DHL unveils a new gateway facility at Bologna Airport, delivers 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses

DHL on September 15, 2021 cut the ribbon on a new argo facility at Bologna, Italy. The facility will be used by DHL Express Italy.

The facility is served from the Leipzig hub via a daily flight.

The new facility can handle over 17,000 shipments per hour.

Marco Finelli reporting from Italy.

In other news, DHL has announced 1 billion vaccine doses shipped to more than 160 countries in the fight against COVID-19 since December 2020.

COVID-19 has become the largest global health crisis in a century. Governments, NGOs, and public authorities have focused on containing the virus, accelerating vaccination programs to keep populations safe, and ensuring that economies recover quickly. Since the global vaccine campaign began in December 2020, DHL has safely delivered more than 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to more than 160 countries, playing a key role in the global vaccination roll-out.

Seattle Kraken fans to receive early boarding on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has made this announcement:

The Seattle Kraken’s inaugural hockey season just got even sweeter for fans. Starting today through the end of the season, Kraken fans who wear the teams’ jersey can board early on all Alaska Airlines flights departing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Paine Field (PAE) this season.

It’s been over a year since the Kraken name and brand was unveiled, providing a sneak peek at the jersey’s colors and overall design. Fans clamored this week to get a jersey when they went on sale, including many Alaska Airlines employees.

Alaska is the founding partner and official airline of the Kraken. We can’t wait to welcome our hometown to games via Alaska Airlines’ Atrium, which will serve as the main entrance for all events at the new Climate Pledge Arena. Located on the south side of the arena, the Atrium spans 36,000 square-feet and feature stories and images reflecting the Pacific Northwest and the travel opportunities within our region and across the globe. Fans will see Alaska branding on the ice and on several boards around the hockey rink during games.

Top Copyright Photo: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 ER SSWL N282AK (msn 62473) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 955100.

Alaska Airlines (Boeing) aircraft slide show:

United to start Washington Dulles – Lagos flights on November 29

United Airlines announced today that new service between Washington (Dulles) and Lagos, Nigeria will begin on November 29 (subject to government approval).

The airline will operate three weekly flights.

United will operate this route with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 28 United Polaris^® business class lie-flat seats, 21 United Premium Plus^® premium economy seats, 36 Economy Plus^® seats and 158 standard economy seats. This flight is the only service between the U.S. and Nigeria to offer premium economy product. Flights will depart Washington, D.C. on Monday, Thursday and Saturday and return from Lagos on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

Top Copyright photo: United Airlines Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner N12010 (msn 40926) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 955099.

United Airlines aircraft slide show:

ATR and BRA-Braathens Regional Airlines partner with Neste to accelerate 100% SAF certification

ATR has made this announcement:

As part of its commitment to meet the challenges of decarbonization of the aviation industry, Swedish airline Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA), turboprop manufacturer ATR and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) producer Neste will partner to achieve the collective aim of accelerating the certification of 100% SAF of ATR aircraft to fly with 100% Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ – a key pillar of the industry’s decarbonization strategy, which has an immediate impact in reducing CO2 emissions.

The companies aim to show a demonstration flight in 2022, with one of Braathens Regional Airlines’ ATR aircraft flying with 100% SAF in one engine and 50% SAF in the other, for an anticipated emissions reduction of 64%. It is expected that an ATR flying with 100% sustainable aviation fuel in both engines would reduce CO2 emissions by 82%, if it were flying one of Braathens Regional Airlines’ typical routes. This collaboration follows the successful Perfect Flight venture in 2019 in which every aspect of a BRA ATR flight was optimized, including the use of a 50% SAF blend. This led to a saving of 46% of CO2 emissions, compared to a standard flight.

ATR, as the most sustainable on the market, burning up to 40% less fuel and emitting up to 40% less CO2 than a similarly sized regional jet, is the ideal aircraft on which to deploy 100% SAF. Today, with no SAF on board, if ATR aircraft replaced every regional jet departing from Sweden, nearly 32,000 tonnes of CO2 could be saved, for a reduction in CO2 emissions of 42%.These eco-credentials were validated when the aircraft became the first-ever to become eligible for Green Financing in 2019, when Braathens Regional Airlines modernized their fleet with ATR aircraft replacing aging, regional jets.

International Route Map:

Top Copyright Photo: BRA-flygbra.se (Braathens Regional) ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEN (SE-MKG) (msn 1354) TLS (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 935323.

BRA aircraft slide show:

First Air France Airbus A320 refitted with Safran ECOS shelf bins enters service

Safran made this announcement:

The first Air France Airbus A320 retrofitted with Safran Cabin ECOS Shelf Bins and installed by Air France Industries in July 2021, returns to service with success.

