The first Pilatus PC-12 NGX has been handed over to OpenSky Inc., the Japanese “Private Jet Membership” company. From now on, the single-engine turboprop with its unique Asian-style design will carry passengers to destinations all over Japan.
It was already evening when the PC-12 NGX arrived at the airport in the Japanese megacity of Osaka after its ferry flight from Switzerland. Even though no information was published in advance, numerous plane spotters outside the airport were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the “Swiss Made” PC-12 NGX.
PC-12 NGX and PC-24
With the cutting-edge PC-12 NGX and one PC-24, OpenSky Inc. serves a discerning clientele, offering a unique travel experience which stands out from the competition in terms of both product and service. The Japanese operator additionally took delivery of a PC-24 Super Versatile Jet this year, which it will also use to offer business flights. In addition, the company has placed an order for a second PC-24 which will be delivered in fall 2024.
About the PC-12 NGX
The PC-12 NGX features an all-new interior by BMW Designworks, larger cabin windows inspired by the PC-24 and passenger seats which convert to a flat bed. The new PT6 E-Series engine by Pratt & Whitney Canada is equipped with an electronic propeller and engine control system. New avionics functions by Honeywell such as touchscreen control, tactile feedback and “propeller low speed” mode as well as fully integrated automatic thrust management (autothrottle) are just a few of the features in the new cockpit.
Story by Alicia Cohn from the Denver Business Journal
Flights between Denver and Europe in summer 2022 will increase by 23% compared to the pre-pandemic summer of 2019, according to Denver International Airport. With new flights beginning or resuming in 2022, DIA “is scheduled for more transatlantic capacity than at any other time in the airport’s history,” the airport said in a press release.
DIA offers more than 20 international destinations, and will expand its European offerings in 2022.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Making its appearance at the first edition of the Selangor Aviation Show is Embraer’s E195-E2, the world’s most efficient and sustainable single-aisle jet. Showcasing a stunning “TechLion” livery that covers the entire aircraft’s fuselage, the E195-E2’s appearance at the Selangor Aviation Show comes after the aircraft’s presence at the Dubai Air Show earlier in the month. Featuring Embraer’s two by two passenger seating, the commercial jet sits up to 146 passengers.
In its 2021 market outlook, Embraer foresees a demand of 60 new commercial aircraft under 150 seats in Malaysia over the next 10 years. Driving this demand is the opportunity for aircraft under 150 seats to complement larger aircraft prevalent in the country and enhance the viability of establishing new routes or increasing the frequency of existing routes. This includes the boosting of direct connectivity within Peninsula Malaysia, as well as connectivity between cities in Peninsula Malaysia to East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).
With a range of 2600nm (~5.5 hours of flight time), the E195-E2 is the largest of the three aircraft in the E-Jets E2 family. It entered into service at the end of 2019 following type certification from three major world regulatory authorities – the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration), EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and ANAC (the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency). It is currently operated by KLM, which has 53 Embraer E-Jets in its fleet, Azul which operates 55 E-Jets and flies to more than 100 destinations in Brazil, as well as airlines in Switzerland, Spain, Belarus and Nigeria.
Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial jets that seat up to 150 passengers. The commercial aircraft manufactured by Embraer are being operated by airlines in more than 130 airlines across over 70 countries, including airlines in the US (all the major carriers), British Airways, KLM, Japan Airlines and airlines in China.
London, UK – Last Thursday, 2 September 2021 saw an important debut for London City Airport. At 5:45 pm, an Embraer E190-E2 made its first commercial flight into the iconic airport in the centre of the British political and financial capital. Registered HB-AZG, the Helvetic Airways aircraft flew from Zurich to London in 1 hour 20 minutes, also reestablishing an essential link for the global financial community.
Flight LX 456, operated by Helvetic Airways on behalf of its partner company Swiss International Air Lines, was welcomed by a water salute from London City Airport’s fire service. On board the sold out flight were 110 passengers, including representatives of the international media, business travellers, as well as those visiting friends and family.
