Delta gets ready to start two never-before-operated routes from 17th December.......

Two never-before-operated, nonstop routes are set to come from U.S. mega carrier Delta this December.  Atlanta to Cape Town and Los Angeles to Tahiti will both start on 17th December and marks another step in a plan to operate more long-haul routes to new and growing destinations.

With the addition of service to Cape Town from Atlanta, the largest airline hub in the world, Delta will expand its offering to Africa, providing 10 times weekly service to South Africa specifically, via Cape Town and Johannesburg.  The new service will operate Monday, Thursday and Saturday on the Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Delta reopened the first phase of the new Delta Sky Way at LAX earlier this year, complete with a premier Delta Sky Club; the joint $2.3 billion investment in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports is slated for completion next year. The LAX - Tahiti service is scheduled to operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday on the Boeing 767-300ER jets.

“Offering our customers new and additional access to these international cultural powerhouses is central to our unwavering commitment to connect the world,” said Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Network Planning. “As we continue to invest in our leading-airline position in Atlanta and Los Angeles, we know our customers will enjoy unparalleled connectivity to Delta’s global network, coupled with our award-winning hospitality, whether they’re travelling for business or pleasure.”  

The airline will also add nonstop service from Atlanta to Tel Aviv beginning next May. The launch of additional Tel Aviv service brings the total of weekly Delta flights to Tel Aviv to 13, from three U.S. hubs – Atlanta, Boston and New York-JFK. Atlanta to Tel Aviv service will operate Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday on the Airbus A350-900 planes and is scheduled to start on 10th May next year - (westbound service begins May 8)

Muscat - Trabzon service to start on Tuesday

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, will launch a service between Muscat and Trabzon, Turkey, with 3 weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), which will commence on 2 August 2022.  

The Tuesday flight from Muscat will depart at 09:50 and arrive in Trabzon at 13:00. The flight from Trabzon will depart at 14:00 and arrive in Muscat at 19:05. The Thursday and Saturday flight from Muscat will depart at 08:30 and arrive in Trabzon at 11:40. The flight from Trabzon will depart at 12:40 and arrive in Muscat at 17:45. Economy class starts at 155 OMR and Business Class starts at OMR 680 OMR.

Guests travelling to Muscat and Trabzon should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through the country.

Guests can also book a customized Trabzon holiday package through Oman Air Holidays. 

Jetstar Airways takes delivery of first A321neo

Australia’s largest low fares airline Jetstar Airways, part of the Qantas Group, has taken delivery of its first A321neo.

Featuring the airline’s refreshed livery, the aircraft is powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines and configured in a single class layout with 232 seats. The cabin features extra-large Airspace overhead bins offering a 40% increase in volume, USB ports and tablet holders at every seat and the latest lighting system for an overall enhanced passenger experience.

Jetstar’s new A321neo is fitted with an additional fuel tank, enabling the aircraft to fly between all destinations on its domestic network, as well as to South East Asia, including the popular leisure destination of Bali.

The aircraft is the first of 38 A320neo Family aircraft for Jetstar, comprising 18 A321neo and 20 A321XLR. These are part of a larger backlog of single-aisle aircraft ordered by the Qantas Group, which now stands at 149 aircraft.

As at the end of June 2022, the A320neo Family has received more than 8,000 firm orders from over 130 customers worldwide.

Fly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Jakarta with Oman Air....

Due to growing demand Oman Air, has increased the weekly number of flights from its Muscat hub, offering 10 flights to Bangkok, 7 flights to Kuala Lumpur, 5 flights to Manila, and 4 flights to Jakarta, providing more options to discover an array of cities and experiences across Southeast Asia. The additional flights offer greater convenience and connectivity for Oman Air guests to discover more than 40 other exciting destinations in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Fly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Jakarta with Oman Air and explore more than 40 other destinations in Southeast Asia and Australia

 

Oman Air is optimizing its network through increased cooperation with alliance partners to link passengers to more locations as quickly and as seamlessly as possible. This will result in increased travel connections and an expanded network of destinations. Oman Air currently has four partner airlines in Southeast Asia, allowing guests to fly to 44 destinations across Southeast Asia and Australia from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. In total, Oman Air has entered into strategic codeshare agreements with 18 different partner airlines. These agreements enable Oman Air to market 229 different sectors, which, when combined with the 45 sectors that the airline itself operates, brings the total number of sectors it serves to 274.

Oman Air is renowned for its exceptional award-wining products and services, both in the air and on the ground, and for the signature Omani hospitality accessible to guests on every flight. The airline offers wide-body service, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330, between Muscat and destinations in Southeast Asia.

Volkswagen Group in China unveils passenger drone prototype

Volkswagen Group China has unveiled its first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) passenger drone prototype, as part of its strategy to explore and break new ground in fully electric and sustainable individual mobility concepts. 

In 2020, Volkswagen Group China launched a Vertical Mobility project to explore the next generation of mobility solutions, including the urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace. After intensive research, conceptual work, and development, the project team has now developed its first validation model – the V.MO. This initial prototype has also been nicknamed the ‘Flying Tiger’ due to its distinctive black and gold livery, which was painted to commemorate its launch in the Year of the Tiger.

Urban air mobility is set to become a key market segment and the Group’s Vertical Mobility project in China is developing a new premium mobility concept aimed initially at high-net worth tech-savvy Chinese customers.

CEO Wöllenstein: “Our long-term aim is to industrialize this concept and, like a ‘Flying Tiger’, break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market.”

