Leonardo to support the UK's Royal Air Force with future drone technology

The UK's Ministry of Defence has selected Leonardo to support a multi-million-pound research & development (R&D) programme to better understand counter-drone technology.

Building on previous R&D undertaken with the company in this area, Leonardo will support the RAF to explore technical mitigations to the current threats posed by hostile drones through the evaluation of mature and evolving sensor and effector technology.

Starting in early 2020 and supporting 20 jobs across the company, the primary integration work will be mainly undertaken by Leonardo at its Basildon (Essex) and Southampton sites, with real-time testing undertaken at several MOD locations within the UK.

Wizz Air increases capacity at Budapest

WizzAir, the largest airline in Central and Eastern Europe and Europe’s greenest* airline has today announced the arrival another state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft at its base in Budapest in June 2020 and the launch of three new routes to European cities from the Hungarian capital. Tickets for the new routes are already on sale and can be booked from only HUF 6,490, and 7,990**, respectively, on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app.

New daily service to Brussels, four destinations in Ukraine

Brussels Charleroi has been a part of Wizz Air’s network since 2004. From next summer, the airline will also operate a daily service to Brussels Airport, the Belgian’s capital main airport – the airline’s 151 destination –, creating a more direct link with the centre of the European Union for business travellers and diplomats. With its picturesque main square and delightful brasseries, Brussels is an attractive destination for tourists as well.

Air Italy wins QPrize 2019 award as most LGBTQ+ friendly Italian airline

Air Italy has been awarded a QPrize as the most LGBTQ+ friendly airline in Italy at the 4th edition of QPrize awards, organized by Sonders and Beach Italy with QMagazine in collaboration with IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association).

Air Italy received the award in the elegant setting of Terrazza Martini, in front of an audience of leading personalities of the LGBTQ+ community and international tourism associations, including John Tanzella, president of IGLTA and the president of the New York Tourist Board, Alessandro Cecchi Paone, at the event which was organized with the support of the US Consulate in Milan, ENIT and the Municipality of Milan.

Disappearing Lives – Africa’s Last Tribes in Pictures

Photo https://christopherrimmer.com

Captured over three years “Confluence – Tradition & Modernity and the Last Tribes of the Kunene River” is the title of a stunning exhibition of photographic portraits by internationally acclaimed photographer, Christopher Rimmer. The series features majestic portraits of the last remaining African tribes who live along the Kunene River in Namibia and Angola.

British photographer, Christopher Rimmer’s latest body of work, “Confluence – Tradition & Modernity and the Last Tribes of the Kunene River,” recently debuted to critical acclaim at Art Expo in New York and will be exhibited worldwide throughout 2019.

Rimmer, who is best known for his large-scale portraits of subjects who exist on the fringes of mainstream society, has frequently used Sub-Saharan Africa as a backdrop for his work. The talented photographer considered it critical to record the last remaining tribes of this region before their ancient way of life is erased by the unstoppable juggernaut of commercialization and progress.

Manchester Airport crowned UK's best at prestigious travel industry awards

On Monday evening, Manchester won the accolade of the UK and Ireland’s best airport at the Travel Trade Gazette annual awards in London, which is judged by the travel trade and industry experts.

The UK’s third-largest airport beat off competition from fellow nominees Birmingham, Bristol, Luton and Belfast City airports.

The prize was handed over by actress and comedienne Jennifer Saunders, and judges praised the airport on the wealth of engaging activity to celebrate its 80th birthday, its ongoing £1bn transformation and the outreach and incentives it does with travel agents across the UK.

Delta Premium Select brings luxury to Buenos Aires on modified B767-400

Delta brings luxury to customers travelling between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ezeiza International Airport, who now will be able to experience the new Delta Premium Select,  the airline’s international premium economy product. Buenos Aires will become the second Latin American market to be served by Delta’s newly modified B767-400 aircraft, which also feature Delta One, Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin. Effective Sept. 16, Delta Premium Select will be available for purchase for travel from Atlanta beginning April 15, 2020.   

“We are proud to bring customers flying to and from Buenos Aires more choices and the benefits of Delta’s continuous investments in its fleet and onboard experience,” said Rodrigo Bertola, Director — Hispanic South America, Central America and the Caribbean. “These new seats, based on our latest design, give our customers a luxurious experience, which is complemented by refreshed amenity kits and a new winter menu and wine selection.”

Delta Premium Select expands to second Latin American market

Upgraded Boeing 767-400s will have new

Delta One business class in 2020

LE LABO featured in upgrade TUMI amenity kits

Ethiopian crash victims want 737 MAX documents from Boeing, FAA

(Reuters) - A lawyer for victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 said on Tuesday he wants Boeing Co and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to hand over documents about the decision to keep the Boeing 737 MAX in the air after a deadly Lion Air crash last October, reports Tracy Rucinski. 

A week after Lion Air Flight 610 nose-dived into the Java Sea, killing all 189 aboard, the FAA warned airlines that erroneous inputs from an automated flight control system’s sensors could lead the jet to automatically pitch its nose down, but the agency allowed the jets to continue flying.

All eyes on museum’s head-turning A380

It took four weeks to prepare the plane50 painters were involved
The museum welcomes around 200,000 visitors annually

Coating aircraft doesn’t just involve painting the ones that fly. We also provide coatings for those that stay on the ground.

