Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's both.... Bob got lost on the way to Gateshead from Guernsey and ended up in Alabama.......

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has safely transported award-winning racing pigeon Bob back home after he took a 4,000-mile detour to America.

In June, Bob took off from Guernsey, he was due to make the 10-hour trip home to Gateshead; however, somehow the pigeon found himself stranded in Alabama after taking a wrong turn. Luckily for Bob, and his owner Alan Todd, the Monroe County Alabama Animal Shelter took Bob in and were able to identify who the pigeon belonged to via his microchip.

Over the last month, IAG Cargo and British Airways have worked together to reunite Alan and Bob – and have flown them both back home to the UK.

Whilst IAG Cargo has been transporting animals ranging from dogs, to lions, to turtles since 1950 – this was the first pet pigeon that the cargo carrier has ever moved. When transporting animals overseas, it is important to check the healthcare requirements for pre-entry and re-entry. For example, Bob has been required to quarantine for a minimum of 30 days, a fee that has been waived by Heathrow animal Reception Centre (HARC).

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the business, including Aer Lingus, Vueling and bmi, IAG Cargo now covers a global network. 

 

In 2020 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,306 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. 

Valerie Hadley, Products Manager at IAG Cargo said: “We are glad to have been able to reunite Bob with his owner Alan. It was an amazing and unique experience to fly out to the US to support Bob’s move back to the UK. I’ve helped fly many animals during my time at IAG Cargo. However participating in a rescue mission for a lost and subsequently found racing pigeon is a first. . Although this move wasn’t one we had initially planned for, IAG Cargo’s global network meant we had the capacity and routes available to bring Bob safely back home.”

Emirates Skywards, is giving members even more reasons to explore the world this summer with exclusive bonus Miles offerings.......

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is giving members even more reasons to explore the world this summer with exclusive bonus Miles offerings. Enjoy splurging and rack up Miles this August on flights, hotel stays, car rentals, lifestyle partners and much more.

Earn up to 15,000 Miles on hotel stays*

• Emirates Skywards Hotels: Earn up to 15,000 Miles per night with more than 400,000 hotels, in more than 900 destinations worldwide.
•  Atlantis The Palm, Dubai: Earn up to 10,000 bonus Miles for a three-night stay.
• IHG Hotels & Resorts: Earn 1,000 bonus Miles per stay at any of the Intercontinental Hotels worldwide.
•  Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts: Earn double Miles per stay at any of the Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts worldwide.

Earn up to 6,000 bonus Miles on car rentals*

• Avis: Earn 6,000 bonus Miles per rental worldwide.
• Hertz: Earn up to triple Miles on car rentals worldwide.
•  SIXT: Earn up to 3,000 bonus Miles per rental worldwide.

Earn thousands of Miles on shopping*

• The Bicester Collection: Earn thousands of Miles this summer at the popular luxury shopping destinations within The Bicester Collection. Members can earn double Miles on all spends and triple Miles based on achieving the minimum spend criteria.
• utu: Get a chance to win a whopping 100,000 bonus Skywards as well as earn up to 1,750 bonus Miles with utu Tax-Free. Continue to earn Skywards Miles on Tax refunds in 50 countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East with utu Tax-Free app.

Lufthansa pilots vote for industrial action over battle over pay.....

Pilots at German airline Lufthansa voted on Sunday in favour of industrial action, by a margin of 97.6% 

The vote does not necessarily mean a strike will be held, but it was a signal to the employer that constructive steps needed to be taken, pilot's union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) board member Marcel Groels said.  "We are showing we are ready to talk," he added.

A spokesperson for Lufthansa said they respected the results of the vote and hoped for a constructive solution at the negotiating table.

Pilots' union VC is demanding a 5.5% pay rise this year for its pilots and automatic inflation compensation thereafter.

Emirates has resumed passenger services to London Stansted......

With the return of services to Stansted, the airline has ramped up its London operations to now offer customers nine daily flights to London, including six daily flights to Heathrow and a double daily flight to Gatwick.*

 Emirates continues to rebuild its UK and global network in response to increased demand for international travel.

The Dubai based Emirates has resumed passenger services to London Stansted (STN), serving its third London gateway with a daily flight. The airline has advanced plans to increase capacity from five-weekly services to a daily flight, starting from today. With the return of services to Stansted, Emirates has ramped up  its operations to London with nine daily flights, including six daily flights to Heathrow and a double daily flight to Gatwick.*  The added services will meet market demand and offer customers more travel choices and enhanced connectivity this summer.

