Norse Atlantic Airways has started ticket sales for flights between Norway and the United States

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

Norse Atlantic Airways has started ticket sales for flights between Norway and the United States for flights starting over the next three months.

Norse Atlantic Airways is a new airline that pledges to offer affordable fares on long-haul flights, primarily between Europe and the United States. The company was founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021. Norse has a fleet of 15 modern, fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners that will serve destinations including New York, Florida, Paris, London and Oslo, among others

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

Fares will start from an unprecedented NOK 995 and $129 one-way, including all applicable taxes. The first flight departing from Oslo to New York (JFK) will take place on the 14th of June. The airline will also serve Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO) and Los Angeles (LAX) from Oslo. 

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

“This is a major milestone for all of us at Norse Atlantic Airways and a testament to the dedication and determination of colleagues from across the airline who have made this possible. Norse now offers the lowest one-way point to point transatlantic fares in the market. Whether travelling on business, leisure or simply wishing to explore the world, Norse now makes it possible for everyone to explore for less. Our modern, comfortable and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready to take to the skies and our pilots and cabin crew are looking forward to welcoming customers on board from June,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways. 

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

From now customers will also be able to book flights between Oslo, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.  

Flights from Oslo to New York will commence on June 14th ramping up to daily flights from 4th July, with one-way fares starting from NOK 995. 

Flights from Oslo to Fort Lauderdale will commence on 18th June operating three weekly flights with one-way fares starting from NOK 1497. 

Flights between Oslo and Orlando will commence on 5th July operating three weekly flights, one-way fares starting from NOK 1497. 

Flights from Oslo to Los Angeles will commence on 9th August operating three weekly flights with one-way fares starting from NOK 1797. 

New Norwegian budget long-haul airline Norse Atlantic Airways opens up ticket sales for routes to the U.S.

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

Norse Atlantic Airways has started ticket sales for flights between Norway and the United States for flights starting over the next three months.

Norse Atlantic Airways is a new airline that pledges to offer affordable fares on long-haul flights, primarily between Europe and the United States. The company was founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021. Norse has a fleet of 15 modern, fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners that will serve destinations including New York, Florida, Paris, London and Oslo, among others

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

Fares will start from an unprecedented NOK 995 and $129 one-way, including all applicable taxes. The first flight departing from Oslo to New York (JFK) will take place on the 14th of June. The airline will also serve Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO) and Los Angeles (LAX) from Oslo. 

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

“This is a major milestone for all of us at Norse Atlantic Airways and a testament to the dedication and determination of colleagues from across the airline who have made this possible. Norse now offers the lowest one-way point to point transatlantic fares in the market. Whether travelling on business, leisure or simply wishing to explore the world, Norse now makes it possible for everyone to explore for less. Our modern, comfortable and more environmentally friendly Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready to take to the skies and our pilots and cabin crew are looking forward to welcoming customers on board from June,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways. 

Photo Norse Atlantic Airways

From now customers will also be able to book flights between Oslo, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.  

Flights from Oslo to New York will commence on June 14th ramping up to daily flights from 4th July, with one-way fares starting from NOK 995. 

Flights from Oslo to Fort Lauderdale will commence on 18th June operating three weekly flights with one-way fares starting from NOK 1497. 

Flights between Oslo and Orlando will commence on 5th July operating three weekly flights, one-way fares starting from NOK 1497. 

Flights from Oslo to Los Angeles will commence on 9th August operating three weekly flights with one-way fares starting from NOK 1797. 

United restarts San Francisco - Melbourne flights

United today announces the return of its nonstop service between San Francisco and Melbourne, beginning with three weekly flights this June. The restart of this route complements United's existing service between Sydney and the airline's hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. United will now be the only U.S. airline to offer nonstop flights from the United States to Melbourne.

"The fact that we retained daily passenger service to Australia throughout the lowest points of the pandemic – and were the only airline to do so – shows our commitment to Australia," said Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliances at United. "We are thrilled to resume our San Francisco to Melbourne service and see a bright future ahead for United, for Melbourne and for US-Australia travel."

