Source: ALPA The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) issued the following statement today after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin about the potential adverse effects that 5G signals could have on radio altimeters. “The FAA guidance provided in the bulletin is a step in the right direction to maintain flight safety once 5G signals begin broadcasting on December 5, 2021, and we thank the agency for taking that step. However, once transmissions begin, the FAA may have to impose additional restrictions on flight operations to maintain safety due to inadequate requirements on 5G that limit interference with radio altimeters. “We urge the Federal Communications Commission to bring mobile wireless representatives to the table with the [...]

Source: Transport Canada The Government of Canada is prioritizing the health and safety of all people in Canada by continuing to take a risk-based and measured approach to re-opening the border. Canada’s phased approach to easing border measures is informed by the available data and scientific evidence, including the vaccination rate of Canadians, and the improving epidemiological situation. The strict vaccine travel requirements that will be fully phased in by November 30, and the pan-Canadian proof of vaccination credential now available for travel, are creating opportunities for safe travel for vaccinated Canadians. As a next step in increasing travel opportunities, Transport Canada is easing the restriction on international flight arrivals. The department is expanding the scope of the existing Notice [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a moderate rebound in air travel in September 2021 compared to August’s performance. This was driven by recovery in domestic markets, in particular China, where some travel curbs were lifted following the COVID-19 outbreaks in August. International demand, meanwhile, slipped slightly compared to the previous month. Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to September 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern.   Total demand for air travel in September 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.4% compared to September 2019. This marked an uptick from August, when demand was 56.0% below [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released September 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued to be well above pre-crisis levels and that capacity constraints persist. As comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted, all comparisons below are to September 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was up 9.1% compared to September 2019 (9.4% for international operations). Capacity remains constrained at 8.9% below pre-COVID-19 levels (September 2019) (-12% for international operations). Several factors impacting global air cargo demand should be noted: Supply chain disruptions and the resulting delivery delays have led to long supplier delivery [...]

Source: ICAO During its latest meeting, the 36 States of the ICAO Governing Council recognized the G20’s latest calls “to restart international travel in a safe and orderly manner,” and consistent with the work of ICAO, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other relevant international organizations. In the meeting, which was taking place as part of the Council’s ongoing 224th Session, ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano drew special attention to how the G20 calls were very closely aligned with the recent Ministerial Declaration by ICAO Member States at its High-level Conference on COVID-19 (HLCC). “Whether with respect to its consideration of the primacy of national public health policies, or its focus on matters regarding testing, vaccination, and the need for [...]

Source: ACI New Airports Council International (ACI) World data shows that the lasting adverse impact of the COVID-19 crisis is forecast to remove an additional 5.2 billion passengers by the end of this year compared to the pre-COVID-19 forecast for 2021. Despite recent positive news of certain markets re-opening their borders, global passenger traffic in 2021 is still expected to reach only half of what it was in 2019, with total traffic for 2021 forecast to be only 4.6 billion of the 9.2 billion passengers served two years ago. Domestic passenger traffic continues to recover faster than the international market expecting to reach more than 3.1 billion passengers by the end of the year, a level corresponding to 58.5% of [...]

Source: UNWTO At the start of a crucial week for global governance, tourism’s relevance will be part of the discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), just as it was in Rome when G20 leaders met to coordinate plans for sustainable and inclusive recovery. In Italy, UNWTO succeeded in placing tourism’s importance in the spotlight. The leaders of some of the world’s biggest economies endorsed the G20 Rome Guidelines for the Future of Tourism, committing themselves to taking action to fulfil its objectives, particularly to accelerate the return of safe and seamless travel and the digital transformation of the sector. The G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration states: “We will continue to support a rapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of [...]

Source: ICAO Recognizing that aviation and tourism are critical tools in the environmental, economic, and social development of countries in every world region, ICAO and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) formalized a new Memorandum of Understanding today. Signed by ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano, and by UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the new agreement aims to strengthen the relationship between air transport and tourism in research, policy and management areas, improve coordination on efficient border management priorities, and support travel and tourism recovery and transformation in light of climate change imperatives. It will also address improved coordination on technical and policy advice for countries, as well as joint advocacy, events, and fundraising efforts. "This agreement is an important step to [...]

Source: TIACA The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has launched an initiative to attract members from the United Nations designated least developed countries. As part of our commitment to Sustainability, the Board of Directors have approved a discount on membership dues for companies headquartered in one of the countries identified as least developed by the UN. A key mandate from our membership has been to focus on Sustainability. In addition, our industry must reflect the global society of which it serves. This initiative shows our commitment to equal opportunities for all by providing access to air cargo companies within these countries to the TIACA global membership and programs. “We talk a lot about People, Planet and Prosperity, with this initiative [...]