Category: Environmental News (Page 4 of 49)

Alaska Airlines takes delivery of first longer range Boeing 737-8

January 4, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Seattle, Washington, January 4, 2024 – Alaska Air Group Inc (NYSE: ALK) continues to grow as we welcome delivery of the first Boeing (NYSE: BA) 737-8 to our aircraft lineup – the next component of our strategic, long-term fleet plan that builds on our strengths and provides a road map for ongoing future success.

We proudly fly the youngest fleet of all U.S. airlines, and from 2024 through 2027, we are on track to add 15-25 new Boeing aircraft each year. We currently have firm orders for 80 more 737 MAX aircraft, and options and purchase rights for another 105. Our first 737-10 is scheduled for delivery in 2025.

In March 2022, Alaska adjusted our existing 737-9 aircraft order with Boeing to include the bigger 737-10 and longer-range 737-8. The additional 737 models will enhance profitability and guest satisfaction by offering us more ways to deploy the optimal aircraft size and capability in each market we fly.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Microgrid solutions to support UK supply chain

January 4, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

The UK supply chain is looking to become greener, investing in sustainable energy solutions to power everything from cargo transport to warehousing. At the same time, recent challenges from Brexit to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary obstruction of the Suez Canal have all impacted the import and export of essential products and highlighted inadequacies in national reserves.

All of this has caused a visible change in the UK landscape, with a ballooning demand for storage solutions that are both reliable and sustainable.

Developing a future proof solution

At Symmetry Park Biggleswade, industrial and logistics developer Tritax Symmetry has been working to develop such a solution with BasePower Ltd, a growing energy services developer focused on delivering sustainable, low-cost and high-efficiency solutions that enable the UK’s energy transition.

While strategically located to support customers’ needs, logistics parks are often located in areas where grid capacity is constrained and, in some cases, completely unavailable for new developments.

To future-proof the site and provide renewable, resilient power BasePower selected a Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (London: RR) mtu microgrid solution that includes three mtu CHP units, two mtu EnergyPack battery containers, two mtu emergency gensets and the complete microgrid control system.

Not only does it promise to deliver…

Clickthe link below to read the full story!

Microgrid solutions to support UK supply chain

Forward-Looking Statements

SAS to fly to over 40 countries in summer 2024

January 2, 2024 / WIL BALDWIN

Copenhagen, Denmark, January 2, 2024 – SAS customers can look forward to nine new European destinations this summer. From Copenhagen there will be direct flights to Ibiza, Salzburg, Genoa, Tromso and Dalaman in Turkey. SAS flights start from Bergen to London and from Oslo to Geneva, Milan and Tivat on the coast of Montenegro.

Southern European favourites

SAS is adding flights to long-standing favorites in Spain and Italy from all three Scandinavian capitals. From Stockholm and Copenhagen there will be up to 20 weekly flights to Malaga and from Oslo up to 17 flights to Alicante. Milan will have four daily departures from Copenhagen, there will be daily flights to Florence from Copenhagen and up to 25 weekly flights to Nice.

Oslo will have 14 weekly departures to Split, and it will be possible to fly with SAS from Stockholm twice daily to Milan and Paris in the summer. Oslo and Copenhagen also have year-round services to another Scandinavian favorite, Gran Canaria.

Northern Europe

From Copenhagen there will be five daily departures to Düsseldorf, four daily flights to Brussels and Gdansk and three daily flights to Warsaw and Vilnius. SAS will fly from Stockholm to Tallinn up to six times a day and to Vilnius three times a day. In addition, Stockholm will increase to two daily flights to Berlin, up to six daily flights to Helsinki, and increased frequencies to both Turku and Vaasa.

Domestic and the Nordic countries

There will be up to seven daily flights from Copenhagen to Bergen in the summer, while Oslo will have two daily departures to Aalborg and four weekly flights to Billund, and increased frequencies to Northern Norway. SAS is also increasing the number of departures between Stockholm and Visby, Kiruna, Skellefteå and Östersund.

