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California-based Surf Air eyes profitability in 2019

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A turbulent year for Surf Air has finally come to an end. Exciting recent updates have already resulted in massive improvements to its scheduled service and membership growth.


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A recent lawsuit against Encompass Aviation, its former flight operating partner, has been settled. Under the terms of the settlement, Surf Air has regained full access to its entire fleet of branded Pilatus PC-12s, an unfortunate consequence of negotiations that caused severe disruptions to the company.

“By doubling down on our most popular routes and eliminating non-core flying we have proven route profitability and that the fundamental business model works. Our plan for 2019 is to continue to invest further into these core markets and expand access to Surf Air through new, more flexible membership product offerings,” says Surf Air Chairman & CEO Sudhin Shahani.

Recent Club Updates:

A Robust Core Schedule

Surf Air has rebuilt a core schedule and added more flights across its most important routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Lake Tahoe. The company will continue to add flights as it continues to acquire more members.

The company will also add back leisure weekend destinations as it makes sense (Las Vegas, Napa, Monterey, and Palm Springs).

Best-in-Class Reliability

With the help of Advanced Air, the company’s current third-party flight operator and long-time partner, they’ve restored operational reliability to its former best-in-industry levels of over 90% completion factor.

“Advanced Air has been a critical partner during this transitional period. With their proven professional and safety record, they’re the perfect, value-aligned partner to continue to scale our business,” says Sudhin Shahani.

Flexible, Per-Seat Membership

Perhaps Surf Air’s most promising opportunities for scaling membership growth is the new Express membership, allowing flyers to buy and fly on a per-seat basis. Meaning, for the first time, less frequent flyers can enjoy the time-savings benefits of zero hassle air travel.

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Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engine achieves 10 million flying hours

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The Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engine, which entered service in 1987, recently achieved another incredible milestone by reaching 10 million flying hours in nearly 5 million flights. The engine powers a range of Gulfstream’s highly successful large-cabin business aircraft, such as the Gulfstream GIV, GIV-SP, G300 and G400, and has established a reputation for outstanding dependability, efficiency and low noise generation.

The performance of the Tay 611-8 enabled the Gulfstream GIV to revolutionise the business aviation market with its high cruising speed and the intercontinental range of about 4,300 nautical miles. Over the past three decades, the Tay 611-8 has achieved numerous records for speed and range. These achievements have been perpetuated by its successor, the Tay 611-8C, powering the Gulfstream G350 and G450. There are over 1,700 Tay 611-8 and -8C engines in service today, with many of these supported by Rolls-Royce’s market leading CorporateCare®.

The background to the first Tay order contract is part of aviation history. In December 1982 the basic details – engine price, quantity, payment terms – were written on a napkin in less than 10 minutes by Sir Ralph Robins, who at the time was the company’s Managing Director, and Allen Paulson, Gulfstream’s founder and then Chairman and CEO. The deal was formally settled in March 1983.

Dirk Geisinger, Director Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce, said: “Reaching 10 million flying hours is an impressive milestone and we are very proud of this achievement. With its legendary reliability the Tay 611-8 became the benchmark for ultra-reliable long distance business aircraft and perfectly illustrates why Rolls-Royce is the leading engine manufacturer in Business Aviation.

“The Tay family with its proven performance has been very successful for us and has propelled our market leadership in this sector. Combining this engine with our latest aftermarket programme CorporateCare Enhanced raises the bar for the whole industry by introducing uncapped troubleshooting, coverage for mobile repair team travel costs and nacelle coverage on later engine models.”

He adds: “CorporateCare Enhanced provides our customers with a global support infrastructure which includes Engine Health Monitoring, a worldwide network of Authorised Service Centres and globally distributed spare parts and engines, all managed by our dedicated 24/7 Business Aircraft Availability Centre. Our customers benefit directly from this investment in proactive care, an in most cases are prevented from missing a planned trip.”

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India’s Jet Airways halts all international and domestic operations

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One of India’s major airlines, Jet Airways, has announced it is temporarily halting flight operations on Wednesday after the carrier failed to secure the “critical interim funding” necessary for the company to remain afloat.

Jet Airways will operate the last flight on Wednesday as it cancels all its international and domestic flights, the airline said in a statement. It explained that it cannot afford to pay for fuel or other critical services to keep the operations going, as all its months-long attempts to seek both interim and long-term funding were in vain.

“Unfortunately, despite its very best efforts, the airline has been left with no other choice today but to go ahead with a temporary suspension of flight operations,” the statement reads.

Earlier this month, the airline’s fleet was significantly reduced to just five aircraft and it was forced to suspend international operations. On Wednesday, the Jet Airways website listed only 37 domestic flights and had an additional nine-page list of canceled flights, saying that the schedule was impacted by “operational reasons.”

