Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts

17 April, 2024

British Airways Executive Club members can book flights for £1

The amount of discount available on each flight depends on each Member’s Avios balance. They must have the required amount of Avios for the maximum discount to £1
In a move to give customers even more choice when spending their Avios, British Airways has announced the latest improvement to its Executive Club loyalty programme by making every one of its flights available from just £1 plus Avios.

When booking any flight or holiday, Avios part payment invites customers to reduce the monetary cost of their booking by selecting the amount of Avios they would like to contribute. Until now, the maximum discount varied depending on multiple factors, whereas the airline is now giving customers the option to reduce their booking to just £1 using Avios.

Using Avios part payment is different to booking a Reward Seat, of which there are a limited number on each flight at a fixed rate. Members booking any flight can use Avios part payment regardless of the seat type, allowing more flexibility, with varying amounts of Avios to contribute.

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’ve listened to our Members’ feedback and we’re really excited to be introducing this latest update for them. We know that most of our customers choose the lowest cash amount when it comes to making Reward Flight bookings, so we anticipate this to be a popular option for those using Avios part payment too. Ultimately, our goal is to keeping adding more choice and flexibility for Members.”

Last year, British Airways Holidays introduced Avios part payment, with holiday package bookings starting from £1 + Avios.

Members using Avios part payment towards their booking will still collect Avios and Tier Points on their flight as well as any bonus Avios and Tier Points if applicable. Part payment can also be used for flights operated by American Airlines between the UK and North America, and British Airways codeshares with selected partners.



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16 April, 2024

Virgin Galactic Reports Inducement Award

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. announced that the Compensation Committee of Virgin Galactic’s Board of Directors approved the grant of time-based inducement restricted stock unit awards of 23,946 shares of Virgin Galactic common stock to one new non-executive employee, effective April 15, 2024.

The award was granted under Virgin Galactic’s 2023 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan, which provides for the granting of equity awards to new employees of Virgin Galactic. The restricted stock unit award will vest over a four-year period: 25% of the underlying shares will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% of the shares will vest over the remaining 12 quarters, subject to continued service. The award was granted as an inducement material to the new employee entering into employment with Virgin Galactic, in accordance with NYSE Listing Rule 303A.08.


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Security incident halts flights at Birmingham Airport

Flights at Birmingham Airport were halted today after a suspect package was found on an Emerald Airlines flight that had just taken off and was heading to Belfast.

A number of flights were either delayed or had to be diverted as the Emerald Airlines ATR aircraft operating the flight on behalf of Aer Lingus, returned to Birmingham and its passengers and crew off-loaded and investigations took place.

West Midlands Police confirmed they were called to the airport at around 16:00 following the discovery of the suspicious package.  In a statement, they said, "All passengers and crew were evacuated and specialist officers including the dog unit searched the plane."  

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed some flights were diverted during the two hours the airport was closed. Train services were also affected at the nearby Birmingham International Railway station.  Network Rail confirmed that at 18:20 all rail lines had reopened but disruption was likely to continue for some time. 

The undeclared item was later advised to be not a security risk. 

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New Aerozone and Academy launched at EMA

East Midlands Airport’s Aerozone and Academy are to officially open in new premises this week, heralding a new era of insight into the aviation industry for local students, adult learners and jobs seekers.
East Midlands Airport’s Aerozone and Academy are to officially open in new premises this week, heralding a new era of insight into the aviation industry for local students, adult learners and jobs seekers.

The Aerozone, the airport’s on-site education centre, provides an interactive and inspirational learning environment for children and young people aged 4 to 18 and is free of charge for school and college visits. The Academy offers free adult training including an ‘Introduction to the Aviation Industry’ course, and tailor-made pre-employment and upskilling training for around 200 unemployed or low-income adult learners a year and existing employees.

Previously the Aerozone and Academy were based in a building close to the airport’s main administrative offices but have now been relocated to new premises nearby which will officially open their doors on Friday 19 April.

The occasion will be marked with a special Aerozone visit by a group of 11-13-year-olds from Farnborough Academy in Clifton, along with a cohort of adult learners coming to the end of a two-week Exploring the Aviation Industry course. The aim of the school visit is for the students to learn about the variety of roles at the airport and to experience, through hands-on activities, what it’s like to work at an airport. The Academy course, now provided in partnership with Nottingham College, gives attendees a direct route for career or study progression within the aviation industry.

