Reimagined onboard experience with American Airlines takes off with launch of new amenities, elevated dining and more

American launches airline’s first-ever rotating collection of premium onboard amenities, along with new bedding.
Throughout the year, new inflight amenities will feature diverse designers and brands, sustainably sourced materials and causes important to American and its customers.
Customers can indulge in fresh entrees, inspired by popular American Airlines destinations, across all domestic and international flights.
AAdvantage® members can continue to earn or use miles for flights with these premium experiences.

American Airlines is heating up the inflight experience ahead of the summer travel season with a wave of premium onboard enhancements to make travel even more enjoyable. Customers will fly in style with a new, reimagined amenity kit series and bedding, and savor new dishes throughout their journey. In the future, customers can anticipate an increasingly elevated experience with the arrival of new Flagship Suite® seats.

“We thoughtfully curate each element of the onboard experience so every customer can look forward to the time they spend in flight,” said Kim Cisek, American’s Vice President of Customer Experience. “Part of the magic of travel is connecting our customers to the people and experiences that matter most to them. We’re taking that concept to the skies by introducing a new, dynamic onboard program that’s inspired by feedback from our customers and team members.”

American worked with a mix of boutique and well-known brands to create a program that will evolve throughout the years and feature rotating kit designs and high-quality skincare products in addition to the new bedding program.

A rotation of stylish new amenities and more

The new program will be on board more than 300 international and transcontinental flights beginning Memorial Day weekend in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy cabins.

American’s primary amenity kit will be available yearlong for customers flying in premium cabins. The kit will include staple amenities customers have come to expect while in flight, such as a toothbrush, dental kit, eye mask and earplugs, in addition to new and evolving skincare products and offerings. American will cycle new brands and products within the kits for customers in all premium cabins, creating a unique customer experience several times over, based directly on customer feedback.

American collaborated with beauty retailer Thirteen Lune to curate the skincare offerings, which will feature high-quality beauty brands from Thirteen Lune’s tailored collection with wide ranging representation of diverse founders and voices such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

Limited-edition kits

In addition to these rotating products within the kits, customers will enjoy limited-edition specialty kits created in collaboration with diverse designers and brands based primarily in the U.S. Through the designs of these specialty kits, American will recognize specific milestones and initiatives that reflect the values and backgrounds of the airline’s customers and team members. These limited-edition kits will debut in the months and years ahead.

In fact, the all-new amenity program will launch with a Thirteen Lune specialty kit to introduce customers to the new kit line and the opportunity to start collecting the limited-edition kits. Customers flying in premium cabins will receive the Thirteen Lune kit for the first few weeks of the kickoff to the new program. Customers can then look forward to receiving the primary amenity kit on board throughout the rest of the summer.

Each specialty kit will be available for a limited time on eligible flights in Flagship® First Class, Flagship® Business Class and Premium Economy. Travelers will be able to learn about each brand and partner featured in the specialty kit by scanning a QR code found within the kit.

Elevated bedding inspired by customer feedback

Customers will travel in elevated comfort with new bedding, pillows and sleepwear that deliver on customer expectations for a restful experience on board. In American’s research with customers, travelers shared that 75% prefer dual-sided pillows, with different materials on each side of the pillow. Based on this feedback, customers traveling across Flagship® First Class or Flagship® Business Class will enjoy a dual-sided pillow with cool touch fabric on one side, and traditional fabric on the other.

Those traveling in Flagship® First Class on international flights will continue to enjoy a set of pajamas, based on feedback that 80% of first class customers value having pajamas onboard. In addition, travelers in Flagship® Business Class on all international flights will now enjoy slippers onboard, instead of only on ultra long-haul flights.

Customers in all cabins, including Premium Economy and Main Cabin, will enjoy enhanced bedding, with cabin-specific options such as lumbar pillows, throw blankets, premium duvets and fleece blankets — all developed from premium brands that are leaders in their space.

American collaborated with the inflight textile company John Horsfall to develop bedding made with recycled materials from their Re-Thread® collection*.

Reusable Zipper Product Bag

Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® First

Bedding in American Airlines Flagship® Business

Bedding in American Airlines Premium Economy

Bedding in American Airlines Main Cabin

Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® First Class

Bedding in American Airlines Transcontinental Flagship® Business Class

Nearly all of the pillows, duvets and blankets created for American flights were made with recycled fibers that maintain a premium feel, while filled bedding includes 100% recycled fill. To reduce single-use plastic waste connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets, customers traveling in Flagship® First, Flagship® Business and Premium Economy will now receive their bedding in a reusable zipper product bag also made with recycled fibers. Using the bag will save 25 tons of plastic waste a year.

New dining menus soar within the U.S. and beyond

While dining on board, customers can embrace the journey with diverse flavors and new menus that are inspired by popular American Airlines destinations worldwide. The offerings feature internationally inspired pastas, salads and more.

