JetSMART commemorated its “Triple 50”: A ceremony was held on November 25 at the Aviasur apron located in SCL airport of Santiago Chile, officially presenting the 50th aircraft of JetSMART, commemorating the passenger number 50 million of the airline and its 50 routes in South America.
The aircraft is the Airbus A321-271NX registered CC-DIY (msn 12777), the 14th of the type in the Ultra Low Cost Carrier fleet; the remaining aircraft are of the Airbus A320ceo and A320neo.
JetSMART belongs to Indigo Partners, initiating its operations with the brand in Chile nine years ago; with subsidiaries in Argentina, Colombia and Perรบ.
The Latvian airline airBaltic informs that as of today, December 1, 2025, Erno Hildรฉn starts his dutiesas Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.
Erno Hildรฉn, CEO of airBaltic: โI am honored to join the airBaltic team. Together with the Executive Board and our teams, I will focus on ensuring continuity, strengthening day-to-day operations, and supporting the airlineโs strategic development and long-term sustainability. airBaltic plays a vital role in the connectivity and economic development of the Baltic region, and I look forward to applying my extensive experience to support its next phase.โ
Mr. Hildรฉn, a Finnish national, brings more than 25 years of international experience in aviation and finance. Until June 2025 he served as Executive Vice President and Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, where he has been a key member of the leadership team during the companyโs transformation and capital raise. Before joining SAS, he held senior roles at Saudi Arabian Airlines Group and at Finnair Plc, where he served as Group CFO, Chief Operating Officer (COO), and a member of the Executive Board.
The Interim CEO Pauls Cฤlฤซtis, who led airBaltic until this date, will now fully return to his duties as COO and a member of the Executive Board.
American Airlines and its regional partners will operate 80,759 scheduled flights this Thanksgiving travel period, larger than 2024 and the biggest schedule of any airline worldwide.
American Airlines looks forward to delivering a reliable Thanksgiving operation this year as it moves past the industrywide flight disruptions caused by the government shutdown. Despite this disruption, the airline has continued to deliver for its customers and has staged a strong recovery.
โThe Thanksgiving holiday period is one of the most condensed and most important for our customers โ the stakes are high, and the American team is ready to deliver,โ said David Seymour, Americanโs Chief Operating Officer. โCustomers making last-minute holiday plans โ and those who booked months ago โ can rest assured that our operation will run smoothly and safely. In the spirit of giving thanks: Weโre thankful for everyone who worked hard to get us through several difficult weeks, especially our team members and federal aviation workers.โ
Americanโs operation stood out, delivering industry-leading on-time departure and arrival performance among the three major network carriers from Sunday, Nov. 9 through Saturday, Nov. 15. With the termination of the FAA’s flight reduction order, customers can expect all flights to operate as scheduled. The airline fully expects this resilient streak of strong operational performance to continue into its Thanksgiving travel period. The airline and its regional partners will operate nearly 81,000 flights during this period, which runs from Nov. 20 through Dec. 2.
โAs American approaches the busy holiday season, our operation is delivering an on-time and reliable operation,โ said Heather Garboden, Americanโs Chief Customer Officer. โOur customers can count on American to get them to the Thanksgiving table, giving them the certainty they deserve in their travel plans this holiday.โ
Americanโs 2025 Thanksgiving operation
A larger schedule: American and its regional partners will operate 80,759ย scheduled flights this Thanksgiving travel period, larger than 2024 and the biggest schedule of any airline worldwide.
Peak travel days: Sunday, Nov. 30, will be the most traveled day, followed by Monday, Dec. 1.
Extra capacity: Special late-night flights have been added at Phoenix (PHX) and Chicago (ORD)ย on Nov. 30 to help customers return from the holiday.
Keeping bags moving: American expects to handle nearly 5.6 millionย checked bags during the holiday period, continuing its record-breaking baggage handling performance.
Peak operations: At 11:10 a.m. CT on Dec. 1, 1,077 mainline and regional aircraft will be enroute, the highest number during the travel period.
Fun fact: The Boeing 777-300ER, Americanโs largest aircraft, has a maximum takeoff weight of 775,000 lbs., equal to about52,000 15-lb turkeys.
