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News from July 2024
Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has topped the list of global airlines for on-time performance (OTP), according to a report by the independent aviation tracking site Cirium for June 2024.
Doug Parker, the retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines, is widely credited for his role in consolidating the U.S. airline industry. As he transitions to a board member role at Qantas and establishes a charitable foundation supporting minorities in aviation careers, Parker remains a vocal advocate for American Airlines.
The preowned business aircraft market is maintaining a steady pace, with transactions up 20% year over year (YOY) in the second quarter and sales of late-market aircraft remaining strong, according to the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA). The quarterly performance, IADA added, spurs “guarded” optimism for the rest of the year.
Virginia’s Richmond International Airport (KRIC) has issued a proposal to take control of its two fixed-base operators (FBOs), with a meeting planned for tomorrow. The Capital Region Airport Commission will vote on a resolution presented last week by KRIC president and CEO Perry Miller that would eliminate Richmond Jet Center—which has more than seven decades in operation at the field—as well as the Million Air Richmond FBO, in operation since 1992, in favor of one airport-controlled entity.
Loyd’s Aviation, an aircraft charter and management provider based at California’s Meadows Field Airport (KBFL) since the late 1950s, has secured the bid to take over the sole fixed-base operator (FBO) at Paso Robles Municipal Airport (KPRB), currently managed by ACI Jet.
The new American Airlines flight attendants contract, which workers will soon vote on, includes provisions for the union to assist the airline in identifying and disciplining members who sell their seniority.
Viasat has announced that it currently has "no firm plans" to support ViaSat-3 aero service for Global Xpress (GX) inflight connectivity installations that use Safran Passenger Innovations’ next-generation GX terminal based on ThinKom Solutions’ Ka2517 VICTS antenna. This decision comes as interoperability becomes available across its Ka-band satellite fleet.
Vertical Aerospace has commenced test flights with its second full-scale prototype of the VX4 eVTOL aircraft. On July 26, the UK company reported that the aircraft executed a tethered flight at Kemble Airport in the west of England.
On July 29, 2024, the latest developments at AirVenture were expected to center on the ongoing issue of unleaded fuel. However, attendees were met with vague assurances from FAA, EAGLE, and ASTM officials who reiterated that they are "working on it." The lack of concrete progress left many in the aviation community frustrated.
On July 30, 2024, Sandie West shared her experience aboard Qantas flight QF34 from Paris to Perth on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. With premium economy tickets in hand, she detailed various aspects of her journey.
John Wayne Airport released its monthly statistics for June 2024, showing a decline in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year. The total number of passengers decreased by 9.1%, from 1,059,614 in June 2023 to 963,531 in June 2024. Year-to-date figures also reflected a drop of 4.7%, with passenger numbers falling from 5,810,721 in 2023 to 5,536,445 in 2024.
Air ambulance provider AirCare1 has received recognition for its safety management system (SMS) under the FAA voluntary program. The Phoenix-based organization emphasized that safety risk management is a cornerstone of its operations and stated it chose to implement the voluntary program ahead of the Part 135 mandate to demonstrate its commitment to safety.
KES and KLM conducted their first live test of Dynell’s DHM 090 model hydrogen GPU on an aircraft at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in July.
West Star Aviation’s interior specialists are recognized for their creativity and talent in the aircraft interior design industry. They are attuned to both industry trends and customer preferences, particularly in the segment of aircraft interior design.
The U.S. Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked a rule from the Department of Transportation (DoT) that mandates upfront disclosure of airline fees and final travel costs for consumers. According to a report by Reuters, the court ruling halts the new DoT rule pending a full review. This development is considered a significant setback for the Biden administration's efforts to enhance consumer protections regarding so-called "junk fees" associated with ticket pricing.
Big Island Jet Center is celebrating a significant milestone in its operations, having sold its one millionth gallon of fuel this July. This achievement comes within seven months of the FBO’s grand opening and before the completion of its permanent terminal, which is expected to be finished in Q3 2025.
Insurance underwriter Worldlink Specialty and Oneglobal Broking have introduced a liability insurance solution tailored for third-party contractors and consultants in the U.S. aviation and aerospace sectors. On Monday, the companies announced the new AeroPro product that addresses a gap in liability coverage for clients performing tasks such as aircraft development work or valuations.
Neste and HELLENiQ Energy have collaborated to deliver blended Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to HELLENiQ Energy's facilities in Thessaloniki. This marks the first time that blended SAF is supplied to Greece in bulk using ships for transport.
Cosmopolitan Las Vegas has integrated its Identity loyalty program into MGM Rewards, simplifying the reward system for its members. Previously, Cosmopolitan had its own loyalty scheme and a partnership with Marriott, which MGM also maintains.
In April, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a new rule mandating airlines and ticket agents to fully disclose all add-on costs for baggage, changes, and cancellations upfront at the first instance of displaying itineraries and fares. The rule also requires airlines to automatically and promptly refund passengers when services like checked baggage and Wi-Fi are not delivered as promised.