Delta is teaming up with Shake Shack to serve its burgers at 30,000 feet.

Delta’s first-of-its-kind partnership with Shake Shack will begin on flights out of Boston on Dec. 1, with plans for expansion to other U.S. markets throughout 2025.

Customers sitting in First Class on routes over 900 miles will be able to pre-select a Shake Shack Cheeseburger as their meal option.

Stephanie Laster, managing director of onboard service said: “A delicious cheeseburger is an iconic comfort food – our customers know that which is why burgers are one of the top ordered menu items we offer, and we’re thrilled to elevate the offering with Shake Shack.

“However, our partnership with Shake Shack goes beyond the burger. Shake Shack’s people-first culture and commitment to enriching their neighborhoods are spot on with our own brand values of service excellence and helping the communities we serve.”

ou can customize your burger to create the signature ShackBurger, with toppings like tomato, lettuce and Shake Shack’s famous ShackSauce, all served on the side.

The meal also features chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie reminiscent of Shack Attack flavors from some of the brand’s dessert offerings.

Michael Kark, president of global licensing at Shake Shack said: “At Shake Shack, we’re always looking for new and innovative ways to meet our guests where they are, even at 35,000 feet.

“Taking our beloved cheeseburger to new heights, Shake Shack is proud to partner with Delta as we elevate the in-flight dining and hospitality experience for travelers across the country.”

The Shake Shack Cheeseburger will be available via pre-select; customers can make and edit their entrée selection up to 24 hours in advance using the Fly Delta app or a link in their email, starting seven days before departure.

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Reunitus, provider of software and services for handling lost and delayed items, today announces support for Apple’s Share Item Location feature.

This advancement cements Reunitus’ position as the premier provider of cutting-edge baggage tracing, compliance and analytics solutions.

Launching in January 2025, this new feature empowers passengers to securely share live tracking data with airlines and other travel entities through Apple’s Find My app and AirTags.

By creating a secure, time-limited link, travellers can provide participating airlines, airports, hotels and resorts with precise location updates for delayed luggage or lost items.

The location data refreshes automatically and is designed with privacy at its core, expiring after seven days or upon retrieval.

Byron Smith, chief technology officer at Reunitus said: “This integration with the Apple Share Item Location feature exemplifies our commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions.

“By streamlining baggage tracking and enabling seamless collaboration between travellers and airlines, we’re setting a new standard for efficiency and reliability in the industry.”

The company’s support for this feature also extends to its Lost & Found platform, used by airlines, airports and hospitality providers worldwide.

By incorporating support for the Share Item Location feature, Reunitus enhances its ability to track and recover lost items efficiently, further elevating the experience for both providers and customers.

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ACI EUROPE today engaged with the government of Türkiye to review and address the challenges faced by the country in sustainably developing air connectivity to further contribute to its economy and global positioning.

Meeting with his Excellency Mr Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Director General of ACI EUROPE, Olivier Jankovec pointed to the impressive expansion of Turkish aviation over the past years.

Accordingly, total air connectivity in Türkiye has reached record levels, having expanded by +24% when compared to pre pandemic (2019) levels — far outperforming the European average, which still needs to recover ( 14%).

In this regard, the performance of iGA Istanbul Airport is clearly standing out, with the Turkish hub now ranking number 1 in Europe for direct air connectivity, up from the 5th position back in 2019.

Jankovec stressed how these developments are significantly contributing to the Turkish economy, considering that every +10% increase in air connectivity yields +0.5% gain in GDP per capita along with a +1.6% increase in jobs. In effect, the Turkish airports and the connectivity they enable contribute €47.2 billion to the country’s GDP and support close to 500,000 jobs.

However, Jankovec also raised a number of issues that need to be addressed to safeguard and reinforce aviation’s role as a critical engine of economic and social development in Türkiye — in particular when it comes to the vital tourism sector.

Chief amongst these issues is allowing more airlines to fly into Türkiye: “Airports around the world are focused on diversifying their airline portfolios to maximise their potential in terms of route development and connectivity.

