City of Doncaster Council agree terms on flagship production site for Airlander 10

Hybrid Air Vehicles to open flagship production site for Airlander 10 in Doncaster

City of Doncaster Council and Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd reach agreement for major new Airlander 10 production centre at Carcroft Common site, for production, testing and certification operations.

Hybrid Air Vehicles’ plans for Doncaster will create a £1bn+ per annum export business, over 1,200 high-value green jobs and new supply chains within the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

Announcement builds on a previous agreement with SYMCA, underpinned by a £7m investment by the region.

The City of Doncaster Council and Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd, the UK-based leader in sustainable aircraft technology, have agreed to locate the production programme for Airlander 10, the world’s most efficient large aircraft, at Carcroft Common. 

Carcroft Common is a 50-hectare site identified by the City of Doncaster Council for development to unlock new economic growth. The freehold for the site will be acquired by Hybrid Air Vehicles under the terms of the agreement.

Hybrid Air Vehicles will now initiate activities leading towards a planning application, working with the local community and other stakeholders as part of the planning and preparation process. 

Subject to planning approval, Hybrid Air Vehicles will develop new flagship facilities for Airlander 10’s production, testing, and certification operations, capable of producing up to 24 aircraft per year at the site. It will house cutting-edge aerospace production equipment, such as new assembly lines for Airlander’s composite-based airframe, propulsion systems, and electrical and avionics systems.

Airlander 10 is a new type of ultra-low emissions aircraft capable of carrying 100 passengers, or ten tonnes of payload. The reserved orderbook for Airlander 10 stands in excess of £1bn, with the first aircraft set to enter service from 2028 with the likes of Air Nostrum Group, the launch airline customer.

In partnership with the City of Doncaster Council, Hybrid Air Vehicles will establish Carcroft Common as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation in South Yorkshire, creating over 1,200 new jobs and thriving supply chains. Hybrid Air Vehicles will also work closely with important regional partners like the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and the Doncaster UTC. 

The announcement marks important progress toward the City of Doncaster’s Economic Strategy 2030, and the success of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, which is focused on advanced manufacturing. The Carcroft Common site is part of the Investment Zone, launched by the Chancellor of Exchequer in July 2023, which aims to improve investment through planning, development, and skills support. 

Britten-Norman secures new investment

Britten Norman has secured new investment from a group of investors led by 4D Capital Partners LLP (“4D”), a Private Equity firm that focuses on operational improvement and business transformation. The new investors are making funds available to Britten-Norman to fund working capital and to drive successful long-term growth.

Britten-Norman Chief Executive, William Hynett OBE, commented: “The board has been in an extended process to secure the right investment that would allow Britten-Norman to deliver its plans to scale up output to meet demand. Britten-Norman is a brand with a rich and entrepreneurial aviation heritage which takes great responsibility in playing a vitally important role in supporting its world-wide customer base. These customers are the bedrock of their societies, often providing critical infrastructure or life-critical services such as maritime search and rescue and medical evacuation. Following a great deal of interest in the business, we are pleased to have identified a new investor that shares our vision and strategy.”

Alex Silk, founder of 4D, said:  “From the outset we saw the latent value in Britten-Norman, which has been underperforming since the pandemic. In addition to bringing working capital, our team will work closely with management to help the company ramp up production to meet the exciting demand for its sought after Islander aircraft”.

Britten-Norman is the original equipment manufacturer for the Islander, the world’s most iconic commercial light twin aircraft. In 2024 the company will be celebrating 70 years since it was first established at Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight, UK.

We would like to thank Chris Pole and Will Wright from Interpath Advisory for their support in securing the investment through the sale of the business and assets of Britten-Norman.

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Fly to the happiest country in the World with five direct connections from the U.S

According to the International World Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest country in the world in 2024. Finland is a unique travel destination, and you can fly there with five direct connections from the United States.

The international World Happiness Report has released its annual listing of the happiest countries in the world. Finland has been named the happiest country in the world in 2024 for the seventh year in a row.

What makes Finland the happiest place in the world?

