Category: airline news (Page 12 of 140)

easyJet collaborates with RTX to enhance operations

December 4, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, France, December 4, 2023, PRNewswire – Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, is working with EasyJet PLC (London: EZJ) to activate GlobalConnect^SM connected aircraft services on more than 330 Airbus aircraft in its fleet. easyJet will become the largest A320 operator in the world to deploy GlobalConnect. This new capability enhances safety oversight, pilot training and operational efficiencies.

The Collins GlobalConnect solution enables the already-installed Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger system (FOMAX), jointly developed with Airbus, to provide easyJet valuable insights into its fleet operations, enabling proactive decision-making and more efficient airline operations.

The adoption of this data exchange and analytics capability also brings the potential to simplify the avionics architecture, leading to further fuel efficiency gains through the gradual removal of quick access recorders. The airline projects that cutting this additional weight could save up to 500 tonnes of carbon per year when rolled out fleet-wide.

GlobalConnect services across easyJet’s fleet will be progressively activated in the coming months, starting before year-end 2023. This marks a significant milestone in easyJet’s digital transformation journey and underscores the airline’s dedication to embracing cutting-edge technologies that benefit its passengers and the environment.

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.

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 carries ARJ21’s 10 millionth passenger

December 3, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3892 from Guangzhou to Jieyang on November 24th of 2023 rang in the 10 millionth passenger carried so far by China’s ARJ21 aircraft.

The ARJ21 aircraft is the first turbofan regional jet independently developed by China. Since the first ARJ21 aircraft was officially put into commercial operation in June 2016, a total of 117 aircraft have been delivered to customers Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, Genghis Khan Airlines, Jiangxi Air, China Express Airlines and TransNusa. The aircraft has successfully served more than 400 routes in more than 140 cities at home and abroad. The airplane has also operated nearly 1,800 flights per week covering regions such as North China, Northeast China, East China, Southwest China, Northwest China and Central-South China, and launched overseas operations to Indonesia.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) has focused on the core competences of customer training, spare parts, engineering, maintenance, technical publications, flight operations, and market and commercial support. This has allowed it to establish an operation support system to ensure the large-scale development of ARJ21 aircraft.

Norse Atlantic Airways celebrates inaugural flights from London Gatwick Airport

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Friday, December 1, 2023 – Norse Atlantic ASA (Oslo: NORSE) is delighted to announce the successful commencement of its inaugural services from London Gatwick to the sun-soaked destinations of Montego Bay and Barbados.

Flights to Barbados from London operate up to five times a week with fares starting from £449 return. Flights to Montego Bay from London operate up to four times a week with fares starting from £540 return.

Norse Atlantic exclusively operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with two cabin choices, Economy and Norse Premium. The cabin offers passengers a relaxed and comfortable travel experience with each seat including a personal state of the art entertainment experience. Our Premium cabin offers an industry leading 43” seat pitch and 12” recline allowing passengers to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and ready to explore their destination. Passengers can choose from a simple range of fares, Light, Classic and Flextra, that reflect the way that they want to travel, and which options are important to them. Light fares represent Norse’s value option while Flextra fares include the maximum baggage allowance, two meal services an enhanced airport and onboard experience and increased ticket flexibility.

For more information and to book visit www.flynorse.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Bell announces delivery of third 429 to Swiss helicopter rescue company Air Zermatt

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Madrid, Spain – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced at European Rotors 2023, the delivery of its third Bell 429 to Swiss-based helicopter rescue company, Air Zermatt.

With its 75-person medical personnel and flight crew, Air Zermatt provides transport, tourist flights, and rescue operations in the Swiss Alps and surrounding communities. Each year, Air Zermatt carries out around 2,000 rescue missions, the majority of which are with the Bell 429.

In addition to the delivery of their Bell 429, Air Zermatt has opted to add their entire Bell 429 fleet under Bell’s Customer Advantage Plan (CAP) that protects direct maintenance costs and aircraft value over time and helps to keep aircraft in service longer.

Forward-Looking Statements

United Airlines expands in Houston with $2.6B terminal project

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Houston, December 1, 2023, PRNewswire – United Airlines Holdings Inc (Nasdaq: UAL) today announced growth plans in Houston that include a $2.6 billion renovation and expansion of Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), a new United Club^SM location and Early Bag Storage facility (EBS) as well as a new direct flight to Georgetown, Guyana*.

These investments are part of the airline’s United Next growth plan and include the expansion of 40 gates at IAH to accommodate larger aircraft, resulting in a 40% increase in the overall number of people who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 compared to 2023.

United’s Terminal B Transformation Program, pending final approval from Houston’s city council, will play an important part in the estimated 54 million future passengers that will annually travel throughout the Houston hub and aims to improve the travel experience from arrival to departure.

Project highlights include:

A three-level, 765,000 sq. ft. Terminal B North Concourse with 22 mainline, narrow-body gates
Converting 30 existing small regional jet gates to 18 gates to accommodate larger, two-class regional jets in the Terminal B South Concourse
Boarding via jet bridge for all flights
Two major concessions hubs with more than 115,000 sq. ft. of food and retail space
A new, state-of-the-art baggage handling system equipped with advanced tracking technology
The largest United Club in our system
Expanded curbside and roadway capacity with a ground-level check-in area, including the addition of a traffic bypass between Terminals B and A to allow Terminal B customers to exit the airport without having to drive past Terminal A as they do today
A new sensory room for passengers with disabilities

*flights subject to government approval.

