Security incident halts flights at Birmingham Airport

Flights at Birmingham Airport were halted today after a suspect package was found on an Emerald Airlines flight that had just taken off and was heading to Belfast.

A number of flights were either delayed or had to be diverted as the Emerald Airlines ATR aircraft operating the flight on behalf of Aer Lingus, returned to Birmingham and its passengers and crew off-loaded and investigations took place.

West Midlands Police confirmed they were called to the airport at around 16:00 following the discovery of the suspicious package.  In a statement, they said, "All passengers and crew were evacuated and specialist officers including the dog unit searched the plane."  

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed some flights were diverted during the two hours the airport was closed. Train services were also affected at the nearby Birmingham International Railway station.  Network Rail confirmed that at 18:20 all rail lines had reopened but disruption was likely to continue for some time. 

The undeclared item was later advised to be not a security risk. 

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Finnair starts flights to Tartu, European culture capital 2024

Finnair starts a year-round service to Tartu in Southern Estonia as of March 31, connecting the university city to Helsinki with two daily flights six days a week. The flights connect smoothly with most of Finnair’s European, Asian, and US destinations. The flights are supported by the Tartu City Government as PSO traffic.  

Tartu is the European Capital of Culture in 2024, with over 300 events arranged in the city and in Southern Estonia during 2024.  

Finnair is the only airline operating to Tartu. The flight time between Helsinki and Tartu is approximately 40 minutes, and the flights are operated by ATR aircraft. Flights to Tartu will depart Finnair’s Helsinki hub at 1:50pm and 11:55pm, arriving at Tartu at 2:35pm and 12:40am (+1) local time respectively. On the return, flights will depart the Estonian city at 6am and 3pm, arriving at the Finnish capital at 6:40am and 3:40pm respectively. 

 The new services will complement Finnair’s existing flights between Helsinki and Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, which currently operate up to ten times per day. 

Finnair is the only airline operating to Tartu. The flight time between Helsinki and Tartu is approximately 40 minutes, and the flights are operated by ATR aircraft. Flights will depart Finnair’s Helsinki hub at 1:50pm and 11:55pm, arriving into Tartu at 2:35pm and 12:40am (+1) local time respectively. On the return, flights will depart the Estonian city at 6am and 3pm, arriving into the Finnish capital at 6:40am and 3:40pm respectively. 

The new services will complement Finnair’s existing flights between Helsinki and Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, which currently operate up to ten times per day. 

Universal Hydrogen starts flight test programme of its regional aircraft.....

Universal Hydrogen hosted a kickoff event for a flight test earlier this week and a maturation campaign for its regional products. The campaign comes on the heels of a successful March 2023 first flight of the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell-powered aeroplane and the largest aeroplane ever to cruise principally on hydrogen. 

The record-setting first flight was followed by a successful June 2023 ferry of the aircraft from Moses Lake, Wash. to Mojave, Calif., which also included several “firsts” and demonstrated an expanded operating envelope for the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Universal Hydrogen has now achieved 10 test flights as it marches towards its goal of commercial entry into service in 2026.

The kickoff flight lasted approximately 20 minutes during which the flaps and landing gear were retracted and the aircraft reached 5,000 feet MSL before returning for several passes over the airport with the conventional engine throttled back and the hydrogen powertrain at full power to measure noise level reduction that fuel cell-electric propulsion is expected to deliver. The hydrogen fuel cell powertrain was operated at maximum power during takeoff and operated throughout the flight.

“It's truly exciting to see Universal Hydrogen's zero emission plane flying over California’s skies," said Angelina Galiteva, ARCHES CEO. “It's a great example of how California-based companies like Universal Hydrogen are working to alleviate the impacts of climate change and improve local air quality all while bringing tangible community benefits like good paying jobs and technological innovation to California. We look forward to partnering with Universal Hydrogen, as part of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) hydrogen hub, to make zero emission flight a commercial reality for everyone!”

