Airbus deliver an A350-900 to China Airlines using biofuel

China Airlines of Taiwan has become only the second airline to join a programme to use a blend of traditional and sustainable biofuels to power aircraft for delivery flights from Airbus. 

The aircraft involved is the tenth A350-900 for China Airlines, which left the manufacturer’s delivery centre in Toulouse today for its new home in Taipei with a 10 percent blend of sustainable jet fuel in its tanks.

The sustainable fuel option for delivery flights has been developed by Airbus in association with Air Total, the aviation subsidiary of the global energy operator. In order to stock the eco-friendly product, Air Total has installed the first ever biofuel station adjacent to the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse. A total of 21 aircraft have so far been delivered by Airbus since the facility was inaugurated in May 2016.

“China Airlines is proud to have taken delivery of its first aircraft to be partially powered by sustainable biofuel,” China Airlines Chairman Ho, Nuan-Hsuan said.  “This reflects our clear commitment to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment and to be among those airlines leading the way to use alternative fuel sources. With the A350 XWB in our fleet we are already significantly reducing our carbon footprint and we are excited that this can be extended even further with the use of new biofuels.”

Crying Thomas Cook Cabin Crew Tell Passengers They Are Lucky To Be Alive.

Photo from Mr Swan a passenger on the flight

Passengers on a Thomas Cook flight from Holguin in Cuba to Manchester were left trembling and frightened for their lives when the aircraft they were on developed an engine problem at take off.

The flight MT2653 had been scheduled to depart on Monday 27th November but had to abort its take off after flames were seen coming from the engine at the point of rotation following a loud bang from the power plant.  

One of the passengers on the aircraft said he could see flames through the window on the right-hand side.  “It was evident there had been some sort of explosion,” he said. The nose gear was already off the ground, “The pilot dropped the plane straight back down and applied the brakes so everybody was thrown forward and then back, and the plane skidded for some distance.” 

Mr Swan, the passenger then told media that the pilot then announced over the intercom that it was an emergency situation to the crew. "As he came back on you could hear that he was verbally shaken to the point where his voice cracked and he sounded like he was going to burst into tears. At that point, I realised it was very serious.”  He says the cabin crew were “visibly shaken” so much so that "One was actually crying,” adding  “That doesn’t fill you with a lot of confidence. I could hear crew saying to passengers that it was really serious and we were lucky to still be alive.”

Miami International Best For Transinting

Miami International Airport has been ranked the most transit-accessible airport in America, according to a study released this week by transportation technology firm TransitScreen. MIA received a TransitScreen MobilityScore of 66 (on a scale of one to 100). The study analyzed the 20 busiest U.S. airports in passenger traffic and their access to buses, trains and taxis, in addition to ride-sharing, bike-sharing and car-sharing options.

The study highlighted that Miami Central Station - the ground transportation hub connected to MIA - provides nine bus routes to various neighbourhoods, while transit options at other U.S. airports mostly carry passengers straight to downtown. Miami Central Station also houses stations for Metrorail, Tri-Rail and inter-city buses, and is adjacent to a full-service Rental Car Center with 14 companies – all within one intermodal complex. MIA is connected to the Miami Central Station by a 1.25-mile automated people mover system.

Lufthansa makes concessions in its Air Berlin bid

The German airline Lufthansa has offered a number of concessions in an attempt to allay competition concerns over its plans to buy Air Berlin assets, according to EU antitrust regulators.

The European Commission expressed concern regarding Lufthansa’s potential dominance in Germany as a result of the takeover plans and extended its deadline for a decision on the deal to 21st December. The previous deadline was 7th December. The regulators would not elaborate on what or how many concessions Lufthansa had . 21 from Dec. 7. It did not provide details of Lufthansa’s concessions.

Some industry insiders believe the German mega carrier will offer up some of the slots owned by Air Berlin along with its subsidiary Niki. 

It was back in August that Air Berlin filed for insolvency in August and was subsequently carved up, with Lufthansa buying Niki and LGW, plus some short-haul planes, for 210 million euros ($249 million) to expand its Eurowings budget brand.  However, many fear the deal gives Lufthansa too much dominance in the domestic market as well as in Austria.

The Commission determined Lufthansa, Niki and LGW’s activities overlapped on more than 100 routes. On around half of those routes, the combined market share would be above 60 percent, while on some routes Lufthansa would also have a monopoly.

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Wizz Air whizzes in to snap up Monarch's Luton slots

The Hungarian based Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe will be rapidly expanding it's UK operations after it announced this week it had snapped up former Monarch' Airlines slots at Luton.

The super budget carrier purchased a large number of take-off and landing slots at London Luton and will also increase its based aircraft there from five to seven.

This new investment will see Wizz Air’s capacity in its London Luton base increase by 18% year on year, to a total of 7.1 million seats in 2018.  There will be more than 10,000 additional low fare seats available on 28 new additional flights departing every week from London Luton airport to some of Europe’s most exciting and less-discovered destinations.  Wizz Air will also be recruiting an addition 70 members of staff for the expanded base at Luton. 

Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi commented: “We continue to develop our business in the United Kingdom. Following the announcements of establishing Wizz Air UK and our accelerated growth plan, just a few days ago here we go again. Acquiring airport slots and airport nightstands at Luton Airport will enable us to enhance our presence and competitive position in the London market. In summer Wizz Air UK will operate a fleet of 7 A320/A321 aircraft, to grow the overall WIZZ capacity by 18% in 2018. While BREXIT will certainly pose challenges to the airline industry, we see it as an opportunity for Wizz Air, as our highly efficient low fare model will prevail even more under the new circumstances.”

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More new routes for Air Canada

Air Canada today announced new non-stop, seasonal services will begin next June from Toronto to Nanaimo and to Kamloops, and Montreal to Victoria, British Columbia.  All new flights are now available for purchase at www.aircanada.com and through Travel Agents.

"We are strategically expanding our domestic network with our flexible fleet, products and services to capitalize on the growing seasonal demand to and from Vancouver Island and the Thompson Okanagan areas during the peak summer travel period," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "We are pleased to offer vacation travellers to and from Victoria, Nanaimo and Kamloops the convenience of non-stop Toronto and Montreal flights, where customers also have unparalleled access to our far-reaching North American and global network."

The Hon. Lisa Beare, BC Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture stated, "Air Canada's additional flights to Victoria, Nanaimo and Kamloops reflect the rising popularity of Vancouver Island and the Thompson-Okanagan as tourism destinations. I'm excited by Air Canada's extension of service to our province. This investment will make it easier for Canadians to visit these beautiful regions of BC, and further enhance connections between British Columbia and Central Canada."

Jonview Sold

Transat A.T. Inc, Air Transat's owners, have concluded the sale of its Jonview Canada business unit today,. They have flogged off Canada's leading incoming tour operator, for $44 million Cdn to Japanese multinational H.I.S. Co. Ltd., which specializes in travel distribution. The price could be adjusted on the date of final closing of the accounts. On November 10, the Competition Bureau of Canada said the transaction did not warrant its intervention.  

"The sale of Jonview Canada completes our strategic refocusing around three main pillars: air transportation and travel distribution, which make up our leisure travel operations, as well as hotel operation," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat. "This transaction is the latest in a series of initiatives we have implemented in recent years to carry out the company's new development strategy and ensure its long-term prosperity."

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Air Transat fined over two delayed flights

The Canadian Transportation Agency issued its final ruling today in respect of the tarmac delays of two Air Transat.

The two flights,  from Brussels and Rome, 157 and 507, were severely affected in Ottawa on 31st July this year.  The CTA found that during the tarmac delays affecting the flights the airline, Air Transat, did not properly apply its own tariff rules related passenger disembarkment – because aircraft commanders did not consider the option to disembark passengers when the delay exceeded 90 minutes – and to the distribution of drinks and snacks.

The CTA also found that the air carrier was not relieved of its obligations to passengers simply because events beyond its control required diversion of the flights to Ottawa or because the actions of other parties contributed to the length of the delays. 

Finally, the CTA found that it was unreasonable for the tariff's Force Majeure rule to be as broadly worded as it was, and for pilots to have such wide discretion to decide whether or not to allow passengers to disembark, no matter how lengthy the tarmac delay.

Based on these findings, the CTA has ordered Air Transat to:  

Compensate all passengers of the two flights for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the carrier's failure to apply its tariff.

Ensure that its employees are properly trained on tariff provisions, policies, and procedures related to tarmac delays and that employees understand these are legal obligations the air carrier is bound to respect.

Amend its international tariffs to incorporate the terms and conditions of its Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays at US Airports, which create a positive obligation for the air carrier to deplane passengers if a tarmac delay reaches four hours – unless there are safety, security, or air traffic control issues that prevent it– and require that during the delay, the air carrier provide passengers with updates every 30 minutes, working lavatories, and needed medical assistance.

tighten the definition of Force Majeure in its tariffs.

Following this determination, a CTA  issued a fine of $295,000 against the AirTransat.

Air Transat responds  - 

Omni Air Cabin Crew Agree Contract

 Flight Attendants at charter airline Omni Air International, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), today voted by 78 percent to ratify a first contract. The agreement provides immediate pay raises, defined schedule and work rules as well as job security with due process.

"Omni Flight Attendants provide safe passage and unique service all over the world as one of America's premier charter carriers. Flight Attendants stood together to achieve a contract that respects our role as aviation's first responders and our contributions to the success of the airline," said Bradley Butterfield, AFA Omni Air President. "This contract will make a real difference in our compensation and it provides a secure future with protections on the job. I am proud of my flying partners and fellow AFA members. This is only the beginning of what we will accomplish together."

Omni Air International, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, operates international and domestic passenger charters. In addition, Omni Air also provides cargo and troop airlift for the U.S. military.

