DUBLIN - Ryanair laid the groundwork for recovery and expansion with the opening of a new 50 million Euro training center in Santry, close to Dublin Airport. The Irish low-cost airline consolidates training operations under a new agreement with Airline Flight Academy (AFA) and announced a hiring spree.

ABERDEEN - Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has further bolstered its route network as it launches a new direct service between Aberdeen and Dublin, with the first flight taking to the skies Sunday 5 September. The airline operates the route with a 49-seat Embraer 145 regional jet.

LONDON - The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published aviation statistics for the second quarter of 2021. Overall, 6.3 million passengers flew in and out of the UK between April and June this year - compared to 3.4 million in quarter one 2021 - across 124,000 flights (81,000 flights in quarter one 2021).

LONDON - JetBlue Airways has officially entered the transatlantic market with new, nonstop service between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The first customer-carrying JetBlue flight between the U.S. and the U.K. touched down at Heathrow Thursday just before 10 o’clock.

LONDON - Virgin Atlantic might tap the stock market as the recovery takes shape. The airline will follow up on its IPO plans by autumn, Sky News reports. Virgin Atlantic is co-owned by billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group, that holds a 51 percent interest, and Delta Air Lines with a 49 percent stake.

LONDON - More than 3,500 UK pilots have written to the Government to highlight a "new and unfair system" that means UK pilot licences have been "seriously degraded in value and utility" following Brexit. The new state of play might even have prevented UK pilots from securing UK jobs.

GENEVA - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) branded the European Commission’s (EC) decision to set the winter slot use threshold at 50% as "out of touch with reality" and argued that the EC had ignored the advice and evidence presented by EU member states and the airline industry.

LONDON - Britain plans to relax slot use regulation through the winter to protect airline assets. London Gatwick Airport warned the Governement that the step will eventually backfire. The airline landscape is in a split mood: British Airways and Easyjet favor an extended slot relief, while Ryanair and Wizz Air push for a return to normal rules.

ATLANTA - Delta has entered into agreements to add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and lease seven used Airbus A350-900s as it continues to streamline and modernize its fleet. The 36 additional aircraft will support Delta's fleet renewal strategy focused on simplification, scale, size and sustainability.

LONDON - In the first three months of 2021 alone, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a staggering 485 Fixed Penalty Notices - financial fines - to airlines for carrying passengers who had not complied with Covid-19 requirements for international passengers travelling into the UK.

LONDON - British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Heathrow have joined forces to prove it is possible to quickly and easily verify those arriving into the UK who are fully vaccinated - an identification process already in place for outbound travel to several countries.

LONDON - Ryanair expands its Standsted base this winter season with the acquisition of nearly 300 weekly slots from rival Easyjet. The airlines already swapped STN summer slots as Easyjet closes its Stansted post to focus on its London Luton and London Gatwick bases after the crisis.

LONDON - British pilots are urging politicians across the UK to pressure the Government to save the summer and secure the future for the national aviation and travel industry. According to pilot union Balpa and Eurocontrol data inbound and outbound UK travel collapsed by three-quarters through the crisis.

SEATTLE - His airline could be grounded for three years and still have financial resources for a restart: Wizz Air-CEO Jozsef Varadi shows confidence in his position as European air travel starts to recover. Wizz Air will will keep focusing on short haul cost travellers - and expects more capacity this summer than two years ago.

LONDON - UK aviation industry is the "hardest hit" in Europe by restrictions on international travel, an analysis of official European air traffic data for June 2021 by The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has revealed. The pilots call for a quick opening of international air travel to spur recovery.

LONDON - Ryanair and airport operator MAG are suing the UK Government over "unacceptable" travel restrictions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's traffic light system continues to choke off air travel recovery, Ryanair said. To prevent further spreading of a new Covid-19 string, Downing Street so far rejects any adjustments to its policy.

LONDON - Wizz Air announced its first ever UK domestic services with flights from Cardiff and Sheffield to Jersey. Starting July 9th the new routes focus on holiday demand and will be operated Mondays and Fridays. Wizz Air UK will open a base in Cardiff - the latest in its network - this week.

DUBLIN - Hit hard by the Corona crisis, Irish regional airline Stobart Air ceased all its flight operations Friday. The airline will enter liquidation proceedings, its owner Esken said in a statement. A sale attempt had recently failed. The airline with 480 employees operated wet-lease flights for Aer Lingus.

LONDON - The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published passenger numbers for the first quarter of 2021. Overall, 3.4 million passengers flew in and out of the UK between January and March this year, across 80,625 flights. This represents a 94 percent fall in passenger numbers compared to the same period in 2019.

LONDON - The British traffic light system faces an industry wide backlash. Airlines, airports and tour operators feel "stuck with a system not fit for purpose" that cannot be scrutinized or challenged. While British tourists were forced to end their summer vacations early, other countries continue to reopen travel.