Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have signed an interline agreement to boost connectivity for passengers of both air carriers to new points on each other’s networks via Manila and Dubai, using a single ticket and one baggage policy.
Now in effect, the reciprocal interline partnership provides Emirates’ passengers access to 19 Philippine domestic destinations operated by Philippine Airlines, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Cotabato, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo and more, as well as two Asian regional points via Manila. Philippine Airlines’ passengers also benefit from access to Emirates’ global network and seamlessly connect to 21 cities operated by Emirates beyond Dubai to European destinations such as London, Rome, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Paris and Kuwait, as well as to Jeddah and other points in the Middle East , Africa and India.
Emirates first started operations in Manila in 1990, and has since expanded its network to include Cebu and Clark. The airline currently serves the Philippines with 25 weekly flights to the three gateways.
Emirates operates its modern Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a mix of three-class and two-class configuration on flights to Manila, Cebu and Clark. On Emirates’ three-class Boeing 777 flights, passengers are offered 8 private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 310 spacious seats in Economy Class. The airline’s two-class Boeing 777 flights, offer passengers 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 386 spacious seats in Economy Class. Travellers to and from the Philippines benefit from Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all classes, with regionally-inspired dishes and complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system which offers up to 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, and an extensive musical library along with games, audio books and podcasts.
With the addition of its agreement with Philippine Airlines, Emirates takes its interline partners up to 120 air carriers. The airline also has 27 codeshare partners. These partnerships enable Emirates to respond with agility to the dynamic travel industry, meeting the ever-evolving air travel needs of its customer.
Southwest Airlines flight WN2452 from Havana to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood with Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 N8972Q on March 5, 2023 made a safe emergency landing at HAV after suffering a bird strike on takeoff and an engine shutdown.
airBaltic has announced that during the summer season of 2023 it will wet-lease four additional aircraft short-term – to meet the increasing passenger demand and ensure a successful performance of planned flights. To support these efforts, a partnership with the leading narrow-body ACMI and charter operator Avion Express has been established, adding the Airbus A320-232 aircraft of 180 seats to the fleet of airBaltic.
In total, two of the aircraft will operate out of the Riga base, starting from March 26 to October 28, while one will be based in Vilnius and another in Tallinn, from March 1 to October 28.
The wet-leased aircraft will be available in two configurations, with burgundy red leather seats and blue textile seats. The onboard ambiance will feature airBaltic-branded white headrest covers, Baltic Outlook inflight magazine, and the airline’s safety cards. Furthermore, the crew of Avion Express has been instructed to detail, in order to ensure the same high standard of service asairBaltic.
The Airbus A320-232 aircraft of Avion Express (registration numbers: 9H-AMI, 9H-AMK, 9H-MLY, 9H-MLX) have been manufactured in the period from 2008 to 2011.
airBaltic provides flights to more than 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere.
Global aviation industry went through a year of increasing geopolitical tensions and global inflationist pressures while facing operational problems following the Covid-19 pandemic. Turkish Airlines closed 2022 with $2.7 billion USD net profit standing out from its competition thanks to its operational agility, wide flight network and highly skilled workforce it maintained during the pandemic. Our company managed to complete its sixth quarter in a row with a net profit despite the difficult operating environment that persisted since 2020.
Total revenue of our company during 2022 was $18.4 billion USD, surpassing that of 2019 by 39% and marking a record high. Constituting 20% of the total revenues, cargo revenues increased by 120% compared to the same period in 2019 and recorded as approximately $3.7 billion USD.
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “As Turkish Airlines we are continuing to overcome every obstacle we encounter with our 90 years of experience. Every single one of our colleagues and their team spirit contributed to our post-pandemic success.
With the responsibility and awareness of being the flag carrier, we are standing with our nation just as we did during previous crises. In the aftermath of the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, we utilized all of our resources to operate over 2,400 flights in order to transport 433 thousand search and rescue teams and 16 thousand tons of aid materials to the region while evacuating 430 thousand of our citizens to date.
