United Airlines said on Thursday it has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future and plans to resume them when it is safe for its customers and crew. Many airlines globally are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon amid growing fears of a possible broader conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. The Chicago-based airline suspended its daily Newark, New Jersey-Tel Aviv service on July 31, citing security reasons. The flight, however, was available for booking from Sept. 1. On Thursday, United said it was now removing the Tel Aviv flights from its schedule. Customers can seek refunds or rebook United flights to any city in Europe or the Middle East, it said.<br/>
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THAI is looking to increase its market share at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and add interim aircraft capacity. Before the global pandemic, Thai Airways had a 35% market share in Bangkok, which came below 20% during the pandemic. “That's too low for the home base hub carrier“, Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri said at the IATA Annual General Meeting. “In the medium turn we have to bring it back at least to 30%-35% with additional wide-body capacity“, he said. Eamsiri adds that the Thai Airways hub is quite different from others, as Bangkok has a lot of visiting carriers regarding an open sky policy. "Reaching 40% market share is going a bit difficult“, he said. One-third of Thai Airways' business are long-haul routes to Europe. Starting in July, the carrier has added Milan and Oslo. By the end of 2024, THAI will also add Brussels to its network. Asking about the massive competition from Middle Eastern carriers or Turkish Airlines, he said that's a different story, "The Middle East or Istanbul is a different market, it is a one-stop service. Our nonstop schedule is one of our highlight. Of course, there is a choice (for passengers). We build Bangkok as a hub and have our own strength. We can not have a dual hub system, we expand mainly in Bangkok“. THAI will operate by the end of 2024 with 79 aircraft, 20% less than before the pandemic. THAI has 45 787 for delivery starting from 2027. “But we cannot wait until 2027. We also acquire and implement aircraft for the short term“, he said. That includes five 787s and two A330s. “We can increase capacity, especially to Europe. We are lucky that we found some aircraft and did not stop seeking new aircraft“.<br/>
Air New Zealand crew are experiencing a whole new way to train for emergencies on its international flights. Its Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has been up and running for about three weeks and will see 1600 pilots and flight attendants taken through it each year. Thousands of scenarios can be simulated for crew to train together in a highly realistic environment. Flames at the door? Press a button it’s there. Landed in the water? Press a button and there it is. Laptop on fire in an overhead locker? Extinguishing it can be practised too. The trainer is a first-of-its-kind mock up with a cockpit, business, premium and economy cabins - an upgrade from the previous “simulator” which was a plane door. Air New Zealand chief operational integrity and safety officer David Morgan told Stuff Travel safety is critical in the industry. “There are a number of different types of things that we could simulate. We've worked out the ones that we think are important and, in fact, it's what the industry deals with very regularly. Turbulence is one thing, medical emergencies on the aircraft.... then of course the more significant events, such as failures of the technology on the aeroplane, an engine failure, the ability to do an off-airport landing, something in the water.”<br/>