By Alejandra Labarca* Blockchain technology, or to be more rigorous, the "Distributed Ledger Technology” (DLT) as it is called due to the generic name of the technologies that include the block chain, is breaking with more force in different sectors of the economy to solve already structural bottlenecks and that only a technological shock can break in order to expand the productivity limits in different industries. The emergence of blockchain technology in 2008, during what was called the "subprime crisis" was nothing more than the result of a history of work initiated by intellectuals, mathematicians, computer scientists, Crypto-Punkies using cryptography as a method. It was not just a technical job but rather something based on strong paradigm-shifting beliefs about how [...]

By Arpad Szakal* Navigating Today’s Aviation Talent Landscape ‘The Great Resignation’ movement of 2021[1] caused a significant shift of power from the employer, to the people they are looking to hire. This trend impacted the aviation industry with significant consequences on attracting and retaining talent. The past couple of years gave people the rare opportunity to reflect and think about what they really wanted to do with their careers and lives. As a result, some left the industry to pursue new careers, and others turned to freelancing or self-employment. Now that businesses in the aviation sector are once again looking to invest in new talent to help drive recovery and growth, there simply aren’t enough candidates out there to deliver [...]

By Exequiel Sanhueza  Since the agricultural revolution twelve thousand years ago and then from the first industrial revolutions, all societies have required energy to be able to live and have obtained it from the beginning, by using our muscles and we discovered fire. Later we learned to use coal and oil to promote industrial development and then came the use of electrical and nuclear energy, irremediably depleting the non-renewable resources of our planet. The footprint that human beings have left on the planet has been deep and has covered our sky with harmful greenhouse gases (GHG) and today we observe that Mother Nature is responding fiercely, sending us unusual heat waves, melting ice, floods, extreme droughts and turbulence in the [...]

By Jose Ricardo Botelho* I would like to share some thoughts on an issue that we are facing in Brazil and that has a profound impact on the recovery of travel in the country and the region. It is about the mandatory inclusion of checked baggage with the purchase of air tickets; a measure proposed by the Communist Party of Brazil that was approved again by the National Congress last May and now depends on the sanction of presidency. Having nearly 10 years working in aviation, I have personally participated in projects that have managed to encourage a more competitive, open and aligned to global standards market in Brazil. In 2017, from the aviation authority ANAC, I participated in the [...]

By Marianela Cartagena Teamwork and creativity, two skills that are always so necessary and especially in these days of pandemic, are little studied in schools, universities and other educational settings. We can understand teamwork as a highly organized social structure oriented towards the achievement of a common goal, made up of a small number of people who adopt and exchange roles and functions, with flexibility and according to a procedure to manage socio-affective processes, in a climate of respect and trust. Effects of cooperative behavior within teams Trust and loyalty produce behaviors oriented towards a common goal and openness to dialogue. Communication and creativity as part of the knowledge of people are encouraged. The historian Arnold Toynbee proposed the “challenge [...]

By Jose Ricardo Botelho* Welcome to Colombia! To the beautiful land of CHARM, where DISNEY recently transported us with such enthusiasm. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the oldest and largest technical meeting of Latin American and Caribbean aviation, with almost 60 years of history: the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference. A new opportunity to meet friends, do business, share good practices and, above all, demonstrate once again that this industry is alive, that it is transforming and looking for solutions to each crisis it faces. Truly, the event that is at the heart of this magnificent industry and when, during the most difficult times of 2020 and 2021, airlines and suppliers supported each other, walking hand [...]

By Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, SITA The current turbulent economic environment is undoubtedly adding fresh challenges for aviation, an industry still recovering from the devastating impacts of COVID-19. Operating on reduced margins and with an ambitious carbon net-zero goal by 2050 to achieve, can the industry feasibly ensure its success and long-term growth post-pandemic? We believe that growth and an environmentally sustainable industry are not mutually exclusive, but to achieve both, we need to start now. Aviation’s recovery and the benefits to the global economy SITA data shows that the industry’s recovery in 2022 is underway: in 2021, global air traffic was at 64% of pre-COVID levels for 2019, but still up 18% on figures for 2020. [...]

By Jose Ricardo Botelho* ALTA, the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association, is celebrating its 42nd anniversary When I joined ALTA in 2020, I took the leadership of a 40-year-old organization that had just completed a deep structural, identity and cultural transformation that would allow it to serve its members in a more agile way. A critical transformation that would prepare ALTA for two extremely challenging years. Since then, going through big challenges along with this team, taking risks, celebrating achievements, welcoming new colleagues, working closely on new ideas has been and is always a privilege. The daily commitment of everyone in the organization makes possible what we do and with deep proud I can state that since 2020 [...]

By Jeff Peet, Managing Editor, ALA News The unprecedented sanctions imposed by Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States on Russia have inflicted a major blow on the airline that never completely got rid of the hammer and sickle logo: more than half of its fleet is grounded In an almost unusual move in the industry, Aeroflot has permanently added an extensive Flight Cancellation and Rescheduling section to its website to deal with the difficult task of repatriating passengers In the event that financial resources are not made available by Vladimir Putin’s government, the company will not be able to face the crisis that has brought with it the extreme reduction of its network of destinations [...]

By Alexis von Hoensbroech - Linkedin Post Canada is home to 1.4 million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry who helped build this country and I believe it is our responsibility to take action The WestJet Group is diligently working with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Global Medic, and other groups to determine how we can facilitate the delivery of emergency supplies into Ukraine WestJet has also withdrawn from its interline partnership with Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline Over the past week, I, along with the rest of the world, have been devastated to witness the deplorable invasion of Ukraine. In many ways, these events are hard to fathom, as a war for territory is incredibly reminiscent of the 19th and 20th century which [...]