flight Schedule – Sharm El-Sheikh: Starting 3 December Tuesday and Friday (all times local) Doha (DOH) to Sharm El-Sheikh (SSH) QR1311 departs: 09:00 arrives: 10:45 Sharm El-Sheikh (SSH) to Doha (DOH) QR1312 departs: 13:15 arrives: 17:30

Qatar Airways flights will be operated by Airbus A320 offering 12 seats in First Class and 132 Seats in Economy Class.Passengers flying from Medina will benefit from the airline’s extensive international network across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations.  Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will resume services to Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina starting 1 October 2021 with four weekly flights. The Medina services will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Airbus A320 featuring 12 seats in First Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. The resumption of services will enable passengers flying from and to Medina to enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations of the airline’s extensive global network in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas via Doha Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways flight QR 1174, will depart from Hamad International Airport at 01:00, arriving at 03:15 to Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Qatar Airways flight QR1175, will depart from Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport at 04:15, and arrive to Hamad International Airport at 06:25. The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. Qatar Airways also features flexible booking policies that offer unlimited changes in travel dates and destinations, and fee-free refunds for all tickets issued for travel completed by 31 May 2022. Flight Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (all times local) Doha (DOH) to Medina (MED) QR1174 departs: 01:00 arrives: 03:15 Medina (MED) to Doha (DOH) QR1175 departs: 04:15 arrives: 06:25

Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 7.7% compared to August 2019 (8.6% for international operations).The pace of growth slowed slightly compared to July, which saw demand increase 8.8% (against pre-COVID-19 levels).Cargo capacity recovery paused in August, down 12.2% compared to August 2019 ( 13.2% for international operations). In month-on-month terms, capacity fell by 1.6% – the largest drop since January 2021.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released August 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued its strong growth trend but pressure on capacity is rising.  Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons below are to August 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), was up 7.7% compared to August 2019 (8.6% for international operations). Overall growth remains strong compared to the long-term average growth trend of around 4.7%. The pace of growth slowed slightly compared to July, which saw demand increase 8.8% (against pre-COVID-19 levels). Cargo capacity recovery paused in August, down 12.2% compared to August 2019 ( 13.2% for international operations). In month-on-month terms, capacity fell by 1.6% – the largest drop since January 2021.  Economic conditions continue to support air cargo growth but are slightly weaker than in the previous months indicating that global manufacturing growth has peaked: The August manufacturing output component of the Purchasing Managers Indices (PMIs) was 51.9, indicating a short-term boost to demand if those orders are shipped by air. This was a decline from 54.4 in July.  The August new export orders component of the PMIs was favorable for air cargo, despite being less supportive than in the previous months. Expansion continued at the global level, however, there was contraction in emerging economies.  The inventory-to-sales ratio remains low ahead of the peak year-end retail season. This is positive for air cargo, however further capacity constraints put this at risk.  “Air cargo demand had another strong month in August, up 7.7% compared to pre-COVID levels. Many of the economic indicators point to a strong year-end peak season. With international travel still severely depressed, there are fewer passenger planes offering belly capacity for cargo. And supply chain bottlenecks could intensify as businesses continue to ramp up production,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.  

United Airlines and Airlink announce commercial agreement to help customers explore Southern Africa.New partnership provides customers with easy travel to more than 40 destinations in Southern Africa.United Airlines customers can now earn or redeem miles on United and Airlink flights. Today, United Airlines and Airlink, a South African airline, announced a new codeshare agreement that will offer customers more connections between the U.S. and Southern Africa than any other airline alliance. The new agreement, which is subject to government approval, will offer one stop connections from the U.S. to more than 40 destinations in Southern Africa. Additionally, United will be the first airline to connect its loyalty program with Airlink, allowing MileagePlus members to earn and redeem miles when they travel on Airlink flights. This new cooperation will be in addition to United’s existing partnership with Star Alliance member South African Airways. “United continues to demonstrate our commitment to Africa, starting three brand new flights to the continent this year alone including new service to Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa,” said Patrick Quayle, vice president of international network and alliances at United Airlines. “And now through our codeshare agreement with Airlink – which is the most expansive partnership in Southern Africa – customers will be able to easily explore more bucket list destinations across the continent including easy connections to Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.” United Airlines has continued to expand its footprint into Africa, with direct service to four African destinations. Earlier this month, United announced flights between Washington, D.C. and Lagos Nigeria will begin November 29, subject to government approval. Earlier this year, United launched new service between New York/Newark and Johannesburg, South Africa and between Washington, D.C. and Accra, Ghana, which is expected to operate daily this December and January. United’s popular service between New York/Newark and Cape Town, South Africa will also resume on December 1. “North America is an important source market for our destinations. This codeshare will make it easy for our North American customers to reach the Okavango Delta, Chobe, the Kruger National Park and adjacent private game lodges, Cape Town, the Garden Route, Swakopmund and the Copperbelt, among others,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster. “Similarly, the codeshare means that our customers in the 12 African countries we currently serve, will have fast and seamless access to all of United’s network.” This new codeshare will be implemented upon final government approvals.

