Airbus Defence and Space and the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Airbus UpNext, have achieved in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone using an A310 MRTT.

In a first step towards Autonomous Formation Flight and Autonomous Air-to-Air refueling (A4R), the technologies demonstrate a significant breakthrough for future aerial operations involving manned and unmanned assets. These cutting-edge, ‘Made in Europe’ solutions could reduce crew fatigue and the potential for human error, as well as minimize crew-training costs and provide more effective operations.

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Over the waters of the Gulf of Cadiz, the control of the drone transitioned from a ground station to the A310 MRTT, autonomously guiding the DT-25 to the in-flight refueling position.

During almost six hours of flight test, the four successively launched receivers were sequentially controlled and commanded thanks to artificial intelligence and cooperative control algorithms, without human interaction. The different receivers were controlled and guided until a minimum distance of 150 feet (around 45 metres) from the A310 MRTT.

Auto’Mate Demonstrator technology focuses on three pillars:

• Accurate Relative Navigation to precisely ascertain the relative position, speed and attitudes between the tanker and the receiver;
• Intra-Flight Communication between platforms allows information exchange among the different assets, increasing the autonomy of the system of systems;
• Cooperative Control Algorithms to provide guidance, coordination, consensus and collision-avoidance functionalities to the tanker and the receiver/s.

These pioneering technologies, developed by a European team from Spain, Germany and France, will continue to increase the capability gap among competitors, as well as being re-used in key technological projects, such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

A second campaign is expected towards the end of 2023, exploring the use of navigation sensors based on artificial intelligence and enhanced algorithms for autonomous formation flight. In addition, there will also be two simulated drones flying in the vicinity of the A310 MRTT to demonstrate multi-receiver autonomous operations and collision-avoidance algorithms.

Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Christchurch Airport today, marking the resumption of its daily service from Dubai to Christchurch via Sydney after more than three years.

The special service was greeted by a crowd of spectators at the Christchurch Airport boundary, who watched as the iconic aircraft taxied through a ceremonial water canon salute, before parking in view of trade, media, and VIP guests at the international terminal.

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Outbound EK412 left Dubai at 10:15 local time, stopping briefly in Sydney before arriving in Christchurch at 13:55 hours the next day, New Zealand time. The resumption of the Dubai to Christchurch route headlines a planned ramping up of seating capacity across Emirates’ global network, after boosting operations 31% (total ASKMs) since the beginning of its financial year. This operational boost included the re-introduction of Emirates’ nonstop A380 route from Auckland to Dubai in December of last year.

Emirates’ A380 return to Christchurch is also welcome news for South Island producers, with SkyCargo again supporting the export of 15 to 18 tonnes of daily goods across the Tasman. The airfreight will provided much-needed airfreight from a broad range of exporters, including Central Otago cherries, prime New Zealand lamb, and premium seafood, as they continue on to destinations around the world.

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Both North and South Island customers will now have direct access to daily Emirates A380 services, providing greater levels of flexibility and choice when making travel plans and providing seamless connectivity and reduced transit time when travelling to other destinations across the airline’s global network, including destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Travellers looking to venture beyond the airline’s gateways will also have more connection opportunities to 55 cities across Australia and New Zealand through Emirates’ long-standing partnership with Qantas.

Restart of Christchurch via Sydney 

The A380 flight operates as EK 412 and EK 413. Emirates flight EK 412 departs Dubai at 1015hrs, arriving in Sydney at 0700hrs. The flight will then continue, taking off from Sydney at 0845hrs, arriving in Christchurch at 1355hrs. EK 413 will then depart Christchurch at 1820hrs, arriving in Sydney at 1940hrs. The final leg of EK 413 will depart to Dubai at 2145hrs, arriving at 0515hrs local time.

Customers in Christchurch will not only be able to enjoy the airline’s flagship aircraft, but will also experience the debut of the highly sought-after Premium Economy cabin and latest products across every class of travel.

A direct service between Pune and Mumbai is planned to be introduced by Air India. The service will launch six times a week as of March 26. The 9:45 a.m. flight by Air India will arrive in Pune at 10:45 a.m. Around 11:20 am, the return flight will leave, and at 12:20 pm, it will touch down in Mumbai. In actuality, this is the first direct flight that is now offered between the two cosmopolitan cities. Jet Airways used to run a flight in the past, but it stopped in 2019.

