Airports

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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DC Aviation Al-Futtaim turns 10 this year

eNethersole — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:15:42 +0000

Also, this year, DC Aviation is celebrating its 25th anniversary while the Malta business its 15th year of operation.

Over the past decade, the company has achieved significant milestones, including the completion of its purpose-built integrated hangar facility with lounge and office areas in September 2013. This made it the first fully integrated business aviation operation at the then-newly opened Al Maktoum International Airport, located at Dubai South.

Today, DCAF’s facility includes two dedicated hangars, together measuring over 13,500 sqm, with a total land-side plot area of 24,000 sqm and apron area of 13,500 sqm – capable of accommodating business jets of various sizes. The facility also offers 1,300 sqm of exclusive lounge area that provides the highest levels of comfort and privacy, including shower areas, a spacious conference room, covered parking and a contemporary finish. As part of its ongoing commitment to its customers, DCAF recently completed a refurbishment of its VVIP lounges.

DCAF’s customers can expect high levels of convenience with 24-hour on-site screening facilities, customs and immigration services and immediate access from limousine drop-off to the aircraft parked directly in front of the lounge.

Michael Kuhn, CEO of DC Aviation Group, said, “This is a significant milestone for all of us at DC Aviation and further reaffirms our decision to partner with Al-Futtaim, with whom we have a long-standing relationship. This joint venture has enabled us to create one of the leading business aviation operations in the Middle East and we look forward to continuing to expand our operations and offering our customers the highest levels of service and safety.”

“As we mark our 10th anniversary, we hold great pride in the journey we have taken as a business,” said Holger Ostheimer, Managing Director of DC Aviation Al-Futtaim. “From day one, we were confident in Al Maktoum International Airport’s tremendous potential to develop as a key hub for business and private aviation and thereby enhance the success of Dubai’s aviation industry. We feel privileged to be a partner in the continuous progress of the UAE’s expanding aviation industry and look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the best-in-class services.”

DCAF obtained its Aircraft Operator certificate in 2015 and is EASA part 145 certified, offering both line and base maintenance. The company recently received the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) Stage 3 certification for its Aircraft and Passenger Handling Services as part of its Fixed Base Operations (FBO) located at Dubai South, making it one of only two FBOs in the Middle East and one of 27 organisations globally to attain this highest level of safety standard established by IS-BAH. This certification verifies that safety management activities are fully integrated into the business and that a positive safety culture is being sustained. DCAF received its Stage 1 certification in May 2019 and Stage 2 in January 2021.

On the maintenance side, the company is approved to provide the entire maintenance scope for the A320 family, Bombardier Global Express/XRS/500, Bombardier Challenger 604/605, Global 6000 and Global 5000 Vision Flight Deck type aircraft. Recently, the company added wheel shop capability at its facility in Dubai South.

In April 2016, DCAF received its CAR145 approval from UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, allowing them to provide maintenance services for the Bombardier Global Express and Challenger 604/605 type aircraft. The following year, it received an extension to its CAR145 approval to provide line maintenance for the Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft type.

DCAF currently manages 11 aircraft from its base at Dubai South.

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Thu, 01/06/2023 - 12:00

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DC Aviation Al-Futtaim is celebrating its 10th anniversary of operations in Dubai.

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Qatar Airways signs deal with Shell for SAF supply Schiphol Airport

eNethersole — Wed, 31 May 2023 14:54:24 +0000

Qatar Airways has signed a deal with Shell to source 3,000 metric tonnes of neat Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

It encompasses the existing jet fuel contract with Shell at Amsterdam which will now see Qatar Airways using at least a 5 per cent SAF blend over the contract period for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The Qatar Airways bilateral agreement with Shell is part of a wider effort initiated by the oneworld alliance, which has set target of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 10% of combined fuel volumes by 2030.

Qatar Airways is the first carrier in the Middle East and Africa to procure a large SAF amount in Europe beyond government SAF mandates. SAF offers significant potential for decarbonisation as neat SAF can reduce full lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.[1] This means that Qatar Airways will be reducing its emissions on flights from Amsterdam by approximately 7,500 tonnes of CO2 for the fiscal year.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “At Qatar Airways, we are strongly committed to supporting the industry’s effort to ramp-up the use of sustainable aviation fuel, as one of the key pillars to decarbonise the aviation industry. Last year, we signed our first offtake agreement in the US, and now we are placing a multi-million US dollar SAF deal in Amsterdam to illustrate our SAF commitment and reiterate our calls for a more robust SAF supply chain across our global network.”

