airBaltic to add three new routes....

airBaltic continues expansion from the Baltics

The Latvian state airline airBaltic has announced a further expansion from the Baltics by adding three new routes – Riga–Madeira (Portugal), Tallinn–Kittilä (Finland) and Vilnius–Oslo Torp (Norway) – for the upcoming winter season that will start at the end of October 2024.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “We are pleased to announce our further expansions from the Baltics by launching these new routes. Madeira is a unique destination in our network and offers a fantastic leisure experience with its magnificent scenery and breath-taking nature. Additionally, the new routes – from Tallinn and Vilnius to Kittilä and Oslo, will serve as a destinations for both leisure and business travel.”

“When preparing for the upcoming season, we are constantly evaluating the market and are committed to further improve the connectivity to and from the region. In 2024, we will operate a record high number of routes from our home bases more than ever before, enhancing the global connectivity, which is generating significant interest and is set to offer passengers a wide range of travel options,” Martin Gauss added.

In addition to new destinations airBaltic will increase flight frequencies on routes from Riga to Stockholm, Prague, Tampere, and more, as well, as from Tallinn to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Gran Canaria, and from Vilnius to Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin and more. Furthermore, the airline will continue to operate some of its seasonal routes during the winter season, including Riga–Ljubljana, Riga–Baku (November), Tallinn– Malta (November), Vilnius–Lisbon and Vilnius–Hamburg.

Breeze Airways discloses order for 10 additional A220 aircraft

Breeze Airways announces all-A220 commercial operation by the end of 2024

Breeze Airways has disclosed an order for 10 additional A220-300 aircraft, bringing the airline’s total firm order for the aircraft type to 90, making Breeze the third largest customer worldwide for the A220.

“Thanks to its world-class performance capabilities, the A220 is the perfect aircraft to help Breeze achieve its goal to provide nonstop service between underserved routes across the United States,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft, Airbus. “The aircraft offers efficient operations and an outstanding passenger experience, all while operating with the world's lowest small single-aisle carbon footprint and a lower noise footprint in the communities where it flies. This additional order from Breeze is a strong endorsement for the value and opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft.”

In addition to its positive cabin experience, the aircraft plays an important role in helping decrease airline operating costs and environmental impact. The aircraft can fly non-stop up to 3,600 nautical miles or 6,700 kilometres. Offering 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, the A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market. Combining state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF™ engines, the A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft and around 40% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with up to 100% SAF by 2030.

airBaltic has started the year strongly, carrying 287,900 passengers in January 2024

The Latvian national airline airBaltic has started the year strongly, carrying 287,900 passengers in January 2024 – a 16% increase compared to the same period last year. During the winter season, when the demand traditionally declines, consistently stable indicators of transported passengers can still be observed within a single month. In January, airBaltic performed 3,170 flights, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “As we step into 2024, airBaltic has seen an increase in passenger numbers, affirming our position as the preferred airline for the Baltic States. Our focus this year is on expanding our fleet and destination offerings, a step towards not only recovering to pre-pandemic levels but also surpassing them. With over 130 routes in operation, we're connecting our home bases to the globe more extensively than ever, accommodating a diverse spectrum of travel needs and drawing significant interest for travellers.”

January, 2024*	January, 2023**	Change
Number of passengers	287 900	247 300	16%
Number of flights	3 170	3 030	4%

*Preliminary rounded data from airBaltic monthly reports.

**Actual rounded data from airBaltic monthly reports.

In 2023, airBaltic has carried around 4.5 million passengers or by 36% more than in 2022. During the last 12 months, the airline performed over 44 000 flights – 18% more than the year before.

airBaltic operates more than 100 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and Gran Canaria (seasonally) offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region.

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First Airbus A220 arrived for Qantas in December

The first QantasLink Airbus A220 aircraft landed in Sydney on 20th December marking the next phase in the Group’s fleet renewal programme.  The aircraft, which features a special indigenous livery, was ferried from Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, and touched down at midday after stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi (Fiji).

It is the first of 29 A220s that will be delivered to QantasLink as part of the Group’s domestic fleet renewal program. A further 36 widebody aircraft are also on order.

