Airbus has delivered its first H160 helicopter in the United States to PHI Aviation, marking the beginning of H160 operations in the country. The aircraft is the first of four H160 helicopters that PHI will operate for offshore transportation in the Gulf of Mexico. Before commencing commercial operations, the helicopter will undergo a route-proving programme

Boeing has delivered the first CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopter to the U.S. Army, marking a significant milestone in the military’s modernization efforts. The upgraded aircraft is the first of up to 465 Chinooks in the Army’s fleet that will be modernized to the new Block II configuration. Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager

American Airlines has published its 2023 Sustainability Report, detailing efforts to address climate change and decarbonize aviation operations. The report outlines key initiatives from 2023, including a collaboration with Breakthrough Energy and Google Research on contrail avoidance, which could help reduce the industry’s climate impact. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said: “Thanks to the hard

Queenstown Airport is set to become the first in Australasia to install an advanced runway safety system, with work scheduled to begin this spring. The airport will invest over $20 million to install engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) beds at both ends of its main runway. EMAS technology is designed to safely stop aircraft that

Air Canada has announced an agreement with BOC Aviation Limited to acquire eight Boeing 737-8 aircraft, set to enter service in 2025. The new planes will undergo required modifications before joining Air Canada’s fleet, initially operating with a single Economy class layout. Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, said: “We look

Star Alliance’s Los Angeles International Airport lounge has been named North America’s Leading Airport Lounge at the World Travel Awards for the fifth year running. The award was announced at the Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony held in Saint Vincent on 1 July 2024. Star Alliance CEO Theo Panagiotoulias said: “Our aim at Star

Emirates has announced the first destinations to be served by its newly refurbished Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring upgraded cabin interiors and a new Premium Economy class. The airline plans to introduce the revamped 777s on routes to Geneva, Tokyo Haneda and Brussels, with flights now available for booking. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial

Air India is set to resume flights to Zurich after a 27-year absence, partnering with global air services provider dnata for ground handling operations. dnata has secured a multi-year contract to provide passenger, ramp and baggage services for Air India’s new four-weekly service between Zurich and Delhi. The airline will operate Boeing 787-8 aircraft on

Fiji Airways has announced it will join American Airlines’ AAdvantage travel rewards program, offering members new benefits and redemption options when flying with either carrier. The partnership, set to begin in the coming year, will allow AAdvantage members to enjoy priority services when traveling on Fiji Airways flights. Elite members will receive benefits including priority

RwandAir celebrated the first anniversary of its direct flight service between Paris and Kigali, strengthening connections between Europe and Africa. The airline launched the route in June 2023, operating three flights per week between the French capital and Rwanda’s capital city. Over the past year, RwandAir has operated more than 150 flights on the route

Thai Airways has announced a major technology upgrade through an expanded partnership with travel technology company Amadeus. The airline will revamp its website and mobile booking channels using Amadeus’ Digital Experience Suite to offer passengers a more personalized and seamless travel experience. Thai Airways will implement Amadeus’ Network Revenue Management system to optimize pricing and

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced plans to start daily flights between Singapore and Beijing’s Daxing International Airport from 11 November 2024, pending regulatory approvals. The new service will give travellers convenient access to Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin regions via the airport’s transport links. SIA will also increase flights to Beijing Capital International Airport to 21 weekly

Qatar Airways has been awarded the prestigious ‘Airline of the Year’ title by Skytrax for an unprecedented eighth time, cementing its position as a leader in the aviation industry. The airline also secured three additional accolades at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards, often referred to as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’. Key highlights:

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has announced the expansion of its European freighter network with a new route to Madrid, Spain. Key points from the announcement include: 1. Launch date: July 15, 2024 2. Service details: Two weekly Boeing 777 freighter flights between Abu Dhabi and Madrid Over 200 tonnes

British Airways and British Airways Holidays have announced their summer sale, offering discounts on flights and holiday packages to various destinations for travel in 2024 and 2025. The sale, running until July 11, 2024, includes deals for both beach and city destinations. Key highlights of the sale include: Flight-only deals: Antigua flights from £449 Barbados

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran has announced that the airline will add 30,000 seats to its Tokyo route from November to March, providing Japanese customers with more options to travel to New Zealand. The capacity increase, a result of the airline’s 777s flying more frequently to Japan, will offer 342 seats per

