Star Alliance management team firmly focused on seamless customer experience.
ICAO - G20 Ministers show strong recognition for ICAO's aviation decarbonization initiatives.
LATAM Orders 10 787 Dreamliners to Grow Boeing Widebody Fleet
ICAO - Global aviation advances accessible air travel for 1.3 billion persons with disabilities
Embraer and LOT Polish Airlines sign pool program agreement.
Aviation's green transition is industry's "greatest opportunity", ICAO Secretary General tells airline leaders.
Gulfstream Offers Starlink In-Flight Wi-Fi for G650 and G650ER.
DFW airport completes major runway rehabilitation project ahead of schedule.
Worldwide incidents and accidents
Bonus video - Douglas DC3 Dakota
AIRLINES, AIRPORTS & AIRLINERS NEWS
STAR ALLIANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM FIRMLY FOCUSED ON SEAMLESS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Star Alliance, the world's leading global airline alliance, firmed up its key management appointments aimed at further enhancing its strategic focus on a seamless experience for member airline customers as they benefit from the Star Alliance network.
Ambar Franco joins Star Alliance as Vice President, Customer Experience. Franco will lead the development and implementation of initiatives designed to enhance the overall customer journey across the alliance: their booking experience, the experience of customers at airports and when they connect between Star Alliance member airlines, and then to ensure their continuing loyalty post travel. She brings significant expertise from the travel industry, most recently having held senior customer experience related roles at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Luc Lachoix is Star Alliance's Vice President, Digital & Technology. Lachoix is responsible for IT architecture, operations, and security, as well as supporting the IT needs of Star Alliance's Customer Experience and Loyalty business areas. He has served in various roles in the airline industry, including leadership positions at key travel technology companies including Amadeus and Sabre.
Renato Ramos is Vice President, Strategy. Ramos drives Star Alliance's strategic initiatives, business planning, and cross-functional collaboration. Engaged at Star Alliance for the last seven years, he previously served as Director, Loyalty at Star Alliance. Renato is a seasoned aviation expert who has held previous roles at Avianca and LATAM Airlines.
Gayatheri Silvakumer serves as Vice President, People and Culture and leads the implementation of Star Alliance's human capital and cultural development vision, focusing on talent retention and organisational development. She has held several senior HR roles across various industries, working with organisations such as McCann Worldgroup, Bombardier and Rolls-Royce.
"I am delighted to work with such a diverse leadership team. They bring their extensive experience from within and outside the aviation industry to fast-track our mission of delivering a seamless customer experience at key touch points in their travels,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance. Ambar, Luc, Renato, and Gayatheri, are each passionate about our vision and executing on it, always with our member airlines' end-customer in mind."
ICAO - G20 MINISTERS SHOW STRONG RECOGNITION FOR ICAO'S AVIATION DECARBONIZATION INITIATIVES
The recent G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting held in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, from 1 to 4 October 2024, gave significant recognition to ICAO for its efforts to decarbonize the aviation sector. ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar actively participated in the event, emphasizing the critical role of aviation's clean energy transition in the global energy landscape and advocating for ICAO's ongoing initiatives to the G20 Energy Ministers
At the Roundtable on "Unlocking Future Fuels" on 3 October, Mr. Salazar emphasized the importance of sustainable aviation fuels and clean energies in achieving ICAO's Long-Term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
"We are already witnessing significant progress across the fuel industry value chain, and this is just the beginning," stated the ICAO Secretary General. He highlighted that 125 airports are now distributing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) globally, with more than 330 facilities producing it. SAF is currently approved for up to 50% blending with conventional jet fuel, with aims for 100% SAF commercial operations in the near future.
The Secretary General shared key statistics on Sustainable Aviation Fuel:
• Over 40 national/regional policies on SAF have been adopted or are under development
• More than 50 billion liters of SAF are covered by offtake agreements
• Over 40 SAF feedstocks are now recognized under CORSIA (ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation)
Mr. Salazar also participated in the G20 Special Session on "Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Materials" on 4 October, where he emphasized the importance of the ICAO Global Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Lower Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF), and other Aviation Cleaner Energies. This framework, adopted at the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels in Dubai last November, aims to facilitate the global scale-up in the development, production, and deployment of aviation cleaner energies.