“We remain steadfast in our ambitious target of 10 per cent SAF use by 2030 and this announcement, establishes another landmark for Qatar Airways that underlines the positive outcome of the industry’s collaboration which is critical to accelerating the SAF supply and achieving our target. SAF is still 3 to 5 times more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel. This is why it is essential for all stakeholders to play their part in facilitating research & development of SAF facilities, enhancing economies of scale, providing financing and placing supportive policies.”

“Qatar Airways and Shell have a history of collaboration, so it is fantastic to now work together on decarbonisation as we supply them with SAF for the first time,” said Jan Toschka, President of Shell Aviation.

“SAF is a key lever for decarbonising aviation, but scaling its supply and use requires concerted action from across the aviation sector. Today’s agreement is a great example of the collaborative actions that are required to help accelerate aviation’s progress towards net zero.”

Passengers and customers of Qatar Airways are able today to compensate for their flight emissions through the purchase of high-quality carbon credits, credited under International Civil Aviation Organization criteria, the UN's aviation body. Qatar Airways currently invests in carbon credit projects that generate renewable energy, which help in reducing carbon emissions. Qatar Airways is also working on introducing a solution which will allow passengers and customers to offset their emissions by contributing to the cost of SAF.

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Wed, 31/05/2023 - 12:00

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Qatar Airways signs deal with Shell for SAF supply Schiphol Airport.

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Digitalise borders to unlock Africa’s full potential

aPeaford — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:43:53 +0000

Air transport 30 May 2023

Digitalise borders to unlock Africa’s full potential

Africa’s immense potential to become a global powerhouse is undeniable. It has all of the ingredients including a market of 1.2 billion consumers (rising to 1.7bn by 2030) and a combined GDP worth US$2.5 trillion. So what is holding it back? - Jeremy Springall, senior vice-president, SITA at Borders, gives his analysis.

The African Union’s (AU) members have all indicated their support for and recognition of the benefits of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, the Single Africa Air Transport Market and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol. All of them are intended to unlock free trade, tourism, economic opportunities and promote widespread prosperity across the continent.

At the SITA Borders Management Africa Summit in Nairobi this month, speakers and delegates from governments across the continent identified and discussed solutions to resolving the biggest hinderance to these AU flagship programmes realising their full potential, i.e. efficient borders to enable the frictionless flows of people and goods.

In our deliberations we were continually reminded that it is easier and faster to transport mobile phones from China to Africa than to move a few bags of maize across an African border post. At the root of this are inconsistencies in the criteria and processes applied by immigration and customs authorities for issuing visas, travel authorisations, goods import and transit permits, the use of unsuitable and often incompatible equipment and the vulnerability to agile international organised crime and terrorism. All of these have to be tackled with shrinking budgets and diminishing resources.

Therein lies the rub: For economies to grow and a free trade area to work, governments need to balance protecting their countries from trafficking, terrorism, pandemics, and crime while making it easier to move people and goods across their borders and at the same time respecting personal data privacy and its underpinning legislation.

The good news is that proven digital border management technology and emerging digital identities put Africa in pole position to lead the way. A key advantage for Africa is that it faces fewer legacy challenges in the digital space and in many ways, it can move faster. The digital transformation of borders will be inevitable if the continent is to achieve its ambition.

Airlines and airports understand the potential of digitalizing border processes. At the coal face of international travel, the industry has long recognized the need for digital immigration processes. The challenges of COVID accelerated this trend. For example, SITA’s 2022 Air Transport IT Insights showed that 75% of airline executives will invest in passenger biometric identity solutions by 2025. This means passengers will be identified by a simple facial scan, making the identification process fast and secure.

However, it can’t be done by one industry in isolation. It needs government and broader industry support.

SITA, the global air transport industry-owned IT and solutions provider, is leading this push. Over the past 30 years, SITA has helped 70 governments – including South Africa and Egypt – make their border crossings faster and more secure. We pioneered what is now the global standard for Advance Passenger Information processing and we are helping governments digitalise key immigration processes so that they can be completed ahead of travel. This helps governments to effectively extend their borders and assess who enters their country long before they arrive. Travelers, on the other hand, only have to complete a simple check on arrival.

The benefit of this approach has been shown to work time and again, particularly at big sporting events such as the World Cup. We helped South Africa in 2010, Brazil in 2014, and Qatar in 2022 to manage the vast influx of visitors.

