Jeff Martin, WestJet's Chief Operating Officer set to leave next month.

WestJet's Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Martin is leaving the Canadian airline from 26th February 26, 2021, the carrier announced this week.

Jeff will be returning to the U.S. to be with his family, the airline said in a statement. "After more than 31 years in the industry, February 26 will mark my retirement from airline operations and it is fitting that it is with the WestJet team," said Jeff Martin. "In my aviation journey, the last couple of years can be counted as some of the most rewarding. Together we have accomplished a lot, but the biggest accomplishment for me has been the acceptance, support and experiences I have shared with the best airline operational team in the industry. It has been an honour to lead this great team and proudly wear the WestJet uniform."

"We are very grateful for all that Jeff has done for our airline in his two and a half years including the successful launch of our Dreamliners, industry-leading on-time performance, the creation of a world-class Operations Control Centre and harmonious labour relations," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO.

Recommended for you...

UK closing all travel corridors from Monday

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the UK is to close all travel corridors from Monday, in an effort to "protect against the risk of as yet unidentified new Covid strains". At the daily press briefing, he also said: "It's vital to take these extra measures now when day-by-day we are making such strides in protecting the population."

The new rules will mean that anyone flying into the UK from overseas will have to show proof of a negative coronavirus COVID-19 test before departing for the UK and within 72 hours of travelling. Passengers will also need to fill out a passenger locator form, airlines will need to see proof of both before boarding and the fines for non-compliance will be substantial.  New arrivals will still need to self isolate for 10 days, or test on day 5, which will also need to be negative before people will be allowed out of quarantine. 

Mr Johnson also said the authorities would also be stepping up on checks both at the border and whilst in the country.  The rules apply across the UK. 

The Prime Minister said the new rules would be in place until at least 15 February.

 

ATI Boeing Accelerator Announces the 10 Startups Joining its Second Cohort, Geared Toward Sustainability

 

The latest startups to join the ATI Boeing Accelerator have been announced today with 10 companies joining the programme. The startups for the second cohort were selected from nearly 200 applications, from more than 40 countries and range from Hull to Queensland, and the US to Germany. Providing solutions for the aerospace industry such as software to support inflight medical events and emergencies and behavioural science technologies to reduce airlines’ greenhouse gas emissions.

To date, the nine companies that have been a part of the ATI Boeing Accelerator’s first cohort have raised over £8M, created more than 60 jobs, and received £1.2M in grant funding in the final quarter of 2020. They have gone on to partner with businesses including Rolls-Royce and Chevron Technology Ventures. Most recently, Intellegens, part of the first cohort to join the programme, has announced it is leading a new project in partnership with Boeing and the University of Sheffield, applying it’s machine learning technology to make the additive manufacturing (AM) process of metallic alloys for aerospace cheaper and faster, to support net-zero targets for aviation. 

Canada’s flight attendants are welcoming newly-appointed Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to his new post, and are urging him to take immediate action to support their industry

Canada’s flight attendants are welcoming newly-appointed Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to his new post, and are urging him to take immediate action to support their industry, which has been ravaged by COVID-19.

In a letter sent to Alghabra on Thursday, the President of the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Wesley Lesosky, asks the new transport minister to work with labour to avoid more job losses in the sector.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Enters Nepal with New Hotel in Central Kathmandu

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 90 countries, continues to expand its global footprint with its entry into Nepal via the newly opened 90-room Ramada® Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu-Thamel.

Located in the center of Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, the newly built hotel opened earlier this week and is part of a vibrant rejuvenation project of the city’s commercial center, close to top attractions and cultural wonders such as the base camp for Mount Everest, the Garden of Dreams, Ason Bazaar at Kathmandu Durbar Square and other popular destinations in the city.

This latest opening builds on Wyndham’s continued commitment to growth for the sub-Indian continent. With more than 50 properties currently in the Indian sub-continent, the opening of Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kathmandu-Thamel is another welcome footstep towards the Company’s continued expansion plans.

Air France Awarded 4-Star "COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating" By Skytrax

Air France has been certified with the COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating following the global audit conducted by the international air transport rating agency Skytrax. This audit, carried out in December 2020 on several Air France medium and long-haul flights, evaluates airlines' safety protocols, primarily the effectiveness and consistency of safety and hygiene measures implemented to protect customers and staff from COVID-19. These measures include the cleaning and disinfection procedures at the airport and on board aircraft, special signage and floor markings, physical distancing recommendations, compulsory wearing of masks and provision of hand sanitizer.

