Airline, Organisations & Operators,

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government’s efforts to ease the city’s labor crunch in the aviation sector.This comes as IATA upgraded passenger traffic projections for Hong Kong that now see a recovery to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2024. This revision brings Hong Kong’s recovery in line with expectations for a faster recovery in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The situation is looking bright for Hong Kong. China’s earlier than expected reopening is providing a much-needed boost to the passenger recovery. By the end of 2024, we expect to see Hong Kong’s traffic return to pre-crisis levels. And it is encouraging to see the Hong Kong government preparing for this with measures to ensure that the workers needed to support the recovery are available,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
The Hong Kong government introduced a labor importation scheme to ramp-up the airport workforce by 6,300 workers from the Mainland of China. While demand for air travel has been strong, airlines in Hong Kong have been struggling with supply chain issues and a labor shortage.
“The last three years have been devastating for the aviation sector. As we look ahead to the recovery and prepare for future growth, it is important that the entire Hong Kong aviation community, including airlines, airport, regulator, and government, work together to address the challenges and are well prepared to tap on future opportunities. I look forward to being in Hong Kong in August to meet with various partners and engage in fruitful discussions,” said Walsh.
IATA and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) are partnering to organize the Hong Kong Aviation Day from 2-3 August 2023.ADVERTISEMENT

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Petter A. Stordalen, owner and founder of Strawberry (former Nordic Choice Hotels), and Geir Karlsen Photo, CEO of Norwegian.
Norwegian and Strawberry are to establish a joint company that will provide a wider selection of services to the members of the companies’ respective loyalty programmes. The company will create a common loyalty currency and a platform where members can earn and use loyalty points across different programmes. The entity will be jointly owned by Norwegian and Strawberry, each retaining an equal ownership stake.
The digital loyalty currency will replace the loyalty point systems which are used by various loyalty programmes today. In this way, members who earn points at hotel stays can choose to use them to pay for airfares, or vice versa.
“We are developing our already popular loyalty programme, Norwegian Reward, by thinking outside the box and cooperating with new partners. I am very pleased to have found Strawberry as a partner and that by joining forces, we are developing a new platform which will give even more customers the opportunity to choose from a broader selection of services. We would also like to invite more partners to join this collaboration as we move forward,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.
For now, the cooperation involves the loyalty programmes Norwegian Reward and Strawberry’s loyalty programme. The ambition is to grow and include new partners from the Nordics to give members even more opportunities to earn and spend loyalty points. The new company will reach out to a significant share of Nordic households from the beginning.
“We currently offer a universe of exciting experiences and an attractive loyalty programme with fantastic partners. Strawberry’s ambition it to be relevant to more people more often. Uniting two companies with Nordic roots and histories to create a common loyalty currency is part of reaching this ambition. This will be a game changer for members and guests, providing people in the Nordic countries better and more frequent opportunities to earn and use their loyalty points. We look forward to embarking on this journey together with Norwegian,” said Petter A. Stordalen, owner and founder of Strawberry (former Nordic Choice Hotels).ADVERTISEMENTNorwegian’s and Strawberry’s loyalty programmes have a total of around 7.5 million members in the Nordic countries. Details about the company and the loyalty currency will be made public at the launch later this year. The two existing loyalty programmes of Norwegian and Strawberry will maintain their customer offering as today and continue to be owned by Norwegian and Strawberry respectively.

