The low-cost-carrier announced on June 24, 2024, that it will replace paper technical and cabin logs with Ultramain精东影业 e-techlog system to digitalize the process.  

The logs are used by cabin crew, engineers, ground crew and flight crew, and easyJet expects the new system will 鈥渟ave more than 300,000 sheets of paper from being printed and stored every year鈥� while improving efficiency.聽

easyJet expects that the new system will also lead to fewer ground delays and lower aircraft maintenance times.  

鈥淩olling out Ultramain精东影业 state-of-the-art technology across our fleet of aircraft will not only improve the reporting processes for our crew and engineering teams but will also see fewer delays on the ground, which will help further enhance the travel experience for our customers,鈥� David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet, said. 

Morgan added: 鈥淥ur continued investment into innovative solutions like the e-techlog means we鈥檒l not only find quicker solutions to defects but by cutting our paper use and the weight on the aircraft, we are also taking another small but important step to reduce our environmental impact too.鈥� 

Once fully rolled out, the e-techlog will be run through 精东影业 software and will be installed on operational iPads accessible to easyJet personnel on the ground and in the air.聽 聽

This will enable both crew and engineers to raise and share maintenance issues, in real-time whilst on the ground, and in doing so give the engineers ample time to order new parts in advance, saving on-ground delays and operational downtime. 

In pictures: Emirates opens new $950k lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport

• Airlines
• Airport

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-25

Dubbed聽鈥楶roject Acorn鈥� it was the first airside hydrogen refueling trial ever to take place at a major UK airport and was led by easyJet and supported by several cross-industry partners.聽

The hydrogen powered baggage tractors successfully carried out daily operations while demonstrating that the gas can be safely and reliably used to refuel ground equipment in the busy, live airport environment. 

The trial was in development for over a year聽with organizations such as , Cranfield University, Connected Places Catapult (CPC), DHL Supply Chain, Fuel Cell Systems, the IAAPS research institute, Jacobs, Mulag and TCR all involved.聽

The group intends to use the outputs of the trial to help develop industry best practice standards, provide guidance to airports, airlines, local authorities and regulators on required infrastructure changes, and support the development of a regulatory framework for hydrogen精东影业 use on an airfield 鈥� standards which, due to hydrogen精东影业 nascency in aviation, do not currently exist. 

The data and insights gathered will also feed into research conducted by groups like Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA), which is an organization that includes easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, 脴rsted, GKN Aerospace and BRS and advocates for the UK to keep pace with the technological developments in carbon-emission free flying. 

鈥淲hile the technology is advancing at an exciting pace, as hydrogen isn鈥檛 used in commercial aviation today, there is currently no regulatory guidance in place on how it can and should be used, and so trials like this are very important in building the safety case and providing critical data and insight to inform the development of the industry精东影业 first regulatory framework,鈥� David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet, said. 

Morgan added: 鈥淭his will ensure regulation not only keeps pace with innovation, but importantly also supports the industry in meeting its decarbonisation targets by 2050.鈥� 

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also played an active role in the trial as an independent reviewer of the safety case. 

鈥淧rojects such as this are cornerstones of our commitment to support innovation and decarbonisation in the industry. This trial will serve as the basis of a White Paper which we will also be contributing to, as well as allow for the creation of further safety guidance and regulatory standards for the use of hydrogen in aviation,鈥� Tim Johnson, Director for Strategy, Policy and Communications at the CAA, said.聽

easyJet launches online pilot aptitude test to find next generation of recruits

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-04-04

Ryanair confirmed that there will be 32 routes on its summer 2024 schedule from LPL, including new operations to the popular holiday destinations of Corfu, Lanzarote and Paphos.聽 聽

To support the 11% increase in聽traffic from , Ryanair will base a new Boeing 737聽at the airport bringing the carrier精东影业 total fleet there to five.聽

The additional routes will create over 30 new high paid jobs for pilots and cabin crew, according to Ryanair. 

