Alaska Airlines shows off new Disney themed aircraft livery - Toy Story 4

Ahead of the highly anticipated release of Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 4 on June 21, Alaska Airlines unveiled a special-edition aircraft this week. The Toy Story 4-themed aircraft, Alaska's second livery to feature Pixar's characters, is decked out with toys from the "Toy Story 4" world. The aircraft was revealed to a crowd of surprised guests at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by Alaska's own Chief Football Officer Russell Wilson.

Toy Story 4 to take to the skies                                                                                             photo Alaska

Alaska Airlines gets ‘animated’ with themed aircraft featuring artwork from Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4.

Watch a video of how the new livery was created below. 

Transavia France and OpenAirlines Announce Green Initiative to Launch Real Time and In-flight Fuel Efficiency Solution

OpenAirlines received today the Paris Air Forum Trophy 2019 and announced a partnership with Transavia at the PARIS AIR FORUM organized by La Tribune and gathering major players in the aerospace industry.

Transavia and OpenAirlines, the leading global provider of fuel efficiency solutions signed an agreement on Friday, June 14th. Transavia becomes the research and development partner for SkyBreathe® OnBoard, a real-time eco-flying solution that provides live guidance to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions during the flight.

Air Partner awarded managed services contract by Airbus

Air Partner Awarded Managed Services Contract by Airbus

Air Partner plc a global aviation services group that has been going since 1961, confirmed it had been awarded a three-year contract by Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer, for Managed Services.

Air Partner's Managed Services team provides a range of professional, technical and commercial expertise that is available around the clock, 365 days a year, enabling customers to maximise operational efficiencies.

As part of the contract, Air Partner will manage all operational and contractual requirements for Airbus' corporate shuttle flights, which are a vital link for the company's employees and contractors moving between Airbus factories in Chester, Bristol and Toulouse. For this, Air Partner will trade their good reputation by using the sister airline of bankrupted and asset stripped flyBMI, Loganair. Using two dedicated, 49-seat Embraer E145 regional jets. 

WestJet updates its on-board experience as part of Dreamliner services

Following the successful launch of WestJet's Dreamliners from Calgary to London (Gatwick), Paris and Dublin, the airline has now updated its on-board experience with the airline's elevated amenities and service.

Enhanced service offerings and products highlight WestJet's Canadian roots across the airlines'
Business, Premium and Economy cabins

Tailored to showcase WestJet's authentic Canadian story, enhanced service offerings and products are featured across WestJet's Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 767 and 737 transatlantic service. Guests can expect to see updates continue to roll across the WestJet fleet throughout 2019 and 2020.

"Our guests are going to love our uniquely Canadian products and we are proud to showcase our like-minded partners who share our passion for thoughtful, quality products created in Canada," said Louis Saint-Cyr, WestJet's Vice-President, Guest Experience. "WestJet continues our global transformation and these elevated products and services complement the award-winning onboard experience we are known for."

Alaska's May disapointing

Photo Alaska 

Alaska Air Group Inc.  reported its May operational results on a consolidated basis earlier this week, for both its mainline operations 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 whole, the group saw traffic increase only marginally by less than one percent while the load factor remained pretty stagnant at around 85%.

Emirates’ First Class suite makes its debut in Durban

Photo Emirates

Emirates has introduced its First-Class cabin in Durban

Emirates has introduced its First-Class cabin in Durban this week, in conjunction with the airline’s seasonal frequency increase of four additional flights a week, bringing the airline’s award-winning, luxury travel experience to the coastal South African city.

During the seasonal increase from 14 June to 04 August 2019, travellers to and from Durban can enjoy the Emirates’ First Class cabins on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft will operate the additional flights in a three-class cabin configuration, offering eight seats in First Class, 42 in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class.

Fouad Caunhye, Regional Manager of Emirates Southern Africa, said, “As we approach 10 years of operations to Durban, introducing our award-winning First Class experience is a milestone in our history of operations to the city. Travellers will have an opportunity to experience the luxury product offering the Emirates is so well-known for, whether they are heading to Dubai or connecting to popular destinations across our network including India, UK and the Far East.

Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines begin codesharing on both domestic and international routes

 Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines begin code sharing on both domestic and international routes in Vietnam and Russia to offer customers enhanced connectivity and seamless connections between several domestic destinations in Russia and Vietnam, as well as promoting stronger commercial ties between the two countries.