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The Winner
The SMBC Aviation Capital solution demonstrated a positive correlation between gender balance on airline senior management teams and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores to a CEO.
In this proof-of-concept exercise, the winning team developed a data-led model that analyzed airlines across 12 countries, focusing on metrics around financial and ESG performance. The model produced ESG scores that improved the more senior leadership teams were gender-balanced.
In addition, the winning team came up with the concept of a sector-specific Aviation Gender Equality Index to track performance of the entire aviation value chain in promoting gender equality through policy development and representation.“DEI initiatives drive business results. The SMBC Aviation Capital solution is custom designed to help airline managements measure the impact of a gender balanced management team on a company’s ESG performance. It’s a winning solution that we look forward to seeing in action by airlines as ESG metrics play a growing role in investment decisions,” said Jane Hoskisson, IATA’s Director Talent, Learning, Engagement and Diversity.
“The datathon provided a fantastic opportunity for those taking part to explore solutions that will help strengthen gender diversity within the aviation sector. The use of data and the value that it brings can be transformational, and AWS was proud to be part of this initiative – congratulations to not just the winners SMBC Aviation Capital, but to all the teams that took part,” said Charlie Anderson, AWS World Wide Public Sector.ADVERTISEMENT“We are delighted that our team had the opportunity to take part in the datathon and to present thoughtful and practical solutions to the challenges we are collectively facing, demonstrating how our people are committed to IATA’s 25by2025 initiative. SMBC Aviation Capital remains devoted to its ESG and gender diversity goals and we look forward to championing industry-wide initiatives in the future, where we can foster innovation and dialogue to create a more inclusive, diverse and sustainable aviation industry,” said David Swan, Chief Operations & Sustainability Officer at SMBC Aviation Capital.
The Datathon Challenge
Participants of the 2023 edition of the Diversity & Inclusion Datathon were asked to address one of the following challenges:
How to demonstrate to a CEO the impact of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion using data and/ or new technologies? Find out more in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8n2eJkZ4hM
How can airlines redress the gender balance on the flight deck and other technical roles through data and/ or new technologies? Find out more in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAH9Kv72BpQThe Judging Panel
Submissions for the IATA and AWS Diversity & Inclusion Datathon were evaluated by a panel of experts from IATA and AWS. Key criteria taken into account included the originality of the solution, its applicability in the aviation sector and the va

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Qatar Airways is sharing its Eid Al Adha festivities with passengers onboard and at its global premium lounges by creating memorable experiences showcased through special product designs and passenger giveaways. The airline’s Eid Al Adha celebrations will start from 28 June to 01 July in both Premium and Economy cabins.
Marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and the start of Eid Al Adha holiday, Qatar Airways will welcome Premium passengers onboard with celebratory beverages, and invite them to explore a bespoke à la carte menu that feature lentil soup, Middle Eastern spiced prawns and a special local dish prepared by Chef Aisha Al Tamimi. Meals will be presented with a themed festive lantern, napkin band, beverage coaster, and a dessert box filled with traditional Baklava.
Passengers travelling in the Economy cabin can select from holiday favourites including dates and Couscos salad with Labneh and a traditional grilled Kofta with Bukhari rice. Food will be served with a custom made cutlery band, featuring a special message wishing passengers a blessed Eid. When travellers are ready for desserts, they can indulge in a Kunefe cheesecake – an indulgent holiday dessert.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Eid Al Adha signifies an important occasion for our passengers; it is a time for sharing gifts and spreading positivity, as well a time to reunite with one’s friends and family. At Qatar Airways, we take pride in connecting passengers with their loved ones. To make their travel journey a memorable experience, we have added small gestures to make our passengers smile at every touchpoint. On behalf of Qatar Airways, I wish you and your families a very blessed Eid.”
At Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways will host Eid celebrations at Al Safwa First and Al Mourjan Business Lounges, where passengers will be offered a variety of welcome drinks including Qamar Al-Deen, Tamar-Hindi, and Jallab. In addition, customers will also be able to treat themselves to a selection of Eid flavours that will be offered as part of the lounges’ expansive food menus. The celebrations will also continue in our global Premium Lounges at Bangkok, Beirut, London, Paris, and Singapore.ADVERTISEMENT