More information about the upcoming long-haul flights: SAS INCREASING FLIGHTS TO NORTH AMERICA AND ASIA IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM – SAS (sasgroup.net)

JAL becomes first airline in Japan to register as TNFD adopter

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Tokyo, Japan, December 28, 2023 – Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (President and Group CEO: Yuji Akasaka) has achieved an important milestone by becoming the first airline in Japan to register as the TNFD Adopter *2, an adopter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) *1.
In March 2023, JAL participated in the TNFD Forum and in August 2023, became the first airline in Japan to disclose information based on the TNFD recommendations in advance. Moving forward, based on the final recommendations released in September of this year, JAL is committed to further enhancing its disclosure practices and accelerating efforts to realize Nature Positive *3 together with all other early adopters.

Click the link below to read the full story!

JAL TNFD adopter

*1 International initiative that provides a framework for assessing and disclosing information on impacts on the natural environment and biodiversity.

*2 Companies and organizations that have decided to make disclosures based on the final recommendations by fiscal year 2025 or 2026. The registered companies will be announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (Davos Meeting) in January 2024.

*3 To Stop the loss of biodiversity and put the natural environment on a recovery track.

NYK conducts trial use for full scale introduction of biofuels

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Starting in fiscal 2024, NYK line [Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo: 9101)] will conduct full-scale trials of long-term use of biofuels*, which are considered to have net-zero CO₂ emissions, in navigating its existing heavy oil-fired vessels. Moving forward from the previous short-term trials, NYK will comprehensively verify the safety and stable procurement of biofuels when used over a long period. Through this trial, NYK will establish a safe navigation system using biofuels and promote biofuel development to achieve the Group’s goal of a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2021.

In this trial, NYK will use biofuel continuously for three months on multiple vessel types. After that, NYK will gradually extend biofuel use for a longer period for further validation.

Since fiscal 2019, the NYK Group has conducted short-term biofuel trials on about 10 vessels. While NYK has confirmed the safety of short-term biofuel use, NYK has not verified the impact of biofuels on the ship’s main engine, generator, motor, fuel supply system, etc., and the quality of biofuels after a certain storage period. NYK also needed to ensure the stability of biofuel procurement when used in more vessels.

NYK announced the NYK Group ESG Story 2023 on November 6, declaring a new target to reduce the NYK Group’s GHG emissions by 45%** from the fiscal 2021 level by fiscal 2030. NYK will promote this trial to achieve the goal.

* Biofuels are produced from biological sources (biomass), such as waste cooking oil, and are considered to have net-zero CO₂ emissions during combustion. Biofuels, also usable in heavy oil–fired engines, are one of the critical solutions to reducing GHG emissions during the transition from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels.

** Reduction ratio on absolute corporate emissions for scope 1 and 2.

Forward-Looking Statements

SWISS to serve new European destinations in Summer 2024

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

SWISS will be making further additions to its short-haul route network in its 2024 summer schedules. Service between Zurich and Bremen will be newly offered in summer, too. Oslo will be added to the Geneva-based network; and the existing Geneva destinations of Copenhagen and Stockholm will also be newly served in the summer timetable period.

Bremen, which already enjoys winter SWISS service from Zurich, will now see this continued in the summer timetable period. The North German city boasts an Old Town and historic sights such as the Roland Statue and its fabled Town Musicians, along with a lively arts and culture scene. Attractively located on the River Weser and further featuring extensive shopping and dining options, Bremen is a truly appealing travel destination.

As previously announced, Cluj-Napoca and Košice will also newly join the SWISS short-haul network in summer 2024. Elsewhere, further frequencies will be added between Zurich and various existing European destinations including Alicante, Madrid, Naples, Venice and Vilnius.

New Oslo service from Geneva

Oslo will be added next summer to SWISS’s Geneva network. The Norwegian capital offers visitors a winning blend of contemporary architecture, green parks and cultural highlights such as its famed Opera House. The city is also attractively close to nature – fjords, forests and more – and features a lively culinary scene.

SWISS will also be providing new summer services on its existing Geneva-Copenhagen and Geneva-Stockholm routes. Copenhagen delights with its impressive mix of modern Scandinavian design, historic architecture and relaxed waterside ambience, while Stockholm boasts a picturesque site spread over 14 islands, well-preserved royal palaces and historic Old Town lanes. SWISS travellers will further be offered more frequencies between Geneva and the existing destinations of Athens, Brindisi, Brussels, Catania, Malaga, Palma and Valencia in the 2024 summer schedules.

