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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 17, 2021

Lufthansa’s Eurowings Discover granted Air Operator Certificate

Air Operator Certificate issued by the German Federal Aviation Authority on June 16, 2021.Inaugural flight on July 24 from Frankfurt to Mombasa with onward flight to Zanzibar.Additional destinations in the 2021 summer flight schedule: Punta Cana, Windhoek, Las Vegas and Mauritius. Now it is official: Just in time for the current steep rise in demand for holiday bookings, the Lufthansa Group‘s new leisure airline is ready for take-off. With the issuance of its operating license and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the German Federal Aviation Authority, the young start-up airline Eurowings Discover has successfully completed the final stage on its way to independent flight operations. The certificate was issued by the German Federal Aviation Authority on June 16.  “The timing could not be better. People can finally travel again and we are all set to fly them to the world’s most beautiful destinations,” explains Wolfgang Raebiger, CEO of Eurowings Discover. “We have built an airline in just one year – an ambitious goal that we have achieved with the great support from the entire Lufthansa Group, a motivated team and in close cooperation with the German Federal Aviation Authority. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to everyone.” Eurowings Discover is also the first airline ever in Germany to receive an unlimited permit under a new aviation law requirement known as partial CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization). Inaugural flight to Mombasa with onward flight to Zanzibar The Lufthansa Group’s newest airline takes off on July 24 from its home base in Frankfurt am Main for its inaugural flight to Mombasa with onward service to Zanzibar. In August, the flight schedule will be filled with further attractive long-haul destinations: Thus, in addition to two weekly frequencies to Mombasa/Zanzibar, starting in August there will also be three flights a week to Punta Cana and five flights a week to Windhoek. In October, Eurowings Discover will also be flying three times a week to Las Vegas and Mauritius. In the 2021 winter flight schedule, Bridgetown, Montego Bay and Varadero will be added with three weekly frequencies each. In addition, the flight program will be expanded from November to include short- and medium-haul flights to the Canary Islands, Egypt and Morocco. Before the start of long-haul operations at the end of July, Eurowings Discover plans to operate selected continental flights as wet lease for Lufthansa Group airline Air Dolomiti (EN) from mid-July in order to gradually ramp up operations and ensure a smooth start on long-haul routes. Its fleet will consist of a maximum of eleven aircraft in total this year and will grow to 21 aircraft by the middle of next year (10x Airbus A320 and 11x Airbus A330). All aircraft are coming from to the Lufthansa Group fleet pool. Thanks to full integration into the Lufthansa feeder network, travelers will benefit from end-to-end booking processes and seamless transfer traffic. All flights can already be booked on lufthansa.com – currently under Lufthansa flight number (LH). The shift to Eurowings Discover flight number “4Y” is scheduled for the week of the inaugural flight.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 17, 2021

Lufthansa enables fast check-in with digital vaccination certificate

Faster and easier check-in with vaccination certificates soon also via smartphone.Pre-check of certificates by a Lufthansa Service Center possible from 72 hours before departure.Just in time for the start of the summer school holidays in Hesse. More than a quarter of the German population has now been vaccinated twice against COVID-19. For a few days now, pharmacies, doctors and vaccination centers have been issuing QR codes for vaccinated persons, the so-called digital vaccination certificates. Just in time for the start of the Hessian school summer holidays, passengers with the digital vaccination certificate can once again check in faster with Lufthansa and receive their boarding pass. Here’s how it works: Travelers present the digital vaccination certificate, which proves full vaccination protection, either via app or on a printout at check-in at the airport. There, it is read and the boarding pass is issued directly and without complications. This eliminates the need to take various papers and proofs to the airport. It also makes it much more difficult to misuse forged vaccination certificates, as the system compares the data from the QR code with the booking and passenger data. In the future, mobile check-in via smartphone will also be faster and easier: On selected routes, it will soon be possible to scan QR vaccination certificates with the Lufthansa app or to load them digitally into the app. The app recognizes the QR code and uses this information to create the boarding pass. Anyone who is concerned that they do not have the right certificates for the trip can have them checked by a Lufthansa Service Center on selected flights up to 72 hours before departure. These can be proof of tests, survived COVID-19 disease and now vaccinations. Confirmations of digital entry applications can also be checked in this way. The airline recommends that its guests continue to carry the original printed certificates with them on the trip, in addition to the digital proof, until further notice.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 16, 2021

Flight from Doha to Abidjan launched by Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways now operates three weekly flights to Côte d’Ivoire, via Accra.Abidjan is Qatar Airways’ eighth new destination since the start of the global pandemic.Qatar Airways travellers from Africa can enjoy baggage allowances ranging from 46 Kg and 64 Kg. Qatar Airways welcomes Abidjan to its global network as its debut flight to the largest city in Côte d’Ivoire landed at Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport today. With three weekly flights, the service between Doha and Abidjan via Accra will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, along with capacity of up to 15 tons of cargo. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said: “Launching flights to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – our fourth new destination in Africa since the start of the pandemic, after having recently launched Abuja in Nigeria; Accra in Ghana; and Luanda in Angola is a significant step in our African growth. This is testament to our commitment to the African continent where we now operate over 100 weekly flights to 25 destinations in 18 countries via our home and hub, Hamad International Airport.” “At Qatar Airways, being there for our passengers, trade partners and corporate customers has been our major focus since the start of the pandemic. We thank the government of Côte d’Ivoire for their support to launch these flights, and we look forward to working closely with our partners here to grow this route and support the recovery of tourism and trade in this region. As global travel recovers in 2021, we look forward to further expanding our network and offering more connections to and from Africa.” The launch of Abidjan also supports increased demand for trade between Côte d’Ivoire and destinations on the Qatar Airways network such as Paris, Beirut and many points in the Indian subcontinent. With up to 15 tons of cargo capacity on the aircraft per flight, Qatar Airways Cargo will play a key role in facilitating key exports from Côte d’Ivoire. Qatar Airways travelers from Côte d’Ivoire can now enjoy new baggage allowances ranging from 46 Kg for Economy Class split over two pieces and 64 Kg split over two pieces in Business Class. This initiative is designed to offer passengers more flexibility and comfort when travelling on board Qatar Airways. Flight Schedule Monday, Wednesday & Friday: (All times local) Doha (DOH) to Abidjan (ABJ) QR1423 departs: 02:30 arrives: 09:10 Abidjan (ABJ) to Doha (DOH) QR1424 departs: 17:20 arrives: 06:10 +1
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Linda Hohnholz eTN editor·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Airline pilot hero Sully may become ICAO US ambassador

Sully is the US Airways pilot that conducted the safe landing of badly-damaged Airbus A320-214 on New York’s Hudson River.Just 2 minutes into the flight, the airplane flew into a flock of Canada geese, and both engines were so damaged that it caused an almost complete loss of thrust.With credentials and sound thinking like this, Sully should be a shoe-in to serve on the International Civil Aviation Organization. Retired airline pilot C.B. “Sully” Sullenberger, most famous for negotiating this emergency landing with no fatalities, has been named to serve as U.S. representative on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). US Airways flight 1549, also called Miracle on the Hudson, was a flight of a passenger airliner that made an emergency landing in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Five people were seriously injured, but there were no fatalities. The airplane, an Airbus A320 operated by US Airways, took off from LaGuardia at approximately 3:25 PM. It was destined for Charlotte, North Carolina. On board were 5 crew members, including Capt. Chesley (“Sully”) Sullenberger III, and 150 passengers. About 2 minutes into the flight, the airplane flew into a flock of Canada geese. Both engines were severely damaged, causing an almost complete loss of thrust. Repeated attempts to restart the engines were unsuccessful.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Business travel will be more important than ever to driving success

During the pandemic, travel has been limited for 90% of companies surveyed.Over a third of companies said international business development and product launches took a hit due to a lack of in-person presence.The industry has seen a surge of 49% in corporate interest around the world since the start of the pandemic. Only 24 months ago, business travel was synonymous with global corporations and senior executives’ roles. During the global lockdowns, companies have experienced the direct impact of no travel or in-person meetings on their business functions and operations. In new research that impact is quantified for the first time. For The Future of Business Travel report over 200 high-level company executives in the U.S., EMEA and APAC were surveyed about the essential role and value of travel in their professional lives. During the pandemic, travel has been limited for 90% of companies surveyed, and almost all (97%) said their businesses experienced negative impact directly related to those restrictions. Nearly one-quarter (24%) indicated massive or substantial disruptions across all eight areas measured, and 87% cited massive or substantial disruption in at least one area. More than a third (37%) said international business development and product launches took a hit due to a lack of in-person presence. As restrictions ease, built-up anticipation for business travel is clear, with 81% saying business travel will be more important than ever to driving success. Among respondents who take eight or more private flights a year, 60% plan to significantly increase in-person meetings. The industry has seen a surge of 49% in corporate interest around the world since the start of the pandemic, confirming that flying private continues to be a key support for business travel. The main benefits of taking private flights for business travel are reported by those surveyed, in order, as flexibility, efficiency, safety and privacy. The two top priorities for trips are visiting partners and vendors and going to industry events, each at 34%. Managing current relationships and building new ones are also key drivers. The return to business travel largely hangs on regulations — 46% of respondents are waiting for destinations to reopen; 42% want updated COVID-19 data and rules for destinations; 36% seek support in case COVID-19 regulations change during a trip; and the same number await relaxation of their own company’s travel policies. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the world, including travel. It also showed that some business travel is truly essential and having to forgo in-person trips came at a real cost to companies. Additionally, it is hard to read a room when everyone is in individual windows on screen — misunderstandings can occur, especially across cultures, and these in turn can become costly mistakes.
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Juergen T Steinmetz·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Foreign Cyber Attack on Southwest Airlines? FAA grounded all WN flights in the United States

Has Southwest Airlines been attacked by a computer hacker, a foreign country, or a virus? There is speculation and a lot of suspense.Southwest Airlines flights within the U.S. have temporarily suspended today.The FAA issued a temporary nationwide ground stop at the request of Southwest Airlines while the company resolved a reservation computer issue. Please contact the airline for further details. A passionate Southwest Airlines passenger said: “I’d like to remind everyone, as I sit in the St Louis airport waiting to board, that the outages today on @SouthwestAir are not the fault of the employees working at the desks and on the planes today. They are doing everything they can. Do not yell at them.” The airline tweeted: “We are aware of system issues and are working quickly to resolve,” the airline tweeted. “We will share more info soon.” A frustrated passenger said: Southwest staff told me at the gate, “Air traffic control is canceling flights, not Southwest, and because of that we can’t compensate you.” I was LIED to. I had to spend my own money on a hotel and a ride to it from the airport. Don’t defend them! The airline also stated: We are in the process of resuming normal operations after a system issue this afternoon that created flight disruptions throughout our network. We know many Customers still require assistance and are working to address those concerns as quickly as possible. So far 478 flights were canceled and 528 delayed at Southwest Airlines The reason for the computers going down remains a mystery. No information was found on Southwest Airlines website. On social media and by insiders the issue may be related to a cyber-attack or ransomware incident. To keep everyone calm Southwest Airlines just issued this tweet:This week, we turn 50. That’s why we’re giving you 50% back on 50 days of travel in the fall. All you gotta do is book by Thursday, using promo code SAVE50. Yes, this is real. Yes, this is epic. Southwest Airlines Co., typically referred to as Southwest, is one of the major airlines of the United States and the world’s largest low-cost carrier airline. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has scheduled service to 115 destinations in the United States and ten additional countries.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Long road to recovery awaits business travel

