“Emirates may need to raise more cash this year, possibly through another equity injection from the Dubai government, if demand for air travel does not pick up soon, its president said on Wednesday.
The state carrier had hoped the global vaccine rollout would renew confidence in air travel but demand remains at very low levels, leaving many airlines to ground planes or fly them near-empty.
“We are good for another six, seven or eight months in terms of cash. We have sufficient cash coming in to be able to keep the day-to-day operation at a neutral basis,” Tim Clark told the online World Aviation Festival.
“But like everybody else, if in six months global demand is where it is today then we are all going to face difficulties. Not just Emirates”
Emirates and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) have begun to implement full digital verification of COVID-19 medical records connected to testing and vaccination for travelers based in the UAE.
Emirates customers who have undertaken a PCR test in Dubai can choose to check-in without presenting their physical COVID-19 PCR test report. Moreover, customers who have received their COVID-19 vaccination at a DHA health center in Dubai can, together with their COVID-19 PCR test results, have their documents synchronized during flight check-in. The new streamlined verification procedures will enable secure and faster processing times for customers departing from Dubai International Airport. The information will then be matched-up with the entry requirements of the destination.
Emirates will only process the relevant information specifically related to the COVID-19 entry requirements of the customer’s destination. Once check-in formalities are completed, information related to COVID-19 medical records will be immediately discarded from the Emirates systems.
The integration comes less than two months after the signing of the MoU between Emirates and the Dubai Health Authority, and is a first-of-its-kind agreement between an airline and a government health authority. The integration also makes Dubai one of the first cities in the world to implement full digital verification of traveler medical records related to COVID-19 testing and vaccination.
Emirates’ collaboration with the Dubai Health Authority is another way to provide customers with a streamlined experience and meet current travel requirements, making travel safe and convenient. Emirates is one of the airlines that has introduced best business practices and applications to reenergize and stimulate international travel. In the coming months, the next phase of digital verification will see secure integration of health records within the IATA Travel Pass as another option to help facilitate travel for passengers.
Customers who have done PCR testing or vaccinations outside of Dubai will be required to physically provide their travel documents at check-in. Some destination countries require travelers to carry physical documents when traveling. Customers are encouraged to check the latest entry requirements for their destination by visiting: www.emirates.com/help/covid-19/travel-requirements-by-destination/.
Top Copyright Photo: Emirates Airline Airbus A380-861 A6-EVN (msn 267) (Choose to Vaccinate) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 953444.
JAL – Japan Airlines wants to expand its 5% investment in Spring Airlines Japan to a controlling 51% or higher share.
The purchase of additional shares is expected to be accomplished in May.
Spring Airlines Japan (Tokyo-Narita) is a low-cost airline. It is currently 33% owned by Spring Airlines, a Chinese low-cost carrier, with the remaining shares held by Japanese investors including JAL. The airline began operations in August 2014. The airline specializes in bringing Chinese tourists to Japan.
JAL is eager to cash in on the expected return of Chinese tourists.
JetBlue Airways today announced its first Airbus A220-300 aircraft has officially entered scheduled service with the first revenue flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) departing just before 5 oโclock this evening (April 26, 2021).
The aircraft โ which was assembled at Airbus’s U.S. production facility in Mobile, Alabama โ is scheduled to operate between the Northeast and Florida for the next several weeks. JetBlueโs second Airbus A220 is on track for delivery in the coming days, with the third expected to arrive next month.
The A220 boasts a nearly 30 percent lower direct operating cost per seat than the JetBlueโs existing E190 fleet. Lower seat costs come from both fuel and non-fuel savings. The A220 fleet will also help to further reset JetBlue’s maintenance costs well into the decade. With a range of up to 3,350 nautical miles and a 40 percent lower fuel burn per seat than JetBlue’s E190 aircraft, the favorable economics open the door to new markets and routes that would have been unprofitable with JetBlue’s existing fleet.
