Tag: Passengers (Page 9 of 14)

Alstom Delivers Guadalajara Urban Transportation Network Line 3

September 14, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

– Inauguration of a landmark mobility project for the State of Jalisco in Mexico

Alstom has officially delivered Line 3 of Guadalajara urban transportation network, a new line expected to carry around 230,000 passengers daily. The line covers nearly 21 kilometres, covering 18 stations through the cities Zapopan, Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque. It will be operated by the local operator SITEUR (Sistema del Tren Eléctrico Urbano – Urban Electric Train System).

In 2014, Alstom was selected by the federal Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT – Communication and Transportation Ministry) to provide an integrated system for the Guadalajara network extension. The project, representing a nearly €330 million investment (with €240 million for Alstom), will enhance mobility services for residents across the State of Jalisco, providing significant social and economic benefits.

“Line 3 is designed to be 100% accessible to all, with spaces for people with disabilities inside the cars and dedicated infrastructure at all stations. The line is an example of a modern, inclusive transport system that offers passengers a reliable, safe and comfortable travel experience while remaining environmentally sustainable,” said Maite Ramos, Managing Director of Alstom Mexico.

“We congratulate everyone involved in the inauguration of this very important project for Jalisco. Without a doubt, it will greatly benefit all the State’s residents, changing the way they travel and improving their lifestyle. Alstom’s efficient work to carry out this project saw the company’s experience and commitment contribute to improving the quality of life of residents and proposing complete safety in their travel,” said Manuel Gomez Parra, General Director of Railway and Multimodal Development of the SCT.

The 2014 contract included the supply of 18 Metropolis trains, communication systems, the high-voltage and traction substations, and traffic control systems based on Urbalis 400, Alstom’s CBTC system. The trains are equipped with air conditioning, video surveillance, and passenger information systems.

With these projects, Alstom reaffirms its commitment to continue to lead the way to greener and smarter mobility around the world, developing and commercializing integrated systems that provide the sustainable foundation for the future of transportation.

Alstom has been present in Mexico since 1968, with the development of the first metro line in Mexico City. Since then, it has been an important ally for the development of mobility and urban connectivity, as well as the economic growth of the states of the country where it operates. For 52 years, Alstom has pioneered the introduction of metros and its maintenance in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. In addition, the company has developed signalling systems and maintenance services for trains and infrastructure for the main railway companies in the country.

Emirates Announces Repatriation Flights to Casablanca

September 7, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

To help stranded Moroccans around the globe get home, Emirates plans to operate two flights between Dubai and Casablanca on 8 and 9 September. Customers can also connect to these flights in Dubai from Emirates’ current network of 84 destinations across the Middle East and GCC, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

Emirates flight EK9953 on 8 and 9 September will depart Dubai at 1000hrs, arriving in Casablanca at 1530hrs. The return flight, EK9954 will depart Casablanca at 1730hrs, arriving Dubai at 0350hrs the next day.

Flights can be booked on emirates.com, through travel agents, Emirates’ sales offices and contact centre. Passengers must meet all the entry requirements to Morocco to be allowed to board the flights.

Flights from Dubai to Casablanca

Passengers who will be able to board must be Moroccan citizens, or foreign nationals holding Moroccan residency, or foreign nationals traveling to Morocco for business (holding a permit from the Moroccan Embassy in the UAE) in addition to diplomatic staff connecting from Dubai to Morocco.

Emirates customers entering Morocco must complete a PCR test (within 48 hours of travel) and a Serology test for Covid-19, with printed results to present on request at check-in and to the local authorities on arrival.

Customers must also complete the passengers’ health form before departure at http://www.onda.ma/en/I-am-passenger/Traveller-Guide/Public-health-passenger-form. The form must be printed and presented upon arrival.

In addition, foreigners who do not require a visa to Morocco can be accepted if they provide a confirmed hotel booking.

Flights from Casablanca to DubaiThese flights will be available for passengers eligible to enter or transit through the UAE.

Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

The Helicopter Company Purchases 10 Airbus H125 Helicopters

August 20, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

The Helicopter Company (THC), which is fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase 10 H125 helicopters. The deal comes as part of THC’s commitment to further expand its fleet and introduce new services that fulfill market demand and support the development of the Kingdom’s wider aviation sector.

Considered a multi-task aircraft, the Airbus H125 can carry up to six passengers and be easily reconfigured to suit varying requirements. THC will utilize the new additions to its fleet to roll out new services related to scenic tourism and aerial work such as filming, banner towing, and surveying.