Travelers jet-setting to one of American’s new summer destinations like Nice, France; Naples, Italy; or Copenhagen, Denmark, will be able to relish delicious offerings like macadamia crusted sea bass with citrus cream sauce, quinoa, toasted orzo, and haricots verts. In addition to these offerings, pan roasted chicken, tortellini pasta and other offerings, including new pre-order options, will continue to roll out this spring for business class on flights from the U.S. to international destinations.

Customers traveling from Europe in business class can choose to indulge in menu items like chili marinated chicken with mojo verde sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted corn and mini chili or gnocchi duet with plain and beetroot gnocchi, lentil ragout, apple chutney, brown butter, roasted spring onion and sliced green onion.

Entrees: International US outbound Business Class entrees on American Airlines
From left: Pan roasted chicken with pepperonata sauce, mashed potato with chives and broccolini.
Macadamia crusted sea bass with lemon herb butter sauce, orzo salad haricot vert and red bell pepper.
Tortellini in sauteed spinach with blushed tomato sauce and grilled zucchini and mushroom medley.

Customers traveling on domestic first class can also discover new offerings on their journey. Travelers can enjoy cuisine such as shawarma seasoned grilled chicken, three cheese sacchetti pasta, chicken enchiladas or a plant based stuffed red pepper. Customers can also choose from new pre-order options, including short rib mac and cheese.

These new options in premium cabins will provide a range of diverse culinary creations and award-winning wines. For AAdvantage® members, miles and status can help unlock access to some of these premium inflight experiences.

Domestic First Class hot entrees on American Airlines
Clockwise from top left: Vegetable enchilada with red rice and green chili sauce, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese.
Cheese sacchetti with garlic cream sauce and marinara sauce, topped with a chopped parsley garnish.
Penne pasta with plant-based meat ragu and ricotta, garnished with chopped parsley.
Stuffed pepper, green rice and cilantro crema, garnished with crumbled cotija cheese.

Domestic First Class cold entrees on American Airlines
Clockwise from top left: The Mediterranean bowl with garlic aioli dressing, couscous spiced with potatoes, almonds, baby arugula, shaved red cabbage, roasted red pepper hummus, tomato & cucumber salad and roasted spiced cauliflower.
The bistro grain bowl with red long grain rice, crumbled blue cheese, fresh cucumber, Roma tomato, red onion, green scallion, hard-boiled egg, sorghum and Frisée and Mesclun salad mix.
The pesto pasta salad with baby arugula, pesto salad, red and yellow blistered cherry tomatoes, red pepper, sliced mozzarella, and a nut-free basil pesto sauce.
The edamame and mandarin orange slaw salad with baby spinach, wonton strips, roasted cashews, green scallion and red miso vinaigrette

Suite experience

Beyond the new inflight amenities, bedding and dining options on board this summer, customers can look forward to an even more elevated experience onboard future Boeing 787-9, 777-300 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft, featuring a new interior with the Flagship® Suite seat and refreshed seats and amenities across Premium Economy and Main Cabin.

Customers traveling in the Flagship Suite® seat will be surrounded by comfort and convenience including wireless charging, Bluetooth capability and multiple storage spaces. With standard features such as lie-flat seats and direct-aisle access, American has modernized the experience by adding privacy doors and the ability to relax in a chaise lounge position, making the Flagship Suite® seat a personalized experience in the skies.

American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat

American Airlines Flagship® Suite Preferred seat

Customers looking for even more luxury will be able to further enhance their experience with a distinguished front row experience on new Boeing 787-9 and retrofitted 777-300 aircraft through the Flagship Suite® Preferred seat. This seat will offer customers expansive space, several storage areas and exclusive amenities like a Nest Bedding® mattress pad, a throw blanket, a memory foam lumbar pillow, Nest Bedding® pajamas and an exclusive amenity kit featuring additional skincare products from Thirteen Lune by Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

As these new interiors roll out, customers traveling in Premium Economy will also enjoy new amenities like wireless charging, additional storage space and privacy headrest wings. Customers traveling in Main Cabin will enjoy new 4K seatback screens and new Bluetooth connectivity and AC and USB-A/USB-C charging ports. All customers will be able to browse high-speed Wi-Fi and watch up to 1,500 free entertainment content offerings.https://www.youtube.com/embed/qfjdEdPwefY?si=zE2NERsySIuN06Gx

AAdvantage makes travel better

For AAdvantage® members, using miles can help unlock access to upgrade into these enhanced premium experiences, including new inflight amenities, sleepwear, bedding and dining options.

Status members may also receive complimentary upgrades, further enhancing their premium travel experience.

The program rewards members for the time they spend with American, and also provides them with rewards and benefits. New in time for summer, members traveling on tickets purchased with miles can now receive upgrade offers to buy into a higher cabin via aa.com or mobile app when traveling within the contiguous U.S.

