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    Qantas finalises incremental order for nine A220s

    Australia’s Qantas Group has finalised an incremental order for nine A220-300s, bringing its total backlog for the single aisle type to 29 aircraft.
    The A220 was originally selected by Qantas as part of a major fleet replacement programme announced in May 2022, which also included orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. The carrier had announced its intention to order the additional A220s in February this year.
    Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 at the end of this year and will operate the type primarily on its extensive domestic route network. Combining latest generation technologies and a wider, quieter cabin for extra comfort, the A220 can fly further than other aircraft in its size category, while also bringing a step-change reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.
    Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International said: “We are pleased to announce this incremental order from Qantas. Best in class, the A220 will be the perfect platform for a domestic network that includes everything from short hops to flights of five hours and beyond. Combining efficiency, comfort and longer range, the A220 will also contribute from Day 1 to the carrier’s far-reaching Climate Action Plan.”
    The A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category. Specifically designed for the 100 -150 seat segment, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles / 6,400 kilometres. The A220 has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, offering passengers superior comfort. ADVERTISEMENTThe aircraft is powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030.
    Airbus has received close to 800 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which 265 have been delivered. The A220 is already in service with 16 airlines worldwide.
    @Airbus @Qantas #A220 #ParisAirshow

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    Boeing, CAE to Collaborate on Pilot Training

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    Boeing, CAE to Collaborate on Pilot Training

    Boeing and CAE have signed an agreement through which CAE will become a Boeing Authorized Training Provider and the first to offer Boeing’s Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) curriculum. With this arrangement, Boeing and CAE will expand accessibility to high-quality, innovative flight training to commercial aviation customers worldwide.
    “This partnership expands our competency-based flight-training capacity to better meet the needs of our customers worldwide,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO, Boeing Global Services. “By sharing data, leveraging digital capabilities, and providing greater accessibility and affordability, Boeing and CAE are enhancing global aviation safety.”
    The shift to CBTA methodology in pilot training focuses on developing and evaluating skills, knowledge and behaviors essential for pilots to operate safely and efficiently in a commercial air transport environment. Boeing’s implementation of CBTA leverages digitally-advanced tools and fleet operations data to customize training to each individual, and helps pilots efficiently respond to in-flight challenges. The first CAE locations to adopt Boeing’s curriculum will be in India, with expansion anticipated into additional global markets. Boeing is implementing the CBTA curriculum through its global training campuses in Seattle, Miami, London-Gatwick, Shanghai, and Singapore, as well as at customer locations worldwide.
    “As a Boeing authorized training provider, CAE will leverage its expertise and global network to expand access to high-quality training on Boeing commercial aircraft and give pilots the skills and knowledge they need for peak performance in the flight deck,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and CEO. “Boeing and CAE are working together to enhance aviation safety, and this agreement ensures more pilots worldwide are ready for the moments that matter.”
    Boeing and CAE have a long-standing relationship spanning commercial and defense programs. CAE is an integral supplier of Boeing commercial aircraft training devices and provides training and operational support solutions on defense platforms.ADVERTISEMENT

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    ASIA AND PACIFIC COUNTRIES ADVANCE SHARED VISION OF TOURISM FOR DEVELOPMENT

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    ASIA AND PACIFIC COUNTRIES ADVANCE SHARED VISION OF TOURISM FOR DEVELOPMENT

