This Week in Airliner, Airports and Airlines
The National Civil Aviation Administration of Argentina removes the maximum pilot age iro commercial pilots.
SAA to boost SA's economy by R32bn in 2030: Oxford Economics Africa.
EASA annual safety conference 2024: how technological innovation can help humans enhance aviation safety.
ESG ratings: Lufthansa Group again achieves top rankings.
IATA condemns Spanish cabin baggage decision.
ICAO's leadership renews partnership with the province of Québec at national assembly.
Ten new routes in one day - historic moment for Etihad.
Taking luxury to new heights: British Airways unveils its brand-new First class.
AIRLINES, AIRPORTS & AIRLINERS NEWS
THE NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OF ARGENTINA REMOVES THE MAXIMUM PILOT AGE IRO COMMERCIAL PILOTS
The National Civil Aviation Administration of Argentina (ANAC) recently announced published Resolution 516/2024, which changes the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC) to remove age limits on commercial pilots. The change will "increase the age limit for the holder of a pilot's license to exercise his powers in commercial air transport operations on national and international flights."
The regulator added that its decision was based on improvements in medical technology and demand from airlines and other industry stakeholders, stating,
"With advances in medicine in general, and the need to have pilots to meet the growing demand of the aeronautical market, it is necessary to reevaluate the age limit at which pilot's license holders can exercise their functions. There will, of course, still be stringent conditions to maintain a pilot license, including passing medical and airline evaluations. " A spokesperson for ANAC stated.
Argentina implemented its age restrictions starting in 2010 in accordance with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which advises an upper age limit of 60 for single pilots and 65 for pilots in multi-crew commercial operations.
SAA TO BOOST SA'S ECONOMY BY R32BN IN 2030: OXFORD ECONOMICS AFRICA
The report on a study by Oxford Economics Africa - released in Johannesburg recently - has shown that South African Airways (SAA) Gross Value Add to South Africa's GDP in the 2023/24 financial year is R9.1 billion.
The study examined the SAA Group's core economic contribution by analysing the impact of direct activity generated by SAA on tourism, and South Africa's international trade; and the indirect activity stimulated by its procurement spending; and induced impact that the wages of its workers and those in its supply chain support in the consumer economy.
The SAA Group - which comprises subsidiary companies SAA Technical and Air Chefs and includes divisions SAA Cargo and SAA Voyager - commissioned the study from Oxford Economics Africa, an essential performance management responsibility, as the airline business essentially stimulates and supports wider economic activity.
Oxford Economics is a London-headquartered consulting leader in global economic forecasting and econometric analysis. Its more than 300 full-time economists and analysts track, analyse and model country, industry, and city-level trends to enrich clients understanding of the implications of the economic outlook for their decision-making. See https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/
Utilising a methodology that distils downstream and related economic benefits that SAA is a catalyst of the study established that airline Gross Value Added to South Africa will more than triple over the next five years, rising from R9.1 billion to R32.6 billion by 2029/30.
The study also shows that the SAA Group's operations will support 86 700 jobs by 2029/30, up from 25 000 jobs in 2023/24.
Furthermore, the SAA Group's operations stimulated fiscal revenues (tax) of R1.1-billion in 2023/24, a figure that is projected to rise to R4.4-billion in 2029/30.
The report estimates the SAA Group's tourism impact at R1.7 billion in 2023/24, rising to R8.9 billion in 2029/30.
The SAA Group's trade impact in 2023/2024 amounted to R300 million, which is forecast to quadruple to R1.2 billion in 2029/30.
SAA Interim CEO, Professor John Lamola, said, “The Oxford Economics Report affirms that the State's contribution as the sole shareholder in SAA has not been without a tangible return on investment (ROI). In turn, as the study ventures into a forecast of future impacts as derived from SAA's growth and expansion plans. It serves as an independent validation of SAA's current five-year Corporate Plan.”
SAA emerged from business rescue (BRP) in 2021 with just six aircraft and five routes. The airline currently flies 16 aircraft and will take delivery of an additional seven during calendar year 2025. The current footprint of 16 destinations is modelled to support the extension of the route network into Europe, North America and East Asia as SAA maintains its strategic brand as a premium international network carrier.
