Planned strikes by hundreds of workers at Heathrow Airport have been called off after a new offer made by the employer (Heathrow Airport Ltd), it was announced today. Airport workers were taking strike action over the outsourcing of hundreds of jobs to subcontractors that workers feared would lead to a decline in contractual terms and conditions. Following two days of talks, Unite the union is to ballot its members at Heathrow over a new offer. While the ballot takes place, as a goodwill gesture, Unite has suspended all remaining strike action. Two days of strikes had already been called off t ..read more

Etihad Airways and JetBlue today announced the addition of loyalty benefits starting 8 May 2024, as part of its codeshare partnership. The agreement between the two airlines was celebrated at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market today. As part of this partnership, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty programme and members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, will now be able to earn and redeem Miles in the programme of their choice when flying across the network of either airline. This partnership complements the respective programmes’ portfolio of redemption options with Etihad ..read more

The Latvian national airline airBaltic has successfully priced a EUR 340 million issue of 14.50% 5.25-year (5 years and 3 months) senior secured bonds. This will be the largest corporate bond issue originating from Latvia. This transaction was well received by both the international and local investment communities, as well as the Latvian State, resulting in a final allocation to more than 100 leading global institutional investors from more than 20 countries across 3 continents. The demand for the bond exceeded the supply with the final orderbook surpassing EUR 800 million. The pricing follow ..read more

Vallair, the mature aircraft asset specialist dedicated to the support of operators and lessors, has appointed François Biarneix as Operations Director. Based in Chateâuroux, Biarneix will oversee the strategic deployment and operations of Vallair’s aerostructure and composite shop, engine shop, logistics department, and aircraft dismantling activities. Biarneix brings a wealth of management experience, further strengthening Vallair’s senior team and capabilities. His work history spans over two decades, recently including the role of Technical Manager for a supplier specialising in the parts ..read more

GVAssistance has been granted a license for the PRM business at Geneva Cointrin Airport. In January 2024, Geneva Airport initiated a tender process for the concession to deliver services and assistance to passengers with reduced mobility. GVAssistance applied as one of five providers for the years 2025-2031 and has today been awarded the concession by Geneva Airport. GVAssistance has been assisting passengers with reduced mobility at Geneva Airport for over 15 years. The company facilitates safe transportation for PRM passengers, whether departing, arriving, or in transit, offering seamless tr ..read more

Aviator Airport Alliance, a full-range provider of aviation services across 15 airports in the Nordic, has announced that its Helsinki station has received significant honours from Japan Airlines. The awards include ‘Station of the Year 2022-2023’ and a special recognition for outstanding ramp handling performance. Kimmo Holopainen, Managing Director at Aviator Airport Alliance Finland: “We are immensely proud of the recognition our Helsinki station has received from Japan Airlines. “Being named ‘Station of the Year 2022-2023’ reflects the high standards we uphold in safety, punctuality, and c ..read more

Menzies Aviation has announced the appointment of Raymond Lo as Chief Executive of Menzies CNAC. The announcement follows the company’s earlier acquisition of a 50% stake in Jardine Aviation Services Group (JASG), which will be rebranded as Menzies CNAC. With more than 24 years at Menzies Aviation, Raymond has spent the last decade as Managing Director of Menzies Macau Airport Services Ltd. Prior to this, he spent eight years working for Menzies Aviation in Hong Kong. Raymond is set to replace Interim Chief Executive, Vivien Lau, who will return to her permanent position at Jardine Matheson fo ..read more

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Stopover. The announcement was made at the Arabian Travel Market following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between DCT Abu Dhabi’s Director General for Tourism, His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, and Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves. The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, offers guests flying through Abu Dhabi a free stopover hotel stay. The capital of the UAE is a convenient stopover destinat ..read more

IATA’s Director of Ground Operations Monika Mejstrikova spoke at the IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC), which opened in Reykjavík today hosted by Icelandair, highlighting a number of priorities for ground handling: “Good morning. It is both a privilege and an honour to stand before you today. Our dedication and hard work form the backbone of aviation, contributing to the success of 37 million flights every year. “From the moment a passenger arrives at one airport to when they take off from another, and from when a plane touches down to when it takes off again, our teams are indispensable ..read more

Following the ASA Board Meeting, and whilst attending the IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) in Reykjavik, Iceland, the Aviation Service Providers Association (ASA) calls for an immediate change in the working relationships between airlines, airports, and aviation service providers and for the adoption of global regulatory requirements in the wake of the EASA Opinion released earlier in January. Fabio Gamba, ASA Director General, underlines the critical challenges faced by aviation service providers. “Service providers are the backbone of air operations, yet they continue to grapple with h ..read more