As Governments Lift lock-down Measures, Ethiopian Announces Resumption of Regular Service to Dubai and Djibouti

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline is resuming service to Dubai further to the ending of the lock-down.

Djibouti has also announced that it will end lock-down on 17th of July. As a result, Ethiopian will resume normal service to Djibouti on the 17th of July.

These resumptions will bring the total number of destinations to be served by Ethiopian with enhanced safety measures to 40. As countries continue to open-up their airports for passenger arrival, Ethiopian will announce a list of these destinations in due course.

Esteemed Customers are kindly informed that Facemasks will be mandatory for travel and are requested to satisfy destination entry requirements such as health certificates and fill health declaration forms if required. Up to date destination entry requirements can be found on our website using the link https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/travel-updates

A Day in the Life: Pilot on the Ground

Photo By Senior Airman Savannah Waters | Senior Airman Vitto Suico, 31st Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, replaces a battery kit for a universal water activated release system at Aviano Air Base, Italy, June 29, 2020. Aircrew flight equipment manages, maintains and inspects gear the pilots wear, as well as gear placed inside the aircraft to maximize survivability in the event an aircrew member egresses during an emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Savannah L. Waters)

Over the years, the U.S. Air Force has employed some of the most advanced aircraft in the world, its pilots utilizing extraordinary skill and precision to command the skies. While mission success is paramount, a pilot’s role as an officer and leader is just as important, and often overlooked.

“As a pilot, the leadership aspect of it is something I don’t think a lot of people expect coming in,” said Maj. Joseph Basala, 510th Fighter Squadron pilot. “[People assume pilots] show up, walk to the jet while drinking their morning coffee, jump into the cockpit, fly, land and go home…I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what a pilot’s day consists of.”

After commissioning in 2010 from the University of Michigan, Basala was originally selected for navigation school, but made his way into the backseat of an F-15E Strike Eagle as a combat systems operator. In 2017, Basala was selected to complete pilot training, and has been flying as a wingman at Aviano for the last year.

Like most pilots, Maj. Basala isn’t just a pilot.

Mesa Air Group Reports June 2020 Operating Performance

Mesa Air Group, has reported Mesa Airlines’ operating performance for June 2020, this week

Mesa Airlines reported 9,247 block hours in June 2020, a 75.8 percent drop from June 2019 as a result of reduced schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also reported a controllable completion factor of 100 percent for both its American and United operations.

Operating statistics for June 2020 and fiscal year 2020 YTD are included in the table below.

	Jun-20	Jun-19	% Change		YTD FY2020	YTD FY2019	% Change
Block Hours
American	3,000	16,546	-81.9%		111,199	148,592	-25.2%
United	6,248	21,694	-71.2%		144,289	192,479	-25.0%
Total	9,247	38,240	-75.8%		255,488	341,071	-25.1%
	Jun-20	Jun-19	% Change		YTD FY2020	YTD FY2019	% Change
Departures
American	1,699	9,737	-82.6%		63,693	85,570	-25.6%
United	3,550	11,318	-68.6%		72,559	96,987	-25.2%
Controllable Completion Factor*
American	100.00%	98.71%	1.3%		99.75%	99.21%	0.5%
United	100.00%	99.10%	0.9%		99.98%	99.59%	0.4%
Total Completion Factor**
American	100.00%	91.88%	8.8%		93.27%	95.72%	-2.6%
United	99.83%	97.81%	2.1%		94.72%	98.34%	-3.7%

*Controllable Completion Factor excludes cancellations due to weather and air traffic control
**Total Completion Factor includes all cancellations

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Mesa Air Group, Inc. is the holding company of Mesa Airlines, a regional air carrier providing scheduled passenger service to 66 cities in 29 states, the District of Columbia and Mexico. As of June 30th, 2020, Mesa operated a fleet of 145 aircraft with approximately 175 daily departures and 3,400 employees. Mesa operates all of its flights as either American Eagle or United Express flights pursuant to the terms of capacity purchase agreements entered into with American Airlines, Inc. and United Airlines, Inc.

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Ethiopian to Resume Flights to Cameroon on Special Permit

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline is resuming service to Duala and Yaoundé as of July 13, 2020.

