More than 1.4 million people travelled with Etihad Airways in February

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has published its preliminary traffic statistics for February 2024, during which over 1.4 million passengers travelled with the carrier.

The airline reports its load factor was around 89 % for the month, up a percent from last year whilst the carriers fleet has risen to 89 operational aircraft.

“In February 2024 we saw a 46 per cent year-on-year growth in customer numbers as we continue our growth strategy,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “Our year-to-date (YTD) passenger figures at 2.9 million are 40 per cent higher than at YTD February 2023.

“February was a busy month; we strengthened our fleet, welcoming three new 787-9s, a move which is aligned to our network expansion strategy of adding new destinations and expanding frequencies into key markets.

We also announced two additional new routes which will begin this year: to Antalya, Turkey and Jaipur, India, the latter representing our eleventh non-stop connection between Abu Dhabi and the Indian Subcontinent."

	Feb-23	Feb-24	2023 YTD	2024 YTD
Passengers	1.0 million	1.4 million	2.0 million	2.9 million
Passenger load factor	88%	89%	88%	87%
Operating fleet size	74	89	74	89
Passenger destinations	64	69	64	69

Earlier this month Etihad Airways published some details of its results for last year, demonstrating an AED 1.4 billion (U.S.$ 394 million) operating result, driven by AED 4 billion (U.S.$ 1.1 billion) year-on-year growth in passenger revenue, while decreasing unit cost excl. fuel by 7%, marking a significant improvement in passenger business profitability.

Through 2023, the airline launched 15 new destinations, including Lisbon, Copenhagen, Kolkata and Osaka, and grew its operating fleet by 14 aircraft, to support ~30 per cent growth in Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs).

The airline also successfully strengthened its balance sheet by reducing net leverage to 2.5x net debt to EBITDA, from 5.0x in 2022, off the back of strong cash-flow generation and controlled CAPEX, supported by improving aircraft utilisation and re-activating previously parked aircraft.

Joby to deliver two eVTOL aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base

Aircraft will be used by the U.S. Air Force for test and training

Four Joby aircraft are now committed to U.S. Air Force bases as part of the company’s $131M contract with the DoD

Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it will deliver two aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base in 2025 as part of the Company’s AFWERX Agility Prime contract with the U.S. Air Force.

MacDill AFB is home to the U.S. Special Operations Command (“USSOCOM”), U.S. Central Command (“CENTCOM”), and units from the Air Mobility Command (“AMC”), along with numerous logistics-oriented units. Personnel will test and train with the aircraft based at MacDill AFB, on base and in the surrounding area.

Joby delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in California in September 2023, with a second aircraft expected to be placed on the base this year. At Edwards, the Joby team is working closely with the 412th Test Wing on testing and experimentation that will inform future operational testing at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida.

Joby’s Agility Prime contract includes the provisioning of up to nine aircraft total to the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies. In 2020, Joby became the first eVTOL developer to receive military airworthiness approval for its pre-production prototype aircraft.

Two new Airbus A320neo aircraft for flynas

The two Airbus A320neo aircraft arrived in Riyadh on 7th March and 14th March and will operate flights on the carrier's international and domestic route network. Six A320neo new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to flynas during 2024 which will further enhance the airline's schedule.

This growth in the number of new aircraft and increasing the seat capacity is part of flynas new strategic plan "We Connect the World to the Kingdom", which along with the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP). Times Aerospace reports the aims of these plans is to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques and the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting Saudi Arabia with around 250 International destinations. 

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to optimize operations with Gurobi

Gurobi Optimization, has confirmed this week that its solver helps power CrewVision, the innovative tool developed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to facilitate long-term crew planning for airlines.

CrewVision makes it easy to create optimal five-year crew plans while accounting for critical factors, such as changes in industry regulations, fleets, hiring needs, and training requirements—a significant improvement from their previous outlook of nine months. With support from Gurobi’s solver, these five-year plans can now be generated within several hours, as opposed to an entire week. This allows KLM to spend more time strategizing around their long-term vision.

