Saudia launches new innovative digital platform......

The national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia has launched its innovative digital platform, the Travel Companion (TC), powered by advanced artificial intelligence. This move is part of a two-year plan to revolutionise the travel industry by embracing digital innovations. In collaboration with global professional services firm Accenture, Saudia's Travel Companion is set to change how travellers interact with the airline and redefine the standards of digital travel.

The Travel Companion offers personalised and tailored solutions to meet individual preferences and needs, providing search results from trusted and authenticated sources and utilises image-supported responses. The platform is intended to be a comprehensive, one-stop solution that allows users to book concierge services such as hotels, transportation, restaurants, activities, and attractions, eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms. Additionally, it establishes seamless connections with transportation platforms and various train companies, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey. 

In the next stages, Saudia will introduce additional features, such as voice command and digital payment solutions. Through an always-on Travel Companion accessible via a telecom e-SIM card enabled by Saudia, users can enjoy global access without relying on other internet providers. Furthermore, users can purchase data packages for additional applications, ensuring continuous access to the platform's services.

Barbados and British Airways celebrate 70th anniversary with the Barbadian rum, Mount Gay Rum Distilleries

For the first time ever, passengers on board British Airways flights to Barbados are being served Mount Gay Rum for ‘a taste of Barbados at 37,000 feet’

                   As Barbados celebrates 70 years of British Airways flights to the island, the UK flag carrier’s customers have been enjoying rum on board from Mount Gay the world’s oldest-running rum distillery. 

For the first time ever, British Airways’ customers flying between the UK and Barbados throughout April are being treated to the rich flavours of Mount Gay, XO in First and Club World (business class) and Mount Gay, Eclipse in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy).

Mount Gay Rum, the oldest, most storied rum in the world, has been produced in Barbados with passion and unparalleled craftsmanship since 1703, thus earning it the title “the rum that invented rum”. Expertly crafted from the rich sugar cane and pristine, coral-filtered water native to the island, Mount Gay Rum is a spirit with a rich history and true character.

In addition to the onboard festivities, Barbados will host a prestigious evening reception at Ilaro Court, the official residence of the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P. | Prime Minister of Barbados on Wednesday 24th April. This exclusive event will welcome distinguished guests including, Hon Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados and Colm Lacy, Chief Commercial Officer for British Airways. 

Successful Airdrop Tests for Oshkosh FMTV A2 LVAD

The U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate (ABNSOTD) recently conducted the final airdrop test of the Oshkosh® Defense FMTV A2 Cargo 6x6 Low-Velocity Airdrop (LVAD). The airdrops, which took place at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, mark a key milestone for the FMTV A2 LVAD program. The tests validated the design and capabilities of the Cargo 6x6 LVAD to ensure its suitability for the stringent demands of airdrop and follow-on operations.

Developed to address the challenges of an aging medium LVAD fleet, the three Oshkosh Defense FMTV A2 LVAD variants, the Cargo 6x6, Cargo 4x4, and Dump Truck 6x6, are each engineered to fulfill a critical need for the Airborne community.

New rules for U.S. airlines on refunds and fees

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rules that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Cancelled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is cancelled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.
   
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.
   
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

Blueprint by JetBlue launched.

New York's hometown airline, JetBlue, is introducing what it claims is a personalized inflight experience platform that is designed to offer passengers the chance to customise their travel journey, beginning with new inflight entertainment features.

At-Home Entertainment in the Sky

As JetBlue continues to innovate industry-leading onboard technology, Blueprint by JetBlue brings new seatback touchscreen features that mimic what customers are used to experiencing with their favourite streaming platforms at home. Some of the new functions that customers can look forward to seeing on their seatback screens include:

Watch party: Watch the same film or TV show at the exact same time with up to five other customers on the flight. JetBlue is the first airline to allow up to six customers to watch entertainment content at the same time to enjoy family-style viewing. Play and pause can be controlled on all linked screens, regardless of where each viewer is seated.

Content recommendations: Receive personal recommendations for inflight entertainment based on previous viewing history.

Pick up where you left off: Whether connecting with a layover or flying next month, never miss the end of a film or television show—automatically pick up where you left off from flight to flight.

Saved favorites: Save film and TV show selections to watch on future flights so you can spend less time searching and more time watching.

Saved settings: Accessibility and system settings, such as volume, language, parental controls and close captions preferences can now be saved and carried over from flight to flight.

