Santiago, Chile, January 12, 2024 – With the aim of celebrating the local pride of the leading airline group in Latin America, LATAM group unveiled its latest project, which involves adorning five aircraft with the respective national flag colors of the countries where the affiliates operate domestic flights.
The idea, extending throughout 2024, is to gradually introduce the five painted aircraft into the domestic flights of the affiliates. It will begin on January 11 with LATAM Airlines Brasil, debuting an Airbus A320neo in green and yellow colors, followed by planes representing the colors of the affiliates in Colombia, Chile, Peru, and finally, Ecuador.
The special paint scheme, applied by 30 workers from the Brazilian affiliate, maintains the characteristics of the LATAM logo already present on its aircraft, with only the colors being modified. The design of the LATAM Airlines Brasil A320neo started this Monday at the São Carlos facility in Sao Paulo, the largest maintenance center of the LATAM group.
Currently, the airline group has 332 aircraft, including 56 Boeing passenger planes (models 767, 777, and 787) and 256 Airbus planes (models A319, A320, A320neo, A321, and A321neo).
Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, November 10, 2023 – The Embraer SA (NYSE: ERJ) most advanced jet aircraft the E195-E2, has received certification for Steep Approach into London City Airport from EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). This achievement is a significant development, allowing airlines to operate the E195-E2 at London City Airport (LCY), known for its challenging approach and short runway. Together with the E190-E2, which received Steep Approach certification in 2021, both members of the E2 family are now approved for operations from LCY.
The certification process highlighted the E195-E2’s impressive noise reduction among new generation single-aisle aircraft. It surpasses the requirements of ICAO’s strict Chapter 14 regulation, thereby offering a significantly quieter flying experience compared to the previous E195 model. The E195-E2’s noise footprint at take-off is around 60% smaller than current jet aircraft, such as the E190, and will bring benefits to local residents in terms of noise reductions. The E195-E2’s environmental performance extends beyond noise reduction. The aircraft delivers reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency compared to previous generation aircraft. In 2022, Embraer and Pratt & Whitney demonstrated a successful test flight of an E195-E2 aircraft using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which could push the emissions reduction up to 85% in future.
During a proving flight, the E195-E2 first landed at the airport in July 2022. LCY, London’s most central airport, caters to both business and leisure passengers, offering quick access to continental Europe, making it a preferred choice for short-haul flights. The airport is a vital component of London’s wider connectivity and Embraer aircraft are uniquely able to manage the challenges of LCY operations, with Embraer aircraft accounting for a large proportion of LCY operations on routes as diverse as Edinburgh and Mykonos. To serve LCY, aircraft must comply with the steep approach, short runway, and stringent noise regulations. The E195-E2 could replace the current E190 fleet that existing airlines currently operate at LCY.
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.
Deutsche Lufthansa Group AG (Xetra: LHAG) connected the Indian metropolis of Bengaluru with Munich, the capital of Bavaria when its new service began on November 4, 2023. Alongside Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru is the third Indian city with a direct connection for travelers via Lufthansa’s 5 star Munich hub and is India’s third-largest city. The Indian city serves an IT hub and a center of the aerospace industry.
India in Focus
With a legacy in India that spans more than 90 years, the Lufthansa Group will be operating 64 weekly frequencies between India and Europe by January 2024. The Indian aviation market is currently the 3rd largest globally. This Bengaluru-Munich service represents Lufthansa’s strong commitment to the Indian market as Lufthansa Group’s capacity to India now exceeds pre-COVID levels.
Currently operating service three times a week and conveniently arriving the same day at 8:05 in Munich, Lufthansa guests will enjoy their experience on one of the most modern and fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A350-900. As with all services to India, local cuisine and catering will be offered to passengers onboard their direct service from India’s “Silicon Valley” to Munich and beyond.
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.
WASHINGTON, District of Columbia – Amtrak published survey findings today that demonstrate strong support from American voters for continued passenger rail investments, including infrastructure renewal and service expansion. Conducted by the Mellman Group and commissioned by Amtrak to better understand America’s interest in intercity passenger rail service, findings show consistent support for passenger rail across geographic location, age, race and gender.
