Winter is coming – so now’s your best and last chance this year to visit Game of Thrones city

Winter is coming – so it’s high time Game of Thrones fans booked a flight from East Midlands Airport to Dubrovnik to discover the real-life backdrops to some of the hit show’s key scenes.

Jet2 and TUI each offer flights of just under three hours from EMA to Dubrovnik until the end of October, resuming next spring. With the beautiful coastal Croatian city continuing to enjoy temperatures up to 24 degrees Celsius this month, and crowds smaller than during the peak season, it’s arguably the ideal time to visit for a short break.

A short shuttle bus trip from its airport, Dubrovnik doubled as Kings Landing during filming of Game of Thrones and plenty of people will enjoy finding locations for places in the show such as Blackwater Bay, the Red Keep and the steps and steep alleyways used for the infamous Walk of Shame scene, among many others.

While Game of Thrones tours of the old town are available, it’s a phenomenon that's easy to avoid, and there’s plenty to charm visitors who are unfamiliar with the fantasy TV series. The whole length of the old town’s fortified walls can be walked, offering stunning views across the Adriatic Sea and into the labyrinthine streets of the old town below. Entry is 35 euros – but a ticket is available for the same price which allows access to a number of other cultural attractions as well as local public transport.

GA Telesis acquires three on-lease aircraft from Avolon

GA Telesis, the pioneering leader in integrated aviation services, has completed the acquisition of a three-aircraft portfolio from Avolon. The aircraft are all mid-life narrowbodies and are on-lease to airline operators in Europe, Japan, and Australia respectively.

GA Telesis' Leasing, Investment, Financing & Trading ("LIFT") Group continues to grow and diversify its aircraft operating lease portfolio. In addition to this acquisition, LIFT has commitments in place to purchase a significant number of additional aircraft by year-end thus leading to its largest asset portfolio by total size.

"We are pleased to complete this acquisition from Avolon and to add them to our growing list of top-tier trading partners," said David Ellis, Senior Vice President and Head of the Asset Transaction Group at GAT.

"We are happy to have completed this transaction with GA Telesis and value our continued relationship as strong trading counterparties," said Ross O'Connor, Chief Financial Officer, Avolon.

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Timeshifter entices one million users on its Jet Lag App. Plus new partnership with Lufthansa Group

Timeshifter Inc., the global leader in circadian technology, announced at the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam that its groundbreaking jet lag app has surpassed 1 million user accounts. As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the travel experience, Timeshifter is also excited to announce a new partnership with Lufthansa Group, encompassing Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. Timeshifter's jet lag app is designed to help travelers address the underlying cause of jet lag – circadian disruption – as well as its symptoms.

With over 1 million user accounts and a stellar 4.7/5 user satisfaction rating, Timeshifter's jet lag app is the most-downloaded and highest-rated jet lag app in the world. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned scientists and based on the latest sleep and circadian neuroscience, Timeshifter has become the gold standard for helping travelers quickly adapt to new time zones. With Timeshifter, travelers can create highly personalized jet lag plans based on their chronotype, sleep pattern, itinerary, and personal preferences for caffeine and melatonin use.

Lufthansa Group joins Timeshifter's incredible partner roster, which includes United Airlines, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, and Six Senses, further demonstrating the Timeshifter app's critical role in enhancing the travel experience.

Taiwan design Eexpo to showcase Tainan’s unique culinary, fashion, and its soft power capabilities

The Taiwan Design Expo, the largest annual event in the country’s design industry, will take place from Oct. 26 to Nov. 10 in Tainan, spanning 16 consecutive days. This marks the fifth time Tainan has hosted the expo. The 2024 edition will spotlight Tainan’s “food,” “clothing,” and its “hidden champions,” under the theme “The Next 400.” The expo aims to highlight Tainan’s rich cultural identity and inclusiveness, celebrating the city’s historical roots while showcasing contemporary Taiwanese design to illustrate how Taiwan’s oldest city seamlessly blends its ancient heritage with modern influences and diverse foreign cultures, creating a vibrant cultural tapestry.

According to Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Director Hsieh Shih-yuan, there is a local saying that encapsulates the spirit of old Tainan: “It takes three generations of prosperity to truly appreciate food and clothing.” In the 17th century, Tainan gained prominence as a key player in global maritime trade, which significantly contributed to its wealth and nurtured the city’s vibrant culinary and textile heritage. The West Market in Tainan, which has been in existence for over a century, was recognized as Taiwan's first modern market and celebrated as the finest in East Asia upon its establishment. This iconic market will serve as a key exhibition space during the design expo, featuring thematic displays focused on food and clothing that highlight the richness and essence of Tainan’s local culture.

Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che emphasized that although Tainan is an ancient city, it is filled with innovative energy. Many of Taiwan’s renowned industries—including semiconductors, textiles, orchids, agriculture, and biotechnology—have their roots in Tainan. The 2024 Taiwan Design Expo will take place at the Tainan Art Museum Building 2, where it will showcase these hidden champions and highlight their roots in Tainan as they reach out to the world. Mayor Huang warmly invites international partners to come to Tainan for the 2024 Taiwan Design Expo and experience how the city leverages design to vividly express Taiwan’s culture and industry.

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British Airways has become the first airline to accept the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card

British Airways has become the first airline to accept the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card as an acceptable form of photographic identification on domestic flights.

The change in policy will mean those who have served in the Armed Forces can use their Veteran Card for travel within the UK. 

The move is part of the support provided to veterans by the airline, which employs hundreds of ex-Military personnel in a range of roles from flying to engineering.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our colleagues who have served their country and of the professionalism, skill and experience they bring to our organisation.

“We know through our conversations with veterans that this card provides them with a way of maintaining a tangible link to their military careers.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to make this change as it underlines our commitment to recognising their sacrifice and service.”

Two Airbus H175 helicopters set to soar in Australia with PHI

Two Airbus H175 helicopters have officially entered service with PHI Aviation in Australia, supporting their offshore energy transportation, search and rescue and medical evacuation operations.

PHI, which has pioneered many firsts over its 75-year history, operates bases in Broome, Darwin and Exmouth, Australia. The new H175 helicopters will be based out of Broome, with additional H175s expected to join the fleet in the coming months.

“These state-of-the-art aircraft are a significant addition to our growing fleet in Australia. They elevate our operational capabilities while reinforcing our commitment to sustainable innovation and delivering world-class service to our clients,” said Cory Latiolais, PHI Aviation Chief Operating Officer, Asia Pacific.

“We are pleased to support our long-term customer PHI Aviation with delivery of the H175 helicopters for their current Australian fleet. The high performance of the H175 aircraft in the challenging Western Australian environment is an excellent addition for the PHI Aviation fleet, especially with their focus on search and rescue operations, and marine transfers,” said Christian Venzal, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Australia and New Zealand.

Boeing completes first flight of Thailand’s first AH-6 Little Bird Helicopter

The first of eight Boeing AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopters for the Royal Thai Army completed a successful first flight Aug. 22 at the company’s Mesa, Ariz. site.

“With its superior performance and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment, the Little Bird packs enormous versatility into a small, combat-proven package to get the job done,” said Christina Upah, vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs and senior Boeing Mesa site executive. “We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army to provide Thailand with these critical defence capabilities, and we look forward to supporting training for the first Thai Little Bird pilots in the near future.”

After completing Thailand’s fleet, Boeing will train the Royal Thai Army pilots at its Mesa site and at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, where they will learn to operate the Little Bird and leverage its versatile mission capabilities.

The Royal Thai Army has procured the AH-6 as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance aviation readiness and modernize national defence capabilities. Featuring a purpose-built military fuselage, integrated cockpit, and the latest fully integrated weapons, the AH-6 was designed for a wide range of missions and operating environments to meet customers’ needs around the world.

Boeing was awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Defense as part of a Foreign Military Sales order for eight Little Birds in February 2022, which includes spares, training devices, support equipment, and technical publications for the Thailand customer.

Boeing will also train the Royal Thai Army pilots to leverage the aircraft’s mission capabilities once the fleet is complete

London Stansted scoops Airport of the Year at the UK National Transport Awards 2024

London Stansted has been named Airport of the Year at the prestigious UK National Transport Awards 2024.

The judging panel, made up of senior figures from across the transport industry and government, recognised London Stansted’s achievement of record-breaking passenger numbers every month in the last year, while maintaining a smooth, reliable and consistent airport operational performance throughout the period.

The awards acknowledged Stansted having the best aircraft on time performance (OTP) and lowest on-airport delays among London airports, as well as the airport’s ability to process 99% of passengers safely through security in 15 minutes or less. The judges also referenced the high percentage (48%) of passengers using public transport to access the airport, the best performance of any major UK airport.

The awards, in association with Transport Times magazine and hosted by Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport, and comedian Jon Culshaw, saw Stansted clinch the title from a very competitive shortlist that included Luton Airport, Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Glasgow Airport and our sister airport, East Midlands Airport.

