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    Delta, American Express team up to deliver travel savings with TakeOff 15

    Eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members have another reason to start planning their next trip: as these cardholders can now take 15% off Award Travel on Delta flights, anytime. 1The new TakeOff 15 benefit is available to Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Consumer and Business American Express Card Members.
    “Our Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members are some of our most loyal customers, and we want to continue to give them opportunities to travel the world more easily,” said Prashant Sharma, V.P. of Loyalty at Delta. “We’re grateful to have a partner like American Express who shares our vision and passion for delivering ingenuity and excellence to our customers.”
    This latest partnership achievement with American Express further demonstrates Delta’s commitment to evolving the SkyMiles program to exceed expectations and enable more seamless travel. And it comes as Delta continues to revolutionize the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Delta now offers free high-speed Wi-Fi for all SkyMiles Members, which will power a vast suite of in-flight entertainment. All of this bolsters an already best-in-class loyalty program that gives customers opportunities to earn status through other partnerships with brands they love, such as Starbucks and Hertz.
    Here’s how Card Members can take advantage of this benefit and enjoy more of the places they love:
    Sign into your SkyMiles account and search for Award Travel by selecting “Shop with Miles” in the search criteria on delta.com or in the Fly Delta app.  ADVERTISEMENTSelect an eligible flight. When you get to check-out, you will see the miles discount applied to your itinerary. 
    Use your qualifying Delta SkyMiles American Express Card to earn miles with your Card on any taxes and fees for your itinerary. 
    “Delta Card Members love using their Cards to earn miles they can put toward future trips and the great experience they get when flying Delta,” said Jon Gantman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cobrand Product Management at American Express. “Now, you can go even further with your miles and get the best of the SkyMiles program with your Card.” 
    New Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members can also earn miles through new, limited time offers when they apply before March 29, 2023, and are approved. Terms apply. For more information, visit delta.com/takeoff15cardoffer2.
    In 2022, Delta SkyMiles received several top honors for loyalty program excellence, including outperforming all global airlines in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Airline Reward Program ranking and earning the Best U.S. Airline Loyalty Program accolade from The Points Guy. Delta’s SkyMiles program continues to lead with premier program enhancements such as: miles that don’t expire, no blackout dates for Award tickets on any Delta Air Lines flight, unlimited mileage accrual for tickets, and the ability to earn toward Medallion Status on Award Travel so Members can earn even faster toward Status. 
    1 Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Terms apply.
    2 For customers that apply and open a new eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card, the system may take up to 24 hours to reflect benefit eligibility on Delta.com and the Fly Delta App when booking award travel on qualifying Delta-operated flights

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    Jumeirah Group Expands Presence in Europe with Key Acquisition in Geneva

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    Jumeirah Group Expands Presence in Europe with Key Acquisition in Geneva

    Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, today announced the acquisition of its first property in Switzerland as it continues its growth trajectory and international expansion. The flagship property – Le Richemond – was founded in 1875 and is located on the banks of Lake Geneva in a prime location at the heart of the city’s business district and a short walk from the city’s luxury designer boutiques. The acquisition forms part of the Group’s strategy to build its brand profile in gateway destinations across the world.
    The move signals Jumeirah’s appetite for investment in key cities that support the diversification of its portfolio and build brand equity as a globally recognised luxury hotel operator. Geneva, as a thriving city, synonymous with luxury living, with a strong international business community and a robust high-end tourism sector, will support Jumeirah’s vision to become one of the world’s top five luxury hotel brands.
    The art deco property with its charm and grandeur has been a popular destination for well-known personalities throughout the years. The hotel features 109 keys with 87 rooms and 22 suites, boasting stunning views across Lac Léman and the mountain peaks of Mont Blanc. The property will undergo extensive renovations, which will commence as soon as possible, to reposition and elevate the guest experience to a level consistent with Jumeirah’s brand expectations. Jumeirah plans to introduce its signature wellness and fitness concepts and will also focus on bringing its culinary expertise to the banks of Lake Geneva, a city well-regarded for its diverse culinary craftsmanship and innovative spirit, with the introduction of unique destination dining concepts.

