Viva Las Vegas! 10 must-see stops on a West Coast road trip

This June, Manchester will become the only city in the UK outside London to have direct flight to the West Coast of the US as Virgin Atlantic’s new service from Manchester Airport to Las Vegas gets underway.

Many visitors will be headed to Vegas to enjoy its casinos, sports and family attractions, but for others, the city will make the perfect springboard for an epic adventure across the states of Nevada, Arizona and California.

Here, we round up some of the essential pitstops on any West Coast itinerary. You could tick off all of these highlights, and more, on a two-week trip.

Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico celebrate new route between Boston and Mexico City

The Delta-Aeromexico Joint Cooperation Agreement (JCA) is expanding its operations between the United States and Mexico, marking a significant milestone in the aviation industry. Delta and Aeromexico recently celebrated the launch of their new service between Boston (BOS) and Mexico City (MEX) during a ceremony at Logan International Airport. This highly anticipated route, operated by Aeromexico, marks the airline's return to the Massachusetts capital. 

To celebrate this milestone, authorities and special guests gathered for an event at Logan International Airport, including Todd Smith, Director of Aviation Operations for Massport; Felipe Cuellar, Deputy Consul of Mexico in Boston; John Angel, Managing Director of Airport Operations for Delta; and Jose Zapata, Vice President of Sales for North America & Latin America at Aeromexico. 

As part of the celebration, customers who flew on the first flight to Mexico received commemorative gifts as a thank-you for being part of this important event. 

As the Delta-Aeromexico JCA continues to expand its operations, it reinforces its commitment to providing a seamless travel experience and strengthening the connection between the United States and Mexico, our country’s second largest trading partner.  

With a focus on safety, comfort, convenience and customer satisfaction, this partnership is poised to shape the future of cross-border air travel, offering travelers more options and opportunities to explore the rich cultures and destinations of both nations. 

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Nine Airline companies comprise a $30 billion club courtesy of co-branded credit cards

CarTrawler-sponsored research explores the jumbo economics of loyalty programs at Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, IAG, JetBlue, Qantas, Southwest, and United.

Co-branded credit cards deliver wheelbarrows of money for some airlines. The latest IdeaWorksCompany report explores how this has transformed frequent flyer programs (FFPs) and contemplates the effect upon customer loyalty. Many airlines have shifted from sole reliance on behavioural loyalty, which relies upon a customer’s expectations for service and quality. Carriers now embrace transactional loyalty which emphasizes exchange relationships where something is given and something is received. The report advises caution about over-reliance on the co-branding bounty and suggests focusing more on the overall customer experience.

Airline Loyalty Becomes a Billion Dollar Club was issued today as a 16-page report. It describes how airline FFPs generate revenue in the billions and provides abundant analysis and research on the business of co-branded credit cards:

 Delta Air Lines, with 7.5 million SkyMiles credit cards, saw payments from American 

Express jump by 24% to $6.8 billion for 2023.

 IAG (British Airways and Iberia), navigated Europe’s prevalent merchant fee 

restrictions and achieved outstanding Avios partner revenue of £1 billion.

 Southwest generated more than 22% of its 2023 total revenue from its Rapid 

Rewards program and Chase-issued credit card.

 Qantas achieved a revenue result of $96 per Frequent Flyer Program member with 

help from nearly 40 credit card options available to consumers in Australia.

Aileen McCormack, Chief Commercial Officer at CarTrawler commented on the report, “In today's aviation landscape, airlines are vying for price-conscious customers by providing greater rewards for their loyalty. The rise of ‘transactional loyalty’ - where passengers seek more incentives in exchange for their regular custom - has seen huge growth of frequent flyer programmes and co-branded credit cards, which have generated an incredible $30 billion in revenue for a selection of early adopting airlines. 

We understand that customers are seeking additional ways to spend their miles to gain value. This is why CarTrawler works with the world’s leading airlines to enhance their loyalty programmes by offering bespoke car rental earn & redeem functionality down to tier membership status and even fare class."

British Airways Executive Club members can book flights for £1

In a move to give customers even more choice when spending their Avios, British Airways has announced the latest improvement to its Executive Club loyalty programme by making every one of its flights available from just £1 plus Avios.

When booking any flight or holiday, Avios part payment invites customers to reduce the monetary cost of their booking by selecting the amount of Avios they would like to contribute. Until now, the maximum discount varied depending on multiple factors, whereas the airline is now giving customers the option to reduce their booking to just £1 using Avios.

Using Avios part payment is different to booking a Reward Seat, of which there are a limited number on each flight at a fixed rate. Members booking any flight can use Avios part payment regardless of the seat type, allowing more flexibility, with varying amounts of Avios to contribute.

