Delta Air Lines is running its largest ever transatlantic schedule this year as it sees healthy travel demand, especially on international routes, senior executives said on Saturday. Delta, one of the largest US airlines, has forecast record high Q2 revenue thanks to buoyant demand for spring and summer travel. "Summer's progressing strongly and demand is quite healthy," CEO Ed Bastian told reporters. "Demand is growing faster internationally than it is domestically, and Delta is very well positioned to take advantage of that with its partners," Bastian added. Delta says consumers are spending on experiences with travel a top priority after the pandemic. Demand is particularly strong for premium travel, benefiting carriers like Delta. “We have seen continued strength through the spring to early summer ... our international business is quite strong," Delta President Glen Hauenstein told reporters. Rival American Airlines, however, said this week there was still excess seat capacity in the domestic market, resulting in discounting pressure.<br/>
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Dutch military police investigators have determined that a person killed by an aircraft engine at Amsterdam Schiphol had entered the powerplant deliberately. The man was fatally injured on 29 May after the aircraft, a KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190, had just completed its pushback procedure and was preparing to taxi for departure to Billund. According to the Koninklijke Marechaussee, the royal military constabulary, the victim – who has been identified – worked for a company at Schiphol airport. It has not elaborated. “Investigation showed that he deliberately climbed into the engine,” the constabulary adds. “This is a case of suicide.” It says it has completed its investigation into the occurrence, and will not be disclosing further information. KLM Cityhopper had stated that the event involved its KL1341 service. The aircraft involved (PH-EZL) is fitted with General Electric CF34 powerplants.<br/>
Harbin, capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Sunday launched a direct air route to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in south China. This marks the establishment of the first direct passenger flights between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong, according to Heilongjiang's department of transport. These direct flights will shorten air travel time between the two destinations, located about 2,800 km apart, from at least seven hours to around five hours. Operated by China Southern Airlines, the direct flights will happen every Thursday and Sunday, and will see flights departing from both Harbin and Hong Kong on these days. Known as the "Ice City," Harbin has witnessed a tourism boom since gaining popularity on social media last winter. The number of tourists to Harbin increased by 35% year on year during this year's May Day holiday. <br/>
Korean Air Lines, a big buyer of Boeing aircraft, is planning to order up to 30 new jets from the US planemaker as soon as next month. Fresh from ordering almost three dozen rival Airbus SE jets, the Seoul-based carrier is now deciding between Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and additional A350s, Korean Air’s Chairman and CEO Cho Won-Tae said in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg on Sunday in Dubai. The choice will probably be made at the Farnborough Airshow, which kicks off in late July in the UK, and the decision is “more likely” to be the 787, Cho said. Any order would strengthen the beleaguered US planemaker, which has been beset by safety lapses and questions over quality controls in its manufacturing processes. “Boeing is a strong company,” Cho said. “I believe in Boeing management. They will pull through. It might take some time.” Korean Air has been on a jet buying spree of late to replace a lot of older aircraft. The carrier in March ordered 33 A350s and last year added 20 A321neos to bring its total backlog to 50 of the single-aisle jets. Along with Boeing planes, Korean Air has more than 140 new aircraft for renewal and expansion. The airline is also planning to order new freighters and is looking at Boeing’s 777X for that. Efforts to consolidate the number of aircraft types ahead of Korean Air’s merger with Asiana Airlines Inc. means Cho won’t consider the 777X “easily.” However, if the airline opts for Boeing’s yet-to-be certified jet for cargo, it would also order the passenger variant, he added.<br/>