Finnair opens a new route to Trondheim in cooperation with Wideroe, adds flights to Tromso

Photo Finnair

One of Europes leading legacy carriers, Finnair, is continuing to expand its network in the Nordics and opens a new year-round route to Trondheim in Norway in June 2019. Finnair also adds flights to another popular destination, Tromso, in Norway.

Trondheim is Norway’s third largest city, known for its breathtaking scenery. It offers excellent opportunities for nature activities such as hiking or hunting for Northern Lights, as well as a vibrant restaurant scene.

The route will be operated by Norwegian regional airline Wideroe five days a week, with a Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 aircraft, and the flights are sold and marketed by Finnair. The service concept onboard will include both Business and Economy Class, and the flight’s schedule will connect to Finnair’s Asian flights as well as to Finnair’s European network.

Air Canada & WestJet suspend financial forecasts in the wake of the 737 Max grounding

Photo WestJet

Earlier this week the Canadian airline WestJet issued an advance notice that its finances will be hit by the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.  The airline said it was suspending all 2019 financial guidance it issued last year as well as in February 2019 because of the costs incurred by the enforced grounded of the type.

WestJet enacted its contingency plan immediately and grounded all thirteen of its 737 MAX aircraft within 55 minutes of Transport Canada's order with only three MAX aircraft outside of its Canadian jurisdiction. The firm says it continues to implement and execute its contingency plan to minimise passenger disruption, however, it will only be able to cover approximately 75 per cent of the flights scheduled for 737 max aircraft with other aircraft.

Photo Air Canada

Air Canada has a fleet of 24 737 Max aircraft which it has grounded and had been expecting six more to arrive during March and April, but those new deliveries are currently suspended.  The airline has revised its schedule in both the short and medium term - it expects the 737 Max to be out of operation until at least 1st July. Whilst the airline has changed to different types of aircraft and chartered in aircraft from other operators such as Air Transat. It has been forced to cut some routes completely, including  Halifax and St. John's to London Heathrow and Vancouver to Kona, Lihue and Calgary-Palm Springs. Air Canada has also withdrawn its financial predictions for 2019 and beyond because of the grounding. 

British Airways unveils its new business class suite ahead of the arrival of the Airbus A350

The UK's leading airline British Airways has lifted the veil on its new business class seat offer that it is calling, 'Club Suite'  which will be fitted out to the airlines new Airbus A350 aircraft with start to arrive this July.

The newly designed and branded 'Club Suite' offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The airline says the new arrangement gives passengers  40% more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi and features an 8.5-inch inflight entertainment screen. 

BA says the A350 aircraft itself will also promote a feeling of well-being, space and calm due to its reduced noise levels, high ceilings and ambient lighting which is intended to complement the time of day and outside light. Customers will leave their flight feeling rested thanks to higher levels of humidity and refreshed air as the cabin pressure is equivalent to an altitude of just 6,000 feet. There are also environmental benefits to flying on the state-of-the-art A350 as 25 per cent lower fuel burn significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

The seat looks appealing in a dark cabin, yet will it have the same appeal in the bright arrival light?  Will its sleek lines and dark lines delight or will the colouring leave you with a feeling of oppression and the sensation of sitting in a prison cell?  Will you like the odd little door or will you find it just a little inconvenient - to high to step over, to low to offer privacy?  

What do you think? 

Year 1 of the Delta-Korean Air joint venture........focus on customers.

Steve Sear, Delta's President – International and Executive Vice President of Global Sales, spoke with Delta News Hub one year into the approval of the airline's joint venture with Korean Air about what customers, employees and others can look forward to in 2019 and beyond.

Delta News Hub:  We're coming up on the first anniversary of Delta's trans-Pacific joint venture with Korean Air. What stands out to you as the biggest achievements in this first year?

Steve Sear: It's been a great year and we're just getting started. As Ed Bastian said a year ago, it's an exciting time for our customers and that will continue to be the case. We have our sights set on furthering our position as the No. 1 trans-Pacific joint venture. The JV with Korea Air has been one of our fastest-integrating partnerships, thanks to the close cooperation with the Korean Air team and our shared focus on customers and vision to grow together. It has been impressive to see the benefits of unlocking the potential of this partnership that spans nearly two decades, since the foundation of the SkyTeam alliance. And from a Delta perspective, this partnership is enabling us to grow across the Pacific for the first time since 2012.

