Air Canada serving 50 Canadian cities this summer.

Air Canada's domestic peak summer schedule beginning at the end of June will feature 3 new routes taking the total number of cities served to 50. This includes the re-establishment of select regional routes, and wide-body aircraft featuring Air Canada Signature Class and Premium Economy Class on select transcontinental routes. 

"With Canada's ongoing vaccine roll-out acceleration together with various provincial governments' reopening plans that include travel, this summer is looking brighter. As customers are ready to travel, Air Canada is taking a leadership position to support our partners in Canada's tourism and hospitality sector with service to 50 destinations from coast to coast, the re-start of regional services and new, non-stop flights," said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.  "We are especially proud that our new state-of-the-art, Canadian-manufactured Airbus A220 aircraft will be operating across Canada." 

FedEx Delivers 1.35 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Mexico

FedEx Express has delivered 1.35 million Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses to Toluca, Mexico, in coordination with Direct Relief and the United States and Mexican governments.

The delivery marks the first shipment of vaccines for Direct Relief and FedEx and the first COVID-19 vaccine delivery by FedEx into Mexico. As an integral part of the global vaccine supply chain, FedEx is delivering COVID-19 vaccines, related ingredients, and supplies to 40 countries throughout the world. FedEx Express moved the vaccine shipment from Memphis, TN, to Toluca, Mexico, via FedEx International Freight® supported by FedEx Priority Alert® advanced monitoring.

“We are proud to play a role in delivering COVID-19 vaccines alongside our longtime charitable partner Direct Relief, and in collaboration with efforts led by governments of the United States and Mexico,” said Richard W. Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support for FedEx Express. “FedEx is fully committed to the distribution of these lifesaving vaccines where they are needed and delivering to Mexico is an important step in fighting the pandemic in communities we serve every day.”

FedEx has delivered more than 13,000 COVID-19-related charitable shipments since January 2020, and the company has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and around the world including Direct Relief.

Aviation Capital Group Announces Financing of One Airbus A350-900 and Three Airbus A321neo Aircraft for Turkish Airlines

Aviation Capital Group ACG, a leading aircraft asset manager, announced today the secured financing of one Airbus A350-900 aircraft and three Airbus A321neo aircraft for Turkish Airlines (THY).

In connection with the A350-900 financing, ACG’s Aircraft Financing Solutions (AFS) program utilized a portion of its $650 million secured funding facility to act as a direct lender under a finance lease to THY. Use of the facility allowed ACG to quickly and efficiently progress from mandate to providing delivery date financing in less than four weeks.

Following the A350-900 financing, ACG partnered with Societe Generale (SG) to provide an ACG guarantee for the secured loan component of an Italian lease structure related to three A321neo aircraft, the first of which was delivered to THY this week. “We are very happy that ACG was able to respond to THY’s financing needs as both a direct lender and a loan guarantor. This demonstrates the flexibility of the AFS program and our ability to utilize a multitude of financing structures to address our clients' requirements,” said Andrew Falk, Managing Director of ACG.

“We are delighted to have partnered with ACG so as to provide an extremely competitive financing solution tailored to THY’s needs, executed smoothly in a very short timeframe,” said Emanuele Maiocchi, Director of SG Milan Structured Solution & Leasing team.

Laurent Floquet of SG, Managing Director and Head of Aviation Finance for EMEA, added, “Both THY and ACG are key clients of SG’s global aviation finance franchise, and we are very pleased to have been able to serve both through the delivery of an innovative and value-added solution.”

Aysegul Denli, Turkish Airlines’ Senior Vice President Finance, noted, “With an innovative structure embedding an ACG guarantee coverage combined with an Italian lease for three A321neo and the ACG secured loan facility for one A350-900, a competitive overall cost of financing has been obtained by Turkish Airlines with the solid commitment of the lenders during a challenging time for the aviation sector. Documentation and initial deliveries are achieved in a very tight timeline despite the continuing negative impacts of the Covid crisis and the global lockdowns.”

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easyJet opens its new seasonal base at Faro airport

easyJet officially opened its seasonal base at Faro International Airport on Tuesday 15th June, although the base has been operating since 1st June. Faro becomes the airline’s third operating base in Portugal, added to those in Lisbon, which opened in 2012, and more recent addition, Porto, operating since 2015.