The A220s have double the range of the Boeing 717s they replace, giving them the ability to fly non-stop between any two points in Australia. As the first aircraft of their type in Australia, the 137-seat aircraft are expected to open up new (direct) domestic and short-haul international routes as more enter the fleet.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A220 would unlock improvements ranging from lower emissions to less noise and better passenger comfort.  “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome this new A220 aircraft, along with the benefits it will bring to our customers and career opportunities for our people.  The size and range of the A220 means we can add new direct routes to our network that may not have been commercially viable before.

More fuel efficient aircraft is one way we’re working towards net zero and the A220 generates around 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions than the previous generation as well as being much quieter.  This arrival marks the start of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history as the Group takes delivery of one new aircraft every three weeks on average over the next few years.

On the back of this fleet investment we’re recruiting more pilots, cabin crew and engineers and expect to create around 8500 local jobs over the next decade,” 

As the first A220 to be operated in Australia, the aircraft, registered as VH-X4A, will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness and crew familiarisation and training activities before it commences flying on the Melbourne-Canberra route in the first quarter of 2024. A dedicated A220 flight simulator for pilot training is based in Melbourne.

Lufthansa surprises Airbus by ordering up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets

Lufthansa has walked away from ordering more Airbus A320neo jets partly because of a long order backlog and jumped at a massive discount offered by U.S. planemaker Boeing for agreeing to buy up to 100 737-MAX jets.

Europe's largest airline group has placed a firm order of 40 Boeing 737-MAX 8 aeroplanes with an option to purchase up to 60 frames. Lufthansa is understood to have secured a discount of over 40% on the list price for the MAX 8 aircraft. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said the order was a strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group as it had been co-developer and launch customer of the 737.  

"Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to a number of industry-changing achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to an original launch customer's fleet," said Stan Deal, president and CEO, of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes. 

However, the German love for Airbus has not been lost completely,  the group has placed an order for an additional 40 A220-300s to bolster its short and medium-haul fleet. The A220 has been in service with the Group since 2016 when SWISS put the first aircraft into scheduled service.

Carsten Spohr said that with the order of 40 A220s, the group was "continuing our unique partnership with Airbus, just a few months ago, as the largest airline customer, we received our 600th aircraft from Airbus, and we look forward to taking delivery of number 700. Our customers are looking forward to these additional modern, economical, and fuel-efficient aircraft."

"The Lufthansa Group was one of the first customers for the A220 and has successfully operated the aircraft in its SWISS route network ever since. We are delighted by this testimony of confidence from our long-standing partner and customer," said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “As the only clean sheet design aircraft and specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market the A220 is the most efficient solution in its category to support Lufthansa Group meeting its exciting airline development and sustainability objectives.”

The latest state-of-the-art A220-300 is the larger sibling of the successful A220 Family, carrying between 120 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km). The aircraft offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft. It also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring superior comfort. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

By the end of November, Airbus won 849 orders from 31 customers for the A220, of which 303 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 18 airlines worldwide on 1,350+ routes.

Qantas takes delivery of its first A220 to replace Boeing 717 jets

Australia’s national carrier has taken delivery of its first new generation A220, becoming the 20th operator of the type. The aircraft is the first of 29 A220s ordered by the Qantas Group for operation by QantasLink, their regional airline that services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.

Featuring a unique livery based on an Aboriginal artwork, the aircraft will depart the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel in the coming days for a delivery flight to Sydney, with stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi.

The A220 will gradually replace the existing 717 fleet at QantasLink. Flying twice as far, the A220 can connect any two points across Australia non-stop, while also bringing a significant 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.

The A220 also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, offering passengers superior comfort. With a total of 137 seats, Qantas’ A220s will be configured in a two class layout seating 10 passengers in business and 127 in economy.

Specifically designed for the 100-150 seat segment, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category. Powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometres non-stop. 

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030. 

Airbus has received close to 850 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which over 300 have been delivered worldwide.

AirBaltic welcomes its 45th Airbus A220 jet

The Latvian carrier airBaltic has welcomed a new state-of-the-art Airbus Aircraft A220-300 to its fleet this week.  The jet, registered YL-ABS is the 45th beautiful addition to the airline's single-type fleet. Thus far the airline has carried 13 441 000 passengers, completed over 150 000 flights, and flown 328 000 block hours on the type.  

airBaltic is looking forward to an exciting future by continuing to grow with Airbus, the recent purchase agreement for an additional 30 aircraft is a significant step toward this. 

 

Airbus safety innovations.........A system to prevent depressurisation accidents.

