TWO PRIMARY OBSERVATIONS STRIKE a visitor to eight-year-old Seoul Incheon International. One is its modernity, both architecturally and in terms of passenger amenities; one feels as if he is in a futuristic shopping mall as much as an airport. The other is that it is not very crowded.
WHEN SKYWEST INC. VP AND CFO BRAD RICH SET ABOUT to prepare remarks for a recent investors' conference in New York City, he sought some advice on what to say: "Just ask for patience and forgiveness," suggested his learned adviser. And that's how he opened his presentation at the Raymond James Growth Airline Conference in February. "Some days are just more challenging than we can handle," Rich said.
European airports, stung by falling passenger and freight traffic, are seeking relief from the European Commission to ensure their competitive and financial viability, according to Airports Council International Europe. The measures ACI has proposed are in line with the European Economic Recovery Plan adopted by the EC in November 2008 and do not ask for "massive bailouts" but seek a "reconsideration" of existing policies and regulations.
Airports Council International Europe, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization, Eurocontrol and IATA unveiled a joint action plan to implement continuous descent approach procedures at up to 100 airports across Europe by the end of 2013, saving more than half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The scene is quite different compared to last May, when the economy was still relatively strong in the world's largest express delivery market and DHL and UPS announced they were negotiating details of a deal under which UPS would take over DHL's airport-to-airport flying in the US. UPS estimated it would generate as much as $10 billion in additional revenue over 10 years from the proposed agreement.
American Airlines operated the first flight with a 767-300ER equipped with Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets between Dallas/Fort Worth and London Heathrow last month. According to APB, the efficiency gains to be provided by the winglets could save 500,000 gal. of fuel per aircraft annually, which equates to a savings of 29 million gal. and 277,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for AA's fleet of 58 767-300ERs.
WHEN EMIRATES ORDERED EIGHT additional A380s at the 2007 Paris Air Show, President Tim Clark explained the new order to take the airline's then-commitment to 55 quite simply to ATW: "We believe that once the A380 is in service, airlines will want to order it." Clark hadn't reckoned on the global financial meltdown when he made his prediction, and carriers may be reluctant to commit to any major new investment until the industry is on sounder financial footing.
Qantas Group is moving to expand its RNP use significantly. The airline, which launched RNP operations on its 737-800 fleet in 2007 into Christchurch and Brisbane, has extended those operations to 15 regional airports that have no ILS facilities. QF Chief Technical Pilot-Boeing Fleet Alex Passerini told Eco-Aviation Today that the group has committed to developing RNP for the A330 fleet and Jetstar's A320 fleet and will expand RNP arrivals to other Australian capital cities. During 2009 it will add 15 more airports, with Sydney to follow in 2010.
UK CAA has had its mission made clear: Passengers must come first. UK Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon issued the directive in March as part of a package designed to improve the economic regulation of UK airports. "The CAA has told us that their current duties lack clarity," Hoon said. "[The duties] ask them to further the interests of both airlines and passengers, without saying who comes first. Today I am removing that lack of clarity--the passenger must come first."
The number of mishandled bags has fallen by one-fifth, from 42.4 million in 2007 to 32.8 million in 2008, according to SITA's annual baggage report. The decline in lost luggage saved the industry an estimated $800 million. Some of the reasons for the improvement include fewer bags checked by passengers--attributed to the imposition of bag fees--improvements in management and handling processes, an increase in staff handling baggage and better tracking and tracing technology.
US airlines would be required to pay a carbon tax on their fuel purchases under the Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, a bill introduced at the end of March by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who chairs the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the energy and environment subcommittee.
British Airways reported that 20 million passengers have used Heathrow Terminal 5 since it opened on March 27, 2008. Although the opening week was a disaster as the much-touted baggage system broke down and hundreds of flights were cancelled, BA insists the problems are behind it and 90% of flights depart ontime, while problems with the high-tech baggage system have been sorted out. Singapore Changi announced that four carriers have moved operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.
Qantas called on Canberra to help develop a sustainable biofuel industry in the country's vast outback. The concept is included in the airline's submission to the Australian government's call for submissions to its National Aviation Policy. The government's green paper does not mention development of a local biofuel industry, which Qantas sees as "critical to the future reduction in airline emissions." It notes that "building an economically sustainable biofuel supply chain is not possible for an individual airline given the huge capital cost requirement and supply chain challenges.