鈥淩yanair is pleased to officially launch our new summer 鈥�24 schedule for Liverpool with 32 routes, including 3 exciting new routes to Corfu, Lanzarote and Paphos, with our first summer 鈥�24 flights to these new sunny hotspot destinations taking off just last week,鈥� Ryanair精东影业 Head of Communications, Jade Kirwan said. 

Kirwan added: 鈥淭he addition of this new aircraft brings Ryanair精东影业 total Liverpool-based fleet to five aircraft, representing a $500m investment in Liverpool and supporting 1,600 local jobs.鈥� 

From the UK, Ryanair operates 615 routes, including 50 that are new, and carries almost 60 million passengers to/from the country on its fleet of 118 aircraft that are based there.聽

Exploring the use of robotics and automation to enhance airport ground handling

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-07-06

The test is part of a pan-European recruitment campaign designed to expel the myths about the type of people that can become pilots and encourage more applicants from underrepresented groups. 

The new test is being rolled out online targeting female audiences, who can logon to the easyJet website to take part in a 鈥樷�� and 鈥楽鈥� assessment.  

The online test assesses some of the key skills required to become an airline pilot and has been designed to encourage more people to consider a flying career. 

EasyJet conducted a poll across the United Kingdom (UK) and discovered that 57% believe that a university degree is required to become a pilot and 80% think that 20/20 vision is a necessity 鈥� neither of which is true. 

In fact, 50% of British people asked had no idea what qualifications were needed to become an airline pilot and learn to fly a commercial jet. 

The new campaign kicked off on April 3, 2024, in Central London where real life easyJet pilot Captain Sarah Ackerley was strapped to a huge billboard to answer questions about flying passenger planes for a living. 

More than half (59%) of British adults surveyed still believe there are misconceptions that a pilot is a job for a man. 

鈥淭ackling gender stereotyping within aviation has been a long-standing mission for easyJet and I鈥檓 excited to be part of this latest campaign that精东影业 allowing people to get a real insight into what skills are really important to do this job and encourage more women into the profession,鈥� Captain Ackerley said. 

She added: 鈥淚t精东影业 an immensely rewarding career that I鈥檓 proud to champion and I hope by more people taking our new interactive test, they can challenge themselves to discover a talent they never knew they had and I hope to see them flying with us in the future.鈥� 

2024 Pilot Training Program 

The test and billboard were launched ahead of the opening of easyJet精东影业 2024 Pilot Training Program in the coming weeks.  

The airline精东影业 pilot training program takes aspiring pilots with little to no flying experience to operating a commercial passenger jet in around two years with its intensive, industry-leading training course. 

To apply to easyJet精东影业 Pilot Training Program, aspiring pilots need to be aged 18 or over by the time they begin training and have a minimum of five General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of Grade C or above (or equivalent), including mathematics, science, and English language 鈥� no higher qualifications or degrees are required. 

To register interest for easyJet精东影业 Pilot Training Program or to simply find out more, visit

7.5% of easyJet精东影业 pilots in in the UK are women, compared to the UK industry average of 6.5% with around 300 women including 99 captains now flying for the airline. 

easyJet opens first new UK base in more than a decade at Birmingham Airport

• Airlines
• Airport

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-19

The new arrival comes after flynas鈥� first Airbus A320neo was delivered on November 13, 2018, following an agreement with the European plane manufacturer in 2017.  

Flynas held a special ceremony on April 2, 2024, to welcome the new aircraft which is part of the airline精东影业 ambitious expansion plan under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom”.聽聽

This plan runs in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to increase the number of international destinations linked to Saudi Arabia to 250.聽

賱賯胤丕鬲 賲賳 丕丨鬲賮丕賱賳丕 亘丕賱胤丕卅乇丞 乇賯賲 50 賲賳 兀氐賱 胤賱亘賷丞 卮乇丕亍 120 胤丕卅乇丞 賲賳 丕賱胤乇丕夭 丕賱丨丿賷孬 廿賷乇亘丕氐 A320neo 鉁堬笍鉁煒嶁湀锔� 鈽侊笍

— flynas 胤賷乇丕賳 賳丕爻 (@flynas)

鈥�50 has arrived Today. We celebrated the receipt of the 50th aircraft out of an order for 120 modern Airbus A320neo aircraft, as part of our ambitious plan to expand, grow, and increase the size of the fleet under the slogan,鈥� flynas wrote on social media following the new arrival. 