The airline wins the Skytrax award for the second time in four years and continues its upward trajectory.SAUDIA moves up 26 spots; a 55% improvement in its overall Skytrax ranking of global airlines.The award cements the airline’s status as a full scale global carrier, constantly innovating its onboard service and culinary offering. Skytrax announced today that SAUDIA is the World’s Most Improved Airline of 2021. This is the second time that SAUDIA has won this award since 2017. That year, the Saudi flag carrier impressively jumped from the 82nd to 51st position, a 40% improvement. This year, however, SAUDIA improved by a stunning 55% and is now 26th in the Skytrax ranking of global airlines. The award cements the airline’s status as a full scale global carrier, constantly innovating its onboard service and culinary offering. Being awarded this accolade award reflects the dedication to quality and performance improvements in different award categories including cabin crew, food & beverage, in-flight entertainment and more. The Skytrax award comes as yet another milestone in SAUDIA’s on-going transformation which has led to several other awards and recognitions. The airline’s stellar health safety initiatives to ensure passenger safety during the COVID-19 pandemic have attracted global accolades. With a route network of more than 95 destinations and a fleet of 145 aircraft – operating one of the youngest fleets in the world – SAUDIA is on an upwards trajectory of continued growth in international markets. Saudi Arabian Airlines Director General, His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Alomar said, “It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of the entire SAUDIA team who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the pursuit of the highest standards globally – from health and safety to the product and experience. I would also like to express SAUDIA’s deep appreciation and gratitude to The Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman for their continuous support to SAUDIA, the Kingdom’s flag carrier. My congratulations also to SAUDIA’s Chairman His Excellency Eng. Saleh Al Jasser and the rest of the Board of Directors on this achievement.”

Airlines are sitting on $10 Billion of unused ticket value and now time is running out for them.When COVID-19 interrupted everyone’s travel plans. airlines expanded their cancellation and rebook policies.Many travelers who changed or cancelled flights have travel credits issued from airlines that may be rapidly expiring. Though airlines took a hard hit in 2020, many are about to make a lot of money from travelers’ expiring flight credits.  According to the reports, air carriers are sitting on $10 Billion of unused ticket value and now time is running out. When COVID-19 interrupted everyone’s travel plans, airlines expanded their cancellation and rebook policies. A lot of people who changed or cancelled flights have travel credits issued from airlines that may be rapidly expiring. Here’s how to check for and use your travel credits before it’s too late.  Find Your Old Emails If you cancelled a flight, you were likely sent a confirmation email with details regarding your travel credit. A good way to narrow the search is to type the name of the airline in your inbox search bar, and sift through there. Emails will often include “travel credit” or “reservation” in the subject line.  Create a Profile with the Airline Once you’ve located your email, there should be instructions for how to log onto the airline’s website and rebook with your travel credit. From there you will also be able to check how much credit you have and when it will expire. Call the Airline’s Customer Service Team This option may require an hour or two on the phone.  If you are unsure of whether or not you have credit to use it may be best to talk to an airline customer service representative.  With your name and original confirmation number, you will be able use the credit that you have left.  Remember Once your travel credit expires, there’s no getting it back.  If you cancelled or changed any flight in the past two years, be sure to claim your unused ticket value before it is too late. So far, United Airlines was the only major US airline to have extended the value of unused tickets to Dec 31, 2022.

