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    Cirium launches the first Airline Routes tool based on satellite-based flight tracking

    Cirium, the aviation analytics leader, has launched the aviation industry’s first Airline Routes tool to identify actual flights flown by aircraft type.
    It uses applied analytics to derive routes flown by airlines based on satellite-based flight tracking and fuses this with advanced fleet data.
    The new premium Routes tool is part of Ascend Profiles, a visual descriptive analytics tool which enables businesses to quickly view aircraft intelligence by airline or lessor.
    Businesses such as aircraft lessors, banks or aircraft manufacturers are empowered to identify the aircraft flown by route for 1,700 airlines and factor development opportunities or risk into their decision making.
    By leveraging satellite-based flight tracking data the tool identifies what routes and aircraft airlines actually flew rather than what they planned to fly, providing the most accurate flight completion picture.ADVERTISEMENT
    Kevin Hightower, Cirium VP of Product, said: “The Airline Routes tool is the first of its kind to bring together such advanced data – the satellite-based flight tracking and the comprehensive fleet data – meaning businesses can conduct quick yet accurate due diligence on an airline portfolio.
    “Understanding which aircraft an airline is actually flying and on what routes is critical to identify where aircraft demand may be and whether an airline is growing or reducing their network.”
    India is one of the markets in the spotlight currently, as air travel is helping to boost economic growth in the region. Low-cost-carrier, IndiGo, recently announced it was looking to grow its international network and further solidify its domestic operations.
    According to Ascend Profiles, IndiGo has a fleet of 306 aircraft – (273 in service and 33 in storage), plus 501 on order. Of the delivered fleet, 36% are on operating lease.
    The Routes tool shows which two-way international routes IndiGo was operating this January which it was not in January 2022. For example, 172 flights were tracked on the newly added route between Indira-Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to Tribhuvan International in Kathmandu. All operated using Airbus A320s.
    Additionally, the new tool shows the bi-directional routes for which IndiGo has ramped up operations. The carrier saw the most significant growth on the Singapore – Bengaluru route, where it completed 62 flights, all using A320s, this January versus only one flight, using an A321, last January.
    IndiGo also substantially increased its operations this year on the Dubai – Ahmedabad route, completing five times the number of flights in Jan 23 when compared with Jan 22.
    The Airline Routes tool is part of Ascend Profiles which visualizes aircraft intelligence of airline or lessor profiles and provides quick and accurate insights showing the latest 12-month year-over-year flights flown by an airline’s routes and can be viewed by flights, seats and ASKs.
    The tool is available as a web-app on desktop, tablet, and mobile

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    RYANAIR PETITIONS EU TO SORT OUT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ IMPACT OF FRENCH ATC STRIKES

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    RYANAIR PETITIONS EU TO SORT OUT ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ IMPACT OF FRENCH ATC STRIKES

    Ryanair has called on the EU to protect travellers by enforcing minimum service laws during the French air traffic controllers’ strikes, and has petitioned the European Commission to encourage change.French air traffic controllers have joined the hundreds of thousands of workers in staging protests against president Macron’s decision to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. Expected to last until Thursday (23 March), the disruption will mainly impact overflights as French laws protect domestic services.
    The low-cost carrier launched a petition on Monday (20 March) calling on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to allow foreign air traffic controllers (ATCs) to manage flights passing through France’s airspace. It has also urged Brussels to mandate that French unions engage in “binding arbitration” processes before laying down tools.
    “While we respect the right to strike, it is completely unacceptable that Europe’s passenger flights that overfly France are repeatedly delayed or cancelled by French ATC strikes,” said Ryanair DAC chief executive Eddie Wilson.
    “So far in 2023, more than one million EU passengers have faced unnecessary delays/cancellations as a result of 14 separate French ATC strikes, with zero action taken by Ursula von der Leyen’s commission to protect them,” he continued.The petition will be submitted to the commission once it reaches one million signatures, the airline confirmed. “After all, if the EU won’t listen to its airlines, perhaps they’ll listen to millions of Europe’s passengers instead,” he added.
    This is not the first time Ryanair executives has blasted the EC for not having a firm hand. Group chief executive Michael O’Leary told Irish politicians in December that visitors were “being completely screwed while a bunch of French air traffic controllers go on strike.”ADVERTISEMENT“It is bizarre that Europe’s free movement of people across Europe in a single market is allowed to be threatened by the French every time they have these recreational strikes, which they have frequently in the summer,” he told members of the Irish transport committee
    Source: TTG media.com

