Its not often you see a whale at Luton Airport.....

It's not something you see every day,  but during the week London Luton Airport was visited by a massive Airbus Beluga XL on a training sortie.

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Beluga and Beluga XL's can shift so much odd-sized cargo....

The Bulga XL transports A350 wings

Arriving in Bremen 

Delta brings signature lounge experience to Haneda Airport - say hello to Delta Sky Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

Delta is opening its first Delta Sky Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport – the only club there operated by a U.S. airline – a luxurious addition featuring regional specialties as Japan gradually eases pandemic-era restrictions and welcomes business and leisure travelers alike. 

“We’ve been looking forward to this day for years,” said Claude Roussel, Managing Director – Delta Sky Club. “Bringing the signature Delta Sky Club experience to Haneda as we continue to grow our network of premium, one-of-a-kind lounges is a huge moment for our Asia-Pacific partners, and all future Haneda Club customers.” 

Haneda marks Delta Sky Club’s third new lounge of the year, with the airline’s two largest Clubs – located at Terminal C at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport – just opened this spring. Across the network, Delta is building more state-of-the-art Delta Sky Clubs and expanding existing Clubs to deliver an even more premium experience for guests wishing to relax and recharge during travel. 

The premier space signifies the completion of Delta’s service shift from Tokyo’s Narita airport to Haneda, which is more conveniently located and favored by business travellers. Initially set to open in the summer of 2020 ahead of the Olympic games, the long-awaited Club has sat empty since March 2020. As Japan gradually reopens to international travel, the Delta Sky Club team is ready to share the new lounge with the world.  

Located on the fifth floor of Terminal 3, the Club features a premium bar serving seasonal cocktails, wines, beers, spirits and Japanese sake – all complimentary for guests. A specialty, made-to-order noodle bar staffed by a dedicated chef will provide a delicious taste of the popular regional cuisine. A buffet bar will serve international and Asian-inspired meals prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients in the Club’s restaurant-quality kitchen. 

Other features of the over-9,000-square-foot Club include: 

Seating options to accommodate a wide array of travelers, including booths for quiet work. 
Power outlets at nearly every seat. 
High-speed Wi-Fi. 
Five premium shower rooms. 

Visitors to the Club will enjoy unique design touches that celebrate Japanese culture, curated artwork and rich interiors reflective of traditional Japanese patterns and textures. Expansive windows provide panoramic views of the airfield and city skyline and, on clear days, a distant view of Japan’s most famous natural landmark, Mount Fuji.  

The most sustainable low-cost airline in Europe to start more new routes

Wizz Air is to launch more new routes from various European bases...  the budget airline will start to fly from Cluj Napoca to Perugia, from Bucharest to Ancona, from Vilnius to Grenoble, from Warsaw and Budapest to Madeira, and from Venice to Amman

Europe’s fastest-growing airline has also just been named as the Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline at the World Finance Sustainability Awards 2022.

World Finance congratulated winners for helping to bring about transformative change, and in particular praised Wizz Air’s continued commitment to sustainability, specifically its ambitious fleet renewal programme and other fuel-saving initiatives. The airline is proud to have the lowest carbon emissions per passenger kilometre in Europe, and has pledged to further reduce emissions by 25% by 2030, in comparison to 2019 levels.

An integral element of Wizz Air’s sustainability strategy is its Airbus fleet, which is one of the youngest in Europe, and currently consists of 154 aircraft with an average age of 4.93 years. Incorporating the latest technologies in aviation, the Airbus A321neo aircraft offers a 50% reduction in noise footprint, a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and a 50% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, compared to earlier aircraft models. Wizz Air also recently signed an MoU with Airbus, to explore the potential of highly efficient, ultra-low-cost hydrogen-powered operations.

WIZZ's UK network just got a whole lot bigger! Now the airline offers flights from London Luton to Tallin, Prague, and Hurghada, or from London Gatwick to Agadir, Marrakesh, Verona, and Grenoble. The fascinating Sharm El Sheikh is available from both airports. 

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines posted positive operating results for the fourth time in a row in the second quarter of 2022

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines posted positive operating results for the fourth time in a row in the second quarter of 2022. Profits came to €262 million, compared to a €185 million loss in the same quarter last year. In the first six months of 2022, the airline recorded positive operating results of €266 million on revenues amounting to €4.685 billion, a significant improvement due in part to the efforts of KLM employees. The figures show that customers are keen to fly with KLM again, both for business and for leisure.