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said   “I’m delighted London Stansted has been named Airport of the Year at the prestigious UK National Transport Awards, and very proud that we have been able to achieve this fantastic recognition on the back of what has been a record-breaking year as we serve more passengers than ever before across our ever-growing route network.

Winning an award such as this requires a huge team effort, so to be the best reflects the great professionalism, dedication, energy and ambition of everyone here at London Stansted to deliver the best possible service for our passengers at every stage of their airport journey.

And I’m also really pleased the awards gave us the opportunity to showcase to the judges many of our other great strengths. This includes our intensive work in providing employment, skills and educational opportunities to people of all ages across the communities we serve, our efforts to ensure the airport is sustainable and accessible to all, and our on-going investment to continually improve our facilities and enhance the customer experience at London Stansted.”

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Virgin Atlantic and SAS codeshare deal.

• The partnership will introduce exciting new destinations, including Barbados, Antigua and Jamaica.
  

SAS and Virgin Atlantic are delighted to announce a new codeshare agreement, strengthening vital business and leisure connections to and from Scandinavia.    

The codeshare partnership, launching on October 7th, will allow SAS customers to connect via Heathrow to additional Virgin Atlantic’s destinations, with availability expanding as approvals are finalized. Virgin Atlantic customers travelling on flights from the US and Canada can purchase seamless onward connections through London Heathrow and Manchester, onto SAS’ services to Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stavanger and Bergen. 

Following SAS’ formal enrolment into SkyTeam on September 1st, of which Virgin Atlantic is the only UK airline, SAS EuroBonus members will receive instant earning and redeeming opportunities when travelling on Virgin Atlantic. Additionally, Flying Club members will be able to earn and redeem their points across SAS services.

SAS EuroBonus Gold and Diamond members alongside Virgin Atlantic’s Gold - Flying Club members, can take advantage of SkyPriority services at London Heathrow, with benefits including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. Virgin Atlantic’s Gold and Silver Flying Club members can take advantage of SkyPriority services and SAS lounges at Stockholm Arlanda, Copenhagen and Oslo airports.

Paul Verhagen, Chief Commercial Officer at SAS, commented,  "We are very pleased to launch this new codeshare partnership with Virgin Atlantic, expanding SAS’s global reach and offering our customers even more travel options to new and exciting destinations such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Antigua, with additional destinations to be introduced later. This collaboration provides EuroBonus members with expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points across Virgin Atlantic’s extensive network, strengthening the value of our loyalty program. We look forward to building a long-lasting and successful partnership with our SkyTeam partner, benefitting travellers on both sides.”

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented,   “We’re delighted to launch a codeshare with our SkyTeam partners at SAS, enhancing our connectivity and offering greater customer benefits to our frequent flyers, who will be able to achieve rewards faster.  As a fellow APEX five-star airline, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with SAS as we continue to broaden our global network.”

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PLAY airlines carried 144,746 passengers in September 2024

PLAY Airlines carried 144,746 passengers in September 2024, a 14.7% decrease compared to last year when 163,784 passengers were flown. However, the load factor increased, rising from 85.0% in September 2023 to 87.3% this year.

Of the passengers flying with PLAY in September, 28.3% were departing from Iceland, 35.8% were flying to Iceland, and 35.9% were connecting passengers (VIA). The number of passengers flying from Iceland increased by 9% compared to last year. In 2023, PLAY had nearly 38 thousand passengers departing from Iceland, while in 2024, this figure grew to nearly 41 thousand marking significant growth in the local market.

The load factor for North American destinations reached 89.7%, an all-time high for a single month. Additionally, the load factor for EU city destinations rose by 6%.

PLAY's on-time performance in September was 90.5%, surpassing last year’s OTP of 85.1%.

New destinations and Sabre launch

KLM's latest Delft house ..... for its 105th anniversary

KLM, the oldest airline in the world still flying under its own name, is celebrating its 105th anniversary this year. Traditionally, KLM unveiled a new Delft Blue House on its anniversary, a miniature version of a building with a special history. For the 21st lustrum, the choice was made for ‘Het huis aan de drie grachten’ in Amsterdam, a national monument that – as the name suggests – borders three canals: the Grimburgwal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. During the festive unveiling, Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM, presented the first copy to Arthur van Dijk, King’s Commissioner in the province of North Holland.

