Source: ACI Europe With an increase in global decarbonisation targets, transportation has come under increased scrutiny, and in particular aviation. One solution that has been proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport is a modal shift from air to rail. This has already been encouraged both through massive investment in rail infrastructure and by bans and taxes on short-haul flights in certain countries, with potentially more to follow. However, a new study commissioned by European aviation associations and carried out by economics and finance consultancy Oxera, confirms that the extent to which rail travel can substitute for air travel is limited. The report, “Short-haul flying and sustainable connectivity", highlights the fact that the picture is far more complex than [...]

Source: TIACA In response to air cargo industry’s call for an industry-specific tool to measure and recognize their sustainability progress, The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announces the take-off of the BlueSky program, the industry’s first sustainability assessment, validation and verification program. The BlueSky Program is a tool that the air cargo industry can use to track their sustainability progress, benchmark against peers and accelerate the industry’s transformation. The BlueSky program, to be launched in phases, is a multi-tiered platform which renews every two years. Assessment Guidelines – the first tier, is a way for companies to begin their verification and validation through awareness and self-assessment. Desktop Verification – the second tier, begins with an online assessment and verification of [...]

Source: CANSO Arguably two of the biggest names in the aviation industry are lined up to speak at the CANSO Global Leadership Summit, sponsored by Indra, on 7 April. Juan Carlos Salazar, General Secretary of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will both join CANSO Director General Simon Hocquard to discuss the ways in which our industry navigates its way back into the post-COVID-19 world. In particular, Mr Salazar will discuss September’s ICAO Assembly and how that will address the biggest challenges facing the aviation industry today and in the future, while Willie will talk about what airlines need as they recover their businesses. Also on the agenda, representatives [...]

Source: FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration has named Billy Nolen to serve as acting FAA Administrator after FAA Administrator Steve Dickson departs at the end of March. Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims will also take on an expanded role during this interim period, focusing on the FAA's workforce and the nation's airports. Nolen is an experienced aviation safety professional and former airline captain. He has been the FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety since January, where he has led a team of more than 7,600 employees who oversee all aspects of aviation safety. "Billy Nolen has extensive expertise in aviation and a deep understanding of the vital role the FAA plays in ensuring the safety of the traveling [...]

Source: ALTA The Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) greets the resolution approved during the 24th General Assembly of the Latin-American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), which calls its 22 States members to consider the creation of regional policies that promote programs for the development of the production and the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The resolution includes a proposal of measures to achieve it: promote programs of SAF production (for example assurances of loans or subventions of capital), support the research and development of the supply chain in the production of SAF to reduce the costs and create an adequate regulatory framework to accelerate investments. “With enthusiasm we celebrate the resolution approved by LACAC States member, as it [...]

Source: UNWTO International tourism continued its recovery in January 2022, with a much better performance compared to the weak start to 2021. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine adds pressure to existing economic uncertainties, coupled with many Covid-related travel restrictions still in place. Overall confidence could be affected and hamper the recovery of tourism. Based on the latest available data, global international tourist arrivals more than doubled (+130%) in January 2022 compared to 2021 - the 18 million more visitors recorded worldwide in the first month of this year equals the total increase for the whole of 2021. While these figures confirm the positive trend already underway last year, the pace of recovery in January was impacted by the emergences of the Omicron [...]

Source: TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the award of two orders for a combined total value of up to $781.2 million to Analogic for the procurement and maintenance of base and full-size Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for carry-on items at TSA checkpoints. “These awards are another important step in enhancing aviation security” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske, “They provide our dedicated frontline officers with one of the best tools available to screen passenger carry-on items and also improves the passenger experience by allowing passengers to keep more items in their carry-on bags during the screening process.” The awards are one element in the larger effort to improve checkpoint security screening. The two orders were awarded to procure up to [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit will take place 19-21 June 2022 in Doha, Qatar, hosted by Qatar Airways. This will be the second time that the global gathering of aviation's top leaders will be held in Qatar; the first being in 2014. Originally, the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit were planned for the same dates in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, hosted by China Eastern Airlines. The decision to change the venue reflects continuing COVID-19 related restrictions on travel to China. "It is deeply disappointing that we are a not able to meet in Shanghai as planned. In the [...]

Source: EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published the world’s first guidance for the design of vertiports, the ground infrastructure needed for the safe operation of Urban Air Mobility services such as air taxis in locations across Europe, including in urban areas. The Prototype Technical Design Specifications for Vertiports offers guidance to urban planners and local decision-makers as well as industry to enable the safe design of vertiports that will serve these new types of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which are already at an advanced stage of development. “Urban air mobility is a completely new field of aviation and we therefore have a unique opportunity to develop a set of infrastructure requirements from scratch,” Patrick Ky, Executive [...]

Source: A4A Airlines for America’s (A4A) Board of Directors sent the following letter to the White House urging the lifting of predeparture testing requirements and the federal mask mandate: Download [215.94 KB]