Welcome back, travel folk. Let’s get your heads back into gear with the latest news in the aviation industry.

Australia’s biggest airlines sign memoranda of understanding with Western Sydney Airport

Western Sydney Airport has entered into memoranda of understanding with the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia Group.

The MOUs will see the airlines provide insights into designing and planning Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, as well as having early discussions around future Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tigerair services using the airport.

The MOU will see the organisations collaborate on a range of elements, including:

• passenger terminal and boarding
• technology and innovation opportunities, particularly around baggage handling, security and customer service
• airport access, including train stations, parking and rideshare facilities
• air freight and cargo facilities; and
• sustainability, including resource reuse and recycling.

Emirates makes a sustainable journey from “billboard to bag”

To mark World Environment Day, Emirates gave its old advertising billboards in South Africa a new lease of life, transforming the PVC Flex material into hundreds of reusable bags.

In an effort to spread the message of sustainability and make a positive impact on local communities, the advertising banners collected from across South Africa, were given a second life – the heavy-duty, PVC Flex material was upcycled to produce school bags that were donated to students of Emfundisweni Primary School in Alexandra.

A total of 517 square meters of PVC Flex material was collected and sent to Johannesburg, where Emirates commissioned Soweto-based entrepreneur Raymond Phiri of Motion Bags to design and create the bags.

American Airlines launches 25 new routes

American Airlines is making the busy travel season easy and exciting by launching 25 new routes, including the only U.S. service to Dubrovnik, Croatia (DBV), and Bologna, Italy (BLQ).

Between 6 June and 8 June, American is adding 23 new routes to its vast network of more than 6,800 daily flights. And then, on 13 June and 15 June, the growth continues when American begins service to Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ), from Philadelphia (PHL) and New York (LGA).

American proudly offers the only direct service from its hubs to key destinations throughout its network. For customers looking for history and culture this summer, American is the only airline with direct flights to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ), from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT). American is also the only carrier to provide a convenient escape from New York to Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC).

American Airlines is also expanding its long-haul services to and from Munich: Effective immediately, the carrier is offering daily flights with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area in the US state of Texas, departing from Munich at 10:55 am local time.

In Dallas, passengers can catch flights to 174 destinations in 44 US states. There are also connections to 40 destinations in 18 countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America, included 18 in Mexico alone.

United Airlines makes history flying the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind

United Airlines, a longstanding leader among all global carriers in environmental sustainability, made history on World Environment Day with the departure of the Flight for the Planet, the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of aviation.

On the Flight for the Planet, United became the first known airline to demonstrate all of the following key actions on a single commercial flight: utilisation of sustainable aviation biofuel; zero cabin waste efforts; carbon offsetting; and operational efficiencies.

United is using the Flight for the Planet to evaluate key measures of flying as sustainably as possible using the airline’s current technology, resources and fuel-saving procedures. The flight departed from gate B12 at United’s hometown hub of Chicago O’Hare for its “eco-hub” in Los Angeles, where sustainable aviation biofuel has helped power all the airline’s flights from the Southern California hub since 2016.

Alliance Airlines to significantly expand operations in Northern Territory

Alliance Airlines announced its intention to significantly expand its fleet in the Northern Territory from one aircraft to four.

The three additional Fokker jet aircraft (2 x F70 and 1 x F100) will join an existing 100 seat Fokker 100 aircraft to round out the Darwin based all jet fleet.  The additional aircraft will come into service between July and December this year.

Alliance opened its Darwin base in February 2018 with the stated intention of expanding that commitment when the time was right.

Advertisements for additional Darwin based staff were placed in national newspapers and on-line employment sites.

Kokomo Private Island launches private hangar at Nadi Airport

Kokomo Private Island has continued to enhance its customer journey from beginning to end with the opening of the first private aviation hangar at Nadi International Airport. Complete with a luxury transfer lounge, the new private hangar offers guests a seamless and exclusive transfer from Fiji mainland to the island. After a year-long build, the 2266m² hangar opened last week.

Designed to further enhance the luxurious travel experience, the $5-million (FJD) facility interiors replicate that of the island villas.  Guests arriving on international flights to Nadi Airport are greeted at the information desk inside the arrivals hall, before being transferred directly to Kokomo’s private hangar.

The transfer lounge includes entertainment, seating, a playroom for families, refreshments as well as shower facilities (stocked with luxurious Pure Fiji spa products) for guests to refresh after long-haul flights. On departure, guests will again be able to enjoy the benefits of the luxury lounge while waiting for their connecting flight out of Fiji.

Gwen Stefani to perform at the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2019

Race promoter Singapore GP has announced that American singer songwriter Gwen Stefani will take the Padang Stage on 21 September for the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2019.

The twelfth edition of the night race will also see previously announced headlining acts Swedish House Mafia, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hans Zimmer, Muse, Fatboy Slim, Toots and the Maytals as well as Larkin Poe.

Tickets to catch Gwen Stefani’s concert and the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2019 start from S$188 for a single-day Saturday ticket and S$278 for a three-day ticket. The artist line-up and performance times are subject to change.