Photo: Flydubai Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 A6-FMS (msn 60994) BFI (Nick Dean). Image: 954800.

Ryanair to leave Northern Ireland

Ryanair is leaving Northern Ireland. The departure is due to a dispute over airport incentives and Air Passenger Duty taxes.

The airline will leave both Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport at the end of the summer season.

The airline issued this short statement:

“Due to the UK government’s refusal to suspend or reduce APD and the lack of Covid recovery incentives from both Belfast airports, Ryanair will cease operations from Belfast International and Belfast City airports from the end of the summer schedule in October and these aircraft will be reallocated to lower cost airports elsewhere in the UK and Europe for the winter schedule which starts in November.”

Ryanair currently flies from Belfast International to:

PLAY applies for permit to fly to the USA

PLAY has applied for a permit and exemption authority with the US Department of Transportation to launch services to the United States in 2022.

The application was filed on August 20 and requests permission to operate scheduled and charter services from and via Iceland. PLAY looks forward to welcoming passengers traveling to and from the USA on board our A321 family fleet.

QANTAS’ new “Fly Away” TV advertisement encouraging vaccinations

QANTAS is asking everyone to get vaccinated:

We’re all dreaming about the day we can fly away to see family, friends or enjoy a long-overdue holiday. Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take to bring us that little bit closer to life as we knew it*.

If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer who has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, we want to say thank you for protecting yourself and the community with your choice of reward, and the chance to win a fantastic major prize. Visit qantas.com/berewarded for more information. Conditions apply.

* Vaccinations must only be taken on the advice of a medical practitioner. International travel is subject to Australian government travel restrictions.

ITA starts to sell tickets for flights starting on October 15

ITA (Italia Trasporto Aereo) has issued this statement:

Starting on August 26, ITA will start the sales for flights operating from October 15. Beginning of sales follows the achievement of the certifications (Air Operator Certificate and Operating License) that ITA obtained from ENAC (Italian Aviation Authority) on August 18, 2021. The Board of Directors of ITA, chaired by Chairman Alfredo Altavilla, met today and approved to transform the non-binding offer already sent on August 16 to the Extraordinary Administration of Alitalia into a binding offer which includes 52 aircraft, a related number of slots, as well as contracts and complementary assets from the Aviation sector in order to start operations on October 15.

Starting from August 26, ITA will launch a campaign to collect applications for professional figures to be subsequently included in the flight and ground operational areas and in the staff areas. In line with the values and strategy of the airline, which decisively focuses on the digitization of business processes to develop a flexible and lean organization, the process of collecting applications will take place on the website with the assistance of innovative digital platforms. ITA has convened the trade unions on August 25 at 10:30 with the aim of starting the negotiation of new working conditions in line with market practices. Furthermore, ITA is adopting a policy in which all employees will be required to obtain the Green Pass, in line with the anti-Covid procedures and to safeguard the health of employees and customers.

The Chairman of ITA, Alfredo Altavilla, said: “An indispensable condition and our top priority is to complete negotiation with Alitalia under Extraordinary Administration for the sale of the Aviation perimeter as soon as possible. We have confidence in a constructive interaction with the trade unions in order to provide ITA with a new innovative employment contract capable of ensuring structural competitiveness of the airline with competitors.”

The Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of ITA, Fabio Lazzerini, said: “In recent days, with the certifications obtained from ENAC, we have reached an important milestone in the history of ITA. Now we are preparing to achieve another fundamental result: the start of sales. Now we must achieve new and complex goals in view of the launch of operations on October 15 and numerous projects must be completed in order to create an efficient, sustainable, digital airline, capable of facing future challenges with flexibility and in full discontinuity with the past.”

Planned destinations of ITA:

ITALY

Alghero, Brindisi, Bologna, Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Comiso, Rome, Florence *, Genoa, Milan Linate, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Turin, Trieste, Venice and Verona

EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST

Malaga *, Algiers, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Belgrade **, Brussels, Cairo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, London Heathrow, Luxembourg *, Madrid, Malta, Marseille *, Munich, Nice, Paris Orly , Sofia **, Stuttgart *, Tirana, Tel Aviv, Tunis, Valencia *, Zurich

REST OF THE WORLD

Boston, Buenos Aires *, Sao Paulo *, Tokyo Haneda, Washington *, New York, Los Angeles *, Miami

* The following destinations will be reachable starting from March 2022

** The following destinations will be reachable starting from August 2022

Alitalia will no longer sell any tickets from October 15, ITA to take over

Alitalia has officially announced the end of operations with this statement:

Alitalia under Extraordinary Administration from midnight August 24, will no longer sell tickets for flights from October 15, 2021.