“It is heartening to know that the impact of SAA dedicated staff goes beyond this organisation. It is helping build the South African economy, which ultimately impacts the upliftment of the African continent,” Lamola adds.
EASA ANNUAL SAFETY CONFERENCE 2024: HOW TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION CAN HELP HUMANS ENHANCE AVIATION SAFETY
This year's EASA Annual Safety Conference took as its theme “Safety - technology - and the human dimension”, focusing on the critical importance of the well-trained human in keeping aviation operations safe, and on the parallel need to apply technology prudently to enhance aviation safety even further.
“The human will be at the centre of aviation for decades,” Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA said in his opening remarks. “It is our responsibility to consider how technological developments, such as artificial intelligence, can support the human to make aviation safer still. We need to constantly ask ourselves: is aviation as safe as it can be?”
EASA used the opportunity of the conference to clarify its approach to proposals from manufacturers that foresee one pilot, rather than two, in the cockpit for specific phases of the flight, a concept referred to as “extended Minimum Crew Operations” (eMCO). To support eMCO, manufacturers are working on a “smart cockpit” that uses technology and automation to reduce crew workload, aid decision-making, enhance information management, and detect pilot fatigue or incapacitation.
“EASA has made clear from the outset that we will only approve new functionalities once they have been demonstrated to bring safety benefits,” Guillermet said. “We are now adjusting our rulemaking tasks to make clear exactly what we mean by this.”
This topic was discussed further during the first panel of the conference, which looked more widely at the role of technology in enhancing aviation safety. The panel highlighted that all relevant parties want first to see the changes to the cockpit so we can evaluate whether these have indeed enhanced safety while maintaining the current way of operating, i.e. with two pilots on the flightdeck. As a general principle, any new technologies or concepts in aviation must always enhance safety.
Two further panels focused on longer-term actions to tackle current safety risks. The first panel centred on interference with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) navigation close to conflict zones, where blocking or falsifying of signals (jamming and spoofing) presents an issue for pilots in those zones. While currently safety is assured by pilot awareness of the potential issues, there was agreement that in the longer term, a more resilient technological solution at system level is needed to better safeguard decision-making.
The second panel looked at human factors in runway incursions, referring in particular to the need to prevent recurrence of the type of accident seen at Haneda, Tokyo on January 2, 2024, where five people lost their lives due to an aircraft collision on the runway. The panel discussed whether humans were the “weakest link” or rather a strong factor in preventing such occurrences. Either way, better use of technology to facilitate decision-making was seen as an important step to reduce the number of those accidents or incidents.
The remaining two panels looked more closely at humans themselves. Societal expectations were seen as a driver for technological change, particularly on environmental grounds, to reduce emissions and meet the European Union climate goals. Whereas aviation is responsible for less than 4% of the total emissions contributing to climate change according to Our World in Data, there is still an urgent need to limit its impact. Noise reduction was also seen as an important driver for innovation.
All panels stressed the importance of a well-trained human workforce in all areas of aviation, and the final discussion focused on the need to attract a new generation of staff into aviation, some of whom will need entirely new skill sets as technology develops.
ESG RATINGS: LUFTHANSA GROUP AGAIN ACHIEVES TOP RANKINGS
Independent sustainability analysts and rating agencies regularly assess the activities of the Lufthansa Group according to ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance). In two important ESG ratings, the Lufthansa Group has now once again been attested a strong ESG performance: MSCI ESG Rating: “AA” rating for the third year in a row.
The internationally recognized US rating agency MSCI has reanalyzed the Lufthansa Group's sustainability management and, for the third year in a row, given it an “AA” rating well above the industry average in the MSCI ESG Rating (rating scale AAA (best rating) to CCC). The MSCI ESG Rating identifies companies that are particularly committed to sustainability. In the current assessment, the Lufthansa Group continues to play a leading role in ESG among the 21 airlines analyzed by MSCI ESG Research. The Lufthansa Group has been included in the MSCI Global Sustainability Index since 2015.
