Harmonizing Air Travel Policy | Anuvu Finalist for Crystal Cabin Awards | Gogo Financial Report | Boeing News | OneWeb Personnel Changes

Global Policy Will Remove Headaches From International Travel

Led by Saudi Arabia, the Harmonizing Air Travel policy will transform the traveler experience by creating a single, trusted source of information on entry requirements for international travelers

The global aviation policy has been developed in cooperation with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
The Harmonizing Air Travel policy seeks to boost the recovery of the global aviation sector
The policy framework was unveiled at the Kingdom’s inaugural Future Aviation Forum and will be formally presented at the 41^st ICAO General Assembly later in 2022

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced the Harmonising Air Travel policy, a framework that will make international travel simpler, easier and more enjoyable by removing the confusion over travel requirements currently discouraging millions of people from booking flights.

Designed in cooperation with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the proposed framework will eradicate international travel confusion for passengers, carriers and governments by creating a single, clear, up-to-date online resource setting out requirements for entry to all participating countries.

The policy will be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) General Assembly with the objective of receiving approval from Member States in October of this year.

GACA President HE Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Duailej said: “The pandemic exposed how disconnected the world really is. Our research shows that many people chose not to travel in 2021 – and will not travel in 2022 – because of confusing health requirements to get from country to country. We are delighted to launch the Harmonizing Air Travel policy, a proposed framework that will unify and strengthen our industry by enabling it to navigate future health crises.

“Aviation is the lifeblood of the global economy, and it is crucial to safeguard it from future disruption. The Harmonizing Air Travel policy framework demonstrates the leadership role Saudi Arabia is taking to ensure that the sector thrives in the years to come.”

According to recent YouGov research, currently 32 percent of Americans, 47 percent of people in the Gulf, 40 percent of people in Italy and 40 percent of people in the UK say confusion over health requirements will prevent them from traveling in 2022.

The policy will create a harmonized international reporting mechanism for health crises using purpose-built digital communications tools, world-class governance and coordination processes, and a system that will facilitate universal compliance, such as a globally-recognized Digital Health certificate.

As a result, travelers will have access to clear guidelines and requirements needed to get from origin to arrival. The universal platform will be able to integrate all existing international aviation and government-to-government health crises communication systems.

The Harmonizing Air Travel policy white paper was launched at the inaugural Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh. Hosted by GACA, global leaders, aviation heads and regulators convened to find solutions to the sector’s greatest challenges – including passenger experience, sustainability and business recovery post-COVID.

Saudi Arabia aims to become the Middle East’s pre-eminent aviation hub. Its’ transport and logistics sector, a major pillar of the Vision 2030 economic transformation plan, is undergoing rapid development. The Kingdom aims to generate 356 billion SAR – or just under $100 billion USD – in investment into its aviation sector by 2030.

Anuvu Named A Finalist In The Crystal Cabin Awards 2022

Anuvu, a provider of high-speed connectivity and entertainment solutions for demanding worldwide mobility markets, announced that it has been named a Crystal Cabin Awards finalist in the category IFEC & Digital Services in partnership with Southwest Airlines for its new, ground-breaking connectivity solution enabling airlines to deliver the high-speed in-flight internet passengers’ demand.

“It’s an honor to be named a finalist in the prestigious Crystal Cabin Awards and highlighted among leading industry solutions that elevate the passenger experience as showcased in the free Wi-Fi trial currently underway with Southwest Airlines,” said Mike Pigott, Executive Vice President of Connectivity at Anuvu. “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Southwest Airlines for over a decade.”

“This recognition represents Anuvu’s commitment to innovation and marks their newest technology solution that will enhance the inflight connectivity experience for our passengers.” said Tony Roach, VP of Customer Experience and Customer Relations at Southwest Airlines..

The Crystal Cabin Awards, an initiative of cluster Hamburg Aviation, is presented in eight categories: “Cabin Concepts”, “Cabin Systems”, “Health & Safety”, “IFEC & Digital Services”, “Material & Components”, “Passenger Comfort”, “Sustainable Cabin”, and “University”. For each category, the 28 expert members of the jury select three finalists, who are invited to pitch their concepts to the jury in person at Aircraft Interiors Expo. The winners of the 2022 Crystal Cabin Award will be announced at a gala dinner in Hamburg on the evening of June 14.

Gogo Announces Record First Quarter Results and Updates 2022 Guidance

First Quarter Revenue of $92.8 million, up 26% Year-over-Year, Net Income from Continuing Operations of $22.2 million, and Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾of $42.8 million also up 26% Year-over-Year
Gogo 5G on Track for Commercial Launch in the Second Half of 2022

Q1 2022 Highlights

Record total revenue of $92.8 million increased 26% compared to Q1 2021 fueled by strong growth in both service and equipment revenue.
- Record service revenue of $70.7 million increased 19% compared to Q1 2021 and 2% compared to Q4 2021.
- Equipment revenue of $22.1 million increased 52% compared to Q1 2021 and decreased 4% compared to Q4 2021.
Total ATG aircraft online (“AOL”) reached 6,526, an increase of 11% compared to Q1 2021 and 2% compared to Q4 2021.
- Total AVANCE units online grew to 2,699, an increase of 42% compared to Q1 2021 and 8% compared to Q4 2021. AVANCE units comprised more than 41% of total AOL as of March 31, 2022, up from 32% as of March 31, 2021.
Average Monthly Revenue per ATG aircraft online (“ARPU”) of $3,321 increased 8% compared to Q1 2021 and 1% compared to Q4 2021.
Net income from continuing operations increased to $22.2 million from a net loss of $5.9 million in Q1 2021, primarily due to lower interest expense and higher operating income compared to the prior year period, as well as a loss on settlement of convertible notes of $4.4 million recognized in Q1 2021.
- Basic earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.20. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.18.
Record Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ of $42.8 million increased 26% compared to Q1 2021 and 8% compared to Q4 2021.
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations of $17.9 million in Q1 2022 decreased from $24.6 million in the prior year period primarily due to the timing of interest payments.
- Free Cash Flow⁽¹⁾was $8.8 million compared to $23.9 million in the prior year period due to the timing of interest payments and an increase in capital expenditures primarily tied to Gogo 5G.
- Cash and cash equivalents totaled $152.8 million as of March 31, 2022 compared to $145.9 million as of December 31, 2021.

“Given the continued unprecedented demand for connectivity in business aviation coupled with the strong performance of our supply chain management team, we have increased our projection for ATG equipment unit shipments to 1,300 in 2022, up nearly 50% year over year versus prior expectations for 25% growth,” said Oakleigh Thorne, Chairman and CEO of Gogo. “We remain on track for commercial deployment of our 5G ATG network in the second half of 2022.”

“Strong first quarter results and our increased 2022 guidance provide a solid foundation for generating significant Free Cash Flow growth in 2023 and beyond,” said Barry Rowan, Gogo’s Executive Vice President and CFO. “Our financial performance and continued de-leveraging also create the flexibility for strategic investments to further enhance our growth and return of capital to shareholders over time.”

Boeing Names Northern Virginia Office Its Global Headquarters; Establishes Research & Technology Hub

DC-area location is close to Boeing’s global customers and stakeholders
Boeing will develop a research & technology hub in Virginia to harness and attract engineering talent; hub to join the company’s global engineering network

Boeing announced that its Arlington, Virginia campus just outside Washington, D.C. will serve as the company’s global headquarters. The aerospace and defense firm’s employees in the region support various corporate functions and specialize in advanced airplane development and autonomous systems. In addition to designating Northern Virginia as its new headquarters, Boeing plans to develop a research & technology hub in the area to harness and attract engineering and technical capabilities.

Also from Boeing:

Lufthansa Group Selects New 777-8 Freighter, Orders Additional 787s

Lufthansa Group becomes first European customer for the 777-8 Freighter
Orders additional 787s and 777 Freighters
Industry’s most capable and fuel-efficient twin-engine airplanes will help Group reach its target of halving CO2 emissions across its network by 2030

Boeing and the Lufthansa Group announced the airline group will continue its strategic decision to strengthen Lufthansa Cargo with an order for seven 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter.

The Group has also placed a new order for two 777 Freighters to add to its cargo fleet, providing extra cargo capacity in the near-term until the delivery of its first 777-8 Freighter.

In addition, the Lufthansa Group continues to accelerate the modernization of its long-haul passenger fleet with a new purchase of seven 787-9s. The order for more 787s brings Lufthansa Group’s total order book for the 787 Dreamliner to 32 firm orders. The Group also is a launch customer for the 777X passenger airplane, with 20 firm orders.

“The continuous modernization of Lufthansa Group’s long-haul fleet is one of our top priorities. Therefore, we are very pleased to further invest into the newest generation of Boeing aircraft. The purchase will complement our existing orders and further reduce our operating costs, enhance fuel efficiency and provide state-of-the-art customer experiences. Moreover, the purchase highlights our commitment towards enhancing sustainable aviation,” said Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Boeing launched the new 777-8 Freighter in January and has already booked 34 firm orders for the model. With advanced technology from the new 777X family and proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter, the 777-8 Freighter offers the highest payload and the lowest fuel use, emissions and operating cost per tonne of any large freighter.

“With the selection of our newest freighter, Lufthansa continues its long history of firsts with Boeing airplane programs, becoming the first European customer for the 777-8 Freighter,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “With the investment in the 777 and 787 fleet, the Lufthansa Group will operate the most advanced, fuel-efficient twin-engine airplanes in the industry. Each of these airplanes reduces emissions by 15 to 25% compared to previous models with a noise footprint up to 50% smaller than their predecessors, helping to advance the Lufthansa Group’s sustainability objectives.”

The 777-8 Freighter is ideally suited for operators creating a more sustainable and profitable future. With nearly identical payload and range capabilities, 30% better fuel efficiency and emissions and 25% better operating costs per tonne, the 777-8 Freighter will be the ideal choice as operators replace aging freighters later this decade.

The 2021 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook projects a 70% increase in the global freighter fleet by 2040, including approximately 450 new large widebody freighters such as the new 777-8 Freighter and 777 Freighter. First delivery of the 777-8 freighter is anticipated in 2027.

Built with lightweight composite materials and powered by advanced engines and a suite of environmentally progressive technologies, the 787 family has an airport-noise footprint that is 60% smaller than the previous generation of airplanes, making it ideal for Lufthansa Group airport communities.

OneWeb Expands Mobility Team With Senior Aviation and Land Appointments

New business aviation role for Jason Sperry
Drew Brandy leads Land mobility
Mobility Marketing role for Nick Maynard

OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, has strengthened its Mobility team under VP Mobility Services Ben Griffin with a trio of experienced professionals – in the UK and USA. OneWeb is ramping up its work to deliver high-speed, unparalleled low latency, reliable connectivity across all mobility platforms, including commercial and business aviation, land and marine.

OneWeb’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of over 600 satellites will connect people everywhere, on land, at sea and in the air. Its ambition is to facilitate “a connectivity experience that is limited only by the users’ imagination, not the available bandwidth.”

“I’m very pleased to be adding to my team with these three stellar professionals,” said Ben Griffin, OneWeb VP Mobility Services. “Together, we are working on some exciting strategies and partnerships that will disrupt the mobility connectivity market for years to come. We are focused on driving these forward and sharing our news over the next few months.”

Jason Sperry appointed Director – Business aviation

Jason Sperry joins OneWeb as Director, Business Aviation, based out of Melbourne, Florida. Sperry brings a wealth of experience from the IFC service provision perspective, including significant satellite provider insight spanning both GEO and LEO technologies.

At OneWeb, Jason is responsible for delivering fibre-like connectivity solutions to business jet owners, operators, and end users – passengers and crew alike.

He joins from SD (Satcom Direct), where for the past six years he was Director, Strategy and Business, having joined the business in 2016 as director of product management (hardware).

Graduating from the Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in engineering, his career initially centered on engineering and avionics hardware. At OneWeb, Jason will combine his technical experience with strong commercial aptitude to understand the needs of OneWeb’s partners, delivering solutions which are commercially and technically innovative.

Drew Brandy – Director, Land Mobility

Drew Brandy joins OneWeb as Director, Land Mobility after 13 plus years with Inmarsat, latterly as Senior VP Maritime, progressing from VP Strategy and Development.

Based out of London, Drew will be responsible for setting and executing OneWeb’s land mobility portfolio strategy, working closely with the mobility team members. He brings considerable experience having worked with several large telecom operators in business and corporate strategy in both North America and Europe. Brandy holds an Honors Degree in Sociology and Communications from York University, Canada and an MBA from Henley Management College.

Nick Maynard – Marketing Director, Mobility

Stepping up from an initial consultancy role over the past 14 months, Nick Maynard becomes full-time Marketing Director (Mobility), based out of the UK. Maynard brings over 25 years’ relevant experience in marketing and communications working out of the UK and UAE, supporting several blue-chip aviation companies – inhouse and with agencies OglivyOne and Carlson.

Most recently, he served nearly 10 years with Honeywell Aerospace in marketing and comms, latterly as Channel Partner Marketing Manager, building relationships for Honeywell’s valued suppliers around the world.

“What OneWeb is doing is transformational and game changing. I am pleased to be able to help play a part in our goal to connect business aviation. Inflight connectivity has become ever more important in business aviation, a sector which is sophisticated, technologically advanced, personalized, secure – bringing family, friends and colleagues together in the most efficient way.” – Jason Sperry.

“Everyone is talking about OneWeb and the significant change its solutions will bring. I’m looking forward to leading the land mobility team and working closely with mobility colleagues to innovate connectivity and bring improved safety and sustainability through connectivity to trains, buses, trucks and so many other use-cases.” – Drew Brandy.

“Joining OneWeb, I am working alongside a motivated and talented team committed to realizing the mission of connecting people everywhere, on land, at sea and in the air. This matters because OneWeb’s global spaced-based communications network has the power to connect the most remote businesses and communities on Earth. We’re bridging the digital divide, providing the opportunity for people everywhere to realize their full potential” – Nick Maynard

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10:33 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, Connectivity, entertainment, safety, Travel, travelers, Wi-Fi

Abu Dhabi Airport Launches Rapid Covid-19 Testing | SD Begins Airborne Validation of Ku-Band Antenna System | Suspension of Retaliatory Tariffs Between US & UK | Other News

Abu Dhabi Airports Launches Rapid Covid-19 Testing

In-airport laboratory facilities provide Covid-19 PCR test results in approximately 90 minutes
All arrivals from all destinations (except transit passengers) to benefit from free rapid testing
Rapid testing service launched in partnership with Pure Heath, the region’s largest laboratory operator, and UAE-based Tamouh Healthcare
Introduction of new testing process for arriving passengers is a reflection of Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of passengers, staff and visitors while facilitating air travel procedures

Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, has launched rapid free Covid-19 PCR testing for all arrivals, except those in transit, with results provided in around 90 minutes. The new state of the art RT-PCR lab offers testing within Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to facilitate air travel procedures and support quarantine tracking procedures.

Designed to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of travelers and staff at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the new Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing process is free for arriving passengers and offers results in approximately 90 minutes. The laboratory has the capacity to test more than 20,000 travelers and staff per day.

The establishment of the PCR testing laboratory falls in line with the directives and vision of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, to contain the spread of Covid-19 while continuing to deliver a smooth and seamless travel experience at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Through partnering with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, Abu Dhabi International Airport is now able to offer travelers state-of-the-art rapid testing services delivered by a dedicated laboratory facility. The introduction of the RT-PCR Covid-19 testing is a milestone achievement in our ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe resumption of international air travel and support the recovery of the aviation industry.”

