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Ryanair calls Boeing “delusionary” over 737 MAX deal

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Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary. Photo: Andreas Spaeth

Michael O’Leary, chief of Ryanair has lashed out at Boeing calling the US planemaker “delusionary” for imposing what he terms a double-digit percentage price hike for 737 MAX 10 jets in talks earlier this year.

According to Reuters, chief executive, Mr. O’Leary said Boeing needed to “get its shit together” referencing what he said were delays in the delivery of 65 aircraft from an existing MAX order.

A Boeing spokesperson told Reuters that it was committed to supporting Ryanair as a long-standing partner, but added it would “continue to be disciplined” in commercial decisions.

Talks between Ryanair and Boeing ended abruptly in September over a large order for 737 MAX 10 jets over price.

Reuters reported that Mr. O’Leary said Monday that Boeing’s approach was “delusionary”.

“Boeing out of the blue sought a … substantial double-digit price increase. I don’t understand the strategy,” he told Reuters.

Mr. O’Leary said he was having a “marital tantrum” with Boeing.

O’Leary in September said Ryanair had been in talks to order at least 100 of the 230-seat MAX 10.

Sources say the dispute over MAX 10 was already rumbling when Ryanair ordered 75 more of the smaller MAX 8-200 version in December last year.

For more on the story click here.

737 MAX

Emirates first A380 to be recycled

airline

Emirates is to recycle its first A380 and has signed a contract with UAE-based Falcon Aircraft Recycling on a pioneering initiative, where the giant jet will be upcycled and recycled, dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the deconstruction process and significantly reducing landfill waste.

The extensive materials recovery and repurposing activities will be entirely conducted in the UAE, the airline’s home base, further reducing the project’s environmental footprint.

Typically retired aircraft are flown to remote locations and left to languish after being stripped for parts with salvage and recycling projects focus on recovering only profitable components.

READ: Warnings about 5G on aircraft systems 

READ: Qatar Airways gets green light for UK flights

Thus most of the aircraft goes into landfill or sit idle indefinitely for years.

Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates said that the airline is “delighted to partner with Falcon Aircraft Recycling on this first-of-its-kind project.

“Through this initiative, our customers and fans can take home a piece of aviation history while saving valuable materials from landfill and contributing to a charitable cause through the Emirates Airline Foundation. It’s an elegant and fitting retirement solution for this iconic aircraft and our flagship.”

Tim Clark
Sir Tim Clark talks to the media on board A6-EDA on its first flight to New York in 2008. Credit Geoffrey Thomas

Andrew Tonks, director of Falcon Aircraft Recycling said the A380 is the “most ambitious project to date which will see the first deconstruction of an A380 outside of Europe.

“Approximately 190 tonnes of various metals, plastics, carbon fiber composites and other materials will be removed from the aircraft and passed on for recycling or repurposing via our upcycling program with Wings Craft.

“The recovery program will be delivered fully within the UAE and ensure that the majority of the aircraft will find a second life.”

After completing its last commercial mission, A6-EDA, the first A380 ever delivered to Emirates, was retired from service and brought to the airline’s Engineering Centre where Emirates engineers retrieved serviceable components such as engines, landing gears, and flight control components.

Partnering with Wings Craft, another UAE-based firm that specializes in producing custom furniture and merchandise from aircraft materials, Falcon Aircraft Recycling will design and manufacture unique collectibles and retail items from the materials and parts removed from the aircraft.

A portion of profits from the sale of all items upcycled and recycled from Emirates’ first retired A380 will benefit the Emirates Airline Foundation.

A6-EDA was delivered from Airbus’ Hamburg facility on July 28, 2008, and its first commercial flight was from Dubai to New York on August 1st that year.

Its last flight was from Singapore to Dubai on March 8 last year bringing its total number of flights to 6,319.

In its flying life, it visited 62 airports.

Rex says all frontline staff are now vaccinated

REX
Image: Rex

Regional Express (Rex) has reached its goal of having all frontline staff vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 1.

The several hundred vaccinated staff include pilots, flight attendants, customer service officers at airports as well as other workers across the Rex domestic and regional networks who may need to interact with passengers face-to-face.

The airline said 93 percent of all Rex staff have either been double vaccinated or received their first dose.

READ: Airlines welcome two-way travel bubble

READ: Warnings about 5G on aircraft systems 

READ: Qatar Airways gets green light for UK flights

“Our employees have overwhelmingly supported the introduction of our Mandatory COVID-19
Vaccination Policy to ensure the health and safety of our staff, passengers, contractors and
visitors,”  said Rex deputy chairman John Sharp.

