I agree flyExclusive Delivers Premium Private Charter on a Global Scale with flyExclusive International

LGM Enterprises, parent company of flyExclusive, a leading provider of premium private jet charter travel, announced today the launch of flyExclusive International, adding on-demand, long-range global service to the flyExclusive’s growing portfolio of world-class private charter offerings. With the new service, flyers can now travel to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska and beyond with the same level of reliability, safety and comfort they have come to expect from flyExclusive.

Customers on flyExclusive International will have access to premium Gulfstream GIV-SP aircraft, with seating capacity for up to 16 passengers, berthable (sleep-adjustable) seating and a white-glove experience. Since acquiring Sky Night LLC in March 2020, the company has expanded its fleet of Gulfstream aircraft and now officially announces its rebranding as flyExclusive International.

Wizz Air to expand with new bases in Italy, Cyprus, Ukraine and Albania

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has confirmed on Friday that it will be expanding its European route network by opening four new bases - Milan in Italy, Larnaca in Cyprus, Lviv in Ukraine and Tirana in Albania.

The airline has already said that it plans to offer incredibly low tickets to stimulate passenger traffic, regardless of safety implications.  “We see the potential to re-stimulate demand for low-cost travel and contribute to the vital recovery of tourism in these markets,” said Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi.

Ait carrier says that up to 11 new aircraft will be deployed across the new bases operating approximately 50 new routes. 

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, was partly bailed out by the UK government during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis has also announced this week that it will prolong the period of suspension for several routes to and from Romania following the extension of existing travel restrictions announced by the Romanian authorities. As a result, the flights to Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, The United Kingdom and The Netherlands remain suspended until June 16th inclusive.

Many other route suspensions have been extended until the end of the first week of June at least as a second wave of infections seems to be starting in some European countries. 

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North American Offshore Helicopter Services Market Forecast to Grow at a CAGR of Over 2% During 2020 to 2025

The North American offshore helicopter services market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 2% during 2020 - 2025. Factors such as rising deep-water offshore development activity and improved viability of offshore oil and gas projects are expected to be major drivers driving the market. Also, advancement in technology, leading to an increase in efficiency and reliability of modern helicopters, has been a significant factor for the growth of the North American offshore helicopter services market. However, competition from less expensive crew transfer vessels has hampered the growth of the market.

The oil & gas industry sector is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period, owing to factors like increasing offshore exploration and production activity to compensate for declining onshore oil & gas fields.

The offshore wind industry is expected to provide an excellent opportunity for the North American offshore helicopter market in the forecast period. With the growth in offshore wind power generation, there arises the need for transportation to offshore structures. This requirement is being increasingly and reliably fulfilled by helicopters. Unlike the earlier offshore wind farms that had easier access to boats, the newly built wind farms are located farther, thus making helicopters a viable option for such transportation requirements.

The United States is expected to dominate the market, over rising offshore oil & gas exploration and production. The country accounts for over 15% of global oil production, amounting to 669.4 million tonnes in 2018, which is the largest in the region. A significant quantity of this oil production comes from Gulf of Mexico offshore oil fields.

The North America offshore helicopter services market is moderately concentrated. Some of the major companies are Bristow Group Inc., Era Group Inc. (ERA), Cougar Helicopters Inc., CHC Group Ltd., Textron Inc. amongst others.

American Airlines Donates 10 Million AAdvantage Miles to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

 Thanks to generous AAdvantage programme members, American Airlines is donating 10 million loyalty miles to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support its mission to help patient families as it leads the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The gift was made possible by AAdvantage members who purchased miles during May after American announced it would donate 1 AAdvantage mile for every mile purchased, up to 10 million miles. AAdvantage members were committed to this cause and quickly reached the 10 million mile maximum.

“We are so proud to partner with AAdvantage members and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in their important work caring for chidren,” said Bridget Blaise-Shamai, President of AAdvantage and American’s Vice President of Loyalty and Cusomer Insights. “We are pleased to be contributing to the life-changing ways that St. Jude helps children and their families.”

“Since 2006, American Airlines and their generous customers have truly made a difference in the lives of the patients and families who come to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from around the world,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President & CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. “Support from partners like American Airlines and its incredible AAdvantage members is especially needed today to brighten the future for kids tomorrow. We are humbled to accept this generous gift as it enables us to continue our foundational promise that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, because all they should worry about is helping their child live.”

KLM trials sustainable taxiing

This week, the Royal Dutch Airline, KLM started taking part in a trial at Schiphol to test sustainable ways to taxi aircraft. The trial is being carried out with a Taxibot. This is a hybrid towing vehicle which, unlike the normal pushback trucks, is licenced to tow full aircraft to near the start of the runway, without the aircraft having to start its engines. This is expected to reduce fuel consumption during taxiing by 50% to 85%. Schiphol Airport has made the Taxibot available to KLM, Transavia and Corendon to enable them to carry out joint research into more sustainable ways to taxi.

