Fly me to the Moon! NASA's Orion spacecraft with the Airbus-built European Service Module is ready for launch

NASA's Orion spacecraft will be launched in a few days from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on its mission to the Moon. The Airbus-built European Service Module (ESM) will power Orion to and from its lunar orbit as part of NASA’s Artemis missions. Airbus has developed the ESM as prime contractor for the European Space Agency ESA and is designing and manufacturing a further five ESMs.

The ESM is a key element of Orion, the next-generation spacecraft that will carry astronauts beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since the Apollo programme ended in the 1970s. The module provides propulsion, power and thermal regulation and will supply astronauts with water and oxygen on future missions. The ESM is installed below the crew module. Together, the two make up the Orion spacecraft.

"The launch of NASA's Orion spacecraft with the European Service Module has historic significance 50 years after the last astronaut lunar mission and is another major step toward returning astronauts to the Moon. The programme is now moving forward and we are ready for a return to the lunar surface in 2025 together with our customers ESA and NASA and our industrial partner Lockheed Martin Space," said Jean-Marc Nasr, head of Space Systems at Airbus.

The launch of the first Orion spacecraft using NASA's new ‘Space-Launch System’ rocket will be crewless and will take Orion more than 70,000 kilometres beyond the Moon to demonstrate its capabilities. Artemis II, planned for around 2024 and powered by the ESM-2, will carry four astronauts to space and return them safely to Earth. Then, a year later, the ESM-3 will ensure that another Orion capsule safely carries the first woman to the Moon. The technologies developed and experience collected during the Artemis Missions will be fundamental for possible future long-term missions to Mars, for example.

The ESM consists of more than 20,000 parts and components, from electrical equipment to thrusters, solar arrays, propellant tanks, life support materials and several kilometres of cables and hoses.

Cebu Pacific boosts route network....

Cebu Pacific boosts international route network

Philippines-based Cebu Pacific continues to expand its route network and ramp up its direct international flights. Beginning August 29, 2022, the airline will fly daily from Manila to Bangkok, coming from its current five-times-a-week frequency. By September, flights from Manila to Bali will also increase from thrice to five times weekly.

The airline also intends to restart its Manila-Brunei flights by September 1, starting with a twice-weekly frequency.

“We are happy to keep growing our international network as we see an increasing demand for travel abroad, and as more destinations ease restrictions. It is exciting and encouraging to see more Filipinos travelling confidently in and out of the Philippines, that is why we make sure we consistently provide convenient and affordable flight options to enable everyone to travel more for less,” said Xander Lao, CEB Chief Commercial Officer.

Cebu Pacific will also incrase flights to Seoul, South Korea, starting September 9, the carrier will increase its flights to Seoul's Incheon Airport to a daily operation.   

“These additional flights will enable more passengers from VisMin to fly to South Korea any day of the week so they may finally make their travel dreams a reality. This ramp-up just two months after the route is a testament to our commitment to everyone and reflects the travel demand amongst Filipinos and foreigners,” said Cebu Pacific's Corporate Communications Director, Carmina Reyes-Romero.

London solidifies its spot as a top global travel destination for North American travellers in 2022

Strong flight bookings and hotel occupancy rates demonstrates London as an “it” destination with a number of major events and happenings underway through the remainder of the year

New hotel openings and US-UK flight routes ensure the city is primed for US visitors this fall and winter

Top events include NFL London, Frieze London, the London Marathon and holiday favourites Christmas at the Kew and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park

London continues to be one of the top destinations for global travellers, with the UK capital reporting its strongest hotel occupancy numbers and flight bookings since the pandemic. The “it” destination celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this past spring with record crowds, top-notch entertainment and royal family sightings. Visitors from North America continue to outpace other international markets, ranking London among the top destinations on their travel bucket list.

According to the latest Traveler Insights Report from Expedia Group Media Solutions, London was the third most booked destination globally in Q2 and the second most booked international destination by North American travellers. London also ranked as the number one booked destination for travellers from the Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa regions1. Separate research from ForwardKeys reports that North American travellers are showing a strong appetite for visiting London this Autumn, with flight bookings up by 227% compared with the same time period last year. 

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were a major draw for US visitors, with data from Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the group that oversees six royal palaces across London and the UK, revealing that visitors from the US made up 45% of total ticket sales for the iconic Tower of London in June, up 27% compared to pre-pandemic sales.3 According to STR data, London’s hotels saw their highest bookings in June 2022 since July 2019, with a reported 83.1% occupancy4.