*Re-Thread® products are made with certified materials.

American Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Airbus):

JetBlue elevates seamless living in the sky with Blueprint by JetBlue™: A personalized inflight experience

JetBlue Airways has announced Blueprint by JetBlue™, a personalized inflight experience platform that will provide customers with more customizability across their travel journey, beginning with new inflight entertainment features, some of which have never before been implemented on a U.S. airline.

At-Home Entertainment in the Sky

As JetBlue continues to innovate industry-leading onboard technology, Blueprint by JetBlue brings new seatback touchscreen features that mimic what customers are used to experiencing with their favorite streaming platforms at home. Some of the new functions that customers can look forward to seeing on their seatback screens include:

Watch party: Watch the same film or TV show at the exact same time with up to five other customers on the flight. JetBlue is the first airline to allow up to six customers to watch entertainment content at the same time to enjoy family-style viewing. Play and pause can be controlled on all linked screens, regardless of where each viewer is seated.
Content recommendations: Receive personal recommendations for inflight entertainment based on previous viewing history.
Pick up where you left off: Whether connecting with a layover or flying next month, never miss the end of a film or television show—automatically pick up where you left off from flight to flight.
Saved favorites: Save film and TV show selections to watch on future flights so you can spend less time searching and more time watching.
Saved settings: Accessibility and system settings, such as volume, language, parental controls and close captions preferences can now be saved and carried over from flight to flight.
Content partnerships: First-of-its-kind partnerships such as JetBlue’s exclusive streaming partner, Peacock, provide customers with access to exclusive entertainment and offers.

These new personalization features on JetBlue’s award-winning inflight entertainment system will give customers a bespoke inflight experience, not only throughout their current journey, but extending into subsequent flights when customers opt-in to securely authenticate their profiles on AVANT seatback touchscreens.

Tailored Touchpoints for Seamless Connection

Beyond inflight entertainment options, Blueprint expands on JetBlue’s existing products that give customers a more personalized experience and brings their entire travel journey to their fingertips:

Personal greetings: Customers can now change their preferred name on their JetBlue travel profile to be displayed in a personal welcome message on seatback screens, whether or not they identify with their legal name.
- JetBlue is the only airline that greets customers with confetti graphics and a complimentary drink (21+) when flying on their birthday.
Flight connect: Customers can access information regarding their JetBlue connecting flights and gates right at their seat.
Seatback ordering: JetBlue’s seatback ordering feature that lets customers make meal selections directly from the seatback screen now extends to its A321neo with Mint aircraft, further elevating dining on all transatlantic flights.
Loyalty made easy: Customers can enjoy easy one-click sign-up to JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program through a QR pop-up on seatback touchscreens that automatically populates first and last name directly on a personal device.

The new personalization functions have begun rolling out on JetBlue’s AVANT touchscreen aircraft powered by Thales and are expected to be completed next month.

“JetBlue has always been an innovator as the first to have seatback screens and fast, free and unlimited Wi-Fi on every aircraft,” said Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and customer support, JetBlue. “By launching Blueprint by JetBlue, we are doubling down on our commitment to help customers create an inflight experience tailored to their needs and preferences, making their flight as comfortable as their own living rooms.”

Since its inception in 2000, JetBlue has been the architect of industry-leading, customer-centric products that have pushed the industry standard forward. Whether with seatback entertainment at every seat, free Wi-Fi^a that allows for a multi-screen experience, the most legroom in coach^b, or self-service snacks in the JetBlue Pantry®, JetBlue consistently provides a seamless, customer-first onboard experience.

This is just the beginning for the airline’s inflight personalization capabilities, which will continue to roll out under the Blueprint by JetBlue platform in the future.

Introducing Blueprint by JetBlue™, a personalized inflight experience, giving you new ways to use your seatback screen with watch parties, the ability to resume your content on your next flight, entertainment recommendations and real-time arrival details.💙 Available on select… pic.twitter.com/KCg5StLNNV
— JetBlue (@JetBlue) April 24, 2024

JetBlue aircraft photo gallery:

Hawaiian reports a net loss of $137.6 million in the first quarter

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024.

“Mahalo to our team for remaining focused on delivering strong operational performance and unparalleled guest experience,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram . “2024 is off to a positive start as we work to start realizing the return on significant investments we’ve made in our business, including rolling out high-speed Starlink WIFI and taking delivery of our first Boeing 787.”