"Through this Framework, ICAO and its Member States will strive to reduce international aviation CO2 emissions by 5 percent by 2030, through the use of aviation cleaner energies," Mr. Salazar stated.
The Secretary General also highlighted ICAO's ongoing efforts to support States and stakeholders in scaling up and the financing of sustainable fuels. He discussed the ICAO Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) programme, which provides tailored support to over 180 States and Organizations in various stages of SAF development and deployment.
Mr. Salazar presented the ICAO Finvest Hub in Brazil. This new initiative will facilitate access to public and private financing for aviation decarbonization projects.
The Finvest initiative took a significant step forward during the G20 meeting with the signing of a supporting Memorandum of Cooperation between ICAO and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
ICAO's activities and achievements during the G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting have significantly amplified the global momentum towards the organization's decarbonization goals, catalysing international collaboration and paving the way for more rapid implementation of sustainable aviation initiatives worldwide.
LATAM ORDERS 10 787 DREAMLINERS TO GROW BOEING WIDEBODY FLEET
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and LATAM Airlines Group, the leading passenger and cargo airline group in South America, today announced the purchase of 10 787 Dreamliners with options for five more airplanes. As the region's largest 787 operator, this latest order for fuel-efficient 787-9 jets increase LATAM's investment in one of the most modern fleets in Latin America.
LATAM currently operates 37 787-8s and 787-9s and, including this latest order, expects to grow the fleet to 52 Dreamliners by 2030. The 787 enables the airline to maximize capacity on popular routes and launch new routes including its nonstop flight to Sydney, Australia.
"The Boeing 787 is a much more efficient aircraft, allowing us to continue growing sustainably while reducing our carbon footprint as we drive the growth of our operations. This order will enable us to receive at least two aircraft of this model each year from 2025 until the end of the decade," said Ramiro Alfonsín, Chief Financial Officer of the LATAM Airlines Group.
The 787 family offers unmatched fuel efficiency, enabling airlines to reduce fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the airplanes they replace. The larger 787-9 extends the capacity and range of the Dreamliner family, flying more passengers and cargo farther.
"We appreciate LATAM's continued confidence in the 787 Dreamliner family to further expand its international network from hubs in Santiago, Sao Paulo and Lima," said Mike Wilson, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean. "As demand for air travel rises, we will continue to support LATAM's growth strategy and goal of connecting Latin America with the world."
Since entering service in 2011, 787 Dreamliners have helped operators launch more than 400 new nonstop routes and avoid more than 173 billion pounds of carbon emissions.
The 2024 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook forecasts air travel in Latin America will more than double over the next 20 years, growing 5% annually. With nearly 2,300 airplane deliveries expected, the region's fleet is projected to grow to more than 3,000 airplanes by 2043.
GLOBAL AVIATION ADVANCES ACCESSIBLE AIR TRAVEL FOR 1.3 BILLION PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Together the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will host The Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation from 2 to 3 December 2024 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, uniting governments, industry leaders and advocacy groups to tackle barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities or reduced mobility
Under the theme “Inclusive and Universally Accessible Air Transport for Persons with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility,” the event will explore strategies to create a more accessible air transport system.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1.3 billion individuals live with some form of disability, representing around 16% of the global population. Additionally, as the population ages, the percentage of people with disabilities is expected to increase.
Both States and industry have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving accessible air transport for passengers with disabilities. While current regulations focus predominantly on addressing concerns through individual jurisdictions, achieving significant progress will require shifting the focus to the establishment of a cohesive global framework.
“Universally coordinated and accessible air transport can only be achieved through close collaboration along the aviation value chain. ICAO is heightening cooperation with IATA and ACI on this priority, because it is only by showing governments and operators how to work together as one that we will successfully tackle existing barriers in air travel,” said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO's Secretary General.