The ECOS “Efficient Cabin Open Space” shelf bins offer up to 60% more storage capacity. The new luggage compartments are equipped with easy to reach doors that do not encroach into the cabin aisle and provide a lower shelf height for ease of loading and visibility. They provide an easier and smoother boarding experience, greatly reducing the time spent searching for luggage space or the need to put certain bags in the cargo hold. Aircraft turnaround times also reduce to improve efficiency and on-time performance.

The ECOS Interior is robust, lightweight, and easy to maintain. The installation of the ECOS system was extremely efficient with certification of the interior facilitated by means of FAA and EASA Supplemental Type Certification. The modification also included the installation of Movable Class Dividers supplied by Safran Cabin.

Air France is the first company to choose Safran Cabin’s ECOS “Efficient Cabin Open Space” shelf bins and they will equip in total 24 Air France Airbus A320s.

Top Copyright Photo: Air France Airbus A320-211 F-GJVW (msn 491) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 955098.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Swiss trials a new concept to reduce food waste on board

Swiss International Air Lines is trialling the possibility of offering its customers unsold food items at reduced prices on its services from Geneva, in collaboration with its partner “Too Good To Go”.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has long put a firm emphasis on environmental issues within its corporate culture, and takes sustainable actions at various levels to ensure the optimum use of resources in its business and operations. To the same ends, the company is seeking to reduce the volumes of fresh food items which remain unsold on its flights and must therefore be thrown away. SWISS already uses historical sales data for each flight to tailor its fresh product uplifts as closely as possible to likely passenger demand. But the company is now taking a further step in this direction, by teaming up with its partner “Too Good To Go” to offer at reduced prices any fresh food items which remain unsold. To test customer acceptance, a trial of the new approach is being conducted in August and September on the last flights of the day from Geneva on SWISS’s European network.

A simple procedure

The new concept consists in offering any fresh food items that remain unsold on certain services at the end of the flight concerned. These items’ availability is communicated via an inflight announcement, and interested passengers are offered a bag containing one, two or three such fresh food items at one third of their usual price. The bag’s contents are not revealed in advance, and remain a surprise for the purchaser.

The new approach is being trialled in collaboration with “Too Good To Go”, the world’s biggest app platform for connecting companies with users to reduce food waste. “Managing waste on board is an important part of our commitment to greater sustainability, “ stresses SWISS CCO Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “We hope to significantly reduce unused food on board our aircrafts by introducing this service. Thinking about sustainability in all our products, services and processes is part of our SWISS DNA.”

“The first results from these trials have been promising,” adds SWISS’s Head of Western Switzerland Romain Vetter. “The new approach has been well received by our passengers on the flights concerned. We’re now awaiting a final analysis of the trials’ findings to decide if we should extend it to further routes.”

Top Copyright Photo: Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A321-271NX WL HB-JPB (msn 10115) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 955097.

Swiss aircraft slide show:

Emirates seeks 3,000 cabin crew and 500 airport services employees to support operations ramp-up

Emirates has made this announcement:

To support its planned ramp-up operations, Emirates has begun a worldwide campaign to recruit 3,000 cabin crew and 500 airport services employees to join its Dubai hub over the next six months.

These roles are Dubai-based positions and frontline customer-facing roles, and both jobs offer exciting opportunities for friendly, energetic, and service-oriented people to meet and interact with the world as Emirates’ brand ambassadors. Candidates interested in joining Emirates as cabin crew or as an airport services agent can find out more about the job requirements and submit their application on www.emiratesgroupcareers.com.

Emirates has gradually restored its network operations in line with the easing of travel restrictions around the world, and over the past months, it has been recalling pilots, cabin crew and other operational employees who were stood down when the pandemic forced a drastic reduction in flights last year.

The airline currently flies to over 120 cities, representing 90% of its pre-pandemic network, and it plans to restore 70% of its capacity by the end of the year, including bringing back more of its iconic A380 aircraft into active service.

One of the most dynamic global cities, Dubai has also led the world in its response to the pandemic thanks to its strong leadership and public-private sector cooperation. The rapid vaccination roll-out in the United Arab Emirates, and clear pandemic protocols have enabled Dubai to quickly and safely re-open to international tourism and business activities since July 2020.

Top Copyright Photo: Emirates Airline Boeing 777-31H ER A6-EGB (msn 38985) (Expo 2020 Dubai UAE) MUC (Gunter Mayer). Image: 955096.

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Iberia returns to the Maldives and Cali this winter season, expands domestic flights

Iberia has made this announcement:

Tropical Beach with Water-Bungalows on the Maldives

Two weekly flights to Malé from December through February, and three weekly flights to Cali, from December through March.

In Spain, the Madrid-Barcelona shuttle is experiencing the fastest growth, with 68 flights operating weekly –up to 11 flights per day in each direction.

Iberia is also expecting continued domestic demand growth, especially in business travel, between Madrid and Bilbao, La Coruña, and Vigo, and is scheduling four daily return flights to all three cities. Capacity will also be increased on flights to Asturias, San Sebastián and Santander.