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    UK to Introduce Travel Authorisation Requirement in November 2023 More

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    UK to Introduce Travel Authorisation Requirement in November 2023

    The United Kingdom authorities have announced that the country will introduce a travel authorisation requirement – the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – in November 2023, but this will not apply to EU nationals until next year.An ETA is a new requirement that will start to apply soon to all those who do not need a visa to enter the UK, and based on the data provided by the government of the UK, nationals of the EU won’t have to get an ETA until after February 2024, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
    The UK government has already announced that nationals of Qatar will need to get an ETA from November 15, 2023, to travel to the UK.
    Moreover, the same said that nationals of another six countries – Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – will need to get an ETA from February 22, 2024, and stressed that more countries would be added to the scheme later.
    This means that since none of the EU countries is part of the list yet, EU citizens will not be required to get an ETA this year.
    All people who get an ETA once they are required to do so will be allowed to enter and stay in the UK for up to six months to visit family or friends, as well as for business, travel, or study purposes.ADVERTISEMENTMoreover, those who get an ETA will also be allowed to enter and stay in the UK for up to three months on the Creative Worker visa concession, and they will also be permitted to transit through the UK.
    The application for an ETA will need to be made on the UK ETA app or online through the official website of government.
    According to the UK authorities, the processing times will be around three working days. However, depending on whether the authorities need to carry out further checks, it might take more or fewer days.
    “You’ll need to apply on the UK ETA app or online on GOV.UK. You’ll usually get a decision within three working days, but you may get a quicker decision. It may take longer than three working days if we need to make further checks,” the statement of the UK government.
    As for the exact cost of an ETA, no information has been made available yet, but the price is expected to be lower than when applying for a visa. Each traveller will have to apply for their own ETA, including children, and once the application is approved, everyone will receive an email confirmation.
    By introducing the ETA, the UK wants to strengthen its borders and security further. Several other countries have similar systems in place, and the EU is expected to launch one soon, too – the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

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    Elite Havens responds to the return of destination weddings and other special events

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    Elite Havens responds to the return of destination weddings and other special events

    Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, owned by Dusit International, has expanded its portfolio of more than 300 luxury villa rentals by adding four outstanding new properties to its hand-picked collection of exceptional event villas in Thailand and Indonesia.
    Ideally positioned to leverage the return of destination weddings and other special events, the new additions include Permata Ayung Private Estate, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia; Tirtha Bayu Estate Seseh-Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia; Infinity View, Kata, Phuket, Thailand; and Inasia, Lipa Noi, Koh Samui, Thailand. Each new property offers privacy and personalised experiences executed by Elite Havens’ expert in-house teams and event organisers.

    Set within a magnificent riverside estate in the hills of Ubud, Permata Ayung Private Estate offers 12 bedrooms in individual pavilions across five hectares of land with multiple event spaces, both indoor and outdoor. It features its own standalone riverside spa with an adjoining bridal suite, a plush private cinema, organic juice and cocktail bars, colourful tropical gardens, lush coconut groves, and serene views of rice fields, making it a great venue for wellness retreats and large-scale weddings in a private oasis.
    Also in Bali, Tirtha Bayu Estate is a spacious oceanfront estate overlooking the dramatic black sands of Cemagi Beach. Artfully blending traditional and contemporary design, it features an interconnected complex of two villas – the modern and elegant six-bedroom Villa I and the traditional and refined five-bedroom Villa II. With multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces, plus two infinity pools, the beautiful property can host events and weddings with up to 150 guests.ADVERTISEMENT
    Over in Thailand, Infinity View is an elegant four-bedroom villa for intimate celebrations near Phuket’s Kata Noi Beach. The beautiful property certainly lives up to its name, featuring a majestic ocean backdrop beyond its crystal blue pool. Its idyllic location offers complete privacy for small family gatherings and milestone celebrations just five minutes from the beautiful white sands of Kata Noi and Kata.
    Rounding out the new additions in Thailand, the latest addition to the Elite Havens Koh Samui portfolio, Inasia, is also an excellent choice for large families or groups of friends celebrating life’s special moments. Situated next to Lipa Noi beach, it features eight guestrooms with views of the deep green sea. Shallow waters running 100 metres off the shore make it a safe environment for children to splash and play. Indoor and outdoor dining areas add a sense of variety for those looking to celebrate an intimate event.