Batik Air has officially launched a new three times a week service between Canberra and Denpasar, becoming the second airline in the last twelve months to offer international flights from Canberra Airport. The inaugural flight, operated by a Boeing B737-800, touched down in Canberra at 7.00am today, with passengers receiving a traditional Welcome to Country

Neste has commenced supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Emirates for flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport, marking the first time an international visiting carrier has used SAF supplied at the airport from Neste’s Singapore refinery. Over the course of the last few weeks, more than 2,600 tons (3.3 million liters) of blended SAF have

Dominican Republic-based low-fare airline Arajet has taken delivery of its 10th Boeing 737 MAX aircraft as it continues to expand its fleet and international routes throughout the Americas. The newest 737-8, delivered through a lessor, supports Arajet’s growth strategy as the airline plans to more than double its routes in the next few years. Since

Air New Zealand has launched its first-ever Mangōpare Pilot Cadetship, designed to inspire more individuals to pursue a career as a pilot by reducing financial barriers and accelerating the journey to becoming a commercial pilot. The all-inclusive training programme will initially select 30 cadets to commence training in small cohorts from September 2024, with the

Airways International and Tāwhaki Joint Venture have announced a collaboration agreement to help drive the growth of the New Zealand aerospace sector by enabling the safe integration of new and existing aerospace technologies in the airspace system. The agreement, announced on June 11, 2024, identifies key target areas to fast-track testing of uncrewed aircraft that

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline, has announced the reinstatement of its daily passenger flights to the historic city of Axum as of June 9, 2024. The resumption of flights follows the successful completion of extensive maintenance work on both the airfield and terminal facilities, with a contract amount of 290 million Ethiopian Birr (ETB).

British Airways has partnered with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers to provide customers with a unique and picturesque journey to London City Airport. The offer, available to those flying with BA Cityflyer, British Airways’ subsidiary airline based at London City Airport, includes a 25% discount on Uber Boat tickets and a complimentary drink on the

Cathay Pacific has announced the launch of direct passenger flights connecting Hong Kong and Riyadh, the capital and financial centre of Saudi Arabia, starting from 28 October 2024. The new service aims to enhance connectivity, trade, and cultural exchange between Hong Kong and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The announcement was marked

Star Alliance is commemorating 10 years of operations at Heathrow Terminal 2, popularly referred to as the Star Alliance terminal by passengers. The terminal has served as the base for 23 Star Alliance member airlines, facilitating over 120 departures every day and representing nearly 20% of the available seat capacity from the airport. Theo Panagiotoulias,

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a 28% decrease in the amount of airline funds blocked from repatriation by governments, with the total blocked funds standing at approximately $1.8 billion at the end of April, a reduction of $708 million since December 2023. IATA reiterated its call for governments to remove all barriers

British Airways has opened its completely refurbished luxurious lounge at Lagos airport, following a six-month renovation project. The 360-square-metre space has been cleverly designed to provide customers with more room to relax, dine, or work in a premium setting, while also proudly showcasing local art from Akoje Gallery. The contemporary lounge features a grand entrance

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced another round of funding for 90 airport-related infrastructure grants across 34 states, totaling nearly $187 million. The projects are funded under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, which is part of the $25 billion allocated in the law for airport

CAE announced that its SkyAlyne joint venture has been awarded a C$11.2 billion, 25-year contract for Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. SkyAlyne, a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace of Kelowna, BC, was selected as the preferred bidder for the FAcT Program in July 2023 after a rigorous process. Marc Parent, CAE’s President and

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of Emirates, has implemented a bespoke training programme designed to equip the cargo leaders of tomorrow with the necessary commercial and leadership skills for future success. The initiative aims to create opportunities for growth within the airline’s operations and inspire employees to develop their careers with Emirates SkyCargo. The Executive

On International Cabin Crew Day, the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) has launched the “Fatigue Doesn’t Fly” campaign, urging the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to introduce mandatory flight time and rest regulations for cabin crew. More than a decade after the initial consultation process and five years after the introduction of regulations for

JetBlue has announced plans to open its first pilot and flight attendant crew base outside of the continental U.S. at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, by the end of 2024. The move is expected to bring more than 400 local jobs to the region by 2025, contributing significant economic

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for April 2024 global air cargo markets, showing strong annual growth in demand continuing into the second quarter (Q2). Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), rose by 11.1% compared to April 2023 levels, marking the fifth consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth. Capacity, measured in