Commenting on the purchase agreement, Capt. Arnaud Martinez, CEO of THC said: “By signing this agreement, THC has taken a massive step in expanding its fleet and implementing its ambitious operational plan. We are proud to be contributing to the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and aviation industries through our innovative air transport services that guarantee passengers a one-of-a-kind experience to relish the beauty of the Kingdom from above. I would like to thank our partners at Airbus Helicopters who have ensured we have reached an agreement that matches our requirements, and we look forward to furthering our collaboration in the near future. I would also like to extend our thanks to PIF for their enduring support since our founding as we work together to advance Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry.”

PIF established THC as part of its strategy to activate new sectors in Saudi Arabia that support the realization of Vision 2030 and generate long-term commercial returns. The Kingdom’s first local commercial helicopter operator, THC has been offering private flights since mid-2019 and is now expanding its services with the addition of the H125 to its fleet. This new agreement will contribute to driving the development of Saudi Arabia’s nascent and increasingly dynamic tourism and aviation industries and support the integration of each sector’s respective value chains.

Airbus Corporate Jets Wins First A321LR Order for Two Aircraft

August 19, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) has won the first A321LR order for two aircraft from Lufthansa Technik, highlighting the market appeal and versatility of the A320neo Family. The aircraft will be multi-role capable and can be equipped for various types of missions, such as troop transport, different MedEvac role setups (medical evacuation) and will be operated by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Lufthansa Technik has now placed a total order of five Airbus aircraft on behalf of the German Government: three ACJ350-900s and two A321LRs. The A321LRs will be able to fly up to 163 passengers, up to 6 intensive care patients and up to 12 medium care patients, depending on the installed configuration, with a maximum range of 4,200nm/7,800km or 9.5 flight hours.

The A321LR is a member of the A320neo Family with over 7,400 orders by more than 110 customers. It delivers 30 per cent fuel savings and nearly 50 per cent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. With a range of up to 4,000nm (7,400km), with 206 passengers, the A321LR is the unrivalled long-range route opener, featuring true transatlantic capability and premium wide-body comfort in a single-aisle aircraft cabin.

Featuring the most spacious cabins of any business jet, while being similar in size to competing large-cabin aircraft, the ACJ320neo Family also delivers similar operating costs. The ACJ320neo Family can do this because its lower maintenance and training overheads – part of its airliner heritage – deliver a similar total cost when combined with fuel and navigation and landing charges.

Some 12,000 Airbus aircraft are in service worldwide, supported by a globe-spanning network of spares and training centres, giving corporate jet customers unmatched support in the field. Airbus corporate jet customers also benefit from services tailored to their particular needs, such as the “one call handles all” corporate jet customer care centre (C4you), and customised maintenance programmes.

Combined with the inherent reliability that comes from aircraft designed to fly many times a day, the ACJ320neo Family is both dependable and available when customers need it.

Airbus corporate jets are part of the world’s most modern aircraft family, which delivers, as standard, features which either cost more, or are unavailable, in competitors. These features include the protection and simplicity of fly-by-wire controls, the benefits of Category 3B autoland, and time and cost-saving centralised maintenance on all systems.

Around 200 Airbus corporate jets are in service on every continent, including Antarctica, highlighting their versatility in challenging environments.

Italian Order Highlights Continuing Success of ACH160

July 20, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) has won a new order for its latest ACH160 helicopter, announced just days after the H160 achieved certification.

This new order, placed by an experienced Italian operator for use on private and corporate flights mainly inside Italy, means the ACH160 has been ordered by customers in eight countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, China and South-East Asia.

The client, an existing ACH twin-engined helicopter operator, has specified a customised interior configured for six passengers.

The ACH160 is the premium version of the new H160 helicopter which was certified by EASA on 1 July ready for deliveries to private and business customers commencing later this year. It is the latest member of the ACH family and the most technologically advanced helicopter in its class.

As well as its range of stylish interiors including bespoke solutions, the ACH160 offers a smooth and quiet ride allied to the Helionix advanced digital avionics system ensuring carefree handling and the highest level of safety.

Frederic Lemos, Head of ACH, said: “This new order from a highly knowledgeable ACH customer is yet more evidence of the strong welcome being received by the ACH160 in this demanding sector even at a notably challenging time for the helicopter market.”

The full ACH helicopter range consists of the ACH125, ACH130, ACH135, ACH145, ACH160 and ACH175 variants of Airbus Helicopters’ comprehensive and market-leading family of light and medium models. A range of premium-design aircraft completions, including bespoke designs, is available for all models.

