Deer Jet Arrive In Antartica

Deer Jet made history recently by becoming the first Chinese private jet operator to fly from China to the Antarctic. The arrival of one the company's private jet at Wolfs Fang airport marks a new charter service between China and the Antarctic.

Deer Jet is known for its pioneering role in transforming business aviation in Asia and around the world. More than 22 years ago the company was established as the first private jet operator in China and transformed itself from humble beginnings to its current position as the largest business aviation group in Asia.

Deer Jet's Antarctic landing is a more than a milestone for China's business aviation. This operation is also a significant contribution for the development of international air travel and transportation, providing access to the world's most remote areas.

For this challenging flight, Deer Jet prepared for over a year, conducting and evaluating hundreds of risks, flight routes, flight support and emergency plans to ensure a safe flight. This level of precision and attention to detail is what made Deer Jet the first World's Seven Star Private Jet Company.

More expansion from Norwegian with new crew base at los Angeles as the airline introduces more Europe bound flights.

Los Angeles crew base established to support growth – for new routes to Madrid and Milan 

Norwegian announced last week the further expansion of its long-haul networks with four new routes between Europe and the United States to Europe: New York City/JFK and Los Angeles to Madrid; New York City/JFK to Amsterdam; and Los Angeles to Milan. Norwegian now offers 61 nonstop transatlantic routes between the US and Europe.

To support the continuous growth at Los Angeles International Airport, Norwegian will open its fourth American crew base with 150 cabin crewmembers during the first quarter of 2018. The airline already has four crew bases for cabin crew and pilots in the U.S.

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “2017 has been a year of exponential growth for Norwegian in Europe and the United States. Next year, we will continue our long-haul expansion by offering passengers easy and affordable connections between the US and some of Europe’s most exciting cities.”

Service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Madrid-Barajas Airport will launch on July 18, 2018, and operate three times per week. Service to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport will launch on May 7, 2018, and will operate four times per week.

OneJet Announces Three New Routes from Pittsburgh to Palm Beach, Kansas City and Memphis

The air transportation network that provides consumers in the US increased access to nonstop travel in small to medium markets, OneJet announced the introduction of three new routes from the Pittsburgh International Airport.

The company will introduce nonstop service to Palm Beach, Kansas City and Memphis. Palm Beach and Kansas City services will begin 7th March 2018, with Memphis service added on 27th March 2018. The company will concurrently begin nonstop service between Memphis and Kansas City. Tickets for all routes will go on sale beginning on 17th Jan. 2018.

With the launch of these routes, OneJet will introduce its new OneJet Plus service to the Pittsburgh market, offering expanded service onboard larger ERJ135 aircraft and providing travelers with enhanced amenities, including exit-row legroom at each seat (approx 38 inches); free 4G high-speed Wi-Fi; streaming entertainment gate to gate; and complimentary beer, wine and snacks en route. Travelers will also receive the same check-in conveniences that standard OneJet flights provide, including TSA Pre access for eligible travellers and valet planeside baggage service.

"For the past two years, OneJet's right-sized, point-to-point, nonstop services have met our customers' demand for expedited travel between key business and leisure destinations," OneJet CEO Matthew Maguire said. "The introduction of the OneJet Plus service marks a major milestone for the company, providing access to longer routes, along with an even further enhanced in-flight experience. We look forward to continuing to expand our network and supporting the growth of the communities and corporate customers we serve."

ATR Delivering aircraft to the other side of the world!

Friday the 15th of December marked the delivery of the latest ATR 72-600 to Air Calédonie at the Final Assembly Line B in St Martin with VIPs from ATR, Air Calédonie and Pratt & Whitney in attendance. This is the latest delivery in a partnership that stretches back for over 30 years as this airline was one of our earliest customers. Since then, Air Calédonie have progressively expanded and upgraded their fleet and the evolution of this relationship is a true measure of the quality of our products.