Despite KLM’s strong results after the Covid-19 crisis, emotions remain mixed. Customers were greatly inconvenienced by major operational disruptions in May and June, two hectic and demanding months for our employees as well.

The sharp rise in passenger numbers, long queues at Schiphol security and shortages of KLM staff put heavy pressure on operations, especially in the months of May and June. It is a very unpleasant situation for both our customers and our employees. KLM was forced to cancel flights and impose a limit on ticket sales. The positive effects of these measures are becoming visible. Operations are manageable again, but unfortunately, we have not yet returned to the standard of service that customers have come to expect from us.

KLM President & CEO Marjan Rintel stated: "Despite the enormous operational challenges posed by the recovery of the airline industry, millions of customers once again chose to fly with KLM and Transavia over the past six months. I am very grateful to them for that. At the same time, however, our operations are struggling with queues at Schiphol’s security checks, labour shortages and heavy workloads. We are doing our best to come up with measures that will alleviate the pressure.

In my initial meetings with members of our organisation, I saw how KLM employees are working hard, day-in and day-out, to deliver the standard of quality that customers have come to expect from us. They are doing this under very difficult circumstances at Schiphol and other airports. I am proud of all of them for their dedication and commitment.

While the figures are good, we must keep a tight rein on structural costs. That is vital to KLM’s financial health and will enable us to continue investing in sustainability and our product for customers."

Kasada Acquires Former Crowne Plaza in Nairobi’s Upper Hill District

Kasada, an independent real estate private equity platform dedicated to hospitality in Sub-Saharan Africa has announced this week that it acquired the former Crowne Plaza Upper Hill in Nairobi, Kenya. Having only recently purchased the Umubano Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, this second East-African purchase reaffirms Kasada’s status as a pan-African hotel owner and investor. With its strategy of acquiring high-quality25 assets across metropolitan hubs in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kasada is now the most active investor with the initial portfolio of hotels doubling within 18 months thanks to a presence in eight countries.

Refurbishment of the 206-key hotel 

will begin before the end of the year

The Crowne Plaza, which opened in 2010, is located in Upper Hill, Nairobi's financial centre and a commercial hub that is home to the headquarters of several local businesses, international institutions and diplomatic delegations. With 206 rooms, a ballroom that can accommodate 300 people, and over 10 meeting rooms with a total capacity of 550 people, the hotel is one of the largest meeting and event spaces in Nairobi. Its prime location and array of amenities make it particularly attractive to local, regional, and international business travellers alike.

WestJet and Unifor agreement ratified

Today, the first collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and Unifor was ratified by Unifor's members. Unifor is the certified union representing certain WestJet airport employees at YYC Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. 

"WestJet is pleased to share that the agreement negotiated with Unifor has been ratified by its membership," said Angela Avery, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer. "This settlement demonstrates WestJet's commitment to its employees, the long-term success of the airline and the communities we serve." 

The agreement will come into September 1, 2022, and will be in place until December 31, 2026.  

"This agreement will provide our guests, who rely on our critical investments for their air travel needs, with well-deserved confidence in their long-awaited travel plans." 

Archer successfully completes second phase of its Maker aircraft flight testing

Archer Aviation announced that it has successfully completed all of its “critical azimuth” flight tests, marking the completion of the second of three key phases of flight testing. The purpose of these tests are to validate the crosswind capabilities of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft configuration and flight control systems. The company has now successfully flown Maker at increasing speeds of up to 15 knots, in various directions and attitudes.

Maker completed its first hover test flight in December of last year. Following extensive ground testing, and the addition of Archer’s new tilt propeller system, the aircraft returned to flight testing earlier this year and has been flying almost daily of late, allowing the Archer Flight Test Team to evaluate incremental speed increases and complex manoeuvres while in hover. The culmination of these tests also demonstrated the robustness of the aircraft’s takeoff and landing capabilities.

Pre-tax income of $73 million, net income of $54 million for SkyWest during Q2

The U.S. regional airline SkyWest, has just reported financial and operating results for Q2 2022, showing a net income of $54 million, compared to a net income of $62 million for Q2 2021.

Commenting on the results, Chip Childs, Chief Executive Officer of SkyWest, said, “The quarter results reflect the continued strong demand for our product and the impact of our improved fleet mix as we continue investing in our E175 fleet. As we work through the constraints of an ongoing pilot imbalance and industry-wide staffing challenges, demand for our product remains exceptionally strong. I want to thank our people for their dedicated, world-class efforts.”