Airbus developed an automatic system which, in the event of cabin pressurisation system failure, takes over from the crew and brings the aircraft back to an altitude where it is possible to breathe normally.

 

On 14 August 2005, a passenger aircraft suffered a failure in its pressurisation system a few minutes after taking off from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. This went undetected by the crew. As the aircraft continued to climb to an altitude of 33,000 ft (10,200 m), oxygen became increasingly scarce. The ensuing hypoxia (a reduction in the amount of oxygen delivered by the blood to the tissues) caused the occupants to lose consciousness. The plane, on its way to Prague and carrying 121 people, flew under autopilot until it ran out of fuel and eventually crashed near Marathon, north of Athens in Greece. Unfortunately, similar cases occurred on other passenger aircraft and business jets.

Aircraft typically cruise at altitudes of ~30,000-45,000 ft (~9,000-13,000 m) above sea level where the level of oxygen is not sufficient for humans to breathe. This is why aircraft are pressurised: to provide sufficient oxygen for the people on board. Usually, the air pressure is kept equivalent to an altitude of ~6,000-8,000 ft (~1,800-2,400 m) above sea level.

In the case of a loss of pressurisation in cruise, passengers and crew members must immediately use oxygen masks to prevent hypoxia. Depending on the altitude, the so-called time of useful consciousness is 15 seconds or less. The flight crew must then initiate an emergency descent procedure comprising immediate pilot actions as well as communication to air traffic control and passengers in the cabin. This will enable the aircraft to descend to a lower altitude where the oxygen level is sufficient to breathe without an oxygen mask.

Airbus developed the Automatic Emergency Descent (AED) function to enable the flight crew to initiate the emergency descent by pressing a button and extending the speed brakes. The aircraft will then automatically perform the manoeuvre while avoiding potential high terrain like mountain ranges. This dramatically reduces the workload for the crew in this critical situation.

As an additional safety net, in the event of cabin depressurisation where no crew reaction is detected, the AED will automatically activate after a countdown and initiate the emergency descent.

airBaltic orders more Airbus A220 jets

airBaltic will become the largest A220 customer in Europe after confirming an incremental order for an additional 30 A220-300s. This new order will take the airline’s total firm orderbook to 80 aircraft.

Already operating a 44 strong fleet of A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220-300 operator in the world. 

The airline’s history with the Airbus A220-300 dates back to 2016 where it was the launch customer, and in 2020, it refreshed its fleet to solely operate this aircraft type.

"This day marks a significant milestone in the history of airBaltic – our plans for the first time ever to operate a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2030. For almost seven years already, the Airbus A220-300 has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic”, said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “Being the global launch customer of the Airbus A220-300, we continue to be a proud ambassador of it. We are grateful to our partners at Airbus for the incredible support, trust, and collaboration over these years.”

"Thank you to airBaltic for being such an ambassador for the A220 with this repeat order. The A220 has been the instrument for airBaltic in its success and growth thus far and we are particularly proud to be extending this partnership well into the future with this latest order”, said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International. “The A220 offers a unique capability in terms of range, performance, and not to forget, passenger appeal. It is a gamechanger for our customers in this important market segment, which we are serving with less fuel-burn, lower emissions and noise, making the A220 a global citizen of choice.”

 

The A220-300 is the most modern airliner in its size category, carrying between 120 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km). The aircraft offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. It also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring superior comfort.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030. 

As at the end of October, Airbus won close to 820 orders from around 30 customers for the A220, of which more than 295 have been delivered, including 50 deliveries so far in 2023. The A220 is already in successful service with 17 airlines worldwide on 1,350+ routes.

airBaltic orders 30 more A220 jets......

airBaltic will become the largest A220 customer in Europe after confirming an incremental order for an additional 30 A220-300s. This new order will take the airline’s total firm orderbook to 80 aircraft.

Already operating a 44 strong fleet of A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220-300 operator in the world. 

The airline’s history with the Airbus A220-300 dates back to 2016 where it was the launch customer, and in 2020, it refreshed its fleet to solely operate this aircraft type.

"This day marks a significant milestone in the history of airBaltic – our plans for the first time ever to operate a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2030. For almost seven years already, the Airbus A220-300 has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic”, said Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic. “Being the global launch customer of the Airbus A220-300, we continue to be a proud ambassador of it. We are grateful to our partners at Airbus for the incredible support, trust, and collaboration over these years.”

Air Niugini orders the A220 jets for fleet modernisation programme.