Iceland is an exceptionally safe country, with a safety level score of 76.2 and a crime level score of 23.8.Malta is known for its historical ties to multiple dynasties and the many fortresses and temples that they’ve left behind.Portugal is known for its beautiful landscapes, beaches and architecture, and great seafood, but it’s also a friendly and safe country too. If you’re the sort of person who likes to throw their bags in luggage storage straight upon arrival and get out there exploring a new city on your own, then have you ever thought about setting off on your own solo adventure? Whether your friends haven’t quite caught the travel bug like you, you hate being burdened by having to plan around other people, or you simply want to set off with a backpack and see where the journey takes you, there are plenty of reasons why traveling alone can be a super rewarding experience. Solo travel opens up a lot of opportunities and freedoms, allowing you to make your own agenda, make new friends, and grow as a person. But whether you’re straight out of high school embarking on a gap year or looking for a new experience later in life, traveling on your own can be a pretty daunting experience, so the travel experts have analyzed a number of destinations around the world to find out which are the best, safest, and most affordable places for solo travel. The results of this study were released today revealing the best countries in the world for solo travel in 2021. The research looked at factors such as cost of public transport, crime and safety, temperature, cost of hotel stay, quality of hostels, bars, restaurants, attractions, group activities and rainfall.  The top 10 countries for solo travel: RankCountrySolo Travel Score /101Iceland7.292Malta6.343Portugal6.214Croatia6.205Spain5.886Belize5.867Montenegro5.828Japan5.679Slovenia5.5810Ireland5.48

It’s important to remember that many airports charge travelers for phone charging points.Make sure to pack your own snacks ahead of the flight to save money for use when you reach your destination.Get your currency exchanged in plenty of time before you arrive at the airport for your trip. With many of us heading off on our first international trip in a very long time, the travel experts have revealed the 10 common airport mistakes that are costing you money on your trip. 1. Getting a taxi While getting a taxi to the airport might seem convenient, taxi trips to the airport are always expensive, especially at peak times. To keep costs down, make sure to pre-book an airport transfer, that way you’re not just sitting watching the meter go up! Alternatively, check to see if there are buses which run to the airport, as these are cheaper and better for the environment. 2. Forgetting your refillable water bottle While it may seem a small thing to remember to pack, forgetting to take an empty, refillable water bottle through security could cost you in the long run. In general, airport shops are much more expensive to operate, therefore the prices are usually higher.  Most airports have free water stations where you can fill your bottle once you pass security. By taking your reusable bottle, you’re not only saving money but you’re also doing your bit for the environment.  3. Parking at the airport A lot of people opt for parking at the airport because they think it’s close and convenient. However, airport parking is expensive, and in some cases, airport parking can even cost more than your plane ticket.  Not only is it expensive, but your car may not be very secure, as it’s left outside to face the elements, and there have been many documented cases of cars coming back damaged.  You can save time and money by looking into the different park, sleep and fly options. These allow you to safely park your car at the hotel for the duration of your trip, stay at the hotel the night before and also shuttle you back and forth from the airport. Opting for a park, sleep fly option gives you a much more competitive rate for your parking. 4. Not planning ahead We all know airports can get busy, with slow-moving security lines and other delays, so it is important to plan your journey to the airport and give yourself plenty of time before your flight. By not leaving yourself enough time to get to the airport, check-in and get past security, you run the risk of missing your flight. This is especially costly if you’ve booked with an airline that doesn’t offer refunds. 

CNN investigation alleges that Ethiopian Airlines used its planes to transport weapons to and from Eritrea.If true, the scandal could jeopardize Ethiopian Airlines’ membership in the lucrative Star Alliance.Ethiopian Airlines claims it “strictly complies with all National, regional and International aviation related regulations”. Ethiopia’s flag carrier has been accused in new CNN investigative report of illegally transporting weapons from Ethiopia to Eritrea during the bloody civil war in Tigray. The CNN investigation cited “cargo documents and manifests,” and “eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence” that confirmed weapons were transported on Ethiopian Airlines planes between the international airport in Addis Ababa and Eritrean airports in Asmara and Massawa in November 2020. On waybills examined, the news outlet found that “on at least six occasions — from November 9 to November 28 — Ethiopian Airlines billed Ethiopia’s ministry of defense tens of thousands of dollars for military items to be shipped to Eritrea.” Air waybills, which are document that accompanies goods shipped by an international air courier to provide detailed information about the shipment and allow it to be tracked, demonstrated that equipment shipped included guns, ammunition, and even specially-armored vehicles. Terms and abbreviations including “Military refill,” “AM” for ammunition and “RIFFLES” (a misspelling of rifles) appeared on the waybills, according to the CNN investigation, which also cited interviews with airline employees who confirmed the terms. A former Ethiopian Airlines cargo worker told the investigators: “The cars were Toyota pickups which have a stand for snipers. I got a call from the managing director late at night informing me to handle the cargo. Soldiers came at 5 am to start loading two big trucks loaded with weapons and the pickups. I had to stop a flight to Brussels, a Boeing 777 cargo plane, which was loaded with flowers, then we unloaded half of the perishable goods to make space for the armaments.” Ethiopian Airlines has denied the incident, stating it “strictly complies with all national, regional and international aviation related regulations” and that “to the best of its knowledge and its records, it has not transported any war armament in any of its routes by any of its aircraft.” This latest statement marks a noticeable step back from the airline’s earlier statement blatantly denying it transported any weapons during the conflict. If true, the investigation claims are a violation of international aviation law, which prohibits using civilian aircraft to transport military weapons. It could also jeopardize Ethiopian Airlines’ membership in the lucrative Star Alliance, a group of 26 global airlines.