The second half of 2022 is poised to continue to see strong visitor numbers from North America with lots of exciting events, festivals, exhibitions and cultural activities for visitors to look forward to. Travellers to London will be able to enjoy cultural and sporting events such as Frieze London, NFL in London, the London Marathon, and concerts by major artists such as Drake, KISS and Swedish House Mafia. Furthermore, London is set to welcome visitors to the city during the most festive time of the year, to partake in events such as Christmas at Kew, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio, the Great Christmas Pudding Race or shop at the many holiday markets and winter pop-ups around the city.

Laura Citron, CEO at London & Partners, which runs Visit London, said: “London has been brimming with energy and excitement and it’s fantastic to see visitors from all around the world returning to our city. So far, 2022 has been a massive year for London which saw us celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, as well as the return of major sporting events, festivals, theatre shows and our world-class museums and galleries. We’re seeing a huge pent-up demand for North American travellers to visit London this fall and winter, with lots of opportunities for visitors to enjoy some of our world-leading cultural and festive activities for the rest of this year.”

More Flight Options for Visitors from North America

A number of airlines have recently launched new air routes to London making a visit to the city an even easier trip to plan for many. In June, British Airways became the first airline to offer a direct route to London from Portland adding a new route for visitors from the west coast. British Airways also resumed flights from Pittsburgh and San Jose to cater to increased demand. In the first week of August JetBlue flew its inaugural flight from Boston to London. Meanwhile, United Airlines also launched a new Boston to London route in March while increasing frequency of flights to London from Newark, Denver and San Francisco after data showed that London was one of the most booked international destinations, particularly amongst business clientele. In November 2022 Virgin Atlantic will launch its new Tampa to London route just in time for the holiday season. According to the latest flight data, on average there are over 100 flights a day from the US to London5.

Luxury Hotel Openings Hint Towards London’s Lasting Appeal

Major events and happenings such as Frieze London, Wimbledon and London Fashion Week draw affluent travellers who seek out luxury accommodations so it should come as no surprise that a number of luxury hotel brands are opening new hotels in London. One of the most anticipated hotel openings this year is the Raffles London at the OWO which is set to open in late 2022. The former Old War Office on Whitehall has undergone a renovation that will include 120 rooms, 85 residences and 11 bars and restaurants, including a rooftop restaurant and bar with views of The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Also slated to open later in the year Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced a new hotel in London’s Mayfair. In addition to a new Mandarin Oriental, the affluent neighbourhood of Mayfair is set to welcome two additional new hotels in 2023. The long-anticipated 1 Hotel is slated to open its doors in 2023 with a mission-driven, sustainability-focused design. This year St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announced it will open its first hotel in London with the new property in Mayfair set to open its doors in 2023.

 For additional destination and travel information, please go to visitlondon.com

Iceland's Play releases details of Q2 performance

PLAY carried approx. 181 thousand passengers in Q2 and the load factor was 74.8%, The passenger numbers increased between months and the load factor strengthened. This favourable trend has continued into Q3 and 110 thousand passengers flew with PLAY in July which is mainly due to PLAY‘s connecting flights across the Atlantic Ocean between major cities in Europe and the United States. The booking status for autumn and winter remains good.

“We can safely say that PLAY has now emerged from the tough obstacle course of the startup and expansion phase and smoother sailing is ahead. Over the past months, we have created a solid foundation that we will use to keep developing PLAY as a successful company. The second quarter of 2022 was the last hurdle towards running our business model which came into full effect in July, at the beginning of the third quarter. After rapid expansion with many new destinations, the deployment of our VIA operations and receiving new aircraft, our operations are now stable. 

I am so proud of the people working at PLAY who have managed to start this company during a volatile time in a complicated business environment. We are now coming out of the development phase with a strong financial position and finally, the external conditions are more favourable after strong headwinds. Oil prices are, for example, going down fast. We see brighter times ahead, our booking status is strong and we plan on showing a positive operating result later this year. People are clearly not deterred from travelling because of the coronavirus anymore. We see that in the increase of our long-term bookings and a drop in cancellation coverage. Our biggest objectives this coming winter are receiving four new aircraft, which will be added to our fleet next year, and hiring more crew members. 300 great people are already working at PLAY and that group will be even bigger next year when we will hire 200 more,” says Birgir Jonsson, PLAY‘s CEO.

