United to base 787 Deamliners at Newark

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft will be put on at least six international routes heading to Europe mega US carrier United Airlines has said.

The airline advises that from summer next year it will base the 787s at its Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey hub to operate flights to various destinations in Europe. Although the airline hasn't publically said which variant of the 787 would be based at Newark, it is believed to be the -10.  United have configured the 787-10s with 318 seats in total, spread over the carriers Polaris business class, premium economy and economy and its boss has previous, stated the aircraft is ideal for its European routes.

In a report issued by Flight Global, the airline has communicated its Dreamliner placement to staff in  a memo, saying that the airline will deploy 160 Dreamliner rated pilots, including 55 captains and 105 first officers, at Newark from the end of March next year.

(Photo Boeing)

Jet Airways 737 turns back after crew allegedly forget to presurise the cabin

A Jet Airways Boeing 737, registration VT-JGS, operating flight 9W697 from Mumbai to Jaipur was forced to return to the airport after nearly 30 passengers started having ear and nose bleeds due to a pressure deficiency in the cabin.

According to financially troubled Jet Airways the aircraft had 166 passengers and 5 crew members on board at the time of the incident on Thursday. In a brief statement issued via social media, the airline claimed the aircraft turned back due to 'a loss of cabin pressure' and that the affected aircraft 'landed normally in Mumbai. All guests were deplaned safely and taken to the terminal. First aid was administered to few guests who complained of ear pain, bleeding nose etc.'

Please refer to our official statement: pic.twitter.com/oCC77WVvfI

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) September 20, 2018

Jet Airways, part-owned by Etihad Airways, said the flight crew had been taken off flying duties while an investigation is ongoing.

Top 50 Megahubs of 2018

London Heathrow Airport tops the list of the latest OAG Megahubs International Index of 2018, by quite some margin. On the busiest day for aviation in 2018, there were 66,000 possible international connections between flights arriving and departing within a six-hour time window at the London airport.

The OAG’s Megahubs International Index goes beyond the size of an airport’s route network and measures the number of connections possible within a specific time frame and the relative attractiveness of each airport as a connecting point for scheduled air passengers.  The top 50 most connected airports in the world as measured by the highest ratio of scheduled connections to the number of destinations served.

While Heathrow heads the list by quite some way, it is the only UK airport that makes it into the top fifty, although London Gatwick makes it into the top 25 low-cost megahubs at number 23, unsurprisingly the most dominant airline there is easyJet.

The second place in the 2018 OAG Megahubs International megahubs index is the Illinois airport of Chicago O’Hare (ORD) which has moved up the Megahubs index and is ranked in 2nd place this year. The airport has more potential international connections on the busiest day but these are spread across a greater number of destinations.

Coming in third and fourth are the European hubs of Frankfurt and Amsterdam Airport, while at number five on the list is an airport that might surprise some people is the Canadian airport of Pearson in Toronto.  

Macao the new destination for Hong Kong Airlines

Hong Kong Airlines adds Macao to network  with new TurboJET codeshare

Hong Kong Airlines adds Macao to network 

with new TurboJET codeshare

One of the major entertainment destinations in Asia, Macao is being added to the rapidly growing network of  Hong Kong Airlines as the company announced it has signed a codeshare agreement with ferry services company, TurboJET.

The new partnership, which is the first of its kind for Hong Kong Airlines, will see TurboJET add the airline's "HX" code onto its multiple daily ferry services between SkyPier at Hong Kong International Airport and Macao Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal.

Spirit Airlines expands Florida operations with services from Jacksonville

The US ultra low-cost carrier, Spirit Airlines is growing in its home state of Florida with the addition of Jacksonville.

Starting on 20th December the budget airline will operate a nonstop daily service from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).   

Jacksonville will become Spirit’s 69th destination and joins the carriers other Florida stations of Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and West Palm Beach. “We are so proud to be expanding service once again right here in the Sunshine State to my hometown of Jacksonville,” said Laurie Villa, Spirit Airlines’ Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.  “Beyond a proud military presence, the Jacksonville area offers beautiful warm beaches, amazing golf courses, lively festivals, sporting events, and family-friendly attractions that will no doubt be a draw for our Guests.  As we continue to expand, we want to make sure we continue to serve our neighbours with ultra-low fares right here in our home state.”

