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Chapman Freeborn OBC announces sustainability plans to reduce global carbon emissions

Chapman Freeborn OBC, leading provider of time-critical on board courier solutions, and part of Avia Solutions Group, has announced sustainability plans which encompass carbon neutralisation and green office initiatives.

The on board courier specialist has partnered with award-winning sustainability management platform, WAVES, to calculate their carbon emissions and offset these accordingly by financing sustainability, neutralisation and carbon removal projects across the globe.

These projects are managed on the ground by a combination of companies and NGOs, who work with local communities for the long-term betterment of biodiversity, marine life, indigenous communities and, ultimately, planet Earth.

Chapman Freeborn OBC is including all journeys in their carbon emission calculations – whether packages are transported by plane or by road.

In addition to this carbon neutralisation and removal initiative, Chapman Freeborn OBC is also working to make their office locations more sustainable. Their Cologne office now runs on 100% European-sourced green energy, 10% of which is solar. The company is also phasing out its use of exclusively petrol cars, with every vehicle added to the company’s fleet in the past two years being an electric/petrol hybrid.

Felix Deutscher, Business Development Manager at Chapman Freeborn OBC, said, “Sustainability is the key to a better future. We are fully aware of the environmental impact our business model causes, which is why we decided to take action. We are taking an active role in making the OBC product more sustainable by investing in carbon offsetting and removal projects, while also emphasising the importance of personal carbon reduction efforts.

“Chapman Freeborn OBC is committed to making a positive impact, and we are resolute in our goal of addressing global carbon emissions to create a more sustainable future.”

Chapman Freeborn OBC is funding their carbon removal and sustainable office projects to ensure the associated cost of enjoying a neutralised service is not transferred to their customers.

Find out more about Chapman Freeborn OBC’s sustainability plans here: Sustainability – Chapman Freeborn On Board Courier

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Information for Editor

About Chapman Freeborn OBC:
Chapman Freeborn OBC was formed in Germany in 2006 as a specialist subsidiary of the Chapman Freeborn Group – one of the world’s most respected names in air cargo.

They are a leading provider of time-critical on board courier solutions globally, with operations centres on three continents. They use their network of airlines across the world to expedite time-critical shipments and outsize cargo movements for their clients 24/7, 365 days a year.

Chapman Freeborn OBC is a Chapman Freeborn company and part of the Avia Solutions Group family, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 173 aircraft. The group also provides a range of aviation services, including MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, as well as a variety of associated services. Supported by 11,500 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates in 68 countries worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.onboardcourier.com

Press contact:
Jocelyn Levy
Senior Executive – PR & Communications, Chapman Freeborn Airchartering
Jocelyn.levy@chapmanfreeborn.aero
Jocelyn Levy | LinkedIn

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Hahn Air drives change with Innovation at Hahn Air

Dreieich, 7th June 2023. Leading airline distribution provider, Hahn Air, is creating an innovation node for companies looking to advance their innovative projects. Under the name Innovation at Hahn Air, the Research & Development Department led by Executive VP Mathieu Montmessin, is inviting startups and industry players to pitch their ideas, build a proof of concept (POC) or jointly develop innovation concepts.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Hahn Air Research & Development Department has been exploring trends, analysing new technologies and generating new revenue streams for the Hahn Air product portfolio. Innovation at Hahn Air will make the team’s expertise available to companies working on unique ideas and out-of-the-box solutions that potentially have an impact on the travel industry.

“Innovation is all about team-work, creativity and courage”, says Mathieu Montmessin. “We are therefore introducing Innovation at Hahn Air for potential partners that are interested in gaining knowledge, advancing their business and driving innovation. Innovation at Hahn Air will support with domain knowledge and a wealth of expertise gained from various proof-of-concept projects. Working together, we hope to make significant impacts for our partners and ultimately advance innovation projects for the travel industry.“

Among the current projects of the Hahn Air Research & Development Department are:

  • Blockchain: Hahn Air is exploring the world of blockchain technology by partnering with Chain4Travel as a node validator.
  • NFT: By working closely with TravelX, Hahn Air is building a POC to understand the value and capabilities of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as a distribution model for airlines.
  • Artificial Intelligence: Hahn Air’s AI-chatbot on Facebook Messenger is leveraging natural language processing (NLP) to enhance interaction with travel agents and passengers.
  • Big Data: To assist in Hahn Air’s decision-making and forecasting processes, the company is using machine learning models and leveraging a variety of data sources, including human mobility, prices, timetables and events.
  • Travel Distribution: Hahn Air is working closely with deep tech game changer biztribution to prepare for upcoming change and disruption in the industry’s distribution ecosystem.