SBB reports temporary failure will cancel Brig–Domodossola connections

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Due to a lack of approval from the responsible Italian authorities, certain SBB trains will no longer be able to operate on the Brig-Domodossola (I) route from January 1, 2024 until further notice. The corresponding trains are therefore canceled in both directions between Brig and Domodossola (I). This means that 38 of a total of 316 connections between Brig and Domodossola will be canceled every week. The EC trains to/from Milan and Venice as well as the BLS trains are not affected. These have appropriate approval in Italy.

Written confirmation required due to adapted fire protection regulations

The trigger is a corresponding fire protection regulation from the Italian Ministry of Transport, which will apply to passage through longer tunnels from the beginning of 2024. Due to border traffic agreements between Switzerland and Italy, the affected trains (Domino and EW IV) were previously exempt from this directive. Due to the pending adaptation of the border traffic agreement to the 4th railway package, a written confirmation from the Italian Ministry of Transport and the Italian Transport Authority is required for the approval of these two vehicle types for the journey between Brig and Domodossola. As soon as written confirmation is received, SBB will resume operations. SBB hopes that this will be the case as soon as possible. She asks travelers for their understanding and recommends checking the timetable in the SBB mobile app before starting each journey. If you have any questions, the SBB Contact Center can help you on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/minute).

Full steam ahead for ScotRail recruitment drive

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

ScotRail will steam into 2024 with scores of vacancies set to be filled as part of its biggest recruitment drive in years. The train operator has already recruited more than 200 new members of staff since August this year, with the human resources team working hard to keep the business on track to fill vacancies.

New and improved catering services have been boosted with an additional 34 catering staff hired across the network.

Almost 30 new conductors have passed through training to support service reliability, over 30 engineers recruited, and 100 new frontline staff members to offer enhanced customer service and support revenue protection.

The new year will see that activity continue, with a focus on more conductors in January, and many other exciting roles that will help to improve services and reliability for customers. ScotRail expects to recruit a further 160 people before the end of March 2024, with roles such as drivers, conductors, ticket examiners, and engineers. Those interested in a career with ScotRail are encouraged to check the company’s website as vacancies are advertised regularly.

With customer numbers on the rise, and timetable improvements delivering more journeys and newer electric trains, there has never been a better time to join Scotland’s Railway. ScotRail is recognised as a leading employer by the Top Employers Institute. Further information on job opportunities can be found on the ScotRail Careers website at www.scotrail.co.uk/careers

Bonza connects more than 650,000 Aussies to new destinations in 2023

December 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

It’s been a bumper purple year for Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier Bonza, with the airline revealing it has delivered more than 650,000 customers to 21 destinations across Australia. in 2023, a year when cost of living prices soared, Bonza was ensuring travellers could make considerable savings on their air travel plans.

Bonza’s unique onboard experience and ability to order on-demand menu items from the Fly Bonza app and have them delivered directly to your seats has been a rip roaring success introducing customers to undiscovered homegrown food and drinks suppliers.

To start 2024 in true Bonza style, the low-cost carrier is holding a 20 percent off sale*, which ends on 2nd January, 2024. Travellers are encouraged to download the Fly Bonza app which is the only place to book direct.

Visit www.flybonza.com to book your next adventure!

BVG places order for 50 Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the Berlin public transport company, has placed an order for 50 state of the art Solaris Urbino 18 electric buses. The buses will be delivered in the years 2024 and 2025. The order can also be extended by up to an additional 650 articulated e-buses. Berlin’s public transport is already served by 140 battery-powered Solaris Urbino buses in the two most popular lengths of 12 and 18 meters.

The Urbino 18 electric buses will be equipped with a 240 kW asynchronous motor, powered by energy from the new generation Solaris High Energy batteries. These batteries are characterized by high energy density, resulting in a high operational range while maintaining low weight. Their recharging will be possible both via a classic plug-in socket and a pantograph. The buses will also be equipped with eSConnect, the manufacturer’s proprietary system, allowing to increase operational efficiency and streamline vehicle servicing.

The prestigious contract with BVG is a good opportunity to summarize the previous orders for Solaris battery buses, which have been carried out by the manufacturer for a decade. Nearly 2,300 Urbino electric buses are already operating on the streets of European cities. Orders for more than 700 further e-buses are in process with a deliveries scheduled for the years 2024-2025.

Developing a future proof solution

Archives