Air Calédonie represents just one of many airlines who use their ATR fleets for inter-island operations. Our aircraft’s ability to take off and land from short and unpaved runways, as well as its unrivalled economics, make it particularly attractive to island operators. It is also the only regional turboprop to have received its ETOPS120 certification which allows it to fly for long distances on one engine, opening up new possibilities, in terms of routes, to many inter-island operators. These characteristics explain why our aircraft are so popular with airlines in France’s Outre Mer as well as those flying island routes in Indonesia, the Caribbean, the Canary Isles and all over the world. This versatility once again illustrates why the ATR -600 series aircraft are the market leaders in Regional Aviation.

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Transat A.T. Inc. - Results for fourth quarter and fiscal 2017

Transat A.T. Inc., one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada's holiday travel leader, posted revenues of $698.6 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2017, compared with $612.1 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $86.4 million, or 14.1%. The Corporation recorded adjusted operating income1 of $78.5 million, compared with $46.5 million in 2016. Net income attributable to shareholders amounted to $148.1 million ($4.00 per share, basic and $3.97 per share, diluted) for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $34.9 million ($0.95 per share, basic and diluted) in 2016. Before non-operating items, Transat reported adjusted net income3 of $46.4 million ($1.24 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with $24.2 million ($0.66 per share) in 2016.

"The fourth quarter, like the summer as a whole, was excellent. Financially, our summer results were among the best in our history and significantly improved our results for the year compared with last year. From a strategic standpoint, we made great strides towards establishing our hotel division and in several other major areas, including fleet composition, and corporate leadership succession," said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transat.

WestJet's November Results

Last week WestJet announced its November 2017 traffic results with a load factor of 82.4 percent, an increase of 2.4 percentage points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 12.1 percent year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 8.9 percent over the same period. The airline flew a record 1.9 million guests in November, a year-over-year increase of 13.2 percent or approximately 226,000 additional guests.

Nonstop to Tahiti for United from San Francisco

Time to head to paradise!   United has announced it will begin a service between San Francisco and Pape'ete, the capital of Tahiti, the South Pacific's gateway to more than 118 islands in French Polynesia including Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas and Raiatea. United is the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service to Tahiti from the mainland United States. Tickets are now available for purchase.

"We are excited to announce Tahiti as our 13th new international route this year, and we are even more thrilled about offering our customers a whole new world of vacation opportunities," said Patrick Quayle, United's vice president of International Network. "We know our customers want more destinations to choose from to escape the winter weather, and we look forward to being the airline that connects them to this corner of paradise."

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Hamad International Airport Voted as the Best Airport in the Middle East by Global Traveler Awards

Hamad International Airport Voted as the Best Airport in the Middle East by Global Traveller Awards.

Hamad International Airport (HIA) has been voted as the "Best Airport in the Middle East" at the Global Traveler's GT Tested Reader Survey Awards in Los Angeles. The award recognises outstanding performance and customer service displayed by airports across the world.

HIA took the lead among top international airports including Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport ranking second and third respectively in the newest category for the best airport in the Middle East.

The 14th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards ceremony took place at The Peninsula, Beverly Hills on the 12th of December recognising HIA's efforts in delivering the highest standard of service to its passengers. Winners were chosen through an open-ended reader survey voted by global travellers.

Air Canada Launches Montreal-Lima Service; First Year-Round Non-Stop South American Flights from Montreal

The arrival of flight AC1942 at Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport this morning marks the successful launch Air Canada's non-stop service between Montreal and Lima, Peru, Montreal's first year-round link to the southern hemisphere. The twice weekly flights will be operated by Air Canada Rouge with 282-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring Premium Rouge and Economy class service.