“I would like to thank each and every one of our team members for the way in which they have so quickly responded since work on the Policy began in earnest in mid-September.

“It was fully implemented in just a few weeks and enabled us to meet our vaccination target date of November 1.”

Rex reopens its domestic network on November 15 with the resumption of Boeing 737=800 flights from Melbourne to Sydney and Canberra.

Melbourne – Adelaide flights restart on November 26, while flights to the Gold Coast from Sydney and Melbourne begin on December 17.

Rex grounded its 737s after Australian domestic borders closed due to the surge of COVID cases but said climbing vaccination rates and easing restrictions had prompted its decision to bring the jets back into service.

Prior to the surge in COVID cases, Rex operated 737 services from Melbourne to Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Canberra and from Sydney to Gold Coast.

it has been competing against the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia but is set to face an additional market entrant when proposed ultra-low-cost carrier Bonza launches next year.

Bonza has yet to reveal route details or fares but has said it plans to avoid the highly competitive Brisbane-Melbourne-Sydney triangle. Instead, it will focus on regional and leisure destinations with a focus on underserved destinations or those that have previously been ignored by incumbent airlines.

BA’s Club Suite to be on all 777s by late 2022

British Airways club
The Club Suite. Photo: British Airways.

British Airways’ Club Suites will be available across its Boeing 777 fleet by the end of next year.

The UK carrier is continuing to roll out the Collins Aerospace seat on its 777s with services between London and New York JFK already offering the product on every flight.

Collins and BA worked closely together on the design of the suite for several years and the effort has paid off with the seat proving a hit with passengers.

READ: Check out Virgin Australia’s cool new Melbourne lounge.

READ: Airlines welcome two-way travel bubble

READ: Warnings about 5G on aircraft systems 

READ: Qatar Airways gets green light for UK flights

They are now working together to ensure the rollout is completed by the end of 2022.

British Airways premium

Club Suite was first rolled out in July 2019 on the first A350 and since then has been installed on the Boeing 787-10 aircraft.

It offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Other features include 40 percent more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens with high-definition gate-to-gate programming and PC / USB power.

British

“When we launched our Club Suite product, it was a huge hit with our customers who loved the privacy the new seat offers,’’ BA head of inflight product Sajida Ismail.

“We are focused on the rollout of this product and other cabin enhancements to ensure we deliver on our commitment to provide the very best British quality, style and comfort for our customers.”

As part of the upgrade, the airline’s Club Kitchen is also getting a makeover with new Club chillers and built-in storage for snacks, drinks and other refreshments, allowing customers in Club World to help themselves to refreshments at their leisure.

The latest generation of the First cabin, including the introduction of the First suite door, will also continue to be rolled out across the airline’s B777-300 aircraft.

 

Check out Virgin Australia’s cool new Melbourne lounge

Virgin
Photos: Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia has revealed the new look of its refurbished Melbourne lounge as it reopened on Monday to complete the airline’s national lounge network.

Closed in March 2020,  the reopened lounge is the biggest in the Virgin network and takes on a more relaxed and contemporary look for the 500 guests who can be seated under COVID guidelines.

There are new bathroom and shower facilities as well as zoned areas for passengers to work or relax with ambient lighting, greenery and modern and refreshed furniture.

READ: Airlines welcome two-way Singapore travel bubble

READ: Warnings about 5G on aircraft systems 

READ: Qatar Airways gets green light for UK flights

There are plenty of spaces in which to relax but workbenches continue to offer power and data and meeting rooms will ultimately be available for hire when COVID-safe requirements permit.

Virgin

“As part of our commitment to investing in great experiences for our guests, it was important that we elevated the standard of the Melbourne Lounge, which first opened over eight years ago, in line with our new and fresh Lounge design thinking,” said Virgin chief customer officer Paul Jones.

 “Frequent flyers can expect to see more ‘Virgin Flair’ through signage, seating areas, bathrooms and the general aesthetics. It’s a truly wonderful space that’s been given a new lease on life.

 “We are starting to see the easing of restrictions while Australia opens up and vaccination rates climb, and it’s great to have the Melbourne Lounge once again firing on all cylinders as booking demand returns to the market.

“Since the government announced the easing of state border restrictions, we have seen a surge in bookings for the holiday season which is great news and demonstrates the pent-up demand we’ll experience from now and throughout the summer holiday period.”

The Melbourne lounge joins facilities in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.  the airline will also be reopening its exclusive premium lounges, previously known as the Club.