“You must experience the secret to Finnish happiness first hand. Year after year, Finland has been selected as the happiest country in the world, and it is great that there are excellent flight connections to Europe's northernmost destination. The sights of Helsinki, a city filled with experiences, and the archipelago of the Gulf of Finland, as well as the peace and quiet of mythical Lapland, are only a few hours away,” says Petri Vuori, Vice President, Sales and Route Development for the airport company Finavia.

You can fly to Helsinki with five direct connections from the United States. The Finnish airline Finnair flies to Helsinki Airport from New York, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Dallas.

Over 400,000 people flew between the United States and Finland last year.

Studies show that passengers appreciate Helsinki Airport, as it has received high ratings for its customer experience.

“In a recent survey, air passengers rated Helsinki Airport as the best airport in Europe in the size category of 15–25 million passengers. In addition, Helsinki Airport ranked as the world’s fifth best airport among business travellers. We are proud and grateful for the feedback,” Vuori says.

Lapland's airports are a gateway to the north

If you are already familiar with Helsinki as a tourist destination, head next to magical Lapland to experience its nature. In the last few years, Lapland's popularity as a tourist destination has increased.

“The past winter season 2023–2024 was record-breaking and European airlines opened almost 20 new direct flight connections to airports in Lapland. We believe that demand will continue to be strong in the coming years,” Vuori says.

DoorDash and Wing Announce Drone Delivery Pilot in the US

Expanded partnership brings speed and convenience of drone delivery to consumers beginning in Christiansburg, Virginia

DoorDash and Wing have announced the launch of their drone delivery partnership in the U.S., starting in Christiansburg, VA. Select local consumers will be able to order eligible menu items from Wendy’s® — the pilot’s first restaurant partner — through the DoorDash marketplace and have them delivered via drone. This follows the drone delivery pilot program that DoorDash and Wing launched in Australia in 2022 and has since expanded to three locations in Queensland with over 60 participating merchants, marking the first time that Wing integrated its drone delivery service within another marketplace.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Wing in the U.S. to integrate drone delivery into DoorDash’s ecosystem,” said Harrison Shih, Senior Director of DoorDash Labs. “At DoorDash, we are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace. We’re optimistic about the value drone delivery will bring to our platform as we work to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers.”

“Expanding our partnership with DoorDash and launching in the U.S. is a direct result of the success we’ve seen from our initial collaboration in Australia, where Wing has served tens of thousands of customers via the DoorDash app for over a year now,” said Cosimo Leipold, Head of Partnerships, at Wing. “Wing has now made over 350,000 deliveries across three countries and looking ahead we are focused on providing a fast, affordable and safe service to our partners so they can better serve their customers. This moment continues our meaningful expansion of this service in the U.S. and advances our shared goal to better the last-mile delivery ecosystem.”

The Empire State Building unveils Star Wars-themed takeover

The Empire State Building (ESB), in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products and Lucasfilm, today unveiled a Star Wars™-themed, villains-inspired takeover for fans in New York City that featured a dynamic light show, immersive experiences for visitors, character appearances, and participation from actor Hayden Christensen in a morning lighting ceremony. Fans who visit ESB this month will have the opportunity to immerse themselves into the Star Wars galaxy photo opportunities which feature a range of new Star Wars consumer products through April 29.

Dynamic Light Show, Interactive Fan Experiences, Celebrity Visit, and More

"We are so pleased to unite Star Wars fans in New York City and throughout the world with this epic trip to a galaxy far, far away….,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “This one-of-a-kind takeover at the ‘World’s Most Famous Building’ allows fans to come face to face with pop culture’s most iconic villains in an authentic New York City way.”

Star Wars in Lights

This evening, a dynamic light show that featured fan-favourite scenes of Star Wars villains debuted on the building’s south side façade from 8 p.m. in continued intervals until 11 p.m. The montage was synched to the iconic “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme),” and was streamed simultaneously on iHeartRadio’s Z100 New York radio station and on the iHeartRadio app.

Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen visited the Empire State Building earlier this morning to tour the world-famous Observatory Experience and flip the ceremonial switch ahead of the dynamic light show.

Step into the Scenes

The Empire State Building’s iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows now feature special Star Wars-themed artistry that depicts scenes of Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and stormtroopers surrounded by a range of Star Wars merchandise, in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products and Lucasfilm. The window exhibit will remain on display until April 29.

