ITA Airways Unveils New Interiors, Uniforms, Lounge and Special Livery

Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 05:24 PM ET

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ITA Airways Airbus A320neo new interiors by Walter De Silva. (Photo | ITA Airways)

ITA Airways, Italy’s national airline, recently unveiled the Airbus A320neo (dedicated to Italian ice-skating champion Carolina Kostner) with new interiors designed by Walter De Silva, an Italian designer working in automotive design. This aircraft is the first in ITA Airways’ fully configured fleet.

For the first time, ITA Airways’ medium-haul fleet will offer a paid connectivity service and free IFE Wireless content, with 90 hours of video programming and 12 hours of audio programming updated every two months.

New uniforms signed by Brunello Cucinelli

The new uniforms that will be worn by all ITA Airways flight attendants have been unveiled, designed with the free stylistic advice of Brunello Cucinelli, founder of the eponymous company known worldwide for the production of fine cashmere knitwear. According to the airline, the production of the new uniforms did not involve any additional cost and 1448 uniforms were produced.

As part of ITA Airways’ circular economy program “l’arte indossa la sostenibilità”, which will be unveiled soon, the old uniforms will be given a second life thanks to independent artists from Italy’s leading fashion and design institutes, who will create works of art from the airline’s discontinued uniforms.

New lounge at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome Fiumicino

The new Hangar Lounge, designed by the branding agency Robilant Associati and created thanks to important synergies between ITA Airways and Italian brands such as Campari, Lavazza, Lema, Poltrona FRAU, B&B Italia and Bisazza, was inaugurated at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

The new 980-square-meter lounge, located after the Terminal 1 security gates in Boarding Area A, has a maximum capacity of 150 people and is dedicated to eligible passengers, Business Class and Premium Volare customers, Executive members and Elite Plus Skyteam members. It is also possible to purchase access to the lounge through the ITA Airways website or directly at the airport if you have a ticket with the Italian carrier. The lounge is open every day of the week from 06:00 to 23:00.

The new lounge features an exclusive Wi-Fi network, a work area with isolated stations equipped with USB charging points, and a VIP room where meetings can be held in complete privacy. The ITA Airways Hangar Lounge is the fourth lounge to be opened by the airline, following the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Venezia lounges at Rome Fiumicino and the Piazza della Scala lounge at Milan Linate.

Special livery for Airbus A320 dedicated to Gustav Thoeni for EXPO2030

The Italian Committee for the Promotion of Rome’s Candidacy for EXPO 2030 and ITA Airways have decided to support Rome’s Candidacy for the World Expo 2030 by creating a special livery with the EXPO 2030 Rome logo, the theme of the event “People and Territories” and the inscription “Rome – Official Candidate World Expo 2030”.

ITA Airways, commits itself to accompany diplomatic delegations and staff of the Committee on missions to promote this Candidacy in selected countries of interest.

ITA Airways Rome EXPO2030 special livery. (Photo | ITA Airways)

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Vincenzo graduated in 2019 in Mechanical Engineering with an aeronautical curriculum, focusing his thesis on Human Factors in aircraft maintenance. In 2022 he pursued his master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Palermo, Italy. He combines his journalistic activities with his work as a Reliability Engineer at Zetalab.

Airlines Promote Net-Zero Emissions for Earth Day 2023

John Flett

Friday, April 21, 2023 at 10:36 AM ET

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Vanni Gibertini

Air Canada marks Earth Day by announcing the purchase of 9.5 million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) (Photo | CNW Group/Air Canada)

The global aviation industry’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 includes a number of reduction measures agreed upon at an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conference last year. The World Economic Forum says these measures include ‘ramping up innovative aircraft technologies, “streamlining” flight operations and the increased production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).’

Pre-pandemic the aviation industry was reported to contribute 2.5 percent to global carbon dioxide emissions and to have a 3.5 percent non-carbon dioxide-related impact on climate. This compares to 8.5 percent of worldwide emissions attributable to agriculture and 10 percent to the fashion industry. However, it is estimated that only 20 percent of the world’s population utilizes aviation services hence the industry’s actions to achieve a net-zero target by 2050.

