10 things you should know about flying with ForeFlight

ForeFlight, aviation’s most popular app for pilots, now blends flight planning, charts, aviation weather, airport information, document information and even synthetic vision into one complete resource. But like any software, there’s a lot to learn and some time spent exploring the advanced features and shortcuts can really pay off.

Spotlight

Safomar Aviation

Part of the Safomar Group, the company was established in 1987 and continues to support the aviation industry in South Africa and various sub- Saharan African countries.

OTHER ARTICLES
Air Transport

The Rise Of Green Travel – How We Will Be Able To Fly In A Sustainable Way By 2022

Article | July 6, 2022

Although airlines only contribute to 2% of global emissions today, research indicates that this number could rise if air travel continues to grow. As such, airlines need to adapt and find new ways to become more sustainable. Successful implementation of eco-conscious strategies will see carriers achieve higher profits and maintain the trust of customers. SimpliFlying has a long history of helping airlines craft the future of travel and we believe that addressing climate change is essential to rebuilding trust in the aviation industry.

Read More
Air Transport

AI in Aviation: What’s the Word?

Article | July 26, 2022

DataBridge recently released a new market research analysis on AI in aviation, and the findings are promising. The aviation industry has relied on artificial intelligence (AI) for years. The technology has assisted pilots through machine learning algorithms to collect flight data about altitudes, air traffic management, weather, and route distance. It has enabled them to optimize fuel usage and reduce fuel costs. And now, it is going further. AI has been cascading into other areas of aviation. Here are some trends to note from the “Global Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Market” study. Benefitting Ground Operations AI is extensively used in real-time support systems and air traffic control. From automated baggage check-in to facial recognition, it is powering several ground operations. These functions contribute heavily to maximizing resources, reducing labor costs, and enhancing seamlessness across different processes. Improving Performance and Processes with Machine Learning (ML) The emergence of AI in aviation is thanks to a surge of capital investments by key aviation players. Cloud computing is being used by many organizations as a way to consolidate processes and deal with complexity better. Impacting How Planes will be Piloted AI will considerably impact the future of piloting as we know it. Building on Airbus’ first ever takeoff, landing and taxi using vision-based AI in 2020, prominent aerospace tech firms continue to work on self-piloting planes or passenger autonomous aerial vehicles (AV) that will employ AI-powered intelligent navigation to fly. Improving Efficiency and Accuracy for Manual Processes According to aviation experts, ML digital assistants are able to process massive volumes of historical data in order to support ground staff and pilots alike. With AI’s capabilities of enabling elusive insights into patterns and complexities of data, the technology is considered ideal for aviation, where there is no room for errors. The Path Ahead The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of new technologies in pushing the envelope and innovating solutions. The evolution of technology will only propel the adoption of AI further into the aviation industry. With multiple use cases and brilliant results from the use of AI, the aviation industry is all set for a digital transformation fuelled by data, machine learning and precision