It should be noted that Embraer aircraft account for nearly 90% of all movements at the airport. At the same time, the E190-E2 nearly doubles the available range from LCY to more than 4,000 km, for the first time bringing destinations such as Istanbul, Casablanca and Moscow within reach.
With the coronavirus pandemic bringing a more regional emphasis to air transport along with a trend towards the use of smaller aircraft types, Helvetic Airways is now ideally equipped both to provide reliable and cost-effective flight operations and to take full and fruitful advantage of the new opportunities currently offered in markets worldwide. With a fleet of 12 Embraer E2 aircraft, Helvetic Airways is currently the largest Embraer E-Jets operator in the world, strengthening its position as a regional airline based in Switzerland, Europe and beyond.
For six months from today onwards, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be offering Business and First Class travellers on its long-haul services from Switzerland selected creations from top Swiss-based chefs who have participated in the airline’s ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme over the past few years. The dishes, which are accompanied as usual by Swiss regional wines and speciality cheeses, reflect the broad variety of Switzerland’s cuisine. Of the 70 guest chefs drawn from all the country’s cantons who have been spotlighted on board since the award-winning programme began back in 2002, Silvia Manser, Silvio Germann, Jean-Marc Soldati, Mike Wehrle, Thomas Amstutz, Hans-Jörg and Anja Zingg, Franck Reynaud, Christian Kuchler, Lorenzo Albrici and Rolf Hiltl are currently featured aloft.
Veal tenderloin with black truffle sauce and blueberry slice with Appenzeller beer ice cream in First Class
SWISS First travellers can look forward to two dishes from Mike Wehrle of Bürgenstock Hotels & Resorts: a starter of marinated lobster with pecorino cheese and cauliflower panna cotta, followed by veal tenderloin with black truffle sauce. The choice of main courses further includes sautéed cod with seafood nage and potato and fennel brandade, the creation of Silvio Germann of IGNIV by Andreas Caminada in Bad Ragaz. The SWISS First menu is rounded off by a choice of two desserts which includes a blueberry slice with chocolate crumble and Appenzeller beer ice cream by Silvia Manser of Restaurant Truube in Gais.
First Class guests are further treated to a selection of speciality Swiss cheeses that include an Aletsch Grand Cru from Canton Valais and a Swiss Style 10, which is Switzerland’s homage to Britain’s Stilton cheese. The choice of Swiss wines on offer extends to a Chasselas Clos du Boux 2020 Grand Cru Epesses from Luc Massy of Canton Vaud and a Ligornetto 2018 DOC Ticino red from Luigi Zanini of Canton Ticino.
Beetroot tabbouleh with green pea guacamole and ‘Meat Love’ meatloaf in Business Class
For SWISS Business travellers, the choice of SWISS Taste of Switzerland starters newly extends to a vegetarian option: a beetroot tabbouleh with green pea guacamole from Zurich’s Hiltl vegetarian restaurant, which is offered alongside a Balik salmon sashimi with avocado, cucumber and wasabi vinaigrette by Christian Kuchler of the Taverne zum Schäfli in Wigoltingen. Business Class guests have a choice of main courses, too, which includes a ‘Meat Love’ meatloaf with morel sauce created by Anja and Hans-Jörg Zingg of the el paradiso Mountain Club in St. Moritz. The menu concludes with the sweet delight of a cheesecake with chocolate sponge and citrus fruits by Franck Reynaud of the Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours in Crans-Montana.
The speciality cheeses on offer to SWISS Business guests include a Passo dello Spluga from the Splügen Alpine Dairy and a Fette Berta by Ueli Moser from the Seeland region. The choice of Swiss wines extends to a Château de Châtagneréaz 2019 Chasselas from Canton Vaud and a Syrah Classique AOC 2019 from the Domaine Jean-René Germanier in Canton Valais.
A new Business Class service concept for a more individual flight experience
SWISS now also offers its Business Class travellers a new and more individualized service concept on all long-haul flights. In addition to the traditional ‘restaurant’ service in which the meals are served one course at a time, guests can now take advantage of a new ‘casual dining’ option in which they receive their starter, main course and dessert together and at a time of their choosing. The new service options, which are introduced today, enable the guest to tailor their inflight experience even more closely to their specific wishes and needs.