The prototype concept is based on existing autonomous driving solutions and battery technology for emission-free mobility. With a luxury x-wing configuration of 11.2m in length and a span width of 10.6m, the model features eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight. The Group will conduct several flight tests later this year to optimize the concept and an improved prototype will undergo further advanced test flights by late summer 2023. In its final future iteration, the fully electric and automated eVTOL could eventually carry four passengers plus luggage over a distance of up to 200km.

Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, Dr. Thomas Manfred Müller, Executive Vice President responsible for Group R&D, and the Vertical Mobility project team

Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, pictured above with the project team, said: “Through this pilot project, we are bringing Volkswagen’s long tradition of precision engineering, design, and innovation to the next level, by developing a premium product that will serve the vertical mobility needs of our future tech savvy Chinese customers. This is a pioneering project which our young team of Chinese experts started from scratch – they are working with new design concepts and materials while developing new safety standards, disrupting and innovating every step of the way. The launch of this stunning validation model – the V.MO – is the first of many remarkable milestones on our exciting journey towards urban air travel, and a perfect example of our ‘From China, For China’ mission. Our long-term aim is to industrialize this concept and, like a ‘Flying Tiger’, break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market.”

Volkswagen Group China is rapidly expanding local R&D and software expertise to respond faster to what customers want and significantly accelerate the pace of innovation. With all results monitored and shared with the Chinese government, the Vertical Mobility project requires interdisciplinary and innovative thinking in a new field, and the Group formed a team of young, local experts to drive it forward. They have been supported by Chinese partners including Hunan Sunward Technology, a subsidiary of Hunan-based manufacturing group Sunward. The company specializes in aviation product development, sales and services and is a market leader in the light sport aircraft industry.

Urban air mobility is a fast-emerging market which aims to utilize air space for short- and medium-distance connections, especially above and between large cities. In China, it is set to play a significant role in the future of urban and intercity transportation in its congested megacities. In the first phase of its commercial use, V.MO is likely to be pitched as a premium product for high-net worth tech savvy Chinese customers, for example for VIP air shuttle services. eVTOL air vehicles will be able to transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport and with greater flexibility. As the Vertical Mobility project develops, Volkswagen Group China will work with the relevant Chinese authorities to achieve certification.

Following the launch of Volkswagen Group China’s electrical Vertical Take-off and Landing air vehicle (eVTOL) prototype – the V.MO, we speak to Zhou Jin, Project Manager & Product Owner, to find out more about the project and its next steps.

Southwest Airlines latest results

The U.S. budget carrier Southwest Airlines released its second quarter 2022 financial results this week,  which demonstrated the low-cost airline managed to achieve a strong quarterly net income of $760 million,  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.

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."

Air France - KLM second quarter results show net income at 324 million euros.....

Positive operating result at 386 million euros

Net income at 324 million euros, showing a 1.8 billion euros improvement compared to the same quarter last year

Positive adjusted operating free cash flow at 1.5 billion euros thanks to positive EBITDA and strong ticket sales. It improved by 1.3 billion euros compared to the same quarter in 2021

The Group has already successfully achieved 2.8 billion euros of equity measures of the up to 4 billion announced last February

Air France-KLM/Air France redeemed 1.6 billion euros of the French State perpetual bonds (including coupon). KLM fully repaid the State backed RCF and direct Dutch State loan amounting for 942 million euros

Net debt at 6.0 billion euros, down by 2.2 billion euros compared to end of 2021 thanks to a positive adjusted operating free cash flow and the rights issue completed in June 2022

Mr Benjamin Smith, Group CEO, said: “The strong recovery we see this summer is putting the entire aviation industry to the test. While Air France-KLM had prepared for close to pre-pandemic demand levels, our airlines are not immune to the major operational challenges taking place around the world. Customer satisfaction is at the top of our priorities and we know we have not fully been able to deliver the quality of service that has come to be expected from us. I would like to thank our customers for their trust and patience. I would also like to express my gratitude towards our employees for their unwavering commitment, even in difficult situations. It is thanks to their dedication and sense of collective responsibility that we are able to post better-than-expected revenues and results this quarter. Going forward we will continue to implement our strategy in order to further transform our organization. We aim to increase our resilience to the changes of our environment while continuing to accelerate our efforts to make our Group and aviation as a whole more sustainable.”

Air France-KLM Group: Second quarter operating margin at 2019 level despite the steep increase of fuel cost

	Second quarter				Half year
	2022	Change		Change constant currency	2022	Change	Change constant currency
Passengers (thousands)	22,803		+224.5%		37,326	+215.0%
Capacity (ASK m)	72,127		+81.9%		130,192	+75.3%
Traffic (RPK m)	61,365		+243.4%		104,499	+227.7%
Passenger unit revenue per ASK (€ cts)	7.41		+93.6%	+89.1%	6.51	+91.8%	+87.9%
Group unit revenue per ASK (€ cts)	8.52		+46.1%	+42.1%	7.73	+41.4%	+38.0%
Group unit cost per ASK (€ cts) at constant fuel	7.98		+3.2%	-12.7%	7.71	-4.6%	-15.6%
Revenues (€m)	6,707		+143.9%	+138.7%	11,152	+127.1%	+123.8%
EBITDA (€m)	931		1,180	1,186	1,152	2,029	2,050
Operating result (€m)	386		1,139	1,145	36	1,970	1,989
Operating margin (%)	5.8%		+33.1 pt	+32.8 pt	0.3%	+39.7 pt	+39.5 pt
Net income - Group part (€m)	324		+1,813		-228	+2,744
Adj. operating free cash flow (€m)	1,532		+1,322		2,163	+3,297
Net debt at end of period (€m)1					6,036	-2,180

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.

.

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.