Vietjet announces new Thai domestic routes: Vietjet has announced and opened ticket sales from 15 June for five new Thailand domestic routes. These five new Vietjet routes will connect the capital Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) with tourism and cultural destinations including Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani. The five new routes extend Thai Vietjet’s domestic flight network to 12 domestic routes, connecting 11 destinations in Thailand. Recently, Vietjet also increased its Vietnam domestic flight network to 53 routes with eight new routes connecting Hanoi with Dong Hoi (Quang Binh province); Hai Phong with Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh province); Vinh (Nghe An province) with Phu Quoc; Da Nang with Phu Quoc, Da Lat (Lam Dong province), Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak province), Vinh and Thanh Hoa. These new routes will commence operation from 18 June.
Cessna Skyhawk celebrates 65 years since first flight: Textron Aviation is honouring the 65th anniversary of the first flight of the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history, Textron Aviation’s Cessna Skyhawk. Since the aircraft first took to the sky, more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world—more than any other aircraft in the industry and solidifying the Skyhawk as the aircraft of choice for pilot training. Throughout its history, the Skyhawk has remained innovative and updated with the latest avionic technology. In 2019, the aircraft, along with the Cessna high-wing piston fleet, received an addition of new standard and optional equipment as part of the Garmin G1000 NXi next-generation integrated flight deck, which provides pilots with enhanced control and connectivity in the cockpit.
Time capsule to mark historical runway launch in Brisbane: To commemorate the opening of Brisbane’s new runway, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is creating a time capsule so future Queenslanders can look back at the significance of this historic moment for the city, state and nation. With the cancelation of community events planned for the opening of the new runway due to COVID-19, BAC is inviting community members to suggest possible items for inclusion, creating a snapshot of 2020 for the unveiling in 50 years’ time – the same length of time the runway has been in the plans to be built. Along with seeking suggestions from the community, BAC is inviting iconic Queenslanders, Traditional Owners, airlines, schools, community groups and elected representatives to participate by contributing items symbolic for them. The time capsule, to be opened in 2070, will be sealed during the official ribbon cutting opening ceremony for Brisbane’s new runway on 12 July. Instead of storing underground, the sealed capsule will be housed in the Kingsford Smith Memorial at Brisbane Airport alongside the historical ‘Southern Cross’ aircraft flown by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
GE Aviation launches Health Application ID for the aviation industry: GE Aviation is offering a new health credential application, Health Application ID, for the aviation industry to address COVID-19 related safety concerns. The solution focuses on three important areas: Employee Control: screening workers to facilitate a safe return to the workplace; Passenger Control: screening passengers for responsible and safe aircraft occupancy; Object Control: clearing objects on aircraft as disinfected to improve customer trust and confidence. The solution, enabled by Microsoft Azure, is available now and demonstrations are underway with airlines, airports and industry groups. “This application addresses an urgent need in our industry to help ensure airline and airport workers have been screened for COVID-19 and that their fellow passengers have been checked,” said Andrew Coleman, chief commercial officer of GE Aviation’s Digital Group. “We need to do everything we can to instill trust and confidence in the traveling public and get the world back to work and flying again”. The solution enables airlines, airports and related transportation operation areas to set test result protocols and check the compliance to new COVID-19 medical screening for employees and passengers. Personal information and test results are protected by encryption and access is solely controlled by designated airline employees and passengers. Additionally, the offering is flexible and medical-test agnostic, which enables airlines to adapt as regulation and science evolves. By providing this application to airlines, more people can start to fly, and the industry can start to rebuild.
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