With Earth Day 2023 on Saturday, April 22, a number of airlines are taking the opportunity to announce their latest initiatives to contribute toward the net-zero goal. Air India, Air Canada and Cathay Pacific are some of the airlines undertaking initiatives to commemorate the worldwide awareness campaign that marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Air India announced this week that the airline has ‘minimized single-use plastic usage by approximately 80 percent onboard all flights across its worldwide network.’ The carrier undertook a number of initiatives to achieve the target, including the 100 percent removal of 500ml plastic water bottles from all Economy Class seat pockets on widebody aircraft operating international flights, the replacement of plastic straws with paper straws, and the introduction of reusable linen bags on board.

Air Canada announced the purchase of 9.5 million liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to ‘power flights from San Francisco airport.’ The airline’s partnership with SAF producer Neste and the use of SAF is a core pillar of the carrier’s Climate Action Plan. Michael Rousseau, President and CEO at Air Canada, stated: “At Air Canada, we have adopted a multifaceted approach to addressing climate change and sustainability. Environmental and social factors are incorporated into our strategic decisions, as are our fleet purchases and daily operations through our support of low-carbon alternatives.”

Rousseau added: “We have been purchasing Neste’s SAF since February 2022. Today’s announced purchase represents a five-fold increase in our SAF procurement year over year, and it is an important step towards our target of one percent fuel to be SAF by 2025, supporting our journey towards our 2050 net zero decarbonization goals.”

The Manila Times reports that Cathay Pacific staff, ‘trade agents and other partners will be gathering at various mangrove forests across Southeast Asia in April and May to kickstart the planting of mangrove trees in their respective countries.’ The planting of over 20,000 mangrove trees comes as the result of the airline’s ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ campaign held in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore in November 2022. The project started in Thailand the previous year and was expanded in 2022.

The airline chose the initiative as ‘many communities in Southeast Asia depend on mangroves for food, protection, and income. Conservation of mangrove forests can support the local communities and protect their livelihoods.’ Dominic Perret, regional general manager of Cathay Pacific Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific, said: “We are excited to continue contributing to projects that make a difference to the communities we serve.”

John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content. John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

Avelo Announces Delaware Route Expansion

Zach Cooke

Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 09:44 PM ET

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The Avelo aircraft is seen during the Avelo Air aircraft shoot at Hollywood Burbank Airport on April 07, 2021 in Burbank, California. (Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Avelo Air)

On Thursday, Avelo Airlines announced yet another route expansion, growing its Wilmington, Del. base from five destinations served to 14. The Houston-based carrier continues its aggressive expansion strategy across the eastern seaboard and in the Delaware Valley, almost tripling service out of Wilmington just three months after beginning service out of the city.

The carrier announced that new non-stop routes will span five states and complement services to warm weather destinations which began in February of this year. New cities will include:

Charleston, S.C.
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.
Melbourne, Fla.
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Nashville, Tenn.
Savannah, Ga. / Hilton Head, S.C.
Wilmington, N.C.

The carrier will operate all routes to the cities listed above, with the exception of flights to and from Myrtle Beach, twice weekly. Myrtle Beach will be operated three times weekly. All routes will begin towards the end of June.

Operating flights two days a week instead of daily allows the carrier to operate to more destinations using fewer aircraft. Avelo will operate to all 14 destinations out of Wilmington using two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The carrier currently has one deployed in the base, bringing in an additional type in June to aid in expansion.

Different Cities, Same Name

Similar to Breeze’s Charleston to Charleston route, Avelo will operate a flight between two cities with the same name, Wilmington, Delaware to Wilmington, North Carolina.

The expansion also deepens Avelo’s impact with smaller cities that the carrier just announced service to, such as Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Florida. Avelo has yet to begin service to either city, yet is banking on strong demand, adding additional flights.

The Houston-based carrier has reported strong numbers operating out of Wilmington so far. Since the inaugural flight out of Wilmington on February 1st, the carrier has reported flying over 25,000 customers to and from the city according to their most recent press release. Situated between Philadelphia and Baltimore, alongside Southern New Jersey, the carrier has decided to use Wilmington’s New Castle Airport which is a smaller alternative to the bigger hubs in surrounding cities. Based on passenger numbers, this is working well for Avelo and fits into their business model.

The carrier is also the only airline offering service to the state of Delaware. In its history, multiple airlines have operated in and out of New Castle airport, most recently Frontier Airlines in 2021 and 2022. This was a re-entrance into the market after the carrier had initially suspended service in 2016 sighting an inability to make a sustainable profit.

Frontier only made a brief stint in its return to the state, flying for a little over a year between Wilmington and Orlando, Florida before yet again suspending operations to the airport. Throughout drops in airline coverage, Delaware was the only state in the United States without airline service, most recently occurring from June 2022 to January 2023.

Avelo, however, seems to have cracked the code thus far operating out of Delaware. Showing that the company will continue building upon its initial foundation in Wilmington, the carrier announced it will also be adding at least 35 new jobs in the hub, growing its New Castle operation to over 100 employees.

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

Expanded Canada-UAE Air Transportation Agreement Offers New Routes

Andrew Chen

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 08:30 PM ET

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Benjamin Pham

An Air Canada 787-9 departing (Photo: Air Canada)

A recent expansion of the air transport agreement between Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has led to several route announcements from carriers from both countries. The announcements cover new routes as well as increased frequencies on existing routes.

Air Transport Agreement

Air transport agreements are formal treaties between governments that allow for commercial air service between two jurisdictions. The foundation for these agreements was set out in the 1944 Chicago Convention, which established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and set out agreed rules around issues such as airspace, safety and aircraft registration.

These agreements generally include language governing various aspects of commercial aviation between the signatories. For example, they usually have language outlining procedures for cooperation on matters of security and provisions for mutual recognition of licenses and certificates.

Other parts of the agreements deal with matters such as taxation, tariffs and settlement of disputes. Typically, a route schedule is included in the annex of an air transport agreement.

Negotiations for the UAE-Canada air transport agreement were first concluded in 1999. That agreement permitted each country to allow its airlines to operate six flights per week in each direction as of June 1, 2003. The agreement was expanded in 2018, increasing the cap to 14 weekly flights in each direction.

The 2018 expansion also included a capacity restriction but allowed each government to allocate 68 per cent more capacity among its carriers than before. On April 5, the governments of Canada and the UAE announced that the agreement had once been expanded. Each country’s airlines can now operate 21 flights in each direction, and the capacity limit has been removed.

Increased Frequencies and New Routes

Prior to the announcement of the expanded agreement, Canada had been using half of its allocated frequencies with Air Canada’s daily service between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and Dubai, UAE’s International Airport. Since 2007, Emirates has also flown between Dubai’s International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, with five weekly flights prior to the announcement.

Etihad Airways flies six times per week between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. While the UAE airlines were only using 11 of the country’s 14 weekly frequencies, they had effectively maxed out their capacity allocation due to the agreement’s capacity limit.

Three days after the announcement of the expanded agreement, Emirates announced that it would be increasing the frequency of its Dubai–Toronto service to one flight daily as of April 20, up from the previous five flights per week. Shortly afterwards, Etihad also announced that it would add an additional weekly flight on its Abu Dhabi–Toronto route to make it a daily service as well. Etihad’s frequency increase is scheduled to start on May 30.

On April 13, Air Canada announced a new route between Vancouver International Airport and Dubai International Airport. The new service is scheduled to be operated four times weekly by the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft starting on October 28.

Although a formal announcement has not been made yet, Milesopedia and MTLURB have reported that Emirates will be launching a new route between Dubai International Airport and Montréal’s Trudeau International Airport starting on July 5.

The service will reportedly be operated by Boeing 777s, and its launch would mean that the UAE would be using all its allocated frequencies under the air transport agreement.

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

Violent Clashes in Sudan Shut Down Khartoum Airport, Damage Aircraft

Victor Shalton

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10:18 PM ET

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Parker Davis

A Saudia 777-300ER at Washington Dulles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

Sudan has been in a state of unrest since the military takeover of the civilian government in October 2021. The situation took a turn for the worse on April 15 when violent clashes between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group erupted in the capital city of Khartoum, leading to the closure of Khartoum International Airport (KRT) and the destruction of two parked aircraft.

Videos shared on social media showed burning aircraft on the apron, and travelers taking cover inside the airport’s departure hall. The RSF reportedly attempted to take over the airport, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the military. The conflict has raised concerns about the safety of air travel in Sudan.

During the ongoing military coup in Sudan, two aircraft are known to have been badly damaged or destroyed while parked at Khartoum Intl Airport (HSSS), Sudan. A Saudi Airbus A330-300 and a SkyUp Boeing 737-800. Additional aircraft may be affected as well. Ongoing story… pic.twitter.com/gqDZXJn1XH

— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) April 15, 2023

Saudia’s Airbus A330-300, which was preparing for departure to Riyadh, was one of the aircraft that suffered damage during the clashes. The airline confirmed the attack in a statement, saying that it was working with the Saudi embassy and local authorities to find out what happened as crews and passengers were escorted to the Saudi Arabian embassy in Khartoum.

Another aircraft that suffered damage was a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ukraine’s SkyUp Airlines. SkyUp, which operates 12 Boeing 737s, was established as a charter and wet lease provider after being badly hit by the war in Ukraine. The incident in Sudan is a severe blow to the Ukrainian airline.

Impact of Closure of Sudan Airspace

Sudan airspace is an important highway for quite a few key global routes and its closure has had a significant impact on major airlines operating in Africa. Turkish Airlines, for instance, may have to reroute about 15 flights to 11 African countries due to the closure. Qatar Airways may have to reroute four flights to three African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire) and four flights to three South American countries.

Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has also been affected, with the closure potentially requiring the rerouting of four flights to three African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire) and three flights to two South American countries (Argentina and Brazil). Meanwhile, Etihad Airways may have to reroute one flight to Nigeria, while Saudi Airlines may have to reroute two flights to Nigeria.

Egyptian airline EgyptAir announced it suspended flights to and from Khartoum for 72 hours over security concerns. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Cairo is following the situation in Sudan with great concern amid the ongoing clashes, urging maximum restraint to “protect the lives and capabilities of the brotherly Sudanese people, and uphold the supreme interests of the homeland.”

Of all the airlines potentially affected by the closure, Ethiopian Airlines has the most significant exposure due to its geographic position. The airline may have to reroute up to 38 routes in its network. However, the impact on its African network is minimal, with only a few flights being affected.

Tensions Between Army and RSF

The sustained fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in the Sudanese capital on April 15, including central Khartoum and the neighborhood of Bahr. The RSF said they were in control of several key sites following fighting with the regular army Saturday, including the presidential palace in the capital and Khartoum airport, reported AFP.

The General Command of the Armed Forces issued a press statement on Saturday, saying that rebel forces are conspiring against the state and national sovereignty and have been engaging in acts of aggression against Sudan. In response, the armed forces have been fighting for the “right and national dignity” of the country with soldiers shedding “precious blood” in the process.

Tensions between the army and the RSF have simmered since the military take-over of the civilian government in October 2021.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Trip Report: Surprises and Delights Across the Pacific with Philippines Airlines

Taylor Guglielmino

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 03:00 PM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A Philippine Airlines aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

This trip report is the first in a series of stories that took me from Los Angeles to New York’s JFK Airport via Manila, Jakarta and Singapore. This trip was completely funded independently and is an honest opinion on the airlines included. This week I will introduce you to Philippine Airlines — the airline that surprised me more than any other on this trip.

Check In

The check-in experience at LAX ahead of this fully booked Boeing 777-300 flight was nothing short of chaotic. I was dropped off on the far North Side of Tom Bradley International Terminal, TBIT for short, and the check in desk for PAL where on the far south side but the lines stretched to furthest away doors with no real coordination. It was only once I actually found the PAL desks did I know I was in the right place.

Fortunately for me I was seated in the business class cabin and was able to immediately move to the front of the line. The lady that checked me was incredibly helpful and was even able to check me in to my connecting flight that was, technically, 3 days in the future. Security was a breeze as I utilized both my Clear and TSA PreCheck membership.

Post-security, my number one goal was to find the Star Alliance lounge to kill a few hours prior to my flight. The Star Alliance lounge is probably the best alliance lounge at LAX. Most of this praise is due directly to the fact that it has an outdoor terrace with partial view of the Delta ramp and, more impressively, a plethora of fire pits and comfy couches to lounge on.

Unfortunately, all the spot were taken, so I turned my attention to the so called “media room” where I asked the staff to turn on the Australian GP Formula 1 race. While the race didn’t go the way I had hoped the shower suites were available about an hour before my departure, there’s nothing better than a shower right before a 15 hour flight. The lounge provides towels, dental kits, shaving kits and all the bath amenities you could need and there is no time limit on the use of one of the rooms.

Boarding

PAL flight 103 departed from gate 206 this particular evening which is quite the hike from the main part of TBIT, but the hallways under the tarmac are lined with moving walkways, so it only took about 15 minutes to get the gate.

The boarding process began with the gate agents making the announcement that, “Because this is an international flight, masks are required.” This seemed like a completely arbitrary statement and proved to be completely false as most crew and passengers went the entire flight without wearing a mask.

Normally, this would be something I would let go but the gate agents work for the airline and should know the requirements of flying between the United States and the Philippines. The boarding process officially started with some of the gate agents holding up signs with the different boarding groups on them. I really like this idea, as it takes away the desire of some people to crowd around that gate well before their group is called.

Onboard

Onboard I found my seat, 6A, and settled in. PAL uses a rather outdated 2-3-2 business class cabin, which was the main point of dread going into this flight. Seeing as I had booked a window seat on a fully booked flight, I was nervous about having to crawl over a stranger at 3 o’clock in the morning.

The seat was, however, incredibly comfortable. Bountiful legroom and when the bed was in lie flat mode I felt very closed off from the rest of the cabin. If you are a side sleeper like I am, you’ll love how much room these seats have when you’re trying to fall asleep. Major points here!.

The Cabin crew on this flight were nothing short of outstanding, I would like to particularly say thank you to Karen for all the help throughout the flight. The crew were always there when you needed something but weren’t overbearing or hovering. If PAL sees this article just know that you have some amazing people flying on your aircraft.

Food

Meal service started with a scented hot towel and a place setting with metal cutlery. Next was a canapé of prawn toast. To start I chose the duck breast with grain salad. The flavor was great, but the duck was slightly dry.

For the main, I had the beef bulgogi that had a mixture of beef, mushrooms and tofu. This dish was delicious, and I would consider it the best dish of the entire flight. Garlic bread was offered along side, it was the standard grocery store variety, not quite Emirates quality but very good.

Dinner service concluded with a small carton of Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream. Breakfast was beef adobo, a dish I was relatively unfamiliar with but the mixture of beef with its sauce and rice and scrambled eggs was wonderful. The beef was tender and flavorful, the eggs weren’t over cooked and fluffy and the rice was perfectly cooked, this just proves that you can get breakfast right, even after 13 hours in the air!

In Conclusion

Philippine Airlines isn’t an airline that I had heard much about prior to booking and to be honest, I was not expecting much but I cannot wait to fly with them again. PAL continued to surprise me. The crew were great, the food was some of the best in the sky and the lie flat seats can compete with Singapore’s when it’s time to sleep.

The carrier has a few things they need to update to compete with the best airlines in the world. I believe that PAL can be a force to be reckoned with in Southeast Asia . The only drawback of flying with PAL is that they are not part of an airline alliance despite ANA, who’s a Star Alliance member, owning 9.5% of the carrier’s shares.

I cannot wait to fly with Philippine Airlines again, and I am already to looking to book my return to Manila as soon as possible.

Taylor Guglielmino

U.K. Manchester Airport Group Sees Strong Recovery in 2023

Pete Ainsley

Monday, April 17, 2023 at 08:58 PM ET

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Parker Davis

A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 taxis past Terminal Two at Manchester Airport (Photo: Manchester Airport)

U.K.’s Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is in line with London’s Heathrow and Gatwick, making a remarkable recovery after the pandemic as four million passengers had flown through its airports in March. The group’s rolling 12-month passenger totals for the period ending March 2023 has reached 54 million, 88% of 2019 levels.

MAG owns Manchester Airport, London’s Stansted Airport and the U.K.’s East Midlands Airport. Touting its own operational performance, the group said that 99% of passengers at Stansted and Manchester Airport passed through security in 15 minutes during the Easter Holidays.

Manchester Airport, the gateway to Northern England has hired more than 2,000 new employees since last April. The airport was spotted the long queues since the travel restrictions were lift in March 2022. As a result of the previous travel chaos, Manchester has prepared itself for emergencies as a new resilience team had been set up. One hundred members are trained in a variety of roles across the airport, handling from check in to baggage handling.

Manchester Airport has recorded 1.9 million passengers in March, 30% higher than March last year and 92.5% pre-pandemic levels.

“We are pleased to have delivered a really positive start to the summer season, including during the busy Easter weekend.” Chris Woodroofe, The Managing Director of the airport said.

In addition, Stansted welcomed nearly two million passengers in March. It recorded 94% of the passengers volume of 2019, increasing 32% to same time last year. Stansted has boosted its summer schedule by adding the new flight operation to Bergen, Norway, Athens and Rome.

“Our preparations to meet rising passenger demand across May due to the multiple bank holidays, including the King Charles III coronation weekend, and the peak summer season continue to go well.” Gareth Powell, the Managing Director of Stansted said.

However, East Midlands Airport missed the mark and had served 183,000 passengers in March, only 72% of pre-pandemic levels. The airport has experienced “some good recovery” but “slower than we expected”. The airport is looking forward a 90-95% in some of its peak seasons and about four million customers over the next 12 month.

“We look forward to welcoming back passengers this year, many of whom still won’t travelled overseas since before the pandemic.” Mike Grimes, Customer Service & Security Director of East Midlands Airport said.

New Rules on Liquids in the U.K.

In the meantime, Britons could save their time at security checkpoints. London City Airport has recently introduced the new CT full security scanner as the passengers don’t need to remove their laptops and can carry liquid containers up to two liters in size their carry-on bags in line with the national aviation authority’s new security rules.

The CT technology has been used in New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The airports around the U.K. must install the new system by June 2024.

Pete Ainsley

Denver Air Connection Expands in Minneapolis

Joey Gerardi

Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 06:19 AM ET

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Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

Denver Air Connection airplanes lined up in Denver. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Denver-based Denver Air Connection, or more commonly known as DAC, will be expanding from its Minneapolis/St. Paul hub, which is due to a contract refresh. Pierre, S.D., an EAS community the airline has served since June 2021 when SkyWest terminated their contract here, along with nearby Watertown, S.D., which have a joint EAS contract and are usually awarded together, just had their contract re-awarded to Denver Air Connection once again.

The DAC check-in desk in Watertown (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Back in 2021, the contract for the two communities was awarded to DAC, with Watertown’s proposal including flights to both Chicago O’Hare and Denver, while Pierre only got Denver flights.

Under the new contract, Watertown will continue to receive what it already has, nonstop flights to both Chicago and Denver. But, Pierre will be adding a new destination; Minneapolis/St. Paul, in addition to the Denver flights currently operated. Up to four of the 12 weekly flights from Pierre will now be going to Minneapolis.

This will be the first time Pierre has had flights to Minneapolis or any destinations east of the city since Great Lakes Airlines served the airport before it collapsed in March 2015. This will also be the city’s first jet service to Minneapolis since the 1980’s as all flights to Minneapolis between 1980 and 2015 were on propeller-driven aircraft.

These flights will be the airline’s third destination out of Minneapolis as they already serve Thief River Fall, Minn. and Ironwood, Mich. from the airport. The new contract is set to begin on June 1, 2023, but flights have not gone on sale as of yet given the contract was just awarded to the airline a few days ago and they need time to get resources together before beginning to sell the flights.

Flights and schedules are subject to change and all information in this article was obtained through publicly viewable documents.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

Rome Fiumicino Airport Renovates Terminal 1

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10:17 PM ET

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AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Rome "Leonardo Da Vinci" Airport (Photo: Aeroporti Di Roma - ADR)

A few days ago, the new Terminal 1 was inaugurated, with a capacity of 6 million passengers for domestic and Schengen destinations. Last year, boarding area A was inaugurated at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport, but the former boarding area C is also scheduled to open before the summer of 2023, and the renovation of the former pier D is scheduled to begin in the coming months.

The Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) Group, which operates both the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at Fiumicino and the Giovan Battista Pastine Airport at Ciampino, both near Rome, was inaugurated in 1961, replacing Ciampino Airport, which remained in service only for domestic and charter flights. In 1991, Terminal 1 was inaugurated, which was closed in July 2020 due to the effects of Covid-19 on air traffic. In October 2022, its renovation began, with the aim of optimizing the operational space and increasing the overall comfort of the terminal.