    UNWTO’s Members from Asia and the Pacific met as recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on tourism in the region steadily accelerates. According to UNWTO data:
    Worldwide, twice as many people travelled internationally in the first three months of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, taking global tourism back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.For Asia and the Pacific, however, international arrivals got back to 54% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the quarter.Recovery across the region is expected to accelerate following the re-opening of China to tourism. China was the world’s biggest tourism source market in 2019. Reflecting the significance of the moment, a high-level delegation from UNWTO visited China in February to mark the official re-opening.
    “It is no exaggeration to say that, over the past year, all eyes in global tourism were on Asia and the Pacific,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Asia and the Pacific plays a key role in the state of our sector. It is a top source market, a hub of tourism innovation and home to many of the world’s leading businesses and most exciting destinations.”
    Demonstrating Cambodia’s strong political support for UNWTO’s mission, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with the Secretary-General to discuss the steady acceleration of tourism in the region after the pandemic, while emphasizing the sector’s vital importance for sustainable development of tourism in the country and across the wider region.
    UNWTO welcomed a participation to the joint Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia Joint Commission, including 15 Ministers, Deputy Ministers of Tourism and Ambassadors, and with 25 countries represented. The Meeting was held in conjunction with the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP), the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA), the UNWTO Conference on International Code for the Protection of Tourists and the UNWTO Affiliate Members Roundtable.ADVERTISEMENTAsia and Pacific Members Support UNWTO PrioritiesMember States were provided with an overview of UNWTO’s achievements guiding tourism forward, based on its Programme of Work and current priorities including:
    Education: Of the 300 education programmes certified by UNWTO’s Ted.Qual initiative, 160 are offered in Asia and the Pacific, to help tourism professionals grow in their careers. To support youth empowerment, UNWTO is also launching national versions of its Students League, with China currently developing its own edition.Investments in Tourism: Fostering the implementation of sustainable investment frameworks for the promotion of tourism investments and job creation in a post-pandemic world was one of the main objectives of UNWTO’s Executive Training Programme in the Republic of Korea last November. And in Phnom Penh, UNWTO invited Members to join the 2023 World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of “Green Investments”.Sustainability: UNWTO announced that the Batanes Tourism Observatory in the Philippines has become the newest member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), with an institution in Japan set to follow soon.Advancing the International Code for Protection of TouristsAhead of the Commission meeting, UNWTO held a special conference on its International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT). Here:
    Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia became the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists.UNWTO’s Member States across the Asia and the Pacific region adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration on the ICPT, promoting its implementation to ensure clear, transparent and efficient frameworks to protect tourists as consumers to foster confidence in travel.Affiliate Members RoundtableUnder the theme “Public-private cooperation at the core of tourism sustainable development”, discussions focused on the importance of finding mechanisms to reinforce the dialogue between all tourism stakeholders and showcased tangible examples of initiatives and projects implemented by Affiliate Members to foster sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
    Looking AheadIn line with UNWTO’s statutory obligations, Members from East Asia and the Pacific nominated China, Indonesia, Japan and Republic of Korea to represent the region on the UNWTO Executive Council.
    The two Commissions for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia also agreed that:
    The 36th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia will be held in Cebu, Philippines in 2024.World Tourism Day 2025, to be held around the theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” will be hosted by Malaysia.

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    flynas orders 30 A320neo aircraft

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    Paris air show takes off with historic plane order

