Miracle Flights Announces 640 Free Medical Flights Performed in March

Miracle Flights, the leading US provider of medical flights are celebrating the fact that they arranged 640 free flights for families of children battling rare and life-threatening illnesses. 

The Las Vegas–based charity was established in 1985 and makes arrangements with commercial airlines, flights at no cost to help children with complex medical needs gain access to specialized treatment far from home. Since its inception, the nonprofit has provided 115,752 total flights and flown more than 65 million miles to improve access to healthcare for those in need.

Big increase in passenger numbers for airBaltic

The Latvian airline airBaltic in the first quarter of 2018 has transported 729 897 or 24% more than in the same period last year to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East. In March 2018, 280 724 passengers or 25% more than last year travelled with airBaltic.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We just presented the 2017 results that were the best operational results in the history of the airline, and now we have achieved a new passenger record for the first quarter of 2018 too. I am proud of airBaltic team that every day keeps up the good work and offers our passengers great flying experience.”

Aeroflot Named China's Favourite International Airline for Second Consecutive Year

Aeroflot has been once again recognised as the Favourite International Airline in China. The prestigious award was given to Aeroflot for the second consecutive year at the Flyer Award Ceremony 2018. The official ceremony was held today for the sixth time in Shanghai, the economic capital of China.

Air Canada Elevates Transcontinental Service for Premium U.S. Customers with new Air Canada Signature Service

First North American carrier to designate lie-flat suites on flights to Canada
Air Canada today became the first North American carrier to designate aircraft with lie-flat suites for premium cabin customers flying non-stop to Canada on major transcontinental routes with its new Air Canada Signature Service, including the onboard product Air Canada Signature Class. Beginning June 1, the airline will offer lie-flat suites and other enhanced amenities to eligible customers travelling on its wide-body aircraft from New York-Newark to Vancouver and both daytime and overnight daily flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Toronto.

Air Canada Signature Service customers will receive priority service at every stage of the journey, including access to airport concierge services, expedited check-in and security clearance, priority baggage handling and preferential boarding. Customers will also enjoy Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge access and, for eligible customers connecting onward to international destinations at Toronto-Pearson, access to the exclusive Air Canada Signature Suite, featuring à la carte restaurant dining from a menu created by celebrated Canadian chef David Hawksworth.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is celebrating its 60th anniversary of direct scheduled flights between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur

As one of Europe's leading long-haul airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrates 60 years of continuous flights between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur on 26 April, 2018.

Today KLM announced it will celebrate this milestone, with a myriad of events and a campaign for its customers.

Mrs Estee Ng, Country Manager of Air France and KLM Malaysia says: "We proudly mark KLM's 60 years of scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur, although KLM had a much earlier presence in Malaysia when in 1924 the first KLM intercontinental flight en route to Jakarta made a refuelling stop in Alor Star, Kedah."  

In celebration, KLM will launch a KLM 60th anniversary contest from 17-24 April 2018 where contestants can win a pair of return KLM tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam. Visit http://my.klmcontest.com to participate in the 'KLM Big 60 in Malaysia' contest.

KLM passengers departing on KLM from Kuala Lumpur on 26 April will also receive a small souvenir to celebrate a double birthday, KLM's 60th birthday in Malaysia and King's Day which is celebrated on 27 April 2018 in the Netherlands.

KLM will also be launching a celebratory fare later this month from Kuala Lumpur to Europe, the Americas and many other destinations.

Icelandair Inspires Passengers to Capture Stunning Aerial Shots From 32,000 Feet

Celebratory flight 'Iceland By Air' takes a special route over Iceland's spectacular sights to mark the arrival of its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane 

'Iceland By Air' provided passengers with a unique flight plan to witness some of the country's breathtaking landscapes such as Jökulsárlon Lagoon from the best seat in the house onboard the new plane

Icelandair's first new Boeing 737 MAX 8 takes to the skies boasting an enhanced cabin space and newly designed windows for better viewing, improving customer comfort and experience, making time well travelled
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane joins Icelandair's fleet making appearances throughout the network and flying over the Atlantic Ocean every day
Icelandair will receive 16 new aircraft in the next four years as part of its commitment to continually improve its customer experience, ensuring that passengers enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

The transatlantic airline, Icelandair welcomes its first new Boeing 737 MAX 8 with a unique celebratory flight 'Iceland By Air' that took a special route over some of Iceland's most stunning landscapes and sights.

Scat's Boeing 737 MAX8

Kazakhstan airline Scat took delivery of its first Boeing-737 MAX8 last month and will soon take delivery of a further five from Boeing.

To celebrate the milestone in the airline's development they have released the following video which documents the production of the airlines hiney new planes. 

Georgia politician who led fight against Delta gets NRA endorsement and funding

 Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Georgia politician who vowed to punish and harm Delta after the airline cut discounts for the US The National Rifle Association in the wake of the horrific school massacre in Parkland, Florida, now has the NRA Endorsement.

In a press release, the NRA said Cagle had “never wavered” from his controversial stance at a time when numerous companies, including Delta, stopped offering discounts to or supporting the NRA. The financial support Cagle is receiving from the NRA has not yet been disclosed.   

airBaltic Pilot Academy’s First Students Start Studies

The Latvian airline airBaltic today, launched its newly established Pilot Academy at airBalticTraining with the first group of 12 students starting their studies in order to become future airBaltic pilots.  The full-time programme is scheduled to be completed in two years.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “It is a historic day not only for the students but also for airBaltic. Launching our own Pilot Academy has been a major step in securing that more Baltic pilots will join our airline in the future.”