Read More
Design and Engineering

The Outlook of Aviation Industry’s Next Vision Beyond 2021

Article | January 7, 2022

The pandemic has caused a deeper level of disruption, which brought the aviation industry to a standstill for months. After facing long months of hardship, what vision and steps will be for airline recovery? This is a significant concern. This would now require complete planning over some crucial areas that form the pillars of the aviation industry. It is especially airline businesses that require a novel set of advancements to build operational confidence. As the industry is rebooting, technology is benefiting. Be it robotics, IoT, biometrics, seamless integration, automation, and more will aid businesses and their processes. Therefore, the industry’s next vision is being set according to the evolving changes in the airline industry due to covid-19. It will establish resilience and flexibility for businesses to adapt to changing conditions while improving efficiency. Here are the key considerations that will be seen as airline recovery curbing airline challenges to plan new avenues beyond 2021. Collaboration Collaboration in the aviation business landscape has been the most important consideration after the pandemic affected the industry. Keeping the vision of collaborating with stakeholders and the commercial airline industry to focus on business and customer confidence will restart operations safely. Collaboration in the future will have a better grasp and be more efficient because of better coordination of data sources being introduced currently. Collaboration becomes even more crucial in the coming years, where you will need updated and accurate information about your business operations. This vision will enhance chances of the following aspects as well: Customized Experience Leading to the modifications happening in the industry, you will be able to offer customized services to customers. Advanced integration functionalities will allow forming a contactless and personalized experience to curb the challenges prevailing. Providing transparent and reliable information to customers is one of the critical aspects of airline recovery and rebooting happening now. This is why a customized experience will aid airline businesses more safely in the coming years. Personalization Today, airlines, governments, and stakeholders are developing best practices for the immediate future of business with a greater focus on personalization throughout the service journey. It will help attract potential customers and end the general approach, which the industry was practicing before the pandemic. Monitoring To design a post-pandemic business model, you can look at the types of technological solutions and processes that have already been started and would emerge beyond 2021. It has been envisioned that airline industry analysis, coupled with monitoring, would allow businesses to manage resources more efficiently. In this way, deployment of the technology stack will be more accessible according to the need. This will strive to reduce crowds at airports and, therefore, effective management with the help of predicted monitoring will be in action. Digital Solutions The new normal in the aviation industry, using technology, would continue to ensure physical contact is diminished or might be eliminated in the future. Mandatory digital checks, implementation of digital platforms, contactless services, and information collected through mobile devices are some elements of the new business models. The industry's vision in the coming years is to demonstrate how it can use digital technology for transformation at scale. Advanced Processing System The next, the aviation industry foresees, is utilizing technology for automation, security, identity management, and robotics. Using these, you can develop attractive yet safe experiences for staff as well as customers. The advancing data processing system and management offer a seamless module for companies to handle risks, controls, handling, and tracking. The inclusion of the advanced system at the airport, airline companies will make the process function efficiently. And because of optimized coordination through automated touchpoints, chances of an increase in revenue will be higher and faster than before. Remote Processing The continuous advancement of airline activities will significantly support capacity limitations in the coming years. Because of this, you will have safer processing of data and information without any threats or breaches. The pandemic has put greater focus on the need for such a flexible approach with resilience. Also, it brings urgency to the availability of technology to use while going remote so that you can provide flexibility to your employees to work frictionless. The industry's vision in its plan is to unlock the full benefits of technology to access and initiate global coordination remotely. A Changed Way to do Business Today—Sustainability Companies operating in the airline business are still understanding to survive in the times of COVID-19. Being fast and evolving is the only way they realized to fight against the current situation. The new normal is bringing changes in the airline industry post covid. This will help the industry to get back its wings to forecast and set up its next vision in the future. Therefore, industry stakeholders need to quickly put immediate business restart efforts to focus on sustainable implementations. This will make the future actions of the aviation industry monitor and evaluate effectively well in response to the ongoing pandemic. Also, it would help them be ready to face even harsh circumstances if anytime it approaches. Frequently Asked Questions What are the risks to the aviation industry during COVID-19? The level of risk is on the rise in the COVID-19 situation at present in the aviation industry. It may affect the operation, new business models, management, monitoring, and evaluation more as remote work culture is hyped. What are the main sectors of the airline industry that need improvement? There are limited sectors in aviation. However, the main ones that need improvement are commercial aviation and business aviation. What are the crucial areas of operation in the aviation industry? Flight operations are crucial, including operation control, connectivity, network, data handling, integration, maintenance planning, and software. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the risks to the aviation industry during COVID-19?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The level of risk is on the rise in the COVID-19 situation at present in the aviation industry. It may affect the operation, new business models, management, monitoring, and evaluation more as remote work culture is hyped." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the main sectors of the airline industry that need improvement?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There are limited sectors in aviation. However, the main ones that need improvement are commercial aviation and business aviation." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the crucial areas of operation in the aviation industry?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Flight operations are crucial, including operation control, connectivity, network, data handling, integration, maintenance planning, and software." } }] }

Read More
Business Aviation

Aviation Branding Mistakes that Cost Huge to Businesses Every day and How to Avoid them