    Airbus announced a record 500-plane deal with Indian airline IndiGo on day one of the Paris Airshow on Monday, as strong demand for jets and air defences vied for attention with the industry’s supply chain problems.The multibillion-dollar deal for single-aisle planes – the largest ever by number of aircraft – confirmed a Reuters report earlier this month, and eclipsed Air India’s provisional purchase of 470 Airbus and Boeing jets earlier this year.
    The world’s largest air show, which alternates with Farnborough in Britain, is at Le Bourget for the first time in four years after the 2021 edition fell victim to the pandemic.
    French President Emmanuel Macron flew in to the packed aerospace bazaar by helicopter and watched a flying demonstration including Airbus’s latest jet development, the A321XLR, and air power including the French Rafale fighter.On the civilian side, planemakers arrived with growing demand expectations as airlines rush for capacity to meet demand and help reach industry goals of net zero emissions by 2050.
    But they also face a challenge to meet that demand as suppliers struggle with rising costs, parts shortages and a scarcity of skilled labour in the wake of the pandemic.
    Industry executives say as many as 2,000 jet orders are up for grabs worldwide in a resurgent commercial jet market, on top of those provisionally announced already, as airlines try to fill a void left by sharp falls in activity in the COVID crisis.ADVERTISEMENTBut only a portion of these potential fresh deals will be ready in time for this week’s air show, which could see a mixture of new and repeat announcements, they said.
    “It is only when these appear in the year-end backlog that we have any idea of the strength of the market and the quality of the orders,” said Agency Partners analyst Sash Tusa.
    IndiGo’s deal highlights the growing importance of India, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, serving the largest population, to planemakers.
    “This is just the beginning, there’s more going forward. With the growth of India (and) the growth of the Indian aviation market … this is the right time for us to place this order,” IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers told a news conference.
    In another key market, Airbus said Saudi budget airline flynas had firmed up an order for 30 of its A320neo-family narrowbody aircraft, confirming a Bloomberg report.
    The air show is taking place under the shadow of the conflict in Ukraine, with no Russian presence in the chalets and exhibition halls in contrast to the last event four years ago.
    A Ukrainian minister told Reuters that Kyiv is in talks with Western arms manufacturers to boost production of weapons, including drones, and could sign contracts in coming months.
    Belgium said it would apply to join as an observer the potential successor to the Rafale and multinational Eurofighter, the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS fighter project, despite differences between industrial partners over whether to expand.
    France’s Thales (TCFP.PA) also announced a contract from Indonesia for 13 long-range air surveillance radars.
    Looking ahead to the rest of the show, Air India may finalise its recent huge order, split between Airbus and Boeing, as Irish lessor Avolon finalises a deal with Boeing which is having a relatively quiet show after a string of recent orders.
    Airbus is seen close to a potentially large deal with Mexico’s Viva Aerobus, but by Monday some sources were predicting the volume could be closer to 60 jets than the triple digits first reported, with no guarantee of a result this week.
    And with increased bargaining power at their disposal from tight supplies, airline executives say planemakers are being tougher on price and more circumspect than in previous upcycles.
    Engine makers are meanwhile sketching bets on fuel-saving technology that will influence how jets evolve next decade.
    Source: Reuters

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    Outdoor Participation Grows for Eighth Consecutive Year

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    Outdoor Participation Grows for Eighth Consecutive Year

    Today, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and Outdoor Foundation (OF), longtime authorities on outdoor participation data, jointly released findings from the 2023 Annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report. The report reveals that the outdoor recreation participation base grew 2.3% in 2022 to a record of 168.1M participants, or 55% of the U.S population over the age of 6. The report also found that the new participant base is becoming increasingly more diverse in terms of ethnicity, race, age and sexual and gender identity.
    “For any business that wants to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, understanding the evolving consumer base and how they choose to spend their time outdoors is essential knowledge,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA. “Industry growth is dependent on attracting and retaining the “core” and increasingly diverse “casual” participant through innovation, valued sustainability practices and pursuing policies for increasing equitable access to the outdoors for everyone.”
    Key findings in the report include:
    The participation rate for Hispanic people increased from 34% in 2015 to 56% in 2022, the highest participant growth rate for any single group.The participation rate for Black people increased more than 5% in 2022 to 40.7%, the only group with increased average outings and the highest number of outings on average compared to any other ethnic or racial group.LGBTQIA+ participants make up 11% of the participants base and are the most active of any adult cohort.A significantly higher percentage of seniors are participating in outdoor recreation. At 35% of the base, seniors now represent 1 in every 5 outdoor participants.  Gateway activities, where new participants begin their outdoor recreation journey, continue to drive new entrant outings and frequency of participation.80% of outdoor activity categories experienced growth, including camping, fishing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and hiking.Record growth in the participant base does not translate to participation rates, which are down for the first time since the pandemic, especially amongst “core” and “youth” segments.“The findings of this year’s report underpin the critical need for initiatives like Thrive Outside that seek to address outdoor equity barriers,” said Stephanie Maez, Outdoor Foundation Executive Director. “While the growth in ethnic and racial diversity in the participant base is encouraging, we must strive to do better. Outdoor participation should reflect the diversity of the U.S. population overall and currently it does not.”
    For over 15 years, the report has served as the most trusted and comprehensive source of insights and narratives around who’s doing what, when, and how outdoors. The Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association, funds the research and publishes the findings in partnership with OIA every year.ADVERTISEMENTThe 2023 report reflects data gathered during the 2022 calendar year and garnered a total of 18,000 online interviews consisting of people ages six and older. While the executive summary of the report is available to the public, the full report is available exclusively to OIA members and OF partners.

