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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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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.

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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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The CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines claims that the airline is ready for privatization and that it has turned a profit for the first time in fifteen years. Investors from a variety of industries, including the aviation and non-aviation sectors, are interested in purchasing a portion of Sri Lankan Airlines.

A request for qualification (RFQ) has been sent out to draw in possible investors. With almost 99% of the airline presently held by the Sri Lankan government, the sale is expected to be completed by June of next year.

Businesses from many nations, including India, are thinking about making investments. In September, speculations were mentioning Tata Sons, the Adani Group, and Emirates as possible suitors. However, Campbell Wilson, the CEO of Air India, denied these reports.

Richard Nuttall also mentioned that Gulf operators would gain a great deal from the airline’s convenient access to its neighbour in Asia. “India is the big prize for everybody,” he declared. He hinted that airlines such as Emirates, which formerly held 40 percent of SriLankan, may be among those that comply with the Colombo government’s desire to privatise the airline.

With 23 Airbus planes and flights to 39 international locations, SriLankan Airlines is a major carrier of passengers between Sri Lanka and India. Sri Lankan designated carriers have unlimited access to most Indian cities, including major metropolitan regions, based on a merely liberal air services agreement between Sri Lanka and India.

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Qantas is set to spread holiday cheer with the unveiling of their special Christmas-themed aircraft, the QantasLink Q400 ‘Dasher-8’. This festive addition to the airline’s fleet promises to bring a touch of Christmas magic to passengers throughout the month of December.

The Q400, with the registration VH-QOW, has been affectionately christened as ‘Dasher-8’. In a creative twist, the airline’s iconic 737 will also undergo a holiday makeover, becoming ‘Roo-dolph’ for the season. This name cleverly combines the identity of Santa’s lead reindeer with a nod to Qantas’ distinctive ‘Flying Kangaroo’ tail logo.

The grand reveal took place at the QantasLink hangar at Brisbane Airport (BNE) on December 4, 2023. Dasher-8 emerged resplendent in its newly applied livery, featuring a striking design of a large red sleigh and kangaroos. Adding to the festive ambiance, Christmas carols will serenade passengers throughout the boarding process on both Dasher-8 and Roo-Dolph.

Members will now get access to exclusive pre-sales and special offers, as well as new entertainment packages that combine event tickets with flights and accommodations.

To commemorate the introduction of the relationship, Ticketek and Qantas Frequent Flyer have today published three entertainment packages, which are only available at Qantas Experiences.

• The newly announced Jerry Seinfeld Live – Third Sydney Show, Qudos Bank Arena, Sunday 16 June 2024 (including exclusive pre-sale access from 11am today)
• Australia vs West Indies Cricket Test Series, The Gabba, 25 – 29 January 2024
• Lightscape Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens, 14 June – 4 August 2024