ATR and Air New Zealand take partnership to next level to accelerate decarbonisation of aviation

Regional aircraft manufacturer ATR, and leading New Zealand carrier Air New Zealand recently announced they are deepening their existing partnership, on a mission to accelerate the development and introduction of low-emission aircraft technology in New Zealand. This collaboration will enable both ATR and Air New Zealand to go deeper into their exploration of disruptive innovations, the result of which will be decisive to shape the future of regional aviation.

Through an initiative called ‘Mission Next Gen Aircraft’, Air New Zealand is partnering with several industry and academic stakeholders to replace its Q300 domestic fleet with a more sustainable option from 2030. Offering today the most responsible regional aircraft on the market, ATR has launched a feasibility study on its ATR ‘EVO’ concept, demonstrating its ambition to continue to drive the future of the regional market towards net-zero carbon emissions.

Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability Officer Kiri Hannifin said: “Through our partnerships with Airbus and ATR we’ve been able to deepen our understanding of the impact green hydrogen and battery hybrid aircraft may have on our network, operations and infrastructure, as well as the opportunities and challenges of flying low and zero emissions aircraft in New Zealand. Working with the world’s leading innovators is critical to addressing the climate crisis. These partners were selected because they are taking action now to progress decarbonising the aviation industry.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR combine efforts to achieve 100% sustainable aviation fuel readiness for PW127-powered ATR aircraft

Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR, the world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, have agreed to collaborate on an initiative to achieve 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) readiness in PW127 series engines, including the new PW127XT powering next-generation ATR deliveries, by 2025.

“Our collaboration with ATR will be underway throughout 2023 and 2024 and builds on our recent 100% SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines, which was an industry first for regional aviation,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Alongside our efforts to continually enhance aircraft engine efficiency, SAF has a critical role to play on the journey to achieve the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. While all Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have already been certified for 50% SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100% SAF blends in future will allow us to maximize their potential for decarbonization.”

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s chief executive officer added, “It is our collective responsibility as an industry to continue taking action to ensure that the vital connections provided by our aircraft across the globe are operated sustainably. We have recently demonstrated with our collaborators, Braathens Regional Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Canada, that ATR aircraft are SAF-ready. Now, we need to continue to join forces to increase SAF availability, as part of our common journey towards net-zero.” 

In June 2022, Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR and Braathens jointly conducted a successful flight test on an ATR 72-600 aircraft with both Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines fueled exclusively with SAF. ATR is aiming to obtain the authorization to use 100% SAF compatible fuel for ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in the next phase of the program.

Working together, Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR will conduct the necessary compatibility studies, engineering analyses, and aircraft ground and flight tests, among others. Certification of 100% SAF will ultimately depend on ASTM International defining a specification for that fuel, which we expect could happen as soon as 2025. The program will adhere to standards established by ASTM International.

Aer Lingus Regional to start flights to Belfast City Airport from East Midlands Airport

Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, today announces a new service from East Midlands Airport (EMA) to Belfast City.

The East Midlands to Belfast City service will start on Sunday 26 March, initially as a daily service, and will increase up to double daily from mid-April. Tickets are on sale now at www.aerlingus.com

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said: “We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport. As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, this new route will no doubt be warmly welcomed. Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue growing these services in the months ahead.”

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted that the Aer Lingus Regional service between EMA and Belfast City will begin next month. This news will be well received by the passengers who make use of this popular route which is an important part of our domestic offer. We look forward to working with the airline as they seek further opportunities to grow their operation here.”

At least 40 killed in Nepal plane crash

An ATR 72 aircraft operated by Nepal's Yeti Airlines carrying 72 people has crashed near an airport in central Nepal killing at least 40 people according to local authorities. 

The Yeti Airlines aircraft was operating a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara an appears to have crashed whilst on approach to landing and caught fire, hampering rescue efforts, just under a mile from the airport. 