We are doing our part when it comes to mending the wounds caused by the earthquakes our country faced and we will continue to do so as the aftermath of the disaster continues to unfold. Apart from the 2 Billion TL cash aid donated to Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), we started the work with Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change to provide the necessary support for the construction of 1,000 homes for those rendered homeless due to the earthquakes. We will also plan to employ 1,000 personnel from 1,000 families affected by the earthquakes.”
With one of the youngest and most modern fleet of 394 aircraft, Turkish Airlines carried around 72 million passengers with 85.8% domestic and 80.1% international load factor. In spite of the inflation pressures on the global scale, the flag carrier maintained its effective cost management in 2022 by lowering its unit expenses excluding fuel by 2% compared to 2019. As a result, EBITAR (Earnings before interest, taxes, amortization, and rent), which demonstrates the cash generation potential of the company, realized as $5.4 billion USD.
According to the data published by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, while the global air passenger capacity in 2022 was 28% behind that of 2019, Turkish Airlines became the pioneer of the sector by exceeding its 2019 capacity by 7.5%. As Europe’s leading network carrier in terms of daily number of flights operated for the last three years according to The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL), Turkish Airlines recorded remarkable success on a global scale in 2022 by becoming the network carrier offering more international seat capacity than any other. As a result of our country’s investments towards aviation infrastructure, İstanbul Airport was also the busiest airport in Europe.
Quadrupling its market share in air freight market in the last 10 years, our company bolstered its success by ranking fifth among the world’s top air cargo carriers according to IATA’s 2022 data. After moving to SMARTIST, the new cargo operations centre built with high-tech features in İstanbul Airport, Turkish Cargo is aiming to further enhance its position among the leading air cargo brands of the world.
Employing over 75 thousand staff with its subsidiaries, Turkish Airlines is standing by its nation in this challenging period and will continue to proudly fly Türkiye’s flag on the 90th anniversary of its establishment and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
We sincerely share the pain of our country, express our deepest condolences for our citizens and wish a quick recovery to those injured by the earthquakes.
Top Copyright Photo: Turkish Airlines Airbus A321-231 TC-JRY (msn 5083) (Star Alliance) AYT (Ton Jochems). Image: 960176.
airBaltic has published its annual consolidated financial results and the sustainability report of the year 2022, highlighting strong positive business indicators. The company recorded operating earnings of EUR 32.0 million, a significant increase from the previous year. Furthermore, its revenue exceeded EUR 500 million – a 145% year-over-year growth.
In addition, airBaltic achieved significant improvements in other key financial results. EBITDAR increased from EUR 0.3 million in 2021 to EUR 129.7 million in 2022 – an improvement of EUR 129.4 million. However, the number of passengers climbed to 3.3 million, representing a growth of 105% over the previous year. Moreover, airBaltic operated 59% more flights than in 2021, with a total of 37.3 thousand in 2022. The net result improved by EUR 81.5 million to a net loss of EUR 54.2 million, showing a strong recovery.
Position
2022
2021
Change
Revenue
EUR 500.17 million
EUR 204.1 million
145%
EBITDAR
EUR 129.7 million
EUR 0.3 million
EUR 129.4 million
Operating profit / (loss)
EUR 32 million
EUR (56.0) million
EUR 88.0 million
Net result
EUR (54.2) million
EUR (135.7) million
EUR 81.5 million
Passengers
3.34 million
1.63 million
105%
Flights
37.3 thousand
23.4 thousand
59%
airBaltic provides flights to more than 70 destinations from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere
Top Copyright Photo: airBaltic Airbus A220-300 (Bombardier CS300 – BD-500-1A11) YL-ABG (msn 55154) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 960146.
Jetlines (Canada Jetlines) has announced their first scheduled flight to Mexico from Canada took place today, March 3, 2023, between Toronto and Cancun.