Air France, after obtaining a 4-star* rating, is already making improvements with a view to gaining a 5-star rating, and attain the highest COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating. 

Air France places the health and safety of its customers and staff at the heart of its concerns. Since the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis, the company has been rolling out the strictest health and hygiene measures both on the ground and on board to ensure a completely safe trip. As part of its "Air France Protect" commitment, these measures are regularly adapted in line with the changing health context. 

Recommended for you...

SAS passenger numbers increase in December (But only compared to November!)

Almost 400,000 passengers flew with SAS during December, an increase of 18% compared to last month, but a decline by 80% year over year. At the same time SAS reduced its capacity by 6% compared to November, which corresponds to a reduction of 74% compared to last year. The load factor came in at 33%, an increase of some 8 percentage units (p.u.) compared to the previous month, but down 38 p.u. compared to last year. The increase in passengers and load factor compared to November is mainly driven by an increased demand for domestic travel during the holiday season.

“The overall demand continues to be heavily impacted by continued restrictions, with holiday travel significantly below normal levels in December. SAS continues to adapt its capacity according to the demand, that is expected to stay at low levels throughout the winter season. However, we’re encouraged by the recent vaccine developments and initiated COVID-19 vaccination programs, providing a foundation for a future normalization of our industry” says Rickard Gustafson, CEO SAS.

£76m contract boosts F-35 Lightning fleet support

Photo Crown Copyright

A £76 million aircraft support contract, supporting more than 170 jobs, will maximise the availability and capability of the UK’s F-35 Lightning stealth jets, ensuring they are ready for combat operations across the globe.

Signed by Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office, the Lightning Air system National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) contract will provide additional expertise on aircraft maintenance, bespoke UK training courses for pilots, ground crew and engineers, and logistical and technical support for the fleet.

Providing additional experienced technical personnel at existing facilities, the contract will also allow three new capabilities to come into operation. These include an ejection seat maintenance workshop, a ‘Pilot fit facility’ to fit aircrew equipment, and component spray facility to transfer coatings onto aircraft components.

ATSG and Air Canada Agree to Sale, Conversion and Leaseback of Two Boeing 767 Aircraft

Air Transport Services Group, announced that its Cargo Aircraft Management, Inc. subsidiary has agreed to purchase two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft from Air Canada of Montreal, convert them from passenger to freighter configuration, and lease them back to Air Canada. This is the first sale-leaseback agreement between ATSG and Air Canada.

The first aircraft will be inducted for conversion in March 2021. Both are expected to be redelivered to Air Canada by the end of 2021.

In November 2020, Air Canada announced the next steps in its strategic plan to use converted freighters to grow its cargo business across the global supply chain in response to evolving opportunities in the air freight market.

American Airlines - the first US airline to introduce health passport for all international travel to US

American is the first U.S. airline to introduce a health passport for inbound travel to the United States from all international destinations.

Customers travelling to the United States can use the VeriFLY app to confirm testing and other COVID-19 travel requirements beginning Jan. 23.

American Airlines is the first U.S. airline to introduce an easy way to provide results from a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test and other completed documents required for international travel into the United States. The VeriFLY app, a mobile health passport that helps customers understand and verify their travel requirements, will be available for travellers starting Saturday, Jan. 23, for travel from all international destinations. American is expanding access to the app in support of the U.S. government’s requirement that all passengers 2 years of age and older travelling to the United States from any international location test negative for COVID-19 within three calendar days of departure.

“We’re expanding our work with VeriFLY to quickly evolve our usage of the app and make international travel easier for our customers,” said Julie Rath, Vice President of Customer Experience at American. “We support the implementation of a global program to require COVID-19 testing for travellers to the United States, and we want to do everything we can to make travel a seamless experience for customers. We’ve received positive feedback about the app so far and look forward to more customers having the opportunity to use it.”

Customers can already use VeriFLY to streamline their travel from the U.S. to several countries including Jamaica, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. To date, thousands of American Airlines customers have travelled using the app.

46% fall in passenger numbers for budget airline Allegiant

The U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier, Allegiant has reported its latest traffic results for last month, which predictably saw a drop in passenger numbers.  "As expected, the fourth quarter highlighted the divergence in strength between peak travel periods and non-peak periods," stated Drew Wells, vice president of revenue. 