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With governments now aligned with the industry’s commitment to decarbonise aviation by 2050, this symposium will facilitate critical discussions, in seven key areas:
– The overall strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
– The crucial role of government and policy support
– Effective implementation of sustainability measures
– Financing the energy transitionADVERTISEMENT- Measuring, tracking and reporting emissions
– Addressing non-CO2 emissions
– The significance of value chains
“In 2021 airlines committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Last year governments made the same commitment through the International Civil Aviation Organization. Now the WSS will bring together the global community of sustainability experts in the industry and governments to debate and discuss the key enablers for aviation’s successful decarbonisation, our biggest challenge ever,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General who is confirmed to speak at WSS.
The WSS will provide a platform specifically tailored for airline sustainability professionals, regulators and policy makers, as well as stakeholders in the industry’s value chain.
Speakers will include
Patrick Healy, Chair, Cathay PacificRoberto Alvo, CEO, LATAM Airlines GroupRobert Miller, Professor of Aerothermal Technology and Director of the Whittle Laboratory at the University of CambridgeSuzanne Kearns, Founding Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aviation (WISA)Andre Zollinger, Policy Manager, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITMarie Owens Thomsen, Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, IATA
Source: https://www.timesaerospace.aero

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Boeing and Iraqi Airways today celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a special event in Baghdad to welcome the flag-carrier’s super-efficient widebody jet.The Iraqi flag carrier has taken the first of 10 787s on order, to profitably grow its long-haul network and connect Iraq to more international destinations.
The delivery of Iraqi Airways’ first 787 follows delivery of four Boeing 737 MAX airplanes since February. The airline has ordered a total of six 737-8s and 10 737-10s, providing its single-aisle fleet with more capability across its regional and medium-haul routes.
“We are proud to be taking delivery of an airplane with the capabilities of the 787 Dreamliner. As domestic and international air traffic gains momentum, it’s crucial that our Iraqi Airways fleet matches growing demand with more efficient, capable and comfortable airplanes,” said Manaf Abdel-Monem, Director General of Iraqi Airways. “The 787 and 737 MAX airplanes we have received are key to our fleet renewal program which aims to ensure we can fly our passengers around the world in the safety and comfort they expect from a modern and efficient airline like Iraqi Airways.”
Iraqi Airways currently serves more than 50 destinations from Baghdad and is expanding and renewing its fleet to support the anticipated increase in international business and leisure travel to and from the country. Iraq is seeing increased stability and economic growth, with the country’s annual gross domestic product growth rate expected to reach 7% by the end of 2023. With global air traffic rebounding, Middle Eastern airlines are seeing more than a 40% traffic increase compared to last year.
“Today marks a new beginning for Iraqi Airways, taking delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner that will support the airline in connecting Iraq to the world,” said Omar Arekat, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for the Middle East. “Boeing is committed to supporting Iraqi Airways’ ambition to bring greater optimization and new route possibilities to the region.”ADVERTISEMENT“Air transport is at the heart of economic growth. It creates employment, facilitates trade, enables tourism and supports sustainable development. The arrival of the Boeing 787 today is an important step in connecting the Iraqi people to the region and the world,” said Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, Boeing. “We look forward to supporting the Iraqi government and the Iraqi private sector as they grow Iraq’s commercial fleet and modernize the country’s commercial aviation infrastructure.”
The 787-8 Dreamliner can fly 248 passengers up to 7,305 nautical miles (13,530 km) in a typical two-class configuration. Using 25% less fuel and creating 25% fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces, the 787 family has reduced more than 141 billion pounds of carbon emissions since entering service in 2011.
Boeing designed the 787 family with superior efficiency, which allows airlines to profitably open new routes to fly people directly where they’d like to go in exceptional comfort. Since 2011, the 787 family has launched more than 350 new non-stop routes around the world, including more than 50 new routes since 2020.
Passengers enjoy many improvements with the 787 family such as the largest windows of any jet; air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude for greater comfort; large overhead bins with room for everyone’s bag; soothing LED lighting; and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.
In addition to the 737-8 and 787-8, Iraqi Airways operates a fleet of more than 40 Boeing airplanes, including 737-800s, 747s and 777s, serving more than 50 destinations from Baghdad.