Article | September 16, 2021

Failure is beneficial for many reasons. But important is to manage and survive the onslaught of errors. With respect to bold attempts like adopting a new strategy, making judgments about the market, bad publicity, launching new products or services, and more like these often make airline marketers discourage due to a little or huge foul. The list also includes branding. Airline branding mistakes are often seen when businesses try either to aim to re-position in the market or create awareness among customers. If you are making branding mistakes, then remember that a combination of poor communication and ineffective brand planning causes one of the worst branding disasters! Aviation Branding Mistakes of All-Time Branding any airline company is challenging. When bad decisions about branding strategies happen, it costs huge to businesses. And most of the aviation businesses do it habitually. On this note, mistakes could happen in various ways. But some aviation branding mistakes shouldn’t be ignored at all. Mistakes can hurt your business hard. So, let’s highlight the common mistakes that can happen while branding for aviation and how you should avoid them. Implementation of Rigid Strategies Implementation of rigid branding strategies for aviation results in economic slumps Airlines need flexible marketing strategies to control the cost of labor and acquisition in order to balance the brand image. -Lauda, Marketing-In-Chief, Southwest Airlines While any significant shift in airline business strategy, like the pandemic forced, usually takes two to three years to implement. Therefore, you should design branding strategies that could afford the room for adjustments. In addition, those strategies will revive your older market position. Failing to do so could lead your airline company’s image to suffer a massive loss. So, what can you do ahead? Implement unique branding strategies for aviation to strengthen the value of your company. For this, you need to work and pay attention constantly to existing and potential customers you deal with. By understanding their perspective, marketers will be able to bring uniqueness to strategies. Following this process will ease you to adjust and cope up with the current economic condition. Overlooking SEO The entire aviation industry is going digitalized, especially after the pandemic fall. SEO is one of the most significant areas of digital marketing. So, if you do not master SEO, you are lagging behind competitors in branding for aviation. Your target audience/existing audience should never find difficulty in discovering your brand. This is the only rule of conducting tested SEO practices. It is because overlooking SEO means your customers are gone. So, here’s what to do instead. Try to find out what keywords are becoming relevant every day. Keep a watch at what keywords your competitors include to rank their brand name. Check relevant keywords for your brand message. Also, make sure about the trending keywords and how they are being searched. After you have mastered this metric, create branding strategies that are fit for your company. A Disconnect with Audience Failing to connect with an audience is the most significant mistake. Conducting inappropriate research on target audiences makes it hard to know how to connect with them. To understand it, you will have to think creatively and strategically simultaneously. For that, your team should create the best marketing design materials to attract a wide net of customers. What can you do more? While you connect with customers, an innovative perspective on your upcoming plans should be out of the box. Thinking in this way will help to reveal the gaps, problems, and undiscovered opportunities to make your brand better. Also, you will get deep insights about customers by directly reaching out through social media. You can use forums, email campaigns, loyalty programs, and other ways to connect. If you overcome this mistake, you will be able to connect with your potential customers. To have your criteria is essential. And then, you would be surprised to know how enthused some customers will be about a glimpse into the potential future of a product or service they will gain from your company. Becoming too Generic Coming across too generic ideas of branding for aviation will give a bad impression on your airline company. So, what constitutes this aviation branding mistake? Let’s know here • Depending on stock imagery • Forgetting on your core branding elements—for example, using a generic logo • Having a similar brand name as competitors’ • Offering a similar product/service similar as competitors’ • Usage of non-specific/non-industrial terms in marketing materials These points mean that the more generic your brand will showcase, the less unique you appear to the audience. A generic brand reflects being unprofessional, slapdash, or uninteresting. It’s clear—who would want to buy products or services from. What should you do instead? If you can offer a better or different picture of your airline brand, do it, even if you have to raise your budget. Connect a great designer and take full advantage of their experience. Your designer can help with much more than the standards of the branding work. Do some market research for brand promotion/positioning strategies to understand deeper. By doing so, you can leverage the complete value expertise and implement it in your branding techniques. Branding is One-time Action The action of branding in one time only is an old-school industry policy of aviation. Today is the era of digitalization, where still many existing aviation companies are practicing this approach. If your company falls in this category, then hold on and restrict it now. This is the time when your airline company needs a tangible branding suite, humanization approach. It should also include the defined message, value, logo, and other elements. However, the work doesn’t stop with these elements. The fact is, branding