The 53rd International Paris Airshow is being held at Le Bourget Airport on the outskirts of Paris this week. The show is one of the oldest and largest aviation air shows in the world.

On display will be the newest technologies of the aerospace industry and related equipment, such as aircraft engines, satellite navigation technology, aircraft cabins and seats and weapon systems.

Around 150 military and civil aircraft will be presented at the trade show which last for five days, including a number of flying displays in the afternoon.

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive B2B meeting program. In 2017 around 2380 exhibitors were at the show from 48 countries.

The show is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors.

Hot topics for this year’s show include Boeing’s response to the grounding of its 373 Max programme following two fatal crashes.

The European plane-maker Airbus has kicked off the 2019 International Paris Air Show with the launch of a long-range, single-aisle airliner and an announcement that they have agreed to sell 100 planes to the U.S. plane lessor Air Lease Corporation.

The Los Angeles based aircraft leasing company, has agreed 27 firm orders of the new Airbus A321XLR, 23 Airbus A321neos and 50 A220-300s.

Air Lease Corporation, founded from scratch in 2010, now has 387 Airbus aircraft and is the European plane maker’s third largest leasing customer.

At the same conference, Airbus unveiled details of its A321XLR – the latest evolution of the company’s hugely successful A320 series.

At a press conference Monday, Airbus claimed the plane now boasted the longest single-aisle plane range in the world at 4,700 nautical miles. The plane can take 244 passengers but on a long-range trip, the number of seats would reduce to about 200.

Airbus said the routes would now open up to operators who had an interest in flying routes such as India to Europe or China to Australia.

The chief commercial officer for Airbus, Christian Scherer, said the new plane would come with a newly designed fuel tank that could carry nearly as much fuel as a bigger twin-aisle plane.

No catalog price was offered for the plane but Scherer added that it had a “health commercial premium” over earlier versions.

The latest version of the XLR is entering an area of the market that the industry expected rival Boeing to address with the announcement of the NMA (New Midsize Aircraft), known alternatively as the 797.

Earlier Monday, Boeing poured cold water on any new plane announcement of its own but said it could “continue to work on the business case of the NMA.”

A transportation company is betting its sleek new hydrogen-powered electric flying vehicles will someday serve as taxis, cargo carriers and ambulances of the sky, but experts say they will have to clear a number of regulatory hurdles before being approved for takeoff years in the future.

With six rotors on the roof and seats inside for five people, a passenger model of the Skai (pronounced “sky”) unveiled Wednesday near Los Angeles resembles an oversized drone crossed with a luxury SUV.

Like a drone, the vehicle from Alaka’i Technologies takes off and lands vertically. It’s one of many similar electric flying crafts in production, including prototypes from Boeing and Airbus that made successful test flights this year, according to Vertical Flight Society, an industry group.

Most are powered by batteries, which can add a lot of weight. The Skai instead uses very light hydrogen fuel cells to run its rotors, giving it a range of 400 miles and the capacity to carry 1,000 pounds in people or freight, the company says.

“We just couldn’t get to the point where we could have enough batteries to get to the payload that we knew we needed,” CEO Stephan Hanvey said of the choice to switch to hydrogen power.

Alaka’i says it’s planning a test flight near its Massachusetts headquarters.

It would be flown by an on-board pilot using a pair of joysticks, but the technology exists to eventually fly it remotely and even autonomously, Hanvey said.

Dronelike vehicles such as the Skai must first simply prove their airworthiness, like any common plane, Lightfoot said. After that, getting commercial certification is another convoluted process, he said.

“The technology is interesting, but the regulatory road will be very long,” said Lightfoot, adding that the idea of allowing people to fly in a large aircraft without a pilot is “well outside the current regulatory regime.”

Amazon has overtaken Google and Apple to become the world’s most valuable brand at $315.5 billion, according to a ranking of global companies, up 52% on last year.

Apple comes second, valued at $309.5 billion, with Google in third place, at $309 billion, according to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand ranking 2019, compiled by WPP research agency.

Google and Apple had spent a combined 12 years at the top of the list, with Google taking the top spot in 2018.

Luxury brands are the list’s biggest movers, with the likes of Louis Vuitton and Chanel growing their brand value on the back of consumers’ increasing desire for experiential purchases.

