Preparing for summer 2021 - An EU roadmap to restore air travel

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic and faced with new variants and a third wave in most of Europe, we continue to be faced with diverging national requirements, often introduced at very short notice. As European associations representing the aviation sector,1 we call for a truly coordinated approach among European Member States, providing transparency and predictability for citizens and businesses 2.

European airlines and the wider aviation sector, as well as travellers need to understand the rules that will be in place to have the necessary confidence to plan and book their summer holidays. Recent polling 3 showed that 54% of Europeans aim to take a trip before the end of July 2021, revealing the strong pent-up demand for mobility. Among this group, 41% wish to travel to another European country, underlining the benefit of a common EU approach.

The ongoing rollout of vaccination and increasing levels of protection among the population should be reflected in a common approach and progressive removal of national travel restrictions. Similarly, the proposed Digital Green Certificate will contribute to restore freedom of movement.

Australia - New Zealand services back on for Qantas and Jetstar.

Photo Getty

The Australian airlines Jetstar and Qantas have confirmed they will restart flying to all destinations in New Zealand when the two-way Trans-Tasman bubble opens up later this month.

The national carrier will also launch two new routes direct from Auckland to Cairns and the Gold Coast, providing travellers with more options for holidays in Queensland and New Zealand.

From 19 April 2021, Jetstar and Qantas will initially operate up to 122 return flights per week across the Tasman on 15 routes, offering more than 52,000 seats each week.

Qantas Frequent Flyer will also boost the number of Classic Reward seats for frequent flyers, making all seats in all cabins across Qantas and Jetstar flights for the first three days available as a Classic Flight redemption. For the remainder of 2021, frequent flyers will also enjoy access to 50 per cent more Classic Flight Reward seats on Qantas’ trans-Tasman routes.

Qantas Domestic and International CEO, Andrew David, said Australia has always had an incredibly close relationship with New Zealand but in the past 12 months it’s never felt further away.

UK’s largest airport group calls for roadmap to restriction-free travel

The UK’s largest airport group, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), has responded to yesterday’s update from the Prime Minister regarding the restart of international travel. While welcoming moves towards a risk-based approach to reopening the sector, the group has expressed significant disappointment at an apparent lack of any provision for a return to restriction-free travel when conditions allow.

MAG owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, handling over 60m passengers per year prior to the pandemic.

A MAG spokesperson said:   “MAG welcomes the government’s desire to see international travel resume as soon as possible, and that it is still working hard to make 17 May the day when people can begin travelling overseas again.

“Throughout this crisis, the travel industry has recognised the need for measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and to respond to the emergence of new variants of concern, both in the UK and abroad. 

New website for Airborne Training Services

Airborne Training Services, the airline pilot training subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSG), has launched its newly redesigned website at www.airbornets.com. The new site features a streamlined design with information about their class offerings and training equipment.

The new website provides visitors with an overview of the many offerings of the Airborne Training Services team, including Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) training, door training, and access to FAA-certified Level C Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 full-flight simulators. The company provides training under a Part 142 certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Increased demand sees VistaJet order 10 new Challenger 350 jets plus 2 Global 7500 aircraft are delivered

Arrival in Malta. Photo VistaJet International 

VistaJet, a global business aviation company has taken delivery of the first two of its Global 7500 aircraft, which is designed to open up longer non-stop routes for its customers.

VistaJet is the first company to provide a fleet of Global 7500 and expects to have a fleet of up to 12 aircraft arriving during the next two years.  

The firm has also ordered 10 new Challenger 350 planes, from long-standing partner Bombardier and the majority of which are expected to be delivered through 2022. These aircraft, VistaJet says, will help to meet the "growing and urgent demand from corporates and executives who are interested in the super-mid segment — VistaJet has seen a surge of nearly 50% in corporate interest globally since July 2020".  The Challenger 350 is seen as an integral part of VistaJet’s super-midsize range.

Transcend Air Awarded Key Air Force Project

Vy 400AF in simulated nap of the Earth (NOE) flight across a mountain ridge. (Photo: Business Wire)

Transcend Air has been awarded an AFWERX Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development contract, in partnership with Auburn University, to develop Simplified Vehicle Operation and flight control laws for high-speed VTOL “nap of the Earth” flight with the Vy 400 Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft.