Prior to developing CrewVision, KLM used a legacy system to run analyses, with data spread across multiple sources. A total cycle took a week to process overall. With CrewVision, this is reduced to several hours.

“The nice thing about Gurobi is that we can easily experiment with different parameters and thresholds. We can do a lot of different runs to see what is still acceptable. So even though we have expanded the problem a lot, we can still go in and quickly get results that are quite good,” shares Tim Lamballais Tessensohn, Data Scientist at KLM.

JetBlue set to axe many flights

New York's hometown airline is seeking to cut costs and return to profitability after ending its very costly attempt to buy out budget carrier Spirit, by axing a number of flights.

TPG reports that internal communications have been issued which detail a number of routes being stopped in the next few months, including eight from Los Angeles. Among those flights being axed are ones to Miami, Reno, Seattle, Las Vegas, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.  

The carrier will also end all services from Kansas City from the second week in June and also pull out of international routes to the cities of Bogota, Quito and Lima.  

Florida will also be hit as the schedule will reduce dramatically over the next few months as the airline tries to focus on high-performing routes. 

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet suffers cracked window upon landing

US media is reporting that the inner windscreen of an Alaska Airlines  Boeing 737-800 aircraft cracked as it landed in Portland, Oregon over the weekend.

The jet had performed a flight from Washington DC and whilst on approach the flight deck crew became aware of a crack in the inner windscreen.  Alaska Airlines said the crew "followed their checklists and the aircraft continued safely to its destination as scheduled."  

In a statement to U.S. media, Alaska Air confirmed the aircraft was "outfitted with five-layer windscreens that have an outer pane, three inner layers and an inner pane. If an inner pane cracks, the other pane and layers can maintain cabin pressure. The aircraft will be inspected and repaired by engineers on the ground."

The plane was carrying 159 passengers and six crew at the time of the incident and the windscreen layer has been repaired and the jet is now put back in service. 

The WestJet Group names Diederik Pen as airline President

Pen to continue to serve as Group Chief Operating Officer reporting to Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech

The WestJet Group today announced the appointment of Diederik Pen as President of WestJet Airlines effective April 1, 2024. As WestJet Group Chief Operating Officer and President of WestJet Airlines, Pen will continue to report to Alexis von Hoensbroech, the WestJet Group's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech will continue to maintain overall responsibility for the WestJet Group and its strategic direction.

"Diederik's experience as a respected leader, with a track record of operational success, will be critical as we continue our growth strategy, including the integration of Sunwing Airlines," said von Hoensbroech. "With the largest narrow-body aircraft order book in Canada, it is critical we optimize safe and reliable performance for our business, as we deliver more affordable options and better connectivity to Canadians."

Since joining the WestJet Group in October of 2021, as Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Pen has been instrumental in enhancing the operational performance of the Group. Leading operations into recovery, he has been influential across airline operations, inflight, airports, technical operations, labour relations, safety, crew resources and training. As WestJet Group Chief Operating Officer and President of WestJet Airlines, Pen will be responsible for the Group's day-to-day operations, successful labour negotiations and overall operational reliability that WestJet guests expect. He will also assume the role of the Transport Canada Accountable Executive.

Airbus continues to collaborate with NASA to monitor climate change from Space

GRACE-C contract for two spacecraft awarded to Airbus

NASA and DLR mission will continue measurements of Earth’s gravity field

Airbus has been awarded a contract to design and build the GRACE-C twin spacecraft by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL (Pasadena, California). This new mission of NASA and the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will strengthen the more than 20 year long partnership between the USA and Germany to ensure uninterrupted measurement of the Earth's gravity field, which started in 2002 with GRACE and continues with GRACE Follow-On, launched in 2018.

During its five year nominal mission lifetime, the GRACE-C Mission (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment-Continuity) will continue the series of measurements observing how Earth’s groundwater, oceans, ice sheets, and land shift, month-to-month, by measuring changes in the planet’s gravity field. 

Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, said: “It is amazing to think that, without looking down at Earth, two satellites more than 200 km away from each other, can tell us how quickly our ice sheets are melting. In environmental monitoring, continuity is key. The valuable data provided by the previous GRACE missions is testament to their success and it is great news that Airbus continues to be part of this international mission providing the tools to measure how our climate is evolving.”

GRACE-C consists of two identical satellites flying around 200 km apart at an orbit altitude of 500 km with an inclination of 89 degrees. Each satellite will measure approximately 3 x 2 x 1 metres and weigh around 600 kg. Launch is planned no earlier than late 2028 from the USA.

New report shows 50 new direct long-haul routes could be unlocked at Manchester Airport by integrating investment in new transport infrastructure

Political and business leaders back report showing how Manchester Airport can drive Northern growth and a rebalancing of the economy

Regional political and business leaders have backed the report – saying “Manchester Airport  should be at the heart of our plan to transform the North’s connectivity if we are to drive productivity and growth”

Government measures needed include investment in new high speed rail network in the North, with Airport at its heart

 

Political and business leaders have urged the next government to place Manchester Airport at the heart of a modern, integrated transport network in the North and maximise its role in rebalancing the UK economy.

The calls were made after a new report revealed what the full economic potential of the Airport would be if the right conditions were in place to unlock “transformational growth” across the North.

Produced by Arup, it states that between now and 2050, the Northern gateway could secure direct flights to 50 new world-leading cities including Sydney, Tokyo, Montreal, Mumbai, Riyadh, San Francisco and Cape Town, driving passenger volumes to as high as 60m a year.

Those links would drive significant increases in exports, inward investment, tourism and cultural exchange for the North, growing Manchester Airport’s annual economic impact on the North to £16.3bn and leading to support for more than 80,000 more jobs.

The report spells out the opportunity for Ministers to create a “supportive policy environment” that enables both the Airport, and the Northern economy as a whole, to flourish.

The centrepiece of that would be the delivery of a high-speed rail network that transforms journey times between the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Bradford and the airport.

That would build on MAG’s own £1.3bn investment in the transformation of its facilities, which is helping unlock the potential of its existing two runways.

Alongside measures like investing in local transport schemes, funding and policy support for aviation sustainability and the right national tourism strategy, that would create a transformational growth scenario that by 2050 would also lead to:

Gross value added (GVA) impact from the airport in the North tripling from £5.7bn to £16.3bn

  Potential for more than 50 new long-haul routes

 Around 25 new short-haul routes

Employment for over 165,000 people compared to 80,000 people today. That is equivalent to the population of Harrogate

More than 260,000 businesses would be within 90 minutes of the airport – compared to 70,000 today

Potential for the airport to serve up to 60m passengers each year compared to 27m today

The creation of 6,500 jobs and £930m of economic value through the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pipeline and production capability that serves Manchester Airport and the UK as a whole

MAG CEO Ken O'Toole said: "Manchester Airport is well-established as the UK’s global gateway in the North, connecting the region to an ever-increasing range of destinations such as Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, Houston, Toronto and across the Middle East.

“We know this connectivity delivers billions of pounds of economic value to the North by driving trade, investment and tourism and, spurred by our own £1.3bn investment in new terminal facilities and infrastructure the Airport, we will continue to grow and support growth across the region in the years to come.

Robinson Helicopter Co is celebrating 45 years of the R22.......

Generations of Pilots Learn to Fly in a Robinson R22

Robinson Helicopter Company, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of civil helicopters, celebrates the 45th anniversary of its iconic two-seat R22 helicopter. 

On March 16, 1979, Robinson received FAA certification for the R22, which has been enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum since September 2004.