The students will be greeted by EMA’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths, along with Lilian Greenwood, MP for Clifton’s constituency, Nottingham South.

Steve Griffiths said: “We’re really pleased to open new premises for our Aerozone and Academy. It underlines our ongoing commitment to inspire generations of young people through a range of tailored interactive experiences and activities, along with free training courses to equip people with the skills needed to take up various careers available at EMA.”

 

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Sigurður Örn named as Chief of Business Development of PLAY

Sigurður Örn has joined PLAY airlines as Chief of Business Development. This is a new position within the company where Sigurður will oversee the expansion of PLAY's business ventures across all departments.
 

Sigurður Örn holds an MBA degree from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and has an extensive background in aviation. Sigurður previously served as CEO and chairman of Bluebird Nordic and was board member of Avion Express. He also played a key role in negotiating major acquisitions for Avia Solutions Group (AGS), including Avion Express, SmartLynx, and Bluebird Nordic.  
 
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Sigurður Örn remarked, "It is very exciting to be joining PLAY at this pivotal moment. The company's remarkable growth, evidenced by its doubling of revenue last year while maintaining a competitive cost structure, positions PLAY for even greater success in the future. I am eager to contribute to this journey." 
 
PLAY's CEO, Einar Örn Ólafsson, also expressed excitement about Sigurður Örn's addition to the team, citing his wealth of experience and knowledge of the aviation industry as valuable assets.  

“We are excited to have Sigurður Örn joining our team. He brings valuable experience and knowledge of the aviation industry, which will be useful to the company. We have ambitious plans, and Sigurður Örn's expertise will undoubtedly bolster our efforts," says Einar Örn Ólafsson.


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Air France is putting its know-how in transporting sports equipment to work for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

All year round, Air France customers place their trust in the company to transport their luggage, “special baggage” (musical instruments, bulky items, etc.) and sports equipment.

With over 100,000 pieces of baggage carried every day to nearly 200 worldwide destinations, Air France has developed a real expertise in transporting items that require special attention.

This summer, the company is proud to be an official partner of the world’s biggest sporting event, and to accompany French and international athletes to their competitions. Whether transporting kayaks, bicycles, surfboards, sports wheelchairs or vaulting poles, the company’s teams will be on deck to meet this logistical challenge, especially during the traffic peaks expected around the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Preparations for the event have been underway for several months, both in Paris and at all Air France stopovers. The men and women of Air France share the enthusiasm surrounding this event and are fully mobilized for the occasion!


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Velocity Frequent Flyer amps up Points possibilities with new AGL partnership

Velocity Frequent Flyer and AGL have announced a new partnership that will give millions of Australians the opportunity to earn Velocity Points with AGL electricity or gas plans, to redeem on flights, holiday packages, household items and more.

To celebrate the launch of the new partnership that can benefit Velocity’s almost 12 million members and AGL’s 4.3 million customers, new and existing residential AGL customers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, where AGL operates, that switch their gas and electricity to the AGL Velocity offer before Sunday 30 June 2024 can earn up to 35,000 Velocity Points over 12 months.^ In Western Australia, where AGL operates, new and existing residential customers that make the switch to the AGL Velocity offer for gas can earn up to 12,500 Velocity Points over 12 months.^

35,000 Velocity Points is enough to book up to five one-way domestic Economy Lite flights with Virgin Australia^^ or redeem on various household, technology, beauty and apparel items at myer.com.au, via the Velocity Reward Store, with Luxury Escapes, and more.

Velocity Frequent Flyer and one of Australia’s leading energy retailers, AGL Energy, have entered into a new strategic partnership giving millions of Australians the opportunity to earn Velocity Points through electricity and gas plans.
The partnership will benefit eligible new and existing residential AGL customers who make the switch to the ‘AGL Velocity offer’^, opening up a new way for members to boost their Velocity Points balance and turn their energy plans into holidays.

Congratulating Hong Kong Int Airport.......

Celebrating the city's achievement and reaffirming its commitment to contributing to its home hub’s continued success.



Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport on being named world’s busiest cargo airport for the 13th time in 14 years
Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for once again being named the world's busiest cargo airport in 2023, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI). As the city's home carrier for 77 years and the largest cargo operator at HKIA, Cathay Cargo is proud to be part of this success story.