First Quarter 2024- Key Financial Metrics and Results
	GAAP	YoY Change	Adjusted (a)	YoY Change
Net Loss	($137.6M)	($39.3M)	($143.5M)	($31.7M)
Diluted EPS	($2.65)	($0.74)	($2.77)	($0.60)
Pre-tax Margin	(23.7) %	(3.2) pts.	(24.8) %	(1.8) pts.
EBITDA	($109.0M)	($20.8M)	($116.0M)	($12.6M)
Operating Cost per ASM	15.72¢	5.9 %	11.82¢	7.1 %
Operating Revenue per ASM	12.78¢	2.6 %	N/A	N/A

(a) See Table 4 for a reconciliation of adjusted net loss, adjusted diluted EPS, adjusted pre-tax margin, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating cost per ASM (CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items) to each of their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

The first quarter loss per share includes ($0.32) per share due to the reduction in the Company’s effective tax rate from 21% to 10%. As of 3/31/2024, the Company has generated federal and state net operating losses (NOLs) of approximately $451 million and $969 million , respectively, which will be used to reduce future cash tax obligations. Analysis under GAAP required us to increase the valuation allowance related to the NOLs which resulted in a lower effective tax rate for the period, decreasing our GAAP tax benefit.

Statistical data, as well as a reconciliation of the reported non-GAAP financial measures, can be found in the accompanying tables.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

Merger Update

The Company’s stockholders voted in favor of the merger with Alaska Air Group, Inc. (” Alaska “)
The Company and Alaska entered into a timing agreement with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in which they agreed not to consummate the merger before 90 days following the date on which both parties have certified substantial compliance with the DOJ’s second request for additional information

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had:

Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $897 million
Liquidity of $1.15 billion , including an undrawn revolving credit facility of $235 million
Outstanding debt and finance lease obligations of $1.75 billion

Routes and Network

Began Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner revenue service on April 15, 2024
Announced new flying from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Honolulu (HNL) and Sacramento (SMF) to Lihu`e (LIH) and Kona (KOA)
Announced increased summer flights between HNL and Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS) and Pago Pago (PPG)
Hawaiian will also add a fourth daily flight between HNL and Los Angeles (LAX) from May 24 through September 2
Hawaiian received its second A330-300 freighter from Amazon which will operate between New York’s JFK and San Bernardino (SBD)

Guest Experience

Starlink inflight connectivity is now available free of charge on board all 18 A321neo aircraft
Expanded Premium Airport Service product in its Honolulu hub, offering seamless curb-to-aircraft experience with access to new airport private suite, Apt. 1929
Signed a multi-year distribution agreement with Sabre that will provide Sabre-connected agencies with long-term access to the carrier’s HA Connect™ NDC and traditional EDIFACT content through the Sabre travel marketplace.

Workforce Development

Partnered with Universal Technical Institute , the transportation, skilled trades and energy education division of UTI, Inc. to expand career opportunities for Universal Technical Institute airframe and powerplant graduates who earn their FAA certifications.

Second Quarter 2024 Outlook

The table below summarizes the Company’s expectations for the quarter ending June 30, 2024 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 . Figures include the expected impacts of the Company’s freighter operation, which are not yet expected to be material.

Item	GAAP Second Quarter 2024 Guidance	Non-GAAP Equivalent	Non-GAAP Second Quarter 2024 Guidance
Available Seat Miles (ASMs)	Up 3.5% to up 6.5%
Operating Revenue per ASM (RASM)	Down 1.5% to up 1.5%
Costs per ASM (CASM)	Up 8.4% to up 10.7%	CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a)	Up 5.0% to up 8.0%
Gallons of Jet Fuel Consumed (b)	Up 2.5% to up 5.5%
Average fuel price per gallon, including taxes and delivery (c)	$2.83	Economic Fuel Price per Gallon (a)(b)(c)	$2.85
Effective Tax Rate	~10%

Full Year 2024 Outlook

The table below summarizes the Company’s updated expectations for the full year ending December 31, 2024 expressed as an expected percentage change compared to the results for the year ended December 31, 2023 . Figures include the expected impacts of the Company’s freighter operation as the Company establishes its freighter operation.

Item	Prior GAAP Full Year 2024 Guidance	Updated GAAP Full Year 2024 Guidance	Non-GAAP Equivalent	Prior Non-GAAP Full Year 2024 Guidance	Updated Non-GAAP Full Year 2024 Guidance
Available Seat Miles (ASMs)	Up 6.0% to up 9.0%	Up 4.5% to 7.5%
Costs per ASM	Up 0.7% to up 3.0%	Up 4.1% to up 6.3%	CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items (a)	Flat to up 3.0%	Up 1.0% to up 4.0%
Gallons of Jet Fuel Consumed (b)	Up 4.0% to up 7.0%	Up 3.0% to up 6.0%
Average fuel price per gallon, including taxes and delivery (c)	$2.55	$2.80	Economic Fuel Price per Gallon (a)(b)(c)	$2.59	$2.83
Capital Expenditures	$500M to $550M	No change

(a) See Table 3 and Table 4 for a reconciliation of CASM excluding fuel and non-recurring items and economic fuel price per gallon to each of their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

(b) Gallons of jet fuel consumed do not include fuel used in the freighter operation, as those expenses are pass-through expenses not born by the Company.