In videos that have surfaced on social media appear to show the plane flying low over a built-up area before falling sideways out of control. Scores of Nepalese soldiers are reported to be involved in rescue and recovery operations at the crash site in a gorge by the Seti River. 

According to Sudarshan Bartaula,  a spokesperson for the carrier,  there were 72 people on the ATR 72 aircraft at the time of the accident including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals. 

Plane maker ATR issued a short statement, "ATR has been informed that an accident occurred in Nepal involving an ATR 72-500. Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by this. The ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation and the customer."

The Prime Minister called an emergency meeting earlier and the country will observe a national day of mourning tomorrow. 

#YetiAirlines ATR 72 (9N-ANC) has crashed in #Nepal. There were 68 passengers and 4 cabin crew on board.#katmandu #ATR72 pic.twitter.com/vn7vSb0N2Y

— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) January 15, 2023

19 killed in Precision Air crash as flight goes down in Lake Victoria, Tanzania

Photo Reuters

According to the latest reports as many as 19 people have been killed in a Precision Air flight that crash-landed in Lake Victoria during bad weather during an approach to Bukoba, Tanzania, just before 9am this morning. 

Originally it was reported by the state broadcaster that three people had died in the crash, with scores taken to a local hospital.  It isn't clear if some of those are included in the death toll currently announced by Prime minister Kassim Majaliwa.  

A  Precision Air spokesperson advised flight PW494 from the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam to Bukoba had been involved in an accident as it came into land at 08.53 this morning, local time. The aircraft, registered as 5H-PWF, was an ATR42-500 and was carrying some 39 passengers including an infant at the time of the crash.  There were also four crew members on the aircraft and the airline says the names of passengers and crew on board the aircraft will not be released until all next-of-kin have been notified

The spokesperson advised, "Precision Air extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the passenger and crew involved in this tragic accident. The company will strive to provide them with information and whatever assistance they will require in this difficult time. "

In 2006, the airline embarked on a fleet modernization programme that saw it sign a contract with ATR for seven brand-new state-of-the-art aircraft. The last of the seven aircraft arrived in September 2010. In 2012 Precision Air embarked on another fleet modernization programme which saw Precision Air become the first airline in the world to operate ATR 42-600.  The current fleet consists of, Five 70 seater ATR 72-500, Three 48 seater ATR 42-500 and 1 48 seater ATR 42-600.

The airline was established in 1993 as a private charter air company operating a five-seater Piper Aztec aircraft. Its initial line of business mainly entailed providing connections to tourists visiting the rich natural attractions of Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, in northern Tanzania, the Zanzibar Island in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the country from Arusha town as its base.

The vast nature of Tanzania coupled with a growing demand for air transport services as the country started to embrace a free market economy soon drove Precision Air into operating scheduled flights maintaining Arusha as its base. The first flights were scheduled using a seven-seater one engine Cessna 207, one seven-seater Cessna 402, two eleven-seater Cessna 404s and the nineteen-seater LET 410 until mid-1990s when the airline introduced the bigger and more comfortable ATR fleet.

ATR appoints Rahul Domergue as Corporate Secretary and General Counsel

Rahul Domergue has been appointed Corporate Secretary and General Counsel of ATR, the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer, effective from 1 October 2022. Rahul joins ATR’s Executive Committee, reporting directly to the new Chief Executive Officer, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, and heading the Legal, Ethics & Compliance, Environment & Public Affairs, and Facility Management functions. Rahul succeeds Frédéric Torrea who starts a new role as Head of Export Control at Airbus Helicopters.

Previously Head of Contracts, Litigation and Intellectual Property at Airbus Helicopters since 2012, Rahul started his career in 1999 as a business lawyer for Veolia Environnement in Paris. Rahul joined the Thales Aerospace division in 2002, then NHIndustries in 2007 – a joint venture between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Stork Fokker – where he set up and headed the Legal department supporting the NH90 helicopter programme. Since January 2022, he also acted as Crisis Management Team Director within the helicopter division of Airbus.