Cathay’s Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “Hong Kong once again being named number one in the world for air cargo is a testament to the resilience, innovation and collaboration of the Hong Kong air cargo community. With its world-leading infrastructure, expertise and capabilities, supported by the increased development of intermodal connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong continues to be at the forefront of the global air cargo industry.

“Cathay’s ongoing investments in our passenger and freighter fleets, our extensive cargo network, cargo facilities, and our digital and sustainability capabilities to meet the evolving needs of cargo customers, are a reflection of our deep confidence in the long-term future of the Hong Kong air cargo logistics hub. We certainly don’t take Hong Kong’s air cargo success for granted, and remain committed to continuing to work together with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, all sectors in the air cargo industry, and countless other important stakeholders to continue to grow Hong Kong further as the world’s leading air cargo hub, and the premier air cargo gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.”

Finnair adds flights to Lapland: Experience a unique summer destination via Helsinki Airport

Finnair is adding more weekly flights from Helsinki Airport to Kuusamo, Ivalo and Kittilä for the summer holiday season. Both Finnair and Norwegian also provide flights to Rovaniemi, making Lapland even easier to reach in the summer. See below for tips on summer experiences in Lapland!

As a result of the added weekly flights, Finnair will fly to Kuusamo up to seven times a week in the summer. Kuusamo is an excellent destination, especially for hikers, as the national parks of Oulanka and Salla offer fantastic scenery for hikes. The Karhunkierros Trail, which runs through Oulanka, is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in Finland.

Finnair flies daily to Ivalo in the summer, with up to 11 flights a week. The experiences offered by Ivalo include Saariselkä Resort’s wide range of activities and the stunning sandy beaches of the Ivalo River – and the opportunity to learn more about the unique and rich Sami culture.

Finnair offers several flights a day to Rovaniemi, and in July there are up to 34 weekly flights to Santa’s hometown. Norwegian also flies to Rovaniemi. You can meet Santa Claus in Santa Claus Village all year round, but in the summer it is definitely worth it to try things such as canoeing and fishing in the midnight sun, as well as husky, reindeer and jet ski safaris.

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Looking for more tips for summer in Lapland?

Follow Vesku the Reindeer’s adventures and get inspired for your trip (Visit Finland).

Learn more about IvaloRovaniemi and Kittilä.

There are also daily flights to Kittilä, to which Finnair flies up to 9 times a week. For those who do sports, Kittilä is a fantastic destination where some of Finland’s most famous holiday resorts serve daredevils all year round. Ylläs, for example, offers 190 kilometres of mountain bike trails in the national park’s old-growth forests and fells. It’s also worth visiting the nearby Pallastunturi fells, which have been proven to have the purest air in the world.



Marriott International accelerates growth across europe

Growth plans across the continent reflect the confidence owners continue have in the company

From the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Berlin, Marriott International, Inc. today announced plans to add nearly 100 properties and over 12,000 rooms to its portfolio in Europe portfolio through hotel conversions and adaptive reuse projects, the conversion of existing buildings into a hotel, by the end of 2026. The anticipated hotels represent more than 40 percent of the company’s European development pipeline expected to open during that period.

The robust growth plans are expected to strengthen the company’s footprint across Europe, where it currently has a portfolio of over 800 properties with nearly 150,000 rooms across 25 brands in 47 countries and territories.

“We continue to see meaningful growth across Europe through conversion and adaptive reuse opportunities, reinforcing the confidence our owners and franchisees have in Marriott International as they look to reposition assets and maximise returns,“ says Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Conversions with Marriott offer owners and franchisees the opportunity to leverage our well-established brands, competitive affiliation costs, the company’s powerful revenue generation engines and Marriott Bonvoy – our award-winning travel programme with more than 200 million members.”

Brussels Airlines and Skywings Flight Training start new training for cadet pilots

Future pilots can be recruited by Brussels Airlines even before their pilot training starts.


                        Brussels Airlines launches a new partnership with Skywings, a flight training academy based in Antwerp. The program allows cadet pilots to be recruited by the airline even before they have started their training. Skywings will train these future pilots according to the high standards of Brussels Airlines and familiarize them to the airlines’ procedures.