“Canada Jetlines is very proud to operate our first scheduled flight between Canada and Mexico. Following the recent announcement of our first successful scheduled operation to Las Vegas Nevada, we are pleased to be flying this morning to Cancun,” said Canada Jetlines Chief Commercial Officer, Duncan Bureau.
The new airline also arrived in Guanacaste, Costa Rica:
Luxair and Boeing today announced that the Luxembourgian airline has chosen the fuel-efficient 737-8 MAX 8 to expand its single-aisle fleet with an agreement to acquire four jets.
Luxair will initially lease two 737-8s that are due for delivery for the summer, ensuring the airline provides its customers with increased capacity and connectivity to more destinations for the busy summer travel season. It has additionally placed a direct order for two 737-8s.
Image: Boeing
The 737-8, seating 162 to 210 passengers depending on configuration and with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, is the market’s most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.
Luxair operates a fleet of 19 airplanes, including eight Next-Generation 737s.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to offer its customers a totally new and more personalized ‘SWISS Senses’ air travel experience from 2025 onwards. The centrepiece of the new customer product is an entirely redesigned cabin for the airline’s long-haul aircraft fleet. SWISS unveiled its new cabin interiors to the public today.
“This is the most comprehensive cabin renewal in the history of our company,” says SWISS Chief Executive Officer Dieter Vranckx. “As a premium airline, we want to pay due and full regard to our customers’ desire for more individuality. And with this extremely high-quality product, we can continue to meet all our high aspirations.”
The totally redesigned long-haul cabin features a timeless colour scheme and top-quality materials. The warm and muted tones such as claret, anthracite and beige convey a particular sense of comfort and calm. The new concept also extends to SWISS’s first-ever suites, which will be offered in SWISS First and parts of SWISS Business. All seating classes will also feature new Human-Centric Lighting which helps alleviate jet lag’s effects. A new state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system with bigger screens and connection options for the customer’s own personal devices will also be provided in all seating classes.
“With ‘SWISS Senses’ we’re making our customers’ air travel an even more personal and more sensual experience,” adds SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “With its deep devotion to detail, our new long-haul cabin will give our passengers a particular feeling of warmth and well-being – a cosy and comfortable yet also functional environment in all our travel classes.”
Swiss First
SWISS First: privacy assured
The new SWISS First suites offer their guests total privacy with closable sliding doors, a spacious personal wardrobe, a large seat table, seat heating and cooling, a wireless charging station and a screen display that is as wide as the suite itself. The cabin’s centre suite can also be configured to suit two persons travelling together. The suites’ warm colours and wood features convey a strong sense of comfort and calm within top-quality surrounds. An advanced and spacious new washroom has also been developed for the new SWISS First cabin. The facility draws its inspiration from the famous spring in Vals in Canton Graubünden: a slate-black exterior, and a green interior that alludes to the spring’s fresh and cooling water.
Swiss Business
SWISS Business: aisle access from every seat
The totally redesigned SWISS Business cabin is intentionally conceived to meet a wide range of wishes and needs. In addition to ‘classic’ Business Class seats, the new cabin offers various further seating options such as double seats for passengers travelling together. Selected seats can also be closed off with a sliding door. All the new SWISS Business seats feature seat heating and cooling and a wireless charging station. The cabin’s top-quality materials in claret and anthracite help convey an extremely cosy and intimate ambience throughout.
Swiss Premium Economy
SWISS Premium Economy: tried-and-trusted retained
The highly popular SWISS Premium Economy Class with its greater seat comfort and superior cabin service will remain an integral feature within the new air travel experience. SWISS was the first airline in the Lufthansa Group to introduce the new Premium Economy seat which, with its 48-centimetre width and its almost one-metre pitch, has set new industry benchmarks.
Swiss Economy
SWISS Economy: optimum construction for greater seat pitch
The new SWISS Economy cabin will be equipped with new comfortable and functional seats. Thanks to their optimum construction, seat pitch has been increased. Every seat will also feature a more than 13-inch high-resolution screen, and the extensive new inflight entertainment system will help the time aloft fly by. The new seats are further provided with an amenity storage facility and a USB port, and offer additional comfort in the first seat rows.
