Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the decision by the Biden Administration to enable vaccinated travelers to enter the US with a negative COVID-19 test result prior to travel from early November. Importantly, this supersedes the so-called 212f restrictions which prevented anyone from entering the US if they had been in 33 specific countries including the UK, Ireland, all Schengen countries, Brazil, South Africa, India, and China within the last 14 days. “Today’s announcement is a major step forward. Allowing access to the US for those vaccinated will open travel to the US for many who have been locked out for the past 18 months. This is excellent news for families and loved ones who have suffered [...]

Source: US DOT The 23 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.1% more full-time equivalents (FTEs) in July 2021 than in June 2021: July’s total number of FTEs (402,561) was up 8,263 from June (394,298) and down 54,699, a 12.0% drop from the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 (457,260) and a 10.5% drop from the most recent pre-pandemic corresponding month, July 2019. July 2021 was the lowest FTE total for the month of July since 2015 (396,503). The largest increase in passenger airlines employees came from Delta Airlines adding 6,413 FTEs. In July 2021, scheduled passenger airlines employed 56% of the total airline industry FTEs, which includes cargo and charter carriers. In pre-pandemic March 2020, scheduled passenger airlines employed [...]

Source: US DOT Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a notice to the Federal Register of its intention to identify a single low-cost or ultra-low cost carrier to operate 16 peak afternoon and evening runway timings at Newark-Liberty International Airport (EWR). The action comes on the heels of a DC Circuit Court ruling and President Biden’s Executive Order Promoting Competition in the American Economy that instructs federal agencies to take action to lower prices for families, increase wages for workers, and promote innovation and faster economic growth. “Opening up more slots at Newark to lower cost carriers will provide air travelers with more choices and lower prices,” Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg said. “DOT’s action today is part of [...]

Source: US DOT   U.S. airlines carried 207% more scheduled service passengers in July 2021 than in July 2020 (preliminary) but 15% fewer passengers than in pre-pandemic July 2019, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 24 airlines that carry more than 90% of passengers.   The large airlines carried 73.4 million passengers in July 2021 (preliminary), compared to 23.9 million passengers in July 2020, which was the lowest monthly total in BTS records dating back to 1974.  The previous low was 14.6 million passengers in February 1975. In the most recent corresponding month before the COVID-19 pandemic, July 2019, U.S. airlines carried 86.5 million passengers.     Preliminary July 2021 passenger numbers (22 carriers [...]

Source: ALPA The JetBlue Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) today announced it has elected officers to lead the more than 4,100 JetBlue pilots. The voting members of the JetBlue MEC elected Capt. Chris Kenney, chair; Capt. Brian Dirlam, vice chair; and Capt. Justin Houck, secretary-treasurer to two-year terms starting Nov. 1, 2021. This slate of officers will lead the pilot group as it enters into negotiations for its second collective bargaining agreement. The pilots’ current contract, signed in August 2018, becomes amendable in July 2022. Since 2018, the pilot group has grown by more than 500 pilots and the airline has expanded to overseas destinations as its first flights to London from New [...]

Source: ICAO World leading aviation security and counter-terrorism experts exchanged views and expertise at the ICAO Global Aviation Security Symposium 2021 (AVSEC2021) last week, providing a crucial forum for an international exchange on means to mitigate evolving threats to the international civil aviation network as the system begins its COVID-19 recovery. The three-day event was a unique occasion to take stock of the opportunities and challenges inherent in carrying on or resuming operations in the midst of a global pandemic, where health measures have become a critical piece of the aviation puzzle. Discussions focused on a broad array of challenges to keep employees and passengers safe, mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and respond to dramatic shifts in air [...]

Source: US DOT   U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported a second-quarter 2021 after-tax net profit of $1.0 billion despite a pre-tax operating loss of $3.6 billion. The second-quarter results represent the first quarterly profit since the fourth quarter of 2019, the last quarter before the COVID-19 pandemic began. In the second quarter of 2021, the airlines reduced their first-quarter losses by 124%. The second-quarter after-tax net profit of $1.0 billion was a $5.2 billion net change from the first-quarter loss of $4.2 billion. The second-quarter pre-tax operating loss of $3.6 billion was a $9.1 billion reduction from the first-quarter loss of $12.7 billion. U.S. airline financial reports are filed quarterly with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). See the tables [...]

Source: ACI Airports Council International (ACI) World has today congratulated Changi Airport in Singapore for being the first in the Asia-Pacific region to successfully complete the Airport Health Measures Audit Program. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to dramatically affect passenger traffic at airports around the world but, as the industry begins the long road to recovery, a commitment to the health and welfare of travellers, staff and the public is key. The Airport Health Measures Audit Program – developed in partnership with Bureau Veritas – supports airports by addressing their specific risks and reassuring passengers through an on-site audit of their health measures. By successfully completing the audit, Changi Airport has demonstrated compliance with a harmonized set of measures, aligned with the [...]

Source: US DOT The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it will offer $482.3 million in funding to 313 businesses, under a new jobs-saving program created as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan. The funding announced today will go to companies based in 37 states and Puerto Rico, helping protect as many as 22,500 jobs nationwide. “For the past year and a half, our aviation industry workers have helped keep this economy moving, including by supporting the delivery of lifesaving medical equipment and vaccines,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The funding announced today will save jobs and support the workers who have supported us throughout the pandemic.” Before the pandemic, the aerospace industry was estimated [...]