Airbus A350-900 will be carrying 40 crew members and scientists will be collecting measurement dataGerman Aerospace Center (DLR) with monitoring instruments will also be on boardReason for this second flight to Falkland Islands is to rotate Polarstern crew and to pick up the research expedition team Tomorrow, Lufthansa will be departing for its second non-stop flight from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant (MPN) in the Falkland Islands on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven. This time the Airbus A350-900 will be carrying 40 crew members of the research vessel Polarstern as well as scientists from the German Aerospace Center (Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt). During the flight, the scientists will be collecting measurement data that will provide further insights on the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field in regards to aviation. Therefore, the second flight to the Falkland Islands is already contributing to science on its way to the South Pole. The Airbus A350-900 will be transferred from Munich to Hamburg at 14:30 tomorrow, and is scheduled to arrive at Hamburg Airport at 3:40 p.m. with the flight number LH9923. The same evening, LH2574 will take off for Mount Pleasant at 9:30 p.m. The aircraft with the registration D-AIXQ, christened with the name of the city of Freiburg is the newest member of the Lufthansa A350 fleet and one of the world’s most sustainable and efficient long-haul aircraft. “With the second flight to the Falkland Islands, we are not only pleased  to be able to support the AWI’s polar research expedition, but also to make an important contribution to further research into the Earth’s magnetic field,” says Thomas Jahn, Fleet Captain and Falklands Project Manager. “We have already been supporting climate research projects for more than 25 years now.” The reason for this second flight to the Falkland Islands is to rotate the Polarstern crew and to pick up the research expedition team. Since the beginning of February, a team of about 50 researchers have been collecting important data on ocean currents, sea ice and the carbon cycle in the Southern Ocean, which, among other things, enable reliable climate predictions. On the way back from the research area in the southern Weddell Sea, Polarstern stopped at Atka Bay, where an additional 25 scientists boarded the ship: Specifically the summer staff as well as the winter team of Neumayer Station III, with the latter returning to Germany after more than 15 months in the Antarctic.  On 2 April, Lufthansa will be bringing AWI’s international research team and the DLR scientists back to Germany from the Falkland Islands. The landing is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on April 3 at Munich Airport with the flight number LH2575. The first flight from Hamburg to the Falkland Islands, which took place at the end of January 2021, was the longest non-stop passenger flight in Lufthansa’s history. The Airbus A350-900 arrived at the Mount Pleasant military base after flying over 13,000 kilometers in more than 15 hours. In order to make the research as climate-friendly as possible, the Alfred-Wegener-Institut will also compensate the CO2 emissions of the flight.

United Returns to JFK with most premium seats from the NYC areaFlights feature a reconfigured Boeing 767-300ER airplane with 46 business class seats and 22 United Premium Plus seatsUnited now provides service from all three major airports in New York City area United Airlines is back at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), now operating direct service to the airline’s West Coast hubs – Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from New York City. The airline will use its Boeing 767-300ER aircraft which features 46 business class all-aisle-access seating, and 22 United Premium Plus® seats. The airline operates the most premium seats between the New York City area and Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. United Airlines is currently flying one round-trip flight, five days a week to each West Coast airport, with plans to double the number of flights as demand grows. The carrier is back at JFK following a five-year hiatus and now offers service from all three major airports in the New York City area. “United’s return to JFK reflects not only our strong commitment to the New York City area, but also to increasing service to and from the places our customers want to fly,” said Ankit Gupta, Vice President of Domestic Network Planning and Scheduling. “With the addition of JFK, United now offers unmatched service, greater convenience, more choice and a best-in-class product for travelers throughout the New York City region as they return to the skies.” “We’re happy to welcome United Airlines back to Kennedy Airport,” said Charles Everett, General Manager of John F. Kennedy International Airport. “We remain committed to providing the highest level of safety, accessibility and ease of travel for all of the passengers who use the Port Authority’s airport facilities, and United’s decision is a great step in that direction.” United’s operations at JFK’s Terminal 7 will provide seamless access for customers. The lobby area offers self-service kiosks, along with eight podiums which are conveniently located steps away from the TSA check point. Just a short walk from security screening, travelers will find the United-operated gates. Customers will also benefit from easy connections to more than a dozen Star Alliance partners at JFK, including access to 15 destinations in 14 countries as of March 2021.

February 17 Manila recorded a high 1,718 new COVID cases, on March 28 the same city recorded 10,000 new infectionsAuthorities in Manila locked down the capital city of the PhilippinesForeign travel is now restricted to 1,500 international arrivals to Manila International Airport. Manila and neighboring regions reported 10,000 new COVID-19 cases and are putting the city under lockdown until Easter Sunday. In addition, the Civil Aeronautics Board has issued guidelines concerning air transportation limiting the arrival of international travelers to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to a maximum of 1,500 passengers a day. This, however, shall subject to amendment as may be determined by the Department of Transportation. The board has warned all airline companies operating in NAIA not to exceed the allowed capacity, otherwise, hey will be penalized pursuant to Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-01 dated 08 January 2021, issued by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB); Domestic commercial operations shall be allowed subject to compliance with the requirements or restrictions on capacity and frequency of flights that may be imposed by all the LGUs outside of the NCR+ bubble, the board added.