(c) Average fuel price per gallon and economic fuel price per gallon estimates are based on the April 10, 2024 fuel forward curve.

Hawaiian Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Frontier Airlines celebrates its “America’s Greenest Airline” title with a special livery on its first Airbus A321neo

Pictured: Frontier’s first Airbus A321neo – “Frederick, the Bald Eagle”, in “America’s Green Airline” special livery, will become N603FR

Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A321-251NX WL D-AZWE (N603FR) (msn 11032) (America’s Green Airline) XFW (Gerd Beilfuss). Image: 958924.

Previously the airline made this announcement:

America’s Greenest Airline is About to Get Even Greener – New 30% Lighter Seats Creates Major Fuel Savings

So, how do lighter seats translate to being ‘green’? Well, less weight creates greater fuel efficiency. Weighing 30% less than current model, the fuel savings provided by the new premium Recaro seats – across the 156 aircraft over the course of a year – is equal to the elimination of approximately 642 million plastic bottles, or more than 1.1 billion plastic bags, or more than 15 billion plastic straws from the environment.

“Frontier Airlines is committed to maintaining our position as America’s Greenest Airline and our current fleet is 43 percent more fuel efficient on average than other U.S. airlines,” said Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines. “The lighter weight seats will result in tens of thousands of gallons of fuel savings on a single aircraft while improving comfort. Less fuel means reduced operating costs which translates to savings that we can pass on to consumers in the form of low fares.”

On an average Airbus A321 aircraft, the fuel savings equates to 31,683 gallons per year. And, Frontier has the largest A320neo fleet in the U.S! With the use of these aircraft, Frontier’s seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline’s average of 43 percent fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines, which makes Frontier the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline.

The new seats will feature extra comfort, along with redesigned armrests and a larger tray table that will provide added space for laptops, reading materials and other personal devices. “If you’ve ever driven a sports car or other high-performance vehicle with seats of exceptional quality, there’s a good chance you’ve sat in a Recaro seat,” said Biffle.

Added Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO and Shareholder of Recaro Aircraft Seating, “Collaborating with Frontier Airlines for the first time has been considered a tremendous success, and we look forward to installing our SL3710 seats in early 2021. Just like Frontier, Recaro is focused on making flying a sustainable experience by developing lightweight and comfortable seats that contribute to savings in fuel consumption. I am confident this is the beginning of a long-term partnership.”

The order encompasses approximately 32,600 seats installed on Frontier aircraft. The new Recaro seats are expected to begin rolling out with the delivery of an A320neo in March 2021 with implementation completed by mid-2027.

Hot New Photos slide show:

Frontier Airlines (2nd) aircraft photo gallery:

Cathay Pacific to purchase 38 million US gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Aemetis

Cathay Pacific has announced the signing of an offtake agreement with Aemetis for the supply of 38 million US gallons of blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to be delivered over seven years beginning in 2025 from San Francisco International Airport. The SAF purchased can reduce more than 80,000 tonnes of lifecycle carbon emissions, equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by more than 1.3 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years. The agreement is also part of the joint procurement initiative for SAF by the oneworld alliance, of which Cathay Pacific is a founding member.

The blended SAF to be supplied under this agreement is 40% SAF and 60% Petroleum Jet A-1 fuel to meet international blending standards. The SAF will be produced at the Aemetis Carbon Zero plant currently under development in Riverbank, California. The facility will use waste wood to produce cellulosic hydrogen, and combine it with wastes and non-edible sustainable oils. It will then be converted into SAF using carbon-neutral hydroelectricity. It is scheduled to begin deliveries to Cathay Pacific in 2025.

SAF provides significant environmental benefits compared to petroleum jet fuel, including up to 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis, depending on the technology used. It is a vital solution in the decarbonisation of aviation over the next few decades, especially for long-haul flights.

Cathay Pacific continues to pioneer the aviation industry’s transition towards the substantial use of SAF especially in supporting SAF development and deployment in Asia.

In other news, Cathay Pacific has also released its traffic figures for August 2022. The airline’s traffic figures continued to reflect the positive impact of further adjustments to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, notably the mandatory hotel quarantine arrangement for inbound travellers.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 253,907 passengers last month, an increase of 87.6% compared to August 2021, but a 91.3% decrease compared to the pre-pandemic level in August 2019. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 82.7% year-on-year, but were down 86.1% versus August 2019. Passenger load factor increased by 22.2 percentage points to 68.6%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 23.5% year-on-year, but decreased by 83.8% compared with August 2019 levels. In the first eight months of 2022, the number of passengers carried increased by 133.5% against a 1.6% increase in capacity and a 141.9% increase in RPKs, as compared to the same period for 2021.