The team is also looking into the potential of loyalty programmes with unlimited transferability by collecting and converting cryptocurrencies. More information about Innovation at Hahn Air can be found at www.hahnair.com/innovation.

About Hahn Air

Hahn Air is a German scheduled and executive charter airline.  Since 1999 it offers indirect distribution services to other airlines and thus provides ticketing solutions to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets.  With more than 20 years of experience, the company has established itself as the market leader. Today, Hahn Air’s partner network encompasses more than 350 partner airlines.

Hahn Air offers its distribution services exclusively to transportation companies and ticketing solutions to travel agents only.  However, travellers benefit as well as they are able to choose from more carriers, more routes and more destinations.  Every year millions of passengers travel between 4,000 locations using Hahn Air’s HR-169 tickets. It is the first and only airline worldwide that offers free and comprehensive reimbursement in case of insolvency of the operating carrier. Hahn Air is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and a globally connected stakeholder playing a leading role in the airline industry.

Hahn Air is 100% owned by the Hahn Air Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich near Frankfurt, Germany.  The fleet of Hahn Air Lines operates out of the airports Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Egelsbach.  The Group has offices around the world, including Minneapolis, Montevideo, Casablanca, New Delhi, Manila and Johannesburg.

Press Contact

Andrea Müller
Corporate Communications Manager
Hahn Air Lines GmbH
Tel: +49-6103-7331-421
E-Mail: a.mueller@hahnair.com
www.hahnair.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hahn-air/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HahnAir
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hahn_Air

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Resolutions adopted by the 54th AFRAA Annual General Assembly on Aviation Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2050

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE 54th AFRAA ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 11 – 13 DECEMBER 2022

EXCERPT ON ENVIRONMENT

AVIATION NET ZERO CARBON EMISSION BY 2050            RES AGA 54/10    

Recognizing the need for a sustainable aviation industry and the edge to develop a Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) to address the global challenge of climate change;

Noting that aviation plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of people to sustainably explore, learn, trade, appreciate cultures, and connect with other people around the world;

Conscious that African airlines’ current operations and emission levels are the lowest of all the world regions and that only about 10% of its population travel by air;

Aware that the potential for African airlines to grow in a SAATM and AfCFTA environment is enormous, and this should not be constraint by emission caps but instead supported by the global aviation community to realise the air connectivity required for Africa’s economic development;

Admitting that attaining net zero emissions by 2050 is an existential necessity and that the African aviation industry is progressively contributing its part to global emission goals but rightly demands the latitude to continue to accommodate the growing demand for air travel;

Knowing that a key enabler to net zero emission is the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and that this will stabilise international emissions at 85% of 2019 levels in the short-to-medium term, however, this may constraint African aviation’s ability to realise its full potential considering the lower level of current operations;

Appreciating the bold decisions made by the 77th IATA AGM and the 41st ICAO Assembly towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050;

The 54th AFRAA AGA Resolve to:

  1. Call on the governments of African Union Member States to commit to long-term net zero emission goals aligned to the Decision of the 41st ICAO Assembly and the Paris Agreement goal for global warming not to exceed 1.5 degrees Celcius without compromising the aviation growth potential in Africa:
  2. Encourage all AFRAA member airlines to continue improving their operations’ efficiency to achieve sustained in-sector emissions reductions and to support the transition to reliable, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
  3. Direct AFRAA to mobilise resources to assist airlines through capacity building and knowledge sharing on Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), and Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) for net zero carbon emission by 2050.
  4. Urge all industry stakeholders to commit to addressing the environmental impact of their policies, products, and activities with concrete actions and clear timelines, specifically including:
  • Fuel-producing companies providing large scale, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuels to the market;
  • Governments and air navigation service providers eliminating inefficiencies in air traffic management and airspace infrastructure;
  • Aircraft and engine manufacturers producing more efficient airframe and propulsion technologies; and
  • Airport operators providing the needed infrastructure to supply SAF in a cost-effective manner, not exceeding existing infrastructure costs.

