American Airlines Adds Flights to Miami, Welcoming More Fans to the City for the Big Game

                             

                      American Airlines, Miami’s hometown airline and the largest carrier serving Miami International Airport (MIA), is adding special flights from Kansas City, Missouri (MCI), and San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC), California, for football fans to cheer on their favorite teams at the big game. American has also added larger aircraft — Boeing 777-200s — from its hubs in New York (JFK), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago (ORD) to accommodate additional traffic to Miami for the game. Flights are available for purchase now.

Airline increases service from hubs, adds special flights from Kansas City, Missouri, and San Francisco 

and San Jose, California

“We know dedicated fans have watched every pass, play and penalty that got their teams to this moment and what it means to root for them in person,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Senior Vice President of Network Strategy. “We’re looking forward to providing new and increased service to Miami, so more fans can make their dreams a reality.”

American operates more than 340 daily flights to nearly 130 destinations from MIA, and last year connected more than 30 million passengers through the hub. As the airline’s premier gateway into Latin America and the Caribbean, American provides service to more than 70 cities in the region.

“In the coming days, tens of thousands of football fans will be making their way to Miami, many arriving by air through our Miami hub, home to more than 13,000 American team members and to the airline’s largest international gateway,” said Juan Carlos Liscano, American’s Vice President of Miami Hub Operations. “As Miami’s hometown airline for the last three decades, we understand the important role that air service plays in the continued success of our community.”

Canadian airline WestJet will launch a new Halifax-Manchester service on Boeing 737-700

WestJet announces additional route connecting Eastern Canada to the United Kingdom

WestJet is forging another connection across the Atlantic into the United Kingdom with the announcement of new non-stop service between Halifax, N.S., and Manchester U.K. beginning June 5, 2020. This summer, WestJet will operate more than 300 seasonal departures from Halifax to London (Gatwick) and Glasgow, Scotland.

Etihad targets zero net carbon emissions by 2050,

Etihad targets zero net carbon emissions by 2050, in expanded commitment to environmental sustainability

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today committed to a minimum target of zero net carbon emissions by 2050 and halving of its 2019 net emission levels by 2035.

The company’s ambitious environmental targets will be achieved through a mix of internal initiatives, collaboration with industry partners and adoption of a comprehensive program of relevant carbon offsets, to be developed with specific focus on the requirements of the UAE and markets served by the airline.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, Tony Douglas, said: “The global focus on the environment and the urgency of reducing carbon emissions has never been greater. Etihad Aviation Group, together with its partners, is taking an active role in reducing the impact of aviation on the environment through initiatives ranging from optimised fuel management to sustainable financing practices.” 

Azul to fly to New York in June

Azul, has confirmed the launch of daily service between São PauloViracopos and New York JFK starting June 15th. 

New York will be Azul’s third destination in the United States. Azul already serves Fort Lauderdale and Orlando from Sao Paulo-Viracopos, Belo Horizonte and Recife. With this new nonstop service, Azul’s portfolio of service to the US will increase to 30 weekly flights. Sao Paulo-Viracopos, Azul’s primary hub in Brazil with this latest addition will now feature 60 nonstop destinations, six of those

international: Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and JFK in the US, Lisbon and Porto in Portugal and finally Buenos Aires in Argentina.

“This is another important day for Azul, our crewmembers and our customers. We already offer the broadest network in Brazil with service to more than 100 domestic destinations and now we are adding a very important corporate destination to our portfolio. We could not be more excited about what this new service could mean for our network and how this expands our relevance with our corporate customers”, says John Rodgerson, Azul’s CEO.

JetBlue's December Figures......

JetBlue Airways Corporation reported its preliminary traffic results for December 2019. Traffic in December 2019 increased 5.7 percent from December 2018, on a capacity increase of 4.4 percent. Load factor for December 2019 was 82.4 percent, an increase of 1.0 points from December 2018. JetBlue’s preliminary completion factor for December 2019 was 99.3 percent and its on-time (1) performance was 66.7 percent.

Fourth quarter revenue per available seat mile (RASM) is expected to decrease approximately 2.7 percent year-over-year.

JETBLUE AIRWAYS TRAFFIC RESULTS
	December 2019		December 2018		% Change
Revenue passenger miles (000)	4,603,228		4,354,643		5.7	%
Available seat miles (000)	5,587,522		5,352,847		4.4	%
Load factor	82.4	%	81.4	%	1.0 pts.
Revenue passengers	3,626,992		3,536,377		2.6	%
Departures	31,356		31,658		(1.0	)%
Average stage length (miles)	1,161		1,128		2.9	%
	Y-T-D 2019		Y-T-D 2018		% Change
Revenue passenger miles (000)	53,616,780		50,790,104		5.6	%
Available seat miles (000)	63,840,680		59,880,815		6.6	%
Load factor	84.0	%	84.8	%	-0.8 pts.
Revenue passengers	42,727,694		42,149,989		1.4	%
Departures	368,355		366,619		0.5	%
Average stage length (miles)	1,140		1,096		4.0	%

(1) The U.S. Department of Transportation considers on-time arrivals to be those domestic flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule.

JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to nearly 100 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information, please visit jetblue.com.

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Etihad Guest and Air Miles Middle East partner to offer more ways to earn guest miles

Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, and Air Miles Middle East, owned and operated by Aimia Inc. a loyalty and travel consolidator, have announced a new reward initiative which enables Air Miles Middle East members to exchange Air Miles into Etihad Guest Miles.

Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Airways said: “We are constantly exploring new collaborations that provide added value to travellers. By partnering with the Air Miles Middle East programme, we are proud to yet again introduce more benefits to our mutual members by offering access to Etihad Guest’s inspiring range of travel and lifestyle rewards.”

Lufthansa is reducing noise and CO2 emissions on European routes from Munich

The Airbus A320neo, the latest generation short- and medium-haul aircraft, is now operating from Munich. Since the turn of the year, four A320neo aircraft have been in service at the Munich hub. A brand-new Airbus will arrive in Munich at the end of January, and another will follow in February. The plan is for the Munich A320neo fleet to grow to nine aircraft by the end of 2020.

"From now on, the Airbus A320neo will be even quieter and more environmentally friendly on short and medium-haul routes. The aircraft are the perfect complement to our state-of-the-art Airbus A350 long-haul fleet, which also flies fuel-efficiently and quietly from Munich. We are investing many billions of euros in the latest aircraft and are thus assuming responsibility for sustainable aviation," says Wilken Bormann, CEO Lufthansa Hub Munich.

Spirit Airlines launches the only Oakland-Fort Lauderdale nonstop service

The US Budget carrier Spirit Airlines  is launching a new service between Oakland (OAK) and   Fort Lauderdale (FLL) from 1st April, making Spirit the only airline flying OAK to FLL nonstop.

“Right now, our Guests on both coasts have limited options between the Bay Area and South Florida,” said John Kirby, Spirit Airline’s Vice President of Network Planning. “Offering the only nonstop connection between Oakland with Fort Lauderdale makes it easier for travellers on both ends, and it shows our Guests we’re tailoring our options to them as we keep growing our nationwide network.”

OAK is the Bay Area’s most centrally-located airport, making it the most convenient option for more than 3 million of the region’s 7.7 million residents.

“We are thrilled to welcome Fort Lauderdale to Oakland’s route map,” said Port of Oakland Director of Aviation, Bryant L. Francis. “This flight will make it more convenient than ever for our travellers to reach the sun and sand of South Florida. Plus, it gives them access to Spirit’s dozens of international destinations and the cruises departing from South Florida’s ports.”

Spirit started Oakland service in 2011 with a single flight to Las Vegas (LAS) and grew to third place among Oakland’s largest carriers. The new Fort Lauderdale flight joins existing service to Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH) and Los Angeles (LAX), along with what’s become four daily flights to Las Vegas.

Guatemala City and new domestic routes from JetBlue.

New Service to Central American City Advances JetBlue’s Leadership Position in Latin America & the Caribbean

Airline Adds Flights to Bozeman, Mont., and Nashville, Tenn., While Optimizing Caribbean and West Coast Schedules

JetBlue has announced a series of schedule and route changes as the airline kicks off 2020 and prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next month. With flights landing in a new Central American city, more flights in popular JetBlue markets and routes, and adjustments to Caribbean and West Coast flying, the moves allow the airline to play to its strengths and better meet customer demand while delivering long-term value to owners.

“With new destinations on tap for 2020, more flights in our best-performing markets and tactical adjustments to maximize the success of our fleet and network, we enter a new decade from a strong position that sets us up for success in the years ahead,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “We continue to identify opportunities to strengthen our focus cities and allocate flying so we can offer better schedules and high-demand destinations for our customers.”

airBaltic new record – 5 million passengers in 2019

The Latvian Government-funded airline airBaltic scored a record year in 2019 carrying over 5 million passengers, a rise of 22% over 2018.  It's the highest number in the airline's history.  

“We are reaching new heights and offering better connections to people travelling to and from the Baltics." Said Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic. "In 2019, we continued our sustainable growth path and showed strong results that will help us to pave our future path, strengthening our role as the largest carrier in the region.”

“Last year we launched nine new routes, and, by adding more Airbus A220-300 to our fleet, increased the comfort and reliability of our flights. Already now majority of our passengers fly on the Airbus A220-300 aircraft,” Martin Gauss.

In 2019, airBaltic operated a total of 62 748 flights or 12% more than in 2018. The airline’s load factor, which represents the number of passengers as a proportion of the number of available seats, was at a level of 76% in 2019.