WestJet offers new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and OntarioWestJet restarts previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec CityStimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit WestJet today announced 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada. The routes will offer new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The enhancements follow an announcement made earlier in the week to return previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City.   “As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada’s economic recovery,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country.”   The new routes include service between Toronto (YYZ) and Comox (YQQ); between Ottawa (YOW) and Victoria (YYJ) and eight new routes connecting the prairie provinces to British Columbia tourism destinations, such as Regina (YQR) to Kelowna (YLW). Full schedule details and start dates are outlined below.  “We are at an inflection point; one that is buoyed by the rollout of vaccines, months of learning how to take appropriate precautions, and a view to Canada’s beautiful summer months that allows us to spend more time outdoors,” continued Sims. “If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer.”  New routes:  Route Frequency Effective from Toronto – Fort McMurray 2x weekly (Wed, Sun) June 6, 2021 Kelowna – Saskatoon 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 Kelowna – Regina 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 Saskatoon – Victoria 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 Winnipeg – Victoria 3x weekly (Thu, Sat, Sun) June 24, 2021 Edmonton – Kamloops 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 Edmonton – Penticton 2x weekly (Thu, Sun) June 24, 2021 Edmonton – Nanaimo 2x weekly (Fri, Sun) June 25, 2021 Prince George – Abbotsford 2x weekly (Fri, Sun) June 25, 2021 Ottawa – Victoria 1x weekly (Sat) June 26, 2021 Toronto – Comox 1x weekly (Sat) June 26, 2021 

Delta Air Lines announces nonstop connection from three U.S. hubs to Iceland’s stunning landscapesNew daily service from Boston to Reykjavík begins May 20Daily Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York-JFK service also resumes in May Beginning in May, Delta customers seeking a global escape will once again enjoy a nonstop connection from three U.S. hubs to Iceland’s stunning landscapes, world-renowned hot springs like the Blue Lagoon and the iconic capital city of Reykjavík. Delta Air Lines will launch new daily service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) beginning May 20 – as well as resume daily service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on May 1 and daily service from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) on May 27. This latest milestone in the airline’s growing network follows Iceland’s recent exemption of fully vaccinated Americans from the ban on non-essential travel and other restrictions like testing and quarantine requirements – making it the first leisure destination in Europe easily accessible to U.S. travelers since the pandemic began. “We know our customers are eager to safely get back out into the world, including exploring one of the globe’s most beautiful outdoor destinations,” said Joe Esposito, S.V.P. – Network Planning. “As confidence in travel rises, we hope more countries continue reopening to vaccinated travelers, which mean more opportunities to reconnect customers to the people and places that matter most.” Customers traveling to Iceland will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or recovery of COVID-19. Travelers returning to the U.S. will still require a negative COVID-19 test and can find a nearby location with Delta’s dedicated testing resource for international travel.

The UK is closing its borders from Monday, March 29, until the end of June.British Airways and easyJet have suspended all summer flights to European tourist destinations.The traffic light system for travel is red list countries are prohibited, yellow countries require quarantine, and green list destinations require vaccination tests and/or certificates to get the go-ahead for travel. In news of the few last hours, in fact, the UK is closing its borders from Monday, March 29, until the end of June. From that date, anyone who does not have urgent reasons for health and work cannot leave the national borders. Anyone found not complying will be fined up to 5,000 pounds. To be signed into law and submitted to Parliament on Tuesday by the Johnson administration is the extension of emergency powers linked to the pandemic. This will be voted on this Thursday, April 1, but which is already given as a certainty. This measure comes as a blow on the anniversary of the first English lockdown, which began on March 23, 2020. The third wave of COVID that has brought Germany to a new squeeze frightened the British government. The United Kingdom, in fact, fears that it will compromise its vaccination campaign with importation of the variants. At the moment, those arriving from Europe have the obligation to remain in quarantine for 10 days. This could soon be extended to 14 days. The so-called “quarantine hotels” are reserved for people in isolation, which are responsible for taking over travelers from a red list of 33 countries at highest risk under strict surveillance. Restrictive measures – those imposed by Johnson – could also be extended in July and August with holidays allowed only in countries included in a sort of “green zone.”

Hawaii’s visitors arrival numbers from the US Mainland had been increasing to record numbers over the last 4 weeksHawaii also recorded a record day today in number of new COVID-19 cases for more than a monthPrince Kuhio Day is a welcoming reason for Tourism leaders to celebrate and stay quiet on this developing situation for the Hawaii travel and tourism industry, overall economy, and health situation It’s Prince Kūhiō Day in Hawaii today, and Government officials are not available to respond or comment on the alarming spike in COVID-19 infection in the Aloha State over the last 2 days. Hawaii is now back into a trend of triple-digit increase what goes along with an ever-increasing visitor arrival numbers from the US mainland for the last few weeks. Today the State recorded 126 new cases. The more outspoken Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi told eTurboNews in a statement: Oahu is still in the Tier 3 metric of the reopening strategy. The City monitors current conditions and recognizes there has been an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases over the past week on O‘ahu. Public health is the priority and the City continues to work with the State Department of Health and health experts to assess current risks and make adjustments as needed. We continue to safely reopen the economy allowing more people to return to work. The community must also work together to prevent the spread of the virus by continuing to wear masks, remaining physically distanced and abiding by the rules of the reopening strategy. In the meantime, one airline after another is announcing new domestic flights to additional visitor markets. Some of these flights operate from regions that were considered secondary for Hawaii, but primary markets for the Caribbean. Considering that international arrivals from Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand had not yet restarted, the surprising rise in domestic business was unexpected for many. In a short term the increase in visitors is excellent news for hotels, attractions, restaurants, shops and transportation sector, but may also be a disaster in the making long term. As the Hawaii Tourism Authority is celebrating Prince Kuhio Day today, there won’t be any comments on this situation until Monday, Easter Monday hopefully. One can only hope this will have become a mute issue by Monday, depending on the COVID-19 infection numbers in the upcoming two days. In the meantime Hawaii is doing really well in vaccinating its citizens. As of Monday anyone 60 and over can get the vaccine, and all priority groups had been vaccinated by now. Why Hawaii celebrates Prince Kuhio Day today?