Primera Air takes delivery of its first A321neo

Primera Air, the European low-fare-carrier, has taken delivery of its very first Airbus A321neo at an event in Hamburg, Germany attended by Andri Már Ingólfsson, CEO and President of Primera Travel Group and Kimon Sotiropoulos, Vice President Sales Northern and Central Europe from Airbus. 
This technologically advanced and super fuel-efficient aircraft, which was assembled in Hamburg, is the first of three A321neos to be leased from GECAS in 2018. Primera Air will also lease a further five A321neos from other lessors, including two A321LRs, growing its fleet to eight aircraft in 2018.
The aircraft, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines features a two-class layout with 16 premium and 182 economy seats. The aircraft was selected by Primera Air for its outstanding operational efficiency, comfort and range. The aircraft will be deployed in the United Kingdom and France on transatlantic destinations to North America.

12th Airbus A350-900 for Vietnam Airlines

VN-A897 is the registration of the latest Airbus A350 aircraft to join the fleet of Vietnam Airlines recently and has already been put to use on the Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City route.
This is the 12th out of total 14 Airbus A350-900 aircraft that the carrier has ordered from the European manufacturer. The remaining two aircraft are scheduled for delivery during 2019 and will be put into service without delay. 

This latest addition to the Vietnam Airlines fleet is the first Airbus A350 to be adorned with SkyTeam alliance titles across the fuselage. The executive vice president of Vietnam Airlines, said: “The unified livery demonstrates the vision and mission of Vietnam Airlines in the international integration, bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other airlines and global alliances to bring increased benefits to customers." - “The special paint scheme is also part of Vietnam Airlines’ ongoing effort to provide a new flying experience to passenger and continuously accomplish its goal of becoming Asia’s largest airline.”
A spokesperson for SkyTeam said they were “Extra proud that the A350 will fly the SkyTeam livery around the world."  Adding that "Vietnam Airlines was a highly valued member of the alliance" 

Daughter of Korean Air boss suspended allegedly 'for throwing water'

Cho Hyun-min a senior vice-president at Korean Air has been suspended while reports of her throwing water at an advertising executive are investigated further.

Ms Cho is the daughter of the airlines CEO denies throwing the water but confirmed she may have shoved the executive and apologised for the incident and called her behaviour "foolish and reckless".

She is the younger sister of Cho Hyun-ah - the airline heiress who infamously had an aircraft return to the gate after being unhappy that a member of the cabin crew had served her nuts in an inappropriate manner. 

According to local media Ms Cho unhappy with answers given to her by the ad executive during a meeting in Seoul during March. 

Korean Air has stated that it would take appropriate action once the police investigation was over.

Eurowings launches long-haul from Munich

One of Europe's fasting growing airlines, Eurowings, part of the Lufthansa group of airlines, has launched its news low-cost long-haul from Munich. The first long-haul flight took off this Monday heading for Las Vegas. Passengers can now travel to the Nevada metropolis via two flights a week. Flights take place on Mondays and Thursdays.

First Eurowings long-haul flight takes off for Las Vegas

Eurowings’ promises low fares for its long-haul services and the new Las Vegas route is no different, one-way tickets to the bright lights of the strip are already available for only EUR 189.99.  The low-cost carrier now offers a total of ten new long-haul destinations are being added to the offering from Munich, which includes Fort Myers and Windhoek. The fares are starting from an unbeatable EUR 179.99.

Las Vegas is followed by Cancun in Mexico (from 19 April) and Mauritius (from 21 April) with a weekly flight and Fort Myers (from 1 May) with two flights a week. The quartet will be supplemented over the summer with a weekly flight to Caribbean destinations such as Varadero (from 2 May), Punta Cana (from 4 May), Montego Bay (from 18 July) and Puerto Plata (from 19 July).

Finnair extends Alaska Airlines partnership with new codeshares for the U.S. West Coast

Finnair announced this week, a new codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, which will further strengthen Finnair’s reach on the West Coast of the United States. Starting May 20, Finnair’s code will be added to flights operated by Alaska Airlines between San Francisco and the following cities: Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and Palm Springs. The new codeshares will offer smooth connections for Finnair customers connecting in San Francisco, where Finnair operates from Helsinki with up to three weekly frequencies between May 3 and December 5, 2018.
“We are very happy to collaborate once again with Alaska Airlines on this new codeshare agreement,” says Philip Lewin, head of partnerships and alliances at Finnair. “The new codeshares will help us widen our network on the West Coast and offer more options for our customers. San Francisco is a key destination for Finnair and we have just extended the season until early December due to strong demand.”

Airbus’ A330neo continues toward its 2018 service entry

The A330neo is demonstrating its capabilities as the newest member of Airbus’ proven and highly-reliable twin-engine A330 Family, with flight testing continuing ahead of its planned service entry in Summer 2018.

Two test aircraft have logged more than 700 hours aloft in the 200-plus flights performed as of 10 April, according to A330neo aircraft integration and flight testing integrated product team (IPT) leader Jean-Christophe Bonjour.

He noted that flight testing has covered the globe, including the cold weather validations in Kazakhstan in temperatures as low as -27° C., natural icing testing in the United States, crosswind landing evaluations in Ireland, a Bolivia-based altitude campaign at 8,000 ft., and recently-completed hot weather trials in Mexico, which had temperatures of up to 37° C.