Content partnerships: First-of-its-kind partnerships such as JetBlue’s exclusive streaming partner, Peacock, provide customers with access to exclusive entertainment and offers.

These new personalization features on JetBlue’s award-winning inflight entertainment system will give customers a bespoke inflight experience, not only throughout their current journey, but extending into subsequent flights when customers opt-in to securely authenticate their profiles on AVANT seatback touchscreens.

Delta's top ten most searched destinations.

One of the leading airlines in the U.S, Delta, has released details of its top ten destinations, as searched for on its website. 

The top 10 list reveals that many U.S. flyers are seeking different cultural experiences in faraway settings, with Athens experiencing the highest surge (248% increase) in searches from last year. The ever-popular cities of London, Paris and Rome topped the list, along with Dublin, Barcelona and Vancouver, Canada as new additions this year.  

Searches for these top 10 international destinations increased more than 150% from 2023, highlighting the strong demand for international travel following the airline’s 11 highest sales days in its history, all occurring this calendar year.  

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Here’s a look at the full list:

1

 

London

Airlines for America respond to new rules for U.S. air carriers.

A4A passenger airlines—which are fierce competitors—offer transparency and vast choice to consumers from first search to touchdown. U.S. airlines are committed to providing the highest quality of service, which includes clarity regarding prices, fees and ticket terms. 

A4A members offer a range of options—including fully refundable fares—to increase accessibility to air travel and to help customers make ticket selections that best fit their needs. Consumers are given the choice of refundable ticket options with terms and conditions that best fit their needs at first search results.

U.S. airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows. In real terms, average domestic round-trip fares, including ancillaries were 14 percent lower in 2023 than in 2010.

A4A member carriers abide by—and frequently exceed—DOT regulations regarding consumer protections. The 11 largest U.S. passenger airlines issued $43 billion in customer refunds, $900 million per month, between January 2020 and December 2023, in addition to issuing other forms of compensation. 

.

U.S. authorities to change the rules on automatic refunds of airline tickets and ancillary service fees

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule that requires airlines to promptly provide passengers with automatic cash refunds when owed. The new rule makes it easy for passengers to obtain refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased.

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them - without headaches or haggling,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Our new rule sets a new standard to require airlines to promptly provide cash refunds to their passengers.”  

The final rule creates certainty for consumers by defining the specific circumstances in which airlines must provide refunds. Prior to this rule, airlines were permitted to set their own standards for what kind of flight changes warranted a refund. As a result, refund policies differed from airline to airline, which made it difficult for passengers to know or assert their refund rights. DOT also received complaints of some airlines revising and applying less consumer-friendly refund policies during spikes in flight cancellations and changes. 

Under the rule, passengers are entitled to a refund for:

• Cancelled or significantly changed flights: Passengers will be entitled to a refund if their flight is cancelled or significantly changed, and they do not accept alternative transportation or travel credits offered. For the first time, the rule defines “significant change.” Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than 3 hours domestically and 6 hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability.
   
• Significantly delayed baggage return: Passengers who file a mishandled baggage report will be entitled to a refund of their checked bag fee if it is not delivered within 12 hours of their domestic flight arriving at the gate, or 15-30 hours of their international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of the flight.
   
• Extra services not provided: Passengers will be entitled to a refund for the fee they paid for an extra service — such as Wi-Fi, seat selection, or inflight entertainment — if an airline fails to provide this service.

DOT’s final rule also makes it simple and straightforward for passengers to receive the money they are owed. Without this rule, consumers have to navigate a patchwork of cumbersome processes to request and receive a refund — searching through airline websites to figure out how make the request, filling out extra “digital paperwork,” or at times waiting for hours on the phone. In addition, passengers would receive a travel credit or voucher by default from some airlines instead of getting their money back, so they could not use their refund to rebook on another airline when their flight was changed or cancelled without navigating a cumbersome request process.  

Travel plans of thousands of passengers still in question following last minute withdrawal of French ATC strike threat

Europe’s largest airlines and hundreds of thousands of passengers have been left in limbo despite the French SNCTA union withdrawing its notice of strike action at the eleventh hour. Airlines still do not have full clarity this afternoon of what French ATC capacity will be tomorrow, meaning there will still be significant disruption for flight operations and passengers. 

In advance of the strike, airlines had been forced to cancel more than 2,000 flights, the majority of which would have landed or departed from France. Another 1,000 flights would have had to divert away from French airspace causing further delays and disruption.  