Lufthansa Group Airlines welcome more than 145 million passengers on board in 2019

In 2019, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group carried a total of 145 million passengers on board. This represents an increase of 2.3 % compared to the previous year. With around 1.2 million flights the seat load factor amounted 82.5 %. This represents an increase of 1.0 percentage points. Both figures thus exceed the record figures of the previous year.

The network airlines recorded an increase in the number of passengers in 2019, in particular at the hubs in Zurich (+5.7%), Vienna (+5.1%) and Munich (+2.5%). The number of passengers at the Frankfurt hub grew by 0.4 % in 2019.

In December, the freight capacity was 0.3 percent higher than in the previous year and the tonne-kilometres sold declined by 3.6 %. This results in a payload factor of 63.9 per cent, which is 2.6 percentage points lower. In 2019, total freight capacity was 6.3 percent higher than in the previous year. At the same time, sales decreased by 2.1 % in this period. At 61.4 %, the load factor was 5.3 percentage points lower than in the previous year.

Manston Airport planning decision deadline extended

The deadline for the decision on the proposed reopening and development of Manston Airport extended to 18 May 2020.

RiverOak Strategic Partners made an application for the reopening and development of Manston Airport in Kent back in 2018. Under sub-section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make his decision within 3 months of receipt of the Examining Authority’s report unless exercising the power to extend the deadline.

The power has been used and the deadline has been extended until May this year,  which will give the government to gather further information on a range of issues to be provided by RiverOak and other interested Parties before determination of the application by the Secretary of State.

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London Stansted boosts flights to India with new service to the country’s economic capital Mumbai

Air India to launch direct flight from London Stansted to Mumbai from February 21 using state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Route is a Stansted first and comes just three months after the airline launched its inaugural Amritsar service from the airport.

The news has been welcomed by business leaders and tourism chiefs who say the new link will generate significant trade and tourism opportunities.

It will also benefit the 200,000 people from Stansted’s catchment area who currently travel to Mumbai each year from other UK airports.

Trade and tourism industries across the East of England and London are set to receive a major boost from the launch of a new Air India service between London Stansted and India’s economic hub Mumbai next month.

The route will be a first for the airport and comes just three months after the airline launched the only direct flights from London to the northern city of Amritsar from London Stansted - the carrier’s inaugural route from the airport.

The new three-times a week service begins on February 21 initially for the Winter season and will be operated by a 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner offering both business and economy class.

The Mondrian brand comes to Europe - Accor reaffirms its leadership on the continent

Accor has just passed a symbolic milestone with the opening of its 3,000th property in Europe. With a total of 340,000 rooms across 39 countries, Accor is the leading hotel operator in this region. The addition of a 26th brand, Mondrian, testifies to the Group’s ambition in the premium and lifestyle segment.A new and iconic brand arrives in Europe

Accor announces the arrival of the brand Mondrian with two properties in France. First, with the Cannes Grand Hotel on the Croisette and its reopening forecasted in 2021. The hotel will be comprised of 75 guestrooms distributed on 11 floors, a restaurant and a bar overlooking on a 4,000 m² private garden, adjustable meeting rooms and a private beach in front of the hotel. The private beach opening in 2020 will unveiled the Lifestyle positioning of this new and unique brand in the French Riviera.

Another property will arrive in Bordeaux. The hotel, built around a 19th century building, will be comprised of 97 guestrooms each ranging between 25 and 50m² and spread over three floors. A restaurant with a 460m² bar lounge, a spa, a meeting space and an open-air terrace spanning 225m² will complete the venue, with the opening planned for the second half of 2021. This ambitious and elegant project will be launched during a groundbreaking ceremony in spring 2020 in the presence of all stakeholders who contributed to this achievement.

Air Canada Celebrates the Arrival of its First Airbus A220, Continuing its Fleet Modernisation Programme

Air Canada today unveiled the newest member of its fleet, the Airbus A220-300, before employees and special guests at the airline's Montreal headquarters. Built in Mirabel, Quebec, the Bombardier-designed aircraft continues Air Canada's fleet modernization. The A220's state-of-the-art design and cabin is destined to be extremely popular with customers, and this new aircraft will also help Air Canada reduce its carbon footprint through a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption per seat.

Air Canada Celebrates the Arrival of its First Airbus A220,  Photo CNW Group/Air Canada

"This is an historic moment for Air Canada as we welcome the Airbus A220 into our fleet. We are the first airline in Canada to operate this next-generation aircraft, which was designed by Bombardier in Mirabel, Quebec. Our customers will enjoy a level of comfort unrivalled on a single-aisle aircraft and the A220's operating efficiencies promise meaningful environmental and cost benefits. The arrival of the first of our order of 45 A220s, with a list price value of US$3.8 billion at the time it was made, underscores our contribution to Canada's aerospace industry and its economy," said Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada's President and Chief Executive Officer.