Funky new signage welcomes customers into the refurbished lounge and is a signature feature throughout the lounge.

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The Gallery Lounge offers stunning views of the tarmac with comfy chairs and ottomans.

Virgin

The “Wake Up” coffee bar offers a barista-served cuppa, while the  “Wind Down” wine bar is the place to find a premium selection of local beers, ciders and Australian wine. An adjacent chill-out zone has a focus on single seating for the solo traveler to unwind.

Virgin

An all-day dining services features a new menu with dishes such as black rice, beetroot with walnut and fetta salad; potato rosti with crispy bacon; and baked beans and Karaage chicken served with slaw and mayonnaise.

virgin

Airlines welcome two-way Singapore travel bubble.

Singapore
Singapore to open up in both directions. Photo: Changi Airport

Airlines today welcomed news of a two-way travel bubble between Singapore and Australia as the first flights under Australia’s new quarantine regime landed at major airports.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed overnight that Australia would accept fully-vaccinated visitors from Singapore without quarantine later this month.

Australia intends to allow quarantine-free entry for fully-vaccinated Singaporean tourists, workers and students from November 21.

Singapore had already announced that Australians could visit the island state using its quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL).

READ: US regulator contemplates warning about 5G impact on aircraft systems.

Morrison’s announcement was welcomed by Singapore Airlines and the International Air Transport Association, which said it was yet another step towards a “new normal”.

“Australia’s opening for quarantine free travel to Singapore citizens, regardless of purpose of travel, sends a loud and clear message that Australia is pressing ahead with her plans to reopen her borders,’’ IATA regional vice president for Asia-Pacific Philip Goh said.

“We are excited by this positive development and we look forward to further easing of border restrictions by Australia and other countries in the region.  It will provide the needed boost for the recovery of the aviation industry and air travel sector.”

A Singapore Airlines (SIA)  flight was the first to land in Sydney carrying fully vaccinated Australian citizens, residents and their families no longer facing border restrictions or the need to quarantine.

An SIA spokesman said he expected about 300 arrivals today between the airline’s flights to Sydney and Melbourne and some 2500 on 31 flights to the two cities this week.

Singapore flight SQ237 was also the first uncapped international flight into Melbourne under the new regime while SQ212 was the first to depart Sydney.

“It has been wonderful to see families reunited and loved ones embracing at the airport, a sign of hope for all,” said Singapore Airlines regional vice president Louis Arul.

“The reopening of Australia’s borders for fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible non-citizens is a welcome first step on Australia’s road to recovery and re-establishing connections with the world,” Arul said.

“Next week we look forward to starting the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Australia and Singapore, which will allow Australians to enter Singapore without the need to quarantine.”

Arul said the announcement Singapore citizens would enjoy quarantine free travel between Singapore and Australia was timely for people wanting to reunite with loved ones.

“It will also support Australia’s economic recovery with the return of international students from Singapore as well as other important economic visa holders,” he said.

SIA’s Sydney arrival was followed by the first regularly scheduled Qantas International long-haul flight for almost 600 days — QF 12 from Los Angeles.

The Flying Kangaroo’s Sydney-Darwin-London flight will be its first regular service out of Sydney at 6;30pm.

While the national carrier has flown hundreds of Australian government repatriation flights during the pandemic, and operated under a temporary border bubble arrangement with New Zealand earlier this year, the airline said these were the first regular Qantas international passenger flights under the relaxed overseas travel restrictions.

All passengers on Qantas International flights are required to be fully vaccinated, unless they are under 12 years old, are 12- to 17-year-olds traveling to Australia with their family or guardian or have an exemption.

“This day has been a long time coming for our people and our customers,’’ said Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce.”It’s wonderful to see Australians able to reunite with loved ones after such a long time apart.

“It’s been a very challenging time for our international crew, with many of them stood down since March 2020. We are in the process of standing up our Australian-based team members who are excited to get back to doing what they love.”

Joyce noted that international travel would be “a little different for a while “ due to new requirements and guidelines in place.

Qantas will operate international flights between Sydney and London and Los Angeles from today, with flights to other destinations relaunching in coming weeks.

 

US regulator contemplates warning about 5G impact on aircraft systems

5G
Photo: O'Hare International Airport.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly preparing warnings to pilots and airlines about the potential impact of 5G wireless services on aircraft safety systems.

The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that the FAA has been drafting a special bulletin about potential interference from the US rollout of 5G.

