Wizz Air opens first UK base 

Wizz Air has opened its first UK base at Luton Airport in Bedfordshire. 

The low-cost airline will base one of its new Airbus A320 aircraft at the airport, increasing operations to 42 routes from Luton, including three new services to Tel Aviv, Pristina and Kutaisi. 

Last year, Wizz Air carried more than five million passengers on its Luton routes, making the airline the second largest operator at the airport. 

The carrier said establishing a base at Luton “represents a major investment in the UK” and will create 36 direct jobs.

Alitalia file for bankruptcy in the US

Alitalia has filed for bankruptcy in the US, faced with the imminent threat of losing access to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport over unpaid bills. The airline sought chapter 15 protection, the section of the bankruptcy code that deals with international insolvencies, at the US Bankruptcy Court in New York.

The airline is seeking Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection – which allows foreign companies access to US bankruptcy courts – for its leased gates at several US airports and its 36-employee operation in the USA.

Alitalia‘s attorneys argue that its US business is “critical to its overall global operations” and needs to be protected. The airline operates nine flights per day between the USA and Italy.

The operator of New York JFK airport’s Terminal 1 had notified Alitalia that its lease and contract would be ended on 13 June if it did not pay its bills, says the airline. Its US telecommunications provider meanwhile gave notice that its telephone and internet services would be terminated on 20 June.

US flights generate about 30% of Alitalia‘s overall revenues, the SkyTeam carrier states in its court-filed petition. At least 15% of the airline’s global revenues are contributed by flights to JFK.

We are still trying to find out the results of ongoing talks. We will post more as soon as we know.

Emirates introducing info goggles for their cabin crew

Most airlines cabin crew managers or senior crew members are given an iPad that contains as much information about the airlines customers as possible to enhance the service the crew can provide onboard. 

Emirates, hoping to shake off budget airlines coveting its long-distance customers, has set its sights on goggles to enable their crew to have this info on hand immediately as they are face to face with their customers.

The Gulf carrier is studying ways to equip staff with augmented reality glasses that display a passenger’s name and travel habits, allowing more personalised service, said Emirates’ chief digital and innovation officer, Christoph Mueller

Travellers may also be given eye-wear to help them navigate airports or browse food menus.

easyJet offers private jet experience at Luton – without the private jet 

The Guardian has reported that easyJet passengers can now travel like billionaires – at least to as far as the steps of the plane – following the launch of a new venture to allow the airline’s customers to use the private jet terminal and facilities at Luton Airport. 

Passengers can pay £475 to be checked in and clear security while relaxing in a luxury lounge, before being driven across the airfield to the plane in a private car and returning to bleak reality onboard.

Good value? Will it prove to be popular? Time will tell.

Qatar short haul fleet arrives at LHR to provide cover for BA

The CAA and UK Government Transport Secretary have approved British Airways request to wet lease 9 Qatar Airways A320 and A321 aircraft to cover part of their flying programme during cabin crew industrial action that begins tomorrow.

Mixed fleet cabin crew at Heathrow (cabin crew joining since 2010) have been in a long running dispute with the company over pay and although it had been reported the pay dispute had been resolved, the cabin crew union Unite are protesting over the non-returning of other staff benefits such as staff travel, which BA removed from striking employees.

The union has balloted members and announced a 2 week strike period beginning tomorrow, this is much longer than the previous strike periods and will cause more disruption for British Airways who have so far had a difficult year after a previous IT system outage.

Due to BA wet-leasing from a non-EU airline approval was required from the CAA (UK aviation regulator) and the Transport Secretary. This approval was received today and the aircraft were launched from their base in Doha, Qatar today complete with crews to be stationed in London for 2 weeks.

Unite have criticised the decision to grant approval citing concerns over Qatar’s human rights and labour standards record.

British Airways have stated that 99.5% of their flight schedule will continue to operate, but it is understood that even if this achievable there will be a large wet lease bill for the airline to pick up.