"Air Canada is continuing its global expansion with the launch of Montreal-Lima the first South American route from our Montreal hub that will offer business and leisure travelers as well as freight forwarders from Quebec and Atlantic Canada convenient access to Peru. This new route will complement our existing flights from Toronto, and strategically position Air Canada as an important player in the growing market between Montreal and Latin America. South America will be the third new continent Air Canada serves from Montreal in two years, after Africa (Casablanca and Algiers) and Asia (Shanghai.)," said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "This concludes an exceptional year of growth out of Montreal-Trudeau with the introduction of eight new destinations. Our global expansion will continue next year as we have already announced service to eight new destinations including Tokyo-Narita (Japan), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal) and Bucharest (Romania). Over the past five years Air Canada has increased capacity from Montreal by 83% and added 29 new destinations."

Flights will be operated by Air Canada Rouge with 282-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring Premium Rouge and Economy class 

Alaska is the most fuel-efficient airline for 7th year!

Alaska Airlines ranks No. 1 in fuel efficiency for U.S. airlines for the 7th consecutive year.

Alaska led all 13 major U.S. carriers as the most fuel-efficient airline operating in the United States in 2015 and 2016, according to a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation, an independent, nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C.

“Alaska burns about 13 percent less fuel (per passenger mile) than the industry average, it’s a profitable airline, and it’s done this for seven years running,” said Naya Olmer, lead author of the study.

Additionally, Alaska was selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America.

“Being recognized by The International Council on Clean Transportation and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index is validation of Alaska’s goal to be a national leader in environmental stewardship,” said Jacqueline Drumheller, Alaska’s sustainability manager. “We have been recognized as the leader in the airline industry and are proud to rank among social responsibility leaders across all industries.”

The DJSI-NA serves as a benchmark of sustainable business practices across environmental, social, ethical and governmental efforts among large corporations. Investors recognize that organizations selected for inclusion in the DJSI are focused on corporate responsibility and commitment to long-term shareholder value.

This respected index evaluates companies on economic, environmental and social criteria, including corporate governance and compliance, development of human capital, energy efficiency, customer relations management, and environmental reporting and management.

Full results: ICCT study

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Priority Pass Unveils The World's Best Airport Lounges - and They're Not Where You'd Expect

A selection of the world's best airport lounges have been revealed by independent lounge membership program, Priority Pass, in its annual Lounge of the Year Awards.  This year winners include lounges in Jamaica, Estonia, Malta and Quebec as well as Singapore and Dubai.  

The awards are based on ratings provided by Priority Pass Members and recognize excellence within the world's largest independent lounge membership program. Priority Pass now includes more than 1000 airport lounges in over 500 cities and is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary.

This year's overall winner is Club Kingston, at Jamaica's Kingston Norman Manley International Airport. With a decidedly Jamaican flair, the lounge features artwork and décor sourced from across the country plus local food and drink including traditional Jamaican patties and peas soup - all served to a gentle soundtrack of reggae music. An on-site bartender even creates signature cocktails, including a 'Club Kingston Classic', 'Priority Passion' and 'VIP Splash'. But it's not all pleasure! The lounge also offers excellent facilities to support business travellers on the move, including a conference facility and dedicated workstations.

New Buffalo to Albany service coming soon

For more than seven years, air service between Buffalo and Albany has been suspended, forcing travelers to make the 280-mile trip by car. OneJet, the air transportation network that provides consumers increased access to nonstop travel in small and medium markets, today announced it will offer twice-daily nonstop service between the two cities, reducing travel time to less than an hour. Flights will begin on Thursday, 1st Feb. 2018 and ticket sales will be available for the route on Tuesday, 9th January 2018.

With the launch of the Buffalo/Albany route, OneJet will introduce its new OneJet Plus service, offering expanded service onboard larger ERJ135 aircraft and providing travelers enhanced amenities, including expanded legroom at each seat; complimentary 4G high-speed Wi-Fi; streaming entertainment gate to gate; and complimentary beer, wine and snacks en route. Travelers will also receive the same check-in conveniences that standard OneJet flights provide, including TSA Pre access for eligible travelers and valet planeside baggage service.