Booking flow is strong and load factor growing.

PLAY has carried approx. 181 thousand passengers in Q2 and anticipates approx. 800 thousand passengers this year.

The financial position of the company is strong. Cash and cash equivalents on June 30 amounted to USD 39.5 million with restricted cash. The equity ratio was 13.4% and the company has no external interest-bearing debt.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were negative in Q2 2022 in the amount of USD 14.4 million, as expected as the company had yet to reach economies of scale.

As of July 2022, PLAY has started operating the full hub-and-spoke network.

PLAY reached its cost target ahead of time, being under 4 US cents unit cost (CASK excl. fuel).

Unit cost continues to decrease with expanded operation, and PLAY anticipates positive operating results in the latter half of this year. 

Operating revenues are rapidly increasing and PLAY expects the turnover to be USD 150-160 million this year.

PLAY’s destinations are now 25.

PLAY expects to carry around 800 thousand passengers in 2022 and report revenue of approx. USD 150-160 million. Unit cost (CASK excl. fuel) continues to decrease with the expanded operation and PLAY expects operational profit later this year. PLAY reached its cost target ahead of time, being under 4 US cents CASK excl. fuel due to effective cost control and increased economy of scale with more aircraft.

During Q2, the main focus was on preparing for the airline’s operational ramp-up before the summer schedule and the hub-and-spoke operation, and by the time Q3 started, PLAY’s full hub-and-spoke network was in place with six aircraft in operation. PLAY successfully started operating flights to fourteen new markets in Q2.

Aviation Capital Group releases inaugural ESG report

Aviation Capital Group has released its first Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Report, for the year ended December 31, 2021.

ACG is proud to prioritize sustainability and ESG responsibility. We are committed to researching and implementing ways to build a cleaner future, maintain a successful, sustainable business and retain a great work environment for our employees. The aviation industry has some important targets, and we are excited to be a part in reaching, and hopefully surpassing, those goals.

“On behalf of everyone at ACG, I am very pleased to present our inaugural ESG report, which details the Company’s focus on equity, engagement and sustainability,” commented Thomas Baker, CEO & President. “This report highlights specific initiatives we’ve developed to advance our ESG goals, as well as collaboration with others to work toward a better future. As we continue to build our ESG platform at ACG, we are excited to see the near- and long-term impact our actions have on our company, our communities and the aviation industry.”

The report can be found on our website at www.aviationcapital.com/investors/

Canadian North announces changes in Executive team

Canadian North is making changes to the Executive Team of the organization.

Shelly De Caria has accepted a newly created position of Associate Vice President, Sales within the Executive Leadership Team.  Reporting to the Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Distribution, as well as to the Executive Chairman and President & CEO, she will continue to bring her valued experience with our customers, communities and company to this position.  Mrs. De Caria has been with the organization since 2013 holding progressively senior roles in the areas of sales and community relations. After attending Concordia University in Montreal, Mrs. De Caria was a key staff member at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) in Ottawa prior to joining First Air. 

Nick (JB) Purich joins as Chief Financial Officer. Most recently from the Saskatoon Airport Authority, Mr. Purich served as Vice President, Corporate Administration and Chief Financial Officer. He has held previous positions as VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Wasaya Airways and before Wasaya, served in a leadership role at Ernst & Young. He is a graduate of the Edwards School of Business and holds a Master’s degree in accounting from the University of Saskatchewan. Mr. Purich holds his CPA, CA designations.

American Airlines Names Ganesh Jayaram Chief Digital and Information Officer

American Airlines today announced that Ganesh Jayaram has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO), effective Sept. 1. Jayaram will report to American’s CEO Robert Isom.

“Ganesh has a proven ability to drive innovation in large, complex global organizations that are focused on operational reliability,” said Isom. “His leadership style, global expertise and success in building and implementing both business and technology strategy will serve him incredibly well as he steps in to lead our technology team. We look forward to having him join our senior team early next month.”

In his role as CDIO, Jayaram will provide leadership, vision, and direction for American’s technology organization supporting both technical and business strategic objectives. This includes leading and shaping the roadmap for defining the role technology will play in driving customer and team member experiences.

Jayaram joins the airline from Deere & Company where he has led the information technology organization since 2016 and served as its Chief Information Officer. He spent more than 15 years at Deere, holding several key leadership roles, including Vice President of Information Technology, and Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Business Development.