“That we now offer a dedicated PCR testing laboratory within the airport is testament to our commitment at Abu Dhabi Airports to continuously innovate and look for new ways to deliver a safe, smooth and seamless travel experience for all our passengers. The new rapid testing facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport, developed in partnership with many of our stakeholders, will not only enable passengers to confidently travel to Abu Dhabi, but significantly enhance the efficiency of our operations while supporting global efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19,” added Al Hashmi.

All passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport through both terminals 1 and 3 will be tested at the AUH PCR testing facility. Results of the Covid-19 tests will be shared by SMS and WhatsApp, as well as being available on the Alhosn mobile application. Passengers can leave the airport once they have finalized the PCR test processes.

Passengers who receive a negative PCR test and are arriving from the list of ‘green’ countries outlined by the government of Abu Dhabi, will not have to self-isolate. Those arriving from countries not on the ‘green’ list will have to self-isolate for a period of ten days, and will require a quarantine wristband fitted at the PCR testing tent attached to the airport.

Passengers transiting through the airport will not be tested prior to departing for their final destinations.

The lab, being developed and operated by Pure Health – the region’s largest laboratory operator – and the healthcare and passenger facility, being developed by UAE-based Tamouh Healthcare, will have the capacity to test more than 20,000 travellers per day. The 4,000 square metre facility will operate around the clock with up to 190 staff.

The launch of rapid Covid-19 testing services follows Abu Dhabi Airports’ introduction of a comprehensive range of health and safety measures at Abu Dhabi International Airport, including a specially trained team of Wellness Ambassadors equipped to support passengers by answering common questions relating to keeping healthy during travel, encouraging social distancing, and providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In addition, the airport has deployed touch-less elevator technology, SterixEco Gates sterilization tunnels, thermal scanning cameras, as well cameras with facial recognition capabilities that alert staff if passengers or visitors to the airport are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 or not wearing facemasks.

Check out the link for the latest Covid-19 information at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Satcom Direct Begins Airborne Validation of Plane Simple™ Ku-band Tail Mount Antenna System

One year after announcing the launch of the Plane Simple™ Satcom Antenna Systems, Satcom Direct has begun rigorous airborne testing of its advanced technology, purpose-built Ku-band tail mounted antenna system.

The transition from development to ground assessment to the aerial testing phase aims to validate the full performance capabilities of the Ku-band terminal. Inflight trials will also confirm the system’s integration with the SD ecosystem of hardware, software and supporting ground infrastructure. The antenna, which is now equipped on SD’s Gulfstream aircraft, will be stretched to the limits of its capabilities while providing empirical feedback about its functionality in an aerial environment.

“It is our company philosophy to always bring products to market that we have validated internally, and we are in a unique position to have the ability to undertake system testing on our own aircraft which gives us direct performance feedback,” says Satcom Direct Founder and CEO, Jim Jensen. “The aerial validation is the next step in becoming a single source provider of end-to-end connectivity solutions for business and government operators worldwide, which will streamline the connectivity ownership experience and customer support services.”

The aerial testing follows successful completion of intense drive testing completed in Melbourne, Florida using a customized mobile platform. SD’s investment in the hardware series is satisfying the broadening segment of the business aviation sector’s appetite for flexible, reliable, cost effective connectivity solutions. The Plane Simple tail-mounted antenna system will support super-mid to large-size jets and is being developed in partnership with Germany-based QEST, Quantenelektronische Systeme GmbH, a worldwide market leader in innovative aeronautical antennas.

“Aviation is moving toward a digital industry, and data is the foundation for informed decision making by operations, finance and maintenance departments. It is essential that we can offer powerful connectivity solutions to a much broader business aviation audience which also support enhanced data management and analytics. The start of our inflight testing within a year of announcing the hardware expansion highlights just how committed we are to meeting these market needs,” concludes Jensen.
The Plane Simple Ku-band antenna is the first in a series of antenna systems being developed by SD. As a Value-Added Manufacturer (VAM) and service provider (SP) for Iridium Certus, SD is also designing and manufacturing a Plane Simple antenna system for compatibility with the new network offering from Iridium, while also providing the service direct to the business aviation community. The company is aiming to launch a Ka-band variant tail mount antenna in 2022, followed by an electronically steered, fuselage mounted phased-array antenna which will deliver high-speed connectivity via upcoming LEO constellations.

Suspension of Retaliatory Tariffs

US agreed to temporarily suspend all retaliatory tariffs on direct exports from UK resulting from the Airbus dispute in a new joint approach to longstanding trade conflict over aerospace tariffs; this follows UK’s decision to suspend Boeing tariffs against the US from January. – Source: Speednews

Other News

“All us engineers or retired engineers always look at math as a baseline of our education. Why? Because all our education was based on, or explained with, math. Obviously, if your education experience occurred a while ago, it is interesting to review it … I guess? Anyway, here are 17 equations that probably had a part in your education … and yes, it may be a bit challenging. Keep up, that is the message here!” – TJW
This is a big deal. Why? Aviation competition … but find out what CRAIC is first: CRAIC Plans 3 Versions Of Its New Widebody: The ‘CR929’ – Simple Flying

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 4:14 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, Connectivity, COVID-19, IFE, IFEC, passengers, Satcom, travelers

Lessons Learned & The Up Hill Battle of the Aviation Industry In the Times of COVID-19 and Other Industry News

We are roughly six months into the COVID-19 global pandemic and in that time-frame our industry, and many others, have witnessed some radical and dynamic shifts. As we know, the leisure and family holidays have almost been eradicated with COVID. The air travel industry prior to the pandemic hummed along with business travel accounting for approximately 60% – 70% of all airline revenue, but perhaps the greater worry is the shift to webinars, ZOOM, Skype and many other forms of internet meetings, which may turn out to be the bigger sucker-punch, resulting in the cancellation of business travel with longer fiscal consequences. And some analysts are predicting that it will take a little more than 3 years for business travel to begin to rebound.

In the meantime, there is no end in sight from the move to remote work. Over the past few months many major companies have announced some form of permanent or long-term work-from-home scenarios. COVID-19 has shown and convinced companies such as REI, Ford, Twitter and others that their employees are capable of performing their jobs at home, and may even be performing better. The result is a massive reduction in the corporate office footprint. The uptick is these companies will save huge leasing costs and their employees will be thrilled they no longer face heinous daily commutes, but what will be the ancillary costs – and there will be inevitably be some. And one of these may well be a reduced need for business travel.

As with any crisis, the longer it goes on the more we learn. And often, our initial attempts to improve a process or make a situation safer are either in vein or are proven to be ineffective, or possibly counter productive, over time. In the case of the pandemic and airlines, one such circumstance may turn out to be the changes which were implemented in the boarding process. In an effort to minimize close contact between passengers, several U.S. carriers and some international carriers, began to board their flights from the rear of the jetliner to the front. New research is now indicating that it may actually do the opposite! Scientists from the USA have recently found that starting the boarding process from the back rows actually increases the amount of time spent by passengers milling about in the aisles to load bags in the overhead compartments prior to taking their seats.

But the boarding procedure is merely one example of how airlines are stumbling to make travel safe during COVID-19, and lure back passengers. Inconsistent policies in regards to leaving the middle seat vacant are also being instituted and so far there is no scientific evidence to back the benefit and/or necessity of doing so. Needless to say, there are large holes in both the data and the research, which inevitably bogs down the path forward. We are experiencing a situation where there is a vast amount of expert opinions but there is a scarcity of good data to back them up. And we are dealing with a leery, fearful public.

Another area that is a source of confusion and concern for the passenger is cabin air quality and the air filtration system on an airplane. As many of us in the industry know, the air in the cabin of an aircraft is passed through filters that are equal to those used in hospital operating rooms, thus there seems to be minimal danger of infection from circulated air but this is not common knowledge to the average passenger. However, the risk is in the cabin long before the air is recirculated. When we talk, cough, or sneeze respiratory droplets are released which will go to the passenger next to you long before they get circulated through the jetliner’s air filtration system. In fact a government-funded 2012 study concluded that between 3 – 20 passengers on a flight of four hours onboard a twin-aisle that were seated near a person with influenza would most likely become infected – and the flu is thought to be less contagious than COVID-19. The study also showed that if passengers wore N95 masks (high quality masks worn by medical workers in dangerous environments but not widely available to the general public) that the odds of infection dropped to nearly zero. The study did not analyze the benefits from wearing cloth face masks but the researchers predict they would decrease the likelihood of contracting the virus but not be as effective a N95.

A more recent 2018 study that was published by the National Academy of Sciences stated that there was a ‘high probability’ that passengers seated within one row of a traveler with influenza would be infected on a trans continental flight.

The aviation industry in the U.S.A. has been adhering to the advice of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and so far there have been ‘no known cases’ of infection from COVID-19 onboard U.S. flights. The industry has been nimble in their reactions to a rapidly evolving situation and has been working in conjunction with medical experts on decisions pertaining to cleaning and operational procedures. No-contact check-in is another example. But needless to say the issue begs for more research. Enforcing the necessity of wearing masks, plane disinfecting and other safety procedures are all logical, but unfortunately there is currently no solid evidence to show that these precautions will overcome the risks of the tight environment of the jetliner cabin.

Lastly, since 2015 the Government Accountability Office has been calling for a plan to respond to a pandemic scenario but so far government agencies have been unwilling to draw up a formal plan for the aviation sector.

SmartSky Networks

SmartSky Networks has filed a federal lawsuit against its former radio contractor, Wireless Systems Solutions LLC (WSS), after terminating the WSS contract and asserting that WSS misappropriated SmartSky’s intellectual property. SmartSky’s lawsuit alleges improper actions by WSS, two related entities (DAG Wireless LTD and DAG Wireless USA), and three of their senior leaders.

“We have pledged to defend our intellectual property vigorously because it is critical to our success. In this situation, WSS failed to complete what it was contracted to do for SmartSky. Simultaneously, we believe WSS attempted to sell our product as its own, including through an alter-ego company formed after we began working with WSS yet involving the same people,” said Ryan Stone, SmartSky President.

“This activity has caused a delay in SmartSky bringing our next-generation WiFi network to the aviation market,” Stone said. “We’re transferring WSS’s former work scope to contractors who have performed well for us in the past on other aspects of our program.”

SmartSky recently closed on more than $40 million in additional equity funding, $10 million in new debt, and now expects to launch its network in 2021. Demand is increasing for connectivity on aircraft, and SmartSky believes there is plenty of runway for innovation in this space.

Gogo

Gogo Inc.commented on the disclosure that certain affiliates of GTCR, a leading private equity firm, have acquired a 14.8% interest in Gogo’s common stock.

“We welcome GTCR’s interest in Gogo and look forward to an ongoing and constructive dialogue as we execute our strategic plan,” said Oakleigh Thorne, Gogo’s President and CEO. “We believe GTCR shares our vision for Gogo and the opportunity to continue to create value for all shareholders.” “We believe Gogo’s decision to focus on its leading business aviation business will create a stronger company that is well-positioned to grow in an attractive market,” said Mark Anderson, Managing Director at GTCR. “We look forward to supporting Gogo as it completes the sale of the commercial aviation business and seeks to capitalize on the compelling opportunity in business aviation.”

Some Stumbling Blocks with Facial Recognition

An audit of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the GAO found facial recognition programs fell short in a few areas:

Performance tracking. Although the tech accurately identified over 90% of those exiting the U.S. by air, it didn’t consistently photograph all travelers—and there’s no mechanism to alert officials when the technology misses minimum requirements.
Partner audits. CBP can conduct audits on all of its partners, but as of May, it had audited just one of more than 27 airlines.
Clear communication. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens can opt out of facial recognition, but CBP consistently failed to make that known.
According to CBP officials, a t the end of 2019, out of 16 million passengers scanned, facial recognition helped identify seven “impostors”.
Zoom out: Facial recognition technology still has many issues and glitches, which include racial and gender biases. And the probability of a false positive are very high.

Other News

If you are an earphone addict like we are, keep your eyes open for the coming next generation of in-ear headphones (No wires) –
Bose announces $279 QuietComfort Earbuds and $179 Sport Earbuds – The Verge
US DOT reports 18 US airlines carried 21.4m pax in July, down 73% vs July 2019, but up 30% from 16.5m in June 2020. – source: Speednews
If you are curious about the western fires in the USA, here are some pictures. And yes, we are smoked out! Western wildfires rage in California, Oregon and Washington – in pictures | World news | The Guardian

Posted by Patricia on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 11:23 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, COVID-19, passengers, recovery

What to Expect the Next Time You Travel: From the Airport, Gate, Boarding and Aircraft

What You May Encounter The Next Time You Fly

All of us know that we will experience many changes in the travel process as ‘non-essential’ air travel opens again. But what will it look like? And what are the airports and airlines doing to make the process safer? And is it sustainable over time? These are all questions that we have asked ourselves and have heard voiced from other industry pundits as well. So, let’s take a look at what has been, and or is being, implemented throughout the travel journey in the U.S.A. at this time.

Airports:

The safety, health and well-being of travelers is always a priority at any airport. But with COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting have certainly been stepped up. For example, at our local airport, Seattle Tacoma International, they have increased the frequency of cleaning with medical-grade products with an emphasis on high-touch areas and over 250 hand sanitizer stations have been added throughout the terminal. The Seattle Port Authority says that they have spent 5,270 hours cleaning and disinfecting each week and have “spritzed, sprayed, and dispensed over 1,010 gallons of hand sanitizer, more than 4,500 ounces of disinfecting spray and 1,135 containers of sanitizer wipes. “And we are certain other airports are following similar safety and disinfecting procedures.

Airports are also working on quickly converting bathrooms that aren’t already touch less to new fixtures for paper towels and automatic soap dispensers, as well as, faucets that are sensor-based and toilets with automatic flush features.

Every two hours the security checkpoints are being cleaned while deep cleaning and sanitizing TSA bins occurring after hours. Airports are also adding electrostatic sprayers that dispense a mist onto surfaces for an even coating of disinfectant that kills germs, such as COVID-19, in an effort to disinfect surfaces more often.

Plastic protective barriers that buffer interactions between travelers and airport employees are also common place, much like what we are experiencing in grocery stores, drug stores, etc.

In an effort to observe social distancing, decals are found on the floor throughout the facility at check-in counters, self-serve kiosks, baggage drop, baggage claim and throughout the TSA process. Travelers are also expected to wear a face covering throughout any touch points, to meet Center for Disease Control (CDC) requirements.

The Gate:

There are decals to remind people to observe 6 feet (2 meters) of social distancing during interactions with customer service representatives and other passengers. Seats in the gate area may be blocked in an effort to adhere to social distancing. Overhead monitors and screens often contain reminders about this as well. And plastic barriers are in place at customer service desks.

Boarding Procedures:

Currently, many airlines have already started testing new methods of boarding in an effort to reduce the amount of cross passenger contact and observe social distancing. Passengers are asked to stay seated until their row is announced, and many airlines are boarding in smaller groups, back –to-front.

But compared to the aircraft itself, which has well circulated air as long as the engines are running, the boarding procedure and area is poorly ventilated with passengers in close proximity to one another. Boarding is the riskiest part of air travel right now, at least from a COVID-19 perspective. Just think back to the crowded queue where we have historically been smashed together like sardines at the gate, on the jetway, and en-route to our seat prior to take-off.

There are some deceptively simple solutions that in the long run may change the way we board. Over the years, boarding order has typically started with anyone needing extra assistance (small children, the elderly, etc.), followed by higher status flyers on down to those of us traveling in steerage. It is not only an inefficient and time-consuming process, but it is a stressful one as well. Passengers lined up like they are on a commuter train, bumping into one another, hoisting bags into overhead bins, or walking up and down looking for available bin space is something we have all witnessed and experienced. Let’s face it; this is a COVID-19 droplet cross contamination haven.

In a poorly ventilated area like the jet bridge, packing people in close proximity even while wearing facemasks is a highly risky scenario and is needlessly dicey when there are better ways to accomplish the boarding procedure.