Since Australia announced in February that the country would open its borders to international travellers after being closed for nearly two years, there has been remarkable growth in travel demand from the U.S. United has more capacity from the United States to Australia than any other U.S. carrier, and the resumption of the airline's San Francisco-Melbourne service will provide customers with even more access to Australia ahead of the busy summer travel period. Additionally, United's recently announced commercial alliance with Virgin Australia will offer further connectivity to top Australian destinations with convenient one-stop flights.  

United has worked closely with the Victorian government on the resumption of this service, as well as on broader plans for the market as demand continues to grow.

"We're backing more direct international flights to Melbourne because we know the critical role they play in supporting Victorian businesses and creating jobs," said Martin Pakula, Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery. "Having more direct flights from the U.S. means it is even easier for visitors to come to Victoria and enjoy everything we are famous for – whether that's our major sporting events, food scene or cultural institutions."

United began offering direct service to Melbourne from Los Angeles in 2014 and launched nonstop flights between San Francisco and Melbourne in October of 2019, prior to the onset of the pandemic.

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London Heathrow welcomes WestJet's first flight from Calgary.....

Yesterday saw the inaugural flight from Calgary International Airport to London's Heathrow Airport land slightly ahead of schedule at 11:38, which complements WestJet's flights to London-Gatwick.

WestJet's Boeing 787's will be offering up to nine times weekly service between Calgary and London this summer, marking much greater connectivity between the UK and Alberta. Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Calgary said: "Having direct flight access to Heathrow, enhancing connectivity to London, a global capital market and business hub will further enhance Alberta's competitiveness for investment and trade. This is also the latest signal to global investors of confidence in Alberta's economy and economic recovery.  We look forward to putting these flights to good use bringing investors and business to our province who will bring with them capital and jobs for Albertans."

"We are pleased to provide our guests travelling to London for business and leisure with greater choice and convenience as we celebrate our inaugural flight to Heathrow Airport," said Chris Hedlin, WestJet Vice-President, Network & Alliances. "This new route not only strengthens Alberta's travel and tourism pipeline but creates new opportunities for our guests to benefit from access to one of the most connected global aviation hubs." 

"We look forward to providing Canadians and Europeans with enhanced connectivity from Western Canada as we further our commitment to supporting the economic recovery of inbound tourism on both sides of the Atlantic," continued Hedlin.

The inaugural flight's crew...

Details of WestJet's new service between Calgary and London Heathrow:

Route	Peak Frequency	Start Date
Calgary – London Heathrow	4x weekly	March 26, 2022

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Qantas will keep flying its double daily direct flights from Australia to London via Darwin

Qantas will keep flying its double daily direct flights from Australia to London via Darwin following ongoing uncertainty around the reopening of the West Australian border and testing requirements for passengers transiting through Singapore.

When international travel recommenced in November last year, but Western Australia remained closed, Qantas temporarily re-routed its Perth to London service via Darwin.  Qantas worked closely with the Northern Territory Government to set up Darwin as an alternative hub, allowing passengers to arrive in or transit through the Territory capital as they returned home to Australia or travelled overseas to reunite with loved ones.

The Perth to London service was scheduled to revert to operating via Perth in April, but with the West Australian Government yet to confirm a reopening date for the state, Qantas will continue to operate the route via Darwin until at least June 2022. To streamline transit arrangements for passengers, Qantas will also continue to operate the Sydney to London flight via Darwin instead of through Singapore until June 2022.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the support of the NT Government made it possible for Qantas to relaunch the key Australian–UK route and the extension provides the Northern Territory with the added bonus of capitalising on pent-up international inbound travel demand. “The work of the Chief Minister and his team, and the cooperation of Darwin Airport, have made running and now extending this service possible. Because of their help, flying between Australia and London has been a lot easier than it might have been otherwise.

This extension through to at least mid-June means the Top End has several months to properly leverage the opening up of Australia’s borders to all tourists. It’s a great opportunity to encourage thousands of visitors to stop off in Darwin to see what the NT has to offer.”

Qantas currently operates daily flights from both Melbourne and Sydney to London (via Darwin) on its 787 Dreamliner.

