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NEW YORK- On the day JetBlue celebrates the 16th anniversary of its first flight, JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) today announced the launch of JetBlue Technology Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary that will invest in, incubate and partner with early stage startups at the intersection of technology, travel and hospitality. As the first corporate venture capital subsidiary in Silicon Valley backed by a U.S. airline, JetBlue Technology Ventures will operate from the GSVlabs campus in the heart of Silicon Valley.

By partnering with incubators, venture capital firms, universities and other organizations inside and outside Silicon Valley, JetBlue Technology Ventures will build relationships with a range of startups across the travel and hospitality spectrum. The initiative will serve as a launch pad for innovations that improve customer and crewmember experiences, increase the airline’s operational efficiency and expand the JetBlue brand to new markets.

Bonny Simi will serve as president of the subsidiary, reporting to Eash Sundaram, executive vice president and chief information officer of JetBlue. As head of the JetBlue Technology Ventures oversight/advisory committee, Sundaram will lead and shape the strategic direction of the subsidiary, and will also facilitate integration of successful startup programs into JetBlue’s overall corporate innovation and technology initiatives. Simi is a JetBlue pilot and officer with over a decade of leadership experience holding talent, customer experience and other roles within the airline, and over 25 years in the airline industry. Simi also has deep roots in the Silicon Valley community as a graduate of both the Stanford Business and Engineering schools.

“Innovation has always been part of JetBlue’s DNA, and JetBlue Technology Ventures builds on our history of staying a step ahead of the status quo,” said Bonny Simi, president of JetBlue Technology Ventures. “We will be casting a wide net to find technologies across the travel spectrum that further the award winning customer-focused experience we are known for.”

JetBlue, founded in 2000 with the mission of bringing humanity back to air travel, has launched a number of firsts in the airline industry. It instantly became known for free satellite television at every seat, an innovation it continues to improve on today. It was the first airline to incorporate new technology to power at-home call centers for customer support. More recently, it was the first airline to launch free high-speed wireless Internet and streaming video inflight, and has installed Next-Gen navigations systems in its fleet to improve the efficiency of flying.

“The work being done today in the startup community will define travel for years to come,” said Simi. “We can offer our knowledge and resources to bring early-stage ideas to life. We won’t limit our thinking to traditional airline operations, and instead consider possibilities at every stage in the travel experience.”

About JetBlue Technology Ventures
Located in the startup incubator GSVLabs in Redwood City, Calif., JetBlue Technology Ventures will invest in, incubate and partner with early stage startups at the intersection of technology, travel and hospitality. For more information, including upcoming events and how to request review of potential startup ideas, please visit www.JetBlueVentures.com

About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline™, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 35 million customers a year to 95 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 900 daily flights. For more information please visit JetBlue.com.

– See more at: http://otp.investis.com/clients/us/jetblue_airways/usn/usnews-story.aspx?cid=981&newsid=32697#sthash.zCfMmLOj.dpuf

ARLINGTON, Va., – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it will offer the T-50A in the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training (APT) competition. The T-50A was developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to replace the T-38 and train the next generation of pilots to fly 5th Generation aircraft.

Lockheed Martin also announced that it has selected the company’s Greenville Operations facility in Greenville, South Carolina, as the preferred Final Assembly and Checkout (FACO) site for the T-50A.

“The T-50A is production ready now. It is the only offering that meets all of the APT requirements and can deliver those capabilities on schedule,” said Rob Weiss, executive vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (Skunk Works®). “We carefully studied a clean-sheet option for the [Advanced Pilot Training] competition and determined that it posed excessive risk to the APT cost and schedule requirements.”

The T-50A delivers the fighter-like performance and capabilities needed to eliminate 5th Generation training gaps and inefficiencies. There is no more effective or affordable way to train the next generation of pilots to fly, fight and win.

Lockheed Martin’s accompanying T-50A Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) features innovative technologies that deliver an immersive, synchronized ground-based training platform. The agile T-50A GBTS applies lessons-learned from decades of training with leading-edge technologies to deliver a cost-effective advanced pilot training solution.

Lockheed Martin has a long and successful legacy of delivering advanced aeronautics systems and training platforms. Lockheed Martin is leveraging that proven expertise to deliver the lowest-risk, on time advanced pilot training solution to the U.S. Air Force.
For more information, visit lockheedmartin.com/t50A

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines is marking Black History Month by paying tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen with an exclusive screening of the award-winning documentary “The Luft Gangster: Memoirs of a Second Class Hero” at the company’s C.R. Smith Museum.

“The Luft Gangster” has not been released to the public, but the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum, in partnership with the Airpower Foundation and several of American’s Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs), will host an invitation-only screening on Wednesday, Feb. 3. In attendance will be American Airlines Capt. Eugene Richardson, III, who is the son of Tuskegee Airman Eugene J. Richardson, Jr.; Gwenelle Spann, the widow of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Calvin Spann; and American Airlines President Scott Kirby.

The film chronicles the life and struggle of retired Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, a Tuskegee Airman and former prisoner of war. During World War II, Lt. Col. Jefferson, now 93, fought for his country and was taken as a POW by the German Army. When he was released and returned home at the end of the war, he encountered racism, bigotry and segregation.

“The unsung and unappreciated heroes like my father have allowed me to enjoy an amazing career in aviation,” said Capt. Eugene Richardson, whose story is featured in the February issue of American Way. “I’m proud to honor him and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen by sharing their story with the next generation of aviation professionals.”

Students from the Irving High School ROTC will perform a presentation of colors at the Wednesday event. American and the Airpower Foundation will also screen the documentary at Grapevine High School and Colleyville Heritage High School on Wednesday.

Throughout the month of February, American’s in-seat inflight entertainment systems will showcase critically acclaimed African American films and TV programs, including “The Luft Gangster.”

Additionally, on Saturday, Feb. 20, as part of the Saturday at the Smith program series, the C.R. Smith Museum will hold its sixth annual Celebration of Black Aviation featuring author and historian C.B. Rice. American’s African American Diversity Network EBRG will host local students at the event.

American is also a proud sponsor of The HistoryMakers, which since 1999 has worked to preserve and make widely accessible the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. The HistoryMakers’ one-of-a-kind archives are now housed in the Library of Congress, providing future generations a first-hand look into the lives of many who have helped shape our nation. In March, American will debut HistoryMakers episodes in its in-seat entertainment offerings, giving customers access to a portfolio of video oral histories of prominent African Americans, starting with “An Evening with Berry Gordy.”