At the same time, it will send a prompt and direct communication, via e-mail, to customers who have purchased flights departing from October 15. The note includes instructions for managing tickets. In order to ensure full consumer protection, it will be possible to replace the flight with another equivalent operated by Alitalia by October 14; otherwise full refund of the ticket will also be possible.

The communication campaign responds to the Company’s desire to manage the situation in a clear and transparent way, safeguarding consumers.

Swiss introduces mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for crews

Swiss International Air Lines issued this statement:

Swiss is making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for its entire flying personnel from mid-November onwards, for operational reasons and under its duty of care towards its employees.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is making vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for all its flying personnel from November 15 onwards. The action has been taken in response to national entry restrictions worldwide, which are seeing an increasing insistence on proof of such vaccination for air crews, too. Hong Kong recently became the first SWISS destination to demand – with immediate effect – proof of COVID-19 vaccination for crews arriving from certain countries, Switzerland included.

A separate organizational management of vaccinated and unvaccinated crew members and the resulting increased complexity of the rostering involved would make it impossible to ensure continued robust and reliable flight operations in the longer term. Some destinations and regions could no longer be served, and this in turn would seriously diminish the effectiveness of the SWISS hub system. The separate handling of the two crew categories would also entail their unequal treatment in rostering terms. In addition, as a globally operating airline, and given the sufficient availability of effective COVID vaccines, SWISS also wishes to perform to the full its duty of care towards its cockpit and cabin personnel.

“We must initiate this action now,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx, “if we are to continue to maintain our global route network and fulfill our care obligations towards our employees.”

In adopting its new vaccination requirement, SWISS is supported by corresponding provisions in the collective labour agreements for its cockpit and its cabin personnel, which provide for such action under such conditions. SWISS is also conducting an open and transparent dialogue with its social partners on the mandate planned.

Star Air announces its first-ever flight service between two metro cities in India

Star Air has made this announcement:

Passengers can now fly between Hyderabad and Bengaluru on Star Air’s Embraer Jet from August 26, 2021 and have a private jet-like experience. The flights will be operated on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Hyderabad is the 15th destination that Star Air has added to its network.

For the first time, Star Air will be competing with the major players in the industry with its 50-seater Embraer Jet which offers superior comfort by providing extra legroom with a 31″ seat pitch and no middle seats.

Along with connecting the metro cities of Bengaluru and Jamnagar, Star Air is introducing direct flights from Jamnagar to Bengaluru and Hyderabad from 26th August, 2021 as well.

Delta Air Lines orders 30 additional Airbus A321neo aircraft

Delta Air Lines has ordered 30 additional Airbus A321neo aircraft to help meet the airline’s future fleet requirements. The newly-ordered aircraft are in addition to the airline’s existing orders for 125 of the type, bringing the outstanding orders from Delta to a total of 155 A321neos.

Delta’s A321neos will be powered by next-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines that bring significant efficiency gains over Delta’s current, already-efficient A321 aircraft. Equipped with total seating for 194 customers with 20 in First Class, 42 in Delta Comfort+ and 132 in the Main Cabin, Delta’s A321neos will be deployed primarily across the airline’s extensive domestic network, complementing Delta’s current A321 fleet of more than 120 aircraft. The airline is slated to receive the first of its 155 A321neo aircraft early next year.

Many of Delta’s A321neos will be delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama. The airline has taken delivery of 87 U.S.-manufactured Airbus aircraft since 2016.

As of the end of July, Delta’s fleet of Airbus aircraft numbered 358, including 50 A220 aircraft, 240 A320 Family members, 53 A330 wide bodies, and 15 A350 XWB aircraft.

