KLM network in Asia and the Middle East as good as fully recovered this summer

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has issued this report:

As more and more countries are reopening their borders, KLM is anticipating a cautious re-emergence of customer demand for destinations in Asia and the Middle East. This summer, KLM’s network will be virtually identical to the one it operated in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, fewer flights to the destinations will be offered and/or flights to the destinations will be offered in different combinations. KLM offers Riyad (Saudi Arabia) as a new destination this summer, while flights to Phuket (Thailand) will be introduced this winter.

The network of destinations plays a central role in KLM’s strategy. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, KLM has continued to operate this network to the greatest extent possible in order to preserve customers’ ability to travel and to ensure the continuity of cargo transport. Not only has this strategy proven successful during the course of the COVID crisis, it now makes it easier to scale up operations once more.

Most significant changes compared to 2019:

Asia
- There are 17 destinations planned for this summer, compared with 19 in 2019. Xiamen (China) is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (although KLM partner Xiamen Airlines is currently flying to this destination). Service to Denpasar (Indonesia) will be offered as soon as Bali reopens, which will hopefully be later this summer.
- Phuket will be added as a destination in winter 2021. Flights to the Thai island will be offered four times a week.
- For the time being, flights to Hangzhou and Shanghai (China) will keep the current stopover in Seoul (South Korea) for the time being. Once the rules change, KLM will make further adjustments to the schedules.
- KLM flies to Chengdu once a week with passengers and cargo, after which the flight continues on to Beijing via a stopover in Seoul. From there, KLM transports passengers and cargo back to Amsterdam.
- Service to Bengalûru (India) has been suspended.

Specific travel restrictions and quarantine requirements remain in effect in many Asian countries. As this changes, scheduling within the network will need to be updated frequently throughout the winter season as well.

Middle East
- In the summer of 2021, KLM will fly to seven destinations – the same number as in 2019.
- KLM offers Riyad (Saudi Arabia) as a new destination, with flights departing twice a week in the summer season and, starting this winter, three times a week.
- Service to Abu Dhabi has been suspended, although KLM offers this destination as a codeshare with Etihad Airways. The expectation is that Abu Dhabi will be reintroduced as a destination in winter 2021, thereby increasing the number of destinations to eight.

Reuters: The EU adds the United States to the safe travel list

From Reuters:

“European Union governments agreed on Wednesday to add the United States to their list of countries from which they will allow non-essential travel, EU diplomats said.

Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 countries approved the addition of the United States and five other countries at a meeting on Wednesday, with the change to take effect in the coming days.”

New British Airways services take off from Belfast to Exeter, Leeds/Bradford, Newquay and Glasgow

British Airways is launching four new domestic routes from Belfast this summer, supporting important business and tourism links between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Over the next few months, the airline will start to operate 18 flights a week between George Best Belfast City Airport and Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Newquay airports. The new routes will run alongside existing British Airways services between Belfast and London City and London Heathrow airports.

Full schedule:

Route

Flight number

Schedule/departure time

Belfast City (BHD)/ Exeter (EXT)

From 16 June 2021

BA7319

Monday – 12.55

Friday – 16.35

Saturday – 10.15

Sunday – 11.40

Belfast City (BHD)/ Leeds Bradford (LBA)

From 16 June 2021

BA7313

Monday – 8.40

Tuesday – 8.40

Wednesday – 8.40

Thursday – 8.40

Friday – 10.55

Sunday – 8.40

Belfast City (BHD)/ Cornwall Newquay (NQY)

From 3 July 2021

BA7331

Wednesday – 16.35

Saturday – 6.35

Belfast City (BHD)/ Glasgow (GLA)

From 2 August 2021

BA7327

Monday – 19.00

Tuesday – 19.00

Wednesday – 19.00

Thursday – 19.00

Friday – 19.00

Sunday – 19.00

The additional services will be operated using BA CityFlyer’s existing fleet of Embraer 190 aircraft.
Aer Lingus is operating services between Belfast and Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham.

The resurrected Ravn Alaska signs LOI for 50 electric STOL airliners

Airflow, Inc., an aerospace company building a next-gen electric Short Takeoff and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft, today announced a letter of intent with Ravn Alaska, the Anchorage-based regional airline, to supply 50 airplanes. This agreement brings Airflow’s total order book, including other customers, to over $200 million for its innovative aircraft that enables operators to greatly expand where they can fly, improve their operating economics, and reduce emissions on a near-term timeline with entry into service planned for 2025.

