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 [...]

By Nathalie Herbelles* - Courtesy of ACI There are many reasons why we must enhance the accessibility of airports to persons with disabilities. It is, first of all, a human imperative. Providing all individuals with full and effective access to society and with the freedom of movement are rights enshrined in the Untied Nation (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is also a societal issue. According to the World Health Organization, 15% of the world’s population has a disability. This number is increasing due to medical advances and growing life expectancies. Anyone of us can now expect to spend an average of eight years living with a disability. How many choose not to travel, or travel less, because it might [...]

By, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, ACI World Director General  While we opened the year with continuing headwinds due to the Omicron variant, we remain positive and hopeful that any new COVID-19-related challenges will be manageable bumps on the road to aviation's sustained long-term recovery. After two and a half years I was fortunate enough to be able to reconnect with my family in Brazil and celebrate the holidays together with my loved ones. Christmas, for those who celebrate it, has always been special, but after a very challenging 2021, this past Christmas felt even more meaningful. It truly emphasized the importance of spending quality time with family and friends—social interaction is critical for good health (both physical and mental) and [...]

By Luis Felipe de Oliveira* Just as many countries around the world were beginning to loosen their border restrictions, reports of a newly detected coronavirus variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organization (WHO), sent many of those doors slamming shut again last week. While public health remains the utmost priority, we must use the experience we have gained over the last two years to move to a coordinated data-driven approach that finds alternatives to travel bans and border closures. We call upon governments to coordinate to implement pragmatic and risk-based measures based on science. Furthermore, we continue to urge countries to work closely with aviation stakeholders—including airports and airlines—prior to and during the implementation of travel measures to facilitate [...]