"Demand remained soft throughout much of December before accelerating during the peak holiday travel period at the end of the month. Load factors during the peak period came in at nearly 60 percent, which aided in completing the quarter with a load factor of 58.2 percent, the best since the onset of the pandemic. Over the last several weeks, we have been encouraged by favourable forward booking trends as flight volumes begin to pick up mid-February and into peak Spring Break travel. We remain cognizant that the situation is fluid and will continue to manage capacity to meet the changing demand environment."

Skynet 6A successfully passes Preliminary Design Review

                       Airbus has successfully completed the first key phase of the Skynet 6A project with the achievement of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). The project now has permission to move into the next phase leading to the Critical Design Review (CDR).

 

Airbus was awarded the Skynet 6A contract in July 2020 and teams across its sites in Stevenage, Portsmouth and Hawthorn have been working on the programme to achieve this key milestone. Meetings with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) were held virtually enabling the review board to take place in October and the PDR being achieved in November.

 

South America to UK travel ban

The UK's Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a new far-reaching travel ban on those arriving from South America in a bid to halt the spread of a new Brazillian variant of the coronavirus.

The new travel ban applies to people who have travelled from, or through, the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela in the last 10 days. The central American nation of Panama is also on the list, with more expected to be announced in the coming days.  

Additionally,  the restriction is extended to travellers from Portugal, Madeira, the Azores and Cape Verde. However, the is an exemption for Portuguese road hauliers transporting essential goods.

The government advised that British and Irish citizens and foreign nationals with residence rights will still be able to travel back to the UK but must isolate for 10 days and the change would come into effect at 04:00.   

Recommended for you...

Delta Air Lines made a total pre-tax loss of $9 billion last year......

The US mega-carrier Delta Air Lines has released its latest results for December and for the full year 2020 showing an adjusted pre-tax loss of $9 billion. Decembers adjusted loss was $2.1 billion alone. 

“Our December quarter results capped the toughest year in Delta’s history.  I want to thank the Delta people who have risen to the occasion, focusing on delivering results for all of our stakeholders by putting our customers at the centre of our recovery,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer.  “While our challenges continue in 2021, I am optimistic this will be a year of recovery and a turning point that results in an even stronger Delta returning to revenue growth, profitability and free cash generation.”

December Quarter Financial Results 

Adjusted pre-tax loss of $2.1 billion excludes nearly $1 billion of items directly related to the impact of, and our response to, COVID-19, including charges associated with employee pay and benefit changes, which were offset by the benefit of the CARES Act payroll support program (PSP) grant recognized in the quarter

Adjusted operating revenue of $3.5 billion declined 69 percent on 62 percent lower sellable capacity (see Note A) versus the prior year period

Total operating expense, which includes $930 million of items described above, decreased $5.2 billion over prior year period.  Adjusted for those items and third-party refinery sales, total operating expense decreased $4.6 billion or 47 percent in the December quarter compared to the prior year period, driven by lower capacity- and revenue-related expenses and strong cost management across the business

During the December quarter cash burn (see Note B) averaged $12 million per day, marking an approximate 90 percent reduction in cash burn since late March

At the end of 2020, the company had $16.7 billion in liquidity, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and undrawn revolving credit facilities

IAG Cargo has transported over a million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine worldwide through its Constant Climate hubs - London Heathrow, Dublin and Madrid facilities

A consignment of Moderna vaccines being delivered at Dublin Airport from an Aer Lingus aircraft

IAG Cargo today announces it has flown over a million Covid-19 vaccines around the world, as its Constant Climate product springs into action to support countries fight against Covid-19.

Through IAG Cargo’s dedicated facilities at London Heathrow, Madrid and Dublin over a million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been transported to North America and Europe. Amongst the IAG Cargo shipments to date are 80,000 doses from its Madrid hub to the Canary Islands and the first batch of the Moderna vaccine to Dublin and Gran Canaria.

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. With the combined strength of five airlines - British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and Level, IAG Cargo covers a global network of over 350 destinations.  

In 2019 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,117 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,470 people. Its parent company, International Airlines Group, is one of the world's largest airline groups with 548 aircraft at 30th June 2020. It is the third-largest group in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world, based on revenue.

All Nippon Helicopter’s H160 completes first flight

Photo Eric Raz

 

                 

  

                                     All Nippon Helicopter’s (ANH) H160 has performed its first flight test, a 95-minute flight at the Marseille Provence Airport. This successful maiden flight paves the way for the aircraft’s entry into service in Japan.

ANH deploys a helicopter fleet comprising six AS365s and five H135s for electronic newsgathering for the TV stations across Japan. This H160 will replace one of its AS365s.  