ISS ESG Corporate Rating: “Industry Leader” and “Prime Status” confirmed
In the ISS ESG Corporate Rating 2024, the Lufthansa Group is one of two airlines to have once again been awarded “Prime Status” with a “C+” (rating scale A+ (best result) to D-). This places it in the group of “Industry Leader” among a total of 49 airlines rated. Prime status is awarded to leading companies in their respective industries that have performed well in the rating process according to an evaluation of over 300 industry-specific ESG criteria.
In the analysis of MDAX companies published at the end of October by the German Association for Financial Analysis and Asset Management (DVFA), the DVFA Scorecard for Corporate Governance 2024, the Lufthansa Group received the rating “very good” with an overall score of 85.80 percent, putting it in first place. The DVFA annually assesses the governance quality of DAX, MDAX and SDAX companies.
Already at the beginning of 2024, the Lufthansa Group received the top rating of “A-” in the renowned CDP climate ranking for the second year in a row for its CO2 reduction strategy and implementation (rating scale from “A” (best result) to “D-”). The climate ranking of the non-profit organization CDP is considered the global gold standard for environmental reporting.
The Lufthansa Group's experts carefully evaluate the ratings and the classification of the sustainability indices with the aim of further improving the company's performance.
IATA CONDEMNS SPANISH CABIN BAGGAGE DECISION
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) condemned a decision by the Spanish government to override European law, remove cabin baggage fees for passengers in Spain and fine airlines EUR 179 million. The move undermines freedom of pricing which is fundamental to consumer choice and competition, a principle that has been long upheld by the European Court of Justice.
“This is an appalling decision. Far from protecting the consumer interest, this is a slap in the face of travellers who want choice. Prohibiting all airlines from charging for cabin bags means that the cost will be automatically priced into all tickets. What's next? Forcing all hotel guests to pay for breakfast? Or charging everyone to pay for the coat-check when they buy a concert ticket? EU Law protects pricing freedom for good reason. And airlines offer a range of service models from all-inclusive to basic transport. This move by the Spanish government is unlawful and must be stopped,” said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
Consumers want choice and value for money. This law would remove both. Recent independent polling commissioned by IATA from Savanta* of recent air travellers residing in Spain indicated that 97% were satisfied with their last trip and confirmed the following preferences:
65% prefer to pay the lowest price possible for their air ticket and pay extra for any additional services that are needed
66% agreed that in general there is sufficient transparency on fees charged by airlines for various travel options
78% said that air travel is good value for money
74% said they feel well-informed about the products/services they are buying from airlines
These findings align with the latest Eurobarometer survey by the European Commission in which 89% of travelers Europe-wide said that they were well informed about allowances for their luggage.
The existence of different models - from full-service to ultra low cost - is a response to market demand and regulation is not needed in this area. Moreover, ancillary revenue is key for the LCC business model, which has reduced prices and widened access to air travel to lower-income groups.
Unlawful Step against EU Law
This is not the first time that Spain has attempted similar misguided regulatory action and fines. In 2010 the Spanish government tried to impose similar fines and restrictions on airlines based on Article 97 of Spanish Law 48/1960-a law enacted when Spain was a fascist dictatorship. This was struck down by the EU Court of Justice based on an EU regulation which protects pricing freedom (Article 22 of Regulation No 1008/2008).
Having failed in its first attempt, this latest move is again trying to subvert pricing freedom by prioritizing another Spanish Law (Article 47 of Spain's General Law for the Defence of Consumers and Users) in conflict with principles of pricing freedom that are unequivocally enshrined in European law.
“They failed once, and they will fail again. Consumers deserve better than this retrograde step which ignores the realities of today's travelers. Spain's tourism industry has grown to account for nearly 13% of the country's GDP, with 80% of travelers arriving by air, and many of them budget conscious. Cheap air fares have played a huge role in growing this sector of the economy. The government has no competence-legal or practical-in eliminating the availability of basic airfares. The ECJ concluded this a decade ago. The EC needs to urgently step up and defend its laws which deliver benefits to consumers by protecting pricing freedom,” said Walsh.
The Cost of Cabin Bags
Carrying cabin bags has a cost associated to it. This is primarily in lengthened boarding times, as a result of the time it takes for passengers to accommodate their baggage. Aircraft utilization is a key parameter of airline profitability, particularly on short-haul operations. Adding an extra 10-15 minutes on the ground to board each flight quickly reduces the number of flights and aircraft can do each day. “Everyone paying more for less choice is the worst possible outcome that a regulation could deliver”, said Walsh.
ICAO'S LEADERSHIP RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROVINCE OF QUÉBEC AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A new Declaration of Intent was signed between ICAO and the Government of Québec on 19 November 2024 at the National Assembly of Québec, marking ICAO's 80th anniversary and reinforcing the host province's continued support for the Organization.
ICAO Secretary General Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar signed the Declaration of Intent alongside the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie Ms. Martine Biron, with the Premier of Québec Mr. François Legault and the President of the ICAO Council Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano present as witnesses.
A bilateral meeting was also held between ICAO's delegation and Premier Legault, focusing on Québec's important role in fostering innovation in aviation, and the industry's alignment with ICAO's long-term strategic goals.
"We are grateful for the hospitality extended by the Government of Québec over the years to ICAO and the international civil aviation community,” remarked ICAO Council President Sciacchitano. “It is quite moving to think about all of those, coming from all corners of the world, who have had at some point in time the privilege to call Québec a home away from home."
The Secretary General also expressed the Organization's gratitude to the Government of Québec and its Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie in particular, noting that "the celebration of the 80th anniversary of ICAO is the opportunity to reflect upon and acknowledge the contributions of those who have accompanied the evolution and transformation of our Organization.”
Proceedings were attended by State Representatives to the ICAO Council and ICAO Legal Affairs and External Relations Director Michael Gill.
TEN NEW ROUTES IN ONE DAY - HISTORIC MOMENT FOR ETIHAD
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is thrilled to announce the launch of ten new destinations starting in 2025. This announcement, part of the airline's rapid expansion programme, fulfils its promise to provide guests with a route map featuring destinations they want to fly to, with connections and frequencies that suit their needs. It also allows Abu Dhabi to extend its renowned hospitality to more visitors from around the globe as a world-class tourism and business hub.
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad's Chief Executive Officer, said: “This expansion reflects our commitment to listening to our valued guests. We've carefully chosen cities that embody the experiences, adventures, and opportunities that matter to them. Whether seeking inspiring landscapes, vibrant cultural experiences, reuniting with family and friends, pursuing business growth, or educational journeys, our new routes will help make their travel dreams a reality.
“This moment is not just about expanding our network; it's about sharing Abu Dhabi with the world. With its endless sunshine, diverse cuisine, rich culture, exhilarating family theme parks, and safe, beautiful beaches, Abu Dhabi offers something for everyone. Our expanded network will make it easier than ever for guests to experience everything our home city has to offer.
“Launching ten new destinations in a single day underscores our unwavering commitment to growing our airline with a fantastic route network and world-class, customer-focused service. This incredible milestone would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our team and the ongoing support of our guests.”
The ten routes announced today will complement Etihad's previously revealed new destinations for 2025: Prague, Warsaw, and Al Alamein.
Etihad's expansion is set to bring tens of thousands of new visitors directly to Abu Dhabi, boosting its position as a premier destination for leisure, business, and cultural tourism. The move aligns with the UAE capital's efforts to attract international travellers and reinforces its reputation as a hub of connectivity, innovation, and hospitality.
"The launch of these ten destinations is supported by our impressive hub, Zayed International Airport, which boasts the 'wow' factor and ample space to accommodate our rapid growth, further enhancing the exceptional guest experience,” said Neves.
Additionally, it offers more guests the chance to take advantage of Etihad's free stopover offer, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. Travellers booking flights with Etihad can easily add a stopover and choose a complimentary hotel stay for one or two nights from a selection of premier hotels across the city.