“However, this requires more liberal approaches from Governments regarding traffic rights for all airlines, which regulate the extent to which they can access airports and plan their networks.

“In this context, it would be helpful if the Turkish government could reconsider its position on this matter, moving away from protectionist policies and instead adopting open skies principles. Failing to do so will only hinder wider economic benefits, to the disadvantage of the Turkish people”.

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Honeywell has been selected by Deutsche Aircraft, a German aircraft manufacturer, to supply its Primus HF-1050 high-frequency (HF) radio system for the recently debuted 40-seater D328eco turboprop.

The HF-1050 is designed to deliver global voice communications, leveraging its unique features to enhance reliability and performance for operators worldwide.

The selection of the HF-1050 supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends: automation, the future of aviation and energy transition.

As a high-frequency system, the HF-1050 enables seamless communication over vast distances with built-in technology that reduces background noise, ensuring clearer transmissions between pilots and air traffic controllers.

Flavio Michio Osanai, EMEAI Vice President, Business & General Aviation Sales at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Deutsche Aircraft and support the D328eco program.

“Deutsche Aircraft’s selection of the HF-1050 underscores our commitment to the future of aviation and reinforces our focus on delivering reliable, cutting-edge avionics solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers and their passengers.”

Honeywell avionics are already widely deployed on in-service D328 aircraft such as the Dornier 328-100 and Dornier 328-300.

The selection of the HF-1050 builds on Honeywell’s longstanding relationship with Deutsche Aircraft and highlights its continued support for the Dornier fleet.

Patricia Ferrari, vice president of supply chain at Deutsche Aircraft said: “We are pleased to partner with Honeywell to bring this proven communication technology to the D328eco.

“The HF-1050 system will offer operators a modernised aircraft that is equipped with reliable, long-range communication capabilities that will contribute to more efficient flights across the globe.”

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American Airlines is expanding technology that supports the boarding process to more than 100 airports across the U.S. The technology platform ensures customers receive the benefit of boarding in their assigned group and supports team members with more visibility into the boarding process.

The airline has successfully trialed this modern technology over the last month at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Tucson International Airport (TUS) to gain early insights on ways to improve the boarding process.

Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery said: “We’ve heard from our customers that the ability to board with their assigned group is important to them because it’s a benefit associated with their AAdvantage status or fare purchase.

“The initial positive response from customers and team members has exceeded our expectations, so we are thrilled to leverage this technology to deliver for them ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.”

If a customer boards before their assigned group is called, the new software will not accept the boarding pass and instead makes an audible sound to alert the gate agent and customer that the group has not yet been called.

In these instances, the American team member will invite the customer to rejoin the line when their boarding group is called.

For customers traveling with a companion in an earlier boarding group, the agent has a simple one-click solution to override the alert and accept the pass to continue boarding.

American offers multiple boarding groups which are associated with travellers’ ticket purchase, AAdvantage status or membership, eligible AAdvantage credit cards, U.S. military service and more.

All AAdvantage members receive Group 6 priority as soon as they enroll in the program and if their AAdvantage number is added to their trip.

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Cathay Pacific today released its traffic figures for October 2024, showing that the airline reached the milestone of operating more than 10,000 passenger and cargo flight sectors in a single month for the first time this year.

Cathay Pacific carried a total of 2,014,105 passengers in October 2024, an increase of 19.6% compared with October 2023.

The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 19.1% year on year.

Passenger load factor decreased by 1.6 percentage points to 83.1%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 21.3% year on year.

In the first 10 months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 27.4% to a total of 18,567,818, against a 32.7% increase in ASKs and a 26.8% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2023.

Lavinia Lau, chief customer and commercial officer said: “October was another good month for our travel business, with strong demand for both leisure and business travel resulting in a solid load factor of 83% across our network.

“We saw considerable leisure traffic from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland to destinations in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Europe over the National Day ‘Golden Week’ holiday at the beginning of the month.