“Airlines want to ensure safe, reliable, and dignified travel for every passenger, including those with disabilities. To deliver this, airlines, airports and the disability community must work together. On top of this, national regulatory frameworks for passengers with disabilities must support successful service delivery no matter where a journey begins or ends. Coordination among all these players is the key to empowering passengers with disabilities to travel with confidence. We have high expectations that this event will move us towards that goal," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
“ACI is committed to helping our member airports enable barrier-free environments that provide equal access and outstanding travel experiences for all guests, regardless of ability. This symposium will bring together aviation stakeholders from across the ecosystem to engage in meaningful dialogue to identify actionable steps toward creating a more accessible air transport system,” said Justin Erbacci, ACI World's Director General.
Organized within the context of the 2024 ICAO Year of Facilitation, this novel event is expected to result in the creation and exchange of significant new expertise towards improving the air travel experience of persons living with disabilities. It will additionally help inform negotiations among ICAO's 193 Member States on accessibility when they convene in 2025 for the 42nd ICAO Assembly.
EMBRAER AND LOT POLISH AIRLINES SIGN POOL PROGRAM AGREEMENT
Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMB3) has signed a multi-year contract with LOT Polish Airlines for the Pool Program. With this agreement, the airline will receive support for a wide range of repairable components for its three E195-E2s recently leased from Azorra. LOT Polish Airlines is one of the largest E-Jets operators worldwide, with 47 aircraft manufactured by Embraer in its fleet. Currently, Pool Program supports more than 60 airlines worldwide.
"We are excited to expand our collaboration with Embraer through the Pool Program agreement. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence and efficiency as we continue to grow our fleet with the E195-E2 aircraft. Having Embraer's robust support network behind us ensures that we can provide our passengers with the reliability and quality they expect from LOT Polish Airlines. This agreement is not only a continuation of our long-standing relationship with Embraer but also another step in optimizing our fleet maintenance and operational capabilities,” says Krzysztof Krolak, Vice President of Technical Operations, LOT Polish Airlines.
“We are very pleased to sign a Pool Program agreement with LOT Polish Airlines. The company is growing its E2 footprint along with our services, which shows that we are on the right path to support the aircraft operation and maintain the readiness of its fleet. LOT was the first operator of the E-Jets in 2004, and it is an honour to keep advancing in our long-term relationship,” says Carlos Naufel, CEO and President, Embraer Services & Support.
Embraer provides support to airlines worldwide, with its technical expertise and vast component services network. The results are significant savings in repair and inventory carrying costs and a reduction in warehousing space and resources required for repair management, while ultimately providing guaranteed performance levels. Embraer Services & Support's portfolio offers a wide range of competitive solutions designed for each customer to support the growing fleet of Embraer aircraft worldwide and deliver the best after-sales experience in the global aerospace industry.
AVIATION'S GREEN TRANSITION IS INDUSTRY'S "GREATEST OPPORTUNITY", ICAO SECRETARY GENERAL TELLS AIRLINE LEADERS
The path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 presents the aviation industry with its greatest opportunity for innovation and growth, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar told global airline leaders at the IATA World Sustainability Symposium recently held in Miami.
Mr. Salazar called for unprecedented collaboration to accelerate the sector's green transition. "By successfully navigating this transition, we can strengthen aviation's position as a driver of sustainable development worldwide, connecting people and markets while respecting environmental boundaries," he said.
The Secretary General's keynote outlined ICAO's new long-term Strategic Plan 2026-2050, which includes the ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 for international civil aviation operations. This plan builds on the Long-term Global Aspirational Goal (LTAG) agreed upon by ICAO Member States in 2022 and the Global Framework on Sustainable Aviation Fuels established at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in 2023.
A key focus of the address was the need for increased scaling up in the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). ICAO's Assistance, Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (ACT-SAF) programme was highlighted as a crucial initiative in this area. The Secretary General also introduced the ICAO Finvest Hub, a new platform aimed at linking clean energy project proposals with financing opportunities.