American has long been recognized for its diversity efforts, including being named in the 2015 Black EOE Journal’s Best of the Best for Top Diversity Employers, Top Supplier Diversity Programs and Top LGBT Employers. Additionally, the airline’s Diversity Advisory Council was named one of the top 25 councils in the nation for the seventh consecutive year and American recently received the highest possible rating in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for the 14th consecutive year.

About American Airlines Group
American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

CHICAGO, – United Airlines is continuing the company’s commitment to uplift its customers’ experience at United Club and lounge locations worldwide, as the airline upgrades more clubs and makes global service leader Sodexo its single service partner for all United airport lounges.

In partnership with Sodexo, the carrier will team with other hospitality industry leaders to offer United Club, Global First Lounge and United Arrivals Lounge visitors a richer, elevated and premium experience, working with:

Award-winning celebrity chef, author, educator and owner of restaurants, including the upcoming Blue Door Kitchen in Chicago, Art Smith, who as a culinary ambassador will contribute to United Club and lounge menu planning and design, as well as food presentations;
Renowned mixologist Adam Seger, who will oversee upgraded complimentary and premium spirits programs and bartender training; and
Disney Institute, which will provide world-class hospitality training and support for all Sodexo employees working in United Club locations.
“We want the best experience for our customers, and we’re taking big steps to create a unique and industry-leading lounge experience across our global network,” said Jimmy Samartzis, United’s vice president of food services and United Clubs. “With the industry’s most professional customer service agents, a portfolio of expanded, renovated and new lounges around the world, and an innovative approach to service excellence, we are committed to raising the bar and taking the customer experience to new heights.”

“I am pleased that with this new global agreement, Sodexo will contribute to an improved quality of life for United customers through a next-generation lounge experience at locations across the globe,” added Michel Landel, Sodexo Group CEO.

United Club Updates

From 2016 to 2018, United will continue to renovate United Club locations at the airline’s continental U.S. hubs and key international cities, and to refresh clubs at other destinations around the world.

In many locations, including at United’s New York/Newark hub, the airline plans to expand the size of its clubs to offer more space for visitors to work, recharge or take care of their travel needs.

Renovated clubs will receive the modern, experience-focused design now available at recently renovated club locations in Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta and London, where customers can relax, refresh and be productive with a variety of conveniences, including comfortable seating, additional work stations and abundant power outlets.

For examples of the modern design, visit http://newsroom.united.com/SFO-ATL-Clubs for photos of the updated San Francisco and Atlanta locations.

Customers at refreshed clubs will see a number of improvements, such as new furniture, paint and carpet. Clubs will continue to offer complimentary Wi-Fi, improved food and beverages and premium wines and spirits, with U.S. locations also offering seasonal menus.

In addition, the airline has begun to introduce complimentary wireless printing at its continental U.S. clubs, enabling customers to print to color printers directly from their personal devices.

Single Service Provider
Throughout 2016, beginning in March, Sodexo will become the single provider of services such as bartending, food preparation and presentation, cleaning and appearance care for all United Club and Global First Lounge locations worldwide, as well as at the United Arrivals Lounge in San Francisco. Sodexo currently provides services at more than 30 locations, including the airline’s award-winning London Heathrow United Club and Global First Lounge, which have quickly grown to be customer favorites.

United Club Amenities
United Club members enjoy an airport oasis to relax and recharge in more than 45 locations worldwide. Complimentary amenities include Wi-Fi, food and beverages, including beer, wine and spirits, and personalized travel assistance. United Club members also may access participating Star Alliance-affiliated airport lounges worldwide. For more information, including membership details, visit united.com.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 342 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 20 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

SEATTLE, – Boeing (NYSE: BA) delivered 762 commercial airplanes in 2015, 39 more than the previous year and most ever for the company as it enters its centennial year.

“The Boeing team has worked hard to achieve strong performance,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “Our team did a fantastic job achieving higher deliveries and getting our products to our customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. This will continue to be our focus.”

In 2015, Boeing recorded 768 net orders, valued at $112.4 billion at current list prices. At year end, Boeing held 5,795 unfilled orders from customers worldwide.

“We had a solid year of orders in 2015, maintaining a strong, balanced backlog that will help ensure a steady stream of deliveries for years to come,” said Conner.

Worldwide demand for air travel has continued to be robust, said Randy Tinseth, Vice President, Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Global passenger traffic in most key regions is increasing,” said Tinseth. “Our customers continue to perform well in the marketplace and we’ll continue to support them with the industry’s best products and services.”

In addition to the orders and deliveries, the company marked a number of other milestones in 2015:
Five customers received their first 787 Dreamliners, including Oman Air, Scoot, American Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Vietnam Airlines
The 747 team delivered the 100th 747-8, the 767 program received its largest single order ever from FedEx and the 777 program announced a 2 percent fuel improvement package
The newly expanded Seattle Delivery Center opened its doors to pave the way for increased 737 production
The first 737 MAX rolled out of the factory in December
The 787-10 team completed detailed design of the newest member of the 787 family, while the 777X reached firm configuration, allowing the team to begin detailed design of parts, assemblies and other systems for the airplane

“Our newest development products are on schedule and poised to provide world-class value to our customers,” said Conner. “We could not have accomplished all we did in 2015 without the support and hard work of our employees, suppliers, partners and the community.”

Groups of more than ten passengers can be booked directly and instantly with the new online portal “Book a Group”

The booking of travel groups is now much easier with a new online tool for travel agents and tour operators. Using “Book a Group”, travel agents can directly and independently arrange all steps of their group bookings in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan for the first time. This new portal allows the registered IATA agency to find suitable flights, request availability and prices, book with instant confirmation, and what’s more, to change and manage existing bookings. The travel agent remains the contact person for the travel group’s customers who have booked with them, because the agent can independently manage all of the processes. The travel agency can also make enquiries in real time to check on flight connections with the Lufthansa flight number, to be able to offer interested customers what they want without delay. The online features are intuitive and easy to use. In addition to all regular rates, special rates will also be available. The new portal will be up and running in all retail markets for over 12,000 travel agencies by the end of the year. A one-time registration is needed at www.lh-bookagroup.com.

Until now travel agents have used an online form or sent an email to Lufthansa to enquire about offers for groups. Therefore, the offer could only be created after a time delay and usually included only one travel option and one rate. On the new portal, travel agents can independently manage each process up to departure and can immediately comply with all customer requirements with different options available on the portal. “Book a group”, which can be used in 14 languages, provides time-saving features like increasing or deceasing the number of passengers in a group and a practical upload of the passenger names directly from an Excel list.