Travel overall is by far the U.S. industry hardest hit by the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.Spending on travel for large, in-person professional meetings and events declined by 76% last year.Domestic leisure travel is projected to reach 99% of its pre-pandemic peak in 2022 and to grow steadily thereafter. Lingering COVID restrictions and a patchwork approach to reopening across the country will prevent the economically crucial business travel segment from recovering until at least 2024, according to a Tourism Economics analysis released Tuesday by the U.S. Travel Association. Travel overall is by far the U.S. industry hardest hit by the ongoing fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spending on travel for large, in-person professional meetings and events (PMEs) declined by 76% last year—a $97 billion loss in spending. With vaccinations and infection rates in the U.S. trending favorably, restrictions lowered, and traveler confidence rebounding, domestic leisure travel is projected to reach 99% of its pre-pandemic peak in 2022 and to grow steadily thereafter. But in the absence of clear and consistent guidance from federal health authorities on PMEs, business-related travel is not expected to recover its pre-pandemic volume for an additional two years. Only about a third (35%) of U.S. businesses are currently engaging in any business-related travel. A staggering 65% of all U.S. jobs lost in 2020 were supported by travel, and they cannot fully recover without a swift return of all segments of travel, particularly in-person PMEs, according to the analysis. One of the major factors in the slow return of PMEs is the uneven patchwork of guidance that currently governs large gatherings from jurisdiction to jurisdiction nationwide. U.S. Travel is urging the adoption of federal guidance that is clear and consistent—and that recognizes that health and safety measures can be more readily implemented at PMEs than at other forms of large gatherings. Leading health care scientists at The Ohio State University today also released a white paper that includes evidence-based analysis—focused on a scientific review of proven health and safety measures substantiated over the last year—showing that it is safe to return to conducting and attending PMEs.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Budapest to Dubai flights launched by flydubai

flydubai will become the Hungarian gateway’s new connection to Dubai this autumn.Dubai-based carrier will operate a four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East.flydubai’s services, which will operate in codeshare with Emirates, will offer passengers even more choice to Dubai and beyond. Budapest Airport has announced flydubai will become the Hungarian gateway’s new connection to Dubai this autumn. Confirming the Dubai-based carrier will operate a four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East, the year-round service will launch on 30 September. Utilizing its fleet of 737-800s, configured with both business class and economy, the airline will contribute an extra 35,000 seats to the Budapest market each year. Commenting on the addition of its latest airline partner, Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport said: “We are overjoyed to be part of flydubai’s expanding European network and to welcome a new airline to Budapest’s list of carriers as operators rediscover the potential of our airport.” Bogáts added: “Connectivity to Dubai’s hub has been hugely important for our passengers so we’re thrilled that flydubai will be adding more capacity as well as making Budapest more accessible to travelers looking for new places to explore.” flydubai’s services, which will operate in codeshare with Emirates, will offer passengers even more choice to Dubai and beyond. With 168 destinations between both airlines’ networks, travellers will have the opportunity to connect through the Dubai international hub to many countries including Asia, Africa, Australia, and the USA. 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.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Air Canada Cargo announces launch routes for its new freighter aircraft

Air Canada is in the process of fully converting several of its Boeing 767 aircraft into dedicated freighters.The addition of dedicated freighter aircraft to Air Canada’s fleet will allow Air Canada Cargo to provide consistent capacity on key air cargo routes.Since March 2020, Air Canada has operated more than 9,000 all-cargo flights using its wide-body passenger aircraft as well as certain temporarily modified Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft. Air Canada and Air Canada Cargo today announced the initial list of planned routes for the Boeing 767-300ER freighters scheduled to enter service this fall. Air Canada is in the process of fully converting several of its Boeing 767 aircraft into dedicated freighters in order to fully participate in global cargo commercial opportunities. When the first converted 767 freighters enters service in October, they will fly primarily out of Toronto Pearson International Airport, and will operate on routes linking Toronto to Miami, Quito, Lima, Mexico City and Guadalajara, the first time Air Canada Cargo will serve this destination. Additional destinations to be served in early 2022, include Halifax, St. John’s, Madrid and Frankfurt as more freighters enter service. “These freighters will provide long-term stability and growth for our cargo customers, in particular the freight forwarding community who require reliable air freight capacity year-round. They will allow us to continue building on the success of our cargo-only flights and are an important part of our future growth. I am excited to have these aircraft enter service, a milestone for Air Canada Cargo that also opens up a world of opportunities for us and our customers,” said Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada. Air Canada has begun the process of converting certain of its Boeing 767s that have been retired from its passenger fleet into fully dedicated freighters. As part of that process, all seats are removed from the aircraft, a large door is cut into the fuselage to allow for loading of palletized cargo, and the floor is reinforced to carry additional weight. Air Canada Cargo plans to have two freighters in service by the end of 2021, with more to join the fleet in 2022. The addition of dedicated freighter aircraft to Air Canada’s fleet will allow Air Canada Cargo to provide consistent capacity on key air cargo routes, which will facilitate the movement of goods globally. With these freighters, Air Canada Cargo will enhance its capabilities to transport goods such as automotive and aerospace parts, oil and gas equipment, pharmaceuticals, perishables, as well as handling the growing demand for fast, reliable shipment of e-commerce goods. In the fall of 2020, Air Canada successfully concluded a collective agreement amendment with its pilots represented by the Air Canada Pilots Association for contractual changes to enable Air Canada to competitively operate dedicated cargo aircraft in the cargo marketplace. Since March 2020, Air Canada has operated more than 9,000 all-cargo flights using its wide-body passenger aircraft as well as certain temporarily modified Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft, which have additional available cargo space due to the removal of seats from the passenger cabin.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Most travelers still have concerns about 2021 summer travel

54% of survey participants still have concerns about traveling this summer.51.6% of people who have already booked have planned a domestic trip.Since July 2020, there has been a 66.4% increase in domestic trips being planned for summer 2021. Perhaps one of the longest-awaited summers of all time, summer 2021 is for many people the time they will be able to enjoy a holiday for the first time in over a year! It is without a doubt something most of us have been looking forward to. However, as we discovered, many travelers still have concerns. In a recent survey travelers were asked about their summer trips this year (2021) and how they feel about COVID-19. The survey results revealed many interesting insights. Domestic travel takes the lead this summer This year, for the vacation months of July, August, and September, 51.6% of people who travel have planned a domestic trip and intend to enjoy their country and discover places near them. It is likely that until the pandemic is really “over,” domestic travel will remain popular. These trips currently require less paperwork, no mandatory COVID tests and are likely to make travelers feel more relaxed. Additionally, domestic trips are less restrictive and are more environmentally friendly. We can expect that ecological awareness will be more present in travel in future years. In comparison with July 2020, there is a 66.4% increase in domestic trips being planned for summer 2021 by our participants. How many are still afraid to travel due to COVID-19? Although the situation is getting better and we are gradually regaining our freedom, there remain hesitations. In fact, 53.8% of respondents are still concerned about travel, as they know that COVID isn’t over yet. Just over 67% of the participants are afraid of getting sick during a trip and almost 26% are afraid to infect their surroundings, while 30.3% are concerned because they have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine. In time, that means that as our participants get vaccinated, they will begin to feel more comfortable about embarking on new adventures. 64% have already booked a trip this summer For summer 2021, only 35.6% of respondents said they have not booked a vacation. The travel sector is gradually recovering since last July, when 50% of earlier survey respondents said they did not plan to go on holiday that summer. More and more borders in the world are opening up, and tourists are increasingly allowed to return to their beloved holiday destinations and enjoy their stay. Compared with our data from last July, there is a 28% increase in planned trips for summer 2021, compared to trips in summer 2020. Leisure trips are back This year, leisure trips will be very important, with more than 61% of respondents planning to make one. Compared to last summer, when most of us couldn’t even dream of taking a leisure trip, the results show that there is definitely some hope for summer 2021. Leisure trips are back and hopefully back for good.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Fast lane to food: Fraport is testing Yoordi, a new food ordering service, at Frankfurt Airport

The Yoordi self-ordering solution is specifically designed to meet travelers’ needs.A passenger scans a QR code, studies the menu of a participating restaurant, orders, and then pays contactlessly.During the pilot phase, the application can be tweaked to better meet the needs and expectations of customers and restaurants. Passengers and guests at Frankfurt Airport can now use their smartphones to conveniently order and pay for food and beverages from various restaurants – taking advantage of a new “fast lane to food”. The Yoordi self-ordering solution is specifically designed to meet travelers’ needs. A passenger scans a QR code, studies the menu of a participating restaurant, orders, and then pays contactlessly. There’s no need to download an app or register. The order can then be picked up in the restaurant’s fast lane. The prerequisites for easy, unproblematic use are a stable Internet connection, ordering pages in multiple languages, and a variety of internationally popular payment modes. It’s now also once again possible to eat while seated in a restaurant inside one of the terminals at Frankfurt Airport, with the difference that now the food can be contactlessly ordered. The servers bring the food to the table. “This pilot project is letting us quickly and flexibly work with our restaurants to see how Yoordi can improve the guest experience,” said Daniel Gemander, Fraport AG’s key account manager for food & beverages. Various concessionaires are currently trying out the solution in Pier A of Terminal 1. During the pilot phase, the application can be tweaked to better meet the needs and expectations of customers and restaurants, with the possibility of adding more features.
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Juergen T Steinmetz·
Aviation Feature
·June 13, 2021