Prior to Deere, Jayaram worked at Danaher Corporation and Canon USA Inc. He began his career at Boston Consulting Group. Jayaram earned a Bachelor of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi and a doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University.

Jayaram will succeed Maya Leibman, who previously announced she will be relocating to the United Kingdom for family reasons. Leibman will assist with leading the transition through the end of the year and take on new international responsibilities in 2023. Leibman joined American in 1994 and has served as the airline’s Chief Information Officer since January 2012.

“Maya has been a central leader in American’s evolution over the past decade,” added Isom. “Her leadership has left an imprint on our entire organization, and we are thankful for all that she has done. She has set us up well for this transition and we look forward to her continued leadership at American.”

2022 World Financial Symposium (WFS) will focus on reshaping airline resilience.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2022 World Financial Symposium (WFS) will focus on reshaping airline resilience. The event will take place from19-22 September in Doha, Qatar, with Qatar Airways as the host airline.

Following the greatest shock to aviation in history, the industry is emerging rapidly from the pandemic and government-mandated travel restrictions of the past two years. Industry losses are expected to reduce to $9.7 billion this year from nearly $180 billion in red ink in 2020-21. As travel barriers fall in most regions, very strong demand is supporting expectations for a recovery to pre-COVID-19 traffic levels by 2024, with profitability a possibility in 2023. 

At the same time airline debt levels have soared as carriers borrowed to stay aloft during the crisis. And finance departments across the industry will face challenges as the industry achieves its 2050 fly net zero commitment. 

Wizz Air backs down over Abu Dhabi - Moscow route

Wizz Air,  the rapidly growing budget carrier has back down over relaunching flights between Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Moscow after receiving criticism in the media, from the travel industry and from passenger on social media.

The budget airline that received huge government support during the height of the coronavirus pandemic had previously said its Abu Dhabi operation would restart flights to Moscow from October this year.   

However, the company issued a statement before the weekend saying the flights were deferred until further notice. It sited “industry supply chain limitations”. 

Wizz Air in the UK holds a 49% stake in Wizz Air Abu Dhabi whose aircraft carry the European airline’s name and branding. The rest of the airline is owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ.

The United Arab Emirates has not imposed sanctions on Russia and its airlines are continuing to operate services to Moscow, regardless of the invasion of Ukraine.  Emirates is still suppling cargo arrangements on its aircraft for the Russian government as well as providing it with crucial banking and foreign exchange access. 

Finavia develops the customer experience at its airports – this is how data and people come together

Valuable data collected from passenger surveys and the observations made by Finavia’s customer service representatives are at the heart of developing the customer experience.

Finavia continuously develops the customer experience at its airports.

“We want to provide arriving, departing and transfer passengers with a smooth, stress-free and memorable experience at our airports,” says Katja Siberg, SVP, Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience at Finavia.

Feedback collected from customers and the refined data based on the feedback are valuable tools in development efforts.

“We obtain information on customers’ wishes and needs from our regular customer surveys, direct customer feedback and the observations made by our personnel. This information enables us to respond to customers’ wishes quickly as necessary,” Siberg notes.

Many changes have been made at Helsinki Airport on the basis of customer feedback.

AirAsia Thailand Flying Direct to Japan for the First Time!

AirAsia Thailand (FD) launches flights to Japan for the very first time, introducing direct flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Fukuoka, the largest city on the Japanese island of Kyushu and home to many attractive travel destinations.

The low-fare AirAsia route launches with 3 flights a week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) from Don Mueang Airport this 12-28 October2022 before increasing to 4 flights a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday) from 30 October onwards.

AirAsia is launching this inaugural route with promotional fares for BIG members starting from only 4,888 THB each way and 4,928 THB for regular passengers. Book this 22-28 August 2022 for great discounts for travel from 12 October 2022 to 23 March 2023. Pre-book 20 kg of checked baggage during the promotional period and receive an additional 30 kg FREE! Book with ease using airasia Super App.

AirAsia Thailand Chief Executive Officer, Mr Santisuk Klongchaiya stated: “Japan is a top leisure favourite destination for Thai travellers, with many intent on visiting the country as soon as it reopens to tourism. Acknowledging this opportunity, AirAsia Thailand decided to introduce Fukuoka as its first destination in Japan, presenting travellers with a new and different take on the nation through a city known for being welcoming and budget-friendly.”

