Aviation Travel News | Page 52 Of 187 | Airline | Airport News

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 5, 2021

Frustration with travel restrictions grows

67% of survey respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage-points from the June 2021 survey.64% of survey respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021).73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions (up 6 percentage points from June 2021). The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that air travelers are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions. A survey commissioned by IATA of 4,700 respondents in 11 markets in September demonstrated confidence that the risks of COVID-19 can be effectively managed and that the freedom to travel should be restored. 67% of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage-points from the June 2021 survey. 64% of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021). 73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions (up 6 percentage points from June 2021). “People are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions and even more have seen their quality of life suffer as a result. They don’t see the necessity of travel restrictions to control the virus. And they have missed too many family moments, personal development opportunities and business priorities. In short, they miss the freedom of flying and want it restored. The message they are sending to governments is: COVID-19 is not going to disappear, so we must establish a way to manage its risks while living and traveling normally,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Support grows for testing or vaccination to replace quarantine The biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures. 84% of respondents indicated that they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at their destination. A growing proportion of respondents support the removal of quarantine if: A person has tested negative for COVID-19 (73% in September compared to 67% in June) A person has been vaccinated (71% in September compared to 68% in June).

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Jamaica Confirms 50+ New Flights Weekly Between Canada and Jamaica

Jamaica’s Resilient Corridors, where most tourists vacation, are safe with relatively high vaccination rates and near zero infection rates.These meetings are being done to increase arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to foster further investment in the local tourism sector.Tourism is critically important to Jamaica’s economic recovery. The flights will be operated by Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, Swoop and Transat with nonstop services from the Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, St. John, Ottawa, Moncton and Halifax. Bartlett noted that the Canadian market currently has, “forward bookings hovering around 65% of 2019 levels and airlift for the winter season at around 82% of 2019 levels with around 260,000 seats locked in. This is positive news as Canada has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 related travel restrictions, which for several months literally shut down international travel. Now with more than 80% of eligible Canadians over the age of 12 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and a relative easing of international travel restrictions, we are cautiously optimistic. They are also excited by the fact that Jamaica’s Resilient Corridors, where most tourists vacation, are safe with relatively high vaccination rates and near zero infection rates.” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (2nd R) is seen here with from L – R: Dan Hamilton, Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) District Sales Manager, Canada; Donovan White, Director of Tourism; Angella Bennett, JTB’s Regional Director, Canada and Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist, Ministry of Tourism in Toronto, Canada on Friday, October 1, 2021. Bartlett was joined in the series of engagements with travel industry leaders in Toronto, Canada by the Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch; Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry, Delano Seiveright and JTB’s Regional Director for Canada, Angella Bennett. The high-level engagements follow similar meetings with leaders of major Airlines, Cruise Lines, and Investors, across Jamaica’s largest source market, the United States. This is being done to increase arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to foster further investment in the local tourism sector. As is the case for everyone over the age of 12 traveling to Jamaica, Canadians must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. Meanwhile, in noting the critical importance of tourism to Jamaica’s economic recovery, Bartlett underscored that, “the industry plays a pivotal role in Jamaica’s post-pandemic recovery and for good reason. There is no better industry to drive the inclusive, shrewd and sustainable economic growth needed to move the country forward. There is no better industry to increase revenue, restore jobs and generate new opportunities in communities across Jamaica.” Mr. Seiveright went on to summarize some of the challenges faced. He highlighted that: “The engagements across the United States and Canada brought to the fore a range of issues that Minister Bartlett will be troubleshooting with his Ministerial colleagues so as to mitigate obstacles to accelerated and sustained growth in the coming weeks and months. Among the issues on Jamaica’s end are the need to significantly step-up vaccination efforts, sort through public health logistics for cruise lines and other improvements to assure seamlessness for our key partners. Beyond that there are some obstacles and difficulties that are completely outside our control including Canada’s very stringent COVID-19 travel rules, which include the need for a PCR test in order to enter the country and logistics and itinerary challenges for Cruise lines.” #rebuildingtravel

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Lufthansa adds four new Airbus A350-900 jets to fleet

Lufthansa Group signs easing contracts for four additional Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft.Aircraft make major contribution to even greater sustainability through 30 percent fuel and CO2 savings.Lufthansa Group plans deployment of new Airbus A350-900 aircraft from first half of 2022. The Lufthansa Group is accelerating the modernization of its long-haul fleet. The Group signed leases for four state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900 aircraft with the lessors Avolon, SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd. and Goshawk. As a result, the Group’s A350 fleet will grow to 21 aircraft at the beginning of 2022. The Airbus’ A350-900 are scheduled to enter service with Lufthansa’s core brand from the first half of 2022, strengthening the five-star airline’s premium offering. Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: “The Airbus A350 is one of the most modern aircraft of our time. Extremely fuel-efficient, very quiet and much more economical than its predecessors. Our customers appreciate not only the sustainability but also the premium flight experience with this aircraft. The lease agreements allow us to remain flexible in fleet planning and make the most of exceptional market opportunities.” The twin-engine Airbus A350-900 aircraft consume only around 2.5 liters of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometers flown. That is around 30 percent less than their predecessors, with a correspondingly positive impact on the carbon footprint. The aircraft will primarily replace four-engine long-haul aircraft from the Airbus A340 family. By the middle of the decade, the proportion of four-engine aircraft in the long-haul fleet as a whole is expected to fall to below 15 percent. Before the crisis, the share was around 50 percent. Furthermore, the new, fuel-efficient aircraft will reduce operating costs by around 15 percent compared with the types they will replace. As part of its comprehensive, long-term fleet modernization program, the Lufthansa Group will take delivery of a total of further 177 short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft this decade.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

China Eastern Airlines to host 2022 IATA AGM in Shanghai

This will be the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to its home city of Shanghai.The decision to host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit was made by the 77th AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Boston.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, on 19-21 June 2022. This will be the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders. The AGM was previously held in Beijing in 2012 and in Shanghai in 2002. “We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th IATA AGM. China is a dynamic aviation market, with its domestic travel among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19. We are delighted to be able to bring the AGM to China again,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai. In the 20 years since the AGM was last held in Shanghai, the city has completely changed. We look forward to showcasing our vibrant city and warm Chinese hospitality,” said Liu Shaoyong, Chairman, China Eastern Airlines. The decision to host the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit was made by the 77th AGM and World Air Transport Summit in Boston. 

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Fast deployment of the air travel digital health certificates urged

Commercial aviation has begun the long, slow climb out of the travel trough created by the COVID-19 pandemic.Airline industry needs a secure, globally accepted digital tool that enables travelers to upload and carry with them their vaccine status, recent test results or COVID-19 recovery status.As travel picks up, airlines, security personnel and immigration and border control agents are likely to be faced with a bewildering array of testing and vaccine documents to process. Flight Safety Foundation today called on the aviation industry, regulators and health authorities around the world to accelerate development of standardized and internationally accepted digital health certificates and to have them widely deployed within the next 12 months. “Commercial aviation has begun the long, slow climb out of the travel trough created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even the most routine international trip is fraught with confusion and frustration about acceptable documentation, testing requirements and the specter of quarantines, never mind the risk of fake COVID test results or vaccine status fraud,” said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Hassan Shahidi. “To maximize passenger health safety we need a secure, globally accepted digital tool that enables travelers to upload and carry with them their vaccine status, recent test results or COVID-19 recovery status, and that will be recognized and accepted wherever they go,” he said. While dozens of airlines and countries have deployed digital health certificates and apps, the pace of adoption of these tools has been slow and uneven. The Foundation is concerned that as travel picks up, airlines, security personnel and immigration and border control agents are likely to be faced with a bewildering array of testing and vaccine documents to process. “The only way the industry is going to be able to move forward safely and in a manner that instills confidence in travelers, aviation industry personnel, regulators and health authorities is if all the stakeholders pull together and prioritize development and adoption of these tools,” said Capt. Conor Nolan, chair of the Foundation’s Board of Governors. “We need solutions that are scalable, interoperable and that ensure sensitive information remains secure.” Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

More Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Seville flights on Lufthansa now

Lufthansa adds 130 additional flights from Frankfurt and Munich to popular European holiday destinations.Lufthansa announces Further expansion of domestic flights from Frankfurt to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.Starting in October there will be up to eleven daily connections from Frankfurt to Berlin instead of nine daily connections. A high demand for flights to leisure destinations continues into the upcoming autumn holidays. After August, October shows the highest increase in bookings to sunny, European destinations. As a result, Lufthansa is expanding its flight program to popular sunny destinations even further. The most important European vacation destinations will now be served with more than 80 additional flights from Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airport and over 50 additional flights from Munich. Lufthansa destinations in Spain are particularly in high demand. Therefore, the airline is now offering additional flights to Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Seville. Portugal, Italy and Greece also remain particularly popular. Lufthansa is therefore offering additional flights to Faro and Madeira (both Portugal), as well as to Cagliari in Sardinia, Catania in Sicily, and Rhodes (Greece) during the fall vacation time period. When planning, air travelers should always observe the relevant and current entry and quarantine regulations. In addition, demand for air travel continues to grow strongly for business travel. Lufthansa will therefore continue to expand its domestic flight offer on routes that are particularly important for business travelers. Over the last few weeks, the airline had already expanded its services for October by 45 percent on routes from Frankfurt to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and from Munich to Berlin, Hamburg and Düsseldorf, compared to July. Now, additional connections are being offered at short notice. This means, among other things, starting in October there will be up to eleven daily connections from Frankfurt to Berlin instead of nine daily connections. Furthermore, there will be ten daily flights from Frankfurt to Hamburg instead of eight daily connections. The situation is similar for Munich: Instead of six daily connections, the flight schedule from “MUC” will include up to nine daily connections to Düsseldorf starting in October. Also, by expanding the flight schedule, more connections are now available throughout the day. Travelers who often want to fly in the morning or in the evening can now benefit from an improved flight schedule.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Airline industry losses to top $200 billion in 2020-2022