Survey highlights include:
92% say it’s important for the United States to invest in passenger rail safety and service improvements;
86% believe in the importance of a strong American passenger rail system;
83% support passenger rail investments identified by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (i.e. modern trains, aging tunnel and bridge replacements, new routes, etc.); and
81% want their state to invest in bringing more passenger rail service to their local area.
The 2023 survey was conducted by the Mellman Group and surveyed 1,000 registered U.S. voters. View the executive summary here.
As compared to more conventional forms of travel, AT has greater per capita consumption and economic impact for regional development, and is becoming increasingly popular in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere, globally. AT is especially popular amongst wealthy individuals who value the importance of contributing to the local communities through travel. While demand for AT in Japan has been growing in line with increases in inbound travel, there remains a shortage of skilled guides and appropriate infrastructure conducive to welcoming international visitors.
Kammui and Japan Airlines (OTC: JAPSY) has entered a strategic alliance involving various initiatives to enhance AT in Japan with the goal of developing the market for premium tourism, with a focus on inbound travelers. Kammui and JAL will leverage their respective strengths to create premium content encouraging travelers to reconnect to nature in innovative ways and inspire more people to experiences Japan’s nature.
In cooperation with the Japan Adventure Tourism Association (JATO), where JAL belongs as one of the regular members, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), the largest industry organization in the AT field, JAL and Kammui will work together to develop human resources capable of promoting AT, with the goal of promoting world-class AT in Japan. The partnership will focus on developing individuals with the ability to act as leaders in their respective regions and build and promote networks in each region to enhance AT within Japan.
JAL will start offering Kammui experiences through JAL Dynamic Package, a travel product allowing customers to combine airline tickets, accommodation, activities, transportation, and other travel products. JAL will start by offering 8 AT experiences from within Kammui’s selection of more than 300 unique experiences covering a wide variety of regions of Japan. Kammui and JAL are aiming to offer new value for travelers to Japan allowing them to enjoy authentic once-in-a-lifetime experiences combining nature and culture.
Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) is once again ordering 35 new KISS double-decker multiple units from Stadler Rail AG (SWISS: SRIAF). In addition to 14 trains for long-distance services, Stadler is also supplying 21 KISS vehicles for local transport. The order is part of the framework agreement signed in 2022 for up to 186 double-decker multiple units. Including the first call-off, 76 vehicles were thus ordered. Thanks to its high degree of innovation and generous space, the KISS has impressed customers in 14 countries.
ÖBB and Stadler are continuing the joint replacement of the Austrian local and long-distance transport fleet. Last year, OBB called off 41 KISS double-decker multiple units from a framework agreement for 186 trains. OBB and Stadler have signed the contract for exercising the next option with a volume of around 600 million euros. This comprises a total of 35 new double-decker multiple units, 14 of which are six-car trains for long- distance services and 21 are four-car KISS vehicles for local transport. The deployment of the new trains is planned in stages from mid-2026.
The KISS double-deck multiple units ordered as part of the first call-off in April 2022 will go into assembly on schedule and are scheduled for service in the eastern region as of 2026. For Stadler, it is a great vote of confidence and proof of the good cooperation that OBB is already calling off such a high number of further trains in this project phase.
Maximum capacity for tomorrow’s rail transport
Since 2010, the KISS has been successfully operating as a local or long-distance train with a high passenger capacity from Western Europe to the Caspian Sea – and soon also in the USA. Since the first delivery, 620 double-deck trains have been sold in 14 countries. Under a wide range of climatic conditions, in climates from Silicon Valley to Azerbaijan, from suburban trains to long-distance transport, the KISS cover hundreds of thousands of kilometers every day. Hardly any other double-decker vehicle concept demonstrates such flexibility.
Madrid, Spain, July 7th, 2023 – Egypt’s National Railway company (ENR) has recently confirmed the entry of the sixth and last Intercity trains into commercial operation for daytime services on the line that connects Alexandria with Cairo and Aswan. With this approval, the delivery of the rolling stock that makes up the fleet supplied by Talgo has been made official more than five months ahead of schedule.