    “The last few years have left people with renewed zeal to explore more of the world and clarity about the importance of celebrating each small moment with near and dear ones,” said Ms Maya Rigg, CEO, Elite Havens. “Not only are travellers seeking to return to familiar locations and revisit their favourite villas, but they are also booking private venues like luxury villas at exclusive destinations to celebrate life events like weddings, family reunions, and other milestones. We expect the confidence of travellers to continue the upward trend seen in 2022, and we look forward to welcoming guests to make lasting memories at our exquisite new additions in Bali, Phuket, and Koh Samui.”
    More details about the new properties can be found at the following links:
    Permata Ayung Private Estate (Bali): https://www.elitehavens.com/the-permata-ayung-private-estate-villa/ubud-bali-indonesia.aspx
    Tirtha Bayu Estate (Bali): https://www.elitehavens.com/tirtha-bayu-estate-villa/sesehtanah-lot-bali-indonesia.aspx
    Infinity View (Phuket): https://www.elitehavens.com/infinity-view-villa/kata-phuket-thailand.aspx

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    Warm up during the holidays with expanded Delta service to the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico

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    Korean Air and Delta Air Lines repair homes with Habitat for Humanity in the Philippines

    Korean Air and Delta Air Lines employees participated in a home repair project in Calauan, the Philippines, on March 17, 2023. Calauan in Laguna Province is home to a resettlement site project of 650 houses built by Habitat for Humanity for low-income families affected by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. Approximately 110 units remain unoccupied and require repair due to building dilapidation and vandalism.
    A total of 17 employees from Korean Air and Delta Air Lines took part in the housing repair project and repainted three homes, conducted minor carpentry work and repaired windows and doors.
    “Korean Air has been partnering with Habitat for Humanity Philippines since 2013, and we are delighted to be working side by side with our Delta colleagues on this project. As we soon celebrate our joint venture’s fifth anniversary, we find it especially meaningful to give together to the community we serve, and I hope we can continue this tradition going forward,” said Cheol Lee, Korean Air’s regional general manager of the Philippines and Guam.
    “Delta and Korean Air joint venture partnership is not just about business. It’s also about giving back to the communities where we live, work and serve,” said Akinori Yokosawa, Delta Air Lines’ Global Sales Manager, Southeast Asia. “We are pleased to work jointly to contribute to the community in the Philippines for the first time together. The Philippines is one of the most important markets in Southeast Asia for our joint venture.”
    ADVERTISEMENTSince 2013, Korean Air has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Philippines as part of the airline’s global corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, and has participated in home building projects in Quezon City, Cebu Province and Silay, Negros Occidental.Delta has helped build or rehabilitate over 270 homes through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity since 1995. Delta employees have a tradition of working with partner airlines to build homes with Habitat for Global Builds.
    After Korean Air and Delta Air Lines embarked on their joint venture partnership in 2018, the two airlines have participated in several joint community service projects such as building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Los Angeles, U.S. and Korean Air’s annual tree planting project in Baganuur, Mongolia.