Air Canada on November 27, 2025 proudly unveiled a special livery honoring our Canadian Olympians and Paralympians competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This bold design on C-GEGC (Fin 940), an Airbus A330-300, features images of Team Air Canada Athlete Ambassadors and embodies the strength, dedication and national pride of Team Canada. The first scheduled flight for this special Team Canada livery is flight AC894 today headed for Milan!
C-GEGC (Air Canada photo)
As the Official Airline of Team Canada, Air Canada will once again Fly The Flag, transporting more than 750 athletes and delegation members to and from the Games. The airlineโs employee-driven Going for Gold program, further supports Team Canada in ensuring a seamless travel experience for Canadaโs top athletes.
Air Canada also revealed today its Team Air Canada Athlete Ambassadors:
Marie-Philip Poulin โ Ice Hockey (Beauceville, Quรฉbec)
Mollie Jepsen โ Para-Alpine Skiing (West Vancouver, British Columbia)
Team Canada athletes will receive:
Complimentary 35K Aeroplan status and 10,000 Aeroplan points for all Team Canada athletes through the Podium Program
Care & share packages for athletes departing Canada, including amenity kits and memorabilia for added comfort in-flight
Air Canada has proudly served as the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1988 and the Canadian Paralympic Team since 2007. This partnership will continue through the 2028 and 2030 Games, with further athlete endorsements planned.
American Airlines recently recognized nine flight attendants as Champions of the Year for their dedication to the UNICEF Change for Good (CFG) program. These volunteers, known as Champions for Children, went above and beyond by collecting extra U.S. and foreign currencies from customers on international and Hawaii flights to support UNICEFโs global mission to help children in need.
Since launching the program in 1994, American Airlines and its customers have raised more than $18 million for UNICEF through Change for Good. These funds have helped improve and save the lives of countless children by:
Delivering vaccines and medicines to prevent deadly diseases
Providing nutritional support to fight malnutrition
Supplying clean water and sanitation facilities to communities in need
Supporting education programs and safe learning environments
Responding rapidly to emergencies, such as natural disasters and conflicts
Every cent collected on board helps UNICEF reach children in more than 190 countries with critical health care, education and protection services.
Dreams Take Flight, Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation celebrated another successful year of magical journeys to theme parks in Florida and California. This year, more than a thousand children across Canada got to experience a day full of rides, magic and laughter.
Founded in 1989, Dreams Take Flight was created by a group of Air Canada employees in Toronto with a mission to offer children who experience mental, physical or social challenges a trip of a lifetime to a theme park in Florida. By 1997, Dreams Take Flight had expanded across Canada with eight chapters: Halifax, Montrรฉal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Dreams Take Flight is 100 per cent volunteer driven. Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation provide each chapter with an aircraft, along with additional support and services, to ensure every trip is a success.
The children chosen from different childrenโs organizations are accompanied by volunteers, current and retired Air Canada employees who provide a magical experience for those onboard. The volunteers, including flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes, generously volunteer their time to offer these children the chance to take a break from their everyday lives and create lifelong memories.
Since its first flight over 35 years ago, more than 35,000 children have experienced a Dreams Take Flight trip-of-a-lifetime to Florida or California.
Connecting Canada โ from seeing the vet, to seeing the world
Canadaโs vast geography and harsh, unpredictable weather make regional air connectivity not a luxury, but a lifeline. Modern turboprops like the ATR are perfectly suited to Canadaโs regional market. But true connectivity depends on more than performance in the air. It requires investment in infrastructures, from runway upgrades to upgraded terminals, and a coordinated effort to replace aging fleets.
Why Fly?
In many remote areas of Canada, flights are the only connection with the wider world. In Nunavut, there are no trains or highways. Itโs home to 40,000 people on a land mass larger than Western Europe. And Nunavutโs transport challenges are emblematic of the connectivity issues faced in the north of Canada: frozen through the winter months, intersected by rivers and literally an uncountable number of lakes.