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 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Hawaii visitor arrivals for August 2021 increased from year ago but continued to lag August 2019.Total spending by the State of Hawaii visitors arriving in August 2021 was $1.37 billion. Through the first eight months of 2021, total visitor spending was $7.98 billion, that represented a decrease of 33.8% from the $12.06 billion spent through the first eight months of 2019. According to preliminary visitor statistics released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) total spending by visitors arriving in August 2021 was $1.37 billion.  Prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic and Hawaii’s quarantine requirement for travelers, the State of Hawaii experienced record-level visitor expenditures and arrivals in 2019 and in the first two months of 2020. Comparative August 2020 Hawaii visitor spending statistics were not available as the Departure Survey could not be fielded last August due to COVID-19 restrictions. August 2021 visitor spending was lower than the $1.50 billion (-8.9%) reported for August 2019. A total of 722,393 visitors arrived by air service to the Hawaiian Islands in August 2021, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East as compared with only 23,356 visitors (+2,992.9%) who arrived by air in August 2020 and 926,417 visitors(-22.0%) in August 2019.  In August 2021, passengers arriving from out-of-state could bypass the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine if they were fully vaccinated in the United States or with a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT test result from a Trusted Testing Partner prior to their departure through the Safe Travels program. On August 23, 2021, Hawaii Governor David Ige urged travelers to curtail non-essential travel until the end of October 2021 due to a surge in Delta variant cases that has overburdened the state’s health care facilities and resources. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continued to enforce restrictions on cruise ships through a “Conditional Sail Order”, a phased approach for the resumption of passenger cruises to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 onboard. The average daily census was 211,269 visitors in August 2021, compared to 22,625 in August 2020, versus 252,916 in August 2019. In August 2021, 469,181 visitors arrived from the U.S. West, well above the 13,190 visitors (+3,457.1%) in August 2020 and exceeding the August 2019 count of 420,750 visitors (+11.5%). U.S. West visitors spent $810.0 million in August 2021, which surpassed the $579.3 million (+39.8%) spent in August 2019. Higher average daily visitor spending ($202 per person, +20.7%) and a longer average length of stay (8.54 days, +3.9%) contributed to the increase in U.S. West visitor expenditures compared to 2019. 

Total demand for air travel in August 2021 was down 56.0% compared to August 2019. This was entirely driven by domestic markets, which were down 32.2% compared to August 2019, a major deterioration from July 2021.International passenger demand in August was 68.8% below August 2019, which was an improvement compared to the 73.1% decline recorded in July.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the recovery in air travel decelerated in August compared to July, as government actions in response to concerns over the COVID-19 Delta variant cut deeply into domestic travel demand.  Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in August 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 56.0% compared to August 2019. This marked a slowdown from July, when demand was 53.0% below July 2019 levels.   This was entirely driven by domestic markets, which were down 32.2% compared to August 2019, a major deterioration from July 2021, when traffic was down 16.1% versus two years ago. The worst impact was in China, while India and Russia were the only large markets to show a month-to-month improvement compared to July 2021.  International passenger demand in August was 68.8% below August 2019, which was an improvement compared to the 73.1% decline recorded in July. All regions showed improvement, which was attributable to growing vaccination rates and less stringent international travel restrictions in some regions. “August results reflect the impact of concerns over the Delta variant on domestic travel, even as international travel continued on a snail’s pace toward a full recovery that cannot happen until governments restore the freedom to travel. In that regard, the recent US announcement to lift travel restrictions from early November on fully vaccinated travelers is very good news and will bring certainty to a key market. But challenges remain, September bookings indicate a deterioration in international recovery. That’s bad news heading into the traditionally slower fourth quarter,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.  August 2021(% chg vs the same month in 2019)World share1RPKASKPLF (%-pt)2PLF (level)3Total Market 100.0%-56.0%-46.2%-15.6%70.0%Africa1.9%-58.0%-50.4%-11.5%64.0%Asia Pacific38.6%-78.3%-66.5%-29.6%54.5%Europe23.7%-48.7%-38.7%-14.4%74.6%Latin America5.7%-42.0%-37.7%-5.8%77.4%Middle East7.4%-68.0%-53.1%-26.0%56.0%North America22.7%-30.3%-22.7%-8.6%78.6%

