Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has developed industry standards which will bring the aim of having travelers arrive at airports ready-to-fly one step closer to reality. The newly released Recommended Practice on Digitalization of Admissibility will enable travelers to digitally prove admissibility to an international destination, avoiding a stop at the check-in desk or boarding gate for document checks.   Under the One ID initiative airlines are working with IATA to digitalize the passenger experience at airports with contactless biometric-enabled processes. Programs are already in use in various airports enabling travelers to move through airport processes such as boarding without producing paper documentation because their boarding pass is linked to a biometric identifier. But in many cases travelers would [...]

Source: US DOT The U.S. Department of Transportation released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of September 2022 and 3rd quarter 2022 numbers (nine months data) for on-time performance, consumer complaints received, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. There was a 15.6% decrease in air travel service complaints from August to September; however, complaints are more than 380% above pre-pandemic levels in September 2019. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. DOT remains committed to ensuring airline passengers are treated fairly and is concerned about recent flight cancellations and flight disruptions. During the summer, the Department rolled out a new airline customer [...]

Source: CAPA Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Carlos Holguín signed an Open Skies Agreement between the two countries. Open Skies Air Transport agreements establish legal frameworks for international air transport to facilitate growth of an efficient, market-based international civil aviation system. This bilateral Open Skies Agreement enables the expansion of passenger and cargo flights between Ecuador and the United States, thereby promoting increased travel and trade, and ultimately spurring high quality job opportunities and economic growth. The two sides have been applying the terms of the agreement on the basis of comity and reciprocity since the negotiations concluded in December 2021. The agreement will enter into force upon a further exchange of diplomatic notes. [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the recovery in air travel continued in October. Total traffic in October 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 44.6% compared to October 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 74.2% of October 2019 levels. Domestic traffic for October 2022 slipped 0.8% compared to the year-ago period as stringent COVID-related travel restrictions in China dampened global figures. Total October 2022 domestic traffic was at 77.9% of the October 2019 level. Domestic forward bookings remain at around 70% of pre-pandemic level. International traffic climbed 102.4% versus October 2021. October 2022 international RPKs reached 72.1% of October 2019 levels with all markets recording strong growth, led by Asia-Pacific. Forward bookings for international travel increased [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for October 2022 global air cargo markets showing that headwinds continue to affect air cargo demand. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), fell 13.6% compared to October 2021 (-13.5% for international operations). Capacity was 0.6% below October 2021. This was the first year-on-year contraction since April 2022, however, month-on-month capacity increased by 2.4% in preparation for the year-end peak season. International cargo capacity grew 2.4% compared to October 2021. Several factors in the operating environment should be noted: New export orders, a leading indicator of cargo demand, are shrinking in all markets except China and South Korea, which registered slightly higher new export orders in October. Latest global goods [...]

Source: US DOT FAA strengthens supply chain by providing $174M to $330M project that can de-ice 12 wide-body aircraft simultaneously Ice and snow will be no match for packages this winter at a key air cargo airport and sorting center. Federal, state, local and business leaders today marked the completion of 3.3 million-square-foot de-icing pads at Memphis International Airport, home to FedEx's largest air cargo sorting facility. The pads are large enough to de-ice 12 wide-body cargo aircraft simultaneously, which will help get goods where they need to go quicker and more efficiently this holiday season. The FAA invested $174 million to help make this project a reality. "This holiday season and every season, it's critical that American families and [...]

Source: TSA The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released its annual calendar, which honors the agency's more than 1,000 explosives detection canines working in the United States. TSA's 2022 Cutest Canine Contest winner, Eebbers, is featured on the cover of the 2023 TSA Canine Calendar. Eebbers, now retired, is an 11-year-old explosives detection canine who worked at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. He was named in memory of 19-year-old U.S. Army Pvt. James Ebbers who passed away on Oct. 14, 2002, in Djibouti, Africa, while assigned to the 551st Military Police Company, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. TSA uses canines as part of its multi-layered security operations nationwide. These highly skilled dogs are trained to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials and are paired with handlers [...]

Source: EUROCONTROL The 41 EUROCONTROL Member States have entrusted the Organisation with a new task – the creation of voluntary solidarity funds in support of Member States in air traffic crisis situations due to reasons beyond their control. The Member States also asked the Agency to establish and manage two specific funds, one in the form of a donation to Ukraine and Moldova of 46.5M€ and one in the form of a loan of 46.1M€ to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The funds will be used to cover staff and training costs as well as any other costs needed to ensure operational readiness and continuity when air traffic recovers. Eamonn Brennan, Director General of EUROCONTROL said “We are all aware of [...]