“We are delighted to see the successful inaugural flight of Japan’s very first H160, and we are looking forward to this next-generation helicopter playing an important role in our nationwide missions,” said Jun Yanagawa, President of ANH. “Since the introduction of the AS365 helicopter three decades ago, the requirements of the electronic newsgathering market is constantly evolving and has significantly improved. This state-of-the-art helicopter H160 is a timely welcome for our operations.”

Norwegian drops long-haul operations....

The struggling European budget carrier Norwegian has announced today that it plans to rip away all hopes of restarting its popular and industry defining low-cost-long-haul operations.  The firm's board of directors want to simplify the airline's business structure and concentrate on just a short-haul route network with between 50 - 70 aircraft.

This move,  if approved by the Examiner and Reconstructor in Ireland and Norway and investors will see the liquidation of the various entities employing the long haul staff in Italy, France, the UK and the US with thousands of job losses. 

The new plan will mean the company will build on this foundation, focusing on its core Nordics business, operating a European short-haul network with narrow-body 737 aircraft. It will continue to operate domestic routes in Norway, across the Nordics and to key European destinations and retain the low-cost ethos.

airBaltic passengers down 73% in 2020

Latvian airline airBaltic in 2020 has carried 1 340 000 passengers or 73% less than the year before. In 2020, the airline performed 22 300 flights from all three Baltic states.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “2020 will go in history as the toughest year commercial aviation has yet seen. For most of the year, we were able to maintain essential connectivity for Riga and the Baltics. However, a significant part of the GDP drop in the region can be attributed to the fact that we are limited to fly. It is crucial for the future development of the Baltic region that airBaltic returns to its growth path following the successful control of the pandemic.”

“During the year 2020 we have certainly experienced our most difficult challenges but together with tremendous efforts and hard work we have ensured that airBaltic remains and continues its operation. We have given a clear commitment to grow back above old levels. Our vision sees airBaltic becoming a sustainable carrier in the EU aviation market, while maintaining a continuous growth path and innovative improvement of passenger experience,” Martin Gauss added.

	2020	2019	Change
Number of passengers	1 340 900	5 049 317	-73%
Number of flights	22300	62748	-64%
15-minute flight punctuality indicator	95%	86%	+9%-points
	December, 2020	December, 2019	Change
Number of passengers	54200	357723	-85%
Number of flights	1100	4786	-77%
15-minute flight punctuality indicator	96%	89%	+7%-points

Air Baltic 

Recommended for you...

easyJet cabin crew to be fast tracked to support the NHS vaccination programme

Following easyJet’s recent offer of help to the UK Government, easyJet cabin crew are being recruited and fast-tracked to support the NHS as part of the vital nationwide effort to distribute the Coronavirus vaccine.

The airline wrote to the UK Prime Minister in November to offer support to the Government on its efforts to implement the national Covid-19 vaccination programme this winter. With over 3000 crew who are first aid trained, security cleared and based up and down the UK in London, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast, easyJet Cabin Crew are well-positioned to help support the NHS in the nation-wide vaccination programme.

As easyJet continues to operate a reduced schedule as a result of the pandemic, our furloughed crew has an ideal skill set to be able to assist in the effort to provide much needed inoculation support to the NHS in rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine.

  

Qatar Airways resumes flights to Riyadh

On Monday 11th January the national carrier of the State of Qatar has touched down in Riyadh for the first time since 2017

 

 Qatar Airways will operate a daily service to Riyadh on wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A350, Boeing 777-300 and Boeing 787-8

            Qatar Airways has resumed flights to Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a daily service. QR1164 from Hamad International Airport to King Khalid International Airport took off in Doha at 13:45 local time on 11th January and landed safely at its destination at 15:10. The flight was operated by Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350-1000.  

Later this week, Qatar Airways will resume flights to Jeddah on Friday 15 January (QR1188 departing DOH at 18:50) and to Dammam on Saturday 16 January (QR 1150 departing Doha at 17:10).  

airBaltic – the first airline to receive 5-star Skytrax COVID-19 safety rating

Skytrax has awarded Latvian airline airBaltic a five–star COVID-19 safety rating. After performing a thorough audit in December 2020, airBaltic has become the first airline to receive the highest COVID-19 Safety Rating.

Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “The health and safety of our passengers and employees stand above all. Already since spring we have aligned our operations, introducing dozens of new hygiene and safety procedures to provide reliable and safe services. The audit shows that we have been doing our job very well. We will continue to adjust our procedures and services wherever it may be needed.”