A few changes could include the following: boarding from the back of the aircraft forward; boarding window seats first, followed by the middle seats, then aisle seats. Organizing these sections in small groups in the gate area before sending them down the jetway takes time and space but could definitely lead to a new and improved boarding process. Another scenario that could reduce the number of people each traveler comes into contact with is boarding from both the aircraft nose and the tail of the aircraft, but this has its own set of organizational issues and would require a group of passengers loading from the tarmac via a set of mobile stairs, etc. Whichever changes to the boarding procedure an airline elects to implement there will assuredly be a learning-curve by both the ground crew and the passengers themselves, so it may be a good thing that load factors aren’t too high as these new strategies are put into place.

A total 180-degree approach to carry-on luggage could also make the process far more efficient and reduce the number of touchpoints as well. By promoting and rewarding checked luggage there would be fewer gate-side check-ins, less shifting and shuffling of overhead bags, and a faster loading process overall.

As biometrics become more prevalent the use of scanners to match your face with your identity will further reduce the contact between ground staff and travelers. This will also speed up the process as the amount of time spent fumbling for boarding passes and/or mobile phones will be eliminated. The biometric software needs some tweaks, but it is well on its way as it is already being utilized for some border control entry points.

The Aircraft:

Planes are equipped with hospital-grade HEPA filters that typically remove 99.95% of airborne particulates.

The air flows from the ceiling to the floor and creates completely new air in the cabin 20 to 30 times an hour so the air filtration systems cycle outside air onboard every 3 minutes. If you want more filtered air, be certain to open your personal air vent after you’re seated – that air is filtered for your seat only. Studies have shown that due to the frequency of air circulation, cabin air filtration is comparable to what is found in hospitals.

Airlines are requiring their guests to wear face coverings throughout any touch points and during the flight experience except when consuming food or drink. Most airlines have masks available for passengers in case they don’t have them. If travelers refuse to wear a face mask they will be denied boarding and, in many cases, given the opportunity to reschedule their flight. Details about these requirements are provided to passengers in their pre-trip communications.

For the time being, some airlines are providing travelers more space and flexibility in order to achieve social distancing onboard by blocking off all middle seats on large aircraft and aisle seats on smaller aircraft.

In the U.S.A. all airline employees and business partners who cannot maintain six feet of social distance during interactions with travelers or co-workers, including pilots, flight attendants, and customer service representatives.

Aircraft Cleaning:

Airlines are continuing to use disinfectants that use high-grade, EPA registered disinfectants to sanitize critical touch points like tray tables, seat belts, overhead bins, armrests and lavatories, etc.

New cleaning techniques and equipment are being implemented by many airlines to reduce the already low risk of onboard transmission often include the following: 1) Electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, which emit a safe, high grade EPA cleaning solution that sanitize the overhead bins, armrests, tray tables, seatbelts, lavatories, etc. 2) between flights, dedicated cleaning crews cover the most critical areas using the high-grade EPA disinfectant. They also clean the pilot/flight attendant spaces. 3) Individual hand sanitizer wipes are available onboard.

With all of the procedures in place, it is beginning to feel like air travel is perhaps safer than it ever has been – at least from a COVID-19 perspective! One thing is for certain, these changes will continue to be tailored over time and they are most likely here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Other News

The worst year in aviation history? This Year! So says IATA – How about $84 Billion! IATA – Industry Losses to Top $84 Billion in 2020 And, World Bank says coronavirus to shrink 2020 global output by 5.2% – Reuters
And airlines are promoting physical distancing – here is jetBlue’s promotion
This may be the future of flying (great pix) – I flew on a $2 million ‘personal’ private jet that needs only one pilot and saw why it could be among the most in-demand jets for post-pandemic travel
If you like the turbulent flow technology, this is your video – “Turbulent Flow is MORE Awesome Than Laminar Flow”. Yes, they discuss airplane wings too! Turbulent Flow is MORE Awesome Than Laminar Flow – YouTube And watch the promo video at the end – you will learn something.
You might not want to watch this, but you will learn something – How to crash an airplane – Nickolas Means | The Lead Developer UK 2016 – YouTube The pilots were incredible and this video is one of the best we have ever linked in IFExpress!
And if you must travel, the folks at IATA have a map that you can zoom in on and check out the Coronavirus Travel Regulations – worldwide here – IATA – International Travel Document News
With the digitization of books, online reading (and book education) is really a good deal. Check out these 13,414,823 online books: and yes, they are free, we think? Home – Springer

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 6:33 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, face coverings, passengers, procedures, requirements, safety, social distancing, Travel

TSA Prepared for Summer Travelers with Updated Security Procedures

In response to COVID-19, procedure changes rolling out nationwide by mid-June

Washington | May 21, 2020– With the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicking off the start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing a very different travel season given the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. TSA has implemented changes to the security screening process that reduce the potential for cross-contamination at the security checkpoint in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. TSA has already begun implementation of these changes – with more to be implemented at airport checkpoints nationwide by mid-June.

“In the interest of TSA frontline workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We continue to evaluate our security measures with an eye towards making smart, timely decisions benefiting health and safety, as well as the traveler experience.”

Over the past couple of weeks, TSA has experienced a steady growth of travelers coming through airport checkpoints. As procedure changes begin to rollout in the coming weeks, travelers should expect to:

Keep possession of their boarding passes. Instead of handing their boarding pass to a TSA officer at the travel document podium, travelers should now place their boarding pass (paper or electronic) on the boarding pass reader themselves. After scanning, travelers should hold their boarding pass toward the TSA officer to allow the officer to visually inspect it. This change reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a passenger’s boarding pass thus reducing potential for cross-contamination.

Separate food for X-ray screening. Passengers should place their carry-on food items into a clear plastic bag and place that bag into a bin. Food items often trigger an alarm during the screening process; separating the food from the carry-on bag lessens the likelihood that a TSA officer will need to open the carry-on bag and remove the food items for a closer inspection. This requirement allows social distancing, reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a person’s container of food and reduces potential for cross-contamination. TSA Precheck members do not need to remove items from their bags.

Pack smart. Passengers should take extra care to ensure that they do not have any prohibited items, such as liquids, gels or aerosols in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, in their carry-on bags (water bottles, shampoo). In response to COVID-19, TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags. Passengers are required to remove the hand sanitizer from the carry-on bag before being submitted for X-ray screening. If a bag is found to contain a prohibited item, passengers may be directed to return to the divestiture table outside of security with their carry-on bags to remove the item and dispose of the item. The passenger may also be directed back outside of security to remove, items that should have originally been divested (such as laptops, liquids, gels, and aerosols, and large electronics) and resubmit their property for X-ray screening. By resolving alarms in this manner, TSA officers will need to touch the contents inside a carry-on bag much less frequently, reducing the potential for cross-contamination.

Practice social distancing. Passengers should allow for social distancing to reduce direct contact between employees and travelers whenever possible without compromising security. Noticeable adjustments leading up to the security checkpoint include, increasing the distance between individuals as they enter the security checkpoint, placing visual reminders of appropriate spacing on checkpoint floors and staggering the use of lanes where feasible. No two airports are alike, so this could look a little different at each airport.

Wear facial protection. TSA officers at checkpoints are now using facial protection. Travelers are encouraged to wear face protection to the checkpoint as well. Please note, however, passengers may need to adjust it during the screening process. Travelers are also encouraged to remove items such as belts, and items from their pockets, like wallets, keys and phones, and put them directly into their carry-on bags instead of into the bins to reduce touch-points during the screening process.

Travelers who have not flown since the pandemic are also likely to notice some other changes. They include:

Reduced security lane usage due to the reduction in passenger volume.
All TSA officers at checkpoints wearing masks and gloves.
TSA officers optionally wearing eye protection and clear plastic face shields at some locations.
TSA officers will continue the practice of changing gloves after each pat-down.
Plastic shielding installed at many travel document checking podiums, divest, bag search and drop off locations.
TSA officers practicing social distancing.
Routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces in the screening checkpoint area.

Many airlines and airports are also providing specific COVID-19 related guidance to travelers; please check with your airline prior to your trip. Travelers are encouraged to arrive at the airport early as COVID-19 has affected staffing and operations across the airport environment. This will allow adequate time for checking bags, completing security screening and getting to the departure gate. Individuals who were traveling in the early months of the pandemic became accustomed to arriving at the security checkpoint shortly before their flight departure time. TSA recommends that travelers no longer do so (or arrive well in advance of their flight) since more people are flying and new procedures such as social distancing have been implemented in airports, potentially adding time to the pre-flight experience.

For more information on the TSA security screening process during the pandemic, visit www.tsa.gov/coronavirus.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 3:07 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, passengers, procedures, Travel, TSA

The Road To Recovery – What It May Look Like

Around the globe many governments have started the slow and cautious steps toward opening their economies. In the aviation sector, we have seen a slight up tick in the number of individuals traveling and have heard and/or seen the various reports of some flights experiencing 90% capacity, causing angst in many of the travelers (and probably the flight crew as well). There are several links in today’s Noted Elsewhere section of IFExpress addressing this very issue. We also are seeing the airlines, their employees, and airports grapple with how to safely resume operations. This includes spooling up for more self-check-in kiosks, temperature tests by TSA, increased sanitizing and disinfecting efforts both in the airport and on the plane, social distancing at the gate and while boarding, as well as, the requirement for passengers to wear masks during boarding and on the flight. Add to the scenario the discussion of requiring immunity passes and at airport testing for COVID-19 and all of the sudden we are easily facing a 4 hour process from check-in to boarding the airplane – even for a short domestic flight. What is crystal clear is that for the foreseeable future the journey is going to be laden with pitfalls, filled with stress and be as far from our dream of the seamless travel experience as you can get.

The challenge we face is how to address these issues. The quicker we can build traveler confidence in the airport/travel process the faster our industry will rebound – that’s a no brainer. This will take not only familiarity with the new procedures and faith that they work, but from a personal perspective, they need to be somewhat standardized. Over the past nineteen years, nothing has irritated me more, and made traveling more stressful, than the different TSA requirements from country to country – and this is coming from a person who has traveled a lot! In other words, there needs to be collaboration and agreement on the various processes and requirements on a global scale in order to build back confidence.

The other items that will drive recovery in our industry are agility and innovation. The companies, whether they are airlines, IFEC suppliers, OEMS or airports; that are forward thinking and grasp this opportunity to not only embrace new technologies but implement them will be those that not only survive but maybe thrive. AI, block chain and big data have long been technology buzz words and topics at numerous industry conferences but now is the time to leverage those technologies in order to operate more efficiently and make every decision and dollar count.

Reader Opinion

Recently, several aviation aficionados had a back-and-forth dialog about the state of the industry, particularly the challenges Boeing is, and has been, facing. IFExpress was given permission to publish their opinions as long as the correspondents remained anonymous. The following is a portion of that communication.

Initial Comments:

“I worked at Boeing for over 20+ years, mostly during the 70’s and 80’s. At that time, the company was run by engineers and pro-technology folks. There was a dynamic shift in corporate philosophy when Boeing bought McDonnell Douglas.

Matt Stoller recently wrote: “Similarly, Boeing once made great planes, now it has great connections and big bailouts, an engineering powerhouse turned into a financial engineering powerhouse.” Further, in 2019 he wrote this article that really comes to point today.

Today, Boeing is run in Chicago & New York by ‘money managers’, the tech equity has vanished – and unless the tekkies take over, it just might be something else in the future!”

Response:

“I agree with your sentiment as well as Matt Stoller’s detailed coverage.

I think there is another perspective which typically is not found in aviation trade publications or general business journals like the WSJ. And the subject and focus of that perspective is “character” and by that I mean good character, truth, integrity, and honesty driven from the top down to the shop floor. Once the accountants and the money managers took power, the technical concerns were secondary. Technical issues were dismissed and, if not dismissed entirely, there was a cost number put on the issue and they called it a “risk factor”.

Remember the Pinto? After a couple of Pintos crashed in fiery and deadly accidents, the plaintiff’s lawyers, through discovery of Ford’s internal memos, found that the Pinto fuel tanks were subject to explosions upon impact. Ford knew this. The Ford design and test engineers raised their concerns internally. The accountants, the lawyers, and the actuaries ran the calculations comparing the cost of fuel tank design fixes versus a payout in a lawsuit. The design fix lost because it was calculated to be cheaper to pay the judgement or settlement. I saw a photo of a young man who survived his Pinto rear-ender and his face looked like a mud slide of flesh. Yes, he won a few million dollars from Ford but his face still looked like a mud slide of flesh. I’ll never forget his photo.

The decisions that Boeing made on the MAX-8 design showed total dedication to the cost-benefit calculation rather than doing the design safely and properly and not one concern for 346 dead airline passengers. Shame!

This attitude bleeds over to other design projects as well. I know for a fact that the 787 was managed in the same way. Thank God there have been no crashes (that I know of) but I know design economies were forced on engineers for the forward landing gear as well as (some) cabin systems. How do I know? Because I was in the meetings.

This is where the obsession with quarterly earnings growth leads to trouble and Boeing plays the game to meet or beat the earnings target each time and not care so much for the quality or safety of the product. With respect to the Max-8 debacle, I hate to say it, but I see very little indication that Boeing has learned a lesson from this sorry episode.

Boeing needs a visionary leader who drives the principle of “Always Do the Right Thing” and not cut corners and mislead the customer (and traveling public). Do this and the stock market will respond favorably.”

Boeing

On May 14, 2020 Boeing appointed Mike Delaney to lead the company’s Confident Travel Initiative, effective immediately. Working across the industry, Delaney’s team will work to develop new solutions to help minimize air travel health risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic and drive awareness of health safeguards already in place. Delaney brings 31 years of Boeing experience to the role, including previous executive leadership positions in airplane development and engineering, and currently serves as vice president of Digital Transformation at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “As air travel slowly begins to resume and restrictions ease around the globe, health and safety remain our top priorities for our teams who design, build and service the airplanes and all those who fly on them,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun. “Mike’s deep technical expertise, leadership skills, industry knowledge and great passion for our customers make him uniquely qualified to lead this effort.”

The Confident Travel Initiative team will work with airlines, global regulators, industry stakeholders, flying passengers, infectious disease experts and behavioral specialists to establish industry-recognized safety recommendations. The team is also advising operators on existing, approved disinfectants that are compatible with the airplane flight decks and cabins and testing other sanitizers. “Our commitment to ensuring the health of airline passengers and crews is unwavering,” said Delaney. “We’re working with partners to enhance aircraft cleanliness procedures and identify other areas to further reduce the risk of airborne illness transmission.”

Boeing’s effort will build on the industry’s enhanced safety approaches – including enhanced cleaning, temperature checks and the use of face coverings – and promote the proven systems already in place to help maintain cabin cleanliness. One such system is the air filtration system present on all Boeing airplanes. The air filtration system incorporates High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters similar to those used in hospitals and industrial clean rooms. HEPA filters are 99.9+% effective at removing particulates such as viruses, bacteria and fungi before air is recirculated back to the cabin. Boeing continues to research and evaluate new technologies to enhance safety, including ultraviolet light disinfecting systems and antimicrobial coatings for high-touch surfaces. The company is working with academics, health experts and learning institutions worldwide to field studies and facilitate research on reducing the potential of disease transmission on airplanes. “Air travel is coming back,” said Delaney. “As that happens, we want passengers and crews to board Boeing airplanes without hesitation.”

Museum of Flight Pathfinder Award

Congratulations Bob Bogash! He has just won the latest Seattle Museum of Flight Pathfinder Award, and while many readers have not met or even heard of Bob, we wanted to tell you a little about him as he has worked with us, he also contributed information, pictures and aviation news for all our readers in IFExpress – and yes, he lives and breathes flying!