Frankfurt Airport Passenger Volume Showing Signs of Recovery

Fraport Traffic Figures May 2021 had been releasedin May 2021, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) welcomed 1.25 million passengers.Cargo volumes continued to grow despite the ongoing shortage of belly capacity normally provided by passenger aircraft May’s numbers however, this is compared with a low base value for the previous year, when a surge in infections brought aviation to a virtual standstill. Now, as travel bans are being lifted and incidence rates fall, European vacation destinations in particular have seen demand climb compared to April 2021. More than 50,000 passengers traveled through Frankfurt Airport on four separate days in May 2021 – the highest figures since the first lockdown was eased in summer 2020. Nevertheless, passenger traffic was still 80.0 percent lower than in pre-pandemic May 2019. In the first five months of 2021, FRA served a total of more than 4.7 million passengers. Compared to the same period in 2020 and 2019, this represents a decrease of 59.2 percent and 82.6 percent respectively.   Cargo volumes continued to grow despite the ongoing shortage of belly capacity normally provided by passenger aircraft. May 2021 saw a 27.2 percent increase to 204,233 metric tons (up 10.0 percent over May 2019). With 16,977 takeoffs and landings, aircraft movements climbed 118.7 percent compared to May 2020. Accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) rose by 66.2 percent year-on-year to 1.29 million metric tons.  Fraport Group airports around the world saw passenger traffic develop positively. All recorded a significant increase, in some cases of several hundred percent – albeit compared with sharply reduced air traffic in May 2020. When contrasted with pre-pandemic figures for May 2019, Fraport Group airports witnessed a significant decline in passenger numbers.  In May 2021, Ljubljana Airport (LJU) in Slovenia served 14,943 passengers. The Brazilian airports of Fortaleza (FOR) and Porto Alegre (POA), combined, registered 415,866 passengers, while Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru handled 738,398 passengers.  Fraport’s 14 Greek regional airports welcomed 472,937 passengers in May 2021. On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, traffic at the Twin Star airports of Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) rose to a total of 44,013 passengers. Antalya Airport (AYT) in Turkey recorded 719,254 passengers. Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg, Russia, saw traffic rise to over 1.5 million passengers, while traffic at Xi’an Airport (XIY) in China grew to over 3.9 million passengers.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 12, 2021

Delta flight makes emergency landing after unruly passenger makes terroristic threats, tries to open door midair

Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma CityThe reported hijacking attempt happened on Friday nightThe suspect, Stephon Jamar Duncan, allegedly said he was going to take the plane down A cross-country Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma City after an unruly passenger made terroristic threats, assaulted two flight attendants and tried to force open the aircraft’s door midair. According to Oklahoma City police spokesman, the suspect, Stephon Jamar Duncan, allegedly said he was going to take the plane down. The reported hijacking attempt happened on Friday night. Delta Air Lines Airbus A321 with about 200 people on board was somewhere in the middle of its route when one of the passengers made an announcement over the loudspeaker for everyone to “please take your seat and get ready to put on an oxygen mask.”  The suspect then “attempted to open the door of the plane,” other passengers on the flight said online. The plane’s pilot had made an announcement asking strong men to come forward for an emergency, passengers recalled. An off-duty pilot and some passengers onboard flight 1730 helped to subdue the suspect after he allegedly assaulted two flight attendants. The plane was diverted to the nearest airport in Oklahoma City, where “the man was handed over to law enforcement,” and “a sweep of the plane” with sniffer dogs was conducted. After that, it proceeded to Atlanta.  Duncan was arrested and taken to a hospital after reporting chest pains and exhibiting signs of mental health issues, police said. The incident comes just days after another Delta flight, also from Los Angeles, had to make an emergency landing after one of its passengers allegedly charged the front of the aircraft and attempted to breach the cockpit during the flight. Flight 386 to Nashville was diverted to Albuquerque, after the man reportedly pounding on the cockpit door and yelling “We need to land this plane” had been restrained. He was later charged with interference with flight crew members.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 12, 2021

Greece extends permission for the non-quota arrival of Russian tourists

Upon arrival in Greece, visitors from Russia may be randomly asked to take a coronavirus testThe mandatory seven-day quarantine requirement on arrival has also been lifted for new travelersFrom June 10, the number of flights on the Moscow – Athens route has been increased to eight per week Government officials in Greece announced that by an inter-ministerial decision, the permit for the non-quota arrival of visitors from Russian Federation has been extended until June 21. Visitors from Russia are now allowed to enter Greece if they have either a certificate of vaccination against coronavirus, or a negative PCR test result, or a certificate of COVID-19 antibodies. New decision was made following earlier decisions when the entry quota of 4,000 Russians per week was canceled. The mandatory seven-day quarantine requirement on arrival has also been lifted for new travelers. Russian tourists tourists to Greece must complete the electronic Passenger Locator Form (PLF) on the government website, providing their contact details in Greece, the day before arriving in the country. Transport companies must check its presence before boarding the passenger, in case of violation they will be obliged to return the passenger back home at their own expense. Upon arrival in Greece, visitors from Russia may be randomly asked to take a coronavirus test. The result must be received at the place of entry into the country. In case of a positive test result, the passenger will have to quarantine for 10 days. From June 10, the number of flights on the Moscow – Athens route has been increased to eight per week. Aeroflot and Aegean Airlines operate four flights each. 
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 11, 2021

Travelers prefer booking holidays directly with providers amid uncertainty

Consumer preference is shifting towards booking holidays directly39% of survey respondents said they would typically book travel directly17% of survey respondents said they would opt for OTAs and price comparison sites A recent travel industry poll has revealed a shift in consumer preference towards booking holidays directly, instead of going through an online travel agency (OTA). A total 39% of respondents said they would typically book directly, followed by 17% that opted for OTAs and price comparison sites. The analysts note that this shift is no surprise, given the flexible cancellation and straightforward refund policies offered by direct booking. The pandemic has caused a significant shift in consumer booking habits. A previous survey in Q3 2019 showed that OTAs were the most popular booking option, followed by direct booking with a hotel or airline. However, some OTAs have been extremely slow to issue refunds and have received a raft of bad press as a result. This has knocked travelers’ confidence to book through intermediaries. Direct booking channels are likely to have experienced an increase in popularity due to the fragility of booking a trip in the current situation. Travelers now desire the highest level of flexibility, and it is no wonder that direct booking channels’ flexible terms, easy changes and quick refunds are winning travelers over.  Further, the ability to make changes online places the power back into the traveler’s hands and streamlines the whole process. By booking directly, the traveler cuts out the middleman, considerably speeds up the change/refund process, and increases their satisfaction. Some OTAs have been slow to issue refunds, and the negative press received has not helped traveler confidence. In fact, in some cases, the UK Competition and Markets Authority threatened legal action unless online travel agencies met a 14-day refund timeline. Confidence in OTAs’ ability to issue refunds has quickly dented confidence. The slow responses have been incredibly frustrating and have resulted in a slight shift away from this booking method.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

AirAsia grounds 90% of its fleet amid resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks

AirAsia grounds 90 percent of its fleet of over 200 aircraft across Asia.AirAsia is a multi-national low-cost airline headquartered near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.There are 105 AirAsia aircraft currently under lockdown. [embedded content]
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Survey: 3 out of 4 US adults plan to travel at least once in next six months

This jump in travel intent was observed across all generations except for Gen ZThe biggest rise in intent to travel in the next six months is among Boomers, increasing from 54% to 70%More than 2 in 5 travelers intend to take a multigenerational vacation during the next 12 months The results of the latest American travelers’ survey were released today. The report explains in detail how Americans’ interests in leisure travel have rapidly increased as vaccinations have become widely available and states peel back related COVID-19 restrictions The intent to take a vacation over the next six months has increased significantly, with 72% of U.S. adults planning to do so – up from 62% recorded during the last survey conducted in February 2021. This jump in travel intent was observed across all generations except for Gen Z, who had already shown a high level of intent in the last survey. The biggest rise in intent to travel in the next six months is among Boomers, increasing from 54% to 70%. This is not surprising considering Boomers were among the first Americans to have access to vaccines and they have savings to pay for trips. Close to half (44%) of all active leisure travelers surveyed have already received a COVID-19 vaccine, with the highest vaccination rate among Boomers (74%), and Gen Xers following distantly at 37%. With grandparents vaccinated, and parents and children over 12 now following suit, the survey shows more than 2 in 5 travelers intend to take a multigenerational vacation (i.e., a vacation that includes more than two generations of travelers) during the next 12 months (43%). Travel Deals Are Hard to Find With the unprecedented slowdown in travel this past year, consumers have been expecting to find aggressive promotional offers and discounts. However, the surge in leisure travel demand has led to strong weekend demand and a lack of available inventory. This has created a situation in certain markets that MMGY Travel Intelligence is calling “reverse compression,” where weekend leisure demand is forcing travelers to consider weekday travel as an alternative. Where and How Will They Go? Domestic road trips will continue to dominate the travel scene in 2021, with June and July being the favored months for travel. Fifty-seven percent of travelers indicated they took a road trip in the past 12 months, while 76% intend to take one in the next 12 months. The incidence of taking a road trip is highest among Millennials (79%) and Gen Xers (79%) and those with children (82%), with the vast majority (84%) of road trippers indicating they will drive their own vehicle. The reasons for taking road trips vary across generations. Gen Zs and Millennials are motivated by the lower vacation costs, while Gen Xers like the ability to be spontaneous. Boomers appreciate the flexibility to pack everything needed in their cars. While many domestic travel destinations are opening back up, the likelihood and interest in traveling internationally is down despite an increase in perceived safety. This may be related to the uncertainties of traveling internationally right now. However, as international destinations begin to open to foreign tourists and restrictions are lessened, there is an expectation that international travel intentions will start to see a resurgence in the coming months.
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Linda Hohnholz eTN editor·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

FlyNAS launches direct flights between Saudi and Seychelles from July 2021

New flights, which will make travelling to Seychelles easier for residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.With the arrival of FlyNAS, the Ministry of Tourism is looking forward to seeing an increase in the number of visitors from the Saudi Arabian region.Seychelles is accessible as never before, and with no visas required from any nationality. FlyNAS will commence its nonstop flights operating three times a week from Jeddah, with fast connections to or from Riyadh and Dammam. Operating on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays, the 5 hr40 minute flight will be operated on and brand new A320 Neo aircraft with a capacity of 174 seats. The new flights, which will make travelling to Seychelles easier for residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was initiated in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, alongside the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.  Accessible as never before, and with no visas required from any nationality, Seychelles, land of diversity and discovery is a great place to spend quality time and to reconnect with nature. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest outbound market in the Middle East and with many in the Kingdom looking to go overseas after the opening of borders, the Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mr Sylvestre Radegonde said, “The destination has recorded approximately some 300 Saudi Arabian since January 2021. With the arrival of FlyNAS to our shores, the Ministry of Tourism is looking forward to seeing an increase in the number of visitors from the Saudi Arabian region. The three weekly flights to Seychelles from Jeddah represent another great opportunity for our destination, as not only will Seychelles be accessible directly to Saudi Arabian nationals but also the expatriates living in the Kingdom.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Nonstop flights from San Jose to Boston resume on JetBlue

JetBlue returns to Norman Y. Mineta San José International AirportJetBlue resumes Boston service from San JoseNorman Y. Mineta San José International Airport relaunches long-haul service This evening, officials at Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) welcome the return of JetBlue with daily, nonstop service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). The flight represents SJC’s first long-haul service resumed since the global pandemic began last year. The red-eye flight recommences tonight, departing SJC at 9:15 PM aboard an Airbus A320 aircraft. Tonight’s flight constitutes JetBlue’s return to San Jose since temporarily discontinuing service from the Airport in April 2020 due to pandemic-related travel declines. “We’re pleased to welcome the return of this nonstop service to Boston and thank our partners at JetBlue for this renewed investment,” said John Aitken, Mineta San José International Airport Director. “Resuming daily, long-haul service symbolizes a welcome return to normalcy. Our team has been working throughout the pandemic to keep our airport safe and moving forward, and we look forward seeing more travelers in our terminals as offerings continue to expand.” The resumed flight is JetBlue’s only nonstop flight from San José and the only nonstop service from the Airport to Boston, arriving in Boston at 5:50 AM (EST).  
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Air Canada extends COVID-19 refund policy deadline

