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Air Europa announces order for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

15 January 2015

Air Europa today announced an order for 14 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at $3.6 billion at current list prices. The order is the largest ever Boeing widebody order from a Spanish carrier. Air Europa now has a combined total of 22 787-8s and 787-9s on order as it continues its transition to an all-Boeing long-haul fleet.

“Since its beginning, Air Europa has always operated the most contemporary airplanes. With the step we are taking, we continue this tradition. The Boeing 787 is faster, quieter and more comfortable, but also more efficient and therefore more respectful to the environment,” said Juan José Hidalgo, president of Globalia, the parent company of Air Europa, speaking at a press conference held in Madrid. “The first Dreamliners will start to arrive in 2016. In 2022, all of them will be fully operational, making Air Europa’s fleet one of the most modern in the world.”

“This order speaks to the economic performance of the 787 and Air Europa’s recognition of its value in meeting its operational demands to access new long-haul markets, while at the same time providing an unrivalled on-board experience for its passengers,” said Ricardo Cavero, deputy vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to continuing our long standing partnership with Air Europa as it continues its transition to an all-Boeing fleet.”

10,000 new seats at Brussels Airport

André Orban

15 January 2015

Increased comfort and the facility to charge smartphones, tablets, laptops and game consoles, relaxation areas: Brussels Airport is investing no less than 4 million euros in replacing the 10,000 seating capacity for passengers.

The comfort of the roughly 50,000 passengers whom Brussels Airport welcomes every day is a priority at the national airport. Every effort is made to give passengers a unique experience during their transit, and so with this in mind, the Brussels Airport company organised a test setup to assess the comfort expectations of around 4,000 passengers. The mood of the passenger was taken into account, together with other factors, when evaluating the most suitable chair. The final choice fell to the Meda Gate model from the quality brand Vitra. From integrated electric sockets to the comfortable reclining chair that makes those longer waiting times in transit more pleasant: the flexibility of the model enables us to meet the needs of the various traveller profiles. The same basic model forms the starting point for ensuring a unity of style throughout the airport.

The first new chairs were installed on 1 December at the various gates in pier A and this will take two months to complete. Pier B will be fitted out at a later stage.

January 15, 2015

Nine airlines and airport partners presented with Brussels Airport Aviation Award

André Orban

15 January 2015

For the eighth time, Brussels Airport Company is presenting the Brussels Airport Aviation Awards, recognising those airline companies and partners that stand out in various domains: network developments and new routes, environment and safety, punctuality and performance.

The eighth edition of the Brussels Airport Aviation Awards ceremony took place this evening, during the New Year reception for the airport community. It is the perfect opportunity to thank the companies and partners, turning the spotlight on their achievements. The winners are listed below.

The Network Development Awards recognise airline companies who have distinguished themselves by starting up new routes and realising growth in passengers or freight.

Network Development Award Short Haul Airline

Brussels Airlines: 9 new routes and new commercial strategy
Vueling: 7 new routes and opting for Brussels Airport as focus airport

Network Development Award Long Haul Airline

Emirates: launch of a daily flight to Dubai. This was so successful that Emirates decided almost immediately to use a bigger aircraft to operate this route

Network Development Award Cargo Airline

DHL Aviation: strong growth again in tonnage and flights, new long-haul flights and the growth of Brussels Airport as regional hub.

Brucargo Award

Expeditors: active growth in pharma and global promotion of Brussels Airport. Expeditors was also one of the first partners to receive the pharma IATA CEIV certificate at Brussels Airport.

The Environment and Safety awards are presented to companies or individuals who put a special focus on the environment in 2014, and who have made contributions to continuous improvement of safety standards and safety awareness.

Environment Award

DHL International: fleet renewal, both in the air and on the ground. The company has invested in its own CNG (compressed natural gas) fuelling station in Belgium, CNG-fuelled vehicles and two Teardrop trailers and one LNG (liquefied natural gas) truck, in cooperation with their partner Ninatrans. DHL International has also undertaken the engagement to reduce CO2 emissions worldwide by 30% by 2020 through the Go Green programme. Subcontractors are also obliged to register with the programme.

Safety Award

Captain Frank Baetens, flight safety manager for Jetairfly and a significant driving force in the Local Runway Safety Team and Apron Safety Committee, is rewarded for his constructive and pragmatic approach.

The Punctuality and Performance Awards recognise passenger and cargo airline companies who have demonstrated high levels of punctuality and performance respectively. Punctuality refers to the best on-time performance, i.e. with arrival or departure within 15 minutes of schedule. Performance in respect of freight is calculated on the basis of the number of weekly flights, number of destinations, total volume of freight flown, freight per flight and growth in freight tonnage.

Performance Award Cargo Airline

Asiana Cargo: flies four times per week from and to Seoul.

Punctuality Award Short Haul Airline

Iberia: flies four times per day to Madrid and in 2014 flew with a punctuality rate of 95%.

Punctuality Award Long Haul Airline

Hainan Airlines: flies four times per week in winter and daily in summer to Beijing and in 2014 flew with a punctuality rate of 89%.

January 15, 2015

Emirates Airlines Increases Capacity on Chicago Route with Boeing 777-300ER

Maarten Van Den Driessche

15 January 2015

Emirates Increases Capacity on its Recently Introduced Chicago Route Boeing 777-300ER to be operated from May 1st

DUBAI, U.A.E., 15th January 2015: Emirates, a global connector of people and places, will be able to connect even more people with Chicago on 1st May when it switches from its Boeing 777-200LR currently operating the route to a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, adding passenger capacity.

Emirates launched its Chicago service—its ninth U.S. gateway—on 5th August 2014. Less than a year later, the route has carried 66,000 passengers and 3,410 tonnes of cargo to-date. The increase in capacity will offer 88 additional Economy Class seats, representing a 33 percent increase in seating capacity. The choice of premium cabin seats remains unchanged, offering customers a choice of eight First Class Suites and 42 Business Class seats.