With a legacy of accessibility, reliability, and versatility, the R22 revolutionized the personal helicopter market. Many of the world's rotorcraft pilots and flight schools begin their journeys in an R22. This versatile helicopter equips pilots with the critical skills and foundation necessary for a thriving career in aviation. (Watch Climb Higher Video – It All Starts in an R22)

From flight training to agricultural work, and wildlife management to surveying, Robinson helicopters have become synonymous with how tough missions are accomplished. With nearly 30 million hours flown globally (according to RHC estimates), the R22 has solidified its position as one of the best-selling civil rotorcrafts in the world. More than 80 R22s that are over 40 years old are still in service.

One A320-200 arrives for Canada Jetlines

Aviation Capital Group has confirmed the delivery of one Airbus A320-200 on long-term lease to Canada Jetlines. 

“ACG is proud to broaden its footprint in North America and is pleased to welcome Canada Jetlines as a new lessee,” said Alan Mangels, Vice President of Marketing for ACG. “We look forward to this new, long-term partnership.”

“Canada Jetlines is delighted to join forces with ACG as we continue to strengthen our fleet and expand our reach,” said Eddy Doyle, CEO of Canada Jetlines. “This partnership exemplifies our dedication to working with industry leaders.”

ACG specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and aviation finance. In addition to aircraft leasing services, ACG provides aircraft asset management solutions tailored to meet our customers’ fleet management needs. The firm has approximately 490 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2023, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. It specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and provides certain aircraft asset management services and aircraft financing solutions for third parties. It was founded in 1989 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.

Canada Jetlines, is a Canadian leisure airline committed to providing an exciting travel experience to its passengers. With a growing network of destinations, Canada Jetlines is dedicated to connecting Canadians with some of the world’s most captivating and sought-after locations.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

Mark Johnston named as new as permanent Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick

Mark Johnston has been appointed permanent Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick Airport.  As COO Mark will play a critical leadership role at London Gatwick, focussing on delivering the safe, efficient and smooth running of day-to-day airport operations.

Mark will drive the delivery of key strategic projects such as the roll out of next generation security and aerodrome performance. He will also oversee key departments including passenger operations, security and aerodrome.

Johnston was COO of AGS Airports, the owners of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, where he was in post for more than three years.  Before working at AGS, he joined Glasgow Airport in 2004 after various roles working in the global semiconductor industry. He then went on to hold various positions within Glasgow Airport, including the Operations Director, before being appointed Managing Director in May 2018. Mark was appointed Chief Operating Officer of AGS Airports in November 2020.

Mark Johnston said: “I am thrilled to be joining the UK’s second busiest airport where we operate the world’s most efficient runway.

London Gatwick has exceptional people who work hard every day to deliver a personalised experience, that is easy and efficient for all.

It is an incredibly exciting time to be joining London Gatwick and I am thoroughly looking forward to getting started and meeting all the team.”

Stewart Wingate, CEO, London Gatwick, said: “Mark will join London Gatwick with a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a COO. He is ideally placed to oversee the airports operations, strategic partnerships and ensuring a great Gatwick experience for passengers.

As we continue to grow, our vision is to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey, and we are thrilled to have Mark join us at such an exciting time for the airport.

I’d like to thank John Higgins for stepping into the role of interim Chief Operating Officer for the last 15 months and leading the operation at an extremely busy time.”

Mark Johnston will take over from John Higgins, who stepped in as interim Chief Operating Officer in January 2023 in addition to his role of Business Improvement Director at the airport.

London Gatwick is investing in its long-term future and its planning application to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use has now entered the examination phase with the Planning Inspectorate. This low-impact plan will improve resilience, reduce delays, and provide a significant boost to the national and regional economy by supporting trade, tourism, and new jobs.   

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New interline deal for Rex and Etihad

Rex unveils new interline partnership with Etihad Airways.

This exciting partnership between Australia's Rex and Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, provides passengers on Rex's domestic routes convenient connections with Etihad's global network.

