QANTAS launches the Sydney – Bengaluru route

QANTAS Airways made this announcement:

Qantas on September 14 launched a new route from Sydney to Bengaluru, establishing the first direct connection between Australia and Southern India by any airline.

QF67 will cut nearly three hours off the current fastest travel time between the two cities and significantly boost connectivity between India and New South Wales in time for the upcoming school holidays.

Qantas has recently launched the first phase of its codeshare partnership with IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier. There are currently 11 destinations available for connection on IndiGo from Bengaluru, including Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata and Chennai. The codeshare will continue to roll out over coming months, broadening access for Qantas customers travelling throughout India.

To celebrate the route, Qantas has added Indian inspired menu items to its inflight menu on the new Bengaluru services, such as lamb chettinad in Business and paneer makhani, cumin seed pilaf, green peas and beans masala in Economy. Fares between Sydney and Bengaluru start from $1,320 return.

Qantas will fly an A330 aircraft from Sydney to Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport four times per week on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Qantas flies Melbourne to Delhi on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

QANTAS Airways aircraft photo gallery:

Ryanair is expanding operations at Stockholm Arlanda

Ryanair is adding two addition Boeing 737 aircraft at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport.

The will allow the ultra low-fare carrier to add 13 new routes from ARN this winter.

Swedavia issued this statement:

Ryanair has announced its biggest ever Swedish winter offering as it continues to strengthen its presence in the Swedish market. The Irish low-cost carrier will launch thirteen new direct routes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport this winter. Six of them are all new routes, half of which are brand-new European destinations. Altogether, the airline has launched 44 new direct routes from its new base at Arlanda since it opened a year ago.

In conjunction with Ryanair’s celebration of its one-year anniversary of setting up operations and opening a base at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for the 2021 winter season, the Irish low-cost carrier has announced a continued expansion and its biggest Swedish winter timetable ever. The airline is launching thirteen new direct routes ahead of the 2022 winter season, of which six routes are brand new at Arlanda. Ryanair initially based two aircraft at the airport and launched 23 direct routes. Since opening its base, the carrier has placed four aircraft in Stockholm and until now flown some 1,5 million passengers to and from Arlanda. All in all, the airline has now launched 44 new European routes, five of which are domestic – to Göteborg Landvetter, Malmö, Luleå, Visby and Skellefteå. Twenty destinations are new for the airport and complement Arlanda’s other destinations on offer.

During the year, Ryanair has also expanded at Göteborg Landvetter and returned to Malmö Airport, providing both domestic and international service, which is important for regional access.

Planned completely new Ryanair destinations winter 2022/23 from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN):
· Birmingham (BHX): Starts October 30, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Sundays
· Malta (MLA): Starts November 1, 2 weekly departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays
· Pisa (PSA): Starts November 1, 2 weekly departures on Tuesdays and Saturdays
· Turin (TRN): Starts November 2, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays
· Tuzla (TZL): Starts November 2, 2 weekly departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays, new destination from ARN
· Valencia (VLC): Starts January 8, 2023, 2 weekly departures on Thursdays and Sundays, new destination from ARN

The Irish low cost carrier Ryanair Holdings is the largest airline group in Europe today and includes the subsidiaries Buzz, Lauda and Malta Air along with Ryanair. The company has some 80 bases with connections to about 250 destinations in 40 countries, with a fleet of 460 aircraft and another 210 Boeing 737 aircraft on order. Ryanair has high sustainability goals and plans to fuel 12.5 per cent of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.

Ryanair aircraft photo gallery:

LATAM implements changes in its Economy cabin and eliminates 75% of single-use plastics on board

LATAM Group has made this announcement:

This initiative is part of the group’s commitment to eliminate all single-use plastics in its operations by 2023.
The change in the materials of all onboard service elements in the Economy cabin eliminates1,200 tons of plastic.

LATAM has announced changes to its Economy cabin service that has allowed it to eliminate more than 1,200 tons of single-use plastics, equivalent to eliminating 36,000 500 ml plastic bottles. The new service seeks to implement a more sustainable cabin and considers important changes in the materiality of all items on board (cups, cutlery, trays), replacing them with more sustainable materials such as bamboo cutlery, reusable trays, kraft paper packaging for cutlery, and certified sustainable paper cups.

These changes have been implemented on all of LATAM group’s regional and long-haul routes, and are part of the group’s sustainability strategy, which aims to eliminate 100% of single-use plastics used in its operations by 2023.

“Caring for the planet is a challenge for everyone, and a necessary destination for LATAM, which is why we reviewed our services and identified nearly 1,800 tons of single-use plastic on board our international flights. Our teams got involved to redefine all details of our service, making a positive change for our customers, and also for our planet,” said Paulo Miranda, LATAM Airlines Group Vice President of Customers.

This new proposal is in addition to the changes made in the Premium Business cabin, which include the incorporation of reusable bags to cover rest items and eco travel kits for passengers, which include a bamboo toothbrush with a sugar cane lid, earplugs with packaging made of kraft paper and socks and eye covers made from recycled plastic.

LATAM Airlines (Brazil) aircraft photo gallery:

SKY to fly to Bariloche, Argentina

SKY Airline (Chile) is planning to open a seasonal route (summer, southern hemisphere) between Santiago to Bariloche, Argentina.

The flights will begin on December 12, with three frequencies per week operating with Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Alvaro Romero reporting from Chile.