JetBlue has set its sights on cashing in on the busiest city pair in the worldThe transatlantic market is in need of low-cost competitionMost carriers offer basic economy fares, but JetBlue offers it as standard The much-anticipated launch of JetBlue’s first transatlantic routes has stirred up plenty of interest and has strong potential to be successful. With a new MINT business class and low fares on offer, the carrier will be well positioned to capitalize on rising demand from budget travelers post-COVID-19. JetBlue has set its sights on cashing in on the busiest city pair in the world: New York to London. Competition was fierce pre-pandemic on this route, however, JetBlue’s low fares will give it an advantage – especially noting the withdrawal of Norwegian Air from long-haul flights and that other airlines in the space are seeing a drop in capacity. These events will be beneficial for JetBlue to establish a foothold in the market. More consumers have become cash strapped, and the transatlantic market is in need of low-cost competition. The latest COVID-19 Recovery Survey showed that 87% of global respondents were concerned about their personal financial position. Most carriers offer basic economy fares, but JetBlue offers it as standard. The uniformity of the airline’s offering, combined with its friendly service and competitive fares, will see the airline stimulate demand and win customers who may have delayed traveling due to increased financial concerns. A recent industry poll revealed that 44% of respondents said their company’s corporate travel budget will significantly be reduced over the next 12 months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate travelers are likely to see JetBlue as a viable, lower-cost alternative going forward. Lower prices will see the airline attract corporate travelers working for companies with depleted budgets. The new MINT business class and elevated service level will allow the airline to compete on a level playing field with existing carriers. This winning combination will see JetBlue become a disruptive carrier that could substantially shake up the corporate transatlantic travel market. However, JetBlue is struggling to secure lucrative slots at London Heathrow. The UK extending its ‘use-it or lose-it’ slot wavier has placed a hurdle in the carrier’s plans. Although it has secured some slots at Gatwick and Stansted, the split of services adds operational costs and complexity the airline will want to avoid. If JetBlue can secure the desired slots at Heathrow, it will be a game changer for the airline’s competitive position.”

FlyArystan has taken delivery of two additional Airbus A320s, with the expanded fleet of nine aircraft having an average age of seven years. All aircraft are configured with 180 economy-class seats. Additional aircraft capacity will be used to increase flights to 65 per day across the domestic network in Kazakhstan and the recently launched international service between Turkistan and Istanbul. FlyArystan is a low-cost airline based in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is the wholly owned low cost subsidiary of Air Astana, the country’s leading airline. FlyArystan’s foundation was approved by Air Astana’s joint shareholders, Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and BAE Systems PLC, and was endorsed by Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 2 November 2018. The company slogan is Eurasia’s Low Fares Airline.

As travel restarts, travelers need accurate COVID-19-related informationIATA Travel Pass initiative helps verify the authenticity of test information presented by travelersEthiopian Airlines has gone digital in all of its operations to avoid physical contact Ethiopian Airlines announced that it will trial IATA Travel Pass, a digital travel mobile app to enhance efficiency in testing or vaccine verifications and restart travel. As travel restarts, travelers need accurate COVID-19-related information like testing and vaccine requirements which vary among countries. The IATA Travel Pass initiative helps verify the authenticity of test information presented by travelers which is essential for ensuring the safety of passengers while complying with entry requirements of countries. In future it will also manage vaccine certificates for travel. Ethiopian Airlines has gone digital in all of its operations to avoid physical contact and combat the spread of the pandemic and now we embark on this initiative which will allow our passengers to relish unparalleled flight experience. Regarding the trial of the IATA travel pass, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO ofEthiopian Airlines said “Digital technology is vital to solve many of the problems that arise from the pandemic. We are glad that we are offering new digital opportunities to our passengers so as to fully and safely restart air travel. Our customers will enjoy efficient, contactless and safer travel experience with their travel pass digital passport. As a safety first airline, we are going to be among the first to implement IATA’s travel pass initiative to facilitate travel. The new initiative will increase travelers’ confidence in travel, encourages governments to reopen their borders andexpedites industry restart. “ The Travel Pass will help create a digital passport, receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their route, and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. The digital travel app will also avoid fraudulent documentation and make air travel more convenient. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA Director General and CEO said, “Ethiopian Airlines is helping to lay the foundation for a re-connected world in which health credentials—COVID-19 test results to vaccination certificates—will play a role. IATA Travel Pass securely enables travelers to control verified health credential data while sharing it with airlines and authorities as may be required in the travel process. That’s going to be vitally important when governments are able to re-open borders for travel. As an IATA Travel Pass trial partner, Ethiopian Airline customers will be among the first to experience its benefits.”

ICAO, the UN Special Agency for Aviation, will have a new Secretary General, Mr. Salazar. He will discuss his views for the new normal that aviation is facing past COVID. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the UN specialized institution responsible for coordinating much of this process. McGill University hosted an interactive webinar with special guest, Juan Carlos Salazar, LLB, LLM (McGill), MPA (Harvard), the Secretary General-elect of ICAO. Senior experts from the global aviation industry including Vijay Poonoosamy, Chair Aviation Group World Tourism Network , attended. During the event, Mr. Salazar discussed his vision of ICAO’s role in navigating civil aviation to a new normal into the future and took questions from audience participants. Juan Carlos Salazar joined the IASL’s LLM in Air and Space Law in 1998.