AIRPORT NARITA, TOKYO, JAPAN - 2017/05/06: Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landing at Tokyo Narita airport. (Photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Air New Zealand Limits Capacity on Inbound International Services

July 8, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Air New Zealand has put a hold on new bookings on international services into New Zealand following a request from the New Zealand Government.

The move is to help ensure the country is able to provide quarantine accommodation for inbound passengers for the required 14-day period.

As well as the temporary hold on new bookings for the next three weeks, the airline is also looking at aligning daily arrivals with the capacity available at managed isolation facilities. This may mean some customers will need to be moved to another flight.

Air New Zealand Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Cam Wallace says the airline has been working closely with the government to understand how it can support the government’s efforts to contain COVID-19 at the border.

“We accept this is a necessary short-term measure given the limited capacity in quarantine facilities and we’re keen to do what we can to help New Zealand’s continued success in its fight against COVID-19.”

The airline is proactively contacting customers affected by these changes from today. The Air New Zealand contact centre is currently experiencing very high demand, and customers are also welcome to contact the airline via its social media channels. Customers booked via a travel agent, including a third-party website (e.g. Expedia, Booking.com) should speak directly with their agent.

Air New Zealand is grateful to customers for their patience while it works through these changes.

Outbound Air New Zealand services from New Zealand to international ports are not affected by the New Zealand Government restrictions. Domestic services are not impacted.

We will update the COVID-19 Information Hub with more information on these changes.

Korean Regional Carrier Hi Air Purchases Two ATR 72 Aircraft

June 30, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Airline doubles its fleet as domestic operations continue to grow

ATR today announces the sale of two ATR 72-500 aircraft from its asset management portfolio to Hi Air. With this purchase, the South Korean start-up, which began operations in December 2019 will increase its ATR fleet to four. The two additional aircraft will be delivered in August and October. Supported by the superior economics and versatility of the ATR 72, which burns 40% less fuel and emits 40% less CO2 than a comparable regional jet, the airline is already ready to grow its fleet and expand the number of routes it offers. This summer, Hi Air will launch services on five domestic routes, including to the popular tourist destination of Jeju Island. ATR aircraft are proven route openers, having opened 164 routes globally in 2019.

Hi Air’s capacity for growth at this time also illustrates the resilience of the regional aviation market which is likely to make a faster recovery, with domestic short haul routes proving to be the first to resume as countries around the world begin to lift lockdown restrictions. The airline continued to serve passengers during the Covid pandemic, ensuring connectivity to Korean communities. Regional aviation will continue to play an important role for communities and economies worldwide, ensuring vital access for families, businesses and essential supplies – supporting the economic recovery in a Post-Covid19 world.

HyungKwan Youn, Chief Executive Officer of Hi Air remarked: “Selecting the ATR 72 to begin operations has been important for Hi Air’s early success. Launching an airline is hugely challenging. To be successful, new airlines need an aircraft that is efficient, reliable and offers passengers a good in-flight experience. To be in a position already to expand our operations is because the ATR fulfills these criteria. At Hi Air, we believe that increasing regional connectivity in Korea will benefit passengers, communities and businesses and we look forward to continuing this mission with the support of ATR.”

ATR Senior Vice President Commercial, Fabrice Vautier, said: “Regional connectivity is more vital than ever and this is why the regional aviation segment will be resilient. In many countries, we are already seeing that domestic and regional routes are the first to return and in the case of Hi Air they continued to fly. Businesses, governments and people around the world are looking for solutions to this crisis and regional aviation has a key role to play. Our ATR aircraft have the right blend of economics and operational versatility to support airlines. Furthermore, with their advantage in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, they are the perfect solution to help aviation emerge from this global recovery as a more sustainable industry.”

Airbus Five-Blade H145 Receives EASA Type Certification

June 29, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Ready for customer deliveries later this year
Raising the bar in performance, comfort, simplicity and connectivity

Airbus Helicopters’ five-bladed H145 has been certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), clearing the way for customer deliveries towards the end of summer 2020. The certification covers the full range of capabilities, including single-pilot and instrument flight rules (IFR) and single engine operations (Cat.A/VTOL), along with night vision goggles capability.

“Our new five bladed H145 is an excellent example of our quest for continuous improvement and providing incremental innovation that responds to our customers’ requirements”, said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “This helicopter combines value-added features with the robustness and the reliability of a tried-and-tested bestseller, making it very competitive in the light twin-engine market.”