The new cabin interiors will be installed from 2025 onwards, initially on the SWISS Airbus A330-300 fleet and later on the company’s Boeing 777-300ERs. The new Airbus A350-900s on order will be delivered with their new cabins already installed.
Austrian Airlines issued this financial report for 2022:
First positive annual result 2022 since the pandemic: Adjusted EBIT at EUR +3 million
11.1 million passengers over the whole year – passenger volume in the second half of 2022 almost at pre-crisis level
Good summer performance paves the way for moderate growth in fleet and personnel
CEO Annette Mann: “We have won our guests back with resilience and flexibility. With a solid summer performance we were able to land in the black!”
For the first time since 2019, Austrian Airlines closed the past financial year with a positive result (Adjusted EBIT) at EUR 3 million (2019: EUR 19 million). After two years dripping with red ink (2020: EUR -319 million, 2021: EUR -249 million) a slight positive result was capitalized 2022, despite a weak first quarter, which was still marked by the restrictions of the pandemic. Decisive factors for this positive development were higher average ticket revenues and the steep increase in passengers (2022: 11.1 million). Passenger figures have reached 76% of pre-crisis level over the entire course of the year and doubled compared to the previous year (2021: 5 million).
“Also 2022 has not been an easy year for us. In the first quarter air traffic has in many places still been very limited due to entry regulations, in February expenses for fuel and energy have skyrocketed due to the war at our doorstep“, says Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann. “We have won our guests back with resilience and flexibility. With a solid summer performance we were able to land in the black!”
The annual result in detail
In 2022 Austrian Airlines’ revenue rose from EUR 743 million last year to EUR 1.871 billion (+152%) and this amounted to only 11 percent less than the revenue of 2019 (EUR 2.108 billion). The total revenue amounted to EUR 1.949 billion, +152% and the total operating expenditures of EUR 1.946 billion, +90% above the previous year. For the first time since 2019 (Adjusted EBIT: EUR 19 million) Austrian Airlines has generated a positive Adjusted EBIT with a plus of EUR 3 million. With the key date of 31 December 2022 Austrian Airlines employed 5,659 staff.
The increase in passengers combined with higher average ticket revenues drove up the total operating revenue in the past year. With 11.1 million passengers, Austrian Airlines transported twice as many passengers, compared to 2021 (2021: 5 million) und came closer to pre-crisis level (2019: 14.7 million / – 24%). Especially with the second quarter a strong catch-up effect in air travel took place, particularly in the touristic segment. The comparison of the second half year shows a clear recovery of the passenger figures close to pre-crisis level (second half year 2022: 7 million, second half year 2019: 8 million). In 2022 Austrian Airlines almost doubled its offer in seat kilometers from 11.3 billion (2021) to 21.7 billion. The average load factor of 79.4% has reached a value close to the one of 2019 (80.8%).
Early repayment and inflation compensation for all employees
The record result of the third quarter paved the way for the early repayment of the state-backed loan by the end of 2022, which was taken in the course of the Corona pandemic. Good liquidity and the granting of a credit line by Lufthansa Group allowed for Austrian Airlines to fully repay the remaining EUR 210 million of the total loan of EUR 300 million three years earlier than foreseen. Also the salary cut for Austrian Airlines employees agreed in 2020 was ended earlier by the end of 2022. For an additional relief, an inflation compensation of up to a total of EUR 3,000 was payed to all employees.
Moderate growth and new fleet members
After the national carrier had to downsize since 2020 due to the crisis, two of a total of four brand-new Airbus A320neo aircraft have been joining the existing fleet since October 2022, laying the foundation for slight growth, also in terms of staff. COO Francesco Sciortino: “The Austrian team deserves to grow. New aircraft and new employees are the reward for a great performance in the past year. In 2022, we were among the top 5 most punctual airlines in Europe – despite immense challenges. With this motivation, we are already preparing for the coming summer!”