“Nap of the Earth” is the term for a demanding flight regime where an aircraft stays low and follows the contours of terrain to remain undetected. Transcend Air is working with Professor Imon Chakraborty and his Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Laboratory (VSDDL.com) to implement control software to enable the Vy 400 aircraft to automatically fly nap of the Earth while being safely operated by a non-pilot crew member.

Through this joint R&D contract, Transcend Air’s Vy 400 VTOL aircraft is being customized to provide military support for small unit resupply and casualty evacuation missions. The 405 mph speed of the Vy 400 is two and one half times faster than the helicopters currently used for these missions, which would allow it to conduct rescues over areas more than six times as large.

AFWERX is an arm of the United States Air Force that supports aircraft technology development for commercial and military purposes. VSDDL is part of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. 

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New capital-strengthening measures for Air France - KLM

 

                       The Air France-KLM group has confirmed the European Commission has approved a bail-out from the French government to the tune of €4 billion in order to recapitalise Air France and the group as it battles huge debts and a choppy future following the coronavirus crisis. 

Key parts of this rescue package include a capital increase for an amount up to €1 billion, a conversion of the €3 billion French State direct loan drawn into perpetual hybrid bonds instrument - which many see in other words as a loan that never really has to be paid back. 

         

The Dutch State is continuing discussions with the European Commission regarding potential capital-strengthening measures for the KLM / Dutch side of the group. Additional measures to further strengthen the Group’s capital are currently under consideration the group says and these will be advised at or before the 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Resumption of international routes for Vietjet

Ho Chi Minh City based Vietjet has restarted some international routes, according to Breaking Travel News. Flights from the carriers home base to Bangkok will fly once a week on a Friday and the airline will launch flights to Seoul from Hanoi on 15th April.     

Oman Air extends complimentary COVID-19 insurance coverage until the end of the year.....

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has extended its complimentary COVID-19 insurance coverage until the end of this year - 31 December 2021. The complimentary coverage is for expenses incurred by medical treatment or quarantine related to the COVID-19 virus, and applies to tickets issued for travel after 1 October 2020 until 31 December 2021.

The coverage is provided to guests who purchase tickets on omanair.com, through the airline’s Call Centre, at Oman Air’s offices or through travel agents after 1st October 2020, and is part of the airline’s expansive efforts to ensure that guests are safe at all times so they can fly confidently. Details are available at omanair.com.

Singapore Accepts IATA Travel Pass

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed Singapore’s acceptance of pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results on the IATA Travel Pass.

From 1 May 2021, passengers travelling to Singapore will be able to use IATA Travel Pass to share their pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results upon check-in with their airline, as well as on arrival at the immigration checkpoints at Changi Airport. This is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and IATA to facilitate seamless and efficient travel through digital certificates of COVID-19 tests.

“Having the confidence of an aviation leader like Singapore accept IATA Travel Pass is hugely significant. Ongoing trials put us on track for IATA Travel Pass to be a critical tool for the industry’s restart by delivering verified travel health credentials to governments. And travellers can have complete confidence that their personal data is secure and under their own control. The success of our joint efforts will make IATA’s partnership with the government of Singapore a model for others to follow,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Cayman Airways gets new Boeing 737 MAX

Air Lease Corporation has entered a long term lease arrangement for a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet with Cayman Airways.

Leasing giant Air Lease Corporation has confirmed the delivery of one new Boeing 737-8 aircraft on long-term lease to Cayman Airways.  This aircraft, featuring LEAP-1B27 engines, is the third new 737-8 to deliver to Cayman Airways from ALC’s order book with Boeing.  

“ALC is honored to work with Cayman Airways, the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands, to modernize the airline’s fleet and expand their route network,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.  “Our team has now leased three generations of Boeing 737 aircraft to Cayman Airways: the 737-300, 737-800 and now the 737-8.  The new technology 737-8s will further the airline’s long-term goals, providing advanced technology, passenger comfort and fuel-efficiency.”