The airline carried 104,851 tonnes of cargo last month, a decrease of 15.6% compared to August 2021, and a 35% decrease compared with the same period in 2019. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) decreased 23.3% year-on-year, and were down 35.1% compared to August 2019. The cargo load factor decreased by 10.7 percentage points to 67%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), was down by 11.1% year-on-year, and was down by 41.1% versus August 2019. In the first eight months of 2022, the tonnage decreased by 8% against a 25.4% drop in capacity and a 32.4% decrease in RFTKs, as compared to the same period for 2021.

Travel

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Ronald Lam said: “We continued to see improved performance in our travel business in August. Average daily passenger numbers further increased month on month and exceeded 8,000. Passenger flight capacity increased 28% compared with July, although we still only operated about 16% of pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, load factor remained high at close to 69%.

“Following the Hong Kong SAR Government’s adjustment to the hotel quarantine arrangement for travellers entering Hong Kong from 12 August, we observed an increase in inbound traffic to our home hub. This was particularly so for long-haul traffic from the US, Canada and Europe. Meanwhile, our passenger flight capacity to the Chinese Mainland remained restricted, although we were able to resume carrying passengers to Zhengzhou, Qingdao and Xiamen in August.

“Student traffic from the Chinese Mainland to the US represented a significant portion of our passenger traffic last month. On top of our existing services to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, we resumed flights to Chicago and Boston in August for the first time this year to cater to the strong demand. As a result, our US-bound flights managed 80% load factors. Apart from student traffic, our US routes were also boosted in the other direction by transit traffic travelling to Southeast Asia, the result of greater connectivity from increased flight frequency.

Cargo

“In terms of cargo, we operated a full freighter schedule in August, which was supported by increased passenger flights as well as regional cargo-only passenger flights. While our overall cargo flight capacity was down 11% compared with the same period last year, this was because we operated a significant number of long-haul cargo-only passenger flights at that time. Overall, we operated 59% of our pre-pandemic cargo flight capacity in August. Demand has remained flat throughout the summer months, but we have continued to make all preparations to ensure smooth operations as we step into the cargo peak season.

“Supporting the Cathay Pacific Group’s net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 target, we have extended our carbon-offset programme, Fly Greener, to our air cargo services. The programme not only enables our cargo customers to calculate the carbon emissions for their shipments, but also allows them to purchase carbon offsets to support carbon-offset projects. All selected projects are certified by the internationally recognised non-profit organisation, Gold Standard, to ensure their carbon reductions and societal benefits are verified to have met their standards.

“Furthermore, in an ongoing effort to improve the quality of our service delivery, we have introduced two new Cargo iQ milestone measurements – freight out of warehouse (FOW) and freight into warehouse (FIW). These additional milestones will bring greater transparency to the overall shipment journey, and are now operational at the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong, with plans in place to roll them out across our network in the near future.

Outlook

”Looking ahead, we welcome the Hong Kong SAR Government’s adjustments to the mandatory quarantine arrangements for locally based aircrew arriving in Hong Kong earlier this month. While we will continue to add back more flights as quickly as is feasible to strengthen the network connectivity of the Hong Kong aviation hub, this will still take time as we build operational readiness and undertake a substantial amount of training and aircraft reactivation.

“This, combined with other operational complexities, means that capacity can only be increased gradually over a period of several months. As such, we are now projecting by the end of the year to be able to operate about one-third of our pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity – about double the passenger flight capacity we operated in August – and about two-thirds of our pre-pandemic cargo flight capacity. As the market and operating conditions further improve moving forward, we will aim to add back more flights where feasible.

“On the travel side, we expect that demand will remain solid going into the fourth quarter. Transit traffic between the Americas and Southeast Asia and India is anticipated to be strong, while traffic between Australia, New Zealand and other parts of our network is also expected to increase.

“As more regional destinations such as Japan continue to adjust their inbound travel policies, we will continue to monitor demand and adjust our passenger flight capacity accordingly. We intend to add about 200 pairs of passenger flights in October, primarily to regional destinations such as Osaka, Seoul (Incheon), Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and also to long-haul destinations such as Vancouver, Sydney and Melbourne.

“Regarding cargo, whilst the anti-pandemic measures in the Chinese Mainland may affect supply chains, it has been encouraging to see New Product Introduction (NPI) shipments begin in September, which bodes well for the expected solid peak season. As a result, we will continue to maximise freighter capacity, supported by increased passenger services and regional cargo-only passenger flights.”

The full August figures and glossary are on the following pages.

