Aviation

Qantas and Airbus Partnership for the biofuel industry.

Qantas preparing flights, New Zealand opens skies for Australia

QANTAS AND AIRBUS MAKE A COMBINED INVESTMENT IN THE AUSTRALIAN BIOFUELS INDUSTRY.

Qantas and Airbus have decided to invest roughly $200 million to help Australia build a sustainable aviation fuel [SAF] business. Due to the lack of a local commercial scale in the SAF industry, both CEOs have signed a collaboration with Australia SAF in Doha.

Australia now exports millions of tonnes of feedstock each year, including as canola and animal tallow, to be used as SAF in other nations. So, by 2030, the Qantas group has decided to utilised 10% of SAF in its entire fuel mix, which includes 15% of its current fuel use out of London and 20 million litres per year for flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Australia from 2025.

Sustainable fuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% when compared to kerosene, making them one of the most useful tools for reducing environmental impact. Qantas and Airbus have agreed to collaborate on a locally developed and produced SAF project that is commercially viable and meets a strict set of environmental sustainability criteria as part of the airline’s recently announced orders, which include the A350-1000 to operate the project sunrise nonstop flight from Australia to New York and London. From the start, the new fleet will deliver up to a 25% reduction in fuel usage and carbon emissions, and they are all already approved for operating with 50% SAF.

The agreement is for a five-year period with the possibility of an extension. Qantas’ financial contribution to the Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership includes AU$50 million already set aside for SAF research and development in the country.

The partnership also includes Pratt & Whitney, whose GTF engines were recently picked by Qantas for their new A220 and A320neo family aircraft. While consistently improving the effectiveness of aviation propulsion technology, the corporation supports wider usage of cleaner, alternative fuels, such as SAF.

Qantas has begun a conversation with its large corporate customers to explore their interest in using SAF offsets for their company’s flights. This information is helping to shape the design of a scheme that might be expanded to include individuals as part of Qantas’ existing offsetting programme. This new programme is scheduled to begin later this year.

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The Qantas Group’s commitment to sustainability:

In 2019, Qantas became the world’s second airline to commit net zero emissions by 2050.

2. The airline group is committed to a 25% reduction in emissions and 10% SAF usage in the fuel mix by 2030, and a 60% SAF use by 2050, under the Qantas Group Climate Action Plan, which was introduced in March 2022.

3. A350s will initially be used for nonstop service between Sydney and London and Sydney and New York as part of the Qantas Group’s landmark Project Sunrise programme, which will be carbon neutral from the beginning.

4.With a focus on high integrity initiatives in Australia and abroad, Qantas’ Fly Carbon Neutral programme is one of the world’s largest airline offsetting programme. Over 10% of travellers decided to “select the box” to offset flights. In Qantas’ efforts to reduce carbon emissions, offsetting is a crucial tool, especially because alternative aeroplane fuel technology has been years away.

5.With the introduction of the Qantas Green Tier earlier this year, the 14 million frequent flyers of the airline may now earn rewards for going greener both at home and while they are travelling.

Airbus climate action plan;

1. The manufacturer’s climate action plan’s main pillars are on replacing the fleet with new, fuel-efficient aircraft, increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels, improving air traffic management, and ultimately delivering zero- emission aircraft by 2035.

2.When compared to prior generation aircraft, Qantas’s choice of Airbus aircraft already results in fuel savings up to 25%.

3. Airbus commercial aircraft are already certified to fly with up to 50% SAF.

4.The creator conducted its maiden test flight using 100% SAF in 2021.

5.Airbus plans to have SAF approved for use on all of its current commercial aircraft by 2030.

6.The possible use of synthetic fuels that blend carbon feedstock’s with renewable hydrogen is a topic of further studies. Airbus is completely committed to taking the lead in helping the aviation industry become carbon neutral by 2050.