is an endless process. So, what do you need to do? You need to work diligently by keeping a very sharp razor focus on every effort associated with the branding process. So that you can continue to carve your company’s position in the market and stand out. Also, this will help your company stand out in customers’ minds. And hence, this will automatically strengthen your brand. Putting Branding Responsibilities on One Department Branding efforts are not only reserved for the marketing department. Instead, it should involve efforts along across departmental actions as well. There could be multi-departmental knowledge that could save you from poor branding. Might your marketing team’s efforts like the design or PR do not necessarily work perfectly. It's also possible that they ideate a similar design repeatedly. And you may be unknowingly making significant aviation branding mistakes. Those mistakes must have damaged the credibility of the strategies and the motive. A lot of companies work for branding only with the marketing team. That is why they lack in many other parts of branding. If you have a similar working process in your company, you need to think again! So, how to go ahead? To create an effective aviation branding, involve the sales, customer service, IT, networking, data analyst department on board. By collaborating with them, you can initiate many efforts to create purposeful solutions for audiences. Even the representatives of each department can involve and create target-proof branding strategies for aviation. Devaluing the importance of social media Devaluing the power of social media has been one of the most common and costly aviation branding mistakes businesses are making. From being active on it to acting on the audience’s activities has a lot of differences in-between. Many companies listen, but they don’t hear. The problem is they don’t show to their audiences. And thus, results in disconnection among audiences. So, what can you do instead? In the current time, the travel market is now more fragmented with the continuous shifting behavior of travelers. In this case, social media’s role is becoming significant. It’s one platform where you can obtain feedback by creating polls, communicating, and engaging with marketing tricks. It's a free and paid platform. You have every reason to take advantage of it to showcase your company and brand message to a wide net of audiences. Doing it regularly—keeping your content relevant and updated- will make your brand image evergreen. Save your Airline Company with Branding Bloopers Now you must have gained some insights on how to avoid branding mistakes. So, it's time to bid farewell to branding mistakes. Remember that consumers, context, and quality design should be at the forefront of your mind when you begin with branding planning. It’s crucial to hone on the right branding strategy because it’s an important way to position your aviation company in the market. The airline business is the biggest team sport in the world. When you are all consumed with fighting among yourselves, your opponents can run over you every day. – By Gordon Bethune Former CEO of Continental Airlines Frequently Asked Questions What are the other airline branding mistakes businesses usually make? Mistakes happen every day in airline businesses. But some common mistakes can cost a huge to a business. Here are some more airline mistakes: • Aviation businesses tend to implement competitors’ tactics that become entirely different from their original business structure or current and future plans of action. • Businesses do not think of investing in an aviation advertising agency. • Usually forgets the purpose behind the brand creation. • Create fake brand values What should airline businesses avoid in brand planning? While creating a brand, the airline businesses should avoid the following things: • Underestimating your customers • Untracking your marketing efforts • Unwilling to invest • Broad targeting • Lack of USP • Lack of research What do airline customers want from airline businesses? Airline customers are broad. They look for a wide array of services and products. So, your customer will always want some basic yet valuable things like committed customer service and satisfaction, easy approachability, content to understand solutions, and easy ways to invest. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are the other airline branding mistakes businesses usually make?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Mistakes happen every day in airline businesses. But some common mistakes can cost a huge to a business. Here are some more airline mistakes: Aviation businesses tend to implement competitors’ tactics that become entirely different from their original business structure or current and future plans of action. Businesses do not think of investing in an aviation advertising agency. Usually forgets the purpose behind the brand creation. Create fake brand values" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What should airline businesses avoid in brand planning?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "While creating a brand, the airline businesses should avoid the following things: Underestimating your customers Untracking your marketing efforts Unwilling to invest Broad targeting Lack of USP Lack of research" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What do airline customers want from airline businesses?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Airline customers are broad. They look for a wide array of services and products. So, your customer will always want some basic yet valuable things like committed customer service and satisfaction, easy approachability, content to understand solutions, and easy ways to invest." } }] }

Read More

Spotlight

Safomar Aviation

Part of the Safomar Group, the company was established in 1987 and continues to support the aviation industry in South Africa and various sub- Saharan African countries.