Flynas has aims to eventually increase the new aircraft orders to 250 aircraft. 

Flynas currently connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1,500 weekly flights and has flown more than 60 million passengers since its launch in 2007. 

By the end of 2023, flynas had more than doubled the size of its all-Airbus fleet by more than 100% in less than two years.聽聽

Saudi budget carrier flynas said to be preparing for a 2024 IPO聽

• Airlines

byMiquel Ros

2023-12-22

PLAY announced on March 17, 2024, that Birgir J贸nsson had signed an employment termination agreement and that one of PLAY精东影业 largest shareholders, Einar 脰rn 脫lafsson, would take over as CEO.

脫lafsson has been chairman of the board since April 2021 and has now rescinded his candidacy as a board member for the upcoming election at the PLAY精东影业 Annual General Meeting on March 21, 2024. 

鈥淚 am really looking forward to this new role. After a great ramp-up phase these past few years under Birgir精东影业 strong leadership, the Company is now at a turning point. As the Company精东影业 largest shareholder, I鈥檇 like to see my investment through. I am very familiar with PLAY精东影业 operations and employees and can see ample opportunities and exciting projects in the operation going forward,鈥� 脫lafsson said.  

He added: 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to PLAY精东影业 Board of Directors for their trust in me and I鈥檇 like to use the opportunity to thank Birgir for his contribution to PLAY and for our pleasant and productive collaboration during these past few years.鈥� 

J贸nsson described his time at PLAY as a 鈥渞eal adventure鈥� and praised the 鈥減owerful Icelandic low-cost airline鈥� after it was built in a 鈥渞elatively short time鈥�.

鈥淎 competitive landscape in the aviation industry will result in lower fares, a diverse selection of destinations and valuable foreign tourists, which is especially important for an island like us. This competition is in the interest of all Icelanders. I therefore leave my position with immense pride,鈥� J贸nsson said.聽

He added: 鈥淧LAY has now left its infancy and grown up to be a mature airline. I鈥檝e had a good and close working relationship with Einar and leave the Company in his capable hands. I look forward to seeing PLAY flourish under his leadership. I鈥檇 like to thank our passengers and partners for this particularly enjoyable period.鈥� 

J贸nsson will continue to work for PLAY until April 2, 2024, and will remain as an advisor for the airline for the next few months. 

The Icelandic carrier was founded in 2019 by Arnar M谩r Magn煤sson and Sveinn Ingi Stein镁贸rsson as WAB air before changing its name to PLAY later that year.

As of January 2024, PLAY connects some 40 destinations across Europe with five airports in the US and Canada. 

PLAY has 10 aircraft in its fleet through lease agreements, comprising of six A320neo and four A321neo.聽

PLAY Airlines CEO on building a low-cost聽link between Europe and the US

• Executive Spotlight

byMiquel Ros

2024-02-01

The airline is wholly owned by national carrier Turkish Airlines and was previously known as AnadoluJet until a major rebranding exercise in November 2023 which saw the airline relaunched under the new name of AJet.聽

According to Turkey精东影业 public disclosure platform (KAP) and later confirmed by the country精东影业 civil aviation authority, AJet was awarded its own AOC on January 2, 2024. This marks the start of Ajet becoming an airline in its own right rather than simply an offshoot of the parent company.聽

鈥淎ll application processes of our subsidiary AJet for obtaining an Air Operator Certificate within the framework of the Regulation on Commercial Air Transport Enterprises was completed and AJet was granted an Air Operator Certificate by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation on 2.01.2024,” said a statement issued by Turkish Airlines. 