Financial Results

Revenue was $799 million in Q2 2022, up $142 million or 22%, from $657 million in Q2 2021. This quarter’s increase in revenue under SkyWest’s flying contracts came from adding 43 aircraft to its operations since Q2 2021, with the remaining revenue increase largely due to COVID-19 revenue concessions given to our major airline partners in Q2 2021.

Operating expenses were $710 million in Q2 2022, up 31% from $542 million in Q2 2021. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to $114 million in payroll support program grants received from U.S. Treasury reflected as an offset to Q2 2021 operating expenses and operating costs from aircraft added to SkyWest’s fleet since Q2 2021.

Capital and Liquidity

SkyWest had $975 million in cash and marketable securities at June 30, 2022, up from $856 million at March 31, 2022 and $860 million at December 31, 2021.

Total debt at June 30, 2022 was $3.3 billion, up from $3.2 billion at March 31, 2022, reflecting the financing of eight new E175 aircraft delivered in Q2 2022. Capital expenditures during Q2 2022 were $197 million for the purchase of eight E175s and other fixed assets.

SkyWest is coordinating with its major airline partners to optimize the timing of upcoming fleet deliveries under previously announced agreements. SkyWest expects to finance the future E175 deliveries discussed below through debt. The anticipated future delivery dates summarized below are based on currently available information and are subject to change.

Quarter two revenues hit €411 million for IAG Cargo

Photo IAG Cargo

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of IAG (International Airlines Group) has today, reported its financial results for quarter two of 2022, with revenues hitting  €411 million,  this takes IAG Cargo’s half-year revenue to €843m, up 9.6% on the first half of 2021.

IAG Cargo’s Q2 2022 tonnage was up 4.6 per cent whilst overall yield saw a reduction of 2.0 per cent at constant currency versus the same period in 2021, despite the return of passenger-led capacity.

The business now offers more destinations into North America from London-Heathrow than pre-pandemic. Route expansion included opening a new service to Portland from London-Heathrow, and new services into Dallas and Washington from its Madrid hub, while the business also restarted services into Pittsburgh. Globally, IAG Cargo continues to expand its network and from its Madrid hub, the business has added 8 destinations since 2019.

 

The group’s ability to facilitate route expansion has been vital for the global transport of key goods, notably within the automotive, agricultural and perishables sectors. Additionally, since the start of the year lanes into North America have also supported the transportation of over 3,000 tonnes of milk powder as the US grapples with an infant formula shortage.

AirAsia and Skyports secure partnership to explore air taxi vertiport development in Malaysia

                            Skyports Infrastructure, the world’s leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure developer, and AirAsia’s Advanced Air Mobility, a dedicated unit of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited (the aviation arm of Capital A), have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to explore the development of air taxi infrastructure in Malaysia.

The partnership between AAM industry expert Skyports, and AirAsia, a traditional airline operator, is an important next step in establishing a fully operational vertiport network in the country. As the industry matures, partnerships between traditional aviation players and AAM specialists are essential in developing a practical, well-studied, and well-integrated network of vertiports.

Already a global leading brand in the commercial airline industry, AirAsia is also actively involved in the operationalisation of AAM in Malaysia. In the past year alone, the company announced future plans to lease 100 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOL aircraft from Avolon, launched its drone training programme, and most recently, extended drone-related training to the high-technology related sectors.

Leveraging the strengths of both parties, the partnership will draw on AirAsia’s aviation expertise and experience, as well as its on-ground market knowledge and networks. Complementing this, Skyports Infrastructure brings to the table its global portfolio of designing and building take-off and landing infrastructure for eVTOL passenger aircraft. Skyports Infrastructure’s work is also instrumental in advancing regulatory development across markets, through close collaboration with local regulatory bodies and standards setting organisations.  

Cathay Pacific to launch direct flights between Kathmandu and Hong Kong starting 1 October 2022

Introducing Cathay Pacific to the Himalayan Nation, Nepal

Hong Kong’s home airline, Cathay Pacific, launches direct flights from Kathmandu to Hong Kong starting 1 October 2022

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s home airline, is launching a non-stop weekly flight between Kathmandu and Hong Kong on 1 October, 2022. Nepali residents and visitors can now make the most of their travel with great connections, thoughtful service and enhanced comfort when flying Cathay Pacific from Kathmandu to Hong Kong and onwards to their favourite destinations in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and many more. All flights will depart from Tribhuvan International Airport and can be booked on the Cathay Pacific website.