Related News

Aviation Technology

Allegiant secures financing for airbus a320 ceo and boeing 737 max aircraft

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

Allegiant Travel Company announced financing commitments for seven Airbus A320 and four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from BNP Paribas, Europe's leading bank, and Jackson Square Aviation (JSA), a leading global commercial aircraft lessor. The innovative $412M deal combines banking and lessor capital to secure Allegiant's aircraft financing needs into the second quarter 2024, while providing the airline with healthy liquidity at an attractive cost in today's market. "We are delighted with BNP Paribas and Jackson Square's creativity in providing what we believe is an efficient framework that affords us robust liquidity to support foundational investments in our fleet. This transaction taps into young A320 CEO aircraft and will also serve as the inaugural financing for our Boeing 737 MAX equipment," said Robert Neal, Allegiant's senior vice president and chief financial officer. Allegiant has drawn down $196 million on September 29, and the remainder will be drawn commensurate with its initial 737 MAX deliveries. "Our relationship with BNP Paribas, spanning more than a decade, has been instrumental in our growth as an ultra-low-cost leader. We are thrilled to welcome Jackson Square Aviation as a new partner as we make air travel more affordable and accessible to leisure travelers," added Neal. "We are delighted to provide Allegiant, a long-standing client of the bank, an innovative and first-of-its-kind financing solution which combines bank and lessor capital into one transaction. This transaction allows the airline to maximize value while having more structural flexibility to manage its aircraft fleet versus the more traditional aircraft financing alternatives," said Ankush Chowdhury, managing director & head of transportation banking and capital markets at BNP Paribas. "BNP Paribas is honored to partner with Jackson Square Aviation as we continue to innovate in the world of aviation finance with the goal of providing efficient and thoughtful financing solutions to our aviation clients," added Chowdhury. "It's a great pleasure to have Allegiant as a new airline customer for Jackson Square Aviation and we're pleased to be working together with a long-standing banking partner, BNP Paribas," said Chris Dailey, president & chief commercial officer of JSA. "Combining the strengths of JSA and BNP Paribas, we're able to provide an efficient financing solution for Allegiant's fleet of in-service Airbus A320s and next generation Boeing 737-8-200s, which we're also excited to introduce as a first into our portfolio," said Dailey. Allegiant currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprised of 127 Airbus A319s and A320s. Allegiant has agreed to purchase up to 130 Boeing 737-7 and 737-8-200 models in a multi-year deal, Boeing's first with an ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States. The new 737 MAX additions will afford the airline flexibility, environmental benefits, and new customer features. AboutAllegiant – Together We Fly Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket.

Read More

Cargo Management

AELF FlightService Adds Fifth A330 to Fleet With Flexible Passenger-to-Cargo Configuration

AELF FlightService | April 28, 2022

AELF FlightService announced today that its fifth Airbus 330-200 (registered as 9H-CFS) is officially on certificate, flying in passenger-to-freighter (PTF) configuration. The aircraft commenced its first commercial flight in PTF configuration on April 23, flying from Vietnam to the U.S. The addition of 9H-CFS puts the group in a leading position among ACMI widebody charter operators in the world in terms of fleet size. Its five A330s are currently in PTF configuration, in which passenger seats have been removed and cargo nets have been installed to hold parcel freight in the upper deck, in addition to the standard freight capacity in the lower deck. The configuration is reversible in a matter of weeks, which the company plans to exercise this summer. "As supply chain issues drag on, the addition of 9H-CFS is our commitment to fulfilling the need for capacity in the air cargo market in the short-term, while maximizing our flexibility to return to passenger service later this year." Joe Cirillo, Chief Operating Officer at AELF FlightService As AELF FlightService commences passenger flights this summer, it will do so with the addition of its sixth A330-200. This recently acquired aircraft is configured with a brand-new passenger interior accommodating 295 passengers. An additional three of the company's A330s will also be converted back to passenger configuration by August. The A330 fleet will be operated by the company's affiliate Maleth Aero. "The flexibility of the configuration was a draw for us from the beginning," said Lee Jones, President of Maleth Aero. "Anticipating an inevitable return of passenger demand and a time limit from EASA on the preighter exemption, we looked to the option that would provide a solution for our cargo customers but also allow us to adapt to the regulatory environment and the marketplace." The company has a history of adapting quickly. At the onset of the pandemic, AELF, Inc. expanded its core business as an aircraft lessor to meet the needs of an overwhelmed cargo market. In 2020, the company, together with European partners, led the acquisition of the controlling interest in Malta-based airline Maleth Aero, expanding the group's offerings to charter and ACMI flights. With the acquisition mentioned above, the group now has a total of nine widebody aircraft in operation. While the fleet will undergo transformation to passenger configuration this summer, the group is also exploring its options for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that will allow continued operation of the PTF configuration for one or more of its aircraft beyond the EASA preighter exemption deadline. AELF FlightService offers a full spectrum of air freight and passenger services, including single charter flights and mid-term ACMI/wet and damp leases, as well as more traditional liquidity solutions such as long-term operating leases, sale and leasebacks, sale and wet leasebacks, among other services. About AELF FlightService AELF FlightService is a global aircraft leasing company providing finance, leasing and air charter solutions to the aviation industry. The company offers a full spectrum of services ranging from long-term operating leases to single charter flights and mid-term ACMI programs operated by widebody airline Maleth Aero, with which it shares common ownership. The group has offices in Chicago, Miami and Malta.

Read More

Aerospace

ONEflight International becomes aviation partner with SALT

ONEflight International | April 05, 2022

ONEflight International, Inc. announced today that the company was chosen to be a private aviation partner to SALT, a global thought leadership and networking forum encompassing finance, technology and geopolitics. Their annual events confer approximately 2,000 investors, asset owners, managers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers under one roof with past speakers like Vice President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush and Secretary Condoleezza Rice. Their next conference is Crypto Bahamas, held at the Baha Mar in Nassau from April 26-29, 2022. Speakers and panelists include O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary, HiDef, Inc. Founder Rick Fox, Edge & Node Co-Founder Tegan Kline, and SALT Chairman and former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. The full agenda will be announced later this month. “We’re thrilled to partner with ONEflight International for SALT’s private aviation needs. The innovative private jet brand revolutionized the industry, setting a new standard in air travel that we are happy to offer our speakers and attendees.” Anthony Scaramucci - Chairman, SALT ONEflight boasts the world’s largest network of private aircraft easily accessible through their proprietary booking platform, Book-A-Jet (BAJ). BAJ provides immediate access to search and create a customizable itinerary, selecting from over 5,000 aircraft ranging from turbo props to large capacity jets. The company maintains a vetted network of 500 of the top operators worldwide to ensure unprecedented availability and flexibility. The new highly interactive BAJ app launched in Q4 2021, reaffirming the company’s commitment to digitize private air travel with groundbreaking technologies that can be used broadly across all corners of the industry. “SALT is filled with innovators, entrepreneurs and the brightest minds making a difference in the world through their technological, financial, and policy advancements. The amazing work they do inspires us at ONEflight to continue innovating and striving for more with our own platforms and offerings. We’re proud to act as SALT’s partner and support the connectivity between these forward-thinking attendees.” Ferren Rajput - Founder & CEO, ONEflight International About ONEflight International, Inc. ONEflight International, Incorporated is a global private aviation company revolutionizing the luxury private jet travel industry since the company’s founding in 2010. It is the fastest growing market leader developing and implementing technological solutions for non-commercial air travel through the proprietary online Book a Jet platform. With nearly 500 world-class aircraft charter operator partnerships and a network of 5,000 private jets worldwide, ONEflight empowers members to seamlessly search, select and book a private flight with a fleet of aircraft at their disposal and excellent customer service from booking to disembarking. ONEflight firmly believes you don’t need to OWN, you just need to FLY!