    Katerina Giannouka, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group said: “This is an important acquisition for Jumeirah as it marks our entry into Switzerland, presenting guests with a prestigious address to stay in the heart of Geneva’s most desirable destination, as well as serving as a gateway to world-renowned ski resorts. Le Richemond is a legendary property with a 140-year legacy and impeccable pedigree, and we are committed to preserving this heritage as we redesign the hotel. We are in pursuit of the finest architects and designers to curate an exceptional hotel within the Jumeirah portfolio, and we are confident that the re-launch of this property as a new ultra-luxury hotel in Geneva following the completion of the planned renovation works (currently expected in 2025), will support the city’s tourism economy, attracting both domestic and international visitors for business and leisure.”ADVERTISEMENTGiannouka continued: “As the gateway to the mountains of Europe, Geneva is strategically significant for us as we look to diversify our portfolio in major cities with both summer and winter resort destinations.”

    Jumeirah’s new property in Geneva is its fifth in Europe, joining The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, UK; Capri Palace Jumeirah on the island of Capri, Italy; and Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa in Mallorca, Spain. Jumeirah Group, which originated in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, has a portfolio of 26 hotels and resorts across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
    Jumeirah Group is a member of Dubai Holding, a diversified global investment company with operations in over 13 countries, employing more than 20,000 people and with an extensive portfolio of over AED 130 billion worth of assets that support the diversification and sustainable growth of Dubai’s economy across key sectors.

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    Turkish Technic to Provide Base Maintenance Services to Air Serbia

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    Ethiopian Airlines Inaugurates a second Aviation Academy Campus in Hawassa

    Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest aviation group in Africa, inaugurates a new aviation training center in the city of Hawassa. The new aviation training center in Hawassa will serve as the second campus for Ethiopian Aviation Academy and will currently be providing pilot trainee programs.The facility accommodates different types of classrooms, three training simulators, three aircraft parking and workshop hangars,  trainees’ and instructors’ dorm rooms, a cafeteria and sports ground for various sport types. 
    Ethiopian Aviation Academy had been providing aviation trainings at its base campus in Addis Ababa to trainees from different parts of the world. The new training center will enable the academy to accommodate more trainees.
    Regarding the new Aviation Academy campus Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said “We are truly happy to see the inauguration of our Aviation Academy second training center in Hawassa. As Africa’s giant in the aviation industry, we are determined to reach more people who dream of becoming aviation professionals and enrich our continent with qualified personnel who will take Africa’s aviation to the next level. From the day it has been established more than six decades back, our aviation academy has been producing the best aviation professionals who are competitive at a global level. With our second training center open now, more trainees will have the chance to realize their dreams and that is a huge achievement for us.”
    He added, “Apart from the basic Aviation courses, the training center will be offering various customer service and leadership trainings for companies in Hawassa and South regional states, contributing for their success”.
    Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) is the largest and most modern aviation academy in Africa recognized as ICAO regional Training Center of Excellence. The academy provides world class training in different areas of aviation profession. Currently the academy offers Pilot, Simulator, Cabin Crew and Catering, Aircraft Maintenance, Commercial and Ground Service and Leadership Trainings at its head quarter in Addis Ababa.ADVERTISEMENT

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    JAL Group Announces FY2023 Summer Schedule on International Network

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    New Lufthansa app improves travel experience More

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    Reaching the flight by train in Italy

    Lufthansa Group this week signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding in Rome together with the Italian state railroad company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane S.p.A. (FS). The intention is to negotiate a contract for a cooperation in feeder traffic within Italy in order to link the various modes of transport in a better and more customer-friendly way. The aim of the planned cooperation is in particular to bring passengers with FS rail connections to and from their respective flight connections at various Italian airports.
    The exact layout of the program is now subject of further talks. If a contract is signed, the implementation of the cooperation would be subject to approval by the relevant authorities.
    Lufthansa Group leads the way in intermodalityThe Lufthansa Group already operates similar intermodal cooperation programs in its home markets with Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB and SBB, among others. In total, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group currently offer their passengers more than 3,000 weekly rail or bus connections from more than 40 cities. As early as 2001, Lufthansa entered already into a cooperation agreement with Deutsche Bahn on train connections to its airports (LH Express Rail).