The strike was set to be one of the largest ATC strikes in years and comes after 2023 saw 16,000 flight cancellations, 85,000 delayed flights and 20 million passengers being impacted due to ATC strikes.

 

This illustrates why A4E’s call for a passenger protection proposal at EU level remains critically important for providing certainty and predictability for airlines across Europe. The proposal would see:

 

•            a legally binding requirement for arbitration with unions ahead of strike action;

•            a 21-day notice period ahead of strikes;

•            72-hour confirmation of employee participation in strikes; and protection for overflights over countries affected by ATC strikes, without impacting flights flying to and from the country affected 

 

Direct flights from Manchester to ‘Italy’s best kept secret’ begin this month

Passengers will soon be able to fly directly from Manchester to Reggio Calabria in southwest Italy – making Manchester the first UK airport with a direct link to the city.

Flights will run on Wednesdays and Sundays with Ryanair, starting on Sunday 28th April, from as little as £14.99 per person one-way.

The city provides visitors with an ideal base to explore the wider Calabria region – often referred to as the country’s ‘best kept secret’ by travel writers.

Calabria is the ‘toe’ of Italy’s ‘boot’, and the city of Reggio Calabria faces the island of Sicily across Strait of Messina. The region is one of the most affordable parts of the country to visit and has long been popular with Italian tourists, but international visitors are only just beginning to discover this hidden gem – which combines white sand beaches and spectacular scenery with the culture, architecture and fantastic food that Italy is famous for.

Here are just some of the highlights that holidaymakers from Manchester will be able to indulge in this summer;

Lap up the sun on a Calabrian beach

If it’s sun, sea and sand you’re after, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Calabria, which has more outstanding beaches than you could ever hope to visit in one trip. Some of the very best are found in and around the village of Tropea, which is less than two hours from Reggio Calabria by train and makes for a great day trip.

Textron Aviation starts delivering Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Aircraft to U.S. Navy

Textron Aviation has delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on January 25, 2023, following a full and open competition.

The aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A, replaces the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. A variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 260, the T-54A will modernize the fleet and be more representative of follow-on fleet aircraft. The T-44 has been in service for more than 40 years.

The T-54A includes an updated avionics suite and automation qualities to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.

“The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line; keeping costs down, aircraft conformity consistent across the fleet and optimizing the delivery schedule to the Navy,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Missions Sales, Textron Aviation. “We are thrilled to continue our 47-year relationship of Textron Aviation aircraft conducting multi-engine flight training for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Aviators.”

METS-specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN (Air-to-Air), angle-of-attack (AOA), V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seat, passenger mission seats and full-face oxygen masks.

Earlier this month, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation Inc., announced the company was awarded the METS Ground Based Training System (GBTS) contract providing the U.S. Navy with a fully integrated training system of aircraft and training devices. The contract base award is for three Unit Training Device (UTD) simulators in a King Air 260 standard configuration, one Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) simulator in the METS T-54A configuration, one Simulator Support Station (SSS) in the METS T-54A configuration and 21 Desktop Trainers for avionics training.

Endless Special Missions Possibilities

When government, military and commercial customers want airborne solutions for critical missions, they turn to Textron Aviation. The company’s aviation solutions provide the high performance and flight characteristics required to address the unique challenges of special missions operations. With unparalleled quality, versatility and low operating costs, Textron Aviation products are preferred for air ambulance; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); utility transport; aerial survey; flight inspection; training and a number of other special operations.

Delta to increases starting pay to $19 an hour....

Delta announced plans to raise its minimum starting wage to $19 an hour for employees and provide a 5% pay raise to eligible employees worldwide, representing an approximately $500 million annual investment in employees across the company.

Following a payout of $1.4 billion in profit sharing bonuses, Delta is investing in frontline employees by raising the minimum starting wage to $19 an hour and providing employees across the company with a 5% pay raise. In an internal memo, CEO Ed Bastian announced Monday the raise comes as Delta continues to invest in industry-leading total compensation to reward operational excellence and customer care. 

With this investment, which will take effect on Jun 1, 2024, Delta continues to lead with industry-leading total compensation for industry-leading performance in all work groups. Including this 2024 raise, Delta has made cumulative investments of 20-25% in compensation in each of our largest frontline workgroups since 2022.  

“Delta’s leading position comes thanks to a simple concept that dates back nearly a century – invest in our people first, and they will deliver great service and experiences for our customers,” Bastian said in a memo to all employees. “That’s exactly what you do, and it always sets us apart.” 