Air Canada’s COVID-19 refund policy extended by 30 daysEligible customers now have until July 12, 2021 to submit a refund requestThe policy allows eligible customers to submit their request for a refund online or with their travel agent Air Canada announced today a 30-day extension of its COVID-19 refund policy. The policy allows eligible customers who purchased a non-refundable ticket before April 13, 2021 for travel on or after February 1, 2020, but who did not fly for any reason, to submit their request for a refund online or with their travel agent. “The number of customers who have requested a refund is lower than anticipated and most have kept their travel credit, Air Canada Travel Voucher or Aeroplan points, which we are pleased to see as it is an indication they plan on travelling in the future. We also take this as a vote of confidence from our customers that they intend to fly with us on their next trip, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back onboard,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. “For customers who want a refund, our employees have been working very hard to process requests as quickly as possible and will continue to do so, including in collaboration with our travel agency partners. We have in place an easy online refund process and we have also reached out to customers directly to advise them of their options. Still, given only approximately 40% of eligible customers have requested a refund, we are extending the initial deadline for requests.” The COVID-19 refund policy covers tickets and Air Canada Vacations packages purchased for flights cancelled either by the airline or by the customer for any reason was initially due to expire June 12, 2021. As of April 13, 2021 (the day on which the COVID-19 refund policy came into effect), Air Canada had a total of 1.8 million of its customer bookings eligible for a refund. To date, approximately 40% of these eligible customers have requested a refund, and 92% of those who have submitted requests have had their refund processed. Air Canada customers also have the option of accepting a fully transferrable Air Canada Travel Voucher (ACTV) with no expiry date or converting the value of their ticket to Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus. Customers who have already accepted an ACTV or Aeroplan points also have the option to exchange these for a refund to the original form of payment, including for the unused portion of any ACTV issued or in cases where a partial refund was provided.  Customers can request a refund online at until July 12, 2021. The policy also applies to Air Canada Vacations packages. Customers who booked through a travel agency must contact their agent directly. In support of its travel agency partners, Air Canada is not recalling agency sales commissions on refunded tickets that they process.   Air Canada’s new refund policy of offering customers options of refunds, an Air Canada Travel Voucher or equivalent value in Aeroplan Points with a 65% bonus should the airline cancel or reschedule a flight by more than three hours, is applicable to all tickets purchased.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

WestJet: More flights from Canada to Hawaii this winter

WestJet announces significant growth to its Hawaii networkStarting this winter, WestJet will add 787 Dreamliner service from Calgary and Vancouver to Kahului, MauiWestJet is adding new weekly non-stop service from Calgary to Kona and Lihue  WestJet today announced significant growth to its Hawaii network, featuring more Dreamliner flight options from Western Canada to Maui and new non-stop service from Calgary to Kona and Lihue this winter. With 57 weekly roundtrip flights on 10 nonstop routes, WestJet offers more service between Canada and Hawaii than any other airline. “With easing travel restrictions, we know our guests are planning to turn their long-awaited Hawaiian getaway dreams into a well-deserved reality.” said John Weatherill, WestJet, Chief Commercial Officer. “We’ve increased our winter service to Hawaii by more than 25 per cent from 2019 to ensure our guests have increased flexibility and the most affordable, non-stop options from Western Canada.” New service from Calgary to Kona and Lihue WestJet is adding new weekly non-stop service from Calgary (YYC) to Kona (KOA) and Lihue (LIH) beginning in December. With the addition of the new service, WestJet will offer service to four Hawaiian destinations non-stop from Calgary and two from Edmonton. “Our guests will love to say aloha to the additional direct flights to tropical Hawaii,” said Bob Sartor, President & CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority. “We’re ready to welcome guests back safely to the home and hub of WestJet and we look forward to the added sunny winter options for Albertans and connecting passengers from out of province.” More 787 Dreamliner options Starting this winter, WestJet will add 787 Dreamliner service from Calgary and Vancouver to Kahului, Maui (OGG) with 13 weekly flights. WestJet’s 787 service to Maui from Western Canada is conveniently scheduled with daytime departures to ensure guests arrive in Maui in the early afternoon, with time to make the most out of their plans. The airline’s signature Dreamliner service features lie-flat seats with on-demand dining and entertainment. “Like the Kolea bird, many Canadians return each year to the Hawaiian Islands during the winter months,” said David Y. Ige, Governor, Hawaii. “They respect the people, place and culture, and we welcome them back. Increased international passengers can help us better balance the needs of our residents and visitors. Mahalo to WestJet for partnering with the state to keep residents and visitors alike safe and healthy.” “We are very happy with the launch of WestJet’s additional routes to Hawai’i,” said  Lorenzo Campos, Account Director for Hawai’i Tourism Canada. “We would like to thank WestJet for being our trusted partner and for their continuous support of The Hawaiian Island and sharing the aloha spirit and always embracing the Hawaiian value of malama. We are looking forward to welcoming our Canadian family back this winter.”  WestJet route and schedule frequency Market787 Peak Frequency737 Peak FrequencyEffectiveCalgary-Maui6x weekly1x weeklyNovember 5, 2021Calgary-Honolulu7x weeklyDecember 3, 2021Calgary-Kona*1x weeklyDecember 19, 2021Calgary-Lihue*1x weeklyDecember 19, 2021Vancouver – Maui**7x weekly3x weeklyOctober 31, 2021Vancouver-Honolulu**14x weeklyOctober 31, 2021Vancouver-Kona7x weeklyOctober 31, 2021Vancouver-Lihue7x weeklyOctober 31, 2021Edmonton-Maui2x weeklyDecember 12, 2021Edmonton-Honolulu1x weeklyDecember 18, 2021*New routes added to WestJet’s winter schedule serving Hawaii. **Service currently operating in WestJet’s summer schedule.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 7, 2021

Flights from Doha, Qatar to Sharjah, UAE resume on Qatar Airways

Air services to Sharjah, UAE will resume starting 1 July 2021 with a daily flightSharjah flights will be operated by the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 DreamlinerSharjah flights will have 22 seats in First Class and 232 seats in Economy Class Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will resume services to Sharjah, UAE starting 1 July 2021 with a daily flight. The Sharjah services will be operated by the airline’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in First Class and 232 seats in Economy Class. The resumption of services will enable passengers flying from and to Sharjah to benefit from the airline’s extensive international network in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas, which currently stands at over 130 destinations with plans to increase to more than 1,200 weekly flights to over 140 destinations by the end of July. Sharjah will be an alternative gateway for passengers to and from the other cities especially Dubai in the UAE. Qatar airways flight QR1036, will depart from Hamad International Airport at 14:35, arriving at 16:45 to Sharjah. Qatar Airways daily flight QR1037, will depart from Sharjah at 17:55, and arrive to Doha at 18:05. As travelers return to the skies with Qatar Airways, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These achievements highlight Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing its passengers with an industry-leading experience at every point of their journey, including the highest possible level of health and safety standards that safeguard the wellbeing of its passengers both on the ground and in the air. Flight Schedule Daily starting  1 July Doha (DOH) to Sharjah (SHJ) QR 1036 departs 14:35 arrives 16:45 Sharjah (SHJ) to Doha (DOH) QR 1037 departs 17:55 arrives 18:05
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Linda Hohnholz eTN editor·
Aviation Feature
·June 5, 2021

Delta emergency landing: Passenger yelling and banging on cockpit door

Passenger bangs on cockpit door yelling to stop the plane.Both crew and passengers jumped into action to detain the passenger and take him to the back of the plane.The passenger was removed once the emergency landing was made in New Mexico. After the flight took off, the man ran to the cockpit door and started banging on it, reportedly yelling “Stop the plane!” Passengers and Delta crew got the man to the floor, secured his feet and hands with zip ties, and he was carried to the back of the plane until the emergency landing could be completed. The plane made the emergency landing in Albuquerque after which the FBI met the plane and removed the passenger informing there “is no threat to the public at this time.” [embedded content] Jessica Robertson, chief content officer for Togethxr, was on the flight and tweeted: “I was on this flight in the 3rd row – witness to everything. Terrifying but our @Delta flight attendant Christopher Williams acted quickly.” “Thanks to the crew and passengers of Delta Flight 386, LAX to Nashville (BNA), who assisted in detaining an unruly passenger as the flight diverted to Albuquerque (ABQ). The aircraft landed without incident and the passenger was removed by law enforcement,” Delta said in a statement, CBS Los Angeles reported.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 4, 2021

Volaris names new Chief Legal Officer

Volaris announces new executive appointmentAlejandro de Iturbide has extensive experience in the legal fieldNew CLO will be reporting directly to Enrique Javier Beltranena Mejicano, President and CEO of Volaris Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (Volaris), an ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States of America and Central America, announces the appointment of José Alejandro de Iturbide Gutiérrez as Chief Legal Officer of Volaris, effective as of June 16, 2021, reporting directly to Mr. Enrique Javier Beltranena Mejicano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volaris. Alejandro de Iturbide has extensive experience in the legal field, having previously served as General Counsel, Managing Director and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Grupo Financiero Citibanamex, having also held the positions in Mexico of General Counsel at General Electric and Barclays Capital, among others. “Volaris adds Alejandro de Iturbide to its management team, as our new Chief Legal Officer, with his appointment the Company reiterates its duty to regulatory and corporate compliance, contributing to our commitment to create value for our shareholders,” said Enrique Beltranena. The information included in this report has not been audited and it does not provide information on the Company´s future performance. Volaris’ future performance depends on many factors and it cannot be interred that any period´s performance or its comparison year over year will be an indicator of a similar performance in the future.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 4, 2021

Kazakhstan makes two-week quarantine mandatory for all arrivals from India

14-day home quarantine restriction announced for all travelers arriving from IndiaTravelers from other countries must submit PCR test with a negative result passed at least three days priorTravelers with negative COVID-19 PCR test are also subject to home isolation Kazakhstan has imposed a 14-day home quarantine restriction for all travelers arriving from India over COVID-19 variant concerns. According to an updated order of the Kazakh chief medical officer, travelers who arrived from or visited India in the last 14 days are to home quarantined for 14 days upon return to Kazakhstan. Passengers with a negative COVID-19 PCR test are also subject to home isolation. Passengers from other countries are obliged to submit a COVID-19 PCR test with a negative result passed at least three days ago. Those without the test are put in quarantine facilities for up to three days to be tested for COVID-19. Children below the age of five accompanied by those with tests and people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with documents conferring the vaccination are allowed not to have PCR tests when entering Kazakhstan.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 17, 2021