Variety in Europe and increased frequencies to Asia this summer
The Austrian Airlines flight schedule in summer 2023 will include over 120 destinations with seven new scheduled routes to Porto, Marseille, Billund, Tivat, Tromsø, Vilnius and Palermo. Like last summer, the US destinations will be served with a dense weekly frequency of up to 33 connections. Thanks to the relaxation of travel regulations to China and Japan, Austrian Airlines is also able to increase the number of flights to Asia. As of March, Shanghai is again served three times a week, while flights to Tokyo will be operated up to five times a week in the summer flight schedule. CCO Michael Trestl: “In 2023, we want to welcome even more passengers with a smile and our world-famous charm. Austrian Airlines offers a piece of Austria above the clouds all around the world!”
Outlook for the financial year 2023
Current bookings and the addition of the remaining two of the four A320neo aircraft to the fleet in early summer have already set the course for a successful new financial year. The continuing upward trend in the tourism segment is now also reflected again in medium- and long-term bookings. “For 2023, we expect a significant improvement in our results”, concludes CEO Annette Mann.
Overview of key facts and figures 2022 (rounded):
1-12 2022
1-12 2021
1-12 2019
Change YOY2021
Change YOY 2019
Revenue in € million
1,871
743
2,108
+152%
-11%
Adj. total operating revenue in € million
1,949
774
2,181
+152%
-11%
Adj. total operating expenditures in € million
1,946
1,024
2,164
+90%
-10%
Adjusted EBIT in € million
3
-249
19
–
–
EBIT in € million
-2
-238
15
–
–
Passengers in thousands
11,142
5,008
14,651
+122%
-24%
Available seat kilometers (ASK) in million
21,700
11,324
28,510
+92%
-24%
Capacity utilization (passenger load factor) in %
79.4
61.9
80.8
+17,5pp
-1,4pp
Number of flights
95,040
56,201
139,230
+69%
-32%
Fleet size (fleet in operation)
63
61
82
+2
-19
Regularity of operation
98.8%
99.5%
99.0%
-0.7pp
-0.2 pp
Punctuality on departure
77.3%
86.0 %
76.6 %
-8.7pp
+0.7 pp
Punctuality on arrival
83.2%
89.9 %
80.6 %
-6.7pp
+2.6 pp
Overview of key facts and figures Q4 2022 (rounded):
Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) and Boeing have announced an order for 15 737-9 airplanes. The agreement also includes a commitment for five 787 Dreamliners to support GBA’s long-term plan to launch international long-haul service.
The new Hong Kong-based carrier said the 737-9 will form the backbone of its future fleet as it seeks to operate more flights between Hong Kong and major cities in Asia and Mainland China. GBA plans to leverage the 737-9’s enhanced capacity and range to lower trip costs and expand its network.
Greater Bay Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX 9 (Boeing)
GBA is an all-Boeing carrier currently operating a fleet of three 737-800 jets with flights to four destinations, including Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul. The airline also plans to bring in a number of additional 737-800s to meet its expansion needs before the arrival of the 737-9.
The 737-9 is designed to seat more than 190 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range of 3,300 nautical miles, providing operators added capacity and increased profitability within their network.
Greater Bay Airlines is a Hong Kong-based carrier offering scheduled passenger and cargo services. The airline, which commenced scheduled service in July 2022, has a plan to develop an extensive network of air services to major cities in Asia and Mainland China from Hong Kong, riding on the back of the opening of the three-runway system at Hong Kong International Airport in late 2024.
At least 10 passengers on a Spirit Airlines flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Orlando were taken to the hospital after a battery fire forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Jacksonville on Wednesday.
At least seven passengers and a flight attendant on board a flight from Austin to Frankfurt were hospitalized in the Washington D.C. area after they experienced turbulence on an Airbus A330 at 37,000 over Tennessee.