Net industry losses are expected to reduce to $11.6 billion in 2022 after a $51.8 billion loss in 2021 (worsened from the $47.7 billion loss estimated in April).Demand (measured in RPKs) is expected to stand at 40% of 2019 levels for 2021, rising to 61% in 2022.Total airline passenger numbers are expected to reach 2.3 billion in 2021. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its latest outlook for airline industry financial performance showing improved results amid the continuing COVID-19 crisis: Net industry losses are expected to reduce to $11.6 billion in 2022 after a $51.8 billion loss in 2021 (worsened from the $47.7 billion loss estimated in April). Net 2020 loss estimates have been revised to $137.7 billion (from $126.4 billion). Adding these up, total industry losses in 2020-2022 are expected to reach $201 billion. Demand (measured in RPKs) is expected to stand at 40% of 2019 levels for 2021, rising to 61% in 2022. Total passenger numbers are expected to reach 2.3 billion in 2021. This will grow to 3.4 billion in 2022 which is similar to 2014 levels and significantly below the 4.5 billion travelers of 2019. Robust demand for air cargo is expected to continue with 2021 demand at 7.9% above 2019 levels, growing to 13.2% above 2019 levels for 2022. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General “The magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis for airlines is enormous. Over the 2020-2022 period total losses could top $200 billion. To survive airlines have dramatically cut costs and adapted their business to whatever opportunities were available. That will see the $137.7 billion loss of 2020 reduce to $52 billion this year. And that will further reduce to $12 billion in 2022. We are well past the deepest point of the crisis. While serious issues remain, the path to recovery is coming into view. Aviation is demonstrating its resilience yet again,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. The air cargo business is performing well, and domestic travel will near pre-crisis levels in 2022. The challenge is international markets which remain severely depressed as government-imposed restrictions continue. “People have not lost their desire to travel as we see in solid domestic market resilience. But they are being held back from international travel by restrictions, uncertainty and complexity. More governments are seeing vaccinations as a way out of this crisis. We fully agree that vaccinated people should not have their freedom of movement limited in any way. In fact, the freedom to travel is a good incentive for more people to be vaccinated. Governments must work together and do everything in their power to ensure that vaccines are available to anybody who wants them,” said Walsh.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Poland prepares to pounce on its tourism sector

Poland is a year-round destination that offers an incredible array of experiences and unbeatable value compared with its European counterparts. With over 62 new hotel projects planned and 35 due to officially open in 2021, Poland is prioritizing on boosting its tourism growth in a post-pandemic era.Poland’s cities perfectly blend urban spaces with natural green spaces, and no city does this better than Warsaw. With the announcement that the international travel traffic light system is being simplified in England with a single red list from October fourth, holidays to Poland, one of Europe’s best destinations for young travelers, are back on. 20170728_FlyDubai_737_MAX_Delivery_Seattle Coming into effect from the 4th October, the announcement means people returning from Poland will no longer have to stay in hotel quarantine, should the country remain off the red list. PCR tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travelers returning to England, and under the new testing regime, people who have had both jobs won’t need to take a pre-departure test before leaving any country not on the red list. From the pristine Baltic coastline with its white sandy beaches, enchanting UNESCO-protected forests and the titanic Tatra mountains to a wealth of cities packed with history, green spaces and rich cultural heritage, Poland is a year-round destination that offers an incredible array of experiences and unbeatable value compared with its European counterparts. These factors make Poland the ideal destination for those young travelers that haven’t been able to experience quarantine-free travel for nearly two years. With over 62 new hotel projects planned and 35 due to officially open in 2021, bringing 7,422 new rooms to Poland, the country is prioritizing on boosting its tourism growth in a post-pandemic era. From urban to rural tourism, this July, UNESCO announced that Poland’s Ancient and Primeval beech Forests have been awarded World Heritage Status. The Ancient Forests of the Carparthians span several countries, and Poland’s section is the otherworldly Bieszczady National Park. Europe’s Best City Break Destination for Young Travelers Immerse yourself in Krakow, Poland’s cultural capital Krakow is emerging as one of Europe’s premier city break destinations, and for good reason. The city has a World Heritage pedigree, with the iconic Old Town, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz district all belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Krakow is also a former European Capital of Culture, with more than 100 festivals and world-renowned cultural events taking place here annually. You will also find a quarter of Poland’s entire collection of museum artifacts in the city. As if these prestigious accolades weren’t enough to entice you, the city has also been a European Capital of Gastronomic Culture. You will find a total of 26 restaurants holding a Michelin distinction here, and almost twice as many were honored by Gault & Millau. From high-quality produce to world-renowned chefs, Krakow’s foodie scene is rich and diverse.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

Flights from Sharm el-Sheikh to Moscow Domodedovo Airport on AlMasria Universal Airlines now

First flight of AlMasria Universal Airlines arrives from sunny Sharm el-Sheikh to Moscow Domodedovo Airport.AlMasria Universal Airlines operates two weekly flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesdays and Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively. Currently, Egyptian destination is one of the most popular among the passengers of Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Moscow Domodedovo Airport welcomed first flight of AlMasria Universal Airlines, which has arrived from sunny Sharm el-Sheikh. The Carrier operates two weekly flights to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesdays and Sundays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively. Arrival at Domodedovo airport at 09:20, departure at 10:20. Currently, Egyptian destination is one of the most popular among the passengers of the air harbor. During the first month after the resumption of flights to the resorts of Egypt, the passenger traffic exceeded 20 thousand people. AlMasria Universal Airlines is a private Egyptian airline. The Carrier operates regular and charter flights to 14 destinations, has 13 years of experience in the field of passenger service. Domodedovo, formally “Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov International Airport” is an international airport located in Domodedovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia, 42 kilometers south-southeast from the center of Moscow. Moscow Domodedovo Mikhail Lomonosov Airport is one of the largest air hubs in Russia. In 2020, the airport served 16.4 million passengers. Members of the world’s leading airline alliances including Star Alliance and oneworld have chosen Moscow Domodedovo Airport for their flights to Moscow. AlMasria Universal Airlines is an Egyptian private airline based in Egypt. The airline operates scheduled and charter services from Egypt. ‘AlMasria’ is derived from the Arabic word for ‘Egyptian’.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 4, 2021

IATA: Too much complexity in the way borders are re-opening

Travel restrictions bought governments time to respond in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.In the last months, several key markets that had previously been closed have taken steps to open to vaccinated travelers.Among markets that were previously closed, Europe was an early mover, followed by Canada, the UK, the US and Singapore. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for an end to wildly inconsistent COVID-19 travel restrictions that are stalling the recovery of air transport. It urged governments to implement simplified regimes to manage the risks of COVID-19 as borders re-open to international travel. “Travel restrictions bought governments time to respond in the early days of the pandemic. Nearly two years later, that rationale no longer exists. COVID-19 is present in all parts of the world. Travel restrictions are a complex and confusing web of rules with very little consistency among them. And there is little evidence to support ongoing border restrictions and the economic havoc they create,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Testing results for UK arriving passengers demonstrate that travelers are not adding risk to the local population. “Of the three million arrivals between February and August only 42,000 tested positive—or fewer than 250 a day. Meanwhile, the daily case count in the UK is 35,000 and the economy—apart from international travel—is wide open. People should be just as free to travel,” said Walsh. In the last months, several key markets that had previously been closed have taken steps to open to vaccinated travelers. Among markets that were previously closed, Europe was an early mover, followed by Canada, the UK, the US and Singapore. Even Australia, which has some of the most draconian restrictions, is taking steps to re-open its borders to vaccinated travelers by November. IATA supports these moves and encourages all governments to consider the following framework for re-opening borders: Vaccines should be made available to all as quickly as possible.Vaccinated travelers should not face any barriers to travel.Testing should enable those without access to vaccines to travel without quarantine.Antigen tests are the key to cost-effective and convenient testing regimes.Governments should pay for testing, so it does not become an economic barrier to travel.