Qatar to buy stake in American Airlines

Reuters are reporting that Qatar Airways is seeking to buy a 10% stake in American Airlines. This potential investment is likely to be worth at least $808 million.

Qatar is currently experiencing difficult diplomatic relations with four gulf nations which has resulted in a blockade of Qatari airspace.

Qatar Airways was named Skytrax World Airline of the year this month, as well as World’s Best Business Class.

The Gulf Airline links 150 International destinations with a fleet of more than 180 aircraft.

easyJet’s First A320neo Delivery

On the 14th of June 2017, easyJet took delivery of it’s first Airbus A320neo aircraft, which marked the airline’s 300th Airbus delivery. With more than 5,000 orders received from 92 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the market.

easyJet has a further 99 A320neo and 30 A321neo aircraft on order and is currently operating a fleet of 247 A319/A320 (plus 1 A320neo) aircraft.

The list price for the A320/321neo’s are as follows:

  • A320neo: $108m
  • A321neo: $127m

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, said:

“The A320neo is a major step change for our fleet efficiency and will provide a cost per seat saving of up to 7% over the current A320, which itself has a cost saving benefit of up to 8% over the A319 and this benefit will enable easyJet to continue to offer our famous low fares helping to connect people across Europe for work and play.

“We strive to do this in the right way by reducing our carbon and noise impact on the environment and local communities. By using modern Airbus aircraft and flying them efficiently we have reduced the carbon impact of our flights by a third since 2000.

“With the addition of the A320neo and A321neo to the future easyJet fleet and with further planned efficiency improvements easyJet has now set itself a new, tougher carbon emissions target of 72 grams by 2022. This is a 10% reduction from today’s performance and a 38% improvement from 2000.

“Since our first A320 family aircraft delivery in 2003, easyJet has grown to operate Europe’s largest A320 Family fleet with 300 aircraft delivered.

“With 130 NEO aircraft on order we are also Europe’s largest customer for this revolutionary new plane and really looking forward to operating the NEO and realising its cost, customer, carbon and noise benefits.”

Norwegian plan expansion to Argentina

Norwegian Group has applied to Argentina’s National Civil Aviation Administration for permission to operate routes from cities including Copenhagen, Paris CDG, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Tel Aviv, Cape Town, San Jose in Costa Rica, Montevideo, Santiago and Papeete to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport.

The international services are intended to feed traffic to Norwegian’s proposed Argentine domestic airline, Norwegian Air Argentina.

The new Argentine carrier is expected to launch services in late 2017

KLM mark Fokker 70 fleet retirement with special livery

KLM are retiring their fleet of Fokker 70 aircraft by the end of the year and they have unveiled a special farewell livery to commemorate the phasing out of its last remaining Fokker 70 aircraft. 
 
The Fokker 70 and previously Fokker 100 has been the backbone of the airlines short haul fleet over the 2 decades and has provided so many of the important feeder services from European regional airports into its hub at Amsterdam Schipol. 
 
The Dutch carrier currently has nine Fokker 70s in service, which are gradually being phased out as the airline takes delivery of new Embraer 175 and 190 jets. 
 
One of the remaining Fokker aircraft has been painted with the face of Dutch aviation pioneer and aircraft manufacturer Anthony Fokker, and will fly with the special livery until it takes its last flight on October 28

Singapore Airlines are to restructure after poor financial results

Singapore Airlines has announced it will become the second Asian legacy carrier to re-structure in a bid to restore increased profitability.

Last month Cathay Pacific announced 600 job losses and SIA have said the will perform ‘a radical review of their business’.

Singapore Airline’s chief executive Goh Choon Phong said he would be ‘leaving no stones unturned’ in his transformation strategy.

 

The airlines, which are renowned for their first class service have struggled to stop lower cost base airlines in the region eroding their short haul market share and the cash rich Middle Eastern airlines who can more than compete on service and have been building up their hubs at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Istanbul to facilitate West to East and East to West connecting passengers.