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    easyJet launches flights for the first time to Istanbul

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    Air Canada Named One of the 50 Most Engaged Workplaces for Sixth Consecutive Year

    Air Canada has been recognized as one of Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® for 2023. It is the sixth consecutive year Air Canada has won the award, given for innovative engagement and recognition practices that elevate the employee experience.“At its heart, Air Canada is a customer service business, and we rely on our highly motivated and dedicated employees to deliver on that promise each and every day. We put a premium on all our people throughout our company because each of them is essential and they are the best at what they do. We are always devising new ways to support them so that they can continue to succeed, and it is gratifying that Achievers recognizes these efforts,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs at Air Canada.
    The Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® is one of several awards Air Canada has already won this year for its workplace engagement and employee practices. The carrier has also been named:
    One of “Montreal’s Top Employers” for 2023 by Mediacorp Canada for the 10th consecutive year.One of Canada’s Best Employers 2023 by Forbes for the eighth consecutive year.Winner of the 2023 HRD Innovative HR Teams Award for Forward-Thinking HR Programs.In selecting its winners, Achievers assembled a panel of 11 esteemed judges comprised of employee engagement academics, industry analysts, thought leaders, journalists, and influencers to evaluate the applicants. Winners were selected based on Achievers’ Eight Elements of Employee Engagement®: Accountability & Performance, Belonging, Equity & Inclusion, Culture Alignment, Manager Empowerment, Professional & Personal Growth, Purpose & Leadership, Recognition & Rewards, and Wellbeing.

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    United Invests $5 Million in Algae-based Fuel Producer Viridos

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    United Invests $5 Million in Algae-based Fuel Producer Viridos

    United wants to turn microalgae into SAF through the first new investment of its recently announced UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM since its launch: algae biofuel company Viridos. This $5 million investment will support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from algae, an abundant and scalable resource that can be grown and harvested without impacting the food supply chain.
    Viridos specializes in the bioengineering of microalgae and its proprietary technology accelerates the amount of oil that can produced from microalgae. This algae oil could then be used to scale the future production of SAF.
    SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone.¹ SAF is made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks, including household trash, forest waste, or algae. To date, United has invested in the future production of over three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world.²
    “SAF is proven, scalable, and the best tool we have to reduce our carbon emissions from flying, but we face a significant shortage of available feedstock,” said United Airlines Ventures President Mike Leskinen. “As the global aviation leader in SAF production investment United remains committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions, without relying on traditional carbon offsets, by 2050. Viridos’ algae-based biofuel technology has the potential to help solve our supply problem without the need for farmland or other agricultural resources and marks our inaugural investment in our new cross-industry UAV Sustainable Flight Fund.”
    Viridos, a biofuel company focused on decarbonizing industries, is leading the bioengineering of microalgae and has already achieved seven times the oil productivity compared to typical wild-type algae. This creates an opportunity for potentially scalable and more sustainable production of algae oil, that could later be used to produce SAF. Based on current estimates, SAF created by Viridos’ algae oil is expected to have a 70% reduced carbon footprint on a lifecycle basis when compared to traditional jet fuel.ADVERTISEMENTViridos’ bioengineering technology combines several important and unique attributes contributing to better scalability and sustainability compared with traditional jet fuel production:
    Surface area oil productivities of Viridos algae far exceed any traditional oil crop, achieving high algae oil output on comparatively small areas.Viridos algae are grown in vessels containing seawater. This allows contained deployment in hot and dry locations without taxing scarce freshwater and arable land resources, while eliminating runoff.Viridos algae have extremely high oil contents facilitating downstream processing to algae oil.Viridos algae oil is a quality plant oil allowing existing bio-refineries to process the oil with high yield.“By establishing production sites to grow Viridos-engineered microalgae in saltwater, we are creating the foundation for a biofuel future that moves away from fossil fuels without competing for precious resources such as fresh water and arable land. We are excited to have the support from United Airlines. Together we can build the ecosystem needed to bring algae biofuels to the market,” said Oliver Fetzer, Viridos Chief Executive Officer.