Rahul is 49 years old and holds a degree from the University of Paris X in English Law and a Masters in International Business Law from the University of Aix-en-Provence.

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations

The new Japanese airline will provide essential connectivity in Japan, with the most responsible regional aircraft on the market.

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations Photo ATR

Regional aircraft maker ATR and Japanese airline Toki Air are celebrating the delivery of an ATR 72-600 via lessor NAC. Covered by a ten-year ATR Global Maintenance Agreement, the aircraft will support Toki Air’s mission of revitalising Niigata city and the surrounding regions of Japan. The carrier plans to start operations in 2023.

The fourth airline to operate ATR aircraft in Japan, Toki Air has chosen the name of an ancestral bird also called ‘Japanese crested ibis’, mainly living in Sado island. This is a symbol of the preservation of nature in Japan. It represents the airline’s commitment to connecting areas that coexist with nature, operating the lowest CO2 emissions and most fuel-efficient aircraft. The new ATR 72-600 sports a livery representing the spread wings of Toki.

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations Photo ATR

Masaki Hasegawa, Representative Director of Toki Air, commented: “We are pleased to start operating our ATR 72-600 aircraft soon. Thanks to their unrivalled versatility and responsible and affordable performance, ATR aircraft are the ideal choice for us as an airline and for our country. This first aircraft will allow us to serve our higher purpose by providing a responsible and reliable air connection to the communities of the Niigata Prefecture and surrounding regions. We look forward to seeing Toki flying in the skies of Japan.”

ATR Chief Executive Officer, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, added: “Our long-term relationship with NAC and the confidence of the lessors’ community in our aircraft allow new airlines such as Toki Air to offer their passengers the most modern and sustainable aircraft on the regional market. The support we will be able to provide through the ATR Global Maintenance Agreement will also ensure the most reliable and efficient services.”

Norman C.T. Liu, President & CEO of NAC, said: “We are pleased to welcome Toki Air as our newest customer. We wish all the team at Toki Air every success and look forward to a long-term, successful partnership.”

In countries committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and preserving biodiversity such as Japan, ATR aircraft have proven to be successful: they connect communities and businesses across the archipelago in the most responsible way. There are currently 15 ATR aircraft flying across the country and ATR foresees a potential for 100 ATR aircraft in the medium term.

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations Photo ATR

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations Photo ATR

Toki Air takes delivery of an ATR 72-600 to start its operations Photo ATR

Universal Hydrogen opens Engineering Design Centre and European Headquarters in Toulouse, France....

Universal Hydrogen Co has opened its engineering design centre and European headquarters in Toulouse, France. Located in the historic Hangar B16 at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, which was originally built in the 1940s and was first used as a civil hangar for aircraft maintenance before being occupied by Airbus during the development of the Guppy and the Caravelle.

The firm held a special event to mark the occasion, which was attended by industry leaders and dignitaries. Universal Hydrogen also unveiled its newly-liveried ATR 72 test aircraft used for developing the hydrogen retrofit kit and hydrogen module operational handling experiments.

“Toulouse is the cradle of the European aerospace industry and has been an essential element of our talent and partner strategy,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. “We’re eager to showcase our progress toward decarbonizing aviation.”

Universal Hydrogen also displayed its liquid hydrogen modular capsule technology which is a key focus area for the Toulouse team and has exceeded key performance targets in latest full-scale prototype testing. 

“The EU has taken a leading role in developing hydrogen as a near-term decarbonization option for transport applications, including aviation,” said Pierre Farjounel, General Manager Europe of Universal Hydrogen. “This is one of the main reasons we chose to have a significant EU footprint for Universal Hydrogen and we are keen to leverage Toulouse’s historical role as a leader in aerospace innovation to position the region as a leading hub in climate tech.”