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Airlines

Exclusive: Boeing 747 Private Jet Hosts Lavish In-Flight Indian Wedding

An Indian businessman living in the United Arab Emirates took extra efforts to celebrate his daughter’s wedding. On a private Jetex Boeing 747, Dilip Popley hosted his daughter’s wedding.

The first scene in the video is of people dancing to Tune Maari Entriyaan inside an aircraft. A space set aside for ceremonies is also shown as the video goes on.

The groom thanks his father and his father-in-law at the end of the video. The bride joins in as well, saying that she never imagined experiencing something like it. He also thanked Jetex, a private charter flight operator, for making the experience memorable.

VIDEO | UAE-based Indian businessman Dilip Popley hosted his daughter's wedding aboard a private Jetex Boeing 747 aircraft on November 24, in Dubai.

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/lciNdxrmzz— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 25, 2023

On November 24, the wedding ceremony was held inside a customized 747 aircraft, according to reports. The wedding ceremony took place after the party—which included the bride and groom—traveled from Dubai to Oman for three hours.

With 350 esteemed guests from all over the globe will be arriving by plane. On board, guests joyfully celebrated the day with a dinner of vegetable jhalfrazi, mushroom pulao, palak paneer, and dal masala.

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Airlines

IndiGo launches AI chatbot for ticket booking and customer queries

On Monday, IndiGo unveiled 6Eskai, a chatbot driven by GPT-4 technology and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). Numerous tasks can be completed by the chatbot, such as making reservations for tickets, applying promo codes, and checking in online.

IndiGo claims that its digital team, working closely with Microsoft, developed the chatbot entirely in-house. The chatbot provides a unique platform for ticket booking across the network and responds to customer inquiries in ten different languages.

6Eskai can handle a wide range of tasks, from booking tickets and applying promotional discounts to facilitating web check-ins and helping with seat selection, according to IndiGo, which highlighted the platform’s 1.7 trillion parameters. According to the report, the AI chatbot can comprehend spoken instructions using speech-to-text models in addition to written or typed exchanges.

The airline added that its data scientists studied Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) and used extensive prompt engineering to programme the bot to mimic human behaviour, react to emotions, and even inject humour into interactions.

Airlines

British Airways Unlocks Avios Collection for World Duty Free Shoppers

British Airways Executive Club Avios can now be redeemed by members who spend money at London Heathrow’s World Duty Free shops.

Across all Heathrow terminals, customers can now earn one Avios for every £1 spent in any World Duty Free shop, covering everything from skincare and sunglasses to fashion and fragrances.

Before beginning to accrue points, Members must confirm that they have enrolled in Red by Dufry, the World Duty Free loyalty programme, and have input their Executive Club information into the Red by Dufry application.

After every eligible purchase, Avios will be awarded within 72 hours, with the first transaction offering a bonus of 250 Avios. In order to accrue even more ba avios, savvy consumers can also pay with their British Airways american express avios.

The British Airways Executive Club is always changing to improve the value of earning and using Avios. The airline launched its first avios points routes earlier this year, and it was revealed that avios british airways could be used to buy British Airways Vacation packages. eBay was added to the list of more than 1,500 retailers on shopping.ba.com in September, and new retailers are still joining them.

Shoppers at World Duty-Free stores in Spain can also earn one Avios for every €1 spent if they are members of the Iberia Plus loyalty programme. For more information, including details on eligible purchases and terms and conditions, please visit: www.ba.com/executive-club/collecting-avios/shopping/dufry

Airlines

Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways Elevate Travel Rewards in New Partnership

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2023, the Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced a new partnership between their respective loyalty programmes.

Members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, and Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France and KLM, will now be able to earn and redeem Miles in either loyalty programme when flying on Air France, KLM, or Etihad as part of this new partnership. Elite members will soon receive reciprocal benefits.

After Air France began flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Abu Dhabi International Airport in October of last year, the partnership will officially launch today.

Redeeming Flying Blue Miles can be used to book flights, accommodations across the globe, vehicle rentals, and merchandise from the Flying Blue Store, among many other experiences. Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed for merchandise from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop, international hotel stays, and travel.

