Austrian Airlines carried a total of 998,000 passengers. This comprises an increase of 66,100 passengers compared to the previous month of April 2015. In a year-on-year comparison this represents an expected decrease in total passenger volume of 4.7 percent from May 2014 due to the crises in Russia, the Ukraine and the Middle East. Moreover, the timing of holidays in May 2015 and the related rise in the number of days off in comparison to May 2014 resulted in a weaker level of bookings on the part of business travelers. The flight offering in available seat kilometers (ASK) rose by 5.0 percent, mainly as a result of North Atlantic flights which had not yet been part of the flight schedule in May 2014. Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) were up by 0.9 percent. Capacity utilization of the flights (passenger load factor) was 75.4 percent on average, thus higher than the figure of 73.7 percent for April 2015.

In the period January to May 2015, the targeted reduction in the winter flight schedule was strongly reflected in the traffic results. Austrian Airlines proactively reduced its flight service in accordance with its business plan due to the weak demand at this time of the year, and increasingly shifted technical checks to this time span. Furthermore, the crises in Russia, the Ukraine and Middle East also led to a drop in demand. On balance, the airline’s flight offering measured in available seat kilometers was cut back by 1.2 percent from the previous year, whereas revenue passenger kilometers dropped by 4.8 percent. Passenger volume totaled 3.9 million, comprising a decline of 9.0 percent from the prior-year period, as expected. The passenger load factor was down 2.9 percentage points to 73.8 percent.

Europe
In the first five months from January to May 2015, Austrian Airlines cut back on its flight offering in Europe by 8.7 percent from the previous year, mainly due to the crises in Russia and the Ukraine. On balance, about 3.3 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines in Europe. This corresponds to a decrease of 10.3 percent in a year-on-year comparison, in line with expectations. Capacity utilization fell by 2.8 percentage points to 71.2 percent.



In the month of May 2015 alone, Austrian Airlines carried about 844,100 passengers in Europe, comprising a drop of 6.1 percent from the prior-year level, as expected. On balance, capacity utilization on European flights was down 2.8 percentage points to 74.7 percent in May 2015. Available seat kilometers decreased by 2.5 percent.

Intercontinental
In the period January to May 2015, approximately 642,700 passengers flew on the long-haul flights offered by Austrian Airlines, a drop of 2.0 percent from the previous year. The offering measured in available seat kilometers rose by 5.7 percent as a consequence of North Atlantic flights which had not yet been offered in the prior-year period. Revenue passenger kilometers were up by 1.4 percentage points. The passenger load factor was down 3.2 percentage points to 75.9 percent.

In May 2015, Austrian Airlines carried about 154,000 passengers on its intercontinental flights, an increase of 4.1 percent from the prior-year level. Available seat kilometers were increased by 11.9 percent, whereas revenue passenger kilometers improved by 7.0 percent. The passenger load factor amounted to 75.9 percent, 3.4 percentage points lower than in the previous year.

United Airlines (UAL) today reported May 2015 operational results.

UAL’s May 2015 consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) increased 0.5 percent and consolidated capacity (available seat miles) increased 2.1 percent versus May 2014. UAL’s May 2015 consolidated load factor decreased 1.4 points compared to May 2014. The company now expects second-quarter 2015 unit revenue (PRASM) to decline approximately 5 percent to 6 percent, primarily as a result of foreign exchange impact and revenue pressure related to lower oil prices. In addition, yields from close-in domestic bookings and revenue from oil-related corporate accounts have both softened compared to prior guidance.


Source:- United Airlines

EasyJet, Newcastle’s largest and Europe’s leading airline, is today celebrating the launch of three new routes this week from Newcastle International Airport to Split in Croatia (2 June), and the Greek islands of Rhodes (4 June) and Corfu (7 June).

The airline handed out ice creams and beach bags to passengers travelling on its inaugural flight from Newcastle to Split this morning, helping to get their summer holidays off to a flying start.

With the help of the ice cream parlour at Vallum – a local artisan food hub on Hadrian’s Wall – easyJet passengers enjoyed a choice of gelato flavours, including a Greek-style Lemon meringue, classic vanilla and summery raspberry ripple.

More than 20,000 passengers are expected to fly in and out of Newcastle on the three new Split, Rhodes and Corfu routes from June to October this year alone.

Jennifer Groves, easyJet’s UK Regions Route Manager, said:

“It has been fantastic to mark easyJet’s new routes by meeting our first passengers flying to Split today. We hope they enjoyed this morning’s events and are confident they will love all that the Croatian city has to offer.

“easyJet provides a great variety of destinations from the North-East with 15 exciting beach, city and ski destinations for customers to choose from. With easy and affordable service there really is something for everyone.”

Chris Sanders, Aviation Development Director at Newcastle International Airport, commented:

“We welcome these new easyJet routes which will make it easier for North East holidaymakers to reach Greece and Croatia this summer.

“Rhodes and Corfu are long time favourites from this airport while Split offers the prospect of beach holidays as well as the opportunity for three and four night short breaks in and around this interesting city.”

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are already expanding their biggest ever summer 2016 programme with the launch today of their brand NEW destination from Newcastle Airport, Girona (Costa Brava).

The addition of this popular summer holiday getaway means people in the North East now have even more Spanish hotspots to choose from for their sunshine break next year, and 35 destinations overall.

With Girona, holidaymakers can take their pick from some of the most popular holiday resorts on the Costa Brava including Lloret de Mar and Tossa de Mar. Flights begin operating in May 2016.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “We promised next summer is going to be our biggest one yet. We’re now making it even bigger with the launch of this popular Costa Brava destination from Newcastle Airport. Our Spanish routes are some of the most popular so we’re thrilled to be further expanding these with Girona, giving our customers even more new and exciting places to visit.