The launch event was attended by Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister of State for Economy and Digital Transition, Pedro Nuno Santos, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Nicolas Notebaert, the CEO of VINCI Airports, Rita Marques, the State Secretary for Tourism and Hugo Santos Mendes, the Assistant Secretary of State and Communications.

This seasonal base will operate between March and October, with three aircraft allocated, operating on 21 routes to and from Faro. The routes connect Faro with various European cities such as Amsterdam, Basel, Belfast, Berlin Brandenburg, Bordeaux, Bristol, Geneva, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Lyon, Manchester, Milan MXP, Paris CDG, and Paris Orly. Alongside the existing routes five new routes to Luxembourg, Munich, Lille, Toulouse, and Zurich are being launched.

Over the past 22 years, easyJet has carried more than 20 million passengers to and from the Algarve, making a significant contribution to the region's economy and its promotion as an international tourist destination. By opening the new base, the airline has also contributed to the region's employment levels, creating over 100 new direct jobs under Portuguese contracts.

At the base opening in Faro, Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, commented:  "We are really pleased to be officially opening our base at Faro airport today. Despite the challenges that the aviation and tourism sectors are experiencing as a result of the pandemic, this new opening demonstrates easyJet's commitment to Portugal as an airline that contributes to the sustainable growth of the country and the rest of the European network."

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Avital increases safety in aviation

ACM Aerospace (Aircraft Cabin Modification GmbH) presents a new sensor technology for seats with Avital, which measures the ECG values of the occupants without the need for wiring. Not only are health problems detected in real time, but also signs of exhaustion and stress in the pilot. This means that any necessary countermeasures can be taken in good time. This world first also earned ACM Aerospace a nomination for the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award 2021.

ACM Aerospace is setting new standards in aircraft passenger safety with its latest innovation, Avital. The sophisticated sensor technology, which is installed directly in the seats, means that the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the occupants can be monitored without the need for wiring or any skin contact – and with the highest medical resolution.

British Airways has confirmed it will fly the 37-strong British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa on June 27 for the eagerly awaited Lions Tour.

British Airways has confirmed it will fly the 37-strong British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa on June 27 for the eagerly awaited Lions Tour.

The team will be heading directly to Johannesburg on a charter flight from Edinburgh, following The Vodafone Lions 1888 Cup clash against Japan at BT Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday 26 June at 3pm.

The Lions’ arrival in Johannesburg sees the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales embarking on an eight-game Tour of South Africa, including three Tests against World Champions, the Springboks. Both The British & Irish Lions and Springboks will be carried across the country to matches by British Airways’ franchise partner, Comair.

Earth Return Orbiter’s first step to Mars as ESA/NASA validate Airbus design

Airbus has passed an important milestone for the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) mission, which will bring the first Mars samples back to Earth: it has passed the Preliminary Design Review with the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the participation of NASA.

With technical specifications and designs validated, suppliers from eight European countries are on board for nearly all components and sub-assemblies. Development and testing of equipments and sub-systems can now start to ensure the mission moves ahead on schedule.

“This PDR has been managed and closed in a record time of less than a year, an amazing achievement considering the complexity of the mission. The entire ERO team, including suppliers and agencies, has really pulled together and we are on target to achieve delivery in 2025 – only five and a half years after being selected as prime contractor” said Andreas Hammer, Head of Space Exploration at Airbus.

The next milestone will be the Critical Design Review in two years after which production and assembly will start, to secure delivery of the full spacecraft in 2025.

After launch in 2026, on an Ariane 64 launcher, the satellite will begin a five year mission to Mars, acting as a communication relay with the surface missions (including Perseverance and Sample Fetch Rovers), performing a rendezvous with the orbiting samples and bringing them safely back to Earth.

Dave Parker, Director of human and robotic exploration at ESA, said: “On behalf of all European citizens, I am proud to see ESA leading the first ever mission to return from Mars. As part of our strong cooperation with NASA, we are working to return pristine material from Mars – scientific treasure that the world’s scientists will study for generations to come and help reveal the history of the Red Planet”.

Airbus has overall responsibility for the ERO mission, developing the spacecraft in Toulouse, and conducting mission analysis in Stevenage. Thales Alenia Space will also have an important role, assembling the spacecraft, developing the communication system and providing the Orbit Insertion Module from its plant in Turin. Other suppliers come from Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands.

The record development and design for ERO was only possible thanks to Airbus building on already mature and proven technologies, instead of developing brand new technologies with risk associated delays.