The first train of this project started operating in December 2022. Since then, the rest of the trains have been delivered to the Egyptian operator and have gradually entered service at a rate of, approximately, one train composition per month. The trains, which belong to the Talgo 230 platform for Intercity or Long-Distance services, run at a maximum commercial speed of 160 km/h and have a capacity of approximately 500 passengers each.
The ENR units consist of a diesel-electric locomotive, a technical car and 14 towed passenger cars. The contract, worth 158 million euros, also includes complete maintenance for, at least, eight years, employing local personnel trained by the Spanish manufacturer.
The interior of these trains has been designed based on Talgo’s experience in high comfort long-distance compositions and services, such as the ones supplied for the Mecca-Medina high-speed line in Saudi Arabia. They are equipped with interior air conditioning certified for extreme temperatures, an onboard Wi-Fi platform throughout the train, and infotainment systems with LED screens in each of the first-class seats.
State-owned ENR launched the tender process in August 2016 as part of a project funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with the final bidding phase closing in October 2018.
Although Talgo is primarily known for its very high-speed trains that operate at over 300km/h (in fact, it is the company with the highest market share in the competitive Spanish market), it has more than 80 years of experience in the manufacture and maintenance of conventional rolling stock.
Ryanair (NYSE: RYAN), Edinburgh’s No. 1 airline, today (6th July) celebrated the 15-year anniversary of its base and 33 millionth passenger at Edinburgh Airport. Ryanair first began operating to/from Edinburgh Airport in 2001 with its first flight from Dublin. The airline has since grown to become Edinburgh Airport’s biggest carrier operating a record schedule for Summer ’23, with over 590 flights per week across 69 routes, incl. 6 new routes – Belfast, Bournemouth, London, Newquay, Rhodes, and Venice – on its 11 based aircraft, which represent a $1.1 billion investment and support over 3,800 local jobs.
To celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Ryanair’s Edinburgh base, as well as 33 million passengers and its record-breaking Edinburgh schedule for Summer ‘23, the airline has launched a special seat sale with fares from £29.99 for travel between July and Sept available only at Ryanair.com.
The three unit FLIRT Akku used for the record journey has been developed by Stadler since 2016 as a local CO2 neutral mobility solution for the climate-friendly operation of unelectrified railway routes. The vehicle was approved by the German Federal Railway Office and introduced to the public for the very first time in 2018. Ever since when the FLIRT Akku test carrier has travelled around 15,000 kilometers in battery only operation, before setting the world record for a regional train journey in battery-only mode without additional charge now.
Climate friendly bestseller FLIRT
The first Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train was developed in 2002 at the request of the Swiss Federal Railways SBB for the Zug city railway. Ever since the unit was put into service, the FLIRT has turned into an international bestseller with over 2,000 vehicles sold. These vehicles are being operated in 20 countries in virtually all climate zones, from the equator to the polar circle, with 528 of them operating in Germany alone. The single-decker regional and intercity multiple unit convinces with its flexibility in the process. The trains are configured for normal and broad gauge tracks, with top speeds of 160 to 200 km/h. Thus, the FLIRT can be customized to any individual client requirements in terms of its drive technology, number of seats, passenger flow and interior design. The lightweight aluminum construction and common components help to keep the operating, energy and maintenance costs low. Besides electric, diesel or bi-modal drives, the FLIRT is also available with climate-friendly battery and hydrogen propulsion.
With the FLIRT Akku train sets, Stadler has developed a so called BEMU (battery-electric multiple unit) that will run as both a classic EMU (electric multiple unit) under overhead contact cable or battery-operated on un-electrified routes. This makes it optimal for partly electrified routes that currently still need to be served with diesel trains. Stadler had already won the first green technology tender in Germany and sold 55 FLIRT Akkus to NAH.SH, the Schleswig-Holstein Local Transport Association in 2019. In November 2021, another order for 44 vehicles followed from Deutsche Bahn Regio. In addition Stadler is also building the first hydrogen-powered FLIRT for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) in the USA.