Juergen T Steinmetz·

Aviation Feature

·October 3, 2021

Wizz Air to launch 8 new flight routes to Jordan

Wizz Air to launch Eight new routes into the Kingdom of Jordan.The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez, announced during a press conference held on Sunday, October 3rd, 2021, the conclusion of a new agreement between the Kingdom and the international low-cost airline Wizz Air, during which the airline plans to operate eight new routes into and from Jordan.The inauguration of the agreement came in the presence of the Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Abed AlRazzaq Arabiyat, the representative of Wizz Air Group in the press conference, Mr. Owain Jones, and H.E. Eng. Nayef Ahmad Bakheet. The Chairman of ADC Board The Chief of Commissioners of ASEZA Board at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and a number of media representatives. The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Nayef Hmeidi Al-Fayez said during the press conference: “We are pleased to launch the agreement with the international low-cost carrier Wizz Air, confident that the airline will have a great impact on increasing the number of tourists coming into the Kingdom in the upcoming period.” Al-Fayez noted that before the pandemic, low-cost flights coming in and out of the country gave new impetus to Jordanian tourism sector, which enabled the country to achieve a great leap, allowing the Kingdom to win its bet on the sector and seize its share of a highly competitive market in the Middle East region. Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, Dr. Abed Alrazzaq Arabiyat, affirmed the importance of launching this agreement with Europe’s fastest-growing airline, Wizz Air. Arabiyat added that this achievement came as a result of the continuous efforts made over the past few years, as it is expected that the Wizz Air operations into the Kingdom will positively affect the tourism sector and also increase the number of tourists, noting that the airline will carry tourists of various European and Middle Eastern nationalities into the Kingdom. Arabiyat gave a detailed explanation during the conference on the importance of this agreement, indicating that the agreement will include the launch of many marketing campaigns through all the airline’s highly established platforms including the website in addition to the different Social Media platforms, Arabiyat also noted that the expected number of tourists entering the Kingdom during the first year of operation will be around 167,000 tourists. Regarding the entry into force of the agreement, Arabiyat said that the first landing of Wizz Air into the Kingdom is scheduled on the 15th of December 2021. Speaking at the press conference Owain Jones Chief Supply Chain and Legal Officer of Wizz Air Group said: “I am delighted to announce the start of our operations in the Kingdom. I am convinced that the today announced connections will support the ramp up of the tourism industry by offering low fare and high quality flights for passengers. Flying the very latest aircraft technology has always been a cornerstone of WIZZ’s business, with the benefits of lower fuel consumption and lower noise delivering benefits for our customers and the environment. Our brand new aircraft as well as our enhanced protective measures will ensure the best possible sanitary conditions for travellers while operating with the lowest environmental footprint. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board with great service and a smile.” Arabiyat indicated that the eight different destinations will be launched by Wizzair airline, including four (year-round) routes coming into Amman through the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), which are, Budapest – HungaryRome – ItalyMilan – ItalyVienna – Austria In addition to Four seasonal routes to Aqaba, landing at King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) Budapest – HungaryBucharest – RomaniaVienna – AustriaRome – Italy Regarding the booking method of seats onboard Wizz Air’s flights, Arabiyat added that bookings can be made through the company’s website (wizzair.com) or its app. Arabiyat said that The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board’s main goal is to work on the government’s priority program for 2021-2023 that aims to attract tourists through supporting low-cost airlines in addition to Charter flights. Arabiyat also indicated that the sector had previously declined due to the restrictions imposed on air travel due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which resulted in the loss of Millions of Dollars due to the lack of tourists coming into the country, noting that the Kingdom is going through a new stage during which (JTB) seeks to increase the number of tourists entering the Kingdom, in addition to increasing the rate of tourists overnight stay and tourism receipts, hoping to achieve the desired goals set by restoring the numbers achieved pre-pandemic. Arabiyat also confirmed that the Ministry and the Tourism Board are working on developing, promoting and marketing the Jordanian tourism product in an optimal manner. About Wizz Air Wizz Air, the fastest growing European low-cost airline, operates a fleet of 140 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. A team of dedicated aviation professionals delivers superior service and very low fares, making Wizz Air the preferred choice of 10.2 million passengers in the financial year ending 31 March 2021. Wizz Air is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker WIZZ. The company was recently named one of the world’s top ten safest airlines by airlineratings.com, the world’s only safety and product rating agency, and 2020 Airline of the Year by ATW, the most coveted honour an airline or individual can receive, and a most sustainable company in the airline industry in 2021 by World Finance Magazine.

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·October 2, 2021

Condor Airlines Resumes its Flight to Paradise Islands of Seychelles

Condor’s first flight of the season to the Seychelles islands carried 164 passengers onboard.The passengers each received as part of a warm creole welcome a souvenir from the Tourism Department and were entertained with live traditional music.The German market is one of the best performing source markets for Seychelles. Resuming its non-stop flights from Frankfurt, Condor’s first flight of the season to Seychelles carried 164 passengers who received as part of a warm creole welcome a souvenir from the Tourism Department and were entertained with live traditional music. Present for the arrival of the aircraft and to greet the 164 passengers as they disembarked, the Department of Tourism’s Director General for Destination Marketing, Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, stated that with the resumption of its services, Condor joins other airlines who are contributing to the recovery of the tourism industry and the economy of the islands. “With the resumption of its services, Condor joins 12 other airlines. It definitely gives us great pleasure to see another airline partner back on our shores. A direct flight from a European city is always an added value for the destination. This is a great step in our recovery especially as the German market is one of the best performing source markets for Seychelles. The resumption of the flights comes at a right time as well as the German government eases travel requirements for German nationals and residents travelling to Seychelles,” Mrs. Willemin said. Mr. Ralf Teckentrup, Chief Executive Officer of Condor, expressing his confidence in the destination, said, “The Seychelles in the Indian Ocean belongs to the Condor flight schedule and is a popular destination with our guests. The archipelago delights with unique beaches, coral reefs and rainforests and we are very much looking forward to flying our guests on holiday after such a long period of wanderlust. We have been working very successfully with the Tourism Seychelles for a long time to enable our guests to enjoy their dream holiday.” Tourism Seychelles will be working with airline, travel industry partners, media and as well as stepping up its consumer campaigns to win back visitors from its key source markets. “Our efforts are now concentrated on getting back our visitors from Germany and neighboring countries. With the arrival of Condor, we are eagerly anticipating a boost in visitor arrival numbers,” said Mrs. Willemin. Germany was the leading source market for Seychelles in 2019, when the destination recorded 72,509 visitor arrivals from Germany, almost a quarter of whom travelled on Condor. 8,080 visitors have visited Seychelles in the first nine months of 2021.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 2, 2021

Aeromexico files its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization

Aeromexico files the Joint Plan of Reorganization, a disclosure statement to the Plan and a motion to approve solicitation procedures with respect to the Plan.Aeromexico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, its voluntary financioal restructuring through Chapter 11.Aeromexico will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity and protect and preserve its operations and assets. Grupo Aeroméxico, S.A.B. de C.V. informed that it filed, together with its subsidiaries that are debtors in the Company’s Chapter 11 voluntary financial restructuring process, the Joint Plan of Reorganization, a disclosure statement related to the Plan and a motion to approve solicitation procedures with respect to the Plan. Aeroméxico intends to file one or more supplements to the Plan on the schedule set forth in the Plan or as otherwise ordered by the Court. A hearing to approve the Disclosure Statement is expected to be held on or about October 21, 2021. Upon entry of an order approving the Disclosure Statement, the Company intends to begin the process to solicit votes on the Plan. The filing of the Plan is a key milestone on Aeroméxico’s path to emergence from its Chapter 11 process, and the Company looks forward to continue to engage with its stakeholders to finalize the Plan on a consensual basis. Aeroméxico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, its voluntary financial restructuring through Chapter 11, while continuing to operate and offer services to its customers and contracting from its suppliers the goods and services required for operations. Aeroméxico will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, protect and preserve its operations and assets, and implement necessary adjustments to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Aerovías de México, S.A. de C.V. operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico, based in Mexico City. It operates scheduled services to more than 90 destinations in Mexico; North, South and Central America; the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 1, 2021

India makes COVID-19 tests, quarantine mandatory for all Brits

India called Britain’s decision not to recognize Indian version of AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, “discriminatory”.Vaccinated UK nationals arriving in India will be subjected to a 10-day mandatory quarantine.Starting on Monday, all UK arrivals will have to present a negative COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure. In apparent tit-for-tat, India’s Foreign Ministry officials today announced that all UK nationals, including fully vaccinated ones, will be subjected to a 10-day mandatory quarantine upon their arrival in India. The new requirement seems to be introduced in response to similar measures imposed on Indian nationals by the UK. The new policy announcement comes after India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Britain’s decision not to recognize the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield, “discriminatory”. The minister had warned of reciprocal measures should London fail to reconsider. Starting on Monday, all British arrivals – irrespective of their vaccination status – will have to present a negative COVID-19 test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure, undergo a second test on arrival and a third eight days later. A mandatory quarantine period of 10 days will also be enforced, according to a foreign ministry official. The British government announced last month it would allow fully vaccinated travelers to skip quarantine and take fewer tests, but only recognized vaccination under the American, British or European programs or those authorized by an approved health body. More than a dozen countries in Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East made it to the list, but India’s program was not included. Also, no African program was accepted. The vast majority of Indians have been vaccinated with Indian-made AstraZeneca shots, which has been produced by Serum Institute of India. Others have received COVAXIN, a vaccine produced by an Indian company that is not used in Britain. Britain’s refusal to accept certain vaccine certificates has led to concerns that it could exacerbate vaccine hesitancy. Countries that received hundreds of thousands of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the British government were left wondering why their vaccination programs were not good enough in the eyes of its provider.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 1, 2021

Helicopter and plane collide midair in Arizona killing 2 people

Midair collision between a helicopter and a fixed wing plane happened near McQueen and Queen Creek in Arizona.The plane was able to land safely but the helicopter crashed and caught fire, killing 2 people on board.The tragic crash came three months after another smaller plane accident at Chandler Municipal Airport. A helicopter and a small plane collided midair near Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona. The downed chopper near Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona The airplane managed to land safely, but the helicopter crashed and burst in flames. Both occupants of a helicopter were killed, while plane passengers walked away unhurt. The midair collision took place on Friday morning near Chandler Municipal Airport, located in a suburb of Arizona‘s state capital city of Phoenix. Chandler Fire Battalion Chief Keith Welch confirmed that two people aboard the helicopter were killed, while the passengers of the plane, a light propeller-driven aircraft, did not require medical attention. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The circumstances of the crash are unclear, and Chandler police have put out a call for witnesses and video footage of the incident. Images shared by local reporters in the immediate aftermath show the plane at a standstill just off a runway, apparently fully intact. Separate footage shows the remains of the helicopter on what appears to be a patch of waste ground, partially covered with a tarpaulin by emergency workers. The tragic crash came three months after a smaller plane accident at Chandler Municipal Airport. Back in July, a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza B36 with four people on board crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff, sending one occupant to the hospital and injuring the three others.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 1, 2021