At the base of the building, visitors can also join Hasbro and Amazon for a Star Wars fan experience on March 21-22 from 1-9 p.m. and on March 23 from 10-8 p.m. The experience highlights the villains of the Star Wars galaxy and features photo opportunities with costumed characters, which include Darth Vader and stormtroopers — as well as photo backdrops that recreate iconic scenes and locations inspired by the films like the opening hallway scene from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Star Destroyer bridge, and Emperor Palpatine’s throne. Guests can also pose in the blister card packaging of a Star Wars Vintage Collection figure. Additionally, attendees will be able to check out the latest Hasbro Black Series helmets or wield their favourite character’s FX Elite or Kyber Core Lightsaber™ adult and kid collectables.

Reliable Robotics Selected for U.S. Air Force Funding Program

Reliable Robotics, a leader in autonomous aircraft systems, has confirmed it was approved to participate in the 2024 AFWERX Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) program for the United States Department of the Air Force (USAF). TACFI is designed to “bridge the capability gap” between current Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) efforts to facilitate the delivery of strategic capabilities for the Department of the Air Force. Reliable was competitively chosen for award from a large list of providers during the funding evaluation.

Air Lease Corporation announces pricing of offering of €600 Million of Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Notes

Air Lease Corporation announced the pricing on March 20, 2024 of its offering of €600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.70% senior unsecured medium-term notes due April 15, 2030 (the “Notes”). The sale of the Notes is expected to close on March 27, 2024, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Notes will mature on April 15, 2030 and will bear interest at a rate of 3.70% per annum, payable annually in arrears on April 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2024. Owners of the Notes will receive payments relating to the Notes in Euros.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, the purchase of commercial aircraft and the repayment of existing indebtedness.

BBVA, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, NatWest Markets, and Societe Generale are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering of the Notes.

STARLUX Airlines expands San Francisco-Taipei route to daily service

Taiwan-based luxury carrier STARLUX Airlines announced that its second trans-Pacific route between San Francisco and Taipei, launched on December 16, will increase from thrice weekly to daily from this week.

The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) route will now observe this weekly schedule.

Flight	Route	Schedule	Departure Time	Arrival Time
JX011	SFO-TPE	Daily	00:40	05:30+1
JX012	TPE-SFO	Daily	23:30	19:15
*Note: Flight number and schedule may change without prior notice.

“Given the current passenger demand, we’re excited to increase the frequency of our SFO-TPE route, solidifying our commitment to continued expansion in the US market. Daily service, which starts March 20, will allow passengers to travel comfortably and conveniently to and from major cities in North America and Asia, with an easy transfer in Taipei,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai. “Connecting through Taipei is an incredibly effective way to fly almost anywhere throughout Asia.”

The San Francisco-Taipei service, operated on a next-generation A350, offers a premium onboard experience in four cabins: First (4 seats), business class (26 seats), premium economy (36 seats) and economy (240 seats). From first class to economy, STARLUX assures a top-tier service from earth-toned interiors to award-winning crew attire to curated in-cabin aromatherapy and Michelin-rated meals.

First and business travelers have a private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom premium economy section features a 40-inch RECARO seat pitch with leg rest and footrest bar. Economy class seats are built for utmost comfort, with leather headrest and wide seat pitch. And all guests have seatback entertainment featuring 4K personal large screens.

The flights provide exquisite dining including Taiwanese signature dishes and amenities prepared for all-class passengers to enjoy an at-home experience in the air. To bring greater individuality to their air travel experience, passengers can pre-order meals online so they can enjoy the meal they want.

Founded on the philosophy that luxury should be available to everyone, not just the elite, STARLUX is a boutique international airline that prioritizes safety and offers unparalleled service with the goal of making flying a truly luxurious and unforgettable experience. The airline’s impressive growth reflects this.

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easyJet opens base at Birmingham

This week the budget airline easyJet opened its newest UK base, Birmingham Airport, the airline’s ninth UK base creating 140 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and supporting around 1200 jobs in total.*

The opening of the base, its first UK one in a decade,  ushers in a new era for expansion for the airline in the UK – the fastest growing airline in the UK this summer -  as well as easyJet Holidays which is the fastest growing holidays company in the UK. 