Air Niugini, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea, has signed a firm order with Airbus for six latest generation single aisle A220-100s under its fleet modernisation programme. In addition, the carrier will acquire three A220-300s and another two A220-100s from third-party lessors. 

The order was announced at a special event in Port Moresby by Gary Seddon, Acting Chief Executive Officer Air Niugini and Anand Stanley, President Airbus Asia-Pacific, in the presence of the Hon. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Hon. William Duma, Minister for State Enterprises.

Combining the longest range, lowest fuel consumption and widest cabin in the 100-150 seat category, the A220 will be operated by Air Niugini across its domestic and regional network. The new fleet will deliver more capacity and greater reliability across the domestic network and enable the carrier to fly from the capital Port Moresby to new destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Gary Seddon, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Air Niugini said: “This is a milestone in the history of our national airline that will support the growth of trade and tourism in Papua New Guinea. The new aircraft will offer the highest levels of comfort for our passengers, while also ensuring a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions when compared to the aircraft they will replace.”

Delta Air Lines discloses order for 12 additional A220 aircraft

Largest A220 customer and operator bringing its total order for the type to 131 aircraft

Under its current agreement, Delta Air Lines has disclosed an order for 12 additional A220-300 aircraft, bringing the airline’s total firm order for A220s to 131 aircraft - 45 A220-100s and 86 A220-300. Throughout the years, Delta has reordered the A220 five times and is today the largest A220 customer and operator in the world.

“The A220-300 offers efficient performance and flexibility,” said Kristen Bojko, Vice President of Fleet. “The continuing expansion of Delta’s A220 family is an integral investment in the future of sustainable aviation.”

“This additional order from the largest A220 customer and operator is yet another strong endorsement for the value and opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft family. The A220 provides Delta the flexibility to right-size its operations, gaining in efficiency and offering superior single-aisle comfort. In service with Delta, the A220 has proven to be a game changer in its size category in highly competitive North America markets," said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.

In addition to its positive cabin experience, the aircraft plays an important role in helping decrease airline operating costs and environmental impact. Offering 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, the A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market.  Combining state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation GTF™ engines, the A220 brings customers a 50% reduced noise footprint and around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards.

Delta took delivery of its first Airbus A220 in October 2018, and was the first U.S. carrier to operate the aircraft type. Delta currently operates a fleet of 433 Airbus aircraft, including 61 A220 aircraft, 280 A320 Family aircraft, 64 A330s and 28 A350-900 aircraft. 

With 271 A220s delivered* to 16 airlines operating on four continents, the A220 is the optimal aircraft to offer operational flexibility for both regional as well as long-distance routes. To date, more than 90 million passengers have flown on the A220. The fleet is currently flying on over 1,100 routes and over 375 destinations worldwide. As of the end of June 2023, around 30 customers have ordered more than 800 A220 aircraft - confirming its leading position in the small single-aisle market.

 *At the end of June 2023

Cyprus Airways, the national airline of Cyprus to lease two new Airbus A220 jets

Air Lease Corporation announced long-term lease placements for two new Airbus A220-300 aircraft with Cyprus Airways, the national airline of Cyprus. Both new A220 aircraft are confirmed to deliver to the airline this month from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

“ALC is pleased to announce this transaction for two Airbus A220 aircraft with our new customer, Cyprus Airways,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “As the first to introduce the A220 to the airline and the country of Cyprus, ALC looks forward to working with the Cyprus Airways team to develop and grow the flag carrier’s fleet with the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient new aircraft.”

“We are thrilled to work with the ALC team on the first implementation of the A220 in the Cyprus Airways fleet,” said Paul Sies, Chief Executive Officer of Cyprus Airways. “Seen as a game changer in the industry, the A220 will provide a new experience to our guests and marks our commitment towards sustainability. The A220 offers the newest technology on the market and gives great savings in fuel burn and direct operating cost. We look forward to a long and mutual beneficial relationship with ALC and hope to work with them on the further development of our fleet plan in the years to come.”

TAAG Angola Airlines to lease four Airbus A220 aircraft from Aviation Capital Group

Aviation Capital Group, one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers with over 480 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of March 31, 2023, has announced it has entered into long-term leases with TAAG Angola Airlines for four new Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to TAAG in 2025 from ACG’s order book with Airbus.