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS COMMITTED to a $12 billion-plus program "to make a 1960s airport fit and accommodate the 21st century aircraft and the 21st century passenger. We're in a serious catch-up mode of construction," says Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's goal is to make Los Angeles the Western US's No. 1 international gateway.
Airbus Americas welcomed former NTSB Member Steven Chealander as VP-technical training. A J Walter Aviation appointed Andrew Braley director-corporate communications. Austrian Airlines Group promoted Paul Paflik to VP-ground operations. Boeing tapped David H. Morrison as VP-government operations, Sean I. McCormack as VP-communications and Brig. Gen. (ret.) Leo A. Brooks Jr. as VP-national security & space, all in the Washington, DC, government operations office. Continental Connection named Missy Kelson VP-finance.
HEAVY ENGINE OVERHAULS CAN COST from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars depending upon engine and workscope. The major cost elements are time off-wingsince spare engines must be bought or leasedparts, labor and overhead, including interest on inventory. Part costs can be controlled by smart acquisition or workscoping. The other elements are reduced chiefly by getting engines overhauled faster with more efficient processes and fewer errors. Through Lean and other techniques, engine shops are pursuing these goals aggressively.
The Aviation Global Deal Group, comprising British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Air France KLM, Virgin Atlantic Airways, BAA and international nongovernmental organization The Climate Group, presented a draft policy framework for addressing carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation in Bonn earlier this month. According to Cathay Pacific GM-Environmental Affairs Dominic Purvis, the framework is an "ambitious, equitable and effective" way of tackling emissions under a global climate change deal to be agreed in Copenhagen in December.
Branson Airport, which claims to be the first privately developed commercial airport in the US, is scheduled to open for business May 11. Branson, Mo., has become a showcase for country music and live theater performances, attracting 8 million visitors to the city each year. An estimated 5.4 million of them travel more than 300 mi. To date, Sun Country Airlines and AirTran Airways have announced service to the city, nestled in the Missouri Ozarks.
THE DELIVERY OF V AUSTRALIA'S FIRST 777-300ER afforded ATW Senior Editor Geoffrey Thomas the opportunity to spend a few days with Richard Branson, founder and chairman of Virgin Group, and Brett Godfrey, CEO of Virgin Blue and V Australia. You are launching V Australia in very difficult times. How confident are you that it will succeed?
Air Transport Assn. President and CEO James May will deliver the first day's luncheon address at the ATW Leeham Eco-Aviation Conference in Washington next month, while Virgin Atlantic Airways Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Manager Sian Foster will talk about the Aviation Global Deal Group and its goals at the second day's luncheon.
CALL IT A BLACK SWAN EVENT. THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME in history, Southwest Airlines will shrink. That's right: The carrier that wrote the book on consistent growth is cutting back, reducing seat miles 4% compared to 2008, after growing in every year since it commenced service in June 1971.
The potential and timeline of biofuel came under intense scrutiny in late March with Boeing's self-confessed "born again" biofuel expert, MD-Environmental Strategy Billy Glover, talking up the prospects and stating he was "very confident" about plant-derived biofuels after recent flights. "We think it is quite reasonable that there will be commercial availability of some type in the next 3-5 years," he said from Geneva, where he attended the Aviation and Environment Summit.
Farelogix unveiled FLX Commando, a patent-pending agency reservations tool that simulates cryptic GDS command-line functions, and E-FLX, described as the travel industry's first "hub" for issuing, storing, managing and reporting Electronic Miscellaneous Documents.
How low and how long? Those were the primary questions at last month's SpeedNews 23rd Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Con- ference where some of the industry's leading forecasters took turns speculating on the length and depth of the downturn and its likely effect on the aerospace supplier community (disclaimer: SpeedNews and ATW are both units of Penton Media, Inc.).
Bill Me Later likes to keep it simple, for both consumers and merchants. The company can approve U.S. residents for deferred payment in a matter of seconds, with just the address, the last four digits of a customer's Social Security number and a birthdate.