Digital identities will take this to a new level. Driven by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation, which sets global passport standards, the industry is shaping a new digital identity that will replace physical documents such as identity cards or passports. A key driver is that holders will choose what data they would like to share with whom. It is privacy by design. These digital identities can be used at the airport but also at land and sea borders or other touchpoints, such as hotels or major events, as we did in Qatar for the World Cup. All that is needed is a simple scan of your face a biometric touchpoint or on your mobile phone. We see these digital identities being extended to goods and services.

Together these technologies will reshape how borders are managed.

The technology exists today to make an African free trade area a reality. It allows the balancing of protectionist measures to keep national borders safe with a more welcoming face to visitors. It is scalable. And it is inclusive, allowing all elements of public life to be managed from a single identity.

With the right support from governments across Africa, we can pull many levers to unlock free trade and tourism across the continent. Policy and intergovernmental co-operation the two most obvious but digitalisation must surely be essential among them.

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Harriet's safety thirst...

pIvanova — Tue, 30 May 2023 07:03:54 +0000

Airports 30 May 2023

Harriet's safety thirst...

Harriet Nakazwe Angetile, the first female elected vice president of the safety and technical committee at Airports Council International (ACI) Africa, speaks about building safety standards for certification of the continent’s airports.

In her day job, Harriet Angetile is the airport manager at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka, Zambia.

However, in November last year, she added new responsibilities at ACI Africa, tasked to lead the African committee in achieving widespread airport safety targets.

Working with the president, Senegal’s Ibrahima Wane, and secretariat, Stephane Courtois, they aim to implement targets to promote operational best practices and formulate collective positions for airport operators on issues related to airport safety.

“We arrange to bring regional safety and operational staff together to share industry experiences and challenges, which we recommend to the ACI standing committees,” she said.

One of the key tasks Angetile mentioned is providing recommendations on training needs for African airports, and ACI is currently working on ensuring they are all certified. The goal is to achieve this over the next three years.

There are indications that just under half of all aerodromes in Africa are actually certified. Considering that the Abuja safety declaration of 2012 targeted all international aerodromes to be fully certified by 2018, the target is still a long way off.

“It is obviously a very sad development; certification puts an airport on the world map and demonstrates meeting the basic requirements in terms of safety. We know it raises the profile of that airport and, to a considerable extent, gives safety assurance to operators,” said Angetile.

She recognised that most airports are struggling due to lack of human and financial resources. In addition, she said frequent changes at management level tended to derail progress in the certification process, along with the lack of political will.

However, she said, ACI Africa has several innovations to assist African airports, such as the Apex safety review, where experts from the industry who are already certified guide others towards certification.

“ACI does help in producing a gap analysis and the findings are given to management for them to take action,” she explained.

Harriet Angetile: “We are developing software to help African airports capture, store and analyse data, which is key in the certification process.” Picture: ZACL.

Angetile reports that this initiative has led to pushing the certification level to the current 45%, but noted that more needs to be done.

“We are also developing software to help African airports capture, store and analyse data, which is key in the certification process,” she revealed.

Angetile reckons the biggest challenge facing African airports is infrastructure, the lack of technical know-how, instability in some regions, a lack of information and communications technology (ICT) development, climate change, communicable diseases in some areas, and the all-important economic and governance challenges.

A collective of these problems creates the perfect storm for the all-too-familiar bottlenecks that trouble African aviation.

“On a positive note, the lack of capacity at most airports to handle cargo and pharmaceuticals presents an opportunity for Africa to develop infrastructure; online procurement presents us with an opportunity as transportation of these purchases will lean towards air transport,” she said.

Back in Zambia, there is plenty of work going on to ensure no airport is left behind in terms of safety. “We are bringing it home. It is only natural that our staff here benefit from the subsidised training offered by ACI to build technical capacity,” she said.

Angetile reported that Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone and KKIA in Lusaka were recertified late last year and the newly built Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in the Copperbelt has now also been certified.

Keith Mwanalushi

Keith has been an aviation journalist and editor for several industry-leading publications.

