The EU plans to lift restrictions for all US travelers, reports say

Summary List Placement The European Union plans to drop all bans against American travelers, multiple reports say. EU member states agreed Wednesday to lift COVID-19 travel restrictions and allow nonessential travel from the US soon, the German network Deutsche Welle reported. France’s Agence France-Presse and the Reuters news wire carried similar reports. Reuters reported that …

Airbus: Airline industry has lost 25 years of growth

The airline industry has lost 25 years of growth due to the impact of the COVID pandemic according to the world’s largest supplier of commercial aircraft. Yesterday, Airbus detailed the savaged impact of COVID-19 on the airline industry at its 2021 Virtual Commercial & Programmes Update. Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Head of …

United Airlines said to be considering orders for 300 aircraft

United Airlines is now rumored to be considering an order for up to 300 aircraft that would include 737MAX, A321neo, and the 787.   According to Seeking Alpha, Airfinance Journal is reporting a mix that would be 50 to 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft with 250 Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 787 aircraft. While an exact …

Southwest Grounds Flights On Second Outage in Two Days

MIAMI – Southwest Airlines (WN) did not get the present it was dreaming of for its 50th anniversary, which falls this week, but rather a bad dream come true: two days in a row of flight disruptions. It all started on Monday when an unspecified IT glitch prevented WN pilots from receiving weather information. This …

NAC Delivers Fourth Embraer E190 to Breeze Airways

MIAMI – Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) confirmed yesterday the successful delivery of an Embraer E190 to Breeze Airways (MX) for lease. NAC states that the delivery reflects a substantial vote of confidence in the E190 and in the leasing company’s TrueChoice Flight Hour arrangement with GE for the CF34-10E engine. The engine is an advanced 20,000-pound thrust …

12 of the best hotels in Boston and Cambridge including historic properties, posh luxury, budget stays, and even a former jailhouse

  Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky Rich with Revolutionary historic sites, Boston’s cobblestone streets are almost like one big outdoor history museum. But rather than be defined strictly by its past, Boston’s dynamic art, culture, music, and dining scenes keep it relevant for the modern traveler.  This feeling of old meets new can …

Air Canada to Fly Cargo Routes Starting This Fall

MIAMI – Air Canada (AC) and its AC Cargo Division have announced the initial list of destinations to be flown as cargo-only flights beginning this coming Fall. To ensure the new service, AC is presently converting several of its Boeing 767 into all-cargo dedicated aircraft and plans to take full advantage of the ongoing global …

Americans are traveling and dining almost as much now as before the pandemic, AmEx CEO says

Summary List Placement Americans are dining out and traveling again. Spending for both are nearing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, Steve Squeri, American Express CEO, told CNBC’s Jim Cramer on “Mad Money” on Monday. Both travel-adjacent companies and restaurants were initially decimated when the COVID-19 pandemic first rippled across the US. But now, mass vaccination efforts, financial …

US$1.1bn in State Aid Handed to Emirates

MIAMI – Following Emirates Airlines’ (EK) announcement of a US$5.5bn net loss, Dubai’s government has today stepped in with an additional US$1.1bn in state aid to keep the carrier afloat.  The loss, the airlines biggest in its operational history, has been triggered due to the unprecedented collapse in long-haul travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.  …

I flew on Set Jet, where flights on private jets cost the same as typical airlines’ first class, and saw why it’s one of aviation’s best kept secrets

Summary List Placement Flying on a private jet is the very pinnacle of air travel and has traditionally been reserved for the ultra-wealthy, until now. Set Jet is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based private aviation firm that offers by-the-seat private jet flights on routes across the American West. The idea isn’t new but its founders say they’ve …

Avolon Engaged in Largest eVTOL Aircraft Procurement

MIAMI – Avolon and Vertical Aerospace have announced a US$2bn purchase transaction contract for up to 500 electric eVTOL aircraft. As reported by HeliHub, the multinational aircraft leasing firm and the world’s most sophisticated electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) company settled what is the biggest purchase agreement of the new types as of yet. …

WestJet Introduces Non-stop Amsterdam Service

CALGARY – With the addition of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Calgary-based WestJet (WJ) took a huge leap forward in fulfilling its future transatlantic goal. On June 14, 2021, WJ announced starting August 5 2021 they would begin service to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This route would be flown directly from its base in Calgary, Alberta, on-board …

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, posts massive loss

The Emirates, the world’s largest international airline has posted a massive US$5.50 billion loss for the year to March 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact, its first non-profitable year in over three decades. Emirates carried 6.6 million passengers down 88 per cent in 2020-21, with seat capacity down by 83 per cent. The …

How a Singapore-based founder launched a staycation app during the pandemic that lets people book up 5-star hotels’ empty pools and spas for day use