“The Chung Yeung Festival long weekend in Hong Kong also stimulated robust demand from our home city to various short-haul destinations around Asia, with Japan as the most popular choice among our customers.

“Meanwhile, business traffic also remained strong, driven by the various exhibitions and conventions in Hong Kong as well as the Canton Fair in nearby Guangzhou.

“This resulted in October seeing the highest number of passengers in our premium cabins of any month since the pandemic.

“Last month, we celebrated the launch of our non-stop passenger service between Hong Kong and Riyadh.

“This service has been well received by our customers, with considerable demand originating from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

“Looking ahead, we are projecting a strong Christmas travel peak, with Japan anticipated to be a top destination for outbound travel from our home market.

“We are also expecting considerable inbound demand from North America, the United Kingdom and other destinations in Europe as customers travel to visit friends and relatives.

“In terms of new destinations, Cathay Pacific’s seasonal service of three flights per week between Hong Kong and Cairns will launch on 17 December 2024.

“Recently, we also announced the resumption of Cathay Pacific’s non-stop passenger services to and from Hyderabad starting from 30 March 2025, further enhancing our network presence in India.

“Additionally, HK Express launched thrice-weekly passenger flights between Hong Kong and Hiroshima at the start of November, increasing to four return flights per week in January 2025.”

On 14 November 2024, Cathay Pacific announced its proposed repurchase of HK$6.74 billion 2.75% guaranteed convertible bonds due 2026, which were issued on 5 February 2021.

The buyback reflects Cathay Pacific’s confidence in its long-term business prospects and could also enhance the return to its shareholders.

The repurchase price will be determined after trading of Cathay Pacific’s shares on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited closes on 19 December 2024.

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Star Alliance, airline alliance, has opened its first lounge in Asia at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in Guangzhou, China.

Starting today, the lounge will be available to First and Business class passengers, and Star Alliance Gold status customers on member airline flights departing from Terminal 1.

The new Star Alliance branded lounge is located in a dedicated space on the upper level of the existing GBIA lounge in the Terminal 1 international area, offering exclusive access to Star Alliance member airline guests.

The Star Alliance area provides a comfortable environment for travellers as they relax or work before their flight. Ideally situated close to the departure gates for Star Alliance member airlines, the lounge features an open layout and offers 750 square meters of space which can accommodate up to 100 guests. Open around the clock, it welcomes travellers with varying flight schedules.

Theo Panagiotoulias, Star Alliance CEO said: “Lounges are a critical component for the effortless travel experience we aim to provide to our member airline passengers.

“As a key strategic hub in Asia, Guangzhou serves as an important gateway for our guests.

“We are excited to inaugurate our first lounge in Asia, given the significance of the continent to aviation growth today and in the years to come.”

Ambar Franco, Star Alliance’s vice president for customer experience, added: “Our first Star Alliance branded lounge in Asia is an exciting milestone for us.

“Thoughtfully designed with the modern traveller in mind, it offers an effortless blend of comfort and functionality.

“Conveniently located close to departure gates, this lounge also provides travellers with the flexibility to relax, work, or refresh before their flight, all while enjoying a wide range of refreshment options and services tailored to their needs.”

The lounge features a glass facade offering tarmac views, filling the space with natural light. It also includes practical amenities, such as workstations and comfortable seating areas for both relaxation and productivity.

Tucked in a quiet space, the VIP room is a 100 square meters private area ideal for group or private business meetings, available upon request.

Guests are also welcome to use the state of the art shower suites to refresh themselves before their onward journey.

The Star Alliance branded lounge offers a sense of connection to Guangzhou and the Pearl Delta River region.

In addition to being adorned with art pieces by local artists, the lounge also has an exclusive Tea Appreciation Corner that will be available on special occasions, where guests can experience the region’s renowned tea culture.

Guests can also enjoy a range of food options, with light bites and regional delights featuring local cuisine served throughout the day.

There is also a dedicated bar counter where travellers can enjoy drinks that have been specially curated for the lounge.