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’ve listened to our Members’ feedback and we’re really excited to be introducing this latest update for them. We know that most of our customers choose the lowest cash amount when it comes to making Reward Flight bookings, so we anticipate this to be a popular option for those using Avios part payment too. Ultimately, our goal is to keeping adding more choice and flexibility for Members.”

Last year, British Airways Holidays introduced Avios part payment, with holiday package bookings starting from £1 + Avios.

Members using Avios part payment towards their booking will still collect Avios and Tier Points on their flight as well as any bonus Avios and Tier Points if applicable. Part payment can also be used for flights operated by American Airlines between the UK and North America, and British Airways codeshares with selected partners.

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Virgin Galactic Reports Inducement Award

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. announced that the Compensation Committee of Virgin Galactic’s Board of Directors approved the grant of time-based inducement restricted stock unit awards of 23,946 shares of Virgin Galactic common stock to one new non-executive employee, effective April 15, 2024.

The award was granted under Virgin Galactic’s 2023 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan, which provides for the granting of equity awards to new employees of Virgin Galactic. The restricted stock unit award will vest over a four-year period: 25% of the underlying shares will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% of the shares will vest over the remaining 12 quarters, subject to continued service. The award was granted as an inducement material to the new employee entering into employment with Virgin Galactic, in accordance with NYSE Listing Rule 303A.08.

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Security incident halts flights at Birmingham Airport

Flights at Birmingham Airport were halted today after a suspect package was found on an Emerald Airlines flight that had just taken off and was heading to Belfast.

A number of flights were either delayed or had to be diverted as the Emerald Airlines ATR aircraft operating the flight on behalf of Aer Lingus, returned to Birmingham and its passengers and crew off-loaded and investigations took place.

West Midlands Police confirmed they were called to the airport at around 16:00 following the discovery of the suspicious package.  In a statement, they said, "All passengers and crew were evacuated and specialist officers including the dog unit searched the plane."  

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed some flights were diverted during the two hours the airport was closed. Train services were also affected at the nearby Birmingham International Railway station.  Network Rail confirmed that at 18:20 all rail lines had reopened but disruption was likely to continue for some time. 

The undeclared item was later advised to be not a security risk. 

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New Aerozone and Academy launched at EMA

East Midlands Airport’s Aerozone and Academy are to officially open in new premises this week, heralding a new era of insight into the aviation industry for local students, adult learners and jobs seekers.

The Aerozone, the airport’s on-site education centre, provides an interactive and inspirational learning environment for children and young people aged 4 to 18 and is free of charge for school and college visits. The Academy offers free adult training including an ‘Introduction to the Aviation Industry’ course, and tailor-made pre-employment and upskilling training for around 200 unemployed or low-income adult learners a year and existing employees.

Previously the Aerozone and Academy were based in a building close to the airport’s main administrative offices but have now been relocated to new premises nearby which will officially open their doors on Friday 19 April.

The occasion will be marked with a special Aerozone visit by a group of 11-13-year-olds from Farnborough Academy in Clifton, along with a cohort of adult learners coming to the end of a two-week Exploring the Aviation Industry course. The aim of the school visit is for the students to learn about the variety of roles at the airport and to experience, through hands-on activities, what it’s like to work at an airport. The Academy course, now provided in partnership with Nottingham College, gives attendees a direct route for career or study progression within the aviation industry.

The students will be greeted by EMA’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths, along with Lilian Greenwood, MP for Clifton’s constituency, Nottingham South.

Steve Griffiths said: “We’re really pleased to open new premises for our Aerozone and Academy. It underlines our ongoing commitment to inspire generations of young people through a range of tailored interactive experiences and activities, along with free training courses to equip people with the skills needed to take up various careers available at EMA.”

 

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Sigurður Örn named as Chief of Business Development of PLAY

Sigurður Örn has joined PLAY airlines as Chief of Business Development. This is a new position within the company where Sigurður will oversee the expansion of PLAY's business ventures across all departments.

 

Sigurður Örn holds an MBA degree from the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and has an extensive background in aviation. Sigurður previously served as CEO and chairman of Bluebird Nordic and was board member of Avion Express. He also played a key role in negotiating major acquisitions for Avia Solutions Group (AGS), including Avion Express, SmartLynx, and Bluebird Nordic.  

 

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Sigurður Örn remarked, "It is very exciting to be joining PLAY at this pivotal moment. The company's remarkable growth, evidenced by its doubling of revenue last year while maintaining a competitive cost structure, positions PLAY for even greater success in the future. I am eager to contribute to this journey." 