“Emirates has seen steady growth and strong customer demand for our Chicago route since its launch only five months ago. The up-gauge to a Boeing 777-300ER in May will introduce Emirates’ unique product and service to even more of our customers”, said Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations West – Americas, Africa, Europe and Russian Federation. “Chicago is home to 2.7 million residents, making it America’s third-largest city. By increasing capacity in this market, we are able to offering more chance for passengers and businesses to connect, not only with our home and hub Dubai, but also across Emirates’ global network including the airline’s network of 10 cities in India, 17 in the Far East and 24 points in Africa.”

Chicago is home to many of the US’s largest companies, including Boeing, which is a very important partner of Emirates. Emirates is the largest operator of US built Boeing 777 aircraft in the world, with a 777 fleet of 131 passenger and 12 freighter aircraft which contribute towards the airline’s overall fleet of 232 wide-bodied aircraft.

Rich in its cultural heritage, world-class arts establishments, accomplished sports teams and iconic tourist attractions, which attract about 46 million people each year, Chicago surpassed Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the busiest domestic airport in 2014. Similarly, last month Dubai International Airport surpassed London Heathrow as the busiest international airport in the world.

Emirates’ daily flight EK235 departs from Dubai International Airport at 09:40 and arrives at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at 15:30. The return flight, EK236, departs from O’Hare at 20:30 and lands in Dubai at 19:10 the next day. Both flights offer convenient connections to and from many of Emirates’ global network of over 147 destinations across six continents. The passenger service is complemented by Emirates’ dedicated freighter service which operates two times a week from O’Hare.

On-board, passengers can discover ice, Emirates’ award winning entertainment system offering more than 2,000 channels of on-demand entertainment at every seat, dedicated children’s menus and activities, and gourmet regionally inspired dishes with complimentary beverages, while being served by Emirates’ multi-lingual Cabin Crew.

bmi and Lufthansa announce three new routes from Munich to Rotterdam, Liège and Bern

André Orban

15 January 2015

• bmi to fly to three cities in Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland with Lufthansa codeshare
• Up to 120 destinations opened up to business and leisure travellers via Lufthansa Munich network
• Up to three times a day direct to Munich

bmi will commence flights from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Liege, Belgium and Bern, Switzerland to the Bavarian capital, M Munich on March 29 2015. bmi will operate the flights in partnership with Lufthansa as code-share flights with joint BM and LH flight numbers. The airline has tailored the schedule from each city to ensure seamless travel connections for business and leisure travellers via Lufthansa’s Munich network of over 200 global destinations.

The move strengthens bmi’s network presence at Munich Airport with the Germman carrier. bmi already flies twice a day connecting Bristol with the Bavarian capital in partnership with Lufthansa.

Cathal O’Connell, CEO of bmi, said: ‘These new routes represent a significant step forward for bmi and further strengthens our relationship with Lufthansa. Our experience with Munich from Bristol has shown that the airport is both a great destination n and a major hub with excellent connection opportunities. We have researched the market extensively, and chose Rotterdam, Liege and Bern as the ideal cities to extend our presence in Europe. Our partnership with Lufthansa has given us the capability to offer seamless connections from these European cities via Munich to more than 200 destinations all over the world. Of course, our customers will enjoy all everything you expect from a full service airline: an all je et fleet, with a complimentary bar and snack service, generous free baggage allowance, and choice of check in options – online or at the airport.‘

Thomas Klühr, member of the Lufthansa Airlines Board, responsible for Finance a and the Lufthansa Munich hub
said: ‘Lufthansa is pleased to expand d our partnership with bmi regional . Rotterddam, Liege and Bern are very important markets for us, and our partnership with bmi regional is perfect for these routes. Passengers connecting through Munich will have quick, easy and smooth transition to our 1 120 worldwide destinations in Europe, Asia, Middle East, North and South America and Africa. ’

Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport said: ‘Munich Airport is very pleased about the fact that bmi’s presence on Europe’s best airport (according to Skytrax 2014) expands further and offers additional connections to and from the airport. By basing the two bmi Embraer jet aircraf ft in Munich, the connectivity and attractiveness of the Munich hub will be strengthened and the base will create an important stimulus for the local economy and employment. ’

Bern Airport CEO, Mathias Häberli, said: ‘Bern Airport is delighted to broaden its number of flights with a premium airline that offers regular jet flights throughout the year. Thanks to the Bern – Munich connection, and the partnership with Lufthansa, the Swiss capital is connected to a major aviation hub, with over 200 destinations available to the people of the Bernese region.’

Luc Partoune, Managing Director of Liege Airport, said: ‘This is excellent news for our region. The route opens Liège to Europe and the world: over 200 medium-haul and long-haul destinations are now accessible direct from Liege via Munich. Through bmi’s partnership with Lufthansa, Liège is connected to global destinations in Asia, the United States, Russia, Brazil, South Africa etc. Belgian, Dutch and German resident will not have to waste time in traffic jams travelling to huge airports, arriving hours before their departure of their flight. With short check-in times, ease of access, comfort, fast embarkation and a great welcome, business travellers will save time on departure and arrival, and leisure travellers will discover a wide range of European cities direct from Liege.

Dr. Roland Wondolleck, CEO of Rotterdam The Hague Airport said: ‘The connection between Rotterdam and Munich is very important for the loca al and regional business community. The Netherlands and Germany are natural trade partners. The business ties between our part of The Netherlands, with the Port of Rotterdam and the vast international business community and Bavaria are even stronger. With the increasing number of daily flights, and with more flexibility y for passengers, the connection becomes even more attractive.’

Passengers wishing to travel to Munich can book as normal on the flybmi.com website and those wishing to travel further can make bookings on the Lufthansa website www.LH.com.

15 January 2015

Ryanair wins EU court case against PR Aviation

André Orban

15 January 2015

Ryanair today (15 Jan), welcomed the EU Court of Justice ruling restricting access to Ryanair’s database by screenscraper website PR Aviation.