Read More

Aviation Technology

Allegiant secures financing for airbus a320 ceo and boeing 737 max aircraft

PR Newswire | October 05, 2023

Allegiant Travel Company announced financing commitments for seven Airbus A320 and four Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from BNP Paribas, Europe's leading bank, and Jackson Square Aviation (JSA), a leading global commercial aircraft lessor. The innovative $412M deal combines banking and lessor capital to secure Allegiant's aircraft financing needs into the second quarter 2024, while providing the airline with healthy liquidity at an attractive cost in today's market. "We are delighted with BNP Paribas and Jackson Square's creativity in providing what we believe is an efficient framework that affords us robust liquidity to support foundational investments in our fleet. This transaction taps into young A320 CEO aircraft and will also serve as the inaugural financing for our Boeing 737 MAX equipment," said Robert Neal, Allegiant's senior vice president and chief financial officer. Allegiant has drawn down $196 million on September 29, and the remainder will be drawn commensurate with its initial 737 MAX deliveries. "Our relationship with BNP Paribas, spanning more than a decade, has been instrumental in our growth as an ultra-low-cost leader. We are thrilled to welcome Jackson Square Aviation as a new partner as we make air travel more affordable and accessible to leisure travelers," added Neal. "We are delighted to provide Allegiant, a long-standing client of the bank, an innovative and first-of-its-kind financing solution which combines bank and lessor capital into one transaction. This transaction allows the airline to maximize value while having more structural flexibility to manage its aircraft fleet versus the more traditional aircraft financing alternatives," said Ankush Chowdhury, managing director & head of transportation banking and capital markets at BNP Paribas. "BNP Paribas is honored to partner with Jackson Square Aviation as we continue to innovate in the world of aviation finance with the goal of providing efficient and thoughtful financing solutions to our aviation clients," added Chowdhury. "It's a great pleasure to have Allegiant as a new airline customer for Jackson Square Aviation and we're pleased to be working together with a long-standing banking partner, BNP Paribas," said Chris Dailey, president & chief commercial officer of JSA. "Combining the strengths of JSA and BNP Paribas, we're able to provide an efficient financing solution for Allegiant's fleet of in-service Airbus A320s and next generation Boeing 737-8-200s, which we're also excited to introduce as a first into our portfolio," said Dailey. Allegiant currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprised of 127 Airbus A319s and A320s. Allegiant has agreed to purchase up to 130 Boeing 737-7 and 737-8-200 models in a multi-year deal, Boeing's first with an ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States. The new 737 MAX additions will afford the airline flexibility, environmental benefits, and new customer features. AboutAllegiant – Together We Fly Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket.

Read More

Cargo Management

AELF FlightService Adds Fifth A330 to Fleet With Flexible Passenger-to-Cargo Configuration