First the award: “The Museum of Flight’s Annual Pathfinder Awards honors individuals with ties to the Pacific Northwest who have made significant contributions to the development of the aerospace industry. Pathfinder Award recipients are selected by The Museum of Flight, the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and representatives of other aviation and aerospace organizations and companies throughout the Northwest.”

Here is Bob’s website and if you like aviation history, this is for you.Bob’s efforts in bringing older planes and aviation history to the museum may be hard to beat because aviation is his life, even while retired.

Why Bob Won: “Bob and others set a goal to bring the B-52 from Paine Field to The Museum of flight. In the process the B-52 was disassembled and trucked to the museum. The wings, rudder, elevator, vertical and horizontal stabilizers were removed. The whole plane was cleaned and repainted. It was quite a sight being trucked into its present site. Bob had a major role in seeing this happen. Bob’s actions to bring the B-52 to be the centerpiece for the Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Park was 50 years late, but it brings a lump to my throat when I go by it and realize we were finally thanked for our service. For Mr. Bogash’s action in helping to bring the B-52 as a centerpiece for the Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Park and giving us a special place to honor men like Marvin Shields, he will always hold a special place in my heart. I strongly recommend Mr. Bob Bogash for a Pathfinder Award. (This was a recommendation by a museum docent.)

Noted Bob; “As I’ve mentioned before, recognition by one’s peers is far more important to me than a plaque on the wall. And for that, I thank you sincerely. You are the folks I admire, and so your support is all the more humbling. It’s now 55 years since I first became involved with the hatchling Museum Of Flight and became increasingly devoted to expanding its collection with some great and deserving historic aircraft. I take great pride in walking around the campus and seeing so many of the fabulous airplanes I worked so hard to acquire over so many years — and recalling all the travails involved in bringing them to their present state of glory – and to have flown three on their final flights!” Bob went on: “Maybe, these airplanes will be my contribution to that wondrous world of aviation that I love so much and which has wonderfully loved me back.”
Congratulations Bob!

Other News

Perhaps a virtual travel experience just might be what you need while cramped up in your present living arrangements: Virtual Traveling: How to Tour the World While Still Social Distancing – Thrillist
As you may know, folks are working from home, but what you might not know is that half of them like it! Working During COVID-19: U.S. Employees Embracing Remote Work Survey Report | The Grossman Group And yes, it is a free report.
Status of upcoming vaccines, drugs and other treatments in the battle against COVID-19 Also, Decoding COVID-19 | NOVA | PBS (Note: This video is not easy to watch, but, it is real.)
And finally, if you think travel will come back in a year, or so, you might want to view what the folks at IATA say: “We don’t expect 2019 levels to be exceeded until 2023.” Interestingly, the U.S. President said: “The airline industry is in good shape. We’ve been able to save the airline industry which would have been devastating if that happened.” We will see.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with airports, COVID-19, IFE, IFEC, passengers, planes

Predicted Global Impact of COVID-19 On Airport Industry Escalates

Loss of more than 4.6 billion passengers and $97 billion in revenue forecast for 2020

Montreal | May 5, 2020– Airports Council International (ACI) World has released updated modelling that shows the worsening economic impact on the global airport industry.

The forecasts of prolonged – and more widespread – impacts and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in worsening predictions for traffic and revenue losses for airports across all regions.

ACI World now estimates a reduction of more than two billion passengers at the global level in the second quarter of 2020 and more than 4.6 billion passengers for all of 2020. The estimated decline in total airport revenues on a global scale is estimated to be $39.2 billion (figures in US Dollars) in the second quarter and more than $97 billion for 2020.

This outlook provides yet another stark illustration of the need for government assistance for airports to preserve essential operations and to protect the jobs and livelihoods of the millions of people that work in airports around the world. Last week, ACI World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) came together to call for urgent tax relief and direct financial assistance that is to the benefit of the entire aviation ecosystem.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airports, the wider aviation ecosystem, and the global economy continues to worsen and represents an existential threat to the industry unless governments can provide appropriate relief and assistance,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said.

“As traffic and revenue have collapsed, the airport industry has taken all possible measures to preserve stability, but the challenge remains that a significant portion of airport costs are fixed.

“Airports are critical in the air transport ecosystem which is a key driver of local, regional and national economies and the communities they serve, and this global economic multiplier effect needs to be safeguarded to help underpin recovery.

“Jobs need to be protected and airports given financial support so people can rapidly return to work while operations can be scaled up to meet demand as the industry restarts.”

ACI World has applauded those governments around the world that have acted to support airport jobs and operations, but time is running out for assistance to be provided.

ACI World has called for comprehensive financial relief including wage subsidy schemes to allow continued operations and a rapid return to full operations, the protection of airport charges and revenues, urgent tax relief to provide much-needed financial oxygen to airports to ensure continuity of operations and safeguard airport jobs, waivers to airport rents and concession fees, the continuation of charges on air cargo operations to maintain essential airside and cargo facilities. Grants and subsidies, secured financing, loans at preferential rates, and bank guarantees should be made available.

“Financial relief and assistance is urgently needed but it is crucial for the prospects of a balanced recovery that any assistance benefits the entire aviation ecosystem and does not target once sector over other,” Angela Gittens said.

Posted by Patricia on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with ACI, airports, Council, COVID-19, forecasts, International, pandemic

FlightPlan Roundup and Other News

This past week the industry gathered together via a live online broadcast event hosted by Apex and Inmarsat Aviation to address the challenges the aviation sector is facing as a result of the global pandemic and economic crisis. More than 3,000 individuals logged on to watch and participate in the 7+ hour event. The synopsis is outlined below and there is a link provided if you didn’t manage to attend the live session. Overall, there was a thread of cautious optimism throughout the various presentations/discussions but there was no sugar coating the fact that we are all in for a long, hard road on the way to recovery. Over the coming weeks, we will see more and more of these live broadcast events as the industry seeks a path forward. Welcome to the new normal! So let’s delve into this week’s news.

FlightPlan

The global aviation industry came together on April 29, 2020 for a unique all-day broadcast event to encourage collaboration during the most challenging and unpredictable time in its history. FlightPlan: Charting a Course into the Future, hosted by Inmarsat Aviation and the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), saw more than 50 leading voices exchange views on the present and future of aviation. Over 3,000 viewers tuned in from almost 100 countries worldwide for a series of live debates, interviews and news analysis. Experts voice confidence in eventual bounce-back for aviation industry Nick Careen, Senior Vice President of Airport Passenger Cargo and Security at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), observed that although the COVID-19 pandemic has “no parallel to draw upon in recent memory – the airline industry has illustrated time and time again that if there’s any industry in the world that knows how to deal with a crisis, it’s this one”. Careen predicted that changes to airline passenger journeys as a result of COVID-19 may include staggered boarding processes, alongside faster adoption of biometrics and self-service technologies in the airport. Christoph Mueller, who has previously served as CEO of Malaysia Airlines and Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Emirates Group, gave some reassuring words of encouragement to airlines: “I have a lot of confidence that at least a lot of airlines will come out of this crisis with a new and regained strength.”

In an interactive poll[1], FlightPlan viewers were invited to share their own predictions on the COVID-19 recovery phase throughout the day. Highlights from the results included:

Four in ten (43%) predicted that recovery will take from 18 months to three years
Four in ten (44%) said the industry was poorly prepared for COVID-19
Nearly two fifths (36%) stated that governments have helped the industry to navigate the pandemic, but could have done more
9 in 10 (87%) expect to see more deep cleaning and slower turnarounds
86% believe that personal protective equipment (PPE) will become standard for cabin crews in the coming months
8 in 10 (80%) expect thermal scanners to become part of the passenger journey
Only 9% see blood tests for airline passengers becoming the norm

Unified effort essential to tackling aviation’s environmental impact

Discussing some of the ambitious sustainability targets the industry has previously set itself, such as net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the experts agreed that collaboration was fundamental. Anko Van Der Werff, CEO of Avianca, argued that “the whole ecosystem needs to work together on this.” Paul Stein, Chief Technical Officer at Rolls Royce, added that the impact of single-nation initiatives has been limited and a “coalition of the willing” with industry bodies, airlines, manufacturers and fuel providers is needed.
Encouragingly, industry leaders expressed confidence that COVID-19 will not interrupt progress on sustainable aviation and may even push the topic higher on the agenda. Stein reflected that “the post-COVID-19 world is going to be one that will recognize the fragility of the planet – sustainability isn’t just going to come back to the point it was before COVID – it’s going to be an even stronger issue.” The FlightPlan poll results reflected this view, with 40% of respondents agreeing that COVID-19 will accelerate the drive to reduce emissions. Digitization will catalyze industry recovery and future growth Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat, spoke about the power of connectivity to drive global development and industry recovery. Although “2019 already feels as though it belongs to a different era”, Pearce remarked that the pandemic has not slowed the fourth industrial revolution. “I believe that digitalization lies at the heart of our ability to first survive this crisis, and then to drive our ability to rebound from it and start to thrive in whatever new reality lies in front of us.”

The next generation of passengers were at the center of a discussion around the need for airlines to continue preparing for the future. Behavioral scientist Rory Sutherland spoke of Generation Z’s “incredible need to travel”, observing that his own children “don’t see it as a privilege – they kind of see it as a right”. Aviation analyst Alex Macheras delved deeper into their digital expectations, adding that “if airlines are going to better satisfy Gen Z, inflight connectivity will continue to be a driving force.” Other experts agreed that these attributes, paired with growing spending power, will put young passengers in the driving seat when it comes to digital transformation in the cabin. Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said: “As we look towards recovery and ensuring long-term resilience, there will be no one-size-fits all approach. However, it will remain important that airlines can differentiate for customers. It’s clear that the safety of consumers will continue to be at the forefront in this new world, and that digitization and innovation will be crucial to driving much-needed efficiencies, reducing environmental impact and improving passenger experience.”

Reflecting on the event, Dominic Walters, Vice President at Inmarsat Aviation, commented: “In times of crisis, it’s imperative that industries collaborate to find the best way forward. With so many of this year’s leading aviation events cancelled, we wanted to connect the industry in a unique and helpful way, and the response has been phenomenal. Together, more than 50 leading voices shared a clear shared message – that while the aviation industry contends with a period of extreme uncertainty, these clouds will eventually clear. Now is the time to focus on accelerating our recovery and rebuilding an industry that is stronger, more agile and fit for the future.” And, you can watch the whole event here.

Thales

Thales has deployed the world’s first GSMA-certified eSIM activation solution on Google Cloud. This solution will offer telecom operators secure and highly scalable support to manage increases in mobile subscriptions for eSIM-capable devices. It also lets them benefit from the reliability of Google Cloud’s carbon neutral technology. eSIM adoption is being fueled by a new generation of smartphones, tablets, wearables and new IoT use-cases. Thales’ subscription management expertise not only ensures seamless remote activation of a vast number of devices, but also provides data analytics and protection of the subscriber’s data.

Thales to use Google Cloud technology to deliver highly secure and scalable activation of eSIM (embedded SIM) capable devices.
The solution enables telecom operators to support a massive global increase in the volume of embedded mobile subscriptions (ABI Research expects around 1 Billion eSIM-capable devices to be shipped annually by 2024).
The Thales-operated solution provides secure eSIM management services and provides compliance with data protection and privacy requirements.

Airbus

Airbus posted 481m Euro net loss for 1Q20 (vs 40m Euro net profit in 1Q19) on 15% lower revenues, citing COVID-19. It has withdrawn all delivery guidance after already reducing monthly production rates to 40 A320s, two A330s, six A350s and four A220s. It has net cash position of 3.6b Euro. Furthermore, the airframer is furloughing some 3,200 workers in Broughton in the UK.

Airbus is developing a modification for A330 and A350 family aircraft which will enable airlines to install freight pallets directly onto the cabin floor seat tracks, after removal of the economy-class seats. This solution will help with the airlines’ own business continuity, and also alleviate the global shortage of ‘belly-freight’ air cargo capacity due to the widespread grounding of long-haul aircraft in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it helps the industry to address the high demand for humanitarian flights to transport large quantities of medical equipment and other supplies rapidly over large distances to where they are needed.

Compared with loading cargo onto seats, this Airbus solution facilitates easier and quicker loading and unloading operations, as well as reduced ‘wear & tear’ to the seats themselves. Other important benefits include the added security of robust fire protection, and the 9g load restraint capability to prevent anything from shifting in flight. The modification is packaged for operators as an Airbus Service Bulletin (SB). Under this arrangement Airbus defines the engineering work-scope and also manages the process for obtaining the one-time certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Its scope includes the removal of the seats & IFE (Inflight entertainment), installation of cargo pallets and associated safety equipment – and also the re-installation of the original passenger cabin elements for reverting back to passenger operations. The SB approach will also be valid beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boeing

On April 30, 2020 Boeing released the following Statement on the Bond Offering: “We’re pleased with the response to our bond offering today, which is one of several steps we’re taking to keep liquidity flowing through our business and the 17,000 companies in our industry’s supply chain. The robust demand for the offering reflects strong support for the long-term strength of Boeing and the aviation industry. It is also in part a result of the confidence in the market created by the CARES Act and federal support programs that have been put in place – a testament to the Administration, Congress and the Federal Reserve. As a result of the response, and pending the closure of this transaction expected Monday, May 4, we do not plan to seek additional funding through the capital markets or the U.S. government options at this time. The bond offering includes debt instruments with an aggregate principal amount of $25 billion across seven tranches with maturities ranging from three to 40 years. We will continue to assess our liquidity position as the health crisis and our dynamic business environment evolve.”

On April 30, 2020 Boeing conducted a productive and successful first flight of the second 777X airplane. Captain Ted Grady, 777X project pilot, and Captain Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot, flew for 2 hours and 58 minutes over Washington state before landing at Seattle’s Boeing Field at 2:02 p.m. Pacific. Designated WH002, this airplane is the second of four in a dedicated flight test fleet and will test handling characteristics and other aspects of airplane performance. An array of equipment, sensors and monitoring devices throughout the cabin allows the onboard team to document and evaluate the airplane’s response to test conditions in real time. The 777X test plan lays out a comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in the air to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the design. To date, crews have flown the first airplane nearly 100 hours at a variety of flap settings, speeds, altitudes and system settings as part of the initial evaluation of the flight envelope. With initial airworthiness now demonstrated, the team can safely add personnel to monitor testing onboard instead of relying solely on a ground-based telemetry station, unlocking testing at greater distances. The 777X includes the 777-8 and the 777-9, the newest members of Boeing’s market-leading widebody family. Below is a comparison between the dash 8 and dash 9:

Seat Count (Typical 2-class)
777-8: 384 passengers
777-9: 426 passengers
Engine
GE9X, supplied by GE Aviation
Range
777-8: 8,730 nautical miles (16,170 km)
777-9: 7,285 nautical miles (13,500 km)
Wingspan
Extended: 235 ft, 5 in (71.8 m)
On ground: 212 ft, 8 in (64.8 m)
Length
777-8: 229 ft (69.8 m)
777-9: 251 ft, 9 in (76.7 m)
Program Launch: 2013
Production Start: 2017
Ground Testing: 2019
First Flight: January 25, 2020
First Delivery: 2021

Additionally, “BOEING announced plan to lower its number of employees by roughly 10% company wide, including 15% cut across its commercial airplanes and services businesses, as well as corporate functions.”