The service will initially be three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Addis Ababa to Duala via Yaoundé and then back to Addis Ababa.

Further to the resumption of regular service to Dubai and Djibouti, the addition of Duala and Yaoundé will bring the total number of destinations to be served by Ethiopian with enhanced safety measures to 42. As countries continue to open-up their airports for passenger arrival, Ethiopian will announce list of these destinations in due course.

Customers are informed that Facemasks will be mandatory for travel and are requested to satisfy destination entry requirements such as health certificates and fill health declaration forms if required. Up to date destination entry requirements can be found on our website using the link https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa/travel-updates As countries continue to open their borders and relax travel restrictions, Ethiopian is ready to increase frequencies to accommodate the demand by focusing on the wellbeing of customers and staff.

Ethiopian is happy to welcome back business and leisure travellers to these destinations. 

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US forces rescue missing hiker in Guam

Photo by Chief Petty Officer Joan Jennings

The Guam-based “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 responded to a search and rescue (SAR) request for a stranded hiker on July 8.

The hiker was reported missing in the morning near the Pagat Caves of Guam’s eastern shore. Guam Fire and Rescue launched a ground search and located the hiker who was unable to hike out of the area around noon.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam contacted HSC-25 and requested air support at 2:05 pm. The rescue helicopter, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Adam Wagler and Lt. Pierre Ramos, was on scene less than one hour later.

Once overhead, Chief Naval Aircrewmen (Helicopter) Brandon Stotts lowered Naval Aircrewmen (Helicopter) 2nd Class Andrew Hansen and Hospital Corpsman Kyle Barrington to the hiker 70 feet below through the trees. The rescue helicopter delivered the hiker to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam approximately 4 pm.

Crete - Now Open for Summer !

Crete is the largest of all the Greek islands and comes with an unbeatable beach-blanketed coastline that has delighted millions of visitors over the years.  There are sandy beaches, seafront tavernas, ancient palaces and neon nightlife – Crete holidays have it all.


Resorts for all sorts
Agios Nikolaos, Sissi or Stalis will tick all the boxes – especially if sun, sea and sand are your main criteria. For a taste of tradition, head to the hills where you’ll find quaint villages like Koutouloufari and Piskopiano. If it’s world-renowned nightlife you’re after, make it Malia, the island’s party capital.

Step into the past
Crete is steeped in history. Some of the mountainside villages have barely changed in centuries, while the sprawling ruins at Knossos are over 3,000 years old. Heraklion’s museum is one of the finest in Greece and will teach you everything essential about the island’s past, including its glory days under King Minos.

Eating out
It’s a place of delectable cuisine, from your standard cheese and olives to local wine, honey-covered goods and freshly caught fish. So enjoy the fine food and drink as you uncover Crete's Minoan history.

SAS releases traffic figures for June 2020 as the airline slowly rebuilds network

As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Scandinavian Airlines System saw passenger numbers down 86% for June this year compared to the same month of 2019. 

However, some shoots of recovery and starting to be seen,  the airline doubled its capacity to 30 aircraft during the middle of June and an additional 15 aircraft have returned to service in July.

SAS has increased its capacity and number of passengers as countries are gradually opening up. Compared to last month capacity has increased by 251 million available seat kilometres (ASK) and the number of passengers has increased by 269 thousand. In relation to last year, SAS experienced a 91% reduction in capacity and an 86% drop in the total number of passengers.

“We are pleased to welcome more passengers on board as we slowly start to rebuild our network and increase the connectivity to, from and within Scandinavia,” says Rickard Gustafson, CEO SAS.

Saab starts Gripen Production in Brazil

Saab's first aerostructures plant outside of Sweden for the new Gripen E/F fighter, in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, reaches another important milestone with the start of production. This site builds sections of Gripen, which will then be delivered to the final assembly facilities at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil and to Saab in Linköping, Sweden.

In 2014, Saab signed a contract with the Brazilian government for the development and production of 36 Gripen E/F aircraft. In September last year, the first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft was delivered to start the flight test programme. Now, another milestone is reached, as Gripen production starts at Saab’s site in São Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo in Brazil.