Summary List Placement It’s happened to all of us: We think of a business idea, maybe tell a friend or two, then forget all about it. Not Martha Waslen. Fresh off Singapore’s “circuit breaker” last June, when borders were closed to foreign travelers, Waslen was strolling the grounds of one of her favorite hotels, Shangri-La …

Airbus to set up zero emissions centres to build hydrogen tanks

Airbus is stepping up efforts to build hydrogen tanks for the next generation of aircraft by creating Zero-Emission Development Centres (ZEDC) at its sites in Bremen (Germany) and in Nantes (France). The aim of ZEDC is to achieve cost-competitive cryogenic tank manufacturing to support the successful future market launch of ZEROe (Zero Emissions Aircraft) and …

Supersonic DC-8 in stunning colour

The Douglas DC-8 is the only subsonic commercial jet to break the sound barrier and now we have her in stunning colour thank to French colourist Benoit Vienne. The event took place on August 21, 1961, when test pilot William Magruder, copilot Paul Patten, flight engineer Joseph Tomich, and flight test engineer Richard H. Edwards …

18 of the best Hilton Hotels in the US to earn or use points at, from family suites to luxury beach resorts

  Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky Hilton Hotels currently offers 16 distinct brands for every type of traveler, with two new brands in development so keep an eye on newcomers Tempo by Hilton debuting in Louisville and Signia by Hilton in development for Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Orlando. As a Hilton Honors elite member, …

Walsh: British Airways Can Be Cut off from IAG

MIAMI – In the aftermath of COVID-19, the former chief executive of both British Airways (BA)and its parent company, International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), has suggested that the British flag carrier may be carved out from the group.  Willie Walsh told the Sunday Telegraph that BA may be sold off to make the group, which also owns …

These 3 Citi cards are the best combination to earn maximum points on every purchase

  Summary List Placement Disclaimer: Citi is an Insider Advertiser A three-card combination from Citi will allow you to earn 2x to 5x ThankYou points on all spending. The Citi Premier® Card earns 3x points in popular categories including restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. You can fill in the gaps with the Citi Custom Cash℠ …

Korean Air Performs Historically Longest Flight

MIAMI – Korean Airlines (KE) performs its longest flight ever registered since its establishment in 1969, carrying 25 tons of COVID-related goods bound for the Dominican Republic. The flight was performed with a Boeing 777-300ER, which is normally used to carry passengers but is modified to carry cargo both in holds and cabin. The KE8047 …

From Houston to Upstate New York, here are 7 US destinations to visit to learn about Black history

  Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring all persons held as slaves are henceforth free. But it wasn’t until a full two and half years after this that all slaves in the United States were considered free in the eyes of the …

The best credit card deals this week include 8 welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more

 Table of Contents: Masthead StickySummary List Placement It’s an excellent time to consider opening a new credit card, as issuers continue to launch elevated offers and promotions geared toward those who are planning travel now that COVID restrictions are starting to lift. Some cards are offering unprecedented welcome bonuses of  100,000 points or more, but …

Today in Aviation: First Flight of the Airbus A350

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, the prototype of the Airbus A350 took to the skies for the first time in 2013 from Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS), Toulouse, France. The Airbus A350 is a long-range wide-body jet aircraft designed and manufactured by Airbus. In response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus proposed the first A350 concept in 2004, …

Air Antwerp Goes out of Business

MIAMI – The COVID crisis claims yet another airline. Belgian Air Antwerp (WP) has gone out of business, the airline announced at the end of this week. Air Antwerp flew a single route to London City Airport (LCY). As a scheduled commuter airline, WP could not take advantage of the somewhat recovering leisure travel as …

Stobart Air Routes Taken up by IAG Carriers

MIAMI – Following Stobart Air’s (RE) sudden stop of operations and ultimate liquidation, IAG carriers British Airways (BA) and Aer Lingus (EI) have stepped in to provide temporary emergency services on the routes served by RE. Stobart Ai blamed the COVID-19 crisis as the reason for its demise and its inability to raise new capital …

Airways Aviation Experience: On-board Flair Airline’s First 737 MAX 8 (+Video)

MIAMI – Welcome to the first Airways Aviation Experience on-board Flair Airlines’ first Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight from Edmonton to Toronto. The Canadian aviation industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued effects. Most airlines were forced to make deep cuts to their network, staff, and fleet. However, one airline …

Some airlines still aren’t selling alcohol aboard flights, and it’s one of the changes flight attendants hope will stay in place as travel rebounds

Summary List Placement For one Los Angeles-based flight attendant, not serving alcohol on board was the best part of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Airlines reduced interaction between crew members and passengers by limiting in-flight snack and drink options — one of those changes being getting rid of alcoholic beverages.  Delta and American Airlines, for …