Proven Airbus technologies include the decades of experience in plasma (electric) propulsion, acquired through station keeping and in orbit operations of full electric telecom satellites, as well as its expertise on large solar arrays (telecoms and exploration missions, including JUICE, the biggest solar panels for an interplanetary mission until ERO) and complex planetary missions like BepiColombo, launched in 2018.  

Airbus will also leverage its vision based navigation technological lead (RemoveDEBRIS, Automatic Air to Air refueling),  and autonomous navigation expertise (Rosalind Franklin and Sample Fetch Rovers) and rendezvous and docking expertise built up over decades, using technologies from the successful ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) and recent developments from JUICE, Europe’s first mission to Jupiter.

The seven ton, seven metre high spacecraft, equipped with 144m² solar arrays with a span of over 40m – the largest ever built – will take about a year to reach Mars. It will use a mass-efficient hybrid propulsion system combining electric propulsion for the cruise and spiral down phases and chemical propulsion for Mars orbit insertion. Upon arrival, it will provide communications coverage for the NASA Perseverance Rover and Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) missions, two essential parts of the Mars Sample Return campaign.

For the second part of its mission, ERO will have to detect, rendezvous with, and capture a basketball-size object called the Orbiting Sample (OS), which houses the sample tubes collected by the Sample Fetch Rover (SFR, also to be designed and built by Airbus); all this over 50 million km away from ground control.

Once captured, the OS will be bio-sealed in a secondary containment system and placed inside the Earth Entry Vehicle (EEV), effectively a third containment system, to ensure that the precious samples reach the Earth’s surface intact for maximum scientific return.

It will then take another year for ERO to make its way back to Earth, where it will send the EEV on a precision trajectory towards a pre-defined landing site, before itself entering into a stable orbit around the Sun.

 

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Finnair introduces a new Business Light ticket....

Finnair has introduced a new "Business Light" ticket to its offering, in the hopes of enticing more people to travel as border restrictions start to be lifted.

The airline says passengers will now be able to choose a ticket that best meets their needs, either Light, Classic and Flex – which are available in both economy and business classes. The three fare levels are available on all short-haul and most intercontinental journeys, with a few minor exceptions. 

“There is an increasing need to personalise the travel experience, and our new ticket types offer opportunities for choice and tailoring,” says Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair. “We want to offer our customers journeys that look like them, and we will be adding more choice and personalisation opportunities to our offering as we re-introduce services and prepare for ramp-up of our operations.”  

Business Light is a totally new ticket type for Finnair and is designed for leisure travellers primarily who want to travel light and affordably yet still getting the comfort and exclusivity of business class.  Finnair's new Business Light fare includes just carry-on baggage only. So all the normal things like reservation changes, refunds, airport priority services, lounge access and onboard internet are not included in the ticket price. 

The Classic ticket is the most popular option allowing ticket date changes and including one piece of checked baggage. With a Classic ticket, customers can make travel date changes flexibly, paying only the possible fare difference between the original and new tickets. A refund is not possible in the case of a customer cancelling their reservation.  

The Flex ticket is a fully flexible and refundable ticket option serving those whose plans can change. When changing travel dates with a Flex ticket, customers only pay the possible fare difference between the original and new tickets. In case a customer wants to cancel their trip, the ticket will be refunded. Flex tickets include checked baggage and advance seat reservation. 

Finnair's new policy on refunds or the lack of them will mean it is less advisable to book in advance with the airline in the post-pandemic world as rates of new variant infections rapidly change. It would be better to book as close to departure dates as possible when border conditions are restrictions are known. 

"This seems to be the start of Finnair adopting the low-cost-carrier mentality, stripping everything out of a fare, just selling the seat space, then allowing the passenger to pay to add back in the extra items that have been stripped out." Jason Shaw, Air101's Editor in Cheif said.  

Regular Finnair passenger, Juha Hamalainen told us: "It is to be expected, the airline is cutting costs everywhere, even before COVID it went outsourcing mad, now there are less reasons to be loyal."

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Tips and Inspiration to make the most of summer travel

As the desire to travel and explore continues to heat up, Hyatt is sharing tips to help travellers satisfy their wanderlust this summer, from can’t-miss special offers and wellbeing-focused experiences to planning a long-awaited family reunion.