The Court of Justice, in a referral from the Dutch Supreme Court, was asked to determine whether owners of an online database such as Ryanair’s can use contractual restrictions to prevent the copying or use of their databases. The European Commission supported Ryanair’s argument that it is entitled to post terms and conditions on its website that prevent PR Aviation from screenscraping its database and using it for commercial purposes.

Ryanair has been engaged in several legal cases against screenscraper websites across Europe to prevent its customers from being subjected to extra charges and to ensure Ryanair has appropriate contact details to communicate with its customers. Many of these websites continue to cause problems for Ryanair customers and/or fail/refuse to pass on vital information to both passengers and Ryanair regarding issues such as flight changes, web check-in, special needs assistance and contact details, which has resulted in missed flights and repeated problems for customers.

Ryanair welcomed today’s ECJ ruling, which confirms that screenscrapers like PR Aviation do not have unrestricted access to Ryanair’s flights and price database, and again advised customers to book directly on the Ryanair.com website for the guaranteed lowest fares and customer care.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:

“Ryanair welcomes the EU Court of Justice ruling which confirms that Ryanair can prevent PR Aviation from screenscraping the Ryanair database and using this information for commercial purposes. Ryanair will continue to pursue screenscraper websites such as PR Aviation to prevent Europe’s consumers from being misled over price and booking conditions. We would again urge customers to book directly on the Ryanair.com website to guarantee the lowest fares and best customer service.”

Ryanair Celebrating 30 Years Of Low Fares

Maarten Van Den Driessche

15 January 2015

Ryanair, Europe’s favourite airline, today (14 Jan) launched the first celebrations marking its 30th birthday.

Since its first flight took off in 1985, Ryanair has grown:

From 1 route (Waterford to London Gatwick) to over 1,600 routes
From 2 countries to 30 across Europe and North Africa
From 4 daily flights to over 1,600 daily flights
From 1 aircraft to over 300, with orders for a further 380
From 1 base to 72 base airports
From a team of 51 people to over 9,500 aviation professionals, comprising over 45 nationalities
From carrying 5,000 annual customers to over 90m p.a. and over 750m in total.

Ryanair carried over 86m customers in 2014, saving its customers over €10.1bn, while opening 8 new bases and launching flights to/from 19 new airports, as well as unveiling its “Always Getting Better” customer experience improvement programme. Customers booking with Ryanair can enjoy allocated seating, a free second carry-on bag, reduced fees, a new website, a brand new app with mobile boarding passes and Family Extra and Business Plus services, making Ryanair the ideal choice for families, business and leisure travellers, with more improvements to follow in 2015.

Ryanair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kenny Jacobs said:

“Ryanair revolutionised and democratised air travel in Europe and 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of our first flight from Waterford to Gatwick 30 years on, Ryanair has grown to become Europe’s biggest airline, carrying 90m people annually, between 30 countries, and saving European customers over €10bn every year.

2015 will see a number of events to mark our 30th birthday, as well as the next phase of our “Always Getting Better” programme, as we continue to grow our route network, improve our customer experience, develop our digital platforms and widen our offer.

The one thing that won’t change however is our low fares. We continue to offer Europe’s lowest airfares, with the biggest route network and best service. To mark the start our of 30th year, we’re releasing 100,000 seats across our European network, from just €19.99, for travel in January, February and March, which must be booked on the Ryanair.com website by Thursday (15 Jan).

Cathay Pacific welcomes Chief Executive’s Policy Address

Maarten Van Den Driessche

14 January 2015

Cathay Pacific welcomes Chief Executive’s Policy Address

14 Jan 2015 – Cathay Pacific Airways welcomes the commitment made by the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, in his Policy Address today that the Government will continue to plan and adopt measures to enhance the status of Hong Kong as an international aviation and logistics hub, thereby boosting the city’s long-term competitiveness.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Ivan Chu said: “We are encouraged by the Government’s support for the development of a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which is crucial for the sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s aviation industry and maintaining Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s premier aviation hub. The planning and development of land reserved for cargo use at the airport island will also consolidate HKIA’s status as the world’s number-one hub for international air cargo.”

Cathay Pacific supports the Government’s study into the development of Hong Kong’s aerospace financing business which will enrich the city’s strength as an international aviation and financial centre.

As a long-standing member of the airport community in Lantau, Cathay Pacific also welcomes the various proposed initiatives to develop the East Lantau Metropolis and Tung Chung New Town Extension on the back of the upcoming completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and other important transport links.

“The bridge and road links will help turn Tung Chung into an important transport hub connecting Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, while the development of the new town will help to ensure the provision of vital manpower resources for the many aviation companies operating on the airport island. These are all positive measures in terms of the development of the aviation sector,” Mr Chu added.

The ongoing labour shortage has been an issue among many companies operating in the local aviation industry. Cathay Pacific welcomes the Government’s initiatives to address this issue.

Delta to launch daily service between Los Angeles and Shanghai

Maarten Van Den Driessche

14 January 2015

Delta to launch daily service between Los Angeles and Shanghai

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) plans to begin daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Shanghai-Pudong Airport on July 9, 2015, pending U.S. Department of Transportation and foreign government approval.

Delta Air Lines and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 370 destinations on six continents. For more information visit news.delta.com.
The Los Angeles market makes up 25 percent of all U.S.-Asia demand, and the start of Shanghai service marks Delta’s fourth daily nonstop flight to the Asia-Pacific region in addition to Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda and Sydney.

Delta’s Los Angeles-Shanghai flight will connect customers to more than 25 cities in China, while the Los Angeles-bound Shanghai flight will offer connections to 40 markets throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Delta’s new service will support several established and emerging fields of business, including entertainment, technology, healthcare and professional services. The route will operate using a 291-seat Boeing 777-200LR aircraft with 37 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 36 seats in Economy Comfort and 218 seats in Economy class.