Increasing opportunities for regional aircraft in Japan says ATR

 

Photo ATR

ATR, the world leader in regional aviation, is stepping up its presence in Japan as the country sees an increase in demand for regional aviation in the wake of the pandemic.

Speaking in Japan today, ATR CEO Stefano Bortoli, said: “We see 100 ATR aircraft flying in Japan in a few years. Air transport is crucial for the archipelago, where air routes are essential for domestic travel and transportation. We want to help ensure that aviation contributes to a prosperous future for Japan by connecting its regions ever more sustainably and affordably. Most of the new ATRs will replace older, less efficient models, and will connect islands and remote regions with the country’s major cities.”

Promoting economic development and connecting communities in all parts of the country while ensuring the lowest level of environmental impact is one of Japan’s main challenges. ATR aircraft already provide an immediate answer as they burn 40% less fuel and emit 40% less CO2 than similar-size regional jets, contributing to the Japanese government’s goal to cut emissions by 46% by 2030. The numerous innovations shortly available including the new PW127XT engine and the possibility to use up to 100% sustainable aviation fuel will further reduce ATR’s emissions.

Fabrice Vautier, SVP Commercial, said: “Japan and ATR are a great match. The Japanese airlines that operate ATR aircraft can connect all regions, even remote ones, to larger hubs in Japan in a sustainable manner, thanks to the unique combination of low operating costs and low emissions. Soon, with the Short Take-Off and Landing version of our aircraft, we will contribute to serving even smaller airports across the Japanese archipelago: there are 10 airports in Japan with short airstrips that provide vital links for those communities.”

Photo ATR

ATR entered the Japanese market six years ago. There are already 15 ATR aircraft flying across Japan, with three operators: Amakusa Airline, JAC and HAC. Late September 2021, HAC took delivery of a brand-new ATR 42-600, using Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the first leg of its ferry flight. At the beginning of May 2022, ATR delivered an ATR 42-600 to JAC. The aircraft sports a livery representing the leaves of Kaikouzu, which represent the preservation of nature.

Moreover, Toki Air and ORC will soon start operating ATR aircraft, further demonstrating that the ATR aircraft family is optimised to meet the needs of the Japanese market, thanks to its performance and versatility, reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and low operating costs – all of which contribute to making air transport more responsible and accessible.

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Universal Hydrogen and Connect Airlines announce firm order for conversion of 75 ATR 72-600 regional aircraft to be powered by green hydrogen

The agreement, which also includes purchase rights for 25 additional aircraft conversions, places Connect Airlines on a trajectory to be the world’s first zero-emission passenger airline....

At the UP.Summit, an annual gathering of leaders in air transport innovation hosted by venture capital firm UP.Partners, Universal Hydrogen Co. and Connect Airlines, a division of Waltzing Matilda Aviation, announced that the airline has placed a firm order to convert 75 ATR 72-600 regional aeroplanes to hydrogen powertrains, with purchase rights for an additional 25 conversions. Deliveries will start in 2025. The agreement follows an initial letter of intent (LOI) between the companies announced in 2021.

“We are building Connect Airlines from the ground up as a smarter, more sustainable travel option for North American travellers,” said John Thomas, CEO of Connect Airlines. “We have committed to being the world’s first true zero-emission airline and the only way to accomplish this in the near term is with hydrogen.”  

“This order places Connect firmly in the vanguard of the march to get aviation on a path to meeting Paris Agreement emissions targets,” said Paul Eremenko, co-founder and CEO of Universal Hydrogen. “This march will very soon need to turn into a sprint if the industry has any hope of decarbonizing in time without having to curtail the growth in passenger volumes. We will need to convert most of the regional fleet in the 2020s and ensure that the new narrowbody aircraft built in the 2030s are hydrogen-powered—there is no other way to get there.”