Russia suspended international flights in March of last yearScheduled flights between Russia and Germany will restart from April 1Russia has resumed selected number of international routes lately Russian officials announced that Russia will restart commercial passenger flights to and from Germany and five other countries from April 1, 2021. The scheduled air service between Russia and Germany will restart from April 1, the Russian coronavirus response center told reporters today. “The scheduled air service will be resumed from April 1 by agreement with German aviation authorities on a reciprocal basis along the routes of Frankfurt (Main) – Moscow – Frankfurt (Main) five times per week, Frankfurt (Main) – St. Petersburg – Frankfurt (Main) three times per week, Moscow – Berlin – Moscow five times per week and Moscow – Frankfurt (Main) – Moscow three times per week, the Center said. Russian Federation suspended international flights in March of last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but has since resumed a selected number of routes.

Russia may introduce EAEU digital travel passMobile application will be designed exclusively for international flights within the EAEUEAEU digital travel pass would help to accelerate recovery of air travel after a year-long market collapse According to a representative of one of the Russian airlines, Russian Ministry of Transport is discussing with carriers an idea of creating a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) digital travel pass – a mobile application designed exclusively for international flights within the EAEU. Introduction of the EAEU digital travel pass would help to accelerate the recovery of air travel after a year-long market collapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the issue of accelerating the implementation of the digital IATA Travel Pass, which is already operating on some air routes abroad, is also being discussed. “Russia can create a digital travel pass for international air travel within the EAEU. The Ministry of Transport is discussing this issue with airlines. In particular, launching a separate application or accelerating the use of the IATA Travel Pass is being discussed. The goal is to speed up restoration of international air transportation as much as possible, to stimulate other countries to open bilateral traffic, partially or completely limited due to the coronavirus pandemic,” the source close to talks said.

Glenn Rutherford, Swissport Executive Vice President for Asia-Pacific, departs the company at the end of 2021Brad Moore will join Swissport from Qatar Airways as new Managing Director for APACBrad Moore joins Swissport with extensive international experience as an airline executive, most recently as Qatar Airways Senior VP Ground Operations Glenn Rutherford has decided to move on from his role as Swissport’s Executive Vice President Asia-Pacific. Brad Moore will join the company from Qatar Airways as Managing Director for the Australasia region. Rutherford will spend three months ensuring a smooth transition after Moore commences in early April, before moving to a role supporting Swissport Executive Management with post-Covid strategy until the end of 2021. “Over the past 23 years, Glenn Rutherford’s achievements have been extraordinary, growing the Australasian business from 35 employees to some 4,000, culminating in its acquisition by Swissport in 2018,” says Christoph Mueller, President & CEO of Swissport International AG. “We thank him for his impressive contributions to our business globally and to the sector in the region. We are delighted he has agreed to support Swissport until the end of the year, despite making the decision to follow his ambitions elsewhere.” Brad Moore joins Swissport with extensive international experience as an airline executive, most recently as Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Ground Operations. Brad was also a senior post holder at Air Canada and Qantas where he led the Ground Handling Business, Commercial and Operations at both airlines. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW, a Master of Science from Pepperdine University, USA, and has furthered his executive education at INSEAD, France. Brad is passionate about aviation and holds a pilot’s license. “With Brad’s experience in business transformation and operational excellence, he is the ideal candidate to take Swissport forward in the Australasia region. Post-Covid, the opportunities in this part of the world are very exciting and I am confident that Brad is the right person for the job,” says Rutherford. Brad Moore’s appointment as Managing Director Australasia reflects Swissport’s commitment to Australia and New Zealand. As the regional number one, the company will focus on delivering great customer service, especially as airlines ramp up their flight programs and return to reliable operations in a post-Covid environment. Looking at Asia beyond Australia and New Zealand, Swissport expects air traffic demand to return relatively quickly to its dynamic pre-pandemic growth path. The company’s strong foothold in Japan and Korea together with its leading market position in Australia and New Zealand, will help us to capitalize on this trend. Swissport can rely on its new shareholders to support our growth plans and the ambition to expand our presence in Asia. “I am honored to join Swissport,” says Moore. “Having been a customer for many years, I know first-hand the depth of Swissport’s business and the quality of its team throughout the world. We have a big task ahead of us as we navigate out of the pandemic, but the potential for Swissport in the region is immense. I am looking forward to getting started, building on the incredible work that Glenn and his team have done in creating a highly respected, robust business and a strong culture that has delivered outstanding results over many years.”