The Excerpt can be downloaded from this link: https://www.afraa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AFRAA-AGA54-Resolutions-Excerpt-on-Environmnt-RES-AGA-54-10.pdf 

About    AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership of 50 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

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Press Release – The 55th AFRAA Annual General Assembly & Summit Launches, Registration Open

 

30 May, 2023 – Kampala – Uganda: At a colorful ceremony that was graced by the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uganda – Hon. Gen. Katumba Wamala, AFRAA and Uganda Airlines officially launched the 55th Annual General Assembly (AGA) & Summit of the Association.

The 55th African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Summit will be held from 19-21 November 2023 at the Speke Resort in Entebbe, Uganda – The Pearl of Africa.  The AGA will be proudly hosted by Uganda Airlines under the high patronage of the Government of Uganda. The event is expected to attract about 500 high profile delegates from the aviation industry in Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America.

Speaking at the launch, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé stated: “AFRAA is excited to host the 55th AGA in Uganda. This will give Uganda Airlines a unique opportunity to show case its profile and its developing role in African aviation. Uganda Airlines being a young and vibrant player in aviation industry in the Eastern African sub-region, staging the AGA at the airline’s home base and hub will be a great opportunity to achieve this objective. AFRAA looks forward to host the African air transport ecosystem stakeholders in Uganda for a memorable Assembly.”

In her speech, Ms. Jenifer Bamuturaki – Chief Executive Officer and AFRAA 2023 President said: “This year, Uganda Airlines pledges to open its doors of hospitality, warmth, and service to all delegates of the 55th AFRAA-AGA. This will be no ordinary General Assembly; it will be exciting and engaging, with many learnings drawn from industry developments.”

“I believe that this year’s Annual General Assembly will embark on a journey to address these issues and fragility points that the industry grapples with. I also look forward to plenaries that will discuss industry action-based topics dear to my heart, like increasing safe spaces for women to thrive in aviation, creating optimism for the youth in the industry and beyond sustainability. The event will also bring together cross-industry players in Tourism, Regulation, and Taxation that impact the industry. Uganda Airlines is honoured to host the 55th AFRAA Annual General Assembly as the official carrier.” She added.

The AFRAA AGA is the biggest aviation Summit in Africa and will be attended by Chairmen and CEOs from African airlines and decision makers from ICAO, IATA, AFCAC, civil aviation authorities, airport companies, air navigation services providers as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers, component suppliers, and many other service providers. The event will discuss issues on the development of air transport in Africa in general and development opportunities for African airlines in particular. Air transport in Africa is an economic bridge – linking people, goods and capital to markets and industries and integrating the vast continent.

In addition to statutory Assembly matters to be discussed, there will be an exhibition of products, solutions and the latest technologies in aviation by reputable service providers from across the world. Further, the AGA also avails quality time and opportunity for networking and business meetings among African airlines, industry partners and service providers.

Air transport leaders and decision-makers will adopt industry resolutions that will set a roadmap for transformation and the economic development of air transport in Africa at the Assembly.

Delegates can register and access more information about the event through the dedicated website: https://aga55.afraa.org/

About AFRAA

The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is the leading trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership of 50 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

About Uganda Airlines

  • Uganda Airlines is Uganda’s flagship national passenger and cargo carrier that operates scheduled air transportation services in Africa and near-international markets. The Airline was operationalized in 2019.
  • Our Vision: To be the Airline of Choice for The Business and Leisure Traveller.
  • For more information about the Company, visit: https://ugandairlines.com or Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
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The Launch of the Kenya Airways Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight

Date: 25 May 2023

AFRAA congratulates Kenya Airways on the launch of the Kenya Airways Sustainable Flight Challenge operated on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

The flight to Amsterdam, KQ116 that departed Nairobi on 25 May was the launch of the first-ever flight by Kenya Airways in Africa to be operated on Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The launch marks the start of a long journey towards zero carbon emissions for the air transport industry.