Colossal distances separate regional hubs from the communities where people, many of them First Nations, Mรฉtis and Inuit, live and work. If what they need is not available in those communities โ from spare parts for snowmobiles to diagnostic tools such as X-rays for broken legs, medicine, specialised healthcare, higher education, even their own family members who live elsewhere โ then air transport is the only reliable and practical option. Freight services are equally essential, ensuring that vital goods, supplies, and equipment reach northern communities safely and efficiently, supporting daily life and local economies.
Even in places connected by ground transportation, like Churchill in Manitoba, the scale is daunting. Thereโs only a rail link from Winnipeg, where travelling roughly the same distance as Paris to Berlin, takes 44 hours on a service that runs twice a week. In 2017, flooding destroyed the tracks and the service was suspended for over 18 months.
A Long Way for a Small Cat
Michel LaRiviere, Marketing Manager for Calm Air, remembers: โI was flying from Rankin Inlet back to Winnipeg one day, and a local woman seated next to me had her cat with her. She was bringing her sick cat to a veterinarian in Winnipeg because there wasnโt one available in her community. Moments like that remind you how essential connectivity is. When you need important services, access and reliable travel make all the difference.โ
Photo by Calm Air (Dylan Phelps)
Dan Gold, Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations at Rise Air, emphasizes the broader impact of regional air connectivity: โAir services are not just about convenience, they are critical for supporting economic development across Saskatchewan. Our existing fleet of ATR 42s enable workforce transportation for industries that sustain the provincial GDP and create employment opportunities, particularly in the north where communities depend on reliable access. These flights keep businesses running, allow essential workers to reach remote job sites, and strengthen the economic fabric of the province. And this will be further reinforced through the introduction of our upcoming ATR 72-600s.โ
Photo by Rise Air
But itโs not just about economic benefits. Air connectivity is also about safety and convenience: โConsider the case of the new mother, taking her new baby back from Saskatoon to Stony Rapids. She could endure a 16-to-18-hour drive depending on the time of year. Or she could take a two-hour flight. If youโve just had a baby, you donโt want to be doing that drive. The vast distances in Canada are a great challenge: where there are roads, they are in relatively poor condition: pot-holed in summer and covered in ice in winter. You want to get home safely to introduce your new baby to your family members and to the elders of the community.โ
Tourism, Business, and Essential Air Services
Air services across northern Canada also bring tourists to visit the fishing camps in summer months, and to spot polar bears and beluga whales in places like Churchill, Manitoba. Meanwhile business and medical traffic are one of the important drivers of passenger traffic and forecasts suggest it will continue to be robust.
Three bears, Mom and two cubs sleeping on tundra landscape in Churchill, Manitoba during a snow storm, blizzard.
Why Turboprops?
Turboprop aircraft, from smaller legacy planes to the most modern ATR 72-600, are essential because they are suited to short runways at regional airfields. They also enable operators to drive better reliability and fuel efficiency, while providing them with the ability to cope with extreme, starkly changeable, weather conditions.
โATR manufactures reliable aircraft suited to the gravel or even ice runways of many regional airports, and the seasonal swings in temperature from ice cold to prairie hot,โ says Ryan Kinney, Director of Flight Operations at Air North. โATRs enable us to configure our cargo and passenger services to meet the community needs.โ
Photo by AirNorth
Demand for ATRs among Canadian regional airlines is testimony to the robust, flexible, and evolving design. โIn an ideal world, I would have all the ATRs I could get,โ says Calm Airโs Vice President of Maintenance, Tim Kroeker. โWe can offset lower passenger load factors with freight, which makes it a compelling proposition.โ
A Market Full of Opportunitiesโฆ
The market opportunity for ATR in Canada is clear. There is a growing requirement to replace older aircraft. While turboprops have been serving remote communities for decades, re-investment in the air, as well as on the ground, is todayโs story.
The average age of 30-50 seater turboprops operating in Canada is 32 years. The average age of ATR turboprops in the passenger fleet in Canada is 31 years, while globally that number is 13 years. So while ATR has served the Canadian market well for many years, there is a need for a programme of replacement.
Since 2019, three regional operators in Canada have taken on ATR aircraft in addition to existing operators, and ATR forecasts at least 90 new turboprop aircraft will be delivered in the next 20 years.