Marjan Rintel, President & CEO KLM said:   "The unveiling of a new KLM house on our anniversary is always a special moment, especially when it is a lustrum,” says Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM. “We are celebrating this anniversary in a challenging time for our company. However, in our 105-year history, we have often faced headwinds and KLM has always shown itself to be creative and resilient in overcoming them. Our goal is and remains a healthy and future-proof KLM. With the package of measures that we recently announced, we are laying the foundation for a strong KLM that will continue to connect the Netherlands with the rest of the world for the next 105 years."

National monument in Renaissance style 

The mansion in the center of Amsterdam dates from 1610 and was built in Dutch Renaissance style. The house has the status of national monument and owes its name to the fact that it has different canals on three sides: the Grimburgwal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal (front) and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. This gives the canal house different angles: diagonal and straight. The house underwent a major renovation in 1909 and has become an architectural masterpiece. The architect, Jan de Meyer, wanted to completely restore the canal house to its 17th-century state after it had been sold, divided and renovated several times since 1687. New window frames, stepped gables and, at the entrance, a sandstone door frame were added to the house. The interior was also included in the restoration project; the oak draught doors and marble floors were replaced, for example. For many years, ‘Het huis aan de drie grachten’ was used as a bookshop and publishing house. 

KLM’s Delft Blue Houses 

Since the 1950s, KLM has been handing out Delft Blue Houses filled with Bols Jenever to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. The houses are miniature versions of buildings in the Netherlands and abroad with a special history and are sought-after collector’s items. Since 1994, the number of houses has been in sync with the age of KLM. Since then, a new one has been added to the collection every year on KLM's birthday on 7th October. 

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Life begins at 40: Airbus Helicopters celebrates four decades in Canada

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of its presence in Canada, Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada explains why adaptability, customer focus and Airbus’ global reach has seen the support offered by the site go from strength to strength – and this is only the beginning.  

Since opening in 1984, the Airbus Helicopters site in Fort Erie, Canada continues to evolve to address the dynamic helicopter market. “Originally the facility was established as a final assembly line (FAL) for the Bo105,” notes President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada, Dwayne Charette, “but I would say the strength of the facility in Canada is our ability to be flexible and adapt.” 

During the last 40 years, the site has evolved to support a growing in-service fleet and the unique missions that require a “Made in Canada” solution, with the addition of Composite Manufacturing, and Dynamic Component Repair (DCR). Also responsible for in-service support, a continuous and strong focus on the customer has underpinned the successful integration of this diverse portfolio of activity, as Charette explains “it’s all about keeping them flying. Our customers fly critical missions, whether it’s emergency medical services, airborne law enforcement, the firefighting that’s been going on in Western Canada or many others. Our connection and the proximity to the customers has ‘fuelled’ our ability to adapt and become what we are today. It’s really about being global but having a local footprint. Which ultimately is all about proximity to the customer.” 

Willing and maple

Beyond providing support for 228 Canadian customers who operate over 760 helicopters, Airbus Helicopters in Canada occupies a key role in the company’s supply chain. “Everything that we make for composites, we’re the sole source for Airbus Helicopters’ platforms, worldwide. For Dynamic Component Repair, we are the centre of excellence for the group, for light helicopter single-engine gearboxes. All these different business lines make Airbus Helicopters Canada unique because it is quite rare to find all these activities in a customer centre.”

Charette believes they play an important role in ensuring customers have a voice. “When we look at what our customers do here in Canada, not everything we do is different, but there is some uniqueness to it,” he notes. “For example, the geographies of where our customers operate can be very different. So, we’re able to bring the customer’s concerns, their voice, their needs, address what we can, what we can’t, then obviously, we’re able to bring that message back to the group as well.”

One example of responding to a customer requirement was a particular EMS operator who had purchased a number of H145s. Although huge numbers of H145 helicopters fly EMS missions worldwide, not all of them operate in the same temperatures as can be found in the Canadian winter. “Operating in Western Canada, occasionally we needed to improve the heating system that would respond to the -40°C temperatures,” notes Charette. “That was something that we were able to design and do here. We gave that feedback to the group and I know there was at least one other customer in a northern climate who actually ended up purchasing that STC.” 

FACTs and figures 

Former MP and minster takes up new role at airport advisory group.

Robert Halfon, former Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education for the Department for Education, and former MP for Harlow, has officially started his new role as Chair of Stansted Airport College (STAC) Advisory Group.

The STAC Advisory Board was set up to ensure the successful ongoing operation of the college and to provide a strategic oversight of the curriculum and quality of provision at Stansted Airport College as well as to help facilitate, develop and manage relationships with employers and other stakeholders.

The Advisory Board is made up of all key relevant stakeholders, including school, employer, local authority and student representatives.