A tour group must consist of at least ten persons that take at least one journey together, either outbound or inbound. As the participants of a group booking are usually not yet definite, it is possible to change the group members and their names, even after booking.

FORT WORTH, Texas, – American Airlines is taking the first step in the evolution of its award-winning AAdvantage® loyalty program. In the second half of 2016, the program will shift how customers earn award miles from distance flown to dollars spent. Award redemption rates will be adjusted with some award levels increasing, while others will be decreasing. Additionally, American will offer the best elite-qualifying mile multipliers in the industry and simplify the elite qualification process to better reward customers.

“American Airlines has spent the last two years being singularly focused on integration. Now we’re at a point where we can begin to look ahead and lay the foundation for the future of the AAdvantage program to ensure we’re rewarding our most loyal customers with the benefits they value the most,” said Suzanne Rubin, President of AAdvantage. “We seamlessly integrated our programs in 2015, and we’re excited about the opportunities that the program will offer our customers in the years to come.”

Earning Award Miles
In the second half of 2016, when traveling on flights marketed by American, members will begin earning award miles based on the price of the ticket purchased (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees) and that member’s elite status level.

AAdvantage members will receive five miles for every U.S. dollar spent on the base fare and carrier-imposed fees. Gold members will receive seven miles, Platinum members will receive eight and Executive Platinum members will receive 11 miles per dollar spent.

Award miles for travel on most flights marketed by partner airlines will be based on a percentage of the flight distance and the booking code purchased. More details will be announced in 2016.

Until the new award mile earning structure takes effect, members will still earn award miles based on the distance flown. American is extending its bonus miles promotion that allows members to earn even more on purchased First or Business class tickets. More information can be found at aa.com/moremiles.

Award Redemption Levels
In March 2016, some award redemption levels will be reduced by as much as 40 percent, and AAdvantage members will continue to book award travel on any day of the year without any blackout dates. For tickets booked on or after March 22, award redemption levels to popular destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America will be reduced, and MileSAAver awards for flights 500 miles or less in the U.S. and Canada will be redeemable for as low as 7,500 miles one way (plus any applicable taxes and carrier-imposed fees). Award redemption levels on other routes, such as some flights to Europe and Asia will increase due to changes to market pricing and demand.

“A significant percentage of our flights are less than 500 miles, so offering a lower MileSAAver option only makes sense for our customers,” said Rubin. “Other routes will be adjusted to match increased customer demand, including routes that feature our world-class A321T and 777-300ER aircraft.”

AAdvantage Elite Qualification
Beginning January 2016, the AAdvantage program will offer two simple ways to qualify for elite status – Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) or Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) at the same thresholds as today. Elite-qualifying points will be discontinued. Members will earn more EQMs for purchasing higher fares, and EQSs will still be awarded for each eligible flight segment flown. American will offer the most generous multipliers in the industry.

The rates at which members earn EQMs on eligible partner airlines can be found on aa.com.

Beginning with the 2017 membership year, elite status will be valid through January 31 of the following year.

Upgrade Programs
The AAdvantage program provides complimentary, auto-requested upgrades for all elite members on domestic flights 500 miles or less, and AAdvantage Executive Platinum members receive complimentary, auto-requested upgrades on all domestic flights regardless of length.

With the higher EQM earn rates in 2016, beginning March 1, Gold and Platinum members will earn four 500-mile upgrades for every 12,500 EQMs earned during the membership year. The cost of a 500-mile upgrade will be 40 dollars when purchased online, at the airport or from an agent.

Beginning January 1, 2016, Executive Platinum members will receive four systemwide upgrades upon qualification for the 2017 membership year, with the opportunity to earn up to four more based on flight activity – two for every 50,000 EQMs earned above the 100,000 EQM threshold up to 200,000 EQMs.

The AAdvantage program was the first loyalty program in the industry, created in 1981. It has seen several changes over the decades and will continue to evolve to offer the best program for its members based on the access and rewards they desire most. As the initial phases roll out in 2016, American is committed to sharing its plans with customers as clearly and as soon as practicable. Additional details about the 2016 AAdvantage program are available at aa.com/aadvantage2016.

About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines. Together with regional partners operating as American Eagle, American offers an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. This year American Airlines Group Inc. topped Fortune Magazine’s list of best business turnarounds and its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

CHICAGO, – United today announced that it has reached an Agreement in Principle with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for a contract extension covering the airline’s more than 12,000 pilots more than a year ahead of the amendable date of the current contract. The agreement is subject to a ratification process which includes final documentation, review, and consideration by the ALPA Master Executive Council.

“The fact that we were able to reach this Agreement in Principle in fewer than 30 days is a direct result of the positive, collaborative relationship between ALPA leadership and United,” said Executive Vice President Human Resources and Labor Relations Mike Bonds. “We appreciate the hard work of the company and union negotiating teams in helping us reach an Agreement in Principle that will benefit pilots and United.”

United has joint collective bargaining agreements covering the majority of its represented employees and recently announced that it will open contract negotiations early for the airline’s ramp service and passenger service agents, storekeepers, load planners, maintenance and fleet technical instructors, and other groups represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The airline is also engaged in mediated negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants and recently announced an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to put a proposed joint collective bargaining agreement out for ratification by the company’s technicians and related employees.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 352 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

The Executive Boards of the Lufthansa Group and Lufthansa German Airlines will decide tomorrow (Monday 9 November) on the ramifications of present strike action by the UFO union of cabin personnel, which is without precedent in Lufthansa history. Lufthansa Group staff and the public will be informed of the decisions taken immediately thereafter, around 18:00 tomorrow evening.

Lufthansa today reiterated its willingness to resume discussions with the UFO union. The company last invited UFO to talks on Thursday 5 November, at which it presented the union with a modified offer in which, for the sake of its employees, it agreed to all the union’s demands.

In its modified offer of 5 November Lufthansa offered to compensate any employee ceasing gainful employment before reaching the statutory retirement age for the corresponding reduction in their state retirement pension – a pension provision unparalleled at any other company. Lufthansa also accommodated the union’s demands by making an alternative offer on the investment returns assumed for retirement pension funding purposes.

