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Qantas flight lands after non-stop journey from London to Sydney
- Project Sunrise research flight direct from London to Sydney lands after 19 hours and 19 minutes
- Qantas announces Centenary program to celebrate 100 years of the flying kangaroo
- Royal Australian Mint unveils commemorative $1 centenary coin
- Qantas exhibition to visit a number of cities across Australia
Qantas has kicked off 12 months of centenary celebrations as it marks a fresh milestone in aviation with a non-stop London to Sydney flight.
Flown by the latest addition to the national carrier’s fleet, a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed in Sydney at 12:28pm, 19 hours and 19 minutesafter leaving Heathrow. It follows the non-stop New York to Sydney flight last month as the second of three research flights aim at improving crew and passenger wellbeing on ultra long haul services under consideration.
The direct flight reduced total travel time by around three hours compared with current one-stop services from the east coast of Australia. It is only the second time any commercial airline has flown this route non-stop, after Qantas flew a near-empty 747-400 in 1989. (See more detail on research flight at end of this release.)
The new Dreamliner was met by more than 1,000 Qantas employees to mark the flying kangaroo’s 99th birthday and kick off 12 months of celebrations as it heads towards its centenary.
Three components of those celebrations were revealed today – special livery on a new Dreamliner that will be seen at airports around the world, featuring every Qantas logo since 1920; a $1 coin to mark the 100th that will enter circulation next year; and a touring exhibition that will visit a number of cities around Australia.
Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder said: “Qantas is a national icon because it’s been such a big part of Australian life for so long.
“We started in outback Queensland carrying mail and a few passengers in the 1920s. We grew as Australia grew, and we’ve had important support roles during wars, national disasters and celebrations. Our founders talked about overcoming the tyranny of distance and through the years we’ve moved from bi-planes, to single wing, to jets to help bring things closer,” added Mr Goyder.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “Almost a century after our first flight, Qantas and Jetstar carry more than 50 million people around this country and the globe each year. I’m sure that would amaze our three founders, who held the early board meetings of this company at the local tailor’s shop because it was the longest table they could find.”
“A lot of Australians saw the world for the first time on a flying kangaroo. And a lot of migrants started their life in Australia when they first stepped on a Qantas plane.
“There are so many amazing Qantas stories that also tell the story of modern Australia. We want our centenary to be a celebration of those stories as well as how we’ll be part of taking the spirit of Australia further in the years ahead,” added Mr Joyce.
Qantas will officially turn 99 years old, and begin its 100th year, tomorrow, Saturday 16 November 2019.
ABOUT THE CENTENARY AIRCRAFT
The new 787 Centenary livery aircraft will fly across key Qantas international destinations, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and London. Named Longreach after the Queensland town that was key to the airline’s origins, it joins nine other Qantas 787s that are all named after things that are iconically Australian, including Skippy, Great Southern Land, Waltzing Matilda and Jillaroo.
ABOUT THE $1 CIRCULATING COIN
The Royal Australian Mint will produce approximately 5 million limited edition one-dollar coins to be used in Australia for every day cash transactions, which will go into general circulation from February 2020.
For collectors, there is an eleven-piece collection set featuring key milestones and images of aircraft from across the decades including the Avro, Catalina Flying Boat, Boeing 707 and 747 and the A380. The centrepiece is a Kangaroo copper coin similar to the original Australian penny, which inspired Qantas’ iconic Kangaroo symbol. Sets are available at www.qantasstore.com.au.
ABOUT THE DIRECT LONDON-SYDNEY FLIGHT
- QF 7879 flight London to Sydney flight time was 19 hours and 19 minutes. Touch down at Sydney International airport was 12:28pm
- The flight was operated by a brand-new Boeing 787-9 registration VH ZNJ, named Longreach.
- The service was a re-purposed delivery flight. Rather than flying from Boeing’s factory in Seattle back to Australia empty, the aircraft was positioned in London to simulate one of the Project Sunrise routes under consideration by Qantas. All carbon emissions were offset.
- The flight departed London’s Heathrow Airport and flew across 11 countries including England, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Philippines and Indonesia before crossing the Australian coast near Darwin, tracking south east across Australia towards Sydney.
- Remaining fuel upon landing was approximately 6300kg which translates to about 1 hour 45 minutes of flight time
Aviation
Vueling’s In-Flight Delight: Pampering Pets with Delicious On-Board Treats”
In a heartwarming move that caters to the growing community of pet-loving travelers, Vueling, the Spanish low-cost carrier, has become the trailblazer in European aviation by introducing delectable treats for pets as part of its innovative buy-on-board menu.