Flights from Budapest to Turin on Ryanair now

Irish ultra-low-cost carrier opens its 16th Italian base.Budapest Airport establishes a twice-weekly link to the business and cultural center of northern Italy.Ryanair’s latest link to Turin becomes Budapest’s 16th connection to Italy. Securing another new route, Budapest Airport has confirmed it is among Ryanair’s first routes to be served from the ultra-low-cost airline’s new Turin base. As the Irish carrier opens its 16th Italian base, the Hungarian gateway has established a twice-weekly link to the business and cultural center of northern Italy, to launch on 2 November. “Not only are we proud to announce another new route in today’s climate, but our new link to Turin is also among Ryanair’s – Europe’s largest airline – first routes from its new Italian base,” enthuses Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “Our priority continues to be able to offer our passengers an expanding selection of great places to visit. To announce a brand new destination shows we wish to continue to deliver a combination of attractive routes and good services,” adds Bogáts. Ryanair’s latest link to Turin becomes Budapest’s 16th connection to Italy, the ULCC itself now serving 11 Italian destinations from Hungary’s capital city including Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Milan Bergamo, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Rome, and Treviso. Ryanair DAC is an Irish ultra low-cost airline founded in 1984. It is headquartered in Swords, Dublin, with its primary operational bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports. It forms the largest part of the Ryanair Holdings family of airlines, and has Ryanair UK, Buzz, and Malta Air as sister airlines. 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.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 16, 2021

Uzbekistan Airways flies from Tashkent to Moscow Domodedovo Airport

Uzbekistan Airways’ first flight arrives to its new air Moscow hub.Flight frequency on Tashkent-Moscow route has doubled compared to the level of 2018.Uzbekistan Airways plans to expand the geography of flights from the air hub to open new destinations to the cities of Uzbekistan. Moscow Domodedovo Airport welcomed Uzbekistan Airways‘ first flight after the transfer of carrier’s flights to the new air hub. There will be 28 regular flights per week (4 flights a day) from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Moscow, Russia. Flight frequency on Tashkent-Moscow route has doubled compared to the level of 2018. In honor of this significant event, a festive program was prepared for the guests of the terminal: national dances of the «Bahor» team and Uzbek songs performed by the musical group «Uch-Kuduk». Passengers were presented with the gifts of sweets. Domodedovo Airport and Uzbekistan Airways served more than 7 million travelers from 2000 to 2018. In the near future, the air carrier plans to expand the geography of flights from the air hub, to open new destinations to the cities of Uzbekistan. The developed route network, transport accessibility and favorable geographical location of the airport will provide a high level of direct and transfer passenger traffic of the airline. 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. JSC Uzbekistan Airways, operating as Uzbekistan Airways, is the flag carrier airline of Uzbekistan, headquartered in Tashkent.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 16, 2021

LATAM Airlines Group launches pilot health passport

IATA Travel Pass works based on the biometric information of the passenger’s passport.Having more automated and contactless processes is a new reality for everyone.Tools of this type are essential to restart the airline industry and reconnect the world. The LATAM Group, through its subsidiaries in Chile and Peru, together with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have come together to carry out the pilot of the IATA Travel Pass digital application, allowing passengers to organize and manage travel requirements complying with what is required by the authorities on international flights more efficiently and expeditiously. IATA Travel Pass works based on the biometric information of the passenger’s passport, the results of laboratories in agreement and the joint information of the governments. “This is great news for our passengers who voluntarily want to join. Having more automated and contactless processes is a new reality for everyone, and this pilot with IATA Travel Pass supports this transformation for LATAM and for the entire industry,” declared the Vice President of Clients of LATAM Airlines Group, Paulo Miranda. For his part, Peter Cerdá, IATA Regional Vice President for the Americas, adds: “We are pleased that LATAM trusts the IATA Travel Pass. Tools of this type are essential to restart the airline industry and reconnect the world, which allows to reopen borders safely and smoothly, giving governments the guarantee that travelers have complied with health requirements, speeding up migration processes and simplifying the experience for passengers.”
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Star Alliance to expand touchless journeys across member airlines

Star Alliance, NEC Corporation and SITA sign teaming agreement.Star Alliance biometrics platform will be able to use SITA’s shared airport infrastructure already available in over 460 airports.Passengers using Star Alliance’s biometrics platform will enroll only once. Frequent flyer program customers of Star Alliance member airlines will soon be able to use their biometric identity across any participating airline at any participating airport following a new agreement between the world’s largest airline alliance, NEC Corporation and SITA. The agreement announced today is aimed at accelerating the availability of biometric self-service touchpoints across Star Alliance’s member airlines while delivering a faster, touchless airport experience.  Connecting to SITA‘s Smart Path solution, the Star Alliance biometrics platform will be able to use SITA’s shared airport infrastructure already available in more than 460 airports. Together with SITA and NEC’s global presence, multiple biometric projects can be delivered in parallel, speeding up the availability of biometric passenger processing to Star Alliance’s member airlines globally. This will be vital in enabling Star Alliance to deploy biometrics faster. A further advantage is the NEC I:Delight platform – which allows passengers who have opted to use the service to be identified quickly and with a high degree of accuracy, even on the move – can be easily integrated with SITA Smart Path. The I:Delight platform is also able to recognize passengers even when wearing a mask, an increasingly important feature for travel during the current pandemic. The platform is already in use by Star Alliance member airlines at several airports in Europe. Uniquely, passengers using Star Alliance’s biometrics platform enroll only once. Passengers then can pass through biometrically enabled touchpoints across multiple member airlines and participating airports using just their face as their boarding pass. This speeds up the passage through the airport while making each step completely touchless, supporting important health and hygiene safety measures in times of COVID-19 and delivering on Star Alliance’s vision of a seamless customer experience. Jeffrey Goh, CEO, Star Alliance, said: “This agreement is instrumental in bringing further scale to our biometrics service, with the inherent benefits of speed and meeting customer expectations for a more touchless and hygienically safer experience across all of our member airlines. Biometrics is a key element of that experience and our strategy of leading the way in digitalizing the passenger journey.” Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA, said: “Together with NEC, SITA is pleased to be supporting Star Alliance in bringing the full benefits of biometric identity to their member airlines. Passengers have long welcomed the advantages of control and speed automation brings to the passenger journey; a trend that has been accelerated by COVID-19. With this agreement the benefits of biometric identity will be extended from a single airline or journey to a vast network of airlines. That is truly unique and demonstrates the benefits digital identity can bring to the passenger.”  Masakazu Yamashina, Executive Vice President, NEC Corporation said: “NEC is honored to join this three party partnership with Star Alliance and SITA. While the impact of COVID-19 continues, we are pleased to lead the creation of seamless and touchless travel. NEC is committed to providing a safe and comfortable customer experience through our NEC I:Delight identity management solution.”
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Flights to Bourgas, Zakynthos, Brussels, Chania, Larnaca, Paris and Porto on Wizz Air relaunch from Budapest

One notable relaunch was the Hungarian gateway’s first reconnection with Bulgaria.Wizz Air reopened twice-weekly links to Bourgas, Bulgaria’s second largest city on the Black Sea coast.Wizz Air able to boost flight numbers as restrictions on travel to and from Budapest are eased. Wizz Air resumed another seven services from Budapest Airport last weekend, re-expanding the airport’s European network and offering customers more travel choices once again. One notable relaunch was the Hungarian gateway’s first reconnection with Bulgaria, as the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) reopened twice-weekly links to Bourgas, the country’s second largest city on the Black Sea coast. Facing no competition, Wizz Air relaunched Budapest’s link to Zakynthos on Sunday, joining the weekend’s other resumed services to Brussels Charleroi, Chania, Larnaca, Paris Orly, and Porto. “It’s fantastic to see that week-after-week we are able to boost our flight numbers as restrictions on travel to and from Budapest are eased,” says Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport. “The number of destinations returning to our route map are increasing and all major cities in the EU will soon be on offer once again as we look forward to the introduction of the EU Green ID.” Continuing its redevelopment at Budapest, and confirming many frequency increases across its route map, by end-July Wizz Air will fly to 50 destinations, operating 148 weekly services which will offer almost 31,000 weekly seats from Hungary’s capital city. Wizz Air, legally incorporated as Wizz Air Hungary Ltd. and stylized as W!ZZ Air, is a Hungarian ultra low-cost airline with its head office in Budapest. The airline serves many cities across Europe, as well as some destinations in North Africa and the Middle East. 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.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

Portugal re-opens to US tourists with negative COVID-19 tests

Portugal is welcoming all vaccinated travelers from the United States today.American visitors must produce a negative results of a COVID-19Children two years old and younger are exempt from the regulation As Europe continues to gradually reopen this summer, the Portuguese government has announced that Portugal is welcoming all vaccinated travelers from the United States starting on June 15. Direct flights to Portugal will also resume on TAP Portugal, United Airlines, Azores Airlines and Delta Air Lines from major US gateway cities. American visitors will just need to produce a negative results of a COVID-19 test performed at least 72 hours prior to their arrival to Portugal. According to U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Portugal, “beginning June 15, non-essential (i.e. tourist travel) from the United States to mainland Portugal is permitted for travelers with proof of a negative COVID-19 test.”  Children two years old and younger are exempt from the regulation, but all other US visitors “must submit a negative SARSCoV-2 lab result of a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), for example a PCR test, performed in the last 72 hours or a rapid antigen test (TRAg), performed within 24 hours of boarding.” Clear COVID-19 restrictions are still in place around Portugal.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 15, 2021

The war is over: US and EU resolve dispute over Boeing and Airbus state subsidies

EU and US resolve 17-year-old issue of state subsidies for aircraft manufacturers.The US previous administration levied duties worth $7.5 billion on European products.The EU retaliated with tariffs worth $4 billion on US goods. The United States and the European Union announced that they have managed to resolve the 17-year-old issue of state subsidies for aircraft manufacturers. Since 2004, the European Union has accused the US of providing illegal state subsidies to Boeing, while Washington claimed Brussels was illegally aiding Airbus SE. EU and US have reached a settlement during the meeting between US President Joe Biden and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a US-EU summit in Brussels. “This meeting has started with a breakthrough on aircraft; this really opens a new chapter in our relationship because we move from litigation to cooperation on aircraft – after 17 years of dispute,” von der Leyen said. The United States and the European Union agreed to suspend tariffs imposed as part of the trade war for a period of five years. The detailed information on “acceptable support” for the world’s two biggest aircraft manufacturers will reportedly be released later. The agreement will end trade tariffs introduced during the Donald Trump presidency in relation to the Airbus and Boeing. The US previous administration levied duties worth $7.5 billion on European products after the World Trade Organization ruled that Brussels had given unfair subsidies to Airbus. The EU retaliated with tariffs worth $4 billion on US goods based on another WTO ruling that said the US had provided illegal aid to Boeing. The news of a compromise pushed Airbus stock up by nearly 1.5% in European trading, while shares in Boeing rose around 1% during pre-market trading in the US.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

