Source: US DOT U.S. airlines carried 9% more cargo by weight in March 2021 (preliminary) than in March 2020. The rise was fueled by gains of nearly 4% in domestic cargo and 24% in international cargo, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 12 of the leading U.S. cargo airlines. March 2020 was the first month in which the pandemic started affecting air cargo totals. The 12 airlines carry 95% of the total cargo by weight transported on U.S. airlines. Cargo data consists of freight and mail carried within the U.S. and between the U.S. and foreign points. March 2021 (preliminary) air cargo numbers for 12 U.S. cargo carriers: Total: 1,582 thousand tons, up 8.7% [...]

Source: ICAO While participating in the high-level opening panel discussion at the International Transport Forum’s Summit 2021 event earlier today, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu responded to questions on whether pandemic effects on air transport were likely to persist, on the role of governments in building back better in terms of innovation and sustainability, and on what ICAO has been learning from its emissions reduction Stocktaking Seminars in terms of near-term solutions – especially in the area of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Following introductory remarks by Irish Minister of Transport, Eamon Ryan, German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Andreas Scheuer, and ITF Secretary General, Young Tae Kim, the panel’s attention focused on the theme of Innovation in [...]

Source: ITF Latest projections presented at global summit of transport ministers Global transport activity will more than double by 2050, and traffic emissions will rise by 16% compared to 2015 - even if existing commitments to decarbonise transport are fully implemented. Any currently expected emissions reductions will be more than offset by the increased demand for transport. However, transport CO2 emissions can be cut by almost 70% over the 2015-50 period with the right policies. A reduction of this magnitude will bring the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5˚C into reach. It requires to: put in place ambitious low-carbon policies now; reinforce positive behavioural changes caused by the pandemic gear stimulus packages towards decarbonisation. These [...]

Source: US DOT The 23 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 0.3% fewer full-time equivalents (FTEs) in March 2021 than in February 2021: March’s total number of FTEs (395,063) was down 1,126 from February (396,189) and down 66,534, a 14.4% drop from the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 (461,597). March 2021 was the lowest FTE total for the month of March since 2015 (390,817). The decline from February resulted from United Airlines reduction of 6,158 FTEs. Other passenger airlines combined reported an increase in FTEs from February to March. Scheduled passenger airlines employed 60% of the total airline industry FTEs in March 2021, down from 63% in March 2020. Total industry includes cargo and charter. Regulations require U.S. airlines [...]

Source: ICAO Highlighting that efficient vaccine distribution and the sustainable recovery of air transport require extensive and global public-private cooperation, ICAO and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) have issued a new joint statement confirming several key areas of future cooperation on common priorities. The new statement was formalized last week by the respective ICAO and ICC Secretaries General, Dr. Fang Liu and Mr. John W.H. Denton AO. It acknowledges the central role of international aviation in global economic and social development and international business, and stresses both parties’ commitment to implement the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force’s (CART) guidance and recommendations. “The ICAO CART documentation provides the international foundation for aviation response and recovery”, Dr. Liu explained. “By [...]

Source: US FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today proposed civil penalties ranging from $9,000 to $52,500 against four airline passengers for allegedly interfering with and, in one case, assaulting flight attendants who instructed them to obey cabin crew instructions and various federal regulations. The cases are as follows: $52,500 against a passenger on a Dec. 23, 2020, Delta Air Lines flight from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Seattle, Wash. The FAA alleges that the passenger tried to open the cockpit door, repeatedly refused to comply with crew members’ instructions, and physically assaulted a flight attendant by striking him in the face and pushing him to the floor. The passenger then threatened the flight attendant by charging at him as he was trying to [...]

Source: US FAA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of more than $898.9 million in infrastructure and safety projects through the FY2021 Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This total includes $113.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to award all grants at a 100-percent federal share. “Investing in our nation’s infrastructure is how our country helped spark an aviation industry that now supports millions of jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “These Airport Improvement Program grants will help modernize America’s airports and ensure that our air transportation system remains the safest and most efficient in the world.” Grant projects funded through the Airport Improvement Program promote safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, and security at [...]

Source: US DOT U.S. airlines carried almost 10% more scheduled service passengers in March 2021 than in March 2020 (preliminary), the first year-over-year increase since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 22 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. The reporting airlines carried 42.6 million passengers in March 2021 (preliminary), compared to 38.9 million passengers in March 2020. The systemwide increase was driven by a 14% increase in the number of domestic passengers (39.2M). Over the same period, the number of international passengers (3.4M) declined by 26%, the smallest year-over-year decline since February 2020. March 2020 was the first month in which airline travel [...]