UK touching flying now makes up 56% of easyJet’s total operation and the airline  is operating its biggest ever UK programme this year with four additional aircraft joining the UK-based fleet. There will be more than 57 million seats on sale to and from the UK which is up around 10% compared to last year. The airline’s growth is set to continue with more aircraft joining the fleet next year.  

With an economy bigger than Hungary’s and the largest economy in the UK outside London and the South East, Birmingham provides easyJet with significant growth opportunities in the Midlands – a key part of easyJet’s strategy. Not only will the aircraft help support vital UK domestic connectivity outside of London, each UK-based aircraft directly supports 400 jobs and £27m UK gross value added (GVA) considering direct, indirect and induced impacts.*

RTX's Pratt & Whitney collaborates with FAA to study non-CO2 emissions under FAA ASCENT program

Tests will compare emissions from conventional Jet A and 100% SAF 

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX  business and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will work together with Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), Aerodyne Research, Inc., and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study non- CO2 aviation emissions, to help understand and reduce the environmental impact of those emissions. As part of the FAA's ASCENT program, the project will measure emissions from a Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine combustor rig test stand using conventional Jet A and 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

"As the aviation industry targets a goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, we continue to pay close attention to addressing the environmental impact of other emissions, including cruise non-volatile particulate matter and NOx," said Sean Bradshaw, senior technical fellow of sustainable propulsion at Pratt & Whitney. "Combustor rig tests with 100% SAF provide a controlled environment for generating valuable baseline data, which will support future studies using full scale engines on-wing at ground and flight test conditions."

The project will compare emissions from Jet A kerosene and SAF comprised of 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (HEFA-SPK), a biofuel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats; the fuel is supplied by World Energy.

Aireon Signs Expanded Data Distribution Deal with Airbus for Space-Based ADS-B

 Aireon, the leader in space-based air traffic management data products and services, has signed an expanded distribution agreement with Airbus to enable more users access to Aireon's space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data.

Under the terms of the multi-year contract, Airbus will integrate Aireon's global ADS-B data feed into its advanced flight analytics products, as well as the advanced digital solutions that the company offers to its customers. Multi-sourced real-time flight position data is one of the pillars to provide airlines, aircraft lessors and lessees and other aviation stakeholders advanced digital solutions, which will allow them to excel in their mission. Skywise Core users can leverage these solutions covering their fleet right from their private spaces where they can include it in their custom reports and analysis supporting them in operating Airbus products more efficiently and sustainably. Securing the provision of Aireon's global ADS-B data feed confirms Airbus' commitment to its customers to provide advanced real-time solutions to boost their operations and business.

This agreement, signed today at the Airspace World exhibition in Geneva, marks the expansion of an agreement signed between the two companies in 2018. Since that time, Aireon has seen tremendous uptick in its data around the world.

"Aireon's data holds a great deal of potential for Airbus and its customer base," said Peter Cabooter, Aireon Vice President of Customer Affairs. "The power of, not only of Aireon's real-time data, but also the historical information powers valuable analytic and situational awareness tools for Airbus. We look forward to the next phase of this outstanding partnership."

IAG Cargo looks to double its IT and digital team

IAG Cargo will expand its IT and digital team with more than 60 roles

The team will focus on enhancing systems and improving customer access to IAG Cargo’s extensive global network

 

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), is growing its IT and digital team with more than 60 roles, more than doubling the size of its global team. People can find out more information on available roles at www.iagcargo.com/en/careers, where applications are now open.

This expansion is part of IAG Cargo’s commitment to be an agile, innovative and customer-centric business, increasing efficiency and embracing new technologies that will enable the company to adapt in an ever-changing landscape. 

IAG Cargo already utilises various digital technologies and tools to streamline operations. For example, its new cargo handling facility at London Heathrow saw bespoke IT system upgrades and integrations that optimise how freight is moved and allocated within the facility, this state-of-the-art technology helps make IAG Cargo smarter and faster, enabling the company to provide the best customer service. 

UK Parliament Treasury Committee looks at timeshare loan scandal

Entry-level timeshare purchases across both the UK and Europe are running at about £20,000 according to the Timeshare Consumer Association. Many purchasers have had to resort to high-interest-bearing unsecured loans to purchase what they thought was a product to give them the continual right to have the holidays of their dreams. Some years ago the timeshare product went through one of its regular facelifts and the “fractional ownership” product arrived.