LAM Mozambique Airlines to sell its Embraer aircraft in a cost-cutting move

Sale will enable the company to operate with two types of aircraft at most.LAM’s current fleet consists of six aircraft by three different manufacturers.IGEPE administrator did not give the exact number of aircraft that would be involved in the sale. According to local news reports, LAM – a national flag carrier airline of Mozambique, is planning to sell its Embraer aircraft to minimize operation costs and standardize its fleet. LAM’s current fleet consists of six aircraft by three different manufacturers, two of which are the Embraer-190 planes produced by Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer S.A. “It doesn’t make sense that a small company like LAM is flying planes with three to four different brands,” Raimundo Matule, administrator of the Institute for the Management of State Holdings (IGEPE), said admitting that the airline is facing structural problems. The IGEPE administrator did not give the exact number of aircraft that would be involved in the sale, but said the reduction brings great cost rationalization, and will enable the company to operate with two types of aircraft at most. The IGEPE injected about 700 million meticais (over 11 million U.S. dollars) in 2020 into the national airline, whose revenues plummeted due to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Lufthansa Group announces medium-term targets, makes preparations for capital increase

Bookings across the Group’s airlines have increased significantly.Demand is particularly strong for European leisure destinations around the Mediterranean Sea.Lufthansa Group expects operating cash flow to be positive in the second quarter of 2021. As the roll-out of vaccination programs accelerates and with travel restrictions being progressively eased globally, bookings across the Group’s airlines have increased significantly. Compared to average weekly levels in March and April 2021, bookings more than doubled in May and early June. Demand is particularly strong for European leisure destinations around the Mediterranean Sea, as well as leisure long-haul markets where there are only limited or no travel restrictions. Supported by the acceleration of bookings, the Group expects operating cash flow to be positive in the second quarter of 2021. The number of passengers is projected to reach around 30% of pre-crisis levels in June, to reach approximately 45% in July and around 55% in August. This positive trend supports the Group’s forecast to operate approx. 40% of 2019 capacity levels in 2021. Structural transformation across the Group to yield significant cost savings, supporting future profitability and cash generation Since the beginning of the crisis, the Lufthansa Group has taken decisive action to strengthen liquidity and to accelerate the Group’s structural transformation. Key restructuring actions include adapting the Group’s cost base and operating model to ongoing changes in our market, thereby positioning the Group to capitalize on growth in the “New Normal”. The Group’s restructuring program targets achieving gross savings of approx. EUR 3.5 billion by 2024 (compared to 2019), of which around half are expected to be implemented by the end of 2021. Costs are expected to decline across the Group’s airlines (notably low- to mid-single-digit reduction of CASK (excl. fuel) by 2024 compared to 2019 levels), the Aviation services and in Group overheads. The main drivers for these improvements are (i) reductions in personnel cost, (ii) operational simplification and overhead reduction and (iii) fleet modernization and standardization. Personnel cost savings are expected to reach approx. EUR 1.8 billion from 2023 onwards, of which around half  has already been achieved through a reduction of almost 26,000 employees since the start of the crisis. In Germany, the Group plans to reduce personnel costs through a combination of collective agreements, voluntary departures and forced dismissals, equivalent in cost terms to a headcount reduction of up to 10,000 positions. Operational simplification measures include the closure of SunExpress Deutschland, the discontinuation of passenger flight operations at Germanwings and the closure of multiple other bases and sites. Improvements in operational efficiency include generating additional synergies from the harmonization of aircraft maintenance and other operational processes, digitalization and cloud migration of steering and planning functions and an approx. 50% reduction in operated IT systems for flight and ground operations, resulting in a simplified and streamlined organisation. Reduction in overhead and other costs includes an approx. 30% reduction of office space, renegotiation of key supplier contracts and reductions in external consulting and marketing expenses. Ongoing fleet modernization and standardization will further contribute to the reduction of operating costs through improved fuel efficiency, as well as lower maintenance and training costs. In addition, this will contribute to the Group’s target of reducing its net carbon emissions by 50% over the next decade. During the recovery phase, capital expenditure will be capped at D&A levels, with a projected EUR 2.5 billion in annual capex spending in 2023 and 2024. This is circa EUR 1.1 billion lower than in 2019 and will support the generation of strong free cash flow going forward.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Airbus establishes Zero-Emission Development Centers in Germany and France

Airbus has decided to setup two Zero-Emission Development Centers (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen and Nantes.The goal of the ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing.Both ZEDCs will be fully operational by 2023 to build LH2 tanks with a first flight test scheduled for 2025. Airbus has decided to concentrate its efforts for metallic hydrogen tanks in a complementary setup by creating Zero-Emission Development Centers (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen (Germany) and in Nantes (France). The goal of the ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing to support the successful future market launch of ZEROe and to accelerate the development of hydrogen-propulsion technologies. The design and integration of tank structures is crucial to the performance of a future hydrogen aircraft.  The technology developments will cover the full product and industrial capabilities from elementary parts, assembly, systems integration and the cryogenic testing of the final liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank system. Both ZEDCs will be fully operational by 2023 to build LH2 tanks with a first flight test scheduled for 2025. Airbus chose its site in Bremen because of its diverse setup and decades of LH2 experience within Defense and Space and ArianeGroup. The ZEDC in Bremen will initially focus on system installation as well as for the overall cryogenic testing of the tanks. Furthermore, this ZEDC will benefit from the wider hydrogen research ecosystem such as the Centre for Eco-Efficient Materials and Technologies (ECOMAT) and from further synergies from space and aerospace activities. Airbus chose its site in Nantes because of its extensive knowledge in metallic structural technologies related to the center wing box, including the safety-critical center tank for commercial aircraft. The ZEDC in Nantes will bring its ability to manage equally a wide range of metallic, composite technologies and integration as well as its experience in codesign activities on nacelle inlets, radomes and center fuselage complex work packages. The ZEDC will benefit from the Nantes Technocentre skills and capabilities, supported by an innovative local ecosystem such as the IRT Jules Verne. In line with Northern German regional and the Pays de Loire ambitions, Airbus will foster cross-industry collaboration to support the overall transition to hydrogen-propulsion technologies, as well as the associated ground-based infrastructure in the region. The tank is a safety-critical component, for which specific systems engineering is needed. LH2 is more challenging than kerosene because it needs to be stored at -250 °C to liquefy. Liquidity is needed for increased density. For commercial aviation, the challenge is to develop a component which can withstand repeated thermal and pressure cycling which an aircraft application demands. It is expected that near-term LH2 tank structures for commercial aircraft applications will be metallic, however the potential performance opportunities associated with carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer composites are high.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 14, 2021

Flights from Calgary to Amsterdam launched by WestJet

WestJet’s service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Calgary International Airport will operate two-times weekly.The route will be operated on WestJet’s 787 Dreamliner.The new service is timed to ensure that transatlantic flights departing from Calgary to Amsterdam are scheduled to support late-day departures and daytime arrivals. WestJet today announced that it is expanding its international network to include one of the world’s most connected cities, Amsterdam, Netherlands. As the airline with the most flights from Calgary, the new service from WestJet’s hub will operate on the 787 Dreamliner, starting August 5, 2021. “We are committed to putting international investments in place, as leaders of the travel and tourism industry, to support a safe restart to international travel and further Canada’s economic recovery,” said John Weatherill, WestJet, Chief Commercial Officer. “With flights set to begin later this summer, we look forward to helping connect Canadians to their loved ones in Europe, while continuing to provide affordable options for those who want to visit or reconnect with friends and family across our great country.” WestJet’s service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will operate two-times weekly beginning August 5, 2021 and will increase to three-times weekly as of September 9. “Alberta is ready to be open for summer, and this announcement from WestJet shows how close we are to having international travelers come back to Alberta,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Innovation, Government of Alberta. “New routes will boost our tourism industry when it needs it most and once again showcase Alberta to the world with safe travel.” “This year, our guests will have another direct option from Calgary to a bustling center of commerce and culture,” said Bob Sartor, President & CEO, The Calgary Airport Authority. “WestJet’s new route from their home and hub at YYC to Amsterdam, will connect Calgarians to Europe and Europeans to Alberta through one of the best connected airports in the world.” The route will be operated on WestJet’s 787 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s lie-flat seats available in the business cabin along with on-demand dining and entertainment. The new service is timed to ensure that transatlantic flights departing from Calgary to Amsterdam are scheduled to support late-day departures and daytime arrivals. Convenient connections are available via Amsterdam to dozens of world-class destinations, including Athens, Berlin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Vienna, Venice and more. “We are excited by the return of important international air routes to Alberta,” said David Goldstein, CEO, Travel Alberta. “While we have had a long, warm relationship with Dutch travellers looking to explore our part of the world, Amsterdam is also a key feeder hub for travellers from all across Europe.  We look forward to working with WestJet as they broaden their global routes to Alberta.” Details of WestJet’s service between Calgary and Amsterdam: RouteFrequencyStart DateCalgary – Amsterdam2x weeklyAug. 5 – Sept. 5, 20213x weeklySept. 9 – October 31, 2021Amsterdam – Calgary2x weeklyAug. 6 – Sept. 6, 20213x weeklySept. 10 – November 1, 2021
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 12, 2021

Delta Airlines Flight Attendant determined to crash DL 1730 from LAX to ATL midair

Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing in Oklahoma City.The reported hijacking attempt happened on Friday night.The suspect, Delta Flight attendant Stephon Jamar Duncan, allegedly said he was going to take the plane down. A desperate pilot flying a Delta Airlines flight DL 1730, an Airbus A321 from Los Angeles to Atlanta on Friday night made a desperate announcement asking for strong men to come forward for an emergency.The pilot needed urgent help from passengers to restrain an off-duty flight attendant to prevent an ongoing terror attack. An off-duty pilot and some passengers responded and helped to subdue the suspect after he allegedly assaulted two flight attendants and made terroristic threats. The suspect was yelling he would bring the plane down. It all started when the terrorist, an off-duty flight attendant traveling as a passenger on DL 1730 from LAX to ATL instructed passengers to take their seats and get ready to put on an oxygen mask on. According to Oklahoma City police spokesman, the suspect, Stephon Jamar Duncan, allegedly said he was going to take the plane down. The reported hijacking attempt happened on Friday night. The Delta Air Lines Airbus A321 with about 200 people on board was somewhere in the middle of its route when the suspect forced his way to the front. The plane was diverted to the nearest airport in Oklahoma City, where “the man was handed over to law enforcement,” and “a sweep of the plane” with sniffer dogs was conducted. After that, it proceeded to Atlanta.  Duncan was arrested and taken to a hospital after reporting chest pains and exhibiting signs of mental health issues, police said. The incident comes just days after another Delta flight, also from Los Angeles, had to make an emergency landing after one of its passengers allegedly charged the front of the aircraft and attempted to breach the cockpit during the flight. Delta Flight 386 to Nashville was diverted to Albuquerque, after the man reportedly pounding on the cockpit door and yelling:  “We need to land this plane”. He was restrained. and later charged with interference with flight crew members.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 12, 2021