“Fukuoka might not be the first city that comes to mind for people thinking of visiting Japan, but anyone who experiences it is sure to be deeply impressed. Our flights to the city begin just in time for autumn when the weather begins to cool and the trees change colour with the stunning sakura blooms, a favourite time for Thais getting ready to celebrate the end of the year. Flying out of Don Mueang Airport makes this route even more convenient, so we’re inviting everyone to journey to Fukuoka for its cooler and colourful season,” Mr Santisuk said.  

Don Mueang Airport to Fukuoka will be serviced by AirAsia Thailand (FD) on a spacious 236-seat Airbus A321 neo adhering to stringent health and safety standards. The flight offers a new perspective on Japan and brings Fukuoka closer to Thai travellers.

Fukuoka is the largest city on the island of Kyushu and is home to a wide variety of interesting travel destinations spanning culture, history and nature with its wealth of hot springs, shopping centres and even ski resorts. Visitors can also easily continue from Fukuoka to nearby Yufuin and Beppu, Japan’s most famous places for hot springs, visit Dazaifu Tenmagu Shrine, pray for success on an upcoming test at Nanzoin Temple or hit the slopes in Kujyu, the largest skiing resort on Kyushu. With convenient travel in and around the city and relatively lower costs, Fukuoka is a very attractive destination for travellers to Japan.

Qantas is reaching out to millions of its customers to say sorry

Qantas is reaching out to millions of its customers to formally apologise for recent operational challenges and thank them for their patience as the national carrier works to get back to its best after COVID.

The airline is rolling out a range of initiatives to improve mishandled bags and on time performance as it also deals with high levels of sick leave (due to flu, COVID and isolation requirements) as well as an industry-wide labour shortage.

Qantas has hired 1,500 new people since April with more to come, adjusted flight schedules and invested $15 million in new technology at key airports to help smooth the travel experience.

Speaking directly to Frequent Flyers via an email and video message being sent on Monday, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce acknowledged while it was great to see people back on-board after so long on the ground, the return to flying hasn’t all gone smoothly.

“Over the past few months, too many of you have had flights delayed, flights cancelled and bags misplaced. There are good reasons why, but when it comes to what you expect from Qantas, it’s not good enough.

The North is set for an economic boost as direct links to China are restored from Manchester Airport

Major boost for the North as flights to and from China restarts today from Manchester Airport

The service will operate weekly each Monday arriving at 10:00 and departing at 15:00

The route’s return is being praised by various organisations across the North including in Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria

The North is set for an economic boost as it was confirmed direct air links with China will be restored for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Hainan Airlines has announced it will resume its Beijing-Manchester service from Monday 22nd August.

The airline started flights from the Northern hub in 2016, with the route going on to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in trade, investment and tourism benefits.

The UK and Chinese governments last week agreed Manchester-China was one of the air corridors that could resume after a two-and-a-half year hiatus, and Hainan has moved quickly to start operating the popular service again, in time for the busy student season.

Hainan Airlines will use an A330 aircraft with both economy and business classes

The news has been hailed as a major boost to the North and UK’s levelling-up ambitions, with Manchester Airport becoming the only gateway outside of London with a direct service to mainland China.

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said:  “Today’s announcement is clear evidence of the vital economic role that Manchester Airport plays, both in the North and the UK as a whole, as we emerge from the pandemic. Prior to 2020, the Hainan service provided vital connectivity to one of the world’s most important economies and I am sure this news will be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of people across the North who travel to and from China each year.

It is extremely positive to see critical routes like this return to our departure boards and we look forward to working closely with Hainan Airlines to build on the previous success of this route.”

Pre-pandemic, there were around 100,000 people a year who travelled between Manchester and Beijing from the airport’s catchment area.

Economic impact studies showed the route led to a 38% increase in Chinese visitors to the North, with an average spend per visit increasing by 94%, and export values grew by 41%. 

The return of the route will also be incredibly encouraging for the more than 40 universities across the airport’s catchment area that welcome thousands of Chinese students each year.

Due to policy in China, the outbound service to Beijing will initially stop in the Chinese city of Dalian, but the inbound service will be direct from Beijing.  From October the service will operate on a Tuesday.