Mauritius ends quarantine for tourists jabbed with approved vaccines

Mauritius completely closed its borders to foreign tourists at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.Mauritius reopened its borders on July 15, 2021, but all new foreign arrivals have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.Russian-made Sputnik V is one of eight vaccines against coronavirus approved on the island. Mauritius’ authorities announced that beginning on October 1, all restrictions on the movement of tourists inoculated with one of eight vaccines against coronavirus approved on the island have been lifted. The borders of Mauritius were completely shut to foreign tourists with the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. They were reopened on July 15, 2021 but, the new arrivals had to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Currently, the conditions of stay for foreign tourists inoculated with vaccines approved by the local authorities have been relaxed. According to the representative of the Russian Embassy in Mauritius, Russian-made Sputnik V is among eight COVID-19 vaccines approved on the island. Russian tourists inoculated with Sputnik V arriving in Mauritius won’t have to observe a quarantine starting today and can move freely about the territory of this island nation, said the diplomat. “Earlier, they had to spend a two-week quarantine on the premises of hotels,” said, adding that it is expected that direct flights between Mauritius and Russian cities will resume in the near future. Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine is widely used in Mauritius. Its first batch arrived in the country on June 30. Beginning on July 12, Sputnik V has been used in Mauritius’ national vaccination drive along with other shots. Mauritius is one of the leaders in Africa in terms of the number of those inoculated against coronavirus. Some 1.63 million doses of shots against COVID-19 have been used on the island, 788,000 people or 62.2% of the population have completed the full vaccination course. The pandemic wreaked major havoc on the nation’s economy. During the last financial year, its GDP sank 15%. Every fourth job in Mauritius is related to tourism, with its share of the GDP reaching 24%. The country’s government is aiming to attract about 650,000 tourists to Mauritius in the next 12 months.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 1, 2021

Flights from Budapest to Dubai on flydubai now

Budapest Airport marks flydubai’s inaugural connection to Dubai from Hungary’s capital city.The four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East will operate year-round.The arrival of flydubai significantly expands the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Dubai’s hub. Celebrating the arrival of its latest new airline partner, Budapest Airport has marked flydubai’s inaugural connection to Dubai from Hungary’s capital city. The four-times weekly service to the metropolis of the Middle East will operate year-round and significantly expand the Hungarian gateway’s connectivity to Dubai’s hub. At the launch, Balázs Bogáts, Head of Airline Development, Budapest Airport commented: “Serving both business travelers and tourists alike, the arrival of flydubai on our carrier rollcall will boost our capacity to a hugely important international hub. Code-sharing with Emirates on this route opens up more than 190 destinations to our passengers including Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US.” Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said: “We have seen growing demand for travel this summer and with the start of flights to Budapest, we are expanding our network over the winter schedule to offer our passengers more choice for travel. Our newly launched operations to Hungary will also strengthen links with the UAE.” Flydubai, legally Dubai Aviation Corporation, is a government-owned budget airline in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with its head office and flight operations in Terminal 2 of Dubai International Airport. The airline operates a total of 95 destinations, serving the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe from Dubai. Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and still commonly called just Ferihegy, is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and by far the largest of the country’s four commercial airports. Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, the one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·October 1, 2021

Australia will reopen its border to fully vaccinated travelers

The relaxation of the restrictions will allow citizens to travel abroad when their state’s vaccination rate hits 80% Currently, people are only able to travel out of Australia for exceptional reasons, including necessary work or to visit a family member who is terminally ill.Return to Australia is currently restricted by strict arrival quotas and those returning to the country have to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine. Australia initially closed its border back in March of 2020, banning its citizens and residents from traveling abroad without official permission and leaving thousands of Australians stuck abroad. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison “It’s time to give Australians their lives back,” the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today, announcing that Australia would begin to ease the severe border restrictions it had enacted early in the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing vaccinated citizens to travel internationally. The easing of the COVID-19 border restrictions will allow Australian citizens to travel abroad when their state’s vaccination rate hits 80% – a goal set nationwide to ensure that an outbreak of the virus would not overwhelm medical facilities. Currently, New South Wales is the closest state to that threshold, being set to reach it in a matter of weeks, while Victoria is expected to be the second to meet the requirement. At this time, people are only able to travel out of Australia for exceptional reasons, including necessary work or to visit a family member who is terminally ill. Return to Australia is restricted by strict arrival quotas and those returning to the country have to undergo a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine. Morrison also said that, as well as making it easier for vaccinated people to travel, the hotel quarantine measure – which costs AUS $3,000 ($2,100) – will be wound down and replaced with a seven-day at-home isolation. The relaxation will not immediately apply to foreign inbound individuals, although the government stated that it was working to ensure the country could soon be “welcoming tourists back to our shores.” Australia’s partial relaxation of its travel restrictions comes despite its two biggest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, and its capital, Canberra, remaining in lockdown due to a surge in cases that occurred in those urban hubs earlier in the year.

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·September 30, 2021

Tourism Seychelles and Qatar Airways Share New Developments with Swiss Media

Two events aimed to keep partners abreast of developments in Seychelles.Topics included safety measures, new attractions, as well as the latest news from Qatar Airways and flight schedules to Seychelles.The meetings reinforced the nation’s presence on the market and reassured partners that connectivity to its small islands is available. The in-person event, held at the Savoy Baur en Ville in Zurich, featured a press conference held over breakfast, and a lunch meeting attracting 12 media partners and 15 product managers. Led by Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, Director General of Marketing for Tourism Seychelles, and Mr. Antonio Panariello, Commercial Manager Switzerland at Qatar Airways, the two events aimed to keep their partners abreast of developments in Seychelles, safety measures, new attractions, as well as the latest news from Qatar Airways and flight schedules to Seychelles. Speaking from Zurich, Mrs Willemin confirmed that Tourism Seychelles is gearing up for the next phase of recovery for the destination, which last weekend recorded its 100,000th visitor for the year. “As life slowly returns to normal, vaccination is peaking in Europe, and around the world restrictions on movement and travel are being eased. Airlines are resuming their services and with Seychelles’ own population enjoying one of the highest rates of vaccination in the world, Tourism Seychelles is also now able to resume the promotional activities on its calendar. Numerous activities are happening in all our markets. Today’s event in Switzerland, which we held in collaboration with Qatar Airways, is to reinforce our presence on the market and reassure our partners that connectivity to our small islands is available,” Mrs. Willemin said. Antonio Panariello, Commercial Manager Switzerland at Qatar Airways said: “It was a great pleasure to be here today and host this event together with the Tourism Seychelles. The links between Qatar Airways and the Seychelles are strong and important. This destination is of great interest to the Swiss market, and we are proud we can promote this destination together with Tourism Seychelles.” On a positive note, the media and partners in attendance at both events commended the Seychelles government and the industry at large for their consistency and excellent communication skills during the pandemic. The event follows a recent press trip in Seychelles sponsored by the Qatar Airways Switzerland office and which was supported by hotel partners Constance Lemuria Resort, STORY Seychelles, Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa and Kempinski Seychelles Resort. Seychelles completed the reopening of its borders to foreign visitors on March 25, 2021. Switzerland has to date this year contributed a 3% market share of total visitor arrivals. #rebuildingtravel

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 30, 2021

Hawaii Tourism: Visitor spending is down in Aloha State

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 30, 2021

Sharm El-Sheikh, Luxor and Cairo flights on Qatar Airways now

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 30, 2021

Official response to COVID-19 Delta hurts air travel recovery

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 30, 2021

Flights from Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia on Qatar Airways now

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

Alaska Airlines rolls out San Francisco Giants-themed Airbus A321

Alaska Airlines is the official airline partner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.This is the second Alaska Airlines aircraft with livery dedicated to the San Francisco Giants.The aircraft with tail number N855VA will fly throughout Alaska Airlines’ network now through 2022. Alaska Airlines, the official airline partner of the San Francisco Giants, is taking postseason celebrations to new heights with the debut of its new Giants-themed livery. Just in time for the Giants’ upcoming playoff run, the Airbus 321 aircraft was introduced today to fans departing San Francisco (SFO) for Seattle (SEA). Alaska Airlines unveils new San Francisco Giants livery with celebration at San Francisco International Airport featuring Giants mascot “Lou Seal” “Few things are as exciting as seeing this big, colorful giant fly across our beautiful state as we go into our playoff run. My hope is that this aircraft gives Giants fans a way to feel part of the team, every time they travel,” said San Francisco Giants CEO and President Larry Baer. “Partnerships like we have with Alaska Airlines offer critical support of local community, youth and education programs like the Willie Mays Scholarship Fund and the Giants Community Fund, which in turn is helping change the lives of our youths.” This is the second livery dedicated to the San Francisco Giants. The plane, tail number N855VA, will fly throughout Alaska’s network now through 2022. The new Giants-themed livery is one of many ways guests can celebrate the team’s playoff run. Alaska Airlines just announced that fans who wear Giants’ apparel can board early for all San Francisco departing flights for the duration of the team’s postseason play. Alaska employees dedicated the plane along with a $100,000 check to the Willie Mays Scholarship Fund, in honor of the ‘Say Hey Kid’s’ 90th birthday. The fund assists in making college aspirations come true for San Francisco’s Black youth and empowers them to pursue their goals to achieve success in high school, college and beyond. Terminal 2 flyers were also treated to a surprise celebration complete with DJ entertainment on-site, prizes, giveaways and a visit from the Giants’ mascot “Lou Seal” joining in on the festivities. “Alaska has been a proud partner of the Giants since 2017,” said Natalie Bowman, Alaska Airlines managing director of brand and marketing communications. “We’re thrilled to display our Giants pride from 35,000 feet with this unique looking plane, and we wish the team the best of luck as they hopefully make a deep run in the postseason.” The Giants-inspired wrapped aircraft and early boarding are among many ways Alaska is deepening its presence in the Bay, its third largest hub.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