Combined with its hubs in Detroit, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita, Delta will operate 42 weekly departures to China’s global financial center. Additionally, Delta offers daily service to China’s capital, Beijing, from both Seattle and Detroit. Delta continues to make significant investments to build up its West Coast presence to Asia. With recent international additions, Delta serves the top five Asian markets from Seattle – Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

“Delta’s new nonstop service provides our business customers with more access to Shanghai and markets beyond through our partnerships with China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines,” said Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s vice president of Sales – West. “This route was the most requested by our corporate customers, and everyone will enjoy the investments we’ve made to upgrade our airport facilities, our onboard service, full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in BusinessElite, and industry-leading complimentary in-flight entertainment.”

Daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Shanghai:
Flight Departs Arrives Flight Time

DL 56 Los Angeles at 1:15 p.m. Shanghai 6:15 p.m. (the next day) 14 hrs.

DL 57 Shanghai at 8:55 p.m. Los Angeles at 6:15 p.m. 12 hrs., 20 mins

From Los Angeles, Delta currently operates 154 peak-day departures to 48 destinations and has continued expanding both international and domestic service over the past few months, including London-Heathrow in October; Monterrey, Mexico*; Dallas* and Austin, Texas* in November; as well as Mazatlan, Mexico and Vancouver, Canada* in December.

*Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines

Onboard, Delta supports and markets the music of emerging artists and short-form content creators through exclusive partnerships that provide in-flight content for customers, who can now enjoy free entertainment from every seat out of Los Angeles through the new Delta Studio product. Every Delta flight from Los Angeles offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating, and nearly every domestic flight features Wi-Fi service. Delta also introduced international Wi-Fi in 2014 and will complete installation of Wi-Fi service on its long-haul international fleet in 2016.

Travelers passing through Los Angeles continue to enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at LAX. The current project will double the size of the ticketing lobby and screening checkpoints and open an exclusive Sky Priority lobby with dedicated access to screening checkpoints for Delta’s high-value customers. It also will include renovations to the Delta Sky Club and new baggage carousels. All renovations are expected to be complete prior to the start of Shanghai service in July.

Wizz Air carried 15.8 million passengers in 2014, growing 17%

Maarten Van Den Driessche

14 January 2015

Wizz Air carried 15.8 million passengers in 2014, growing 17%.

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, announced today that it carried 15.8 million passengers in 2014, representing 17% passenger growth year on year.

At year-end, the airline had flights on sale to 106 destinations in 37 countries on a total of 355 routes. Wizz Air’s fleet consisted of 54 Airbus A320 aircraft serving 18 operating bases across 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The previously announced base in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, will commence operations in June this year.

József Váradi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air, said: “2014 was another great year for Wizz Air marked by a network of more countries and destinations on more routes than ever before. We carried 2.3 million more passengers than a year ago. We are set for further growth on the back of our continuing fleet and network expansion in 2015 to bring more low fares to more travelers in Central and Eastern Europe. We are proud of contributing to the economic development of our markets and creating new direct and indirect job opportunities resulting from our growth.”

Emirates takes off to 10 new A380 destinations in 2014

Maarten Van Den Driessche

14 January 2015

Emirates showcases its 10 latest A380 routes in unique ‘mash-up’ video

DUBAI, U.A.E – 13 January 2015 – Emirates, a global connector of people and places marked a record launch of 10 new A380 routes in 2014 and today has released a ‘mash-up’ video that shows the iconic aircraft landing in 10 destinations spanning the globe.

“2014 was a record breaking year for our A380 network, and adding 10 new A380 destinations has given our customers more choice to travel to their favourite destinations and experience what this exceptional aircraft has to offer. Our onboard innovations across all three classes continue to wow our customers, and we hope even more travellers will have the opportunity to experience our industry-leading product as we expand our A380 fleet and network,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Commercial Operations Worldwide, Emirates airline.

The Emirates A380 celebrated New Year’s in style by taking off to Zurich. It then said ‘Hola’ to Barcelona in February, marking Spain’s first permanent A380 service. The double-decker then jetted into London Gatwick in March, followed by Kuwait in mid-July, marking the world’s shortest scheduled A380 service.

A week later, Emirates upped the ante by introducing the A380 on its Mumbai route, fulfilling on-going demand from travellers in India. Emirates flew its A380 into Frankfurt for the first time in September and Dallas became the Emirates A380’s next port of call in October. In December, Emirates created aviation history by launching three new A380 routes in just three days – Milan and San Francisco on 1st December, followed by Houston on 3rd December, concluding a momentous year.

In May, the Emirates A380 was the star attraction at the ILA Berlin Air Show 2014 drawing in thousands of visitors while on static display. The aircraft continues to be a showstopper at airports around the world. The double-decker also performed ceremonial one-off flights to Vienna, Glasgow, Tehran and Manila, where it was feted by VIPs, media and the public.

The 3-minute long ‘mash-up’ video features unique footage from the Emirates A380 flight deck, including a rainy approach to San Francisco, a rousing water cannon salute in Frankfurt, a night time touchdown in Mumbai and a glide slope landing view from London Gatwick. Emirates also reached out to plane-spotters from around the globe who shared their footage of the Emirates A380 touching down in their cities for the first time.

In 2014, Emirates received 13 Airbus A380s, including its 50th A380. Currently the world’s largest A380 operator with 57 aircraft in fleet, Emirates is expecting to take delivery of 15 A380s in 2015 and currently has 83 A380s on order. The Emirates A380 flies to 34 destinations across the globe, with Perth to join the network in May 2015.

AEGEAN: Dynamic Growth in Cyprus, 4 aircraft at Larnaca base, 14 destinations, 1.5 million available seats

André Orban

13 January 2015

AEGEAN presented its plan for the dynamic growth of its presence in Cyprus and a more effective support of passengers’ needs.

After its 10 years operation in Cyprus and 4 years after creating its aircraft base in Larnaca, AEGEAN is taking a new step forward. As of 30/03/2015 – the beginning of the summer schedule- AEGEAN will operate with 4 Airbus A320 aircraft, while the number of destinations connected directly with Cyprus will increase to 14. As regards direct connections with Greece and 7 other countries, total yearly capacity will exceed 1.5 million seats. The company aims to support this venture with additional human resources from Cyprus at the earliest opportunity.