 

Canada Jetlines Receives Air Operating Certificate from Transport Canada

Canada Jetlines, the new, all-Canadian, leisure airline, has received its air operating certificate (AOC) from Transport Canada, granting approval to initiate operations out of its travel hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Securing the AOC confirms that Canada Jetlines has all required professional capabilities and adheres to all safety regulations needed for aircraft operations. Canada Jetlines looks forward to its inaugural flight and will be releasing new destinations and updated scheduling shortly.

“The entire team at Canada Jetlines is thrilled to obtain our AOC after meeting all necessary operation standards and passing all inspections,” shared Eddy Doyle, CEO of Canada Jetlines. “We thank Transport Canada and greatly appreciate the tireless effort and diligence they undertake to approve new airlines. We excitedly look forward to our launch date, meeting the increased demand for convenient, leisure travel in Canada and beyond and to provide more options to explore the world.”

Visit Jetlines.com to learn more and book reservations and vacation packages with your preferred travel agent. Follow Canada Jetlines on all social media platforms and follow #CanadaJetlines for the latest news and updates.

American Airlines - Empowering Women in the Skies

American Airlines Flight Operated by an All-Black Female Crew in Honour of Bessie Coleman

American Airlines hosted the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1921. She bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the path for many to follow.

To honour her legacy, American hosted Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s great-niece, on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Phoenix. The flight was operated by an all-Black Female crew — from the pilots and Flight Attendants to the Cargo team members and the aviation maintenance technician.

American is being intentional in its efforts to diversify the flight deck. Black women have been notably underrepresented in the aviation industry, especially as pilots, representing less than 1% in the commercial airline industry. Through the American Airlines Cadet Academy, the airline is committed to expanding awareness of and increasing accessibility to the pilot career within diverse communities.

The historic flight crew

Beth Powell
Pilot, Boeing 737 Captain

Charlene Shortte
Pilot, Boeing 737 First Officer

Cheryl Gaymon
Flight Attendant

Mary Roberson
Flight Attendant

Vanessa Bennett
Flight Attendant

Breana James
Flight Attendant

Sharron Brooks
Ramp Crew Chief

Nicole White
Ramp Crew Chief

Maya Matthews
Fleet Service Agent

Natasha Williams
Fleet Service Agent

Alisha Bates
Fleet Service Agent

Patricia Milfort
Manager on Duty, Customer Operations

Tracy Brown
Customer Service Agent

Arlene Law
Customer Service Coordinator

Lynette Daniels Moody
Customer Service Coordinator

Lillie Hayes
Customer Service Coordinator

Kacy Stevenson
Customer Service Coordinator

Muje Abdul-Qadir
Control Center Coordinator

Pamela Calton
Aviation Maintenance Technician

Crystal Tochi McDaniel
Duty Manager, Cargo Services

Audrey Van Hook
Cargo Crew Chief

Sandra Butler
Cargo Crew Chief

Jessika Mejia
Premium Guest Services Representative

Veronda Butler
Senior Manager, Premium Guest Services

Acquisition of Alliance would not lessen competition says Qantas

This week Australia's leading airline Qantas issued a statement that reaffirmed its view that its acquisition of Alliance Aviation Services Ltd would not lessen competition in Australia’s highly competitive charter segment.

Qantas currently owns just under 20 per cent of Alliance and is its biggest customer, wet leasing up to 18 Embraer aircraft that Alliance operates on the national carrier’s behalf on a number of routes.

In May, Qantas announced it had reached an agreement to fully acquire Alliance, enabling it to better serve the growing resources sector with a combined fleet. That agreement includes a condition for competition clearance.

Alliance represents around two per cent of the total Australian aviation industry and supplies about 30 per cent of the charter services, with the remainder split between Qantas (around 23 per cent), Virgin Australia (around 22 per cent) and a number of other operators.

Qantas has met with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and provided a detailed submission on the competitive nature of the charter services.

Since Qantas announced its planned acquisition of Alliance, Rex announced its acquisition of charter operator National Jet Express from Cobham Aviation, receiving ACCC clearance 11 days later, and Virgin Australia has been clear about its acquisition of new aircraft to expand its own resources flying. Several other airlines and aviation businesses also service the charter sector.

AirAsia partners Penang Global Tourism to further elevate Penang as region’s preferred tourism destination

AirAsia and Penang Global Tourism (PGT) signed a memorandum of collaboration (MOC) to elevate Penang as a preferred tourism destination in the region.

The MOC encompasses greater commercial collaboration and partnerships between the airline and the tourism body to create new business opportunities, develop joint sales and marketing campaigns, strengthen flight connectivity, and boost the state’s economy through tourism.