Brussels Airlines has entered an exciting new era with growth and opportunities. New aircraft are joining the fleet and new destinations are being added to the network. To foster this growth, Brussels Airlines is hiring new recruits across the board. ​

To accelerate the onboarding process of first officers, Brussels Airlines launches a partnership with Skywings Flight Training in Antwerp. In close cooperation, a “Multi Pilot Licence-program” is created. This means candidates are being recruited together with the airline even before training starts. During the training, cadets immediately start the process for a Multi Pilot Licence (MPL), allowing them to fly planes with more than one pilot, which is the case of all aircraft Brussels Airlines operates. The candidates will also be trained on simulators and be familiarized with the procedures of the Belgium’s national airline.

Once the training is completed, these pilots can join Brussels Airlines as first officer on the A319 and A320 fleet, hereby making a lengthy selection process or an Ab Initio training within the airline redundant.

BOC Aviation latest results

BOC Aviation Limited has released headline figures of its most recent quarter results. Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said, “We had a strong start to the year, adding 10 aircraft to 2024’s delivery pipeline and signing 31 lease commitments, the best first quarter since 2020. Aircraft sales momentum remains strong and we have sold five aircraft so far in 2024. Meanwhile, our collection rate of 100% reflects the improved financial health of our airline customers and our risk aware culture.”

 

Transactions Summary 

 

·         A total fleet of 688 aircraft owned, managed and on order

 

·         An average aircraft age of 4.8 years and an average remaining lease term of 7.9 years for the 427 owned aircraft fleet, both weighted by net book value1

 

·         Managed fleet comprised 32 aircraft

 

·         Order book of 229 aircraft

 

·         Executed a total of 54 transactions in the first quarter of 2024, including:

Commitments to purchase 10 aircraft 
Delivery of five aircraft
Sale of four owned and one managed aircraft
31 lease commitments
 

·         Customer base of 90 airlines in 45 countries and regions in the owned and managed portfolios 

 

·         Owned aircraft utilisation was 99% for the first quarter

 

·         Raised US$500 million of five-year bonds


15 April, 2024

Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport on being named world’s busiest cargo airport for the 13th time in 14 years

Celebrating the city's achievement and reaffirming its commitment to contributing to its home hub’s continued success.



Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport on being named world’s busiest cargo airport for the 13th time in 14 years
Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for once again being named the world's busiest cargo airport in 2023, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI). As the city's home carrier for 77 years and the largest cargo operator at HKIA, Cathay Cargo is proud to be part of this success story.

Cathay’s Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “Hong Kong once again being named number one in the world for air cargo is a testament to the resilience, innovation and collaboration of the Hong Kong air cargo community. With its world-leading infrastructure, expertise and capabilities, supported by the increased development of intermodal connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong continues to be at the forefront of the global air cargo industry.

“Cathay’s ongoing investments in our passenger and freighter fleets, our extensive cargo network, cargo facilities, and our digital and sustainability capabilities to meet the evolving needs of cargo customers, are a reflection of our deep confidence in the long-term future of the Hong Kong air cargo logistics hub. We certainly don’t take Hong Kong’s air cargo success for granted, and remain committed to continuing to work together with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, all sectors in the air cargo industry, and countless other important stakeholders to continue to grow Hong Kong further as the world’s leading air cargo hub, and the premier air cargo gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.”

Cathay unveils new Cathay Dining brand

Exemplifying Cathay’s commitment to delivering unparalleled service to its customers

Cathay Pacific announces the rebranding of its catering business as Cathay Dining, reinforcing its vision to become one of the world’s greatest service brands. For nearly six decades, the subsidiary formerly known as Cathay Pacific Catering Services (H.K.) Ltd. (‘CPCS’) has consistently delivered tailored, high-quality inflight and catering cuisine solutions to customers in Hong Kong and across the globe.

Today, the business continues to expand its expertise, which marks a significant milestone in Cathay Dining’s journey and reaffirms its dedication to curating exceptional experiences through high-quality catering solutions for Cathay Pacific and other esteemed airlines. Additionally, it reinforces Cathay’s commitment to forging thoughtful dining partnerships and offering expert restaurant recommendations to its esteemed Cathay members.

This change aligns with Cathay’s overarching premium travel lifestyle proposition as a group. It exemplifies Cathay’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its commitment to delivering unparalleled service to its valued customers. 

Introducing the new brand, Cathay Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer, and Cathay Dining Chair, Alex McGowan said: “We have invested heavily over the years to transform Cathay Dining into a world-class provider of dining solutions and experiences. The new brand reflects this and underlines the important role that dining plays in helping Cathay achieve its vision of becoming one of the world’s greatest service brands.”