In a further innovation, the additional service shortly before landing has been replaced by a new ‘SWISS Bistro’ concept. This consists of a new bistro menu inviting guests to choose from a range of hot items (such as a Swiss prime beef burger with coleslaw salad), cold items and snacks according to their individual tastes and hunger at any time after the main service until shortly prior to landing.
Helvetic Airways of Switzerland received the first of four new E195-E2 aircraft today at the Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) facility in São José dos Campos. Helvetic will receive three further E195-E2’s by the end of next month, July 2021.
Helvetic ordered 12 E-Jet E2’s in 2018 to support its fleet renewal initiative: 8 E190-E2’s (already in service) and four E195-E2’s (converted from the original E190-E2 order). The airline also holds purchase rights for an additional 12 aircraft. The Helvetic fleet also includes four first-generation E190’s. When the three remaining E195-E2’s are delivered, the carrier will have a fleet of 16 E-Jets.
With Embraer, the airline has developed a fleet providing maximum flexibility to deploy its 134-seat E195-E2’s, 110-seat E190-E2’s, and 112-seat E190’s across its European network. Thanks to the common crew type rating for all E-Jets, Helvetic can seamlessly schedule the three different E-Jet models to satisfy variations in demand, maximizing operating economics.
Speaking at the delivery event broadcast to Helvetic employees in Europe, Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation said, “With the new E195-E2, Helvetic builds on its reputation as one of the most environmentally committed airlines in Europe. Not only does the aircraft burn 25% less fuel than its predecessor, its noise footprint is 65% smaller. The E2’s are great news for communities near airports.”
SBB is improving its services for travelling with bicycles for the 2021 cycling season. It is taking this step in response to strong demand and to insufficient capacity last summer. On key leisure travel lines (Bern to Brig, Zurich to Chur) SBB is tripling capacity at times of high demand from 21 March. SBB will offer customers with bicycles more reliable journey planning: thanks to reservations, passengers taking along bikes can be sure that they will find space for them on trains. The price of bicycle reservations is reduced from CHF 5 to CHF 2. SBB presented the improved services to cycling, consumer and industry organisations today and outlined future prospects for traveling with bikes.
There has been a sharp increase in demand for travelling with bikes and holidays in Switzerland due to the coronavirus crisis. In some cases this has led to capacity shortages and dissatisfied customers who were unable to travel with their bike on the train they had planned to use. Around 80,000 Bike Day Passes were sold in the peak month of July 2020, for example, which is up by around 45% compared to the previous year. SBB also transported up to 15,000 bikes with self-service loading on the main axes of Zurich to Chur and Bern to Brig.
SBB expects demand for travel with bikes to continue to rise and is responding to this trend. This is why – together with Pro Velo and the Swiss Transport and Environment Association – it engaged in broad-based dialogue with cycling stakeholders as well as consumer and industry organisations on the issue of ‘sustainable travel with bicycles’. The aim is to offer customers reliable journey planning and reservations, to further improve and simplify services and to make them even more customer-friendly. SBB has a duty of responsibility towards all customers and wishes to provide services that meet and take account of the needs of all passengers as far as possible – including, for example, people with disabilities or families.
In view of the forthcoming cycling season, which begins on 21 March, SBB has introduced various changes to make travelling with bikes easier:
SBB is increasing capacity for the self-service loading of bicycles at times of high demand on the key leisure travel lines, tripling capacity compared to the current levels where possible. These routes include Bern to Brig and Zurich to Chur. Additional capacity will also be provided on routes to Ticino, Interlaken and the southern foot of the Jura. Passengers will be assisted with the loading of bicycles by SBB staff on these lines where possible.
In order to expand capacity medium and long-term, SBB is currently assessing which technical measures can be implemented long-term to create additional bicycle spaces on various types of train. Only minor modifications to rolling stock are possible in the short term.