Forward-Looking Statements

Porter Airlines orders 25 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft

December 1, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, 29th November 2023 – Porter Airlines has exercised purchase rights to place a firm order for 25 Embraer SA ADR (NYSE: ERJ) E195-E2 passenger jets, adding to their 50 existing firm orders. Porter will use the new aircraft to extend its award-winning service to destinations throughout North America. The deal, valued at US$2.1bn at list price, will be added to the Q4 backlog, and brings Porter’s orders with Embraer to 75 firm, with 25 purchase rights remaining.

Porter, the North American launch customer for Embraer’s E195-E2, has already taken delivery of 24 E195-E2’s, and recently announced new destinations including Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; with destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean also planned. The aircraft are currently deployed from Eastern Canada, with a focus on Toronto Pearson International Airport and Ottawa. Halifax and Montreal are also seeing new services with the E195-E2. Porter has chosen to configure the 146-seat aircraft in a comfortable 132-seat all-economy configuration, with a variety of seat pitches on offer for their guests: 36, 34, and 30 inches.

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

Forward-Looking Statements

Airbus and Norwegian Air Ambulance sign for H135 and H145 helicopters

November 29, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Madrid, Spain – The Norwegian Air Ambulance has ordered three Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) H135’s and two five-bladed H145’s that will be used for life-saving missions in Denmark, following a tender the operator recently won in the country. Moreover, the HEMS operator will take delivery of two new H145’s in 2024 to expand their fleet in Norway.

Today, Norwegian Air Ambulance operates all 13 HEMS bases in Norway and all 4 bases in Denmark using a 100% Helionix-equipped fleet of H135’s and H145’s. The organisation’s parent company, the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was the first operator in the world to take delivery of a five-bladed H145 in 2020.

The H135 is the market leader in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) worldwide, followed by the H145. Both helicopters are equipped with Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite, enhancing complementarity and enabling an almost seamless transition from one type to another, while its features increase safety and reduce pilot workload. Their particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H135 and the H145 the quietest helicopters in their class, while their CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst their direct competitors.

Forward-Looking Statements

Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways announce frequent flyer partnership

November 27, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Air France-KLM Group SA (Paris: AIRF) and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced a new partnership between their respective loyalty programs following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two airline Groups in September 2023.

As part of this new partnership, members of Flying Blue, Air France and KLM’s loyalty program, and members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, will now be able to earn and redeem Miles on either loyalty programme when flying on Air France, KLM or Etihad. Reciprocal benefits for elite members will be announced soon.

Following the MoU signed earlier this year, Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways customers now have the opportunity to connect, and therefore to earn and redeem miles, to more than 60 new routes covering destinations worldwide.

The partnership will go live today, on the heels of Air France’s inaugural flight from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle to Abu Dhabi International Airport this past October 29th.

Flying Blue Miles can be redeemed to enjoy a vast range of benefits from flights, worldwide hotel stays, car rentals, or products from the Flying Blue Store. Etihad Guest Miles can be spent on flights, worldwide hotel stays and vacations, or products from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop.

Air France currently operates daily flights between Paris – Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport while Etihad currently operates daily flights to both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Forward-Looking Statements

Air Canada Celebrates the Arrival of its First Airbus A220, Continuing its Fleet Modernization Program (CNW Group/Air Canada)

Canadiens announce Air Canada as official road jersey partner

November 27, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, November 2023 – The Montreal Canadiens and Air Canada (Toronto: AC) have announced a multi-year jersey partnership agreement, which will see the Air Canada logo featured on Canadiens away jerseys worn on the road throughout the duration of the partnership, starting today. The news deepens a 40-plus year partnership between two brands with one common heritage in Montreal.

The addition of the Air Canada patch comes as part of the NHL’s Jersey Advertising Program, introduced last season, which allows NHL teams to advertise a partner’s logo on their game jerseys. Featuring the Air Canada name and iconic rondelle (the red maple leaf enclosed in a circle), the patch will be displayed on the team’s official away white jerseys and will be stitched in the upper right chest area. It will be worn beginning with tonight’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks in Anaheim, California.

The partnership will also bring a positive impact to the greater Montreal Community. At the end of each season for the duration of the agreement, The Air Canada Foundation and the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation will auction off a set of game-worn road jerseys, with all proceeds benefiting local children’s charities which aims to inspire access to the game of hockey for young Canadiens fans.

Fans will be able to obtain the Air Canada patch exclusively, and at no additional charge, on official away jerseys sold at Tricolore Sports locations inside the Bell Centre and at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, or via phone at 514-989-2836. More information is available at canadiens.com/jersey.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

airBaltic to become largest Airbus A220 customer in Europe

November 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Dubai Air Show, November 13, 2023 – airBaltic will become the largest Airbus Group SE (Paris: AIR) A220 customer in Europe after confirming an incremental order for an additional 30 A220-300s. This new order will take the airline’s total firm orderbook to 80 aircraft.

Already operating a 44 strong fleet of A220-300s, airBaltic is currently the largest A220-300 operator in the world.

The airline’s history with the Airbus A220-300 dates back to 2016 where it was the launch customer, and in 2020, it refreshed its fleet to solely operate this aircraft type.

Forward-Looking Statements

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