Southwest Airlines has reported its second quarter 2022 financial results

 Southwest Airlines has reported its second quarter 2022 financial results:

• Strong quarterly net income of $760 million1
• Record quarterly net income, excluding special items2, of $825 million
• Record quarterly operating revenues of $6.7 billion
• Cash provided by operations of $1.9 billion
• Liquidity3 of $17.4 billion, well in excess of debt outstanding of $10.5 billion
• 
  

Bob Jordan, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to report all-time record quarterly revenues and net income, excluding special items, representing a significant milestone in our pandemic recovery. Travel demand surged in second quarter, and thus far, strong demand trends continue in third quarter 2022. As anticipated, we experienced inflationary pressures and headwinds from operating at suboptimal productivity levels in second quarter, which we expect will continue in second half 2022; however, our fuel hedge continues to provide significant protection against higher jet fuel prices. Barring significant unforeseen events and based on current trends, we expect to be solidly profitable for the remaining two quarters of this year, and for full year 2022.

"We are making meaningful progress against our 2022 priorities, and I am very proud of our People and their heroic efforts to fight against the pandemic. Since April, we have been delivering a more reliable product for our Customers with cancellations representing less than one percent of scheduled flights in May and June 2022, which is a completion factor of more than 99 percent. We have added flights in second half 2022—especially in short-haul business markets—to better support our operation and the restoration of our route network. We reached another milestone, returning to overall pre-pandemic staffing levels in May 2022. We plan to continue our hiring and training efforts in specific areas—in particular, Pilots—to support further network restoration and future growth with plans to add over 10,000 Employees, net of attrition, this year. However, we plan to begin moderating overall hiring in second half 2022 as our focus shifts to 2023 planning and executing on our goals to better optimize staffing to flight schedules, reduce cost inefficiencies, and return to historic efficiency levels.

"We are experiencing delays in our aircraft deliveries from The Boeing Company (Boeing), and we now estimate 2022 deliveries to be 66 versus the previously expected 114, ending the year with 765 aircraft. Despite those delays, we are confident about our ability to fly our flight schedules as planned, which are currently published through March 8, 2023. We continue to invest in technologies, airports, and facilities to further modernize our operation and allow us to scale for future growth.

"We are also investing in the Southwest Customer Experience, and I am thrilled about today's announcement introducing yet another exciting Customer benefit that sets Southwest even further apart from the competition: Flight credits don't expire4. We are famous for offering industry-leading flexibility for Customers, and it is a key differentiator of our brand. Based on research and feedback, we believe flexibility has become even more important to Customers over the past few years. This further extension of flexibility for our Customers reinforces Southwest as industry-leading and builds on our low-fare brand with no fees to change or cancel plans5; two bags fly free®6; Rapid Rewards® points that don't expire; and transferable flight credits7. With flight credits that don't expire and the addition of our new Wanna Get Away PlusTM fare product—along with recently announced investments to enhance WiFi, install latest-technology onboard power ports, offer larger overhead bins, and enable new self-service capabilities—we are making travel even easier. We believe we have the strongest route network and value proposition for Customers in the domestic U.S., and also believe this policy change will both win new Customers and increase Customer loyalty."

Norse Atlantic Airways announces new airline partnerships that will provide over 600 weekly connections across key European and U.S. hubs

Norse Atlantic Airways has launched a new connectivity partnership with easyJet, Norwegian and Spirit Airlines that will provide over 600 weekly connections to Norse’s transatlantic services at key international hubs Oslo, London, Berlin, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.

The virtual codeshare type connective partnership with easyJet will provide customers with convenient access to an extensive range of European destinations that connect with Norse’s flights from London Gatwick to New York JFK, Berlin to New York JFK and Berlin to Los Angeles.

From Oslo, the tie-up with Norwegian will allow customers to easily book flights to domestic, Scandinavian and European destinations with connections onto Norse’s services to New York JFK, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Orlando.

Partnering with Spirit Airlines will provide even greater choice for customers looking to travel between Europe and the U.S. as new destinations such as Las Vegas, Dallas, Nashville and Salt Lake City become accessible via Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.

“Since the launch of Norse Atlantic Airways we have made long-haul transatlantic travel available to all thanks to our affordable fares and exciting destinations. Customers can now explore further and connect on to the services of our partner airlines across Europe and the U.S. These agreements will further boost transatlantic travel which will benefit local tourism and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways.