More flights to Bonaire from USA on Delta, American and United now

Both Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are seeing a positive trend and booking demand for the island.United Airlines will resume flights to Bonaire from Houston and Newark in November.The Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire welcomes the return of commercial passenger flights from the US. Following the successful relaunching of flights from the US in June to the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) is announcing the flight schedules from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines for the upcoming months. As part of our Tourism Recovery Plan, Tourism Corporation Bonaire will continue with these efforts to keep seeing a boost in visitors to the island, and of the local economy. Both Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines are seeing a positive trend, and booking demand for the island. So, this is a great opportunity to increase the number of flights to Bonaire. Currently through November 20, 2021; Delta has a weekly Saturday flight scheduled to Bonaire from Atlanta, Georgia, and this weekly flight will increase to two weekly flights on Wednesday and Saturday between November 24, 2021 -December 15, 2021. Then starting on December 18, 2021 to January 4, 2022 there will be daily flights except Tuesdays. From January 5, 2022 to April 9, 2022 there is a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday flight scheduled. American Airlines current flight schedule through November 6, 2021 is two weekly flights on Wednesday and Saturday from Miami, Florida. Starting November, 2021 through January 3, 2022 a Monday flight will be added to the itinerary. Also, there will be daily flights to Bonaire during the holiday season, from December 16, 2021 to January 3, 2022. On November 6, 2021 United Airlines is resuming its flights from both Houston, Texas with a weekly flight to Bonaire on Saturday with return flight on Sunday, and the weekly Saturday flight from Newark, New Jersey.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

Airbus delivers first new A220 jet to Air France

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

IATA: Global air cargo demand growth outpaces capacity

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

United Airlines to fire 593 employees for refusing vaccination

United Airlines’ 67,000 US employees were ordered to provide proof of vaccination by last Monday.United Airlines however, will allow employees to keep their jobs if they have been vaccinated but failed to submit proof by the deadline.Unvaccinated workers have several weeks under the union’s current dismissal rules to undergo inoculation if they wish to stay. United Airlines ordered its 67,000 US employees to provide proof of vaccination by last Monday. Now 593 company workers are facing discharge after failing to comply with the airlines’ COVID-19 vaccination policy. “This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority,” the Chicago-based airline’s chief executive Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said in a memo to employees. While the majority of United Airlines‘ employees complied with company’s policy, 593 workers refused to be jabbed and failed to apply for the exemption on religious or medical grounds which the firm set as mandatory in the event of failing to vaccinate. “Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United’s US-based employees was simple – to keep our people safe – and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work,” United said in the memo. United Airlines however, will allow the staff to keep their jobs if they have been vaccinated but failed to submit proof by the deadline, or if they will be jabbed before the formal decision on the dismissals comes through. This means unvaccinated workers have several weeks or even months under the union’s current dismissal rules to undergo inoculation if they wish to stay. United Airlines announced earlier this month it would put employees who are exempt from the vaccine mandate on unpaid or medical leave from October 2. The plan was later scrapped after a lawsuit filed by six employees appealed the decision. Some 2,000 employees have so far requested the exemption. United Airlines was the first US carrier to impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on its staff in early August. Other US airlines have been uneager to follow suit, but moved to end pay protections for unvaccinated employees who test positive for the virus. Georgia-based Delta Air Lines slapped a $200 monthly health insurance surcharge on staff who haven’t been vaccinated. Like many other airlines, United was hit hard by pandemic-induced travel restrictions, having to furlough some 36,000 employees at the height of the crisis last year.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 29, 2021

South African Airways and Emirates partner on South Africa-Dubai flights

Emirates and South African Airways have been working towards increasing alignment across products and services.The agreement includes SAA coded and Emirates-operated routes between South Africa and Dubai on a single ticket.Emirates will also place the SAA code on major trunk routes between South Africa and Dubai. With South African Airways (SAA) resuming operations, Emirates has been working closely with SAA to reactivate its long-standing partnership which aims to improve the customer experience and provide more value to travelers when flying on both carriers. The move also helps cement SAA’s standing and position and will build growth momentum as the carrier initially restarts flights to six African destinations. Emirates and SAA have been working towards increasing alignment across products, services and reactivation of synergies between loyalty programs, and will be initially kicking off with a reciprocal commercial arrangement. The agreement includes SAA coded and Emirates-operated routes between South Africa and Dubai on a single ticket, enabling travelers to seamlessly check-in their bags to their final destinations from October 1. Emirates will also place the SAA code on major trunk routes between South Africa and Dubai. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline, remarked on the revival of the partnership: “The partnership between Emirates and South African Airways builds on our shared commitment to providing customers more schedule choices and increased connectivity across Africa and through our growing network. We value our nearly 25 years of successful partnership with SAA and we are working hard to take more positive steps forward to continue to grow our relationship and provide our customers with even more connectivity in the future.” SAA’s Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo says, “As SAA starts to rebuild, the long-standing partnership with Emirates is both valued and critical to our future growth plans. We share the same vision of seamless, efficient, and excellent customer service with connectivity to multiple destinations. We are confident this partnership will lead to the addition of more route and destination options, particularly across Africa as we both recognize the economic, trade and tourism potential the continent has and our key role as enablers.” In the coming months, plans are underway to expand cooperation and solidify the partnership even further on more domestic and regional points in Africa as South African Airways expands its operations, while Emirates will also reciprocally add more options for SAA customers to connect to select destinations within its network on one itinerary. The Emirates SAA partnership started in 1997, and over the last ten years more than a million passengers have flown across the joint network of both airlines, which grew to 110 destinations prior to the pandemic. With the restoration of the SAA partnership, Emirates’ footprint across South and southern Africa offers customers more options across the continent.

Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

Alitalia Workers are Working for Free

The tender could last several weeks, because the first binding offers must be submitted by October 4 at 2 pm, at the minimum price of 290 million euros (plus VAT).But no carrier seems interested in buying the brand at this stage.“The valuation is unrealistic,” said Alfredo Altavilla, President of ITA, the new airline, which is probably the company most interested in the brand of the old company. Base Price 290 Million To make an offer at this stage, it requires a down payment of 40 million euro. Only persons with an air transport license or AOC (Air Operator Certificate) and a net worth of at least 200 million can join the binding. If there are no offers equal to at least the base price, the commissioners will open a second round of binding offers. The call for tenders, named “invitation,” provides for a second phase if there are no suitable offers in the first phase. In this case, the commissioners “will carry out the second phase of the award with the request to all the admitted subjects to present binding offers also in reduction with respect to the offered price.” It was not said what the base price for the second round would be. The brand has a book value of 150 million in Alitalia’s financial statements. Therefore it is unlikely that it will fall below this figure. Third Round: Discretionary Choice of Commissioners If in the first as in the second phase there were more offers, it would next go to the raises, starting from the best offer, for an amount “not less than 10 million euros.” If the second round is also unsatisfactory, the procedure will be changed. “The extraordinary commissioners will then proceed with the sale of the brand without procedural constraints towards the economic operator they have identified,” said the announcement. For the third round, there would, therefore, be discretion of the commissioners. In this phase, ITA could enter, which aims to buy the brand but without fainting. “The brand will be made available to the successful bidder by December 31, 2021,” says the invitation published by the commissioners. Communication of the Commissioners For the 10,500 workers of Alitalia, there is, therefore, a long wait to get the balance of their salary for September. And it is not assured that in the end there is money. In an internal communication, the commissioners Gabriele Fava, Giuseppe Leogrande, and Daniele Santosuosso wrote to the employees: “As you know, our activities included in the aviation branch are expected to end on October 14, and, therefore, we are forced to manage the company’s finance consistently with this target, taking into account that the closure of sales on August 24 generated a substantial stop in revenues. “We are very sorry to have to inform you that the salaries of the current month will be adjusted at 50% with value on Monday, September 27, while the remaining 50% will be credited to you as soon as we have evidence of the outcome of the brand announcement, as required by the European Commission.” In fact, the law provides that the sums deriving from the sale of assets are used as a priority to support current costs, primarily salaries.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