Annual passenger numbers across MAG airports increase by 13%


More than 61m passengers travelled through MAG airports in the 12 months to the end of March - up 13.4% year-on-year.

MAG – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – served 4.6m passengers in March, equal to 103% of 2019 levels, and up 12.4% on the same month last year.

London Stansted recorded its busiest 12 months ever, with 28.5m passengers travelling through the airport in the year to the end of March 2024 – up 11.8% on last year. Across what was also its busiest March on record, London Stansted served 2.2m passengers – up 10.8% on last year and equal to 104% of 2019 levels.

61.3m passengers travelled through a MAG airport in the 12 months to March

UK’s largest airports group welcomed 4.6m passenger in March

London Stansted had its busiest 12 months on record – with 28.5m passengers travelling through the airport



Manchester Airport also had a record month, serving 2.2m passengers in March – the sixth consecutive month it recorded its best-ever performance. The figure was 104% of 2019 levels, up 12.3% year-on-year.

East Midlands Airport had the highest year-on-year increases in the Group this month – reaching an annual total of 4.1m passengers for the first time since 2019 – up 22.4% on last year. Across March, the airport welcomed 240,000 passengers, up 30.7% on the same months last year, and equal to 94% of 2019 levels.

Operational performance across the Group remains consistently strong, and in March 100% of passengers at all three airports passed through security in 15 minutes or less.

RAF Fighter Squadron arrives in Romania

RAF Fighter Squadron arrives in Romania to co-lead NATO Air Policing mission



Royal Air Force fighter jets have started protecting NATO’s eastern flank, close to the Black Sea, following a handover ceremony held on 9th April in Romania. 

Six RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft are taking part in the four-month mission, with jets from IX (Bomber) Squadron, along with more than two hundred RAF personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (140EAW) deployed from RAF Lossiemouth to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. They will fly alongside the Romanian Air Force as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission until August.

The air policing mission begins this week following a ceremony today, 9th April, involving RAF personnel, their Romanian counterparts, and NATO officials. The personnel involved in the mission will be on standby at a moment’s notice to launch Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) intercepts of Russian aircraft approaching NATO airspace.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:  “Our NATO air policing deployment helps to keep Europe’s skies secure, and I pay tribute to the dedicated personnel delivering this important mission.

Ready to launch at a moment’s notice for the next four months, the Typhoon pilots will respond with professionalism to threats and incidents in support of our collective security. 

We’re showing the scale of our commitment to NATO in its 75th year, with deployments like this and thousands of personnel operating and exercising across the alliance to keep the UK and our allies safe.”

The countries involved in NATO’s air policing missions rotate on a regular basis, with the RAF having flown to intercept more than 50 Russian aircraft in the first half of last year while leading the Alliance’s enhanced air policing mission from Estonia. This will be the fifth time the RAF have participated in the air policing mission in Romania.

Improved load factor and on-time performance reports icelandair

Icelandair boosting passenger numbers

In March 2024, Icelandair transported 297,552 passengers, which represents a 25% increase in passenger traffic as measured by Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) on a capacity increase of 22% compared to March 2023. During the month, 39% of passengers were travelling to Iceland, 19% from Iceland, 34% were via passengers, and 8% were travelling within Iceland. Load factor was 83.1% and on-time performance was 88.5%, increasing by 4.7 ppt from the already solid performance in March 2023.

Now is a great time to go birdwatching in Iceland,
 see below for more details

Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair president and CEO said:  “We continue seeing strong traffic numbers, with 25% increase in passenger traffic as compared to March last year. The traffic figures are impacted by an unusually early Easter traffic. During the month, we saw 50% increase in the number of via passengers and 13% increase on the from market while the number of passengers on the to market grew by 4%. These figures underscore the flexibility of our route network, allowing us to align capacity to developments in demand and, in this case, focus our capacity and sales efforts on the via and from markets where the demand was stronger.

Furthermore, we maintain our strong on-time performance and consistently high load factor despite a 22% capacity increase. This success is thanks to the excellent performance of our employees.”

See below for more figures....

Passenger numbers rise at East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport saw annual passenger numbers soar above the 4m mark for the first time since the pandemic – with nearly 750,000 more people choosing it than a year ago.

Figures released last week show 240,000 passengers travelled through East Midlands in March, which was up 22.4% on the same month last year.