Cayman Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, Fabian Whorms said: “We are very fortunate and appreciative of having ALC as our aircraft lessor while we retire and replace our aging B737-300 aircraft with the new B737-8 aircraft model.  ALC was selected by Cayman Airways in 2016 after a competitive public tendering process and ALC has subsequently demonstrated a very strong commitment to working with Cayman Airways through the most difficult of industry challenges.  Cayman Airways also has a historical relationship working with Mr. Udvar-Hazy that spans more than three decades, and we look forward to continued excellent relations with ALC for many years to come.”

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Emirates Skywards has launched skywardsmilesmall.com in the UAE

Following the successful launch of skywardsmilesmall.com in the US, and UK, Emirates Skywards members can now earn Miles while shopping online with more than 50 brands in the UAE. Earning Skywards Miles is now even easier with everyday online purchases made across fashion, electronics, health, beauty, home, and many more. Enjoy a shopping spree with some of the most popular brands including Ounass, AliExpress, Mothercare, SharafDG, Pottery Barn, Harvey Nichols and H&M.

Earn up to 50 Miles for every AED 50 spent

To start earning Miles, members can visit skywardsmilesmall.com; browse through a list of 50 participating brands, which will soon expand to include an even more extensive range; log in with their Emirates Skywards account details; select their preferred brand; and continue to the brand’s website to complete the purchase. The loyalty programme is offering its members a rich Miles earning proposition of up to 50 Miles for every AED 50 spent.

IHG Hotels & Resorts announces major Mornington Peninsula development.....

IHG Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce that its luxury InterContinental brand will come to Sorrento in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula as part of the redevelopment of the Hotel Continental. It follows the signing of a management agreement with the Consortium behind the iconic Hotel Continental redevelopment on the state’s famed coastal strip.

Hotel Continental, or the ‘Conti’ as it is endearingly called by locals, will have a new, luxurious lease on life when the InterContinental Sorrento opens in November 2021, as the property poises itself to once again become a beacon of glamour and sophistication on the Mornington Peninsula.   

Following a sensitive, state-of-the-art restoration by the Trenerry Consortium, which is owned by Victor Smorgon Group, the Kanat Group and Trenerry Property, InterContinental Sorrento will occupy the accommodation component of the 145-year-old heritage-listed limestone building and will feature 106 beautifully appointed, spacious guestrooms, many of them with water views.   

Marriott International Teams With Shinhan Card and Visa For Korea’s First-Ever Co-Branded Hotel Credit Card

‘Marriott Bonvoy The BEST Shinhan Card’ combines the competitive advantages of a major card company with the reach and choice of the highly awarded travel program

Marriott International today announced the launch of Marriott Bonvoy® The BEST Shinhan Card, offered exclusively by Visa, enabling cardholders to accelerate the number of Marriott Bonvoy points they earn, which can be redeemed for free nights at more than 7,600 hotels across 30 extraordinary brands around the world. This launch is set to be the first hotel industry credit card in South Korea where Cardholders can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and enjoy member benefits that come with elite status.

Air Belgium to add Curaçao to its route network when it restarts flying in July

The long-haul airline based at Brussels Charleroi Airport, Air Belgium has confirmed it will recommence flying operations from 2nd July, it will also add Curaçao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles, to its route network from the next day. 

"We prefer to choose wisdom since, on the Belgian side, the requirement to present essential reasons for travelling has already been extended twice since the beginning of this year 2021. Also, Martinique has just been reclassified as a red zone by Belgium and joins Guadeloupe, which has also been a red zone for a few weeks. At the same time, the French government still imposes compelling reasons to travel to Guadeloupe and Martinique. According to information received and collected from local stakeholders, these compelling travel conditions are not expected to be lifted for several weeks", Niky Terzakis, CEO d’Air Belgium.

Air Belgium says that it expects that by July various vaccination campaigns and the implementation of the European Vaccination Certificate will have progressed sufficiently far to allow free travel within the European Union, of which Martinique and the Islands of Guadeloupe are part.