American Airlines to codeshare with IndiGo on India flights

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

Southern Africa flights now with United Airlines and Airlink

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

New travel patterns: Soaring travel expenses and unvaccinated travelers

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

SAUDIA crowned the World’s Most Improved Airline in 2021

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

Juergen T Steinmetz·

Aviation Feature

·September 28, 2021

Wow! Better book your Lufthansa flight from Europe to the United States now

About a week after the planned end of U.S. travel restrictions, Lufthansa Groupairlines are experiencing a further boom for flights to the United States. On certaindays in the last week, flights across the Atlantic increased three-fold over theweek before. Demand in the last week on certain routes almost reached pre-crisislevels. Flights with SWISS from Zurich and Lufthansa from Frankfurt to New Yorkand from Frankfurt and Zurich to Miami had the highest bookings from both leisureand business travellers.In Premium Economy, Business and First Class more tickets to the USA were bought than in the same period in 2019. Lufthansa Group is meeting this boom in pent-up demand by launching additionalflights to the USA on short notice. Lufthansa and SWISS, for example, will be offering a combined total of three daily flights to Miami on short notice starting inNovember. There is very strong demand for flights to the USA for the coming December. Newbookings in the past week for this month were as high as they were for 2019 forthe same time period. Flights to New York – traditionally in high demand duringthe Christmas season – have already been bolstered with additional connections.The airlines of the Lufthansa Group are offering up to 55 weekly connections toNew York from their various European hubs in Austria, Belgium, Germany andSwitzerland in December. A further short-term expansion of services is currentlyunder consideration. Alone to New York and Chicago, Lufthansa Group airlines offer more daily connections from Europe in November than flights to the entire Asia-Pacific region.Lufthansa Group expects that the opening of the U.S. to vaccinated EU travelerswill be a signal for other countries and regions to make international air travel easier again and roll back travel restrictions. Additional flights also within GermanyLufthansa Group is also increasing German domestic flights to its European hubsas demand for U.S. flights continues to soar. For example, compared with July,Lufthansa is increasing its domestic German flights by 45 percent from starting inOctober. This means, among other things that as of October there will be nine instead of six daily flights from Frankfurt to Berlin. Flights from Frankfurt to Hamburg will increase from six to eight flights daily. The situation is similar for Munich:The current five daily connections to Berlin will be increased to seven starting inOctober; instead of six daily flights from Munich to Hamburg, there will be up to11 daily flights in the future. And also starting in October, Lufthansa will again operate hourly flights from Hamburg and Berlin to its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich in the morning and in the evening. With the flight schedule expansion, more connections are available throughout theday. This means business travelers who often want to fly in the morning or theevening will benefit from an improved flight schedule as will other travellers.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 27, 2021

Canadians want to travel abroad

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 27, 2021

Airlines about to get rich off your expiring flight credits

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 27, 2021

Canada to India flights on Air Canada now

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

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 27, 2021

Qatar Airways: Operating losses down, earnings up in 2020/21

2020/21 financial results reveal a decrease in operating losses compared to the previous financial year.An increase in EBITDA reflects the Group’s strength, resilience and commitment during the most challenging and extraordinary 12 months in its history.A combination of our Qatar Airways Cargo division and the Group’s commercial adaptability have been at the core of this recovery. Qatar Airways Group has today published its Annual Report for 2020/21, covering a challenging year with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causing extensive loss of traffic and revenues as part of a pattern seen across the global aviation industry. Despite the difficulties, Qatar Airways Group proves that rising to the challenge is nothing new for the airline and its subsidiaries, projecting the Group’s strength, resilience, and commitment. Qatar Airways Group reported a net loss of QAR14.9 billion (U.S.$4.1 billion), of which QAR8.4 billion (U.S.$2.3 billion) is due to a one-time impairment charge related to the grounding of the airline’s Airbus A380 and A330 fleets. Despite the difficulties posed by the ongoing pandemic, the Group’s operating results demonstrated its resilience during the crisis, with the reported operational loss at QAR1.1 billion (U.S.$288.3 million) 7 percent less compared to 2019/20. Furthermore, the Group achieved a significant improvement in EBITDA, which stood at QAR6 billion (U.S.$1.6 billion) compared to QAR5 billion (U.S.$1.4 billion) the previous year. A combination of our Qatar Airways Cargo division and the Group’s commercial adaptability have been at the core of this recovery. The flexibility and ingenuity of the Group’s commercial strategy played a pivotal role in significantly increasing its market share, enabling the business to expand its focus from its mission of ‘getting people home’ at the height of the pandemic, to playing an industry-leading role in rebuilding passenger confidence in the safety of air travel during the most critically-adverse market conditions in the history of commercial aviation. Whilst, the Group’s freight division, Qatar Airways Cargo, maintained its position as the world’s largest cargo carrier and grew its market share during 2020/21. During the pandemic’s peak, Cargo more than tripled its daily services, operating a record 183 flights in one day during the month of May 2020. Cargo has also overseen a 4.6 percent rise in freight tons handled over the previous fiscal year (2019/20), with 2,727,986 tons (chargeable weight) handled in 2020/21. This increase in freight handled, as well as a significant increase in cargo yield, also saw the carrier’s cargo revenues more than double. Despite enduring one of the most difficult years in the Group’s history, based on strong commercial fundamentals, the airline has rebuilt its network from a low of 33 destinations to more than 140 destinations today. The airline continued to identify new markets, launching nine new destinations – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Abuja, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; Brisbane, Australia; Harare, Zimbabwe; Luanda, Angola; Lusaka, Zambia; San Francisco and Seattle, U.S.

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·September 24, 2021

American Airlines Meets Surge in Flight Demand for Jamaica

American Airlines confirmed it will be utilizing Boeing 787 planes on several key routes to Jamaica starting November.Daily flights between Kingston and Miami increase from one to 3 by December and 3 nonstop flights per week added between Philadelphia and Kingston.Jamaica Tourism is holding meetings with travel industry leaders across Jamaica’s largest source markets, the United States and Canada. They also pointed out that Jamaica topped the Caribbean among consumers on their expansive American Airlines Vacations platform and confirmed that they will be utilizing their new, large, wide-bodied Boeing 787 planes, on several key routes to Jamaica starting November. Bartlett was joined by the Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry, Delano Seiveright and Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, Donnie Dawson. They, along with Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Chairman, John Lynch, are holding a series of meetings with a number of travel industry leaders across Jamaica’s largest source markets, the United States and Canada. This is being done to increase arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to foster further investment in the local tourism sector. Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, (3rd right) shares a moment with Kyle Mabry, Vice President, Global Sales, American Airlines (2nd right); Marvin Alvarez Ochoa, Caribbean Sales Manager, American Airlines (3rd left); Donovan White, Director of Tourism, (2nd left); Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist, Ministry of Tourism (left) and Donnie Dawson, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas (JTB). Bartlett led a meeting with senior management of American Airlines at their Headquarters in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, September 23, 2021. The welcome news comes despite slowing global travel demand triggered by the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. In welcome news to Kingston travelers, the airline noted that they will increase the number of daily flights between Kingston and Miami from the current position of one to three by December and also offer three nonstop flights per week between Philadelphia and Kingston. The airlines offer nonstop services between Jamaica and the US cities of Miami, Philadelphia, New York JFK, Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago and Boston. #rebuildingtravel

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 24, 2021

More Pegasus UK to Turkey flights now as Turkey reopens

As Turkey reopens, Pegasus Airlines offers more flights from London Stansted and Manchester.Pegasus flies to sunshine destinations including Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Izmir, Istanbul and more in Turkey and beyond.In light of the new announcement putting Turkey back into the amber list, Pegasus is seeing strong growth in its bookings to Turkey from England. As summer turns to autumn, fly away for some golden sunshine, sandy beaches and crowd-free sightseeing. Following the announcement that Turkey moved onto England’s amber list on 22 September 2021, leading low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has expanded its schedule and its number of direct flights from London Stansted and Manchester to Turkey and beyond. Pegasus has reinstated direct flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport from London Stansted, with twice-daily flights departing at 14:40 and 00:05 from London Stansted Airport, and returning from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 11:35 and 21:00. Flights are now on sale from £49.99 one-way. Five-times weekly direct flights are now also operating from Manchester Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, departing at 12:50, with returning flights departing from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 09:45 (local times apply). One-way fares from Manchester are on sale now from £74.99. Both routes offer excellent onward connections across Pegasus’ network of 36 destinations in Turkey, including to the popular coastal resorts oozing culture and relaxation, such as Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya – as well its 83 other international destinations. Pegasus Airlines’ expanded schedule includes five-times weekly direct flights from 21 October between London Stansted and Izmir, on Turkey’s Aegean coast, with flights departing at 12:55 from London Stansted, and returning flights departing Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport at 10:05 (local times apply). Direct flights to Izmir are on sale now from £59.99. Pegasus will also be launching direct flights between London Stansted and Antalya for the winter season on 20 October. Pegasus Airlines CCO, Güliz Özturk said: “In light of the new announcement putting Turkey back into the amber list, we’re seeing strong growth in our bookings to Turkey from England, and in response to this growing demand and desire for autumn travel, we’re delighted also to be expanding our flight program from London Stansted and Manchester to Turkey, with excellent connections across our network of 119 destinations in 44 countries – meaning travelers will have a lot more choice with our flexible booking options this autumn and winter. We’re planning to further increase the number of our flights from England later in the autumn if demand continues to rise, and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming our guests back on board as travel begins to reopen again.” As well as an extensive network in Turkey, Pegasus Airlines also flies to 119 destinations in 44 countries, including destinations such as Dubai, Tel Aviv and Sharm el-Sheikh, offering both low-cost direct flights and seamless connectivity on one of Europe’s youngest fleets. Pegasus’ highest priority is health and safety, with comprehensive Covid-19 safety measures in place including masks required on board. Pegasus was also one of the first low-cost airlines in the world to trial the IATA health-related certification Travel Pass app and the airline offers contactless boarding and bag-drop with Express Kiosks in Turkey.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 24, 2021