Meeting between three and five times a year, the Advisory Group will support Harlow College and Stansted Airport College in its activities to advise and promote the College wherever possible. Robert brings with him a wealth of experience in both local and national government, making him ideally placed to lead the Advisory Group.

Speaking ahead of taking up his new role, Robert said:  “As former MP for Harlow, I was very proud of my relationship with Harlow College, having visited over 100 times. It is a huge achievement that Harlow College is now one of the best Colleges in the country. That is why I am so pleased, and honoured, to chair the Stansted Airport College Advisory Board. It is wonderful to see this relatively new College become such a success. The only college of its kind in a major airport is an extraordinary achievement.

Airbus reports share buyback transactions 30 Sept. to 4 Oct. 2024

Airbus reports the following share buyback transactions under Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (“EU Market Abuse Regulation”).

The transactions are part of a share buyback programme announced on 9 September 2024, for the purpose of supporting future employee share ownership plan activities and equity-based compensation plans.

The programme is undertaken pursuant to the authority granted to the Airbus SE Board of Directors by shareholders at the Airbus Annual General Meeting held on 10 April 2024, to repurchase up to a maximum of 10% of issued share capital.

Aggregate presentation (per day and market)

Issuer’s name	Issuer’s identifying code	Transaction date	Identifying code of financial instrument	Total daily volume (in number of shares)	Daily weighted average purchase price of shares (EUR)	Market (MIC code)
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	30.09.2024	NL0000235190	114,399	131.9604	XPAR
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	01.10.2024	NL0000235190	151,387	130.3870	XPAR
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	02.10.2024	NL0000235190	232,404	128.0854	XPAR
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	03.10.2024	NL0000235190	43,348	126.8527	XETA
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	03.10.2024	NL0000235190	299,482	126.7497	XPAR
Airbus SE	MINO79WLOO247M1IL051	04.10.2024	NL0000235190	212,209	126.5761	XPAR
		TOTAL		1,053,229	128.1025

The total number of shares purchased under the programme from 9 September 2024 up to 4 October 2024 amounts to 2,127,000 shares and the total consideration of those purchases amounts to € 275,886,936.29.

Detailed reporting of share buyback transactions is available on the Airbus website at:
https://www.airbus.com/en/investors/share-price-and-information#buyback.

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KLM unveiled a new Delft Blue House on its anniversary......

KLM, the oldest airline in the world still flying under its own name, is celebrating its 105th anniversary this year. Traditionally, KLM unveiled a new Delft Blue House on its anniversary, a miniature version of a building with a special history. For the 21st lustrum, the choice was made for ‘Het huis aan de drie grachten’ in Amsterdam, a national monument that – as the name suggests – borders three canals: the Grimburgwal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. During the festive unveiling, Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM, presented the first copy to Arthur van Dijk, King’s Commissioner in the province of North Holland.

Marjan Rintel, President & CEO KLM said:   "The unveiling of a new KLM house on our anniversary is always a special moment, especially when it is a lustrum,” says Marjan Rintel, President and CEO of KLM. “We are celebrating this anniversary in a challenging time for our company. However, in our 105-year history, we have often faced headwinds and KLM has always shown itself to be creative and resilient in overcoming them. Our goal is and remains a healthy and future-proof KLM. With the package of measures that we recently announced, we are laying the foundation for a strong KLM that will continue to connect the Netherlands with the rest of the world for the next 105 years."

National monument in Renaissance style 

The mansion in the center of Amsterdam dates from 1610 and was built in Dutch Renaissance style. The house has the status of national monument and owes its name to the fact that it has different canals on three sides: the Grimburgwal, the Oudezijds Voorburgwal (front) and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. This gives the canal house different angles: diagonal and straight. The house underwent a major renovation in 1909 and has become an architectural masterpiece. The architect, Jan de Meyer, wanted to completely restore the canal house to its 17th-century state after it had been sold, divided and renovated several times since 1687. New window frames, stepped gables and, at the entrance, a sandstone door frame were added to the house. The interior was also included in the restoration project; the oak draught doors and marble floors were replaced, for example. For many years, ‘Het huis aan de drie grachten’ was used as a bookshop and publishing house. 

KLM’s Delft Blue Houses 

Since the 1950s, KLM has been handing out Delft Blue Houses filled with Bols Jenever to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. The houses are miniature versions of buildings in the Netherlands and abroad with a special history and are sought-after collector’s items. Since 1994, the number of houses has been in sync with the age of KLM. Since then, a new one has been added to the collection every year on KLM's birthday on 7th October. 

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