RoyalJet, the Abu Dhabi owned private aviation company, has recently unveiled its completely redesigned and upgraded VVIP Lounge at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The lounge was designed by the company and its partner Slash Design of Abu Dhabi. Rob DiCastri, CEO, RoyalJet, said, “In keeping with the landmark design projects Slash has undertaken for the Abu Dhabi Royal Family and the Abu Dhabi government, the lounge has been designed and created with the objective to reflect the rich heritage of the emirate. “This has been brought to life through the inclusion of various elegant and timeless art pieces from local artists in the various spaces, the utilising of locally made products throughout the experience, and the serving of meals made from locally-sourced ingredients.” He added: “When we commenced work with Slash on our company wide customer experience transformation project it became clear that in order to bring this transformation to....
Vista Global Holding (Vista), has shown strong growth in the region in the first half of 2021. The results show the Middle East making a significant contribution to the Group’s overall global sales growth, while combined flights into Dubai’s two international airports saw the Emirate become the Group’s number one destination for flights. Vista, which has its global headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Center, is the world’s largest On Demand charter provider by hours flown. Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman, said: “The year has begun with a record start, with sales of the Group’s subscription products at all-time highs during the first half of 2021. Our unique portfolio of brands includes VistaJet, XO and the recently acquired Red Wing Aviation, Apollo Jets and Talon Air. Specifically — with our signature Program membership and iconic silver and red fleet of mid and long-range jets — it has driven the Group’s....
Jet Aviation has gained approval in Geneva for Gulfstream Aircraft registered in Turkey. With this new approval, the company’s Geneva MRO facility is authorized to provide line and base maintenance to G450 series, G550 series and G650 series aircraft that are registered in Turkey. This builds on Jet Aviation’s existing Gulfstream capabilities for Turkish-registered aircraft in Basel. “We sought this approval in direct response to customer demand and look forward to welcoming TC- registered Gulfstream aircraft to our facility in Geneva,” said Edgar Guerreiro, senior director of Jet Aviation’s Geneva MRO & FBO operations and general manager of Geneva. “Turkey has a significant fleet of private aircraft and our team of dedicated maintenance professionals in Geneva is delighted to extend its expertise to help keep these aircraft in the air, where Turkish owners and operators want them.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that both international and domestic travel demand showed significant momentum in July 2021 compared to June, but demand remained far below pre-pandemic levels. Extensive government-imposed travel restrictions continue to delay recovery in international markets. Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in July 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.1% compared to July 2019. This is a significant improvement from June when demand was 60% below June 2019 levels. International passenger demand in July was 73.6% below July 2019, bettering the 80.9% decline recorded in June 2021 versus two years ago. All regions showed improvement and North American airlines posted the smallest decline in international RPKs (July traffic data....
The oneworld Alliance has outlined its path to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, reiterating its commitment to sustainability across the alliance’s 14 member airlines. oneworld Alliance Chairman and Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker. Image: Qatar Airways The initial oneworld carbon roadmap unveiled today illustrates how the alliance will meet its net zero emissions target that was first announced in September 2020, establishing oneworld as the first global airline alliance to commit to a common carbon neutrality goal. oneworld member airlines will reach the target through various initiatives, including fleet modernization, improvements in operation efficiencies, advancing the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) certified by ICAO-approved schemes, and carbon offsets and removals. oneworld is calling on government and industry stakeholders for their support and partnership in decarbonizing aviation. As aircraft technology evolves and the availability of SAF continues to develop, the roadmap will be updated to....
Emirates will receive three more A380 aircraft from Airbus this year with its last unit on order scheduled to join its fleet in November, bringing forward the original delivery timeline from June 2022. All three new A380s to be delivered will be fitted out with Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin as well as its latest A380 cabin interiors and signature features including private suites and Shower Spas in First Class, the popular Onboard Lounge, fully flat seats in Business Class, and the industry’s largest seatback screens for customers in all cabins to enjoy the airline’s extensive selection of entertainment content on ice. These deliveries will bring Emirates’ total fleet of A380s to 118 units in November, including six aircraft equipped with Premium Economy seats in a 4-class configuration. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: "We’ve come to an agreement with Airbus to bring forward the delivery of our remaining A380....
China launched four new communications satellites this week in two launches from different launch sites, within hours of each other, as the country's intense launch activity continues. First up, a Long March 2C lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, northwest China on Aug. 24. The rocket used a Yuanzheng 1S upper stage to deliver three payloads into near polar orbits with average altitudes of around 680 miles (1,100 kilometers) above Earth, according to U.S. space tracking. Chinese space contractors and Chinese state media announced that two satellites were "fusion" communication technology test satellites with the acronym RSW. No further details were provided. The satellites were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a major satellite developer belonging to the country’s giant state-owned space contractor, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). DFH Satellite, a subsidiary of CAST, published then deleted an....
Embraer’s urban air mobility business Eve has partnered Australian helicopter operator Microflite to roll out electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations in the country, which it expects to start in 2026. Microflite and Eve will use helicopters at the initial stages of the partnership, as a proof of concept to ‘validate parameters’ applicable to eVTOL aircraft operations in the future. Eve has partnered Microflite to roll out electric air taxi services in Australia. “This partnership also aims to develop new services and procedures that will create a safe and scalable operating environment for electric vertical aircraft operations together with communities and other industry stakeholders,” says Eve. The partnership builds on a 2019 Concept of Operations developed by Eve and Airservices Australia, which saw Microflite play a contributory role. The city of Melbourne, in Australia’s Victoria state, has been earmarked as the testbed for electric air taxi services. Says....
Lockheed Martin announced recently that it would bring new F-16 manufacturing work to its facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The work will generate 80 new jobs in the city and the company plans to lease a new building to accommodate it. Wayne Davis, director at Lockheed Martin’s Johnstown site, says Lockheed Martin continues to see demand for new F-16s around the world, requiring development of additional parts manufacturing sites to ensure it can keep up with demand. “Johnstown’s selection for this new work reflects the highly skilled workforce in the area, a record of quality production and the space available to expand,” Davis said. “We are proud to grow our presence in Johnstown and to contribute to the acceleration of jobs.” F-16 parts to be produced in Johnstown include the aft engine access covers, engine access doors, F-1 fuel tank, and inlet. Upon completion in Johnstown, the parts will be shipped....
After several years of planning, the French and German air forces have formally launched a binational tactical air transport squadron starting this month, with plans to fully establish the new unit within three years. French Defense Minister Florence Parly and German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer signed an agreement in August to officially create a joint C-130J squadron based at Evreux Air Base in Normandy. The nations’ pilots will then train in mixed teams “without distinction of nationality,” the two defense ministries said in a joint release. The squadron will consist of 10 C-130J aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin, including six from Germany and four from France. The four French aircraft have been operational and based at Evreux since June 2021, the nation’s ministry of defense said in an email. One of those four aircraft has been deployed in the Sahel region since summer 2020; two of the four C-130Js can....
RoyalJet launches redesigned & upgraded VVIP Lounge at Abu Dhabi airport
Vista witnesses strong growth during H1 of 2021
Jet Aviation gets approval for Turkish registered Gulfstream aircraft
Passenger travel demand still remains below pre-pandemic levels in July 2021, (IATA)
oneworld Alliance paves way for achieving net zero emissions by 2050
3 more A380s scheduled for delivery in November for Emirates
China launches 4 communications satellites in 2 launches within hours of each other
Eve, Microflite to roll out eVTOL aircraft operations in Australia
Lockheed Martin brings new F-16 manufacturing work to its facility in Pennsylvania
European air forces formally launch binational tactical air transport squadron
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