1. Be a Savvy Spender

After a year at home, the pent-up demand for travel is inspiring many to plan the trip of a lifetime. Visiting your dream destination doesn’t need to break the bank, so be sure to search for the latest travel deals as you plan your next getaway.

This summer, more than 850 participating Hyatt hotels around the world are offering a choose your own adventure offer with either a free night with qualifying stays or 10% to 25% savings for reservations booked by July 30, 2021, for stays through September 30, 2021¹. Travellers who take advantage of this special offer will be rewarded no matter what type of experience they choose with a variety of destinations available. To learn more and reserve Hyatt’s limited time offer, please visit hyatt.com/adventure.

2. Take The Road Less Traveled

This summer, consider adventuring off the beaten path to “second cities,” or lesser-travelled destinations. With fewer crowds, these types of destinations allow for easy exploration and immersing yourself in the culture for an authentic, local experience. Hyatt hotels that have recently opened in these must-see destinations include:

UK's CAA issues safety warning after pitot blockage events at London Heathrow

A new safety warning notice has been issued after the UK's Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accident Investigation Branch have been told about three separate events of blocked pitot tubes occurring at London Heathrow Airport which could have caused a disaster. 

These most recent events all took place between 9 June 2021 – 11 June 2021, where aircraft have been subject to pitot blockages which resulted in airspeed discrepancies and associated crew actions. All of the events are being investigated by the UK AAIB under normal ICAO Annex 13 investigation procedures. However, initial feedback seems to suggest a form of insect infestation may have 

contributed to these events.

According to the CAA, all the aircraft involved were of different types and hadn't been used very much. The aircraft had been subject to parking for periods of 3 -7 days at various locations within the airport..

Because of the risks,  the CAA advises all operators and maintenance crews to be aware of the issues and said that whilst the investigation is ongoing, such events may not be isolated to just London Heathrow and could affect many other aircraft at other airports.

The CAA also says that flight deck crews should be made aware of  "this potential issue, reminded of the importance of the speed checks during the take-off roll and the actions to be taken in the case of a discrepancy, as well as the appropriate unreliable speed indications for their aircraft type should they discover the issue once airborne."

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Airbus opening zero-emission centres in Germany and France

The European aerospace giant, Airbus has decided to concentrate its efforts for metallic hydrogen tanks in a complementary setup by creating Zero-Emission Development Centres (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen, Germany and in Nantes, France. 

The goal of the ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing to support the successful future market launch of ZEROe and to accelerate the development of hydrogen-propulsion technologies. The design and integration of tank structures is crucial to the performance of a future hydrogen aircraft. 

The technology developments will cover the full product and industrial capabilities from elementary parts, assembly, systems integration and the cryogenic testing of the final liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank system. Both ZEDCs will be fully operational by 2023 to build LH2 tanks with a first flight test scheduled for 2025.

Airbus chose its site in Bremen because of its diverse setup and decades of LH2 experience within Defence and Space and ArianeGroup. The ZEDC in Bremen will initially focus on system installation as well as for the overall cryogenic testing of the tanks. Furthermore, this ZEDC will benefit from the wider hydrogen research ecosystem such as the Centre for Eco-Efficient Materials and Technologies (ECOMAT) and from further synergies from space and aerospace activities.

Air Canada Cargo releases more details of where its converted Boeing 767-300ER freighters will fly to.

Air Canada Cargo has released details of its initial list of routes planned for the Boeing 767-300ER freighters when they enter service later this year.

As previously announced during the pandemic, Air Canada is in the process of fully converting several of its Boeing 767 aircraft into dedicated freighters in order to fully participate in global cargo commercial opportunities.

When the first converted 767 freighter enters service in October, it will fly primarily out of Toronto Pearson International Airport and will operate on routes linking Toronto to Miami, Quito, Lima, Mexico City and Guadalajara, the first time Air Canada Cargo will serve this destination. Additional destinations to be served in early 2022, include Halifax, St. John's, Madrid and Frankfurt as more freighters enter service.

"These freighters will provide long-term stability and growth for our cargo customers, in particular, the freight forwarding community who require reliable air freight capacity year-round. They will allow us to continue building on the success of our cargo-only flights and are an important part of our future growth. I am excited to have these aircraft enter service, a milestone for Air Canada Cargo that also opens up a world of opportunities for us and our customers," said Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada.

Luxair “Be pride. Be Luxembourg” aircraft lands at London City Airport

Photo London City Airport / Luxair

On June 11th a Luxair Bombardier Q400 aircraft, sporting a new special livery, celebrating pride month, landed at London City Airport.

