Air transport

IATA AGM: Icelandair and Turkish Airlines sign a codeshare agreement

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:30:56 +0000

Icelandair passengers in North America and Iceland can connect eastbound via Turkish Airlines’ network to Istanbul; and Turkish Airlines worldwide passengers such as Asia or the Middle East will be able to connect westbound via Icelandair’s network to Iceland and Canada.

The agreement was signed at IATA’s AGM in Istanbul earlier today. It greatly increases both Airlines’ offerings for convenient connections where customers can travel with a single ticket that their luggage can be checked through all the way to the final destination.

Turkish Airlines CEO, Bilal Ekşi said: “We are happy to sign this codeshare agreement with Icelandair. With this agreement we aim to enhance the travel options offered to our passengers through our networks. We are also so pleased to know that this partnership with Icelandair will bring a remarkable benefit to both airlines from a commercial perspective.”

Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair CEO added: “We are thrilled to announce Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries in the world than any other, as our latest codeshare partner. Our strategy is to partner with airlines that focus on like-minded customer service and open new and exciting opportunities for our customers. With the new agreement, the two airlines’ networks will be better connected, greatly increasing possible flight connections for our customers.”

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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Icelandair and Turkish Airlines have signed a codeshare agreement.

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IATA AGM: Yvonne Manzi Makolo chairs IATA Board of Governors

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:24:41 +0000

This became effective from the conclusion of the 79th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Istanbul, today.

Makolo is the 81st chair of the IATA BoG and the first woman to take on this role. She has served on the BoG since November 2020. She succeeds Pegasus Airlines Chairperson of the Board Mehmet Tevfik Nane who will continue to serve on the BoG.

“I am honoured and pleased to take on this important role. IATA plays a critical role for all airlines—big and small, various business models, and in all corners of the world. Leading a medium-sized airline in Africa gives me a unique perspective on issues that airlines hold in common. At the top of the agenda are decarbonisation, improving safety, the transformation to modern airline retailing, and ensuring we have cost-efficient infrastructure. I am particularly pleased to be taking on this role as IATA launches Focus Africa with the aim of unifying the continent’s stakeholders so that together we can strengthen the contribution of aviation to Africa’s social and economic development,” said Makolo.

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo has assumed her duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) for a one-year term.

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IATA AGM: Schiphol and South Africa named and shamed in Walsh warning

aPeaford — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 09:20:58 +0000

That was the key concern announced by IATA director general Willie Walsh as he gave his annual report on the state of the industry at the association's AGM in Istanbul today.

Walsh selected South Africa, the Netherlands, and the EU for particular attention.

Pointing out that industry had “wafer thin” margins of just $2.25 per passenger – “the value retained by airlines for the average plane trip won’t even buy a subway ticket in NYC” – but this was at risk because of some actions by airports and government actions.

Describing Schiphol Airport as “the worst in the world”, Walsh said: “Schiphol has no shame. After a self-made operational disaster in 2022 the airport continues its three-year 37% charges hike—with 12% this year.

“In South Africa, airports want a 38% charges increase, only to be outdone by ATC demands for a 63% hike.

“And, back to Europe, airlines are paying for a €1.9 billion addition to the air traffic management cost base in 2022. You’d expect good performance. But delays were triple what was anticipated. And capacity and environment targets were missed,” Walsh said.

“With such bad behavior on open display, calls for lighter touch economic regulation of our monopoly suppliers must not be taken seriously by any government,” Walsh said. “Considering these many challenges, that airlines are turning a profit at the industry level is truly impressive.”

Walsh said the financial performances are improving.

“Airline financial performance in 2023 is beating expectations. Stronger profitability is supported by several positive developments. China lifted COVID-19 restrictions earlier in the year than anticipated. Cargo revenues remain above pre-pandemic levels even though volumes have not. And, on the cost side, there is some relief. Jet fuel prices, although still high, have moderated over the first half of the year,” he said.

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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Although airlines are currently moving toward a profitable, safe, efficient and sustainable future after the rigours of the pandemic years, the industry is being hit by governments and airports who are taking unilateral decisions that threaten the financial recovery of the air transport industry.

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Airlink partners with Lufthansa Systems

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 08:10:05 +0000

Airlink opted for Lufthansa Systems’ flight operations products Lido Flight 4D, Lido mPilot and Lido Airport Obstacle Data Service (AODS).