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IATA: Ground handling sector needs to build resilience

eNethersole — Wed, 17 May 2023 09:34:26 +0000

The priorities, outlined at the 35th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) which opened in Abu Dhabi today sponsored by Etihad Airways are:

Effective staff recruitment and retention

Consistent implementation of global standards

Accelerating digitalisation and automation

“It’s going to be a busy peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season for the aviation industry, and the ground handling sector will need to be ready. Short-term we must act fast to prepare for increased traffic. Ensuring efficient onboarding of new employees and working with governments to reduce bottlenecks in security clearances is critical. Longer-term, more effective staff recruitment and retention, implementing global standards and accelerating digitalisation and automation will be critical to build resilience and ensure sustainability,” said Monika Mejstrikova, IATA’s Director of Ground Operations.

Effective Staff Recruitment and Retention

A recent IATA survey found that 37% of ground handling professionals anticipated staffing shortages until the end of 2023 and beyond, and 60% felt they didn't have enough qualified staff to ensure smooth operations. Additionally, 27% of respondents feared that their current employees would leave soon.

“Creating a stable ground handling talent base is essential. And it can be achieved by making ramp work more attractive. We need to embrace automation to relieve staff from difficult and hazardous tasks, foster a culture of continuous learning and career growth and create a safe and inclusive environment for people where talents are nurtured,” said Mejstrikova.

IATA outlined a series of initiatives to help alleviate labour shortages:

Implementation of competency-based training, with more online assessments to improve speed and efficiency

Mutual recognition of security training and employee background records among authorities, to expedite the recruitment process and reduce redundancy

Automation of processes to relieve people from performing physically challenging tasks

Promoting career development and rewarding years of training and skills

IATA has just launched a Ground Ops Training Passport which supports staff retention and professional growth. It mutually recognises skills and training across ground handlers, airlines, and airports to drive cross-utilisation of skilled personnel.

“The real beneficiary of the training passport is the employee. They will have access to their training records, allowing them to use their knowledge and skills for ongoing professional growth. An industry-wide approach to talent development will pay big benefits in terms of efficiency for all concerned. We need to empower our employees for success,” said Mejstrikova.

Global Standardisation of ProcessesGlobal standards are the foundation for safe and efficient operations. Two key tools for ground handlers are the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) and the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO).

IGOM: IATA called for the ground handling industry to accelerate the global adoption of IGOM to ensure worldwide operational consistency and safety. To support this, IATA has launched the IGOM Portal. A user-friendly online platform where airlines and ground handlers can share the results of their gap analysis between company procedures and IGOM, offering a global benchmark for harmonisation and driving efficiency. Over 140 airlines have already subscribed to its services and the Portal is now opening to ground handling service providers (GHSPs).

ISAGO: Close to 40 airports and regulators globally endorsed ISAGO to complement their monitoring /compliance, performance or licensing systems through cooperation agreements. IATA urged more governments to recognise ISAGO in their regulatory frameworks for oversight to deliver significant benefits, including greater harmonisation, Safety Management System (SMS) implementation and reduction of duplicate audits.

Another area where IATA called for greater standardisation is baggage. IATA is working on updating the baggage standards to reflect new developments in real-time tracking, electronic bag tags, and Bluetooth technology.

“We all know the frustration of losing luggage. And the cost to the industry is staggering. In 2019, 25.4 million bags were lost or delayed resulting in a bill of $2.5 billion. IATA is committed to improving baggage handling through collaboration and innovation,” said Mejstrikova.

Digitalisation and Automation

Digitalisation and automation are critical to improving both sustainability and efficiency and driving process improvements.

IATA outlined three priorities:

Ramp Digitalisation - IATA's Ground Operations Digitalization and Automation Working Group (GAD) has developed the Timestamps Turnaround (XTST) message to provide standardized communication and real-time network monitoring for airlines. Implementing the XTST standard can reduce ground handling delays by up to 5% globally.

Load Control Digitalisation – IATA is pioneering the automation of load control, utilising the new X565 digital standard to reduce workload, costs, and errors while enabling real-time updates.

GSE Automation - transitioning to enhanced ground support equipment (Enhanced GSE) potentially reducing ground damage costs by 42% and creating a safer environment. Autonomous GSE trials are already underway in over 15 countries. Transitioning to Enhanced GSE not only improves safety but also reduces GSE CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes annually, contributing to a more sustainable industry.

“Ground operations are complex, and delays are the bane of every turnaround coordinator's existence. But with technology and communication advancements, we can avoid delays, make operations safer, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable, while providing a better working experience for staff on the ramp,” said Mejstrikova.

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Wed, 17/05/2023 - 12:00

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IATA has highlighted three priorities to enable the ground handling sector to build resilience and ensure long-term sustainability.