“Partnering with a world-class airline like Etihad brings a new era of choice and connection for 

Rex passengers,” said Rex’s General Manager of Network Strategy, Warrick Lodge. “Passengers will be able to fly to either Sydney or Melbourne on Rex and thereafter connect 

on Etihad to a further 72 destinations across the globe. Etihad's extensive international network includes Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the USA.  “The entire journey, including Etihad and Rex connecting flights, can be booked under one booking and passengers can enjoy the convenience of through-check baggage (where permitted).”

Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer said: "This exciting new partnership significantly expands connectivity options for Etihad guests, providing them with effortless access from our gateways in Sydney and Melbourne to pivotal destinations within the Rex network, including Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Equally, we are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Rex customers, enabling them to seamlessly integrate into our expanding global network."

Future of Flight action plan.......... the age of the flying taxi is getting ever closer

Drone technology could transform our skies and boost the UK economy by £45 billion by the end of the decade.

Flying taxis, crime-fighting drones and critical 999 care deliveries could all be a reality by 2030 thanks to the government and industry’s joint Future of Flight action plan, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT) this week.  

Setting out a roadmap for drones and novel electric aircraft in the UK, the plan details how technology once confined to the realm of sci-fi could transform our skies, with studies estimating drone technology could boost the UK economy by £45 billion by the end of the decade.

It details plans for the first piloted flying taxi flight by 2026 and regular services by 2028, regular drone deliveries across our skies by 2027 and demos of autonomous flying taxis without pilots on board by 2030 – transforming how people and goods are transported.

Aviation and Technology Minister, Anthony Browne, said:  "Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionise transport as we know it – this plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality. 

From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we’re making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation – improving people’s lives and boosting the economy."

The plan was unveiled on the same day the minister is due to visit Vertical Aerospace in Bristol – one of the UK companies making flying taxis and at the cutting edge of innovation in aviation.

These greener, quieter flying taxis are already undergoing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) authorisation process and have been made possible thanks to rapid advances in battery technology, meaning they are light enough to stay in the air and powerful enough to cover the distances needed.

Some of the other actions set out in the plan include:  

allowing drones to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) so that the sector can grow without limiting the skies for other aircraft

breathing life into smaller aerodromes by setting out how they can operate as vertiports for electric aircraft that take off vertically (sometimes known as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft)

developing standards to improve security for drones to boost public safety

engaging communities and local authorities so that they can enjoy the economic and social benefits of these technologies

First imagined in the Flightpath to the Future in 2022, this joint plan between industry and government sets out the strategic direction of the sector over the next 5 years, striking a balance between innovation, security, safety and cutting emissions.

The benefits of this new technology are already being seen in the UK. West Midlands Police uses drones to tackle violent crime and antisocial behaviour. In July 2023, a drone team was deployed, successfully identifying 2 offenders and another suspect at a speed and distance that would have taken ground officers hours to track down.

Drones are also helping frontline NHS staff save lives. For 6 months between October 2022 and March 2023, the UK drone service provider Skyfarer partnered with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Medical Logistics UK to test drones to deliver surgical implants and pathology samples between sites. In one case, drones reliably helped cut delivery times of surgical implants between Coventry and Rugby hospitals from up to an hour to just 18 minutes – a 70% decrease.

The Future of Flight action plan contains measures to make drone applications and assessments easier by creating new and simple digital platforms that operators can use – ensuring companies and public services are no longer shackled by red tape and get drones up and flying quicker.

Belfast City Airport named Most Punctual UK Airport in 2023

George Best Belfast City Airport has been confirmed as the UK’s Most Punctual Airport for 2023 following the publication of the latest performance figures from the Civil Aviation Authority.

 

The data analyses arriving and departing scheduled and chartered flights throughout the year, with results revealing that Belfast City Airport was the most punctual of the 25 UK airports included in the survey.

 

Mark Beattie, Chief Operating Officer at Belfast City Airport said:  “At Belfast City Airport we always aim to deliver a passenger experience that is convenient and hassle free, and we are thrilled to have the best on-time-performance of any airport in the UK across the calendar year 2023.

