18 February, 2021
Finnair Financial Statements Release 1 January–31 December 2020
WestJet welcomes Dr. Tammy McKnight as Chief Medical Officer
Finnair joins forces with air navigation service provider Fintraffic ANS to lower CO2 emissions New partnership to make Finland’s airspace the most environmentally friendly in the world
Canadian airline staff call for more federal help.
17 February, 2021
Two Airbus A320-200 aircraft placed with start up carrier Qanot Sharq Airlines of Uzbekistan
The global aircraft leasing giant, Air Lease Corporation has confirmed the placement of two Airbus A320-200 aircraft with Qanot Sharq Airlines of Uzbekistan.
Virgin Red set to boost Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members in the UK can join Virgin Red from today, with the option to link accounts to unlock even more ways to earn and spend Virgin PointsVirgin Red is Virgin's new rewards club where members can earn on the everyday and save on the extraordinary from right across the Virgin family and beyondEach new Virgin Red member will receive 500 bonus Virgin Points when they complete their first earn in the app
Canadian Flair expanding
airBaltic and Lufthansa announce codeshare agreement
Finnair to dismantle and recycle an A319 aircraft at Helsinki Airport
Airbus space technology reaches Mars
Perseverance with MEDA and HGAS – Copyright NASA-JPL-Caltech |
Creating the New Normal with Timeless Tokyo
We all know what a huge impact COVID-19 has had on travel and tourism across the world over the past year. Most foreign visitors have been unable to visit Tokyo as Japan, along with every other country, has fought to bring the coronavirus under control.
Moscow Cargo Terminal at Sheremetyevo International Airport gets green light from European regulators.
16 February, 2021
Brussels Airlines launches new booking platform
Brussels Airlines has switched the booking platform behind brusselsairlines.com to Amadeus e-Retail, which is currently already used for lufthansa.com. Herewith, Brussels Airlines is a first mover in a project to harmonize all four Lufthansa Group network airlines’ booking platforms. The remaining airlines, namely Austrian Airlines and SWISS will follow suit later this year. This means that from now on, Brussels Airlines offers all flights and services such as baggage booking and seat reservations of all four Lufthansa Group network airlines on its website.
Part of the Brussels Airlines embedding into the Lufthansa Group network airlines was to find further synergies within the Lufthansa Group. The strategic reason for using one common booking platform for all Lufthansa Group airlines is to offer a consistent user experience to the customers across the different platforms and make the same group-wide flight offer available across all platforms while reducing operating and development costs. Regardless of the Lufthansa Group airline the customer wants to travel with, he or she has access to the group-wide flight offer, while experiencing a modern unified interface with new features. The harmonization of the different airlines’ booking platforms also allows making functionalities much faster available for the customers and therefore allows for quicker innovations.
Leonardo’s technology chosen to strengthen the Italian airport systems
- Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo international airports have chosen Leonardo to provide high-tech upgrades, following the successful delivery of previous airport projects by Leonardo in Europe and beyond
- A new baggage handling system will replace most of the existing infrastructure at Milan Malpensa and a new surveillance system will support runway operations
- Milan Bergamo airport will be equipped with a new baggage handling sorting machine
Leonardo has strengthened its market position in the airport sector
by signing contracts with SEA and SACBO, the respective management
companies for Milan Malpensa and Milan Bergamo airports. Malpensa and
Bergamo are the second and third busiest airports in Italy.
At Milan Malpensa, Leonardo will replace most of the existing baggage handling infrastructure with a high-tech new system. This will bring the Terminal 1 baggage handling system in line with the new European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) ‘Standard 3’, which requires baggage to be subject to rigorous security checks prior to being loaded onto the aircraft. Components of the system will be replaced gradually in order to ensure continuity of services for passengers.
Once fully operational, the system will comprise two MBHS® (Multisorting Baggage Handling System) cross-belt sorters, approximately two and a half kilometres of belts and associated equipment. The new technology will seamlessly interface with the existing system, ensuring that baggage is identified and tracked right from the collection phase at check in and transfers, through to delivery to the final sorting system.
Wizz Air connects Eindhoven with Chisinau and this summer also connects Eindhoven with Burgas
Wizz Air will fly twice a week to the Bulgarian port city of Burgas from 13th of June. The Wednesday and Sunday flights are operated with an Airbus A320 (180 seats). This route is offered until mid-September. Located on the Black Sea, Burgas is Bulgaria's fourth largest city and the country's largest port. Burgas is a true gateway for thousands of tourists who spend their vacations on the Black Sea every year. The city is thus also interesting for the forty thousand Bulgarians who live in the Netherlands and like to spend their vacations in their home country. In addition, the destination is attractive for travelers visiting family and/or friends. The city-which plays an important role in Bulgaria's oil industry-can also be interesting for business travelers since the port city acts as a gateway from Eastern Europe to Western Europe.
Marriott Bonvoy refreshes mobile app
Includes New Booking Options, Enhanced Customization for Contactless Experiences and Tailored Ways to Earn and Redeem Points Beyond the Stay Toward Free Nights
Marriott Bonvoy, the travel marketplace and highly awarded travel program from Marriott International, has released a redesigned, more intuitive version of its mobile app in anticipation of increased desire and demand for travel this year. Featuring new travel shopping options based on inspiring destinations and access to more of Marriott’s vast travel offerings such as premium vacation rentals from Homes & Villas by Marriott International as well as destination tours and activities, the app will offer members even more personalized recommendations and offers to maximize their points earned when traveling and even when they are not. As the centerpiece of the company’s mobile-first mindset, the Marriott Bonvoy app ensures guests receive the best available rate; enjoy program benefits such as exclusive member rates and accruing points for stays; and enables members to customize their experience. The app will make it easier for guests to choose a contactless option for check-in and check-out, easy access to mobile keys, and the ability to request services and amenities via chat and mobile requests.