Summer headache for travellers to Canary Islands

British travellers are facing an uncertain reception should they be going on holiday this summer to The Canary Islands, where mass protests are have been taking place by locals hacked off with the number of holiday-makers heading their way.

Protests are set to continue in to the summer months with more than 50,000 people turning up to vent their anger and dissatisfaction. 

In 2023, around 13.9 million tourists visited the seven main islands in the Canary Islands archipelago and thousands of the islands' 2.2 million population have taken to the streets in recent weeks, complaining about the over-tourism of the islands. official figures show.

Most of those protesting speak of tourists not respecting the islands and accusing them of making locals' lives unbearable.  Lydia Morales told the BBC."We are feeling we're being pushed away, our priorities are not taken in consideration," adding politicians were "more focused" on building tourism complexes and hotels than helping the local inhabitants. 

National Statistics Institute INE warned that last year 34% of Canary Islanders were at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year. Which is the second highest after the region of Andalusia.

There are reports of a number of protesters going on hunger strikes in Tenerife, over what they believe is the destructive growth of tourism. 

"We Canarians are fed up with being second and third class citizens, we are fed up with overcrowding, with institutional mistreatment, with low salaries, with our heritage being destroyed," Nieves Rodrigues Rivera, a teacher and writer told France 24. 

Antonio Bullon, from Tenerife, told Sky News: "The authorities must immediately stop this corrupt and destructive model that depletes the resources and makes the economy more precarious."

Whilst most of the protesters are peaceful and the main group The Canaries Have Had Enough say their actions are not against tourists themselves, but against the over-development of the islands. There are reports of tourists being targeted and verbally abused.  In some cases holidaymakers have been barred from entering shops and restaurants, villa driveways have been blocked and rubbish put in pools.  There have also been a few reports of graffiti saying 'tourists go home' being sprayed on buildings and hotels. 

Tourism represents 35% of the GDP of the islands and nearly 40% of all jobs are reliant on the tourist industry.

FCO advice

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Spain.

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.

Recent terrorist attacks in Spain include:

in January 2023, one person was killed and others injured in a machete attack at 2 churches in Cadiz

in 2017, 14 people were killed and over 100 injured across 2 incidents where vehicles were driven into pedestrians in Barcelona and Cambrils.

Political situation

Demonstrations, political gatherings or marches can take place with little or no warning, particularly in cities. Follow the advice of police and local authorities.

While most demonstrations are peaceful, there is a risk of unrest or violence. If you’re in and around areas where demonstrations are taking place, be aware of what is happening around you and move away if there are signs of disorder.

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easyJet reopens applications for 2024 Pilot Training Programme

The budget carrier easyJet has opened its renowned Generation easyJet Pilot Training programme, which takes aspiring pilots with little or no experience to the cockpit of an Airbus A320 commercial airliner in around two years as qualified co-pilot. Over 1000 new pilots are set to join easyJet by 2028 as part of a five year recruitment drive, with around 200 places now available this year. 

With still only around 6% of pilots worldwide being women, easyJet has been focused on tackling this industry-wide challenge for a number of years through initiatives including recruitment campaigns, its pilot school visits programme and Summer Flight School. 

As a result, 7.5% of easyJet’s pilots in the UK are women compared to the UK industry average of 6.5%, with around 300 women including 99 Captains now flying for the airline, which has continued to work on tackling stereotypes and misconceptions around the job and encouraging more women to apply. 

The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is now open for aspiring pilots to apply at Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE

Earlier this month the airline launched an online test which assesses some of the key skills required to become an airline pilot, after research revealed that half of Brits (50%) don’t know what qualifications are needed to become an airline pilot and learn to fly a commercial jet. 

To apply to easyJet’s Pilot Training Programme, aspiring pilots need to be aged 18 or over by the time they begin training and have a minimum of 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of Grade C or above (or equivalent), including Mathematics, Science and English language – no higher qualifications or degrees are required. 

The Royal Aeronautical Society publishes paper on the Mental Health Challenge in Civil Aviation

The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) has published a paper on the mental health challenge to civil aviation safety, covering both psychosocial risk management and mental health. The paper explores the impact that mental health in aviation currently has within civil aviation.

The Royal Aeronautical Society’s Human Factors Wellbeing Working Group (HFW WG) paper highlights key areas of the civil aviation ‘eco-system’ that would be positively impacted by a coherent approach to managing and mitigating staff mental health and wellbeing.