Lastly, the First Quarter Financial Results are listed below:

Financial results significantly impacted by COVID-19 and the 737 MAX grounding
Revenue of $16.9 billion, GAAP loss per share of ($1.11) and core (non-GAAP)* loss per share of ($1.70)
Operating cash flow of ($4.3) billion; cash and marketable securities of $15.5 billion
Total backlog of $439 billion, including over 5,000 commercial airplanes

Other News

Want to review the projected annual change in real GDP for 2020 and 2021 WORLDWIDE? – Animated Map: An Economic Forecast for the COVID-19 Recovery
Do you want to see how COVID-19 changed travel? How COVID-19 Has Changed Our World | Aviation Week Network
Short Take-Off And Landing electric droned (STOL) are crop dusting in New Zealand (Thanx Skyport) – And yes, this will probably show up elsewhere before humans are transported! Already flying in New Zealand, Pyka makes a case for electric STOL – evtol.com And, by the way, you’ll find this newsletter free and quite interesting, get it here – The Skyport: Your Guide to the World of Urban Air Mobility – Avionics

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, Connectivity, COVID-19, FlightPlan, IFE, IFEC, passengers

Canada’s Airports Look for Government Relief to Ease Liquidity Crisis Caused by COVID-19 Travel Bans

Ottawa, Ontario | May 1, 2020– Joyce Carter, Canadian Airports Council chair and president and CEO of Halifax Stanfield International Airport, and CAC Vice Chair and Fort McMurray International Airport president and CEO RJ Steenstra, appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance today. They were there to address the current state of Canada’s airports and urge further government action on relief measures that include permanent rent relief, loan or bond guarantees and funding for small airports.

In front of a video background showing her airport’s empty departures hall, Ms. Carter clearly articulated the dramatic impact of the nation-wide travel restrictions, telling the committee, “We expect to see just 200 travellers today, compared to a daily average of 11,000.”

Since the onset of COVID-19, there has been precipitous decline in Canadian air traffic –and revenues. Overall passenger traffic declined by 90 percent in April, and it is expected to continue at this low level until travel restrictions are lifted, with revenue losses estimated at more than $2 billion.

Ms. Carter thanked the government for their early assistance in the crisis by providing ground lease rent relief, which is helping preserve some cash flow in 2020, particularly for Canada’s eight busiest airports that pay 97 percent of the rent.

Her address to the Committee emphasized that rent relief in itself is not a total solution and more support is required for the short and long term viability of Canada’s airports. Throughout this crisis, airports have remained open to repatriate Canadians, safely move goods and essential workers, and facilitate medevac and other important services.

“Airports have moved quickly to reduce operating expenses – including closing sections of our facilities and cutting wages and staff – but many of our costs are fixed,” she explained. “Costs related to safety, security, and runway maintenance cannot be cut in proportion to reduced traffic.”

While maintaining day-to-day operations, airports are also challenged to meet their capital debt obligations and comply with new and costly regulatory requirements related to runway safety and accessible air travel.

“We do not oppose these requirements but wonder how we’ll pay for them based on our current financial situation,” she said.

Over the past several weeks, the CAC and member airports have been in discussions with government officials on a series of measures that will help airports of all sizes sustain operations in the coming months, which were outlined by Ms. Carter to the Committee.

The first would be to permanently eliminate airport ground lease rent, preserve cash, focus on operations during the recovery, and to pay off incremental debt acquired during the pandemic.

The second recommends loan or bond guarantees and preferred payment designation for airport lenders to relieve the cash pressures caused by current debt obligations and allow airports to continue to borrow at favorable rates.

The final recommendation addresses the needs of rural and remote communities by providing a funding stream for airports with a smaller number of passengers, to cover essential operating expenses so they can continue to connect their communities to much needed goods, workers, medical supplies, and emergency services.

“Pre-COVID, Canada’s airports supported nearly 200,000 jobs, resulting in $13 billion in wages and $7 billion in taxes to all levels of government,” said Ms. Carter. “The health of the entire air transport system is not only essential to serving communities and Canadians through this crisis, but also key to our economic recovery once we begin to reopen the economy.”

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 5:42 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, Canada, COVID-19

IATA Requests Global Suspension of Slot Rules Due to Coronavirus

Geneva | March 2, 2020–The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is contacting aviation regulators worldwide to request that the rules governing use of airport slots be suspended immediately and for the 2020 season, due to the impact of COVID-19 (the Coronavirus).

Around 43% of all passengers depart from over 200 slot coordinated airports worldwide. At present, the rules for slot allocation mean that airlines must operate at least 80% of their allocated slots under normal circumstances. Failure to comply with this means the airline loses its right to the slot the next equivalent season. In exceptional circumstances, regulators can relax this requirement. The COVID-19 crisis has had a severe impact on air traffic. Airlines are experiencing serious declines in demand. Including:

A carrier experiencing a 26% reduction across their entire operation in comparison to last year
A hub carrier reporting bookings to Italy down 108% as bookings collapse to zero and refunds grow
Many carriers reporting 50% no-shows across several markets
Future bookings are softening and carriers are reacting with measures such as crew being given unpaid leave, freezing of pay increases, and plans for aircraft to be grounded.

Given these extraordinary circumstances as a result of the public health emergency, the collective view of the airline industry is that the application of the 80% rule during the upcoming season is inappropriate. Flexibility is needed for airlines to adjust their schedules according to extraordinary demand developments.

Regulators have already been waiving the slot rules on a rolling basis during the COVID-19 crisis primarily for operations to China and Hong Kong SAR. However, given the recent further outbreaks this is no longer contained to the Asia markets. Without certainty that these waivers will continue for the summer season (or winter season in the Southern hemisphere), airlines are unable to plan ahead sufficiently to ensure efficient rostering of crew or deployment of aircraft.

Suspending the requirement for the entire season (to October 2020) will mean that airlines can respond to market conditions with appropriate capacity levels, avoiding any need to run empty services in order to maintain slots. Aircraft can be reallocated to other routes or parked, crew can have certainty on their schedules.

“IATA research has shown that traffic has collapsed on key Asian routes and that this is rippling throughout the air transport network globally, even between countries without major outbreaks of COVID-19. There are precedents for previous suspension of the slot use rules and we believe the circumstances again calls for a suspension to be granted. We are calling for regulators worldwide to help the industry plan for today’s emergency, and the future recovery of the network, by suspending the slot use rules on a temporary basis,“ said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“The world is facing a huge challenge to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while enabling the global economy to continue functioning. Airlines are on the front line of that challenge and it’s essential that the regulatory community work with us to ensure airlines are able to operate in the most sustainable manner, both economically and environmentally, to alleviate the worst impacts of the crisis,” he said.

Posted by Patricia on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 6:50 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, Coronavirus, COVID-19, IATA, rules, slot

Airport Handling Services Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts, 2019-2025: Global Market is Projected to Grow by $48.9 Billion – ResearchAndMarkets.com

Dublin | November 4, 2019–The “Airport Handling Services – Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

The Airport Handling Services market worldwide is projected to grow by US$48.9 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 4.8%

GSHS, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.1%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$125.7 Billion by the year 2025, GSHS will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 3.7% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$1.7 Billion to the region’s size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$1.4 Billion worth of projected demand in the region will come from the rest of the European markets. In Japan, GSHS will reach a market size of US$7 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

As the world’s second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 7.6% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$14.3 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders.

Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio.

Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.

Competitors identified in this market include:

BBA Aviation Plc
elebi Aviation Holding Inc.
Dnata
Swissport International Ltd.
TAV Airports Holding Co.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Market Overview

2. Focus On Select Players

3. Market Trends & Drivers

4. Global Market Perspective

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/688m9x

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 4:29 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, forecast, handling, research

Wireless Charging, Live Sporting Events, Inflight Data Roaming, Connectivity Solutions and More

ASTRONICS

Astronics Advanced Electronics Systems (AES) introduces an onboard, innovative, aircraft cabin inductive Wireless Charging Module (WCM) that provides airlines and passengers with a convenient way to charge their wireless-enabled devices such as smartphones, MP3 players, cameras, and tablets. Astronics’ WCM provides wireless charging capability for passenger smart phones and other devices, and is ideal for both forward fit and aftermarket retrofit. Presently, we understand this product is slated for installation on business aircraft but we thought our readers would be interested in a technology application that could eventually migrate to the commercial marketplace. Wireless Charging Module | Astronics

PANASONIC

Cathay Pacific is bringing the latest live sporting events to inflight entertainment, starting with the 2019 Rugby World Cup, following an announced agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic). Cathay Pacific, which already offers three channels of live news inflight through Panasonic’s live television service, is enhancing this offering with the immediate addition of Sport 24 – a 24/7 live sports channel for airlines operated and owned by IMG – a global leader in sports, events and media – offered exclusively by Panasonic. With Panasonic’s live television platform and IMG’s exclusive sports programming, Cathay Pacific’s passengers will be able to watch live action from the 2019 Rugby World Cup, along with a host of the world’s most popular sporting events over the coming months including the English Premier League, Bundesliga, The Masters, Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, The Open Championship, Ryder Cup, Roland Garros, The Australian Open and Wimbledon.
This exciting new addition to Cathay Pacific’s inflight entertainment offering is already live on the newest aircraft to enter its fleet – the technologically advanced Airbus A350, which offers unrivaled passenger comfort on the many routes it operates from Hong Kong including Auckland, Barcelona, Brussels, Cape Town, Christchurch, London Gatwick, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Melbourne, Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Tokyo and Vancouver. In addition to its live television service, Panasonic is the principal provider of inflight entertainment systems for Cathay Pacific’s fleet of over 130 aircraft.
LCS and Academy are finalizing a memorandum of understanding with Panasonic Avionics that will remove the pain of boarding a flight just as your team is gearing up to hit the LCS stage, or hours in the air without any action from the Rift to keep you company. Panasonic is set to become the exclusive in-flight partner of the LCS and Academy. This will enable aircraft equipped with Panasonic’s IFE systems to have access to LCS and Academy games as part of their expanding premium content offering, so fans never need miss out on League esports action again. The plan is for LCS and Academy games to be available from launch in a near live format.
Panasonic Avionics Corporation subsidiary, AeroMobile, and leading telecommunications operator TrueMove Thailand, a subsidiary of True Corporation Plc, partnered to launch an inflight data roaming bundle for their customers. The inflight bundle, which commercially launched in September 2019, will place inflight mobility at the heart of TrueMove Thailand’s roaming packages. As the first operator in the country to launch an inflight roaming bundle, this agreement further cements TrueMove Thailand‘s position as a market innovator and respected service provider, with a highly competitive offering that brings more value and a greater experience for their 28 Million+ customer-base. Customers who subscribe to the inflight service will be able to use their mobile phones to browse the internet, send and receive emails, texts and calls and stay in touch with friends on social networks, whilst traveling on AeroMobile equipped aircraft. The service is currently available to post-paid customers that purchase the inflight bundle and will enable TrueMove Thailand’s customers to enjoy more value and convenience when traveling. AeroMobile provides technology and global coverage that allows the safe use of passengers’ own mobile phones onboard aircraft.

LUFTHANSA TECHNIK

Lufthansa Technik welcomed Chinese service provider Air Esurfing Information Technology Co., Ltd., which it will help in providing aircraft with the first ever inflight connectivity solution for the Chinese market. Further contract partners include Honeywell (antenna hardware provider) and China Satcom (satellite provider).

According to a new 5-year agreement, Lufthansa Technik will design and certify Ka-band-based connectivity retrofit packages for both the Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft families as well as the Boeing 737NG and 737MAX. The company will also work with Air Esurfing Information Technology Co., Ltd. to provide the respective CAAC validated EASA Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) to support Chinese airlines. Moreover, Lufthansa Technik will take care of material supply and material handling services for the installation of the packages, that can be tailored to each of Air Esurfing’s airline customers and their specific requirements.
ARE, in full name Beijing Air Esurfing Information Technology Co., Ltd. , was founded in 2013, and is wholly owned by Yuehangyangguang Network Technology Co., Ltd.. Besides its headquarters in Beijing, ARE has also set up a technology research, development and testing center for its products in Shenyang. Conclusively, ARE has grown to be a one of a kind high-tech enterprise in China. Relying on its parent group’s advantages in traditional media & advertising operation in aviation, after years of hard working, ARE’s business evolved in many aspects of the aviation internet business chain. Thus, the company’s portfolio now comprises integrated IFEC solutions, the sale of aviation materials as a distributor, the integration of airborne Wi-Fi systems, the development and customization of onboard entertainment software, the offering of airworthiness modification solutions, and the distribution of advertising, film & television media rights in aviation. Moreover, ARE is engaged in various airborne internet business co-operations. Its three series products, the Star Joy, Star Wing and Star River service platforms developed by ARE, provide mature and customized aviation internet technology solutions and business operation solutions to airlines. Through its open, compatible and flexible business cooperation model, ARE has reached cooperation with many domestic airlines on the mutual construction and operation of an airborne aviation internet system.

SITA

Ghana Airports Company Limited extended its agreement with SITA to manage and support all airport passenger processing, baggage management, and airport operations systems across Kotoka International Airport’s newly commissioned Terminal 3 for the next five years. SITA’s technology will be vital in positioning the airport as the pre-eminent hub in West Africa, leading the way in passenger automation and operational efficiency. This follows SITA’s successful deployment of these systems to support the opening of the new terminal in October last year. These systems include common use check-in desks and self-service check-in kiosks, allowing the airport to maximize its capacity by enabling airlines to cost-effectively share the same infrastructure. The airport will also make use of SITA’s state of the art baggage management technology that will assist airlines in reconciling and tracking bags across the journey. On the operational side, SITA’s Airport Management Solution will simplify planning and real-time operational control by facilitating collaborative decision-making among stakeholders while optimizing the use of airport resources. It will also support revenue management with its billing and reporting functionality. Over the next five years, SITA will be responsible for the maintenance and operations of these key systems and integration with other airport systems

INFLIGHT VR

After weeks of thorough planning and development with the teams at SunExpress, LEGO, Pico Interactive and Lasker Cross-Media, Inflight VR’s branded, immersive #virtualreality passenger experience is now live on many XQ flights from #antalya – oh, and they are celebrating it with a uniquely painted Airbus A320. The company said they couldn’t be more excited and thankful on the day of their company’s five year anniversary.

AIRBUS

Airbus and Delta Air Lines are forming a digital alliance to develop new predictive maintenance and health-monitoring solutions for airline customers worldwide from 2020. To be accessed via a unified portal through the Skywise platform, the cross-fleet solutions will harness each member’s expertise in airframes, systems and engines. Delta Air Lines will be the first user of the enriched predictive maintenance solution. This partnership builds on an already successful platform of technical collaboration between Airbus and Delta: In October 2018, Delta entered into a multi-year contract with Airbus to apply Skywise Predictive Maintenance to its A320 and A330 fleets – covering around 400 aircraft. Moreover, in June this year, Airbus and Delta joined forces to offer A220 component repair and material services for Airbus’ A220 Flight Hour Services (FHS) program.
Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) launched the iflyACJ.com website, allowing VIP travelers to easily plan their World above the world travel with ACJ charter operators. The new website will appeal to VIP travelers because it groups together in a single place information about the Airbus corporate jet offerings of 12 operators – such as details of their spacious cabins, characteristics and tailored on-board services.

BOEING

Boeing announced the launch of ForeFlight Dispatch, a team flight planning component of its web application that delivers a next-generation, multi-user, schedule-to-mobile flight planning capability for flight operations of any size. With Dispatch, flight plans are created by pilots, dispatchers, or automatically via integrated scheduling systems to generate “cleared-as-filed” routes, briefings, and operational flight plans, which are then synchronized with the ForeFlight Mobile application on crew devices. Flight watchers or dispatchers can then monitor flights or make changes to flight plans, and all changes are automatically synced back to crew devices, resulting in a more productive flight operation. Customers across North America and Europe have already tested the new capabilities with live flight operations in an extensive beta program. The inaugural customer of ForeFlight Dispatch, Flexjet, is a preeminent operator committed to deploying the latest technology throughout the organization.

Boeing has inspected some 810 Boeing 737NG’s for cracking of the “pickle forks” in the wing fuselage mounts on The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. It could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane. We understand they found issues on some 38 aircraft.

Boeing has made significant progress over the past several months in support of safely returning the 737 MAX to service as the company continues to work with the FAA and other global regulators on the process laid out for certifying the 737 MAX software and related training updates. The company has also made significant governance and operational changes to further sharpen its focus. MediaRoom – News Releases/Statements

Editor’s Note – This might be a big deal for Boeing – “A person briefed on the matter said Boeing failed to turn over the documents to the FAA for four months and that the Justice Department is also in possession of the messages” noted an article from Reuters.” Apparently Boeing knew of MCAS aggression in 2016 and misled FAA . However, it looks like some test pilots in Boeing knew about “issues” with MCAS and was only reported their words on Oct. 17 to the FAA. It may not be the best news for Mr. Muilenburg.

Boeing pilots’ messages on 737 MAX safety raise new questions – Reuters.
Further, some are now questioning existing leadership. Howard Wright: Boeing needs to go beyond title changes to restore confidence – Puget Sound Business Journal.
Finally, Boeing issued a statement regarding these issues MediaRoom – News Releases/Statements and Aviation Week has a viewpoint
What Muilenburg’s Demotion Means for NMA, Rate Increases And More | Commercial Aviation content from Aviation Week

OTHER NEWS

US economist readers will like like this annual report on US transportation, and wanna guess how big US aviation transportation is? Here is a TET 2018 – Chapter 2 – Transportation’s Contribution to the Economy | Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The following link is for one of the best (and biggest) updates of the electronics world in almost every application, and it’s up to date. The summary is some 23 Chapters long and is one of the most complete updater of electronics world. This is a BIG deal! 2019 Edition – IEEE Electronics Packaging Society “The IEEE Electronics Packaging Society is the leading international forum for scientists and engineers engaged in the research, design and development of revolutionary advances in microsystems packaging and manufacturing. The Society promotes close cooperation and exchange of technical information among its members and others through technical conferences and workshops, peer-reviewed publications, and collaboration with other organizations. Learn more here.”
This is hard to believe, but probably true. Yes, he wore 10 layers of clothing for a flight because he didn’t have the cash for the luggage to carry them! This Guy Put on Ten Layers of Clothes When He Was Unable to Pay a Bag Fee – VICE
OK, this is for pilots, however, BOSE now has s ProFlight Headset that looks perfect if you fly in a noisy cockpit! ProFlight Series 2 Aviation Headset for Pilots | Bose
Testing with Concept Activation Vectors (TCAV) may be the needed “translator for humans” that allows a user to ask a black box AI how much a specific, high-level concept has played into its reasoning.” Good Luck, and if you are not into AI – you might pass on this one! Been Kim Is Building a Translator for Artificial Intelligence | Quanta Magazine
This is really cool! All-women Delta crew flies 120 girls to NASA headquarters to inspire female aviators – ABC News
What is GDS and how can it help travel? We didn’t know much about the “travel middlemen” and how they become Global Distribution Systems – GDSs: Travelport vs Amadeus vs Sabre | AltexSoft The issue here is smart supply chain management and it has made a lot of big companies like Amazon very successful!
Oh this has to seen to believe: Self powered luggage by Naucrates that has battery power, a removable battery, follows you around if you want, and amazingly, you can ride on it. Naucrates review, luggage that follows you around the airport – 9to5Mac
While this next topic may, or may not, get inflight involvement in the near future (although drones are mentioned), we know you have heard a lot about it, and if you are like us, the understanding of 5G communication was a zero. The folks at Qualcomm has OnQ Blog which has two videos that are presentations in the Future 5G Workshop last month. Watch both videos – they are very helpful. As 5G launches globally, what comes next?

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 5:34 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airlines, airports, Connectivity, IEEE, IFE, IFEC, Ka Band, Wi-Fi

New SelfPass Biometrics Solution from Collins Aerospace Among the First to Connect Multiple Airlines, Airports and Countries

A biometric, single-enrollment identification streamlines the passenger’s outbound and return journey at multiple airports
SelfPass will be on display at this week’s Passenger Terminal EXPO

Annapolis, Maryland | March 27, 2019– Passengers traveling through England’s Bristol Airport and Ireland’s Dublin Airport can look forward to a new streamlined journey with Collins Aerospace’s SelfPass biometric solution. The solution, now being trialed at Bristol Airport and Dublin Airport, is believed to be the first biometric solution that enables passengers to use a single enrollment in multiple countries. SelfPass will be available for demonstration at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in London, England this week in Collins Aerospace’s booth — number 6030.

Passengers are already taking advantage of a streamlined journey at Bristol Airport with multiple biometric checkpoints, making the process easier from the time they check-in for their flight to the time they board. When SelfPass launches in Dublin next month, passengers will be the first to take advantage of the multi-country solution.

“Dublin and Bristol Airports are changing the way passengers travel and making the process easier and more efficient. For example, it takes less than one second to capture and process a passenger’s facial image and eliminates the need to repeatedly present travel documents,” said Christopher Forrest, vice president of Global Airport Systems for Collins Aerospace. “We see this as another leap forward for our biometric technology to play a key role in making the connected aviation ecosystem a reality.”

At Bristol, the new trial will biometrically enable multiple touchpoints, including:

Check-in
Self-bag drop
Security
Boarding gates

The initial trial will be extended to include:

Website and mobile enrollment
Lounge access

“The passenger growth at Bristol Airport is increasing, and we are looking at using technology like the Collins Aerospace biometric solution set to help make our airport a high-quality experience for our customers,” said Graeme Gamble, chief operating officer for Bristol Airport. “The cooperation of Collins and the Bristol Airport team is making Bristol a leader in Airport innovation and customer service.”

“We are really pleased to be an early adopter of this new technology designed to further enhance the experience for both our passengers and our airline customers at Dublin Airport,” said Frances O’Brien, vice president of PMO for daa. “We are delighted with the progress of the trial so far and look forward to extending the offering to a wider audience, including those travelling to the U.S. in the coming months.”

Posted by Patricia on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 5:47 am
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Airlines, airports, biometrics, passengers

Collins Aerospace and JetBlue Enhance Passenger Boarding Experience with Advanced Biometrics Screening

JetBlue trialing Collins Aerospace biometric self-boarding gates at JFK
Passengers can now use SelfPass facial scan technology to streamline the boarding process.

Annapolis, Maryland |March 26, 2019–JetBlue is advancing the boarding process at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) with SelfPass — a biometric facial scanning process implemented by Collins Aerospace, in cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Passengers using SelfPass, with fully integrated self-boarding gates, may board international flights through one gate in Terminal 5 and experience a more streamlined process. Boarding is performed in a matter of seconds and eliminates the need to present traditional boarding and identification documents.

With SelfPass, there is no pre-registration required. Air travelers simply step up to the camera for a facial match against their travel document — such as CBP photos previously loaded in the system — then proceed to board the aircraft.

“Biometric solutions are the future when it comes to improving the passenger experience at the airport, and JetBlue is playing a crucial role to make this transformation a reality,” said Christopher Forrest, vice president of Global Airport Systems for Collins Aerospace. “Not only are we reducing the amount of time it takes a passenger to move through the airport, but we’re also adding a heightened level of security.”

“The innovative use of biometrics for customer processing is driving the aviation industry forward and aligns with IATA’s One ID concept,” said Ian Deason, senior vice president of customer experience for JetBlue. “By working together with Collins Aerospace, we’re bringing JetBlue customers a personal, helpful and simple experience each time they fly.”

SelfPass doesn’t just benefit the passenger. It enables airports and airlines to implement and grow their biometric capabilities at various touchpoints by being uniquely scalable and hardware independent. By implementing a more efficient boarding process, airlines can improve on-time departures and increase passenger satisfaction.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 3:21 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, biometrics, IATA, jetBlue, passengers, SelfPass

Hermes Airports Has Been Acrredited with the Investors In People Standard at Platinum Level For Its Human Resources Management

Cyprus | February 5, 2019– Hermes Airports has been accredited with the Platinum Investors in People standard, demonstrating its commitment to its people. Investors in People is an internationally recognised standard for people management, and it defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people for achieving sustainable results. It is noted that only 1% of international organisations currently accredited with the IIP standard hold the Platinum level, which applies for a period of three years.

Underpinning the Standard is the Investors in People framework (originating from the United Kingdom), reflecting the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry. For the employees of an organisation, the IIP accreditation proves that they are working in an environment that respects the employees, diversity, individuality and human values. It offers recognition and development, quality training, develops skills and provides career opportunities and a fairer assessment system. For the organisation itself, it offers the best possible services and satisfaction to customers through a customer-centric culture, global recognition, the ability to attract and retain the market’s talents and high performing professionals and be compared with other leading businesses accredited with the IIP standard, and much more.

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People and Bitcoin Superstar Betrug ist, congratulated Hermes Airports, noting: “the Investors in People accreditation is the sign of a great employer, and an organisation committed to achieving success by realising the potential of their people. Hermes Airports should be extremely proud of its achievement.”

Natasa Iacovides, Hermes Airports’ Senior Manager Human Resources, said that this is a very important accreditation for Hermes, as it confirms the faith and trust the company has in its employees, and follows the accolades received last year from the ACI (Airport Council International) Europe and the MEECO Silver Designation in the field of leadership, corporate culture and coaching.

Hermes Airports Ltd currently employs 165 people, who work in the management and operation of Larnaka and Pafos International Airports.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 3:40 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with accreditation, airports, HR

Accurascan Participating In the Upcoming Apex Expo

Accurascan is participating in the Apex Expo with an aim to showcase its Passport and ID Card OCR scanning solution at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, USA.

September 13, 2018– Accurascan, a leading R&D company today announced its participation in the upcoming Apex Expo at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) at booth #104 from September 24 – 27, 2018. According to company CEO – Mr Yasin Patel, “We are participating in the event to offer our incredible Passport & ID Card OCR scanning solution for faster web and mobile check-in for airlines.” Highly useful for Border Security, faster Immigration Process and enhancing Customers Experience.

Organized by the Airline Passenger Experience Association, the event is likely to attract thousands of industry professionals and companies from all over the world and will prove to be a brilliant platform for the company to create business opportunities too.

The skilled developers and designers of Accura Technolabs have developed a robust OCR scanning engine that runs on mobile devices and web platform. Offering Android, iOS, Web SDK & API to customize or integrate the same with any existing application to further extend its potential in facilitating fast scanning of Passport and ID cards for KYC, Quick User On boarding, Web & Mobile Check-in.

The company is also offering a Web API (application program interface) to meet the scanning needs of various industry verticals in an inexpensive way.

Posted by Patricia on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 7:02 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Airlines, airports, ID, passengers, passports, scan

YouGov/Spafax Poll: 68% Would Welcome Help from AI at Airports When Travelling

Survey reveals younger travellers want virtual reality tours, AR board games, high tech viewing and booking for tourist attractions, VR boxing matches, hologram clothes shopping and robotic medical help – before they even get on the plane. Older travellers are not so keen.

London | August 21, 2018–

An online YouGov poll commissioned by leading inflight entertainment and passenger engagement company Spafax published today reveals that younger travellers want airports to use technology to enhance their airport experience – but older travellers are more wary*:

The poll, of 2,110 respondents (gen UK adult population of 18+), asked about their wishlist for ‘an airport lounge of the future’ revealed:

37% of people aged 18 to 34 would play augmented reality (AR) board games with other passengers but only 9% of of 55 and overs would
17% of 18-24-year-olds would like to try on hologram clothes at an airport, while only 6% of 55 and overs would.
36% of women would choose, when in an airport lounge, a virtual reality (VR) preview of tourist attractions at their destination, along with the opportunity to pre-book tickets once they’d browsed

Similarly, a second GB survey**, which asked respondents to envisage an upcoming long haul flight from London to New York showed that 38% wanted artificial intelligence to help with speeding up the airport process and 35% wanted it to give information on news in their destination whilst on-board the flight.

Regional differences

A YouGov survey* regarding choices for the airport lounge showed a sharp difference in both ages and regions – given the option of taking a virtual reality ‘Great Wall of China’ experience in an airport lounge where the passenger would walk on a treadmill and in real-time experience the sights of the Great Wall of China – people from Wales were the most enthusiastic, with 31% saying that they would, while people from the North East of England were the least enthusiastic (16%).

Passengers from the South East were most likely to choose to test-drive the latest luxury sports cars using virtual reality headsets and sitting in real car seats at an airport (25%), while people in the North East were less enthusiastic at 16%.

Eleven per cent of people in the South West would like a VR experience that recreated their own sitting rooms in the airport lounge, the highest in the UK.

The second survey, where respondents were asked to think specifically about a hypothetical upcoming trip from London to New York, went on to confirm these regional differences**:

People in the South West (45%) were most likely to want technology to help them speed up the journey through the airport.

People in the South East (42%) and Scotland (39%) were the most likely to want AI to give them information on the latest news in the area they were going to.

Sharp difference in what the young and old want from airport experience

A recent survey* proved that retired passengers were possibly the most relaxed passengers, with only 2% of them saying they’d like to take part in a virtual reality boxing match to let off steam before the flight, while 17% of full-time students chose this option.

When comparing the working status of these groups, we can see that a full 44% of full-time studentssaid that they would choose to do the full China Wall experience while only 23% of retired peoplewould.

Nearly a half (48%) of retired people did not want any sort of personalized experience at an airport compared with a quarter (25%) of full time students.

Similarly, a second YouGov survey** confirmed these age differences in relation to AI for a hypothetical upcoming flight from London to New York:

Twenty-seven per cent of all respondents would not like artificial intelligence to assist them with anything for their trip with over 55s most resistant to AI in airports at 33% saying they would not like it to assist them, while only 17% of 18-24-year-olds didn’t want help from AI.

Students were most likely to want to use AI to teach them a new language or skill with 38% choosing this option.

Difference between men and women

One survey* suggested that women seem to be keener on a real-world sensory experience, involving direct human interaction – for the question “You will be served an array of small luxury handmade chocolates and a pink cider. The staff serving you will explain how each is made” it was a thumbs up from 21% of men while 30% of women chose the option.

Twenty-seven per cent of men would test drive a new luxury car in VR, while only 17% of women would.

A second survey**, about a potential future London to New York trip, similarly proved that women were significantly more likely at 33% to want a personalized guide to their destination than men (25%). Menwere more likely to want to AI to teach them a new skill or language (21%) than women (16%).

Most passengers are open to help and guidance from AI, but not with medical issues**

People in the East of England (14%) and full-time students (18%) are most likely to welcome on-board medical help driven by artificial intelligence, while those in the North East (4%) are less keen.

Charles Vine, Head of Brand Alliances at Spafax said:

“We commissioned this research to find out what the British public actually wants out of their airport and airport lounge experiences. Airport lounges in particular are evolving from faceless waiting rooms with chairs and a coffee machine to being providers of an experience in their own right. The results send a clear message to us that people want the introduction of technology, but only in a way that enhances their trip, entertains or is enjoyable.

“27% were against being helped by AI for a hypothetical upcoming trip, whereas a resounding 68% of the British public did want artificial intelligence AI to help them get the most out of their time at the airport – whether that be assistance navigating the airport terminals or speeding up the check in process. ”

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with AI, Airlines, airports, Poll, Spafax, travelers, YouGov

News From Rockwell Collins, Thales, Inmarsat and Others

Below is an update on the latest news since last week’s edition of IFExpress.

ROCKWELL COLLINS
Rockwell Collins has unveiled a new aviation resource management system to help airlines manage aircraft, fuel and cabin crew expenses and enable non-stop global operations.

The aviation resource management system is a turnkey, cloud-based platform comprised of modules that cover every aspect of an airline’s operations as well as a unified database. It enables operational data to flow seamlessly, accurately and in real time between airline functions, allowing the most cost-optimized use of resources as possible.