The Air France Foundation provides 52 computers for Lebanese schoolchildren
Following the disaster in Beirut in August 2020, Air France and its employees rallied round to provide aid and support to the Lebanese people. A major “Solidarité Liban” fund-raising campaign collected close to 3 tons of donations.
Six months after this tragedy, the Air France Foundation is also coming to the aid of young Lebanese schoolchildren by providing them with computers to enable them to continue their schooling. The Air France Foundation has acquired 52 computers for the benefit of the association LEM - Les enfants de la Méditerranée (Children of the Mediterranean), a humanitarian organization specializing in the development and protection of children through education and culture. In association with Air France Cargo and the Air France Division in Beirut, these 52 computers were shipped on the Air France Paris - Beirut flight on 27 January and handed over to members of the association.
Gulf Air's new special edition A321neoLR
Qantas making domestic travel easier
- Flexibility boosted with unlimited flight date changes
- 1 million seat sale with fares from $99 one-way
- Complimentary beer and wine in Economy
Qantas
is providing even more flexibility to customers wishing to change their
travel plans, now allowing unlimited flight date changes until at least
January 2022.
The change coincides with a nationwide domestic sale, with more than 1 million seats on sale to 55 destinations starting from $99 and a boost to the premium-service offered on-board.
Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said with international borders closed, the best way to drive tourism is by making it even easier for Australians to explore their own backyard.
“Customers have told us that sudden changes to border restrictions by state governments are giving them second thoughts about going on holidays or taking a business trip,” Ms Tully said.
“To help manage the uncertainty, we’ve introduced the highest level of flexibility in the market so people can plan their next trip with confidence.
“As the national carrier, we have an important role to play in helping the industry recover from COVID-19, and we know that given the right opportunity, people are keen to travel.
“By giving customers unlimited flight date changes for almost a year, we think it will encourage more people to book, helping to boost tourism which is so vital to local economies and businesses around the country.”
Mesa Air Group Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results
The Mesa Air Group, Inc.the regional airline that provides scheduled
flight service to 116 cities in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the
Bahamas, and Mexico as well as Cargo services out of
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, has reported its latest results.
As of December 31, 2020, Mesa operated a fleet of 159 aircraft with approximately 420 daily departures and 3,200 employees. Mesa operates all of its flights as either American Eagle, United Express, or DHL Express flights.
Highlights for the quarter:
- $18.9 million in pretax income and positive cash flow
- Signed 5-year extension with American Airlines for 40 aircraft
- Received $195 million loan under the CARES Act
- Launched cargo operations for DHL with two 737-400F aircraft
- Placed 12 new E-175 aircraft into service with United Airlines
- Continued improvement in operational performance
- No furloughs despite expiration of Payroll Support Program (PSP)
Air Canada Reports 2020 Annual Results
"With today's release of 2020 fourth quarter and full year results, we close the book on the bleakest year in the history of commercial aviation, after having reported several years of record results and record growth at Air Canada. The catastrophic impact of COVID-19 and government-imposed travel restrictions and quarantines has been felt across our entire network, deeply affecting all of our stakeholders. It has resulted in a 73 per cent decline in passengers carried at Air Canada during the year and an operating loss of nearly $3.8 billion. Yet, despite a year-long onslaught of bad news, uncertainty and challenges posed by constantly changing requirements, our employees valiantly served our remaining customers professionally and transported them safely to their destinations, operated hundreds of repatriation flights and our Cargo team transported essential Personal Protective Equipment to Canada and around the world. I commend them for their courage as well as for their tireless efforts in these exceptionally trying circumstances to position our company well for when we emerge from the pandemic," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
Spirit Airlines Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results
Spirit continues to be recognized for a strong reputation within the airline industry and across all industries. The company’s latest accolade was being named to FORTUNE's 2021 list of World's Most Admired® Companies. Spirit is one of only three U.S. airlines included on the list, which surveyed top executives and directors from eligible companies, industry experts and financial analysts.
Lufthansa Group Airlines extend option for free rebooking
Lufthansa Group Airlines had already made it possible for its customers to rebook their tickets without a fee last year. The waiver of the rebooking fee applies worldwide for all new bookings in all fares on short, medium and long-haul routes. This enables flexible travel planning for all Lufthansa Group Airlines customers.
However, additional costs may arise for rebookings if, for example, the original booking class is no longer available when rebooking to a different date or to a different destination.
Also, rebooking of tickets issued up to and including August 31, 2020, can now be done until May 31, 2021.
Icelandair Group records a net loss of $376.2 million in 2020.... sells off the last of its hotel business and looks to the future...
Massive loss for Icelandair during the last quater and the whole of last year.....
The troubled Icelandair
Group has reached an agreement with Berjaya regarding sale of its
remaining 25% share in Icelandair Hotels, the company has confirmed this week.
The firm will take in $3.4 million for the sale, which translate to just a book value of $13,000 and soon the Icelandair Hotels name will be dropped as Berjaya will be rebrand the hotels.
Bogi Nils Bogason, President & CEO of Icelandair Group: "The sale of the remaining shares in Icelandair Hotels is in line with the Company’s strategy of focusing on our core business, aviation and related services, going forward. I want to thank all the employees of Icelandair Hotels for their cooperation and their contribution in building up numerous high-quality hotels in Iceland, leading to a unique experience for our guests. I am confident that Iceland will continue to be an attractive tourist destination following the pandemic and that Icelandair Hotels will continue to play an important role in the further development of the Icelandic tourism market in the coming years. I want to thank Berjaya for a good cooperation during the past year and wish them and Icelandair Hotels all the best for the future."