The A220 is the most efficient and flexible aircraft in the 100 to 150 seat market segment today. The first Air France A220-300 will be operated on its medium-haul network from the 2021 winter season.With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility. Air France has received its first A220-300 from an order for 60 aircraft of the type, the largest A220 order from a European carrier. The aircraft was delivered from Airbus’ final assembly line in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada and officially unveiled to the public during a ceremony held at Paris Charles-De-Gaulle Airport. Airbus A220 is the most efficient and flexible aircraft in the 100 to 150 seat market segment today. The renewal of the Air France single-aisle fleet with this latest generation aircraft will increase efficiency along with customer comfort and support Air France to meet its environmental goals and sustainability objectives. The first Air France A220-300 will be operated on its medium-haul network from the 2021 winter season. Currently, Air France operates a fleet of 136 Airbus aircraft. Air France is also renewing its long-haul fleet, and has already taken delivery of 11 A350s out of an order of 38. The Air France A220-300 cabin is configured in a single-class layout to comfortably welcome 148 passengers. Offering superior single-aisle comfort, with the widest leather seats, largest windows and up to 20% more overhead stowage space per passenger, the Air France A220 also features full WiFi connectivity throughout the cabin and two USB sockets at each passenger seat.  The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation geared turbofan engines. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 gives airlines added operational flexibility. The A220 delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. In addition, the aircraft noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous generation aircraft – making the A220 a good neighbor around airports. As of the end of August, over 170 A220s have been delivered to 11 operators worldwide.

India’s largest airline announces a codeshare agreement with American Airlines on domestic routes.Code-sharing allows an airline to sell seats on a flight operated by its partner, so that it can fly passengers to destinations it does not serve.American Airlines is launching a new service between New York and India’s capital Delhi next month. As American Airlines is preparing to launch new service between the USA and India, it announced a code sharing deal with India’s largest carrier IndiGo. The codeshare agreement, announced today, is expected to commence in October, and will see American Airlines‘ code on 29 of IndiGo’s domestic routes in India. Code-sharing agreement allows air carriers to sell seats on flights operated by their partner airlines, so that they can fly their passengers to destinations they do not serve. The code-sharing deal with IndiGo, which is India’s largest airline by number of passengers carried, and which is owned by InterGlobe Aviation, requires approval of U.S. and Indian government authorities, American Airlines said. American Airlines is launching a new service between New York City and India’s capital Delhi next month, and between Seattle, WA and the city of Bengaluru early next year. American Airlines, Inc. is a major American airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the world’s largest airline when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and revenue passenger mile. IndiGo is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It is the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, with a 59.24% domestic market share as of August 2020.