Photo ATR

In addition to a hydrogen conversion kit for the ATR 72-600, the most popular in-production regional turboprop on the market, Universal Hydrogen offers hydrogen fuel services to airports using a modular capsule technology that enables the transport and handling of hydrogen using the existing intermodal freight network and cargo handling equipment. This eliminates the need for costly and lengthy airport infrastructure upgrades and makes nearly every airport in the world hydrogen-ready. As part of today’s agreement, Universal Hydrogen will provide fuel services to the Connect fleet enabling operating unit economics that are equivalent to or better than those of hydrocarbon-powered ATR 72s from the very first delivery in 2025.

Exeter Airport celebrates launch of Belfast flights

Exeter Airport is celebrating the launch of new flights to Belfast with up to five flights a week with Emerald Airlines.

 
Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional flights has started another brand new service,  this time from Exeter Airport to Belfast. 

This new route started on Thursday, 26 May and is the second route from Exeter operated by Emerald Airlines, following the launch of new flights to Dublin last month, with seamless connections and US customs and immigration pre-clearance to New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington and Toronto on Aer Lingus’ North American network.

Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, said: “Belfast is a popular route from Exeter and we’re delighted so see flights start today. It means we’ll be offering 29 destinations for 2022/23 and providing passengers across the region with even more choice from their local airport.”

Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines, said the new route was part of an expansion of services from its Belfast base, which will also see the addition of two new ultra-low fuel burn aircraft to its fleet.

Exeter Airport which began operating in 1937, is a UK Certified Aerodrome with a runway lenth of 2076 metres. 

He added: “The launch of our Exeter service comes just in time for the long bank holiday weekend, allowing passengers to book last-minute getaways with convenient timings and low fares, making the most of their time off.”

For details of all 29 destinations available from Exeter Airport in 2022-23 visit https://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/flights-holidays/

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Help for Heroes Charity helps to rebuild the lives of those with injuries and illnesses sustained while serving in the British Armed Forces. No matter when someone served, H4H give them the support they need to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives. They provide support to the whole family to help them all cope with the challenges they face. Long-term recovery is more than repairing damaged bodies and minds; it’s about rebuilding lives.

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Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, commences services from Belfast City Airport

Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, today commenced its services from Belfast City Airport, with its inaugural flight from Belfast City to Birmingham departing this morning, 24th March, at 06:50 AM.

 

The first phase of services started today to Birmingham, with Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester commencing on 27th March.  Services from Belfast City to Glasgow and Exeter will commence from early May, 2022.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said:

“Today is a very exciting day for us at Emerald Airlines. With our growing team of Cabin and Flight Crew based in Belfast City Airport, combined with the customer demand to travel again, Belfast has always been an important market for us. 

 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, we want to be the airline of choice for customers travelling, be it for business or leisure, to and from Belfast City Airport – and today is the first of many routes we will be servicing to achieve just that.”

 

Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus, said: "Today marks another important day for Aer Lingus Regional services. The commencement of these services from Belfast City Airport will be welcome news for customers and for connectivity to and from Northern Ireland. Customers will be able to enjoy the value, convenience and warm welcome that Aer Lingus is proud to deliver.”

 

Passengers are now able to book flights from Belfast City Airport to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Glasgow, and Exeter. Passengers will be able to earn Avios points on all Aer Lingus Regional flights, providing continuity and benefits of the current services offered by both Aer Lingus and British Airways at Belfast City Airport. 

 

Ellie McGimpsey, Aviation Development Manager at George Best Belfast City Airport, which is just a five-minute drive from the city centre, said:  “Birmingham has always been an incredibly popular route from Belfast City so it seems fitting to launch our partnership with Emerald Airlines with flights to Birmingham. We’re certain Birmingham, along with Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds Bradford all starting later this week, will be successful services used by both business and leisure passengers. 

 

This is a long-term partnership, and we very much look forward to further developing the network and providing additional frequency in the coming months.”

 

Aer Lingus and British Airways' services to London City and London Heathrow from Belfast City Airport remain unchanged.