Qi Yaoming, deputy general manager of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, said: “The fact that Star Alliance has chosen to open its first branded lounge in Asia at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is not only a sign of trust and support for us, but also an acknowledgment of the status of Baiyun Airport as an important international hub.

“Baiyun Airport will continue to uphold the service concept of ‘Customer First’ and continuously build itself into an airline-friendly airport to provide even better service guarantees for Star Alliance and its member airlines.”

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Hahnair announced an extension of its contract with Airbus. As a result, Hahnair will continue to provide Airbus with the HR-Shuttle Manager, a product to simplify corporate shuttle services.

Since 2019, this tool has been streamlining the booking process for Airbus’ corporate shuttle flights, which are exclusively for Airbus employees, making them available in the Global Distribution System (GDS).

Hahnair serves as the validating and marketing carrier, while two European carriers operate the flights. Airbus’ Travel Management Company can issue tickets on the Hahnair HR-169 ticket stock.

With the product HR-Shuttle Manager, Hahnair simplifies corporate shuttle management by making it possible to handle corporate shuttle flights like any other commercial flight.

This includes booking the shuttle flights via the standard reservation processes, access to all booking related data and detailed reports as well as offering a convenient online check-in and wait-list management for the corporate travellers.

Alexander Proschka, executive vice president commercial at Hahnair, stated: “With our distribution know-how and technical infrastructure, we support corporations in making their intra-company flights available in the GDS.

“We are honoured to extend our agreement with Airbus and look forward to managing their company shuttle flights during the next years.”

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Phoenix Aviation Capital, a full-service aircraft lessor, and AIP Capital today announced the acquisition of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft on long-term lease with American Airlines from ORIX Aviation.

This marks the first transaction between Phoenix and AIP Capital with ORIX. The aircraft acquired by Phoenix, bearing manufacturers serial number 40646, is a 2018 vintage Boeing 787-9 powered by GEnx engines.

Mathew Adamo, Managing Partner at AIP Capital who also serves on the board of Phoenix said: “We are pleased to have concluded this inaugural transaction with ORIX Aviation.

“We appreciate ORIX’s professional manner and collaboration throughout this transaction, and we look forward to building upon this successful partnership in the future.”

James Meyler, CEO at ORIX Aviation said: “We are delighted to have successfully completed our first transaction with AIP Capital and Phoenix Aviation Capital.

“We look forward to working closely again with both in the future.”

Gibson Dunn acted as transaction counsel to Phoenix and AIP Capital.

O’Melveny acted as transaction counsel to ORIX Aviation. KPMG advised Phoenix and AIP Capital on tax matters.

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Jetcraft Commercial, the commercial division of the global aircraft trading firm Jetcraft, is announcing the delivery of two Dash 8-400 turboprops to Panama-based regional carrier, Air Panama.

These are the first Dash 8-400s to join Air Panama’s fleet and will be deployed on both domestic and international routes, enhancing the airline’s capacity to serve growing passenger demand across Central America.

The deal follows Jetcraft Commercial’s acquisition of 19 Dash 8-400s from Horizon Air, and several successful deliveries to other companies.

Richard Libby, VP Sales, Jetcraft Commercial, says: “The Dash 8-400 is a versatile aircraft, perfectly suited to operations in the Americas, and we expect its value to remain strong.

“This dual delivery to Air Panama demonstrates Jetcraft Commercial’s expertise in efficiently structuring deals that align with the specific needs of our clients, while opening new aviation opportunities.

“We’re proud to support Air Panama, having used our leading position in the Dash 8-400 market to swiftly respond to their requirements as the airline embarks on its next phase of growth.”

Eduardo Stagg, CEO, Air Panama, says: “Jetcraft Commercial has played a key role in supporting our fleet expansion, allowing us to strengthen our network and meet rising demand.

“The Dash 8-400’s fuel efficiency and reliability make it a perfect fit for both our domestic and regional operations, helping us optimize our services while enhancing the overall passenger experience.”

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