Source: US DOT The U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of June and for the second quarter of 2022 for on-time performance, consumer complaints received, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. There was a 34.9% increase in air travel service complaints from May to June, and complaints are nearly 270 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. DOT remains committed to ensuring airline passengers are treated fairly and is concerned about recent flight cancellations and flight disruptions. The Department's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) is monitoring airlines' operations to [...]

Source: TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that Eebbers, an 11-year-old explosive detection canine who works at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in St. Paul, Minnesota, was voted the winner of TSA's 2022 Cutest Canine Contest. Last week, TSA held a nationwide social media contest on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and encouraged members of the public to vote for the agency's "cutest canine." Once all the votes were tallied, Eebbers emerged the winner. The contest was held in recognition of National Dog Day to acknowledge the important role TSA's hardworking canines play in protecting the nation's transportation system. Preliminary voting among TSA employees narrowed the field of 92 contenders to the final four canines. This year's winner was one of four TSA canine [...]

Source: ACI-LAC ACI-LAC invites all its members to its webinar "Preparing for a natural disaster." Latin America and the Caribbean is not only the most unequal region in the world, as indicated by the UNDP, but it is also the second most prone to natural disasters, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, an incidence that could increase due to climate change and environmental degradation, for this reason it is very important that as airports we are prepared to deal with emergencies of this type. Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Time: 10:00 AM (Panama / Quito / Bogota) Speakers:  María Elena Sandoval - ACI-LAC Advisor Fabio Salvatierra - AGA Regional Officer, ICAO South American Office Erick Gracia - Emergency Response Director, Governor [...]

Source: ALTA The event was participated by ALTA's Head of Safety, Virginio Corrieri The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), participated last Tuesday (17) in the Symposium "New vision of safety: Human Factor and communication in crisis management", promoted by Abrapavaa (Aviation Accident Victims' Families and Friends' Brazilian Association). The event was held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Association. Aiming to share experiences in critical situations through professionals working in the sector, ALTA's Head of Safety, Virginio Corrieri, participated in the symposium and highlighted the activities developed by ALTA to enable the development of a safer, more efficient and environmentally responsible air transport in the region. According to ALTA's Head of Safety, the event provided an [...]

Source: ALTA Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. (JET: NEO; JET.B: NEO; JETMF: OTCQB) and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announce that the Company’s operating subsidiary Global Crossing Airlines, Inc. has become a new associate member airline. Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. (JET: NEO; JET.B: NEO; JETMF: OTCQB) and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announce that the Company’s operating subsidiary Global Crossing Airlines, Inc. has become a new associate member airline. Known as GlobalX, the airline was founded in 2019 by a team of seasoned airline executives led by Ed Wegel, and began passenger operations in August 2021 with an Airbus A320 family fleet. GlobalX's business includes wet leasing and charter for passenger [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2022 World Financial Symposium (WFS) will focus on reshaping airline resilience. The event will take place from19-22 September in Doha, Qatar, with Qatar Airways as the host airline. Following the greatest shock to aviation in history, the industry is emerging rapidly from the pandemic and government-mandated travel restrictions of the past two years. Industry losses are expected to reduce to $9.7 billion this year from nearly $180 billion in red ink in 2020-21. As travel barriers fall in most regions, very strong demand is supporting expectations for a recovery to pre-COVID-19 traffic levels by 2024, with profitability a possibility in 2023. At the same time airline debt levels have soared [...]

Source: ICAO Directors-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and senior civil aviation officials from 26 States from across the Americas convened in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic last week to attend the ICAO-Singapore DGCA Programme on Aviation Resilience. Hosted by the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), this session represented the second delivery of the programme following its launch in Singapore in May 2022. Targeting the DGCAs of all ICAO Member States, this programme was created by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to accelerate the recovery of air services by improving alignment with international best practices. Subject matter expertise is provided by ICAO and CAAS executives and experts. The training reviews how States can structure their aviation sector and regulatory bodies [...]

Source: ALTA The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) is pleased to welcome JetSMART as a new member airline, a company founded in 2017 in Chile with an Ultra-Low-Cost model that is expanding its presence in the Latin American region, offering low-cost flights aboard its modern fleet. Just recently, JetSMART acquired an Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will enable it to expand its regional reach and capacity with 240 seats. In addition, this modern aircraft contributes to the airline's efforts in reducing its carbon footprint, emitting 25% less CO2 and being able to operate on biofuels. This model will be the backbone of the Ultra-Low-Cost, which expects to add three more aircraft in 2022. Going forward, JetSMART's plans include building a [...]

Source: ICAO ICAO has released its 2022 Safety Report, presenting a detailed analysis of global civil aviation safety performance for 2021 operations. Report results reveal a 9.8% decrease in the global accident rate for last year vs. 2020, dropping from 2.14 to 1.93 per million departures. Meanwhile 2021 fatalities fell by 66% against the number in 2020, though the number of accidents where fatalities occurred remained consistent at four. “These outcomes are very positive and encouraging, and reconfirm that air transport is the safest mode of transport even during the current global circumstances,” commented ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. “Scheduled commercial flight departures in 2021 increased by almost 11%, but even despite these millions of more flights amidst restart and [...]

Source: FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $2.7 million to support research on how drones can assist in disaster preparedness and in emergencies. "Every second counts in an emergency, and this funding will allow drones to safely and more quickly deploy in moments when minutes matter," said Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen. The research will explore the use of drones in providing effective and efficient responses to different natural and human-made disasters. It will address coordination procedures among drone operators from federal agencies as well as state and local disaster preparedness and emergency response organizations. The five universities and their award amounts are: University of Vermont $1,195,000 University of Alabama Huntsville $828,070 New Mexico State University $400,000 North [...]