The new route will serve as a key productivity tool for business travelers in the region, including those for launch customers M&T Bank and HealthNow New York Inc., the state's leading health benefits company, providing health insurance plans for companies and individuals in Western New York. 

"Air service between Buffalo and Albany was presented as a mission-critical route for the Upstate New York business community, and we're pleased to offer this new nonstop service to meet that demand," said Matthew Maguire, OneJet CEO. "Our expansion in Western New York also marks a significant milestone for us as we introduce the OneJet Plus product to the market, providing an expanded platform to serve highly demanded routes throughout our network. We look forward to working with our airport partners in Buffalo and Albany to serve travelers based in both cities."

The OneJet Plus–branded ERJ135 aircraft will offer a comfortable 30 seat cabin for the 55-minute gate-to-gate service, with convenient morning and afternoon flights Monday through Friday.

SATS Premier Lounge at Singapore Changi International wins Priority Pass 2017 Asia Pacific Airport Lounge of the Year Award

SATS Premier Lounge, Terminal 2 at Singapore Changi International has been awarded the Priority Pass Asia Pacific Airport Lounge of the Year Award.

Now in its thirteenth year, the awards are based on ratings provided by 72,000 Priority Pass Members and recognize excellence within the world's largest independent lounge membership program. Priority Pass now includes more than 1000 airport lounges in over 500 cities and is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary.

SATS Premier Lounge is known for giving its guests a chance to experience Singaporean culture, featuring real orchids, a display of Peranakan porcelain as well as artwork depicting local scenes decorating the lounge. The lounge also hosts regular events, for example serving mooncakes during the Mooncake festival, ensuring that visitors are treated to a unique experience each time they enter the lounge. Its signature SATS Laksa meal is also a favourite for travellers.

Air China and Air Canada Expand Strategic Cooperation

Air Canada and Air China  announced this week that the airlines will expand their mutual codeshare services and lounge agreement in time for the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, recognizing the importance of tourism and trade between the two countries. As Air Canada and Air China work toward finalizing their planned joint venture, while satisfying both countries' applicable regulatory conditions, the two Star Alliance carriers also launched their first joint frequent flyer promotion to offer the carriers' respective Aeroplan and PhoenixMiles members up to 30 per cent bonus miles effective December 15, 2017 for eligible travel between April 1, 2018 and June 15, 2018 on all flights between Canada and China operated by Air China and Air Canada.

As a result of the codeshare expansion, Air China will place its code on Air Canada's new daily Montreal-Shanghai flight, as well as Air Canada's flights from Vancouver to Victoria, Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Regina.

In addition, Air Canada will place its code on Air China's flights between Beijing and Zhengzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Nanjing as well as Air China's flight between Montreal-Havana, Cuba.  The expanded codeshare cooperation is planned to come into effect in April 2018, subject to regulatory and government approvals.

Both carriers have also implemented an expanded lounge agreement. In addition to Star Gold customers, all Air China First and Business class customers will now have access to Air Canada's recently upgraded International Maple Leaf Lounges featuring enhanced food and beverage offerings at Montreal and Vancouver airports. Air Canada's eligible customers will continue to enjoy access to Air China's lounges in Beijing, Shanghai and other airports throughout China.

More than 500 Commercial Aircraft Now Flying with Gogo's 2Ku Technology

Gogo  the leading global provider of broadband connectivity products and services for aviation, announced today that it now has more than 500 aircraft flying with its 2Ku technology with more than 400 of those installations taking place in 2017.

The company has also shortened install times to around 30 hours, which is less than half the time that it typically takes to install a broadband satellite connectivity solution.

"We are setting a new industry standard in terms of technology deployments in aviation.  We continue to set the bar higher in terms of speed of installation and will finish the year within the install range we set for 2017," said John Wade, Gogo's executive vice president and COO.  "We know that when passengers experience the 2Ku difference they travel happier which, in turn, makes our airline partners happy.  So, we are investing in finding ways to get 2Ku aircraft online as fast as we can."