Neves added: “2025 marks a pivotal year for Etihad, with more than 90 destinations in over 50 countries, a fleet of more than 110 aircraft - including our amazing new A321LRs - welcoming over 20 million guests onboard. Most importantly, it will support us in bringing over a million visitors to Abu Dhabi to enjoy our home.”
As the airline accelerates its growth, Etihad Guest, its award-winning loyalty programme, will also expand its reach, offering more guests the opportunity to earn and redeem miles while unlocking exclusive benefits.
TAKING LUXURY TO NEW HEIGHTS: BRITISH AIRWAYS UNVEILS ITS BRAND-NEW FIRST CLASS
British Airways has unveiled its brand-new First seat, combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel. The new cabin forms part of the airline's A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026.
The airline's new First has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000ft. The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin.
The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5inches), with a bed length of 79inches, and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant stowable table, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as 'relax', 'dine' and 'cinema'. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy, whilst still providing a spacious environment.
For customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the stowable tables mean customers can enjoy 'buddy dining' in the seat with their travel companion.
The elegant curves throughout the cabin take inspiration from British Airways' Concorde wings, giving a natural flow to the space and creating a welcoming environment. Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight.
Elsewhere, the suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline's speedmarque and further nods to Concorde. The suite features window blinds, activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat. The soft panelling inside the seat also helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space. Customers can also use the seat's brand-new 'do not disturb' functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board.
British Airways' Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “We're incredibly proud to launch the next era of First that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, taking into consideration customer preferences and expectations to the finest detail.
“This coupled with our incredible colleagues delivering a world-class service, following the launch of our First Service Specialists scheme, as well as the many benefits of flying First such as First Wing entry, access to our award-winning lounges including our Concorde Room and priority boarding, means we truly believe we offer a winning combination in delivering an extraordinary experience for our customers.”
The airline listened to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements and specific features to suit preferences, such as the carefully placed stowage with useability and purpose in mind. The airline also introduced its fully rectangular bed following customer feedback that replicates all the comforts of a home environment.
The airline also worked closely with world-class manufacturer, Collins Aerospace RTX business, to create the First seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting British Airways' Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year.
British Airways is proud to be the only European carrier from the UK to offer a First product across the Atlantic. Customers travelling in First can experience the airline's most luxurious way to travel, from a stylish seat, exclusive access to lounges, fast-track security, use of the First Wing at Heathrow and excellent service on board. The airline offers the most premium experience for travellers from the moment they book to when they land in their destination.
The airline is continuing to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 120 initiatives as part of its £7billion transformation focus, from brand-new short-haul seats, free Wi-Fi messaging on board to refreshing its lounges across its global network.
Canada, Montréal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX/CYMX), QC: A Nolinor Aviation 662 Boeing 737-408, suffered a left-hand main gear collapse during a flapless landing on runway 24 at Montréal-Mirabel International Airport (YMX/CYMX), Quebec, Canada. There were no injuries. The aircraft departed Québec City Airport (YQB) at 14:58 UTC on a flight to Bagotville Airport, QC (YBG). Preliminary information indicates a fault indication made crew abort the approach to YBG at 15:23 UTC. The flight head back to YQB until it was decided to divert to Montréal-Mirabel Airport (YMX), which has a 3000 ft longer runway. During landing at YMX at 16:24 UTC, the left-hand main gear collapsed and the no.1 engine nacelle struck the runway as the aircraft slid to a stop.
Russia, over Republic of Khakassia: Azur Air flight ZF2943, a Boeing 767-306ER, diverted to Novosibirsk International Airport (OVB/UNNT) due to a technical malfunction. There were over 300 passengers on board. The aircraft has been suspended from service until the circumstances and causes of the aviation incident are clarified. After reaching 10,000 meters, the crew reported to the dispatchers about the drop in oil pressure in the right engine. The aircraft commander decided to head to the alternate airport Novosibirsk. But a few minutes later, the pilots reported the right engine had shut down. Then the crew declared the PAN-PAN emergency signal and began to descend.
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