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Sirius extends lease of two Airbus A320ceo to Air New Zealand

eNethersole — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:59:09 +0000

The aircraft, manufactured in 2011, forms part of a portfolio of aircraft owned by a joint venture between Sirius and EAVF II DAC.

Rob Bermingham, SVP Commercial of Sirius said: “We are very pleased to continue our valued partnership with Air New Zealand and support the airline in its growth. The extension will see both Airbus A320ceo remain in operation with Air New Zealand.”

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Tue, 16/05/2023 - 12:00

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Sirius Aviation, a global aircraft asset manager headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has executed the lease extension of two Airbus A320ceo aircraft on lease to Air New Zealand.

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SITA: Air Transport industry turns to digitalisation

eNethersole — Tue, 16 May 2023 09:13:28 +0000

Mishandled bags almost doubled from 2021 to 2022 to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers.

The shortage of skilled staff, resumption of international travel, and congestion at airports has made it challenging to manage bags and ensure their smooth handling at airports – particularly during peak travel periods. The overall increase in mishandling is forcing the industry to focus on digitalisation and automation, with technology investments that deliver greater automation and self-service being a top priority.

Delayed bags accounted for 80% of all mishandled bags in 2022, lost and stolen bags increased to 7%, and damaged and pilfered bags decreased to 13%.

The surge in the mishandling rate comes after more than a decade of reduction in mishandled baggage. Significant process improvements helped the mishandling rate per thousand passengers fall by 59.7% between 2007 and 2021. However, given the pressure of staff shortages on operations post-COVID, the 2022 mishandling rate of 7.6 bags per thousand passengers represents a 75% increase from 2021.

Transfer bags have historically accounted for the majority of mishandled bags. This was no different in 2022, with a one-percentage point increase from 2021, pushing the proportion of bags delayed at transfer to 42%. This increase is attributed to the resurgence of international and long-haul travel, leading to loading errors and greater transfer mishandling rates. The failure to load bags accounted for 18% of all mishandled bags in 2022, representing a 3% decrease from the previous year. Loading errors more than doubled compared to the previous year, accounting for 9% of all delayed bags in 2022, stemming from operational strains on baggage systems.

David Lavorel, CEO, SITA said: “After a decade where the mishandling rate more than halved between 2007 and 2021, it is disheartening to see this rate climbing again. As an industry, we need to work hard to ensure passengers are once again confident to check in their bags. We at SITA are working directly with airlines and airports to help solve key pain points in the baggage journey through smart automation, tracking, and digital platforms.”

Investing in real-time baggage status information has become a key priority for airlines, with 57% of airlines providing their staff with mobile access to real-time baggage status information. This figure is expected to increase significantly to 84% by 2025, and 67% of airlines plan to offer real-time baggage status information directly to passengers, marking a substantial improvement from 25% today.

SITA has developed the WorldTracer Auto Reflight system in direct response to the high mishandling rates observed at transfer. This solution automatically identifies bags what are not likely to make their planned connecting flight and rebooks them on the next possible flight using the existing bag tag – all while keeping the passenger informed.

SITA estimates that automation of reflight operations could save the industry up to $30 million per year. Lufthansa and SITA’s recent partnership using the technology aims to digitalize the manual reflight process, and the results of their Proof of Concept suggest that they can automatically reflight as much as 70% of Lufthansa’s mishandled bags at Munich Airport.

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Tue, 16/05/2023 - 12:00

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SITA’s 2023 Baggage IT Insights report shows that airlines and airports are facing a surge in baggage mishandling rates amidst the growing number of passengers.

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Hub at the centre of Sudan's masterplan

pIvanova — Mon, 15 May 2023 08:46:24 +0000

Airports 15 May 2023

Hub at the centre of Sudan's masterplan

Sudan Airports Company is working on a five-year strategic plan to maintain, develop and extend the country’s airports, with passenger experience, innovation, and sustainability as top priorities.

Increasing airport capacities must keep pace with growing passenger and cargo demand.

That’s the view of SCA general manager Elkhatim Bbabiker Eltayeb Mohamed.

“The aim is to meet international standards and enhance operational efficiency as well as passenger experience through new technologies and digital operations,” he explained.

“Our team of engineers has found the best solutions to ensure excellent processing, sustainability, and optimal support to passengers with the best functionality, while enhancing safety and security.”