A new era of elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin

The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin has recently completed its €40 million renovations which heralds in a new era of elegance through refreshed guestrooms and suites. Also benefiting from incredible refurbishments are the conference, wellness, lobby and lounge areas plus POTS, a new restaurant. Each space evokes a vision of Berlin in the 1920s, with guests encountering creative details and thoughtful references to the golden era of German cinema.

“The recent completion of this meticulous 40 million euro renovation at The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin marks a momentous occasion for this hotel, whose storied location has sat at the epicentre of history for over a century,” said Lisa Holladay, Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “Present throughout the hotel in details large and small, the new design beautifully captures the gilded glamour of Berlin in the 1920’s, while celebrating the city’s ever-changing spirit. Our Ladies and Gentlemen will continue to provide legendary service to our luxury travellers during their visit to one of the most unique cities in Europe.”

A Cinematic Legacy Brought to Life........

The hotel’s imaginatively redesigned guest rooms and suites are the work of G.A. Design’s London team, as is the grand entrance guests experience in the lobby upon arrival. An ornate sweeping marble and ironwork staircase makes a statement while sparkling crystal chandeliers evoke the flurry of flashbulbs that punctuate the annual Berlinale Film Festival. Radiating 1920s flair, one wall gleams with stylised champagne glasses while guests will find one of the recurring motifs of the new design at reception: an abstract representation of a screen, reminiscent of film star’s cloakrooms.

SWISS to introduce a new Premium Economy Class

Long-haul travel options to increase for Swiss passengers from spring 2021

SWISS is to introduce a new Premium Economy Class on its long-haul aircraft fleet from spring 2021, to further strengthen its position as a premium air carrier. In a first step here, the additional travel class will be available in a 24-seat section on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. In the medium term, the new travel product will be extended to the entire SWISS long-haul fleet. For Economy Class travellers seeking more inflight comfort, the new product will offer a totally new air travel experience. SWISS will be investing some CHF 40 million in installing the new seating class on its Boeing 777 fleet. 

Have you got the Indy Spirit?

 Have you got the Indy Spirit? 

The US budget airline with the resplendent yellow planes, Spirit Airlines is celebrating the launch of its inaugural service from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) with the announcement of two additional nonstop routes set to start this winter. 

Beginning November 14th, 2019, Spirit will add nonstop routes from Indy to Tampa, Florida and Fort Myers, Florida. The new routes are announced the same day the airline begins nonstop daily service from Indianapolis to Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. On May 2, Spirit will add nonstop seasonal flights between Indianapolis and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina three times weekly.  The new routes will create dozens of connections throughout Spirit’s domestic and international network.

“Spirit Airlines is excited to celebrate the launch of our Indianapolis service with the promise of even more nonstop flights on the way,” said John Kirby, Spirit Airlines’ Vice President of Network Planning.  “These two additional routes reinforce our growing investment from the Crossroads of America.  We believe Circle City guests looking to get away will embrace our low fares and the best value in the sky.”

CLEAR expands to 28th airport with launch at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

CLEAR, the secure identity company using biometrics to build a frictionless and secure world, is now available for travellers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). CLE is the 42nd location and 28th airport in CLEAR’s growing nationwide network.

CLEAR is available today in the Central and South Checkpoints. CLE is the busiest airport in Ohio with nearly ten million passengers flying out of the airport every year. Travellers will now be able to use CLEAR to verify their identity with just the tap of a finger or blink of an eye before moving to physical security screening.

CLEAR is changing the way consumers experience the world by transforming the cards in their wallets into a single biometric ID. Today, more than 3 million CLEAR members enjoy secure and frictionless experiences at airports, sports stadiums and beyond.

Delta move terminals in New Orleans

The US mega-carrier, Delta is about to move home in New Orleans!   The airline is hoping for a big easy move in The Big Easy come May 15th, when all its operations will begin from Concourse C at the newly built North Terminal, aptly located on the north side of the airfield at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). 

Delta's last arrivals and departures at its current home on Concourse D in the existing South Terminal complex will occur on May 14. Aircraft, ground equipment and many other operational-critical supplies and tools will move overnight beginning on May 14 for the ensuing launch from Delta's new home on the morning of May 15th.

Extensive coordination by Delta's Airport Customer Service and Corporate Real Estate teams with the MSY airport authority continues and no impact to operations are expected.

Tap to give...new tech from British Airways for charity giving.