Norse Atlantic is in talks with other airline partners who will join the booking platform soon, we look forward to announcing further agreements in due course.

JetSMART gets another new Airbus A321neo......

Aviation Capital Group announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321neo aircraft on long-term lease to JetSMART, as part of a three-aircraft sale and lease back transaction between ACG and JetSMART.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM engines, this aircraft is the first A321neo to join the JetSMART fleet. The A321neo incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 20 percent fuel savings and CO2 emissions reduction, as well as a 50 percent noise reduction.

“We are honoured to continue supporting JetSMART in their growth in Chile and Latin America with the delivery of this new fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo,” said Marine Benoit, ACG Vice President Marketing for the Latin American region.

“The delivery of our first A321neo marks the beginning of a new era for JetSMART, to further reduce costs and carbon footprint and one more step to become the leading ULCC in South America. We value the support from ACG on our vision to reach 100 aircraft by 2028,” said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

Tie up between Norwegian & Norse Atlantic Airways

Norwegian Air Shuttle and Norse Atlantic Airways have entered into an agreement that will allow customers to purchase tickets with connecting flights on both airlines in one transaction.

‘This agreement is win-win for both our customers and Norwegian. Our customers throughout Europe can now connect to Norse routes across the USA. Likewise, inbound customers flying Norse from the USA can now seamlessly connect to the Norwegian network throughout Europe on one ticket’, said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.

The Islandic software company, DoHop, is providing the platform to facilitate the close integration between Norse and Norwegian’s flight itineraries. Norwegian-operated flights throughout the Nordics and Europe will efficiently connect with Norse’s transatlantic flights.

Connecting flights can be purchased from today for travel in September. Customers can now search on https://connections.flynorse.com and will soon also be available on search engines like Finn.no and Google Flights.

Top level changes at budget airline Allegiant....

Allegiant has announced today that D. Scott Sheldon, the company's executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Gregory C. Anderson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will assume new roles as presidents of Allegiant Travel Company. 

From 1st August Sheldon's new title will be president and chief operating officer and Anderson will be president and chief financial officer. They will continue to report to John Redmond, Allegiant's chief executive officer.

"I could not be more excited to announce these promotions," said Redmond. "Scott and Greg are truly the dynamic duo – consummate professionals who know the Allegiant business inside and out. This announcement is the product of their hard work as well as the recognition of their individual contributions and talent. As CEO, it is my job to retain talent and protect the future of the company – and these promotions go a long way toward achieving both ends. I have the utmost confidence in their abilities and firmly believe this change will benefit Allegiant in numerous ways."

Redmond also noted that while the decision to have two company presidents is unique, it makes sense given Sheldon and Anderson's cohesiveness as a team, their respective strengths, and the current workload facing the company – as the next twelve months will see the company add a new fleet type, operate the company's first joint venture with its partner VivaAerobus, and open the world-class Sunseeker Resort in Port Charlotte, Florida.    

United to fly nonstop between Washington D.C. and Cape Town

The U.S. mega carrier, United Airlines will start direct flights between Washington Dulles Airport and Cape Town in South Africa from 17th November this year the airline has confirmed today.

"We are thrilled to further expand our Africa offering with this first-ever direct link between Washington DC and Cape Town," said Patrick Quayle, United's Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. "These new flights build upon our existing year-round New York/Newark to Cape Town service – together they'll provide a near-daily pattern from the U.S. to Cape Town along with connectivity to the broader region through our Airlink partnership." 

United will soon offer a total of 19 weekly flights to Africa - in addition to these new flights to Cape Town, the airline launched nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Johannesburg and Washington D.C. to Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria in 2021. 

Prior to the new United flight, Washington, D.C. to Cape Town was the largest route between the U.S. and Cape Town without nonstop service, and D.C. is also home to the fifth largest South-African-born population. United's new flights will connect Cape Town to 55 U.S. cities, representing more than 92% of the U.S. travel demand. The new flights will also allow customers to connect in Cape Town to other points in South Africa, and to other countries in the southern region of the African continent with United's South African-based partner Airlink and their Cape Town hub. 

United will fly a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on this new route, which features 48 lie-flat, United Polaris business class seats, 21 United Premium Plus® seats and 188 economy seats. All seats are equipped with seatback on-demand entertainment to help customers pass the time and relax during their travels. 