In European flights Iberia is boosting Madrid-Paris services to as many as seven daily flights in each direction, reaching both Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports). It is already operating five daily return flights to London, while increasing capacity to Lisbon, Oporto, Frankfurt, Brussels, Geneva, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Düsseldorf, Munich, Venice, Lyon, and Marseilles.

In total, this winter Iberia will fly to 23 long-haul destinations in 17 countries, with nearly 280 flights per week.

Iberia’s fastest-growing markets in Latin America are Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, and it is also adding flights to Central America and Uruguay.

In the United States, Iberia is increasing its services to New York and Miami to 10 flights per week, while continuing to fly to Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the airline has just extended its promotional fares campaign until 22 September.

In the winter season that begins on October 31, 2021, Iberia is expecting the continued recovery of passenger traffic, while contributing to it with promotional fares, and adding destinations and flight frequencies.

After its summer success, Iberia’s new Maldives Islands destination will be maintained through the winter, with two direct return flights per week from December through February.

In December-March the airline will fly three times per week to Cali, Colombia, which was a popular destination this summer.

The Madrid-Barcelona Shuttle Takes Off

Domestic air travel in Spain is showing a strong recovery in general, and flight frequencies to all destinations are being increased.

In September Iberia raised capacity by 32% on its Madrid-Barcelona shuttle service, the Puente Aéreo (“Air Bridge”). Further increases this winter will take it to 69 flights per week, or up to 11 daily return flights..

The airline is also increasing frequencies this winter to up to five flights per week from Madrid to La Coruña, Bilbao, and Vigo, while it will fly twice daily to San Sebastián and to Santander, and make up to three daily flights to Asturias.

Top Copyright Photo: Iberia Airbus A320-214 EC-ILR (msn 1793) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 955095.

Iberia aircraft slide show:

Ryanair’s board approves an accelerated post COVID growth plan

Ryanair has made this announcement:

Based on proxy votes already received, Shareholders have approved all resolutions and will receive a detailed update on the Airline Group’s post-Covid recovery plans over the next 5 years. Subject to no adverse Covid developments, and vaccinations remaining at 90%+ across Europe, Ryanair will take delivery of 210 Boeing 737 Gamechanger aircraft over the next 5 years. These aircraft will deliver industry lowest costs, reduced emissions, and will enable Ryanair accelerate its post-Covid growth, as opportunities open up at primary and secondary airports all over Europe, particularly where legacy carriers have failed or reduced fleet sizes as a result of Covid and State Aid.

Ryanair Group airlines now expect to deliver more rapid traffic growth over the next 5 years, and have raised their 5 year growth forecast from 33% to 50%. As a result, Ryanair’s pre-Covid traffic of 149m is expected to grow to over 225m guests by March 2026, which is 25m passengers p.a. higher than the previous target of 200m.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“The performance of the Boeing 737 Gamechanger aircraft this summer has exceeded our expectations. Operational reliability, fuel consumption, and lower CO2 emissions have so far exceeded guidelines with very positive passenger and crew feedback to these new, more fuel efficient, quieter aircraft.

With these new deliveries, Ryanair will open 10 new bases across Europe this year as we work with airport partners to help them recover traffic & jobs post Covid, and take up slot opportunities that are being vacated by competitor airlines who have collapsed or significantly reduced their fleet sizes.

Ryanair expects to create over 5,000 new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers over the next 5 years, and the Group is excited to have, earlier this week, opened a €50m Aviation Training Centre in Dublin, with 2 further high quality training centers planned for Spain and Poland over the next 5 years.

The Covid-19 pandemic has delivered an unprecedented blow to Europe’s aviation and tourism industries. Only Ryanair has used this crisis to place significantly increased aircraft orders, to expand our airport partnerships, and to secure lower operating costs so that we can pass on even lower fares to our guests, so that together with our airport partners, we can recover strongly from the Covid pandemic and deliver higher than expected growth in both traffic and jobs over the next 5 years.”

In other news, Ryanair announced a new Winter route from Manchester to Grenoble as part of its UK Winter 2021 Schedule.

Ryanair will operate a weekly flight from Manchester to the popular French ski destination – Grenoble, from December 18 to the end of March 2022.

Top Copyright Photo: Ryanair Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 (200) EI-HEZ (msn 62312) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 953051.

Ryanair aircraft slide show:

WSJ: US to charge ex-Boeing pilot over 737 MAX crashes

Federal prosecutors are reportedly preparing to charge a former Boeing test pilot for misleading aviation regulators over the safety issues concerning the certification of the 737 MAX which lead to two fatal 737 MAX crashes.

From WSJ:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-boeing-pilot-expected-to-face-prosecution-in-737-max-probe-11631845255