WestJet to modify its Boeing 737-700s with the Aerodynamic Drag Reduction System (ADRS 1) system

WestJet today announced a new partnership with Aero Design Labs to modify the airline’s Boeing 737-700 NG aircraft for greater reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

As WestJet continues to make investments to reduce the airline’s environmental footprint, it’s anticipated that the modifications will reduce overall fuel burn through drag reduction and lead to long-term cost savings and reduced carbon emissions on the 737-700 aircraft.

The Aero Design Labs team created the Aerodynamic Drag Reduction System (ADRS 1) for the Boeing 737-700 fleet. WestJet was a key partner in the installation, certification and validation of the product. The airline and Aero Design Labs worked together to gather data and findings which drove additional modifications and feedback on the technology, which will be added to the aircraft once approved and validated by Transport Canada for commercial use.

WestJet’s partnership with Aero Design Labs comes as the airline furthers its efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Following regulatory approvals, WestJet will continue to work with Aero Design labs to determine further fleet implementation plans and to validate data and efficiency findings.

The Future of Computational Engineering

Today our team of engineers utilizes our proprietary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to create customized solutions. We can identify concrete areas of inefficient airflow, test and develop effective solutions to reduce drag and fuel consumption for our customers. Our first product was a modification kit for the 737-700, this kit reduces emissions and cuts costs for the airlines that use it. The research and technology we use allows us to focus on details that significantly impact airflow.

Southwest Airlines releases a leadership book

Southwest Airlines is celebrating more than 50 years of putting People first by releasing a one-of-a-kind Leadership book, “Leading with Heart: Living & Working the Southwest Way.” Starting today, Southwest® fans can purchase this unique book, highlighting Living & Working the Southwest Way as a set of fun and engaging Leadership tenets.

This special book represents the Company’s unique approach to Leadership, business, and life, based on more than five decades of insights from Founder Herb Kelleher, as well as President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, Executive Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly, Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan, President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven, and many others.

“Our beloved Founder, Herb Kelleher, described Southwest’s take on Leadership best when he said, ‘We think everybody is a Leader no matter what their job is. They’re setting an example by their conduct, and they should be inspirational.’ In other words, everyone has the innate ability to be a positive influence in the lives of those around them, and we want to foster and nurture those qualities,” said Gary Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Airlines. “The intention of this book is about sharing the unique Southwest approach to Leadership.”

As Southwest turns 51 years old this week, the Company celebrates its legacy of Leadership with the release of “Leading with Heart” to give readers a “behind-the-curtain” view into the beginnings of the Company’s unique Culture and how it’s maintained by the carrier’s Employees. This Fun-LUVing book is full of meaningful lessons and interesting anecdotes from Leaders throughout Southwest’s rich history to help readers find useful insights for their workplaces and daily lives. It features a special foreword by Executive Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly and it’s endorsed by authors Patrick Lencioni, Dave Ramsey, and Ken Blanchard, as well as by Coach Lou Holtz and Brian Brim, Ed.D.

“Leading with Heart” is the second of two exclusive books Southwest published to commemorate the Company’s colorful history and impactful legacy. The first is “50 Years. One Heart.”—a coffee-table book showcasing 50 important objects and artifacts accompanied by short stories from Southwest’s history—released last December.

“Leading with Heart: Living & Working the Southwest Way” is now available at Southwest® The Store.

About “Leading with Heart: Living & Working the Southwest Way”

Hardcover chapter book
6 x 9 inches
208 pages
Available exclusively at Southwest The Store for $20 (plus tax and shipping)
Represents Southwest Airlines guide to Leadership, business, and life, based on insights from Founder Herb Kelleher, as well as President Emeritus Colleen Barrett, Executive Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly, Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan, President & Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven, and other impactful Southwest Leaders past and present
Features a special foreword by Executive Chairman of the Board and former Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly
Endorsed by authors Patrick Lencioni, Dave Ramsey, and Ken Blanchard, as well as by Coach Lou Holtz and Brian Brim, Ed.D.
Great for Southwest fans, leaders, businesspeople, and higher-education students
The second of two books released in celebration of Southwest’s more than 50 years of service

Swoop arrives in St. John’s, Newfoundland

Swoop on June 13 launched its inaugural flight to St. John’s International Airport (YYT) from Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport (YHM).

Swoop flight WO186 received a warm welcome upon landing in St. John’s at 12:55 p.m. local time, the first arrival of an ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC) in the city.

Swoop aircraft photo gallery:

Air Côte d’Ivoire opens a new route to South Africa

Air Côte d’Ivoire will be launching the quickest route between Johannesburg and Abidjan, in Côte d’Ivoire, in June.

The Johannesburg-Abidjan via Kinshasa route will launch on June 29, 2022 and will be the fastest route between South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire offered by any airline in Africa. The airline will be introducing four flights per week between Johannesburg and Abidjan. Bookings opened on June 1, 2022.

Air Côte d’Ivoire’s vision is to be the leading airline in West and Central Africa. The new route also offers ease of access to 16 West and Central African countries: Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Togo, DRC, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau.

Route Map:

Air Côte d’Ivoire slide show:

easyJet cuts its June schedule to avoid more airport chaos

easyJet (UK) is cutting around 40 flights a day for the rest of June two avoid more airport delays, cancellations and chaos according to the Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/12/easyjet-trims-june-flight-schedule-to-help-deter-further-airport-chaos

easyJet aircraft photo gallery:

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: