Source: TSA 15 million vetted airline passengers now prefer to "travel with ease" Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced its TSA PreCheck® application program has surpassed 15 million active members, setting a new record for the program that began in December 2013. More than 19,200 individuals applied for TSA PreCheck membership on Feb. 21, 2023 – the highest for any single day in TSA's history. Thirty-two million travelers now benefit from TSA PreCheck expedited screening after being vetted though TSA PreCheck ®, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry or another federal vetting program. "TSA PreCheck is one of the most innovative, efficient and effective risk-based security solutions in the agency's 21-year history," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. "Today, TSA PreCheck [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and airlines are mounting a legal challenge to the Dutch government’s sudden decision to reduce Schiphol airport’s capacity. Schiphol Airport is already restricted to 500,000 flights annually. The government’s decree would renege on that agreement, reducing Schiphol connectivity to 460,000 flights from November 2023. IATA and the global airline community believe that this political decision by the Dutch government contravenes EU Regulation 598/2014 on noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports. It also disregards the Chicago Convention, a binding international agreement to which the Netherlands is a signatory. Annex 16 of the Convention contains provisions for The Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management which states are obligated to follow when taking measures to [...]

Source: ALPA Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president, Capt. Jason Ambrosi issued the following statement on the introduction of the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act): “The right to organize has been fundamental in advancing safety and quality of life improvements for workers across the country. ALPA pilots know first-hand the benefits of union membership and advocacy, and we stand in solidarity with those fighting for the right to collectively bargain. “We urge Congress to pass the PRO Act which will help promote an economy that works for all working families. All workers deserve fair opportunities to negotiate for better working conditions, wages, and a more secure retirement. The collective bargaining rights within the PRO [...]

Source: ALTA Dreaming, designing and building without limits are part of the premises of Collins Aerospace, a US technology corporation with more than 73,000 employees, including a workforce of more than 16,000 engineers, which today joins the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) as an affiliate member. Dreaming, designing and building without limits are part of the premises of Collins Aerospace, a US technology corporation with more than 73,000 employees, including a workforce of more than 16,000 engineers, which today joins the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) as an affiliate member. The company, which has around 300 operations centers around the world, faces the new challenges of the aviation industry with innovative solutions. An example [...]

Source: ATCEUC ATCEUC has been informed about the decision of Kingdom of Spain’s Secretary of State for Transport on the privatisation of the Air Traffic Control Towers of seven major Spanish Airports. This decision is based on E/CNMC/002/2018 ESTUDIO DE LOS SERVICIOS DE TRÁNSITO AÉREO EN ESPAÑA, a faulty report full of theoretical assumptions about an utopian ATC market that is too far from reality. Also, it is ignoring the fact that the current simultaneous provision of Tower and Approach Control Services by the same ATC Unit (ENAIRE) is more efficient than the proposed separation of these two infrastructural services. In fact, every ANSP that has segregated TWR and Approach Control units, has experienced at some point the need to [...]

Source: Canso Entitled Women in Aviation, a 50 minute session will see panellists explore why inclusion and diversity matter The opening day of Airspace World, the world’s largest gathering of the air traffic management industry, on March 8 is also International Women’s Day. To mark that occasion, a number of activities are taking place to showcase women’s contributions to aviation. Primary among these is a special panel discussion in the Boeing Theatre. Entitled Women in Aviation, the 50 minute session will see panellists explore why inclusion and diversity matter, and share some examples of good practice and success. They will also discuss why it’s so important to find, promote and include the best women and break through the glass ceiling. [...]

Source: ALPA Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG), parent company of Air Transport International (ATI), reported record profits once again. After nearly 1,000 days in negotiations, ATI pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), called on management to invest these profits in the professional pilots who make their success possible. “ATI pilots have earned the position as the largest Amazon carrier in the world by delivering superior reliability and service, often despite the lack of support by the Company. Through our efforts and professionalism, ATI and ATSG continue to record revenue and growth. It is imperative that we secure a new contract that reflects the contributions pilots make to the success of our company each day,” commented [...]

Source: FAA Larger security checkpoints, more reliable and faster baggage systems, better roadways and multimodal connections are just some of the improvements passengers will see Funding going to small, medium and large communities across the country With air traffic poised to reach or beat pre-pandemic levels this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding nearly $1 billion from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 99 airports of all shapes and sizes across the country. The funding helps meet the growing demand for air travel and invests in key areas to help get travelers in and out of airports more quickly and improve the passenger experience by investing in new baggage systems, larger security checkpoints and improved ground transportation. Other [...]

Source: IATA Key points: Industry-wide air passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers (RPKs), continued its steady recovery in December 2022 and for the full year. Passenger traffic recovered from 41.7% of 2019 volumes in 2021 to 68.5% in 2022. Meanwhile, global air cargo demand, measured by cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), continued to decline year-on-year (YoY) in the fourth quarter of 2022, falling 15.3% YoY in December. By December 2022, IATA's Global Air Connectivity Index, which measures connectivity as scheduled passenger capacity weighed by the relative economic scale of destinations served, had recovered to 74% of pre-pandemic levels for international connectivity and 87% for domestic connectivity. Airline financial performance continues to recover from the massive losses recorded in 2020 and our latest [...]

Source: TSA 6.316 discoveries in 761 million passengers screened in 2022 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) detected 50 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage in 2022. Every one of these firearms was discovered during the routine X-ray screening of carry-on property. Nationwide last year, TSA officers found 6,542 firearms at 262 different airports. “TSA officers at SMF in 2022 broke a record for the number of firearms discovered in travelers’ carry-on luggage at the security checkpoint, exceeding 2021 levels by a one firearm. This is not a record we wanted to break,” said TSA Federal Security Director for in Sacramento Sid Hanna. “Today, we are asking firearm owners to be more cautious and follow the simple [...]