WestJet ratifies 10-year agreement with WestJet flight dispatchers

WestJet has announced that WestJet flight dispatchers, represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA), voted more than 90 per cent in favor of a 10-year agreement.

This ratified agreement starts June 1, 2022 and expires on May 31, 2032.

WestJet aircraft photo gallery:

Ethiopian orders five additional Boeing 777F freighters

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines today announced the carrier is further expanding its all-Boeing freighter fleet with an order for five 777 Freighters. The order is currently unidentified on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website.

Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of nine 777 Freighters, utilizing the model’s range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and maximum structural payload of 107 tonnes (235,900 lb) to connect Africa with 66 dedicated cargo centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

In early March 2022, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the carrier’s intent to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest, most capable and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter.

Ethiopian Airlines also operates three 737-800 converted freighters, as well as a combined passenger fleet of more than 80 Boeing jets, including 737s, 767s, 777s and 787s.

Ethiopian Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Sun Country to start Vancouver service on June 15

Sun Country Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) will begin a summer route to Vancouver from its MSP hub.

Route Map:

Sun Country Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

QANTAS buys 51% of TripADeal

QANTAS Group has made this announcement:

Qantas buys 51 percent stake in fast-growing online travel business
Plans to significantly grow TripADeal’s revenue through a close partnership with Qantas Loyalty
Frequent Flyers can now use Qantas Points for any TripADeal holiday package

Qantas Frequent Flyers can now use their points on a huge range of holiday packages in a deal that sees the national carrier take a majority shareholding in the Australian-made travel business, TripADeal.

The stake allows Qantas Loyalty to immediately expand its exposure to the estimated $13 billion online packaged holiday booking market, which is experiencing significant growth as leisure demand booms and the shift to e-commerce continues.

Over the past decade, TripADeal has built thousands of direct supplier relationships with hotels, tour operators and other vendors that allow it to offer well-priced holiday packages both domestically and overseas. They also have their own tour guides based in over 30 countries.

TripADeal packages range from African safaris, Japanese ski trips and exploring Antarctica, to South Australian wine tasting tours and Bali beach holidays.

All of these ready-made holidays can now be booked using Qantas Points, regardless of which airline is part of the package. Frequent Flyers will also earn three points for every $1 they spend with TripADeal and can also use ‘points plus pay’ to make their holiday happen sooner.

The combination of TripADeal’s success at curating holiday packages together with the reach of Qantas Loyalty’s 14-million member base, plus the opportunity to redeem and earn points, is projected to drive a significant increase in TripADeal’s revenue in the next few years.

Pre-COVID, TripADeal had an annual growth rate of more than 40 per cent and in the 12 months prior to the pandemic, bookings were in excess of $200 million. Monthly bookings are now significantly higher.

Qantas joins existing shareholders, the founders of TripADeal and private equity firm BGH Capital, which bought a stake in 2020.

The full terms of the all-cash purchase are commercial in confidence. The agreement provides a mechanism for Qantas to acquire the remaining 49 per cent of TripADeal in four years at an agreed multiple of TripADeal’s bookings at the time.

QANTAS aircraft photo gallery:

Avion Express extends its partnership with SunExpress for 2022 summer season

Avion Express has announced that the company will be continuing its partnership with SunExpress for the summer season of 2022.

During the season, Avion Express will damp-lease 6 aircraft to operate on behalf of SunExpress in the Antalya Airport (AYT) base.

SunExpress is a joint airline venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. This summer season, the airline has been flying to 15 cities in Turkey, including, Antalya, Konya, and Mardin, as well as international destinations, which include Beirut, Milan, Nantes, Manchester, Tel Aviv, Budapest, and Skopje.

Avion Express aircraft photo gallery:

Hong Kong Airlines to resume flights to Seoul on June 5

Hong Kong Airlines is planning to restore the Hong Kong – Seoul route on June 5.

Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines is a full-service airline firmly rooted in Hong Kong. The airline flies to 25 destinations across Asia Pacific, and currently maintains 86 interline and 16 codeshare agreements with multiple airline partners and ferry service providers.

Hong Kong Airlines operates one of the youngest fleets in the world. It has been awarded the internationally acclaimed four-star rating from Skytrax since 2011.

Route Map:

Fleet:

Hong Kong Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Bonza to launch operations in September

Bonza, Australia’s newest carrier, is now planning to launch operations in September with three Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s.

The new airline is backed by Miami-based private investment company 777 Partners.

The start-up was founded in 2021 by Tim Jordan, a former administrator of Virgin Australia’s low-cost ancestor, Virgin Blue. The airline expects to launch operations in September 2022.

Proposed Routes:

Greater Bay Airlines is now planning to launch operations this summer

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) (Hong Kong) is now planning to launch operations this summer.

The new airlines is supported by Bill Wong Cho-bau.

The upstart had hoped to launch commercial operations in the summer of 2021.

However, due to the travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Bay Airlines has pushed its launch date several times.

GBA is an international carrier that offers scheduled passenger and cargo services. GBA received its first aircraft in September 2021, and the Air Operator’s Certificate in October 2021. In February 2022, it was granted the Air Transport License of Hong Kong. With this second aircraft joining the GBA fleet, the third aircraft is planned to join soon in 2022. GBA plans its fleet expansion according to market demand in the next 5 years.

GBA’s first FA graduating class:

FAA proposes to revoke Rhoades Aviation’s Air Carrier Certificate (AOC)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to revoke the air carrier certificate of Honolulu-based Rhoades Aviation Inc. for numerous alleged safety violations.

The FAA alleges that Rhoades:

Failed to maintain Safety Management System records; address issues the FAA found with its general operations manual; conduct proper safety risk management when addressing discrepancies in its aircraft loading, weight and balance, and runway analysis manuals; provide revised manuals to the FAA; provide safety-risk-management documentation when it submitted its administration manual.
Operated two Boeing 737s more than 900 times after failing to add the aircraft to its maintenance and inspection program.
Operated a Boeing 737 airplane on 33 flights when it was not airworthy due to engine compressor fan blades that did not meet manufacturer standards.
Committed numerous violations related to its FAA-required Safety Management System program, including failing to ensure that the program was properly implemented and performing in all areas of its organization.
Conducted improper maintenance work on engine compressor fan blades and failed to properly document the work.

Rhoades Aviation has 15 days to respond to the FAA after receiving the agency’s enforcement notice.