“It is with great excitement and anticipation that we welcome Spirit Airlines to Northeast Florida,” said Steve Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. “Their arrival means more low fares for the Jacksonville community.”.

(photos Spirit Airlines) 
  

Hopes for a buyer for Small Planet increase

The administrators of the small German charter airline, Small Planet Airlines have told the media they are hopeful of a deal from prospective purchasers after a debt restructuring process has been completed.

The administrator told the Reuters news agency that there was a good chance of a deal for the insolvent company that has a fleet of 9 aircraft and employs nearly 400 people.  “Talks are going on with investors, and they are now being intensified under new conditions,” Joachim Voigt-Salus, the administrator told Reuters.

Small Planet, mainly operates flights to the top Mediterranean holiday destinations carrying holidaymakers and tourists and filed for insolvency earlier this week in a bid to keep the flying programme operational while a buyer could be found.

The airline had massive debts, however, “Now the question is whether we can cut these liabilities through the insolvency process so that a new investor can take off again with Small Planet.”  Voigt-Salus said. 

This only affects the German Small Planet Airlines, not the Lithuanian parent company, the Small Planet Group. 

Delta Air Lines donates $500,000 for Florence relief

The US airline, Delta has announced it will contribute $500,000 to the American Red Cross to aid in the relief efforts in the Carolinas and surrounding areas as a result of Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in North Carolina last week. The slow moving system dumped record amounts of rain leaving behind severe flooding and widespread destruction.   

"Delta stands in support of the people affected by Hurricane Florence," said Tad Hutcheson, Delta's Managing Director of Community Engagement. "We are grateful to have partners like the American Red Cross and to be able to contribute to experts that specialise in disaster response  year-round and can help  provide immediate assistance to those in need."   

Delta customers can support the relief efforts for Florence by donating through Delta's customer microsite, created in partnership with the Red Cross. Donations will go toward immediate relief needs for those affected by Hurricane Florence. 

(Image Delta Air Lines)

Qantas boss Alan Joyce to become Oneworld's Chairman

The Governing Board of the Oneworld global airline alliance announced today that it has nominated Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce to serve as its Chairman for the next two years.

Mr Joyce fills the position vacated by Finnair's CEO Pekka Vauramo, who is leaving the company and the industry as he takes up a new role at the top of  Finland’s Metso Corporation.

As oneworld Governing Board Chairman, Alan Joyce will chair its Board meetings, oversee alliance governance and work closely with oneworld CEO Rob Gurney and the central alliance team. The oneworld Governing Board comprises the CEOs of all the alliance’s member airlines – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines, alongside Qantas.  

Alan Joyce said: “As a founding member of oneworld, we are pleased the alliance has evolved over time to deliver greater value to more customers worldwide and expand its joint network.  I look forward to serving as Chairman of the Governing Board and working with our oneworld partner airlines as the alliance reaches the 20th anniversary of its launch.

“On behalf of all of us at oneworld, I thank Pekka Vauramo for his leadership of the alliance and wish him all the best in his new endeavours.”

The worlds first Boeing 777-200 is now a museum piece

On Tuesday, US plane manufacturer Boeing and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific announced they were donating the first-ever Boeing 777 aeroplane to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona, which is one of the world’s largest facilities devoted to celebrating aerospace and aviation.

The iconic aircraft registered B-HNL flew from Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong home to Tucson, Arizona on 18th September and now will be displayed permanently at the museum alongside more than 350 other notable aircraft.

Boeing first flew the 777-200 aircraft on 12th June 1994, it continued as a test aircraft for several years before it joined the Cathay Pacific fleet in 2000 operating across the airlines its global network.  

Qatar Airways reports massive losses.

Doha based Qatar Airways has just endured the most challenging year in its 20-year history and blames a mega loss of 252 million riyals on the diplomatic and physical blockade by four of its Arabic neighbours. 

The mega airline has been banned from flying to Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain since 2017, halting 18 of its popular high revenue routes as well as the four nations closing their airspace to Qatar Airways flights.  

To counterbalance the loss of those routes, Qatar Airways has opened 14 new routes during the last fiscal year, (24 in total since the start of the blockade) which come with launch costs and the necessity to establish market presence, which resulted in an overall net loss of 252 million as detailed in the airlines' recent annual report, issued earlier this week. 

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive,  Akbar Al Baker, said: “This turbulent year has inevitably had an impact on our financial results, which reflect the negative effect the illegal blockade has had on our airline. However, I am pleased to say that thanks to our robust business planning, swift actions in the face of the crisis, our passenger-focused solutions and dedicated staff, the impact has been minimised – and has certainly not been as negative as our neighbouring countries may have hoped for.”

New cargo aircraft...

Ryanair cabin crew in Belgium reject latest offer

Ryanair staff in Belgium are still on schedule for strike action at the end of the month after the most recent offer from the Irish airline has been turned down by unions.

The union representing cabin crew for the low-cost-high-fee airline based in Belgium confirmed on Wednesday that it had turned down the latest offer from the carrier and the strike due to take place on 28th September would go ahead. 

Most Ryanair staff are hired and employed on Irish contracts, rather than in the local countries or regions in which they are based, which has angered many staff. Ryanair had offered Belgium based cabin crew to follow beligian employment laws from March 2020. However, according to union representatives say that around half of the Belgium staff would not benefit from this as they have been employed under contract from another company, Crewlink. 

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, a spokesperson for the CNE union said “It’s a deception on the part of Ryanair,” The offer was an “unacceptable” attempt to divide cabin crew in order to give extra time to avoid strikes in a divide and conquer process that has been effective for the airline in other locations. 

Azerbaijan Airlines heading back to Geneva

Azerbaijan Airlines has advised that it will resume flights between Baku and Geneva from 30th October this year. 

The flights are to be part of the carriers joint charter programme for the classic transportation scheme, which includes free baggage and hand luggage and meals on board. The flights depart from terminal 1 of Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Geneva, the second most populous and the largest city in Switzerland is a popular tourist and business destination. It is home to one of the worlds leading banking centres along with a significant scientific hub. The city is located between the mountains of Jura and the Alps and as such is a gateway to many tourist destinations. The pearl of the city is its Lake Leman with a beautiful lakefront and luxurious hotels around that offer year-round hospitality. 

Extra Delta flights for Consumer Electronics Show in January

The US air carrier, Delta, has said it will offer two flights between Shanghai and Las Vegas this January surrounding the Consumer Electronics Show, opening up additional choice for customers in China and the US attending the annual global event. 

The flights will operate as through flights, sharing the same flight numbers as Delta's existing daily Atlanta-Shanghai service. 

The Delta onboard experience will be on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft featuring 37 lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in Delta One, 36 seats in Delta Comfort+ and 218 seats in the main cabin featuring a nine-abreast seating layout. Every seat has personal in-flight entertainment on demand. The aircraft is also equipped with satellite-based Wi-Fi and power ports at every seat.

18% rise in summer passenger numbers for airBaltic

The rapidly expanding Latvian based airline airBaltic transported an impressive 2 770 047  or 18% passengers more during the first eight months of 2018 than in the same period last year over its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East. 

During August 2018, 440 562 passengers or 14% more than last year travelled with airBaltic. In addition in summer season, airBaltic carried +18% more passengers, marking this period as a record for the airline.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “This was the strongest summer in the history of the airline, successfully continuing the sustainable growth path the company has taken. While performing more flights to a wider variety of destinations, we still are aiming to achieve our world-class internal targets for both punctuality and regularity.”

First flight for ANA's first Airbus A380

 First ANA A380 takes to the skies

The skies around Toulouse saw another jolly green giant take to the air yesterday as the first A380 for All Nippon Airways successfully completed its maiden flight.

The double-decked passenger jet rolled off the final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse, France and departed the city for a flight to Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft is now being prepared for cabin installation and painting in the airline’s special A380 livery.

ANA placed a firm order for three A380s in 2016, becoming the first customer for the superjumbo in Japan.  The first delivery is scheduled early 2019, and the A380 will initially be operated on the popular Tokyo-Honolulu route.