The A220 covers a wide mix of new and existing market possibilities with excellent economics on short, medium and even potentially transcontinental markets. This will allow for better overall aircraft utilization and provide a competitive advantage for JetBlue especially in short haul markets. New cities, routes and markets will be evaluated in the future as more A220 aircraft join the JetBlue fleet.
Spacious Seats
JetBlueโs A220 is outfitted with the Collins Meridian seat, customized around customer feedback and featuring a number of design elements with comfort and convenience in mind. And, in a first for the airlineโs fleet, seating is arranged in a two-by-three configuration. Whether traveling as a couple or a family, JetBlueโs newest plane has multiple seating options for all party sizes.
140 seats with an expanded width of 18.6 inches, the widest available for a single aisle aircraft and the widest in JetBlueโs fleet.
Six rows of Even More Spaceยฎ seating
Enhanced cushion comfort and adjustable headrests with premium Ultraleatherยฎ, a softer, more breathable vegan leather material.
Contoured seatback design at knee level creating additional living space for every customer.
Custom designed seatback storage with mesh pockets, perfectly sized for water bottles and loose items.
Easy-to-reach in-seat power, featuring AC, USB-A, and USB-C ports.
Keeping Customers Connected
JetBlue will build on its reputation as an industry leader in inflight entertainment options with Thales AVANT and ViaSat-2 connectivity. With this system, JetBlue will offer every customer aboard the A220 expanded and personalized entertainment choices in nearly every region the airline flies (a). JetBlue is the first airline to receive an A220 with Viasat connectivity and only US carrier with free high speed Fly-Fiยฎ on every plane, providing Customers with the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices and stream, surf, or chat during the entire flight, from gate to gate.
10.1 inch, 1080P high definition screen at every seat.
30 channels of DIRECTVยฎ with DVR-like pause and rewind functionality, full seasons of shows, hundreds of movies, and premium content from HBO & SHOWTIME.
Picture-in-picture function.
Enhanced, 3D flight map offering multiple ways to track time to destination.
Personal handheld device pairing capabilities for use as a remote or gaming controller.
Expanded Fly-Fiยฎ connectivity, providing coverage to nearly the entire JetBlue network.
Sleek Style in the Sky
JetBlue โ which offers the most legroom in coach (b) โ is also maximizing the A220โs ultra-modern design to create an elevated customer experience throughout the interior. Every aspect of the aircraft has been meticulously customized to create the perfect environment to deliver JetBlueโs award-winning service.
Bigger windows for better views and creating an overall spacious feel.
More spacious overhead bins for additional carry-on bag capacity.
Custom LED mood lighting designed to provide a more soothing inflight experience with lighting scenarios that change with time of day or phase of flight.
Redesigned front galley partitions to enhance customer privacy near crew workspace.
Lavatories featuring subway tile patterns โ a nod to being New Yorkโs Hometown Airlineยฎ โ and gender-neutral signage unique to JetBlue.
Custom-created front and rear wall panel patterns, which incorporate dots and dashes from Morse code to spell out something fun.
Economics & the Environment
The A220 is powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which deliver double-digit improvements in fuel and carbon emissions. Optimizing fuel burn is an important first step in JetBlueโs cost-conscious sustainability strategy, and prioritizing fuel-efficient aircraft and engines aligns with JetBlueโs approach to reducing emissions. Earlier this year, JetBlue became the first majorย U.S.ย airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flights, and later announced its plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2040.
Top Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A220-300 (CS300 BD-500-1A11) N3008J (msn 55099) (Hops) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 953426.
Swoop on April 25 marked its return to Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG). The airline’s reintroduction of its ultra-low fares now connects Winnipegย withย Hamilton’sย John C. Munro International Airport (YHM) andย Abbotsfordย International Airport (YXX), with operations toย Kelownaย International Airport (YLW) set to begin in June.