Customers with bicycles need to be able to plan their journey reliably and safely. SBB makes this possible on all Swiss InterCity trains with a reservation costing CHF 2. Passengers who made a reservation can be certain that they will find space for their bike on the trains. Trains are labelled with the well-known bicycle symbol in the online timetable. Bikes can only be transported using self-service loading on trains labelled with this symbol if a reservation has been made and a valid bike ticket is presented. Reservations can be made up until shortly before departure in the SBB Mobile app. They can also be purchased at the counter or several days in advance via the SBB Contact Center
(tel. 0848 44 66 88)
The price for reservations will be reduced from CHF 5 to CHF 2 for a continuous connection – for example for a route with more than one section. International trains within Switzerland can now also be used for bike transport with a reservation, but prices and booking options may differ. Bikes can be transported with a valid bicycle ticket but without a reservation on regional services (R, S, RE trains) as well as on InterRegio trains (IR).
Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement to sell the Bergen Engines medium speed gas and diesel engines business to TMH International, the international branch of TMH Group, for net proceeds of approximately EUR 150m.
TMH Group, based in Russia, is a leading engineering company in rail transport technologies and the world’s fourth largest supplier of rail rolling stock. It offers a full range of products and services including medium-speed engines for rail applications with current production of more than 850 engines a year. Established in 2002, TMH is privately-owned and employs 100,000 people across 25 sites worldwide. The acquisition of Bergen Engines, based in Bergen, Norway, is part of TMH’s strategy to diversify its business activities, expand its product portfolio and international footprint.
Bergen Engines will be operated as a stand-alone business by TMH International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. TMH International already operates in Argentina, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel and South Africa.
The agreement follows a strategic review by Rolls-Royce of Bergen Engines announced in February 2020. The sale includes the medium speed engine factory, service workshop and foundry in Norway; engine and power plant design capability; and a global service network spanning more than seven countries. Since 1946, Bergen Engines has supplied over 7,000 engines to marine and power generation customers worldwide, of which around 4,000 are still in operation. Bergen Engines’ long-term relationship with Kongsberg Maritime, distributor of Bergen medium speed engines to the maritime market, is planned to continue as is.
Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement to sell the Bergen Engines medium speed gas and diesel engines business to TMH International, the international branch of TMH Group, for net proceeds of approximately EUR 150m.
Bergen Engines plant in Hordvikneset near Bergen, Norway
TMH Group, based in Russia, is a leading engineering company in rail transport technologies and the world’s fourth largest supplier of rail rolling stock. It offers a full range of products and services including medium-speed engines for rail applications with current production of more than 850 engines a year. Established in 2002, TMH is privately-owned and employs 100,000 people across 25 sites worldwide. The acquisition of Bergen Engines, based in Bergen, Norway, is part of TMH’s strategy to diversify its business activities, expand its product portfolio and international footprint.
Bergen Engines will be operated as a stand-alone business by TMH International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. TMH International already operates in Argentina, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel and South Africa.
The agreement follows a strategic review by Rolls-Royce of Bergen Engines announced in February 2020. The sale includes the medium speed engine factory, service workshop and foundry in Norway; engine and power plant design capability; and a global service network spanning more than seven countries. Since 1946, Bergen Engines has supplied over 7,000 engines to marine and power generation customers worldwide, of which around 4,000 are still in operation. Bergen Engines’ long-term relationship with Kongsberg Maritime, distributor of Bergen medium speed engines to the maritime market, is planned to continue as is.
Bergen Engines has been a part of Rolls-Royce since 1999 and has approximately 950 employees, with the majority based in Bergen, Norway. In 2019 the business generated revenues of £239m which were consolidated within the results of our Power Systems business.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of both Rolls-Royce and TMH and is expected to close in the second half of 2021.
The first unit of the very high-speed train Talgo Avril began its first rail tests this week, a decisive step in the technical homologation, prior to its commercial circulation by Spanish operator Renfe. This is the final phase in the manufacturing process of 30 units of the Talgo Avril, which has a passenger capacity of up to 581 seats.