This groundbreaking initiative positions Vueling as the first European airline to embrace the needs and preferences of passengers who choose to journey with their beloved animals.
Setting the stage for this pet-friendly endeavor, Vueling’s Barcelona-based team collaborated with Newrest Travel Retail to undergo a comprehensive revamp of its onboard menu for the upcoming 2023-2024 winter season. The standout feature of this transformation is the inclusion of specially curated dog snacks, sourced from the renowned brand Edgard & Cooper.
Vueling ensures that its four-legged pets can indulge in a delectable selection of in-flight treats. The pet menu showcases enticing options such as chicken bars and beef bites, available at reasonable prices of €3.50 ($3.78) and €5.50 ($5.93), respectively. This move not only elevates the standard of in-flight pet services but also caters to the discerning tastes of pets with a penchant for high-quality, flavorful snacks.
Vueling has established a transparent and straightforward pricing model for pet travel. Passengers traveling with their pets can expect to pay €50 for domestic flights and €60 for international flights or those to/from the Canary Islands.
Airlines
Emirates Launches world class wine list for 2024
This month, Emirates is launching a new selection of outstanding wines on board its international flights. This year, the airline invested over AED 186 million in wine and champagne.
Emirates has the largest wine cellar of any airline as a result of ongoing and deliberate investments in the onboard experience. The wine is currently housed in specialised facilities in France and numbers about 6 million bottles, some of which won’t be served until 2037.
New fine wines onboard Emirates
Emirates will launch a range of the best white Burgundy wines in the upcoming months, including the esteemed Premier and Grand Crus varieties. Several Bordeaux First Growths, including those from the esteemed estates of Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château d’Yquem, will also be released by Emirates in the upcoming years. Emirates currently serves 36 different Champagnes and French wines on board its aircraft.
World-class wines for every cabin class
In Economy Class, Emirates offers one red and one white wine, both of exceptionally high quality. Recent additions include ‘AOP’ and ‘Biodynamic’ wines from M. Chapoutier, Domaines Baron de Rothschild, a South African Sauvignon Blanc from sustainability champion, Gabb family and Antinori Santa Cristina red wine.
Emirates offers sparkling vintage wine, premium red wine, and premium white wine in Premium Economy. Emirates divides its wine selections into six regions for Business and First Class passengers: the UK and USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia, and Asia. With this strategy, Emirates is able to provide passengers from these regions with wines that closely match their tastes and give them the chance to taste exceptional wines from the area.
Aerospace
Airbus and BMW Group launch Quantum Mobility Quest
Airbus and BMW Group have joined forces to initiate a groundbreaking global Quantum Computing Challenge named “The Quantum Mobility Quest.” This unprecedented collaboration aims to address longstanding challenges in aviation and automotive industries that traditional computers have been unable to overcome.
Marking a historic milestone, this challenge represents the inaugural endeavor of its kind, uniting two major players in their respective industries to leverage quantum technologies for tangible industrial applications. The objective is to unlock possibilities that can lead to the development of more efficient, sustainable, and secure solutions, shaping the future of transportation.
Even the most advanced computers available today cannot perform some of the most complex operations. However, quantum computing has the potential to greatly increase computational power. This cutting-edge technology may be especially important in modelling different industrial and operational processes for data-driven industries such as transportation, providing avenues to influence the development of future mobility goods and services.
Prospective challengers are requested to choose one or more of the following problem statements: enhanced corrosion inhibition with quantum simulation, future automated mobility with quantum machine learning, more sustainable supply chain with quantum optimisation, and improved aerodynamics design with quantum solvers. Besides, applicants may submit their own quantum technologies, which could be used to create native applications in the transportation industry that yet to be explored in the transportation sector.
By the end of 2024, a jury made up of top quantum experts from around the world will review the submitted proposals in collaboration with experts from Airbus, BMW Group, and AWS. The winning team in each of the five challenges will receive a €30,000 prize.
Registration opens today, and submissions will be accepted from mid-January through April 30, 2024 here: www.thequantuminsider.com/quantum-challenge.
Airlines
Britain announces stricter visa norms to reduce migration
Recently, the UK government unveiled a comprehensive five-point plan that fundamentally alters the nation’s immigration laws. An overview of the main ideas and their consequences is given below.