Eclipse Global Connectivity, ThinKom, Kontron, and Display Interactive have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to retrofit a fleet of more than 50 narrow-body aircraft with a state-of-the-art inflight connectivity and entertainment solution. The comprehensive, end-to-end offering is set to revolutionize the passenger experience and enhance airline operations. Marc Pinault, CEO of Eclipse Global Connectivity, said, “We’re

American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) announced today that Vasu Raja, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, will be leaving the airline in June. Raja has served as American’s Chief Commercial Officer since April 2022, having previously held the role of Chief Revenue Officer and Senior Vice President of Network Strategy, where he was

A new report by global agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank suggests that the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could create significant opportunities for Australian agriculture. The two-part report on SAF opportunities for Australian agriculture highlights that as airlines strive to reduce emissions, the largest contribution to cutting aviation emissions over the next decade will

Loganair has begun its summer schedule between Glasgow and Donegal, marking the start of a new year-round service that will provide essential connectivity between the two destinations. The UK’s largest regional airline is now the only carrier offering a direct air link between the Northwest of Ireland and the UK. Loganair’s summer schedule commenced yesterday,

JetBlue has added Edinburgh to its growing list of transatlantic destinations, with the first nonstop flight from New York taking off on May 22, 2024. The daily summer-seasonal service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Edinburgh Airport (EDI) will operate through September 30, bringing much-needed competition to a route previously dominated by high-fare

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has opened several new art exhibitions featuring the work of local and regional artists, adding to the travel experience for passengers as the busy summer season kicks off. The installations, which span a variety of mediums and themes from nature to history and human experiences, bring the total number of

Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Development Center (NIDC), AHQ Group and Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a joint strategy for growing the Kingdom’s aerospace ecosystem. The agreement, inked at the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh on May 21, 2024, will see the parties discuss the adoption of Embraer

Leading aircraft charter broker Air Charter Service (ACS) has expanded its UK presence with the opening of a new office in Manchester, its third in the country and first in the north of England. The move comes as ACS looks to capitalise on growing demand from the thriving technology and sports sectors in the region,

Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia have signed agreements to further strengthen their commercial partnership, including the launch of a reciprocal frequent flyer program and potential revenue sharing on flights between the two countries. At a signing ceremony in Jakarta on May 20, the airlines’ CEOs inked a deal to allow members of their respective loyalty

Korean Air has teamed up with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop an AI Contact Center (AICC) platform that will use artificial intelligence to improve customer support services. The airline announced the partnership at a kick-off event held at its Seoul headquarters on May 20, 2024, attended by senior executives from both companies. The AICC

Kurt “Beavis” McClung, a Boeing instructor pilot, has achieved a rare milestone in aviation by surpassing 5,000 flight hours in a single aircraft type – the F/A-18 Hornet. McClung’s journey with the iconic fighter jet began on April 5, 1996, when he first flew the F/A-18C as a U.S. Naval aviator. Now, 26 years later,

French defense company Arquus has won a major contract to develop and produce a new generation of tanker trucks for the French armed forces, with an initial order for 70 vehicles worth around €70 million. The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) awarded the contract on April 28th, 2024, confirming Arquus as a key player in

Embraer, Eve Air Mobility and Groupe ADP (Aéroport de Paris) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at preparing for a future of low-carbon aviation at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, Europe’s leading business aviation hub. The agreement, announced on May 17th, 2024, will see the three companies collaborate on innovation and sustainable development initiatives, including

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has reported its highest ever full-year operating and net profits, driven by robust demand for air travel that saw record passenger revenue and load factors. For the financial year ended 31 March 2024, the SIA Group posted a net profit of $2.68 billion, up 24% from the previous year’s $2.16

With the resumption of 24 weekly flights between China and Munich, travel between the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, and the Bavarian capital is back in full swing. To enhance the visitor experience for Chinese passengers, Munich Airport has reintroduced free personal shopping assistance in Terminal 2. The service, which was previously available from 2015 to

Airbus Defence and Space, as the prime contractor for the Eurodrone programme, has announced the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This significant milestone was achieved in collaboration with OCCAR and representatives from the four customer nations – France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – as well as the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC), Airbus

LOT Polish Airlines has announced plans to add the Embraer E195-E2 to its fleet, as part of its strategy to enhance operational flexibility and accommodate network expansion. The airline will lease three new E195-E2 aircraft from Azorra, with deliveries scheduled between July and October 2024. The addition of the E2 jets, which are 25% more