The latest project saw us supply paint and decorative film for an Airbus A380 which was recently added to the collection at the Aeroscopia Aeronautical Museum located in Blagnac, France.

Preparing it for display was a major task. It took four weeks and involved 50 painters from Airbus and Satys. The aircraft was coated with our newly qualified external chromate-free primer (Aerodur HS 2121) and top coated with Aerobase basecoat and Aviox Clearcoat UV. The finishing touch (our AkzoNobel logo) was applied using our own decorative films.

Boeing begins assembling first KC-46A tanker for Japan

The Boeing KC-46 team on Friday began assembling Japan’s first next-generation tanker, loading a 82.4-foot (25 metres) long wing spar in the company’s 767 production facility.

“This is an exciting day for the program and we look forward to building and delivering these multi-role tankers to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF),” said Jamie Burgess, Boeing vice president and KC-46 program manager. “From the enhanced flight deck to the modernized boom, this tanker will provide unmatched capabilities for Japan.”

Boeing was awarded a Foreign Military Sale contract for one KC-46A aircraft and logistics services in December 2017. The U.S. Air Force exercised an option for Japan’s second aircraft in December 2018.

Bombardier delivers the first Global 6000 to the German Luftwaffe

The Canadian transport firm Bombardier has delivered the first of three Global 6000 business jets destined for use by the Luftwaffe, the German air force.

The Luftwaffe, a longtime Bombardier aircraft operator, will use the Global 6000 business jets to fulfil political and parliamentary transport requirements.

“Bombardier is incredibly pleased that the Luftwaffe will add the Global 6000 aircraft to its fleet,” said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Aviation. “Our Specialized Aircraft team has built longstanding relationships with governments around the world who trust in the safety and performance of our products.”

Delta invests $2 million for study of potential facility to produce biofuel from forest floor debris

Delta invests $2 million for study of potential facility to produce biofuel from forest floor debris

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Delta Air Lines is investing $2 million to partner with Northwest Advanced Bio-fuels, LLC (NWABF) for the feasibility study of a biofuel production facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel and other biofuel products.

Commitment will fund exploration for the establishment of a sustainable biofuel refinery in Washington State.

The sustainable aviation fuel, expected to be produced in a facility in Washington State, could be used in Delta operations at stations in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. NWABF's project would utilize wood residue deposits and wood slash lying on forest floors to produce the biofuel, which would qualify under an approved carbon-reducing pathway recognized by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). NWABF plans first delivery of the fuel by the end of 2023.

Turkish Airlines will fly directly to Vietnam’s Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and introduced a new in-flight app

Boasting the world’s widest international flight network with 315 international destinations in 126 countries, Turkish Airlines has started direct flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which were operated as connected flights until now. The flights will be operated on Istanbul (IST) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul (IST) – Hanoi (HAN) – Istanbul (IST) routes.

Deciding to operate direct flights with the expectations of the passengers travelling to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in mind, Turkish Airlines will have daily flights to Ho Chi Minh and the flag carrier will fly to Hanoi six days a week (except Sunday). The flights to capital Hanoi will increase to seven days a week in April 2020.

airBaltic – the first airline obtaining a full scope maintenance capability for Airbus A220-300 type

airBaltic – the first airline obtaining a full scope maintenance capability for Airbus A220-300 type

Latvian airline airBaltic has successfully passed the audit for Base Maintenance Capability for Airbus A220-300 carried out by the civil aviation authority of Latvia – Civil Aviation Agency (CAA), and received the certificate proving airBaltic’s ability to provide a full-scale EASA Part-145 Line Maintenance and Base Maintenance for this aircraft type.

As of September 10, airBaltic becomes the first airline with maintenance capability and the second maintenance organization in the world who is entitled to provide a full scope of maintenance, both EASA Part-145 Line Maintenance and Base Maintenance, for Airbus A220-300 aircraft type. Previously, airBaltic was a Line Maintenance organization for Airbus A220-300, Bombardier Q400 NextGen and Boeing 737 type. 

Turkish Airlines August

Turkish Airlines has released its latest figures which demonstrate that the Turkish flag carrier recorded 84.8% load factor in August, despite the global shrinkage of demand in the aviation sector. Offering connections to more countries than any other airline from a single hub, global carrier’s international-to-international transfer passenger numbers increased in record numbers with a 9.4 percent increase compared to the same month of the last year.

Continuing towards its goal of becoming one of the top five air cargo brands in the world with its Turkish Cargo brand, flag carrier increased its cargo / mail volume by 11.5 percent compared to the same month of the last year. National flag carrier maintains its two digit growth numbers at air cargo market in its new home as well.

airBaltic and Tez Tour Latvija launch charter flights to Egypt

Latvian airline airBaltic in cooperation with the international tour operator Tez Tour Latvija will launch charter flights from Riga to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt on October 26 and 27 respectively.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “After a longer period of time, we are now resuming flights to Egypt in cooperation with Tez Tour Latvija. We are happy to strengthen our long-standing and successful cooperation with Tez Tour Latvija by offering sunny leisure destinations during our upcoming winter schedule.”