Internationally, United plans to operate 52% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019United Airlines plans to resume more than 20 domestic routesUnited Airlines will start new service between Orange County, California, and Honolulu As more travelers begin to plan long-awaited getaways with family and friends, United Airlines is kicking off summer vacation season with a robust May schedule that includes the addition of 26 new nonstop routes between Midwest cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Milwaukee and popular vacation destinations such as Hilton Head, S.C.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Portland, Maine. The airline also plans to resume more than 20 domestic routes and will start new service between Orange County, California, and Honolulu. Internationally, in May United Airlines will fly more than 100% of its pre-pandemic schedule to Latin America compared to what it operated in 2019, including more flights to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. The airline also plans to resume flights between Chicago and Tokyo Haneda, resume passenger flights between New York/Newark and Milan and Rome, and restart service between Chicago and Amsterdam. In total, United plans to operate 52% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019, whereas in May 2020 United operated 14% of its overall schedule compared to May 2019. “In the past few weeks, we have seen the strongest flight bookings since the start of the pandemic,” said Ankit Gupta, vice president of United’s domestic network planning and scheduling. “As we rebuild our schedule to meet that demand, adding in seasonal point-to-point flying is just one of the ways we are finding opportunities to add new and exciting service. And as we have done throughout the entire pandemic, we will continue being nimble and strategic with our network to add the right service to the destinations our customers want to visit.” Domestic May Schedule Starting May 27, United will begin point-to-point service to Charleston, S.C.; Hilton Head, S.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Pensacola, Fla. and Portland, Maine from seven cities including Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Milwaukee, Wis. and Indianapolis, Ind. United plans to operate these point-to-point routes through Labor Day weekend. Most customers on these flights will experience United’s new Bombardier CRJ-550 – the world’s first 50-seater aircraft with two cabins. The spacious CRJ-550 is equipped with 10 first class seats, 20 Economy Plus seats, 20 standard economy seats, Wi-Fi, more legroom and enough overhead bin space for every customer to bring a roller bag on board.

The total number of accidents decreased from 52 in 2019 to 38 in 2020The total number of fatal accidents decreased from 8 in 2019 to 5 in 2020Fatality risk remained unchanged compared to the five-year average at 0.13 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the publication of the 2020 Safety Report and released data for the 2020 safety performance of the commercial airline industry.  The total number of accidents decreased from 52 in 2019 to 38 in 2020.  The total number of fatal accidents decreased from 8 in 2019 to 5 in 2020. The all accident rate was 1.71 accidents per million flights. This is higher than the 5-year (2016-2020) average rate which is 1.38 accidents per million flights. IATA member airlines’ accident rate was 0.83 per million flights, which was an improvement over the 5-year average rate of 0.96. Total flight operations reduced by 53% to 22 million in 2020. Fatality risk remained unchanged compared to the five-year average at 0.13. With a fatality risk of 0.13 for air travel, on average, a person would have to travel by air every day for 461 years before experiencing an accident with at least one fatality. On average, a person would have to travel every day for 20,932 years to experience a 100% fatal accident. “Flying is safe, although the industry did take a step back on performance in 2020. The severe reduction in flight numbers magnified the impact of each accident when we calculate rates. But numbers don’t lie, and we will not allow this to become a trend. We will have even sharper focus on safety during this period of reduced operations and as flight schedules are rebuilt when the world reopens,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.  For the first time in more than 15 years there were no Loss of Control Inflight (LOC-I) accidents, which have accounted for the largest share of fatalities since 2016.

North America is driving the global business jet recoveryFlight activity month to date in the US is up 17% compared to last yearOnly Europe still lags March 2020 when the imposition of lockdowns and travel restrictions sent business jet activity levels down 50% The business jet rebound from lockdown lows is well-established as the market enjoys strong growth. Business jet activity in the first three weeks of March is 11% up on the same period last year.  Activity is within 10% of the first three weeks in March 2019. Only Europe still lags March 2020 when the imposition of lockdowns and travel restrictions sent business jet activity levels down 50%. By contrast global scheduled airline activity is 30% down and 40% lower than in 2019 with Europe suffering a 75% drop on 2019 levels. North America is driving the global business jet recovery with rolling 7-day average activity back at pre-pandemic pace last week – the 6,437 sectors flown on March 17th compares to 6,326 on the comparable day in March 2020 and 6,815 in March 2019. Flight activity month to date in the US is up 17% compared to last year with Fractional operations, up 21%; Private owners and corporate flight department traffic up 15%; and Charters up 14%. Branded Charter operations in the US are up 16%, suggesting that we are now seeing record levels of activity. Beyond the lockdown anniversary in Europe and North America, there is a rebound from the low points and the recovery towards normal activity levels. For Europe, the rebound is in early stages, particularly Western Europe. Outside Europe, normal flight activity has resumed. In the US, there are signs that business jet activity in 2021 may exceed 2019 activity in some States, particularly for the charter market.

WTTC research reveals global Travel & Tourism sector suffered a loss of almost US$4.5 trillion in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19 2. Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP plunged a staggering 49.1% in 2020 3. Job retention schemes look to have saved millions of jobs – but the threat remains WTTC has not lost its faith in the recovery of the International Travel and Tourism Industry and releases its Economic Impact Report (EIR) today indicating a road to recovery, and its hope for international travel to resume by June, in just 2 1/2 months. How realistic this is with a deadly third wave attacking Europe and Brazil waits to be seen. Some may think it would be too good to be true, but the WTTC CEO Gloria Guervara needs to be applauded to keep her optimistic outlook alive. The report reveals the full devastating impact of COVID-19 had on the global Travel & Tourism sector last year, which suffered a massive loss of almost US$4.5 trillion. The annual EIR from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, shows the sector’s contribution to GDP dropped a staggering 49.1%, this compared to the overall global economy which dropped by just 3.7% last year. Vast losses run up during 2020, paint the first full picture of a sector struggling to survive in the face of crippling travel restrictions and unnecessary quarantines, which continue to threaten the urgent recovery of the world economy. Altogether, the sector’s contribution to global GDP plummeted to US$4.7 trillion in 2020 (5.5% of the global economy), from nearly US$9.2 trillion the previous year (10.4%).