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    SkyDrive Reaches Basic Agreement with Suzuki to Build eVTOL Aircraft

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    SkyDrive Reaches Basic Agreement with Suzuki to Build eVTOL Aircraft

    SkyDrive Inc. a leading Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, announced at Paris Air Show 2023 on June 19 that the company had signed a basic agreement with Suzuki Motor Corporation for cooperation in manufacturing “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL aircraft
    SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned subsidiary (hereinafter “the manufacturing subsidiary”) for the purpose of manufacturing its eVTOL aircraft “SKYDRIVE.” With Suzuki, the manufacturing subsidiary will utilize a production facility owned by the Suzuki Group in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and aims to start building the SkyDrive “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL aircraft by spring of 2024. Suzuki will also cooperate with the manufacturing subsidiary in securing human resources and making other preparations for the start of manufacturing. More specific terms and conditions will be agreed upon through ongoing discussions.
    The “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL aircraft, to be built at Suzuki’s production facility, is a three-seat, electric-powered lightweight aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
    Comment by Toshihiro Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corporation President “We are excited to cooperate with SkyDrive as we ambitiously work towards creating valuable products that contribute to the realization of a world where people use the sky for their daily transportation.”
    Comment by Tomohiro Fukuzawa, SkyDrive Inc. CEO “At Suzuki, all manufacturing activities are based on a concept, ‘Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater,’ and SkyDrive is developing lightweight air mobilities. Suzuki and SkyDrive have been collaborating since March 2022 and we are very excited that SkyDrive will utilize the production facility of Suzuki to build our eVTOL ‘SKYDRIVE.’ In our pursuit to consistently manufacture safe and high-quality aircraft for the world, we are grateful for the valuable know-how we will learn from Suzuki, a global leader in automobile mass production. Suzuki and SkyDrive will work closely towards the shared goal.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    Accor chairman Sébastien Bazin heading to Abu Dhabi this September

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    Accor chairman Sébastien Bazin heading to Abu Dhabi this September

    Sébastien Bazin, CEO and chairman of Accor Group, will be in Abu Dhabi this September. The global hotel boss is lined up as one of the speakers at this year’s Future Hospitality Summit.
    This year’s conference will be the focal point for hospitality investment intelligence, touching up on the influence of ESG on the industry, the impact of the prevailing geopolitical landscape on investment prospects, and the integration of technology in the hospitality sector.
    Other speakers include: Abdulaziz Al Khoori, Executive Director of Strategy & Transformation, Miral Group; Giuliano Gasparini, Head of Hospitality Asset Management, Wasl Group; Kevin Jacobs, CFO and President, Global Development, Hilton; and Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana.
    Source : Hotelier Middle East

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    Digitrips rolls out flexible flight booking option for travel agents

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    Digitrips rolls out flexible flight booking option for travel agents

    Digitrips – owner of leading French multi-product travel platform MisterFly – has introduced a flexible booking option for travel agencies and tour operators, enabling them to offer fully refundable airline tickets to their customers.
    The new Flexy option by Digitrips empowers B2B customers to make any flight booking flexible for any reason, up until one day before departure.
    Initially launched in 2019 for white label partners, the ancillary service has proved to be a strong sales enabler post-pandemic, with an attachment rate which rose from 7% pre-pandemic to 20% in 2023.
    Digitrips therefore improved its ancillary service to fit travel agencies’ and tour operators’ specific needs and made it available to its B2B clients in early 2023. The functionality will now enable tour operators and travel agencies to offer their own clients a very competitive, full-flexibility service on any plane ticket, enabling them to develop their business.
    Emilie Dumont, CEO of Digitrips, said: “As passengers demand added flexibility, our Flexy option stands ready to provide travel agents and tour operators with a seamless and efficient way to offer unrivalled convenience and peace of mind to their travellers.ADVERTISEMENT“We’re delighted to be able to offer a new functionality that elevates the traveller experience and caters to the ever-changing consumer expectations, all the while delivering significant cost savings for our valued travel agency and tour operator partners.”

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    Accor chairman Sébastien Bazin heading to Abu Dhabi this September More