With Lido Flight 4D, a highly effective, interactive flight planning solution, Airlink will optimise its routes by taking current flight-related data into account, such as fuel consumption, costs and flying time. Lido Flight 4D enables individual optimisation of flight phases and offers a range of automation options. The solution is equipped with advanced features including real-time data updates, weather data integration, and fuel price updates, providing accurate and up-to-date flight plans.

The pilot solution Lido mPilot will enable Airlink to increase the safety and efficiency of their pilots’ operations. Lido’s all-in-one charting application offers easy access to terminal charts, a dynamically generated enroute map, an Airport Moving Map, as well as all required operational documents. The charts are generated electronically by using a worldwide geographic information database as well as all necessary aeronautical source data, making them precise and of high quality.

With Lufthansa Systems’ data solution Lido AODS, Airlink’s pilots can optimise their take-offs and landings on the electronic flight bag (EFB). Since Lido AODS provides the pilots with all required current information about the runway and airport, they can ensure that the planned runway is suitable for the aircraft type and current load. This is particularly important in the event of an engine failure, when the pilot must decide if it is safe to land. By analysing data from certified resources worldwide, Lido AODS ensures the accuracy of its data.

“We are delighted to partner with Lufthansa Systems,” said Captain Tammy King, executive manager of operations at Airlink.

“The additional features prioritise safety during take-offs and landings whilst focussing on optimising the economic efficiency of every aspect of our flight routings. Lufthansa Systems’ Lido Solutions will provide us with state of art technology to further enhance Airlink’s operational processes and procedures.”

“We are pleased to welcome Airlink as a valued customer of our Lido Solutions. Through this partnership we not only gain a reliable partner, but also enter the South African market – a market with a lot of potential, that will open up great new opportunities for us,” added Marco Cesa, SVP Regional Management EMEA at Lufthansa Systems.

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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Lufthansa Systems has entered a new partnership with Airlink and its entry into a new market: Southern Africa.

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Virgin Atlantic launches services to Bengaluru and bolsters Dubai

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 08:01:01 +0000

Since 2019, Virgin Atlantic has increased capacity to India by 250%, the airline’s largest area of growth outside the United States. Launching in Summer 2024, the addition of this new route means the airline will offer 500,000 seats (total) each year between the UK and India, while its growing codeshare with IndiGo, India’s leading airline, flies to 34 destinations across the country. Bengaluru is a rapidly growing tech hub and one of the largest corporate markets in India, whilst intrepid travellers will enjoy the city’s rich culture and beautiful gardens. The new service will offer seamless connectivity and a premium long-haul experience for those customers connecting via London Heathrow to destinations throughout North America including Seattle, San Francisco and New York JFK, with Virgin Atlantic and transatlantic joint venture partner, Delta Air Lines.

The airline has also announced its return to Dubai, operating seasonally from October through to March four times a week.

As well as flying customers, Virgin Atlantic will offer 20 tonnes of cargo capacity on each flight. This fast cargo service will offer new opportunities for companies looking to export and import goods such as fresh produce and high-tech products between the Middle East and prime markets in the UK and US.  

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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Signalling expansion in the country, Bengaluru will become the Virgin Atlantic’s third destination and fourth daily service to India.

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Dubai to host 2024 IATA AGM

aPeaford — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:28:30 +0000

At today's AGM, IATA's chair of governors Mehmet T. Nane, the chairman of Pegasus Airlines announced that Emirates would be the host airline for the global air transport industry highlight, when the event takes place June 2-4, 2024.

Emirates president Sir Tim Clark, took to the stage and shouted "Yippee" as the city was announced and praised Nane and his team for successfully organising this year's event.

As Nane concluded the official AGM agenda he handed over the role to Rwandair's chief executive Yvonne Makolo who becomes the first femaie to chair the industry association's governing board.

Makolo started her aviation career in 2017 when she was appointed as RwandAir’s Deputy CEO in Charge of Corporate Affairs. She was named CEO in April 2018. Yvonne brought 11 years of commercial expertise to her current role, having joined telecommunications company MTN Rwanda in 2006, rising to the positions of Chief Marketing Officer and Acting CEO. Under her leadership, RwandAir has become one of Africa’s fastest growing airlines with a fleet of 13 modern aircraft. She has led cultural change at the airline with a focus on inclusion and diversity and growing the number of women in under-represented roles.

“I look forward to working with Yvonne as we tackle the important challenges of sustainability, rebuilding the aviation workforce while growing diversity and reinforcing the global standards that are so critical for efficient connectivity. I want to thank Mehmet for his strong support and leadership over the past year as the industry emerged from the COVID-19 and in particular, his encouragement in working for greater gender diversity,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

IATA also announced that Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, will serve as Chair of the board from June 2024, following Makolo’s term.