The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter was unveiled at Heli-Expo 2019 in Atlanta, GA, with launch customers announced for almost every market segment. Prior to the successful high-altitude test campaign in South America, where the aircraft set its skids down on the Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Southern hemisphere, the new H145 performed several test campaigns including in Spain at medium altitudes and Finland for cold weather.

This latest upgrade of the H145 family adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission H145, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg (330 lb). The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design will also ease maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew. Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration will follow later this year. The certification for the military version of the five-bladed H145 will be granted in 2021.

Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.

Amtrak Downeaster, Boston, MA, BON, Amtrak Conductor The Downeaster is a 145-mile regional passenger train service, managed by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, and operated by Amtrak.

Amtrak Downeaster Resumes Limited Service June 15

June 13, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

PORTLAND, MAINE – The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) announced yesterday that the Amtrak Downeaster will begin Phase 1 of Service Restoration beginning June 15, 2020. Service will resume with one round trip on weekdays only between Brunswick, ME and Boston, MA: southbound Train 680 and northbound Train 685. Downeaster service has been suspended since April 13, 2020.

A number of protocols and procedures have been implemented to protect the health and safety of passengers and crews.

Highlights of Phase 1 Service Restoration Plan:

Amtrak has implemented new cleaning and disinfecting protocols nationwide, and train equipment used in Downeaster service will undergo enhanced cleaning before and after each trip.
Crews and passengers will be required to wear face covering while boarding and moving about the train
The number of passengers per train will be limited to no more than 50% of available seating capacity so riders are able to adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
Advance reservations are required and cash sales will not be accepted.
Station facilities will not be open; passengers should go directly to the outdoor platform to wait for their train.
Café service will not be available, however complimentary water will be available upon request.
Stations are being updated with signage and other enhancements to promote public health and physical distancing.

While NNEPRA expects Downeaster increase service throughout the summer months, no date has been set for subsequent phases. The NNEPRA Board of Directors plans to meet later this month to evaluate the potential for adding more daily trips.

Pan Am Railways has expedited a series of track improvement and maintenance projects along the Downeaster corridor to take place this spring to avoid construction-related service interruptions later in the year. The schedule for Train 680 has been modified slightly to adjust for construction-related delays. Passengers on travelling on Train 685 to stations north of Haverhill should expect delays of approximately 15 minutes.

Complete information about the steps Amtrak is taking to protect the health and safety of their passengers and crews is available at Amtrak.com

For additional Amtrak Downeaster information visit: AmtrakDowneaster.com

Congo Airways Converts Embraer E175 Order to E190-E2 Jets

May 28, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

São José dos Campos, Brazil, May 26th, 2020 – Congo Airways have converted the firm order made in December 2019 for two E175 aircraft, with purchase rights for two more, into a firm order for two E190-E2 jets, with purchase rights for a further two. The new deal has a total value of USD 256 million at current list prices with all purchase rights exercised, and will be included in Embraer’s second quarter backlog.

Desire Bantu, CEO of Congo Airways said, “These new jets will be replacing our legacy turboprops and will allow us to extend our operations within the Democratic Republic of Congo, and regionally to West, Central, and Southern Africa. Despite the current difficult circumstances, the fundamentals of our market have not changed; so we expect the momentum we’ve seen in the past to redevelop. I said in December that we may need to make an additional order for E2s due to the agility required to adapt to market changes – we have now reached that point. As we prepare for future success, we will have the flexibility, and the right sized, most efficient aircraft, to serve our customers as the market returns.”

“It’s great to welcome another airline to the E2 and the Embraer family of operators, especially in Africa where the demand for regional travel had been growing strongly before the current crisis. Africa has long been a market with low frequencies and long thin routes. As airlines start ramp up their operations, the E2 family of aircraft is perfectly positioned to right size routes previously operated by narrowbodies, while keeping frequencies and adjusting capacity to new levels.” said Raul Villaron, Vice President Sales, Africa and Middle East, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “We look forward to supporting Congo Airways as they continue to upgrade their offering to their customers.”

The aircraft will be configured in a dual class layout seating 96 passengers in total, with 12 staggered business class seats. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2022. This is second E2 order received from an African customer. There are currently 189 Embraer aircraft operating in Africa with 54 airlines in 27 countries.

Embraer is the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft up to 150 seats with more than 100 customers across the world. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged more than 1,800 orders and 1,500 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleets of 80 customers in 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline network carriers.

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