As it celebrates Red Nose Day 2019, British Airways, in collaboration with social start-up GoodBox, has introduced an innovative digital solution for customers to donate to Flying Start, the airline’s global charity partnership with Comic Relief.

Cashless giving                                                     

The airline has launched six contactless donation stations in its lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick. It has calculated that if just one per cent of the 14,000 British Airways customers who enjoy the airline's luxurious lounges every day donated £10, an additional half a million pounds would be raised every year for Flying Start.

£20m raised so far

Last year British Airways thanked its colleagues and customers for raising £20 million for Flying Start since the partnership began in 2010. The airline hopes customers will use the tap and go system to donate even more money to Flying Start, which aims to help change the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and around the world.

Holly Gray, British Airways Community Investment Manager, said:  “At British Airways we are always exploring new technology to improve the experience of our customers and colleagues and we are very excited to be trialling this innovative contactless solution to run alongside our more traditional onboard envelope collection.  Our customers are extremely generous, and I am confident they will embrace this easy way of giving to support us in our aim to raise £25 million for Flying Start by the end of 2020.”

Singapore Airlines partners with Como Shambhala for wellness cuisine...........

Singapore Airlines and Singapore-based wellness brand COMO Shambhala, which forms part of the COMO Group, have come to an understanding on a wide-ranging partnership aimed at enhancing the customer experience for travellers.

                    The initial phase of the partnership will see COMO Shambhala’s award-winning wellness cuisine introduced on selected Singapore Airlines flights in the second half of this year, elevating the airline’s range of food and beverage offerings on board.

Photo Como Shambhala

Using seasonal and sustainable ingredients each with their own nutrition profile, this style of cooking aims to inspire the palate with memorable and delicious flavours, marrying healthy eating with pleasurable gastronomy.

The inclusion of co-developed wellness dishes will progressively be made available in SIA’s Book the Cook service. In addition, a new wellness menu featuring specially curated dishes will be introduced across all classes.

Red Nose Day takes to the skies......

As millions of people across the UK don a Red Nose in aid of Comic Relief, British Airways has unveiled an aircraft that will be wearing a Red Nose of its own for the cause.  Painted on to an A320, the airline is raising awareness of Red Nose Day as it announces a target to reach £25million for Comic Relief by 2020. The Red Nosed plane will travel to various locations across the UK and Europe. 

Through Flying Start, the airline’s global charity partnership with Comic Relief, British Airways has been fundraising to help change the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and around the world.

Bombardier concludes sale of its business aircraft training unit to CAE

Bombardier concludes sale of its business aircraft training unit to CAE

Photo CAE

The Canadian firm Bombardier confirmed this week that it hand concluded the sale of its flight and technical training activities to CAE, for an enterprise value of $645 million. Once certain liabilities, fees, and closing adjustments have been deducted, the true earnings of the sale will be around $500. 

CAE is the training partner of choice of aviation professionals, airlines, large fleet operators, and aircraft manufacturers the world over. With 50+ training locations across the globe, CAE has the largest civil aviation network in the world.

“Bombardier and CAE share a deep commitment to providing outstanding support to their customers,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Bombardier’s talented employees and strong relationships with clients, combined with CAE’s network and expertise, will elevate the customer experience. As CAE grows its core training business, Bombardier continues to expand its service offerings and dedicated support, each to the benefit of Bombardier Business Aircraft customers around the world.”

Alaska Air Group reports February 2019 operational results

Photo Alaska / Horizon

Alaska Air Group reported February operational results earlier this week, for its mainline operations operated by subsidiary Alaska Airlines Inc. and for its regional flying operated by subsidiary Horizon Air Industries Inc. and third-party regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and Peninsula Airlines, a subsidiary of RAVN Air.

As a result of unusual winter weather in the Pacific Northwest in the month of February, our operation experienced significant challenges. Impacts of the storm are reflected in the operational results as shown below.

AIR GROUP

On a combined basis for all operations, Air Group reported a 2.0% decrease in traffic on a 1.9 % decrease in capacity compared to February 2018. Load factor decreased 0.1 points to 79.3 %.

Hyatt’s first Hyatt Place hotel in Vietnam set to open in 2022

The giant Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced today that it has entered into a management agreement with an affiliate of Ben Thanh Holdings to develop a Hyatt Place hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. The new 200-key Hyatt Place Saigon Phu Nhuan will be the first Hyatt Place hotel in Vietnam and is set to open in 2022.

