Airlines, Airports and Airliners 16 November 2023Google Banner Ad This Week in Airlines, Airports and Airliners IATA - Air Cargo demand up 1.9% in September, sustaining moderate growth momentum. Maldivian modernises regional fleet with further ATR 42-600. Kenya Airways secures IATA accreditation for ground handling. Junrong Liang appointed President of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission. RTX advances hybrid-electric propulsion demonstrator with 1MW motor rated power milestone test. Abu Dhabi International Airport's Terminal A usher's major milestone for the UAE's aviation sector. ICAO and IAEA to enhance transport of vital radioactive materials . Worldwide incidents and accidents. Bonus Video - Test Flight and Development Centre Airshow   IATA - AIR CARGO DEMAND UP 1.9% IN SEPTEMBER, SUSTAINING MODERATE GROWTH MOMENTUM. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2023 global air cargo markets, showing continuing demand recovery. Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs*), increased by 1.9% compared to September 2022 levels (+6% for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), was up 12.1% compared to September 2022 (+0% for international operations). Growth was largely related to international belly capacity which rose 31.5% year-on-year as airlines scaled up operations to meet peak-northern summer travel season demand. Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:  Global cross-border trade contracted for the fifth month in a row in August, decreasing 3.8% year-over-year. This reflects the cooling global macroeconomic environment. Annual growth in US consumer prices stabilized in September at 3.7%, the same rate as in August. In Europe and Japan consumer price inflation slowed by 1.0 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively, to 4.9% and 3.0%, (also respectively). In China, deflation-fighting policy measures saw an annual rise in consumer prices of 0.1%. In September, the average price of jet fuel was USD 131.0 per barrel, marking a 43.1% increase from the May 2023 price. Recouping some of this added cost from surcharges in September contributed to the first increase in air cargo yields since November 2022. "Air cargo eked out modest growth (1.9%) in September despite falling trade volumes and high jet fuel prices. That clearly shows the strength of air cargo's value proposition. With the key export order and manufacturing PMIs hovering near positive territory, we can be cautiously optimistic for a strong year-end peak season," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.  September Regional Performance Asia-Pacific airlines saw their air cargo volumes increase by 7.7% in September 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. This was a significant improvement in performance compared to August (+4.6%). Carriers in the region benefited from growth on three major trade lanes: Europe-Asia (+9.6%), Middle East-Asia (+7.0%) and Africa-Asia (+12.8%). Available capacity for the region's airlines increased by 30.5% compared to September 2022 as more belly capacity came online from the passenger side of the business (a year ago, the key Asian markets of Japan and China were still largely under severe COVID-19 travel restrictions). North American carriers had the weakest performance in September, with a 2.2% decrease in cargo volumes. This was a decline in performance compared to August (-1.4%). Although contractions in the North America-Asia trade lane narrowed (from -4.3% in August to -1.8% in September) and the North America-Europe market stabilized its decline at (-2.5%) for the second month in a row. Carriers in the region did not benefit significantly. Capacity increased moderately by 0.2% compared to September 2022. European carriers saw their air cargo volumes decline by 1.5% in September compared to the same month in 2022. This was a weaker performance than in August (-0.6%). Carriers in the region suffered from further contractions in the within Europe market (-5.7% in September vs -5.2% in August). Gains made from the expansion in the Middle East-Europe trade lane (+3.3% in September vs +0.5% in August) offset some declines from the within Europe performance. Capacity increased 4.7% in September 2023 compared to 2022. Middle Eastern carriers had the strongest performance in September 2023, with a 2.5% year-on-year increase in cargo volumes. This was an improvement from the previous month's performance (+1.3%). Carriers in the region benefited from growth in the Middle East-Asia (+7.0%) and Middle East-Europe markets (+3.3%). Capacity increased 16.1% compared to September 2022. Latin American carriers experienced a 2.3% increase in cargo volumes compared to September 2022. This was a significant decrease in performance compared to the previous month (+6.2%). Capacity in September was up 14.4% compared to the same month in 2022. African airlines saw their air cargo volumes decline by 0.1% in September 2023, despite the strong growth of demand on the Africa-Asia trade lane (+12.8%). This was an improvement in performance compared to August (-3.5%). Capacity was 2.7% above September 2022 levels.   The national airline of the Maldives Maldivian, and the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer ATR, have signed a firm order for two ATR 42-600. These highly-efficient new aircraft will join the airline existing regional fleet, including two ATR 72-600 and one ATR 42-600, to replace older generation turboprops.  "To modernise its fleet and sustain the vital connections it is offering its communities, Maldivian has, yet again, chosen to invest in the lowest-emission regional aircraft on the market and the proven benchmark in terms of operating economics. Having a mixed fleet of both ATR 42-600 and 72-600 will offer Maldivian flexibility, reliability, comfort, and profitability on the smallest routes. Maldivian's passengers will benefit from state-of-the-art aircraft, providing responsible and affordable connectivity for many years to come" added Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR. Maldivian, the national airline of the country embodies the spirit of the Maldives by providing exceptional air travel services that showcase the natural beauty and warm hospitality of the island nation. The airline is the leading domestic carrier with a scheduled network comprising of 16 domestic sectors. Maldivian operates the largest wheel-based fleet in the country which includes DeHavilland Dash 8 and ATR aircraft. Maldivian Seaplane, which consists of DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, further enhances the airline's domestic operation by providing specialized tourist air transportation service connecting customers directly to the doorstep of their chosen resort. Operating from its hub in Male', the airline provides international scheduled flights to cities in India and Bangladesh.   National carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ), and its Nairobi hub have been awarded certificate of accreditation by IATA's Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) for outstanding ground handling services. This follows the successful audit conducted on ground handling operations at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) which recognized KQ for maintaining high standard in ground handling services as well as the unwavering commitment to ensure safety and security of passengers, aircraft and goods.  Capt. Haig Anyonyi, Director Safety, Quality and Environment at Kenya Airways, stated, "We are excited about this achievement. The ISAGO station accreditation is an important milestone for Kenya Airways, reflecting our continuous pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our operations. This accreditation will provide confidence to our passengers, customer airlines, and the regulators on our safety, security and quality measures of ground handling services. We are dedicated to ensuring that our passengers experience world-class service to all our customers." Kenya Airways remains focused on delivering exceptional service to its passengers while adhering to the most stringent safety standards and has been an IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registered airline since 2009.  The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has appointed Mr. Junrong Liang to a one-year term as President of the ICAO Air Navigation Commission (ANC).  A member of the Commission since September 2018, Mr. Liang's ANC positions have included serving as its First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, and in various working groups as Chairperson and Vice-Chair. He has also contributed to the ICAO Industry Consultative Forum, the ANC's Planning Team, and the Council's Group on Innovation. Prior to his appointment to the Commission, Mr. Liang held various positions with the Civil Aviation Administration of China's Middle and South Regional Air Traffic Management Bureau, including Director for Safety Management, Deputy Director for Air Traffic Management Operation, and Chief of Technical Business Office. Mr. Liang has over 30 years of experience as an air traffic controller.  RTX (NYSE: RTX) has achieved a critical milestone in its hybrid-electric flight demonstrator program, successfully completing a rated power test of the demonstrator's 1 megawatt (MW) electric motor, developed by Collins Aerospace (Collins).  "With its industry-leading power density and efficiency, our 1MW motor will help to significantly reduce aircraft carbon emissions by supporting hybrid-electric propulsion architectures on the next generation of commercial platforms," said Henry Brooks, president, Power & Controls for Collins Aerospace. "As the motor's development continues apace, each milestone brings us one step closer to hybrid-electric flight and our industry's shared commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050." Compared to Collins' most advanced electric motor generators flying today, the 1MW motor will deliver four times the power and twice the voltage, with half the heat loss and half the weight. The company is developing the motor at Collins' facility in Solihull, United Kingdom, and testing it at the University of Nottingham's Institute for Aerospace Technology. Following on from the first low speed engine run at a Pratt & Whitney Canada facility in Longueuil, Quebec in December 2022, testing of the combined hybrid-electric propulsion system - including both thermal engine and 1MW motor - will continue through 2023. The propulsion system and batteries will be integrated on a Dash 8-100 experimental aircraft, with flight testing targeted to begin in 2024. The project is supported by the governments of Canada and Quebec. "Hybrid-electric propulsion technology offers significant potential to optimize aircraft efficiency across a range of future aircraft applications and is a key part of our technology roadmap for supporting more sustainable aviation," said Jean Thomassin, executive director new products and services, Pratt & Whitney Canada. "Aside from leveraging the deep expertise of Pratt & Whitney and Collins engineers within RTX, our project draws from extensive collaborations across Canada's aerospace ecosystem and around the world." In addition to the hybrid-electric flight demonstrator, the 1MW motor will also be part of the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ hybrid-electric powertrain planned for the SWITCH project under the European Union's Clean Aviation initiative. Future testing will be conducted at The Grid, the $50 million electric power systems lab at Collins' Rockford, Illinois, facility slated to open later this year.   ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S TERMINAL A USHER'S MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE UAE'S AVIATION SECTOR The new state-of-the-art Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed its first passengers to Abu Dhabi, signalling a new era in aviation history for the UAE. Abu Dhabi International Airport will be renamed Zayed International Airport. The new official name will take effect from February 9th 2024, and coincide with the official opening ceremony of Terminal A.  With leading facilities, including biometric technology to streamline the screening and boarding process, 35,000 square metres of retail and F&B space and 163 outlets for passengers to shop, dine and enjoy, Terminal A will enhance the travel experience for all passengers, end to end, as well as travellers transferring to other destinations. Flights from other terminals at Abu Dhabi International Airport will gradually transition to Terminal A throughout November. Passengers flying before November 15th are urged to check travel information with their respective airlines prior to travelling to or collecting visitors from the airport. To ensure passengers and visitors arrive at the right terminal, Abu Dhabi Airports has launched a print, digital and broadcast awareness campaign that urges guests to regularly check on www.abudhabiairport.ae for updates on arrivals and departures flying to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport between November 1st and November 14th. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports said: "This is a momentous occasion for Abu Dhabi Airports and the emirate. The official opening of Terminal A today ushers a new era for air travel in Abu Dhabi. I'm grateful for the hard work from my colleagues, and partners across the aviation sector, that has helped us reach this historical milestone. We look forward to sharing the state-of-the-art facilities, available at Terminal A, with the world and welcoming passengers to Abu Dhabi International Airport's new home."   In a joint statement signed today, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi underscored that the agreement also "highlights the importance of adherence to the IAEA safety standards for the safe use of radioactive materials and to ICAO standards for global civil aviation safety and security." The agreement builds on the cooperation between both UN bodies on matters of common interest that began in 1960.  "The IAEA's role in ensuring the safe transport of radioactive material by air is essential in the carriage of short-lived radiopharmaceuticals and other crucial radioactive materials," remarked ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. "ICAO welcomes the heightening of our collaboration in this vitally important area of mutual interest." Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, said: "It is very important that the work the IAEA and ICAO undertake in developing and strengthening the implementation of international standards is complementary. The IAEA greatly values ICAO's long-standing contribution to the development and review of IAEA safety standards. We can work even more closely together in other areas of common interest, such as in reducing denials of, and delays in, shipment of radioactive material by air." The agreement encompasses the development and review of relevant IAEA safety standards and the harmonization of best practices globally, with the IAEA and ICAO collaborating to collect and analyse associated information. Raising stakeholder awareness through education, training, and outreach are also foreseen, including around emergency preparedness. Radiation research and information exchange towards radiation protection in civil aviation, especially regarding cosmic radiation exposure to flight crews, is a further focus of the agreement. Today's joint statement highlights that the "stronger mutual cooperation will create a conducive environment for countries to harness the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear technology in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," and helps set the stage for deeper collaboration in the near future.    USA, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA: A JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231(WL), intended to perform flight JBU34 to Logan International Airport (BOS/KBOS), Boston, Massachusetts, was hit by a tug vehicle at San Francisco International Airport (SFO/KSFO), San Francisco, California. After all occupants disembarked the aircraft, it was taken out of service. The flight was delayed and performed later by JetBlue Airways Airbus A321-231 France, Paris-Orly Airport: A Corsair Airbus A330-343E, intended to perform flight CRL894 to Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport (ABJ/DIAP), Abidjan, Ivory Coast, hit a mobile aircraft stair with the left engine nacelle when being towed at Paris-Orly Airport (ORY/LFPO). The empty aircraft received minor damage and the flight was cancelled. Nigeria, Abuja-Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport: An Aero Contractor's Boeing 737-36Q, suffered a taxiway excursion with the nose landing gear when vacating the runway after landing at taxiway A4. The nose gear bogged in, disabling the aircraft.  Test Flight and Development Centre Airshow Google Banner Ad  |
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