Poor mental health is now an acknowledged safety risk factor in civil aviation, from Germanwings in 2015 through to Alaska Airlines in 2023, the issue in the mental wellbeing of safety-critical staff has become an issue for the industry. One key question relating to this challenge is to what extent can the risk be monitored and quantified by means of the psychological assessment of safety-critical staff to inform safety management strategies.

The view of the HFW WG is that an approach based on the information outlined in this paper could provide a positive ’tailwind’ for the industry addressing the challenges in the current environment.

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the development of a response to the emerging recognition of the safety risk posed by the mental health and wellbeing of all civil aviation personnel. In addition, the paper provides recommendations and psychosocial risk management systems that can be implemented into current organisational structures to prevent the degradation of staff mental health and wellbeing.

AerCap releases its 7th Environmental, Social, and Governance report.

AerCap Holdings has published its seventh annual Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") Report, for the year ended December 31, 2023.  The report sets out in detail AerCap's commitment to growing its business in a responsible and sustainable way and includes a number of environmental, social, and governance disclosures. The ESG Report is produced with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative ("GRI") Standards. The report can be found here or on the ESG section of our website.

Key highlights of the report include:

Our ESG ratings have continued to show a positive trajectory as evidenced by our recent rating improvements. In September 2023, we were upgraded by MSCI ESG Ratings to 'AA' or 'Leader' level, and in April 2024, we were upgraded by Morningstar Sustainalytics to 'Low Risk' level.

We continued our corporate fleet modernization strategy to ensure we own the most in-demand and fuel-efficient aircraft, with ~$50 billion invested in new technology aircraft since 2014.

As of December 31, 2023, AerCap's fleet comprised of ~70% new technology aircraft by net book value and ~80% new technology engines, with an additional ~$18 billion of new technology assets on order.

Our indirect Scope 3 emissions intensity improved in 2023. We have achieved a 15% reduction in gCO2 per seat/km across our entire fleet over the last decade, notwithstanding our fleet doubling in size during this period. 

We continued to make progress on our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging ("DEIB") framework and strategy, conducting focus groups and training sessions throughout 2023 to focus on the issues that matter most to our employees.

We had continuous engagement and collaboration with regulatory authorities and the wider aviation industry on policy and decarbonization matters through our dedicated Government Affairs & Sustainability function, aiding our situational awareness and ability to engage on key policy developments.

Together with our employees, AerCap donated over $800,000 to charitable and social causes and partnerships in 2023.

Stacey Cartwright, ESG Committee Chair, said, "We are very pleased to launch AerCap's ESG Report for the year 2023, coinciding with World Earth Day."

WestJet's new codeshare with Korean Air

Starting next month WestJet's codeshare deal with Korean Air begins, giving Canadians access to six additional cities across four Asian countries from Seoul's Incheon International Airport.  

Through the agreement, passengers will have more opportunities to explore unique transpacific Asian destinations beyond Seoul with a seamless single connection at Incheon ICN and the convenience of booking their entire journey with one ticket, baggage transfers, and earning WestJet Dollars throughout.

New WestJet Codeshare Destinations

Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

Da Nang, Vietnam (DAD)

Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (SGN)

Hong Kong, China (HKG)

Singapore (SIN)

"As we prepare for WestJet's inaugural flights between Calgary and Incheon, the timing of this codeshare expansion is ideal.  We are enhancing connectivity to more destinations in Asia for our guests and WestJet Rewards members from one of the world's busiest cities, and Korean Air's global hub" said Jeff Hagen, WestJet Vice-President of Commercial Development and Strategic Partnerships. "Our longstanding reciprocal partnership with Korean Air opens up exciting opportunities for leisure and business travellers to more locations in the Asian continent and offers new guests in Asia access to all of Canada through our global hub in Calgary."

Following the success of WestJet's entry into Asia, the airline recently introduced seasonal service between YYC and ICN. The new route launches on May 17, 2023, and will fly on WestJet's 787 Dreamliner up to three days per week during peak travel periods.

"We are excited to announce an expanded codeshare with our longstanding partner WestJet, offering our valued customers access to a wide range of transpacific destinations," said Tae Joon Kim, Korean Air Senior Vice President and Head of International Affairs & Alliance. "The launch of WestJet's Calgary - Seoul Incheon route will bolster connectivity between Korea and Canada, while our strengthened partnership will seamlessly connect customers to an expanded array of Asian and Canadian cities through our hubs in Incheon and Calgary, respectively."