The Hyatt Place brand is rooted in extensive consumer insights indicating that guests seek stylish, comfortable, seamless experiences that accommodate their lifestyles and familiar routines. To embody this, the brand offers casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly designed, high-tech and contemporary environment.

“We are pleased to start our relationship with Ben Thanh Holdings with the introduction of our first select service hotel and the Hyatt Place brand into a fast-developing country like Vietnam,” said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “With its thoughtful, intuitive design, Hyatt Place Saigon Phu Nhuan will offer multi-tasking professionals and leisure travellers a comfortable stay equipped with all the essentials to help them get the most out of their stay.”

British Airways reveal the fourth historic livery........

                                             There was a fair amount of speculation in the UK aviation world in the last few weeks regarding which livery from the past would be the last to be revisited by British Airways.  To mark the carriers 100th birthday they have evoked memories of times gone by with a set of historic and dare I say, classic aircraft paint jobs.  

                                     First, there was a British Overseas Airways Corporate (BOAC) liveried Boeing 747, a British European Airways (BEA) Airbus 319 and a British Airways Landor 747, all of which are already flying. The fourth historic design was kept a closely guarded secret for a number of weeks,  many hoped it wouldn't be one of the disastrous 'world' images that were much derided by passengers, executives and politicians. 

However, the wait is over, the fourth and final design has been announced by the UK's leading legacy airline and it is the Negus design which will be applied to a Boeing 747.

                                    The 747-400, registration G-CIVB, entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport last Saturday where it is being repainted with the first version of the Negus livery which adorned the British Airways fleet from 1974-1980, directly after the merger of BOAC and BEA and the formation of the airline customers know today.

New Zealand

"There are no words that can adequately describe the horror of the shocking news of the terrorist attack in New Zealand that has killed so many people.  Our hearts and thoughts are with those that have been affected by this revolting and savage attack. We send you our heartfelt condolences and stand with you."

Jason Shaw for the Air101 team  

Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus and Embry-Riddle in Singapore sign MOU on aviation education

The AirBusiness Academy and the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Singapore have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on delivering aviation education and management training programmes for students and talents in the region.

Under the agreement, the two organisations will work on areas such as faculty exchanges, joint delivery of specific training programmes, and the hosting of each other’s courses at their respective campuses.

Pictured here are Dr John R. Watret, Chancellor, ERAU Worldwide & Chairman, ERAU Asia Board of Directors (left), Bruno Bousquet, Airbus Vice President - Customer Services Asia-Pacific.

easyjet gets first FANS-C-equipped A320 from Airbus

Airbus has delivered the first *FANS-C-equipped A320 aircraft to easyJet. In the framework of Europe’s SESAR Air Traffic Management (ATM) research programme, this aircraft – and others to follow – will take part in the Airbus-led project “Demonstration of air traffic management improvements generated by 4D Initial Trajectory Information Sharing” (DIGITS), which will demonstrate the sharing of an aircraft's predicted trajectory data with air traffic control (ATC).

FANS-C technology will enable airlines to optimise their aircraft’s trajectories and make traffic flows more fluid and aircraft speed easier to manage, which will help them to save fuel and reduce noise. In particular, the sharing of predicted trajectories with ATC controllers will enable smooth aircraft sequencing on approach and in the “Terminal Maneuvering Area.”

Hugh McConnellogue, Group Head of Network Operations at easyJet said: “We are very pleased to be the first airline to receive this new FANS-C technology in our Airbus aircraft – and to try it for real in the SESAR demonstration. Our early hands-on experience already indicates that it promises to be an important enabler to increase the efficiency, safety and on-time performance of our expanding operations – especially in the congested European airspace.”

Swiss civil aviation regulator calls time on vintage aircraft commercial passenger flights - Ju-52

Photo Ju-Air

The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation has called a halt to normal commercial pleasure flights on the fleet of Junkers Ju-52 aircraft by Ju-Air, it has confirmed this week.

The regulator says that be following the fatal crash of a Ju-52 of Ju-Air it had reviewed the facts of the investigation (which is ongoing) and because there is no manufacturer with responsibility for the airworthiness of the Ju 52 aircraft, the regulator was “not in a position to take on this task”. it was calling a halt to all commercial passenger flights with type.

However, this does not mean that the Ju-52's won't be in the air again with passengers, the regulator says the historic aircraft can still fly - even with passengers,  however, these passengers would need to be members of a dedicated club, and have been members for at least 30 days prior to the flight.