More specifically, with the company’s summer schedule as of April 2015, the connection between Greece and Cyprus is boosted with more frequent flights to Athens and Thessaloniki, and the introduction of a direct flight between Athens and Paphos. The new summer schedule also includes direct connections with Heraklion and Rhodes, while direct connections with Myconos and Santorini will be added in July and August. Eight to nine direct flights with destinations in Greece will depart daily.

The company’s planning focuses on the direct connection of Cyprus with Western Europe and therefore 5 important destinations are added. London – Heathrow, Paris, Munich, Rome and Milan.

Furthermore, by increasing its flight frequency to Athens, AEGEAN improves the connectivity with its whole intensively developing European network, via Athens.

Additionally, when the traffic rights procedures are completed, AEGEAN will offer flights to Israel, Kiev and Beirut.

In order to better serve its frequent flyer – passengers, AEGEAN proceeds with two important initiatives: Firstly, it is willing to the members of the Elite level of Cyprus Airways who will join this programme acknowledge as equal to its own Gold level of the Miles + Bonus programme. Secondly, for all Miles + Bonus members, but also for all new members from Cyprus who will join the programme until 28/2, 50% additional miles will be offered for all direct routes from and to Cyprus for the whole of 2015.

AEGEAN’s Vice-Chairman, Mr Eftichios Vasilakis, stated: “We would like to thank our passengers from Cyprus for their support during our 10-year presence here. We reciprocate your trust with a major investment: 4 new aircraft to cover 14 destinations in total with 1.5 million available seats per year from Cyprus. Besides, it is our obligation to do so under the current circumstances, since we are the main representative of Greek air transports. We believe that we will contribute significantly to the growth of quality tourism in Cyprus and serve passenger needs. We promise to continue our efforts for quality and innovative services, always with competitive prices. With your support, and the efforts of all our people, I believe that today is the first day of our company’s new course of gradual, but long-lasting growth in Cyprus.”

AEGEAN’s dynamic growth plan with direct flights from and to Larnaka and Paphos is supported by the company’s whole 2015 network: 134 destinations to 43 countries and 15,000,000 available seats, 2 million more than in 2014. AEGEAN now flies with one of the youngest fleets in Europe, consisting of 56 aircraft of the ?320 group, after its recent investment in additional new aircraft.

Flights to/from Cyprus		Frequency
Larnaka	Athens	6 / day
Larnaka	Thessaloniki	11 / week
Larnaka	Heraklion	3 / week
Larnaka	Rhodes	2 / week
Paphos	Athens	4 / week
Larnaka	Santorini	2 / week (seasonal)
Larnaka	Myconos	2 / week (seasonal)
Larnaka	London Heathrow	7 / week
Larnaka	Paris CDG	3 / week
Larnaka	Rome Fiumicino	2 / week
Larnaka	Milan Malpensa	2 / week
Larnaka	Munich	2 / week
Larnaka	Tel Aviv.	7 / week
Larnaka	Beirut	4 / week
Larnaka	Kiev	3 / week

Nicosia, 13 January 2015

Inaugural flight of Air France’s new La Première designer suites

André Orban

13 January 2015

On 12 January 2015, Air France inaugurated its new La Première cabin on board flight AF254 to Singapore and Jakarta, on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle…

On this occasion, Frédéric Gagey, Chairman and CEO of Air France declared: “With our new La Première suites, we intend to offer the best on the market and this is what we are highlighting today. By choosing to fly to South East Asia, we also intend to reaffirm just how important this part of the world is to us, especially to attract and retain our Premium customers”.

GENTLE NIGHTS AMONG THE STARS

On board, La Première customers have been able to enjoy a genuine “designer” suite offering total privacy. Air France has dressed each suite with thick curtains, held back with leather tiebacks. A unique and daring concept, they enable the passenger to decide whether to be totally isolated or just partially.

Throughout the trip, each guest has a personal 24-inch (61cm) HD touch screen, one of the largest ever seen on board, offering a totally new intuitive navigation experience on an exclusive graphic interface, inspired by the iPad and available in twelve languages. Movies, games, music, TV series, etc. Close to 1,000 hours of programmes on demand will soon be available.

In an instant, the La Première seat turns into a fully-flat bed over two metres long. The armrests are fully retractable and offer a vast space 77 cm wide. When the passenger is ready to go to sleep, the crew members install a mattress on the seat, for impeccable comfort. They are then given a fluffy pillow and a Sofitel MyBed duvet. When the curtains are closed, the partition raised and the light subdued, the suite embraces the passenger, for total privacy.

EXCEPTIONAL NEW CABINS TAKE OFF TO SOUTH EAST ASIA

A region experiencing an economic boom, Air France-KLM intends to offer its best products and services to its customers in South East Asia. As from February 2015 and throughout the winter season, the new Air France cabins will be available on board all daily flights to Singapore and Jakarta, for optimal travel comfort. Since September 2014, customers have already been enjoying these exceptional new cabins on certain flights to these two cities.

In 2015, the new La Première suites will be available on flights to New York, Dubai, Libreville and Yaoundé. In addition to these “designer” suites, Air France customers can also enjoy the new Business cabin, a real cocoon in the sky. They also benefit from the new Premium Economy cabins, with 40% more space and Economy, offering optimal comfort for all.

AIR FRANCE-KLM, A LEADER BETWEEN EUROPE AND SOUTH EAST ASIA*

On departure from the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol hubs, Air France-KLM offers over 90 weekly flights to 8 destinations in South East Asia – Bangkok, Denpasar (Bali), Hô Chi Minh-City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore and Hanoi (on a code-share basis with Vietnam Airlines).

Thanks to the code-share agreements with its partners Garuda Indonesia, Bangkok Airways, Malaysia Airlines, China Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, the Group can offer increased flight frequencies between Europe and South East Asia and access to an extended network of 22 destinations in the region.