Flights operated by Aeroflot include the route of Moscow (Sheremetyevo) - Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City *, Moscow (Sheremetyevo) - St Petersburg, Ufa and Krasnodar. At the same time, flights operated by Vietnam Airlines include the route of Hanoi - Moscow (Sheremetyevo)*, Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang as well as Ho Chi Minh city- Phu Quoc, Nha Trang*.

Flying tourism boost for the territory

Qantas and Tourism NT have announced a new three-year marketing agreement aimed at attracting more tourists to the Northern Territory.

The joint agreement, worth up to $4.5 million, will focus on promoting the Territory across Australia and key international markets like the United States.

The new agreement is an almost 20 per cent increase on the previous agreement signed in 2016 and the Northern Territory is the first state or territory that Qantas has re-signed.

The partnership will include advertising in key markets, collaboration on media and industry initiatives and promotion of special fares and major events including Parrtjima, the Darwin Festival, Bruce Monroe: Tropical Light and the Field of Light exhibition.

Lufthansa Group Airlines welcome more than 13 million passengers on board in May 2019

Number of passengers rises by 2.8% year-on-year 

Capacity utilization increases by 1.7% to 81.1% 

Strongest passenger growth and offer increase in Munich 

In May 2019, the Lufthansa Group airlines welcomed around 13.2 million passengers. This shows an increase of 2.8 percent compared to the previous year’s month. The available seat kilometres were up 3.5 percent over the previous year, at the same time, sales increased by 5.7 percent. In addition as compared to May 2018, the seat load factor increased by 1.7 percentage points to 81.1 percent.

Cargo capacity increased by 7.3 percent year-on-year, while cargo sales increased by 2.5 percent in revenue tonne-kilometre terms. As a result, the Cargo load factor showed a corresponding reduction, decreasing by 2.9 percentage points to 61.3 percent. 

Hilton’s All Suites Brands Start Strong in a Year to be Filled with Milestones, Anniversaries and Global Expansion

Photo: Business Wire

Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton, collectively making up the All Suites brands by Hilton, had a strong start to 2019, opening 21 properties in the first quarter and remaining on pace to open 130 by the end of the year. Together, the All Suites brands by Hilton have nearly 1,050 open properties and a pipeline of close to 600.

Home2 Suites by Hilton Opens Milestone 300th Property, Embassy Suites by Hilton Inks Deal for Debut Property in Aruba

This year will also be noteworthy for each brand individually, with Home2 Suites by Hilton having just hit its 300th property milestone and continuing its legacy of strong growth. At the same time, Homewood Suites by Hilton, which has increased in brand value by 99 percent year over year according to Brand Finance’s Hotels 50 2019 annual report, is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary while nearing its milestone 500th property. Embassy Suites by Hilton is also getting set for an anniversary, and its 35th year has already been marked by expansion, with new signed deals for properties in the Caribbean and EMEA countries.

American Express and MAG USA Join Forces to Bring The Centurion Lounge and the Escape Lounge to Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport

American Express and MAG USA announced joint plans to bring two new lounge locations, The Centurion Lounge and the Escape Lounge, to Terminal 4 within the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in the coming months.

As Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport welcomes more than 44 million passengers each year, the two lounges will provide guests with premium spaces and amenities to ease their travel journeys. The lounges will span a combined total of over 9,500 square feet and will feature a shared entrance, with separate reception areas, lounge spaces and amenities for each location. American Express Platinum Card and Centurion Members will have complimentary access to both locations as part of the access provided through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.

Spaceflight’s First Rideshare Mission Aboard a Rocket Lab Electron Readies for Launch

Spaceflight, the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, today announced it will launch seven spacecraft from five organizations later this month on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 at the southern tip of Mahia Peninsula, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. This mission, also called “Make It Rain” by Rocket Lab as a nod to the weather in both Seattle and New Zealand, represents Spaceflight’s first of five launches scheduled with Rocket Lab this year.

JetBlue Airways Reports May Traffic

JetBlue Airways Corporation reported its preliminary traffic results for May 2019. Traffic in May increased 5.7 percent from May 2018, on a capacity increase of 5.4 percent.

Load factor for May 2019 was 86.0 percent, an increase of 0.2 points from May 2018. JetBlue’s preliminary completion factor for May 2019 was 99.7 percent and its on-time (1) performance was 77.6 percent. JetBlue expects second-quarter revenue per available seat mile (RASM) to range between 2.0 and 4.0 percent.