Flydubai Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 A6-FKB (msn 61034) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 959074.
Key Results for 2022
Dubai-based carrier flydubai has today, 01 March 2023, announced its Annual Results for the year ending 31 December 2022
Reports historic profit of AED 1.2 billion (USD 327 million); an increase of 43% compared to 2021, reflecting the carrier’s strong business model built on cost efficiency and agility
Reports total annual revenue of AED 9.1 billion (USD 2.5 billion) compared to AED 5.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion) in 2021; an increase of 72%
Carries 10.6 million passengers; an increase of 89% compared to 2021
Takes delivery of 17 new aircraft; a record number of deliveries received in one year
Hires 1,300 employees; the airline’s biggest recruitment drive in any year
Statements on the 2022 Annual Results
Commenting on the announcement of the airline’s record Full-Year Results for 2022, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said:
“flydubai’s record performance for 2022 is a direct result of the carrier’s strong business model as well as its adaptability and agility during challenging times which has cemented its position as a key contributor to the success of Dubai’s aviation hub.
flydubai remained committed to maintaining the highest levels of cost and operational efficiencies while preserving and growing its workforce over the past two years. This meant the carrier was quick to cater to the pent-up demand and support Dubai’s accelerated recovery. flydubai’s second consecutive year of profitability since the start of the pandemic is testament to the exceptional contribution of its skilled team and the positive environment we operate in, which is conducive to growth and success. I look forward to seeing the vital role flydubai plays in the continued growth of the aviation sector; a key driver in realising the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”
Photo: flydubai
Cost and revenue performance
EBITDAR1: was reported at 28% of annual revenue.
Closing cash and cash equivalents position: including pre-delivery payments for future aircraft deliveries, is AED 4.3 billion compared to AED 3.8 billion last year.
Fuel cost: continues to be the single highest operating cost for the airline with 33.9% of total annual operating costs, due to the substantial increase in fuel prices last year. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will continue to bring greater fuel efficiency to our growing fleet.
Financing: during 2022, flydubai secured financing for 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 3 LEAP-1B engines through a combination of sale and leaseback and commercial debt financing.
Operational performance
Network expansion: flydubai launched 16 routes and ended the year with a network of 114; reaffirming its commitment to strengthening direct airlinks from underserved markets in the region with Dubai.
flydubai carried 10.6 million passengers across its network; an increase of 89% compared to 2021. The airline continued to see increased demand on its popular seasonal summer routes: Batumi (BUS), Bodrum (BJV), Dubrovnik (DBV), Izmir (ADB), Mykonos (JMK), Santorini (JTR), Tivat (TIV) and Trabzon (TZX).
flydubai saw an increase in demand for connecting traffic, with 46% of passengers connecting to the flydubai network or through its codeshare with Emirates; compared to 34% in 2021.
Fleet size: flydubai took delivery of 17 new aircraft, a record number of deliveries received in one year in the history of the airline. Growing its fleet by 25% compared to the previous year, the airline ended 2022 with 74 aircraft: 32 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 39 Boeing 737 MAX 8, and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Two Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft were returned to the lessors at the end of their operating lease.
To meet the surge in demand for travel and add capacity, flydubai signed an Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with Smartwings for four wet leased aircraft in the last quarter of the year, which saw the carrier operate 78 aircraft across its network by the end of the year.
Maintenance and Engineering: flydubai received its CAR-145 Base Maintenance Approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to perform C checks and Entry-into-Service for the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft; bringing the airline added operational and cost efficiencies. The first C check was completed in March 2022 and the first Entry-Into-Service in April 2022.
Codeshare partnership with Emirates: in November 2022, Emirates and flydubai celebrated five years of their strategic partnership which has enabled more than 11 million passengers to enjoy seamless connectivity across the joint network of 215 destinations in 98 countries.
Top Copyright Photo: Flydubai Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 A6-FKB (msn 61034) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 959074.