During today's test, an empty KLM Boeing 737 was towed to the runway by the Taxibot. "It's important to find out how far we can cut CO2 emissions by using the Taxibot," explained KLM's project manager, Jeroen Jaartsveld. "We'd also like to know how long it takes to taxi with the Taxibot, what effect this has on aircraft engine maintenance, and how we might introduce sustainable taxiing with Taxibots on a large scale into Schiphol's daily operations."

Fly Responsibly

KLM's sustainability initiative, Fly Responsibly, launched last year, included a commitment to reducing carbon emissions caused by taxiing. This will contribute to KLM's ambition to cut its fleet's total carbon emissions by 15% compared to 2005.

Images KLM

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Air Canada Expands its Cargo-only Flight Schedule

Air Canada Expands its Cargo-only Flight Schedule

Freight division Air Canada Cargo to operate to five new destinations in Europe and South America
Four converted Boeing 777-300ERs and three Airbus A330-300s enabling cargo in passenger cabins, plus belly-only all-cargo flights and cargo space on Air Canada's scheduled flights support Air Canada Cargo's operations

Air Canada's freight division, Air Canada Cargo has announced an exciting new expansion of its cargo-only network with the addition of five new destinations in Europe and South America beginning June 1.

"Beginning June 1, five new destinations* will be added to an already robust cargo-only network: Bogota, Lima, Amsterdam, Dublin, and Madrid. These nonstop flights originating from Montreal to Europe and South America will enhance our global connectivity, allowing us to continue supporting the global supply chain and our freight forwarding customers," said Tim Strauss, Vice President – Cargo at Air Canada.

In addition to the hundreds of tonnes of medical equipment, PPE, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods that Air Canada Cargo transports globally directly to Canada, it also provides vital global supply links to keep world economies moving by connecting goods from international destinations via Canada such as from South America to Asia via Canada or Europe to the US via Canada.  Air Canada Cargo has recently transported thousands of queen honeybees across Canada to aid in crop pollination, fresh flowers from Amsterdam and Israel to Canadian merchants for Mother's Day, chilled beef from Australia destined for Canadian supermarkets, and Atlantic lobster from Canada to Asia and to Europe.

Serbia bans Montenegro flights amid escalating tensions

Serbia bans Montenegro flights amid escalating tensions

Serbian authorities have banned Montenegro’s national carrier from operating flights out of Belgrade after the small nation’s government excluded Serbia from a list of countries with which Montenegro will reopen its borders after declaring an end to its coronavirus outbreak, reports AP's Dusan Stojanovic.

The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate said Montenegro Airlines planes cannot land at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport as of Wednesday. The aviation agency said unrestricted travel between the two countries has been “seriously violated” by Montenegro’s decision to ban Serbs from entering Montenegro.

The flight and border entry bans come amid deepening tensions between the former Balkan allies, which existed as one state before Montenegro split off through a 2006 referendum.

Montenegro Airlines planned to resume flights to the Serbian capital on June 1. Air Serbia, still has plans to fly to two destinations in Montenegro starting June 7.

American Airlines to give more flexibility during June

American Airlines is aiming to provide its customers with additional flexibility as they navigate air travel amid concerns around the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

For travel this summer

With the expiration of the change fee waiver on May 31, 2020, American is extending its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchase tickets by June 30, 2020, for summer travel through Sept. 30, 2020. This offer applies to tickets that meet the following criteria:

Any ticket purchased on or before June 30, 2020, for travel through Sept. 30, 2020, will not incur change fees prior to travel. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, at time of ticketing of the new fare. Fare rules may apply depending on the ticket.
All AAdvantage® award tickets are included in this offer.
Customers are allowed to change their origin and destination cities as part of this offer.
Travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2021.

Additional updates on existing travel alerts can be found on aa.com/travelalerts.

Notifications to customers

American will continue to limit the number of customers on each aircraft. Additionally, American Customer Service agents also may reassign seats to create more space between customers or to accommodate families who need to be seated together. Once boarding is complete — taking in consideration any aircraft weight or balance restrictions — customers can move to another seat within their ticketed cabin subject to availability.

As more people get back to travelling and loads are higher, American is deploying new tools to notify customers and allow them to move to more open flights when available, all without incurring any cost.