This achievement is owing to our team’s dedication to going above and beyond to maximise performance and efficiencies to ensure our passengers can move through the airport, and get to their destination, as quickly as possible.

 

Our unrivalled punctuality combined with our prime location, only five minutes from the heart of Belfast City Centre, and an average security processing time of just 6 minutes allows our passengers to enjoy a smooth start to every journey.”

 

Belfast City Airport currently operates routes to 30 destinations across the UK and beyond in partnership with its six airlines, Aer Lingus, British Airways, easyJet, KLM, Loganair, Lufthansa, and charter partners Royal Caribbean, Travel Solutions and TUI.

Conor McCarthy, Executive Chairman at Emerald Airlines & Dublin Aerospace said "As George Best Belfast City Airport’s largest airline, serving 11 destinations in the UK, for Aer Lingus Regional. Emerald Airlines are very proud to have been part of this achievement.  Well done to all the hard-working crews, engineers and handling agents who made this happen."

Phenix Jet adds Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft to its fleet

Phenix Jet Cayman (Hong Kong), a leader in luxury private aviation, has added a new jet to its Asia-based charter fleet: a brand-new Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft. This state-of-the-art, ultra-long-range jet is now ready to provide unparalleled luxury travel experiences to meet clients.

The Global 7500 is the pinnacle of private aviation, offering the ultimate in comfort, speed, and range. It is capable of non-stop flights between distant continents, ensuring that Phenix Jet's clients can reach their global destinations with ease and efficiency. The aircraft boasts a spacious and opulent cabin, configured to provide an environment of productivity and relaxation.

"We are very excited to add another top-of-the-line, brand new, offering to our ultra-long haul fleet. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to providing the best lineup of luxury aircraft to our beloved clients." said Andrew Svoboda, CEO at Phenix Jet Cayman (Hong Kong)

As Phenix Jet continues to enhance its offerings, the addition of another Global 7500 reinforces its commitment to providing an elite selection of ultra-long-range aircraft for its clients. The fleet expansion is a testament to its commitment to meeting the growing demand and travel needs of its customers, providing them with the most exclusive and bespoke charter services available.

The Global 7500 is immediately available for charter. We invite you to experience the epitome of luxury air travel, with the reliability and service excellence that is synonymous with Phenix Jet Cayman (Hong Kong).

Air Samarkand gets ready for scheduled flights launch and appoints a new CEO

Air Samarkand is to commence its scheduled flight programme on Thursday, 21st March, operating on the Samarkand - Istanbul - Samarkand route with its Airbus A321neo aircraft. In the initial phase, return services will operate twice a week, departing on Mondays and Thursdays from Samarkand International Airport (SKD) to Istanbul International Airport (IST), with a scheduled flight time of about 5 hours.

Air Samarkand has also announced the appointment of Zafar Butaev as its new CEO, succeeding Anton Khodiayan, who will continue serving as an advisor to the airline while reverting to his position as Director General of the airport management company Air Marakanda.  Zafar Butaev is an Uzbekistani entrepreneur who has spent more than 15 years working in the tourism, hospitality and service sectors, creating two companies that together now employ more than 500 people. Currently, he is also CEO of Silk Road Samarkand, the first multi-functional international tourism centre in Asia. Mr Butaev is a business degree graduate of Tashkent State Economic University and is fluent in four languages.

Istanbul is one of the most sought-after destinations from Samarkand, connecting the largest city in Turkey with Uzbekistan through centuries-old cultural, business and tourism ties. Istanbul airport also offers extensive onward travel opportunities to cities worldwide, and Air Samarkand plans to add further flight options on the city pairing in the near future.

Departures from Samarkand are scheduled for 8 am, arriving in Istanbul at 11.10 am, with return services departing from Istanbul at 12:30 pm and arriving back in Samarkand at 7:00 pm (all are local times).

