LATAM Group expects to operate 74% of its pre-pandemic schedule in June

LATAM Group projects a passenger operation of up to 74% for June (measured in available seat kilometers – ASK) compared to the same month in 2019 (pre-pandemic scenario).

The group will also begin operations between Puerto Maldonado and Cusco, in Peru, and will resume three routes from Belém (Brazil) to Macapá, Fortaleza, and Manaus.

LATAM plans to operate approximately 1,123 daily domestic and international flights during June, connecting 133 destinations in 21 countries.

LATAM Airlines (Chile) aircraft photo gallery:

Hong Kong Airlines to resume flights to Bangkok and Manila in July

Hong Kong Airlines will resume its twice-weekly flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok from July 17, 2022.

All foreign travellers entering Thailand must register for Thailand Pass.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated foreign travellers can apply for the No Quarantine Thailand Pass by submitting an RT-PCR or Antigen test result.

A minimum of US $10,000 travel insurance that covers Covid-19 related medical expenses.

From July 18, 2022, the airline will resume a weekly flight between Hong Kong and Manila.

All arriving passengers must register to the One Health Pass portal within 48 hours before departure.

Foreigners who are fully vaccinated with the approved vaccines are allowed to enter the Philippines.

Hong Kong Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Air Transat to add flights to Las Vegas, New Orleans and Tampa from Montreal

Air Transit has announced it will add Las Vegas to its roster of destinations available from Montreal this winter.

Starting November 3, Air Transat will fly nonstop to more than 50 destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, the United States and Europe this winter.

Las Vegas: for business and pleasure

As of November 3, 2022, Air Transat will fly from Montreal to Las Vegas four times a week. This destination, renowned for its lively nightlife, large-scale concerts, and spectacular nearby national parks, also offers a multitude of business opportunities with its many trade shows and events.

A long-awaited return of key destinations

Travellers looking for discovery and a change of scenery will appreciate the return of three sunny routes that were put on hold due to the pandemic – two in the U.S. and one in Cuba. The carrier is markedly consolidating its presence in the Florida and Cuban markets, both of which continue to remain popular destinations among Canadian travelers.

Therefore, Air Transat will fly from Montreal to New Orleans two times a week starting November 3, to Havana three times a week starting December 19, and to Tampa two times a week starting December 23.

Three enhanced routes from Montreal

To meet the growing interest of travellers for these destinations, Air Transat will upgrade its Montreal–London and Montreal–Los Angeles seasonal service to a year-round service starting in the fall of 2022, each with three weekly flights. In addition, the carrier will extend its Montreal–Marseille direct flights to until January 8, 2023, with two flights a week.

Air Transit aircraft photo gallery:

Cargolux now flies to Shannon, Ireland

Cargolux has announced that Shannon, Ireland, as its latest addition to its global network.

The inaugural flight landed in Shannon on June 9, 2022 directly from Seattle/Tacoma.

The weekly frequency is routed Los Angeles-Seattle-Shannon-Luxembourg, bolstering the airline’s transatlantic services. The introduction of Shannon is an opportunity for Cargolux to meet growing customer demand and expand its presence in the British Isles.

Cargolux has been operating ad hoc flights into Shannon for several years and this regular service cements the airline’s commitment to business in the region. This additional gateway in Europe offers commercial opportunities for overseas partners, an option that Cargolux is pleased to offer its customers.

Cargolux aircraft photo gallery:

Swiss terminates its state-backed bank loan ahead of time

Swiss International Air Lines made this announcement:

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) terminated its bank loan facility guaranteed by the Swiss Confederation at the end of May 2022. With the pandemic situation now more stable and with the eased travel restrictions prompting positive trends in the company’s liquidity, SWISS is now able to meet its financing needs on the capital markets via the Lufthansa Group. In view of this, SWISS has terminated the bank loan facility which was 85% guaranteed by the Swiss Confederation ahead of its regular end date of 2025. SWISS has never drawn more than half of the total loan amount available under the facility since it was established, and paid a total of CHF 60 million in interest and fees during the loan facility period.

“The COVID pandemic triggered the greatest crisis that the aviation sector has ever experienced all over the globe,” says Reto Francioni, Chairman of the SWISS Board of Directors. “We are thankful to the Swiss Confederation, led by the Federal Department of Finance, for their belief in the future of our company in this very difficult period. And we have demonstrated in return just how much substance and how much further potential we have within our ranks. Through this great collaborative achievement, the Swiss Confederation, the banks and SWISS have jointly ensured that one of the most vital companies to the Swiss economy has been able to meet and master the acute threat it faced as a result of the COVID crisis.”

All loan conditions met

SWISS reacted immediately following the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020, initiating extensive cost-saving measures to reduce its liquidity outflow. The Lufthansa Group also supported SWISS with CHF 500 million in loans during the pandemic. The bank loan facility which was guaranteed by the Swiss Confederation was also tied to certain locational conditions, compliance with which was monitored by the Swiss Aviation Foundation. The prime requirement here was the proportionate development of SWISS compared to the further airlines of the Lufthansa Group.

“We are very grateful to the Swiss Confederation that, together with the banks, it provided SWISS and Edelweiss with the liquidity they needed during the COVID pandemic,” says Dieter Vranckx, Chief Executive Officer of SWISS and Chairman of the Edelweiss Board of Directors. “As a result, we were able to secure the jobs of a large part of our Swiss-based workforce and give ourselves sustainably competitive cost structures, while still keeping Switzerland connected with the world throughout the pandemic period. And we have now been able to ramp up our operations again at our Zurich hub in harmony with the further hubs of the Lufthansa Group, and to proportionately develop our range of air services.”