*in terms of market share between Europe and South East Asia in summer 2014

Tuesday 13 January 2015

21.9 million passengers in 2014: an all-time record year for Brussels Airport

André Orban

13 January 2015

2014 was a year of exceptional growth for Brussels Airport. Growth was recorded in all segments: passenger and cargo flights. Moreover, the airport broke its historical passenger record of 2000. In 2014 Brussels Airport handled 21,933,190 passengers: 2.8 million more than in 2013.

“Never before Brussels Airport welcomed as many passengers as we did in 2014. Growth was recorded in all segments. It is clear that the new approach we have been adopting since a few years is bearing fruit. The great performance we put down in 2014 could not be achieved without the efforts and commitment of our staff and the collaboration with our partners. And not to be overlooked: the growth of the airport has a considerable positive impact on employment and economic growth in our country”, says Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.

“Brussels Airport is now looking forward to the next milestone in its history: the opening of the new Connector building in the spring which will allow us to provide our customers with an even better service and experience”, Arnaud Feist continues.

Strong growth in number of passengers: +14.6%
In 2014 Brussels Airport handled a total of 21,933,190 passengers, an increase with 2.8 million passengers compared to 2013 (+ 14.6%). Growth was recorded in all passenger segments, with Brussels Airlines, the low cost carriers and intercontinental traffic in particular performing strongly.

The major landmarks for Brussels Airport in 2014 were the new routes operated by Vueling, the arrival of Ryanair, Brussels Airlines’ new routes and commercial strategy and the arrival of Emirates.

Transfer traffic even grew by more than 20% in 2014 which confirms the increasingly important role of Brussels Airport as Star Alliance hub. Due to the large offer of destinations – a strategy which Brussels Airport has pursued for many years – our airport can fully play its role as central airport with convenient connecting flights to other airports which strengthens its position within the Star Alliance. It also makes our country more attractive for foreign investors and tourists.

December 2014 ended this exceptional year for Brussels Airport with a strong growth of 13.2% compared to the corresponding month in 2013. Growth in December and for the whole of 2014 was slowed down however by the regional and national strike days of 8 and 15 December. Without this impact Brussels Airport would have easily exceeded the 22 million passenger mark.

Higher passenger payloads and a limited increase in the number of flights
The number of flights for the whole of 2014 increased by 6.9% on 2013, a modest growth compared to the 14.6% growth in passengers.

Compared to 2000, we find that the number of flights has decreased by no less than 30%: from 326,050 flights in 2000 to 231,528 flights in 2014. The major trends are that the airlines use larger aircraft than they did in 2000 and that the passenger load factor increased. The average number of passengers per flight increased by over 50% going from 71 persons per flight in 2000 to 108 in 2014.

In December 2014 passenger number grew strongly (+13.2%) with the number of flights increasing only slightly (+3.6%).

Cargo growth at Brussels Airport outperforms rest of Europe
2014 was a year of strong growth for cargo transport at Brussels Airport. With a 5.6% growth Brussels Airport is clearly outperforming most other airports in Europe.

The significant increase in “belly cargo”, i.e. cargo carried on board of passenger flights, goes hand in hand with the growth in passenger numbers. Both segments are reinforcing each other with cargo customers being offered a larger range of destinations served.

Over the past twelve months, Brussels Airport took several strategic initiatives to stimulate cargo traffic, including the IATA certification for the transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals – a world first – and the significant investments in the Brucargo infrastructure of the past three years.

In the month of December 2014 cargo traffic at Brussels Airport was comparable to 2013 (-0.6%). Due to the impact of the strike days of 8 and 15 December the cargo segment did not show any growth, contrary to the other months of 2014.

January 13, 2015

SAS traffic figures – December 2014 : +7.1% passengers

André Orban

13 January 2015

• SAS carried a total of 1.9 million passengers in December, up 7.1%.

• The total traffic (RPK) increased by 0.2%.

• The total capacity (ASK) was down by 1.5%.

• The total load factor increased by 1.2 p.u. to 72.2%.

• The yield and PASK were up 4.9% and 10.3% respectively in November. The currency adjusted yield and PASK were up 1.5% and 6.7% respectively.

Market trends, PASK and yield development

As indicated earlier, as part of the winter-season program, SAS plans to hold back on the capacity growth. In line with this, SAS reduced total capacity during December 2014, but increased scheduled capacity by 2% as some capacity was moved from its charter operation to scheduled services. Market conditions remain challenging, however load factor has increased since the introduction of the summer 2014 program. In December 2014 SAS reports its ninth consecutive month with an improvement in the load factor versus last year.

In November, SAS’ yield and PASK were up 4.9% and 10.3% respectively. The currency adjusted yield and PASK were up 1.5% and 6.7%, in line with expectations. In December 2014 the change in the currency adjusted PASK vs. last year is also expected to be positive.

SAS scheduled traffic development in December
SAS scheduled capacity increased in December by 2.0% as some capacity was moved from its charter operation to primarily longer leisure routes. Traffic grew by 4.9% resulting in a 1.9 p.u. improvement in the load factor to 71.2%.
SAS reduced its intercontinental capacity by 1.7%, reflecting one aircraft being out of traffic for planned maintenance and upgrade of cabin interior. Traffic on the intercontinental routes decreased 3.8%.

Traffic on SAS European/ Intrascandinavian routes grew 11.1% with strongest growth on the European routes to/from Norway and Sweden. Domestic traffic grew 8% combined with a positive load factor development.

Product and news update
• SAS first widebody aircraft with upgraded cabin and Wifi will be rolled out in February 2015.
• During the peak ski season SAS will again offer non-stop flights between Göteborg/Ängelholm/Malmö and Östersund-Åre airport.

CityJet tracks growth strategy after completion of refinancing deal

André Orban

13 January 2015

Independent regional European carrier says restructuring programme ahead of schedule

CityJet, the independent regional European airline, today announced it has completed a refinancing programme which places it in a strong position to fund its restructuring and its growth strategy.