Austrian Airlines launches flights to Zaporizhzhia

 Austrian Airlines launches flights to Zaporizhzhia

• City in Ukraine to be served three times a week from 17 May

• Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa complete the Ukraine programme in the summer

Austrian Airlines will fly to Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine from 17 May. The route is being offered for the first time and will be served three times a week with an Embraer E195. An increase to a daily connection is planned in the course of the summer. Austria's home carrier is thus strengthening its presence in Ukraine. In addition to Zaporizhzhia, the program already includes Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa. Today's announcement of the new route comes on a special day. On 1 April 1991, Austrian Airlines flew to Ukraine for the first time. The destination was Kyiv.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of Zaporizhzhia on today's 30th anniversary of our Ukraine connections”, says Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl. “It not only strengthens our Ukraine offering, but also our traditionally strong network to Eastern Europe.”

Super 8 Teams Up with Actor Oliver Hudson to Inspire Travelers to #JourneySafe

Award-winning, PSA-style campaign gets reimagined to promote safe travel as increasing numbers of travellers prepare for a return to the open road ......

Super 8® by Wyndham, one of the world’s largest economy hotel brands, today unveiled the latest instalment of its award-winning #JourneySafe campaign. Featuring the voice of actor, family man and avid road-tripper Oliver Hudson, the reimagined, multi-channel campaign—best known for its use of iconic dashboard bobbleheads—takes a light-hearted, PSA-style approach to promote the continued importance of safe and responsible travel.

#JourneySafe returns as millions of travellers—many showing increasing levels of consumer confidence—look to balance a new willingness to travel with the continued desire to do so safely.

According to a recent third-party travel study shared by the United States Travel Association with its members, close to 9 out of 10 American travellers now have travel plans in the next six months1.

Ryanair 737 rolls into fuel truck in Malta

The Maltese Bureau of Air Accident Investigation is currently investigating how a Ryanair Boeing 737 became unhitched from a towing arm and rolled forward into a fuel truck late on Friday morning.

The jet, registration 9H-QCJ was being towed to a new parking area and was not carrying any passengers at the time of the incident. 

The airport’s fire service was immediately dispatched to the area as some fuel or oil had been released at the crash site and the airport was closed for nearly an hour causing two flights to be diverted.

Earlier on Friday at Malta airport: "A @Boeing 737-800 @Ryanair was being towed. Tow bar broke and aircraft rolled into fuel tanker. Three were hit.” Photos & info from a friend. @JacdecNew @AviationSafety pic.twitter.com/hhEXa9jOkv

— Aeronews (@AeronewsGlobal) April 2, 2021

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Air Asia's CEO Tony Fernandes talks refunds

The chiasmatic Chief Executive Officer at AirAsia Group, Tony Fernandes took to social media recently to offer this video of the group's stance on refunds.

He told how his job at the group has seen him handle things he'd never have thought could p[possibility happen,  such as how to balance 245 grounded planes, pay over 22,000 staff, keep the jobs going, make sure to hire back over 2,000 staff they had to let go at the height of the pandemic. 

Air Asia has flown over 600 million people, many of whom never had the chance to fly before, Fernandes says as he addresses the issue of refunds.

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40 Years of Loyalty.........American Airlines celebrating the birthday of AAdvantage

Over the past 40 years, American Airlines has built a loyalty program that makes it easy to earn and redeem miles.

AAdvantage® offers a choice of rewards, providing members with a more personalized program.

Members can join the 40th celebration with chances to instantly win prizes and special partner offers as part of a month-long online game that inspires travel.

When American Airlines launched the AAdvantage® loyalty program in 1981, it was one of the airline industry’s first frequent flyer programs to reward members for their travel. Forty years later, AAdvantage continues to lead the way with innovative new partnerships, providing members with more personalized choices in a program that’s never been easier for members to use.

“AAdvantage continues to be the easiest airline loyalty program for customers to engage with,” said Rick Elieson, President of the AAdvantage program. “Throughout our first 40 years, it’s been our privilege rewarding members for their continued loyalty to American with innovative benefits, unique partnerships and an evolving program that’s built for every customer.”

The program provided members additional flexibility last year by eliminating award ticket change fees and automatically extended elite status through Jan. 31, 2022. AAdvantage also offered members a three-month head-start on earning elite status as well as an additional path to earn elite benefits by using AAdvantage co-branded credit cards.