 

Aer Lingus Regional flights will be operated by the ATR72-600, the latest generation of turboprop aircraft combining unmatched environmental and economic performance.  These ultra-low fuel burn aircraft emit up to 40% less CO₂ on these short, regional flights.

Schedule & Avios
 

Airport	Route	Start Date	Frequency	Aircraft
Birmingham	BHD-BHX	24-MAR-22	Up to 3x Daily	ATR72-600
Leeds Bradford	BHD-LBA	27-MAR-22	Up to 2x Daily	ATR72-600
Manchester	BHD-MAN	27-MAR-22	Up to 3x Daily	ATR72-600
Edinburgh	BHD-EDI	27-MAR-22	Up to 2x Daily	ATR72-600
Exeter	BHD-EXT	08-MAY-22	Up to 5x weekly	ATR72-600
Glasgow	BHD-GLA	08-MAY-22	Daily	ATR72-600

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Silver Airways looking to hire more pilots......

Did you know that Silver Airways operates cargo flights for Amazon Prime? 

It is true, they do and the Florida based regional airline is currently recruiting First Officers and Direct Entry Captains for both cargo and passenger flights.

As part of its development and expansion plans Silver Airways will replace its Saab 340 operations in the Caribbean and continue to invest in more ATR aircraft - 10 more expected to arrive during 2022 and is looking to recruit up to 200 pilots.

Captain Charles Osborne commented, “Silver Airways is an amazing place to work. It has all the qualities for a bright future.”

As the North American launch customer of the newly redesigned and technologically advanced, customer-friendly ATR-600 series aircraft, Silver Airways offers passengers an unparalleled flying experience and reliability, and pilots enjoy the industry’s most advanced cockpit.  The new ATR-600 series features the latest innovations in cockpit technology with simplified, integrated LCD advanced functions, enhancing safety and improved handling for pilots, as well as the latest in avionics technology. The state-of-the-art, all-glass cockpit further reduces flight crew workload and enhances situational awareness while providing better reliability, maintenance cost savings and weight reduction.

Silver Airways Pilots......

Immediate Entry to the Left Seat – new-hire pilots with 1000 hours of 121 PIC will enter as Captain on day one

People + Packages – in addition to passenger service, Silver launched a new business venture to begin first-ever freighter operations in conjunction with Prime in November 2021

Fleet expansion – Silver continues to build its fleet of ATR-600 series aircraft with more on the way! 

Employer of choice - Silver offers the best of both worlds: a stable, future-focused career, and great quality of life 

Onward and upward - many Silver alums now fly for Atlas, Delta, jetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, FedEx and more 

Company Assets - Company-paid ATP/CTP Course, iPad, Known Crew Member, and parking in-base 

Crew bases – Our pilots are happy to call AFW (Amazon Air), and FLL, SJU, and TPA home base 

Starting First Officer pay and benefits:

$71.83 per flight hour

Signing Bonus: $17,000

Annual High Season Bonus: $4,000

Per Diem: $2.15 per hour

Minimum Daily Rate: 4 credit hours 

Minimum Monthly Guarantee: 75 credit hours

Deadhead Pay: 100%

401(k) with Company match 

Accrued Personal and Vacation time 

Holiday Pay: 150% multiplier 

Travel privileges with national and international air carriers 

Silver Airways Announces Achievement of Major Strategic Initiatives

Silver Airways Positioned to Accelerate Growth with Successful Completion of Its Recapitalization, Fleet Restructuring, Expansion of Passenger Service, and Launch of its Regional Air Cargo Operations.

Silver Airways, America’s leading independent regional airline and the U.S. launch operator of the fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly ATR-600 series turboprop aircraft, has successfully implemented critical strategic objectives including raising $50 million of new capital through the placement of senior secured convertible notes to provide further support to Silver’s business plan and capital structure and further accelerates its growth. Silver Airways, owned by affiliates of investment firm Versa Capital Management, LLC (“Versa Capital”), operates regional passenger networks in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, and provides regional cargo services with five ATR-500 aircraft operating out of Ft. Worth, Texas.