The rail tests are aimed at checking the dynamic behaviour of all the elements of the train, and in particular the running gear systems, under progressively more complex operating conditions and up to the speed required for technical homologation of over 360 km/h. Its maximum commercial speed will be 330 km/h.
The homologation tests are planned to be carried out for several weeks on the Madrid-Galicia high-speed rail line, although they could be extended to other parts of the railway network in Spain at a later stage.
Lighter, more sustainable and accessible
Talgo Avril is Talgo’s most advanced very high-speed train, which will become a benchmark of quality in the very high-speed rail segment. Thanks to their high capacity and light overall weight, the Avril trains acquired by Spanish operator Renfe minimise energy consumption and multiply efficiency. This allows them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further enhance the position of rail as the most sustainable means of transport.
One of the outstanding features of this latest generation train is that its composition of 12 passenger carriages and 200 metres long are located on a single deck and at the station platform level, allowing passengers to access the train and move around inside it without steps or ramps. Talgo’s unique accessibility not only facilitates access for people with reduced mobility, but also offers an easy journey for all passengers, from parents with prams to passengers with bulky luggage or bicycles.
New routes, new markets
Talgo Avril is part of a highly flexible technological platform that allows each delivery to be adapted to the increasingly complex needs of the European rail market. In this particular contract, the 30 trains supplied are divided into different blocks according to their internal commercial configuration, their automatic variable-gauge system (Iberian and international), and their equipment to be operated north of the Pyrenees. Thanks to these capacities, Talgo Avril will be able to be used on practically the entire Iberian electrified rail network, bringing even closer those destinations to which the new high-performance rail network has not yet been extended, as well as in international relations between Spain and France.
The interoperability of Talgo trains is one of their most distinctive features, and this has led them to be used on commercial routes throughout Europe: France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Belarus and Poland. The Spanish manufacturer has also recently been awarded new contracts to supply trains to the European operator Deutsche Bahn, which will connect Berlin (Germany) with Amsterdam (Netherlands) and to the Danish company DSB, to link Copenhagen (Denmark) with the German port of Hamburg.
In view of the tighter travel restrictions announced by the Swiss Federal Council on 27 January and the resulting decline in demand for air travel, SWISS has been compelled to temporarily reduce its flight operations to an absolute minimum at Geneva Airport until the end of February. SWISS remains fully committed to its Geneva business and operations in the longer term, and will continue to strive to keep Western Switzerland as well connected as possible with its global Zurich-based network. Further changes are also being made to SWISS’s Zurich flight schedules. Travellers affected by flight cancellations can rebook free of charge or have the price of their ticket refunded.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is temporarily reducing its already-downsized flight operations in Geneva to an absolute minimum until the end of February with effect from today (Monday 1 February), in view of the tighter travel restrictions announced by the Swiss government. The action is being taken because SWISS’s Geneva services are point-to-point operations that do not generate additional business through a feeder function (as is the case at SWISS’s Zurich hub). Geneva Airport also currently lacks traveller testing facilities. The 13 weekly services between Geneva and SWISS’s Zurich hub will continue to operate, as will the seven weekly frequencies between Geneva and the Frankfurt hub of Lufthansa. So SWISS will continue to keep Western Switzerland connected with its global route network in these still difficult times.
SWISS remains fully committed to its long-term strategy of maintaining a strong presence in Geneva and further expanding its present range of point-to-point air services. “Geneva is and remains an extremely important location for us,” confirms SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “And as soon as conditions permit and the demand for air travel returns, we will steadily expand our services from Geneva again, as we will from Zurich, too.”
Zurich schedules also affected
Many of the short- and long-haul SWISS services that are currently being offered from and to Zurich can continue to be operated, in view of their feeder function and/or their cargo-carrying role. But the already substantially diminished range of flights here, too, is being further reduced with effect from 1 February. As a result, SWISS will only be operating some 10 per cent of the February services which it provided in 2019.
Travellers whose flight is cancelled as a result of these developments can rebook free of charge or have the price of their ticket refunded.