Dan Keating, spokesperson for the Timeshare Consumer Association says “Fractional ownership is really timeshare by any other name; the difference is that the buyer technically owns a fraction of the bricks and mortar” A logical question for us to ask would be “is this now not just a holiday product, but more of an investment?” Keating was quick to point out that any form of timeshare, including fractional ownership should never be considered as an investment, he went on to say “The 2008 EU Timeshare Directive specifically outlawed the selling of any long-term holiday product or timeshare as an investment”.

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO (Timeshare coverage begins at time 11.09)

Information divulged at the Parliament Treasury Committee meeting revealed that three large institutions being Barclays Partner Finance, Shawbrook Bank and Novuna, formerly Hitachi have historically been more than happy to lend money to would-be timeshare purchasers. Keating pointed out that “whilst borrowing high-interest finance to buy any form of timeshare is illogical, in certain circumstances it may also be in contravention of the law”. By this, Keating is referring to fractional ownership. Our research indicates that sales staff at various timeshare resorts intimated that buying timeshare via the fractional route represented an investment, which of course is against the law.

American Airlines enhances inflight connectivity and entertainment, will introduce AAdvantage redemption

American continues to make its high-speed inflight Wi-Fi more accessible and easier to use, whether customers connect to work or browse the internet. From introducing a new way for AAdvantage® members to use their miles to consistently improving the inflight connectivity and entertainment experience, customers can look forward to making the most of their time onboard.

• AAdvantage® members will soon be able to use their miles in even more ways with a new option to redeem for Wi-Fi on board.
• All customers can enjoy ad-sponsored Wi-Fi available across 100% of American’s Viasat domestic narrowbody fleet.
• Regional high-speed Wi-Fi installations kick off this summer, bringing high-speed Wi-Fi to nearly 500 dual-class regional aircraft.
• New inflight content and specially curated channels further enhance entertainment offerings.

Coming soon: redeem miles for Wi-Fi in flight

AAdvantage® members will soon be able to use miles to pay for Wi-Fi on board. American will start rolling out this new ability to redeem miles in the next few weeks on a couple select aircraft. By the summer travel season, all of the airline’s Viasat-equipped narrowbody aircraft will offer this ability to unlock Wi-Fi in exchange for miles. With this enhancement to help loyalty go even further, American continues to deliver on the commitment that travel is better as an AAdvantage® member.

Taking Wi-Fi connectivity to new heights

Once connected, customers can enjoy Wi-Fi even longer with gate-to-gate connectivity on most mainline aircraft, allowing customers to stay connected from the minute they find their seat to when they’re deplaning. and connectivity is only going up from here. Customers looking for a free Wi-Fi option can enjoy ad-sponsored Wi-Fi across 100% of American’s Viasat domestic narrowbody aircraft.

All Wi-Fi connectivity enhancements will be powered by a new design for the Wi-Fi portal that customers use inflight, rolling out throughout the year. The new Wi-Fi portal design will further enhance the customer experience by making Wi-Fi offerings even more accessible for customers with a user-friendly Wi-Fi purchase process with fewer clicks and effective direct-to-customer communication through strategic pop-up messaging. The portal will also make content easier to navigate through a sleeker design, providing an aesthetically pleasing experience that highlights American’s Wi-Fi, entertainment and partner offers on a single page.

Air Lease Corporation announces pricing of offering of €600 Million of senior unsecured medium-term notes

Air Lease Corporation announced the pricing on March 20, 2024 of its offering of €600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.70% senior unsecured medium-term notes due April 15, 2030 (the “Notes”). The sale of the Notes is expected to close on March 27, 2024, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Notes will mature on April 15, 2030 and will bear interest at a rate of 3.70% per annum, payable annually in arrears on April 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2024. Owners of the Notes will receive payments relating to the Notes in Euros.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, the purchase of commercial aircraft and the repayment of existing indebtedness.

BBVA, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, NatWest Markets, and Societe Generale are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering of the Notes.