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During the voyage, an Airbus A319 will operate on the airline’s revived 9W route, according to the Air India website. This is the smallest aircraft in the carrier’s fleet. For individuals going between Mumbai and Pune, the road would provide another option other than trains, buses and private vehicles.

Connecting flights do travel between Mumbai and Pune. Nonetheless, it takes longer than four hours to get there. For the Air India flight from Mumbai to Pune, ticket sales have already begun. For more information on ticket prices, users can go to the Air India website. Business class tickets cost about Rs 18,467 each seat while economy tickets cost about Rs 2,353 per seat. According to reports, the Mumbai-Pune route will be the nation’s shortest narrowbody route.

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The airlines will also begin eight additional weekly flights on Sunday: three flights each from Mumbai and Delhi to Bangkok, as well as weekly flights from Delhi to Hong Kong and Seoul (Incheon). With this, the carrier’s total number of flights to East Asia will reach 67.

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Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, last night touched down in Kolkata as the airline made its much-anticipated return to the city. With a total of seven weekly nonstop services, the airline will once again connect India’s financial capital, Kolkata, with the world through Abu Dhabi.

Etihad will increase frequency to twice daily between Abu Dhabi and New York-JFK starting in April 2023.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The first flight on the new service, EY256, departed Abu Dhabi with a full load of passengers at 1:50pm local time on 26 March and touched down at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport last night at 8:10pm local time. Upon arrival in Kolkata, passengers were welcomed with a cake-cutting ceremony and a celebration attended by Etihad and Kolkata Airport Executives.

The return flight, EY257, departed Kolkata at 9:05 pm local time on 26 March, landing in Abu Dhabi shortly after midnight. The flights will be operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, offering Etihad’s award-winning service to guests in 8 seats in Business Class and 150 in Economy, convenient flight timings to the UAE’s capital city and seamless connections to destinations across the airline’s growing global network of 67 destinations.

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Etihad passengers flying from Kolkata to the United States can benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in Abu Dhabi International Airport, the only US immigration preclearance service in the region that allows passengers to clear US immigration while they are still in Abu Dhabi, meaning travellers can get home quicker and easier.

Flight schedule for Abu Dhabi – Kolkata service, effective 26 March 2023:

Etihad Airways is launching an Early Summer sale with exclusive offers to help guests plan a quick escape before the summer. guests can book their flights at special sale fares to select Etihad destinations until 31 March 2023, and travel between 1 May and 15 June 2023.

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Guests can choose from select Etihad sale destinations with fares starting from AED 995 for a return fare.

• Head to Cairo from AED 1,195 and take in the ancient sites and one of the seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Khufu at the Pyramids of Giza. While in Egypt, take a cruise on the Nile, the world’s longest river, or visit the Red Sea, home to colorful reefs and beautiful marine life.
• Explore the history, architecture and art in one of the world’s most popular cities when you fly to Paris for AED 2,595. Visit the Eiffel Tower, take a cruise along the Seine, or check out the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s original counterpart Louvre Paris and see the famed Mona Lisa. Watch the Parisiens go by as you relax with un café at the bustling pavement cafes and enjoy the city’s famed gastronomy at a lovely French Bistrot.
• Visit the UK’s bustling capital, London from AED 2,795 to take in the parks, museums, and historical sites, or shop until you drop in the beautiful streets of the majestic city. Take advantage of the nightlife in the famous ‘West End theatre district or dine in cosy eateries or Michelin-starred restaurants
• If you’re looking for tropical beaches, surfing spots, or scuba diving adventures then try the Philippines. Fly to Manila from AED 2,395 and explore the food, art scene and the world’s oldest Chinatown in the city known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, or venture further to visit the islands’ beaches and indulge in breathtaking landscapes and turquoise waters.
• Fly to the beautiful Garden City of Singapore from AED 2,495 and dine on top of the Marina Bay Sands, take in the botanical gardens or the Gardens by the Bay. Visit the famed Raffles Hotel and marvel at the iconic architecture all around the city.
• Starting tomorrow, Etihad will also relaunch daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Kolkata, providing a total of seven non-stop services per week to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. To celebrate the relaunch, sale fares to Kolkata start at just AED 995 in Economy. Uniquely cosmopolitan, Kolkata – often referred to as the cultural capital of India – is home to exceptional architecture and dynamic markets.

