Source: Chair of the House Committee on Transportationristchurch Airport Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) requested yesterday that Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio provide clarity on how airlines managed funds provided to them under the Payroll Support Program (PSP) and what effect these funds have had on airlines’ recent operational capabilities. Under the PSP program—which was created by the 2020 CARES Act and funded in subsequent COVID relief packages, including the American Rescue Plan—funds must be used exclusively to pay employee wages, salaries, and benefits. In their letter, DeFazio and Graves write, “We are aware that, without visibility into the timing of a recovery of [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released October 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued to be well above pre-crisis levels and that the capacity constraints have eased slightly. 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 October 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was up 9.4% compared to October 2019 (10.4% for international operations). Capacity constraints have eased slightly but remain 7.2% below pre-COVID-19 levels (October 2019) (-8.0% for international operations). Economic conditions continue to support air cargo growth but are slightly weaker than in the previous months. Several [...]

Source: US DOT The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released U.S. airlines’ October Fuel Cost and Consumption numbers. U.S. airlines used 1.28 billion gallons of fuel, 4.4% more fuel than in September but 17.3% less than in pre-pandemic October 2019. At $2.23, the cost per gallon of fuel in October 2021 was up 12.1% from September’s $1.99.   Fuel consumed by U.S. airlines scheduled service: October 2019:      1.54 billion gallons October 2020:      807 million gallons September 2021:  1.22 billion gallons October 2021:      1.28 billion gallons Fuel cost per gallon for U.S. airlines scheduled service: October 2019:       $1.97 October 2020:       $1.14 September 2021:   $1.99 October [...]

Source: ICAO In line with the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), ICAO issued a new global bulletin today urging a more measured and evidence-based approach to countries’ national air transport restrictions due to the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Until more detailed assessments are available, the UN aviation agency is encouraging countries to continue combatting the spread of COVID-19, and specifically the Omicron variant, using the recommendations and guidance contained in the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force’s (CART) Take-off Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis, in addition to the third edition of ICAO’s Manual on COVID-19 Cross-Border Risk Management. The new bulletin was issued under the authority of ICAO Secretary General [...]

Source: ICAO ICAO convened its first-ever international Symposium on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families today, providing an important platform to enhance global cooperation toward their care and treatment.   The three-day event is being hosted by Spain, and features the attendance and participation of its Secretary General for Transport and Mobility (MITMA), María José Rallo, its Director General of Civil Aviation, Raúl Medina Caballero, and its Representative on the ICAO Council, Víctor M. Aguado. Also in attendance will be dignitaries from the Government of the Canary Islands and Grand Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as well as ICAO's Secretary General, Juan Carlos Salazar, and other ICAO officials and experts.   In his welcome address, ICAO [...]