JetBlue goes ahead with its take over of Spirit after Frontier drops out.......

Frontier Airlines has dropped out of the battle for low-cost airline Spirit, leaving New York's hometown airline, JetBlue, the default winner and the boards have agreed to the takeover.

JetBlue is paying a high price for Spirit in this deal, $33.50 per share in cash, including a prepayment of $2.50 per share in cash payable upon Spirit stockholders’ approval of the transaction and a ticking fee of $0.10 per month starting in January 2023 through closing, for an aggregate fully diluted equity value of $3.8 billion1 and an adjusted enterprise value of $7.6 billion, more than double Spirits value.

Robin Hayes, the chief executive officer of JetBlue whose future at the airline had been in doubt had the deal not gone ahead, said today: “We are excited to deliver this compelling combination that turbocharges our strategic growth, enabling JetBlue to bring our unique blend of low fares and exceptional service to more customers, on more routes. We look forward to welcoming Spirit’s outstanding Team Members to JetBlue and together creating a customer-centric, fifth-largest carrier in the United States. Spirit and JetBlue will continue to advance our shared goal of disrupting the industry to bring down fares from the Big Four airlines. This combination is an exciting opportunity to diversify and expand our network, add jobs and new possibilities for Crewmembers, and expand our platform for profitable growth.”

“Combining with Spirit will give JetBlue an even larger platform to deliver on our mission to inspire humanity,” said Peter Boneparth, chair of the board, JetBlue. 

Ted Christie, president and chief executive officer, Spirit, said, “We are thrilled to unite with JetBlue through our improved agreement to create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant U.S. carriers, and we look forward to working with JetBlue to complete the transaction. Bringing our two airlines together will be a game changer, and we are confident that JetBlue will deliver opportunities for our Guests and Team Members with JetBlue’s unique blend of low fares and award-winning service. We especially appreciate the commitment of our Spirit Family throughout this process. Today’s exciting announcement reflects JetBlue’s admiration for Spirit and a shared belief in what the combined airline can bring for our Guests.”

Ethiopian Airlines Upsizes part of an order for Airbus A350-900s to A350-1000s...... A first for any African airline.....

The flag carrier of Ethiopia and Africa’s largest airline group has upsized four of its A350-900 on order from Airbus, to the largest variant of the A350 Family, the A350-1000, becoming Africa’s first customer for the aircraft.

Ethiopian Airlines has already ordered 22 A350-900s, of which 16 aircraft have been delivered. With the A350-1000 upsizing, Ethiopian Airlines’ backlog consists of four A350-1000s and two A350-900s.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said, “We are delighted over the upsizing of the A350-900 on order to the largest variant, A350-1000, that helps us stay ahead of the curve in technology. We are the technology leaders in the continent introducing the latest technology and fuel-efficient fleet into Africa. The A350-1000 is the best fit for our dense routes, and we believe that the upsizing will be instrumental in satisfying the increasing demand of customers in our vast global network across five continents. We will continue on keeping ourselves abreast of aviation technology advancements to enhance our service and fulfil customers’ demand.”

Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa and the Middle East said: "We are proud of our strong partnership with Ethiopian Airlines - the first airline in Africa to order and operate the A350-900. In another first, Ethiopian Airlines is once again leading the way in Africa’s aviation sector by introducing the A350-1000, the largest version of the world’s most efficient and technologically advanced passenger aircraft. - The A350-900 has delivered extraordinary capability, fuel efficiency, and operational reliability of 99.5 percent together with unbeatable operational flexibility and efficiency, from short to ultra-long-range operations."

The A350-1000 will increase the East African carrier’s capacity and it will be an addition to its modern wide-body fleet. The airline will benefit from a flexible, high-value Family leveraging Airbus’ unprecedented level of commonality and same type rating.

The Airbus A350’s clean-sheet design features state-of-the-art aerodynamics, a carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, plus the most fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency and sustainability for Ethiopian Airlines, with a 25% reduction in fuel-burn and CO2 emissions compared to previous generation twin-aisle aircraft.

Delta celebrates 65 years of connecting Mexico and the US

Delta Air Lines is celebrating 65 years of operations in Mexico.

The year was 1957:  the space race was beginning in the United States, West Side Story would debut on Broadway, and the Golden Age of Mexican cinema was elevating stars such as Maria Felix and Pedro Infante on the global stage. And on July 15, Delta Air Lines predecessor Western Airlines landed for the first time at Mexico City International Airport with a piston-powered, 4-engine DC-6B aircraft that touted a pressurized cabin with air conditioning that was innovative for its time and flew at an altitude of 12,400 feet.