Sky Airline (Chile) aircraft photo gallery:

Air Anka to start operations with two Airbus A330s

Air Anka is a new Turkish airline based in Izmir but with a operational hub in Istanbul.

The new airline received its AOC in August.

The upstart will launch operations with an Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 Preighters (TC-NYA and TC-NYP).

Merkur Jet has become the only authorized General Sales and Marketing Agent for Air Anka for all commercial purposes.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact with us at charter@merkurjet.com or call us +90 444 6675.

Air Canada becomes first airline to receive IATA recertification for the safe transportation of live animals

Air Canada has become the first airline to be re-certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the safe transport of live animals by Air Canada Cargo. IATA awarded Air Canada Cargo with the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators for Live Animals Logistics (CEIV Live Animals) recertification following successful completion of the verification process.

Air Canada was the first airline to receive the CEIV Live Animals certification in 2018, a standardized global certification program to improve and reinforce the safety and welfare of animals travelling by air.

As part of the recertification process, a thorough audit was conducted by IATA’s specialists, who reviewed Air Canada Cargo’s live animal transport policies and procedures. Compliance with the IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR) was fully reviewed as was compliance with protocols like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Air Canada aircraft photo gallery (current livery):

United and Emirates expand market presence through new agreement

United Airlines made this announcement:

United and Emirates announced a historic commercial agreement that will enhance each airline’s network and give their customers easier access to hundreds of destinations within the United States and around the world*.

United will launch a new direct flight between Newark/New York and Dubai starting in March 2023 – from there, customers can travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 different cities. Tickets for United’s new Dubai flight are now on sale.

Starting in November, Emirates customers flying into three of the nation’s biggest business hubs – Chicago, San Francisco and Houston – will have access to nearly 200 U.S. cities in the United network – most of which only require a one-stop connection. At eight other U.S. airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC – both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place.

United and Emirates announced their agreement today at a ceremonial event at Dulles International Airport, hosted by United CEO Scott Kirby and Emirates President Sir Tim Clark, featuring United and Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and flight crews from each carrier.

“This agreement unites two iconic, flag carrier airlines who share a common commitment to creating the best customer experience in the skies,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “United’s new flight to Dubai and our complementary networks will make global travel easier for millions of our customers, helping boost local economies and strengthen cultural ties. This is a proud moment for both United and Emirates employees, and I look forward to our journey together.”

“Two of the biggest, and best-known airlines in the world are joining hands to fly people better to more places, at a time when travel demand is rebounding with a vengeance. It’s a significant partnership that will unlock tremendous consumer benefit and bring the United Arab Emirates and the United States even closer,” said Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. “We welcome United’s return to Dubai next year, where our hub Dubaiessentially becomes a gateway for United to reach Asia, Africa and the Middle East via the combined network of Emirates and flydubai. We look forward to developing our partnership with United for the long term.”

Soon customers of both airlines can book these connecting flights on a single ticket – making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier. For example – travelers will be able to visit United.com or use the United app to book a flight from Newark/New York to Karachi, Pakistan or go to Emirates.com to book a flight from Dubai to Atlanta or Honolulu.

This agreement will also give the loyalty program members of both airlines more opportunities for more rewards: United MileagePlus® members flying on United’s Newark/New York to Dubai flight can soon earn and redeem miles when connecting beyond on Emirates and flydubai and Emirates Skywards members will be able to earn miles when they travel on United operated flights. Eligible United customers will also soon have access to Emirates lounges when connecting to and from United’s new Dubai flight.

Both airlines have recently announced significant investments in the customer experience. Emirates will retrofit more than 120 aircraft as part of a $2 billion effort that includes elevated meal choices, a brand-new vegan menu, a ‘cinema in the sky’ experience, cabin interior upgrades, and sustainable choices. At United, the airline will add 500 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft to its fleet with a focus on a new signature interior that includes seat-back screens in every seat, larger overhead bins, Bluetooth connectivity throughout, and the industry’s fastest available in-flight WiFi.

* Codeshare activities and United’s new flight to Dubai are subject to government approvals.

United Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing, current livery):

Photo: Copa Airlines Boeing 737-8V3 SSWL HP-1841CMP (msn 38141) (75 Anos) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 958853.

Copa Airlines celebrates 75 years of flying from the Hub of the Americas in Panama with a retro jet.

Copyright Photo: Copa Airlines Boeing 737-8V3 SSWL HP-1841CMP (msn 38141) (75 Anos) YYZ (TMK Photography). Image: 958853.

Copa Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Passengers evacuated after smoke on Air India Express aircraft on taxiway at Muscat

From NDTV:

An Air India Express flight IX 442bound for Kochi was evacuated at Muscat airport today after fire was detected in one of the engines just before take-off. The 145 passengers on board, four of them infants, were evacuated from the aircraft and shifted to the terminal building. All the passengers are safe and no injuries have been reported.

Video:

141 Passengers & 6 crew members of Air India Express Muscat-Cochin flight IX-442,VT-AXZ ,have to be evacuated on slides from aircraft when smoke erupted from the flight at Muscat Aiport. pic.twitter.com/amOH0hQhRI

— Yasir Mushtaq (@path2shah) September 14, 2022

Air India Express aircraft photo gallery:

Southern Airways Express to use the main terminal in Atlanta

Southern Airways Express started the EAS-subsidized Jackson, TN – Atlanta route in June. Because Jackson did not have TSA screening the flights were forced to arrive and depart at the Signature Flight Support FBO terminal at ATL.