The flight will be among another 20 flights from other Sky Team Members participating in the 2023 sustainable challenge.

AFRAA encourages all member airlines to continue improving their operations’ efficiency to achieve sustained in-sector emissions reductions and to support the transition to reliable, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In recognition of the need for a sustainable aviation industry and the edge to develop a Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) to address the global challenge of climate change; the 54th AFRAA Annual General Assembly took a resolution on Aviation Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2050 (RES AGA 54/11). The Resolution urged all industry stakeholders to commit to addressing the environmental impact of their policies, products, and activities with concrete actions and clear timelines, specifically including:

  1. Fuel-producing companies providing large-scale, cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuels to the market;
  2. Governments and air navigation service providers eliminating inefficiencies in air traffic management and airspace infrastructure;
  3. Aircraft and engine manufacturers producing more efficient airframe and propulsion technologies; and
  4. Airport operators providing the needed infrastructure to supply SAF in a cost-competitive manner, not exceeding existing infrastructure costs.
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Pratt & Whitney Canada Launches PW545D Engine to Power New Cessna Citation Ascend

GENEVA, May 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, today announced that its new PW545D engine will power the Cessna Citation Ascend, the latest addition to Textron Aviation’s business jet family. The engine was designed and enhanced for Textron Aviation to deliver improved specific fuel consumption (SFC), thrust and time between overhauls (TBO).

“The PW500 turbofan family has established itself as the engine of choice for light to mid-size business jets thanks to its proven safety, reliability and durability, attractive operating economics and comprehensive maintenance plans,” stated Nicholas Kanellias, vice president, General Aviation. “The PW545D is the latest engine in this family. We injected all we’ve learned from the more than 4,600 PW500 engines produced to-date, which have accumulated over 22 million flying hours. This new engine is even more fuel-efficient, offers greater thrust and an increased TBO of up to 6,000 hours for eligible customers.”

Building on the success of the PW545C, the PW545D incorporates new materials and technology. These include:

  • A more efficient high-pressure compressor for increased flow,
  • An enhanced single-stage, high-pressure turbine module, and
  • An advanced exhaust mixer to reduce fuel consumption and noise.

The new engine is also equipped with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) technology, which is included with many PW500 models. This enables the Citation Ascend to integrate new auto-throttle technology that simplifies control, maximizes efficiency and reduces pilot workload.

The engine supports digitally driven advanced health monitoring and diagnostics, in combination with the FAST™ (Flight, Acquisition, Storage and Transmission) system. With FAST™, the engine’s full-flight data is downloaded, stored and analyzed by experts, enabling deep insights and predictive diagnostics to optimize engine performance and maintenance requirements. Customers with FAST™ installed who are enrolled in Pratt & Whitney’s Eagle Service™ Plan (ESP™) pay-per-hour maintenance program may take advantage of the 6,000-hour TBO option.

The PW545D engine will help provide Citation Ascend operators with the flexibility to accomplish a variety of missions, including charter services, personal transportation and corporate flights. It also delivers the impressive reliability for which the PW500 has become known over the decades, with an excellent track record of dispatch availability and reliability, complemented by our comprehensive plans that lock in maintenance costs.

Along with other members of the PW500 family, the PW545D features a compact, accessible design that facilitates installation and on-wing maintenance. It is supported by Pratt & Whitney’s industry-leading global service network. This includes over 50 Pratt & Whitney -owned and -designated facilities, more than 100 Field Support Managers on all major continents, a 24/7 Customer First Centre for rapid expert support and the largest pool of Pratt & Whitney Canada rental and exchange engines on the market.