That drove the airport’s rolling annual total to 4.077m – the first time since 2020 it crossed the 4m threshold.

The new figures are released as EMA’s summer season starts to get underway, which is shaping up to be among its best yet. The aircraft stands are set to be full this summer after Tui and Jet2 each added new aircraft based at EMA, along with some new routes on offer. These include Jet2 now flying to Naples in Italy and Eastern Airways partnering with Air France so that EMA customers can connect to flights all around the globe via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – a great new destination for the summer when Paris hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Not only that, but some fantastic improvements have already taken shape at the start of a five-year, £120m investment programme. These include a new-look Castle Rock Tap Room & Kitchen along with modernised toilet facilities, improved customer wi-fi throughout the terminal, better seating, a large new JD Sports unit and even a fleet of new trolleys. And upgrades to the runway and taxiways will help to literally make people’s journeys smoother.

Oakland International Airport OAK to change its name to become 'San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

'Allow more travellers to experience the sunnier side of the SF Bay Area' 



The Alameda County Board of Supervisors have endorsed changing the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK) name to the 'San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.'

On April 11, 2024, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners also voted unanimously to modify the airport's name.  Danny Wan, the Port of Oakland’s Executive Director, said, “Every day, hundreds of travellers drive from the East Bay to SFO, passing OAK because they can’t get the flight they need. For the economic health of the region, this must change.” He added, “Our renaming will make travel easier for thousands of people and help grow the local economy.”

Modifying the airport’s name is said to be part of a broader effort to improve the passenger experience at OAK, which includes upgrading the Terminal 1 check-in lobby and restroom facilities and providing new local concessions and restaurants.

Once the Port Commission has given final approval on May 9, 2024 for the name modification, staff will move forward with the formal renaming, including working with air carriers, other airports, and local agencies to reflect the modification in airport and airline systems. The airport code OAK and visual brand will remain the same.

According to the airport, a number of local groups and organizations have supported the name change, including:
Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
Oakland African-American Chamber of Commerce
Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce
Hegenberger Corridor Owners & Operators
Visit Oakland
Visit Tri-Valley
Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group
Visit Berkeley
Visit Walnut Creek
East Bay Economic Development Alliance
Ridgemont Hospitality


There is no guarantee a name change will encourage more airlines to start new routes to or from Oakland, nor will it change the geographical location of the airport, so it remains to be seen on how much impact the name change will have on the wider aviation industry. Local media are estimating the cost of adding San Francisco Bay to existing signs or replacements and changing the name on stationery will be approximately $2.4 million.  

Port Commission President Barbara Leslie said, "We are standing up for Oakland and the East Bay; this will boost inbound travellers’ geographic awareness of the airport by highlighting the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay.” She also said, “This name will make it clear that OAK is the closest major airport, for 4.1 million people, three national laboratories, the top public university in the country, and California’s Wine Country."


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14 April, 2024

Get the Viva Vibe thanks to Wyndham's Viva Resorts

Get the Viva Vibe thanks to Wyndham's Viva Resorts
Viva Resorts by Wyndham, a collection of all-inclusive vacation resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, is thrilled to announce the launch of Viva Vibe, a dynamic entertainment offering set to redefine the all-inclusive travel experience. With an exciting repertoire of parties and productions at each resort, Viva Vibe promises to captivate guests with unforgettable experiences, celebrating the essence of fun in paradise.

Each resort will have multiple parties, performers and events simultaneously that are unique to their destinations. Some of the new Viva Vibe entertainment highlights are live top performances, DJ nights, Latin Parties, Neon Parties, Silent Parties, White Parties, Candy Shop Parties, Foam Parties and the iconic Beach Party, where toes meet the sand and the rhythm fills the air.

Viva Resorts looks forward to inviting travellers to the all-inclusive concept, offering guests an exciting array of amusements designed to thrill and delight participants of all ages. Whether child or adult, under the sun or under the stars, these awe-inspiring diversions feature the best of local talent with Viva Vibe promising nonstop fun for all.

"At Viva Resorts by Wyndham, we're committed to providing our guests with memorable experiences that go beyond the ordinary," said Viva Resorts by Wyndham Corporate Director, Marketing and Public Relations, Erika Sordo. "With the launch of Viva Vibe, we're taking our entertainment offerings to the next level, ensuring that every moment of our guests' stay is filled with excitement, energy and fun."

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