Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that air travelers are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions. A survey commissioned by IATA of 4,700 respondents in 11 markets in September demonstrated confidence that the risks of COVID-19 can be effectively managed and that the freedom to travel should be restored. 67% of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage-points from the June 2021 survey. 64% of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021). 73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions (up 6 percentage points from June [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Etihad Airways, Jazeera Airways, Jetstar, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian, will implement IATA Travel Pass in a phased rollout across the airlines' networks. These five airlines join Emirates Airline as IATA Travel Pass implementation pioneers. The announcement, made on the sidelines of the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting being held in Boston, follows eleven months of extensive testing by 76 airlines. "After months of testing, IATA Travel Pass is now entering the operational phase. The app has proven itself to be an effective tool to manage the complex mess of travel health credentials that governments require. And it's a great vote of confidence that some of the world's best [...]

Source: FAA Drone pilots with current Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates may now obtain near real-time authorizations to fly at night through FAA-approved providers of Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services. LAANC is an automated system for drone pilots requesting to fly below 400 feet in controlled airspace often found around airports. Drone pilots need FAA approval prior to flying in controlled airspace. In addition to the near real-time night authorizations, drone pilots will have more areas they can fly in since the FAA has divided the airspace into smaller segments. Since April 2021, while LAANC providers updated their software, Part 107 pilots were able to operate in controlled airspace at night with a valid LAANC daytime authorization and an authorization letter from [...]

Source: ACI 'Claims made about the airport industry are out of context and don't reflect the efforts made by airports to support the aviation ecosystem', said Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of Airports Council International. In response to statements made at the Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding airport charges, ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira gave the following comments: "After a period that saw unprecedented collaboration and unity of airports and airlines in surviving this crisis and rebuilding passenger confidence, it is disappointing to hear this tone of statements coming from IATA. Claims made about the airport industry are out of context and don't reflect the efforts made by airports to [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the winners of the 2nd edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards: Inspirational Role Model: Harpreet A. de Singh, Executive Director, Air India High Flyer Award: Lalitya Dhavala, Aviation Engineering Consultant, McLarens Aviation Diversity & Inclusion Team: All Nippon Airways (ANA) "The caliber of this year's nominations shows the determination of the aviation industry to successfully address the challenges and embrace the opportunities of diversity and inclusion. And this has in no way been diminished by the COVID-19 crisis. The work done by all the nominees is an inspiration for all advocates of diversity across the industry. The prizes are being awarded to three well-deserving recipients, but the true winner [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirmed that Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, will continue his duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors until the conclusion of the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting in Shanghai (19-21 June 2022). Hayes began his duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors at the conclusion of IATA’s 76th AGM in November 2020. Due to interruptions in the cycle of governance meetings as a result of the pandemic, Hayes’ mandate was extended beyond the normal one-year (AGM to AGM) cycle. IATA announced that Pegasus Airlines CEO Mehmet Tevfik Nane is Chair-elect of the IATA Board of Governors and will begin a one-year term as Board Chair at the conclusion [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that planned increases in charges by airports and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) will stall recovery in air travel and damage international connectivity. Confirmed airport and ANSP charges increases have already reached $2.3 billion. Further increases could be ten fold this number if proposals already tabled by airports and ANSPs are granted. "A $2.3 billion charges increase during this crisis is outrageous. We all want to put COVID-19 behind us. But placing the financial burden of a crisis of apocalyptic proportions on the backs of your customers, just because you can, is a commercial strategy that only a monopoly could dream up. At an absolute minimum, cost reduction—not charges increases—must be [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 77th Annual General Meeting approved a resolution for the global air transport industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This commitment will align with the Paris Agreement goal for global warming not to exceed 1.5°C. "The world's airlines have taken a momentous decision to ensure that flying is sustainable. The post-COVID-19 re-connect will be on a clear path towards net zero. That will ensure the freedom of future generations to sustainably explore, learn, trade, build markets, appreciate cultures and connect with people the world over. With the collective efforts of the entire value chain and supportive government policies, aviation will achieve net zero emissions by 2050," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director [...]