WestJet committed to a safe restart of regional routesWestJet flights set to resume to airports across Atlantic Canada and Quebec CityService is set to resume to the five airports WestJet suspended service from in November, beginning June 24, 2021 through to June 30, 2021 WestJet today announced it will restore flights to the communities of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City after service was suspended as a result of COVID-19. The reinstatement of service will restore WestJet’s complete network of pre-COVID-19 domestic airports. “We committed to return to the communities we left, as a result of the pandemic, and we will be restoring flights to these regions in the coming months, of our own volition,” said Ed Sims, WestJet, President and CEO. “These communities have been a crucial factor in our success over our 25 years and it is critical for us to ensure they have access to affordable air service and domestic connectivity to drive their economic recovery.”  Service is set to resume to the five airports WestJet suspended service from in November, beginning June 24, 2021 through to June 30, 2021. In addition, service between St. John’s and Toronto, which was indefinitely suspended in October, will resume effective June 24, 2021. Following a temporary suspension, the restart of service between St. John’s and Halifax will be advanced from June 24, 2021 to May 6, 2021. Full schedule details and restart dates are outlined below.  “Our focus remains on the safe restart of air travel. We ask that federal and provincial governments work with us to provide clarity and certainty to Canadians, including travel policies that support economic recovery and restore jobs,” continued Sims.   Recognizing the investments that WestJet’s travel and tourism partners in the regions need to make to begin to recover from the pandemic, the airline will continue to encourage the Atlantic premiers to advance their efforts to ensure the region is open to Canadians this summer. 

Better social distancing on planes is attainable and would decrease the spread of COVID-19So far the airlines have been given merely a band-aid to the problem of depressed passenger demandThe FlyersRights.org plan requires airlines to limit passenger load factors to 50% or 65% FlyersRights.org released its Air Travel Social Distancing and Stimulus Plan in response to President Biden’s Executive Order calling on federal agencies to explore and implement additional COVID-19 mitigation measures in air travel.  Paul Hudson, President of FlyersRights.org, explained. “The purpose of the Social Distancing and Stimulus Plan is to increase passenger confidence in the safety of air travel by actually increasing the safety of air travel. Better social distancing on planes is attainable and would decrease the spread of COVID-19. What the airlines have asked for and have been given is merely a band-aid to the problem of depressed passenger demand.” The FlyersRights.org plan requires airlines to limit passenger load factors to 50% or 65%. The federal government would purchase a sufficient number of seats, and keep them unoccupied, to enable airlines to operate at a profit-generating 80% passenger load factor. In return, the federal government would get back a percentage of seats in the future for federal government employee travel. Throughout the pandemic, airlines have kept passenger load factors around 46% to 52% while increasing the number of flights offered, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.  “Many passengers see the horror stories of full flights and decide to not risk traveling, ” Paul Hudson noted. “If passengers were guaranteed their flight would not be more than 50% or 65% full, more people would travel. The cost of the plan is similar to the cost of the three airline bailouts in 2020-2021 but would result in a moderate profit for the airlines rather than a large loss.”  The federal government has not passed any air travel COVID-19 mitigation measures beyond a mask rule, and only one airline has a policy of not putting passengers in middle seats. Meanwhile, the CDC still recommends against air travel unless necessary.

4 in 10 eager Brits are holding out for an overseas holiday this yearYounger generations more likely to choose a package holiday than book a DIY tripThe research also shows that more women are likely to book a package holiday than men Twice as many under 25s surveyed will opt for a package holiday (55%) than those who are 55 and over (26%), according to the stats, proving that older is not necessarily wiser when it comes to being prepared for the unexpected in a COVID-19 world. Nearly 38% of people are planning to book 2021 overseas holiday this year with the Global Travel Taskforce report being announced on April 12. The research shows 25% of respondents are ONLY interested in taking a holiday abroad, while 13% plan to take both an overseas vacation AND a staycation after months of being stuck at home. Of the remainder, 40% are planning a UK-based holiday, with 21% not planning a holiday at all. The age groups that is most holding out a holiday abroad, and therefore the most likely to book, are the: 16-24s (32% of whom can’t wait to go abroad this year);followed by the 25-34s (29%);the 35-44s (28%) andthe 45-54s (25%).

The Greek isle famed for its windmills and its friendly atmosphere is opening up for visitors againQatar Airways will fly its modern twin-engine A320 aircraft three times a weekQatar Airways will connect Mykonos with over 35 cities in Asia and the Middle East Qatar Airways is resuming its service to Mykonos, Greece for the summer season as the islands welcome visitors once again. The airline is planning to operate three flights a week using a modern A320 aircraft featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. The news has been welcomed by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, who said: “We first started flying to Mykonos in May 2018 and the route proved very popular with our customers. Due to the global pandemic, we had to suspend services last summer so we are really delighted to be returning helping support Greece’s efforts to restart tourism.  “We know the authorities in Greece are taking precautions to ensure public safety and visitors will be required to adhere to public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic. Equally we will be maintaining our own very high standards. Qatar Airways was the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. We look forward to continuing to provide the safest possible experience for travelers across the world, and expanding upon our role in assisting the recovery of the commercial aviation industry.” The Greek Minister for Tourism, Harry Theoharis, said: “I am proud to welcome Qatar Airways back to Mykonos. It is very pleasing for us to have our luxury destination included in the planning of the airline’s new summer program. In this difficult time this development comes when all of our efforts have been put into the safe opening of Greek tourism. ‘All you want is Greece’ is our new motto and with this, we invite friends of Qatar Airways, from all over the world, to visit us.” Mykonos Flight Schedule: Monday, Friday, Saturday Doha (DOH) to Mykonos (JMK) QR311 departs: 07:30 arrives: 12:05 Mykonos (JMK) to Doha (DOH) QR312 departs: 13:05 arrives: 17:05