 

The new livery was designed in partnership with the Luxembourg association Rosa Lëtzebuerg, which has been actively fighting for the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community since 1996. The fuselage and cabin interior decoration now bear the rainbow colours of the pride flag. With its "Be pride. Be Luxembourg", Luxair will spread the message of inclusiveness throughout Europe. 

Luxair decided to partner with Rosa Lëtzebuerg and show its support to the LGBTIQ+ community with well-defined activities, both internally and externally, and to convey, once again, a clear message, which encourages everyone to express their true personality and live their identity freely.

Photo London City Airport / Luxair

Luxair is also launching a range of products to commemorate the event and encourages everyone to wear the Luxair colours for Luxembourg Pride Week, which will take place in Esch-sur-Alzette from the 3rd to 11th July 2021. Among the products offered, customers will be able to discover: mugs, thermal bottles, T-Shirts, pins and "remove before flight" key rings. They will be available as of June 2nd, in the Luxair Travel Stores, in the departure hall at Luxembourg Airport and in Munsbach, 25 rue Gabriel Lippmann, Munsbach. All profits from these sales will be donated to the Rosa Lëtzebuerg association.

London Gatwick back on the schedule for Canadian airline WestJet

London Gatwick is back on the schedule for Canadian airline WestJet, the carrier confirmed recently. The service will be flown on the airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner twin jets and is scheduled to operate twice a week from Calgary and three times a week from Toronto, starting next month.

"We are committed to putting international investments in place, as leaders of the travel and tourism industry, to support a safe restart to international travel and further Canada's economic recovery," said John Weatherill, WestJet, Chief Commercial Officer. "With flights set to begin later this summer, we look forward to helping connect Canadians to their loved ones in Europe, while continuing to provide affordable options for those who want to visit or reconnect with friends and family across our great country."

WestJet's 787 unique characteristics

The WestJet 787 Dreamliner has smart sensors that detect turbulence and are designed to reduce motion sickness eightfold, according to Boeing.

A spectacular view of the world  -  The biggest window size of any aircraft, positioned so that everyone can enjoy the views 

Dreamliner interior includes high vaulted ceiling, wide body, and adjustable LED lighting 

No more shades. Windows are dimmable at the touch of a button 

Business cabin  - Private pods featuring lie-flat seats  

Extra space to work and relax  

Luxurious blankets and pillows, plus enhanced menu offerings  

A greener machine - Dreamliners use 25% less fuel per passenger compared with aircraft of a similar size 

10% more fuel efficient than the best of its competition, according to Boeing

A breath of fresh air. 

More humid cabin air means your throat and eyes suffer less dryness -Cabin is pressurized to 2,000 ft lower than the standard 6000 ft, making it easier to breathe 

HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtering technology keeps cabin air clean. The same HEPA filters are used to keep hospital operating room air clean and safe 

Experience a quieter cabin - A quiet air conditioner and technology that reduces vibrations in sidewalls, ceilings, and softens engine noise 

Better speakers make the public address system easy to hear

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Boeing 747-400 for Sky KG Airlines

Sky KG Airlines has purchased a Boeing 747-400 from Wamos Air according to Ch Aviation, which will be the first of its type in the country.  This grand old lady of the skies, registration EC-KXN (msn 25703) is 27 or so years old and was added to the state's register a week ago as EX-47003.

The aircraft has reportedly been in short term storage at Bishkek since the end of March and airfleets.net indicate the jet has previously flown for Malaysia Airlines, Air India, Pullmantur Air and ConViasa.

Sky KG Airlines offers a variety of aviation services, including commercial handling services at airports of Kyrgyzstan, navigation aids inspection flights,  charter operations, Adhoc catering services, slot coordination and oil/fuel pipeline inspection services. 

The company has a valid operator certificate No. 41 issued by the Civil Aviation Agency and Ministry of Transport and Roads of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the licenses for the transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and mail within the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and in other destinations.

The airline was founded in 2004 and has built up extensive experience in the operation of cargo and passenger flights. All members of the flight crew are highly skilled professionals having extensive training in the educational institutions of Kyrgyzstan and abroad as well as solid flight experience.

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FedEx operates third dedicated charter flight to India with vital aid

 

In a continued effort to support India and combat the second wave of COVID-19, FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp and the world’s largest express transportation company, today announced the arrival of a third dedicated charter flight carrying much needed COVID-19 supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to India.