The airline, which has its headquarters in Dublin, announced the sale and leaseback of seven Avro RJ85 aircraft and said its restructuring plans were progressing ahead of schedule. It also stated that it continued to experience improving trading conditions.

The sale and leaseback package involves its main lessor, Falko Regional Aircraft Limited. Falko was formed in July 2011 when funds managed by Fortress Investment Group completed the purchase of BAE Systems Asset Management and its associated aircraft portfolio. Fortress Investment Group currently has over $60bn of funds under management. Falko is one of the largest lessors of regional aircraft in the world and is based in Hatfield, England.

The airline said it was emerging successfully from a challenging period following its divestiture from Air France, its previous owner. The refinancing places CityJet in a strong financial position for the future as a significant independent European regional airline.

CityJet said its ongoing restructuring was necessary due to its legacy of having been part of the Air France Group which left it with an infrastructure which was inappropriate for a independent regional carrier. It said its restructuring programme, which commenced during the Autumn, will deliver a sustainable and competitive cost base and corporate infrastructure. Its management team was now fully focused on delivering on a business plan to further develop the airline from a solid financial position and operating base.

Christine Ourmières, CityJet CEO, said: “The recent months have shown the determination of our management team and staff to embrace the challenge of reshaping the business to become an independent airline. We can now focus even more on delivering our customers a superior product and service which will support our improving trading performance.”

Jeremy Barnes, Falko CEO, said: “CityJet is a long standing and important customer of ours. We are pleased to be able to assist them with this financing and we look forward to supporting them in a variety of different ways in the coming years as they roll out their growth strategy.”

Peter Oncken, CityJet Chairman and CEO of Intro Aviation: “CityJet has been through challenging times since its separation from Air France. The carrier’s independence, coupled with the sale of loss-making VLM, enables CityJet to develop its niche regional European business. I have been impressed by the determination and resilience of CityJet’s management and staff and their focus on the future. I am pleased that CityJet is able to deliver a customer centred service that is second to none.”

Airbus exceeds targets in 2014 and prepares for the future

André Orban

13 January 2015

Incremental innovation rewarded by A320neo & A330neo market success

Highest number of Airbus Widebody airliners delivered

Industry record backlog of 6,386 aircraft secures Airbus’ long term outlook.

Airbus has exceeded its targets for 2014, achieving a new record of 629 aircraft deliveries for 89 customers of which eight are new, comprising 490 A320 Family aircraft, 108 A330s, 30 A380s and also our first A350 XWB. This production achievement means that Airbus’ aircraft deliveries in 2014 were up for the 13^th year in a row, surpassing the previous record set in 2013.

Airbus also achieved 1,456 net orders from 67 customers (of which 14 are new) – our second best year ever, comprising 1,321 single aisle aircraft and 135 widebodies. As a result, by year end, the backlog had climbed to a new industry record of 6,386 aircraft valued at US$ 919.3 billion at list prices.

At 2014 year end, Airbus commanded more than 50% market share for aircraft above 100 seats. Among the numerous sales achievements was the A330neo’s success in attracting 120 firm endorsements within just six months of its launch. Another commercial highlight was Delta’s decision to select the A330neo for its transatlantic services and the A350 for its transpacific routes. A third highlight of 2014 was the enduring popularity of our A320neo and ceo aircraft which together attracted numerous orders especially from the leasing companies.

Industrially, the clear milestone of the year was the completion of A350 XWB testing and certification culminating in the on-time delivery of the first aircraft for Qatar Airways. We also reached our target of delivering 30 A380s while welcoming Asiana, Qatar Airways and Etihad as new operators of this flagship aircraft. And as the A330neo development programme gains momentum, the highly popular A330ceo continues to benefit from our commitment to incremental innovation. Meanwhile, the A320neo programme is proceeding on track following its first flight September 2014, paving the way for certification in Q3 and first deliveries in Q4.

“2014 has been an excellent year and the teams in Airbus not only delivered on, but exceeded their targets and commitments,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. “Airbus also made strong progress towards a faster, simpler and more agile company, while our strategy of incremental innovation is helping to consolidate our market-leading position in all categories.”

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer of passenger airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, and subsidiaries in the US, China, India, Japan and in the Middle East. In addition, it provides the highest standard of customer support and training through an expanding international network.

13 January 2015 Press Release

Airbus launches A321neo with true transatlantic capability

André Orban

13 January 2015

ALC first to commit to Airbus’ increased range option

Airbus has officially launched the A321neo with 97 tonnes Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) having secured the first commitment from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The Los Angeles based lessor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 30 more A321neo, upsizing its commitments at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow from 60 to 90 and becoming the launch customer for Airbus’ increased range option.

The A321neo 97t will have, with 4,000nm, the longest range of any single aisle airliner available today and tomorrow, making it ideally suited to transatlantic routes and will allow airlines to tap into new long haul markets which were not previously accessible with current single aisle aircraft.

“We are excited to be the first to sign for the new longer range version of the A321neo,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Air Lease Corporation’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “ALC wants a footprint in every promising market segment, including ones that can be opened by this new version of the A321neo. We pride ourselves in being able to provide our customers with the very latest, most innovative products and solutions.”

“We are delighted to officially launch the A321neo 97t option with ALC,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “ALC is a forward-looking company who has once again demonstrated its confidence in Airbus’ latest products and innovations just six months after being a launch customer for the A330neo.” He added: “The longer haul single aisle market is a lucrative one that the A321neo will now dominate, thanks to the aircraft’s superior comfort, economics and range. This new version of the A321neo is a high revenue generating aircraft which will open up many new opportunities for our customers.”

Under the assumption that ALC’s MoUs for 30 A321neo aircraft plus 25 A330neo Family become firm orders, ALC’s total orders for Airbus aircraft would stand at 258 (53 A320ceo Family, 140 A320neo Family, 15 A330 Family, 25 A350 XWB Family and 25 A330neo Family).