London Stansted will be served by Emirates’ wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with its renowned ‘Game Changer' First Class product. Emirates flight EK65 will depart Dubai at 08:50hrs and arrive in London Stansted at 13:30hrs local time. The return flight, EK68 will depart London Stansted at 21:10hrs and arrive in Dubai at 7:10hrs local time, the following day.

London Stansted remains a key hub for the airline’s passenger and cargo operations. The daily service will offer customers in East and Southeast UK more travel options, flexibility, and convenience when travelling with Emirates to more than 130 destinations, via Dubai.

Finnair to start weekly service from Helsinki to Guangzhou, China

Finnair ready to start weekly service from Helsinki to Guangzhou, China

Finnair will operate a weekly service between its Helsinki hub (HEL) and Guangzhou (CAN) in China, starting 6 September. The flight will be operated with an Airbus A350 aircraft, with departures from Helsinki on Tuesdays and departures from Guangzhou on Thursdays. Flights are available through Finnair's direct sales channels and travel agents as of today.   

The Guangzhou flight offers connectivity to a range of Finnair’s European destinations with transfer testing, as required by the Chinese authorities, available at Helsinki Airport for the flight to Guangzhou. Further instructions available at finnair.com.

“We are excited to return to Guangzhou and look forward to gradually increasing our offering for the Chinese market,” says Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair.  

Finnair also flies to Shanghai once a week. Finnair has a network of some 70 European destinations for the winter season 2022. Helsinki Airport has been recently renovated to offer more space and even better and more convenient transfer experience.  

Find great hotels in China

Find great hotels in China

Turkish Airlines gets final 737 MAX jet from an order with BOC Aviation

BOC Aviation Limited is a leading global aircraft operating leasing company with a fleet of 608 aircraft owned, managed and on order has confirmed it has delivered the final aircraft of seven new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to Turkish Airlines. 

 

“This delivery reflects the strong level of cooperation that we enjoy with Turkish Airlines, building on our 18-year relationship,” said Mr. Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BOC Aviation. “We look forward to further developing our long and successful partnership with Turkish Airlines as we continue to provide our airline customers with more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft solutions,” added Mr. Martin.

BOC's owned and managed fleet was leased to 79 airlines in 36 countries and regions worldwide as of 30 June 2022. BOC Aviation is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Singapore with offices in Dublin, London, New York and Tianjin.

 

Turkish Airlines, is a company incorporated in Turkey and its shares are listed on the Borsa Istanbul. Its principal business is the operation of scheduled airline services, which is conducted from its primary hub at Istanbul Airport. Turkish Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and currently operating a fleet of 382 aircraft.

Air Models have a range of aircraft models, including some special 737 MAX models, including this one in the colours of flydubai.  

Other airlines featured include Air China,  Xiamen Air and China Southern 

IAG Cargo rescues racing pigeon, Bob, from Alabama bringing him home to the UK

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group, has safely transported award-winning racing pigeon Bob back home after he took a 4,000-mile detour to America.

In June, Bob took off from Guernsey, he was due to make the 10-hour trip home to Gateshead; however, somehow the pigeon found himself stranded in Alabama after taking a wrong turn. Luckily for Bob, and his owner Alan Todd, the Monroe County Alabama Animal Shelter took Bob in and were able to identify who the pigeon belonged to via his microchip.

Over the last month, IAG Cargo and British Airways have worked together to reunite Alan and Bob – and have flown them both back home to the UK.

Whilst IAG Cargo has been transporting animals ranging from dogs, to lions, to turtles since 1950 – this was the first pet pigeon that the cargo carrier has ever moved. When transporting animals overseas, it is important to check the healthcare requirements for pre-entry and re-entry. For example, Bob has been required to quarantine for a minimum of 30 days, a fee that has been waived by Heathrow animal Reception Centre (HARC).

IAG Cargo is the single business created following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo in April 2011. Following the integration of additional airlines into the business, including Aer Lingus, Vueling and bmi, IAG Cargo now covers a global network. 

 

In 2020 IAG Cargo had a commercial revenue of €1,306 million. It has a combined workforce of more than 2,250 people. 