A new masterplan has, thus, been prepared and project components identified for Khartoum International Airport (KRT), with a new state-of-the-art under-one-roof passenger terminal, concrete apron, runway extension, parallel taxiway and other ancillary facilities.

“International consultancy firms will be contracted to design and supervise construction works. We are in the last stage of selection and works are planned to be ready for operation by 2024,” added Mohamed.

In parallel, SAC is embarked on rehabilitation projects at Kassalla, Obeid, Damazin, Kadogli and the new Zalingi Airport to cater for cargo flights and meet growing demand in industrial treated agriculture and animal products. These regional airports will serve mixed traffic- passenger and cargo.

The company, which manages and operates 13 airports, including six international, is also addressing the connectivity issue through a coherent route development plan with other key players.

Sudan National Airlines is working on procuring new aircraft and a new national airline will start its operation for domestic and international flights by 2024.

New routes are also being studied and discussed regarding cargo flights.

“The strategic plan for Sudan Airports Company imagined the new Khartoum Airport as a passenger and cargo hub for Africa. The new airport masterplan comprises the required facilities for a hub airport, including a free zone area, an industrial area, stores and an airfield system with two parallel 4,000 metre runways,” said Mohamed.

During the pandemic, the total passenger traffic in Sudan declined rapidly and reached 58.3% of the volume before 2019.

Sudan airports are gradually bouncing back. Domestic traffic passengers started increasing at a slow rate as the pandemic affected the labour market.

International traffic was severely hit by the restrictions and passenger processing procedures due to pandemic protocols, especially the Middle East, which represents 86% of passenger traffic. But traffic volume is come back to the 2019 level and is expected to recover totally this year.

“We are facing complicated financing problems due to the instability of political situation and guarantees. Despite this, we started maintaining and improving our infrastructures from our limited local resources and working on engaging the private sector for Sudan Airports by using private-public partnerships,” explained Mohamed.

Furthermore, the company has embraced sustainability through mitigation measures to save energy – LED lighting, solar energy, optimising air conditioning.

SAC has also joined the Airports Council International (ACI) airport accreditation programme. Global environmental consulting company, Envisa, will conduct a study to carve out a roadmap for smarter and greener airports.

Sudan Airports is seeking the expertise of training organisations to upskill and adapt its workforce to ensure a sustainable and well-balanced growth.

Anuradha Deenapanray

Anuradha is a francophone editor for African and Arabian Aerospace magazines.

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Emirates goes digital, phases out paper boarding passes for flights departing Dubai

eNethersole — Fri, 12 May 2023 12:38:33 +0000

Passengers checking in at Terminal 3 will receive their mobile boarding pass via email or SMS. Passengers who check in online can load their boarding pass into their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or retrieve their boarding pass on the user-friendly Emirates App. The checked-in baggage receipt is also emailed directly to passengers, or available in the Emirates App.

This initiative will significantly reduce paper waste while simultaneously offering a convenient and speedy digitised check in experience for passengers departing Dubai. It reduces the risk of lost or misplaced boarding passes, giving passengers peace of mind when travelling.

The mobile boarding pass can be used throughout the travel journey – in Dubai Duty Free, at security and for boarding, simply by showing the boarding pass on the phone. Emirates agents and airport staff will simply scan the QR code on the mobile boarding pass as passengers move through the airport and onto the aircraft.

Some passengers may still require a physical boarding pass to be printed – for instance when travelling with infants, unaccompanied minors, passengers requiring special assistance, passengers with onwards flights on other airlines, and all passengers travelling on flights to the US.

The option to print a boarding pass is available by request to Emirates agents at check-in counters, if passengers do not have a mobile device, or if they are unable to access the information on their devices for reasons such as: running out of battery power, a system breakdown or glitch, message delivery delay, or inability to access WIFI, network or a data package.

Millions of Emirates passengers have already been enjoying the convenience of digitally enabled journeys. In addition to convenient check-in and itinerary management, those who use the Emirates app can also access digital menus in advance, and spend time curating a playlist of favourite movies, TV shows and music playlists available on ice, which they can synchronise from their app the moment they board to save time.

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Fri, 12/05/2023 - 12:00

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Passengers departing Dubai can now use a mobile boarding pass instead of a printed paper version, from 15 May onwards.

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

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim turns 10 this year

Qatar Airways signs deal with Shell for SAF supply Schiphol Airport

Digitalise borders to unlock Africa’s full potential

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Harriet's safety thirst...

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