EasyJet has announced a new route to Istanbul in Turkey from Manchester which will take off this summer. This will be the first time the airline will operate to the Istanbul Airport in Turkey’s largest city, which becomes the 156th destination on easyJet’s extensive short-haul network spanning Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Seats are on sale now at easyJet.com and via the mobile app, with fares from £51.99.*

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Departing for the first time on 9th June, flights will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, providing a direct connection for customers from the North-West to this unique and iconic city, in addition to existing popular services from Manchester to Antalya and Dalaman.

Istanbul joins other destinations Bodrum, Antalya, Dalaman and Izmir on easyJet’s Turkey network and promises to offer customers something uniquely different.  Straddling two continents, and famously known as the city where East meets West, easyJet’s newest destination boasts a rich history and will offer customers a variety of experiences; from the old city which reflects cultural influences of many historic empires, to world-famous landmarks like the Blue Mosque, while bargain hunters can stroll the iconic Grand Bazaar.

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What’s more, the new route means that brand new package holidays have gone on sale with Europe’s fastest-growing tour operator, easyJet holidays. Holidaymakers can make the most of city break packages starting at just £437 per person, including hotel, flights and 23kg luggage. The holiday provider has 13 hotels to choose from, including the 5* CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul in the New City, the 5* Eresin hotels Topkapi in the Old City, and the 5* Wanda Vista Istanbul in Marmara.

EasyJet serves 21 UK airports, offering 482 routes to 125 destinations from the UK across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. To discover more about easyJet’s UK network and to book, visit easyJet.com

EasyJet 2070: The Future Travel Report highlights include:

The airport journey and air travel experience will be revolutionized by technological advances:

• Heartbeat and biometric passports will replace the traditional passport, for passengers to breeze through their airport. Much like fingerprints and the retina, every person’s cardiac signature is unique. Passengers’ heartbeat signatures and biometric details will be logged on a global system in the same way fingerprint scanning technology works today.

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• Ergonomic and biomimetic sensory plane seats will become the norm, with smart materials adapting to passengers’ body shape, height, weight, and temperature, providing the ultimate tailored comfort flying experience

• Inflight entertainment will be beamed directly in front of passenger’s eyes, via optoelectronic devices, replacing the need for onboard screens or downloading movies before you fly

• e-VTOL air taxis will do away with the airport car park shuttle – the journey to the airport will be quicker and more convenient than ever before with 85% of passengers arriving by e-VTOLs from their homes to the terminal.

As technology advances, it will see significant advances in the accommodation experience abroad:

• 3D printed hotel buffet food will allow holidaymakers to 3D print whatever they want to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while reducing food waste.

• Subterranean hotels built into the fabric of the earth that are super energy efficient and at one with the environment

• All hotel rooms will be smart rooms with beds already pre-made to exactly desired firmness, ambient temperatures and favourite music playing based upon preferences you select in advance of booking the holiday

• A holographic personal holiday concierge will accompany holidaymakers to provide up to date destination information and assistance throughout their stay

• 3D printed, recyclable holiday clothes on arrival at the hotel will remove the need for suitcases and fast holiday fashion as travellers can print the clothes required in their hotel rooms, tailored to their perfect fit and style, and recycle the materials for the next guest to enjoy.

• Human powered hotels which harvest energy from its guests’ footsteps in order to generate power

Four of the expert predictions have been brought to life in incredibly detailed renders, showcasing how travel could look in 2070.

The impressive visuals depict travellers using their unique heartbeats to get through security at the airport, as well as a new way of flying as aircraft are fitted with adaptable, biomimetic seats, with entertainment beamed directly into their eyes. Other images show holidaymakers viewing a true-to-life Colossus of Rhodes wearing haptic suits, and selecting delicious 3D-printed food, personalised to their tastes. Three-quarters (75%) of Brits say that these technological advances would make them more likely to go on holiday in the future.

The survey of 2,000 British adults revealed that biometric heartbeat passports and time-travelling holiday experiences are the advancements in travel that the nation would most like to see happen by 2070.