The troubled company failed to receive a stop-gap loan of about $217 million from its lenders as part of a rescue deal agreed in late March, Reuters earlier reported.

“Bankers did not want to go for a piecemeal approach which would keep the carrier flying for a few days and then again risk having Jet come back for more interim funding,” an unnamed bank source in the negotiations on the debt resolution process told the agency.

The uncertainty over the crucial funding crashed Jet Airways stock on Tuesday, with shares plunging around 20 percent.

Employees have been hit hardest by the crisis in the company and have reportedly not been paid in months. The pilots even called on the State Bank of India (SBI) to release the necessary funds and appealed to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save 20,000 jobs which may be lost in the shutdown.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Air Mauritius confirms it will resume flights to Seychelles after 15 years

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The Mauritian press has confirmed that Air Mauritius will return to Mahé the main island of Seychelles. It was several weeks since the rumor has been circulating, and finally the news site of the MBC (Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation) confirmed the news.

“Prem Sewpaul, head of communication at Air Mauritius has, confirmed the news.”

The Seychelles News Agency (SNA) has contacted Air Mauritius to find out when the Air Mauritius planes will begin to fly but was been told that for the moment sales are not yet available.

SNA contacted Seychelles’ civil aviation, which also confirmed the arrival of Air Mauritius, which would be the two days that Air Seychelles did not link the two islands.

“Air Mauritius has informed us of their intention to resume liaison with Seychelles in July, but we did not have confirmation,” said Florence Marengo, head of the transport department at the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA).

However, on the Seychellois side the Minister of Civil Aviation, Didier Dogley said last week that he had nothing official, but recognized that a Mauritian delegation was in the country.

He said at a press conference that if it were to be confirmed that this would not be good news for Air Seychelles.

The arrival of Air Mauritius will please travelers, who hope for a drop in the price of air tickets.

The Seychellois company Air Seychelles was the only airline doing this link and may now have to review its prices which are currently 400 € for two thirty hours of flight.

Air Seychelles, recovering from losses, which the Seychelles government had to reinvest, relied heavily on this link in its economic recovery plans.

Air Mauritius, which was already linking with Seychelles, decided more than 15 years ago to stop, for economic reasons.

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Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive featured at third Esquire Podcast and Seychelles x Esquire Middle East Gentleman’s Evening

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Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, came aboard to the Esquire Q&A Studio at Dubai Media City for the third Esquire podcast last April 11, 2019 to speak about the tropical destination-Seychelles.

The podcast centered about the Middle East tourism market’s relevance, destination wedding in Seychelles and Seychelles as a sustainable tourism destination. It was followed by media interviews with journalists from Esquire, Rake, CEO and Arabian Business.

The STB Office in Dubai was in collaboration with Esquire Middle East, the leading men’s magazine in the Middle East and local partner Six Senses Zil Pasyon hosted a networking event last weekend at the Palace Downtown outdoor viewing deck under the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and with the views over the Dubai Fountain.

The event saw the presence of STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis and Esquire Middle East Editor Matthew Baxter-Priest along with dapper Esquire readers and the leading names in travel industry.

The astonishing location at The Palace Downtown’s Viewing Deck let guests enjoy stellar views while discussing their favorite travel destinations.

During the evening, Six Senses Zil Pasyon, an all-villa hideaway on a pristine private island, gifted two nights stay at the luxury boutique Indian Ocean Beach Resort.

Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned her satisfaction to have featured on the third Esquire Podcast to talk about the destination, she further stated that the UAE and the Middle East is an important market for Seychelles and a constant presence on the territories is important for the destination.

“As a small destination it is important that we keep in touch with our clients, we constantly need to find innovative ways to push the Seychelles product. The UAE is only four hours away from the Seychelles and present a great opportunity for quick weekend breaks given we are well connected with double daily flights and we have no visa requirements which provides a great advantage for our visitors,” said Mrs. Francis.

Present at the event, Esquire Editor Baxter-Priest admitted that while he is constantly on the go, “the Seychelles is one of my favorite places. Sun, sea, sand and a whole lot more – it is a delightful place.”

The representative of the STB office in Dubai Ahmed Fathallah, who was present at the event, mentioned, “We are truly elated on the response for Seychelles from this region. The steady growth of interest and knowledge of the people from this region for the destination will not be possible without the help of our trade and media partners. In return and in line with the vision, Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Dubai will continue to implement activities that can gain continuous support and further the awareness for the destination in the region.”

The Palace Downtown regaled the invitees to the finest canapés and drinks, while some of the city’s finest DJs entertained them.

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