Much has changed in the last 65 years: the jet age reduced flight times by nearly half and ushered in a more comfortable journey with less cabin vibration, Western Airlines merged with Delta Air Lines in 1987, and Delta expanded to serve Mexico’s major business and beach destinations.

Today, Delta operates daily between Mexico and the United States with modern, efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft equipped with First Class, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin service, featuring food and beverage options designed to meet evolving customer preferences. Where a deck of cards might have been the in-flight entertainment available in 1957, today Delta customers can catch a blockbuster movie, listen to Spotify music or take a Peloton class on their seatback through Delta Studio. They can also use fast-streaming and reliable Wi-Fi, thanks to the airline’s continuous commitment to innovation and to transform the travel experience. Delta is also doing its part toward a more sustainable future, investing in small steps – like reducing waste and single-use plastics on flights by approximately 4.9 million pounds (equivalent to the approximate weight of 1,500 full-size cars) – and bigger commitments like partnerships for Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

Southwest Airlines Named as One of Forbes’ 2022 Best Employers for Diversity in America for Fifth Consecutive Year

Southwest Airlines Co.proudly receives more accolades for its continued commitment to making Southwest® a more diverse and inclusive organization, where Employees thrive, feel appreciated, valued, and have an authentic sense of belonging. For the fifth consecutive year, Forbes named Southwest Airlines® as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity in 2022.

"At Southwest, it takes every single one of us to serve our Customers throughout our network every day," said Juan Suarez, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Southwest Airlines. "Being named to this list is humbling and continues to motivate us to improve our diversity efforts across the Company and provide the best workplace for our Employees, which in turn helps us serve our Customers."

Forbes partnered with Statista to select 2022 America's Best Employers for Diversity through an independent survey from a sample of more than 60,000 American employees and pinpointed the companies they identified as most dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The list is compiled using four criteria areas including employees' opinions about their own workplace, other companies in their respective industry, diversity among top executives and board members, and diversity indicators within a company.

Southwest Airlines was also recently honored by the Disability:IN® Disability Equality Index with a score of 100 (perfect score) on its annual index. To learn more about the airline's commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, visit the Southwest One Report and DEI Report. 

Southwest Airlines is dedicated to attracting prospective candidates and retaining Employees—keeping this focus at the forefront of everything it does. It is all about a career with Heart and Purpose. Join the carrier's Talent Community to stay up to date on job opportunities from the Company with Heart.

Frontier Airlines Poised for Significant Growth as America’s Ultra-Low Cost Carrier

Frontier Airlines,  highlighted its strong foundation and the significant growth opportunities ahead as a standalone company. In addition, the Company announced an unprecedented deal for customers, offering one million passenger seats from $19.00*.

William A. Franke, the Chair of Frontier’s Board of Directors and the managing partner of Indigo Partners, Frontier’s majority shareholder, commented, “While we are disappointed that Spirit Airlines shareholders failed to recognize the value and consumer potential inherent in our proposed combination, the Frontier Board took a disciplined approach throughout the course of its negotiations with Spirit. We were focused on offering the appropriate value for Spirit, while prioritizing consumers and the best interests of Frontier, our employees and shareholders. As we enter our next chapter, Frontier remains well-positioned to deliver significant value to our shareholders as we serve the growing demand for affordable air travel.”

“As we continue to see a rebound in leisure travel, we have never been more confident in our strategy and prospects than we are today,” said Barry Biffle, President and CEO of Frontier. “Frontier remains America’s lowest-fare, lowest-cost airline that features the industry’s youngest, most fuel-efficient fleet, a robust order book, and a strong balance sheet. With the price-sensitive segment projected to grow, we are just getting started. In fact, today we are announcing a blockbuster sale – offering one million seats from $19.00*, underscoring our commitment to delivering Low Fares Done Right. No one is as cheap as Frontier. Looking ahead, we’ll continue to expand capacity and add new routes as America’s ultra-low-cost airline, and we look forward to creating new jobs and welcoming future employees to Team Frontier.”

Frontier has a strong foundation and clear plan to drive long-term value:

Airbus delivered nearly 300 commercial aircraft in the fast half of this year.