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax: “We are delighted to see airBaltic achieve the highest 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rating and become the first airline to be certified at this level. They have achieved an excellent standard of health and hygiene safety measures to keep customers and staff safe during the coronavirus pandemic, and this is being applied with a high level of consistency.”

Inside the best hotel in America - The Grand Hyatt Nashville

Grand Hyatt Nashville was named the best new hotel in America, according to USA TODAY readers who voted in the media outlet’s 10Best poll.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as the best new hotel in the country, particularly during such a challenging year and so soon after our grand opening,” said Joe Melton, acting general manager of Grand Hyatt Nashville. “It’s an honour to be part of the Music City community that continues to show such resilience and strength, and we look forward to welcoming many more guests in 2021. Thank you to USA Today readers for their support!”

Check availability or get more information here.

Grand Hyatt Nashville, which opened October 2020 in the heart of the expansive 18-acre Nashville Yards development, is home to one of the tallest outdoor rooftop lounges in Nashville, a fifth-floor pool deck overlooking downtown, world-class spa R+R Wellness, and multiple culinary experiences – including The Nashville Grange, a Tennessee-to-table restaurant featuring locally-sourced dishes, and a new “contemporary renditions of luxury favourites” concept from James Beard Award-Winning chef Sean Brock called The Continental.

Another 1900 jobs to go at Air Canada

Air Canada announced on Wednesday that it is adjusting its network under its COVID-19 Mitigation and Recovery Plan by further reducing first quarter system capacity by an additional 25 per cent. As a result of these system-wide changes, there will be a workforce reduction of approximately 1700 employees, in addition to the over 200 impacted employees at our Express carriers. The airline is working with its unions on mitigation programs.

“Since the implementation by the Federal and Provincial Governments of these increased travel restrictions and other measures, in addition to the existing quarantine requirements, we have seen an immediate impact to our close-in bookings and have made the difficult but necessary decision to further adjust our schedule and rationalize our transborder, Caribbean and domestic routes to better reflect expected demand and to reduce cash burn. We regret the impact these difficult decisions will have on our employees who have worked very hard during the pandemic looking after our customers, as well as on the affected communities,” said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada.

Hyatt Hotels issues short statement on political campaign donations and US capitol violence.

Statement on Political Campaign Donations & Violence at the United States Capitol

At Hyatt Hotels Corporation, we do not operate a political action committee, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation does not make donations to federal or congressional campaigns.

We are shocked and horrified by the events that unfolded at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. These acts of violence and disruption of democracy are indefensible, all compounded by the pandemic we are still experiencing. 

As a purpose-driven company dedicated to caring for people so they can be their best, we vehemently condemn violence of any kind – and firmly believe it has no place in society. 

 

Hyatt Regency Phnom Pehn Opens in Cambodia...

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, the first Hyatt hotel in the Cambodian capital and the second Hyatt hotel operating in Cambodia has opened earlier this month. The 247-room property is the largest hotel from a global brand in the city and is located in the heart of the cultural and business district of Doun Penh, which is a 30-minute drive from the airport and within walking distance to the Royal Palace, National Museum and the riverside.

“We are excited to open our doors and introduce the Hyatt Regency brand to Cambodia, supporting the country’s hospitality industry as well as reinforcing Hyatt’s steady and thoughtful growth in Southeast Asia,” said Herman Kemp, general manager, Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh. “We look forward to welcoming business and leisure guests to an energizing new space where they can recharge, discover locally inspired culinary experiences and stay connected during a stress-free travel experience, all delivered with the warm comfort of Cambodian hospitality.”

Recommended for you...

Total passenger traffic down 68.8% year-on-year says Corporación América Airports

The largest private-sector airport operator in the world by the number of airports, Corporación América Airports S.A. reported this week a 68.8% year-over-year decline in passenger traffic in December 2020.

Corporación América Airports currently operates 52 airports in 7 countries across Latin America and Europe (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Armenia and Italy). In 2019, Corporación América Airports served 84.2 million passengers

Total passenger traffic in December 2020 dropped 68.8% YoY, reflecting the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on air travel, although showing a slight sequential improvement from the 77.1% and 80.8% declines reported in November and October, respectively. In most of the countries of operations, certain travel restrictions and requirements are in place and passenger demand remains low. International traffic declined by 82.5% YoY, while domestic traffic dropped 67.9% YoY.