The inaugural scheduled service marks a significant milestone for any airline, and Air Samarkand will offer passengers a world-class standard of comfort and service on the direct flights. There is also significant demand for tourism, cultural and business customers on this route and Air Samarkand looks forward to developing close commercial ties in Turkey as it establishes this new service.

Its modern Airbus A321 is widely used by leading airlines globally and has a proven record for safety, reliability and exceptional passenger comfort. Air Samarkand will operate the latest 'neo' variant of the A321, which is equipped with the new generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines that ensure low noise levels during the flight. The aircraft accommodates 221 passengers in a full economy-class cabin.

Air Samarkand will be offering customers an unprecedented baggage allowance of two checked bags weighing up to 23kg each, plus 8kg of carry-on cabin baggage.

Tickets for flights to Istanbul are available for purchase at easybooking.uz, as well as at travel agencies connected to the Easy Booking system, and at biletbank.com. Further sales will soon open on the airline's own airsamarkand.com website, as well as on other popular online ticket platforms and aggregators.

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!

British Airways is embarking on a multi-million-pound investment programme to overhaul its ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport

British Airways is embarking on a multi-million-pound investment programme to overhaul its ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport, as part of its commitment to reducing emissions both in the air and on the ground. The airline will gradually be replacing its ground vehicles at Heathrow, such as vans and cars, cargo transporters and passenger steps, moving towards hybrid or electric alternatives where available. Already, more than 90% of British Airways’ vehicles and ground equipment at Heathrow are either zero emissions electrical equipment when being used or driven, (hybrids) or are operating on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel. 

Improvements include:  

Replacing more than 750 pieces of ground equipment, including fuel bowsers from fossil fuel to HVO. HVO is an interim measure whilst the airline gradually transitions to zero-emissions (when being used or driven) or hybrid equipment. Supplied by the airline’s current sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplier, Phillips 66, the use of HVO is anticipated to save more than 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to traditional diesel fuel, the equivalent of more than 8,000 round-trip economy passenger journeys between London Heathrow and JFK*.  

Replacing all diesel passenger aircraft steps with electric alternatives. This aims to reduce fuel consumption by more than 370 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, based on previous diesel usage, which is the equivalent of more than 500 round-trip economy passenger journeys between London Heathrow and JFK*. Many of the electric steps will be in full service by the end of the year. 

Phasing out its fleet of 20 diesel-powered vehicles which support the loading and unloading of cargo containers onto aircraft, replacing them with Hybrid Electric models.  

Introducing 135 new electric baggage tugs, accounting for 40% of our tugs, to transport customer's luggage. This improved battery and charging technology utilises highly efficient lithium-ion battery technology, requiring less energy and producing 30% less C02 when in use compared to traditional lead acid batteries. We are working closely with our supply chain in order to recycle as many battery components as possible at the end of life. 

Gradually phasing out all 38 diesel passenger buses over the next two years, with 23 expected to be fully electric and the remaining 15 operating on HVO fuel, with a large charging park at Heathrow now in the early stages of development. The use of these vehicles is expected to save 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, helping to reduce negative air quality impacts around the Heathrow area. 

Tom Moran, British Airways’ Director of Heathrow, said: “At British Airways, we are committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner and our focus isn’t just about reducing emissions in the air, but on the ground too. This major investment into our vehicles at Heathrow is our largest investment in more sustainable airport ground operations to date and is part of our wider environmental objective to minimise emissions from our airside ground operation. We’re proud of the work we are doing in this space and are excited to continue improving the running of our ground operations at Heathrow.” 

Artemis Aerospace explores a day in the life of a flight trainer

 

Everyone remembers a good teacher. However, a flight instructor for the commercial aviation industry is mentoring students who will go on to be responsible for thousands of people's lives over the course of their careers. Artemis Aerospace looks at the work of the people who teach pilots to fly.

Becoming a qualified pilot is a major undertaking, and for many people, it's the realisation of a lifelong dream. The responsibility of getting them to that stage falls on the flight instructor, and it's a complex, but incredibly rewarding job. Currently, there's a shortage of both pilots and trainers, so now is a great time for pilots to consider utilising their flying skills to bring on the next cohort.