CATHAY PACIFIC TRAFFIC	AUG 2022	%Change VS AUG 2021	Cumulative AUG 2022	%Change YTD
RPK (000)
– Chinese Mainland	72,967	0.9%	255,076	66.3%
– North East Asia	23,618	121.4%	71,813	56.9%
– South East Asia	77,827	342.3%	271,709	111.3%
– South Asia, Middle East & Africa	31,583	313.5%	90,046	447.5%
– South West Pacific	135,153	631.4%	554,102	422.9%
– North America	825,314	35.4%	2,041,843	81.7%
– Europe	436,049	210.1%	1,463,269	276.8%
RPK Total (000)	1,602,511	82.7%	4,747,858	141.9%
Passengers carried	253,907	87.6%	809,115	133.5%
Cargo revenue tonne km (000)	600,283	-23.3%	3,269,911	-32.4%
Cargo carried (000kg)	104,851	-15.6%	731,442	-8.0%
Number of flights	1,795	-2.7%	11,127	13.5%

CATHAY PACIFIC CAPACITY	AUG 2022	%Change VS AUG 2021	Cumulative AUG 2022	%Change YTD
ASK (000)
– Chinese Mainland	126,196	-1.3%	717,259	59.1%
– North East Asia	66,689	14.1%	245,423	-29.3%
– South East Asia	151,095	54.9%	516,528	-17.9%
– South Asia, Middle East & Africa	65,139	131.4%	198,616	160.1%
– South West Pacific	205,987	-34.3%	935,151	-38.9%
– North America	1,231,895	29.4%	2,843,014	-6.3%
– Europe	489,843	56.0%	1,762,317	70.0%
ASK Total (000)	2,336,844	23.5%	7,218,308	1.6%
Passenger load factor	68.6%	22.2%pt	65.8%	38.1%pt
Available cargo tonne km (000)	895,827	-11.1%	4,467,284	-25.4%
Cargo load factor	67.0%	-10.7%pt	73.2%	-7.6%pt
ATK (000)	1,120,209	-5.7%	5,159,158	-22.6%

Cathay Pacific aircraft photo gallery:

Flybe to fly to the Isle of Man and Geneva

Flybe (2nd) has announced it will fly from London Heathrow and Belfast City to the Isle of Man starting on October 29.

In addition, the reborn carrier will also fly this winter on Saturdays and Sundays from Birmingham to Geneva, starting on December 17.

Flybe (2nd) aircraft photo gallery:

Flybe (1st) aircraft photo gallery:

MIA now offering pre-scheduled TSA screening times

Miami International Airport (MIA) has made this annoucement:

American Airlines passengers flying out of Miami International Airport can now schedule their TSA checkpoint screening time with MIA Reserve, a free reservation service.

During the six-month pilot program that began today with security technology firm Pangiam, software and consultancy company Copenhagen Optimization, secure identity platform CLEAR, and American Airlines, reserved screening times are available daily to American Airlines passengers at MIA’s TSA Checkpoint 4 from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are limited and can be scheduled up to 72 hours before a flight. It is recommended that passengers reserve their spot early to secure their preferred appointment time. Appointments are available up to 60 minutes before domestic flights and up to 90 minutes before international flights.

“As MIA continues to set new records in passenger traffic, I’m proud to see that we are also exploring new ways to streamline the airport experience for our visitors,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “MIA Reserve has the potential to help many of our travelers get through the security checkpoint faster than ever before.”

How it works:

Sign up at MIA Reserve up to 72 hours before your ﬂight or when you arrive at MIA.
Select American Airlines as your airline and enter your destination, ﬂight number, full name, number of people in your party, and contact information to reserve your spot, and then you’ll receive a QR code by email to use when you arrive at your scheduled MIA Reserve time.
Once at MIA, remember to check your bags or complete any additional check-ins before your appointment time.
Go to Checkpoint 4 near Door 7 and show the checkpoint staff your MIA Reserve QR code so they can direct you to your lane.

If a traveler didn’t pre-schedule an MIA Reserve time before arriving at MIA, they can still make a reservation by using their smartphone to scan the QR code on the MIA Reserve signs at Checkpoint 4 and then setting up an appointment.

A grace period of 10 minutes per appointment allows MIA Reserve customers to arrive at the queue line any time within the 10-minute window after their appointment time. Anyone arriving more than 10 minutes past their appointment time must enter through the regular queue lanes. Checkpoint wait times may vary by date and time, and expedited service is not guaranteed.

Passengers traveling with a group may book on behalf of the other passengers in their traveling party by specifying the total party size during the reservation process. The maximum group size eligible to enter under one appointment is 10 passengers.

“MIA and American Airlines are leaders in innovating on behalf of travelers, so Pangiam is proud to partner with them on MIA Reserve to make the security experience more predictable,” said Pangiam CEO Kevin McAleenan. “Together with CLEAR and Copenhagen Optimization we’re deploying the best reservation system for airport security in the nation at MIA.”

MIA Reserve is only available to general screening passengers to help provide a better screening experience for those without a trusted traveler program. All TSA PreCheck passengers flying American Airlines will continue to be screened at MIA’s TSA Checkpoint 1 to receive their PreCheck beneﬁts, such as not having to remove their shoes and electronics.

“We are excited to partner with American Airlines and Pangiam on this six-month pilot program for MIA Reserve, which could pave the way for even shorter checkpoint wait times at MIA,” said Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO.