Flights to Iraq, Spain, Kenya, Slovakia resume from Russia now

Russia expands the list of countries, from which citizens will again be allowed to enter Russia by air.Iraq, Spain, Kenya, Slovakia have been added to the list of countries Russia resumes air service with.Russia’s suspension of flights to Tanzania due to the epidemiological situation in the country has been extended until October 1. In a cabinet’s decree released on the official portal of legal information, Russian government officials have announced the expansion of the list of countries, citizens of which will again be allowed to enter Russia via air travel. The list was expanded by four countries and now includes Iraq, Spain, Kenya and Slovakia. An attachment document to the government’s decree dated March 16, 2020, has been extended by the following positions: “Iraq, Spain, Kenya, Slovakia.” The decree temporarily limits the entry to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and persons without citizenship due to the coronavirus pandemic. The attachment document determines the list of countries, from which citizens may enter Russia through air entry points. The new document was signed on September 21, 2021. The anti-coronavirus crisis center reported earlier that starting that date Russia resumed air service with Iraq, Spain, Kenya and Slovakia, as well as lifted all restrictions on air service with Belarus. Earlier, Moscow reopened flights to 53 countries. Meanwhile, the suspension of flights to Tanzania due to the epidemiological situation in the country has been extended by October 1.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 24, 2021

Boeing to build a new type of drone in Australia

Boeing unveiled plans to build a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle military aircraft in Australia.Boeing’s new military drone uses artificial intelligence to operate in tandem with manned aircraft.Boeing has selected Toowoomba city in Queensland as the final assembly point for its unmanned Loyal Wingman planes. US aerospace giant Boeing has announced that it is planning to build its new unmanned Loyal Wingman aircraft in Australia. According to Boeing, it has selected Toowoomba city in Queensland state as the final assembly point for its new type of drone military aircraft. The first test flights were completed earlier this year. The announcement comes a week after the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced a new security alliance that will supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The deal was condemned by China and has heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. According to Boeing Defense Australia, the development of the new aircraft is going according to plan. New UAV uses artificial intelligence to operate in tandem with manned aircraft and was conceived, designed and developed in Australia. It’s the first military combat aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in half a century. Boeing Australia is currently developing six of the aircraft in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force. No orders have been confirmed yet, says Boeing, but the Australian government seems confident and happy about the Loyal Wingman’s capabilities. New drone will be built in a facility at Wellcamp Airport, which is owned by Wagner Corporation. Wagner chairman John Wagner said he hopes a defense and aerospace precinct at the airport will attract more companies in similar fields. The project is expected to create 300 jobs during construction of the facility and 70 ongoing operational and production positions. Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement was “fantastic news” and represents the first time Boeing has set up a facility of this type outside North America.

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Hawaiian Air Flight Attendant Released After Being Punched by Passenger

The flight departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport bound for Hilo on the Big Island.A passenger on the flight said the incident happened near the front of the aircraft cabin.Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson said, “a passenger assaulted one of our flight attendants, who was walking the aisle, in an unprovoked incident.” The flight departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport bound for Hilo on the Big Island. According to Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex Da Silva, “a passenger assaulted one of our flight attendants, who was walking the aisle, in an unprovoked incident.” Upon landing, State Sheriff Deputies boarded the aircraft where the 32-year-old male passenger was arrested for alleged third-degree assault against the male crew member and removed from the plane. A passenger on the flight, Bill Paris, said the incident happened near the front of the aircraft cabin. Hawaiian Air spokesperson Da Silva said, “Our flight attendant was evaluated and released from work to rest.” Hawaii US Senator Brian Schatz, who is Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, stated: “This attack is reprehensible. The assailant must be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There should be zero tolerance for this kind of despicable attack.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be investigating the incident. Unfortunately, Nothing New According to the FAA, flying during these COVID-19 days is especially stressful for crew members and passengers, especially over mask wearing. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that in the past year, there were 4,385 unruly passenger reports of which 3,199 were mask-related incidents. In another article today on eturbonews, it was reported that Federal Air Marshals are teaching flight attendants how to deal with the growing risk of passengers who become belligerent and violent, often over face-mask rules. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) instituted a face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States in February of this year, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that fully vaccinated travelers with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the US. However, CDC guidelines still require individuals to wear a face mask, socially distance, and wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.

Juergen T Steinmetz·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

A New COVID Reality when Flying in the U.S. is 20 years in Federal Prison for Hijacking or Mask Violations

Forget social distancing when boarding a domestic flight in the United StatesPassengers objecting to current regulations and scream out while on a flight may be procecuted under the Partriot Act facing 20 years in Federal PrisonUS flight attendance are being trained by the same people who train prison guards- not much of a de-escalation attempt. The friendly skies in the United States may not at all be as friendly as they were in the good old PAN AM times. Federal Air Marshals are teaching flight attendants how to deal with the growing risk of passengers who become belligerent and violent, often over face-mask rules. Restrictions that are commonly enforced on international flights including middle seats open, social distancing on airplanes, vaccination rules, are not usually in force for US domestic flights. Many domestic passengers in the United States refuse to follow the rules of mask-wearing due to political, religious, and some for health reasons. This is causing a great number of incidents, that are reported to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Flying in the age of COVID-19 is stressful for passengers and crew and resulted in 3199 mask-related incidents reported to FAA. Considering only 4385 unruly passenger reports were filed in a year, this is a very high number. To get passengers under control it’s been discussed in the house to punish passenger-related incidents of the same severity as highjacking. The Patriot Act was put in place in the United States in response to terror attacks, not in response to a complaining passenger. Violating the Patriot act comes with a 20 year of Federal Prison sentence. Paul Hudson, president of Flyers Rights has been an outspoken advocate for Passengers Rights and says enough is enough. Comment by FlyersRights.org to the House Aviation Subcommittee on the Increase in Number of Airline Incidents The recent increase in violent incidents in air travel is a serious issue in need of solutions. The subcommittee hearing would benefit from hearing the passenger’s perspective. FlyersRights.org submitted a rulemaking petition to the Department of Transportation in August 2020 to mandate mask-wearing in air travel. FlyersRights.org has been the leading organization advocating for Covid mitigation measures to make air travel safer. According to the latest FAA data, mask-related reported incidents account for 73% of all incidents reported by crewmembers in 2021. At the same time, non-mask-related incidents are down, and the FAA has more than doubled the number of its investigations. FlyersRights.org proposes the following solutions to reduce the number of mask-related disturbances on airplanes: Implement the yellow card system where a passenger is given a written warning and the ability to send a written complaint to the pilot or airline as means of de-escalationEnsure flight attendants themselves comply with and more consistently enforce the mask rulesAllow greater ease of obtaining legitimate health and disability exceptions to the mask ruleImplement greater covid mitigation measures, including social distancing, and temperature checks. Social distancing must be enforced not only on the airplane, but at the gate, during the boarding process, and at security checkpoints.Reevaluate the TSA mask mandate extensions with a public notice and comment process The airlines have crammed passengers on a smaller number of flights with no social distancing, no middle seat blocking, no capacity limits, no temperature checking, and no covid testing. While some passengers oppose masks for political reasons, others see the lack of other common-sense safety precautions taken by the airlines (social distancing, middle seat blocking, temperature checks) and the lack of consistent enforcement on passengers and flight attendants. Prosecution for a battery is needed when these incidents become violent. However, it would be a severe escalation and a gross infringement on civil liberties to invoke the Patriot Act’s felony “interference with flight crew members and flight attendants”, intended for hijackers, to threaten a passenger with up to 20 years in prison. FlyersRights.org has advocated for a mask rule as well as other health measures to protect passengers and crew members. While most flight attendants enforce the mask rule as best as they can under the circumstances, many flight attendants do not attempt enforcement and themselves violate the mask rule. FlyersRights.org would not attribute the actions of a small minority of flight attendants to the entire group. However, just as enforcement action must be taken against passengers who refuse to wear a mask, action must be taken against these flight attendants who violate the mask rule or who make no effort to enforce the rule. Not only will this help curb the dozens of abhorrent passenger incidents, but it is also vital for the continued health of all passengers and flight crew throughout the pandemic [1] ≈

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Popular Hawaii airport gets extended lease on civil life