 

PLAY's CEO, Einar Örn Ólafsson, also expressed excitement about Sigurður Örn's addition to the team, citing his wealth of experience and knowledge of the aviation industry as valuable assets.  

“We are excited to have Sigurður Örn joining our team. He brings valuable experience and knowledge of the aviation industry, which will be useful to the company. We have ambitious plans, and Sigurður Örn's expertise will undoubtedly bolster our efforts," says Einar Örn Ólafsson.

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Air France is putting its know-how in transporting sports equipment to work for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

All year round, Air France customers place their trust in the company to transport their luggage, “special baggage” (musical instruments, bulky items, etc.) and sports equipment.

With over 100,000 pieces of baggage carried every day to nearly 200 worldwide destinations, Air France has developed a real expertise in transporting items that require special attention.

This summer, the company is proud to be an official partner of the world’s biggest sporting event, and to accompany French and international athletes to their competitions. Whether transporting kayaks, bicycles, surfboards, sports wheelchairs or vaulting poles, the company’s teams will be on deck to meet this logistical challenge, especially during the traffic peaks expected around the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Preparations for the event have been underway for several months, both in Paris and at all Air France stopovers. The men and women of Air France share the enthusiasm surrounding this event and are fully mobilized for the occasion!

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Velocity Frequent Flyer amps up Points possibilities with new AGL partnership

Velocity Frequent Flyer and AGL have announced a new partnership that will give millions of Australians the opportunity to earn Velocity Points with AGL electricity or gas plans, to redeem on flights, holiday packages, household items and more.

To celebrate the launch of the new partnership that can benefit Velocity’s almost 12 million members and AGL’s 4.3 million customers, new and existing residential AGL customers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, where AGL operates, that switch their gas and electricity to the AGL Velocity offer before Sunday 30 June 2024 can earn up to 35,000 Velocity Points over 12 months.^ In Western Australia, where AGL operates, new and existing residential customers that make the switch to the AGL Velocity offer for gas can earn up to 12,500 Velocity Points over 12 months.^

35,000 Velocity Points is enough to book up to five one-way domestic Economy Lite flights with Virgin Australia^^ or redeem on various household, technology, beauty and apparel items at myer.com.au, via the Velocity Reward Store, with Luxury Escapes, and more.

Velocity Frequent Flyer and one of Australia’s leading energy retailers, AGL Energy, have entered into a new strategic partnership giving millions of Australians the opportunity to earn Velocity Points through electricity and gas plans.

The partnership will benefit eligible new and existing residential AGL customers who make the switch to the ‘AGL Velocity offer’^, opening up a new way for members to boost their Velocity Points balance and turn their energy plans into holidays.

Congratulating Hong Kong Int Airport.......

Celebrating the city's achievement and reaffirming its commitment to contributing to its home hub’s continued success.

Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for once again being named the world's busiest cargo airport in 2023, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI). As the city's home carrier for 77 years and the largest cargo operator at HKIA, Cathay Cargo is proud to be part of this success story.

Cathay’s Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “Hong Kong once again being named number one in the world for air cargo is a testament to the resilience, innovation and collaboration of the Hong Kong air cargo community. With its world-leading infrastructure, expertise and capabilities, supported by the increased development of intermodal connectivity within the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong continues to be at the forefront of the global air cargo industry.

“Cathay’s ongoing investments in our passenger and freighter fleets, our extensive cargo network, cargo facilities, and our digital and sustainability capabilities to meet the evolving needs of cargo customers, are a reflection of our deep confidence in the long-term future of the Hong Kong air cargo logistics hub. We certainly don’t take Hong Kong’s air cargo success for granted, and remain committed to continuing to work together with the Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Aviation Department, Airport Authority Hong Kong, all sectors in the air cargo industry, and countless other important stakeholders to continue to grow Hong Kong further as the world’s leading air cargo hub, and the premier air cargo gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.”

Finnair adds flights to Lapland: Experience a unique summer destination via Helsinki Airport

Finnair is adding more weekly flights from Helsinki Airport to Kuusamo, Ivalo and Kittilä for the summer holiday season. Both Finnair and Norwegian also provide flights to Rovaniemi, making Lapland even easier to reach in the summer. See below for tips on summer experiences in Lapland!

As a result of the added weekly flights, Finnair will fly to Kuusamo up to seven times a week in the summer. Kuusamo is an excellent destination, especially for hikers, as the national parks of Oulanka and Salla offer fantastic scenery for hikes. The Karhunkierros Trail, which runs through Oulanka, is perhaps the most famous hiking trail in Finland.