The PW545D can operate on blends of up to 50% SAF with conventional Jet A kerosene. This is part of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s ongoing efforts – in collaboration with public and private parties – to lead the way in developing sustainable solutions that will help the industry reach its target of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

This year, Pratt & Whitney Canada is celebrating 1 billion hours of flight for its entire engine fleet. for which 350 million flying hours can be attributed to powering Textron Aviation’s fleet of aircraft.

About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

Source:
Pratt & Whitney
+1 (860) 565-9600
media@prattwhitney.com

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Rolls-Royce announces successful first tests of UltraFan technology demonstrator in Derby, UK

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces it has successfully completed the first tests of its UltraFan technology demonstrator at its facility in Derby, UK. The first tests were conducted using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

This is a historic moment for Rolls-Royce – it’s the first time in 54 years the aero-engine manufacturer has tested a brand-new engine architecture and is proof of what can be achieved when industry and Governments work together.

Confirming the capability of the suite of technologies incorporated in the demonstrator is a big step towards improving the efficiency of current and future aero-engines. UltraFan delivers a 10% efficiency improvement over the Trent XWB, which is already the world’s most efficient large aero engine in service.

In the nearer term, there are options to transfer technologies from the UltraFan development programme to current Trent engines, providing our customers with even greater availability, reliability and efficiency.

In the longer term, UltraFan’s scalable technology from ~25,000-110,000lb thrust offers the potential to power new narrowbody and widebody aircraft anticipated in the 2030s.

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said:

“The UltraFan demonstrator is a game changer – the technologies we are testing as part of this programme have the capability to improve the engines of today as well as the engines of tomorrow. That is why this announcement is so important – we are witnessing history in the making; a step-change in engine efficiency improvement. When combined with Sustainable Aviation Fuels, more efficient gas turbine engines will be key to hitting the industry’s target of Net Zero flight by 2050. Today we are closer to achieving this ambition.

“Collaboration is key in driving the decarbonisation of air travel and the UltraFan programme is a great example of what can be achieved when government and industry come together with a common purpose.”

The tests took place in the world’s largest and smartest indoor aero-engine testing facility – Testbed 80. The 100% SAF, derived primarily from waste-based sustainable feedstocks such as used cooking oils, was provided by Air bp.

Testing the demonstrator is the culmination of many years work, which has been supported by the UK Government through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Innovate UK; the EU’s Clean Sky programmes plus LuFo and the State of Brandenburg in Germany.

UK Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, said:

“This cutting-edge technology will help the transition towards a greener future for aviation while attracting further investment into the UK’s aerospace industry, helping grow the economy.

“I’m proud that the Government has backed this initiative through our Aerospace Technology Institute programme, and we will continue to work with manufacturers like Rolls-Royce as we seek to grow the UK’s share of the global aerospace market.”

Gary Elliott, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Technology Institute, said:

“Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan programme has achieved a huge step forward in terms of the fuel efficiency of aircraft engines. The technology developed within the programme has greatly improved our understanding of how to increase engine performance while reducing environmental impact.

“It is a programme that puts the UK at the forefront of the global market, and is absolutely critical for the future of the UK aircraft engine industry. Our congratulations to the Rolls-Royce team for the successful tests of this exciting technology demonstrator.”

Axel Krein, Executive Director of Clean Aviation, added:

“Congratulations to the talented team for reaching this significant milestone in shaping aviation’s net-zero sustainable future. The UltraFan® technology demonstrator, a flagship project of the Clean Sky 2 programme, showcases the power of innovation and collaboration in driving our journey forwards. This architecture will be further developed through Clean Aviation’s HEAVEN project.”

UltraFan has been a decade in the making, with the concept unveiled publicly in 2014. It is a fundamentally different design architecture to that within the approximately 4,200 Rolls-Royce Civil large engines currently in service, as it incorporates a geared design that no other industry player has produced at this size before. Demonstrating at this scale gives us the flexibility to scale down as required by our customers. It will also put us in the unique position of being able to offer a portfolio of two-shaft, three-shaft, direct drive and geared propulsion solutions to power future aircraft.