Silver’s new financing was arranged by Jefferies LLC aviation banking team and was fully subscribed to by funds and accounts managed by Brigade Capital Management, LP (“Brigade”), a leading global credit asset management firm with $30 billion under management, after a competitive placement process.

Silver has also recently implemented the following corporate initiatives to position the airline for growth and continued expansion of its customer offerings:

Entered into new or amended aircraft leases with all of Silver’s aircraft lessors, thereby providing significant financial and operational flexibility for the airline.

Resumed new aircraft deliveries with two factory-new ATR42-600 aircraft received by Silver in December 2021, bringing its ATR-600 passenger fleet to eleven aircraft, with further significant ATR-600 fleet growth planned for 2022.

Obtained regulatory approval to begin flying ATR aircraft in cargo operations and placed five ATR72-500 freighters into service late in 2021 under a commercial contract and began delivering cargo during the recent holiday season.

Expanded Silver’s long-standing code sharing relationship with United Airlines to include all Silver markets in the Caribbean and additional routes in the Southeastern U.S.

Finalized integration of San Juan-based Seaborne Airlines into Silver’s operations.

Re-launched Silver’s highly acclaimed website – www.silverairways.com – creating a simplified travel experience for our valued customers.

Introduced expanded passenger service in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana.

Silver President and CEO Steven A. Rossum said, “Without minimizing the tremendous support of so many business partners and stakeholders throughout this unprecedented period, none of this could have been accomplished without the dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and grit of Silver and Seaborne’s loyal Team Members who continued to provide safe, reliable, and customer-friendly service to our customers every day. Silver and its Team Members now deservedly have the opportunity for long-term stability and growth with an airline poised to undergo rapid and dramatic expansion.”

Rossum added, “After the most extraordinary period in commercial aviation history, we are humbled and energized by achieving these transformational initiatives. With new, long-term financing, a fleet portfolio comprised of young, fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly aircraft, the final integration of our San Juan-based subsidiary Seaborne Airlines, and our new cargo operations all in place, Silver is now positioned to execute on its tremendous opportunities in the regional passenger and cargo sectors.”

Gregory L. Segall, Chairman of Silver and of its owner Versa Capital commented, “Over the last few years, Steve Rossum and his leadership team steered Silver through extraordinary challenges and implemented bold initiatives that have validated Silver’s value proposition to the airline’s passenger, codeshare and cargo partners. By transforming our fleet into the modern and efficient ATR turboprops and with new long-term financing secured, Silver now has the resources to aggressively execute its growth strategy. Having achieved these successes, we are excited to be a part of Silver’s bright future.”

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Finnair complements Turku and Tampere flight connections with bus connections !

Photo Mikko Pylkkö

Finnair will resume flights to two of its domestic destinations, Turku and Tampere, where flight connections have been on hold since spring 2020 due to the pandemic. Finnair will complement the flight connections to Turku and Tampere with a new type of bus connection, to reduce the CO2 footprint of these routes. The routes are among the shortest in Finnair network, although they have been operated with energy-efficient ATR aircraft, their emissions load per passenger is clearly heavier than on other routes.  

“Turku and Tampere are an important part of our network. Travelling on these routes focuses on international exchange travel, and we want to continue to offer the best range of connections to customers in the regions.” says Perttu Jolma, VP, Traffic Planning at Finnair. 

"Combining different modes of transport is an important tool in reducing carbon emissions from transport, and it is also in line with Finland's national emission reduction targets." 

The scheduled time for flights to Turku and Tampere is 35 minutes, but the actual flight time is even shorter about 25 minutes. Such short flights are usually operated only in areas where the terrain is difficult and the flights cross-sea areas or mountains, for example. Intermodality is a growing trend, and there is already a wider debate in Europe on how to limit the number of short-haul flights.