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    QANTAS AND JETSTAR CUSTOMERS GIVEN MORE TIME TO USE COVID CREDITS

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    QANTAS AND JETSTAR CUSTOMERS GIVEN MORE TIME TO USE COVID CREDITS

    Qantas and Jetstar are giving customers an extra 12 months to use their COVID credits, which are a carry-over from the unprecedented upheaval to borders and travel during the pandemic.Credits have been extended three times since 2020 and this final extension to the travel date is designed to make it easier for customers to use their remaining credits for domestic or international travel.
    Before today, customers had to book and complete their travel by 31 December 2023. Following this change, they will still have to book by 31 December this year but have until December 2024 to complete their travel[1].
    This extension follows a number of other initiatives introduced over the past year to make using COVID credits easier. They include a dedicated Qantas help line with specially trained staff, monthly reminder emails on credit balances and prompts to use flight credits in the online booking engine. Qantas customers can call the Travel Credit Concierge Team on 1300 171 505 or visit the Travel Credits Hub. Jetstar customers can use LiveChat to locate their voucher details.
    Today’s change also adds to offers introduced to encourage customers to book travel before their credits are due to expire, including a double points offer for Frequent Flyers last December and a Qantas “Find My Credit” tool, which will launch in April to help those who have lost track of their original booking details.
    The travel date extension makes the Qantas and Jetstar COVID credit program more flexible than our main domestic competitor and one of the most flexible among global carriers – some of which have already expired their COVID credits.ADVERTISEMENTComments
    Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, Markus Svensson, said both Qantas and Jetstar are focused on helping customers use their credits.
    “We literally had millions of bookings that were cancelled during several waves of lockdowns and border closures. No airline had systems that were designed to manage that in a seamless way and we realise there’s been frustration for some customers as a result,” said Mr Svensson.
    “Now that we’re flying again, a huge amount of effort has gone into making it easier to use your credit, from putting 250 specialists into our call centres to building dedicated websites.
    “Our main goal is for everyone who has a COVID credit to be able to put it to good use, which is why we’re doing one final extension of the travel expiry date by 12 months. This is on top of all the system changes we’re making, so people can be reunited with credits they might have forgotten they even have.
    “Whether it’s for a domestic flight in Australia or internationally, this year or next, the extension of the travel date really opens up more opportunities for our customers to plan their next trip.
    “Our COVID credits can also be used on sale fares and frequent flyer flight promotions, so customers can get maximum value,” added Mr Svensson.
    COVID credits through the pandemic
    During the pandemic, Qantas and Jetstar provided customers with more flexibility for flight changes and credit redemptions than ever before. Each time borders closed, more travel credits were created as people were unable to take planned trips, amassing a total of $2 billion in credits over more than two years. More than $1.2 billion of this has already been refunded or used for travel, with millions of dollars in COVID credits being accessed by customers each week.
    A recent analysis of the $800 million in COVID credits[2] still held by Qantas and Jetstar customers shows:
    76 per cent of COVID credits are worth less than $500.24 per cent of COVID credits are worth between $500 and $5000.Less than 1 per cent of COVID credits are worth over $5000.There are two main types of Qantas COVID credits in the system – those that were triggered when the airline cancelled a flight (which are the most flexible for that reason) and those triggered when a customer elected not to travel. All Qantas customers in the first category remain eligible for a cash refund of their credit should they prefer.
    As lockdowns ended, Qantas switched back to pre-COVID terms and conditions from 1 October 2021. Qantas customers were still given the flexibility to switch their flight into credit if they chose not to travel[3], however the expiry date of those credits remains at the standard 12 months and is unchanged from today’s announcement.
    Qantas and Jetstar customers holding a COVID credit will be emailed the changes to their vouchers.[4] Customers who booked through a Travel Agent should contact their Agent directly to book travel using their COVID credit.
    [1] At any point Qantas travel can be booked up to a maximum of 353 days in advance, which reflects system range. On 31 December 2023, this will mean travel can be booked up to 19 December 2024. Jetstar vouchers can be used to book any flight, which are generally made available for booking 12 months in advance of travel.
    [2] As reported at Qantas’ half year results, around $800 million in COVID Credits were yet to be redeemed at 31 December 2022.
    [3] Qantas’ Fly Flex allowed customers a fee free date change or flight credit on bookings made before 30 April 2022 for domestic travel and 30 June 2022 for international travel. Post these dates, all standard terms and conditions apply.
    [4] Jetstar systems will be progressively updated and customers will be emailed changes to their vouchers by the end of March 2023.

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    Celebrating a Legacy That Keeps Flying

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