- 1.Minimum Skilled Work Visa Salary Increase:
- Skilled workers applying for visas must now earn a minimum of £38,700, a 47.7% increase from the previous threshold of £26,200.
- The government aims to encourage businesses to prioritize British talent and reduce reliance on migration.
- Health and care workers, as well as those on national pay scales, will have exemptions.
- 2.Minimum Income for Family Visas Increase:
- The minimum income requirement for bringing family members or partners from abroad has increased to £38,700, up from £18,700.
- Family visas are restricted to British or Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status, and refugees with protection status.
- 3.Ban on Care Workers Bringing Family Dependents:
- Overseas care workers will no longer be allowed to bring family dependents (spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under 18) to the UK.
- The change aims to address perceived abuse of the health and care visa, with care firms sponsoring visa applications required to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
- 4.End of Discount on Minimum Salary for Shortage Occupation List:
- The lower salary requirements (20% less than the going rate) for jobs on the shortage occupation list, designed to attract skilled workers, will be discontinued.
- The government intends to crack down on cut-price labor from overseas, with a review of the types of jobs on the list.
- 5.Review of Graduate Visa Route:
- The graduate visa route, allowing individuals to stay in the UK for two years after completing a course, will be reviewed to prevent abuse and safeguard the quality of UK higher education.
- This follows earlier measures to tighten rules on overseas students bringing family members to the UK.
- 6.Healthcare Surcharge and Visa Application Fee Increases:
- The immigration health surcharge, the annual fee visa holders pay for NHS access, will rise by 66% from £624 to £1,035.
- Visa application fees have already increased, affecting work and visit visas (15%), family visas, settlement, and citizenship (20%), and student visas (35%).
These changes, which are scheduled to take effect in the upcoming months, are intended to prioritise homegrown talent, reshape the immigration landscape of the UK, and address perceived problems with the current system. But they’ve also brought up issues and problems for those affected by the new rules, like families and students.
Airlines
Air India Revamps Aircraft Plans: Alters Order for 250 Airbus Jets
According to sources, Air India, which earlier this year made an order with Airbus for 250 aircraft, has revised the agreement to include more A321neo aircraft.
Air India revised its contract with Airbus and will now purchase 140 A321neo and 70 A320neo. The deal for 40 A350s has also been modified.
The source further stated that Air India had modified the order from six A350-900 and 34 A350-1000 aircraft to twenty A350-900 and twenty A350-1000 aircraft. We frequently assess our orders depending on business needs and possibilities, and we make the necessary revisions to the contract, according to an Air India representative. “It is up to our customers to disclose this strategy.
While narrow-body aircraft are mostly used for domestic travel, they can also be utilised for short- and medium-haul international flights, wide-body planes are typically utilized for long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights. Compared to the A320neo, the A321neo can accommodate more people and has a greater range. In a similar vein, the A350-1000 can carry more passengers and go farther than the A350-900.
Air India has placed a combined order for 470 aircraft, of which 250 are with Airbus and the rest 220 were with Boeing. The Boeing order profile for Air India has not changed thus far.
Airlines
SpiceJet plane forced to divert, seized by lessors in Dubai
A SpiceJet flight from Ahmedabad to Dubai was diverted minutes before landing and was taken over by a lessor on November 30, culminating in a dramatic sequence of events.
SpiceJet’s SG 15 took off from Ahmedabad at 12:12 a.m. and flew for three hours before receiving the order to divert to Dubai World Central (DWC), the second and less crowded airport in Dubai, about ten minutes from its original destination, Dubai International Airport. Lessors met the aircraft upon landing, waited for passengers to disembark, and then took control of the aircraft.
In December 2018, the Boeing 737 NG aircraft was leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners. Since then, the aircraft has been grounded, according to data from the flightradar24.com website.
No response was received when a message was sent to a representative of Carlyle Aviation Partners, which acquired a 7.5% share in SpiceJet in February after its $100 million in dues were converted to equity. Industry sources, however, claimed that an engine lessor had secured a court order to ground the aircraft so that the engines could be removed.
In May, several lessors, including Aircastle, Celestial Aviation, Wilmington Trust, and Willis Lease Finance Corporation, filed applications with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to initiate insolvency resolution proceedings against SpiceJet due to outstanding debts. Willis Lease Finance’s argument was recently rejected by the NCLT because it was the administrative agent and servicer acting on behalf of real lessors rather than an actual lessor.
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