“Our aviation resource management system eliminates the need for airlines to connect disparate applications that were never designed to work together in the first place and replaces them with an integrated solution,” said Heament Kurian, head of Value Added Applications & Solutions and Strategic Partnership, Information Management Services for Rockwell Collins. “This means that if something like a flight delay occurs, data is automatically distributed to the impacted systems, improving airline personnel’s near-term scheduling and long-term planning abilities.”

The Rockwell Collins solution features a full suite of software-based applications that use prescriptive analytics to automatically recommend the best aircraft and cabin crew usage and greatly simplify the handling of disruptions.

The aviation resource management system complements the company’s ARINC Paxlink, a passenger service system that creates more efficient operations and enhances passenger satisfaction. “These solutions can be used independently or combined to simplify and cost-effectively connect operations from the back office all the way through to passenger-related activities, helping airlines of any size better manage their resources and expenses,” said Kurian.

The Rockwell Collins aviation resource management system is a collaboration with Laminaar Aviation Infotech, which designs and produces innovative solutions for the global aviation and airline markets.

THALES

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently acknowledged Thales’ performance in engineering, quality, reliability and product support as one of the company’s top performing suppliers. Thales was presented with this award at a ceremony held on June 3, in Savannah, Georgia. Fewer than one percent of Gulfstream suppliers were commended with a Supplier of the Year Award.

Thales began its relationship with Gulfstream in 2007 when it was selected to supply Fly-by-Wire Flight Control Electronics (FCE) for Gulfstream’s flagship aircraft, the Gulfstream G650. Thales’ advanced FCE solutions are also on the Gulfstream G500 and G600. The FCE ensures a smooth ride, superior performance and uncompromising attention to safety whilst reducing weight and optimizing volume. It consists of field-tested quad-dual digital flight control computers and one back-up flight control unit.

INMARSAT

Deutsche Telekom, one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies, and Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, have been awarded the prestigious German Innovation Award for their highly successful joint venture, the European Aviation Network (EAN). It is the world’s first inflight broadband solution that combines dedicated satellite coverage with a complementary LTE-based ground network, was announced as the winner in the Aviation and Maritime Technologies category, during a ceremony in Berlin.The German Innovation Award was founded by the esteemed German Design Council and launched by German Parliament. Entries undergo a comprehensive evaluation that considers factors such as user benefits, economic feasibility, sustainability, technical quality and durability. Winners are therefore considered to be ‘best-of-the-best’ in their categories.Judged by a panel of high profile experts from various German industries, EAN was commended for its exceptional performance and the potential of the network to positively influence the future of air travel. The win follows EAN also recently being named ‘Best Inflight Connectivity Innovation’ by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).

EAN is available to both commercial airlines and business aviation aircraft across all 28 EU States, in addition to Norway and Switzerland. With the solution, passengers will experience high quality broadband in the skies and the increasingly congested European aviation industry can meet the accelerating demand of new data hungry generations. David Fox, Deutsche Telekom’s Vice President Inflight Services and Connectivity, said: “It is truly an honour for our network to be designated an ‘innovation made in Germany’, and being so named by the German Design Council is proof of the extraordinary value of EAN.”

SITA

SITA announced that it has been chosen by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) as the technology partner for biometric exit at Orlando International Airport. Orlando International is the first U.S. airport to fully deploy the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Biometric Entry and Exit Program. Over the coming months, SITA will integrate Smart Path, its sophisticated biometric technology, at the airport’s 30 international boarding gates.

Earlier this year, SITA worked with GOAA, British Airways and CBP to incorporate the U.S. biometric departure check for British Airways’ customers. The trial’s success has prompted airport-wide implementation of the technology. The system makes passenger boarding quicker and easier, while it also incorporates the new secure biometric exit checks. British Airways is boarding flights of almost 240 customers in around 15 minutes. With Smart Path, passengers just need to look at the camera, without having to present boarding passes or passports.

John Newsome, Chief Information Officer, GOAA, said: “Our decision to implement biometric exit checks across the whole airport follows a hugely successful live trial. The innovative boarding process we tested is really popular with passengers. They simply look at the camera and within seconds the gate opens and they can board the flight. It is easy, fast and most importantly, secure. The solution works on common-use boarding gates and can be easily used by the many international airlines that we serve at MCO.”

Diana Einterz, SITA President, Americas, said: “GOAA’s implementation of SITA Smart Path for the U.S. CBP biometric exit checks will deliver a simpler travel process for the airport’s six million annual international passengers. SITA is a world-leader in biometrics and we are committed to delivering secure seamless journeys for airline passengers globally. It is great to be GOAA’s technology partner as it becomes the first airport to fully implement biometrics for international flights from the U.S.”

Passengers can expect to enjoy 100% biometric boarding for international flights at Orlando International Airport by October. Over the next four months, SITA will integrate Smart Path at 64 boarding lanes, at 30 boarding gates across the airport. As part of the agreement, SITA will provide the technology solution, professional services, hardware and maintenance. This will be backed by SITA’s global service management, which supports the operational needs of the world’s top airports and airlines through 24/7 worldwide availability and proactive monitoring.

AIRBUS

AIRBUS finalized deal to acquire majority stake in C SERIES AIRCRAFT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP on July 1 (ahead of schedule) from Bombardier and Investissement Québec; head office, primary assembly line and related functions will remain in Québec and a second line is to open Mobile, AL

Airbus to acquire majority stake in the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership, effective July 1, 2018
All regulatory approvals required for the closing of the transaction have been obtained
Partnership head office, leadership team and primary final assembly line located in Mirabel, Québec (representing some 2,200 employees and subcontractors), with the support of the C Series global supply chain
Partnership brings together two complementary product lines, with 100-150 seat market segment projected to represent 6,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years
Addition of Airbus’ global reach to create significant value for C Series’ customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders and communities
Significant C Series production efficiencies anticipated by leveraging Airbus’ production ramp-up expertise
Growing market for C Series to support second Final Assembly Line in Alabama, serving U.S. customers

Having received all required regulatory approvals, Airbus SE (EPA: AIR), Bombardier Inc. (TSX: BBD.B) and Investissement Québec (IQ) have agreed to close the C Series transaction effective on July 1, 2018. The transaction by which Airbus will acquire a majority stake in the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP) was initially announced in October 2017. The Mirabel-based partnership, which was originally established between Bombardier and IQ, will benefit from Airbus’ global reach, scale, procurement organization and expertise in selling, marketing and producing the C Series – a state-of-the-art jet aircraft family in the 100-150 seat market. Airbus will work with its partners Bombardier and IQ to fully unlock the C Series’ potential and create significant new value for customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders and the communities in which the partnership operates. The partnership’s head office, primary assembly line and related functions will be based in Mirabel, Québec.

As previously announced, Bombardier will continue with its current funding plan of CSALP. Due to the early closing of the partnership, the terms of this plan are updated according to the following schedule: Bombardier will fund the cash shortfalls of CSALP, if required, during the second half of 2018, up to a maximum of US$225 million; during 2019, up to a maximum of US$350 million; and up to a maximum aggregate amount of US$350 million over the following two years, in consideration for non-voting participating shares of CSALP with cumulative annual dividends of 2%. Any excess shortfall during such periods will be shared proportionately amongst CSALP’s Class A shareholders. Airbus will consolidate CSALP effective from July 1, 2018 onwards. Further financial information on the transaction will be provided later this year.

The C Series program continues to ramp up. Having delivered 17 aircraft in 2017, it is gearing up to double its deliveries in 2018. With the C Series’ demonstrated in-service performance and the finalization of this partnership, the parties expect increased demand to support a second C Series Final Assembly Line in Mobile, Alabama, dedicated to supplying U.S.-based customers. The C Series is positioned to capture a large percentage of the estimated 6,000 aircraft needed in this market segment over the next 20 years.

Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said: “This partnership extends our commitment to Québec and to all of Canadian aerospace, and we are very glad to welcome so many C Series teammates into the extended Team Airbus. The strength of the entire Airbus organization will be behind the C Series. Not only will that enable this outstanding aircraft to fulfill its market potential, but we are convinced the addition of the C Series to our overall aircraft product offering brings significant value to Airbus, our customers and shareholders.”

OTHER NEWS

One of the best information articles – Ever – 19 Incredibly Useful Websites You’ll Wish You Knew Earlier
“We know a lot of you love your BOSE headphones because we have seen you use them on flights. But did you know you can use a plug in device on them to turn them into Bluetooth wireless listening devices? Just type in “AirMod” into Amazon and get the converter…and thank BOSE for using a plug-in wire for the source connection…”
We had never seen a good summary of the new action roles of management consultants till we read this article – Information, Expertise, Insight, and Execution: Killing Strategy: The Disruption Of Management Consulting
Skift’s Sean O’Neil just published what we consider as one of the best future looks at traveling with some 20 startups to watch in 20i8. Dont miss this article for the future hotshots of travel. As they note “No scooter startups or flying taxis. No blockchain-based dreams. And nothing from Silicon Valley — which hogs the spotlight enough as it is.” Skift’s Top Travel Startups to Watch 2018 – Skift
Here are 32 reasons (out of 10,000) why we love Japan: 32 Times the Japanese Were Light Years Ahead of the Game
Watch your phone videos privately on the plane with $20 googles! Check it out here

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 5:23 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with airports, Aviation, communication, Connectivity, IFE, IFEC, Wi-Fi

Global Airport Baggage Handling Systems Market Analysis 2018-2023 – ResearchAndMarkets.com

Dublin, Ireland | May 11, 2018–The “Global Airport Baggage Handling Systems Market – Segmented By Airport Capacity And Geography – Growth, Trends, And Forecast (2018 – 2023)” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.

Airport terminal extensions and new terminal development ventures globally, owing to increased air passenger traffic are driving the airport baggage handling systems market.

Recently developed and modernized air terminals have to be supplied with the interlinked baggage conveyor system, which is expected to drive the baggage handling systems market. With terrorist threats around the globe, airplane terminals have stepped up their luggage security. The security procedure is highly time-intensive and influences the general proficiency of baggage handling operations. The increasing number of air passengers coupled with existential security threats is expected to increase the demand for these systems.

Establishment of New Airports and the Expansion of Existing Projects is Expected to Drive the Market

The growth in middle-class population in the developing countries, such as China and India has increased the air passenger traffic, and this trend is expected to continue. To handle the growth in the air traffic, many airports in different parts of the world have been undergoing expansions creating demand for airport baggage handling systems. Airport expansion projects are underway across the world.

All the countries that are part of Gulf Cooperation Council are in the midst of expanding their airports, as the region has few of the world’s busiest airports the growth in the air traffic will necessitate expansion of capacity to provide seamless travel experience. India under its regional connectivity scheme has envisaged developing the underserved and unserved airports to boost domestic air travel. The Heathrow airport in London, the busiest in the European continent is undergoing expansion. The construction of both Greenfield and Brownfield airports is expected to drive the demand for such systems.

Recent Developments

March 2018: Vanderlande signs strategic baggage cooperative agreement with Vancouver Airport Authority for the design and execution of baggage handling projects in order to reach the capacity, redundancy and flexibility required for future growth

Companies Mentioned

Vanderlande Industries
Daifuku
Siemens
Pteris Global
Glidepath
Crisplant
G&S Airport Conveyor
Aversan Inc
Logpan
Babcock Airports Ltd

Key Topics Covered

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Overview and Trends

5. Market Dynamics

6. Global Airport Baggage Handling Systems Market Segmentation

7. Competitive Landscape

8. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/s9xmd5/global_airport?w=4

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Airlines, airports, baggage, passengers, Report

Technology and The Future of Air Transport

SITA CEO outlines the value of technology to manage the industry’s future

Asia Pacific Air Transport IT Summit, Singapore | April 18, 2018– The future of air transport will be driven by a digital transformation in the industry, according to Barbara Dalibard, CEO of global IT provider, SITA. Dalibard was speaking at the Asia Pacific Air Transport IT Summit which gathered C-level airline and airport executives from across the region to discuss the future in this dynamic growth region.

Asia Pacific is leading the tremendous growth in the air travel industry. By 2036, the region is expected to handle over 4.1 billion passengers – more than half of the world’s passenger traffic. With this growth comes challenges and stresses on infrastructure and processes. The industry also faces increased complexity and security regulation globally. Dalibard outlined how technology can provide real value and help the industry navigate the future.

Dalibard said: “Smart use of technology can help manage the challenges of rising passenger numbers, limited infrastructure and increased complexity. At SITA, we are looking at opportunities to harness technologies including biometrics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and blockchain to transform the industry.

“Already biometrics is becoming more commonplace at airports around the world and is delivering secure seamless travel from check-in to boarding. Today we work with around 40 governments providing border management solutions. And we have biometric self-service solutions operating worldwide, including in Australia, USA, Mexico and the Middle East.”

SITA is owned by the air transport industry and so has a unique commitment to address community issues. It is investing in new technologies with its industry partners. For example, SITA worked with British Airways, Heathrow, Geneva and Miami airports to explore the opportunity to use blockchain technology for the shared control of data.

Recently, SITA has also invested in research to help airlines and airports tackle the $25 billion annual cost of poor on-time performance. SITA’s technology harnesses advance machine learning and artificial intelligence to forecast aircraft arrival times as far out as 24 hours giving airports the opportunity to proactively manage and mitigate disruption.

Autonomous vehicles and the potential use of robotics is another field of development, with particular interest shown at the event in Kansai Airport’s trial of KATE, SITA’s autonomous check-in robot.

Dalibard added: “By embracing the Internet of Things and connecting everything across the industry we will produce more data which can be used with artificial intelligence to create valuable insights and expose new ways of working. Over the next 20 years, this use of digital technologies to improve service, operations and efficiency will have profound effects on the air transport industry.”

One example of where this is beginning to happen is baggage management. 2018 is the year the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 753 comes into effect, which will see the industry increase end-to-end baggage tracking. This tracking produces data which reveals where improvements can be made in baggage management processes.

Speaking on the topic, Dalibard commented: “While we won’t see a sudden change in 2018, it is a real turning point for the industry as airlines begin to unlock the value of the tracking data for the 4.65 billion bags they carry. Looking further ahead, combining data collected from bag tracking with data science and machine learning promises even more significant improvements in baggage handling operations. This in turn will reduce costs and improve the passenger experience, a transformation that will be welcomed by everyone.”

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with Airlines, airports, Aviation, IT, SITA

Airbus, Boeing, SITA, and More News

The image above is BCIA and it is the largest airport in China, with passenger volume that exceeded 90 million in 2016. It is positioned as the international hub airport in the overall design of the Jing-Jin-Ji airports group. To date it serves more than 28 domestic airlines, and 74 foreign airlines, with 132 international routes, and 147 domestic routes. It is also the home base airport for China’s flag carrier Air China. In the SITA story section below we have more on the latest SITA self-service technology it employs.

AIRBUS

Vietnam’s FLC Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for up to 24 A321neo aircraft for future operation by start-up carrier Bamboo Airways. The agreements were signed in Paris by Trinh Van Quyet, Chairman of FLC Group and Eric Schulz, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus during the official visit to France of Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Bamboo Airways is set to begin operations in 2019 with aircraft on lease from third party lessors before taking delivery of the aircraft covered by today’s MOU with Airbus. The carrier will focus on linking international markets to Vietnamese leisure destinations, as well as on selected domestic routes.

BOEING/All Nippon Airways

Boeing and All Nippon Airways announced the Japanese carrier has placed a new order for two 777 Freighters valued at $678 million according to list prices. While ANA is a major operator of the 777 passenger jet, it has grown its cargo operation with the medium-sized 767 Freighter. In adding the 777 Freighter – the world’s largest and longest range twin-engine cargo jet – ANA is expanding its cargo capabilities just as the air freight market keeps growing at historically high rates.