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Airbus and AURA AERO partner to decarbonise pilot training

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Airbus Flight Academy Europe, a 100% subsidiary of Airbus that supplies training services for the French Armed Forces pilots and civilian cadets, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AURA AERO, an aircraft manufacturer specialised in fully-electric designs, to jointly approach decarbonisation for pilot training by introducing electric-powered aircraft for commercial and military pilot formation.
Under this agreement, Airbus Flight Academy Europe will collaborate on the initial development of INTEGRAL E, a fully-electric, two-seater trainer aircraft, ideally suited for initial stages of pilot training. While operating from an airfield equipped with superchargers, the INTEGRAL E aircraft can be charged in 20 to 30 minutes, granting the aircraft an hour of flight endurance.
“Our target at Airbus Flight Academy is to operate a low-carbon aircraft fleet by 2030,” said Airbus Flight Academy Europe CEO, Jean Longobardi. “We are excited to collaborate with AURA AERO in this field and are convinced that, by combining our expertise, we can meet
the ambition of decarbonising to the current pilot-training approach. INTEGRAL E could become the first step to a broader partnership.”
Jérémy Caussade, CEO and co-founder of AURA AERO, said: “Our technical and commercial teams are very happy and honoured to have been chosen by Airbus to support the decarbonisation of their training activities. Pilot training will be an area where we expect early adoption of zero-emission approach, starting with two-seater aircraft. By partnering with AFAE, we will develop a new type of electrically-powered training to benefit all pilots in the future, whatever the aircraft they are flying.”ADVERTISEMENTAirbus aspires to lead the journey towards decarbonised aerospace, by pioneering disruptive technologies, including low-emission solutions, while delivering and continuously improving our fuel-efficient products.

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Airbus teams-up with LanzaJet to boost sustainable aviation fuel production

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Airbus and LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company, today announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address the needs of the aviation sector through the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The MOU establishes a relationship between Airbus and LanzaJet to advance building SAF facilities which will use LanzaJet’s leading, proven, and proprietary Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology. This agreement also aims to accelerate the certification and adoption of 100% drop-in SAF which would allow existing aircraft to fly with no fossil fuel. The aviation industry is responsible for approximately 2-3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and SAF has been identified by airlines, governments, and energy leaders, as one of the most immediate solutions to decarbonize aviation, together with the renewal of fleets by latest generation aircraft and better operations.
“SAF is the best near-term solution to reducing aviation emissions and this collaboration between LanzaJet and Airbus is an important step forward in the fight against climate change and enabling the global energy transition,” said Jimmy Samartzis, CEO of LanzaJet. “We look forward to continuing our work with Airbus and further growing our joint impact across the globe.”
LanzaJet’s proprietary ATJ technology uses low-carbon ethanol to create SAF that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% percent compared to fossil fuels and can further decrease emissions with a suite of carbon reduction technologies.SAF produced through LanzaJet’s ATJ technology is an approved drop-in fuel compatible with existing aircraft and infrastructure.
“We are delighted to grow our partnership with LanzaJet, a leading company in the SAF production ecosystem. At Airbus we are committed to supporting SAF as a major lever in the reduction of CO2 emissions on the decarbonisation roadmap,” says Julie Kitcher, EVP, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Airbus. “With LanzaJet as a trusted partner, we can support the acceleration of the Alcohol-to-Jet SAF production pathway and at scale. This collaboration will also explore technological developments to enable Airbus aircraft to be capable of flying up to 100% SAF before the end of the decade.”ADVERTISEMENTThe whole ecosystem is playing an essential role to ensure the increased uptake of SAF. Besides working on the technical aspects and on concrete SAF projects, LanzaJet and Airbus will therefore investigate business opportunities across the world with airlines and other stakeholders.

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