Joon Flies Tomorrow

The Air France 'youth' airline Joon designed for 'Millenials' takes to the skies for the first time tomorrow to Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon and Porto.  Plus they've also released plans to start another 7 new medium-haul and long-haul destinations on departure from Paris CDG.

The low-cost airline will take the under 30's to Rome, Naples, Oslo, Istanbul, Cairo, Cape Town and Tehran. The flights start from 25th March 2018 with prices starting at €39 including tax, plus fees

Istanbul  7 weekly flights
Naples  14 weekly flights
Oslo  18 weekly flights
Rome 49 weekly flights

Cairo  7 weekly flights
Cape Town 3 weekly flights
Tehran 3 weekly flights

Joon is supposedly a new generation travel experience by Air France and is designed to meet the expectations of new generations of travellers. On the schedule: flexibility, personalized and tailor-made services. Joon is an airline for anyone under 30 who wants to enjoy a new casual kind of travel experience.  

The airline flies from Paris-CDG using former Air France Airbus A320's with 174 seats and A321's seating 212 people and A340's on the longest routes The carrier offers a Business class which gives passengers a free meal, snacks and beverages! In Economy class, customers can choose from a free selection of low-quality beverages at any time of the day. But, if you want something more substantial then you'll have to buy it from the crew at prices 24% more expensive than are available from the departure airport of Paris. However, one benefit for the passenger is the ability to get free access to YouJoon, the in-flight streaming system on their own smartphone, tablet or laptop.

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Malaysia Airlines Welcomes A350

Malaysia Airlines welcomes its first super economic advanced Airbus A350 today and marked the occasion with a special welcome ceremony as well as updating the delivery flight on its social media feeds.

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Norwegian signals growth potential at Singapore Norwegian

Norwegian has signalled its intent to expand into Asia following the launch of its Singapore-London route at an event hosted by the airline in Singapore this week.

Norwegian is the world’s sixth largest low-cost airline and Skytrax 2017 ‘Best low-cost long-haul airline’, an award it has won three years consecutively. The Scandinavian carrier currently operates the world’s longest nonstop route by a low-cost carrier between Singapore Changi Airport and London Gatwick, flying four times a week using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

This week, Norwegian Global Head of Sales, Lars Sande and Head of Sales UK & Ireland, Dominic Tucker delivered presentations to Singapore’s travel community to explain the airline’s low-cost long-haul model and its plans for future expansion. More than 65 agents from travel and trade organisations attended the event and received information about how it can work with Norwegian and sell the airline’s high-quality products on board brand new aircraft.

Air Canada

Air Canada announced yesterday several new non-stop year-round transborder routes will begin Spring 2018 from Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver.  All new flights are now available for purchase.

"We continue to strategically expand our already extensive North American transborder network to offer the only services from Canada to Sacramento, Omaha, Providence, and flights from additional Canadian airports to Baltimore, Pittsburgh and San Francisco," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "As the largest foreign carrier serving the USA, we are pleased to offer customers even more non-stop travel choices between Canada and the US, as well as the ability to conveniently connect onward through our extensive global network at our Canadian hubs on North America's Best Airline as rated by Skytrax."

All flights are timed to connect conveniently with Air Canada's global schedule and provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits, and for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at mainline Canadian airports, priority boarding and other benefits.

Surf Air Now Accepting Payment Via Bitcoin And Ethereum

Surf Air, the world's largest "All-You-Can Fly" air travel club has announced it will accept Bitcoin and Ethereum as a form of payment for its monthly membership and charter offerings. This marks a major milestone in aviation as this will be the first time a travel provider has been able to successfully execute the acceptance of cryptocurrency. Beginning on November 29, 2017, Surf Air members can quickly and securely pay for Surf Air services using the purely digital currency and unlock the growing network of flights within the United States and Europe, including over 70 daily flights in California between cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area, 30 daily routes spanning across Texas, including Dallas, Houston and Austin and recently launched service in Europe between London, Ibiza and Zurich.

CemAir buys two Q400's

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced yesterday CemAir of South Africa has concluded a firm purchase agreement for two new Q400 turboprops, and has also signed the lease of a used Q400 aircraft that was delivered this month, paving the way for the new aircraft to be delivered afterwards. The letter of Intent (LOI) from CemAir, which was signed on June 21 at the 2017 Paris Air Show, has now been converted into a firm order.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $66 million US.

“We are delighted that CemAir has selected the Q400 aircraft to expand its fleet”, said Jean-Paul Boutibou, Vice President, Sales, Middle-East and Africa at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The Q400 is the next natural step in the growth of CemAir’s fleet of Bombardier CRJ Series and Q Series aircraft, as it brings more flexibility to increase the capacity on key routes while their aircraft’s superior performance and unbeatable economics support CemAir’s growing market position against competitive forces. The Q400 will open several market opportunities to CemAir on domestic and future regional routes.”