Heathrow presses world leaders to agree global sustainable fuels mandate at G7

SAF is a proven technology, used as far back as WWII to fly fighters when oil was scarce, and it works in existing aircraftSAF is a solution that can work across the world, but it needs to be massively scaled upThe G7 can take a global lead by collectively committing to a mandate for at least 10% SAF by 2030, growing to at least 50% by 2050 The leaders of the world’s largest economies have been urged to reduce aviation emissions by collectively committing to mandates for the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). In a G7 session hosted in Cornwall on Friday by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye pressed the leaders of the G7 to agree in its summit communique escalating mandates for 10% SAF by 2030, growing to at least 50% by 2050, as well as the kinds of price incentive mechanisms that have been used to support demand and kick start other low carbon sectors. Aviation is a force for good. It benefits society by connecting people and cultures and enabling trade across countries. We have to take the carbon out of flying so we can protect those benefits in a net zero world. Major airlines in all G7 states and increasing numbers around the world have committed to net zero by 2050. We can only meet this goal by rapidly scaling up use of sustainable aviation fuels. SAF is a proven technology, used as far back as WWII to fly fighters when oil was scarce, and it works in existing aircraft. It has already powered 250,000 flights around the world. SAF could be either advanced biofuels made from waste from agriculture, households forestry and industry or synthetic fuel made using carbon extracted from the air and clean energy, both deliver lifecycle carbon savings of 70% or more. Just this week, Heathrow received its first delivery of SAF and incorporated it into its main fuel supply system to demonstrate proof of concept at a major airport. SAF is a solution that can work across the world, but it needs to be massively scaled up. The G7 can take a global lead by collectively committing to a mandate for at least 10% SAF by 2030, growing to at least 50% by 2050. Along with the right price incentives, stable over 5 – 10 years (such as Contracts for Difference that have been so effective in scaling up offshore wind energy in the UK), that will send the right market signal to unlock investment in SAF plants. This would create new jobs in a green industry in the G7 . Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “We all agree that stopping climate change is the biggest challenge facing our planet. The G7 has already shown leadership by agreeing a global minimum corporate tax, and if we can tap into that collective spirit to collectively commit to a mandate for at least 10% use of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 and the right price incentives to use it, we will ensure our children can have the benefits of flying without the carbon cost. Aviation is a force for good and we cannot wait for someone else to solve this problem at some point in the future – we have the tools to do it today, the collective spirit is here now and I urge G7 leaders to take concrete action now.” Heathrow has been at the forefront of advocacy and change on reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. At the start of 2020, the UK aviation sector, became the the first national aviation sector in the world to commit to net zero by 2050, with Heathrow playing a key role. In addition to recently incorporating the first shipment of SAF into its fuel supply system, all of the airport’s infrastructure runs on 100% renewable electricity, with plans underway to switch away from gas heating at the airport by the mid-2030s, becoming fully zero carbon. Heathrow has also restored 95 acres of UK peatlands which were emitting carbon and are now starting to act as a carbon sink. Heathrow’s Director of Carbon Strategy, Matthew Gorman, has led its award-winning carbon and sustainability team over the last decade and played a vital role in driving forward our targets and plans. He has been recognised for services to Decarbonisation of Aviation with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Heathrow is a better place because of his contributions. While this honour serves as an important marker of the progress the whole of Heathrow has achieved, the journey to ensuring the benefits of aviation are secured for the future without the carbon cost is a long one and our work and determination continue.
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Linda Hohnholz eTN editor·
Aviation Feature
·June 11, 2021

Interview: Inside the mind of Finnair CEO

On the table was the current situation with regard to Finnair, with regard to its capacity and traffic for example.The airline CEO discusses the impact of COVID-19 and travel restrictions as well as possible ways forward.Currently, Finnair is at around 12 percent of 2019 seat levels, so the climb out and up is going to take a lot of hard work and finesse. Read on for this in-depth interview with Finnair CEO Topi Manner, or just sit back and listen via the link. We start with Jonathan Wober of CAPA – Centre for Aviation welcoming Topi Manner to the discussion. Jonathan Wober: Well, good morning and welcome to another edition of CAPA Live, and I’m delighted to welcome to discussion today Topi Manner, the Chief Executive of Finnair. Topi, welcome and thanks for joining us. Topi Manner: Thank you, Jonathan. Good to be here. Jonathan: I just want to start by asking about the current situation with regard to Finnair, capacity, traffic, etcetera. You’ve been operating at very low levels of capacity. The current week, according to data from OAG and CAPA suggests that you’re at around about 12% of 2019 seat levels in the first week of May, thereabouts. Europe overall is about 40%, so you’re considerably below the European average. Is it frustrating to you because Finland seems to be quite low on infection rates and quite high on vaccination rates, but why can’t your government get more connectivity negotiated, and why can’t you operate at higher levels? Topi: I mean, that’s right. It is a bit frustrating that the travel restrictions are so stringent in Finland, and that is certainly impacting our operations. As of now, we operate approximately 15% of our capacity and that includes the Asian long-haul flights that we started already last summer. I mean, currently we are flying to Tokyo, to Seoul, to Shanghai, and to Bangkok and Hong Kong. And that long haul traffic is greatly supported by our cargo demand. Now for the next summer, for this summer, we have been releasing what I would call to first release of our summer network, and that includes that we plan to fly to something like 60 destinations, and especially European short haul will be on the menu. And we also look forward to increasing flights to North America, so increasing frequencies to New York and also introducing Chicago and Los Angeles.
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Juergen T Steinmetz·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

London Heathrow CEO appeal to G7 Ministers: Open our Skies!

London Heathrow has faced 15 consecutive months of suppressed demand, with passenger numbers languishing at 90% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels – a loss of over 6 million passengers in the month.One month after the Government hailed the restart of international travel and assured the public that a risk-based traffic light system would unlock low-risk travel, the system has yet to achieve what it was designed to do. Ministers’ refusal to provide transparency on the data behind the decision-making and failure to introduce a green ‘watchlist’ has undermined consumer confidence. At the next review for the UK Government to evaluate COVID-19 restrictions on June 28th, officials must rely on the science and restart travel to low-risk countries like the US, clear a pathway to restriction-free travel for vaccinated passengers, and replace expensive PCR tests with the lateral flow for low-risk arrivals. With Ministers now promising to prioritize the domestic unlock and no clear end date to travel restrictions, a bespoke support plan for the beleaguered and neglected travel industry must be forthcoming. The sector employs tens of thousands of people across Britain who will be wondering what will happen to their jobs and livelihoods after another lost summer. The Government should provide targeted compensation to the sector, starting with business rates relief and an extension to the furlough scheme whilst Ministers continue to keep travel locked down. Reopening transatlantic travel is critical to the UK and US and we welcome the establishment of the joint travel taskforce. Earlier this week the CEOs of American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic and Heathrow Airport joined forces to stress the need to safely reopen the transatlantic corridor. CEBR research shows that Heathrow’s US passengers accounted for over £3bn pounds of spend across the UK in 2019. Pre-pandemic Britain was the top destination for US tourists, but this leadership position is at risk of being snapped up and our Global Britain ambitions undermined by France and Italy, who are already set to open their doors to vaccinated American travellers in the coming weeks. G7 leaders must seize the opportunity to join forces and tackle one of the biggest challenges facing our generation, climate change. Major carriers within G7 states have committed to net-zero flying by 2050, however, we can only achieve this goal by rapidly scaling up the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). The technology exists – Heathrow took its first delivery of SAF last week – but we need the right Government policies to build confidence in demand. We are calling on world leaders to collectively commit to escalating mandates of 10% SAF use by 2030, growing to at least 50% by 2050, and price incentive mechanisms that have kick-started other low carbon sectors. The G7 should take a global lead in committing to net-zero aviation, agree to at least 10% SAF in its communique, and build a global coalition for those who back that ambition.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Brits make mad dash home from Portugal to beat new quarantine rules deadline

UK cabinet ministers announced last week that Portugal will be downgraded to amber from 4 am Tuesday following worries about the Nepal coronavirus variant.There are an estimated 112,000 Brits currently in Portugal and airlines have been putting on extra flights to try to get people home.It is estimated that 100 flights are expected to leave Faro on Sunday and there were long queues forming around the building with passengers trying to get home. [embedded content]
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Mexican Caribbean celebrates one year of reopening

Air connectivity, more hotel infrastructure, and open businesses are the result of a successful tourism recovery.Private sector and government efforts were essential to re-open destinationsThe destinations maintained Key Health Prevention Protocols for a safe return This week the Mexican Caribbean celebrates one year of reopening to tourism after the health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that forced a stop to a large part of the activities worldwide, tourism included. In June 2020, the Cancun International Airport registered only 32 operations, of which 16 were arrivals: 12 national and 4 international (June 2). However, a year later, there is a record of 470 operations, of which 235 are arrivals: 82 national and 153 international (June 5). Regarding hotel occupancy, there was an average of 2.5% in the Riviera Maya during May 2020, and 5.69% in the Cancun and Puerto Morelos Hotel Zone for the same period. In May 2021, the Riviera Maya reports an average of 53.3% hotel occupancy and Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres reported an average of 58%. The Mexican Caribbean Clean & Safe Check Certification (CPPSIT), developed by the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat, allowed tourist companies to adapt the necessary measures that included a change in hygiene habits such as the application of alcohol gel and the use of face masks and social distancing, to reduce the risk of virus transmission between people, in addition to a State Epidemiological Traffic Light which determines the allowed capacity by activity and segment. These actions, taken by the government of Quintana Roo and carried out by the private sector and the citizens, as well as the declaration of tourism as an essential activity by Governor Carlos Joaquín, allowed for the Mexican Caribbean destinations to start welcoming visitors in June 2020. “A year has passed, and it is a great satisfaction to witness that the combined effort of businessmen, workers, and the government has resulted in the great tourism recovery that the state of Quintana Roo has experienced,” said Darío Flota Ocampo, general director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Board (QRTB). With 42 routes from the United States, air connectivity with Europe from Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, Portugal, Russia, Poland, Turkey, flights from Latin America such as from Belize, Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, in addition to domestic flights to the three airports of Quintana Roo, in Cancun, Cozumel and Chetumal, the Mexican Caribbean is today synonymous with strength and successful tourism recovery. For its part, the QRTB implemented tourism promotion strategies through the Mexican Caribbean campaign “The Best of Two Worlds”, which developed specific actions for the segments of vacation rentals, golf, wellness and meetings tourism. In addition to virtual seminars with travel agents from May to December 2020 and thus far this year, along with meetings with airline representatives, tour operators, participation in virtual fairs and several efforts focused on promoting the destinations of the Mexican Caribbean worldwide. According to information from the Strategic Planning Directorate of the QRTB, in the year since the beginning of the tourism reactivation, over 7 million passengers have visited Quintana Roo and, thanks to the strategies, actions and measures carried out during the tourism recovery, it is possible to estimate the arrival of another 6 million passengers in the next six months of 2021.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