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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Dubai is to be the host city for next year's IATA annual general meeting and World Air Transport Summit.

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IATA AGM: Roadmaps detail critical steps to achieve net zero by 2050

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:10:57 +0000

The roadmaps address aircraft technology, energy infrastructure, operations, finance, and policy considerations leading to net zero.

And Marie Owens Thomsen, SVP sustainability and chief economist, said: “We believe it is possible to achieve sustainable aviation by 2050 if we all work together. The roadmaps are the first detailed assessment of the key steps necessary to accelerate the transition to net zero by 2050.”

The roadmaps are the first detailed assessment of the key steps necessary to accelerate the transition to net zero by 2050. The roadmaps are not just for airlines. Governments, suppliers, and financiers cannot be spectators in aviation’s decarbonisation journey. The roadmaps are a call to action for all aviation's stakeholders to deliver the tools needed to make this fundamental transformation of aviation a success with policies and products fit for a net-zero world.

Highlights of each roadmap include:

Aircraft Technology: the development of more efficient aircraft and engines. Particularly important are the steps needed to enable aircraft powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen or batteries. All development milestones are backed-up by announced investment and demonstrator programmes. Also included are new engines, aerodynamics, aircraft structures, and flight systems.
Energy and New Fuels Infrastructure: the focus is on the fuels and new energy carrier infrastructure upstream from airports needed to facilitate the use of aircraft powered by SAF or hydrogen. Renewable energy plays a vital role in meeting the aviation sector's energy demand, and the roadmap outlines milestones to enable the necessary infrastructure developments.
Operations: the opportunities for reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency by improving the way existing aircraft are operated. Automation, big data management, and the integration of new technologies are key enablers for optimising air traffic management and enhancing the overall efficiency of the air transportation system.
Policy: the need for globally aligned strategic policies to provide incentives and support for the aviation industry's transition to a net-zero future. As with all other successful energy transitions, collaboration between governments and industry stakeholders is crucial in creating the necessary framework to achieve the decarbonisation goals.
Finance: how to finance the cumulative $5 trillion needed for aviation to achieve net zero by 2050. This includes technological advancements, infrastructure developments, and operational improvements.

The challenges to ramp up SAF production are a good illustration of the importance of these roadmaps. As a drop-in solution, SAF is expected to deliver about 62% of carbon mitigation needed to achieve net zero by 2050. But even though SAF is expected to be fully implementable with future aircraft fleet, it still has major inter-dependencies on policy, aircraft technology, energy infrastructure, financing, and operations for which these roadmaps are critical.

"The roadmaps show where all stakeholders should focus their efforts. There are two certainties. By 2050 we need to be at net zero carbon emissions. And the steps to get there that are outlined in these roadmaps will evolve as the industry’s expertise grows. Policy is particularly important early on as it, to a large extent, sets the scene for private sector investors to move. With that, the private sector can decarbonise at scale and with speed," said Owens Thomsen.

“Without the right policy incentives and bold investments, many of the technologies and innovations simply won’t happen at scale. Everything is related, and that is why we have the five roadmaps to tie all the parallel elements together and give our stakeholders, including governments, a complete understanding of everything that needs to happen,” said Owens Thomsen.

Owens Thomsen added: “I believe, as a European, in the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. Together, we can achieve net zero by 2050."

Posted date

Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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IATA has unveiled a series of roadmaps aimed at providing step-by-step detailing of critical actions and dependencies for aviation to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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SalamAir introduces non-stop flights between Salalah and Bahrain

eNethersole — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 06:19:26 +0000

Commencing July 5th, this strategic initiative aims to cater to the growing demand from travellers seeking a seamless travel experience between these two popular destinations.

SalamAir's CEO, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, said: “We are proud to announce the launch of a new non-stop flight route between Salalah and Bahrain during the Khareef season in response to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's direction to the concerned authorities to provide direct subsidies on fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to fuel prices at Muscat International Airport.” Captain Mohamed Ahmed added, “The introduction of non-stop flights between Salalah and Bahrain supports the growing inbound tourism sector and contributes to the realization of Oman's ambitious Vision 2040.”

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Mon, 05/06/2023 - 12:00

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SalamAir has introduced non-stop flights connecting Salalah and Bahrain during the Khareef season.

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IATA AGM: Al-Awadhi warns Africa’s blocked funds at crisis point

aPeaford — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 19:07:55 +0000

Some 80% of the funds – repayment for tickets bought in local currencies but withheld by nations claiming unavailable foreign currency – are from countries in the MEA region.