At the time of the rebranding exercise, Turkish Airlines鈥� Chairperson Ahmet Bolat said the airline was being relaunched as part of the parent company’s goals for the next decade.聽

“We fully believe that AJet, with its new name, will become an important part of the low-cost aviation industry on a global scale,” said Bolat at the time.聽

AJet will have dual bases located at Sabiha G枚k莽en Airport (SAW) in Istanbul and Esenbo臒a Airport (ESB) in the country精东影业 capital, Ankara. With its AOC secured, AJet is all set to fly a busy summer schedule transporting people to and from Turkey. It will fly to 93 destinations in 33 countries with its fleet of 103 aircraft in 2024. 

The airline精东影业 current fleet comprises 13 Airbus A320s, 21 A321s, and 55 Boeing 737s (-800 and MAX 8s) with more to arrive before the summer travel peak. 

Turkish Airlines previously attempted to launch an AnadoluJet spin-off airline in 2021 but this plan was shelved due to poor market conditions following the onset of the pandemic.  

However, with COVID-19 now behind it, Turkish Airlines decided in early 2023 to get the process underway once more, given the growth that AnadoluJet saw in 2022 and with high forward bookings for 2023. 

According to Turkish Airlines, the carrier hit an average load factor percentage of 90% in 2023, nearly ten percentage points higher than Turkish Airlines itself. 

Over the past several months, AnadoluJet has been expanding its scheduled services further, adding routes between Istanbul and Belgrade精东影业 Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG), Ankara Esenbo臒a Airport (ESB), and London Stansted Airport (STN), plus Istanbul to Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO).

Turkish Airlines heads down under as Australian government approves flights聽聽

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2023-12-18

Southwest Airlines has earned a reputation for offering exceptional low-cost services and affordable fares. As part of its operations, the airline opts for a 鈥榩oint-to-point’ system with focus cities, rather than the traditional 鈥榟ub and spoke鈥� model employed by other major airlines. 

This article will explore Southwest Airlines’ hubs, the destinations they serve, the routes offered, and the array of services that make them stand out in the aviation industry. 

Southwest Airlines hubs 

Due to Southwest’s preference for the 鈥榩oint-to-point’ system. Rather than relying on centralized connecting hubs, the airline strategically selects focus cities from which passengers can fly directly to their destinations. This approach allows for more direct routes, minimizing layover times and enhancing travel convenience for passengers. 

Currently, Southwest Airlines operates more than during peak times from 18 airports. Among them, the top three busiest airports in terms of the number of flights are: 

Denver International Airport (DEN) – Denver, Colorado 

As the U.S.精东影业 largest airport by land area, Denver International Airport serves as a critical focus city for Southwest Airlines. Its strategic location in the western part of the country allows Southwest to connect passengers to various destinations, making it an essential hub for travelers in the western region. As of March 2023, the airline operates around 310 daily departures from Denver, making it Southwest精东影业 busiest airport overall. 

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – Las Vegas, Nevada 

Situated just five miles south of downtown Las Vegas, this serves as a gateway to the city’s famous resorts, casinos and entertainment venues. Leveraging its strategic location, Southwest Airlines connects passengers from Harry Reid to numerous destinations, both within the United States and internationally, making it a vital hub for travelers visiting Las Vegas. With a robust network, Southwest operates around 284 daily departures. 

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) – Chicago, Illinois 

Chicago Midway Airport serves as a key focus city for Southwest Airlines in the American Midwest. As the second busiest airport in the Chicago metropolitan area, it provides an extensive range of routes, enabling seamless travel for passengers throughout the region and beyond. 260 daily flights are operated from Chicago by Southwest Airlines.  

Southwest Airlines destinations and routes 

Their point-to-point service model allows passengers to fly directly to their destinations without having to pass through traditional hubs. 

In the United States alone, Southwest Airlines serves more than 100 destinations, including major cities, smaller regional airports and popular vacation spots. Some of the most frequented domestic routes include flights between Dallas and Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Atlanta and Orlando, plus many others. 