Airflow’s hybrid-electric aircraft are able to enter into service with no new infrastructure requirements and limited certification hurdles compared to other electric aviation market entrants. Airflow’s unique aircraft offers operators the ability to reduce operating costs, noise signature, and expand their route network. Future aircraft models from Airflow will feature autonomous systems to further improve cost efficiency and safety.

Airflow was founded in 2019 by five former Airbus Vahana team members to bring eSTOL capabilities to the passenger and middle-mile logistics market. The team is passionate about expanding aviation’s benefits to the world and has deep experience in aerospace and technology development.

From Wikipedia:

On April 5, 2020, in the midst of travel disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ravn shut down its entire operation, laid off all staff, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The leadership of the North Slope Borough attempted to take possession of the airline as a way to keep flights and shipments coming to their rural communities, but the Alaska Attorney General stated that it was improper. The decision to stop all operations stranded dozens of communities in rural Alaska, leaving them without regularly scheduled air service. Wright Air Service and other small air carriers have been performing air service on a charter flight basis.

At the bankruptcy auction in July 2020, the Ravn Connect part 135 airlines were sold in pieces to other airlines of Alaska. The part 121 airlines Ravn Alaska and PenAir were sold to FLOAT Shuttle, a commuter service based in Los Angeles.

On October 14, 2020, Ravn Alaska received approvals from the FAA to resume operations. While the company was still awaiting approval from the US Department of Transportation authority for scheduled operations, it resumed a Public Charter service that only lasted two weeks. On November 13, 2020, the airline resumed service to Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), Homer, Kenai, Sand Point, and Valdez using Public Charters managed by Ravn Travel. Each market was served 4 days a week from Anchorage.

As of November 30, 2020 Ravn Alaska scheduled route authority was received from the US Department of Transportation and has resumed scheduled flights to and from Anchorage, Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, and Sand Point.

Ravn Alaska destinations in Alaska.

Ravn Alaska aircraft slide show:

LATAM Group launches a pilot health passport from Lima and Santiago

The LATAM Group, through its subsidiaries in Chile and Peru, together with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have come together to carry out the pilot of the IATA Travel Pass digital application, allowing passengers to organize and manage travel requirements complying with what is required by the authorities on international flights more efficiently and expeditiously.

IATA Travel Pass works based on the biometric information of the passenger’s passport, the results of laboratories in agreement and the joint information of the governments.

The pilot phase, which is voluntary for the passenger, is expected to take place between June 14 and July 2 on the following routes:

Lima-Miami
Lima-Santiago de Chile
Santiago de Chile-Lima
Santiago de Chile-Miami

Lumiwings adds its first Boeing 737-700

Lumiwings has added its first Boeing 737-700. The pictured ex-Transavia 737-7K2 now registered as SX-LWC (msn 30659, ex PH-XRD) is also named “Itaca” arrived at Forli Airport on June 14.

The new type will be based at Forli for flights to Greece this summer.

The arrival was met by Giuseppe Silvestrini, President of FA srl, the airport managing company who celebrated together with Dimitrios Kremiotis, CEO of Lumiwings.

All photos by Forli Airport.

Marco Finelli reporting from Italy.

Lumiwings aircraft photo gallery:

Lumiwings aircraft slide show:

Ryanair announces its 16th Italian base in Turin

Ryanair announced it has opened its 16^th Italian base at Turin with two based aircraft and 32 routes connecting Turin, both domestically and internationally, to 13 countries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Ryanair’s new Turin base will deliver:

Two based aircraft ($200m investment), 60 direct jobs
18 new routes (16 international / two domestic) for the winter season*
32 routes in total (23 international / nine domestic)
Connections to winter holiday destinations such as Lanzarote, Malta, Mallorca and Marrakech, city breaks to Copenhagen, Budapest, London and Paris as well as domestic connections to Palermo, Naples and Bari.
Over 123 departing flights per week.

Jet Linx breaks ground on a new flagship private terminal in Omaha

Jet Linx has broken ground on a new, state-of-the-art private terminal at Eppley Airﬁeld in Omaha, Nebraska. The existing Jet Linx Omaha facility debuted in 2004 as the Company’s first local private terminal to serve its clients. The new private terminal represents a new era for the Company as it further evolves and expands its unique local service offering. The announcement was made by Jamie Walker, President & CEO of Jet Linx.