All WestJet codeshare destinations are now available through WestJet's website, the WestJet app, and travel agent partners, where WestJet Rewards members can earn and redeem WestJet Dollars on their entire journey. Visit WestJet.com for further details.

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GoJet Airlines brings in groundbreaking pilot recruitment initiative.

GoJet Airlines, brings in a  groundbreaking pilot recruitment initiative, offering unparalleled bonus opportunities and career advancement pathways. With the aviation industry facing dynamic changes, GoJet Airlines remains committed to attracting and retaining top talent, providing lucrative incentives for experienced pilots.

GoJet Airlines is proud to introduce a comprehensive Direct Entry Captain bonus package, including a staggering $175,000 sign-on bonus and an additional $25,000 bonus for pilots with a Part 121 type-rating. This unprecedented offer presents a total bonus opportunity of up to $200,000, paid out within the first 12 months without any contractual obligations or strings attached.

Adding to this industry-leading compensation package, GoJet Airlines is proud to offer up to 18 years in longevity matching, demonstrating the company's commitment to recognizing pilots’ years of service within the industry. This creates the potential to earn over $400,000 in the first year of employment, enabling pilots to achieve financial stability and success while flying with GoJet Airlines.

British Airways restarts London - Abu Dhabi route

British Airways returned to Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning as flight BA073 touched down at Zayed International Airport, following a four-year pause of the route.

From now on, British Airways will operate a daily flight between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi all year around  The new route adds to the UK's leading legacy carrier's extensive global network and strengthens connections between UAE and UK.

Flight BA073 to Abu Dhabi departs London Heathrow at 22.25, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 08.30+1.  The inbound flight to London (BA072) departs at 10.10, arriving London Heathrow 15.20.

Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: "We extend a warm welcome to British Airways as they start operating at Zayed International Airport with a daily schedule that promises to enrich connectivity and invigorate both business and tourism. Our new award-winning and cutting-edge terminal offers visitors an unparalleled introduction to the vibrant UAE capital, where they will be greeted with Emirati hospitality at its finest."

Calum Laming, Chief Customer Officer at British Airways said: “We are really excited to be celebrating our Abu Dhabi route launch. The new daily flight connects Abu Dhabi with London Heathrow and beyond, providing our customers with another amazing destination within our expansive global network and further growing our connections with the UAE. With four cabins to choose from, including First, we are confident customers will enjoy our exceptional and original British Airways service brought to life by our incredible colleagues.

And on a personal level, it is an honour to return to the fantastic city and Emirate of Abu Dhabi where I was lucky to live for the best part of a decade."

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BA Schedule

Season	Flight number	Departing LHR	Arriving AUH	Flight number	Departing AUH	Arriving LHR
Summer ‘24	BA73	22:25	08:30+1	BA72	10:10	15:20
Winter ‘24	BA73	22:25	09:30+1	BA72	11:10	15:20

Air Canada Introduces New Sports Channels to Live TV Service Just in Time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs

 Air Canada announced the addition of three new Live TV sports channels to its award-winning in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. Just in time for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet East are available today, while TVA Sports will be available in May, so Air Canada customers can cheer their favourite hockey team onboard select flights.

"We are extremely excited, as the only Canadian airline with Live TV, to show the Stanley Cup Playoffs onboard. Hockey is an integral part of the Canadian identity, so it only makes sense that we offer it in French and English to our customers as part of our extensive in-flight entertainment. These new channels further cement our dedication to Canada's game. Our commitment to hockey includes flying all seven Canadian teams, being a jersey sponsor of the Montreal Canadiens, and as official airline of the PWHL," said John Moody, Managing Director, Onboard Product at Air Canada.

Air Canada's Live TV experience is delivered through a satellite-connected solution, directly to the seat-back screen. Live TV programming on Air Canada flights is comprised of:

• Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet East offer extensive coverage of the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, and more (available only on domestic flights)
• TVA Sports offers extensive French-language coverage of the NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs, WTA, Blue Jays and MLB games, UFC, EURO 2024 and more (available on domestic and transborder flights)
• TSN and RDS, delivering comprehensive live sports coverage of marquee sports events including this summer's UEFA EURO 2024 and CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™, as well as additional sports including hockey, basketball, football, baseball, golf and tennis majors, auto racing, and more