HIA Milestone Delivery Report lists critical next steps for UK to be leader in global hydrogen aviation race

The Hydrogen in Aviation alliance is calling for a comprehensive industrial strategy for aviation to ensure the UK is a global leader in the development of  hydrogen aviation

The report sets out how to ensure the country has the right conditions for the technological development, regulation, infrastructure, financial framework and hydrogen supply that will be needed for hydrogen aviation

HIA’s ultimate goal is to ensure hydrogen-powered flights become a reality to help preserve the huge social and economic benefits that aviation brings

The Alliance, formed of major players across the aviation, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors, see hydrogen as one of the key tools for the decarbonisation of aviation, and key to creating new jobs and supporting the sector’s long term sustainable future

The Hydrogen in Aviation alliance (HIA), formed of easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace, Bristol Airport and ZeroAvia, has today released its Milestone Delivery Report – outlining the steps and timeline the UK Government and industry needs to follow to secure its position as a global leader in hydrogen-powered aviation.

The UK is home to many world-first advances in hydrogen-powered aircraft technology, from hydrogen engine testing to the first flights of hydrogen-fuelled planes – making it well placed to be a leader in hydrogen aviation. This would secure substantial economic, employment and sustainability benefits. To realise these benefits we need an industrial strategy for the sector focussed on these long term opportunities.

The UK will need to secure massive increases in hydrogen supply. This will involve the accelerated deployment of renewable and low carbon energy generation and significant investment in hydrogen infrastructure and skills.

In order to achieve this, HIA’s new Milestone Delivery Report – which has been shaped by accurate aviation demand figures and other critical industry data – outlines specific steps that need to be taken by industry, government and regulators to equip the UK with everything it needs to be a leader in the field of hydrogen-powered aviation.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet and first Chair of HIA, said:  “It’s without doubt that the UK is well placed to be a global leader in hydrogen – but the opportunity will be gone if we do not act now to build on all the great work that has already been done.

“The breakthroughs in hydrogen-powered technology happening across the UK are truly astonishing but these advances will be inconsequential if we fail to complement them with the appropriate skills, infrastructure, investment and regulation needed to support hydrogen aviation.

“HIA’s Milestone Delivery Report outlines the critical steps and the timeframe needed to do this and if followed, not only will it create significant wealth, jobs and prosperity across industry and across the UK, it will be a vital component in decarbonising the aviation sector.”

Mark Bentall, Head of Research & Technology at Airbus, said:  “Technology is already unlocking the potential of hydrogen as a new fuel and Airbus is firmly focused on getting a hydrogen powered aircraft in the air by 2035. Beyond the aircraft, we have to prepare people, policy and infrastructure to build a world-leading hydrogen aviation economy in the UK. This report gives us the blueprint for making it happen, so now is the time to follow through.”

NAV CANADA joins the iTEC Alliance to foster more efficient and sustainable aviation

NAV CANADA is joining the iTEC Alliance and gives further momentum to an initiative that brings together some of the world's leading air navigation service providers. With this important partnership, iTEC has reached beyond the European borders for the first time and continues its cooperative venture to create a more efficient and environment-friendly generation of air traffic management systems.

The signing took place this week at the Airspace World event in Geneva which has brought together some of the main players in air traffic management ecosystem. Mark Cooper, Vice-President and Chief Technology and Information Officer on behalf of NAV CANADA, and the main representatives of the iTEC Alliance, Dirk Mahns, DFS COO and Chairman of iTEC Board; Kuldeep Gharatya, NATS Technical Services Director; Laura Garcés, ENAIRE Deputy Director ANS; Jan-Gunnar Pedersen, Avinor CEO; Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak, PANSA President; Marlou Banning, LVNL CFO; Saulius Batavičius, Oro Navigacija CEO; and Javier Ruano, Indra's ATM General Director, signed the agreement. 

With this settlement, cooperation between Europe and North America will be reinforced, and global air traffic will reach new levels of efficiency thanks to a more collaborative management. This partnership also brings the possibility of operating transoceanic flights using the same technology from start to finish, thereby facilitating smoother traffic management across both sides of the world's busiest oceanic areas.

The joining of NAV CANADA, who plays a unique and critical role in managing the second-largest airspace in the world, constitutes a significant advancement for the Alliance—expanding its partnered airspace from 8 million to over 26 million square kilometres and supporting more than 12 million flights from 27 control centres each year. Aircraft will be able to cross almost half of the globe with iTEC SkyNex as the system managing their flights.