The last of 22 Apache attack helicopters delivered to Indian Air Force in June

The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has completed delivery of all new AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook military helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters were handed over to the IAF at Air Force Station, Hindan. Earlier in March, Boeing handed over the last five of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF.

“Customer centricity, commitment to the modernization and mission-readiness of India’s defence forces are key values to our partnership with India,” said Surendra Ahuja, managing director, Boeing Defence India. “With this delivery of military helicopters, we continue to nurture this partnership and are fully committed to working closely with India’s defence forces to deliver the right value and capabilities to meet their operational needs,” Ahuja added.

FLYONE has relaunched regular flights with new protection measures

FLYONE, the airline of the Republic of Moldova, following the recent gaining of its IOSA certificate after the IATA Operational Audit, had restarted regular flights from 1 July, as well as implementing new protection measures for the passengers and the crew safety.

The measures were coordinated in accordance with the operational instructions received from the local and international authorities. The measures are an integral part of the carriers Guide to Safe Travel.   

New video guide for passengers. 

Arlines 4 Europe warn the reopening of external EU borders could be jeopardised by uncoordinated national measures

EU countries are not adhering to the EU Council recommendations, creating a patchwork system of travel restrictions & border controls throughout Europe — thus eroding consumer confidence.
Europe’s airlines and airports urge Member States to follow their own  agreed scientific-based approach and do away with politics during critical reopening phase.

Despite agreeing at EU Council level to a scientific-based approach and endorsing their own “white list”1 recommendation just one week ago, EU States are adopting extremely diverging lists. As a result, there is very little clarity and significant uncertainty on which citizens can travel where. This has effectively led to a patchwork system of travel restrictions and border controls throughout Europe which may remain in place for weeks or months to come. The situation also weakens the functioning of the Schengen area: since Member States apply different rules, a Japanese tourist could choose to fly to Warsaw and then travel within the Schengen space without controls.

SWISS teams up with Berufsschule Bülach on the training front

SWISS has embarked on a collaboration with the Berufsschule Bülach for the training of its aircraft engineers. The team-up offers sizeable synergic benefits, particularly for the SWISS trainees, including shorter and more efficient theoretical training.

Thirty young women and men will begin their SWISS Technics apprenticeships to become aircraft engineers this summer. And just as their course begins, SWISS will embark on a new collaboration with the Berufsschule Bülach (Bülach Vocational School). The team-up will bring greater efficiency to the SWISS apprentices’ training, with numerous modules in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering and electronics now taught at the Bülach school. The tuition will be in German and English throughout.

More restructuring details from Lufthansa

This week the board of Lufthansa approved and released details of more restructuring at the German firm as it battles losses in the wake of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the record bailout by the German government, the airline group has already confirmed it will be reducing the fleet by 100 aircraft and closing down its Germanwings operation.

The firm is now blaming further restructuring on the amount of money it will have to pay back following a series of rescue loans from European governments. The programme is called “ReNew” and is expected to run until December 2023 and is headed by Dr Detlef Kayser, a Member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board and responsible for Airline Resources & Operations Standards -  Lufthansa has so far refused to give details of the total remuneration package Kayser will be getting for the role. 

The latest restructuring details released include:

Executive boards to be slimmed by one person at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo AG, LSG Group, and Lufthansa Aviation Training.
Government loans and equity participation are to be reduced as quickly as possible to avoid a further increase in interest charges.
Leadership positions throughout the Group to be reduced by 20 percent.
The administration of Deutsche Lufthansa AG will be reduced by 1,000 positions.
Transform Lufthansa Airline into a separate corporate entity is being accelerated to avoid tax and repayment responsibilities.
Reduction of sub-fleets and the bundling of flight operations will be implemented.
 - At Lufthansa alone, 22 aircraft have already been phased out, including six Airbus A380, eleven Airbus A320 and five Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
The financial planning up to 2023 provides for the acceptance of a maximum of 80 new aircraft into the Lufthansa Group carriers’ fleets - half the previously expected amount.
Reduction by 22,000 full-time positions in the companies of Lufthansa Group.

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