The present pension system at Lufthansa permits cabin personnel to retire voluntarily from flight duties from age 55 onwards. Anyone who does so will then receive up to 60 per cent of their last salary as a “transitional pension”. Under its offer to UFO, Lufthansa proposed to enhance the present transitional pension provisions by making these transitional pensions non-forfeitable: any employees choosing not to draw any parts of them could have the amounts involved credited to their retirement pensions – pensions which are already far higher on average than those at other DAX companies.

In a sample cabin crew career, this would have meant that a purser choosing to continue flying until the age of 65 would have increased their subsequent company retirement pension from the EUR 960 a month of today to EUR 3,210. So together with their state retirement pension, they would have enjoyed a total retirement pension amounting to 96 per cent of their final basic salary, or around EUR 4,800. Lufthansa’s offer to UFO also included the further option of having the undrawn transitional pension amount paid out in lump-sum form – a payment which could have totaled as much as EUR 380,000.

Lufthansa’s retirement and transitional pension provisions are already based on remuneration at the company that is well above the industry average. A full-time cabin crew member starting work at Lufthansa will earn an average of EUR 2,200, variable salary components included.

The cabin crew member’s salary rises rapidly in the first few years, with their basic remuneration automatically increased. Cabin crew members who joined the company on or after 1 January 2013 receive an average automatic salary increase of 3.2 per cent a year in their first ten years. And cabin crew members employed before 1 January 2013 receive an average automatic salary increase of as much as 4.8 per cent a year over the same period. And these figures do not include the improvements to the present remuneration tables that Lufthansa has also offered UFO in the course of the current negotiations.

As a result, a purser can earn over EUR 80,000 a year. And the average annual salary of a full-time Lufthansa cabin crew member amounts to EUR 50,000. As a consequence of this, and of the company’s current retirement and transitional pension provisions, Lufthansa’s gross personnel costs are almost twice as high as those of any of its German-based competitors.

A full-time Lufthansa cabin crew member will fly a maximum of 87 hours a month. And anyone flying more than 70 hours in a particular month will also receive a so-called “Mehrflugstundenvergütung” or “high-flight-hours allowance”. The training for a Lufthansa cabin crew member lasts a little under three months.

CHICAGO, – United today announced that it has reached an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) to put a proposed joint collective bargaining agreement out for ratification. The proposed agreement will bring together the airline’s more than 8,600 technicians and related employees under a single contract.

United and the union worked with the assistance of the National Mediation Board to reach the agreement.

“Investing in our people is key to United’s long-term success, so I’m encouraged that we have reached this agreement with such an important part of our workforce,” said United acting Chief Executive Officer Brett Hart. “Our customers care most about taking off and landing on time, and doing so safely, and the unsurpassed efforts of our professional technicians and related employees help make this possible every day. We appreciate the efforts of the negotiating committee as well as the assistance of the National Mediation Board in helping us reach this agreement.”

United has joint collective bargaining agreements covering the majority of its represented employees, including pilots, dispatchers, fleet service, passenger service, reservations and storekeeper workgroups. The company is engaged in mediated negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and recently entered into discussions with its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, to consider an extension of their current collective agreement.

The proposed agreement is subject to ratification and covers mechanics and related employees located throughout the United States.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 352 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

CHICAGO,- United Airlines is unveiling new premium-cabin and United Economy meal and snack options this fall, offering more customers delicious new chef-inspired dishes on flights throughout North and Latin America.

In collaboration with chefs affiliated with The Trotter Project, United will:
•Add savory new choices to its United BusinessFirst menu on the airline’s p.s. Premium Service, including roasted duck and flat-iron steak;
•Offer a variety of new premium-cabin selections, including a salad with grilled salmon for lunch, on flights in other North America markets; and
•Introduce new fresh selections in United Economy, including a bistro bowl with braised beef, vegetables and steamed rice on the airline’s Choice Menu Bistro on Board for United Economy customers on flights departing North America.

New York/Newark-San Francisco and Los Angeles

On Oct. 25, with the beginning of p.s. premium transcontinental service to Newark Liberty International Airport, p.s. flights will begin offering new premium-cabin lunch and dinner selections.

After starting with new appetizers like roasted duck with stone-ground mustard and fig, peppered goat cheese with pumpernickel bread, customers may dine on new salads, such as butternut squash with haricots verts, pumpkin seeds, bleu cheese, cranberries and pickled onions or granny smith apple with shaved fennel and beets.

New entrees will include a flat-iron steak with grilled broccolini, gigande beans and red chimichurri; duck confit ravioli, mushroom ragout, semi-dried tomatoes and sauteed asparagus; and lamb shoulder with sauteed gnocchi, eggplant confit and lamb jus.

United will continue to offer its p.s. made-to-order sundaes for dessert, followed by bake-on-board cookies prior to arrival.

North America Premium-Cabin

Beginning Nov. 1, the airline will refresh lunch and dinner choices for United First and United Business customers on flights throughout the U.S. and Canada, and to Mexico, Caribbean and Latin America leisure markets.

United-operated flights that currently offer meal service will add new dishes, like Spanish paella, mushroom risotto and seafood cioppino on shorter dinner flights.

The carrier will also expand meals to:
•Lunch flights longer than three hours, departing between 1:30 and 3:59 p.m., which will offer options that include seasonal entree salads like a Napa salad with grilled salmon, goat cheese and fig and an arugula salad with Milanese-style chicken; and
•Late-night flights between Hawaii and Houston, Chicago, New York/Newark and Washington, which will offer full dinner service with entrees, such as hoisin short ribs with wasabi grits and stir-fried vegetables.

Late-night non-p.s. transcontinental flights and service between Hawaii and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver, as well as other late-departing flights of at least five hours and 20 minutes, will offer hearty sandwiches after takeoff, such as a pretzel burger with bleu cheese dressing, arugula and pickled onions, followed by warmed pastries before arrival.

United will continue to provide premium-cabin customers prosecco sparkling wine and – on lunch and dinner flights – the airline’s signature warm nuts and a variety of desserts, including ice cream, sorbet and bake-on-board cookies.

United Express two-cabin regional jet service will also offer new premium-cabin lunch, dinner and snacks and expanded lunch meal service to flights longer than three hours.

United Economy Dining

In addition, United Economy customers can savor new items beginning Nov. 1, when the airline refreshes its Choice Menu Bistro on Board fresh food for purchase in United Economy on most flights within North America, to Central America and northern South America and between Honolulu and Guam, departing before 8 p.m. and scheduled longer than three-and-a-half hours.