Finnair flies daily to Ivalo in the summer, with up to 11 flights a week. The experiences offered by Ivalo include Saariselkä Resort’s wide range of activities and the stunning sandy beaches of the Ivalo River – and the opportunity to learn more about the unique and rich Sami culture.

Finnair offers several flights a day to Rovaniemi, and in July there are up to 34 weekly flights to Santa’s hometown. Norwegian also flies to Rovaniemi. You can meet Santa Claus in Santa Claus Village all year round, but in the summer it is definitely worth it to try things such as canoeing and fishing in the midnight sun, as well as husky, reindeer and jet ski safaris.

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Looking for more tips for summer in Lapland?

Follow Vesku the Reindeer’s adventures and get inspired for your trip (Visit Finland).

Learn more about Ivalo, Rovaniemi and Kittilä.

There are also daily flights to Kittilä, to which Finnair flies up to 9 times a week. For those who do sports, Kittilä is a fantastic destination where some of Finland’s most famous holiday resorts serve daredevils all year round. Ylläs, for example, offers 190 kilometres of mountain bike trails in the national park’s old-growth forests and fells. It’s also worth visiting the nearby Pallastunturi fells, which have been proven to have the purest air in the world.

Marriott International accelerates growth across europe

Growth plans across the continent reflect the confidence owners continue have in the company

From the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Berlin, Marriott International, Inc. today announced plans to add nearly 100 properties and over 12,000 rooms to its portfolio in Europe portfolio through hotel conversions and adaptive reuse projects, the conversion of existing buildings into a hotel, by the end of 2026. The anticipated hotels represent more than 40 percent of the company’s European development pipeline expected to open during that period.

The robust growth plans are expected to strengthen the company’s footprint across Europe, where it currently has a portfolio of over 800 properties with nearly 150,000 rooms across 25 brands in 47 countries and territories.

“We continue to see meaningful growth across Europe through conversion and adaptive reuse opportunities, reinforcing the confidence our owners and franchisees have in Marriott International as they look to reposition assets and maximise returns,“ says Satya Anand, President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Conversions with Marriott offer owners and franchisees the opportunity to leverage our well-established brands, competitive affiliation costs, the company’s powerful revenue generation engines and Marriott Bonvoy – our award-winning travel programme with more than 200 million members.”

Brussels Airlines and Skywings Flight Training start new training for cadet pilots

Future pilots can be recruited by Brussels Airlines even before their pilot training starts.

                        Brussels Airlines launches a new partnership with Skywings, a flight training academy based in Antwerp. The program allows cadet pilots to be recruited by the airline even before they have started their training. Skywings will train these future pilots according to the high standards of Brussels Airlines and familiarize them to the airlines’ procedures.

Brussels Airlines has entered an exciting new era with growth and opportunities. New aircraft are joining the fleet and new destinations are being added to the network. To foster this growth, Brussels Airlines is hiring new recruits across the board. ​

To accelerate the onboarding process of first officers, Brussels Airlines launches a partnership with Skywings Flight Training in Antwerp. In close cooperation, a “Multi Pilot Licence-program” is created. This means candidates are being recruited together with the airline even before training starts. During the training, cadets immediately start the process for a Multi Pilot Licence (MPL), allowing them to fly planes with more than one pilot, which is the case of all aircraft Brussels Airlines operates. The candidates will also be trained on simulators and be familiarized with the procedures of the Belgium’s national airline.

Once the training is completed, these pilots can join Brussels Airlines as first officer on the A319 and A320 fleet, hereby making a lengthy selection process or an Ab Initio training within the airline redundant.

BOC Aviation latest results

BOC Aviation Limited has released headline figures of its most recent quarter results. Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said, “We had a strong start to the year, adding 10 aircraft to 2024’s delivery pipeline and signing 31 lease commitments, the best first quarter since 2020. Aircraft sales momentum remains strong and we have sold five aircraft so far in 2024. Meanwhile, our collection rate of 100% reflects the improved financial health of our airline customers and our risk aware culture.”

 

Transactions Summary 

 

·         A total fleet of 688 aircraft owned, managed and on order

 

·         An average aircraft age of 4.8 years and an average remaining lease term of 7.9 years for the 427 owned aircraft fleet, both weighted by net book value1

 

·         Managed fleet comprised 32 aircraft

 

·         Order book of 229 aircraft

 

·         Executed a total of 54 transactions in the first quarter of 2024, including:

Commitments to purchase 10 aircraft 

Delivery of five aircraft

Sale of four owned and one managed aircraft

31 lease commitments

 

·         Customer base of 90 airlines in 45 countries and regions in the owned and managed portfolios 

 

·         Owned aircraft utilisation was 99% for the first quarter

 

·         Raised US$500 million of five-year bonds