AELF FlightService | April 28, 2022

AELF FlightService announced today that its fifth Airbus 330-200 (registered as 9H-CFS) is officially on certificate, flying in passenger-to-freighter (PTF) configuration. The aircraft commenced its first commercial flight in PTF configuration on April 23, flying from Vietnam to the U.S. The addition of 9H-CFS puts the group in a leading position among ACMI widebody charter operators in the world in terms of fleet size. Its five A330s are currently in PTF configuration, in which passenger seats have been removed and cargo nets have been installed to hold parcel freight in the upper deck, in addition to the standard freight capacity in the lower deck. The configuration is reversible in a matter of weeks, which the company plans to exercise this summer. "As supply chain issues drag on, the addition of 9H-CFS is our commitment to fulfilling the need for capacity in the air cargo market in the short-term, while maximizing our flexibility to return to passenger service later this year." Joe Cirillo, Chief Operating Officer at AELF FlightService As AELF FlightService commences passenger flights this summer, it will do so with the addition of its sixth A330-200. This recently acquired aircraft is configured with a brand-new passenger interior accommodating 295 passengers. An additional three of the company's A330s will also be converted back to passenger configuration by August. The A330 fleet will be operated by the company's affiliate Maleth Aero. "The flexibility of the configuration was a draw for us from the beginning," said Lee Jones, President of Maleth Aero. "Anticipating an inevitable return of passenger demand and a time limit from EASA on the preighter exemption, we looked to the option that would provide a solution for our cargo customers but also allow us to adapt to the regulatory environment and the marketplace." The company has a history of adapting quickly. At the onset of the pandemic, AELF, Inc. expanded its core business as an aircraft lessor to meet the needs of an overwhelmed cargo market. In 2020, the company, together with European partners, led the acquisition of the controlling interest in Malta-based airline Maleth Aero, expanding the group's offerings to charter and ACMI flights. With the acquisition mentioned above, the group now has a total of nine widebody aircraft in operation. While the fleet will undergo transformation to passenger configuration this summer, the group is also exploring its options for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that will allow continued operation of the PTF configuration for one or more of its aircraft beyond the EASA preighter exemption deadline. AELF FlightService offers a full spectrum of air freight and passenger services, including single charter flights and mid-term ACMI/wet and damp leases, as well as more traditional liquidity solutions such as long-term operating leases, sale and leasebacks, sale and wet leasebacks, among other services. About AELF FlightService AELF FlightService is a global aircraft leasing company providing finance, leasing and air charter solutions to the aviation industry. The company offers a full spectrum of services ranging from long-term operating leases to single charter flights and mid-term ACMI programs operated by widebody airline Maleth Aero, with which it shares common ownership. The group has offices in Chicago, Miami and Malta.

Read More

Aerospace

ONEflight International becomes aviation partner with SALT

ONEflight International | April 05, 2022

ONEflight International, Inc. announced today that the company was chosen to be a private aviation partner to SALT, a global thought leadership and networking forum encompassing finance, technology and geopolitics. Their annual events confer approximately 2,000 investors, asset owners, managers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers under one roof with past speakers like Vice President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush and Secretary Condoleezza Rice. Their next conference is Crypto Bahamas, held at the Baha Mar in Nassau from April 26-29, 2022. Speakers and panelists include O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary, HiDef, Inc. Founder Rick Fox, Edge & Node Co-Founder Tegan Kline, and SALT Chairman and former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. The full agenda will be announced later this month. “We’re thrilled to partner with ONEflight International for SALT’s private aviation needs. The innovative private jet brand revolutionized the industry, setting a new standard in air travel that we are happy to offer our speakers and attendees.” Anthony Scaramucci - Chairman, SALT ONEflight boasts the world’s largest network of private aircraft easily accessible through their proprietary booking platform, Book-A-Jet (BAJ). BAJ provides immediate access to search and create a customizable itinerary, selecting from over 5,000 aircraft ranging from turbo props to large capacity jets. The company maintains a vetted network of 500 of the top operators worldwide to ensure unprecedented availability and flexibility. The new highly interactive BAJ app launched in Q4 2021, reaffirming the company’s commitment to digitize private air travel with groundbreaking technologies that can be used broadly across all corners of the industry. “SALT is filled with innovators, entrepreneurs and the brightest minds making a difference in the world through their technological, financial, and policy advancements. The amazing work they do inspires us at ONEflight to continue innovating and striving for more with our own platforms and offerings. We’re proud to act as SALT’s partner and support the connectivity between these forward-thinking attendees.” Ferren Rajput - Founder & CEO, ONEflight International About ONEflight International, Inc. ONEflight International, Incorporated is a global private aviation company revolutionizing the luxury private jet travel industry since the company’s founding in 2010. It is the fastest growing market leader developing and implementing technological solutions for non-commercial air travel through the proprietary online Book a Jet platform. With nearly 500 world-class aircraft charter operator partnerships and a network of 5,000 private jets worldwide, ONEflight empowers members to seamlessly search, select and book a private flight with a fleet of aircraft at their disposal and excellent customer service from booking to disembarking. ONEflight firmly believes you don’t need to OWN, you just need to FLY!

Read More

Events