Valerie Hadley, Products Manager at IAG Cargo said: “We are glad to have been able to reunite Bob with his owner Alan. It was an amazing and unique experience to fly out to the US to support Bob’s move back to the UK. I’ve helped fly many animals during my time at IAG Cargo. However participating in a rescue mission for a lost and subsequently found racing pigeon is a first. . Although this move wasn’t one we had initially planned for, IAG Cargo’s global network meant we had the capacity and routes available to bring Bob safely back home.”

Osmo from BYJU'S is bringing STEM-inspired kid zones to British Airways lounges this summer.

Osmo from BYJU'S is bringing STEM-inspired kid zones to British Airways lounges this summer. Osmo's suite of "phygital" learning products are designed to give kids the opportunity to play and learn at home, school or while on the go. During the peak family travel season, children will be able to get fun, hands-on experience with a range of Osmo toys in designated areas located across British Airways Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 Executive Lounges at London Heathrow and Gatwick Airport's South Terminal Executive Lounge.  Osmo Kids Zones with British Airways will be open for a limited period of time, starting 1 August 2022.

"Summer holidays are for fun activities and travelling, but as parents fill their children's time there are now ways to make the most of downtime with games that blur the line between learning and play," said Cherian Thomas, senior vice president of International Business at BYJU'S. "We are excited to bring families travelling with British Airways into the exciting world of Osmo before their flights, showing that fun and learning can happen no matter where you are."

utu and Air France-KLM partnership gives more choice to travellers to earn rewards as they shop tax-free at over 300 destinations.

utu and Air France-KLM partnership gives more choice to travellers to earn rewards as they shop tax-free at over 300 destinations.

utu (utu Pte Ltd), a Singapore-based travel-tech company, has announced a new partnership with Flying Blue, the frequent flyer programme of leading Franco-Dutch airline group Air France-KLM. The new collaboration takes utu's mission of revitalising the tax-free shopping and travel industry to a new level, with even more rewarding benefits.

"Flying Blue is pleased to partner with utu to provide our members new opportunities to earn Miles when they shop abroad," said Ben Lipsey, SVP Customer Loyalty, Air France KLM Group. "This innovative partnership is a first of its kind for a European airline group, and one which we think our members will love."

The Flying Blue frequent flyer programme under Air France-KLM is one of the most subscribed programmes in Europe, with over 17 million members. Together with its partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM operates the largest transatlantic joint venture, with more than 340 daily flights in 2019. 

The legend back on track.....Orient Express

The legend continues almost 140 years after the first Orient Express luxury trains changed rail travel forever. Orient Express, artisan of travel since 1883, announces the return of its legendary train and a new and unique format.

Carriage of the formerly known Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express in Poland Photo by Xavier Antoinet

With the support of Accor and leadership of its Chairman & CEO Sébastien Bazin, Orient Express has entrusted architect Maxime d’Angeac with a new, crucial, and historic mission: to revive the legend, by reinterpreting the decor of the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express. In 2024, just in time for the Paris Olympic Games, the first cars designed in collaboration with the finest French artisans will unveil the new charms of the Orient Express.

This contemporary vision of luxury and extreme comfort will invite travellers to relive the legend aboard 17 original Orient Express cars dating from the 1920s-1930s, adorned with exceptional decor. This set of carriages, most recently known as the “Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express” was a dream train cruise inaugurated in the early 1980s by the Swiss tour operator and businessman Albert Glatt, and in which ran between Zurich and Istanbul. Under the name of “Extrême-Orient-Express”, the train made the longest journey ever between Paris and Tokyo, before stopping a few years later and disappearing.

Jetstar's First A321 LR touches down in Australia

After a four year count down, Jetstar Airways’ first brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus A321LR (NEO) aircraft has touched down in Melbourne this morning, lifting the bar for low fares travel in Australia.

The long-range, fuel-efficient aircraft, which has come directly from the Airbus production line in Hamburg Germany, will significantly enhance the inflight experience for customers, with a range of benefits including wider seats, larger overhead storage lockers and in-seat USB power.

In the coming months, the NEOs will also be equipped with digital streaming technology which means customers can access Jetstar’s inflight entertainment on their own devices when they fly.

The A321LR is 15 per cent more fuel efficient than Jetstar’s current fleet of A320 aircraft, 50% quieter, and can fly up to 1200kms further – making it the lowest emissions aircraft in the Jetstar fleet.

This is first in Jetstar’s pipeline of 38 new NEO aircraft, with the aircraft set to start flying on some of Jetstar’s most popular domestic routes in early September, including from Melbourne to Cairns.

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