Menu selections will include a Southwestern bistro scramble for breakfast and, for lunch and dinner, a rustic Italian sandwich and a French country-style bowl with slow-cooked beef, roasted carrots, onions, parsnips and steamed white rice.

“Our new dishes and expanded service are the latest steps in our drive to offer restaurant-quality choices to more of our customers,” said Jimmy Samartzis, United’s vice president of food services and United Clubs. “We continue to upgrade our meals with new bold flavors and seasonal ingredients to create a more enjoyable experience for travelers in flight and in airports we serve worldwide.”

For photos of new menu options, visit http://newsroom.united.com/Fall_Food_Changes.

Additional Dining Investments

United’s coming in-flight dining upgrades are part of the airline’s ongoing investment in its customers’ travel experience. This fall, the airline will also:
•Refresh beginning Nov. 1 its Bistro on Board menu available on most flights departing before 8 p.m. from the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Colombia or Ecuador; and
•Introduce new dishes in December for United Business customers on flights from more than a dozen Latin America and Caribbean business markets.

Meanwhile, this month the airline launched an all-new, seasonal menu at United Club locations at the carrier’s mainland U.S. hubs. The complimentary menu includes fresh zucchini, yellow squash and cherry tomatoes as well as hearty corn chowder and Tuscan-style white bean and chicken soup. Guests will also be able to select from a variety of salads, including a Texas caviar bean salad and kale and spinach salads.

United will complete the roll out of new fresh and healthy menus at United Club locations worldwide and plans to rotate club menu selections seasonally to consistently offer customers new options.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 362 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. More than 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

LONDON, – Boeing [NYSE:BA] introduced today a digital records management capability to its Maintenance Performance Toolbox suite of products that will optimize maintenance operations and reduce costs for airlines.

The Maintenance Performance Toolbox Records module provides an industry standard platform to manage scanned and digitally produced maintenance and flight records.

The new tool eliminates the operational challenge of managing cumbersome, paper-based maintenance records, working in tandem with other Maintenance Performance Toolbox application solutions to increase efficiencies related to both day-to-day airline maintenance operations and the management of leased airplanes.

“Automation of the maintenance record keeping process is a new and essential component of our Maintenance Performance Toolbox and we are pleased to provide airlines with the foundation for establishing more efficient maintenance operations,” said Per Norén, vice president, Digital Solutions, Boeing Digital Aviation – a business unit of Commercial Aviation Services. “Our new records solution lowers costs related to daily records and the end of lease management, as well as eliminating redundant processes and reducing delays in aircraft maintenance processes. This new system truly allows airlines to unlock the potential of fleet-wide digital records management.”

The Records module creates intelligent digital maintenance documents, featuring dynamic records search capabilities. The record-keeping tool improves airline maintenance workflow capabilities and ties into maintenance planning solutions, establishing systems that work in concert to further enhance the automation of processes and overall efficiency.

Simple access to the Records module provided through the Boeing Maintenance Performance Toolbox application offers an operational advantage for airlines seeking integrated solutions for all their technical documentation management needs. This includes more than 160 customers that currently use the Maintenance Performance Toolbox suite. Boeing also offers access to records management capabilities for non-Toolbox customers through subsidiary AerData’s STREAM digital aircraft records application.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) today welcomed the Dutch Safety Board’s final report on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed on 17 July 2014 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.

Known as an “accident investigation Final Report,” the document summarizes findings and provides recommendations on the technical investigation conducted under the international requirements established by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention.

It concluded that the Boeing was “shot down over the eastern part of Ukraine, where an armed conflict broke out in April 2014,” killing all 298 people on board.

“ICAO and its Member States responded rapidly in the aftermath of MH17 to address some important immediate concerns,” said ICAO’s Council President, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, in a press release.

“Now that the Dutch Safety Board has issued its Final Report, ICAO will be reviewing its recommendations applicable to our Organization and responding as needed to ensure that air transport continues to be the safest way to travel,” he continued, noting that investigations under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention are “directly related to improving flight safety, and not to the apportioning of liability or blame.”

The press release also highlighted that in the weeks immediately following the MH17 “tragedy,” ICAO quickly established a special Task Force on risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones. The Task Force recommended that ICAO should establish an online repository where States could share their conflict zone information more effectively, and where the public could also access it. ICAO launched the new online tool in April of this year.

Additional Task Force recommendations included advice on risk assessment terminology, a comprehensive review of existing requirements and message formats, and industry led-initiatives to share operational information and be more transparent with passengers. ICAO has also reportedly begun work on agreed contingency flight routings for conflict zones under its regional air navigation planning groups.

Immediately after the accident, ICAO says its investigation specialists began assisting and providing technical Annex 13 consultations to the MH17 investigation, at the request of the States which instituted it. This reportedly included advice on the formal handover of investigation authority from Ukraine to the Netherlands.

“Any fatality is one too many in civil aviation,” stressed President Aliu. “Our sector is constantly improving its safety performance through a wide range of collaborative global measures relating to data sharing and the strategic prioritization of flight safety risks, and accident investigation Final Reports play a very valuable part in that process.”

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General also welcomed the release of the final report, noting that it is in line with Security Council resolution 2166 (2014), which demands accountability, full access to the site of the crash, and a halt to military activities.

“The United Nations has from the very beginning fully supported and shared in the determination of the international community to ‘seek the truth about what happened,’” said Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

The Secretary-General also once again paid tribute to the innocent victims who lost their lives on that “tragic day,” and said he shares in the need for full accountability, underlining that anyone found to be responsible must be brought to justice.

The Chicago Convention, which established ICAO, a specialized UN agency tasked with coordinating and regulating international air travel, sets rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and undertakes compliance audits, performs studies and analyses.

SAN FRANCISCO, – United Airlines, the U.S. airline with the most comprehensive route network and the most trans-Pacific service, will further expand its global reach with new nonstop service from San Francisco to:
•Tel Aviv, Israel, with service three times each week beginning March 30, 2016;
•Auckland, New Zealand, with service three times each week beginning July 1, 2016, expanding to daily service in October; and
•Xi’an, China, previously announced, three-times-weekly service beginning May 8, 2016, for the summer season.

Each new service is subject to government approval.

The airline intends to operate the new flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world’s most advanced passenger airplane.

The Tel Aviv and Xi’an flights will be available for booking on united.com on October 10, 2015, with the Auckland flights available for booking on October 17, 2015.