Travel expenditure increased by a whopping $330 per trip due to COVID-19-related entry requirements.58 percent of Americans that traveled abroad this summer were not vaccinated, according to the research.47% of millennials refused to travel because of high costs, while 25% were scared to travel with unvaccinated children. Eighteen months after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, countries have reopened borders to travelers. A recent survey found new and emerging travel trends, with travel becoming more expensive and uncertain than ever. The survey analyzed data from more than 3,500 travelers who traveled abroad to understand these new travel patterns amongst Americans. Travel expenditure increased by a whopping $330 per trip due to COVID-19-related entry requirements, and so has the uncertainty, with 41% of travelers actively involved in travel communities related to their journeys. Additionally, 58% of American travelers were unvaccinated, with the most common destinations being Mexico (37%), Greece (19%), Dominican Republic (12%), Bahamas (11%), and Aruba (13%), and Costa Rica (8%). Major Survey Results 58% of Americans that traveled abroad this summer were not vaccinated. As countries reopened their borders, non-vaccinated travelers returned to the same travel patterns as before COVID-19. Old travelers are on the rise with a quarter being 50+. Amongst other demographic shifts, 47% of millennials refused to travel because of high costs, while 25% were scared to travel with unvaccinated children. Florida is the hub for unvaccinated travelers: 20% of unvaccinated American travelers live in Florida. The top 4 U.S. states by active COVID-19 cases also led the pack for most outbound travel amongst unvaccinated Americans. Florida accounted for most outbound unvaccinated tourists, followed by Texas, New York, and California. Traveling is inefficient: Each traveler spends more than 5 hours determining entry requirements and filling out paperwork. In addition, 23% of travelers saying they contacted either their airline, hotel,” or travel platform to understand the entry requirements with airlines call waiting times running into hours. The New Normal This survey highlights the inefficient processes set in place by governments. While it’s understandable that requirements exist to keep COVID-19 at bay, countries must streamline the process. As countries look to revamp tourism, they underestimate the impact of fast, efficient systems and clear, easy-to-understand processes have. Countries have introduced a range of requirements to enter, making it more expensive to travel than ever. On average, the extra cost adds up to $330 per traveler and constitutes COVID-19 visas, travel insurance, and COVID-19 tests. In addition, 79% of travelers expressed frustration at the lack of disclosure by hotels & airlines on the added costs of traveling, only to discover them much later when the cancellation was not an option. A COVID-19 visa, also known as a health visa, is a new visa that travelers need to get. While they’re electronic, the approval is not instant. Authorities review each application; they can only be submitted a few days before the trip and are not free.

About four in five (78 percent) of Canadians said as things get back to normal, international travel is one of the things they’re looking forward to most.More than half of Canadians – 55 percent – said they have more of a desire to travel internationally than ever before.Less than a quarter of Canadians – 24 percent – said they are currently planning an international trip within the next six months.  The results of the latest industry survey that sheds light on the views of Canadian international travelers were released today. The findings uncovered that while the majority of Canadians who travel internationally (58 percent) remain wary about trips abroad due to the rise of the Delta COVID-19 variant, and less than one quarter plan to travel internationally in the next six months, more than two-thirds (78 percent) say international travel is one of the things they’re most looking forward to as the pandemic stabilizes. The survey also revealed that the residents of Canada are more hesitant towards international travel than their southern neighbors, with 42 percent of Americans planning trips abroad in the next six months, compared to only 24 percent of Canadians. Given the resulting limitations on travel, more than half (55 percent) of Canadians are now reporting a stronger desire to see the world than ever before. Top responses for what’s been missed most about international travel include seeing new sights (56 percent), experiencing new environments (53 per cent), disconnecting and relaxing (53 percent), and learning about different cultures (52 percent). Key Survey Findings: 87 percent of Canadians agree that international travel has provided them with some of their most cherished life memories. About four in five (78 percent) of Canadians said as things get back to normal, international travel is one of the things they’re looking forward to most.

Flights from Delhi, India to Air Canada’s Toronto and Vancouver Canadian hubs restart.Since service began in 2015, Air Canada has operated flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi and from Toronto to Mumbai.Air Canada is planning to launch new nonstop flights from Montreal to Delhi and resume service to Mumbai as market conditions allow. Air Canada announced today the resumption of its non-stop flights to and from Delhi, India, following the lifting of the Government of Canada restrictions on non-stop flights from India. The airline’s flights from Delhi to Toronto and Vancouver resume arriving today. “People are eager to reunite with family and friends and we are very pleased to resume service immediately from India to our Toronto and Vancouver hubs following the lifting of restrictions by the Government of Canada. We continue to be focused on the growing visiting friends and relatives market, and together with the long-standing cultural and business ties between Canada and India which are expected to grow over the coming years, Air Canada remains strongly committed to this important Asia-Pacific market,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada. Air Canada is the leading carrier between the two countries. Since service began in 2015, Air Canada has operated flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi and from Toronto to Mumbai. The airline is planning to launch new non-stop flights from Montreal to Delhi and resume service to Mumbai as market conditions allow. Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline and, in 2019, was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canada’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network.