Nigeria and Algeria alone are responsible for more than $1 billion of debt – leading to some airlines, including Emirates, to ban flights to Nigeria.

Globally the situation has worsened in the past year with blocked funds rising by 47% in the past year to $2.27billion.

“Every penny counts for the airline industry, by failing to pay their bills for air transport these governments are putting industry in a tighter position, said Al-Awadhi

The impact for these governments is also high, he said. “Airlines pulling out reduces connectivity, leads to higher ticket prices, affects confidence from foreign investors and leads to the collapse of the domestic travel agency businesses.”

Another of the major defaulter is Ethiopia with $130 million owed

“Ironically, the biggest airline in Africa that could be impacted in Africa is Ethiopian Airlines,” Al-Awadhi said.”The government needs to rethink its position on this issue. Ethiopian Airlines contributes more than 20% of the country’s GDP. Does the government want to impact its 20 now by withholding $130m? I think it should settle the bill really quickly.”

One of the biggest challenges is frequent changes in government and officials. “We build up relationships and get the message across. Then we see the governors of the central banks replaced and then have to start all over again.”

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Sun, 04/06/2023 - 12:00

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The escalation of the withholding of funds by African countries to airlines is reaching a critical point warned Kamil Alawadhi IATA’s Vice President, Africa and the Middle East, speaking at the Association’s annual general meeting today.

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IATA AGM: Unruly passenger incidents in post-pandemic increase

eNethersole — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 13:41:36 +0000

IATA called for more states to take the necessary authority to prosecute passengers under Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14).

Latest figures show that there was one unruly incident reported for every 568 flights in 2022, up from one per 835 flights in 2021. The most common categorisations of incidents in 2022 were non-compliance, verbal abuse and intoxication. Physical abuse incidents remain very rare, but these had an alarming increase of 61% over 2021, occurring once every 17,200 flights.

The increasing trend of unruly passenger incidents is worrying. Passengers and crew are entitled to a safe and hassle-free experience on board. For that, passengers must comply with crew instructions. While our professional crews are well trained to manage unruly passenger scenarios, it is unacceptable that rules in place for everyone’s safety are disobeyed by a small but persistent minority of passengers. There is no excuse for not following the instructions of the crew,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA’s deputy director general.

Although non-compliance incidents initially fell after the mask mandates were removed on most flights, the frequency began to rise again throughout 2022 and ended the year some 37% up on 2021. The most common examples of non-compliance were:

Smoking of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and puff devices in the cabin or lavatories

Failure to fasten seatbelts when instructed

Exceeding the carry-on baggage allowance or failing to store baggage when required

Consumption of own alcohol on board

Two-pillar strategy

A two-pillar strategy is in place for the needed zero-tolerance approach to unruly behaviour.

Regulation: Ensure governments have the necessary legal authority to prosecute unruly passengers, regardless of their state of origin and to have a range of enforcement measures that reflect the severity of the incident. Such powers exist in the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), and IATA is urging all states to ratify this as soon as possible. To date, some 45 nations comprising 33% of international passenger traffic have ratified MP14.

Guidance to prevent and de-escalate incidents: Prevent incidents through collaboration with industry partners on the ground (such as airports, bars and restaurants and duty-free shops), including for example awareness campaigns on the consequences of unruly behaviour. Additionally, sharing best practices, including training, for crew to de-escalate incidents when they occur. A new guidance document was published at the beginning of 2022 gathering best practices for airlines and providing practical solutions to governments on public awareness, spot fines, and fixing jurisdiction gaps.

“In the face of rising unruly incident numbers, governments and the industry are taking more serious measures to prevent unruly passenger incidents. States are ratifying MP14 and reviewing enforcement measures, sending a clear message of deterrence by showing that they are ready to prosecute unruly behaviour. For the industry’s part, there is greater collaboration. For example, as the vast majority of intoxication incidents occur from alcohol consumed prior to the flight, the support of airport bars and restaurants to ensure the responsible consumption of alcohol is particularly important.

“No one wants to stop people having a good time when they go on holiday—but we all have a responsibility to behave with respect for other passengers and the crew. For the sake of the majority, we make no apology for seeking to crack down on the bad behaviour of a tiny number of travellers who can make a flight very uncomfortable for everyone else,” said Clifford.

Posted date

Sun, 04/06/2023 - 12:00

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IATA has released a new analysis showing that reported unruly passenger incidents increased in 2022 compared to 2021.

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