Thursday 7 December 2023
Etihad Airways will fly its much-loved A380 on the popular Abu Dhabi – New York JFK route from 22 April, 2024
UK's Royal Navy Merlin Mk3s make day-long trip to Gibraltar
Cathay Pacific celebrates 35 years of its Cadet Pilot Training Programme
Celebrating the graduation of the first group of cadet pilots from its integrated programme with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
SWISS to serve culinary creations from the Kempinski Palace Engelberg aloft
Starting today and for the next three months, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be offering its First and Business Class guests on its long-haul services from Switzerland exclusive culinary delights from the kitchen of the Kempinski Palace Engelberg. The meals are the creations of Michéle Müller, executive chef at the five-star superior hotel in Engelberg, Canton Obwalden. Müller’s offerings for her SWISS inflight guests reflect her international experience, while also drawing inspiration from the Kempinski Palace Engelberg menus. The hotel, which is nestled in the Central Swiss Alps, is a member of the reputed Kempinski Group, and is the proud holder of 14 GaultMillau points.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our inflight guests these creations by Michéle Müller,” says Julia Hillenbrand, Head of Brand Experience at SWISS. “Michéle works with surprising ingredients, and interprets classic dishes with her own distinctive flair. So our passengers can look forward to some genuine culinary highlights from the Kempinski Palace Engelberg’s five-star kitchens.”
“I spent several years cooking in the Middle East,” adds Michéle Müller, “and my experiences there made a lasting impression on me. That’s why I like to develop my dishes with exotic spices that breathe new life into classic concoctions. And I’m honoured that I can now share my creations with SWISS’s passengers, too.”
Tasty treats from the Kempinski Palace Engelberg’s culinary world

Passenger numbers up in November for Icelandair.
In November 2023, Icelandair transported 282,497 passengers the troubled firm has reported this week, which is a 13% increase on the same month last year. According to the carrier, it saw the largest increase in passengers travelling via Iceland to and from North America, which was up by some 37%.

New year, new career? It could take off at East Midlands Airport
Anyone looking for a new career to take off in the New Year should put Wednesday 17 January in their diary to attend a Jobs Fair at East Midlands Airport (EMA).

Reliable Robotics flies large cargo aircraft with no one on board
FAA-approved uncrewed flight test, supervised by a remote pilot, is an important step forward for the aviation industry.
Beyond the Globe.....Jetcraft welcomes virtual reality hanger.

1,348,111 passengers flew with Norwegian in November
Continued strong demand and well-received summer programme
SAF volumes growing but still missing opportunities
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced estimates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
Wednesday 6 December 2023
Saudi Arabia turning away from the west to support Russia
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin has enjoyed a fruitful visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week.