Customer safety is our priority

American’s ongoing commitment to customer and team member well-being in response to the pandemic has multiple layers, including clean airports and aeroplanes, healthy team members, and requirements for customers to wear face coverings. At every step of their travel journeys, American is working to give customers more confidence and peace of mind when they travel on American. The airline has expanded the frequency of cleaning in airport areas under its control, including gate areas, ticket counters, passenger services counters, baggage service offices and team member rooms. American has also enhanced aircraft cleaning, distributed sanitizing wipes and gel for customers, and reduced interactions between flight attendants and customers by limiting food and beverage delivery.

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European aviation very uncertain as Lufthansa board rejects EU conditions for massive bailout.

Hundreds of thousands of aviation jobs are now at risk all over Europe after the board of The Lufthansa Group has rejected European Union's conditions attached to the massive €9 billion bailout the group needs to survive the current coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. 

According to sources at the German carrier, the board had been expected to rubber-stamp the deal and sign it off without challenge or even the murmur of disquiet. However,  they refused to go along with an EU condition that would have forced Lufthansa to permanently give up numerous take-off and landing slots at both its main hubs of Frankfurt and Munich airports.  

Of the conditions, Lufthansa said: "They would lead to a weakening of the hub function at Lufthansa's home airports in Frankfurt and Munich. The resulting economic impact on the company and on the planned repayment of the stabilization measures, as well as possible alternative scenarios, must be analyzed intensively. 

American Airlines Helps Provide Relief to the Unsheltered in Philadelphia

American Airlines donates food and critical supplies to Philabundance, City of Philadelphia as officials relocate unsheltered from Philadelphia International Airport to local housing opportunities

American Airlines is teaming up with the City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (OHS), the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) and Philabundance, one of the region’s largest hunger-relief organizations, to donate more than 28,000 snack boxes, 1,000 personal pandemic kits and 27,500 pounds of juice and other beverages to provide assistance to those in need.

The food and supplies donated to the city will be handed out starting Tuesday morning as officials begin work to relocate more than 100 unsheltered individuals who have been seeking refuge at the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The pandemic has had a profound impact on our livelihoods and our daily routines, but our essential team members are working to do good while keeping Philadelphia connected and moving,” said Jim Moses, Vice President of Northeast Hubs and Gateways for American Airlines. “Today’s donation builds on American’s partnership with the city and Philabundance as they work to provide support to some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

Boeing to axe over 12,000 jobs in the U.S. with thousands more planned

The US planemaker Boeing has confirmed it will be axing more than 12,000 people in the U.S.. With thousands of more job losses on the way as it struggles to get to grips with life in a post-COVOD-19 world and the financial fallout of the more than a year-long grounding of the 737 Max jets. 

Boeing announced last month that it would be shedding lots of positions as the pandemic has caused a global downturn in airline passenger numbers and the firm received hundreds of order cancellations.  It has now finished its voluntary layoff (VLO) programme which will 5520 people leave the company in the next few weeks.  Now the company has advised that 6770 workers will find out if they will be compulsory laid off before the weekend. 

The firm is also consulting worldwide over future job losses,  with hundreds expected in the UK as the company says the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastating impact on the airline industry means a deep cut in the number of commercial jets and services that will be needed over the next few years. As a direct result Boeing will need fewer employees in all its locations. 

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Portugal is “Clean & Safe” says the tourist board and no quarantine for visitors.

The tourist authority of Portugal is setting up a new programme to advise tourists that the country is clear and safe as it opens up and starts to kick start the recovery as summer dawns.

At the same time, the foreign minister has confirmed that mainland Portugal will not impose a quarantine on visitors arriving by air this summer.

“Clean & Safe”  Turismo de Portugal has created a stamp of approval to distinguish tourist activities which are compliant with hygiene and cleaning requirements for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other possible infections, thus reinforcing the tourist’s confidence in the safety of the destination.

This validation is free and optional and is valid for one year. It requires the implementation of an internal protocol for companies that, according to the recommendations of the DGS – Directorate-General for Health (similar to the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK), ensures the necessary hygiene measures are in place to avoid risks of contagion and a guarantee of safe procedures for the operation of tourist activities.

Thales and Skyports partner to conduct drone delivery trial for the NHS in Scotland to support UK COVID-19 response

The aim of the trial, backed by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) – part of NHS Highland, is to prove the delivery of urgent medical cargo, such as COVID-19 test kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), between remote medical facilities by delivery drone.

UK drone delivery provider Skyports will conduct the trial  and operate the flights using delivery drones supplied by unmanned aircraft-maker Wingcopter, because of its proven capability through numerous delivery operations around the world. These trial flights will be planned through Thales’s leading drone operations management platform, SOARIZON, which offers digital tools to maintain compliant and safe drone flying operations.

Based at Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban, the trial will consist of two-way flights between the hospital and Mull and Iona Community Hospital in Craignure 10 miles (16km) away on the Isle of Mull.