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    SWISS extends Premium Economy Class to its Airbus A340 fleet

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    Kansas City’s Largest Infrastructure Project Completed on Time and on Budget

    Mayor Quinton Lucas, the Kansas City Aviation Department, and its development partners have announced the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport will open on February 28, 2023—delivering Kansas City’s largest ever infrastructure project on time and on budget.“For the last four years the project team has worked diligently to keep the New Terminal on schedule and on budget,” said Pat Klein, Director of Aviation. “As we approach the finish line, I thank the stakeholders who’ve contributed greatly and the residents of the entire region for their ongoing support.””From the outset, we committed to make this project transformational by building the capacity of small, minority- and women-owned businesses and training men and women to be part of the workforce of the future. We have exceeded all project goals and are extremely proud of what the team has accomplished,” said Geoffrey Stricker, Senior Managing Director with Edgemoor.All flight operations, arrivals, and departures, scheduled for February 27, and prior to 1 a.m. on February 28, will occur at the existing terminals. All flights operations, arrivals, and departures, scheduled for after 1 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28 will take place at the new terminal. Overnight, airlines will relocate 31 aircraft from their gates at Terminals B and C to the new terminal to prepare for their morning departures.First scheduled arrival to the new terminal:
    Tuesday, February 28, 2023 – Southwest #1980 from Chicago (MDW) arrives at 7:40am
    The project was a team effort led by the City of Kansas City, the Kansas City Aviation Department, Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate and joint venture Clark | Weitz | Clarkson.
    The Build KCI project generated up to 5,000 construction-related jobs with more than 240 Kansas City-area firms tapped to work on the project with more than 130 minority- and women-owned business partners.

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    Stagecoach Launches UK’s First Fully-Electric City Bus Network in Inverness

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    Stagecoach Launches UK’s First Fully-Electric City Bus Network in Inverness

    Stagecoach celebrated the launch of the UKs first fully-electric city bus network in Inverness last week, where they were joined by Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP.
    25 brand-new zero-emission Yutong E10 buses are now operating on all city centre routes. The vehicles can operate from morning to evening on a single daily charge, and feature USB charging points at each seat, interior LED lights and contactless payment facilities. With no engine noise or vibration, passengers can look forward to a relaxing experience.
    The £10.8m investment was supported by the Scottish Government’s Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). Charging infrastructure was successfully installed at the Inverness depot ahead of the launch. Stagecoach use 100% renewable electricity across the business.
    Stagecoach will launch two further fully-electric city bus networks in Perth and Dunfermline in the coming months.
    Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said, “With this significant introduction of 25 new electric buses, Stagecoach is showing a welcome commitment to help meet Scotland’s world leading climate change targets.ADVERTISEMENT“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to support the ambitions of Stagecoach in Inverness, as part of our Mission Zero for Transport, by providing £5.8 million through our Scottish Zero Emission Bus Scheme.“In addition to better air quality and reduced noise pollution across the city, these modern zero-emission buses will offer an improved customer experience and help more people in Inverness to choose bus.”
    Stagecoach Highlands Managing Director, David Beaton, said, “I am incredibly proud to be able to say that we’re now operating the UKs first fully-electric city bus network here in Inverness. It is a challenging time for the industry, and we still have some way to go, but we’re absolutely committed to improving public transport for our customers across the Highlands.”
    Head of Yutong UK, Ian Downie, said, “We are honoured that Stagecoach have selected our market leading single decks for the UK’s first fully electric city bus network. Our tried, tested and proven product will bring a new standard for public transport due to its customer centric features, such as full air conditioning.”
    Between 2021 and 2022, Stagecoach helped customers across the UK avoid nearly 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by providing them with more sustainable travel, rather than taking the car.
    Stagecoach is on target for a zero emission UK bus fleet by 2035, and has introduced new electric buses across many parts of the country, including one of Europe’s biggest investment in e-buses in Manchester. A further 159 new electric buses will be introduced in 2023, including those in Inverness, bringing the total to 343.
    In the Highlands, Stagecoach will shortly take delivery of 40 new Euro 6 vehicles for Aviemore and Tain to further renew the fleet and reduce carbon emissions on longer distance routes, as part of an ongoing investment into improving public transport in the area. In combination with the Inverness City Network, this totals a £40m investment in new vehicles and infrastructure for Stagecoach Highlands in 2022/2023.
    Stagecoach Highlands also today confirmed that their airport service, service 11, will operate via the new Inverness Airport railway station, connecting rail passengers with the airport terminal.
    The Scottish Government has set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045. Transport has a critical role to play in the economy reaching net zero, as rising car use has resulted in a rise in carbon emissions from the sector.