Airbus delivered a solid H1 2022 financial performance in a complex operating environment, with the geopolitical and economic situation creating further uncertainties for the industry. "The supply chain challenges are leading us to adjust the A320 Family ramp-up steps in 2022 and 2023, and we now target a monthly rate of 65 in early 2024. Our aircraft delivery target for 2022 has been updated accordingly. The earnings and free cash flow guidance are maintained, underpinned by the H1 financials,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “The Airbus teams are engaged with suppliers and partners to ramp up towards an A320 Family monthly production rate of 75 in 2025, backed by strong customer demand.”

Gross commercial aircraft orders increased to 442 (H1 2021: 165 aircraft) with net orders of 259 aircraft after cancellations (H1 2021: 38 aircraft). The order backlog amounted to 7,046 commercial aircraft on 30 June 2022. Airbus Helicopters booked 163 net orders (H1 2021: 123 units), including 14 Super Puma Family and in Q1 it was awarded the contract for the Tiger MkIII attack helicopter upgrade programme. Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake by value increased to € 6.5 billion (H1 2021: € 3.5 billion), corresponding to a book-to-bill ratio of around 1.3. Second quarter orders included the contract to deliver 20 latest generation Eurofighter jets to the Spanish Air Force.

297(1) commercial aircraft delivered in H1 2022

Revenues € 24.8 billion; EBIT Adjusted € 2.6 billion

EBIT (reported) € 2.6 billion; EPS (reported) € 2.42

Free cash flow before M&A and customer financing € 2.0 billion

A320 Family monthly production rate target of 75 for 2025 unchanged; adjustment to 2022 and 2023 ramp-up trajectory

2022 guidance updated to around 700 commercial aircraft deliveries

2022 guidance maintained for EBIT Adjusted and FCF before M&A and customer financing

Consolidated revenues totalled € 24.8 billion (H1 2021: € 24.6 billion). A total of 297(1) commercial aircraft were delivered (H1 2021: 297 aircraft), comprising 25 A220s, 230 A320 Family, 13 A330s and 29 A350s(2). Revenues generated by Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities were broadly stable. Airbus Helicopters delivered 115 units (H1 2021: 115 units), with revenues rising by 6 percent mainly reflecting growth in services and a favourable mix in programmes. Revenues at Airbus Defence and Space increased 11 percent, mainly driven by the Military Aircraft business and following the Eurodrone contract signature in February. Four A400M airlifters were delivered in H1 2022.

LCI signs agreement for up to six H175 helicopters from Airbus

LCI signs agreement for up to six H175 helicopters from Airbus

LCI, a leading aviation company and a subsidiary of the Libra Group, has today announced an order for up to six H175 super-medium helicopters from Airbus, valued at over US$125 million.

The order is for two confirmed aircraft with the first H175 set to be delivered to LCI in late 2023. The agreement provides for a further four options, and builds on LCI’s previous order for new H175s.

Jaspal Jandu, CEO of LCI, says: “The Airbus H175 is a versatile, multi-purpose helicopter and this order will help to maintain the breadth of LCI’s product offering. This latest chapter in our partnership is an important element of our long-term growth strategy, and demonstrates our confidence in the helicopter leasing market.”

Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, says: “LCI is a longstanding and valued Airbus partner. As a leading lessor and operator of Airbus helicopters, their renewed commitment to the H175 demonstrates the strength of the marketplace and its post-pandemic recovery.

With 32 routes to and from Lisbon easyJet will become the number two airline at the airport based on capacity

Following the allocation of 18 new daily slots at Lisbon airport by the European Commission, easyJet has today announced that it will base three additional Airbus A321neo, the company’s biggest aircraft, at its base in Lisbon which will enable the airline to launch 21 new routes and increase frequencies to eight countries, including a new twice-weekly winter service from Birmingham to Lisbon. Flights will be available for sale from August 15th.

Moreover, the neo aircraft will contribute to making easyJet's operations more sustainable, reducing fuel consumption by 15% and noise during take-off and landing by 50%.

Thanks to this investment easyJet will become the number two airline at Lisbon airport, with a network of 32 routes – 30 international and two domestic.

This coming winter, easyJet will be the number one carrier between the UK and Portugal.

José Lopes, easyJet Country Manager for Portugal, commented:  "We are extremely glad to unveil part of easyJet's new network at Lisbon airport that will start operating later in 2022 and which will turn easyJet into the second largest carrier operating at Lisbon airport. We are particularly happy to be bringing the A321 neo to Lisbon which will contribute to making our operations more sustainable.