The third FedEx Boeing 777F charter flight carrying over 250,000 face shields, 100,000 goggles, more than 80,000 coveralls and gowns and over 134,000 KN95 and N95 masks landed on June 13, 2021, in Mumbai, India from Memphis, Tennessee. Items arriving on the charter flight were donated by Dignity Health, coordinated by TMC Navya, and will be distributed by Direct Relief to medical facilities in India through Tata Memorial Centre.

To date, FedEx has moved thousands of oxygen concentrators, and hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and aid into the country. FedEx has previously donated two charter Boeing 777F flights from the USA to India, which flew on May 9 and May 16, transporting thousands of oxygen concentrators and other medical aid for Direct Relief.

Southwest at 50......new podcast recounting the company's colourful history

 Southwest Airlines this week celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the carrier's first commercial flights, which took place on June 18, 1971. To offer Customers and Employees a unique perspective on stories from the airline's colourful history, Southwest, L.A. Times Studios, and At Will Media partnered to create the airline's first public-facing episodic podcast series, called "Is This Seat Open?" which includes 20 episodes.

"As we look back on 50 years of Southwest Airlines, our world and our industry have changed significantly, but what has remained constant is the Heart demonstrated by the People of Southwest," said Linda Rutherford, Senior Vice President and Chief Communication Officer. "We're a Company full of remarkable stories, thanks to the diverse group of Employees and Customers who define Southwest, so what better way to celebrate our milestone 50th Anniversary than to share some of this rich history. These one-of-a-kind stories set Southwest apart, show the Heart and Hospitality of our Employees, and will serve as the foundation for the next 50 years and beyond."

The podcast title, "Is This Seat Open?" draws upon Southwest's open-seating policy, which is one of the ways the Company uniquely stands out in the industry and has been in place since the airline's founding in 1971. "Is This Seat Open?" is available on all podcast platforms, including iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. There are currently 10 episodes available, with additional episodes launching on June 15 and June 22 for a total of 20 episodes in the series.

Robotic Research and TESIAC form alliance

Robotic Research, a global leader in autonomous driving technology and solutions, announced on Monday, 14th June that it has formed a strategic relationship with Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider TESIAC to deliver advanced mobility options as part of a larger smart city offering to government and private industry customers.

The return of fresh meals to Delta's premium domestic cabins.....

Delta Air Lines has confirmed it will be bringing back fresh meals to its premium domestic cabins starting this week.

The U.S. mega-carrier says customers flying in Delta One and First Class on select domestic routes will again enjoy hot meals featuring local fare and customer favourites.

"The new meals are the latest in an ongoing series of enhancements we've been making to our offerings in flight," said Delta's Chief Customer Experience Officer Allison Ausband. "Delta continues to take an intentional approach to the return of our onboard food and beverage program to ensure service is coming back safely and even better than before."

Starting tomorrow, Delta One and First Class customers flying from Boston and New York-JFK to and from Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco will see the return of popular breakfast, lunch and dinner items like lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry thyme syrup, a smoked salmon plate with bagel chips, and beef short ribs with whipped potatoes. Additionally, Delta's bread service will now feature locally sourced sourdough bread and batch-churned, slow-cultured butter from Atlanta-based Banner Butter. Customers in these cabins will be able to browse the menus digitally via their seatback screens.

GE Aviation and Safran launch sustainable engines programme.

John Slattery, President and CEO of GE Aviation and Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran sign the agreement.                Photo: Business Wire

GE Aviation and Safran today launched a bold technology development programme targeting more than 20 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s engines. The CFM RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) programme will demonstrate and mature a range of new, disruptive technologies for future engines that could enter service by the mid-2030s.

The companies today also signed an agreement extending the CFM International 50/50 partnership to the year 2050, declaring their intent to lead the way for more sustainable aviation in line with the industry’s commitment to halve CO2 emissions by 2050.

“The relationship between GE and Safran today is the strongest it has ever been,” said John Slattery, President and CEO of GE Aviation. “Together, through the RISE technology demonstration programme, we are reinventing the future of flight, bringing an advanced suite of revolutionary technologies to market that will take the next generation of single-aisle aircraft to a new level of fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. We fully embrace the sustainability imperative. As we have always done in the past, we will deliver for the future.”