To become a flight instructor, you will need to undertake a course lasting around five or six weeks if done on a full-time basis. There are stringent pre-entry requirements for this, and applicants are usually required to have:

A UK CAA CPL (Commercial Pilot's Licence) or PPL (Private Pilot's Licence) plus at least 200 hours flying time of which 150 should be as PIC (Pilot in Command).

A pass in CPL-level theoretical flight knowledge exams.

Ten hours instrument flight training and twenty hours VFR (Visual Flight Rules) cross country flying as PIC including landing at different aerodromes.

A required number of hours of SEP (Safety and Emergency Procedures) training.

A pass in a pre-course flight test no longer than six months before entry to the course.

A flying instructor's course will usually involve around 30 hours of teaching and learning tuition, 100 hours of theory, and 30 hours of flight training, leading to a final exam and FI certification.

There isn't a typical day in the life of a flight instructor. As a multi-crew co-operation instructor, you will be training students to operate as both pilot and co-pilot in a multi-engine commercial aeroplane, involving VFR (Visual Flight Rules) and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) and all the complexities associated with optimum decision-making, communication, teamwork, and flying in all weather conditions and emergency situations.

An instructor at British Airways' Global Learning Academy might be tutoring students from airlines all over the world on a Flight Technical Training conversion course, designed for pilots to familiarise themselves with a specific type of aeroplane such as an Airbus A380 or a Boeing 787.

BA's Speedbird Pilot Academy has instructors teaching 60 future BA pilots a year – aside from flying, this will involve systems checks, cockpit instrumentation lessons, practical skills, customer service and leadership development.

A crucial part of all pilot training is time spent on an aircraft simulator. A synthetic flight instructor teaches the basic principles of flight, take-off and landing, safety, and instrument familiarisation within a safe environment. Students can practise approaching every airport in the world, fly any type of aeroplane and encounter every possible weather condition and emergency scenario. In addition, all qualified pilots must undergo regular evaluation by an instructor in a simulator in order to renew or revalidate their licence.

IAG Cargo launches new service between Barcelona and Miami

IAG Cargo announces a new service between Barcelona and Miami with flights operating up to three times a week from 31st March

Miami is IAG Cargo’s fifth connection between Barcelona and the U.S. 

IAG Cargo also restarts services between Barcelona and San Francisco from 31st March

 

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has announced a new service between Barcelona and Miami. The route will run three times a week to Miami International Airport from 31st March 2024, increasing to four services from June to September. 

Barcelona is one of IAG Cargo’s four hubs, alongside London Heathrow, Madrid, and Dublin, and is home to two of the IAG Group’s airlines, LEVEL and Vueling. Miami will mark IAG Cargo’s fifth direct connection to the United States from Barcelona, which already encompasses Boston, Los Angeles, New York’s JFK and San Francisco. This new route adds to almost 200 weekly connections between Spain and the United States. Barcelona is well positioned to connect the United States and the rest of Europe, with an extensive trucking network into nearby countries. 

Miami is the world’s largest gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean and offers two-way cargo traffic, linking the Americas with Europe. It is renowned as a hub for the distribution of perishable products, hi-tech commodities, telecommunications equipment, textiles, pharmaceuticals and industrial machinery. The introduction of this service is being made possible by adding a sixth aircraft to LEVEL’s fleet. 

Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at IAG Cargo said: “The transatlantic corridor is an important part of our network and supports so many of our customers. Miami is a thriving logistics hub, strategic for air freight. With our already well-established network connecting major cities in the United States with Europe, this new route will enhance our connectivity even more.” 

IAG Cargo also restarts services between Barcelona and San Francisco from 31st March, with four weekly frequencies. In 2023 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,156 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. Its parent company, International Airlines Group, is one of the world's largest airline groups with 582 aircraft at 31st December 2023.

 

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