American Airlines to reopen its Flagship lounges

American Airlines is ready to reconnect customers to a premium dining experience on the ground with the reopening of its Flagship lounges, where customers can wine, dine and retreat during travel. Throughout the fall, American will begin reopening Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining, with the first location opening Sept. 14, 2021, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). As customers return to the lounges, they will experience new menus from James Beard Foundation chefs, more ways to access the lounges and recognizable touches from the inflight experience.

“The Flagship Lounge and Flagship Dining experience brings a whole new level of luxury to our customers’ journey, and we are thrilled to showcase our new offerings,” said Clarissa Sebastian, Managing Director of Premium Customer Experience and Onboard Products. “With revamped menus designed in collaboration with awe-inspiring chefs and even more ways to access the lounge, we can’t wait to open the doors and serve our customers this fall.”

Projected reopening schedule:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8
- Flagship Lounge: Sept. 14
- Flagship First Dining: Sept. 16
Miami International Airport (MIA) Concourse D
- Flagship Lounge: Sept. 28
- Flagship First Dining: Sept. 30

Later this fall, locations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 4, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Terminal D and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) Terminal 3 will reopen.

Meet the Chefs bringing regional flavors to menu items

American is bringing celebrated chefs to Flagship Lounges and Flagship First Dining to serve up delicious and creative menu offerings. This program is in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, an organization with a mission to celebrate, support and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity and sustainability. Each location will feature an acclaimed local chef with offerings designed exclusively for their hometown lounge.

DFW, Chef Tiffany Derry

MIA, Chef Timon Balloo

JFK, Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja

ORD, Chef Sarah Grueneberg

DFW, Chef Tiffany Derry: The Top Chef fan favorite and chef and owner of the new Dallas hotspot, Roots Southern Table, will bring American customers a high-end twist to her family’s classic southern recipes. In addition to being a celebrated chef and television host, Chef Tiffany has been a sustainability spokesperson for the James Beard Foundation and has worked with the Dallas school district’s lunch program.

MIA, Chef Timon Balloo: Local ingredients and bold flavors fuel the spirit of dishes created by Miami Chef Timon Balloo. Chef Timon has been called “Chef of the Year” by Eater for his work at Miami’s SUGARCANE and is now building out his own brand with concepts like Mrs. Balloo, an Asian cuisine-inspired food truck, delivery-only Balloo Wallah and Balloo, for which he was nominated Best Chef: South by the James Beard Foundation in 2020.

JFK, Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja: Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja’s Indonesian and Italian heritage have always been a source of inspiration. Drawing on the rustic, vibrant flavors found throughout Italy, Morocco and Tunisia, her menus at New York City’s Shuka and the brand new Shukette combine Eastern Mediterranean recipes with her own bold signature.

ORD, Chef Sarah Grueneberg: Chef Sarah Grueneberg is the award-winning chef and owner of Chicago’s Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio. She has won several awards, including the 2017 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Great Lakes. Grueneberg created soulful Italian dishes for American flights in 2019 and will now showcase her talents at our Flagship Lounge located in her hometown at ORD.

The chef creating menu items for LAX will be named soon.

Accessing American Airlines exclusive clubs on the ground

American’s Flagship Lounge features premium amenities and services, including the dishes created in partnership with the James Beard Foundation. Customers can access the Flagship Lounge depending on elite status or if they are traveling in a premium cabin on a qualifying flight. New to the list, eligible customers traveling to Hawaii in Flagship® First and Flagship® Business will be able to access the Flagship experience

Customers flying in Flagship First on qualifying international or transcontinental flights also have access to Flagship First Dining located within the Flagship Lounge. Flagship First Dining offers a full service restaurant dining experience featuring locally inspired menus designed by the James Beard Foundation chefs. American became the first airline to open a restaurant-style dining experience on the ground in 2017.

While Flagship Lounges and Dining are its most exclusive, the airline has also reopened its Admirals Club lounges in U.S. cities and select international locations, customers traveling on an American Airlines or oneworld alliance® ticketed flight may also purchase a day pass to an Admiral’s Club.

New enhancements to Flagship Lounge locations

Customers will soon notice D.S. & Durga before takeoff, with hand soap and lotions featured in the restrooms. Shower suites will now feature Dyson Supersonic hair dryers to enhance the premium guest experience. This summer, American introduced new amenity kits for premium cabin customers in partnership with Shinola and D.S. & Durga.