Atlas Air signs deal for GEnx Engines: Atlas Air Worldwide signed an agreement with GE Aviation to purchase GEnx-2B engines for its four Boeing 747-8 Freighters along with a 20-year TrueChoice Overhaul agreement, which covers the time and material required to overhaul the GEnx-2B engines. The agreements are valued at more than US$800 million at list prices over the life of the service agreement. “The 747-8F powered with GEnx engines gives us the best and most versatile widebody freighter in the market,” said John Dietrich, Atlas Air Worldwide president and CEO. “Our partnership with GE Aviation supports our longstanding focus on leading edge technology. We look forward to continuing to provide world-class service to our customers.” Customers have ordered more than 2,500 GEnx engines, making it the fastest selling high-thrust engine in GE’s history. With the most advanced technologies and materials, the GEnx has the highest reliability and utilisation, lowest fuel burn and longest range capable of any engine in its thrust class.
Radixx signs agreement with Air Moldova: Radixx, a Sabre company, has signed a multi-year technology agreement with Air Moldova. The Chișinău-based airline will utilise Radixx’s merchandising, distribution, and fulfilment solutions to expand into new revenue streams and power future growth. Later this year, Air Moldova will go live on the Radixx Res cloud-hosted passenger service system (PSS) to deliver flights and value-adding ancillaries to its travellers. Offering industry-leading performance, Radixx’ modern micro-services-based system provides Air Moldova with flexible and advanced technology that improves the traveller experience and maximises revenue. Air Moldova will also use the Radixx ezyCommerce retailing solution to provide a superior device-agnostic customer experience, which will differentiate its brand and offers. Radixx ezyCommerce will enable the airline to take advantage of a set of powerful APIs and integrate third-party content to further customise its offers to travellers.
Qatar Airways Cargo joins Validaide: Qatar Airways Cargo has joined Validaide Capabilities Platform as a premium member. Through the membership, the cargo carrier is able to digitally manage and share its station capabilities for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products. Customers will be able to easily review the airline’s pharma handling capabilities at all the airports throughout its extensive network. Qatar Airways Cargo has also joined the Advisory Board of Validaide which allows it to contribute to further developments to the platform and customise its features to benefit the end user. Qatar Airways Cargo and Validaide both pursue digitalisation projects within the broader air cargo industry. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “digitalisation is the need of the hour. Our premium membership with Validaide, the leading digital platform for special cargo gives access to our customers, logistics providers and pharmaceutical shippers to easily define and search for special cargo handling capabilities. Customers can also create lane assessments when transporting pharmaceuticals on our flights. We are easing the way for our customers do business with us, providing convenience and speed to market, which are the key benefits of going digital.”
Airbus, Atlas Telecom join forces: Airbus and Atlas Telecom, a UAE-based communications technology integration and security solutions company, signed a strategic partnership agreement to combine their local and global expertise and reinforce collaboration among public safety agencies in Abu Dhabi. The cooperation will lead to the integration of Airbus’ Tactilon Agnet, Everus Manpack and Tactilon Dabat into Atlas Telecom’s solutions for defense and security applications. Tactilon Agnet brings terminal radio and smart device users together, allowing real-time sharing of voice, data, video and location information. Embedded in Tactilon Agnet, the portable Everus Manpack LTE tactical bubble enables voice and video services, and gives users a direct link to the headquarters. In addition, Airbus’ Tactilon Dabat device allows users to switch between Tetra or LTE network services, according to availability, thanks to its state-of-the-art hybrid roaming feature. In the frame of the agreement, Airbus will also provide the TW1m Tetra modem, which will unlock the capabilities of Atlas Telecom’s E-passport tracking device, an advanced compact and intelligent vessel tracker.
Vietjet operates the most flights in Vietnam in February: Vietjet operated the most flights out of Vietnam’s six reported airlines with 7,881 flights operated between 19 January and 18 February, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). Vietjet also has the highest month-on-month flight growth of 22.1 percent, outstripping Pacific Airlines at 13.3 percent and Bamboo Airways at 8.8 percent. But Vietnam Airlines and its subsidiary VASCO had to reduce the number of flights by 7.8 percent and 14 percent respectively. During the reported period, which includes also the country’s highest travel season of the Lunar New Year holidays, Vietnamese airlines operated a total of 20,944 flights, a 7.4 percent growth month-on-month in terms of the number of flights operated despite a new wave of coronavirus infection in the country. It was, though, down by 37.5 percent year-on-year. Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways operated 6,725 fights and 4,008 flights, respectively ranking at the second and the third. Pacific Airlines came in the fourth with 1,640 flights while VASCO and Vietravel recorded 518 and 172 flights respectively.
Honeywell expands UV product line: Honeywell has debuted a new, smaller version of the product that includes a UV wand and portable backpack. Designed to help reduce pathogens found on high-touch surfaces in a quick and low-cost manner, this new device can be easily used in a multitude of transportation options, from buses and trains to cars and small aircraft. The Honeywell UV Treatment Wand includes a handheld wand approximately 12 inches long to dispense UVC light. The entire system weighs roughly 15 pounds and can be used in any size space where a person will fit, including vehicles, buildings and other shared spaces. The backpack portion of the device, which also rolls like a small piece of luggage, contains a battery that lasts for one hour of steady usage. It takes about 2.5 hours to recharge the battery when fully drained. The new portable option contains a single UVC lamp, and it can be operated for as little as 10 cents per use. The wand can be used at varying speeds and distances from a target surface. At its ideal dosage and speed, the wand can be used to cover approximately one square meter in 17 seconds, or about 3.5 meters per minute. The device could treat high-touch surfaces in a midsize business jet cabin, cockpit and lavatory in less than 15 minutes. The surfaces in a typical rental car could be treated in five minutes.
HK Express launches WeChat app: HK Express has launched its official WeChat mini-app. Tailored for WeChat users in China, the HK Express WeChat mini-app includes a raft of features to ensure a smooth and seamless journey every step of the way. The app’s functions range from on-demand travel information to optional in-app purchases via WeChat pay integration. Customers may also set up a traveller profile, search for flights, access billing information, check travel alerts and book add-on services such as extra baggage allowance or book your seat in advance. There are more features to come in phases.
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