The newspaper cited former government and aviation officials who had been briefed on the matter and who warned an inability to use some cockpit systems could result in delays or diversions at 46 major US airports.

Australian authorities are also investigating the issue and whether 5G towers should be allowed near airports and heliports.

The US aviation industry has been at loggerheads with telecommunication regulators and companies for some time about the impact of the 5G rollout.

READ: Aerospace giants issue call to arms on net-zero carbon.

Aviation industry representatives have expressed concern about the impact of 5G on radio altimeters, devices used to measure altitude and which provide input to other systems.

This is because radio altimeters operate in a bandwidth adjacent to the one used in the US by 5G.

A letter to the FCC filed in August by lawyers working for aviation industry participants such as manufacturers and airlines warned that filters may need to be installed in some aircraft or limits applied to some approach paths to mitigate the risk of 5G interfering with radio altimeters.

The letter warned that limiting the use of approaches could result in “material reductions and disruptions to current aviation operations of all types”.

This could include restrictions on the use of certain runways, diversions to other airports, wide-ranging cancellation of flights and impacts on flight schedules, it said.

The letter also raised scenarios in which 5G could cause problems for aircraft in various landing and approach conditions.

It said industry representatives had explained during a meeting with telecommunications officials that harmful interference could lead to “an escalation of negative outcomes, from missed approaches, delays, diversions, and flight cancellations, to the shutting down of runways on an indefinite basis”.

Also discussed was the critical role of accurate radar in wind shear escape maneuvers.

“Loss of, or incorrect, radar altitude due to flexible use interference would greatly reduce chances of a successful safe outcome,’’ it said.

Australia’s regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, has asked pilots and aircraft operators to report radio altimeter failures and faults.

“We need the information to identify any interference issues that could potentially be caused by the continuing roll out of mobile 5G telecommunications networks,” CASA said in a newsletter.

“The frequency spectrum directly adjacent to and below the band used by radio altimeters is compatible with both existing and emerging 5G technology.

“Many approved radio altimeter systems may be unable to filter or block unwanted transmissions from existing and proposed 5G deployments.”

CASA said telecommunications companies in Australia currently used a lower frequency for 5G operations and there had been no confirmed radio altimeter system interference reports.

“However, we need any available information on potential interference to inform future decisions,” it said. “Relevant agencies are looking at potential restrictions on 5G infrastructure in and around major airports and heliports.”

The US Federal Communications Commission has argued that the available evidence does not support the conclusion that 5G networks will interfere with aviation.

However, the Journal’s sources said the FAA was not satisfied with the response.

The sources said the regulator could decide to issue more targeted warnings to reduce transport disruption, although the language or scope of a bulletin had yet to be decided.

An  FAA spokesman said the agency was working with other government officials so that aviation and 5G could coexist.

Virgin Australia adds another 23,000 fares to the discount pool

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia is offering more than 23,000 discounted fares for travel within Western Australia as airlines continue to roll out deals to entice travelers back into the skies.

The sale is one of several incentives launched in Australia in the past week as airlines move to relaunch flights, bring back staff and get the industry rolling again after COVID lockdowns.

Regional Express last week launched a fare sale without the traditional Christmas blackout period to mark the November 15 relaunch of its domestic network with flights from Melbourne to Sydney and Canberra.

Last Friday, it added to the pot by announcing the relaunch of flights between Sydney and Adelaide from November 26 with tickets starting at $59 one-way.

Jetstar slashed fares for its first international sale in almost two years with one-way fares to Honolulu starting at $A179 and Phuket from $A149.

Virgin Australia resumed its international strategy to allow all Velocity frequent flyers to “earn and burn” points on seven overseas airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines.

READ: Virgin’s velocity gains global pace with seven-airline points deal

The Australian reported on Monday that Qantas had taken almost half a million domestic bookings in the past two weeks, compared to about 20,000 a fortnight in August.

Demand is also soaring for international flights, with Jetstar reportedly selling 75,000 fares in the first 72 hours of its international sale.

Virgin’s West Australian sale will see more than 12,000 discounted fares between Perth and Kununurra starting at $A249 one-way for travel between March and September.

There are also 11,000 fares between Perth and Broome from $A199 one way for travel between March and October.

The airline said the fares were part of the WA government’s Affordable Airfare program designed to encourage West Australians to explore more of their home state.

The Regional Express sale between Adelaide and Melbourne extends to November 14 for travel up until April 30.

Rex has no Christmas blackouts, and the Adelaide-Melbourne schedule is designed to connect South Australian passengers to the airline’s domestic network.