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EL AL Israel Airlines Relaunches Boston to Tel Aviv Flights

EL AL Israel Airlines, Israel’s national carrier, has announced the return of their non-stop service from Boston’s Logan Airport to Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv. EL AL had operated this route from 2015 until mid-2020 when it halted the flight due to Covid-19. With international travel returning, and travel to Israel in great demand, relaunching the Boston route is a priority. This flight will service Boston as well as the entire New England region.

Flights will begin on Sunday, March 27, 2022, and will operate twice weekly, on Sundays and Thursdays from Terminal E at Logan. Prior to the pandemic, EL AL flew thousands of passengers from Boston to Tel Aviv annually.

The route will be operated by EL AL’s new, Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet which has three classes of service: Economy, Premium and Business.

EL AL’s all-new, Boeing 787 Dreamliner features the latest and most modern amenities including Business Class with lie-flat seats, gourmet meals, an extensive choice of wines and beverages, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi for the duration of the flight. EL AL also offers a Premium Class with oversized, comfortable seats with extended legroom and all the amenities of Business Class.

EL AL’s CEO, Avigal Soreq, stated, “We are so excited to return to Boston’s Logan Airport. Our previous Boston flights were very attractive to travellers from across the US and we know this will be very convenient for Bostonians and transiting travellers.”

Passengers from outside of the Boston area can benefit from EL AL’s codeshare agreement with JetBlue which allows them to seamlessly travel from many cities such as Baltimore, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington to Tel Aviv via Boston, all the while collecting Matmid Frequent Flyer points.

EL AL also offers an interline agreement with American Airlines that allows passengers to schedule flights from across the US to TLV through Boston.

“EL AL has been a great partner to Logan for many years and we are excited that they are relaunching their Tel Aviv - Boston service,” said Massport’s Director of Aviation Ed Freni.

Boston - Tel Aviv

Flt LY16

Departs 20:30

Arrives 13:50*

Tel Aviv - Boston

Flt LY15

Departs 00:50

Arrives 05:30

* following day

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WestJet announces schedule for new service between London Heathrow and Calgary

New route to commence in March 2022, increasing global connectivity between Western Canada and Europe

The Canadian airline, WestJet announced a new non-stop service to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR), from the airline's largest, global hub, Calgary International Airport. The new route provides access to London's largest airport with close and rapid access to important destinations in London. Flights between the two global hubs are set to operate four-times-weekly, beginning March 26, 2022. 

"As the airline with the most flights from Alberta, this is an important recovery milestone as we forge new connections between Canada and one of the world's most sought-after global hubs," said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "We continue to strengthen our network, offering more options for business and leisure travellers and these investments will expedite our industry's recovery while ensuring Western Canada builds back from the pandemic more connected than ever before."

As confidence in business and leisure travel continues to rise, WestJet's newest route will operate this spring on the airline's 787 Dreamliner. WestJet's 787 service features the airline's Business Cabin including lie-flat pods, dining on demand and elevated Premium and Economy Cabin options.

"We are committed to the expansion of our global hub in Calgary and supporting the recovery of many sectors who rely on travel and tourism," continued Weatherill. "As the airline with the most non-stop European destinations from YYC, we are looking forward to guests benefitting from more options and increased connectivity for travel between Canada and the UK."

Details of WestJet's service between Calgary and Heathrow:

Route	Frequency	Start Date
Calgary – Heathrow	Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday	March 26 – October 28, 2022
Heathrow – Calgary	Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday	March 27 – October 29, 2022

With the addition of Heathrow to WestJet's network this spring, WestJet will connect Calgary to 77 non-stop destinations throughout the year.  WestJet will also continue to offer non-stop flights between Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax to London, Gatwick.

"WestJet is a fantastic airline with a strong history of providing top-notch service and excellent value for money, making it a great fit for Heathrow. As travel begins to reopen, we look forward to working with WestJet to improve the UK's connectivity with Canada and give passengers even more choice when flying across the Atlantic."

- John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO said: "WestJet's new non-stop route from YYC to London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, is welcomed by those looking to access the world's premier financial and business centre and those eager for a direct connection to explore London's culture and landmarks. We look forward to welcoming guests from across the pond to experience the traditional Indigenous lands and warm hospitality our region is known for."