The world’s most valuable brands 2019

1. Amazon $315.5 billion
2. Apple $309.5 billion
3. Google $309 billion
4. Microsoft $251.2 billion
5. Visa $177.9 billion
6. Facebook $159 billion
7. Alibaba $131.2 billion
8. Tencent $130.9 billion
9. McDonald’s $130.4 billion
10. AT&T $108.4 billion

A wedding ? Golden anniversary ? Graduation ? Party ? Or a corporate event ?

Whether you’re celebrating a major life milestone or launching a new product line, when it comes to event venues, nothing can compare to a luxury yacht.

Imagine, the sun is low on the horizon painting the clouds shades of purple, orange, and gold. As your guests gather on the yacht’s sundeck, a gentle sea breeze ruffles their clothing. Caterers circulate drinks as the band begins to play. And you make your grand entrance carried in from shore aboard the yacht’s tender.

Hosting your party on a yacht adds a layer of glamor that will blow your guests away. And you might be surprised to learn that you can charter a private yacht for as little as a day or even half a day for your special occasion.

Illusthrone tailor-made hospitality’s travel team dedicated to making yacht charters more accessible and affordable, will work with you to find the perfect ship and location to ensure your big day makes an impression your guests won’t soon forget.

6 reasons a yacht makes the best event venue

• The Scenery – Yacht charters are available the world over, so the backdrop for your event could be the emerald seas and amazing nature of Turkey, whitewashed villages of Greece, the sugar-white beaches and coconut palms of Key West, the beautiful Bosphorus of Istanbul, or the towering cliffs and grand hotels of Monte Carlo. Close to home or in a far off locale, Illusthrone will help you find the perfect destination.
• Ultra-luxury accommodations – No need for a separate hotel. You and your family can relax and enjoy the luxury cabins onboard your yacht. Picture yourself waking the morning of your event in the yacht’s grand stateroom. The crew serves you breakfast on the sundeck and you can enjoy a refreshing swim or run on the beach before you set about the day’s tasks. Then, when the festivities are all said and done, you can once again retreat to the quiet sanctum of your private quarters.
• VIP service – Yacht crews are chosen for being highly personable, discreet and well-trained. They adapt to your desired style of service, whether that is more formal and refined or a more relaxed family atmosphere. They will work with you on logistics, safety, decorations, and catering.
• Privacy – Unlike with a hotel, on a yacht you have complete privacy from the outside world, and with it, an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends without distractions.
• The activities – Giant inflatable water slides, climbing walls, scuba gear, jet skis, paddle boards… when it comes to sheer fun, nothing can compete with the toys available aboard a superyacht. How about a day of playing on the water before a more formal evening gathering ?
• It floats – While elaborate yacht parties are held in port (for logistical and safety reasons), you don’t have to remain tethered to the shore ! Consider treating yourself and your honored guests to a luxury cruise either before or after the main event.

Yacht day charters can be anything you want them to be, from an intimate gathering of friends, to a huge destination theme party. Perfect for weddings, anniversaries, product launches, employee rewards, bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras, or any other moment in time worth celebrating. Illusthrone tailor-made hospitality is here to help you have the time of your life and create memories beyond compare.

Uber Technologies Inc., subject of physical and legal battles with Turkish cab drivers and authorities, has stopped providing its luxury UberXL service to clients in Istanbul.

“We had to make a very tough decision and halt UberXL operations in Istanbul as of May 31” Uber said in a statement. The company will continue traditional yellow and turquoise cab services, it said. Uber is “committed to Turkey” and would like to work with the government to maintain long-term business operations in the country, it said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has frequently spoken against Uber, saying the company’s services are illegal. On May 24, he told cab drivers and owners in Istanbul that Uber vehicles are akin to pirate cabs. “The Uber issue for the Turkish Republic government is over,” Anadolu Agency cited him as saying.

The company’s decision comes ahead of the June 23 repeat elections for Istanbul Greater Municipality after the opposition’s narrow victory in the March 31 local elections was voided.

Turkish taxi drivers and medallion owners have been protesting Uber, asking the government to ban the company. Uber drivers have frequently faced attacks by yellow cab drivers since the company started operations in Turkey’s commercial capital in 2014.

But, for the ones who use Uber XL or need more luxury service for Istanbul Airport transfers and daily / hourly chauffeured car (limo) and unsatisfied with taxi service in Istanbul because of the trust issue, security matter, get cheated, unprofessional driver and bad conditioned vehicle problems; Illusthrone provides all clear and professional limo service with its luxury vans and takes you away from bad surprises.