Airport Lounge Development doubles the size of Pittsburgh International Airport lounge

Airport Lounge Development (ALD), an award-winning global provider of premium shared-use lounges, today announced the completion of The Club Pittsburgh International. The increased space and seating address the growing demand from travellers for The Club experience.

“From 2017 to 2018, the original lounge space experienced a 50 percent increase in guests. Each month we welcomed over 7,000 guests, a number that exceeded our expectations,” said Nancy Knipp, Senior Vice President of ALD. “As we continue to see the demand for The Club lounge experience rise, we are excited to provide a larger, more enhanced location for Pittsburgh International Airport visitors looking to work or relax.”

Visitors to The Club can expect to find all-inclusive amenities, sweeping views of the airfield, a bountiful buffet and speciality cocktails. Pittsburgh favourite Chef Kate Romane continues to deliver hand-selected hot and cold entrees with a local flair.

The future of air travel is AI says British Airways...

With one of its 300 aircraft taking off from somewhere in the world every 90 seconds, British Airways runs a hugely complex global operation, 24-hours a day. Today, its Chairman and CEO, Alex Cruz, laid down the challenge to artificial intelligence experts to help him transform the customer journey.

Mr Cruz asked delegates at the AI Summit at London Tech Week to help his team of 80 data scientists offer customers new, intuitive services, change the way tickets are sold, guarantee no bags are ever misplaced and replace airport queues with virtual ones.

British Airways is using AI to improve the airline’s operational efficiency, maintenance and  to predict onboard food uptake

American Airlines Brings New Wine Selections to Premium Lounges

American Airlines is unveiling new wines this month in its Admirals Club lounges, Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining.

The goal in creating new wine lists is to provide diversity of choice and serve wines that appeal to varying tastes and palates. Consistent with American’s food and beverage strategy to provide local flavours whenever possible, guests visiting the Flagship Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York will see bottles from vineyards in the Finger Lakes region while guests at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will enjoy wines from Northern California vineyards.

“We’re diligent in offering a broad selection of wines so that every wine drinker can find something they like when travelling,” said Bobby Stuckey, one of American’s master sommeliers. “We look at it more like putting together a restaurant wine-by-the-glass menu. Customers can go for a great glass of Champagne or a full-bodied red and everything in between.”

Daher Announces Its Acquisition of Quest Aircraft Company, Becoming A Franco-American Aircraft Manufacturer

Daher – producer of the TBM family, the fastest turboprop aircraft in its category – is taking a major step in developing the company's aeroplane manufacturing business with the planned acquisition of Quest Aircraft Company, based in Sandpoint, Idaho, USA, which builds the Kodiak 100.

“Innovations in Flight” at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum will host its annual “Innovations in Flight Family Day and Aviation Display,” Saturday, June 15. Visitors can view more than 50 vintage, modern, military and commercial aircraft that will fly in for the day and be on display outside the Museum. Aircraft scheduled to appear include an A-10 Warthog, an F-22 Raptor, a V-22 Osprey and a United Airlines jet.

Visitors can also talk with pilots, explore the aircrafts’ cockpits and cabins, and discover the science behind flight through hands-on, STEM-based activities. The family day will be held at museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lufthansa Consulting Continues Support for Turkmenistan Airlines to Achieve Compliance with International Air Safety Standards

Turkmenistan Airlines (TUA) is committed to raising their performance following difficulties in satisfying relevant EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) requirements at the beginning of this year. Since then, the airline with Lufthansa Consulting has developed and agreed on corrective action plans and has also begun implementing them. Together with the aviation experts from Lufthansa Consulting, the operator is continuously working on both the management system changes and the practical implementation. This involves improvement of main management systems, particular the Safety and Quality management system, documentation development and process implementation, personnel training, software implementation and equipment procurement, and most importantly, cultural changes within the company.

Turkmenistan Airlines updated EASA on status of implementation of corrective action plans 

As an update to the initial meeting in March, the management of Turkmenistan Airlines accompanied by Lufthansa Consulting on 29 May 2019 presented a progress report on the improvement in safety standards to the EASA Third Country Operators (TCO) team, which is the technical advisor to the EU Air Safety Committee (ASC).