- Bob Sartor, President & CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority commented:  "Congratulations to WestJet for continuing to invest in new ways to connect Calgarians and our economy to the world. London Heathrow is a critical access point for business and leisure travellers and will be of great benefit to investors and tourists who want world class access to our region."

- Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Calgary welcomed the news: "Air access is key to our province's economic recovery and growth of the tourism industry We look forward to welcoming back UK travellers and showcasing Alberta as a top destination."

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Boeing has to deal with new 787 Dreamliner defect.

Boeing is dealing with a new defect on its 787 Dreamliner that involves certain titanium parts that are weaker than they should be, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The defect is on 787s built over the past three years, the report said.

This comes as the planemaker continues to grapple with structural defects in the 787, which have caused it to cut production and halt deliveries.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The WSJ report did not give any further details on the defect.

Shares of the company fell 1.1% to $219.31 in premarket trading.

Last month, the Journal had reported that Boeing's delivery of 787 Dreamliners will likely remain halted until at least late October as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has rejected the company's recent proposal to inspect them. read more

Reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty for Reuters.

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Canadian carrier WestJet restarts operating between Calgary and Paris with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

This week the Canadian carrier WestJet restarted its non-stop route to France, operating between Calgary and Paris with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. 

With the restart of service to Paris, WestJet becomes the airline serving the most European destinations, direct from its global hub in Calgary. WestJet introduced twice-weekly, non-stop, service between Calgary and Amsterdam on August 5 and is currently serving London (Gatwick) two times weekly, with both markets increasing to three times weekly in September.

"We are thrilled to bring back this historic route between Calgary and Paris, reconnecting these two incredible cities and providing easy and unique travel opportunities throughout Europe for Western Canadians," said John Weatherill, WestJet Chief Commercial Officer. "Calgary to Paris is a key market for inbound tourism to Western Canada. Alongside a successful vaccination rollout across Canada, we are proud to see this route return and will continue to invest in the economic recovery and growth of both Calgary and Alberta, following the COVID-19 pandemic."

In 2019, WestJet's investment in direct flights from Europe to Alberta drove $90 Million in spend from 56,000 inbound travellers.

Air France codeshare partnership

Boeing reducing 787 production rates.....

The U.S. aerospace company Boeing confirmed on Tuesday this week that it will cut production of its 787 models after finding yet another production-related structural defect. The firm said it would lower the production rates below the current rate of five aircraft a month. It also expects to deliver fewer than half of the 787s currently in inventory this year.

"We will continue to take the necessary time to ensure Boeing aeroplanes meet the highest quality prior to delivery. Across the enterprise, our teams remain focused on safety and integrity as we drive stability, first-time quality and productivity in our operations," the company said.

This latest, in a series of production-related flaws, first reported by Reuters on Monday, involved unacceptable gaps around the forward pressure bulkhead, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA said late on Monday that Boeing, which spotted the problem, would fix it before the planes are delivered.

Unconfirmed reports from maintenance professionals in Europe have expressed concern that some integral parts have been wearing out on the jets far earlier than expected and before scheduled checks take place.  

Boeing has also been hit by another 737 MAX order reduction after flydubai said on Tuesday it has agreed with Boeing to cut the number of aircraft it will take delivery of by 65. The United Arab Emirates budget carrier airline has already taken delivery of 16 MAX jets out of its total order of 251, but has, according to some at Emirates and flydubai, not performed as expected.

Major program deliveries during the second quarter were as follows:

Major Programs	2nd Quarter 2021				Year-to- Date 2021
Commercial Airplanes Programs
737	50				113
747	1				2
767	8				13
777	8				14
787	12				14
Total	79				156
Defense, Space & Security Programs
AH-64 Apache (New)	6				15
AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured)	16				31
CH-47 Chinook (New)	3				6
CH-47 Chinook (Renewed)	1				4
F-15 Models	5				8
F/A-18 Models	7				11
KC-46 Tanker	2				4
P-8 Models	3				6
Commercial and Civil Satellites	—				—
Military Satellites	—				—

Note: Delivery information is not considered final until quarterly financial results are issued.

 

Adam Shaw plus Reuters reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; editing by Will Dunham

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