Current Route Map:
Top Copyright Photo: Swoop (WestJet) Boeing 737-8CT SSWL C-FLBV (msn 40836) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 949878.
“Breeze Airways, a new U.S. carrier founded by airline backer David Neeleman, has expanded its growth plans with an additional order for 20 Airbus A220-300 jets, industry sources said.
Bringing the startup’s total order for the jet to 80, the deal would make Breeze the second-biggest customer for the Canadian-designed A220 family after Delta Air Lines.”
Breeze Airways will operate a mixed Airbus and Embraer fleet.
The Embraers (below) are currently assisting in the AOC process. The new airline is expected to announce its first routes shortly.
Finnish Air Lineย Pilotsโย Association andย Service Sector Employersย Paltaย have signed an agreement on a new,ย 3.5-yearย collectiveย labourย agreement for Finnair pilots.
The new CLA is in force until 30 Septemberย 2024 and it encompasses several important structural changes that support Finnairโs competitiveness in the fiercely competitive post-pandemic market. These include moving from a serviceย year-basedย salary structure to aย vacancy-basedย salary structure, andย measuresย enablingย balancing the seasonality of air traffic more effectively.
โWith the new collective laborย agreementย our pilotsย demonstrate their willingness toย contribute constructively to Finnairโs rebuild phase in the middle of the largest crisis in the history of aviationโ, saysย Johanna Karppi, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Finnair.ย โI am happy that we have together been able toย agree on solutions that support Finnairโs competitiveness while ensuring Finnair is a good employer for Finnish pilots also in the future. The long agreement period brings us predictability and supports the long-term efforts in building Finnairโs future.โ
AvAir, an industry-leading inventory solutions provider for the aviation aftermarket, has secured their largest acquisition to date withย Iberia Maintenanceย to gain more than 1.5 million consumable parts and 30,000 tagged rotable components.
Iberia Maintenance offers Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services to more than 50 customers worldwide including all IAG airlines, Iberia, Iberia Express, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Level and Vueling; OEMs and other customers from all five continents. Iberia Maintenance provides Engine Overhaul Services for CFM56, V2500 and RB211 engines in its facility in Madrid; Heavy Maintenance for Airbus fleet in its hangars in Madrid and Barcelona; Component Repair Services and Line Maintenance Services across multiple locations in Spain and Latin America.
AvAir offers customized solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease or consign more than 26 million in-stock aircraft parts. The company is ISO 9001, AS9120 and ASA 100 certified, and adheres to the highest quality standards in all phases: purchasing, receiving, stocking, sales and shipping.
Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A340-642 EC-JFX (msn 672) ARN (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 949205.
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, and Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, recently held talks to discuss their close commercial relationships and explore ways to build on the ties by establishing a codeshare agreement.
Being the first two airlines that started operations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Saudia and Gulf Air will cooperate to expand their footprints regionally and internationally by sharing their codes and offering guests the signature warmth of Arabian hospitality.
The codeshare will further enhance seamless travel options for passengers of Saudia and Gulf Air, providing wider choices of domestic destinations in Saudi Arabia and other international destinations across each airlineโs network.
Saudia will place its โSVโ code on Gulf Air flights from Bahrain to Riyadh, Jeddah, Tbilisi, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Baku, and Multan. On the other hand, the agreement will see Gulf Air place its โGFโ code on SAUDIA flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Bahrain, Abha, Jizan, Yanbu, Aljouf, Haโil, as well as TunisโCarthage airports. These codeshare operations will commence from the upcoming summer schedule of 2021.
Saudiaโs Al Fursan frequent flyer members traveling with Gulf Air on these routes will be eligible to earn and redeem miles for flights operated by either carrier on their codeshare routes. Similarly, Gulf Airโs Falconflyer members will be able to earn and redeem miles when flying on SAUDIA.
Top Copyright Photo: Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner HZ-ARD (msn 41547) (Year of Arabia Calligraphy 2021) CDG (Manuel Negrerie). Image: 953535.
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