Kansas City to Cancun nonstop flight now on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines announces seasonal nonstop service to CancunCancun, Mexico, is the top international destination from Kansas City withKansas City becomes one of Southwest’s 20 international gateway airports Southwest Airlines announced that the carrier will offer its first international service from Kansas City International Airport (MCI), with seasonal, Saturday nonstop service to Cancun International Airport (CUN) beginning on November 13. Cancun, Mexico, is the top international destination from Kansas City with more than 200 pre-pandemic passengers per day during the peak season. Kansas City becomes one of Southwest’s 20 international gateway airports. “Southwest Airlines‘ decision to launch international service from Kansas City International Airport speaks volumes to their long term commitment to Kansas City and providing travelers in the Heart of America the convenient travel options they desire,” said Pat Klein, director of Kansas City’s Aviation Department. The announcement comes as passenger numbers are increasing as more and more people get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently directs all air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than 3 days before travel. The Saturday schedule is: WN #751 MCI-CUN 6:15a.m. – 10:55 a.m.WN #750 CUN-MCI 4:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

French aeronautical players to fly 100% alternative fuel on single-aisle aircraft end of 2021

Airbus is responsible for characterizing and analyzing the impact of 100% SAF on-ground and in-flight emissionSafran will focus on compatibility studies related to the fuel system and engine adaptation for commercial and helicopter aircraftONERA will support Airbus and Safran in analyzing the compatibility of the fuel with aircraft systems Airbus, Safran, Dassault Aviation, ONERA and Ministry of Transport are jointly launching an in-flight study, at the end of 2021, to analyze the compatibility of unblended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with single-aisle aircraft and commercial aircraft engine and fuel systems, as well as with helicopter engines. This flight will be made with the support of the “Plan de relance aéronautique” (the French government‘s aviation recovery plan) managed by Jean Baptiste Djebbari, French Transport Minister. Known as VOLCAN (VOL avec Carburants Alternatifs Nouveaux), this project is the first time that in-flight emissions will be measured using 100% SAF in a single-aisle aircraft. Airbus is responsible for characterizing and analyzing the impact of 100% SAF on-ground and in-flight emissions using an A320neo test aircraft powered by a CFM LEAP-1A engine. Safran will focus on compatibility studies related to the fuel system and engine adaptation for commercial and helicopter aircraft and their optimization for various types of 100% SAF fuels. ONERA will support Airbus and Safran in analyzing the compatibility of the fuel with aircraft systems and will be in charge of preparing, analyzing and interpreting test results for the impact of 100% SAF on emissions and contrail formation. In addition, Dassault Aviation will contribute to the material and equipment compatibility studies and verify 100% SAF biocontamination susceptibility.  The various SAFs used for the VOLCAN project will be provided by TotalEnergies. Moreover, this study will support efforts currently underway at Airbus and Safran to ensure the aviation sector is ready for the large-scale deployment and use of SAF as part of the wider initiative to decarbonize the industry. It will also contribute to the ultimate goal of achieving 100% SAF certification in single-aisle commercial aircraft and the new generation of business jets.
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Linda Hohnholz eTN editor·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

PCR testing in Seychelles not an inconvenience after all

A new requirement since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, the PCR test has become part of every traveler’s essentials.The negative test report is not only a prerequisite for entry for many countries but is now also part of airline protocol for boarding to exit the country.Seychelles tourism is keeping up with that demand. [embedded content]
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 10, 2021

US and UK move to open travel corridor

US and UK agree to reopen travel between their two countries as soon as possibleThe US and the UK both have among the world’s leading records on vaccinations and declining infectionsThere is a clear economic need to reopen international travel US Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the announcement that President Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have agreed in advance of the G7 summit to reopen travel between their two countries as soon as possible: “Opening a US-UK travel corridor is a smart, science-based step to take for both countries’ economic recoveries, and now is the critical time to take it. “The US and the UK both have among the world’s leading records on vaccinations and declining infections, the U.K. is our top overseas travel market, and the two governments enjoy a close relationship. With abundant evidence that travel is safe with layered health measures in place—and a clear economic need to reopen international travel—moving to reduce travel restrictions between the two countries is the perfect place to start. “The travel industry enthusiastically applauds the Biden administration and UK government for being responsive to the calls to advance a bilateral travel corridor, and hopes to see it implemented by early July. The unemployment rate in the US travel industry is currently more than double the national average, and seizing opportunities to safely reopen all segments of travel will potentially restore millions of jobs and hundreds of billions in economic activity.”
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 7, 2021

UK and US aviation and travel leaders call for re-opening of transatlantic travel

There is a clear opportunity to safely open up travel between US and UKUS and UK governments urged to take a data-driven and risk-based approach to re-opening borders to travelUK businesses are losing £23 million each day that transatlantic links remain closed The CEOs of all airlines that offer UK-US passenger services – American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic – joined today with Heathrow Airport and other industry-leading CEOs in calling for the re-opening of transatlantic travel, a move that will be essential to igniting economic recovery. Top leaders in aviation and travel came together ahead of the G7 meeting in Cornwall later to push for the reopening of the UK – US travel corridor. With world-leading vaccination programs in both the UK and US, there is a clear opportunity to safely open up travel between these two low-risk countries, enabling consumers on both sides of the Atlantic to reconnect with loved ones, re-establish business relationships and explore new destinations after more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions. The CEOs urged both governments to take a data-driven and risk-based approach to re-opening borders to travel. A line-up of American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, British Airways CEO and Chairman Sean Doyle, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes, United CEO Scott Kirby, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow and Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss joined forces at the panel event, hosted by Duncan Edwards, Chief Executive of BritishAmerican Business. The participants spoke up after more than a year of travel restrictions that have deeply impacted the global economy and trade and tourism between the two countries. They discussed the merits of having the US on the UK’s ‘green list’, which means travelers from the US would no longer need to self-isolate on arrival in the UK, as well as the benefits that would arise from the US lifting the 212F order to open up the transatlantic corridor for UK residents to enter the US. The US is the UK’s largest trading partner and UK businesses are losing £23 million each day that transatlantic links remain closed.  In 2019, 900,000 tons of cargo also travelled between the two countries. In the US, 63.5 percent of adults have received at least one dose, while about half of adults – nearly 139 million people – have been fully vaccinated. In the UK, almost 68 million have received shots – more than 75% of the country’s adult population. Studies show that the vaccine programs in both countries are successfully reducing transmission and the severity of infection, plus fighting variants, and case counts in both countries continue to decline rapidly.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 5, 2021

Russia’s United Aviation Corporation to deliver 33 Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger aircraft in 2021

About 200 SSJ100 aircraft are already flying2021 plans include the delivery of about 33 Superjet aircraft to Russian airlinesLarge part of the deliveries would go to Aurora airline Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov announced that Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) plans to deliver over 30 SSJ100 (Sukhoi Superjet 100) passenger aircraft by the end of 2021. “About 200 aircraft of this brand are already flying and this year’s plans include the delivery of about 33 Superjet aircraft to our airlines,” Deputy Prime Minister said. The official added that large part of the deliveries would go to Aurora, a Russian Far East airline headquartered in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Region. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 or SSJ100 is a regional jet designed by Russian aircraft company Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, a division of the United Aircraft Corporation (now: Regional Aircraft – Branch of the Irkut Corporation). With development starting in 2000, it made its maiden flight on 19 May 2008 and its first commercial flight on 21 April 2011 with Armavia. The 46–49 ton (101,000–108,000 lb) MTOW plane typically seats 87 to 98 passengers and is powered by two 77–79 kN (17,000–18,000 lbf) PowerJet SaM146 turbofans developed by a joint venture between French Safran and Russian NPO Saturn. By May 2018, 127 were in service and by September the fleet had logged 300,000 revenue flights and 460,000 hours. The plane has recorded three hull loss accidents and 86 deaths as of May 2019.
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Juergen T Steinmetz·
Aviation Feature
·June 4, 2021

Travel to Hawaii without restrictions for visitors

Currently more than 50 percent of all people residing in Hawaii are fully vaccinated.Starting June 15, interisland travel will be available without restrictions.Hawaii will be moving to restriction-free travel for everyone. Hawaii Governor David Ige today announced the “Safe Travel” initiative restricting travel to the Aloha State will be eliminated, once 70 percent of every resident in Hawaii is fully vaccinated. At this time, more than 50 percent are vaccinated in Hawaii. Once 70 percent of all residents are vaccinated, all mask-wearing requirements including the indoors will be lifted. Starting June 15, inter-island travel will be made available without restrictions. Once 55 percent of all residents in Hawaii are vaccinated, such vaccinated residents will be able to travel to the other US states and territories and return to Hawaii without any further testing. This is also expected to start on June 15, 2021. Once 60 percent of all residents in Hawaii are vaccinated, everyone, including tourists, that are fully vaccinated can travel to Hawaii without any additional testing. Once 70 percent of all residents in Hawaii are vaccinated, all travel restrictions to the state will be lifted, opening the Aloha State up again for travel and tourism as it was prior to the pandemic. Hawaii’s Governor announced many local restaurants and merchants will be giving special rates to vaccinated guests throughout the month of June. Governor Ige, however, warned such freedom may be restricted if the pandemic develops in an unexpected way. Hawaiian Airlines will donate 1 million miles to be awarded to a lucky resident getting vaccinated in the state. The lifting of restrictions only applies to US domestic travel.
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Harry Johnson·
Aviation Feature
·June 4, 2021

European Union officially closes its airspace to Belarusian airlines

European Council announces blanket ban on Belarusian airlinesEU members will be required to deny permission to land in, take off from or overfly their territories to any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriersEU ban comes in the wake of Ryanair flight hijacking European Union member states have officially imposed a blanket ban on all Belarusian air carriers from entering EU airspace. The complete ban comes in the wake of exiled opposition activist Roman Protasevich’s arrest by Belarus’ regime henchmen after a Ryanair flights carrying him was hijacked and forced to land in Minsk on May 23. The European Council announced a blanket ban decision today, following consultations between top EU diplomats. European Union member countries will “be required to deny permission to land in, take off from or overfly their territories to any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers.”  The ban also affects operators which sell seats on planes operated by another airline, and will come into force at midnight (22:00 GMT), the same day. The all-European ban comes two days after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) upgraded its ‘recommendation’ that carriers from the bloc avoid Belarus into a full-blown ban. The EASA issued a “Safety Directive” saying that no EU airlines should enter Belarusian airspace except in an emergency. The May 23 Ryanair plane hijacking has sent ongoing shockwaves through the international air travel industry. The aircraft, en route from Greece to Lithuania, was hijacked and forced to land in Minsk over a bogus bomb threat. Needless to say, no bomb was found on board, while the origins and timing of the ‘warning message’ clearly point at the ‘special operation’ conducted by Belarus KGB. Immediately upon forced landing at Minsk airport, Belarusian security agents boarded the plane and arrested Protasevich wanted by Lukashenko’s regime and his girlfriend, Russian citizen Sofia Sapega.
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