The largest ATR turboprop fleet is deployed by Canadian North. It provides passenger and cargo services to 24 remote Canadian Arctic communities in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik, mainly from its northern hubs in Iqaluit and Yellowknife, using 13 ATR passenger or combi aircraft and two freighters.
Rise Air is currently undertaking a US$120 million investment in its fleet replacement plan. The certification of the โ600 series, due at the end of 2025, will bring six new ATR aircraft to the Canadian market, including three ATR 72-600s to Rise Air.
โฆ and Challenges
Canadaโs changing seasons mean some routes open in winter and close in summer, while some close in winter and only meet summer demand. Day to day changes in atmospheric and ground conditions also present challenges. Fog, or heavy and sudden snow, can delay or ground flights.
People, crew and ground staff, need to be trained and expert in non-standard aeronautical skills. In very small communities, finding skilled workers is hard. Rostering issues, never straightforward in the airline business, are made more complex with the additional uncertainties inherent in the Canadian north. Snow clearing duties, for instance, may be all consuming one day and entirely unnecessary the next. One of the few predictable factors is that the weather will be unpredictable.
Photo by Canadian North
Canadian operators are also calling for urgent investment in infrastructure to keep regional aviation viable. Modernising and maintaining landing strips is critical to reduce costly gravel damage to rotor blades. Airlines are also asking for improved runway approach lighting, advanced weather warning systems, and upgraded terminal facilities. These enhancements are essential to ensure reliability and sustainable connectivity for the communities that depend on air transport every day.
โInvestment is needed to improve the infrastructure at northern remote airports. Weโd like to see more runways lengthened to 4000 feet (1.219 kilometres) where many are now around 3500 feet (1067 metres). Harden runways, rather than gravel, would also improve service levelsโ says Thomas Meilleur, Vice President at North Star Air.
Photo by North Star Air (Nathan Junyk)
While ticket pricing remains a challenge, with low load factors conflicting with contractual service commitments, most of the airlines offer reduced fares for First Nations people, as well as concessions for compassionate travel, students, and families. โRunning flights in the remote north can be very different โ and less profitable โ than running full services between two large cities in Europe or Asia. Hence the need for a very fuel-efficient and cost-effective aircraft, like the ATRโ says Christopher Jones, Head of ATR Americas.
Forging Future Successโฆ Together
Meeting Canadaโs connectivity challenge will take more than new aircraft, it demands collaboration between airlines, manufacturers, and policymakers to modernise infrastructure and rethink regional mobility. Runways, lighting systems, and terminals must evolve alongside fleets to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable operations in some of the worldโs most demanding environments.
For over four decades, ATR aircraft have connected communities where others could not. The question is not whether to invest in regional mobility, itโs how quickly we can act to secure the lifelines that keep Canadian communities thriving.
ATR stands ready to support that journey.
Did you know?
The longest ATR route is 978 miles (1574 kilometres) from Iqaluit to Resolute Bay in Nunavut. The shortest is 41 miles (67 kilometres) from Igloolik, also in Nunavut, to Sanirajak.
The UK Government has confirmed that it will proceed with the 2019 expansion plans for Londonโs Heathrow Airport, selecting the option that calls for the construction of a third runway to the northwest of the existing airfield. This decision carries major implications, as it will require the demolition of the towns of Harmondsworth and Longford and a reconfiguration of the M25 motorway to accommodate the new 3,500โmetre runway. The choice signals a commitment to the original, more extensive plan despite its higher cost and disruptive impact.
The governmentโs selection comes after weighing an alternative proposal known as โHeathrow West,โ put forward earlier in 2025 by the Arora Group in partnership with Bechtel and Scott Brownrigg. That scheme envisioned a shorter 2,800โmetre runway, which would have avoided bridging over the M25 and carried a significantly lower price tagโunder ยฃ25 billion compared to the current ยฃ49 billion budget. Despite these advantages, the government opted for the longer runway, citing capacity and longโterm strategic needs.