A return through restructuring to financial stability

SWISS initiated a restructuring in summer 2021 which saw its aircraft fleet downsized some 15 per cent and its workforce reduced by around 1,700 full-time positions by the end of last year. “The actions we took are having their effect,” confirms SWISS Chief Financial Officer Markus Binkert. “After incurring cumulative losses of more than CHF 1 billion in the past two years, we have now been able to return SWISS to financial stability, and generated a positive cash flow in the first quarter of this year. This in turn enables us to emerge from the Swiss state’s support ahead of time and meet our future financial needs on the capital markets via the Lufthansa Group.”

Swiss aircraft photo gallery:

QANTAS to increase flight frequency on the Broken Hill – Sydney route

Qantas has announced it will increase flight frequency on the Broken Hill – Sydney route following strong support from locals and visitors.

QantasLink initially launched in April with two services a week on a Monday and Friday but from June 21, 2022, will operate a third-weekly service on Tuesdays with its 50 seat Q300 aircraft.

The airline has also announced it will ramp up to five weekly return services from November 1, 2022.

Above: Broken Hill Airport.

Qantas will also add flights around key tourism events in the region, like the Mundi Mundi Bash, Broken Heel Festival and September school holidays.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Qantas Group has commenced over 50 new domestic routes including to many regional destinations.

Brussels Airlines returns to Conakry and Ouagadougou, faces possible pilot’s strikes

Brussels Airlines made this announcement:

After two years of absence in the markets, Brussels Airlines returns to Conakry and Ouagadougou. Both destinations welcome a first flight today (June 11) out of Brussels.

From now on, Brussels Airlines will connect Brussels with both capitals three times a week.

In Conakry, the Brussels Airlines crew and passengers will be welcomed by the Belgian ambassador in Guinee, Guy Hambrouck, and by the local Brussels Airlines team of country manager Khadiatou Bah.

About the destinations and the schedules

Burkina Faso, “Country of Honest People” is located in West Africa, in the Sahel area, with a total population of 20 million. The capital Ouagadougou, often referred to as “Ouaga”, counts 3 million inhabitants. Burkina Faso is renowned internationally and in Africa for its cultural life.

Conakry is located at the coast of Guinea in West-Africa. It has a population of 3,5 million while the country counts a total of about 13 million inhabitants.

Brussels Airlines started flying to Conakry for the first time in 2002, the same year the airline was born.

Flights between Brussels and Ouagadougou and Brussels and Conakry will be operated on an Airbus A330. The early arrival in Brussels offers connection options to the entire Brussels Airlines network in Europe and the US.

Brussels Airlines is the home carrier of Belgium and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group. It connects the European capital from Brussels Airport with over 85 destinations, 17 of which are in Sub Saharan Africa. The company employs 3,100 people and operates 41 aircraft.

In other news, the company is facing an “indefinite strike” threat by its pilots. On Friday, June 10, the unions representing the pilots filed an “indefinite strike notice”.

Brussels Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

ASL Airlines France announces new weekly flights to Algiers and new services to Annaba and Béjaïa

ASL Airlines France made this announcement:

Following the new authorization granted by the authorities to open more flights between Algeria and France, ASL Airlines France is gradually strengthening its flight schedule to Algeria by selling additional frequencies to Algiers from Paris, Lyons, Lille and Mulhouse.

These new flight authorizations between France and Algeria also allow ASL Airlines France to open new routes to Béjaïa and Annaba from June 16.

ASL Airline France aircraft photo gallery:

Emerald Airlines welcomes its 6th ATR 72-600

Emerald Airlines, exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, received its 6th ATR 72-600 from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world’s largest regional aircraft leasing company.

The ATR 72-600 forms the backbone of Emerald Airlines’ growing fleet.

Accepting the delivery from NAC in Toulouse, Richard Spencer, Director of Engineering and Fleet at Emerald Airlines, said: “We are delighted to have accepted our 6th ATR 72 aircraft from NAC. The ATR 72 is an essential part of our strategy at Emerald Airlines – offering high frequency, convenient, and affordable air travel across Ireland and the U.K. We would like to thank the team at NAC for their belief and support and look forward to adding this aircraft to our growing fleet.”

Emerald Airlines is currently operating Aer Lingus Regional flights from Dublin and Belfast City Airport, flying over 430 flights per week on 18 routes from 14 airports including Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Isle of Man, and Newquay among others.

The environmental footprint of an ATR 72-600 versus a similar-sized jet aircraft is 4,000 tons less CO2 per aircraft per year. This aircraft has a significant environmental advantage over regional jets and other turboprop aircraft emitting 40% less CO2 on short, regional flights.

Lufthansa takes off as “Lovehansa”

Lufthansa made this announcement:

On the occasion of Pride Month, Lufthansa took on June 10 with a very special aircraft to destinations throughout Europe. The Airbus A320neo with the registration D-AINY became “Lovehansa” for the next six months.

On the outside of the aircraft, it won´t be the Lufthansa livery but “Lovehansa”, which is painted in the colors of the rainbow, which symbolizes the pride flag. The welcome panel at the entrance will also have a special rainbow design. In addition, when looking out of the aircraft window, hearts in rainbow colors can be seen on the winglets.

The first flight of the “Lovehansa” flew to destination Billund in Denmark (LH842 on June 10).

Lufthansa is a company that stands for openness, diversity and understanding. With the “Lovehansa” special livery, the company is sending another clear signal and making this important part of its corporate culture prominently and visible to the outside world.

Lufthansa aircraft photo gallery: