A Cathay Pacific A350. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)
Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express, its low-cost carrier, have more than their fair share as 150 flights to Japan are being forced to cancel between Feb. 3 and March 2.
Japan carried out the new travel restrictions and limited the number of flights from Hong Kong since January. It came after the announcement of China to reopen its border. The Japanese government has requested the passengers have been in mainland China in the last seven days and the travelers coming from Macau directly must take a Covid-19 test on arrival. However, the passengers coming from Hong Kong could skip a PCR test on arrival thus far.
As a result of the latest Japan’s travel restrictions, Cathay Pacific reduce its flight operation to 72 flights per week into Japan, 12-13 flights per week less than what was originally planned. Cathay Pacific said it will try to communicate with the relevant authorities to minimize the impact on its customers.
The affected flights include Hong Kong to Tokyo’s Narita Airport, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. The passengers to Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka will be transferred to other available flights and the passengers to Nagoya will be transferred to Osaka flights, but the flights to Sapporo will operate as scheduled. The affected passengers can rebook their flight or get the refund.
In January, Hong Kong Express has already scraped the flights to Okinawa, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Tokyo’s Narita Airport in response to the travel rules.
Japan is one of Hongkongers’ favorite travel destinations as it ticks all the boxes. Since Hong Kong government lifted its travel restrictions in September, the travel demand has been seen an uptick in short-haul leisure destinations. By popular demand, Cathay Pacific has ramped up the flight frequencies to Sapporo and Fukuoka in December.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
After three years of the pandemic, Cathay Pacific finally saw a huge increase in travel demand in December, the airline carried a total of 801,088 passengers in December, an increase of 768.7% compare with same time last year and the passenger load factor reached 83.3%. But the pandemic is far from over, it recorded a 73.3 decrease compare to 2019. Cathay Pacific flew nearly 60 destinations by the end of 2022, doubling the 29 it flew to in January 2022.
“Looking ahead into 2023, we are excited to be firmly on the path to rebuilding Cathay Pacific and the Hong Kong international aviation hub. Nevertheless, challenges still remain and we are taking a measured and responsible approach to our rebuilding efforts.” Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the airline said.
Earlier, the Hong Kong’s flag carrier expected to record a consolidated loss of approximately $817 million to $894 million. The airline loss $702 million for the year ended Dec.31 2021.
Morning over the Atlantic Ocean (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the airspace over Somalia and the surrounding region will be reclassified as Class A effective from 26th January 2023.
The reclassification follows the operational restoration of air traffic control services, which had been disrupted for 30 years. The reclassification of the airspace is a major milestone for Somalia’s aviation industry, and it is expected to improve safety and efficiency in the region.
Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR)
The Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR) is one of the busiest airways in the region, connecting the African region to the Middle East, Western Europe, the Indian Ocean islands and the Indian subcontinent.
The region encompasses the landmass surrounding the Horn of Africa and extends into the Indian Ocean. The reclassification of the Mogadishu FIR to Class A airspace was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Somalia Airspace Special Coordination Team that comprised of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization, adjacent FIRs, and airlines.
According to IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, Kamil Al-Awadhi, “The reclassification of the Mogadishu FIR as ‘Class A’ airspace will significantly improve safety in the region and enhance efficiency. This is thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Somalia Airspace Special Coordination Team, comprising the Somali CAA, IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization, adjacent FIRs and airlines.”
The operational restoration of air traffic control in the Mogadishu FIR was also made possible with the installation of modern radio navigation and other technological infrastructure. The commissioning of the new technology followed a successful trial, which began in May 2022.
Al-Awadhi added, “The upgrade of air traffic management and improved navigation and communication infrastructure will enhance situational awareness along an increasingly busy air corridor and its intersections with routes linking many of the world’s regions.”
According to IATA, all flights operating in Class A airspace must be cleared by air traffic control, which is responsible for maintaining lateral and vertical separation between aircraft. In the Mogadishu FIR, Class A airspace is the sky above the base altitude of approximately 24,500 feet above mean sea level.
Government’s commitment to revive the country’s aviation sector
The reclassification of Somalia’s airspace is a significant step towards the revival of the country’s aviation industry, which has been in disarray for many years.
In the Fall, Transport Minister Fardowsa Osman Egal set up a working group to create a plan to re-launch the airline.
According to sources, the airline could also receive support from Ethiopian Airlines, which has a history of investing in African airlines.
The Ethiopian Aviation Minister recently visited Mogadishu to discuss the possibility of cooperation. Somali Airlines was originally founded in 1964 and served destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Germany with Boeing 720, 707-300, and Airbus A310 aircraft. However, it was dissolved in 1991 due to the outbreak of the civil war.
The reclassification of the Mogadishu FIR is a major milestone for Somalia’s aviation industry and is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to revive the country’s aviation sector.
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.
The first Split Scimitar Winglet mounted on a Ryanair Boeing 737 NG. (Photo: Ryanair)
On 23 January 2023, Ryanair installed Split Scimitar Winglets on the first of more than 400 new-generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet in order to reduce its carbon footprint. The Split Scimitar Winglets, jointly developed with Boeing, can reduce aerodynamic drag by up to 2%.
This retrofit comes after signing a $175 million deal with Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) and will improve the fuel efficiency of the Boeing 737 NG aircraft by up to 1.5%. Although these may seem like very small numbers, the efficiencies achieved through operational improvements make a big difference. At every stage of an aircraft’s operations, there are opportunities to reduce fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions. By fitting Split Scimitar Winglets Ryanair has estimated a reduction in annual consumption of 65 million liters of paraffin, as well as reducing the Irish airline’s carbon emissions by around 165,000 tonnes of CO2.
The investment was brought forward by Ryanair as the Irish airline plans to grow to carry 225 million passengers by 2026. These winglet modifications will further the airline’s goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050.
Split Scimitar Winglets (SSW) are offered by APB for the 737-800 and 737-900ER and entered service in early 2014. United Airlines’ first Boeing 737-800 equipped with the SSWs made its first test flight on 16 July 2013.
With the new winglets, the Boeing 737 NG will look very similar to the Boeing 737 MAX currently operated by Ryanair’s fleet. However, there are some differences:
– The Split Scimitar Winglets (of the Boeing 737s NG) have a mixed winglet-shaped main body, but with the upper end hooked backward, and they also have an additional scimitar-shaped fin that protrudes outwards and backward from the curvature of the winglet. The modification requires a trailing edge wedge and reinforced spars but does not involve any changes to the avionics, which is what makes them such a good investment.
– The MAX winglets (of the Boeing 737s MAX) have a simpler shape than the SSW, which is not ‘split in two’ but has a single continuous winglet, a small one at the bottom of the wingtip and a bigger one at the top.
A set of Split Scimitar Winglets weighs 133 kg (294 lbs) per aircraft, but allows a fuel economy of 1.6% on 1000-mile routes, rising to 2.2% on 3000-mile routes. This equates to an additional range of 65 nm.
Patrick LaMoria, APB’s Chief Commercial Officer, said it is an honor to be able to install Split Scimitar Winglets on the world’s largest fleet of next-generation 737-800 aircraft.
The retrofit of Split Scimitar Winglets was approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency in 2015, after receiving the green light from the Federal Aviation Administration for the US market.
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.
A Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Alaska Airlines subsidiary Horizon Air has retired its Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 fleet, with the last passenger flight operating on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.
A 22-Year Legacy
The Dash 8 Q400 flew its first revenue flight for Horizon on Jan. 26, 2001, exactly 22 years before its final commercial flight for the airline on Thursday. Throughout its two decades of service, the Horizon Air Q400 was a staple at airports throughout the Pacific Northwest. The turboprop populated the commuter gates at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport’s Concourse C and at Portland International Airport’s B gates, shuttling passengers to destinations such as Spokane and Wenatchee in Washington, Boise in the adjacent state of Idaho and Vancouver in the neighboring Canadian province of British Columbia.
Between the retirement of Horizon’s older Dash 8 models and Canadair Regional Jets in 2011 and the introduction of its Embraer 175s in 2018, the Q400s were the backbone of the Horizon Air fleet. Horizon operated more than 50 Q400s over the last two decades, with over 30 in service as recently as last year. While the Q400 fleet previously carried a distinct Horizon Air livery, the turboprops later flew in Alaska Airlines colors under the branding of Alaska Horizon. Horizon’s Q400 fleet was also known for having special liveries with the colors of colleges and their sports teams.
A Horizon Air Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 in a San Diego State University Special Livery (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Krautkremer)
The final flight was operated by N421QX, a 16-year-old Q400 wearing a Horizon Air retro livery. The aircraft flew from Spokane to Seattle, arriving shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Major props to such a beloved aircraft! Yesterday, we celebrated the end of an iconic era in aviation with the final flight of our Q400s. Even though we’re saying goodbye, we know good things are always on the Horizon! https://t.co/Zw5HO96qpGpic.twitter.com/6PfDaRGB30
While it appears that most of Horizon’s Q400s will be sold or scrapped, it has donated one to Portland Community College in support of its aviation maintenance and aviation science programs. The carrier also previously announced that a second Q400 was being donated to ZeroAvia, a company that recently made its first hydrogen-powered flight, with the goal of developing a hydrogen-electric powertrain.
The retirement of the Q400 leaves Horizon with a fleet of around 30 Embraer 175 jets. Alaska joins other major airlines across the United States in moving away from turboprops in favor of jet aircraft. While the Q400 will be missed by aviation geeks and plane spotters, the transition to a jet-only fleet is likely a welcome move for most travelers. The turboprop was not known for passenger comfort: the cabin felt cramped, there were very few amenities on board and the lavatory did not have a sink.
An Alaska Airlines news release about the Q400 retirement also noted the cost efficiencies in operating a single type of aircraft. The carrier pointed out that having two types of aircraft required two sets of parts, training programs and pilots, adding that the Embraer-only fleet will allow for a more efficient use of resources.
“We’re at a unique moment in time,” Horizon Air President Joe Sprague said in the news release. “With our shift to a single fleet of E175 jets, we’re laying a major new cornerstone of the foundation for our future.”
An Alaska Airlines E-175 operated by Horizon Air at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)
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.
An Amazon Prime Air 767 touching down in Miami. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Amazon has launched Amazon Air services in India. A first for the country, as to date no e-commerce company has had its own dedicated fleet operating in the country. Two Boeing 737-800 freighter aircraft will be used. Amazon has leased the two 737s from the cargo airline, Quikjet Cargo Airlines Pvt. Ltd. The aircraft will continue to be operated by the Indian cargo airline on behalf of Amazon. Additionally, the aircraft will carry the “Prime Air” branding of Amazon.
The operator was involved in trials for two months. Thereafter, on Monday, a public launch was carried out at GMR Hyderabad International Airport.
Amazon already has its own dedicated fleet comprising of 90 aircraft.
This venture into India will prove very fruitful for multiple counts. For starters, India is a huge market and by having dedicated freighters, Amazon will be able to bring down the delivery times as compared to other e-commerce competitors who rely on other logistics companies. The aircraft being used can carry 20,000 shipments, said Akhil Saxena, VP Customer Fulfilment, Amazon.
The aircraft will be used to do round trips to cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. speeding up Amazon deliveries by a considerable margin to several important cities and nerve points.
These operations are also in tune with the city of Hyderabad being an important city for IT companies and further increases its importance.
India has several such dedicated freighter services, namely: Blue Dart Aviation, SpiceXpress, Pradhaan Air Express and IndiGo CarGo. However, none of these are dedicated to an e-commerce company.
Blue Dart Aviation is the aircraft freighter wing of the courier service company, is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It serves 7 metropolitan Indian cities with a fleet of 6 well-maintained Boeing 757-200F, the freighter variant of the 757 aircraft, also known as the “Flying Pencil”. The company is in the process of acquiring more aircraft to increase operations.
SpiceXpress is the freighter services arm of SpiceJet, an Indian LCC. The airline uses the freighter variants of the 737 for its operations. The company surged by quite a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, when commercial flights were grounded. SpiceExpress at one point had even wet-leased Airbus A340s from HiFly Malta for freight services.
Pradhaan Air Express is a new air freighter in India, currently operating a single Airbus A320-200/P2F (passenger to freighter) aircraft. The airline has 3 more similar aircraft on order.
IndiGo CarGo is the cargo division of IndiGo, the biggest airline in India. The airline kicked off its dedicated freighter services using Airbus A321-200/P2F. The LCC has two such aircraft in operation with two more on order.
The above only displays the tremendous growth in air cargo capacity available and the demand for the same in India.
The launch of Amazon Air further sets into concrete the fact that India is fast emerging as the most sought after and fast-growing market across multiple segments. Aviation in India has already reached pre-pandemic figures in terms of passengers carried and the graph is poised to keep gaining altitude. With the launch of Amazon Air services in the country, e-commerce patrons will have faster delivery times and logistics support chains, ancillary services, etc., will also have a positive impact, hopefully leading to employment generation.
Be what it may, Amazon Air in India is a rather exciting venture signifying progress and development whilst also being an interesting livery to be present at airports and the skies
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
ZeroAvia's Dornier 228 Departure for First Flight. (Photo: ZeroAvia)
ZeroAvia’s modified 19-seat Dornier 228 twin-engine aircraft took to the sky in testbed configuration for the first flight as part of the HyFlyer II project. The airplane was retrofitted with a full-size prototype hydrogen-electric powertrain on the aircraft’s left wing.
The flight took place from the company’s R&D facility at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire, U.K. and lasted 10 minutes. The aircraft completed taxi, take-off, a full pattern circuit and landing. The landmark flight forms part of the HyFlyer II project, a major R&D program backed by the UK Government’s flagship ATI Programme, which targets the development of a 600kW powertrain to support 9-19 seat aircraft worldwide with zero-emission flight.
U.S. Modified Version
ZeroAvia’s Dornier 228 in the US is staying dormant after the media display. (Photo: ZeroAvia)
The Hollister, Calif.-based company is also working on a similar conversion in its U.S. bases. It acquired a Dornier 228 from the defunct Vision Air in 2022. However, after a brief media appearance at its new home, the airplane returned to its base in Las Vegas.
While it makes sense to keep the plane at a location with a known maintenance facility, there’s no clear evidence the plane is receiving retrofits.
The company is also in rapid expansion mode. In addition to its Hollister and Kemble, UK site, it’s also hiring many engineers for its Seattle office. The Hollister-based company opened its Seattle office after inking a deal with Alaska Airlines Group for a conversion kit for the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400. However, the Seattle-based airline is conducting its last Q400 revenue flight this week on January 26.
Universal Hydrogen’s First Flight
In the meantime, AeroTEC and Universal Hydrogen are also actively working toward the first flight of a hydrogen-powered Bombardier Dash 8-300. The Dash 8-300 is a 50-seat airplane, significantly larger than the Dornier 228 that ZeroAvia flew. The Universal Hydrogen modification also only applies to a single side on the twin-engine aircraft.
The duo aimed to complete the first flight before the end of the year last year. However, that date has since slipped to January of 2023. The company’s social media has been posting pictures of the modification and engine run-up. Its social media also hinted taxi footage coming soon, which would be the last hurdle to clear before the first flight.
The Hawthorne, Cali.-based company is also working on retrofitting an ATR in Europe as a proving ground for operational testing regarding hydrogen fuel.
The Race to Hydrogen-Powered Flights
A rendering of E19-HE over the skies of London. (Photo: Embraer)
It is becoming increasingly clear that the aviation industry is pivoting toward hydrogen-electric for mainline applications in the future. In the US, the four major traditional airlines have invested in Hydrogen fuel in one way or another. United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines all invested in ZeroAvia, while American also has a working relationship with Universal Hydrogen. Delta Air Lines is working directly with Airbus on pulling forward the future of hydrogen fuel.
Both Airbus and Embraer are working on designs for a hydrogen-powered future. That leaves Boeing alone to focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and gaining significant efficiency improvement through aerodynamics.
Fangzhong grew up near an OEM airport in northeastern China, where he developed his enthusiasm for aviation. Taking upon his passion, he's now working as an aircraft interior design engineer. Besides working in the aerospace industry, Fangzhong enjoys trying out different types of airplanes and seeing how airplane interiors have evolved. So far, he's flown on over 80 types of aircraft. He also planespots in his spare time. His rarest catches included the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and AN-225.
Etihad Airways Signs Agreement for Climate Neutral Operations
Recently, Etihad Airways — the Abu Dhabi-based airline of the United Arab Emirates — received the ‘Green Industries’ eco-label from the Emirates capital’s environment agency. In addition, Etihad Airways and SATAVIA recently signed a multi-year commercial agreement for the management of contrails within their daily flight operations.
The contract was signed by Mariam Al Qubaisi, Etihad Airways’ chief sustainability officer, and Adam Durant, managing director of SATAVIA, on 18 January 2023 at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. SATAVIA is a leading green aerospace company based in the UK, which aims to green aviation by providing useful information to key stakeholders across the industry, enabling environmentally conscious operators to reduce their climate impact per flight by up to 60 percent.
Once in place, the new agreement will enable Etihad Airways to accelerate the airline’s progress toward climate-neutral operations.
According to an article in EUROCONTROL from 2021, contrails are formed by water, soot and cold air. When water vapor is expelled from the exhaust nozzle of an aircraft engine into the sufficiently cold air, it condenses and freezes around soot and other particles in the air, creating tiny ice crystals. Under certain atmospheric conditions, these ice crystals create layers of cirrus clouds, causing a ‘blanket’ effect that keeps warmer air trapped in the lower atmosphere.
SATAVIA’s contrail management platform, DECISIONX: NETZERO, aims to optimize commercial flight plans for greener operations by implementing small route changes on a minority of flights to avoid the formation of persistent, warming contrails.
Adam Durant, CEO and founder of SATAVIA, said that by implementing minimal changes to a small percentage of flights, Etihad Airways could eliminate the majority of its climate footprint (not directly related to CO2) with minimal impact on day-to-day operations and in a shorter timeframe than other green aviation interventions.
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency has also awarded Etihad Airways the ‘Green Industries’ eco-label for finding innovative pollution control solutions and applying environmental best practices, leading to increased levels of environmental compliance across the airline. The agency awarded the label during a ceremony held on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
There are four main categories under this award: resource demand management (which considers optimal energy use and resource conservation), pollution reduction from primary and secondary operations, record of environmental compliance with UAE requirements and finally, new approaches to environmental conservation. The award also recognizes the promotion of economic growth and improving the quality of life for Abu Dhabi residents.
The winning companies receive the award after being recognized for their eco-friendly performance through an in-depth assessment of the facility’s operations and initiatives, which ensures the implementation of environmental best practices to ensure the protection and sustainable development of the environment.
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.
A Japan Airlines 787-9 departing. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Over the past few weeks, a number of airlines around the world have made announcements about their onboard catering offerings. From new food and beverage options to the return of inflight chefs, these developments show a commitment from airlines to the passenger experience as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delta’s Menu Refresh
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is starting the new year with updated food and beverage options for premium passengers. Seasonal and regional menu items include a plant-based cheesesteak sandwich for passengers departing from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Spanish tapas like dried beef and aioli potato salad for passengers departing Spain and traditional afternoon tea on flights departing from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
For dessert, Delta is bringing back its dessert cart for those traveling in Delta One, the airline’s widebody business class product. The cart features plated desserts, fruit and cheese plates as well as a build-your-own ice cream sundae option. United Airlines also recently announced the return of its dessert cart for long-haul business passengers. Delta One passengers and those flying on the airline’s short-haul First Class product also have two new dessert options on flights longer than 900 miles: a chocolate chunk and sea salt cookie or a blueberry lemon cheesecake.
Delta One customers on some flights will also be treated to new alcoholic beverages. Firstly, there is a rosé label produced by La Fête Wine Company called La Fête du Rosé. The carrier describes the pink wine as a “perfectly balanced with a silky palate of vibrant strawberry grenadine and currant, ending with remarkable freshness.” Delta’s onboard cocktail partner, Tip Top Proper Cocktails, is also offering an espresso martini as well as a variety of other cocktails throughout the year in a rotating program.
Chocolate chunk and sea salt cookies from Bell’s Cookie Co. will be available for passengers in First Class and Delta One (Photo: Delta Air Lines)
Porter Reveals Catering Partners
North of the border, Toronto-based Porter Airlines has revealed the details of its updated onboard service offering, with a stated emphasis on partnering with high-quality Canadian brands. Porter offers an all-economy service but has recently announced a revamped onboard product with the introduction of its Embraer E195-E2 jets.
Porter offers beer and wine served in glassware to all passengers as well as a snack basket featuring a variety of options. The airline’s announcement highlights a number of Canadian products and brands. Perhaps most notably, Porter revealed the return of the beloved milk chocolate shortbread from Cookie It Up, which was previously offered on board and in the airline’s lounges until 2017.
While Porter’s network has largely focused on turboprop flights out of Toronto’s small downtown airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, it is expanding to Toronto Pearson International Airport with its new Embraer E195-E2 jets. These aircraft will operate new longer routes for the airline, including transcontinental flights to destinations such as Vancouver, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta.
Food offerings on these flights will be included for passengers traveling on PorterReserve, the airline’s all-inclusive economy class option, and will be available for purchase by other passengers. The airline announced that options will include a selection of Canadian cheese, organic wellness shots, as well as menu options that vary between flights but include a chia smoothie bowl, tropical salmon poke and a seven-layer dip.
Porter Airlines is introducing meals on longer flights (Photo: Porter Airlines)
Flying Chefs Returning to Austrian Airlines Flights
Although there has been no formal announcement by the airline, Austrian Airlines appears to be bringing its flying chefs back to the skies. As first reported by One Mile at a Time, the airline has been hiring inflight chefs. The position was cut during the COVID-19 pandemic but it seems like the airline is getting ready to bring them back.
The inflight chef concept is only offered by a few airlines around the world. Onboard chefs are tasked with preparing food for passengers in long-haul first and business class cabins. However, most airline food is pre-cooked before being reheated on the aircraft and food on flights with chefs on board is no different. Onboard chefs generally do not have access to any special equipment and they largely perform roles that could otherwise be performed by flight attendants. That being said, the presence of a dedicated chef can provide the appearance of an elevated dining experience and showcases an airline’s commitment to premium catering.
Austrian Airlines is known for having high-quality catering from DO & CO and the return of inflight chefs shows that the company is focused on delivering a competitive soft product. It appears that the chefs will be returning to long-haul business class cabins this summer.
Onboard chefs are returning to Austrian Airlines business class cabins (Photo: Austrian Airlines)
Japan Airlines’ Economy Class Menu
While many food and beverage announcements focus on premium cabins, Japan Airlines’ latest catering news covers economy and premium economy class dining. The Tokyo-based carrier has recently unveiled its latest menu options for its economy class meal service, known as “RED à table.” RED à table is focused on the theme of “inflight meals for the future” and aims to help the airline achieve a number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Menu options are changed from time to time and the carrier recently announced its latest offerings.
The current rotation includes two main dishes. The Japanese option is yuzu-flavored steamed rice with chicken and lotus root and the western option is beef stew with carrot rice and omelet. The new side dishes are a chilled minced-shrimp ball with ume plum paste, sweet potato with lemon and okra with mashed tofu and sesame.
It is common for food establishments in Japan to display models of their offerings to potential diners outside the restaurant. Japan Airlines has taken this concept online and provides details and photos of onboard food options for passengers in all cabins on a dedicated section of its website. According to the airline, the latest RED à table menu will be available on most medium-haul and long-haul flights.
Japan Airlines’ latest “RED à table” economy and premium economy class meal options (Photos: Japan Airlines)
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.
Virgin Atlantic Airways recently announced that its brand-new Airbus A330neo will be named “Queen of the Skies” with royal registration G-VEII, in tribute to the late monarch. Queen Elizabeth II — the country’s longest-serving monarch — passed away on Sep. 8, after reigning for seven decades.
The new aircraft will enter the transatlantic services in April, with flights from London’s Heathrow Airport to Miami, New York and Tampa, Fla.
“Just like Queen Elizabeth during her historic 70-year reign, Virgin Atlantic is proud to fly the flag for the United Kingdom around the world. We’re delighted to soon be welcoming “Queen of the skies” to our fleet and hope that it serves as a fitting tribute to an unforgettable, much-loved monarch,” Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer of the airline said, in a statement.
“Queen of the skies” is best known for Boeing 747’s nickname and Virgin Atlantic has named its aircraft “Queen of the skies” twice. However, the name was never related to the former jumbo aircraft. In 2004, the late Queen unveiled an Airbus A340-600 with the same name in Toulouse, France. The ceremony was part of a state visit to France to celebrate the centenary of Entente Cordiale.
The carrier has a history of naming its aircraft after famous female icons, including “Diana” in tribute to Princess Diana. According to Virgin Atlantic, the “Queen of the Skies” will be in line with “Lady Emmeline” and “Fearless lady” to provide services to passengers, which paid homage to Emmeline Pankhurst and Eve Branson respectively. Pankhurst was the founder of the Suffragette movement and women’s rights activist, and Branson was the mother of Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic.
State-of-the-Art Technology
The airline was the first U.K. airline to announce a firm order for up to 16 Airbus A330neos in 2019. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 engine. The acquisition could pave the way for providing the greenest and youngest fleet to customers. The new aircraft is designed to be 13% more fuel and carbon efficient than the Airbus A330-300 and deliver a 50% reduction in airport noise contour.
The new aircraft operates in a three-class configuration, including Upper Class, Premium and Economy class. Passengers traveling in Upper Class and Premium can enjoy in-seat wireless charging. The customers in another cabin can also have a great number of USB connections and connect with its fastest Wi-Fi.
Virgin Atlantic believed the A330neo plays a significant role in its multi-billion dollars fleet transformation, demonstrating its commitment to the planet. The airline received the first A330neos in last September and currently operates three A330neos — with the remaining deliveries between 2023 and 2026.
An Air Serbia A330-200. Photo: Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281), CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Air Serbia and Qatar Airways have announced a comprehensive codeshare agreement, set to begin on February 1, 2023. This partnership will allow passengers to seamlessly travel to over forty destinations when traveling on each other’s networks.
As part of the collaboration, Air Serbia will add its designator code and flight numbers onto Qatar Airways’ service between Belgrade and Doha, as well as various points beyond Doha including Adelaide, Baku, Brisbane, Tbilisi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Muscat, Nairobi, Perth, Seychelles, Singapore, and Sydney.
Air Serbia also plans to extend its coverage to Bangkok, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Phuket, Seoul, Tokyo, Yerevan, Zanzibar and many more, subject to obtaining necessary government approvals.
Qatar Airways, on the other hand, is adding its designator code and flight numbers onto numerous Air Serbia destinations. This partnership will allow Qatar Airways to expand its footprint in the Central and Eastern European markets, offering additional travel choices for its customers. At the moment, Qatar Airways operates five weekly flights between its hub in Doha and Belgrade, the Serbian capital.
Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “It is our great pleasure to announce the codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways, known for its global network of destinations and premium service. We are joining forces to provide passengers with new connection opportunities and access to unique destinations from both networks. Through this cooperation, we believe that we will be able to jointly bring more traffic and opportunities to Serbia for trade and tourism, as well as to increase traffic between the two hubs.”
Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said, “We are extremely proud to unveil this partnership with Air Serbia, the leading airline in this region since it was founded in 1927, and we look forward to working effortlessly together.”
The codeshare partnership between Air Serbia and Qatar Airways is expected to bring more traffic and opportunities to Serbia for trade and tourism, as well as to increase traffic between their two hubs.
The partnership also allows Qatar Airways to expand its footprint in the Central and Eastern European markets, offering additional travel choices for its customers. The partnership, once fully implemented and approved, will cover over forty routes, providing passengers with new connection opportunities and access to unique destinations from both networks.
Air Serbia Joining Oneworld Alliance Membership
In addition to the codeshare agreement with Qatar Airways, Air Serbia sees the Oneworld airline alliance as a potential option for membership, but currently has no plans to join, Reports Ex-yu Aviation.
Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said in a statement, “Never say never but at the moment, and with the current structure of global alliances and their offerings, we see no possibility for a smaller airline because we would have to contribute more than we would get. I would say Oneworld is pretty flexible and could be an option if I look at what benefits I get from an alliance but right now we see any kind of membership in an alliance as a limitation.”
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.
