IATA Calls or Systemic COVID-19 Testing Before Departure   Source: IATA   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for the development and deployment of rapid, accurate, affordable, easy-to-operate, scalable and systematic COVID-19 testing for all passengers before departure as an alternative to quarantine measures in order to re-establish global air connectivity. IATA will work through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and with health authorities to implement this solution quickly. International travel is 92% down on 2019 levels. Over half a year has passed since global connectivity was destroyed as countries closed their borders to fight COVID-19. Some governments have cautiously re-opened borders since then, but there has been limited uptake because either quarantine measures make travel impractical or [...]

GRU Airport first airport in Brazil to obtain the ACI Airport Health Accreditation   Source: ACI-LAC   Airports Council International (ACI) have announced today the accreditation of Guarulhos International Airport (GRU Airport) in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. GRU Airport is the first airport in Brazil to obtain the AHA accreditation.   ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme recognizes the commitment to health and welfare of passengers, airport staff and the public, by supporting airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol and ACI EUROPE’s Guidelines for [...]

Bogota’s El Dorado Airport achieves the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA)   Source: ACI-LAC   Airports Council International (ACI) has recently granted the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) to El Dorado Airport. El Dorado is the first airport in Colombia to obtain this accreditation.   ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme recognizes the commitment to health and welfare of passengers, airport staff and the public, by supporting airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol and ACI EUROPE’s Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports.   Topics covered by [...]

ACI-LAC Airport Traffic to August and 2020 Projections   Source: ACI-LAC   The passenger traffic in August 2020 at airports in Latin America and the Caribbean was 75.8% below the same month in 2019. The cumulative traffic from the beginning of 2020 (January-August) was 58.3% lower than the corresponding period the previous year.   ACI expects passenger traffic in 2020 to close between 60% and 70% below 2019, representing a loss of up to 480 million passengers, depending on when governments decide to allow the resumption of air transport and the COVID-19 measures implemented. ACI recommends governments that rather than quarantines, which kill demand, robust testing programs are a far better option.   The severe reduction in passenger traffic will [...]

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, first airport group in the world to accredit all its airports in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme   Source: ACI-LAC   Airports Council International (ACI) is pleased to announce the accreditation of all the airports that are part of Grupo AeroportuarIo del Pacífico (GAP) in the ACI Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. GAP becomes the first airport group in the world to successfully accredit all its airports in the AHA program.   ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme supports airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC [...]

The Time to Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine Transport is Now   Source: IATA   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to begin careful planning with industry stakeholders to ensure full preparedness when vaccines for COVID-19 are approved and available for distribution. The association also warned of potentially severe capacity constraints in transporting vaccines by air. Preparedness Air cargo plays a key role in the distribution of vaccines in normal times through well-established global time- and temperature-sensitive distribution systems. This capability will be crucial to the quick and efficient transport and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines when they are available, and it will not happen without careful planning, led by governments and supported by industry stakeholders. "Safely delivering COVID-19 vaccines [...]

GESNAER will implement the first remote control tower in Spain at Menorca airport   Source: ACI-LAC   AENA has awarded the contract for the "Supply in operation and validation of equipment for the implementation of ATS services provided by Remote Tower - RTM Menorca" to Gesnaer.   For the complete implementation of the Remote Tower System (RTS), GESNAER will collaborate with the Norwegian companies KONGSBERG and AVINOR. These companies are experts in the implementation of remote towers, with REMOTE TOWER SYSTEM (RTS) certified by the Norwegian Aeronautical Authority, and are currently developing the world's largest Remote Control Center in Bodo, Norway.   According to Milagros Jiménez and Juan Manuel Pérez, founders of Gesnaer, this is a historic milestone that will [...]

New Airport Service Quality award introduced in response to COVID-19 Voice of the Customer recognition also established Source: ACI Airports Council International (ACI) World has today announced changes to its world-renowned Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards to reflect the changing landscape in customer experience introduced in response to COVID-19. The impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the global airport industry to a standstill with an estimated reduction in passenger traffic of 5.6 billion by year's end. As airports begin to restart operations, understanding the changing needs and expectations of passengers will be crucial in reassuring them that their health and safety remain the top priority. The pandemic's effects vary significantly between regions therefore ACI has adapted its [...]