Airline, Organisations & Operators,

Turkish Technic, one of the most prominent players in the global aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, released its financial results for 2022, which marked successful growth and solid strategic acceleration. The company recorded a 37 percent growth compared to the previous year with 1,42 billion USD in revenue and increased its market share to 1.9 percent, reaching the highest growth rate and revenue in the company’s history.
Expanding its capacity and capabilities to meet the needs of the aviation sector, Turkish Technic added new achievements to its service portfolio in 2022. The company has completed base maintenance operations for Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 aircraft for the first time during the year and carried out its first Boeing 777-300ER landing gear overhaul. Adding 1.193 aircraft part numbers to its capability in 2022, the MRO leader expanded its maintenance-repair capabilities and the range of services it offers its customers.
On the 2022 performance of the company, Turkish Technic Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said: “To meet the growing needs of the aviation industry, we continuously increase our capacity and capabilities and continue to provide high-quality maintenance-repair services to our local and international customers. Closing 2022 with 1,42 billion USD in revenue and 119 million USD in operational profit, we achieved remarkable success in our company’s history. We thank our customers for their confidence in our company and extend our gratitude to our colleagues for their dedication and effort.”
Supporting component and aircraft maintenance operations of many airline companies spread over a large geographical area, Turkish Technic provided base maintenance services to 649 aircraft, completed overhaul operations of 221 landing gears and serviced over 119.000 components throughout 2022.

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Airbus has delivered the first A321neo aircraft assembled at its Final Assembly Line Asia (FAL Tianjin) to China’s Juneyao Air in Tianjin, China. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and features 207 comfortable seats, 8 in Business and 199 in Economy class. Its delivery flight is to use a ten percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend in support of the green aviation strategy in China.  “Since we announced the commissioning of the first A321 aircraft at FAL Tianjin last November, the relevant final assembly activities and tests went on smoothly, showcasing the maturity of FAL Tianjin to quickly adapt to new products,” said George Xu, Airbus Executive Vice President and Airbus China CEO. “The successful delivery of the first A321 aircraft enables Airbus to honour the popularity of the aircraft for the China market and beyond – and the consistent trust and support from our customers. Airbus continues to expand and enhance its comprehensive cooperation with China’s aviation industry, underlining its long-term commitment to China to ensure customer proximity while supporting the global commercial aircraft production ramp-up.”
Airbus has four A320 Family final assembly facilities around the world: Hamburg, Germany; Toulouse, France; Tianjin, China; and Mobile, United States. With the conversion of the Tianjin facility last year, and with the newest facility about to complete its transformation in Toulouse, the global industrial system will be fully A321-capable, creating flexibility and agility to meet Airbus’ ramp up objectives and the rising market success of the A321 model.
Inaugurated in 2008, the FAL in Tianjin was the first Airbus commercial aircraft assembly line outside Europe. In the same year, the first aircraft sections arrived on site. Since its first A320 delivery in 2009, Airbus’ FAL in Tianjin has delivered more than 600 aircraft over its 14 years in operation. The A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling, single-aisle A320 Family, comfortably seating as many as 244 passengers, with a longest range reaching 4,700nm/8,700km. Featuring the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the A320neo Family offers at least 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 as well as a 50 percent noise reduction compared to previous generation aircraft, thanks to incorporating the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets. By the end of January 2023, the A320neo Family had received over 8,600 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide.
@Airbus #AirbusChina #A321

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) is launching a virtual datathon to stimulate the development of data-based solutions to further the aviation industry’s gender diversity.
The datathon builds on the success of IATA’s 25by2025 initiative.
“The launch of the 25by2025 initiative in 2019 prompted the industry to take a closer look at the gender diversity of its workforce and take actions to make sure it is reflective of the societies it serves. The IATA & AWS diversity datathon is intended to further strengthen gender diversity in the industry, which complements the existing IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards,” said Jane Hoskisson, IATA’s Director Talent, Learning, Engagement and Diversity at IATA.
“We are thrilled to be working with IATA on the virtual datathon, and it is brilliant to see the aviation sector working together to strengthen gender diversity within the industry in this way. Initiatives like this are instrumental in fostering diversity and inclusion globally and will help us all amplify underrepresented voices and empower diverse communities,” said Charlene-Elise Anderson, Leader Intergovernmental Organizations, AWS.
Datathon participants will be asked to address one of two challenges:ADVERTISEMENTHow to demonstrate to a CEO the impact of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion using data and/ or new technologies?How can airlines redress the gender balance on the flight deck and other technical roles through data and/ or new technologies?Who can participate:
Registration for the datathon will start on 22 March and is open to professionals in the airline industry, including airlines, airports, software vendors, start-ups, systems integrators (SIs), and any other organizations working in aviation. All participants will be granted access to an AWS environment which will enable them to build their proofs of concept. Importantly, all teams will be given an opportunity to join training sessions on technical and business topics which will be held by AWS architects and industry specialists from IATA and IATA’s member airlines.
Timelines:
This virtual datathon will run between 22 March and 28 April 2023.
Judging:
Submissions will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts from IATA and AWS. Key criteria taken into account will include the originality of the solution, its applicability in the aviation sector and the value-add it will bring to further strengthen gender diversity of the industry.

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Boeing and Japan Airlines (JAL) have finalized an order for 21 super-efficient 737-8 jets.The versatile 737-8 will position JAL to strengthen its domestic and regional network as passenger traffic continues to return to pre-pandemic levels. JAL intends to begin introducing the airplanes into its fleet from 2026.
“We are delighted to select the Boeing 737-8, a member of the very latest 737 MAX family, to replace our Boeing 737-800s, which make up the largest proportion of the JAL Group’s fleet,” said Yuji Akasaka, president of Japan Airlines. “We look forward to carrying our passengers in the utmost safety and comfort and to moving closer to our 2050 carbon-neutral goals, thanks to a combination of these super-efficient aircraft, operational innovations and new fuel-saving technologies.”
The 737 MAX will provide JAL with greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing both fuel use and carbon emissions by 15% compared to the airplanes the airline is replacing. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane, creating a significantly smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.
“The integration of the new 737 MAX will provide JAL with greater efficiency across its short-haul network, as the airline continues to upgrade its world-class fleet,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Partnering with JAL to introduce 737-8s into its operations is the latest milestone in our longstanding relationship.”
The 737 MAX family has the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, advanced technology winglets and other aerodynamic enhancements to improve performance. More than 50 airlines globally are operating over 900 737 MAX airplanes, which have made over 1.4 million revenue flights totaling more than 3.5 million flight hours since late 2020ADVERTISEMENT

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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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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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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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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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