Key engineering features of the demonstrator include:

  • A new, proven, Advance3 core architecture, combined with our ALECSys lean burn combustion system, to deliver maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions
  • Carbon titanium fan blades and a composite casing
  • A geared design that delivers efficient power for the high-thrust, high bypass ratio engines of the future. The power gearbox has run at 64MW, an aerospace record
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Pratt & Whitney GTF™ Engines Power Breeze Airways’ Longest Airbus A220 Flight

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., May 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney, a Raytheon Technologies business, joined Breeze Airways (“Breeze”) today in announcing the launch of the airline’s longest nonstop route, a more than 2,250 nautical-mile, Airbus A220 flight powered by GTF engines between Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. The celebration began on Tuesday at a first-ever airline employee town hall hosted at Pratt & Whitney’s East Hartford, Conn. Customer Training Center for Breeze founder and CEO, David Neeleman and Breeze president, Tom Doxey. 

Pratt & Whitney GTF™ Engines Power Breeze Airways Longest Flight

“GTF engine technology for the A220 has been foundational to the growth and success of Breeze over the past two years,” said Neeleman. “We’ve been able to link new city pairs while reducing operating costs and environmental impact.”

The GTF engine is the exclusive powerplant for the Airbus A220 family, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions up to 25% per seat, NOx emissions by up to 50% and noise footprint by up to 75%.* Certified for operation on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and successfully tested on 100% SAF, GTF engines are capable of further reductions in carbon emissions, which will help the aviation industry meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

“GTF engines enable airlines like Breeze fly long, thin, transcontinental routes with game-changing aircraft like the A220,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “The inauguration of service between Providence to Los Angeles marks a major milestone in the airline’s rapid growth.”

Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Breeze was founded in 2018 and launched flight operations in May of 2021. The airline operates 12 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with the 13th to be delivered soon, and has an additional 66 A220-300s on order. Breeze also operates a fleet of Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft, each equipped with an APS2300 auxiliary power unit (APU) from Pratt & Whitney.

The Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine, featuring Collins Aerospace nacelle and accessories, delivers industry-leading fuel efficiency and sustainability benefits for single-aisle aircraft. The engine’s revolutionary geared fan architecture is the foundation for more sustainable aviation technologies in the decades ahead. Learn more at pwgtf.com. 

*Reductions vs. prior-generation aircraft, based on 75 dB noise contour and ICAO CAEP/6 emissions regulations. 

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

media@prattwhitney.com
+1 860 565 9600

Source: Raytheon Technologies

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SITA: Air transport industry turns to digitalization as baggage mishandling rates virtually double amid growing passenger volumes

Airlines and airports are facing a surge in baggage mishandling rates amidst the growing number of passengers, with the number of mishandled bags almost doubling from 2021 to 2022 to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers, according to SITA’s 2023 Baggage IT Insights report released today.

The shortage of skilled staff, resumption of international travel, and congestion at airports has made it challenging to manage bags and ensure their smooth handling at airports – particularly during peak travel periods. The overall increase in mishandling is forcing the industry to focus on digitalization and automation, with technology investments that deliver greater automation and self-service being a top priority.

Delayed bags accounted for 80% of all mishandled bags in 2022, lost and stolen bags increased to 7%, and damaged and pilfered bags decreased to 13%.

The surge in the mishandling rate comes after more than a decade of reduction in mishandled baggage. Significant process improvements helped the mishandling rate per thousand passengers fall by 59.7% between 2007 and 2021. However, given the pressure of staff shortages on operations post-COVID, the 2022 mishandling rate of 7.6 bags per thousand passengers represents a 75% increase from 2021.

Transfer bags have historically accounted for the majority of mishandled bags. This was no different in 2022, with a one-percentage point increase from 2021, pushing the proportion of bags delayed at transfer to 42%. This increase is attributed to the resurgence of international and long-haul travel, leading to loading errors and greater transfer mishandling rates. The failure to load bags accounted for 18% of all mishandled bags in 2022, representing a 3% decrease from the previous year. Loading errors more than doubled compared to the previous year, accounting for 9% of all delayed bags in 2022, stemming from operational strains on baggage systems.

