Qantas is going big on promoting the vaccination process in Australia, announcing a major competition as well as an instant rewards programme only available to those who are vaccinated. Starting Tuesday, fully vaccinated Australia-based Frequent Flyers will be able to claim one of the following rewards through the Qantas App: 1000 Qantas points; 15 status credits; and $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar. Members will then be automatically entered into draws for bigger prizes like a year's worth of flights, accommodation and fuel. Ten major prizes will be up for grabs with a winner selected from each state and territory and two mega prize winners are being given away as part of a national TV campaign. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the vaccine rollout was critical for protecting public health and key to breaking the cycle of lockdowns. "Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take that brings us that little bit closer to life as we knew it," said Joyce. "As the national carrier, we want to recognise those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community. This is one of the biggest giveaways we've ever done. The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry and our own Qantas Group team members means we have a clear vested interest in the success of the vaccine rollout." Qantas management knows the airline's future depends on the success of the vaccination rollout. "For us, getting the vaccine rate up to 70 and 80% means thousands of people can go back to work," said Joyce.<br/>
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Japan Airlines has signed an engine services agreement with GE Aviation, covering the CFM56-7B turbofans that power its Boeing 737-800s. The five-year contract falls under GE’s TrueChoice Overhaul package, and covers the overhaul of more than 100 engines. Cirium fleets data indicates that the Oneworld carrier operates 48 737-800s, which are between nine and 15 years old. GE currently provides MRO services and material for several other engines in JAL’s fleet, including for its GE90s, which power its 777 fleet; the GEnx-1Bs on its 787 fleet; as well as the CF6s on its 767 fleet. “We are convinced that the TrueChoice Overhaul agreement for the CFM56-7B engine will provide a new competitive edge with both cost reduction benefits and OEM high reliability,” says JAL executive officer in charge of procurement Yukio Nakagawa. <br/>