MIA Reserve is the latest customer service enhancement rolled out at the airport this year. Just before Labor Day weekend, MIA reopened valet parking for the first time since the pandemic began. Also, beginning in October, MIA will launch the first phase of biometric boarding at its passenger gates, which will allow travelers to board international flights with just the quick, touchless click of a camera.

A Boeing 747-400ERF joins the National Airlines fleet

National Airlines (5th) has made this announcement:

National Airlines has announced the arrival of a Boeing 747-400 ERF, Extended Range Freighter, to its fleet. This addition is a fuel-efficient freighter under registration N663CA (MSN 35237). Featuring a nose door and a large side door, the aircraft is a logical choice globally for sophisticated cargo movements across long distances. The induction is part of National Airlines’ current global fleet and network expansion approach to meet the massive demand to move huge shipments worldwide.The aircraft has a maximum gross payload of an incredible 128 metric tons (about 282,000 pounds). The nose door loading capability, a unique feature of this type of aircraft, gives National the capability to move customers’ shipments of any length, which is not possible with the B777 freighter. This aircraft is also particularly suitable for pharmaceuticals, seafood, perishables, and other cold chain shipments.

With this addition, National Airlines offers additional freighter capacity to carry lengthy, odd-sized, bulk and delicate cargo across its global network of over 200 airports within a stipulated time frame. National will continue to add more freighter aircraft to its fleet in the coming months.

National Airlines (5th) aircraft photo gallery:

American Airlines introduces its new Flagship Suite® seats

American Airlines made this announcement:

New premium seats will be available on the airline’s long-haul fleet starting in 2024

Flagship Suite® seats, featuring privacy doors, will be included on all Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 deliveries beginning in 2024.
American will refresh its Boeing 777-300ER fleet with a new luxurious interior, elevating the inflight customer experience on long-haul international routes.
Premium seating in American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026.
From thoughtfully redesigned lounges to the stylish aircraft interior and enhanced inflight service, customers will have a true premium experience with American.

American Airlines is giving customers a suite new ride. With new deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, beginning in 2024, the airline will unveil new Flagship Suite® premium seating and a reimagined aircraft interior for its long-haul fleet. Flagship Suite® seats will offer customers a private premium experience with a privacy door, a chaise lounge seating option and more personal storage space. Customers will enjoy tailored luxury in their private retreat in the sky in American’s premium cabin.

American was the first U.S. airline to debut long-haul Premium Economy seats in 2016, and in response to customer demand, the airline is adding even more Premium Economy seats to its long-haul aircraft. The new custom-designed Premium Economy seat creates more privacy and doubles the amount of in-seat storage space.

With the introduction of new interiors on its long-haul aircraft, premium seating on American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026. American’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 51 Flagship Suite® seats and 32 Premium Economy seats, and the airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 Flagship Suite® seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.

Members of American’s award-winning AAdvantage® loyalty program can earn miles through everyday activities such as shopping and dining that they can use for award tickets to experience American’s new Flagship Suite® seats when it debuts in 2024.

Refreshing existing aircraft

American will also be retrofitting its aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, to include Flagship Suite® seats . These 20 aircraft will be refreshed with the new interiors starting in late 2024. American’s aircraft will feature more premium seats than its current design, with 70 Flagship Suite® seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.

American will also retrofit its Airbus A321T fleet to align those 16 aircraft with the rest of its A321 fleet. American will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston along with its Northeast Alliance partner, JetBlue Airways, providing travelers with a premium experience and the opportunity to arrive refreshed after a cross country flight.

Delta unveils a refreshed Delta Premium Select

Delta Air Lines is unveiling a refreshed Delta Premium Select cabin experience, featuring locally-inspired dining, premium hand-crafted amenities and more dedicated service touchpoints – while also driving social impact through its expanded Someone Somewhere partnership.

Starting Sept. 20, Delta Premium Select customers will enjoy an elevated dining experience that offers more options infused with local flavors, including meals like braised beef short rib with fingerling potatoes and dijon green peppercorn jus; Impossible Meatballs with polenta, pomodorini sauce and broccolini; honey harissa chicken thighs with jollof rice and stewed greens and for dessert, mango mousse with mango passion fruit compote.

Beginning in October, Delta will phase in new handmade amenity kits by Someone Somewhere featuring Grown Alchemist travel essentials and other premium essentials that make the journey more enjoyable.

Delta Premium Select offers travelers more space to stretch out and relax with a wider seat, additional recline and an adjustable footrest and leg rest on most long-haul international flights.

Whether customers want to unwind, sleep, work or catch up on the latest in-flight entertainment on Delta Studio, they can plan on arriving at their final destination refreshed and re-energized.

Delta Premium Select is available on most flights to Europe, including flying on all U.S. routes to the airline’s international hubs in Amsterdam and London. This winter, Delta will operate nearly 400 weekly flights to popular destinations such as Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Zurich and more.