“This new addition shows our ongoing commitment in giving people the best choice of holiday spots direct from their local airport. I’m confident it will be extremely popular for us next year and beyond.”

David Laws, Chief Executive at Newcastle International Airport said: “Spain is a very popular destination from the North East. I am sure holidaymakers will welcome this new Jet2.com and Jet2holidays service, making it much easier to get from Newcastle to rest and relax on the golden Costa Brava beaches next summer.”

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Accenture to support the implementation of its business transformation program to improve productivity, efficiency and enable growth.

As part of the multi-million dollar agreement, Accenture will provide strategy and management consulting services in the areas of human resources, finance, and procurement and supply management to streamline Etihad Airways’ corporate processes and enable the development of best-in-class capabilities within those functions.

To support this, Accenture will work with the airline’s technology partner, SAP, to implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software solution. It will also set up and operate a new Testing Centre of Excellence for these solutions, which will be located in Abu Dhabi as part of Etihad Airways’ existing operations.

Accenture will work alongside Etihad Airways’ staff to ensure knowledge transfer of best practices, and to develop Emirati talent and skills to further support Abu Dhabi’s strategic growth plan.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Information and Technology Officer, Robert Webb, said: “To sustain Etihad Airways’ current and future growth, we need to achieve operational and organisational efficiency by creating an integrated approach to business processes, underpinned by a scalable, common technology platform.

“We believe that working with world-class business transformation and technology companies like Accenture and SAP will help us realise this goal and prepare our business for years to come with an increased focus on the guest.”
Omar Boulos, Managing Director for Accenture Middle East, said, “This business transformation, built on the next-generation SAP® HANA platform, will elevate Etihad Airways to the next level. By developing a technology-driven business strategy, Etihad Airways will benefit from improved productivity, and simplified and more integrated core business processes that will give the airline greater flexibility across the organisation.”

In addition to Accenture and SAP, Etihad Airways will also join forces with PA Consulting Group and Grant Thornton to help transform its corporate functions.

PA Consulting, a company specialising in management consulting, technology and innovation will develop the airline’s shared services strategy, and organisational design and change management.

Grant Thornton, one of the world’s leading independent assurance, tax and advisory firms will implement global best practice tax functionality, including automation, and will work closely with Etihad Airways, Accenture and PA Consulting Group to provide overall program quality assurance.

In October 2014, Etihad Airways chose SAP as its strategic technology partner to deploy a range of key SAP® ERP software solutions as a central part of its overall business transformation program. These include SuccessFactors for talent management, Ariba for procurement and business-to-business collaboration, and the SAP HANA® platform for business intelligence and analytics.

On Tuesday, June 2, 2015 members of the Toronto Pearson team, Deputy Mayor and Community Environment & Noise Advisory Committee member Vincent Crisanti, join local residents at Thistletown Community Centre with NavCanada to learn more about the airport’s role in the region and daily operations.

Community members also learn about the role of the Community Environment & Noise Advisory Committee – a forum where the public can openly discuss and ask questions about noise-related issues at Toronto Pearson. The committee is comprised of elected representatives, including and residents from the Cities of Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto, as well as the Regions of Halton, York, and Durham.

The open house is free to the public, a drop-in format and offers community members the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Toronto Pearson employees about airport operations and the economic role the airport plays to connect Etobicoke and Canada to the world.

It is an opportunity for community members and airport neighbours to learn how the airport’s noise management program monitors noise and noise abatement procedures, as well as manages impacts while operating the airport in a safe, secure, efficient and financially viable manner for the public.

“At Toronto Pearson, we want to engage residents of Etobicoke, and in other neighbouring communities, in a dialogue about the airport and our operations,” said Robyn Connelly, Manager, Community Relations, Toronto Pearson. “We understand that residents want more information about Toronto Pearson and the role we play in the region. We work to be a good neighbour and share information through our channels – including open houses like this one, our Community Environment & Noise Advisory Committee Meetings.

This open house offers residents valuable information on Toronto Pearson’s community events, tours and community investment program.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis announced Tuesday the authority’s new policy allowing Transportation Network Companies to pick up passengers at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Pittsburgh International Airport is among the first airports in the country to embrace the new technology that allows users to hail a ride via a smartphone application.

Uber is the first company to secure a permit under the new policy and could begin pick-ups as early as 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“I am extremely proud that Pittsburgh International Airport is one of a very small number of airports to offer ridesharing services,” Fitzgerald said. “This announcement reflects how the airport listens to and responds to our customers. Having ridesharing as an option adds to the vibrancy and energy of our region.”

Airport Authority officials have already reached out to other Transportation Network Companies including Lyft and Yellow Z. The policy positions Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County as leaders at the crossroads of technology and transportation

“This policy is a result of listening to our passengers and responding to their needs, as well as responding to the changing marketplace,” Cassotis said. “We certainly value our partnerships with all of our transportation providers, including taxis. This is another customer amenity to compliment those services.”

Under the new policy, TNCs will pay $2.90 per pick-up to the authority, a $12,000 annual permit fee and a $14,000 security deposit. Drivers will be permitted to pick up passengers along a designated portion of the commercial curb. Drivers must follow all rules and regulations set forth by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

“Thanks to the leadership of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, residents and everyone traveling into this great city can now get to where they need to go at the touch of a button from the moment they get off the plane,” said Jennifer Krusius, General Manager, Uber Pittsburgh. “We’re excited to continue to provide access to safe, reliable rides anywhere, anytime.”


Source:- Fly Pittsburgh