The new area covers nearly 25000 square meters and was built without excavating or increasing the existing infrastructure by reusing construction materials. The departures area is equipped with 22 gates, more than half of which are equipped with jet bridges, 12 new loading bridges for direct boarding of aircraft, 44 self-boarding gates, as well as digital columns integrated into the structures. A new baggage handling system has been installed in the arrivals area, with 3 new baggage reclaim carousels for additional capacity for an additional 3 million passengers per year.

This is just the latest achievement of Rome’s airport, as there is a major investment program of about 10 billion euros ($11bn) until 2046, of which 2.5 billion have already been implemented. These renovations and improvements are also being carried out with a view to the next major international events, such as the Jubilee in 2025.

All the renovation, design and development work is “Made in Italy”, carried out by the ADR Group’s team of architects and engineers using the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, and has involved all the structural and plant components of the terminal, with the aim of maximizing the spaces dedicated to passengers and facilitating their orientation within the airport. Passengers will now be able to scan a QR code placed on the LED walls of the boarding gates and listen to a guide to their destination, with interesting facts and places to visit, which can also be downloaded and listened to during the flight. These audio guides are created by Chora Media, an Italian storytelling company founded in 2020 with the aim of spreading news, history and art through different series of themed podcasts.

The inauguration was attended by ADR Group President Claudio De Vincenti and ADR Group CEO Marco Troncone. Also present, given the importance of the event, were the Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Matteo Salvini, the Undersecretary of Culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, the President of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), Pierluigi Di Palma, the CEO of ITA Airways, Fabio Lazzerini, the President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, the Mayor of the City of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, the Deputy Mayor of Fiumicino, Ezio di Genesio Pagliuca, and Prefect Fabrizio Gallo, Director of the Fund for Religious Buildings of the Italian Ministry of the Interior.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Boeing 737 Deliveries Halted By ‘Quality-Related Problem’

John Flett

Friday, April 14, 2023 at 10:39 PM ET

Verified

Parked Boeing 737 MAX jets at Boeing Field, most of which destined to Chinese carriers. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Boeing is facing fresh challenges with the delivery of some of its 737 MAX aircraft with Reuters reporting the manufacturer has ‘quality-related problems with certain components made by one of its main suppliers.’ It is reported that some deliveries of new aircraft have been halted for inspections to take place which will result in delays for airlines awaiting planes ahead of the Northern summer.

Boeing disclosed the problem on Thursday and it involves ‘the installation of two fittings that join the aft fuselage made by Spirit AeroSystems to the vertical tail, which were not attached correctly to the structure of the fuselage before it was sent to the planemaker.’ According to Reuters Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems will need to inspect a number of 737 -MAX 7, -MAX 8 and -MAX 8200 aircraft. News of the issue caused Spirit AeroSystems shares to drop 20 percent and Boeing’s shares 7 percent on Friday.

The manufacturer had been hoping to increase the output of its most popular aircraft from 31 per month to 38 by June and 42 by January 2024. In the first quarter of 2023, Boeing delivered 111 737s and was targeting 400 of the aircraft to be delivered this year. Last month Airline Geeks reported that both Boeing and Airbus were seeking to increase their workforce of engineers by sourcing new staff in India. This was to counter the continual delays to delivery schedules that were seeing airlines and lessors exercise their right to compensation due to missed delivery deadlines.

Ryanair is Boeing’s biggest European customer for the 737 and was expecting deliveries of 24 MAX 8200s prior to the commencement of the summer holiday season in July. In the calendar year 2023, the airline was scheduled to receive 51 Boeing 737 aircraft to add to its current fleet of 540. The Irish Times reported the carrier as saying they were ‘assessing with Boeing how this will impact’ those deliveries.

The Irish Times also noted that Boeing had advised the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the issue. The manufacturer advised the FAA that the current development ‘was not an immediate “safety of flight issue”’ to aircraft already in operation and that the regulator had agreed. Reports are that the issue may go back to 2019 though some versions of the 737 use parts from a different supplier. Boeing is therefore making an assessment of the total number of aircraft impacted and it is expected that the FAA ‘is likely to issue an airworthiness directive that would mandate an inspection-and-repair regime.’

John Flett