David Lavorel, CEO, SITA said: “After a decade where the mishandling rate more than halved between 2007 and 2021, it is disheartening to see this rate climbing again. As an industry, we need to work hard to ensure passengers are once again confident to check in their bags. We at SITA are working directly with airlines and airports to help solve key pain points in the baggage journey through smart automation, tracking, and digital platforms.”

Investing in real-time baggage status information has become a key priority for airlines, with 57% of airlines providing their staff with mobile access to real-time baggage status information. This figure is expected to increase significantly to 84% by 2025, and 67% of airlines plan to offer real-time baggage status information directly to passengers, marking a substantial improvement from 25% today.

SITA has developed the WorldTracer Auto Reflight system in direct response to the high mishandling rates observed at transfer. This solution automatically identifies bags what are not likely to make their planned connecting flight and rebooks them on the next possible flight using the existing bag tag – all while keeping the passenger informed.

SITA estimates that automation of reflight operations could save the industry up to $30 million per year. Lufthansa and SITA’s recent partnership using the technology aims to digitalize the manual reflight process, and the results of their Proof of Concept suggest that they can automatically reflight as much as 70% of Lufthansa’s mishandled bags at Munich Airport.

Download the SITA Baggage IT Insights 2023 report here.

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Press Release – Pratt & Whitney Canada to Invest $10 Million in Technology Upgrades at Component Repair Facility in Wichita Falls, Texas

WICHITA FALLS, Texas, May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, today announced a $10 million investment to expand the capabilities of its Wichita Falls, Texas engine component repair facility, which is expected to create 30 new jobs. As part of the investment, the company will modify its existing coatings line using an innovative application process.

“The Wichita Falls component repair facility joined the Pratt & Whitney Canada family in 1997 and since then we have strengthened our ties with the local community,” said Irene Makris, vice president, Customer Service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “We continue to invest and grow in Wichita Falls because of the strength of the local workforce, the support of the community, and the enthusiastic ‘can do’ attitude of our Wichita Falls team and leadership. Our Wichita Falls facility will be the first of our plants to pioneer a new coating process which will significantly improve the durability and performance of our engines.”

The facility repairs the “hot” (combustion) sections of a variety of Pratt & Whitney Canada engines. As part of the repair process, certain engine parts, such as turbine blades, are given a special coating that protects against the high temperatures needed for these high-performance engines. The investment is to create a line that uses a newly developed coating technique.

“The City of Wichita Falls views companies like Pratt & Whitney as integral to the health of the local economy and our ability to foster well-paying jobs for our workforce,” said Stephen Santellana, Mayor of Wichita Falls. “The company and its employees here are very much involved in our community and in efforts to strengthen our social and economic infrastructure. We are delighted with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s decision to continue to grow in Wichita Falls and we are proud to support this investment in the facility to bring more work and more job opportunities to the City’s residents.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada designs, builds and maintains engines for a variety of missions and purposes, from general aviation enthusiasts to life-saving air medical and rescue operations. This year, Pratt & Whitney Canada celebrates achieving 1 billion operating hours since it was founded in 1928. Pratt & Whitney Canada has produced more than 110,000 engines, and 66,000 engines are currently in operation throughout the world.

“Since acquiring the current facility in 1997, Pratt & Whitney Canada has worked diligently to expand both the plant’s capabilities and grow its workforce,” said Leo Lane, Chairman of the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation. “It is initiatives like today’s announcement that help us grow our aviation and aerospace sector, important for a city that is home to the Sheppard Airforce Base. We’re also mindful that Pratt & Whitney is a major supplier to our military and conducts recruitment programs geared to helping our veterans find their next mission as Pratt & Whitney employees.”

Construction will begin before mid-2023 and is expected to be completed by early 2025.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. Our global team of 180,000 employees pushes the limits of known science and redefines how we connect and protect our world. We are advancing aviation, building smarter defense systems and creating innovations to take us deeper into space. The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Media Contact:
Pratt & Whitney
+1 (860) 565-9600
media@prattwhitney.com

SOURCE Raytheon Technologies

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