Already dubbed as one of the Best Destinations to Visit in 2022 by a global publication and Top 10 islands in Southeast Asia for 2022, Penang is set to welcome more tourists this year as AirAsia brings the region closer to the state with 184 flights weekly as a group. These include two new domestic routes launched recently from Kota Bharu and Sibu to Penang as well as several routes, which returned to the pre-pandemic frequency.

As a start of the collaboration, AirAsia will be offering great value fares to Penang from RM59 all-in* one way starting 15 August until 21 August 2022 for the travel period between 22 August 2022 and 18 April 2023.

AirAsia will not only drive both domestic and international tourists to Penang with a total of seven domestic and six international routes as a group, but will extend tourism promotion through its airasia Super App with exciting deals across airasia food, airasia ride, hotels, SNAP (hotel + flight combo), and more.

Australia's Qantas is expanding its South Pacific presence with the addition of Tonga to its network

Australia's leading international airline, Qantas is expanding its South Pacific presence with the addition of Tonga to its network and offering a new tropical destination for Australian travellers to explore.

Following the recent reopening of Tonga’s borders, Qantas will fly weekly between Sydney and Nuku’alofa’s Fua’amotu Airport. The four-and-a-half-hour flights will be the only direct services between Australia and Tonga.

Qantas has been operating services since December 2020, supported by the Australian Government’s Pacific Flights Program. These flights have maintained critical passenger and freight links while international borders were closed. From today, passengers can book a flight directly on qantas.com with services operating every Thursday to Tonga.

The inclusion of Tonga to the international network follows the recent commitment of weekly services to Samoa as Qantas grows its presence in the South Pacific Islands off the back of strong holiday travel demand.

Qantas will initially operate one flight a week with an Airbus A330 aircraft between Tonga and Sydney alongside the Samoa service.

"Since the opening of Australia’s border, we have seen strong demand across our Qantas-operated South Pacific services. In fact, Fiji is 50 per cent higher than pre-COVID demand, Noumea is 13 per cent higher and flights to Samoa are performing ahead of expectations." a Qantas spokesperson told us,  adding, "These flights will help Australian-based South Pacific Islanders visit family and friends back home, as well as providing travel hungry Australians a choice of Pacific neighbours to explore. We anticipate the Tonga services will be well-supported by both Tongan nationals and Australians and are excited to help strengthen family and community connections as well as boost tourism opportunities to this beautiful Pacific Island kingdom."

International flights are subject to government and regulatory approval.

State of Yucatán to Host ‘Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Event

Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022, sponsored by San Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will return on Tuesday, Nov. 15 to a regular list and an in-person awards ceremony — the first full gathering of Latin America’s gastronomic community since 2019. Previously held in Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Argentina, the awards program will return to Mexico in 2022 with a new home here in Mérida in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Yucatán.

 

Chefs, restaurateurs, media and gourmands will gather in the cultural and gastronomic capital of Mexico’s southeast region for the pinnacle of the year’s culinary calendar to celebrate the richness and diversity of Latin American cuisine. An exclusive events program hosted throughout Mérida will culminate in the awards ceremony on the evening of Nov. 15. Three special award announcements will precede the live program, including Latin America’s Best Female Chef Award on Sept. 20, the Icon Award on Oct. 11 and the American Express One To Watch Award on Oct. 25.

 

Despite the toll Covid-19 took on the region’s restaurant sector, 50 Best will celebrate more dining venues than ever before with the announcement of an inaugural list of 50 more restaurants ranked 51st to 100th best in Latin America. The 51-to-100 list will be announced on Nov. 3, shining a much-deserved spotlight on a greater number of hospitality establishments and the diverse culinary cultures of the region.

 

AeroVironment Acquires Planck Aerosystems, a Leading Provider of Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Navigation Solutions

AeroVironment a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, announced today it has acquired Planck Aerosystems, Inc, a leading provider of advanced unmanned aircraft navigation solutions. The acquisition will significantly accelerate AeroVironment’s development of advanced autonomy capabilities.

Founded in 2014, Planck has worked closely with customers from the U.S. Department of Defense, security agencies, allied governments and offshore industrials to develop customer-centric unmanned aircraft solutions. Planck’s products include embedded technologies and fully integrated unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and leverage their deep technical expertise in UAS guidance and navigation, autonomy and artificial intelligence.