United adds five new flights to London.

United
Photo: United

United Airlines is adding five new flights to London’s Heathrow Airport, including two more flights from New York/Newark, additional trips from both Denver and San Francisco, as well as an all-new direct flight from Boston.

The new service begins in March 2022 and with these additions, United will be the only US carrier to offer nonstop service between the nation’s top seven business markets and London.

United will offer 22 flights per day from the US to London, and more flights between New York City and London than any other US carrier.

London was the most booked international destination for United’s business customers in October, and the airline expects this trend to continue into 2022.

“For nearly 30 years, United has provided a critical link between the U.S. and London, maintaining service throughout the pandemic and strategically growing our schedule to keep our customers in these key global business centers connected,” said Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of international network and alliances at United.

“London is an integral part of United’s network and we remain confident demand will continue to grow, particularly as international business travel returns in 2022.”

These additional flights build on United’s largest trans-Atlantic announced earlier in September. United currently operates a total of seven flights to Heathrow from the US: two daily flights from New York/Newark and Washington D.C., and one daily flight from Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco.

In December, service will increase to 10 daily flights, with additional flights from New York/Newark and Chicago, just in time for the winter holidays.

The five new flights will make hopping across the pond easier and more comfortable for both leisure and business travelers, as United will:

  • Begin brand-new, daily flights from Boston operated with United’s premium Boeing 767300ER, which features 46 United Polaris® business class seats and 22 United Premium Plus® premium economy seats.
  • Resume daily flights from Denver and add a second daily flight operated by a Boeing 787-9.
  • Add sixth and seventh daily flights from New York/Newark, each of which will be operated by United’s premium Boeing 767-300ER and allow for hourly service in the evening.
  • Add a third daily flight from San Francisco operated by a Boeing 787-9.
  • Resume daily service to London from Los Angeles.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Prior to departure for England, customers who are fully vaccinated with a qualifying vaccine must complete a passenger locator form and book and pay for a test to be taken within the first two days of arrival. Passengers vaccinated in the US must provide proof of US residency.

For further details on the COVID-19 rules governing entry to England (including rules for unvaccinated customers and customers who have been is a red list country in the 10 days prior to arrival in England), visit.

 

Virgin’s Velocity gains global pace with seven-airline points deal

Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach. Photo Virgin Australia.

Virgin Australia says it will have a million reward seats on offer as it resumes its international strategy to allow Velocity frequent flyer members to “earn and burn” points on seven overseas airlines.

Velocity members wanting to use points accumulated during the pandemic on an overseas jaunt will ultimately be able to choose from partners Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways.

The airline said a network of hundreds of international destinations would go live in stages as restrictions eased and international travel resumed in what it described as the first tranche of post-lockdown deals.

Read: Singapore extends vaccinated Travel Lane scheme to Australia

Starting 11:59 pm on November 1, Velocity members will be able to redeem their points for reward seats and earn points on status credits on eligible regular fares on selected flights with Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and South African Airways.

A caveat is travel dates will vary for each carrier and reward seat. Virgin also noted that route availability was expected to grow in line with international travel demand returning to the market.

The Australian carrier said Singapore Airlines would be next to offer reward seats as the airline expands its network and services to and from Australia. Meanwhile, Velocity members would continue to earn Points and status credits when traveling on eligible revenue bookings made with the carrier.

More partnerships and more destinations will be revealed in the coming months, it added.

Not available at this stage is the codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways, which remains paused.

It said the deals with partner airlines would mean it would have about a million reward seats available across its domestic and international network.

Virgin is also heading overseas itself with international flights to Fiji from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane resuming on December 16 with Sydney-Nadi. Bali, Queenstown and other destinations are expected to follow.

“I am thrilled to offer customers an extended network to hundreds of destinations across the world,”  Velocity chief executive Nick Rohrlach in his first significant announcement.

“Virgin Australia will always have a strong core of its own international flights and then through Velocity will partner with leading airlines to offer an enviable network to travel-hungry Australians.

After being grounded for so long, many of us can’t wait to reunite with family and friends and experience new places – now Velocity Points will once again make it possible.

“Virgin Australia and its airline partners are determined to offer some of the best value fares on the market as we do our part to rebuild the travel industry and the millions of jobs it supports globally.

“As we rebuild and reopen, we look forward to offering even more opportunities to earn and redeem Points for our savvy members.”

Velocity is also offering a bonus in November of up to 30 percent to members who transfer points across from selected credit card partners.

 

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