The timing of the announcement is notable, arriving just one day before Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her budget. Back in January 2025, Reeves had endorsed the idea of a third runway, emphasizing its potential to generate up to 100,000 jobs and strengthen the UK economy by expanding one of the worldโs busiest airports. The governmentโs latest move underscores its determination to deliver on that promise, even in the face of cost concerns and local opposition.
Plans for a third runway at Heathrow have been debated for more than six decades, almost since the airportโs transformation into a major commercial hub. Successive governments have voiced support, only to see proposals stall amid fierce resistance during consultation and planning stages. The issue has become one of the longestโrunning infrastructure debates in modern British history.
For residents of Harmondsworth and Longford, the decision brings both clarity and upheaval. Many have lived under the shadow of possible demolition for decades, unable to sell their homes due to uncertainty. While some welcome the chance to finally have their properties compulsorily purchased and move on, others face the loss of longโstanding communities. The governmentโs choice of the 2019 plan thus represents not only a major infrastructure milestone but also a deeply personal turning point for those directly affected.
Pittsburgh International Airportโs new terminal opened on Nov. 18, drawing attention from the region, aviation industry and even national late-night television.
Pittsburgh International Airport has officially opened its new $1.7 billion terminal, a project designed to modernize the passenger experience and replace the aging landside terminal that had been in use for more than three decades. The new facility consolidates operations into a single building, eliminating the need for travelers to take a tram to reach their gates.
The terminal spans over 800,000 square feet and features a streamlined security checkpoint with 12 TSA lanes, compared to the previous seven. New technology allows passengers to keep laptops in bags and shoes on during screening, speeding up the process. The baggage system has also been redesigned, reducing conveyor length from eight miles to three miles, which cuts wait times in half.
Passenger amenities have been expanded with four outdoor terraces, new concessions including local favorites like Mineoโs Pizza, and improved accessibility features such as express elevators, sensory rooms, and nursing stations. Parking has been upgraded with more than 6,000 spaces, including a new garage with real-time availability indicators, and a dual-level bridge now connects arrivals, departures, and ground transport directly to the terminal.
The design emphasizes Pittsburghโs identity, with over 80 percent of art installations created by local artists and cultural touches throughout the building. The new terminal reflects both the cityโs innovation economy and its community spirit, offering travelers a more efficient, comfortable, and distinctly Pittsburgh experience.
The airport issued this story:
When the first passengers journeyed through the new terminal at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) on Nov. 18, it marked the culmination of more than a decade of work to transform the airport for today and the future.
The evolution began when Christina Cassotis became CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) in 2015 and emphasized PITโs role as a growing origin-and-destination airport dedicated to serving Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh-based travelers were not the focus when the airport opened on Oct. 1, 1992, as a US Airways hub. It lacked many of the features the new front door to the region features, such as universal design and wayfinding, and enhanced dining and shopping options.
When 80 percent of the airport traffic was hub passengers, those 15 million to 16 million travelers arrived at the airside terminal and stayed there before taking a connecting flight to their final destinations.
Secondary consideration was given to the approximately 4 million origination-and-destination passengers who used the security checkpoints and traveled the half-mile distance between the two terminals on the people mover trains while their bags traversed about 8 miles.
By closingโฏthe half-mile gap between terminals, the ACAA estimates that combined, airlines operating at PIT will save more than $20 million annually in operational and maintenance costs.
Today, Pittsburgh is the starting point (origin) and/or the ending point (destination) of 98 percent of passengers at the airport, according to 2024 figures. That means approximately 9.95 million passengers in 2024 were using an outdated system.
Eliminating the distance between the two terminals and focusing on Pittsburgh passengers will not only increase efficiency and convenience, it also will address the airportโs transformation to an O&D airport and help set its course for success for years to come.
Take a look at the improvements:
The former security screening checkpoint in the Landside Terminal. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
The new terminalโs security screening checkpoint. (Photos by Beth Hollerich)
Faster and more streamlined security experience: The new terminal has one consolidated checkpoint with 12 state-of-the-art TSA lanes, compared to seven at the main checkpoint today, and eliminates the need for an alternate checkpoint.