San Francisco-Tel Aviv: Linking High-Tech Markets

As part of United’s evaluation for serving San Francisco (SFO) to Tel Aviv (TLV) nonstop, the airline considered the opinions of thousands of customers who petitioned for the service through the SFOTLV.ORG petition effort.

“Providing corporate customers from throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley nonstop service to the high-tech market in Israel has been high on our priority list at United,” said Dave Hilfman, United’s senior vice president of worldwide sales. “Now with the 787-9 Dreamliner, we’re delighted to make it a reality.”

Flight times will be 14 hours, 10 minutes eastbound and 15 hours, 5 minutes westbound.

United has served Israel since 1999. The airline currently offers twice-daily Boeing 777 nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and New York/Newark.

San Francisco-Auckland

United’s three-times weekly service to Auckland (AKL), New Zealand’s largest city and main transportation hub to other points throughout the country, will launch July 1, 2016, with 787-8 aircraft. The schedule will expand to daily flights operating with 787-9 aircraft on Oct. 28, 2016, in time for the peak-winter travel season.

The Auckland flights will operate in partnership with United’s Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand.

Flight times will be 13 hours, 10 minutes westbound and 12 hours, 20 minutes eastbound.

United in San Francisco

From its San Francisco hub, United operates nearly 280 daily flights to more than 90 destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia/Pacific.

United’s 787 Fleet

United currently has 22 787 Dreamliners in its fleet and expects to take delivery of three more by the end of 2015.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 362 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. More than 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

CHICAGO, – United Airlines today applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to begin seasonal nonstop service between the airline’s San Francisco hub and Xi’an, China. If approved, this will be the first trans-Pacific service to Xi’an operated by any airline, and United will be the first U.S. airline to serve the city.

United intends to use the world’s most advanced passenger airplane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, to operate the three-times-weekly service between May 8 and Oct. 27, 2016 (westbound).

“We are excited by the prospect of adding the first trans-Pacific Xi’an service to United’s global route network,” said Jim Compton, United’s vice chairman and chief revenue officer. “Assuming our application is approved, United customers will have unique nonstop flights to one of China’s most vibrant cities, with fast and easy connections to destinations throughout the Americas from our San Francisco hub.”

United thanks DOT, the U.S. Department of State and the Civil Aviation Administration of China for their negotiations to open nonstop service from the United States to interior points in China. The airline also acknowledges the Provincial Government of Shaanxi and the past and present leadership of the government of Xi’an, the ancestral home of President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, for their forward-thinking air service development efforts.

Flight Schedule
The proposed flights, subject to government approval, will depart San Francisco International Airport at 1:25 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and arrive in Xi’an at 5:30 p.m. the following days (all times local). The return flights will depart Xi’an’s Xianyang International Airport at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive at San Francisco International Airport at 7:35 a.m. the same days. Flying times will be approximately 13 hours, 5 minutes westbound and 12 hours, 5 minutes eastbound.

The Xi’an-San Francisco flights will be available to book at a later date, pending approval.

About Xi’an
Xi’an is the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China, at the eastern end of the Silk Road. With a population of more than 8 million, it is one of China’s oldest cities and an important cultural, economic and educational center. The plains surrounding Xi’an are home to the famed Bingmayong (Terracotta Warriors), thousands of life-size, hand-molded figures buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner
The 787 Dreamliner is revolutionizing the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. Customers experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features. The aircraft’s use of lightweight composites, together with its modern engines and improved aerodynamic design, allow it to fly farther, faster and more efficiently than similar-sized conventional aircraft.

United currently has 19 787 Dreamliners in its fleet and expects to take delivery of six more by the end of 2015.

United in China
United operates more nonstop U.S.-China flights, and to more cities in China, than any other airline.

The airline began nonstop service to the country in 1986 and today serves Beijing with nonstop flights from Chicago, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington/Dulles; Shanghai with nonstop flights from Chicago, Guam, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and San Francisco; Chengdu with nonstop flights from San Francisco; and Hong Kong with nonstop flights from Chicago, Guam, Ho Chi Minh City, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Singapore.

United is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest and most comprehensive airline alliance, whose other members include Air China. United and Air China have a bilateral partnership that includes code-sharing on selected routes and provides customers with additional travel benefits such as airport lounge access and frequent flyer program reciprocity.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 362 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. More than 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Fairfield, CT – GE Aviation will create a turboprop engine development, test and production operation in Europe. This will represent an investment exceeding $400 million and ultimately support 500 – 1,000 jobs.

The turboprop industry is highly global and comprised of many small aircraft operators. Among the factors driving GE Aviation to pursue the new operation in Europe is the need to support these and other international customers with financing through government-sponsored Export Credit Agencies (ECAs).

GE is currently bidding on $11 billion of projects that require export financing. The U.S. remains the only major economy in the world without an Export Bank. Since the U.S. Export Import Bank (Ex-Im) authorization expired July 1, GE has commenced talks with several foreign ECAs to secure financing for its customers.

GE Aviation will continue to expand its operations into countries where critical Export Credit Agency financing is available for its global customers. As with the U.S. Ex-Im Bank, many ECA countries have requirements that production and jobs must be invested in-country to qualify for financing.

For example, in Canada, GE Aviation has designated its Bromont facility as the Global Robotics Center of Excellence and will build out this facility’s capabilities with additional investments in automation and advanced manufacturing technologies. Also in Canada, GE will expand its engine testing capability at its facility in Winnipeg, with $23 million in investments. This includes enhancing its wind tunnel and test stands to support development testing for GE’s new large commercial engine, the GE9X.

Additionally, in Brazil, GE Aviation will invest $55M to expand capability by building a new engine test facility at its Celma location, supporting growth in assembly and overhaul of its commercial engines in airline service.

“Right now, across the entire company, GE has $11 billion in sales opportunities in the pipeline requiring ECA financing,” says David Joyce, President and CEO, GE Aviation. “The uncertainty around the Ex-Im Bank in the U.S. requires that companies like GE create alternatives in order to compete internationally.”

About GE Aviation’s turboprop business
With this move, GE Aviation is combining the valuable expertise in its turboprop facility in the Czech Republic, along with ground-breaking technologies in its military and commercial jet engines, to pursue new turboprop engines in the 1000 to 1300 shaft horsepower (shp) range and in the 1500 to 2000 shp range.

