Source: ICAO Delegates during the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 19th Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) Symposium, which took place last week at the organization's Montréal headquarters, emphasized the urgent need to accelerate implementation of aviation facilitation strategies. "The depth of expertise and innovation shared here has reaffirmed the strength of our partnerships," remarked Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General. "Together, we are building a future of seamless, accessible, and reliable global mobility." The four-day event, which brought together over 600 participants from 76 States and 6 international organizations, underscored the importance of aligning global regulatory frameworks with cutting-edge technology. By doing so, the aviation community aims to improve the passenger journey while maintaining robust security and facilitation standards. Fittingly, it [...]

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) condemned a decision by the Spanish government to override European law, remove cabin baggage fees for passengers in Spain and fine airlines EUR 179 million. The move undermines freedom of pricing which is fundamental to consumer choice and competition, a principle that has been long upheld by the European Court of Justice. “This is an appalling decision. Far from protecting the consumer interest, this is a slap in the face of travelers who want choice. Prohibiting all airlines from charging for cabin bags means that the cost will be automatically priced into all tickets. What’s next? Forcing all hotel guests to pay for breakfast? Or charging everyone to pay for the coat-check [...]