Kawaihapai Airfield on Oahu, Hawaii, also known as Dillingham Airfield is a popular tourist attraction.Dillingham Airfield, used for glider rides, skydiving and and flying lessons, is under threat of closure.The latest reprieve buys much more time—years rather than months—to sort out a plan for the popular airport’s future. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) rallied support for Dillingham Airfield (also known as Kawaihāpai Airfield) soon after the Hawaii DOT confirmed to AOPA in April 2020 that it would move to terminate its lease of the airport property from the U.S. Army ahead of that agreement’s 2024 end date. The State of Hawaii ordered tenants to vacate the airport long used for flight training, skydiving, sightseeing, and glider operations, putting businesses and tourism resources at risk. AOPA Western Pacific Regional Manager Melissa McCaffrey led the association’s “advocacy A-team” effort to enlist local support, helping build a multi-front, grassroots campaign that garnered support among lawmakers and was joined by more than 450 individuals, earning local media coverage of the issue. Among those supporters, U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele (D-Hawaii) urged Gov. David Ige to maintain civilian use of the airfield in a March 3 letter. Kahele praised the DOT decision (announced in a September 17 letter) to revoke its intent of early termination of the land lease in a statement quoted in local media coverage of the development: “The Hawai’i DOT’s decision to revoke its notice of early termination of its lease with the Army allows for much needed continued dialogue about the future of Kawaihāpai (Dillingham) Airfield. Since taking office, my staff and I have made a concerted effort to find long-term solutions for the ongoing maintenance and operations to maximize the potential of Kawaihāpai,” Kahele said. “The Airfield is a critical economic driver for the North Shore and serves as an educational epicenter for aspiring local pilots as well as the general aviation, and skydiving communities.” State lawmakers also joined the preservation push, crafting a bill that earned strong support from AOPA that McCaffrey expressed in testimony provided in February, making a case for continued civilian use of an airport that provides $12.6 million in direct economic benefit and draws about 50,000 visitors a year while employing 130 people at 11 airport-based businesses. The FAA also urged the state to reconsider evicting Dillingham Airfield tenants in a February 1 letter to state airport officials, calling on the state to postpone the then-planned July 30 lease termination and reminding the state of its federal grant obligations. AOPA worked closely with state Sen. Gil Riviere (D-District 23) and state Rep. Lauren Matsumoto (R-District 45), the United States Parachute Association, as well as leaders of the local advocacy group Save Dillingham Airfield to persuade the DOT to extend Dillingham’s use as a civilian airfield. The growing group of supporters was disappointed when the June 30 lease termination was extended only until December, but kept the pressure on for more time to develop a sustainable long-term solution. According to McCaffrey, “This reprieve from early termination of the lease at Dillingham (Kawaihapai) Airfield gives the stakeholders an excellent opportunity to find solutions to the existing problems, and more importantly, opens the door to set the foundation for a vibrant and growing GA community for years to come.” Dillingham Airfield has military roots, having been called Mokuleia Airstrip when built by the U.S. Army a decade before the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, when a few pilots from the North Shore airfield were able to launch and confront the assault. The runway was later extended, and the airfield was renamed Dillingham Air Force Base in 1948 in honor of Capt. Henry Dillingham, a B–29 pilot who was killed in action during World War II.

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Hispanics spent $113.9 billion on domestic travel in 2019

Most Hispanic travelers (85%) have visited the country/territory of their family heritage, with 15% returning more than once a year and 22% returning yearly.Fifty-seven percent agreed they are more likely to visit a destination that embraces Hispanic cultures and celebrates Hispanic business and cultural contributions.The top three domestic destinations for Hispanic overnight travelers are California (21%), Texas (15%) and Florida (14%). New study that identifies the needs, concerns and behaviors of Hispanic travelers in the United States was released today. The “Vistas Latinas: A Landmark Study on U.S. Travelers of Hispanic Descent” report, whose name means Latin viewpoints, is the first travel research of its kind to examine the attitudes, opinions and sentiment of travelers from the United States’ fastest growing demographic group. Vistas Latinas is also the first study to assess the spending power of U.S. Hispanic travelers, finding they spent $113.9 billion on domestic leisure travel in 2019 and accounted for 13% of all domestic leisure travel that year. Hispanic Travelers & Representation America’s Hispanic population is a melting pot of rich cultures, so it is important to note that travel experts have used an innovative approach to fielding the survey to mirror the distribution of the Latino population in the United States, and as such provide actionable insights based on where Hispanic travelers live and where their travels might take them. Of those surveyed for Vistas Latinas – most said they were born in the United States (83%) and a majority indicated their parents were also born in the U.S. Half of respondents indicated their family originated from Mexico, while a quarter of respondents surveyed said they were of Caribbean heritage (Puerto Rican, Dominican or Cuban). Key findings include: The vast majority – 80% of Hispanic travelers – prefer to identify as Hispanic, while 25% prefer Latino/Latina and 3% prefer the term Latinx (respondents could choose more than one preferred term). Fifty-seven percent agreed they are more likely to visit a destination that embraces Hispanic cultures and celebrates Hispanic business and cultural contributions. Fifty-two percent of respondents said they are more likely to visit a destination if they see Hispanic representation in the destination’s advertising and/or marketing materials. Hispanic travelers are predominantly consuming all forms of media in English.

Linda S. Hohnholz·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Southwest Airlines Says Jamaica’s Flight Operations on the Upswing

Tourism executives in Jamaica are holding a series of meetings with travel industry leaders across United States and Canada source markets.The intent is to increase arrivals to the destination as well as foster further investment in the tourism sector.The strong partnership between Jamaica and Southwest Airlines is growing the nation’s tourism sector in these difficult times. Southwest is one of the largest airlines in the United States and is the world’s largest low-cost carrier airline. It operates non-stop flights between the major US international airports of Houston (Hobby), Fort Lauderdale, Baltimore, Washington, Orlando, Chicago (Midway), St. Louis, and Montego Bay. The Minister was joined in the meeting by Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry, Delano Seiveright; and Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, Donnie Dawson. They are holding a series of meetings with a wide range of travel industry leaders across Jamaica’s largest source markets, the United States and Canada, to increase arrivals to the destination in coming weeks and months as well as foster further investment in the tourism sector. Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett Bartlett detailed Jamaica’s successful reopening last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment of the Resilient Corridors, globally recognized as COVID safe for visitors and Jamaicans alike, and the importance of the strong partnership between Jamaica and Southwest Airlines in growing the nation’s tourism sector in these difficult times. Southwest’s, Senior Director for Strategic Planning & Airline Partnerships, Steven Swan, noted that Jamaica has been “thoughtful,” “clear,” “easy to communicate with,” and boasts “good load factors.” The airline’s executives also noted that while the Delta variant of COVID-19 has caused a “dip” in domestic and international travel demand, they continue to perform well and are very confident about future growth. #rebuildingtravel

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Johannesburg to Cape Town flight on South African Airways now

After months of preparations, South African Airways resumes both domestic and regional Africa service.South African Airways’ first scheduled flight takes off from Johannesburg to Cape Town on September 23.Flights are also set to start to five African capitals – Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka and Maputo. Following months of preparation after exiting business rescue, South African Airways (SAA) resumes both domestic and regional Africa service. The carrier’s firstscheduled flight is an early morning take-off from OR Tambo International in Johannesburg to Cape Town International on September 23 and is one of three return flights per day between the two cities. Flights are also set to start to five African capitals – Accra, Kinshasa, Harare, Lusaka, and Maputo. SAA’s Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo says, “This week is a proud and significant one for SAA and its staff as well as all South African citizens. Our journey back to the skies has not been easy and I pay tribute to our dedicated workforce in all areas of the business all of whom have and are putting in long hours ahead of this day. People in every facet of the business want nothing more than for SAA to succeed and for us to build a new airline based on safety and exemplary customer service.” Kgokolo says while South African Airways has big ambitions it’s overriding ethos will be one of responsible and prudent fiscal management and a commitment to transparency. “We restart this business with a new vision of pride in the brand and one that has been inculcated into every staff member. Our first order of business is to service ourstart-up routes efficiently and profitably and then look to expanding the network and growing our fleet, all depending on demand and market conditions.” SAA’s Board Chair John Lamola says, “SAA’s return will provide more market equilibrium in terms of ticket pricing. Since the carrier went into and then out of business rescue there has been less local capacity and that means tickets have become more expensive. Our return to the skies will mean more competitive pricing and will enable more South Africans to fly.” Lamola says SAA’s return to the skies is also a major economic enabler, particularly with its strong focus on cargo flights. “Economics aside, there is also the pride factor. Seeing SAA’s tail colors on international tarmacs is not only positive for South Africa but the rest of the continent.” SAA’s Interim Executive: Commercial Simon Newton Smith says, “We are in many ways, a metaphor for the country; it has not always had the easiest history, but it is resilient, its people are rightfully proud and it’s a country never to be underestimated. Our job is to show the world that South Africa is rebounding and starting the journey to a full and better recovery. We’re re-starting humbly but with big ambitions.” SAA’s Chief Pilot Mpho Mamashela says “All of us who are going to be at the front of the plane in coming weeks and months fully understand the new vision of SAA and we are proud to be part of this new era. We are determined to be absolutely perfect and to make South Africans proud.”

Harry Johnson·

Aviation Feature

·September 23, 2021

Doha to Almaty flights on Qatar Airways now

New service reinforces the warm relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan.New service will enable passengers flying to and from Almaty to enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations.The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will launch scheduled passenger services to Almaty, Kazakhstan starting from 19 November 2021. The new service will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class. This service will enable passengers flying to and from Almaty, Kazakhstan to enjoy seamless connectivity to over 140 destinations, via the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport in Doha, the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are proud to bring our award-winning services to Kazakhstan, adding this unique destination to our growing network. This new service reinforces the warm relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and reaffirms our commitment to further developing trade and tourism between our two great countries.” Kazakhstan is the economic powerhouse of the Central Asia region. It is an adventurer’s paradise, with landscapes varying from snow-capped mountains to expansive deserts, rocky canyons, coniferous forests, and untouched river deltas. Visitors can also admire historical landmarks including the bright-yellow towers of the famous Zenkov Cathedral in Almaty. Flight Schedule to Almaty from 19 November 2021: Friday and Monday (all times local) Doha (DOH) to Almaty (ALA) QR 391 departs: 01:15 arrives: 08:35 Almaty (ALA) to Doha (DOH) QR 392 departs: 21:40 arrives: 23:55 The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. Qatar Airways also features flexible booking policies that offer unlimited changes in travel dates and destinations, and fee-free refunds for all tickets issued for travel completed by 31 May 2022.

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