In addition, GE research continues on a new 5,000 shp turboprop engine for the regional market that will leverage GE’s new GE38 turboshaft military helicopter engine (for the U.S. Marines’ CH53-K heavy lift helicopter), as well as technologies across GE’s broad military and commercial jet engine portfolio.

GE Aviation has the largest development engine portfolio in the jet propulsion industry and invests more than $1 billion annually in research and development.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) imagines things others don’t, builds things others can’t and delivers outcomes that make the world work better. GE brings together the physical and digital worlds in ways no other company can. In its labs and factories and on the ground with customers, GE is inventing the next industrial era to move, power, build and cure the world. www.ge.com

About GE Aviation
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet, turboprop and turboshaft engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation. Follow GE Aviation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAviation and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/GEAviation. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gebga.

New Delhi, – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay will convene a summit on aerospace innovation in New Delhi on Oct. 16, 2015.

Bringing together thought leaders and stakeholders from government, industry, academia and research institutions, the summit will focus on India’s role in the second century of aerospace by exploring ideas that are redefining the future of aerospace and examining the transformative nature of new technologies in space and aviation.

The event is part of a special series of forums and celebrations Boeing is organizing around the world as it approaches its centennial in 2016. The Boeing story began in 1916 after Bill Boeing flew in a barnstormer’s floatplane over Lake Washington, later remarking, “I think we can build a better one.”

“As we look to our second century in business, it is clear that India has the talent, technology and entrepreneurial resources to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the aerospace industry,” said Boeing Chairman Jim McNerney, who will participate in the summit. “Boeing is working with local companies to help strengthen all aspects of the Indian aerospace industry, including manufacturing, sourcing, engineering, and research and development.”

Government, industry and academia, added McNerney, play a central role in spurring innovation while helping to shape economic and business environments around the world.

Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India, said that with India’s aerospace sector ready to take off, New Delhi provides the perfect place to exchange ideas such as India’s disruptive technological innovation; how to create an aerospace environment to realize the full potential of “Make in India;” how space exploration will continue to change life on Earth; and, finally, what it takes to create a highly skilled aerospace manufacturing workforce.

“We are thrilled to convene this summit in India to accelerate the development of the aerospace sector, which is critical for meeting objectives of the ‘Make in India’ program and harnessing India’s full potential for aerospace and defense,” said Kumar.

Additional details, including speakers, topics and logistics, will be announced next month.

About The Boeing Company
Boeing is the world’s leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners, military aircraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. Boeing has a 100-year tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation, and continues to expand its product line and services to meet emerging customer needs. A committed partner – contributing to India’s commercial air connectivity and defense modernization – Boeing is accelerating its engagement with India and catalyzing the development of its aerospace ecosystem. Further collaboration in manufacturing, innovation and skill-development will ensure solid growth in India, as Boeing accomplishes its century in aerospace innovation. For more information, visit http://www.boeing.co.in/.

Dublin: Avolon (NYSE: AVOL), the international aircraft leasing company, announces that today it has entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) to be acquired by Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000415) (“Bohai”) at a price of US$31 cash per common share (the “Transaction”).

Under the terms of the Transaction, which has been unanimously approved by Avolon’s Board of Directors, all Avolon shareholders will receive US$31 in cash for each Avolon common share they hold, in a transaction with a total enterprise value of approximately US$7.6 billion. US$31 per share represents a 31% premium to Avolon’s undisturbed closing price on July 13, 2015 of US$23.73 per share, the closing price prior to the announcement of Bohai’s initial intention to acquire a 20% stake in Avolon. US$31 per share also represents a 55% premium to Avolon’s initial public offering at US$20 per share in December 2014.

The agreed price in the Merger Agreement of US$31 per share, as against an indicative offer price of US$32 per share described in Avolon’s press release dated August 10, 2015, reflects significant volatility across global equity markets.

To provide greater certainty of value and reflecting its commitment to the Transaction, Bohai will increase its deposit by US$100 million to a total of US$350 million. Bohai has already paid a deposit of US$75 million. A further US$200 million will be paid on September 4, 2015 and the final US$75 million will be paid by September 15, 2015. The total US$350 million deposit represents approximately US$4.25 per Avolon common share and is payable to Avolon in certain circumstances if the Transaction is not consummated.

The Transaction is subject to customary conditions including receipt of certain required regulatory approvals and the approval of Avolon and Bohai’s shareholders. To facilitate the approval process, affiliates of CVC Capital, Cinven, Oak Hill Capital, GIC and their respective syndicate investors have agreed to vote their shares in favour of the Transaction at the shareholder meeting to be held to approve the transaction and HNA Group, Bohai’s largest shareholder, has agreed to vote its shareholding in Bohai in favour of the Transaction. The Transaction is not subject to any conditions related to financing or Chinese capital control approvals. The purchase price is guaranteed by HNA
Group.

The Transaction is expected to close by the first quarter of 2016.

Denis Nayden, Avolon’s Chairman, commented:
“Avolon is an established leader in the global aircraft leasing industry and we are pleased to announce this agreement with Bohai. Avolon has delivered significant returns for all shareholders and we believe Bohai are the right shareholder for the Avolon business in the next stage of growth. We believe Bohai will enhance Avolon’s profile, positioning and relationships in the Chinese aviation market – a market which we believe offers one of the most compelling growth opportunities in global aviation over the next two decades.”

Dómhnal Slattery, Avolon’s CEO, commented:
“I would like to thank all of our shareholders and, in particular, our sponsors who have been with us on this journey since our foundation in 2010. Avolon would not be the leading industry player it is today without the commitment and hard work of our team who have built a business with an enterprise value of $7.6 billion. It is a remarkable achievement and one of which we are all very proud. We look forward to the strategic development of Avolon under Bohai’s leadership.”

Chris Jin, CEO of Bohai, commented:
“Avolon is a leader in the aircraft leasing industry with a proven team and platform. We are delighted to announce this agreement to acquire the business. Our vision at Bohai is to build each of our transportation finance businesses into global leaders. Avolon has delivered remarkable growth over the past 5 years to become a leading industry franchise with a distinct business model, and the company is a strong complement to our existing investment in the aircraft leasing sector.”

Hal Hayward, Managing Director of Bravia Capital, commented:
“We are pleased to have been able to increase the stake that Bohai previously contracted to acquire to a full buyout of the company. Under Bohai ownership, Avolon will gain increased access to the fast growing Chinese market, strong support for continued growth worldwide and clear competitive advantages that come with additional size, scale and diversity.”