Currently, Etihad and Air France both run daily flights from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol. Air France flies daily between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Airlines

Saudia reveals range of lavish seat design for its upcoming fleet

Saudi Airlines is set to unveil a striking new theme that will revitalize Saudia in an amazing relaunch. The airline’s revitalized identity is a testament to the successful integration of the color green, seamlessly blending aesthetics and functionality.

Embodying a sense of love and innovation, Saudia’s new look promises a harmonious fusion of style and comfort. Travelers can anticipate an exceptional and luxurious experience in business class. The updated business-class cabin offers an elegant and welcoming interior that embodies Saudia’s dedication to quality.

The airline has created a space where luxury and functionality blend together with painstaking attention to detail, making every flight a genuinely remarkable experience.

Saudi Airlines 🇸🇦 is all set to relaunch itself with a new theme.#SaudiAirlines pic.twitter.com/75lLR3u0dd— Life in Saudi Arabia (@LifeSaudiArabia) November 24, 2023

Meanwhile, the economy class’s latest features prioritize comfort, offering travelers a stress-free and joyful journey. Saudia has reinvented economy class, offering thoughtful in-flight amenities and ergonomically designed seats that make it a standout option for travelers looking for a comfortable yet reasonably priced flight.

Saudia’s introduction of a striking green colour scheme, which has been expertly incorporated into its brand to evoke a sense of love and modernity, is essential to this revitalization. The airline’s creative strategy has successfully shown how the color green can be used to create a striking and harmonious aesthetic in addition to giving its visual identity new life.

Aviation

ITA Airways to add A320Neo & A220 with stunning new interiors

Check out the new ITA Airways' A320 and A321neo cabin

ITA Airways sets a new standard in luxury air travel with the introduction of its cutting-edge Airbus A320 and A321neo cabins. Featuring a meticulously designed three-class, premium-heavy layout, the 165-seat A321neo offers passengers an opulent and refined in-flight experience.

In collaboration with renowned seat manufacturers Safran Seats and Stelia, ITA Airways has brought its vision to life, ensuring unparalleled comfort and sophistication for travelers. The premium-heavy configuration includes a lavish full-flat herringbone pattern for the business class section, providing the epitome of luxury in air travel. Additionally, the premium economy cabin boasts cozy recliners, contributing to a relaxed and enjoyable journey.

Il nostro bellissimo @airbus A220-100 dedicato a Fiona May pronto per il decollo da Milano Linate! 💙✈#ITAAirways pic.twitter.com/gkgVmTKhiS— ITA Airways Risponde (@ITAAirways) November 15, 2023

Safran Seats plays a pivotal role in enhancing the premium experience, providing its elegant Z600 chaise-style platform for the carrier’s A321neo premium economy cabin. Meanwhile, the Z400 seat from Safran Seats graces the economy class, featuring the Comfort Economy option for added comfort.

To further elevate the passenger experience, Safran Passenger Innovations contributes its state-of-the-art RAVE Ultra inflight entertainment system with 4K touchscreens and comprehensive inflight connectivity. From nose to tail, ITA Airways ensures a seamless and immersive entertainment experience for all passengers.

When it comes to the cabin details, the business class has 12 seats spread out over six rows in a 1-1 configuration. With its large 17.3″ personal entertainment screens and reverse pattern seating, the first row stands out as having significantly more space and could be the most impressive narrow-body business class seat in the world.

With 12 seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration over three rows, premium economy features a sizable 15.6″ personal entertainment screen. Notably, the comfort and amenities of these premium economy seats are consistent with those on ITA Airways’ long-haul flights.

Credit:ITA Airways

Travelers in economy class, which has 141 seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration over 24 rows, have access to 13.3″ personal entertainment screens. In addition, 12 specifically marked economy seats provide more legroom, satisfying the various requirements of passengers.