“On behalf of ACG, we’re truly honoured and proud to be a business partner of TAAG Angola Airlines, supporting its growth and expansion plans with the modern and environmentally friendly A220-300 aircraft. This state-of-the-art equipment, with its comfort, low noise and fuel economy characteristics will support TAAG’s mission to reopen markets, tap into new destinations and increase the connectivity options with more frequencies,” said Tom Baker, CEO and President of ACG.

“The incorporation of four new A220 aircraft under the agreement with ACG is a clear sign of our international credibility and a major milestone in renewing the TAAG fleet. We are deeply committed to growing the company by leveraging our market share and destination portfolio. Our passengers will benefit from higher connectivity options while planning their trips and a greater flight experience overall, as the Airbus A220 is a smart, tech-advanced equipment suitable for nowadays gadgets,” said Eduardo Fairen, CEO of TAAG Angola Airlines.

TAAG Angola Airlines was founded in 1938 and it is based in Luanda, Angola's capital city. For more than 80 years TAAG has connected Angolans with its key domestic and international markets. TAAG is the leading airline in the country, recognized worldwide for its strong high-yield market, having grown its current network to 14 domestic and 13 international destinations. Its fleet allows, in addition to passenger transport, air cargo services which have become essential for Angola´s growth and development.

Air Lease Corporation agrees on lease deal with Cyprus Airways for two new Airbus A220 aircraft

Air Lease Corporation announced long-term lease placements for two new Airbus A220-300 aircraft with Cyprus Airways, the national airline of Cyprus. Both new A220 aircraft are confirmed to deliver to the airline this month from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

“ALC is pleased to announce this transaction for two Airbus A220 aircraft with our new customer, Cyprus Airways,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “As the first to introduce the A220 to the airline and the country of Cyprus, ALC looks forward to working with the Cyprus Airways team to develop and grow the flag carrier’s fleet with the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient new aircraft.”

“We are thrilled to work with the ALC team on the first implementation of the A220 in the Cyprus Airways fleet,” said Paul Sies, Chief Executive Officer of Cyprus Airways. “Seen as a game changer in the industry, the A220 will provide a new experience to our guests and marks our commitment towards sustainability. The A220 offers the newest technology on the market and gives great savings in fuel burn and direct operating cost. We look forward to a long and mutual beneficial relationship with ALC and hope to work with them on the further development of our fleet plan in the years to come.”

Bulgaria Air gets its first Airbus A220 jet

Bulgaria Air has taken delivery of its first super-efficient Airbus A220 aircraft which is on a long-term lease basis from Air Lease Corporation.

The A220 will be flying on both regional and international routes across Europe for the flag carrier of Bulgaria and in total, Bulgaria Air will lease a total of five A220-300s and two A220-100 - all of which are from ALC.

The A220 is the latest-generation aircraft type from Airbus to join Bulgaria Air’s fleet. The airline already operates seven A320 aircraft demonstrating the fleet complementarity between the A220 and the A320 Family. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 provides airlines such as Bulgaria Air with increased operational flexibility.

Bulgaria Air’s first A220 configuration will comprise a total of 143 seats in dual-class, including eight Business class seats. The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation engines. The aircraft offers unbeatable comfort in a small single-aisle with the widest windows, largest seats and overhead stowage, as well as the widest and quietest cabin in its category.

as it delivers up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. In addition, the aircraft noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous-generation aircraft.

As of the end of May 2023, Airbus has received close to 800 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which 265 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 16 airlines worldwide. To date, more than 90 million passengers have enjoyed the A220. The fleet is currently flying on over 1,100 routes and over 375 destinations worldwide.

The Bulgarian airline has also just recently launched a summer route from Sofia to the city of Heraklion on the island of Crete.  

The capital city of the island of Crete, Heraklion is known for its crystal clear beaches, rich and mystical history, impressive nature and delicious cuisine. The passengers of Bulgaria Air will be able to get acquainted with the magical island atmosphere, try the exclusive Greek specialities, as well as enjoy the traditional Cretan hospitality.

With the launch of seasonal flights to Heraklion, the national carrier provides its passengers with many entertainment options and diverse tourist routes for unforgettable journeys.

airBaltic welcomes 42nd Airbus A220-300 and completes Asia demonstration tour

Recently Latvian carrier airBaltic welcomed its 42nd Airbus A220-300 jet, registered as YL-ABP, in Riga. This was the third Airbus A220-300 delivery for airBaltic in 2023. It is a part of the 50 Airbus A220-300 that airBaltic has ordered. In addition, airBaltic holds 30 options and purchase rights for the same aircraft type.