The importance of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) was reaffirmed, with a call for continued industry support for its implementation. Mr. Salazar also touched upon ICAO's recent symposium on non-CO2 aviation emissions, inviting industry expertise to contribute to this emerging area of study.
In his concluding remarks, the Secretary General emphasized the need for united advocacy efforts to showcase aviation's progress in reducing its environmental footprint and its role in driving economic development. He called on all stakeholders to work together in telling aviation's “Great story" to the world and accelerating towards the shared goal of eliminating air transport emissions.
The IATA World Sustainability Symposium brought together leaders from across the global aviation industry to discuss and strategize on key sustainability challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
GULFSTREAM OFFERS STARLINK IN-FLIGHT WI-FI FOR G650 AND G650ER
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certification to install Starlink high-speed internet on the award-winning G650 and G650ER.
This FAA approval gives G650 and G650ER customers the added convenience of working directly with Gulfstream to upgrade connectivity for their aircraft.
“Starlink is an offering that we know is important to operators,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “Our team has invested extensive time and resources preparing for this certification, and we are well-positioned across our service network to provide a seamless installation. Having the capability to install this connectivity upgrade at our own facilities, in the hands of our trusted team of experts, is part of our ongoing commitment to our customers.”
Starlink gives passengers simultaneous access to a variety of in-flight services, including video calls, cloud-based offerings and data transfers, through its high-speed in-flight connectivity, which delivers latency less than 99 milliseconds and download speeds of 40 - 220 Mbps.
Gulfstream is currently pursuing similar supplemental type certificates from the FAA for the G800, G700, G600, G500, G400, G280, GIV, GIV-X, GV and GV-SP.
DFW AIRPORT COMPLETES MAJOR RUNWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) today completed the major rehabilitation of Runway 17R/35L, one of the largest of the airport's seven runways, ahead of schedule following a major overhaul. Due to the project's innovative phasing approach, Runway 17R/35L reopened in a shortened configuration in May and opened in the full operational configuration today.
This innovative approach was achieved through strong partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines, which allowed crews to continue working on the full length of the runway while airline partners were able to have beneficial use of the shortened runway during the airport's record-breaking summer travel season.
Runway 17R/35L is 13,400 feet long by 200 feet wide. The massive undertaking took more than 350,000 work hours and was achieved with no recordable safety accidents, with work including a complete reconstruction of the runway with a high-density asphalt overlay, and new and improved drainage, lighting, signage and deicing infrastructure.
The project also incorporated several sustainable initiatives, including the replacement of more than 2,700 runway lights to energy-efficient LED fixtures, and the recycling of more than 300,000 cubic yards of reclaimed concrete that was reused in the runway project as well as within other construction projects at the airport.
"Today marks the successful completion of the largest runway rehabilitation in our airport's history, which was achieved ahead of schedule and with no recordable safety accidents thanks to our focus on delivering a safe and efficient project," said Mohamed Charkas, Executive Vice President of Infrastructure and Development at DFW. "This achievement reflects the dedication and collaboration of all our partners and returns one of our busiest runways back into service ahead of the winter travel season."
DFW was awarded a $45 million Airport Infrastructure Grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration to assist in funding the investment. The rehabilitation project was completed by Austin Bridge and Road with design by AtkinsRéalis.
The runway project is a part of the airport's historic nearly $9 billion capital improvement plan, called DFW Forward, which includes major upgrades, expansions and new facilities across the airport's airfield, terminals and roadways. To learn more about the investments and transformation underway at DFW, visit dfwairport.com/construction.
USA, Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS/KBOS): A Delta Air Airbus A330-323, rejected the take-off from runway 04R at Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS) due to a no.1 engine issue. The flight crew reported that they heard a loud bang, followed by an engine fire warning. ADS-B data suggest that the maximum ground speed attained was about 27 knots. The aircraft taxied back to the terminal.
Russia, 70 km north of Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl region: An UTair Airlines Boeing 737-524 (WL) en route, at flight level FL310, 70 km north of Yaroslavl when the crew reported the presence of an alarm indication on the overhead panel related to a wing mechanization malfunction. The crew returned to the departure airport as instructed by the airline.