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    Qantas Soars to Most Punctual Major Domestic Airline for 5 Months Straight

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    John Holland-Kaye to Step Down as CEO of Heathrow Airport

    After nine years as CEO of Heathrow Airport, John Holland-Kaye has informed the Board of his intention to stand down as CEO during 2023.The Board would like to thank John for his exceptional leadership since 2014, building a strong management team, developing a consumer-focused culture, improving cost efficiency and putting Heathrow at the forefront of global aviation’s decarbonisation. The transformation of the airport during John’s time as CEO has been recognised as Heathrow won a number of significant awards including: Sunday Times top 30 employer; one of the top 10 airports in the world (voted by passengers); and edie’s Sustainable Business of the Year Award.
    Three of the most significant successes of John’s tenure were the development of the plan for Heathrow expansion that secured overwhelming Parliamentary approval, successfully navigating the business through the COVID-19 crisis and the recovery in demand, and his leadership in putting aviation firmly on course for net zero by 2050.
    The Chair of Heathrow Airport, Lord Deighton said:
    “John has been an extraordinary leader of Heathrow. During the past nine years, he has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with shareholders, Ministers, airlines and other stakeholders to ensure the country can be proud of its ‘front door’. The Board would like to put on record our gratitude to John for his dedication and commitment to Heathrow throughout his tenure as CEO.”
    The Board has now initiated a selection process for John’s replacement. In order to ensure a smooth handover, John will remain as CEO until his successor starts in post.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Hamad International Airport Launches Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6

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    Hamad International Airport Launches Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6

    Hamad International Airport (DOH) has announced the launch of the next generation Wi-Fi service, empowered by Cisco technologies, across its state-of-the-art terminal to further enhance the airport’s passenger experience.Through ubiquitous high-speed connectivity, passengers who are traveling via Qatar will be able to easily connect with family, friends, and business contacts.
    High Performance Wi-Fi 6 Coverage
    Meticulous design studies were undertaken to achieve seamless Wi-Fi coverage from the curbside of the terminal to the aircraft, and to provide adequate capacity and speed to meet and exceed our passenger’s needs. Special attention was paid to the terminal areas where a high number of passengers spend a significant amount of their time, such as boarding gates, shopping areas, and food courts.
    Hamad International Airport (DOH) has deployed Cisco Wireless technologies, including indoor and outdoor WiFi6, to support the needs of an increased flow of passengers over the next years in Qatar.
    Further to the high-performance wireless connectivity across the entirety of the airport, it will also lay foundation for enhanced operations with better insights providing amazing experience for passengers.ADVERTISEMENTTransforming Customer Experience with Optimized Connectivity
    With this investment, Hamad International Airport (DOH) will be able to better understand how passengers move through the airport, including dwell times and traffic flows. This will help optimize retail opportunities and allow passengers to consistently have great experiences.
    Millions of visitors from across the world travelling through Hamad International Airport can now connect using single-step authentication methods by simply sending a “WhatsApp” message or scanning their printed boarding pass. Usage statistics in the initial days have shown that over 60% of the visitors prefer the new frictionless connection options. During FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, more than 2 Million Passengers enjoyed the new Wi-Fi service by seamlessly consuming over 1 PB (Peta Byte) of content from the internet.
    Enabling the Future of Digitized Airports
    Thanks to technologies embedded into the new Wi-Fi system at the airport, Hamad International Airport’s mobile app ’HIA Qatar’ will deliver improved location-based services. These services include real-time wayfinding for areas like baggage claim, direction to boarding gates and food – as well as beverage and retail offers from Qatar Duty Free (QDF). To ensure that travelers benefit from the best deals, the ’HIA Qatar’ app alerts users when walking past outlets with ongoing sales and promotions. This capability will in future enable new operational uses such as efficient and timely allocation of resources, including wheelchairs, buggies and a variety of aviation equipment and tools.
    In addition, improved connectivity is provided for various airport stakeholders and partners, who increasingly rely on wireless connectivity and operational mobile apps for their field staff to contribute to the world-class operations at Hamad International Airport (DOH).
    Commenting on the announcement, Hamad International Airport’s Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation Suhail Kadri said: “As the world’s best airport, we are continually investing in innovative technologies and solutions to provide our millions of visitors from around the world with easy access and the most seamless of experiences.
    The launch of next-gen Wi-fi services at Hamad International Airport not only fits well within our strategy of seamless travel but also strengthens our commitment to continue to be the leading global digital airport.”
    Hasan Khan Managing Director of Cisco Qatar commented: “We are proud to support Hamad International Airport’s strategic business goals as it continues to grow and introduce new services to effectively transform the passenger experience. Cisco has a strong technological expertise providing secure, intelligent, and seamless connectivity for various airports across the world; and we’re happy to bring these capabilities to Qatar’s flagship airport.”

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