The Lufthansa Group is purchasing more state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft. The Group Executive Board has resolved to order
ten Airbus A350-1000 passenger aircraft
five Airbus A350-900 passenger aircraft
seven Boeing 787-9 ‘Dreamliner’ passenger aircraft
The orders were approved today by the Supervisory Board of parent company Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The aircraft concerned will be delivered to the Lufthansa Group from the mid-2020s onwards. Based on list prices, the order is worth a total of about 7.5 billion US dollars and is in line with Group’s mid-term financial planning.
The Lufthansa Group is also in advanced negotiations to acquire further long-haul aircraft which could be made available at shorter notice.
With today’s orders included, the Lufthansa Group will take delivery of 108 state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A350-1000, the Airbus A350-900, the Boeing 787-9 and the Boeing 777-9 over the next few years. In doing so, the Group will operate the quietest, most profitable and most economical long-haul aircraft that are currently in service. On average the new aircraft consume just 2.5 liters of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometers – some 30 percent less than their predecessor aircraft types.
The new long-haul aircraft will also replace older aircraft types. In the medium-term future, six such subfleets will be taken out of service: the four-engined Boeing 747-400s, Airbus A340-600s and Airbus A340-300s and the two-engined Boeing 777-200s, Boeing 767-300s and Airbus A330-200s. This will reduce the quadjet contingent within the Lufthansa Group fleet to under 15 percent: prior to the pandemic, quadjets made up some 50 percent of the groupwide aircraft fleet.
In addition to the agreement on the purchase of the new aircraft, Airbus and Lufthansa have also signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to further strengthen their cooperation in the field of sustainability and future technologies. This includes the intensified use of sustainable aviation fuels, the further optimization of operations through a more efficient flight management and exploration into the use of hydrogen.
In total, and including the advanced short- and medium-haul aircraft of the Airbus A320neo family, the Lufthansa Group currently has over 200 firm orders for new aircraft of the latest generation which will be delivered over the next few years.
Lufthansa Airbus A350-1000
The Airbus A350-1000
The Airbus A350-1000 will be a new addition to the Lufthansa Group fleet. The aircraft is 73.8 meters long and offers some 15 percent more capacity than the Airbus A350-900. The ten A350-1000s on order should primarily be deployed in premium-heavy markets. Therefore all these aircraft will be equipped with a First Class cabin.
The Airbus A350-900
Lufthansa already operates 21 of these aircraft with sizeable success. With the five aircraft ordered today, the Lufthansa Group will now take delivery of 33 further transports of this long-haul aircraft type.
The Boeing 787-9
Three Boeing 787-9s are presently in Lufthansa Group service. With today’s order included, 36 further Boeing 787-9s will join the Group fleet over the next few years.
Virgin Atlantic Airways on March 2, 2023 is joining the SkyTeam alliance. The airline made this announcement:
Virgin Atlantic is formally joining SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, at a signing ceremony in London today, March 2, 2023. The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports.
Virgin Atlantic customers will now benefit from a consistent, seamless customer experience, across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries. Customers can conveniently book every SkyTeam member flight on a single ticket, checking in with baggage just once through to their final destination.
Flying Club members have more opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points across all member airlines, accelerating both their rewards and tier status. Additionally, Flying Club members will be able to redeem hard-earned points on SkyTeam member airlines. Alongside joint venture partners Delta & Air France-KLM, these include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, China Airlines, China Eastern*, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA* Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and XiamenAir.
The airline’s Flying Club members will receive host of benefits which will enhance their journeys across the SkyTeam network. Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders are recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, whilst the airline’s Gold Card members have become Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers enjoy SkyPriority services including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. Extra baggage allowance is offered to both Elite and Elite Plus members.
SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta* or Aeromexico will have access to Virgin Atlantic’s renowned Clubhouse at London Heathrow, whilst other SkyTeam Elite Plus members can take advantage of their airline-designated lounge at Terminal 3. Elite Plus members will also enjoy a network of 750 worldwide airport lounges to choose from*.
Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the alliance builds upon the success of its transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, each already long-established SkyTeam members. Virgin Atlantic is co-located at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3, alongside Delta and existing SkyTeam members Aeromexico and China Eastern, providing customers with smooth airside transits and the most convenient connection times possible.
Codeshare agreements are already in place with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines, in addition to existing codeshares with Air France-KLM and Delta, with options for more codeshares to follow later this year. Interline agreements with all SkyTeam members are already in place, providing one touch point for all customers, creating a seamless journey on one ticket.
Virgin Atlantic flies to 12 destinations throughout the USA in partnership with Delta and Air France-KLM including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Last year the airline launched services to two new US destinations, Austin and Tampa. Virgin Atlantic also operates an extensive Caribbean portfolio including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas and from November, Turks and Caicos. Virgin Atlantic also operates services to China, India, Israel, Nigeria and South Africa. A new service to the Maldives will begin from October.
Top Copyright Photo: Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus A350-1041 G-VLUX (msn 274) LHR (Keith Burton). Image: 960046.
Finnair is turning 100 years in November 2023. To mark the centenary, the beloved Moomin characters are featured on the livery of two Finnair widebody aircraft for the duration of the year.
Finnair has taped a picture of Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden in the livery of two of its Airbus A350 aircraft. The registration numbers of the aircraft are OH-LWP and OH-LWO. The Moomin aircraft will fly to various long-haul destinations in Finnair’s network, like Dallas, Tokyo and Bangkok.
Photo: Finnair
“Finnair’s mission is to enrich life by bridging the world. This is also the theme of our centenary. Moomins represent friendship, community and going on adventures together, so they are a great fit for our values,” says Finnair’s CEO Topi Manner. “Customers will be able to see the centenary in many ways throughout 2023, as we remember our heritage and look forward to the next 100 years.”
“Finnair is one of Moomin’s major licensees and we’ve been working together since the 1990s. We’re very happy to see this collaboration extended with the new Moomin livery on Finnair aircraft,” says Roleff Kråkström, Managing Director of Moomin Characters Ltd. “Moomin is a character-brand grounded in the universal and timeless values of tolerance, acceptance and friendship upon which Nordic societies are built. These are the values that come to life in the Moomin embrace depicted in the Finnair 100 livery,” says Kråkström.
Last time the Moomins were seen in Finnair aircraft livery was in the mid-1990s.The new centenary livery was taped by HAECO in Hong Kong.
In addition to the Moomin livery, Finnair Technical Operations in Helsinki have painted the centennary slogan “Bringing us together since 1923” on three other aircraft. The registration numbers of the aircraft are OH-LWR (A350), OH-LXM (A320) and OH-LXK (A320).
AraJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 HI1027 (msn 60194) SJO (Jay Selman). Image: 404266.
Arajet Airlines is expanding again. The fast-growing airline has applied to the U.S. Department of Transport to fly to Miami, New York and San Juan from Santo Domingo.
Photo: Ministerio de Turismo RD
Once approved, the Dominican Republic carrier expects to fly the routes starting in the fall.
Top Copyright Photo: AraJet Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 HI1027 (msn 60194) SJO (Jay Selman). Image: 404266.
Air Wisconsin Airlines will start operating as an American Eagle carrier again starting this month as it ends its relationship with United Airlines as an United Express carrier.
Aircraft are now being painted in American Eagle colors.
Photo: Air Wisconsin Airlines
Previously the airline flew for American from 2015 through 2018.
Previously on August 22, 2022, Air Wisconsin announced a five year contract to operate up to 60 Bombardier CRJ200s for American starting in March 2023. These aircraft will be based at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport, to replace the Envoy Air Embraer E145s that are being transferred to Piedmont Airlines (2nd). The airline also plans to utilize some CRJ700s.