The A321 97t variant is building on the continued innovations brought to the A320 Family with Airbus Cabin-Flex (ACF), which offers passengers the highest standards of comfort while providing great flexibility and profit optimisation to airlines. Thanks to an additional fuel tank in the forward underfloor hold of the aircraft, as well as minor improvements on the wing and fuselage, the A321neo 97t will be able to fly 206 passengers on longer routes of up to 4,000 nm in a comfortable two-class layout. First deliveries will have started by 2019.

The newest member of the best-selling A320 Family, the A320neo, incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets which together will deliver 20 percent in fuel savings by 2020. At the end of December 2014, firm orders for the NEO reached over 3,600 aircraft from 70 customers.

13 January 2015 Press Release

Finnair is the first airline in Europe to achieve IATA Environmental Assessment Program certification

André Orban

13 January 2015

Finnair is the first airline in Europe and one of only two global carriers (South African Airways) to be certified as a Stage 2 operator in IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program, an environmental management system designed to independently assess and improve an airline’s environmental management.

“This certification is proof of our commitment to environmental leadership within the aviation industry,” says Pekka Vauramo, Finnair’s CEO. “Environmental sustainability is at the core of Finnair’s operations and we are continuously working to improve our environmental performance. We believe that developing common environmental standards and assessment for the aviation industry is important and we are proud to be the forerunners in this field. Environmental sustainability also matters to our customers and we are happy to provide more sustainable options for their air travel.”

Finnair has set ambitious environmental performance targets for its operations:

40% reduction of anti-icing fluid usage in 2014–2016.
20% reduction of CO2 emissions in 2009–2017.
10% reduction of energy usage in corporate facilities in 2007–2016.
10% decrease of the non-EU waste/passenger in 2014–2016.
40% noise reduction in 2014–2017.

“Everything we can do to minimise our carbon profile as an airline is a victory for the environment and for our ability to generate shareholder value,” says Ville Iho, Finnair’s Chief Operating Officer. “In the long run, however, environmental performance is like safety—it is something that all airlines benefit from with sector-wide cooperation. The standards of the IEnvA program help us and all airlines improve fuel efficiency, reduce waste and limit greenhouse gas emissions in our operations.”

IEnvA Stage 1 —which Finnair reached in June 2013 along with a small pilot group of other airlines—ensures an airline has developed the foundation and framework for its environmental management system. Stage 1 also certifies an airline has identified and complied with its environmental legal requirements.

IEnvA Stage 2 – This ensures that an airline has implemented all of the IEnvA Program Standards, identified and mitigated its significant environmental impacts and has set performance targets. Stage 2 also certifies that an airline has developed processes for monitoring and reviewing its performance against its targets and objectives, thus driving environmental efficiency.

The environmental standards that underpin IEnvA are based on recognised environmental management system (EMS) principles (such as ISO 14001) and have been developed by a joint team of environmental consultants and airline experts, including some Finnair personnel. Airline assessments—including Finnair’s—are undertaken by independent accredited Environmental Assessment Organisations that have demonstrated competencies in aviation and environmental auditing.

The scope of IEnvA is limited to flight operations and corporate activities, but modules covering ground and MRO operations are currently under development.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Achieves Market Success in 2014

André Orban

13 January 2015

World’s largest airplane manufacturer with 723 deliveries, record $232.7 billion in commercial net orders

Boeing set a global industry record for the most commercial airplanes delivered in a single year at 723 in 2014, maintaining its position as the world’s largest airplane manufacturer for the third consecutive year.

“What the Boeing team achieved in 2014 is truly unprecedented, especially in the face of fierce competition,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “Boeing’s achievements are based on the dedication of our talented employees, the trust that our customers place in our products and the partnership with our suppliers.”

In 2014, Boeing booked 1,432 net orders, valued at $232.7 billion at list prices. The company also grew its backlog of unfilled commercial orders to a historic high of 5,789 airplanes.

Boeing’s widebody family of airplanes – 747-8, 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner –accounted for more than 60 percent of all twin-aisle deliveries last year, further strengthening the company’s position as the industry leader in widebody airplanes.

The Next-Generation 737 program delivered more of the single-aisle airplanes than ever before with 485 deliveries in 2014.

“Our current and future lineup of products are formidable competitors in the marketplace, delivering the best efficiency, best performance and superior value to our customers,” said Conner.

SEATTLE, Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/

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Increased comfort and the facility to charge smartphones, tablets, laptops and game consoles, relaxation areas: Brussels Airport is investing no less than 4 million euros in replacing the 10,000 seating capacity for passengers.

For the eighth time, Brussels Airport Company is presenting the Brussels Airport Aviation Awards, recognising those airline companies and partners that stand out in various domains: network developments and new routes, environment and safety, punctuality and performance.

• bmi to fly to three cities in Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland with Lufthansa codeshare • Up to 120 destinations opened up to business and leisure travellers via Lufthansa Munich network • Up to three times a day direct to Munich

GENTLE NIGHTS AMONG THE STARS

EXCEPTIONAL NEW CABINS TAKE OFF TO SOUTH EAST ASIA

AIR FRANCE-KLM, A LEADER BETWEEN EUROPE AND SOUTH EAST ASIA*

• SAS carried a total of 1.9 million passengers in December, up 7.1%.

• The total traffic (RPK) increased by 0.2%.

• The total capacity (ASK) was down by 1.5%.

• The total load factor increased by 1.2 p.u. to 72.2%.

• The yield and PASK were up 4.9% and 10.3% respectively in November. The currency adjusted yield and PASK were up 1.5% and 6.7% respectively.

Independent regional European carrier says restructuring programme ahead of schedule

Incremental innovation rewarded by A320neo & A330neo market success

Highest number of Airbus Widebody airliners delivered

Industry record backlog of 6,386 aircraft secures Airbus’ long term outlook.

ALC first to commit to Airbus’ increased range option

World’s largest airplane manufacturer with 723 deliveries, record $232.7 billion in commercial net orders

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• bmi to fly to three cities in Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland with Lufthansa codeshare
• Up to 120 destinations opened up to business and leisure travellers via Lufthansa Munich network
• Up to three times a day direct to Munich