United makes it easier to share award miles with family and friends

Just in time for summer travel planning, United launched MileagePlus miles pooling – a new way for MileagePlus members to contribute and combine their miles into a joint account. Available on United.com, groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. United allows any MileagePlus member – whether relatives or close friends – to be in a pool with other members. United is the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature.

"We're always looking for new ways to provide the most value to all of our loyalty members and are proud to be the first major U.S. airline to allow our members to pool their miles with their loved ones and friends," said Luc Bondar, Chief Operating Officer of MileagePlus. "MileagePlus miles pooling further reinforces United's position as the leader in family and group travel and gives our members more flexibility to use their miles while making it easier to connect to the destinations and moments that matter most, with the people that matter most." 

As 81% of parents report intent to travel with their children in the next year and nearly 60% report concern about travel affordability, according to a 2023 U.S. Family Travel Survey conducted by the Family Travel Association, the introduction of MileagePlus miles pooling aims to make travel even easier for families or groups looking to get away; even the youngest family members can contribute as there's no minimum age to become a MileagePlus member.

MileagePlus miles pooling is now available to all MileagePlus members by logging in to their account on United.com. For those not already MileagePlus members, the program is free to join here. 

How MileagePlus miles pooling works

Any MileagePlus member over 18 years old can become the pool leader and create a pool for free when logged in to their account on United.com.

Pool leaders can invite up to four of their family, friends, or close travel companions of any age to join the pool if they have an active MileagePlus account. There is no minimum age to join MileagePlus.

When logged in to their MileagePlus account on United.com, members will be instructed on how to contribute miles to the group pool as well as how to redeem pooled miles for award flights on United and United Express*.

There are no limits to the number of miles that may be contributed to an active miles pool.

Pooled miles can be used when booking a ticket on United.com or in the United mobile app. 

Department of Transportation to launch first industry-wide privacy review of U.S. Airlines

The Department of Transportation (DOT) in the U.S. will undertake a privacy review of the nation’s ten largest airlines regarding their collection, handling, maintenance, and use of passengers’ personal information. The review will examine airlines’ policies and procedures to determine if airlines are properly safeguarding their customers’ personal information. In addition, DOT will probe whether airlines are unfairly or deceptively monetizing or sharing that data with third parties. As DOT finds evidence of problematic practices, the Department will take action, which could mean investigations, enforcement actions, guidance, or rulemaking.

“Airline passengers should have confidence that their personal information is not being shared improperly with third parties or mishandled by employees,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This review of airline practices is the beginning of a new initiative by DOT to ensure airlines are being good stewards of sensitive passenger data. DOT is grateful for the expertise and partnership of Senator Wyden as we undertake this effort to protect passengers.”

“Secretary Buttigieg and the Biden Administration deserve serious credit for working with me to launch a new initiative to review the privacy practices of the major U.S. airlines,” said Senator Ron Wyden. “Because consumers will often never know that their personal data was misused or sold to shady data brokers, effective privacy regulation cannot depend on consumer complaints to identify corporate abuses. I will continue to work with DOT to ensure that it is holding the airlines responsible for harmful or negligent privacy practices.”

WestJet achieves significant reductions in aircraft emissions

The Canadian airline WestJet has reported an 11% reduction in its fuel emissions intensity in 2023, compared to 20191. The reductions align with the airline's commitment to responsible growth and the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) goal for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The lower aircraft emissions intensity can be attributed to strategic initiatives including fleet modernization and a responsible shift in network planning. By incorporating newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft and optimizing flight routes, WestJet is successfully curtailing its impact on the environment.

"Sustainability has been a core value for WestJet for more than two decades. Our achievements in reducing emissions intensity demonstrates our commitment to climate change and positions WestJet as a leader in Canada with a proven track record in sustainable aviation," said Angela Avery, WestJet Group Executive Vice President and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer.

WestJet remains committed to sustainable aviation as it strives to find innovative ways to build upon its momentum, while continuing its mandate of providing affordable air travel for Canadians. The airline's current initiatives include progressive fleet modernization plans and advocacy for sustainable aviation fuel production in Canada.