JetBlue Flights Take Off to Belize Today
JetBlue Becomes the Only Airline to Offer Nonstop Service from New York’s JFK to Belize City
To Celebrate Launch, Limited $119 One-Way Fares Available Online Only on JetBlue.com
JetBlue today announced it has officially launched service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, Belize, with the first flight arriving in Belize this afternoon. JetBlue’s new Belize City service will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, introducing the airline’s award-winning service and low fares to customers looking to fly directly from New York.
“We’re thrilled to add Belize to our growing network and offer our customers more choices to experience unique and popular destinations,” said David Jehn, vice president, network planning and airline partnerships, JetBlue. “Adding nonstop service to Belize enhances our presence in Latin America and the Caribbean and demonstrates our commitment to introducing our low fares and great service to more destinations and customers.”
“Americans comprise most international arrivals in Belize, with nearly one million visitors travelling here to experience Belize’s famous blue waters, sparkling beaches, and warm hospitality. This year alone, already over 250,000 Americans and counting have passed through this airport, representing two-thirds of all overnight visitors to Belize. JetBlue’s new flight enables travellers to experience new cultures, reconnect with their families and heritage, do business together, and at the same time remind us of how much we have in common,” said Michelle Kwan, Ambassador of the United States to Belize.
“After months of anticipation, we’re thrilled to finally welcome JetBlue’s first-ever nonstop flight to Belize, and we’re looking forward to welcoming the passengers of this inaugural flight with open arms,” said Hon. Anthony Mahler, Belize’s Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. “With an abundance of experiences that Belize has to offer, our guests flying in from JFK are bound to discover something new about our country around every corner. We’re confident the beauty of our environment, the richness of our diverse culture, and the warmth of our people will leave New Yorkers wanting to return again soon.”
Belize is one of Central America’s most biodiverse countries. It is home to mystical Mayan caves, wondrous aquatic habitats, and lush national parks, touting tropical jungles, wildlife reserves, and cascading flora and fauna. Located along the Caribbean Sea, Belize offers over 185 miles of barrier reef - the largest in the northern hemisphere - family-friendly attractions, romantic escapes, and many other adventures.
With JetBlue’s entrance into Belize City, JetBlue becomes the only airline to offer nonstop service from New York’s JFK to Belize. Belize City will build on JetBlue’s success in the broader region, where it offers service to 26 countries within Latin America and the Caribbean. In recent years, the airline’s network strategy has focused on enhancing international markets, which has translated into current service to 40 international destinations. As a leader at New York’s JFK, JetBlue’s new route to Belize allows JetBlue to continue to grow in under-served geographies while bringing more choices and options to our customers.
Schedule between New York (JFK) and Belize City (BZE)
Operating Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
JFK- BZE Flight #2781 | BZE-JFK Flight #2784 |
9:10 a.m. – 12:46 p.m. | 1:55 p.m. – 6:56 p.m. |
JetBlue will operate the Belize City route using its Airbus A320 aircraft, offering the airline's award-winning service featuring the most legroom in coach(a); fast, free and unlimited broadband Fly-Fi(b); complimentary name-brand snacks and drinks; and seatback entertainment at every seat.
Book Better with JetBlue
To celebrate today’s launch, and for a limited time, travellers can take advantage of special $119 one-way fares (c) for flights between New York-JFK and Belize available online only on jetblue.com.
Customers who book directly through jetblue.com are guaranteed to find our best and lowest fares, and can enjoy additional benefits including access to all of JetBlue’s fare options, as well as fare sales and promotions, some of which may not be available through other third parties; the ability to earn 2x TrueBlue points and participate in Points Pooling; seamless seat selections and upgrades to Even More® Space; 24/7 direct access to JetBlue’s customer service channels; and more.
- JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.
- Fly-Fi® and live television are available on all JetBlue-operated flights. Coverage area may vary by aircraft. Details on inflight wi-fi and entertainment: https://www.jetblue.com/flying-with-us
- New York (JFK) to Belize City (BZE). Book by 12/7 for travel 1/1/2024-2/14/2024. Terms apply.
Air Peace wins 'Best Airline for Customer Service, West Africa' for 2023 at the prestigious Global Brand Awards.
RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint has supported the United States Navy's Exercise Resolute Hunter.
For the first time a RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint has supported the United States Navy’s major 3-week air exercise, known as Exercise Resolute Hunter.
Wing Commander Keith Bissett, Leader of the RAF Detachment said: “The challenge this exercise provided the crews has been phenomenal. The exercise team worked exceptionally hard to ensure that all of the assets were tested in a contested and congested scenario. Our aircraft has shown an extraordinary ability to support the targeting of the F-18 and EA-18G aircraft. We will continue our co-crewing in future exercises to develop the capabilities of the UK Rivet Joint.”

UK’s largest airports group records positive half year results
A successful summer season delivered a positive first-half performance for MAG, leaving it in a strong position to continue its investment in its airports to improve customer service and support sustainable growth.
Repsol to supply SAF to Atlas Air and Inditex for regular use on cargo flights....
Flights from Zaragoza Airport (Spain) carried out by Atlas Air for Inditex are using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Repsol.
Atlas Air becomes the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on its freight transport flights in Spain, marking a new milestone towards the decarbonization of the airline sector.
Volaris reports load factor of 90% in November 2023 results.....
Nov 2023 | Nov 2022 | Variance | YTD Nov 2023 | YTD Nov 2022 | Variance | |
RPMs (million, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
Domestic | 1,736 | 1,886 | -7.9% | 20,613 | 19,588 | 5.2% |
International | 967 | 822 | 17.6% | 10,008 | 7,708 | 29.8% |
Total | 2,703 | 2,707 | -0.2% | 30,620 | 27,296 | 12.2% |
ASMs (million, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
Domestic | 1,867 | 2,097 | -11.0% | 23,605 | 22,220 | 6.2% |
International | 1,143 | 980 | 16.7% | 11,974 | 9,643 | 24.2% |
Total | 3,011 | 3,077 | -2.2% | 35,579 | 31,862 | 11.7% |
Load Factor (%, scheduled, RPMs/ASMs) | ||||||
Domestic | 93.0% | 89.9% | 3.1 pp | 87.3% | 88.2% | (0.8) pp |
International | 84.5% | 83.9% | 0.7 pp | 83.6% | 79.9% | 3.6 pp |
Total | 89.8% | 88.0% | 1.8 pp | 86.1% | 85.7% | 0.4 pp |
Passengers (thousand, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
Domestic | 2,047 | 2,164 | -5.4% | 23,801 | 22,701 | 4.8% |
International | 667 | 576 | 15.8% | 6,883 | 5,401 | 27.4% |
Total | 2,714 | 2,740 | -0.9% | 30,684 | 28,102 | 9.2% |
The information included in this report has not been audited and does not provide information on the Company’s future performance. Volaris’ future performance depends on several factors. It cannot be inferred that any period’s performance or its comparison year over year will indicate a similar performance in the future.