Planck is a small technology company based in San Diego, California and will be acquired by AeroVironment’s Petaluma-based medium unmanned aircraft systems (MUAS) business segment to focus on integrating its flight autonomy solutions, such as ACE™ (Autonomous Control Engine), into AeroVironment’s offerings to enable safe, autonomous takeoff and landing from moving platforms on land or at sea in GPS-denied environments. Other solutions include AVEM™, a fully integrated mobile tethered sensor platform designed for persistent autonomous operation from moving vehicles and vessels in any environment, and a suite of machine-learning object detection and tracking systems that are customized for specific end-user needs.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has just announced a new route to Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.

Gulf Air and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport sign deal for new service

 

The national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air, in coordination with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RAK International Airport) has confirmed it will start a new scheduled service to Ras Al Khaimah on 3rd October 2022. 

The signing ceremony took place at Gulf Air Headquarters in Bahrain, represented by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gulf Air H.E. Mr Zayed R. Alzayani, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport’s Chairman H.E. Eng. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi, RAK Airport’s CEO Mr Atanasios Titonis, and RAK’s CEO of Tourism Development Authority Mr Raki Phillips; including Executive Management members from both companies.

The service will commence with a view to establishing a year-round scheduled operation between the two airports connecting the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah beyond Bahrain to regional and international destinations on Gulf Air’s global network.

 

Commenting on the signing H.E. Mr Zayed R. Alzayani said, “As the region’s leading boutique carrier with a global footprint, we look forward to adding Ras Al Khaimah to our network of seaside destinations and increasing our UAE points to three (3) with Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Today we signed on the commencement of services to proceed with operations to Ras Al Khaimah, and I am confident our passengers will be impressed with all the facilities and services Ras Al Khaimah International Airport has to offer”.

Pegasus Airlines appoints Ahmet Bağdat as Director of Marketing and E-commerce

Pegasus Airlines appoints Ahmet Bağdat as Director of Marketing and E-commerce

Ahmet Bağdat, who’s been serving as Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing at Pegasus Airlines since 2017, has been appointed as Director of Marketing and E-commerce.

18 August 2022 Ahmet Bağdat, who’s been serving as Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing at Pegasus Airlines since 2017, has been appointed Director of Marketing and E-commerce. Mr Bağdat will be responsible for Pegasus Airlines' brand management, e-commerce and digital channel management, data analytics, ancillary product development and management, loyalty management, guest experience functions, and leading the development and execution of the marketing strategy.

Ahmet Bağdat graduated from Boğaziçi University, Industrial Engineering and received his MBA from UCLA (University of California - Los Angeles) Anderson School of Management in 2011. He started his career as an MT at Demirbank/HSBC Bank in 2000. He then held positions as Management Information Systems Specialist at Alarko Tourism Group, Marketing Specialist at Turkish Airlines and Assistant Manager, Business Solutions at HSBC Bank. In 2006, he moved to Turkcell, first as Product Marketing Manager, Value Added Services then as Head of Offer and Solution Development. Between 2015-2017, he worked as Mobile Voice and Data Marketing Manager at Türk Telekom. In 2017, Ahmet Bağdat joined Pegasus Airlines as Head of Product Marketing and Ancillary Services and has been Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing for the last one and a half years.

Winnipeg to get a direct flight to Los Angeles with WestJet

One of the leading Canadian airlines, WestJet has announced a new route that will link Winnipeg with Los Angeles, from the end of October this year.  Last year, the Film and Television industry brought over $364.5 Million worth of production volume to Manitoba, and this new route will enable further growth and investment in the province.

WestJet says this service will operate three-times weekly on a year-round basis and should strengthen the integral ties and convenience in transportation between Winnipeg's expanding television and film industry and the world-renowned hub of entertainment itself, Los Angeles.

John Weatherill, WestJet, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: "WestJet is thrilled to be a part of this investment creating a new, direct link for business, tourism and entertainment between these two unique cites, building on our commitment to Winnipeg."

"Manitoba's film and television industry plays a key role in our provincial economy, and I want to commend WestJet for this strategic investment that will have significant benefits not only for the entertainment industry, but for Manitoba's tourism, trade and business sectors," said Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba. "As Manitoba's economy takes off into a new era of growth, I look forward to continuing to work with WestJet and all economic development partners to identify opportunities of growth and promote Manitoba as a destination of choice."