Last year, the global air cargo market grew 9 percent, more than double the long-term projected growth rate of about 4.2 percent. In January, the above-trend growth continued with an 8 percent increase in demand. Industry experts say the strong performance reflects global economic trade, fueled in large part by expanding e-commerce.

ANA says it plans to fly its new 777 Freighters on international routes, particularly to Asia, China, and North America. With this order, ANA will become the first airline in Japan to operate 777 Freighters.

The 777 Freighter is capable of flying 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometers) with a payload of 112 tons (102 metric tonnes or 102,000 kg). The airplane’s long range translates into significant savings as fewer stops mean lower landing fees, less congestion, lower cargo handling costs and shorter delivery times.

Boeing is the air cargo market leader, providing over 90 percent of the dedicated freighter capacity around the world.

BOEING/Singapore Airlines

Boeing and Singapore Airlines celebrated the delivery of the first 787-10 airplane, the newest and largest member of the Dreamliner family and a jet that will set a new global standard for fuel efficiency. About 3,000 people marked the milestone at Boeing’s facility in North Charleston, South Carolina where the latest 787 model is manufactured.

Like the other 787 Dreamliners, the 787-10 is designed with strong, lightweight composites, the most advanced systems, and comfortable cabin features. The 787-10, though, features a longer fuselage which allows it to carry about 40 more passengers or a total of 330 seats in a standard two-class configuration.

With the additional capacity, the 787-10 provides airlines the lowest operating cost per seat of any widebody airplane in service today. Singapore Airlines plans to puts its 787-10s into scheduled service in May, with flights from Singapore to Osaka, Japan and Perth, Australia. Prior to the introduction of these services, the aircraft will be operated on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes

SITA

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), which handles more than 95 million passengers a year, has chosen air transport IT specialist, SITA, to provide technology to boost capacity. Asia’s busiest airport is using SITA’s self-service kiosks for passenger check-in services on all Air China domestic flights departing from Terminal 3. The new kiosks are designed to support the wide range of travel documents typically used by passengers on these flights. BCIA will use up to 70 SITA AirportConnect® Kiosks to help Air China process passengers faster, while freeing up airport and airline staff to focus on other aspects of the passenger experience. They feature boarding-pass and bag-tag printers; passport and Chinese ID card readers; and large user-friendly screens. Uniquely, they support a wide range of travel documents including those of Hong Kong/Macau and Taiwan residents traveling to mainland China, as well as ex-pats who reside in China permanently.

SITA/India

SITA continues to play a vital role in supporting the rapid growth of India’s air transport industry, providing key technology solutions to one of the country’s newest airports. The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) has turned to SITA to provide passenger processing solutions for check-in and boarding, as well as baggage tracking. Air passenger numbers in India have consistently seen double-digit growth over the past few years, significantly outperforming the global average. The country is on target to become the third-biggest aviation market by 2025. SITA has long supported the industry in India and MIHAN joins a vast footprint of airports and airlines across India using SITA technology.

As part of the new agreement, MIHAN is deploying SITA’s common-use technology, enabling airlines and their handling agents to access their IT applications in real-time on shared common-use equipment. SITA’s Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Common Use Self Service (CUSS) allows any airline to use any agent desk, gate position or self-service kiosk for passenger check-in and bag drop.

The airport will also deploy SITA’s baggage tracking solution. Worldwide, bags get mishandled every day which causes disruption for passengers and costs the industry billions of dollars but by providing real-time information on baggage status, SITA BagManager will allow MIHAN to accurately track passengers’ bags and significantly reduce the likelihood of them being mishandled.

MIHAN is the biggest economic development project currently underway in India. The project aims to exploit the central location of Nagpur and convert the present airport into a major cargo hub with integrated road and rail connectivity. The airport is expected to accommodate up to 14 million passengers once completed in 2035.

SITA Passenger Services System

Jeju Air, South Korea’s first low cost carrier, has extended its partnership with SITA for Horizon® Passenger Services System (PSS) to support its business growth. The new multi-year deal, with global IT provider, SITA, includes key components, such as pricing, ancillary revenues, passenger preferences, e-commerce channels and local language services. The airline is also adding SITA’s Horizon® Business Intelligence which offers comprehensive data analysis to identify, evaluate and act on trends, challenges and opportunities.

Jeju Air began its operations in 2005 and SITA’s PSS has been an integral part of the airline’s operations from the start. Since then, Jeju Air has grown and continues to grow exponentially, and is using extensive PSS functionalities to support their sales and distribution strategies. SITA’s PSS is well positioned to serve Jeju Air’s passenger management services and operations and is future-proofed to support the airline for the coming years.

SITA Smart Path

With its leading Smart PathTM biometric solution for ID management now rolled out globally, air transport IT provider SITA is well poised to deliver a seamless, paperless travel experience for passengers across India. SITA has already shown the benefits of using biometric technology to automate passenger identity checks at airports across the world – from the USA to Australia – and is well positioned to help unlock the full benefits of seamless, biometric travel across India.

SITA is already successfully helping airports and airlines incorporate biometrics into their existing infrastructure and government systems. According to Biometrics for Better Travel: An ID Management Revolution, a SITA report published this week, airlines and airports are increasingly investing in various forms of biometric technology. Over the next three years, 63% of airports and 43% of airlines plan to invest in biometric ID management solutions.

In the USA, SITA is using facial biometrics to help passengers flying with British Airways from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to London Gatwick to quickly board where all that is needed is a photo – no passport, no boarding card. The system integrates the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) and airline’s IT systems to authorize boarding while completing necessary US exit checks in a single process. SITA is providing a similar solution to JetBlue at Boston’s Logan Airport.

At Australia’s Brisbane Airport, SITA has introduced its Smart Path™ technology which allows passengers to register their biometric details at a self-service kiosk at check-in and then, when ready to board, use an automated boarding gate to be verified using face recognition technology to access the aircraft. Aadhaar, India’s biometric identity system, has over one billion enrolled members. Indian passengers have shown greater willingness to use biometrics to speed up their journey through the airport. Research published in SITA’s 2017 Passenger IT Trends Survey showed that 70% of passengers in India said they would definitely use biometrics if given the option, removing the need to show a passport or boarding card at key points in the airport. This was well above the global average of 57%.

SITA BagManager

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages 126 airports across India, has expanded SITA’s baggage management solution to 15 airports. SITA’s BagManager will provide the airports with real-time information on the status of passengers’ baggage, significantly reducing the chances of baggage mishandling. This follows the implementation of SITA’s BagManager at Kolkata and Chennai Airports in 2015 and is in line with the AAI’s vision of rolling out standard airport infrastructure across all their airports to drive greater efficiency across the airport network. The implementation of SITA’s baggage solution will also help AAI’s customer airlines progress towards complying with IATA Resolution 753 by tracking bags across key points in the journey.

The 15 airports are Trivandrum, Calicut, Mangalore, Tirupati, Chennai, Madurai, Kolkatta, Goa, Lucknow, Jaipur, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Trichy and Ahmedabad.

Service Provider of the Year

SITA has been named Service Provider of the Year in the prestigious annual Air Transport Awards held in Dubai. The winners are voted for by the readers of Air Transport News and a jury of international aviation experts, chaired by Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission. The Service Provider of the Year award was given to SITA in recognition of its role in providing IT and communication solutions globally to the air transport industry. SITA’s unique role as the community provider – being owned by the industry – means it has an unprecedented understanding of the industry’s requirements, combined with dedicated teams around the world which deliver services needed to keep people flying. Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA said: “Being named as Service Provider of the Year at the 2018 Air Transport Awards is a significant achievement and a strong validation of our unwavering collaboration and contribution to the air transport community. To be selected by our industry peers for this award is testament that our continued focus on delivering real value to the community is both justified and valued by the industry. In recent months, SITA has taken the lead in the development of biometric solutions. This has included innovation solutions for airlines and airports as well as looking to the future uses of biometrics as the technology develops. A key innovation is SITA’s Smart PathTM solution which allows passengers to use their biometric identity every step of the way.

The Air Transport Industry Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai.

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Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Filed under Hot Topics · Tagged with Airbus, Airlines, airports, Boeing, China, IT, SITA

SITA to Provide Better Oversight of Baggage at 15 Airports Across India

Airports Authority of India to use SITA BagManager to improve baggage handling at airports

Air Transport IT Summit, Jaipur, India | March 22, 2018– The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages 126 airports across India, has expanded SITA’s baggage management solution to 15 airports. SITA’s BagManager will provide the airports with real-time information on the status of passengers’ baggage, significantly reducing the chances of baggage mishandling.

This follows the implementation of SITA’s BagManager at Kolkata and Chennai Airports in 2015 and is in line with the AAI’s vision of rolling out standard airport infrastructure across all their airports to drive greater efficiency across the airport network. The implementation of SITA’s baggage solution will also help AAI’s customer airlines progress towards complying with IATA Resolution 753 by tracking bags across key points in the journey.

The 15 airports are Trivandrum, Calicut, Mangalore, Tirupati, Chennai, Madurai, Kolkatta, Goa, Lucknow, Jaipur, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Trichy and Ahmedabad.

As part of the expanded agreement, the AAI will also deploy SITA Airport Management Solution to two further airports – Goa and Lucknow airports – taking the total number of India airports using this technolgy to 12. SITA Airport Management Solution is a suite of integrated software applications designed to support and enhance airport operations from landside to airside, from landing to take off. With SITA Airport Management Solution, the airports will have access to real-time data to better anticipate, plan and control their operations.

Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman of Airports Authority of India, said: “As passenger traffic increases across India, we need to be smarter in the way we manage our airports and smart technology is the answer. SITA’s experience in India and its solutions make it possible to manage our network of airports in a more efficient and effective way, delivering a better service to our passengers while accommodating rapidly rising passenger numbers.”

The AAI continues to invest in new airport infrastructure and technology across India to meet growing passenger traffic. India is expected to become the third biggest passenger market by 2025 with more than 400 million passengers a year. This investment includes new development works at Lucknow, Deoghar, Rajkot and Allahabad airports.

Maneesh Jaikrishna, SITA Vice President Indian Subcontinent, Eastern & Southern Africa said: “India has long been an important market for SITA. With our sharpened focus on delivering solutions at the airport – including passenger processing and baggage management – we are able to support AAI with new technologies that make it easier to operate their airports and deliver a great passenger experience.”

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, baggage, India, IT, passengers, SITA

India’s Newest Airport Turns to SITA for Passenger Processing Solutions

MIHAN opts for SITA’s common-use and baggage solutions

2018 Air Transport IT Summit, Jaipur | 23 March 2018 —SITA continues to play a vital role in supporting the rapid growth of India’s air transport industry, providing key technology solutions to one of the country’s newest airports. The Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) has turned to SITA to provide passenger processing solutions for check-in and boarding, as well as baggage tracking.

Air passenger numbers in India have consistently seen double-digit growth over the past few years, significantly outperforming the global average. The country is on target to become the third-biggest aviation market by 2025. SITA has long supported the industry in India and MIHAN joins a vast footprint of airports and airlines across India using SITA technology.

The airport will also deploy SITA’s baggage tracking solution. Worldwide, bags get mishandled every day which causes disruption for passengers and costs the industry billions of dollars but by providing real-time information on baggage status, SITABagManager will allow MIHAN to accurately track passengers’ bags and significantly reduce the likelihood of them being mishandled.

V.S Mulekar, Senior Airport Director, MIHAN Airport, said: “MIHAN is the single biggest publicly-funded development project in India. It is essential we have the right technologies in place to make sure the airport’s operations are highly efficient from day one and that they are future-proofed for our growth. SITA’s technology has proven successful in other airports in India and across the world and I have no doubt it will ably support MIHAN’s requirements.”

Maneesh Jaikrishna, SITA Vice President Indian Subcontinent, Eastern & Southern Africa, said: “SITA’s solutions will allow the airport to cater to increasing traffic without having to invest in building additional infrastructure. At the same time, they will be able to provide best-in-class facilities for airlines and passengers alike. This is part of our commitment to making India not only one of the biggest aviation markets, but increasingly more efficient and passenger friendly.”

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with airports, Aviation, India, IT, passengers, summit

SITA Wins ‘Service Provider of the Year’ Award

SITA recognized for providing IT and communication solutions to the air transport industry at 2018 Air Transport Industry Awards

Dubai | March 26, 2018–SITA has been named Service Provider of the Year in the prestigious annual Air Transport Awards held in Dubai. The winners are voted for by the readers of Air Transport News and a jury of international aviation experts, chaired by Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission.

The Service Provider of the Year award was given to SITA in recognition of its role in providing IT and communication solutions globally to the air transport industry. SITA’s unique role as the community provider – being owned by the industry – means it has an unprecedented understanding of the industry’s requirements, combined with dedicated teams around the world which deliver services needed to keep people flying.

Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA said: “Being named as Service Provider of the Year at the 2018 Air Transport Awards is a significant achievement and a strong validation of our unwavering collaboration and contribution to the air transport community. To be selected by our industry peers for this award is testament that our continued focus on delivering real value to the community is both justified and valued by the industry.”

Nearly every passenger flight in the world relies on SITA technology. SITA works with the industry to provide technology solutions that make a difference. It innovates collaboratively, while developing and managing solutions over the world’s most extensive network, one that forms the communication backbone of the global air transport industry.

In recent months, SITA has taken the lead in the development of biometric solutions. This has included innovation solutions for airlines and airports as well as looking to the future uses of biometrics as the technology develops. A key innovation is SITA’s Smart Path^TM solution which allows passengers to use their biometric identity every step of the way.

The Air Transport Industry Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with air transport, airports, communication, IT, SITA

Beijing Capital International Airport Boosts Capacity with SITA Self-Service Tech

Largest airport in China chooses SITA kiosks for Air China passengers

Beijing | March 27, 2018– Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), which handles more than 95 million passengers a year, has chosen air transport IT specialist, SITA, to provide technology to boost capacity. Asia’s busiest airport is using SITA’s self-service kiosks for passenger check-in services on all Air China domestic flights departing from Terminal 3. The new kiosks are designed to support the wide range of travel documents typically used by passengers on these flights.

BCIA will use up to 70 SITA AirportConnect^® Kiosks to help Air China process passengers faster, while freeing up airport and airline staff to focus on other aspects of the passenger experience. They feature boarding-pass and bag-tag printers; passport and Chinese ID card readers; and large user-friendly screens. Uniquely, they support a wide range of travel documents including those of Hong Kong/Macau and Taiwan residents travelling to mainland China, as well as ex-pats who reside in China permanently.

Ms. Li Lei, Terminal Management Department, Beijing Capital International Airports, said: “SITA’s technology plays an integral role in helping us realize our ambitions to implement a truly end-to-end self-service experience for our passengers. The new self-service kiosks with the Chinese card reader functionality is a big bonus for Air China’s passengers. Flexible technologies like this help us transform and improve the passenger experience across the airport.”

With rising passenger numbers, BCIA continuously looks to technology to maximize efficiencies. The development of end-to-end self-service has a particularly important role to play.

May Zhou, VP, and General Manager of SITA China, said: “We’ve had a strong relationship with both Beijing Capital International Airport and Air China for a long time now. It’s great to see SITA being recognized for its high quality daily operations and maintenance at the airport. These self-service kiosks will drive efficiencies at the airport and together they will process close to 20,000 passengers per day. Saving passengers’ time is a win-win for everyone.”

The self-service kiosks make use of the existing CUTE platform SITA has deployed at BCIA, making the implementation process labor- and time-efficient. Although primarily for use by Air China, the kiosks can also be used by other domestic airlines that use Air China ground handling solutions.

Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 2:29 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with AirportConnect, airports, China, IT, passengers, SITA

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