Planned to debut in June 2022, the standalone facility will be constructed just west of the current Jet Linx facility on Amelia Earhart Drive. The new aero-complex, designed in partnership with engineering, architecture, environmental and construction company HDR, will span a sprawling 70,000 square feet and encompass a spacious 10,000 square-foot private terminal with numerous seating areas, a private meeting room, executive lounge and fully stocked kitchenette and bar, in addition to a 60,000 square-foot hangar. Together with Jet Linx’s proprietary Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star service, Jet Linx Omaha will continue to offer a singular and distinctive experience for Omaha-based aircraft owners, joint owners, and Jet Card members.

Jet Linx hosted its official groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, June 15, for construction of the new private terminal facility, featuring local dignitaries, special guests, and remarks from Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Willy Theisen of the Omaha Airport Authority Board, and Walker.

The news of the new Jet Linx Omaha facility follows the Company’s announcement that Jet Linx Miami, its 20^th location and first in Florida, is expected to open in early Fall 2021. Jet Linx has continued to develop new markets and expand its network of private terminal locations throughout the past year, having recently welcomed Jet Linx Minneapolis as its 19^th location and celebrating a new private terminal in San Antonio, a market they have served since 2011. Jet Linx plans to pursue additional enhancements to current private terminals in Scottsdale and Dallas this year, and open additional new private terminal locations by 2022.

Air Transat to operate to nearly 50 destinations this winter, adds Miami and Fort Myers

Air Transat has announced its winter 2021-22 flight program.

Starting November 1, the airline will offer flights to nearly 50 destinations throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America, the United States and Europe.

This program also features two new destinations in Florida—Miami and Fort Myers, with direct flights from Montreal—in addition to flights already scheduled for Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

Starting in December 2021, Air Transat will fly to Miami four times a week, and to Fort Myers twice a week.

Flights to three continents this winter

To quench Canadians’ wanderlust, direct flights will be offered from eight Canadian cities: Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Halifax and Moncton.

From Montreal, Air Transat will operate direct flights to Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Martinique, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, El Salvador and the United States.

Travelers from Toronto will be able to fly direct to Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, St. Maarten and the United States.

From Quebec City, seven sunny destinations will be accessible by direct flight to Cuba, the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

And lastly, to allow Canadians to travel across their country and to increase connecting opportunities to international destinations, Air Transat will also operate domestic flights between Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Vancouver.

As for Europe, Air Transat will gradually offer direct flights from Montreal to France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. There will also be direct flights from Toronto to the United Kingdom, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland and Italy, and from Quebec City to France.

Top Copyright Photo: Air Transat Airbus A321-211 WL C-FTXU (msn 6114) YVR (Rob Rindt). Image: 949238.

Air Transat aircraft slide show:

Swoop announces three new destinations – Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater and San Diego

Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC), today unveiled plans to add three new U.S. destinations to its network with non-stop flights to San Diego (SAN), St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE) and Orlando Sanford (SFB) beginning this winter.

Swooping into Central Florida

Non-stop service to Orlando Sanford International Airport will be available from Toronto beginning October 9, from Hamilton beginning November 1 and from Edmonton beginning November 5.

Non-stop service to San Diego

Travelers from Edmonton looking to explore the vibrant city and sandy beaches of San Diego can find direct flights beginning October 31.

Say hello to sunny St. Pete-Clearwater

With nonstop flights and its proximity to Tampa Bay, Swoop’s service to sunny St. Petersburg-Clearwater will begin on November 5 from Toronto and on November 9 from Hamilton.

Details of Swoop’s new service currently for sale:

Service Between	Services Start Date	Peak Weekly Frequency
Edmonton – Orlando (Sanford)	Nov 5, 2021	2x (Mon, Fri)
Edmonton – San Diego	Oct 31, 2021	3x (Tue, Thu, Sun)
Hamilton – Orlando (Sanford)	Nov 1, 2021	2x (Mon, Fri)
Hamilton – St. Pete-Clearwater	Nov 9, 2021	2x (Tue, Sat)
Toronto – Orlando (Sanford)	Oct 9, 2021	4x (Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat)
Toronto – St. Pete-Clearwater	Nov 5, 2021	3x (Mon, Fri, Sat)