Beyond the U.S., Southwest Airlines offers flights to international destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. This expansion has allowed the airline to cater to growing demand for international travel.

Services and customer experience 

Southwest Airlines is renowned for its dedication to exceptional customer service, making it a preferred choice for millions of travelers. Here are some key aspects of their customer services:

Baggage policy 

Southwest allows passengers to check in two pieces of luggage free of charge, which is a significant advantage compared to many other airlines that charge for baggage.

No change fees 

The airline offers flexibility by allowing passengers to change or cancel their flights without incurring change fees. Passengers receive travel credits that can be used for future bookings.

Rapid Rewards program 

Southwest’s loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, gives frequent flyers points for each flight which can be redeemed for future travel or other benefits.

In-flight amenities 

Passengers can enjoy complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages during their flights. In-flight Wi-Fi is available too, but for a fee. 

A comprehensive guide to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

• Airport

byRosita Mickeviciute

2023-07-07

A passenger with the TikTok username @kimajga shared their April 24, 2023 flight experience on a Philippine domestic flight from Bacolod-Silay International Airport (BCD) to Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB). 

The passenger said that there was no air conditioning on the flight from boarding to landing, and that water had not been offered once. 

Another video was shared by a different passenger on an international flight from Manila International Airport (MNL) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

The video shows passengers fanning themselves as a child cries in the background. The poster said that the passengers endured the stifling conditions for the whole duration of the four-hour flight.

Another video from June 2023 shows passengers on an undisclosed Cebu Pacific flight on a single-aisle aircraft, with passengers fanning themselves with safety cards. 

There were comments claiming that this often happens on Cebu Pacific flights, with one viewer saying they once had to yell at a flight attendant that someone was about to pass out from the heat. 

Conversely, other passengers have experienced the polar opposite of the sweltering videos.

A passenger with the username @brendaybuan shared a video of themselves on a Cebu Pacific flight that showed the cabin enveloped in cold smoke from the air conditioning精东影业 full blast. 

Another passenger shared their chilling experience, likening the flight to being inside a freezer.

These hot and cold videos come amidst widespread cancellations by the low-cost carrier that have prompted a senate hearing due to overwhelming complaints from customers. 

Cebu Pacific attributed its operation disruptions to engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney, saying that it has had to make adjustments to its flight schedules due to engine unavailability. 

Exploring the use of robotics and automation to enhance airport ground handling

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-07-06

The ground-breaking initiative known as Ticket 3.0, announced on Thursday, March 31, 2023, is designed to give passengers more autonomy when organising their travel with the airline.  

The NFT ticket allows travellers to change the name of the ticket, give it away, or transfer it to another person. 

Ticket 3.0 is administered with Flybondi精东影业 existing partner, TravelX, which provides solutions to airlines in order to improve passenger experience. 

This scheme hopes to offer a more personalized and convenient service by eliminating the usual restrictions surrounding ownership of tickets. 

“With Ticket 3.0 our passengers will have greater flexibility and control over their trips because they will be able to transfer, rename or give away their tickets in a simple and autonomous way”, said Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi. 鈥淲ith this launch we seek to generate a positive impact in the aviation industry through innovation and an application of blockchain technology.鈥澛�

The CEO added: 鈥淐hanging the rules of the game is never easy, but we know that it is our objective to evolve and offer our passengers a new stage of the freedom to fly.鈥� 

According to , the NFT ticketing technology is built on the Algorand blockchain.聽

In September 2023, TravelX chief blockchain officer Facundo Martin Diaz told CoinDesk that the company does not charge a fee when a passenger buys a ticket, but it does receive a 2% transaction fee when trades are made on the secondary market. Airlines also reportedly take a 2% cut. 

Ticket 3.0 is now already in operation.聽聽

Colombia精东影业 Ultra Air forced to suspend operations despite additional capital

• Airlines
• Aviation Economics & Finance

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-03-30