Baggage claim of the Landside Terminal. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
The baggage claim carousels on the new terminalโs Arrivals Level. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Faster baggage delivery: Now, waiting for baggage is becoming a thing of the past as the 8 miles that bags used to travel has been cut down to 3 miles in an upgraded modern system that not only save time but money.
The exit of the former Customs and Immigration Area setup that led passengers through a series of tunnels to the trains. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
The new corridor of the international arrivals area that leads passengers directly to the new terminalโs Arrivals Level. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)
New international arrivals experience: The international arrivals process has undergone a major upgrade, including a complete overhaul of the Customs and Immigration area, streamlining passenger flow and improving operational efficiency. That includes a new dedicated international baggage handling system.
The middle level of the three-level Short-Term parking garage. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Level 2 of the five-level Terminal Garage. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Better, more efficient parking options: With 3,300 spaces, the new Terminal Garage features twice the amount of covered parking and the latest technology, including digital signs with real-time counts of available spaces and green lights to indicate where open spots can be found. New rental car counters line the covered connection between the new terminal and garage, creating better integration and simplicity for passengers. PIT also added the Terminal Lot, an approximate five-minute walk to the terminalโs front door. The Shuttle Lot includes thousands of parking spaces and new, heated shelters with a shuttle tracking system that displays real-time information.
Passengers meeting with loved ones in the Landside Terminal baggage claim area. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Arriving passengers entering the Welcome Point of the new terminal, a space specifically designed for travelers to meet with their friends and family. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Welcome Point: Passengers arriving to the transformed terminal will enter PITโs Welcome Point โ a spacious spot for all airport visitors to wait for arriving passengers with improved seating and food and beverage options.
Concessions in the Airside Core in March 2019. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Joe & The Juiceโs new location in the Core which opened in November 2025. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Enhanced shopping and dining: Travelers will see 20 new or refreshed concessions as part of the renovated airside terminal experience, including local favorites like Mineoโs and national brands such as Shake Shack and more.
Signage in the Landside Terminal baggage claim in April 2021. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Signage on the new terminalโs Departures Level in November 2025. (Photo by Tom OโConnor)
Universal access: The new terminal is guided by principles that make travel easier for all by creating services that benefit every passenger โ from building design to a user-friendly digital experience.
Passengers waiting to board the trains to the Landside Terminal. (Photo by Joe Appel)
Passengers transiting the Skybridge that connects the new terminal to the Core and all gates. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)
Skybridge: The Skybridge connects the new landside terminal with the existing airside terminal for a quicker, more seamless connection from the security checkpoint to the airside terminal than the train.
JSX is set to launch a new public charter service between Las Vegas (LAS) and Santa Monica (SMO) beginning December 19, 2025, marking a significant milestone for both the airline and Santa Monica Airport. This route will be operated using JSXโs newly acquired ATR 42-600 turboprops, which are well-suited for SMOโs short runway and noise-sensitive environment. The service will run once daily and offer a premium, streamlined travel experience with fares starting at $149 one-way, including two checked bags.
Screenshot
Santa Monica Airport has historically been limited to general aviation, but JSX is reintroducing scheduled-style service under a public charter model that complies with local and federal regulations. The ATR 42-600โs quiet operation and short-field performance make it ideal for this setting, allowing JSX to offer a convenient alternative to larger Los Angeles airports. Passengers can arrive just 20 minutes before departure and board via a private terminal, avoiding traditional TSA lines.
Screenshot
The ATR 42-600 features a 30-seat all-business-class cabin with a 1โ2 seating layout, generous legroom, in-seat power, and complimentary snacks and drinks. Starlink Wi-Fi is expected to be added in early 2026, pending certification. This aircraft also aligns with Santa Monicaโs sustainability goals, offering lower emissions and reduced noise compared to jets.
This new route is the first to showcase JSXโs expanding turboprop fleet, which includes four ATR 42-600s with options for up to 25 more. The launch also carries symbolic significance, as the historic DC-3โanother 30-seat aircraftโwas originally built at Santa Monica Airport. JSXโs return to SMO with modern aircraft brings that legacy full circle, offering a refined travel experience from a storied airfield.
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