Hawaiian Airlines to offer flights between Phoenix and Kahului from May 21 through August 15Tickets for new Hawaiian Airlines Phoenix-Maui flights go on sale todayHawaiian’s summer Phoenix-Maui flights complement Hawaiian’s daily nonstop service to Honolulu Hawaiian Airlines today began ticket sales for nonstop service between Phoenix (PHX) and Maui (OGG). Hawaiian’s four-times-weekly flights – the only daytime service connecting Phoenix and Kahului – will be offered May 21 through August 15, making it convenient for Arizonans to visit the Valley Isle in time for the Memorial Day holiday and the summer travel season. Flight HA57 will depart Phoenix at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, arriving in Kahului at 10:25 a.m. The flight from Kahului to Phoenix, HA58, departs at 10:40 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with a 7:25 p.m. arrival.    Hawaiian Airlines‘ summer Phoenix-Maui flights complement Hawaiian’s daily nonstop service to Honolulu, which the carrier originally launched in 2002. Hawaiian today operates the most nonstop flights between the US. Mainland and Maui, including via Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento.

Current COO, Gary Beck, has announced his retirement following an impressive 47-year career in aviationvon Muehlen brings a proven track record of safety and operational excellence to the roleBefore joining Alaska Airlines in 2011 as Director of Engine Maintenance, von Muehlen spent 20 years in aviation maintenance Alaska Air Group announced the appointment of Constance von Muehlen as Chief Operating Officer of Alaska Airlines, effective April 3, 2021. Upon assuming this role, von Muehlen will join Alaska’s Executive Committee and report to Ben Minicucci, who becomes Chief Executive Officer on March 31, 2021. She succeeds current COO, Gary Beck, who has announced his retirement following an impressive 47-year career in aviation. A 30-year aviation veteran who received her leadership training flying Black Hawk helicopters as a Captain in the U.S. Army, von Muehlen brings a proven track record of safety and operational excellence to the role. As COO, von Muehlen will oversee the day-to-day operations on the ground and in the air for Alaska Airlines, focusing on delivering on Alaska’s commitment to genuine, caring service that ensures a safe, reliable, hassle-free and welcoming experience for all guests. She will also serve as board chair of McGee Air Services, where she will oversee operations at Alaska’s ground services subsidiary. “Constance is a deeply trusted leader who brings out the best in people. She unlocks the potential of each individual to drive a solution-oriented team approach,” said Minicucci. “Constance has an impressive ability to manage complexity, simplify systems and see around corners to meet the future demands of our business. As we welcome guests back to the skies following the COVID-19 crisis, I can’t think of a better person to oversee our recovery.” Most recently, von Muehlen served as senior vice president of maintenance and engineering where she led all safety, compliance and operational performance of the airline’s mainline Boeing and Airbus fleet. Prior to that, von Muehlen served as Horizon Air’s chief operating officer, where she oversaw the customer service, inflight, pilot, maintenance and system operations control teams. Before joining the airline in 2011 as Director of Engine Maintenance, von Muehlen spent 20 years in aviation maintenance, including her role as general manager of Pratt and Whitney Canada’s service center in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, and as director of airframe maintenance at Air Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a certificate in Executive Leadership Training from the Darden School at the University of Virginia. She also completed an executive MBA at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. Upon assuming this role, von Muehlen will make Alaska Airlines history by becoming the company’s first female COO.

Norse Atlantic Airways must learn from the mistake that Norwegian made if it is to surviveThere is little appetite for long-haul holidays, with just 36% of people willing to travel out of the continent they reside inLong-haul routes cannot turn enough profit to support low, attractive fares Just two months after Norwegian ceased its long-haul operations in January 2021, a new entrant into the market, Norse Atlantic Airways, plans to replace and improve upon Norwegian’s attempts to crack the low-cost transatlantic business model. Launching with a strategy from which an established airline has pulled back, especially in the COVID-19 recovery period, is a risky move and Norse Atlantic Airways must learn from the mistake that Norwegian made if it is to survive. Consumer confidence is at an all-time low and travelers will stay brand loyal due to heightened needs for trust and reliability. There is also little appetite for long-haul holidays currently, as, according to the latest data, just 36% of people are willing to travel out of the continent they reside in. While travel bans from Europe to the US are still in place, the new airline may gain little traction in the short-term. Norwegian’s main reason for its failure in terms of its long-haul low-cost operations is that the low-cost model is not suited to long-haul – these routes cannot turn enough profit to support low, attractive fares. Full-service carriers are now entering into this market by offering low-cost options. This will attract a type of traveler that may not have considered flying this way before and could have the potential to become loyal customers due to an increased standard of service and enticing loyalty programs. This increased competition will also make things harder for the new entrant. Norse Atlantic Airways must change its business model if it is to survive. The only way full-service carriers can succeed in this low-cost market is due to the provision of high yielding business and first-class cabins, making flights more profitable. To give itself the best possible chance of success, Norse Atlantic needs to take this into consideration and learn from the mistake that Norwegian made – namely not having such cabins.

Travel and tourism is the industry hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19The White House urged to develop a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictionsControlling the pandemic must remain a top priority Leaders of the U.S. travel and aviation industry called on the Biden administration Monday to set a May 1 deadline to commit to a plan for reopening the country to inbound international visitation. The U.S. Travel Association is among the 26 organizations to sign a letter urging the White House “to partner with us to develop… a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictions.” “Travel and tourism is the industry hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID, and the damage is so severe that a broader economic recovery will stall if we can’t get travel off the ground,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “Fortunately, enough progress has been made on the health front that a rebound for domestic leisure travel looks possible this year, but that alone won’t get the job done. A full travel recovery will depend on reopening international markets, and we must also contend with the challenge of reviving business travel.” The industry letter to the White House notes that 2020 international arrivals to the U.S. fell 62% from Mexico versus the previous year, 77% from Canada, and a whopping 81% from overseas markets—for a total loss to the U.S. economy of $146 billion last year. The significant decline in that travel segment is a big reason why travel’s total economic output in the U.S. declined by more than a trillion dollars in 2020, with 5.6 million travel-supported jobs lost—65% of all U.S. jobs lost last year.

South-Central Florida is one of 11 Metroplex initiatives nationwideThe procedures will require additional training of air traffic controllers and automation upgrades at air traffic control facilitiesComprehensive project will improve the efficiency of airspace in the South-Central Florida Metroplex area The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on April 22 will implement the first phase of the South-Central Florida Metroplex, the agency’s plan to move flights more safely and efficiently across the southern half of the state. Metroplex procedures will allow flights that are more direct and have more efficient climb and descent profiles.  The agency will publish 54 new procedures on April 22. Seventeen of the procedures will require additional training of air traffic controllers and automation upgrades at air traffic control facilities before they can be implemented. We expect this to occur by mid-August. While these procedures are being published as a package, they are not intended for simultaneous use.  They will be available for pilots and air traffic controllers depending on weather and operational requirements. Air traffic controllers occasionally may direct aircraft off published routes for safety, efficiency or to reroute them around weather systems.  The comprehensive project will improve the efficiency of airspace in the South-Central Florida Metroplex area by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures to and from airports. New routes include some changes in aircraft flight paths and altitudes in certain areas, but will not result in any ground disturbance or increase the number of aircraft operations at any of the airports. The agency designed the new procedures to follow existing flight tracks when possible. Community involvement was a critical part of the Metroplex environmental process. The FAA conducted extensive outreach to the public before issuing its final decision on the project. The agency held 29 public workshops and two public comment periods totaling 120 days in 2019 and 2020. The agency also evaluated and responded to 3,239 comments in the Final EA. The FAA issued the Finding of No Significant Impact-Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project in October 2020. South-Central Florida is one of 11 Metroplex initiatives nationwide, and it is the final project to be implemented. The FAA will implement the second and final phase of the project in August 2021.

The threat of COVID-19 variants may severely delay air travel recovery - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Get Sick. Get Home. This is the guarantee COVAC GLOBAL gives to those traveling to a growing list of five star resorts. GLOBAL now added Domestic COVID-19 Repatriation Without Hospitalization to its Global Membership Program - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Innovation in commercial space transportation is increasing dramatically, and policy needs to keep up - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

New Center of Excellence to be an important dimension of positioning the Alliance to deliver on its post-Coronavirus strategy - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Thailand has low number of COVID-19 infections, but had always put safety over tourism. Starting in October the Kingdom sees a realistic chance to reopen tourism to its southern resort destinations for vaccinated visitors. - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

New route from Alaska's largest city to the Twin Cities will provide more nonstops to the state of Alaska - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Aviation leaders launch first in-flight 100% sustainable aviation fuel emissions study on commercial passenger jet - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Travelport will roll out several enhanced functionalities to simplify how its tens of thousands of connected agencies shop and manage NDC bookings with American Airlines - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

As the COVID-19 coronavirus appears to winding down with vaccines being administered around the globe, attempts to reignite tourism may actually put a damper on drawing visitors. - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Successful implementation of IATA Travel Pass demonstrates that technology can help travelers and governments to manage travel health credentials - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Frankfurt Airport implements extensive countermeasures to reduce costs - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

To secure health of the population, restrictions are extended until 23.59 pm of April 16, 2021 - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Demand for leisure city travel, vacations in the suburbs, family trips and study tours showed a strong upward trend - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

After almost 12 months together under lockdown restrictions, families should be looking forward to escaping to warmer climes and reunite with loved ones on holiday. - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

The aviation industry is conscious about its impact on environment and, as pilots, we are taking our responsibility for curbing the climate threat - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Uganda Airlines' targeted initial routes with the A330 are London, Dubai, Guangzhou and Mumbai - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Expanding Pre-Clear Program to Japan and South Korea simplifies the travel experience for Hawaiian Airlines' international guests - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Even a guy like Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic has no crystal ball when it comes to the damage the COVID-19 pandemic is inflicting on the aviation industry including his airline. The light at the end of the tunnel with vaccine and some help is visibile - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

The aircraft, on its way from the capital Nur-Sultan, reportedly crashed when attempting to make a landing at the runway - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

The recent initiative between Lufthansa and DB Bahn confirms the trend in Europe - fast trains are replacing domestic flights. - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

Delta Air Lines is investing in touchless features throughout the travel journey and testing digital seatback menus on select international flights - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

It is crucial that states implement this guidance, particularly as they plan for the restart of international aviation when borders are able to open - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online

$14,500 civil penalty proposed against airline passenger for interfering with flight attendants who instructed him to wear a face mask and stop consuming alcohol he had brought on board the aircraft - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News Online