About Avolon Holdings Limited
Avolon is an international aircraft leasing company, headquartered in Ireland, with regional offices in China, Dubai, Singapore and the United States. Avolon provides aircraft leasing and lease management services. At June 30, 2015, Avolon had an owned, managed and committed fleet of 260 aircraft serving 56 customers in 33 countries. See: www.avolon.aero

About Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd.
Bohai Leasing is a Chinese public company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and is the only listed leasing company in China. Bohai owns a portfolio of world class equipment and transportation asset leasing companies and is a majority controlled subsidiary of the HNA Group of PRC (“HNA”). For more information, please visit Bohai’s website: www.bohaileasing.com/en/

CHICAGO, — United Airlines is continuing the expansion of its “United Private Screening” in-flight entertainment with the launch of free personal device entertainment on two-cabin United Express regional jets; expanded HBO programming; and exclusively curated content from Vevo, the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform.

United currently has one of the largest offerings of free streaming entertainment – already on more than 200 United aircraft – with scores of television shows and movies available for streaming directly to travelers’ laptop computers and iOS and Android mobile devices.

Customers on flights with personal device entertainment may enjoy popular films like “Birdman,” “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and the “Taken” trilogy, as well as kid-friendly favorites such as “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” and “The LEGO Movie.” Hours of popular television shows are also available and may include HBO’s “Veep” and “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” as well as “Mad Men,” “Orange is the New Black” and other hit shows.

“Whether they travel for business or pleasure, we’re designing United Private Screening to ensure our customers have access to content that is entertaining, interesting, wide-ranging and relaxing,” said Scott Wilson, United’s vice president of merchandising and eCommerce. “Our ongoing expansion of personal device entertainment and the additional HBO and Vevo content provide our customers more in-flight entertainment choices than ever before.”

Regional Jet Entertainment and Onboard Experience
United has begun rolling out personal device entertainment on its fleet of more than 120 Wi-Fi-equipped E170, E175 and CRJ700 regional jets, with more than half of these aircraft now offering free streaming entertainment. The airline plans to offer the service on all Wi-Fi-equipped regional jets by the end of next week.

The launch of personal device entertainment on regional jets follows United’s introduction this year of an all-new premium-cabin experience on United Express, featuring freshly prepared meals served on chinaware on regional jet flights of at least 800 miles.

Expanded HBO Content
Additionally, the airline has expanded HBO content on aircraft that offer personal device entertainment as well as on those with seatback on-demand entertainment. Available HBO entertainment includes full seasons of popular television shows such as “Entourage,” “Game of Thrones” and “True Detective.”

Videos and Concert Entertainment from Vevo
United has also joined with Vevo to offer hundreds of music videos and concert performances for customers to view at no charge on United aircraft offering personal device entertainment. Vevo content is also available through seatback on-demand entertainment.

Tribeca Film Festival
Meanwhile, United is in its second year as the official airline of the Tribeca Film Festival. Flights with live television, seatback on-demand entertainment and personal device entertainment offer unique in-flight content curated by Tribeca, including independent feature narratives and documentaries as well as short films.

Tablet Rentals
This summer, United also launched a pilot program offering tablets for rent on Boeing 777 flights between the continental United States and Honolulu and between Honolulu and Guam. The 8.4-inch tablets contain stored entertainment, including television shows, movies and games.

In-flight Entertainment Availability
United aircraft offer several in-flight entertainment options, with Wi-Fi also available on 85 percent of mainline aircraft and regional jets receiving the technology. In addition:
•United plans to install personal device entertainment on more than 650 mainline and regional aircraft, including its intercontinental fleet;
•The airline operates more than 200 intercontinental and p.s. Premium Service aircraft with seatback on-demand entertainment; and
•Another 227 mainline aircraft offer live television, more than any other airline in the world.

Customers may learn before departure which entertainment option will be available by checking their flight status at united.com or via the United mobile app.

Customer Experience Investment
United’s in-flight entertainment is part of the company’s investment in every aspect of its customers’ travel experience. Along with improvements to United Private Screening, the company has:
•Revamped many of its largest airport terminals – including in Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, San Francisco, Boston and London – to provide travelers an improved experience from the curb to the departure gate, with new and clearer signs, new restaurants and modern gate areas with power outlets throughout;
•Debuted an all-new complimentary food menu for United Clubs, with customers currently enjoying the new fresh and healthy options at nearly two dozen United Clubs at the airline’s continental U.S. hubs, and plans to expand the menu to other locations worldwide;
•Partnered with Cowshed Spa, the premium spa and lifestyle brand of London-based Soho House & Co., to bring its products onboard premium cabins on intercontinental flights and to more than a dozen United airport lounges worldwide;
•Launched significantly upgraded food and beverage service – including multi-course meals, complimentary beer and wine and a new option to purchase premium snacks – for customers in United Economy on many intercontinental flights; and
•Introduced new fresh-food menu items for sale in United Economy through the airline’s Choice Menu Bistro on Board, including dishes developed in collaboration with The Trotter Project.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of nearly 5,000 flights a day to 362 airports across six continents. In 2014, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 138 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 34 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 and the 737-900ER. United is also welcoming 49 new Embraer E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. More than 84,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

Rockville, Md., – As Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) take to the skies, it is essential for safety that UAS operators and pilots are aware of each other. To help provide this shared situational awareness, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has deployed the first components of a UAS traffic management (UTM) system that is available to the UAS community now.

Lockheed Martin’s online Flight Service Pilot Web feeds flight plan information directly to the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System (NAS) today. UAS operators now have an option of reporting operating areas via this system. UAS operators and pilots may access the system through the Lockheed Martin Flight Service Pilot Portal.

“Our objective is an open, standards-based system that individual operators and other private UTM systems can use to interact seamlessly and securely with the NAS,” said Paul Engola, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Transportation and Financial Solutions business. “We look forward to partnering with UAS operators and manufacturers to help create a system that supports the safe coexistence of manned and unmanned flight.”

Lockheed Martin is developing additional UTM capabilities in collaboration with several industry stakeholders including the NASA UTM research project through a Space Act information sharing agreement. These capabilities include standards-based software interfaces that allow UAS ground control stations and other UTM platforms to interact directly with Lockheed Martin’s UTM system; monitoring of UAS to determine if they remain in their intended operating area; and notification of air traffic control when UAS encroach on controlled airspace. Lockheed Martin is also developing capabilities to support beyond line-of-sight UAS operations through ground-based detect and avoid capabilities.

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About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were $45.6 billion.