Thus far, airBaltic has carried more than 11 600 000 passengers on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Airbus A220-300s of the airline have completed nearly 133 000 flights and flown over 289 000 block hours.

Since May 2020, airBaltic operates all its flights with a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300, thus minimizing the complexity and benefiting from the additional efficiency provided by the aircraft.

The airline has also recently completed a demonstration tour of Asia along with partners Airbus.  The A220-300 was shown off to prospective customers and media and industry representatives. 

The Airbus A220-300 has performed beyond the company’s expectations, delivering better overall performance, fuel efficiency and convenience for both passengers and the staff. This aircraft offers an excellent flying experience with such benefits for passengers as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin, improved lavatories and much more.

The Airbus A220-300 has a high-quality air filtering system equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) type filter that provides the best level of filtration currently available for recirculated cabin air from the very beginning of boarding, during entire flight and until all passengers have left the aircraft. The quality of cabin air is carefully controlled and is recirculated with ventilation rates that provide a total change of air 20-30 times per hour. 

In addition, the aircraft is also considerably quieter – with a four times smaller noise footprint. Moreover, at the moment it is the greenest commercial aircraft in the world, as it is the first aircraft to have a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact, helping to reduce CO2 and NOX emissions by 20% and 50% respectively.

Air Canada to start new non-stop Toronto-Yellowknife service

Flights will easily connect to Eastern Canadian, U.S, and Sun destinations

Air Canada has announced it will begin non-stop, year-round service between Toronto and Yellowknife in December. The new, three-times weekly service will provide convenient connections between eastern Canada and the capital of the Northwest Territories. Customers will also be able to seamlessly connect onward from Yellowknife on Air Canada's interline partner, Canadian North.

"The North has a magical attraction and Air Canada is pleased to make it easier for customers to visit Yellowknife and beyond, beginning at a time when the Northern Lights are on full display. But apart from supporting tourism to the city and region, this new route will also be valuable to business travellers and the economy, linking Yellowknife directly to Canada's financial capital. As well, flights are timed for easy connections through our Toronto global hub to elsewhere in eastern Canada, the U.S., and to winter sun destinations, while from Yellowknife customers can travel onward conveniently on our interline partner, Canadian North," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President, Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada.

"Today's announcement marks a significant increase of air transportation options for the Northwest Territories. With the launch of this non-stop flight between Yellowknife and Toronto, there are increased opportunities for tourism and better connections into Canada's financial hub. We look forward to the positive impact these flights will have in supporting the NWT to conveniently welcome more travelers, businesses and professional organizations to our region," said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Northwest Territories, Caroline Wawzonek.

33 years ago, the 4th of May became a significant and special day in the history of Latvia. Happy independence day. 

airBaltic to temporarily wet-lease additional aircraft

airBaltic is temporarily wet-leasing additional aircraft on a short-term basis to cover for Airbus A220 aircraft that are out of action because of delays with engine maintenance.

The carrier is leasing:

XFly Bombardier CRJ-900NG, with 88 seats.

Danish Air Transport -  Airbus A320-232 with 180 seats.

Carpatair - Airbus A319-100 with 150 seats.

Cyprus Airways - Airbus A320-232 with 180 seats. 

These are in addition to the four  Airbus A320-232 aircraft with 180 seats wet-leased for the whole summer season from Avion Express.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic: “We are strongly committed to our contractual obligations to passengers and partners. However, the extended turnaround times for Pratt & Whitney servicing the engines are causing operational disruption for airBaltic. They, as a long-term partner of airBaltic, could not keep the given promise again on the improved turnaround times. Therefore, airBaltic is contracting replacement capacity in form of ACMI wet-lease aircraft.”

"While we understand that this is an unfortunate situation, we remain optimistic that it will be resolved soon. Moreover, some of the wet-leased aircraft offer even more seats, allowing us to carry a greater amount of passengers. In the meantime, we are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that the majority of our passengers continue to be transported by the backbone of our operations – the Airbus A220-300 aircraft," Gauss concluded.

While the Latvian Government funded airline is wet-leasing in aircraft to allow it to operate its full summer schedule with 20 new destinations, it is still leasing out 14 of its own Airbus A220 planes during this summer season.